A/N: A new chapter yay! thank you everybody who added this story to their story alerts and fav story! thank you everyone who added me to the author alert and to their fav Author and last but not least thank you everyone who reviews!!

Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach.

Chapter 25

White Angel

"Stark!" Lilinette called walking through the barren wastes of Huco Mondo in search of the sleeping Espada. "Mr. Stark!!" she called again, a little louder than before.

Naturally she received no response and with a small sound of frustration continued to call out to him. "STARK!!"

XXX

Keiko who was a bright shade of red sat down next to an equally red Jushiro, across from an embarrassed Nanao and a grinning far too widely Shunsui at the table in Jushiro's squad thirteen room.

Keiko twiddled her hands in her lap. After Shunsui and Nanao had walked in on them they had instantly walked out to give them time to change… god Keiko was embarrassed in that moment and Leone wasn't helping!

'Hehahahahahahahahaha!' Leone continued to laugh from her subconscious, she had been doing this since the four had sat at the table.

"Soooooo…" Shunsui began stretching the word out with a voice that was filled with hidden amusement. "How did you meet out Jushiro?" his grin if possible grew wider.

Keiko's cheeks went redder. Jushiro answered for her. "We met in the human world. She and her Aunt are friends with Kisuke. I stayed at their home." He could almost see the lecherous thoughts that passed through his friends mind at that.

Shunsui opened his mouth to say something that was obviously going to be lecherous but Nanao cut him off. "I'm sorry I don't think we've been properly introduced. Ise Nanao." She gave the woman a small nod that was like a bow.

"Captain Kyoraku Shunsui." Shunsui gave her a nod.

Keiko bowed in her seated position. "Nezia Keiko." The pinkness from her cheeks had vanished for a while.

Nanao and Shunsui looked at eachother through the corner of their eyes as though the same thought was going through their minds.

Shunsui then looked over at Jushiro with a look of pity he could tell the girl was human which was bad enough but there was something else about her… however that could just be coincidence.

"So Miss Keiko," Shunsui began deciding not to think on the thoughts that were on his mind.

"Keiko." Keiko smiled, she really didn't like the 'miss' at the beginning of her name.

Shunsui nodded. "Keiko, how long have you and Jushiro been 'together'?"

Keiko and Jushiro went bright red. Jushiro let out a cough, he wouldn't have minded answering those types of questions alone with Shunsui but for some reason he found it embarrassing to answer them with Keiko and Nanao there.

"Umm… well we've known eachother for more than a w-week…" Keiko stuttered towards the end of the sentence. It sounded weird to her 'more than a week' It felt much longer than that and now that she had said it she felt somewhat whore-ish sleeping with a man she'd only known a little over a week. She glanced over at Jushiro, their eyes met and she smiled, something about those copper eyes always seemed to calm her.

Jushiro let out another cough. "But our relationship stared -cough- last night…" his voice softened towards the end and he took a sip of the tea he had made.

Shunsui nodded before turning his attention back to Keiko. "So how long will you be here for?" he was curious as to whether or not the human girl would be staying or whether she would be leaving. He didn't even want to imagine what Yamamoto would do if Keiko was staying.

Jushiro let out another cough.

Nanao's eyes became concerned as she looked at the captain.

"I umm… I'm going back today, but I'd like to come back soon." She glanced at Jushiro and smiled.

Jushiro returned the smile and opened his mouth to reply only to freeze as he felt a pain in his lungs. 'Oh no…' was all he thought before gripping his neck in pain and coughing hoarsely.

"Jushiro!" Keiko cried as she watched Jushiro's never ending coughs. She watched as he became increasingly pale. Her eyes then widened in horror as she watched blood spray from his mouth.

"JUSHIRO!!" she cried, then without even thinking she ripped her shirt off and placed it to his mouth, her spare hand moved to his back and rubbed soothing circles on it. "It'll be okay Jushiro. It'll be okay." She could feel tears of fear roll down her face.

Nanao moved to help Keiko and Shunsui rose to get Jushiro his medication.

XXX

"Thanks for letting me use your shower." Tiana thanked Urahara with a nod.

Urahara smirked. "You don't need to thank me."

Tiana smiled and stepped out of the shop. "I'd better go soon, I'm leaving for Vegas in a few hours."

Urahara's smirk widened and he stepped out of the shop. "Hope you have fun. I think I'd laugh if you came back married."

Tiana laughed. "I can see that. 'Tiana got drunk on her first night in Vegas and had a Vegas style wedding'" Urahara joined her in the laughter.

