XxXx Well this is the 20th chapter and I'm thrilled with all the reviews and reception I've been getting with this story. I never thought it would do as well as it has. This chapter will go into a little bit of Izuru and Emiko's feelings about things, also lots of Reina/Shūhei as well. This chapter is probably the longest yet. A little bit of a warning, there is a reference to sex in this chapter. I hope you enjoy and as always please review XxXx

Chapter 20

Emiko's POV

As I watched the tension between Reina and Shūhei grow the moment their eyes connected, it gave me a sense of relief. Reina was the one person I looked up to and because of her, I became a Third Seat in my squad.

Izuru was completely torn; it wasn't hard to notice that he really cared for her and that pained me on an emotional level. Sometimes I just wished he'd notice me more than he does.

The meeting ended with the announcement of Shūhei's temporary Captain Status and Reina's temporary full time Lieutenant Status. Izuru approached Shūhei cautiously after the meeting was dismissed and I figured he was about to say something; but Reina quickly interrupted. Her voice was a stern whisper and Izuru backed off, heading back in my direction.

"Lieutenant Kira…" I said softly.

He turned back to me and we watched them walk out of the conference room. The tension was thick between all of us and it could have easily been cut with a knife. I wanted to say something to him; but nothing came to me. His sorrow filled blue eyes stabbed me in the chest. It was such a heartbreaking expression.

Out of instinct, I reached for his hand. His skin felt warm under my touch. He turned to look down at me. His fingers clamped down around mine. He was accepting my comfort and all I could do was give him a smile, no matter how pained it really was.

"Emiko…" he said trailing off before saying anything other than my name.

"You don't need to say anything. I know how you feel about her"

"It doesn't matter how I feel about her…"

He was so hurt by the events. No matter what I told him, it wouldn't get through to him. "I know how you feel…" I started and waited for a response. His fingers laced with mine and warmth spread across my face instantly. "There is someone I care about a great deal; but to him I'm completely invisible" I finished.

He finally turned around to face me. His fingers left mine and the warm comforting feeling evaporated. The look in his eyes changed from sorrow to thoughtful in an instant. "I find that hard to believe" he stated.

"Oh it's true, he's from a different squad than I; but he definitely knows who I am" I replied.

"I see, well how about this….you and I be there for each other when we need comforted or just need to someone to talk to?" he asked reaching to tuck the stray lock of my hair behind my ear.

"That is perfectly suitable to me" I replied with a smile.

It might not have been the answer I was hoping for; but it was enough for now. Maybe things would develop from this new friendship. "We should probably get back to our squads" he said and walked passed me, touching my arm gently.

"Yes, sir"

"Oh and Emiko…"

"Yes"

"Just call me Izuru"

Another smile crept to my face and I nodded in agreement before he was out the door. I wished I could tell Reina about what happened; but I figured she and Shūhei were spending time together and I didn't want to interrupt them.

Reina's POV

Shūhei and I entered the office. The mountains of paperwork were clearly visible on both of our desks. I laughed a little at the sight, "Sorry, I've been a little busy with controlling my power" I told him. He walked over to the center desk, tracing his fingertips along the edges.

Somehow the temporary promotion to Captain didn't seem trilling to him. He acted like a lost boy without a guide. Was Captain Tōsen that much of a guide to him? I never noticed that the betrayal of our Captain affected him that much. I was so enthralled by the fact that my biological father turned out to be such a monster; I never gave a thought to how the others felt about the loss of three Captains.

"I'm sorry, Shūhei" I said.

"Huh? What are you sorry for?" he asked.

"I didn't realize that the betrayal of our Captain had such an effect on you"

He retracted his hand from the desk and started to close the gap between us. "I was so engulfed by the knowledge of my birth that I forgot about everything else" I continued and shifted my gaze to the floor.

I felt his hand cup my cheek and lift my head up with a finger from his other hand. His gray eyes bore into me; there wasn't a single shred of resentment towards me. "Reina, you have no need to apologize to me for the events that occurred" he stated.

"But…" I tried to protest.

His lips captured mine in a flash and all the tension drained out of me, leaving me weak in his arms. My knees were beginning to buckle under my own weight as his lips continued their soft caressing on mine. "My god, this man was going to be the death of me" I thought, so I decided to push for more.

Taking the opportunity to swipe my tongue against his, he groaned in the back of his throat. That deep primal growl only seemed to excite me more. I snaked my hands up his chest, grabbing his uniform in my hands for better leverage. I could feel his growing arousal against my belly and it excited me even more. Our tongues danced along each other, battling for dominance.

Without warning, He pulled away. I didn't understand why he pulled away. I put myself out there and he still resisted. Was it because he knew of my innocence when it came to intimacy? "Did I do something wrong?" I asked quietly, fearing the answer to my question.

Shūhei's POV

Her question only made me feel worse. She was perfect and I just couldn't seem to get over the fact that she was innocent. I didn't feel worthy of her. Reina's expression hurt me more than words could describe. "I see" she said and moved out of my arms.

