I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORY LINE AND THE CHARACTERS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW FROM THE ANIME/MANGA!

Chapter 10

For Me

Over another year had passed since the return of Chisa and the others and Hitomi's strength again continued to grow. But her nights of pain and sickness got closer together and grew worse. Sosuke had decided to give her time off and had disappeared from her for what seemed like forever, though truly it was just a month. She understood that he still had duties as a Lieutenant but still, it made her feel alone.

With Sosuke gone for a while, Hitomi found herself spending more time with her sister again, and that at least made her happy. She found out that Hiromi and Kisuke Urahara had finally 'tied the knot'. She was happy that her sister had finally found someone that she loved and gave Hiromi her blessings. As they would talk, Hitomi found herself learning about the Squad members as well.

Ukari Ishida had been learning to use a blade for close combat. For a Quincy, she wasn't doing too badly of a job with it.

Kameyo Kimu had never been in a dangerous situation like she had been when she was first found but she had taken a liking to Zaraki's new Squad(Hitomi had never met this Zaraki, but she had heard stories of him and had heard him when he came around the Barracks, looking for someone to fight). The woman liked to fight, there was no doubt about that, but she swore that she wasn't going to be leaving squad 14 anytime soon.

Kaoru and Kaori Jagen's secret had still yet to be learned and the two had been greatly accepted into the Soul Society. Kaori was given the name of the 'sweet butterfly' and Kaoru was known as 'Black Widow' due to their personalities. It was just a coincidence that those were in fact their Arrancar forms.

Shizuka Anyu, actually, had taken a liking to Chisa Kuchiki and the two of them were hardly seen inseparable since Chisa had returned from Hueco Mundo. Same as Byakuya, leaving the young Lieutenant hardly any peace and quiet; she didn't seem to mind it too much though.

You could find Manami Doshu either with Gin Ichimaru or at the Barracks with Shiori Teruka and Yuriko Yumiko. The three of them were quite fond of eachother.

Yuriko was, as said, with Shiori and Manami or off somewhere with Jushiro Ukitake. The same with Shiori, only with Zaraki and Yachiro.

You could find the three men of the Squad, Raiden Ryuu, Akihiro Hajime, and Faile Yamato always together drinking or playing cards as they complained about there being too many women. If anyone ever threatened to harm any of the said women the two would go on a rampage without a doubt, though.

Miyuki Gurana had actually taken a liking to another Captain of the Soul Society, Squad 9, and you would find her training with him and his lieutenant or with the Takora sisters.

Ayane Takora and her sister were almost always together before the Hueco Mundo incident but Ayami had grown a bit apart from her sister. Ayane had tried to find out why but her sister would always stay silent and refused to answer her.

In fact, all three of the women that had been left behind had changed, but not in a good or bad way. Tamiko was still her normal, mouthy self but not as bad as she used to be. She didn't go around bragging about killing Genrysai anymore, either. Ayami hardly smiled truthfully anymore but when she did it would brighten everyone's day. And as for Chisa, outside of her brother and Shizuka, you could always find her around a cat. She once made a comment about wanting to dye the cat's hair a light blue but whether or not she really did it, Hiromi had no clue.

"Something must have happened in Hueco Mundo," Hiromi was saying. "But they won't tell me."

"Don't worry about it," Hitomi told her sister. "When they want to talk about it, they'll tell you. You can't force things, Hiromi."

Her sister gave a smile. "Yes, you're right." She leaned back in her seat and squeezed her sister's hand. "I am glad that you have been getting better. It seems that introducing you to Lieutenant Aizen was a good idea."

"Y-Yeah," Hitomi nodded nervously. Her sister didn't know about the training that the said Lieutenant was putting her through and she didn't want to know what her sister's reaction would be.

"Here, I'll let you get some sleep." Hiromi stood. "Would you like me to bring you anything before I head to bed myself?"

"No, I'm all right." Hitomi answered her. "I appreciate it, though."

"All right. I'll see you in the morning."

As the door shut, Hitomi closed her eyes and leaned back on the pillows. She wasn't sure how long was there in silence, but eventually her presence was not alone.

"Miss me?"

She smiled. "No, not really."

"Hmph."

"So, what are our plans for tonight?"

"I didn't plan on having any." Sosuke sat in the chair that Hiromi had been in. "Think of it as 'the calm before the storm'."

"Then that means tomorrow night…"

"Something like that. Tomorrow is when everything is going to begin. All that I have planned…" He paused for a moment. "That's why I need you to rest. Tomorrow will be you…" He paused. "First mission."

"Mission?" She tilted her head in confusion.

