It is to my surprise it's not Riku. Standing in my door way is someone I did not expect to see so soon.

"Thank you for letting me in…..My dearest Shiori."

Well….Shit….


Damn. It is Lord Aizen. I was hoping not to have to run into him so soon. I see him look around the room and stop on me again, his smile that is not quite a smile on his face. I resist the urge to shudder again. This is not who I expected to see at my door. I was more like hoping it was Gin. I have to get him out and quick. While I finish fixing my glove I think of something. He must want my report about my supposed mission. I have no details to tell him though. I'm going to get found out. He is going to kill me. That sense of I've done something wrong against this man is back again. I must think clearly and act in my normal behavior. If not to save myself, then of those who are under me – Mika, Yuri and Riku.

"Greetings Lord Aizen, What bring you here to my room?"

"I'm just checking up on my dearest Cero. Seeing if everything is alright. This reminds me….You should get those cuts and scratches healed my dear. It would not be good to see your beautiful form marred in such a way."

Gag me. I think I'm going to throw up. I can tell he is trying to play mind games with me but he is right on one point. I concentrate for a few seconds and the previously mentions cuts and scratches disappear leaving my skin like new again. Smirking at him, I move over to the table with my laptop on it. Turning it on I turn to him.

"Are you after my mission report, Lord Aizen? Unfortunately I have yet to start it in any degree."

"No I am not after that. I'm just here to remind you-"

"Hiya!"

Thank my lucky stars and whatever kami is up there. I had a real sense of foreboding as he was saying that sentence. Aizen seems a bit disturbed that he got interrupted. By one of his own commanders at that. Gin looks into the room with that grin on his face, leaning on my door frame like he owns it. I can't help but grin in return.

"Hello Gin. It is great that you could come here."

"I will speak to you at the next Espada meeting Shiori. Your reports have better be done by then."

Gin quickly moves out of the way lest he be bowled over by Aizen storming out of my room. He probably didn't see it that way but that's what he looked like he was doing. Storming out like a child throwing a tantrum because he couldn't get his way. Tch. Like I could care less right now. Turning to the other man, I see him walk over to the love seat and proceed to make himself at home. Really, he could have waited for me to say something. Wait…where is Ulquiorra? I asked for him to come as well. Technically he has to listen to an order from an Espada of higher rank but Lord Aizen comes first. Something must have shown on my face because Gin's grin dropped a bit on his face and he looked sadly at me.

"Ulquiorra isn't joining us for this little chat Shiori…."

Hmmm… Kind of strange but it can't be helped though. I feel let down but don't know why. I see Gin throw his legs over one of the arms of the love seat and I resist the urge to slap them off. Really? Is it that hard to respect others living areas? I guess he can do whatever he wants but still… I move over to close the door and catch Mika and Yuri fighting on the ground, fighting over that same cushion again from earlier. What is so good about that cushion anyway?

"Hmmm it seems they are still the same…no?"

"HOLY SHIT!"

I hear that bastard chuckle and feel him drag me back inside and slam the door shut before the two fighting girls can run over and ask any questions. He still has a hold on my arm as I watch him place a kidō barrier around the room. I raise an eyebrow in question but before I can ask anything he throws me against the wall, both arms pinned above my head. I cry out as the force from the throw knocks the air from my lungs and I catch a glimpse of his eyes opening. They are the clearest sky blue I have ever seen but they also scare the crap out of me. I now know at least one of the reasons why he doesn't open his eyes. From what I saw earlier he does creep people out by not opening his eyes but this is much scarier. He looks at me from head to toe, and after seeing whatever he wanted to, he closes his eyes again and tilts his head to the side in a cat like manner. Or should I say fox?

"What have we here? The Cero turns up, intact no less, starts to fit right back into life here again but there is a slight problem? Know what that is Shiori?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know Gin? Now fucking let go of me!"

Playing dumb seems to work for a bit. I can see the thoughts running around his head and I know this can't be good. Riku told me he was on my side though. But from what I'm seeing now that doesn't seem to be the case. I see him come to an understanding with himself and the hands around me wrists tighten to the point where it is almost painful. I won't let this bastard win and harden my gaze so he will not see the pain he is placing on me.

