Author's Note: Aww, I wish I had posted an update about a week ago to celebrate the fact that Goldilocks has been in existence for more than a year…oh well! Wow, a year, that's too long, ha. I really dislike my writing the first ten chapters; it's nothing like it is now, at least I feel so. I wish I could rewrite them, but that would take way too much of my time, and would take away from me updating! So…I guess it's fine. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 26: One More Time

Recommended Song: "Thanks For the Memories" by Fallout Boy

Hirako Shinji slipped his arms through the sleeves of his haori. It was a new day, and most of them were the same. Get up, eat, go to the office, train, maybe take a nap, eat again, and then go to sleep before starting the cycle all over again the next day. This was his new life, his monotonous routine.

He sighed slightly, stepping out of his captain's quarters. How could he even think about complaining or feel sorry for himself? This was the life he chose…he knew the consequences of his actions.

Despite missing Marise tremendously, Shinji wasn't born yesterday. He wasn't a teenage boy who would spiral into depression forever over the loss of his love. (Okay, he'd be a little depressed, but he wouldn't show it, or at least try very hard not to.) Yes, he was still hopelessly in love, but he was also strong and intelligent. He knew somebody had to carry on the Fifth Division, and since he was now the captain, he was bestowed the responsibility.

He walked to his office, and passed many of his subordinates along the way.

"Morning, Hirako-taichō!"

"Hey."

"Taichō, it's so good to see you!" a cheerful girl with bright blue pigtails greeted.

"Uh-huh."

"Can't wait for our training today!"

"Yep."

Even though his responses were mundane and uninterested, his squad members seemed to adore him nonetheless. Though they were wary when he first arrived, most of them having not had him one hundred years ago, once he settled in and began working, the majority of them quickly took a liking to him. The Shinigami admired his laid-back attitude, experience, and strength on the battlefield. They knew their squad would soon return to normal after being placed in the strong hands of Hirako Shinji.

"Ah, good morning, Hirako-taichō," Hinamori Momo greeted, already at her desk. Her hands were folded neatly atop one another on the mahogany desk, her paperwork stacked perfectly to her side.

Shinji just nodded at his lieutenant, and took a seat at his own desk, sighing at the amount of paperwork. "Well," he muttered, taking a sheet off the top, "It ain't gonna do itself."

"How are you feeling today, Captain?"

Hirako looked up, snorting a little. Momo's question was innocent enough, although Shinji was shrewd enough to see the true question behind it. "I'm doin' fine."

"Oh, okay. I was just wondering," she replied, throwing him a sweet smile.

Shinji rolled his eyes, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "What tha hell?" he then exclaimed, looking at an application.

"What is it?" Momo asked, looking up.

"Why tha hell does this person wanna join this squad when their strengths are in healin' kidō? They shoulda applied to the Fourth!"

Momo shrugged. "Maybe they did? I remember when I got out of the academy I applied to every single squad, just in case I didn't get my first choice. But then again," she pointed out. "Perhaps this Shinigami wants to join because you're back!"

"What's that gotta do with anythin'?"

"You should hear the commotion you, Muguruma, and Ōtoribashi-taichō have stirred up at the academy and in the Rukongai. You're legends! I think I heard the sotaichō complaining that Squads Five, Seven and Nine are receiving the most applications from Shinō Academy."

"Tch," Shinji muttered, denying the applicant with a stamp. "Well, that's stupid."

Momo placed her chin on her hands and rested her elbows on the wooden table, leaning in.

"What? Why are ya starin' at me like that?" Shinji asked, feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm just trying to picture what you looked like in the academy!" Hinamori giggled.

"What tha…? Well, I looked kinda nerdy I guess," Shinji admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, grinning sheepishly. He was even ganglier back then and his bowl cut had been shorter. "But that was a long time ago."

"How long?"

"It ain't none of yer business."

"Aww, c'mon, taichō! I'm really curious as to how old you are."

"Too old."

Momo pouted slightly, unsatisfied with her taichō's answer. If she had to think about it, she would have never believed that she would be this casual and at ease with her taichō. It had only been a couple of months, and yet he had somehow earned her trust…well, most of it. There would always be a small, frightened part of her that would be doubtful. But she wouldn't think about that. She didn't like it when her mind went to those dark, dismal places.