Tiana then sat down in front of the shop. "I think I'll relax a bit before leaving, you know?" she gestured for him to sit next to her.

Urahara smirked and sat cross-legged next to her. "Chocolate milk?" he offered and when she nodded he called out to Tessai. "Tessai!"

XXX

"Jushiro, are you sure you're okay now?" Keiko questioned as she watched the extremely pale Jushiro take his medication.

He nodded. "Y-Yes." He replied his voice crackling lightly. "Just a small attack…"

"Here you go Keiko." Nanao walked into the room and passed Keiko a spare shirt, it was one of Jushiro's and far too big but it really didn't matter right now.

"Thank you." Keiko took the shirt and quickly put it on. Once the shirt was secure on her she turned back to Jushiro. "What happened to you? Why were you so ill?"

Nanao and Shunsui went quiet and looked away. 'He hasn't told her…' they thought simultaneously.

Jushiro let out a sigh and looked at her with guilt ridden eyes. "I'm sorry Keiko… I haven't been honest…" he sighed again and looked into her eyes. "The truth is… I'm not well I… I have a form of…" he closed his eyes and opened them again. "a form of tuberculosis… now that you know… you… don't need to stay with me…" he had finally said it but now that he had said it fears of her leaving him because of it flowed into his mind, making him feel worse and he could feel his throat still burning lightly from his attack.

Shunsui watched with sad eyes as Keiko raised her hand and slapped him. He knew what was going to happen next she was going to call him a bastard for lying to her then ask to leave because she couldn't handle being with someone so ill, he had seen it happen before.

Shunsui expecting the worse was stunned by what happen next.

Tears rolled down Keiko's face as she scooted closer to Jushiro and wrapped her arms around him. "You bastard…" she sobbed. "You really think I'm going to leave you!?" she clutched him tightly. "Do you really think me that petty?" she kissed his cheek lightly, ignoring the traces of blood that touched her lips.

"Keiko…" he breathed wrapping his arms around her.

Shunsui's heart warmed at the sight before him, a smile graced his features. 'I like her.' he thought before looking up at his Nanao who was watching the scene with an expression that was close to his.

XXX

Tiana yawned and rose from her seated position. "I'd better get going now, gotta pack and all that."

Urahara shook his head. "You haven't packed yet? He questioned.

Tiana scratched the back of her head. "Uh… well mostly… but I still need to put a few things into my bag." She laughed nervously and handed Urahara her empty mug. "I'll be back soon!" with that she left.

Once she was gone Urahara rose. "Tiana…" he murmured shaking his head.

XXX

"What did you think of Shunsui and Nanao?" Jushiro asked as they walked to the area where they were going to meet Szayel and Ulquiorra so they could leave.

Keiko smiled. "They seem really nice… I like them." She held his hand a little tighter as they walked.

Shunsui and Nanao had left shortly after Keiko learning of Ukitake's illness this had given the two time to talk, and they had for a good hour, he had told her about himself and she had listened, listened to his stories about his life and the story of when he had found out he was ill. She hadn't spoken much opting to listen to him, it was nice to sit there listening to his voice and she had learned more about him in that time than she had in the time he had been in the human world.

"Captain Ukitake, Keiko." Szayel greeted as the pair walked into the meeting place.

"Hello." Keiko smiled and waved.

Jushiro gave a nod and turned his attention to a hell butterfly.

Ulquiorra remained silent waited for the portal to open.

'Time to go home…' She thought as Jushiro opened the portal.

XXX

Stark scratched the back of his head as he and Grimmjow left the Huco Mondo palace and entered the desert surrounding it. They had just finished discussing with Nnoitra about him being one on Grimmjow's best men. Nnoitra had chuckled and said. 'Sure, why not?'

"Will ya stop twitching!" Grimmjow snapped at Stark.

Stark laughed and put his hands in his pockets. "Have you ever had the feeling you've forgotten something?" he questioned holding back a yawn. There was something in the back of his mind telling him he had forgotten something.

Grimmjow sent him a look. "All the bloody time but then I remember. 'didn't fuck the berry this morning'"

Stark shook his head. "It's nothing like that."

XXX

"Here we are." Keiko spoke. "The human world."

Szayel walked around the area, studying everything in his sights. "Keiko, what is this?" he asked Keiko holding an object up in his hands.

Keiko giggled before going bright red. "PUT THAT DOWN!" she half yelled half shrieked.

