Chapter 3

On the way back to squad 11's barracks the two were incredibly silent. Zaraki was becoming bored with Aria. "Hey, woman."

"My name is Aria, thank you very much Captain Zaraki," Aria retorted, looking at him with fire in her eyes.

"Ch, I don't care what your name is, I will call you Woman if I want to," Zaraki said. Maybe if I get her worked up she would be willing to fight. Haven't had a good fight in a while.

"You are stubborn as a mule, aren't you?" Aria surmised.

"I suppose so, and I don't really care. I just want a good fight sometime soon," Zaraki said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

"And I suppose you want to fight me?" Aria suggested.

"Yeah."

"Well, too bad. I don't fight unless need be, especially someone who is an ally and I can beat easily," Aria said as she turned away and kept walking.

"I won't give up that easily," Zaraki said as his hand went for his sword.

Aria eyed him as she responded, "Do you really want to?"

"Yeah, a fight with you…" Zaraki said as he blacked out.

A Little Bit Later

Gnnnn…what happened? Zaraki asked as he came to. He looked around where he was. He was in the middle of the road in front of squad 11's barracks. How the heck did I get here? He thought to himself.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," a voice chipped beside him.

He sat up straight and looked at the person who said that. Aria was sitting there cross-legged and grinning. "What did you do?" Zaraki yelled.

Aria leaned back. "Maybe I will tell you, maybe I won't."

Zaraki stood and leaned over her menacingly. "Nobody has taken me down, especially that fast. Tell me now."

"Or else?"

"Or else what?" Zaraki said, confused.

"Nevermind, but if you haven't noticed the time, it is almost lunch time and you still need to show me where my room is," Aria said calmly as she stood up.

Zaraki was getting frustrated with this woman. "You knock me out and then tell me to do something?" Zaraki grounded out. "Woman, you frustrate me!"

"Well, looks like I have done my job well," Aria smirked.

Zaraki glared at her, "You little…"

Aria held up her finger. "Hold that thought." She stood there looking into his eye. "You are upset at me, but not too upset. But still…"

This woman is frustrating! Zaraki thought. " 'But still' what?"

Aria bowed her head as her voice cracked. "I don't want an ally to be upset at me." She looked up at Zaraki's face with tears in her eyes. "What can I do for you to not be upset anymore?"

Zaraki was shocked. A woman crying just because he was upset? Was he upset? He was a moment ago. But what was he upset about? Ch, whatever. "I don't know what you are talking about. I am not upset cause I never get upset."

Aria sniffed. "You weren't?"

"No. Now what was it that we are suppose to be doing?" Zaraki said, confused.

Wow, he really is a sucker for a crying woman. Make a mental note of that, Aria thought as she looked down at the ground. "You were suppose to be showing me where I will be staying," she said meekly.

"That's right," Zaraki said as he walked into the gate. Aria followed him as he wound his way in the maze-like halls, turning left, right, right, left. Suddenly Zaraki stopped as he looked around.

"What's the matter, Captain Zaraki?" Aria asked as she came up beside him.

Zaraki looked at her and looked forward, "Please call me Zaraki. I do not like formal titles."

"Ok, Zaraki," Aria said quietly. "But what is the matter?" Zaraki looked around him, confused. Aria did a face palm. "You are lost, aren't you?"

"What does that matter to you?" Zaraki growled.

"Because I have to be somewhere in an hour, and if you are lost to find my room, then I will be late to that meeting," Aria said calmly. "Also, how can a captain be lost in his own barracks?"

"Are you insulting me?" Zaraki glared at her.

"Yes, I am calling you a dense, stupid person. You have been here for years and you have not learned your own barracks? I have been in the Seireit for two years and I know those mazes better than you know your own barracks!" Aria shouted at him, wondering how someone can be so dense.

Zaraki looked at her shocked. She can be a little tempermental. "You have been here for two years?"

Aria clapped her hands over her mouth. "Did I just say that?"

"Yes, you did," Zaraki smirked. Black mail "Did you tell the old man?" Aria shook her head no. "I suppose you don't want him to know?"

Aria groaned. "What do you want?"

"What are you talking about?" Zaraki asked innocently.

Aria sighed. Is he really going to do this to me? "What is the price for you to not tell the old man?"

Zaraki grinned. I like this girl. It is going to be a lot of fun. "I would like you to tell me what you did earlier to knock me out."

Aria looked at him surprised. "That's it?"

Zaraki leaned in. "It's a start."

Aria groaned. "Alright, I will tell you. I hit a specific nerve that is in the neck that makes someone pass out."

Zaraki looked at her. "That's it?"

"That's it."

Zaraki nodded as Ikkau and Yumichika walked around the corner.

"Oi, Captain, we were looking for you. Lunch is almost…" Ikkau stopped when he saw Aria standing there. "Captain, who is this?"

Yumichika came up on the other side of her. "Yes, please tell us. It is a pleasure seeing another beautiful creature in this squad other than me."

Aria leaned towards Zaraki as she eyed Yumichika. Fruit cake.

"This is Aria. She will be staying with us for a little while," Zaraki said quickly. "Aria, I still need to show you where your room is," he said as he grabbed her wrist.

"Zaraki, I still need to know these guys' names. Aren't you going to tell me?" Aria said as she jerked her wrist out of his hand.

"She is right captain, it is improper etiquette to not introduce all parties," Yumichika said as he bowed to Aria. "I am sorry for my captain's impoliteness. My name is Yumichika, Fifth Seat and the bald one is Ikkau, Third Seat."

"I heard that."

Aria smiled and bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. As Zaraki said, I am Aria. I hope I can get to know you both better during my time here."

"Ok, everybody has been introduced. Let's go, Aria," Zaraki said as he grabbed her arm.

"O-ok, see you guys around!" Aria shouted as Zaraki dragged her around the corner. "Do you really have to drag me?" Aria said as she planted her feet into the floor.

"Yes," Zaraki said briskly, dropping her arm. "Here is your room."

"Oh, ok, thank you," Aria said, looking at him confused. What is up with him?

"Are you going to be joining us for lunch?" Zaraki asked looking away.

"No," Aria said simply.

Zaraki looked at her. "Why not?"

She cocked her head. "Do you want me to?"

"It doesn't matter to me."

"It seems like it does."

"No, it doesn't."

"Whatever. I am meeting people in a half hour and it takes about that long to get there. I may see you at supper, though, I am sure," Aria said politely. What the heck is going on with him?

"Ch, ok. Just wanted to know," Zaraki said as he turned to leave. "Supper is at 5," he said as he left the room.

Aria stood there and blinked. "That…was strange." She looked at her watch. "Oh no, I need to run!" she shouted as she flash stepped out of the room, not noticing where her room was.