Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Hello! So sorry for the late update... Well anyways here's the third chapter. I'm not too fond of this one :( Oh, I wanted to say that I am really glad that there are people that are reading (and hopefully enjoying) this story.

Okay I have changed a something here.

'This is now thought'

Memory

"talking"

I think that's all for now. Enjoy!

Chapter 3

It is perfect. Absolutely perfect. The sweeping branches hold such beauty, such elegance, yet they are as cold and deadly as ice. The little trees are scattered

throughout the desert sand, creating an empty forest, void of all signs of life. Yes, void, just like me. Just like everything that surrounds me. Just like the world I live

in. I turn my head slightly as I detect a sudden flare in the spiritual pressure of my companion. Unable to locate him, I turn and walk in the direction that I last

noticed his presence. As I walk a terrible pain suddenly erupts in my masked face, causing me to flinch at the sudden agony. It feels like my face is being slowly ripped

apart by thousands of little blades, while being coated in acid and burned in flames. I shift my body, trying to move my head away from whatever is causing the pain.

My attempts are futile and only increase the pain. It takes all of my willpower to not cry out as the agony becomes unbearable, and my body slumps forward in a dead

faint. The movement causes the sharp tree branch I had unknowingly walked into, to slice through my mask as I topple forward onto the ground, my body landing

next to that of my companion.

*Time Skip*

Pain. It fills my entire being as I lay here in the sand, slowly regaining consciousness despite the darkness that my body sends to try and let my body escape. Pain. It

makes me want to scream out loud, to let the world know my agony. Pain. It races through my body still, one final surge, and then it fades away. Pain. Its absence

leaves me feeling light, as though I am floating through the sky. No, that can't be. If I am floating through the sky then what is this warmth by my right side?

Warmth by my right side… My eyes fly open as I scramble to my feet, my body tensing in preparation of an attack. None comes, and my eyes slowly wander

downwards, searching for the source of the heat. My eyes widen slightly, betraying my surprise, as they settle on the figure lying by my feet. It looks just like my

companion does; it even wears the same clothes as he does. Its build, and pale complexion, the black fingernails, the way it lays there on the ground, they are all the

same as my companion. In fact everything about them is the same, everything save for two major differences; the figure at my feet is wearing only half a mask, and

has a zanpacto.

*End of memory*

I continue walking as though I am in a daze. My eyes are glued to the book that I hold open in front of my face, and I am staring listlessly at the inky shapes that seem to blur before my eyes. I blink once and feel moisture sliding down my cheek.

My feet carry me forwards, while my mind struggles to comprehend the sense of loss and grief that fills my entire being. I am completely lost in my own personal world of mind numbing misery. So much that I do not even notice the soul reaper that appears nearby, or the intense battle that rages on in the air above me.

My muddled mind works at a sluggish rate and I fail to comprehend the meaning of the shadow above me until it is too late. Seconds before the massive fist of my fellow espada, Yammy, crashes into me my head snaps up and the book tumbles from my motionless hands. My raised eyes fasten on the form of the soul reaper that stands nearby, and a splitting pain erupts in my skull. I feel my body falling towards the ground even as my mind succumbs to the darkness that provides it with an escape from that terrible pain.

*Small time skip*

I stir slightly as I attempt to breathe in through my nose, trying to ignore the panic that fills me when I realize that the only thing I am inhaling is a grainy substance that seems to surround my face. My muddled mind slowly begins to function again, and I realize that the gritty substance is sand. With this realization comes the conclusion that I must be lying face down on the sandy ground of Hueco Mundo. I turn my face to the side and try to breathe in again. To my immense relief my screaming lungs are quickly soothed with a steady intake of air.

'Why I am lying in the sand?' I frown inwardly as I struggle to recall the events that led up to my face's acquaintance with the ground. 'Oh. That's right. I was walking and there was a shadow above me. A shadow… If there was a shadow above me something must have fallen on me. No. Not fallen… rammed into me… Yammy's spiritual pressure is nearby… Yammy must have slammed his massive fist into my head.' My scattered thoughts are interrupted by the realization that there is once again a shadow blotting out the sun. 'Yammy must be preparing to strike again. He must think I am an enemy. Ugh. I don't know how such an empty headed fool got to be ranked so high anyways.'

I know that if I wish to live I need to move; my body will not be able to withstand another full force blow from the strongest espada. However I just can't muster the willpower to force my aching body into action. I am not even sure that I wish to escape my impending death. After all, this world is so empty without him, my only companion, and my long time friend.

