Chapter 2

Ashyah almost giggled at her sister's glare. But stopped when she sensed the other two arriving. She held her breath, afraid to look. Turning her head she smiled, wanting to cry out in joy. It was a premonition. She couldn't be more happy. She looked over to her sister, wanting to see her surprised face. But Azumi didn't seem to recognize the two individuals. She's too far away, she can't see him.Ashyah thought smiling, this would be interesting. And it was then that Ashyah couldn't contain her giggles. The fit made her lose her balance, and she tumbled down to the ground. Landing with a thump, a couple blossoms rained down around her.

Azumi sighed in exasperation, having seen Ashyah fall from the tree, Damn was her sister a pain. The klutz. She thought before turning her gaze to the new comer's. She flash stepped an equal distance from both parties. That way she could keep an eye on both. It was still dark out so she could only make out the silhouettes of other two from her current distance. This was a pretty dangerous situation considering the lighting. It was also pretty damn good for her training, facing the enemy in the dark. Was this the reason why Ashyah did this so early in the morning?Azumi evaluated her position, there were four of them, the orange haired boy and short girl didn't seem to be as much of a threat in comparison to the other two's spiritual pressures. The taller of the two new comer's seemed to emit a fighter's spirit, it didn't take a genius to know he was an Arrancar. The shorter one on the other hand seemed to expel the feeling of depression. Well aren't you emo,Azumi thought to herself. The taller one seemed to offer the greatest possibility of a fun fight.

It was then that the taller of the two spoke, "So thisis where that strong energy was coming from? A little girl? That's a freaking joke!" he shouted in a voice that Azumi could only describe as an asshole's voice. It was practically stereotypical. The prospect of him calling her a little girl made Azumi's blood boil for a beat before she smirked. Just imagining the look on his face when she beat him in the fight. But then she paused, that voice...but it couldn't be...Azumi's breath caught in her throat, unable to believe it. She shook her head, No, it's not. It's just a coincidence. She wouldn't allow her mind to go there. It was hard enough the first time around. She was just being hormonal, that's all.But she couldn't shake the feeling still...even after so long, that voice stuck with her throughout the hundreds of years that had passed. It practically haunted her.

Well she couldn't have some asshole walking around with his voice now could she. That was unacceptable. And the fact that he had called her a little girl...yeah he was a dead man already. Hardening her resolve, she allowed a good amount of her spiritual energy to flow through her staff as she held both ends. Pulling at each end, the staff split at the center and each half transformed into two separate long daggers. They were beautiful, Azumi was quite proud of it. Holding them at her sides she stood in a ready position. Waiting for the asshole to draw the silhouette she could make out as a sword. Then he spoke again, seemingly to his partner but it seemed more directed at her than anyone else. "I guess the little girldidn't like that, did she?" he taunted, finally drawing his sword. "Do you think I care, trash?" his partner stated coldly, walking off to the side to observe, it seemed. The shorter one looked like he didn't really want to fight, but was here purely out of curiosity. That didn't make Azumi any less wary of him, she would have to make sure to him an eye out for him just in case. You never knew with those emotionless type. They could decide on anything and you wouldn't even know it cause their face is completely unreadable. Not that she could see it anyway in the horrible lighting. Azumi was also aware of the fact that he had cut half the distance between himself an Ashyah. He wouldn't go after her would he?Should-CLASH! The sound of the metal on metal rang out as the taller one's sword collided with my own weapon's. All I saw was a wicked grin as he came at me again. I guess he got impatient I thought as a grin of my own appeared as I flash stepped and clashed with his sword again. It was then that I saw his eyes...they were a cyan blue...just like...no it couldn't be. I flash stepped a few feet back to fully see him, and as the sky lightened over the tree line, I could then see that his short hair matched his eyes. He had beautiful tan skin with lean muscles and a white uniform. He also had a hole in his stomach. But that was normal for Arrancar's but how could he have...it was him...it looked exactlylike him, and he even had the same voice. "Grimmjow?" Azumi croaked, unable to believe her eyes. How? I saw him die, over 500 years ago...and back then he was human.

Grimmjow paused, confused. How does she know my name?He flash stepped a couple feet back. He looked quizzically at the girl standing in front of him. "Do I know you?" he asked wondering if he had ever fought her before. But nothing turned up in his memory, he was absolutely sure he had never seen her before. But then again how many blue haired Grimmjow's were there? Especially an Arrancar.

