A/N: A special thanks goes to Cutefrog for the wonderful review and luckyknight13 for becoming a follower to this story. I know, another chapter already; but the ideas keep flowing and why not just post them as soon as they come. Onto number four, let me know what you think!

Chapter 4:

Tela Vuota

Shinji was still taken aback by her beauty. Auburn curls that were pulled up into a high ponytail and the purest blue eyes that he always seemed to get lost in. It was hard to think about the fact that she didn't remember what they had before her near death injury. Of course, then there was the fact that he had been suckered into a trap by his then Lieutenant, Sōsuke Aizen. Now he and seven others were trapped in between hollow and soul reaper. Not quite a hollow and not quite a soul reaper either; but had powers of both entities.

"How long have you been there?" She asked, not realizing that she had started a conversation with him the same way once upon a time.

"Long enough to see that you've definitely improved since the last time I saw you in action."

A subtle pink tinted her cheeks, just like it had the first time he complimented her. That thought alone brought a bigger smile to his face. Namika turned her head to the side slightly, obviously confused as to why he was smiling at her. Pushing himself from the wall, he turned to really face her fully. "So we've actually met before two weeks ago?" She asked softly, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Yes, we have."

"I wish I could remember…"

Namika was frustrated. The fact that she couldn't remember ever meeting him in the Soul Society was annoying. It made her feel alone. There could be other people that knew her and she'd never know it because of the memory lapse. "Calm down, it will be okay. One day at a time, remember." Kuroi ryū told her mentally.

Shinji took a couple steps closer, being cautious as to not scare her off; but the urge to just be near her was overwhelming. It's been close to a hundred years since he's laid eyes on her. He thought that he never would again, considering all he's been through over the last century. The hollow inside laughed at his emotions, taunting him with something that meant so much to him while he was a Captain in the Soul Society.

"It'll be fine. The memories will come back when they are ready to. You were so close to death that night...it's no surprise that there were some lingering complications when you awoke."

"Do you know what happened to me? All I know is that a hollow impaled me with a set of claws, leaving a scar on my chest; but I can't remember how it happened…"

"I wasn't there; but I was when they brought you to Retsu."

She studied his reaction to his answer to her question. There was pain behind his amber colored eyes. Was the flash of them standing on the hillside outside the training grounds of Squad Thirteen a real event? Had there been something between them? Why was her heart pounding so hard when he step closer to her? "How much of my life do you know?" She asked unconsciously taking a set back.

"Why did you really leave the Soul Society?" He countered with a question of his own.

"My brother is dead. I want revenge. I heard rumors that Kisuke was still alive and located here, so I fled with the hope he'd be able to train me to get stronger. There is something out there that is stronger than regular hollows...I can feel it. I'm pretty sure one of those things killed my brother." She answered clenching her hands into fists at her sides, refusing to look Shinji in the eyes while doing so.

"You're right...there are...but that is a story for another time."

Namika looked up from the ground to see Shinji walking towards her. He placed a hand on her shoulder in passing. "Keep your head up, Mika. Someday you will find all the answers you're looking for." He said and then kept right on walking. She remained frozen after hearing the nickname that Kaien had given her when they were kids.

Another flash appeared before her eyes, this time is was much longer. Like a memory of sorts; but it was still kind of hazy. When she finally turned around, he was gone. Stepping out into barren sidewalk, she started her run back to Kisuke's home. Hearing the name 'Mika' proved that he did know her and it was a breakthrough to something better. She wanted to remember everything she lost, no matter how bad or how good it had been.

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Shinji returned to the abandoned warehouse he called home with the rest of the victims of Sōsuke's experiment. Hyori was sitting alone, watching the others interact with each other. She was somewhat of the lookout and protector of the group. The one that was hesitant to trust anyone, including the ones that went through the same pain as she did.

"Where the hell have you been?" She asked alerting the others to his presence.

"None of your business." He quickly stated walking passed her to walk up the makeshift stairs to a room he called his own.

"Went to see the girl, didn't ya?" Kensei accused, his short silver hair came into view from the kitchen.

"Shinji, why torment yourself like this?" Lisa asked looking up from her swimsuit catalog.

It was the same every time he went to see her. There wasn't a day that didn't go by that he hasn't looked in on her. When he saw her sleeping on the floor at Kisuke's that day two weeks ago, he knew that he wasn't going to be able to let her go. None of them understood. He ignored their comments and continued up the stairs.

"What is up with that? He was fine up until that girl showed up." Hiyori asked.