"Why?" Szayel questioned looking at the white substance inside the 'item' he began to realize just what it could be.

"It's a… umm…" Keiko's face went a brighter shade of red as she tried to answer.

Surprisingly though it was Ulquiorra who answered Szayel's question. "It's a form of contraceptive." His face remained stoic but in his eyes the emotion of disgust could be seen. "A used form of contraceptive."

Szayel made a noise and threw the thing away. "Who leaves things like that on the ground? Humans can be so disgusting."

Keiko, deciding she didn't want to be on this topic anymore, began to walk. "Shall we go to my house?" she suggested tugging Jushiro's hand lightly.

Jushiro and Szayel nodded and the three of them went to move but they stopped when they realized that Ulquiorra was going in a different direction to them. "Where are you going?" Jushiro asked.

Ulquiorra didn't even look back as he answered. "Orihime." When Jushiro smiled and nodded the ex-Espada vanished.

"It would seem someone's in love." Szayel smirked.

XXX

"Some leek, onion, paprika, ice cream, wassabi and finally the corn flakes!" Orihime smiled as she mixed her breakfast. A breakfast that would terrify most humans.

Once she had made her breakfast she walked over to her table and began to eat it. Once she had finished her first spoonful she sighed, 'I wonder how Ulquiorra's doing…' she thought to herself. In actual fact she was beginning to miss the stoic arrancar, and wondered if she would ever see him again.

She let another sigh and her eyes moved down to a bandaged wound on her arm. She had been attacked by an hollow during the night, and it had managed to get her arm, however Uryuu had turned up and helped her defeat the thing so it didn't do too much damage.

She was bought out of her thoughts when she heard a soft knocking at the door. "I wonder who that could be…" she rose from her seated position and made her way to the door.

"Hello…" she spoke opening the door. When she realized just who it was at the door her eyes went wide and she froze in shock for a few moments before a soft smile graced her face. "Ulquiorra…"

XXX

"Well here it is…" Keiko shrugged as they stood by the fence of her house.

Szayel opened his mouth to say something only to freeze as the houses door flung open and out walked Tiana- still in pijama's- holding two large travel bags in her arms.

"Tiana?" Keiko spoke confused.

'This is the Aunt Tiana?' Szayel stared at the woman.

Tiana's head shot up. "Keiko! Jushiro! And umm…?" she looked Szayel up and down.

"Szayel Aporro Grantz." Szayel introduced with a small bow.

"Tiana, nice to meet you." she turned her attention back to Keiko. "Whatever you want from the house you better get it now, the house is going into lockdown."

Keiko sighed and pulled a face. "Why…?" she groaned.

Tiana put her bags on the ground and began fiddling with the buttons of the security system on the wall next to the door. "Because I'm going to Vegas for a week and don't feel comfortable having the house accessible without me in it for more than a night." She continued to press buttons.

Keiko's eyes went wide. "But where am I going to stay?"

Tiana glanced at Jushiro. "Either with him, Ichigo or Urahara take your pick." She went back to pressing buttons.

Keiko buried her face in her hands. What did she do in a past life to deserve an aunt as paranoid as this…

"I suppose you can stay with me for a week… I'm sure Yachiru would love to see you again." Jushiro tried to comfort her.

Keiko looked up and smiled at him. "Thank you…" she breathed. There was a moment of silence between them before her eyes went wide and her head shot to Tiana. "Don't lock the house up yet! I need to get some things!" with that she ran into the house.

Tiana nodded absentmindedly not really paying attention but paying attention at the same time. "Whatever she murmured pressing more buttons.

Jushiro stared at Tiana for a few moments and as he stared at her what he had talked to Yamamoto about came to mind and curiosity began to get the better of him. He stepped over to Tiana and questioned. "Tiana by any chance were you attacked by a hollow last night?"

Tiana paused what she was doing and looked at Jushiro. "Last night?" she pursed her lips in thought. "Nope, wasn't attacked by any hollows. Why?"

Jushiro shook his head. "Never mind…" he walked back and stood by Szayel on the footpath.

"Now you can lockdown the house…" Keiko sighed as she walked out of the house. Jushiro noticed that she was carrying a bag that more than likely carried her clothing and other essentials but he had also noticed that she hadn't changed out of his shirt and that there was also a light pink crystal flower hairclip in her hair, it looked really pretty in her hair.

Tiana smiled at her niece and pressed a big red button. The front door suddenly swung shut and locked but that wasn't all. Steel blinds rolled down from their containers above the windows and the door, completely covering every window and the door in steel, they then locked into place and became virtually unbreakable and unmovable.