Azumi was speechless. What was going on? She wanted to look over to Ashyah to ask if she knew anything about this, but she knew better than to turn her back to an enemy. Even if that enemy had not always been one. She decided that answering his question wouldn't hurt, "It's Azumi. Don't you remember me?"

Grimmjow seemed to think of Azumi's question, "Nope, I don't know any Azumi's. Did I happen to kill someone you know or something? Cause I'm pretty sure I've never seen you before." he responded, breaking Azumi's heart. He doesn't remember me? I know it's been awhile but...how could he forget? Anger swelled within her, the asshole forgotabout her? After what she did for him? What the hell?!Azumi went at him, he blocked against her attack with his sword. "So I'm assuming we don't know each other in a good way, huh?" Grimmjow mocked grin back in it's usual place.

Dawn made it's way over the tree line, illuminating the park in pinks, yellows, and blues. Ashyah stared at the black haired Arrancar not too far from where she sat. She rubbed what was most likely a sprained ankle, but it didn't really matter. It would heal soon enough. She observed Ulquiorra, other than the teal streaks running down his cheeks and the hole in his chest, he looked just how she remembered him. At least physically, there was an emptiness in his eyes that hadn't been there 500 years ago. Ashyah looked back at the hole in his chest, she didn't like that placement. It bugged her. The Ulquiorra she had known was always quiet, with small smiles and a kind and curious heart. Sure there were times when he was cold, but not so much as what he was showing now. After a couple of minutes her ankle healed, she looked to her sister. It looked like she and Grimmjow were catching up. Getting up she walked over to Ulquiorra, stopping just three feet from his left. He glanced to the side at her. Ashyah stared into his eyes, he stared at her. Observing her. It seemed to Ashyah that he never really lost his curiosity. But his eyes told her the he was looking at a stranger. Ashyah would fix that, even if he couldn't remember the past, she could show him. Through her power of illusion. But it wouldn't be just an illusion, it would be her memory. Ashyah took another step forward, closing the distance and then reaching out a hand to clutch the sleeve of his white jacket.

Ulquiorra watched her, observing her in total confusion and a somewhat fascination. No one had ever done thatbefore. Most were too afraid to go five feet near him. He had never been so close to another without the intent to kill. But no one had ordered him to kill this girl with the pink petals caught in her curly raven hair. He had no reason to pull away when there was no threat in her holding onto his sleeve. In fact the action was quite curious. What reason was there for her to do such a thing? Ulquiorra didn't see how she could gain anything by the action. So why?Ulquiorra was completely befuddled by the entire situation.

Ashyah watched as Ulquiorra seemed as though he was in the twilight zone, and smiled on the inside. Once things settled down, then she would clear things up with both parties, but for now she would enjoy all of their confusion. It was beyond amusing, and she couldn't remember the last time things felt so peaceful. It was quite possible that it hadn't been so for the last 500 years, but who knew? Time was a tricky subject and Ashyah couldn't find herself caring at the current moment.

Meanwhile, Azumi was pissed. That asshole!Azumi thought angrily as she took another swipe at him. Grimmjow was always an asshole, even when he was human. But this had to top every snarky, sarcastic, jerk faced joke he'd ever pulled. He could have at least toldme that he was alive! Would it have killed him to find me and see me? To say "Hey I'm not dead and all so you don't have to feel guilty about what happened back then." This time Azumi made contact when one of her daggers slashed his torso, creating a large bloody gash across his abs. Did Azumi regret cutting him? No. Did she regret doing so across a perfectly good set of abs? Maybe just a little…

Azumi was just about to lunge forward to take another strike, when suddenly...they were underwater. Grimmjow looked panicked, clutching his throat and trying to swim to the surface. Azumi mirrored him, trying to figure out why she could move to the side but not up.Both her and Grimmjow were stuck at the bottom of the body of water. Why were they there? How did they get there was the better question. Then it hit Azumi...they weren't actually drowning, they weren't even underwater for that matter. They just thoughtthey were. I guess her sister thought it was time to play nice. Damn her and her ability to manipulate illusions. Ashyah rarely if ever used her power against Azumi. But that still didn't change the fact that she felt like she couldn't breath. Once Azumi and Grimmjow could no longer take it, they fell to their knees. And then it was all gone, and they could breath again. They sat there in the grass, catching breath that they had never actually lost. The soul reapers stared at them in confusion. In fact they looked quite ridiculous standing awkwardly to the side with looks of "I have no idea what to do or say" expressions. Azumi then turned her gaze to the devil itself, a full on scolding already on the tip of her tongue. But Ashyah was not there. In her place was Ulquiorra...wait...Ulquiorra? Azumi couldn't believe her eyes. She helped buryUlquiorra. What was today? The rise of the dead? What the hell's going on? Azumi's eyes widened, this couldn't be one of Ashyah's illusions could it? She wouldn't do such a cruel thing would she?