She looked up at the clock hanging on the wall, and stood up, pushing back her chair. "Well, it's time to go, taichō."

He looked at her, whining slightly, "What, time ta train 'em already?"

"Oh, come on, taichō, you're a great teacher!" Hinamori teased. "All of the squad members love you."

"Yeah, well, what's not ta love? Alright, let's get this over with."

Shinji stood in their division's training field, his lieutenant standing at his side. He waited for all of the Shinigami to file in before he began. "Alright, I don't know why I gotta go through this every time, but…"

"It's protocol, sir," Momo interrupted.

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Can I continue?"

"Oh, of course!"

"Anyway, we do this shit twice a week. It's Tuesday, which means we'll be doin' hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. Thursday is kidō and shunpo practice, got it?"

"Yes, sir!" the squad members chanted.

"Good. Now pair up and start."

The members quickly divided into pairs and took their allotted places on the large practice field. Shinji and Momo usually stood to the side and watched, as it was only during demonstrations or when someone got smart that they would interfere.

It's not that Shinji disliked fighting, he enjoyed it as much as the next guy, though it was all kind of tedious to him. He didn't fight for fun like Zaraki or avoid it at all costs like Kyōraku; he was sort of in the middle.

He squinted when he saw one of his squad members land hard on his back in the far left corner of the field.

"Taichō?" Momo chirped, when he began walking toward the two Shinigami.

"Hey," Shinji began. "Ya alright?"

The boy on the ground looked up and instantly froze, his hazel eyes widening in seeing his captain. Squad Five, like any unit in the Gotei 13, consisted of hundreds of members, and with Hirako being a fairly new captain, he didn't know the majority of the names in his unit. And with the squad being so large, not many got one-on-one time with him either.

This particular member, Hiroshi Nobu, had only been in the squad for a few months, and still was trying to get into the swing of things. Swordsmanship was his weakest field and having his taichō see him like this was embarrassing. He looked down on the grass, nodding his head in shame. "I'm fine, taichō."

"Hey…what's tha matter?" his taichō asked, ruffling the kid's hair. "So ya fell on yer ass, who gives a damn? Just get back up again, sport."

The boy looked up in surprise, blinking a few times. That was it…? He wasn't going to get reprimanded? He always heard from everyone that Hirako Shinji was an easygoing person, but he didn't really believe it… "Yes, sir!" Nobu replied enthusiastically, bouncing back up.

"Atta boy. Keep at it." Shinji patted his subordinate's shoulder before going back to his lieutenant's side, who was grinning widely at him.

"What?" he asked, annoyed.

"Oh, nothing…it's just that you're such a softie…"

"Shut tha hell up, Momo-chan!" Shinji yelled, flustered.

Momo covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hold back her laughter. "Anyway, a hell butterfly came. Someone is waiting for you in the office."

"Oh." Shinji flash stepped there to see who it was.

"It's about time," Yoruichi stated, closing one of his drawers. "I thought you would have had porn in here or something, but nothing? How do you pass the time?"

"Yoruichi, ya know I'd never keep that kinda stuff here. …It's in my captain's quarters, of course," Shinji replied with a grin.

"I just got back from another 'mission,'" she told him, rolling her eyes.

"Ooh! Gimme!" Shinji exclaimed, as though her were a five year old about to receive some candy.

Before Yoruichi could hand the new photos to him, Soi Fon burst through the door, panting heavily. Her gray eyes went as wide as saucers when her eyes landed on Yoruichi.

"Y-Y-Y-Y…YORUICHI-SAMA!"

"Ah…hello, Soi Fon," Yoruichi greeted with an awkward smile.

Shinji looked at the petite captain like she was insane…which…she sort of looked like she was.

"Oh, Yoruichi-sama, I knew it was you, I could feel your presence and detected your scent immediately!"

"That's…not creepy at all…" Shinji said under his breath. He then grinned as Soi Fon threw him a dark glare.

Yoruichi rolled her golden honey eyes. "Like you're one to talk. Just take these already, it makes me feel creepy too."