I allow a faint smile to grace my stoic face as I resign myself to my fate, and my body tenses in preparation for the blow. To my great shock it never comes. Instead I feel wind swishing past my face and the gentle rhythm of someone walking. 'Why am I still alive?' The wind is chilly and I find myself instinctively moving towards the warmth by my left shoulder. 'Warmth by my left shoulder… rhythm of someone walking… Am I being carried?' Yes, that must be it. My companion has stepped in at the last moment and saved my life, just like he always does when I am in danger. I should let him know I am all right.

"Ulquiorra" the whisper slips past my lips, emptying my lungs of air. I inhale to tell him I am fine. The sweet smell of sakura trees in blossom wafts around me, and my reassuring words are caught in my throat. 'Sakura trees. Ulquiorra does not smell like sakura trees.' My eyes fly open, and I find myself staring at the black uniform worn by all soul reapers.

*Change of POV. 3rd Person*

Byakuya looked down at the woman in his arms, wondering why he had saved someone who was most likely an enemy. A barely noticeable smile ghosted across his face as he found himself staring down at hers once more. She looked so familiar to him, yet he couldn't figure out where he might have seen her before. His eyes narrowed slightly as his keen ears picked up her barely audible murmur. Who in the world was Ulquiorra?

"Brother? Who is that?" Byakuya did not respond as his attention was caught by the rapid approach of the giant espada's fist. There was no way for him to get the wounded soul reapers out of the way before that fist reached them. His eyes narrowed in concern as they helplessly followed the fist as it swung through the air. There was no way he could stop that fist, he simply wasn't physically strong enough.

In his distress he forgot about the woman that he held bridal style in his arms, and he did not notice when she scrambled out his grasp. The woman glanced at the man that had recently saved her life, her vibrant blue eyes taking in the distress in his steely gaze as he watched the rapid approach of her fellow espada's fist. She watched as he raised his elegant hands and recited a barrier spell. Both the man and the woman knew that the barrier would not be enough to stop the fist.

A split second before the fist crashed into the barrier there was a sudden blur of motion. With a loud crash the barrier split in two, barely slowing the fist. Byakuya and the conscious injured soul reapers braced themselves for impact that they knew was coming. To their great shock there was none. Raising his head to discover the reason, Byakuya found himself gazing upon a rather shocking sight. The woman that he had rescued earlier was standing a few feet above the ground. She had both of her arms lifted above her head, her slender hands spread out against the espada's massive fist. Her head was lowered and her ebony locks curtained her elegant face.

It was evident that the woman had stopped the espada's blow, yet Byakuya was having trouble believing that such a delicate looking creature could be so strong. He stared at the woman allowing a small portion of his disbelief to seep through his emotionless mask. She raised her head causing the curtain of hair to fall back into its normal position, and revealing her face.

"Yammy" The woman spoke in an emotionless yet commanding monotone. It was clear she expected to be listened to when she spoke, although Byakuya couldn't be certain that she would care whether or not she was. The gigantic espada turned his head toward the source of the voice, and squinted his eyes in an effort to locate the speaker.

"I am under your fist, baka." Yammy glanced towards his fist, and then slowly raised it.

"Eh? Is that you princess?" The woman lowered her arms to her side, as they were relieved of the weight of the espada's fist.

"How many times have I told you not to call me that Yammy?" There was not a single emotion in the woman's voice as she spoke, despite her apparent annoyance at the large espada. Byakuya was tempted to raise an eyebrow at the seemingly emotionless woman as she nonchalantly stuffed her hands into pockets that were hidden in her uniform.

"Eh. Sorry prince-. Er… I mean Nashiya." Nashiya dipped her head in silent acknowledgement before turning to face the soul reapers that she had recently saved.

Her dark blue eyes locked on Byakuya's steely grey ones as she spoke, "Do not think that I saved you because I am your ally. It was simply out of obligation. You saved my life so I saved yours. We are even now soul reaper." Byakuya narrowed his eyes slightly in response, his mind wandering off into the past to when his twin sister, who had also been named Nashiya, had lived. The woman watched him with a disinterested expression as her own eyes became unfocused.

Byakuya's mind snapped back into the present when the massive espada roared and swung his fist towards them again. Nashiya turned towards Yammy and raised her hands again, sinking a few feet lower in the air when the massive fist slammed into her. Her eyes narrowed slightly. If Yammy chose to attack while she was still standing there, then she would treat it like he was attacking her. Her lips turned up in a miniscule smile, she was in a really bad mood today and this provided her with the perfect excuse to take out her anger on someone. In one swift, fluid movement Nashiya drew her elegant zanpacto and leapt up into the air.

How was it? I hope it's okay I am really not too fond of this chapter. I still have not gotten any reviews, but that's okay. If I have made anyone OOC please let me know.