A/N I'd like to thank

Princess-Lazy-Chan

gnarley-

girlX901

SnowyNinja607

KouriKanji

music fans

Black Cat Angel

Ray-nee-chan

rosewhip889

AirMage99

imnotinsane13

dreamingofmagic

Rhubarb Tea

MoonlightChaos

Hioni

fallenangel9413

for reviewing. You guys are so damn awesome! And you all have to read gnarley-'s story, A Shinigami's Dream and Butterfly's First Kiss. It's such a great story! =D And guess what? I bought a whole case of pop with my own money! :D Usually I just spend it on food to fill my tummy, but I actually bought pop for my family. Quite surprised at myself.

Disclaimer – I don't own Bleach, but I do own the three women.

Shun attacked her Captain. Over and over again, yelling that she wasn't weak. She hated it when people said that. Hated it. When someone would even mutter that over their shoulder, she would beat them until they were black and blue, several times random people having to pull her off.

She jumped towards the Captain, swinging her sword down, growling when the Captain blocked it without trouble, landing on the ground, spinning around and swinging her sword, managing to get his side, seeing blood spurt everywhere.

Her still able to wound him and make him bleed still amazed him, making the smirk on his face widen.

Shun, however, was still not grinning. Where the hell was the grin she always had on her face when she fought? Had saying she was weak really pissed her off that much? He blocked most of her attacks, the woman managing to wound him several times. He sighed, seeing the woman disappear, and held his sword up behind him, blocking the attack from the woman, making Shun widen her eyes.

She jumped back, narrowing her eyes, scoffing. Shit. He didn't even know how to use shunpo, and he was fast enough to dodge an attack from her. From what she gathered, Yoruichi Shihoin was the fastest woman. The current Captain of the second was the second fastest. She didn't know, but she had to be in at least the top ten of the fastest women.

Fuck, she didn't care.

She wanted to kick this guy's ass, the one who dared to call her weak.

She held her sword tightly, narrowing her eyes, about to call on Tora no Yuki, when she noticed something, widening her eyes. She looked at her sword, mouth parting slightly, eyes wide with shock. No fucking way...

"What're you doing?" Kenpachi called, smirking widely.

"...Nothing!" Shun yelled, a grin spreading across her face.

There was the grin. The Captain also grinned, motioning the woman to attack him, making Shun laugh. She jumped forward, swinging her sword to the side, smirking widely, narrowing her eyes, seeing the Captain hold up his sword. She swung her sword several more times, the next one more powerful than the last, making a small crater form under the tall Captain.

They attacked each other, jumping away, blocking the harsh, brutal attacks from the other, feral grins on their faces. Everyone watched in amazement, Ikkaku and Yumichika running outside when they felt the sudden spark in their Captain and the fourth seat.

Shun flipped back several times, her hands landing on the ground by she pushed off the ground, landing on her feet, trying to recover her breath. Shit. They were attacking each other endlessly, she could barely catch her breath.

The Captain grinned widely, narrowing his eyes, trying to restrain himself from attacking her. Well, not hoping to wound her, a lot. He still needed her to get her fucking attitude back together, and she wouldn't if she was in another coma from a fight with him.

They jumped towards each other, smashing their swords together, sparks flying, sending a wave of energy throughout the courtyard, making everyone widen their eyes again, staring at the scene in shock. They swung their swords repeatedly, wave after wave of energy sensed throughout the Seireitei, everyone having to look up in shock, immediately recognizing the reiatsu of the Captain of the eleventh squad.

The Captain and woman jumped all over the courtyard, several craters forming around the courtyard, attacking each other ruthlessly.

Shun widened her eyes, the Captain grabbing her arm, and hauling her across the courtyard, crashing into the wall. Kenpachi smirked, about to run towards the woman, when his eyes widened, seeing a large chunk of of the ground heading for him. He raised his sword, cutting through it, cutting it in two.

He grinned widely when the woman swung her sword down, a large sadistic grin on her face. They swung their swords at each other, Shun grinned widely when she saw a large slash across the Captain's chest, blood spurting everywhere. She gritted her teeth, feeling the Captain cut her left shoulder, licking his sword after she jumped away.

Bastard!