"Yoruichi-sama, what brings you here?" Soi Fon cried, as though she had to know this very second or she would die.

"Well," the purple-haired woman said sheepishly. "I, uh, have been doing stealth missions for Shinji, that's all."

Soi Fon's gray eyes widened, and her lower lip jutted out, as though she would burst into tears any moment. A stealth mission…without her? Soi Fon then shot daggers through Shinji with her piercing eyes, and snatched the pictures from his hand. He was getting in the way! "What kind of mission is this?" she shrieked upon seeing the pictures. At first she was appalled by the indecency of some of them, though jealousy soon coursed through her veins. This blonde Human girl who was nothing was capturing Yoruichi-sama's attention! She must be eliminated…at all costs!

"Who is this person?" the Second Division captain demanded.

"No one!" Shinji immediately responded, taking the pictures back and placing them in the sleeve of his haori. "It's nothin' for ya ta worry yer pretty lil' head over, Soi Fon-chan."

"That's Soi Fon-taichō to you, Hirako!" she barked. She pointed two fingers at her eyes and then at him. "I have my eyes on you, Hirako. Don't think you'll get away with whatever it is you're doing. I'll not have you jeopardizing the sanctity of Soul Society again!"

"Again?" Shinji sputtered. "When did I do it tha first time?"

"And you will certainly not drag Yoruichi-sama into this!" With that, she turned around and stormed out of the office.

"Damn," Shinji breathed, turning to Yoruichi. "Is she always this fuckin' insane?"

"Hmm, actually, this is milder than how she usually is," Yoruichi replied with a cat-like smile.

Shinji rolled his eyes and took out the pictures from his sleeves, rifling through them. "None of them are of her naked, Yoruichi! And ya call yerself a stealth agent."

"Well gee, Shinji, next time, I'll just walk into the bathroom, pull her out of the tub, and ask her to pose for me while I take a hundred pictures of her, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan ta me."

Yoruichi went up to him and gently took the pictures away. He looked down into her golden eyes, which were filled with concern. "Shinji," she said softly. "I can't do this forever."

"I…I know," he said quickly, taking the pictures back. "Just for a lil' longer…then I'm done, okay?"

She sighed, and then smiled warily. "Okay, Shinji. I trust you. I'll see you in a week."

"Yeah…see ya," he said quietly. He felt her spiritual pressure disappear as she masked it and slipped out of Soul Society undetected.

He leaned against his desk and looked through the pictures, smiling softly. One was of her skipping along the sidewalk, pink earbuds in her ears and her mouth wide open, probably singing loudly to the song. He chuckled when he saw people in the picture covering their ears. There was another of her cooking again, smiling widely as she held up a platter of sweet dumplings on top of fried rice, which looked absolutely delicious. He laughed aloud at one where she had backed up the car into a picket-white fence; her expression was priceless. His eyebrows went up in surprise in seeing a photo of her having just slapped a customer. He assumed the reason must have been because the man tried to slip his hand up her skirt, as she was holding it tightly down. He'd never seen so much anger in her eyes, her bright red blush a mixture of embarrassment and fury. If he had been there, he would have hung the guy by his neck.

He let out a small sigh, though jerked his head up immediately when Momo walked into the office, a curious look on her face. "What are those?"

"Nothin'!" He placed the pictures back in his sleeve. "Ya guys done?"

"Yep, I've sent them to the mess hall to grab a snack. They worked hard today." Momo, though hesitant, went to lean against the desk next to Shinji. He looked down at her; she was so short, the same height as Mari… He winced inwardly, damn it, why did he have to see every little thing that reminded him of her?

"You know, taichō," she said softly, placing a hand on her sleeve. "I'm not just your Lieutenant to help run the squad…I'm also here for you."

He placed his hand over hers, squeezing it lightly, and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Yeah…I know. Thanks, Momo-chan."

"What is your reason for being here, Soi Fon-taichō?" Yamamoto asked gruffly. He watched the Second Division captain with a keen eye, hoping for her sake that the issue was as urgent as she had claimed it was when she requested to see him.

"Sir," she reported, standing erect with her arms straight at her sides and her chin held high. "I must tell you that Hirako Shinji has a questionable relationship with a girl from the Human World."