'This is lockdown?' Jushiro stared at the house that now looked like some form of prison.

"Alright now as soon as the Taxi gets here I'm off." Tiana spoke as she lifted her bags and walked to the footpath.

Keiko smiled. "Say hello to purple head and blondie for me." She smirked following after her aunt.

"Will do."

As Keiko came to stand beside Jushiro she noticed Szayel and realized why he was there in the first place. "OH!" she turned to Tiana. "Tiana I wanted to ask you a favor."

Tiana raised a brow. "Yes?"

"I was wondering if you could show Szayel you research notes on your re-growing limbs experiment?" She asked her aunt.

Tiana placed her bags on the ground and walked over to Szayel. "Why do you need it?"

"Well in soul society I am working on a similar experiment and would like to see your research as Keiko told me you were able to get the experiment to work perfectly." He answered smoothly.

Tiana shot her niece a look before turning her attention back to Szayel. "Sure why not? However the house is in lockdown right now and once it's in lockdown it can't be accessed 'til the set time." She crossed her arms as though in thought. "How about we make a deal?"

He raised a brow but nodded.

Tiana smiled. "I'll give you the research at the end of the week under these two conditions. One: you tell me how you keep your hair that vibrant shade and so shiny. Two: You fill up my spare ticket and come with me to Vegas keep me company on the plane and all that."

'She has a spare ticket!!' Keiko stared at her Aunt stunned. If she had a spare why wasn't she taking her? Sure it meant Keiko got to spend more time with Jushiro but she was somewhat hurt that her aunt wouldn't even offer her to go to Vegas.

'Perhaps she knew you wanted 'alone' time with Jushiro?' Leone suggested.

Szayel blinked and stared down at the woman. She wanted what? He didn't quite know how to answer that. "Umm… My hair is like this naturally…" he then thought on the second condition… he supposed it couldn't hurt… and in the end he would get the research so… "Sure… I suppose… I could go with you to… Vegas?"

Tiana smiled. "Good! Now I'm assuming you're an arrancar like Grimmjow, I can tell so tell me do you have a gigi?"

Szayel blinked again. She could tell? "Umm… no I don't have a gigi…"

Tiana waved the taxi that was making its way towards the house. "Well we'll have to make a stop at Urahara's won't we?"

The taxi pulled up and Tiana turned her attention back to Keiko. "Have fun, I'll see you soon." She spoke pulling her niece into a tight hug.

'Something's wrong with Tiana…' Keiko thought as she returned the hug. She could tell there was something wrong with her aunt from the way she was behaving but there was something in the way that she was holding her that seemed off. Normally Tiana's hugs –when Tiana felt like hugging someone- were normal hugs but this one was tight and it seemed as though Tiana was taking support and comfort in her niece, support and comfort for what Keiko didn't know.

"Goodbye Tiana…" Keiko spoke as Tiana let go of her and began getting into the taxi with a slightly stunned Szayel.

XXX

"The human world is such a strange place…" Stark commented as he and Grimmjow walked down the streets of Karakura.

"The people are stranger." Grimmjow informed turning into Tiana's street. "Her house is just up here." He added after a pause pointing in the general direction of the house.

Stark nodded and continued to walk with Grimmjow. Soon enough they reached Tiana's house… both men's brows raised as they saw the window's and doors covered in steel.

"The fuck?" Grimmjow spoke staring at the house.

"She has an… interesting house…" Stark commented.

Grimmjow stared at the locked up house for a few moments before shrugging and thinking that it was just Tiana being insane he headed towards the house.

Once he reached within distance of the door, he froze as a red light attached to a rope dropped down from the roof and like a policeman's siren it went off.

Grimmjow and Stark's eyes went wide and they remained still as a series of guns spurted from the ground and the walls of the house. "The fuck?" Grimmjow repeated.

Suddenly the sound of the siren increased and before Grimmjow or Stark could react a barrage of bullets was being fired at them. "OH FUCK!!" Grimmjow shouted jumping back. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" he bolted off towards the other side of the street. "How can she afford this shit!!"

Stark who was still stunned followed after Grimmjow. Once they were a safe distance away the siren stopped screeching and went back into the roof and the guns went back into their hiding spots.

Stark stared at the house for a few silent moments before looking at Grimmjow. "You're friend lives there?"

Grimmjow blinked. "I don't think she's home…" he spoke softly.