"I know what the problem is….The Cero has no memory, none of her former powers and only the basic control of suppressing her spiritual pressure so it doesn't crush the others under her. I'm actually surprised that you have that going for you. Want to know what gave you away?"

"Oh please enlighten me Gin…Because I know your just dying to tell me anyway."

"You are really not in the position to be sarcastic to me right now Shiori but I'll tell you anyway. You and I were so close before you went away. You could always tell where I was from just the slightest trace of my spiritual signature. In fact you snuck up on me more than I did to you. What gave you away was even though you knew I was in the room behind you, you didn't even hear me come up behind you or sense me for that matter. You only knew I was there because I spoke over your shoulder. Now that is not the Shiori I know. What happened to you?"

He was close to me? Could he be the one I had that flashback about before Riku woke me up? I let my head fall to look at the ground and I feel his grip relax to the point where he is lightly holding me to the wall. It's a good thing too because I'm not too sure I could support my own weight right now.


"Really Gin? Did you have to get everybody lost for the meeting? You know Lord Aizen blames me when shit like this happens."
"Awww but Shiori….It is funny seeing everybody get frustrated because they end up outside, or at the training rooms, or at the throne room, or at-"
"Okay Gin I get the picture…But just next time tell me so I can have fun too. Being the Cero isn't all that it's cracked up to be you know…"
"Gin please spar with me?"
"Hmmm…no"
"Please?"
"No"
"Please? I'll keep stalking you till you agree."
"Go ask Starrk or someone else. Or how about you ask that someone that you have been sneaking into your room late at night?"
"FINE! I'll ask Starrk. Kami…You had to bring up that? Have you been watching me again?"


My eyes open as the last bit of my flashback finishes. Looking around I see Gin sitting at my desk typing something on my laptop. That makes me on my bed. How the hell did I get here? I groan as I try to sit up against the headboard and my sounds and shuffling around cause Gin to turn around and face me. He reaches for a glass of water from the bedside table and passes it to me. With a smile of thanks, I take a slow sip and look at him from the corner of my eye. He looks worried. Like Ichigo did before I left The World of the Living.

"What was that about Shiori? All of a sudden your eyes glazed over until they were pure white, your spiritual pressure went through the roof then you collapsed in my arms. I carried you over to the bed as you can tell and you have been lying still for at least an hour now."

Okay. That's weird. That didn't happen the last time I had a flashback. Are they getting worse? Are they going to soon cause me physical harm if I keep on trying to remember the past? The last time was only slight trembling and this time I pass out for an hour. What will happen if this happens in front of Lord Aizen? My power gets release every time it happens but the flashback about me and the guy in my bed didn't cause anything to happen. Maybe he is my only safe area. My only safe person. I have to find out who he is. I look up and see Gin waiting for me to give him answer so I do. I tell him everything that has happened to me since I woke up in The World of the Living till now. Even the flashbacks that I have been having and that they scare me. My thoughts on Lord Aizen, what happens if I get more flashbacks, everything. I even tell him about the memory about the guy that was with me in my room. I feel safe telling him now that I remember everything about him at least, and I know that he won't betray my trust. I wish I could see his eyes though. It would give me some inside on what the hell he is thinking. But I did see him brighten up when I told him that I fully remember him now. That made me happy. I can see now that he was the closest person to me and it must have been hard on him not knowing anything about what happened to me. I sit quietly, letting everything sink in to him.

"AHHHH Gin you bastard!"

Damn bastard tackled me to the bed but I still laugh, only playfully smacking him across the back of the head to pay him back for the tackle. It's only as he lets go of me that I see what is on my laptop. It looks like he was writing my report for the 'mission' I was on. Why the hell would he write that for me? I give him a look to explain.

"Ah…I was writing the report only because I know what Captain Aizen is talking about and we already knew what Urahara was planning concerning Karakura Town. This way the others won't think that there is something wrong with you and Captain Aizen can't do anything. On a completely different topic… It's a good thing I still had that kidō barrier in place when you collapsed. Never knew you had that much in you Shiori."