"And what kind of relationship would that be?"

"I'm…not entirely sure."

"Who is the girl?"

"I…don't know this either…I only saw pictures of her."

"Where did the pictures come from?"

Soi Fon bit her tongue before she responded. She couldn't tell the sotaichō that Yoruichi had brought them…she would get in trouble! "Ah…he had them." That…wasn't technically a lie…he did have them!

"Hn," Yamamoto grunted. "Well, it will be looked into then. You are dismissed."

Soi Fon nodded and bent down at the waist. "Thank you, sotaichō!" she said, before leaving.

Yamamoto was a man of strict codes and honor, serious and dignified, though right then…he wanted to roll his eyes so badly. He knew that it would take Soi Fon time to adjust to the Visored Captains, as they had been branded as "traitors" to Soul Society even though their ban had been uplifted…and of course, she would have troubles with Hirako Shinji.

Why did he have the feeling that Shihōin Yoruichi was somehow involved in this? He delivered a message through a hell butterfly and sent it to Kurotsuchi Mayuri, requesting that he look into it.

With that being done, Yamamoto turned around and went back to his important matters…his nap.

Shinji was being risky today…he usually never snuck down to the World of the Living during the day, but he was tired of seeing his Mari-chan asleep…he wanted to see her up and about. However, this time he wasn't necessarily "sneaking," because he had volunteered to check on the Shinigami in charge of Karakura Town, because something is always going wrong down there and so someone always had to check.

"Taichō!" Momo exclaimed, appalled and surprised. "This is a simple task that even an unseated officer can do! Why in the world do you want to do it?"

"I wanna pick up some jazz records," was his casual response.

He made a mental note to actually do that before heading back to Soul Society, otherwise his lieutenant would give him a shit-fit.

He masked his spiritual pressure; he wasn't sure if Mari would notice if he didn't, but he did it as a precautionary measure…it would be his luck for that idiot Ichigo to see him and yell, "HEY, IT'S SHINJI!," completely blowing his cover. The kid could be so oblivious sometimes.

He searched for her Reiatsu and detected it at a large building, and from the sign saw that it was a culinary institution. She must be at a cookin' lesson. He reasoned. She was nearby, but not inside yet. He heard voices and turned to see Orihime and…Marise walking together. He felt his heart jump in his throat when he saw her.

Every time Shinji came down to the Human World, he told himself that he was just going to check up on her. But really…he did it for his own selfishness, to alleviate the pain from how much he missed her.

His heart throbbed slightly in seeing her. God, she gets cuter ever fuckin' day.

Mari and Orihime were chatting amiably. Orihime wore a red sleeveless shirt with tan shorts, stockings, and ankle-high boots. Marise skipped happily along in a white-buttoned blouse, high-waisted navy skirt that came down to her thighs, ankle-high white socks and flats. The fore strands of her hair were pulled back and held with her pink bow, instead of it being on the side, as it usually was.

Shinji cursed himself for becoming aroused at the sight of her, and he just then realized how much he wanted to devour her, to grab her right then and make her his.

With his thoughts beginning to turn to lust, the small part of them that still had some sense left was screaming for him to go back to Soul Society. But he couldn't move. He was too enraptured at the sight of her, her golden curls bouncing as she took each step, her slightly plump cheeks rosy and her blue eyes bright. She was positively adorable…and he couldn't have her.

The two girls went into the building and Shinji cursed under his breath. He saw them again, however, through the large window, which gave a view of all of the different workstations, where Orihime and Mari stood behind one, waiting for the lesson to begin.

Shinji looked around him, and although his spiritual pressure was expertly masked, he was afraid another Shinigami or Orihime might spot him, so he climbed up the tree that still gave him a perfect view. He wanted to continue watching Mari, yet at the same time he was curious to see how the cooking session worked, as Hirako Shinji's life revolved around micro-waving TV dinners, not actually cooking from scratch.

In the beginning, Shinji was entranced by what was happening. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he saw Mari take out a bowl and Orihime beginning to pour flour into it. Before he knew it, he was actually smiling at the sight.