"So then… were are we going to go now…?" Stark continued to stare at the house and briefly wondered if he would be able to sleep peacefully if he stayed there.

"Well…" Grimmjow began. "Why don't we just go to the berry's?"

XXX

"Oi Berry, ya home?" Grimmjow called as he and Stark walked into the house where they were greeted with the sight of Ichigo and his family making a fuss about something in the living room.

Grimmjow heard a brief choke of 'Uncle Grimmjow' his eyes widened and he practically bolted into the living room where he saw Ash sitting between Ichigo and Yuzu his eyes bright red and his cheeks covered with tears and small bruises.

"What the fuck happened to ya brat!?" He growled.

Ash looked up and upon seeing Grimmjow leaped from the sofa and half ran half limped to the ex-Espada. "Uncle Grimm he!" Ash clutched onto his 'uncles' leg and cried into his calf.

Stark walked into the room and looked down at the crying boy he felt terrible for the little boy. "What happened to him?" he questioned.

Isshin looked up. "He has a small fracture in his ribs, cuts on his arms and severe bruising on the back on his head and his chest. I've done everything I can he just needs to rest…"

Grimmjow growled dangerously and put his hand on the kids head.

Stark couldn't believe a human would do that to a child. Sure he didn't care if he hurt or killed someone but there is a line. "How did he get them?"

It was Ichigo who answered. "We dunno… we heard a knocking on the door and he was there… he wont tell us what happened…" Ichigo looked at Ash sadly.

There was a silence in the room for a few moments. A silence which was broken when Ichigo's hand flew to his mouth and he ran upstairs.

"Berry!" Grimmjow called. He looked down at Ash. "I'll be back in a sec kid!" he gently moved Ash away and chased after his berry.

Ash made a sobbing sound when Grimmjow left before looking up at Stark. Stark looked at the child with soft eyes and knelt down to his level. "Hello…"

Ash sniffed. "Hello…"

"Who did this to you?" Stark asked wanting to know what kind of person would do this to a child.

Ash closed his eyes and whimpered lightly. Stark was about to tell him not to strain himself only to stop when Ash's eyes shot open in panic. "He's got momma!"

Isshin, Yuzu and Karin's eyes went wide.

"Who has you mother?" Stark questioned placing his hands on Ash's shoulders.

Ash made another whimpering noise and inched closer to Stark then spoke in a voice only he could hear. "P-Pappa…"

Stark's eyes widened lightly. The boy's father did this to them? He may not have ever had a real family but he knew that if he were ever a parent he wouldn't do that to his own family…

"I have to go get momma!" Ash cried moving away from Stark and bolting towards the door.

"Ash don't you'll hurt yourself!" Isshin protested rising from his seated position.

Stark rose to a stand and walked to Ash. "I'll go with you." When Ash nodded he lifted the boy up and placing him on his shoulders had Ash lead him to his home.

XXX

"Is this your home?" Stark questioned the boy on his shoulders as looked at the run down falling apart weatherboard house before them.

Ash trembled and nodded.

The sound of a pained cry escaped the house.

"Momma!" Ash cried moving to get off his shoulders but Stark held him in place. "I'll go get your mother." He could feel the spiritual pressures of the house and from what he could feel… he didn't want the kid to witness that…

He placed Ash on the ground. "Stay here." He said firmly, Ash nodded and stepped back.

XXX

"S-Stop… stop…" Emilla sobbed weakly as her husband bit harshly into her neck and began to pull her pants down. "STOP!!" she screamed as her pants hit her ankles.

"Shut up." He growled punching her in the chest.

She whimpered in pain at the feeling of him punching her chest.

"Stupid bitch." He gripped her head and slammed it into the wall repeatedly. She screamed in pain and her vision was beginning to become blurred.

Atagra growled and gripped her panties but just as he was about to pull them down he found himself flung across the room by a force which he couldn't see, effectively knocking him out.

"W-Wha…" Emilla coughed a small about of blood and took a step forward only to wobble and fall back, but rather than hitting the hard wall she fell into a pair of strong arms.

"W-What…" she groaned opening her eyes and looking at the blurred figure of her savior. But with her blurred vision all she could see was Stark's white clothing, the hints of his brown hair but the thing that was most visible was his eyes. 'he looks like an… angel…' was the only thought her mind could comprehend in that moment.

"Ugh… thank…" was all she got out before passing out in the arms of her white angel.

A/N: was a wee but rushed so if I need to fix annything let me know

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