"You don't remember? They were really close back in the day, until she came back from a mission near death." Love started to explain, sitting his comic book down to look at the smaller woman.

"Then she fell into a coma and then of course, we went through what we did." Rose finished pushing blonde hair out of his eyes.

Hiyori shut up, realizing that she had forgotten everything from the past between them. In her own way, she felt bad for him. After so many years, he thought that she was gone from his life forever and now she's right there in front of him again; but this time, she doesn't remember him at all.

Upstairs, Shinji stood in front of a cracked mirror. His long blonde hair had been the last reminder of who he had been. Using the blade of his zanpakuto, he severed the strands. He tossed them into a bag and then looked back into the mirror. His hair was now to his chin in length. It was a start to something new.

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Namika stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head. It felt good to take a hot bath after the day she had. Kisuke was busy working on something she didn't understand and Tessai was busy cleaning up the kitchen. She mindlessly walked into the room they had offered her to stay in.

Collapsing onto the bed, she stared at the ceiling in the dark. Her mind went back to her meeting with Shinji earlier on. Of course, thinking about him got her heart pounding again. She reached her hand up to touch her chest, right where the scar was. "Please let me remember something…" She whispered.

She forced herself to think back on the hazy flashes from earlier and held onto them tightly. After feeling a sudden snap, her vision became clear. Closing her eyes, she relieved something that she had forgotten so long ago.

"Do mind taking these to Squad Five for me?" Captain Ukitake asked.

"No, of course not, sir." Namika answered with a smile on her face.

He handed her the small stack of papers and sent her on her way. She walked out of the office to a beautiful warm day. The koi fish were swimming elegantly in the pond under the office. Sometimes, she just liked to watch them swim. It took a couple hours just to get to the barracks of Squad Five and another twenty minutes to get to the office the papers were supposed to go.

Kneeling in front of the office door, she knocked. In a matter of seconds, a young man answered the door. He wore the lieutenant armband around his arm. The dark of his hair matched those of his eyes. He had a gentle smile about him that gave a chill down her spine. "What can I do for you?" He asked softly.

"I brought these from Captain Ukitake. They are for Captain Hirako."

"He's right inside. Have a good day, Miss Shiba."

It surprised her to see that he knew who she was; but then again, he could have seen the crest tattoo on the inside of her left wrist. He stepped out around her, leaving her to walk alone to where the Captain was located. Quietly, she started her short journey inside.

Namika could see blonde hair from the top of a large stack of papers. She cleared her throat to get his attention. A hand moved the stack aside to see what had made the noise. His amber eyes connected with her blue ones. She swallowed the lump in her throat before trying to speak.

"Namika Shiba, Squad Thirteen, I have brought papers from Captain Ukitake." She announced.

"Shiba huh?" He said standing up from his chair and proceeded to walk around his next to stand before her.

"Y..yes sir…"

He could see the nerves all over her, that much was certain; but it was different than it had been standing before his lieutenant. Sure, she was nervous standing in the presence of a Captain that wasn't hers; but he just seemed different than she envisioned. "So you are the youngest in the family, correct?"

"Yes."

"Hmmm...I'd have to say the best looking of group."

The compliment burned her skin right at her cheeks, tinting them a soft pink. He reached to picked the papers out of her hands. Turning them over, he scanned the contents briefly. With a smile, he turned around to place them on his desk before returning to look at his guest. "You tell Jushiro I said thank you."

"Of course, have a good day sir."

"Same to you, Namika."

The way he said her name sent a pleasant shiver up her arms, leaving them in gooseflesh. She knew from then on, she wasn't going to be able to get him out of her head no matter what she did.

Opening her eyes, tears rolled down her face to rest on the pillow under her head. She hated feeling so helpless and alone; but that's exactly how she felt in that moment. She desperately wanted to remember everything and feel as happy as she had in that memory. "One day at a time. We will get there together." Kuroi ryū assured.

"Thank you…" She replied.

"There is no need to thank me. I am a part of you."

Smiling, she rolled over to eventually fall asleep. It wasn't without thoughts of Shinji and her brother. She vowed to avenge him; but would have to get much stronger if she wanted succeed in that venture.

Kisuke peaked into the darkened room to see that she was already asleep. He smiled to himself before walking back to his work. He knew there was more to the story she had told him initially about Kaien's death, so when she returned from her run begging for him to train her, it didn't come as a surprise to him.

"Are you going to do it?" Tessai asked bringing a cup of tea with him.

"There is no reason for me not to. The girl wants revenge and I honest can't blame her. I think we all do when it come to Aizen."

End Note: Tela Vuota means Empty Canvas