However, he slowly became wary when one instructor came a little too near Mari for a little too long. The first few times Shinji saw him walk over there, he just assumed he was checking up like any instructor would on all of the students. But soon Shinji noticed the look in the man's eyes, and he knew that look all too well: desire.

And Shinji would have been semi-fine with it had he had no worries that this guy had nothing over him. But he had everything. He was tall, muscular, had spiky light orange hair with a small blonde streak at the front, pure green eyes, slightly tanned skin, and a piercing in one ear. He wished he could be in denial and think that the guy was trying to flirt with Orihime, only he was looking at Mari. His Mari. Shinji wanted to kick himself for the possessive pronoun, but he couldn't help it…he still wanted to believe that Mari was his.

Shinji lost control of his spiritual pressure for a split second when his blood boiled in seeing the young man stand behind Mari. He placed his hands over hers to help her knead the dough; his large figure practically embracing her petite form.

He expected Mari to turn around and smack the man…though his heart broke when he saw her adorable blush. Once he saw that – he was done. He couldn't bear to watch anymore. He quickly took control of his Reiatsu before anyone could notice and jumped out of the tree, opening a Senkaimon to go back to Soul Society.

And he forgot to buy the records.

Once back in Soul Society, Shinji was sulking in his quarters, sitting on the floor with his knees up and arms resting over them, his back against the wall. He had thrown his captain's haori to the side, and it laid crumple on the wooden floor. If Yamamoto saw it, he'd be appalled, but right now, Shinji didn't give a shit about anything except for what he had seen today.

He knew that it would be inevitable for Mari to eventually get over him and move onto someone else. He knew that…so why was it he hurt so much? It felt like his heart was constricting so much that he could barely breathe. His heart still wanted to believe that she yearned for him just as much as he did for her. That she lay awake in bed at night thinking about him, just like he did. That she would look at something and become sad, because it reminded her of him.

But apparently, she wasn't missing him at all.

He looked up to see a hell butterfly fly through the window, and he held out his hand. The black butterfly landed on his fingers, and he heard the message, "Report to the First Division immediately. Yamamoto-sotaichō would like to see you."

Shinji sighed and got up, wondering what it was he did to piss of Yamamoto this time. He glanced at his haori before picking up. Did the man have hidden cameras everywhere and was gonna scold him for mistreating the emblem and highest honor of Shinigami? Well, he could save that lecture, because Hirako Shinji was not in the mood.

Still, I should see what tha old man wants.

Once there, Shinji was fairly surprised to also see Kurotsuchi Mayuri standing beside the sotaichō, appearing smug. Ass. Shinji thought, rolling his eyes.

"Hirako Shinji," Yamamoto began gruffly. "Kurotsuchi-taichō has been monitoring your spiritual pressure and has reported that he has detected you escaping to the World of the Living numerous times these past couple of months. Soi Fon-taichō also expresses her concern; earlier today she came forward and related that you have pictures of a Human in your possession. Who is she, Hirako-taichō?"

Shinji grit his teeth, and in the back of his mind, made a note to himself that he needed to kill both Soi Fon and Mayuri in the most torturous way possible. "It ain't important," he said casually, shrugging.

Yamamoto sighed slightly, which was very uncharacteristic of him. "You know, Hirako Shinji, usually I would expect such superfluous and obscure behavior like this from Kyōraku, but not you. It is unlike you to be infatuated with a mere Human girl, so she must be special. I ask again, who is she?"

"If I may interrupt, sotaichō," interjected Kurotsuchi. "Her name is Asahina Marise. She moved to Karakura Town almost four years ago, and although she has had little contact with Kurosaki Ichigo, she does have noticeable spiritual pressure."

"Ya should stay outta people's business," Shinji spat, glaring at the scientist.

"Insolent fool! You aren't deserving of that haori, much less those Shinigami robes."

Shinji rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever ya say, nutjob," he muttered.

"Asahina?" Yamamoto repeated, the slits of his eyes opening slightly. At first he didn't believe it, but he then concluded that the girl must be Asahina Soichiro's daughter.

"She is a Fullbringer," Mayuri continued, ignoring Shinji's glowering. "Her mother was attacked by a Hollow while pregnant with her."

