Okay, so I figured; why wait for nothing when you can upload another chapter? :D

Disclaimer: I do not own the Bleach universe or any of its characters, nor will I ever.

Claimer: I do own Lucia, Haley, Vilde, Mai, Shirubaa Doragon, Aoi and the plot, plus whomever you've never heard of in the series.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Six years later

Six years had passed since the incident. Lucia hadn't forgotten, but many others had. She and Shinji were the only ones who still even talked about it. Sousuke had become weirder. He behaved like every day was the last day on, well, not earth, in Soul Society then.

Gin was the same as usual. And during those years, Lucia hadn't done anything with her feelings towards Shinji. They had only increased. Sousuke had seen this, but never said anything about it.

At the moment, Lucia, Sousuke and Gin were eating breakfast, getting ready for a long day. As they were done they all walked out of the house and ran using Shunpo to the 5th squads barracks. When they reached it, Shinji was standing outside. Lucia felt the normal butterflies tickle her stomach as the three stopped in front of him.

"Lucia? A word, please," he said and they walked a bit away from Sousuke and Gin. "Where were ya last night?" he asked.

Lucia frowned. "I was out with Gin, taking him to the tenth squad. He wanted to meet Rangiku-san," she said.

"The newly appointed sixth seat?" Shinji asked confused.

"Hai. That's why he wanted to see her. To congratulate," Lucia said.

"Right. So you don't know what Sousuke did yesterday?" Shinji asked, and Lucia was getting more and more confused.

"Iie. I don't know. Demo what is all this, Taichou?" she asked.

"Another attack. Just like that six years ago," he said.

Lucia's frown deepened, and she glanced back at Sousuke. "Hn," was all she said.

Shinji walked closer to her, and she had to force herself calm, otherwise she'd probably blush herself to death. "Just tell me if ya see somethin' weird, right?" he asked.

Lucia looked up at him, trying to read his eyes, finding it impossible. "Hai," she said.

"Arigato," he said and walked past her over to his Fukutaichou.

Lucia walked silently after them, Gin beside her, and entered the Shinigami-chambers and started with her paperwork. She was finished within half an hour, and hoped there would be more. Now her mind would just drift to Sousuke like so many times before.

Maybe you should tell Shinji-san.
Since when did you call him Shinji-san?
Since I realized you loved him.
Not funny.
I am not trying to be funny, my sweet.
Hai, hai.
Shikashi Sousuke was out last night. I noticed his reiatsu was different. As if he had been drunk or something like that.
Maybe he was at a bar, then?
Not that kind of drunk. Like he had been real happy about something.
Okay, like what?
Maybe the vanishing had been successful this time?
What are you saying? That Sousuke is behind it all?
That is exactly what I am saying.
I couldn't believe that.
Dooshite?
Because he is my brother. My nii-san. My aniki. I believe in him.
That is the very problem. You have no judgment when it comes to Sousuke.
And you do?
Hai, because last time I checked, he was not my aniki.
Fine, demo what will you have me do? Turn him in?
Iie, shikashi tell Shinji about your worries.
I will decide that.
You will.

Lucia leaned back and closed her eyes. Maybe some relaxing would do the trick.

Then Aoi walked up to her. "You're coming to the party tonight, right?" he asked with a smile.

Lucia smirked. "Duh! I kinda promised Yoruichi, so I really have no choice. Demo Taichou is rather busy today, so I don't really know if she'll come. There's been more vanishing people, and therefore they have to stay alert, and so do we, right?" she said.

Aoi frowned. "Another vanishing? When?" he asked, shocked.

"You haven't hea- oh, right. I got to know from the Taichou," Lucia said.

Aoi chuckled. "You," he said.

"Me," Lucia agreed, "Demo don't say anything. It would be rather bad if it leads back to me."

Aoi nodded gravely. "Is there anyone out searching now?" he asked.

"I don't know, demo if there is, I'm sure it's from Kensei-san's team," Lucia said.

"True, they're always the first to know," Aoi said.

Lucia nodded. Then they fell to silence.

"Well, I have to go. I'll see you at the party?" he asked.

"Hai," Lucia said and he left.

She smiled after him, wishing he'd stay a little longer.

"Maybe ya should relax a little, ne?" Shinji asked behind her.

Lucia turned quickly and made a grimace. "Gomen," she said, referring to the fact that she told Aoi.

"It's okay. It was doomed ta come out soon anyways. And the fact that ya were the one ta do it, makes ya more human, so I'm glad," Shinji said with a wink of his eye.

Lucia punched his foot childishly and turned away, hiding her face as she felt it get a bit hot.

Shinji sat down beside her. "About Sousuke-"

"Don't," Lucia said harshly.

Shinji looked curiously at her.

"Just… don't."

That stopped Shinji from talking. They sat there in silence for a while before he rose.

"Don't go out to the river anymore, and hang around as many people as you can. The other Taichou's doesn't trust you after what happened six years ago," he said, "If you don't count Shunsui, Juushirou, Retsu-san and Yamamoto, that is."

"Yoruichi thinks I'm guilty?" Lucia asked indifferently.

"Hai," Shinji said silently.

"Okay," she said calmly and looked anywhere but him.

Shinji turned. "Ja ne (later)," he said and walked away.

Lucia waited a moment and then she felt the unease swallow her and she grabbed her knees, leaning her forehead on them and took deep, careful breaths. What she didn't know was that Shinji saw it from the distance. He frowned and wondered if he should walk back.

Iie. Do not go back to her. She needs to relax and take it easy for ten minutes, and that will not work when you are around her. She cares too much. Do not go back. She needs a moment to gather herself, and you seeing her like this would kill her.

She would not appreciate it if you walked back, because she would think of herself as weak, something she most certainly is not. She is the strongest person I have ever seen, and she handles so much. Much more than any person could. Not any Shinigami would be so capable. She is extraordinary.

Shinji froze as he heard the voice, but soon the words being said sunk in. He nodded to himself and whoever had said those things, and walked away with a short glance on Lucia.

Arigato.

Shinji looked around for the owner of the voice on the way back, trying to find an abnormal reiatsu, but he didn't see anything. Then he stomped into Sousuke.

"Taichou? Muguruma Taichou decided to send out ten Shinigami to check out the vanishing in the Rukongai," he said.

Shinji looked harshly at him. "Arigato, Sousuke," he said.

He walked past his Fukutaichou, who followed three feet after.

Hope you liked it, and I will upload a lot of chapter now. I'm trying to get done with this story as quickly as possible so I can continue on one of my other.

You know you love me
XOXO

-Gaaras Devil