"You would like to be a Shinigami wouldn't you? You'll just have to be one from behind the scenes. An undercover agent."

Hitomi stayed silent, thinking to herself for a moment. "A secret Shinigami…"

Sosuke felt the excitement run through her and smiled. "All explain everything tomorrow but as it's called a secret, you cannot let anyone outside of your team know."

"My team?" Her voice rose higher as a grin broke out across her face. She was going to meet more people tomorrow!

"As I said, tomorrow."

Things were silent for a moment before she sat up. "Sosuke…can we go watch the stars?"

He looked at her. "The stars?"

"Yes."

He took her outside and onto the roof of her room. They laid there for almost an hour in silence, just enjoying each other's company. All thoughts traveled through her mind and she finally sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing; just thinking."

"About?"

"Sex." Sosuke sat up immediately and stared at the woman beside him in shock. She didn't seem to notice. "The books that Yuriko and the others have given me, the ones about the love stories, they're just so…confusing."

"Confusing?" He settled down, realizing what she was talking about. "What makes you say that?"

"It just…doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather NOT have someone…invading."

"Perhaps…" Sosuke began cautiously. "But again you only say that because you, yourself, have not experienced feelings such as that just yet."

"True, but then who would want to do something like that with someone like me? Who do I really know besides women?"

"Perhaps all you need to do is look in the right place."

"But I don't know a…" Hitomi's voice fell when what Sosuke was trying to say hit her. "Sosuke…if I were to kiss you…" Hitomi looked over at him. "What would you do?"

Sosuke was still for a moment. He pulled his glasses off and rolled over, leaning on his elbow as he stared down at her. "Absolutely nothing." She flushed; her heart was beating in her ears and she felt her face getting warm. What was she supposed to do now? She had read scenes like this in books but never before had she- "Don't be afraid," He told her softly. He must have been a mind-reader.

Hitomi stared up at him, in those menacing brown eyes of his, and she found herself lost and frozen. She couldn't move herself to do what Sosuke was expecting…what he wanted…what they both wanted. Sosuke gave her a small smile, knowing what she felt, and decided to take it into his own hands. He lowered himself down closer to her, and placed his lips against her's.

In the stories that she read, the kisses between the man that set fires in the bellies of the woman spread with fire throughout her body with his kiss, but this was nothing like what she read. Sosuke's lips sent a warm feeling, yes, but it was nowhere near as warm as the books had said. The flame she felt was something different…something darker. She didn't know what it was at that time, all she knew was that she liked it. The dark feeling that this man was sending through her made her long for more and more of it, but as he pulled away from her, she stayed silent and just watched. Sosuke still wore that smile as he lay back down beside her. She watched him for a moment before rolling over; she snuggled into his side. Sosuke stared at her for a moment before his smile turned wider as he curled his arm around her shoulders. Things were silent for a moment as they just lay there together.

"This Hueco Mundo place," Hitomi began after more silence. "My sister has been there. I think…I think I would like to see it one day. If I am strong enough to…to make the journey."

Sosuke kissed the top of her head. "I will carry you there on my back myself."

"Would you really?" Hitomi pulled her head back and stared up at him. "Why?" she asked him. "Why would you do that? Why are you doing any of this for me? Is it because my sister asked you to?"

Sosuke continued to smile. "Hiromi has nothing to do with any of this. I told you before. Everyone around me is just a pawn that I can use for my own means. I am unaffected by any form of morals or ethics, they are just restrictions on my potential. I, therefore, will stop at nothing to further my ambitions, even if it means that I have to kill those in my way. But you…it seems that you are…something else. I'm not sure just yet, but the answer will make itself known before all of this is over. Until then, I shall just keep an eye on you."

"Then just what was…" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Never mind; it doesn't matter." She had time to think about his words from their first fight months ago and she had come to an answer. She didn't care.

Sosuke was the man that had stayed by her side for over five years now. He helped her. Trained her. Fed her when she wouldn't even move on her own. Hiromi was important, her sister, yes, but Sosuke…was something else. She had come to realize that she didn't care. If this man was going to use her, she didn't care. After all that he had done for her, she would do anything that he wanted her to. She would stay by his side as long as he stayed by her. She didn't care what he asked her to do, or what the result of it would be. If he wanted her to do anything…

"For me?" Sosuke's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She knew what he was asking. It seemed that they both were thinking the same thing. This was his final question as to whether or not she would go with him tomorrow night for whatever mission he was planning on partaking in. Would it be a good idea? She wasn't as strong as Sosuke, nowhere near it. Just how strong was she? Was she going to be able to…to survive?

"For you," She answered him. She curled up deeper into his side, letting his warmth travel over her cold limbs. "And only for you."

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