"Yes, I know of the story," Yamamoto grunted, recounting the memory clearly in his mind. Soichiro was a broken man after his wife was attacked, and Yamamoto knew he would never forgive himself for not being there for her. But these are the consequences when a Shinigami falls in love with a Human. "My most prominent concern is does she have any Shinigami capabilities?"

"It would seem that she inherited all of her spiritual powers from the mother, and not from Asahina Soichiro."

"Hmm…" Yamamoto mused. "That is all right."

"But perhaps, sotaichō," Kurotsuchi added, "we should keep an eye on her just in case." Though his face remained impassive, Shinji could see that his eyes glittered with delight. He had never experimented on a Fullbringer before.

"Do you believe she'll be a threat to Soul Society?" the Head Captain asked.

"Are ya kiddin' me?" Shinji was flabbergasted. "She ain't even five feet tall!"

Kurotsuchi eyed the Visored carefully. "Hmph. You talk like you know so much about her. Just how long have you known her for, Hirako?"

"Since ya were in yer mother's womb…douchebag," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Kurotsuchi barked, prepared to draw his blade.

"You both are dismissed," Yamamoto declared, before a brawl would begin. They could fight all they wanted for all he cared, just so long as they didn't spill blood in his division hall. He turned to Shinji with a sharp eye. "You are barred from going to the World of the Living for the next month."

Shinji clenched his teeth to prevent from lashing out, and turned on his heel, refusing to look at Kurotsuchi and his smug face, because if he had, he'd definitely go into Bankai.

"Goddamn that crazy motherfucker," Shinji seethed. He was pissed off at the both the scientist and sotaichō for the decision, but he was also feeling dejected. Seeing Mari with another man took quite a toll on him, and it showed from him sitting outside of his quarters against the wall. Shinigami walked by with curious and concerned looks on their faces, though the glare he sent them prevented any of them from coming near the taichō or asking what was wrong.

He lifted his head slightly when he heard loud, boisterous laughter coming near. Kyōraku, Hisagi, Renji, Kira, and Ukitake all passed by, and knowing that group, they were probably heading off to one of the bars in Rukongai.

Though his heart still felt heavy and he didn't feel like moving, Shinji needed something, anything, to take his mind off of today…alcohol seemed like a good resort. "Hey, can I come with?" Shinji called out.

Kyōraku looked pretty surprised, his eyebrows going up. "Really? I can't remember how long it's been since you've last had a drink, Shinji. But of course, I'd never turn away a potential drinking partner! Rangiku-chan is being withheld by Toshiro-kun, the poor girl, and you can be her replacement for tonight."

Shinji smiled wryly, getting up. "Sounds good ta me. I think I need some sake in me, and a lot of it."

Shinji didn't realize just how true Kyōraku's statement was until he walked into one of the popular bars in the Rukongai. The stench of alcohol hit him immediately, and although the bar claimed they were "clean," it was easy to see that the smell of sex was also prevalent. Shinji wasn't a crazy drinker, but tonight, he was going to let everything go and drink himself into oblivion…he'd do anything to forget about her.

Kira, Hisagi, and Renji wasted no time finding a spot in the crowded bar, where they immediately began downing bottles of sake. As Shinji was about to take a seat with them, he and the other two captains were ushered forward behind a curtain to a more private area. He looked behind him with a raised eyebrow to see a woman pushing him.

Kyōraku grinned. "It's one of the many perks to being a taichō in the Gotei 13!" Kyōraku slapped one of the girls on her bottom and asked that she bring a whole platter of sake bottles. She giggled and hurried away to get some.

Shinji rolled his eyes as he took a seat on the red couch. Kyōraku just oozed sex appeal; it was obvious by all of the looks he was receiving from the many women around them.

"All right, my friend," Kyōraku began, pouring some sake into a cup. He handed it to Shinji and then poured one for himself. Kyōraku always offered one to his white-haired friend, though Ukitake would always decline. His only reason for tagging along was to make sure his best friend didn't drink himself into a stupor, as he wanted to give some relief to the man's poor lieutenant, Nanao.

Shinji slipped on it slowly, adjusting to the liquid burning down his throat. At first it was a scratchy feeling that he disliked, but soon warmth spread through his chest and he downed some more. "Damn that feels a helluva lot better," Shinji muttered.