I found no words on my tongue in attempts to stop her. She sat down at her desk and started work on the large stacks of paperwork. My body moved on its own to sit down at Captain Tōsen's desk. Starting the work in front of me, I looked in Reina's direction and saw the hollow expression of closing ones-self off from emotions. I had hurt her deeply and now I knew I had to fix it somehow.

I reached into my pocket cautiously and felt the box inside. "This reminds me of Reina, don't you think?" Remembering Rangiku's words about the item inside the box, made me smile. Once I give her this, I hoped things would get better.

"Shūhei" Reina said emotionlessly.

I looked up from the paper in front of me. She handed me a grouping of five papers. "They need your signature" she said again. I quickly signed the papers and realized that they needed to go to Squad Three immediately. My heart ached at the thought of her going there in this emotional state of mind; I was liable to lose her to Izuru.

"I'll return as soon as I deliver these" she stated.

"Reina…"

"Yeah…"

"I'm sorry. You didn't do anything wrong"

Her back was still to me and all I could see was the light mint color surrounding her spiritual pressure. Her emotions controlled her still; but she was in far better control now than she was when I left for the World of the Living. "Then why did you pull away?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"I just don't want to hurt you…"

"How would you hurt me?"

I blinked several times. Was she serious? Did she really not know? She turned to face me and saw my obvious stunned expression. A blush appeared on her cheeks and it was then she realized what I was talking about. "Shūhei, that pain in unavoidable" she stated.

I turned my head away from her eyes. She appeared in front of me, just mere inches away. "Do you not want me?" she asked. Her question was heartbreaking to me. How could I show her that I loved her without taking the one thing that made her different than all the other women?

"Reina, I do want you; but it's just not the right time yet" I replied.

She reached up to touch my face and I realized that she was smiling. "That's all you had to say, Shūhei. I want us to be able to be open about everything we think and feel." This woman was simply amazing and one day I'd prove it.

"Go on; take those papers to Squad Three"

"Yes, sir" she replied fairly sarcastically.

"Was that sarcasm in your voice?"

"No not at all"

She giggled, holding her hand to her lips. Moving her hands, I leaned down to place my lips on hers just once. "Go on and get back in a timely manner. I plan on taking you out tonight" I said with a sly grin.

Izuru's POV

This day couldn't have gone any worse. I was missing five pages in a report that needed to be turned in to the Head Captain today and Momo had Emiko so busy that I couldn't ask for her help. A loud knock on the door startled me. "Enter" I yelled.

The door opened and the one person I thought I'd never see again stood in the doorway. She walked in with a small folder of papers. "Reina…" was all I could say given how I was feeling at that moment.

"Sorry to intrude; but I brought you the last five pages of your report" she said.

I took the papers from her hand and flipped through them, making sure they were all signed. "Thank you, Reina" I said and laid them with the other pages. She smiled and turned to walk away; but stopped mid-step.

"Izuru…"

"Hmmm"

"Are we still friends?"

Her question almost seemed like a plea; a plea that was driven by emotion. She was hurt by the awkwardness at the meeting as much I was. "Of course we are; but it's going to take some time to get over you" I told her hoping that it didn't hurt her feelings. I couldn't bear to see that again.

"I understand perfectly; but there is someone who cares for you a lot"

"In theory, there is someone for all of us"

"It's not a theory. Emiko cares a lot about you"

My eyes went wide hearing her mention Emiko's name. Could it be true? I remembered what she had told me after the meeting. "There is someone I care about a great deal; but to him I'm completely invisible". I really did make it seem that way to her. I'm such a fool.

"I believe you now see what I'm talking about" she said softly.

"I'm such an idiot"

"No, you're not; but maybe you should look at what's in front of you instead of dwelling on me"

"You're right"

"I'm always going to care about you; but it will only be as a friend"

I smiled at her. She was right and maybe what I've been longing for was in front of me this whole time. Before I realized, Reina had left and I was alone with my thoughts.

Reina's POV

I was exceptionally happy that mentioning Emiko to him had such a positive result. He deserved happiness to and hopefully he'd find it before my father decides to make a move against the Soul Society.

The feeling of dread encased me in a black void of turmoil. Was he that power hungry that he'd actually hurt us? "You must focus on protecting the Soul Society when he does make his move" Ekō Suiiki reminded. I touched the hilt of my zanpakuto to calm her.

I returned to the office to find Shūhei already halfway through the stacks of paperwork. His eyes were narrowed, concentrating hard on the task before him. I just watched him from the doorway. The way his hand gripped the pen and how he moved his body to quickly go from one piece of paper to the next, was simply amazing. Everything about him was perfect.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked not looking up from the paper he was working on.

"No, I'm just admiring how perfect you are"

He instantly looked up and the look in his eyes was breathtaking. Two months in the Sereitei and a lot has changed for me; I was in love with my superior, my father was a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads before betraying all of us for more power, I was promoted to Co-Lieutenant after a short time within Squad Nine and I couldn't be happier despite what my father has done.

"I think it's the other way around" he said sitting his pen down.

He stood up and walked around his desk. I froze as he started to close the distance between us. I never really took a good look at the scars that were over his right eye. I wondered where he had gotten them from and also why he chose to tattoo the number sixty-nine on his left cheek.

