I'm terribly sorry this has taken me so long to update. Long story short, my iPod died (permanently) , school happened, prom happened and life happened. But hopefully you aren't too mad.

Huge, magnificent thank you's to:

rabiosarabiosa

Okyptos (I shall try!)

InkOverLoad (Thank you for giving it a try!)

KhAel (I'm sorry!)

VampireSiren (tee hee)

skycord1990

Bibliophile Nicole (I'm so happy you like her, and that you like them in the "real world." :])

safa56bmc (heh heh, you are welcome)

Please enjoy!

Warnings: AU plot, slight OOC'ness

I don't own anything Bleach related! This is a fanfiction, for fun!

"I'm glad you're here. For a moment I thought you weren't coming."

Fighting back the urge to sigh, Noa stared at the large hands clasped around a dainty teacup. Aizen smirked victoriously at her from his desk, and took a sip from the china cup.

She had hoped, when she woke up, that perhaps it had been a nightmare and she wasn't actually transferred to the Las Noches division. But she knew that she wasn't that lucky, so she dressed in black pants, a gray pinstriped blouse and, after putting her hair up in a tight bun, left for work. The train ride had been more unpleasant for her than usual, for she was unable to find anything pleasant to think about. And from the moment she had stepped inside Aizen's office, there was a hard pit in her stomach, threatening to rise up. All in all, it was going to be one of thosedays.

He didn't wait for her to reply. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint me. It's important to make a good impression on your superiors when starting a new job. You of all people should know that."

She didn't know what to do. Noa neither agreed nor disagreed with him; either could prove to be dangerous. Remaining cautious was her best bet, or else she might not ever get out of here.

"What would you like me to do, sir?" Noa asked, changing the topic. Work, at least, would give her something to do, instead of standing silently and looking like a fool. She had no idea what he expected her to do; she really wasn't that versatile outside of editing and related things.

She could feel his smirk grow. "Eager, hmm? Very well." Reaching into his desk, he pulled out a slim packet of papers. "I have a meeting in a few minutes. Would you be kind enough to read through these and create a summary while I'm gone?"

'Like you're really giving me a choice...'Noa took the papers, flipping through them. Statements and a analysis of the months earnings were contained within. Nothing too hard, but with Aizen you never knew.

"What should I do with them once I've finished?" She tucked the packet under her arm, watching as Aizen rose from his seat and donned his jacket. He glanced at her.

"Just leave them on my desk. The meeting shouldn't be too long, so you can wait here until I return. We'll discuss your pay and hours then."

Nodding, she step aside as he picked up a slim black tablet and left. Letting out a huge sigh, Noa pulled up a chair and sat at his desk, reminiscent of her first days in the Gotei 13. Pulling out her laptop, she booted it up and looked through the papers as it warmed up.

It wasn't long, but the information within was extremely detailed. As she read on, she was surprised he gave her this in the first place. She doubted this information was widely available outside of this office.

"He's putting a lot of faith in his new employee," she muttered to herself. "He probably knows I'm not stupid enough to let this information leave the office, accidental or not. Better men have been killed for less."

Noa got to work right away, summing up the articles and information into detailed statements short enough to be skimmed through. It wasn't easy, condensing so much information into a few paragraphs, but she accomplished it, although her eyes ached afterward.

Placing the new page on top of the others (the building's network gave her access to the printers in his office), she leaned back in her chair and sighed. It had been a little over two hours since Aizen had left, and even though she was bored she wasn't looking forward to his return. Being around him, especially when alone, was confusing. A mixture of fear, awe, respect and repulsion bubbled inside her when in his presence, along with a not-so-subtle hint of attraction.

'I can't help it,' she moaned to herself. 'I'd have to be blind not to be attracted to him, and even then the raw ambition pouring out of him would be enough.'Biting her lip, Noa placed her cheek on her hand and stared out the window. The view was lovely. The sky was a deep blue today, and the buildings in the distance sparkled in the sun. She wondered if Aizen picked this view on purpose.

Standing, she walked over to the huge floor length window that stretched across the back of the room. The city was laid out before her, layers of roads and buildings and parks. From this vantage point you could see straight across to the sea, and the hills bordering the bay. There was only one floor above her, the rooftop, and she doubted any other place in the building had such a view as this.

"Amazing, isn't it." That deep baritone shocked Noa out of her reverie, and she turned, some of her hair flying out into her face. 'I didn't even hear the door open!'

Aizen laid his jacket on his chair, and picked up her summary. Noa stood in front of the window, hands behind her back, and watched him.

"Very impressive," he said finally, putting it back on the desk. "I honestly didn't expect such work. For someone so young, you are much more capable than others."