She widened her eyes when blood spurted from her other shoulder, her eyes snapping over to the wound, shocked. How the hell did he move so fast? She looked forward, moving to the side, a slash on energy hitting the ground and going on for twenty meters. She widened her eyes with shock. How the hell...? She narrowed her eyes, jumping away, flinching when the Captain cut her cheek, a long line.

She stood straight, blood starting to drip down her face. The Captain grinned widely, seeing that the woman was shocked. She shouldn't be. She fought him before.

He widened his eyes, grunting, flying through the air. Everyone had to gape, eyes wide, not believing what the hell just happened. Glancing at the woman, they saw her leg outstretched, a large grin on her face.

"Oh... I haven't had this much fun in a while." Shun murmured, disappearing.

The Captain growled, sitting up, eyes narrowed. She kicked him. She fucking kicked him! He grinned, standing up, putting his hand on the side of his neck, snapping his head to the side, a large crack heard around the area. He smirked, looking ahead, snapping his arm to the side, swinging his sword, hearing a grunt and a hiss.

Shun jumped to the side, holding her stomach, eyes narrowed, lip curled back. He fucking cut her stomach! The asshole! And just when her wound had healed. She looked up, glaring at the man, a low growl sounding at the back of her throat, making the Captain grin, widening his eyes.

"...BASTARD!!!" Shun yelled, glaring at the man.

"Shut up! It's a damn fight. No need to get so damn upset." Kenpachi said, curling his lip back, scoffing.

"You called me weak! It's a damn insult to me!!" Shun yelled, jumping forward, slamming her sword down, smoke going everywhere.

Shun grinned widely, holding the grip of her sword tightly, hoping she got him. She narrowed her eyes, seeing the Captain's hand on her sword. Only until one of his fingers moved, did she widen her eyes with shock.

The Captain grinned widely, the smoke dissipating, thrusting his sword forward, going through the woman's body, making the woman widen her eyes.

She coughed, blood pouring out of her mouth. She grinned widely, despite the sword piercing her body, and grabbed the blade, pushing herself off, jumping away. She put a hand over her abdomen, pulling her hand away, seeing blood.

"Damn... I didn't actually think you'd stab me." Shun said, smirking, eyes glazed over.

"This is a fight. You think I would hold back just because it's you? Wrong." Kenpachi said, grinning widely, resting his sword on his shoulder. "I have no use to hold back against someone I fucked."

"...I see." Shun muttered, narrowing her eyes, gripping her sword tightly.

The Captain widened his eyes, seeing Shun in front of him, swinging her sword down, slashing with his, both going through several walls, smoke rising high into the air everywhere they fought.

They fought with much more ferocity, both not backing down, slashes all over their bodies. Shun tried her best to dodge most of them, but seeing as the man was a Captain, she got hurt, just as well as he. The Captain was glad she was grinning and had her spark back, but... why the hell wasn't she calling on her Bankai? It was pissing him off.

Shun also knew he was pissed, but she wasn't going to release it because of him.

Everyone had to look up and run when they would see the smoke getting closer to them, all screaming, trying to get to cover, the smoke going faster towards other divisions the faster the two warriors went, trying their best to make the other surrender. But both having their pride, they wouldn't surrender until the other fell.

Shun panted, sweat rolling down her face, trying to remain standing, the Captain almost in the same situation. He was still able to stand, but he was also panting, smirking widely.

They jumped towards each other, clashing swords, a large wave of energy sending dust flying into the air, most people not able to breathe from the reiatsu the Captain was giving off. It was amazing that Shun was still up from being close to him. But by the look on her face, it didn't seem long until she would fall over.

Kenpachi grinned widely, jumping towards the woman, seeing her eyes widen, swinging his sword down, a large crater forming under the woman, almost the size of a courtyard.

Shun couldn't take it.

Her legs gave away, falling to the ground, gasping for breath, eyes wide. Kenpachi frowned, standing over her, seeing her roll on her back, almost looking like she had used everything she had. But that couldn't be it. She didn't use her shikai or Bankai. Sighing, he glared at the woman, seeing her eyes snap over to him, curling her lip back.

"Say it! Say I'm... weak." Shun growled, gritting her teeth, glaring at the Captain.

"I'm not gonna fucking call you weak." Kenpachi said, rolling his eyes, rubbing the back of his neck.