Once he was close enough, I reached up to touch the scars. He almost flinched at my touch; but he refrained from it completely. "How did you get these?" I asked. He held my gaze without looking away; but I knew that the memory was a painful one.

"It happened on a training exercise in the World of the Living. I was a sixth year student and I was overlooking a group of freshmen practicing on dummy hollows"

"How did a hollow get passed your senses to even surprise you and your classmates?"

"Even now, I'm not sure; but I feel pretty confident that Aizen had something to do with it"

I was confused. Even knowing that my father was a traitor and he took the Hōgyoku from Rukia's body, I wasn't convinced he had something to do with the hollows that day. "Why do say that? I asked.

"Because the group of freshmen he and Gin saved that day was Momo, Renji, and Izuru"

"That makes sense; he used Momo from the start"

"Yes, and now I hope that Captain Hitsugaya can help her through this ordeal"

I almost had forgotten that Momo and Toshiro were childhood friends. My hand fell from his face and moved across to the other side. My fingertip of my index finger outlined the number tattooed on his cheek.

Shūhei's POV

The feeling of her fingertips tracing the tattoo on my skin was slightly erotic. I could tell she was curious about it. Thinking about the reason I got it in the first place made me also think about Reina's story of being saved by a Soul Reaper Captain.

"The tattoo was inspired by a Soul Reaper that saved me as a child"

"You were saved to?"

"Yes and I believe he's the same one that saved you"

"Huh…"

Her eyes expanded slightly at the realization. "I didn't really get a good look at him. All I remember is light silverish-gray hair" she said again and pulled her hand away from my face.

"Oh well, it was the past. Come on, I said I'd take you out tonight didn't I?" I said quickly changing the subject.

"Oh that's right, you did"

Her smile brightened my world on a whole new level. I needed to show her just how much she meant to me and I was beyond determined to do just that. Taking her hand in mine, I pulled her with me out the door. It wasn't long and she was walking next to me, our fingers laced together.

"Where are we going" she asked.

"There is a small place in West Rukon that has the best food. I'm taking you there"

"Okay"

The walk there was filled with small talk about my mission to the World of the Living. She seemed completely interested in what I was telling her and that was a total first for me. She never attempted to pull her hand from mine, no matter how many people passed us; but the sound of children screaming made her pull away and start running in their direction.

"Reina wait!" I yelled.

She was too far ahead to hear me. Using flash-step I caught up to her fairly quickly. A large hollow was in the process of devouring a child. Reina instantly went for her zanpakuto, releasing it from the confines of it sheath. I wanted to help her; but she turned to me with silent words of 'let me do this alone'.

I simply nodded in agreement and watched as the aura of her spiritual pressure surrounded her. "Crash Down, Ekō Suiiki" she called. The dormant blade transformed into the familiar rippled blade with a torrent of water surrounding it. The star charm dangled from the end of the hilt.

The hollow lost interest in the children fairly quickly after sensing Reina's presence. She quickly moved out of the way of his claws and slashed the right leg. Blood gushed from the open wound; but the thing was, that I could barely see her movement.

"Run children!" she yelled.

The small group of youngsters ran in my direction. The hollow bellowed a loud screech; but she stood firm in her place. Not a hint of fear was evident in her eyes as she looked at me, making sure the children were safely near me.

The hollow rose to attack her while her head was turned. I wanted to yell out to her; but she simply held her hand out towards the beast. A blue flame formed in her palm.

"Hadō 33 Sōkatsui" she called.

The flame burst from her hand, engulfing the hollow from all sides. I watched on as her eyes held the same iridescent color they held when her seal was first broken around her spiritual energy. The power I felt from her was unlike anything I had ever felt before. It was different, not really destructive; but it wasn't peace loving either.

When the smoke cleared, the hollow was heavily dismembered. Its right arm and leg were completely gone. "You are quite the stubborn one aren't you" she stated as she turned completely back around to face it. Her voice didn't really seem like her own when she talked; but I knew it was her.

Taking pity on the beast, she held her sword up as if she was praying for its soul. Leaping up into the air, she brought down her blade through the center of its head. It automatic began to dust away. Landing back on her feet, she re-sheathed her zanpakuto and turned back to look at me.

"Are they alright?" she asked.

So typical of her; she'd always put others before herself and that was one of the things I loved most about her. "They are just fine" I replied and as I said it, the children rushed towards her, surrounding her.

A smile replaced the solemn look she had while defeating the hollow. She took the time to answer all their questions before taking her leave. The sun had set behind the trees and the lanterns along the buildings were beginning to light up.

"Do you just want to back home? I'll cook something there if you'd like?" I asked.

"Yeah, I need to change. There is blood on my uniform"

I let out a laugh and pulled her into my arms. At least I knew that she could take care of herself. Unfortunately when the time comes that war is upon us, she'd be on the front lines and that was unsettling to me; but I couldn't think of that now, that was the future and the present was right in front of me.

XxXx Sorry that was a bad way to end a chapter; but I need to keep you guys guessing. I hope you all enjoyed. The next chapter is in the works already. XxXx