"What do you mean you never knew?"

"We were close Shiori, as you remember now, but I never sparred with you did I?"

"No you didn't you bastard. You still owe me a match."

"Well…maybe we should…"

Huh? The grinning fool sitting in front of me has never once agreed to my request to spar with him and now he is the one suggesting it? What is going on in that head of his? As I open my mouth to ask the questions going through my head, I hear a weird sound being played in my room. I can't place where it is coming from but I do know it is familiar somehow.

"Oh look. It's meeting time."

"Is that what that sound is?"

"Wow. You really did lose a huge part of your life didn't you? Oh well…I'll take you to the meeting room considering you would probably get lost on the way there if I left you to your own devices."

His grunt of pain is music to my ears. But he probably right. No need to tell him that though. Getting off my bed I see him still rub his ribs where I elbowed him. Heading out both my door and the front door to the Espada living area I wait for him and look around again. My fraccion are nowhere to be seen and there are no other Espadas around. We must be the last ones to arrive at the meeting. Gin walks by me and I follow closely behind.

"Will Lord Aizen be upset if we are the last ones there?"

"Nah…We normally are and besides he likes to make sure everyone has a cup of tea in front of them before he himself walks into the room. No matter though…Hey do you remember how to sonido? Cause this would be easier if you did…"

Giving him one of my best death glares only sends him to chuckle. Does the fool not remember what we talked about 5 minutes ago? I don't remember a thing! What he said earlier though is playing in my head. I'm powerful, well that must be true if I'm at the top behind Lord Aizen and his two commanders, and the only thing I can subconsciously do is my regenerative healing and the hold I have over my power otherwise my fraccion wouldn't be able to come near me. I'm that far in my thoughts I don't notice the room we walk into, only stopping when I feel a pull on my arm.

"What?"

"You don't have a seat. You stand here with me. Just put this in front of the empty seat at the head of the table and come back here." Gin whispers in my ear and slips the report I didn't see him carry into my right hand. With a small nod of my head, I do as he said and walk closer to the table but I can't help but look around. I see one of the Espadas asleep with his head on the table, one of the Espadas that retrieved me from the World of the Living argue with another Espada that looks like he has a giant spoon behind him. This must happen often enough because no one is really paying attention to it. Everyone else is just sitting there, having a silent staring content with the person across from them or at the wall and not touching the tea in front of them. Mental note. Do no drink the tea. No one else is. I see two seats are empty. One is the head of the table which is Lord Aizen's and the other must belong to one of the ranks. Placing the report down, I walk quickly back to Gin but bump into a body on the way. I didn't even sense the spiritual trace of this person.

"Forgive me, Cero Shiori. I did not mean to get in your way."

"Ummm that quiet alright….."

I can't see who it is. His face is facing the ground because of the bow he is in. I see his raven hair, his mask and the coat tails at the bottom of his jacket….Wait….I know him. He came with the loud mouth, blue haired jackass currently arguing behind me to the World of the Living to get me. Now what his name? As if reading my thoughts he lifts his head and I can't help but stare into his eyes. They are like emeralds. But I don't see any emotions in them though, or on his face for that matter.

"Are you alright Cero Shiori? You look pale."

I saw concern flash across his face then but it was only for an instance. I don't even think he knew what just happened and it is his own body. Before I can answer, Gin grabs my elbow again and drags me to where he and that guy that looks like he could put me to sleep with a lecture are standing. He is really making a habit out of that. I elbow him in the ribs again and I hear a sigh from the other guy. Hmmm. This must have been normal behavior for us if all he can do is sigh. I see the other Espadas take their place or quiet down and I look towards the entrance door. It is as Lord Aizen is walking into the room that I have to grab onto Gins' arm and fight to keep my eyes open.

Please….not again…..not in front him….not now…..

AN: Please R&R! An Sorry for some of the OOC and Gins speech. If anyone knows of a good beta or even better, someone that can write Gin's speech pattern PM me! but there will be more OOC coming up and im saying sorry in advance. Sorry!