Kyōraku winked at the depressed captain. "Women and alcohol are a great way to forget not being able to have what you want most."

Shinji thought about this, wondering if Kyōraku drank for that same reason. He scooted away a little as women smothered Kyōraku.

Shinji also wanted to forget…and the alcohol wasn't doing enough to make that happen. His mind was hazy and his breathing shallow. Damn, I shouldn't have drunk so much…shit. He thought. He knew he'd have a terrible hangover tomorrow.

From across the private room, a woman sat on a high stool, swirling some wine in a glass. Her name was Asami, and she was one of the most beautiful women in the Rukongai, and was famed in the bar. Her silky, wavy black hair came down to rest on her ample breasts, she had come-hither, smoky green eyes, sweet cherry red lips, and a sultry voice that could make men succumb to whatever her wish was. Tonight her eyes were set on the depressed captain with the chin-length blonde hair and uneven bangs. There was just something about him…he wasn't like other men, she could tell. She had watched him since he first walked in, and even though he drank nearly half a dozen sake bottles, he still maintained his composure, though he looked like he would conk out at any moment. He was much more intelligent than the men she usually came across, and she was tired of choosing brawn over brains.

Asami got off of her seat and with a seductive smile, easily slid onto the man's lap. He looked up in surprise; usually women didn't throw themselves at him. She recognized the man now as being Hirako Shinji, famed in Soul Society for their return. He wasn't just a Captain…he had a Hollow side to him. This excited her all the more.

"You look so sad," she murmured, running her fingers through his hair.

Shinji was still quite in shock, even more so at the immediate physical attraction he had to this woman. Her voice was enchanting…like a siren…

Asami leaned in, her lips barely skimming his ear. "I'll make you feel so good that you'll forget whatever's on your mind right now," she purred.

Shinji was in a daze, entranced by her soft touch, gorgeous looks, sexy demeanor and voice… However, when the last sentence she spoke reached his ears, the wheels in his mind began turning, and he slowly came back to his senses. He looked at her again, confused, wondering why she was even there. She didn't have a head of bouncy, curly golden locks, her eyes were a forest, not a sea, where were those plump bubble gum lips? She didn't smell fruity or like cotton candy, the innocent scent Mari had, but rather smelled of expensive, mature perfume… Her voice wasn't high-pitched and bubbly, it was deep and alluring, and while it had been working on him mere moments before…he was now yearning for the voice of Marise.

This woman's kisses were confident and experienced, however, Shinji enjoyed the hesitant, shy, and slightly awkward touches of his adorable Mari-chan, the girl who always became flustered about romance and "H-things."

He felt Asami's hands trail down his chest, and he reached to grab them gently. Her green eyes looked up to meet his brown ones, surprised. "Although yer beautiful," he said gently. "…We can't do this. I can't give ya what ya want."

Asami shook her head, confused. She had never been rejected by a man before. She immediately recovered, however, smiling "But…I only want you. This can just be for tonight. C'mon, sweetie, I'm not baggage like the girl you're thinking of. I'm flexible. She can't love you like I can."

"Then I'd rather not be loved by anyone if it can't be her." And with that, Shinji placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up slightly, removing her from him and placing him on the seat next to him. He pulled the curtain away, and left.

Everyone in the bar stared after him and back at Asami, shocked to see that she was turned down.

"That guy is obviously nuts…" a man muttered. "To turn down Asami-chan."

Ukitake also watched the spectacle with surprise. The girl he was speaking of must be very special. He was brought out of his thoughts by a muffled sound, and when Ukitake turned to his friend, he gasped. He couldn't even see him; he was being engulfed by women, and was probably unconscious by now.

"Ah, please forgive me ladies, but Shunsui-kun can't play today," Ukitake said with an apologetic smile. He dragged Kyōraku out from under the pile of women and balanced his over his shoulder, back to his "Nanao-chan."

Shinji was slowly sobering up as he sat on the futon in his room. He didn't drink much, but when he did, it would take a lot to completely knock him out. He wish he would have drunk more so that he'd be fast asleep, but at the same time he was glad he didn't, as he might have done something he would have deeply regretted.