"T-thank you..." Noa said, taken aback. She didn't think it was thatgood, but he hadn't sounded like he was mocking her. Deciding to accept the compliment, she returned to the front of his desk, sitting as he did the same.

"I take it you like my view?" Aizen asked, large hands on the armrests of his chair. Noa nodded, back straight.

"Yes. I've never seen the city like that before. This vantage point is very unique."

"The only one like it in the city," Aizen agreed. There was brief moment of silence as both parties examined each other. A strand of hair fell across her shoulder, and Noa flinched, resisting the urge to fix it.

"Now, about the particulars," Aizen spoke, leaning back in his chair. "Officially, you're here as my personal assistant. You take orders from me, and only me, except when told to do otherwise. Don't worry," he added, seeing a grimace cross her face, "I won't be sending you to fetch my tea or call my driver. That's Loly's job. Your position is much more...involved."

Noa swallowed, and nodded again. That was already obvious by the work she had been given earlier, but it sounded somewhat ominous coming from him.

Aizen continued. "Your hours are only slightly different. You work five full days a week, from 8 to 6. Weekends you have off, unless I call for you to come in. You work in here, and-"

Noa tuned out slightly as he went on. The hours and days were only slightly different, but it was significant enough to make her nervous. She had the hours at the Ninth Division on purpose; she made just enough to live comfortably and pay her apartment rent, utilities and grocery bill. 'I might need to cut back on some frivolities...'

"-And your pay is double what it was before, with included benefits." Aizen paused, waiting for her to react. "Does that sound fair to you?"

Her mouth dropped open. 'Double?' She could hardly believe it. It would have taken her almost ten years to double her salary at the Gotei division, and on her first day here she was already making more than most of her college friends. Combined.

But, despite all this, there was a slight snag.

"What's the catch?" She asked, brow raised. Aizen smirked.

"Catch? There's no catch. Except..." Noa froze, afraid to hear what was next.

"Occasionally you will accompany me on various outings. Mostly business ventures taken outside of the Seireitei Inc. grounds. You'll perform the same duties there as in here, except for a few small additions."

Still suspicious, Noa frowned. "That's it?"

Aizen nodded. "That is all."

It really wasn't what she had expected, Noa realized. She was being granted much more freedom than she had anticipated, and despite being labeled as his personal assistant, she really couldn't see a loophole in what he was saying.

Except for the fact that there was a huge knot in her stomach, but that had been there ever since she had met him.

'My main goal is still to get back to the Ninth Division,' she told herself. 'But while I'm here, I might as well make the most of it...'

A small appeasing smile appeared on her lips. "Sounds fair to me."

"Ukitake, sir? Can I speak with you for a moment?"

The smartly dressed white-haired man looked up from the table where he was sitting. "Shūhei! Of course. Sit down."

Thanking him, Shūhei sat across from the smiling man. Jūshiro Ukitake, one of the highest ranking men in the Gotei 13, and in the entire corporation. Smart, trustworthy and loyal, he was the first person Shūhei had thought of as a way to get Noa back into his department.

"What can I help you with?" Ukitake asked. His hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, and his pale hands were open on the table in front of him, inviting and kind.

"I've recently run into a bit of trouble, sir," Shūhei began. "With Aizen, of all people."

A dark frown appeared on Ukitake's face, and Shūhei knew he made the right choice in coming here. Aizen had been one of Ukitake's prodigies, along with Shiba Kaien and Kuchiki Byakuya. His defection had hit him particularly hard.

"What's Sōsuke done now?" Ukitake asked sternly.

"Stolen one of my editors," Shūhei explained. "Took her right out from under me." He pushed a file across the table to Ukitake, who picked it up.

"He had her transferred completely in one night. I can't get her back on my own, seeing as he's ranked ten times as high as I am, and her trying to transfer herself would be disastrous at best." Ukitake nodded as he flipped through the file. "And I couldn't find any loopholes in the paperwork. Is there anything I can do?"

"Hmm..." Ukitake put down the file and rubbed his chin. "Not directly, no. Those forms are as official as it gets. What that man wants, he takes, by force if necessary."

"I know sir," Shūhei agreed, "But I just can't leave her there."

"No, that wouldn't be fair to Miss...Ueshima, was it?" When Shūhei nodded, Ukitake sighed.

"I'll see what I can do. It might take a while, but I'll let you know as soon as something comes up." Thankful, Shūhei shook the older mans hand.

"Do you know why Aizen transferred her over there?" Ukitake asked, pulling out a pen and notepad. "Might be useful." Shrugging, Shūhei stood.

"She mentioned something about him "grooming her into power", or something like that. I'm guessing the bastard just likes her potential, and exercising how much control he has in the corporation."