"...Then why the fuck am I lying on the ground, dumbass?" Shun asked, scoffing, trying her best to get back up.

"Stay down. I'm gonna call the damn fourth division and get one of their weak asses over here." Kenpachi said, rolling his eyes, frowning deeply.

"Well then... hurry up! I'm in pain, and I'm sure I'll fucking die if I leave this wound." Shun said, putting a hand over her abdomen, narrowing her eyes, cursing loudly. "I don't plan on dying yet."

"...First I have a question."

"What. Is. It?"

The anger in her voice didn't escape the Captain.

"Shut up and stop getting pissed. I want to know why you didn't use your Bankai." Kenpachi said, narrowing his eyes, glaring at the woman, clenching his hands.

"Because this was just a little fight, that I did not intend to lose to right away! Hell, I was hoping to get at least ten more minute- AH, FUCK!!" Shun yelled, grabbing her shoulder, closing her eyes tightly. "I'm in pain!!!"

"Hold on!" Kenpachi snapped, glaring at the woman.

"...I... I can't... I can't fucking move."

"I said to fucking wait!!"

-:-

Rio sighed, closing her eyes, relived. The fight ended, and she was still able to sense her friend's... No. Not friend. Shun said she was not her friend. She opened her eyes, furrowing her eyebrows, hands on her lap.

Why... would Shun say that?

They knew each other for nearly three hundred years. Though, during a hundred years, her and Yuri have been trying to get to know Shun, the angry woman barely giving them any information. She was secretive.

She could easily read people, able to tell what they were thinking. But when trying to read her... they would have difficulty, always trying to see what the angry woman was thinking. It was so hard to see what Shun was thinking.

Why was she so secretive?

Did she not trust her and Yuri? Why? They had been fully devoted to her ever since they met her. So why was she acting like this? Why was she acting so cold? Why... did she throw away their friendship?

Rio's eyes started welling up with tears, lips trembling.

"...Kaen Hebi." Rio muttered, looking at her sword, waiting for a response.

She didn't get one.

The green eyed woman furrowed her eyebrows, sighing, lowering her head. She was unable to leave her room. Or rather, she didn't want to. Having heard what Shun said hurt her greatly. Hurt her more than anything.

Even more than a slash wound.

It hurt so much. Tears flowed down Rio's face, making her frown and shake her head. She did not want to seem weak. But the words from what Starrk had said flooded into her mind. Crying was not weak.

She let the tears flow, eyes closed, shoulders shaking. Only until her door opened, did she lift her hand to wipe her eyes.

"Hey, Rio... Something wrong?"

Rio glanced behind, widening her eyes, seeing Renji standing there with wide eyes, staring at her questioningly. Only until he saw her red eyes and tear stained face did he walk further into the room, pulling the woman into an embrace.

"What's wrong, Rio? I'm sure it's okay." Renji said, patting the woman's head, smiling.

"No... it's not okay, Captain Abarai. Shun... who has been my friend for almost two hundred years... said she wanted me to leave her alone forever and never contact her." Rio said, tears rolling down her face, shoulders shaking.

"Wait... Captain Zaraki's subordinate? The one who your friend said she hated?" Renji asked, quirking an eyebrow, wondering if he got it right.

"She... only said that because she was angry. She doesn't hate Shun at all." Rio said, lowering her head, closing her eyes, hands clenched. "We tried to apologize... but she told us to get lost. Just like that. Without ever considering our feelings." She said, closing her eyes tightly, voice cracking.

"Rio... I'm sure that... she didn't mean it." Renji said, rubbing the back of his head, sighing.

"Then why... did she sound like she meant her words?" Rio muttered, sighing, closing her eyes.

"Rio, why don't I make tea? We can relax then." Renji said, pointing to the woman's cupboard full of tea, raising his eyebrows questioningly. "Or we can go get something to eat."

"Tea would be fine." Rio said, closing her eyes, smiling softly.

"Okay! Just tell me where you tea pot is and all that." Renji said, clapping his hands together, searching through the cupboard, pulling out a pot, quirking an eyebrow. "That's not a tea pot... that's a frying pan... that's a cheese grater." He muttered, searching through the cupboard.