Even now, he felt slightly guilty. He did nothing with that woman, and yet he felt like he betrayed Marise. But at the same time…what was she doing? How did he know she wasn't already seeing somebody else? Just the thought of another person touching her made his spiritual pressure rise and his heart clench.

He was slightly buzzed; his face buried in his hands, listening to the jazz records, hoping they would soothe him. His head jerked up when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in."

Momo poked her head in. "What 'cha doin' out so late, Momo-chan? Get in here."

Momo nodded and closed the door behind her. "I…heard about what happened at the bar…"

"Damn, word gets out fast," he muttered, sighing.

With her hands folded in front of her, she looked up shyly. "I wanted to make sure you were okay, taichō," she said softly.

Shinji attempted to smile for her sake, though it didn't work out so well. "That's real nice of ya, Momo-chan…but I'm fine. Just a lil' drunk, 's all."

"Oh…okay." She took a seat, her legs folded beneath her, and they both sat quietly, listening to the music for a while.

Out of the blue, Shinji asked, "Have ya ever missed someone so much…it hurt right here?"

Momo looked at him, her face falling in seeing his pained expression and his hand fisted into his shirt, right over his heart. She nodded slowly, thinking of Aizen, and what she had always thought him to be. How she wished she could go back to those days where she was naïve and innocent and always thought him to be her role model, the one she admired most.

"Yes, taichō…I know exactly what you mean."

The only thing that would make it stop hurting was having Marise in his arms again.

To Be Continued

: : : MY THANKS TO : : :

Juliedoo: Aww, well, I'm so glad you liked it. I also feel kind of sad writing these chapters where they don't interact, but at the same time it's interesting to write such angsty stuff, aside from the usual fluff stuff. Next chapter might be a challenge, because while this one was primarily focused on Shinji, the next will be about Mari, and I will definitely need to show her growth. Burger cake! I want one so bad! Well, it is Shinji's fault for making her all stalker-like, and now the stalker Soi Fon is getting jealous! XD I can't wait for Mari and her to meet, ha.

Rin136: Ikr? I was booking it! And then this one came nearly three weeks later; but I had to take a break. XD Oh, Mari probably definitely believes that, or maybe her reasoning was, "if he left because of my cooking, I'll show him how much I've improved by making this cake!" She might be slipping back into her fairytale based off of that letter, though it could have also been fake cheerfulness. I leave a lot open to interpretation. I think if she knew her stalker was someone she knew…she might be a little more okay with it, lol.

Chibi Katie: Well, I hope this chapter didn't make you cry! Though it wasn't any more cheerful really.

EaSnowPw: Me loves to torture characters, ha! It'll make their reunion all the more special! Thank you!

akagami hime chan: Yes, 'twas a sad chapter. I feel if Mari were to wake up, she might scream her head off at first, but once she realized it was him, she hug him~

Evalyd Yamazaki: Oh, you know it will, I mean, they haven't even had sex yet! I actually Google'd a picture, and they all look so delicious! I wish I was good at baking, I'd definitely try to make something as quirky and fun as that! I know, what's happening to our Mari? Not a weird tie? But maybe she blew into it before putting it into the box, ha, because some things never change. "He can remember me by my snot!"

Darcy Delane: I'm so glad you are enjoying this! I hope you continue reading, and thanks for the reviews and adding this to your favorites! ^^

Alex274: Yeah, I agree, I don't want them to reunite so soon. I don't mind the sad stuff, I just like the funny fluffy romance better, it's more fun to write and read. XD

Pay backs a bitch sucker: Thanks for the story alert! And your penname is oh-too-true. XD

BlackNightHawk64: Thanks for the story alert!

medd: Thanks for the favorite and story alert. ^^

peanutbutterthedog: Thank you for adding this to your favorites and for the story alert. :D

Author's Note: Well, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, I think I wrote it in about three days, just finishing it today. Next chapter will be all about Mari, and I don't know when I'll get that one out, but I'm pretty sure the one after that will be Mari's birthday, June 11. Who knows what'll be in there, do you guys have any wishes as to what gift I should give her/you guys?

And even though Shinji was tempted...he still thought about Mari, isn't he the sweetest? -sigh- Why can't men like him be real?