Nodding, Ukitake scribbled on the pad. "Most likely. Don't worry too much, Shūhei, I'm sure there's something we can do."

Smiling softly, Shūhei turned to leave. "I hope so, sir."

The digital clock on his desk switched to a pixelated 6:00 p.m. Looking up from his desk, Aizen watched as Noa stood quietly and gathered her things.

"Have a nice evening, Miss Ueshima," he murmured, amused. Noa merely nodded to him, and slipped out of his office without so much as a goodbye.

That didn't bother him, though. 'We'll get there eventually,'he smirked inwardly.

The last hours of her workday were relatively quiet. She dutifully did what was asked of her, only speaking once or twice to ask for information on something regarding whatever she was working on at the moment. Aizen had done his own work, and after a few hours he found he enjoyed her silence. She gave off an air of discomfort at times, which was to be expected, but as she became more and more absorbed in her work there was a calming aura around her as well. It was actually quite relaxing, after the hustle and bustle of the meeting and other duties.

Pushing away his keyboard, Aizen relaxed into his chair. As the boss, he made his own hours and could leave whenever he wanted. He didn't even have to come into work everyday if he didn't feel like it the company was stable and he had capable people to run it for him. But he liked being involved, there was less of a mess to deal with if everything went through him and he had a hand in the proceedings.

At least, that's what everyone thought and what he put forth on the outside. Truthfully, he wasn't always eager to leave the office, especially if it meant returning to an empty flat. Popular culture idolized the idea of the wealthy bachelor, but in actuality it was extremely lonely. And loneliness only led to disappointment and weakness, and if there was one thing Sōsuke Aizen hated, it was weakness.

So he turned his loneliness into strength. He was a wall, a wall made of loneliness and power and fear, and that wall was impenetrable. He would not allow himself to fall, because a wall, once fallen, is useless rubble, easily opening the mind and heart beyond to an easy capture.

He could see a wall in Noa too. It wasn't quite as strong as his, lacking the lifetime of loneliness and power, but it was there. Hers was built upon ambition and love, caution and trust, a wall that kept her to her goals and away from outside interference, against any invaders. A wall Aizen could easily break, and one he planned on destroying. Because once that wall was down, he could easily invade and conquer her, and then his plan would be complete.

The sun was falling outside his window, as as the shadows grew the automatic lights inside his office blinked to life, dimming as if they matched the atmosphere. Swiveling in his chair, Aizen gazed at the dying sun as it sank behind the city and into the bay, knowing that as soon as night was over the sun would be reborn, and usher in a new day full of opportunities in which to break the walls surrounding Noa's heart.

After getting home, Noa drew a warm bath. She was utterly exhausted, especially since the trains had been over an hour late. There was only so much standing in heels she could handle, so she had taken her shoes off while waiting. The bath was so she could relax her tired muscles and scrub the grime off her feet.

"I need to get a nice pair of flats, or even pumps. Something professional enough that I can wear them to work," she sighed as she sank into the water. "Aizen won't mind, since I'm stuck in his office all day anyways..."

That was probably the only thing she truly had a problem with in all these new arrangements. Being forcibly transferred and forced to work for a powerful and intimidating man was pretty bad, yeah, but had really loved her little office back in the Ninth. It was so cozy and peaceful and hers. Now she worked directly across from Aizen, who watched her with all the interest of a hawk staring at a mouse.

He had spent most of his time staring at a computer screen and writing on official looking papers, but every so often she could feel his eyes drift to her, bent over the desk and scribbling away. She rarely looked up, but the intensity of his gaze was strong enough for her to know he was looking. She was afraid to look up, afraid to stare into those deep, hypnotic brown mirrors.

Fortunately, his attention was soon drawn away, and she could return to her quiet work. It was quiet, but it was enough to keep her mind occupied.

"Double the pay is worth it, though," she murmured to herself, and instantly felt bad. Was money really enough to distract her from her goals, from the perfect little job at the Ninth? She had wanted to work in the Gotei 13 ever since her first year of high school, when her honors class had taken a field trip to the Seireitei Inc. grounds. It had been an impressive sight for a fifteen year old, and after taking a tour of the Gotei building her mind was set. She had worked the rest of her high school and college career to shape herself into the best person for the position she wanted. Was that really going to be wasted on the first person to throw money in her face?

'That's not power,' she decided, blowing bubbles around her submerged face. 'That's coercion. He's trying to make me stay by feeding me the choicest bits on a gilded platter.' Raising her head, she squirted shampoo into her hand and scrubbed her hair furiously.

'And you know what, Aizen? I'm not gonna fall for it! You won't trap me so easily!'

Thank you for reading! Reviews are loved, but you don't have to. ;)