Rio blinked before she lifted a hand to her mouth, giggling. Renji looked up and saw Rio's smile, making him blink, wondering what he did that was funny. Rio walked towards him, only she didn't look in the cupboard, and instead reached over the counter, grabbing the tea pot that Captain was looking for.

"I keep in on the counter." Rio said, smiling softy.

"Oh." Renji said, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

Renji watched as Rio made tea, amazed she had so many variety of teas, never knowing that someone could love tea so much. They sat down, the tea already done, the woman pouring some into two separate cups, handing one to the Captain.

"So, I hear that you want to catch the man that hurt me." Rio said, smiling softly, closing her eyes.

Renji widened his eyes, looking to the side, blowing steam off the cup, blushing slightly. Rio tilted her head, still smiling, making the man sigh and close his eyes, scratching the side of his face.

"Yeah." Renji said, opening his eyes again.

"I'm glad to hear you worry about me. Unlike some people." Rio said, lowering her head, her smile fading.

"Your friend?" Renji asked, mouth in a firm line, eyes narrowed.

"She said... she's not my friend anymore." Rio said, lowering her head, sighing. "But... I wasn't sure if she was serious or not. I can't read her emotions as good as other people. She is really good at hiding them." She said, shaking her head.

"Good at hiding her emotions? No one is that good." Renji said, shaking his head, looking mildly shocked.

"She is. She's been able to hide her emotion from anyone... for nearly three hundred years. You can only tell what she's feeling when she's mad." Rio said, furrowing her eyebrows, sighing.

"Well, maybe she's-"

The door opened, making both people turn their heads, seeing the third seat of the sixth squad walk in, staring at the Captain momentarily before looking at Rio, seeing her shocked look. He walked in just like that, again.

"Rio, may I have some tea?" Starrk asked, sitting down, making himself comfortable at the table.

Renji was staring at the ex-Espada with a strange expression, his eyes wide, shocked the man walked in without so much as a hello and asked for some tea. Were he and Rio friends?

"Yes." Rio said, smiling, pouring another cup full of tea, setting it in front of the third seat.

"Thank you." Starrk said, polite, raising the cup to his lips and blowing off the steam.

Renji was still staring at the man, wondering who the hell he was. He knew he was the first Espada, but why was he friends with Rio? And why did he was right in without a knock?

He looked between the woman and the man, seeing their eyes closed, drinking the tea calmly, both quiet. Whoa. Creepy. Like they were made for each other. He frowned. No. His former Captain and the woman were made for each other.

"Well... I can see that... you guys need some catching up... on being quiet. So... I'm gonna go." Renji said, standing up, heading for the door.

"Why?" Rio asked, glancing up, tilting her head.

"Because I have paperwork that needs to be done." Renji said, sighing, shaking his head, remembering those two piles of paperwork on his desk.

Wasn't going to be fun.

"Oh. Well, I hope to see you again, Captain Abarai." Rio said, smiling softly, closing her eyes.

Renji smiled and nodded, walking out the door, silently closing the door behind himself. Starrk opened his eyes, looking at the door. So, Rio had a friend who was a Captain. Interesting.

"Rio... can you tell me how you made this tea? It tastes quite nice." Starrk said, holding up the cup.

"Well-"

"Wait." Starrk said, standing up, walking over to the woman's bed, settling down, closing his eyes and folding his arms behind his head. "Okay, now tell me."

Rio blinked before she started giggling, making a faint smile appear on the man's face. He liked her laugh. It was nice. He also like her bed. It was so soft. Maybe they could trade beds.

-:-

Yuri wiped her eyes, sitting on the tenth division, tears still rolling down her face. She had sensed her friend... her comrade's reiatsu die down, now in the fourth division. Shun was reckless. She was mean. She was cold. She was related to anything to anything that was mean.

She was... independent.

That's what she hated about her. Absolutely hated about her fri- companion. Why say they weren't her friends anymore? Why was she being cruel? Why was she... pushing them away?

Yuri has always looked up to Shun, amazed by her strength, wanting to be as powerful as her. Sure, there were many powerful people as well, but Shun has always fascinated her. Never backing down. Never taking anybody's crap. Never doing... anything without a reason.

Yuri paused, furrowing her eyebrows.

Reason. Shun never did anything... without a reason. So why... why was she acting like the way she was? As far as she knew, Shun has always had a reason for her actions. What was her reason for pushing her and Rio away? What was her reason?

When her and Rio were confused as to why Shun still let them follow her in the Rukongai, she simply said that they weren't like any other people she knew, who always asked her to protect them. They had requested that she train them.

Only until after that horrible incident, Shun wouldn't look at them for almost three weeks. After the three weeks were over, that's when she announced she was going to train them, making her and Rio ecstatic.

Shun had stared at them, while they held each others hands and jumped, smiling brightly.

But during that time, she thought she had seen something on her face. She had confronted Rio, asking if she saw anything as well. Rio stared at her in shock, nodding, saying something that confirmed her suspicions.

Shun had smiled when they were happy.

The reason why Shun trained them was because she thought they would need to defend themselves, saying she didn't want them to taking anyone's crap, or in Shun's words, shit.

So, there had to be a reason that Shun pushed them away, right?

Yuri whimpered, closing her eyes, lowering her head, feeling her eyes sting once more. She had been crying on and off for the last hour, the hour before was when Shun said she didn't want them near her anymore, saying she was not their friend and never was.

Yuri's shoulders shook hard, tears rolling down her face, onto her lap, hands clenched.

"Why is... Shun... so mean?" Yuri muttered, voice cracking, using the woman's real name instead of the nickname she always gave her.

"Hikari."

Yuri jolted, screaming, eyes wide. She turned around, seeing the third seat stare at her with hard eyes, his mouth in a firm line, making her blink several times before turning away, wiping her eyes.

"W-What do you want... Schiffer-san?" Yuri asked, covering her eyes with her hands.

"Why do you have such a pathetic look on your face?" Ulquiorra asked, eyes narrowed, staring at the woman in disgust.

"T-That's mean!" Yuri yelled, flailing her arms, giving the man a cute glare, standing and fully facing the third seat.

"Why do you have that look on your face, Hikari? You are usually your annoying self, always clinging to Captain Hitsugaya's side." Ulquiorra said, seeing the woman narrow her eyes and clench her hands.

"Be quiet! I'm not... always be Captain Hitsugaya's side." Yuri muttered, lowering her head, staring at the rood with a saddened look. "And I don't have to tell you what's wrong. So... leave me alone, Schiffer-san."

Yuri widened her eyes, seeing the third seat hold his hand out, flinching, thinking he was going to attack, and closing her eyes tightly. She was shocked when he put his fingers under her chin and lifted her head, staring into her eyes.

"...S... Schiffer-san?" Yuri muttered, eyes wide.

"Why do you stare at Captain Hitsugaya with such a look?" Ulquiorra murmured, eyes narrowed, staring into the eyes of the woman, making her furrow her eyebrows in confusion.

"Look...?" Yuri muttered, confused, wondering what the third seat was talking about.

"You stare at him with that pathetic expression of love. It infuriates me for some peculiar reason." Ulquiorra said, muttering the last part.

But wasn't what had gained her attention. The first sentence he said is what gained her attention. Love. Did he just say she stared at her Captain with love? How? She didn't know what love felt like. So how could he just say that?

Yuri's eyes were side, staring at the man in shock, seeing him narrow his eyes. Why was she staring at him with such a look? It was making him uneasy. For the short time he has known her, she always had a wide smile on her face, bouncing all over the division. At least, that's what he heard people say.

He had to widen his eyes with shock when her eyes started welling up with tears, whimpering, lips trembling.

"What are you-"

Ulquiorra didn't finish. Yuri had wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, sobbing loudly, making the man freeze, unused to such contact.

Yuri was confused.

More than confused.

She was troubled.

Her, who knew nothing of love for a long time, and always depended on her friends for comfort. Now, this man in front of her was telling her she loved Toshiro Hitsugaya? Why? She has only ever loved her brother, Yori. And even then, her and her brother knew that they should love each other.

So how... could she love someone who wasn't her brother?

It made no sense.

And what was the reason... Shun had pushed them away?

Why was everything so confusing. And why... why... why did Shun have to act so cruel to them?! It made no sense. None of it did. Why was she being so mean? And to actually hit them and threaten to kill them if they went near her was really, really confusing her and Rio.