"What's so damn interesting about the emo? The action's over here, sweetheart." Grimmjow mocked. Yet again...Azumi thought, was Ashyah so skilled that she could get the full extent of hisego? No, Azumi was sure that was Grimmjow. But what about Ulquiorra? He almost didn't look like the Ulquiorra she knew 500 years ago. This man had cold eyes, and a face that gave way to no emotion. The one she knew had a quiet kindness about him, he blushed when you teased him, and always had the expression of one deep in thought. Though other than the teal tear streaks on his face and the hole over his heart, he looked physically the same. Azumi instantly didn't trust this man that looked like her old friend. But then she saw Ashyah, sitting at the foot of the cold man, looking completely content fiddling with the small pile of cherry blossoms she had collected. She had her one hand outstretched to his sleeve, holding on as if she was afraid he would run off. And then that made Azumi think of her own situation.

Why was she mad at Grimmjow? Shouldn't she simply be grateful that he wasalive? That she could see him breathing and walking and making those smart ass remarks she pretended to hate? Her sister looked like the happiest person just sittingthere. All of Azumi's anger seemed to deflate from her like a balloon with a hole in it. She turned back to Grimmjow, observing him. He stared back at her with a mixed look of annoyance and impatience. He was breathing. His beautiful blue cyan eyes that drew her in were open and alive. He even had that scowl attached to his face when he wasn't smirking. Tears wanted to well in Azumi's eyes but she refused to allow such a thing, she had her pride after all.

"Ummm…." the orange haired soul reaper broke the silence, as well as Azumi's thoughts. Azumi decided to turn a glare at the boy for such an interruption, but he ignored it and continued on anyway. "Could someone please explain WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" he demanded, his face of calm turning to that of annoyance. Azumi would be amused had she not had the urge to cry out in pure happiness and relief. She wanted to glomp Grimmjow in a big silly hug, but all she could do was sit there in shock. The emotions going through her were just not processing on her facial expression. It took her a moment more to respond to the soul reaper. "What's going on you ask?" Azumi said it as more of a statement than a question. "Figure that out for yourself, you came here.We were just minding our own business till you showed up." Azumi responded, it took all of her energy not to attack these soul reapers. Azumi hatedsoul reapers with a burning passion that would rival Fifty Shades of Grey. They were always so demanding and arrogant. Waltzing around the world like they owned it. Telling others what to do and acting like they gave a crap for the greater goodor whatever the hell they called it. Azumi hated them most of all because they split her family apart. They killed her father, tried to kill both her and her sister, and to top it all off with a nice little cherry, their mother left them for the Soul Society. And all for what? Status? If that was the greater good then Azumi wanted nothing to do with it.

Though despite all these factors, she couldn't attack these Soul Reapers, the orange haired one had a strange reishi that Azumi wasn't quite sure she could handle without the aid of her own full power. And as Azumi came to learn over her many years of living in this world, it was better safe than sorry. She wouldn't want the assassin's to come back after them. Not when it finally seemed that they had forgotten about her and her sister. If they were lucky they may have already pronounced them dead.

"What exactly is going on?" Grimmjow asked, looking extremely confused. "I mean, I was justdrowning in the middle of a field. And so were you! Yet you sit there like what just happened was completely normal. So do tell sweetheart, what exactly just freaking happened?" Azumi softly sighed, "You're like a mule you know that?" she directed at Grimmjow. His face screwed up into that of anger. "Hey! Are you calling me stupid?!" he shouted. Azumi nearly facepalmed. "No, I was actually referring that you're stubborn and an ass but "stupid" can go on that list too." Azumi retorted, a small smirk gracing her lips. Anger flared throughout Grimmjow's entire being, it was practically tangible. Azumi, was tempted to laugh but was too on guard around the soul reapers. Why were they still here?They found where the strange Ashyah pressure led to...so...they could go now! Soul Reapers really were a pain in the ass, they couldn't leave anything alone. Hadn't they ever heard of "curiousity killed the cat"? Oh wait that's right, they think they're all high and mighty. They probably don't even believe in death. Though yet again...aren't they already technically dead?Well now Azumi was just confusing herself.

Azumi's internal rant was interrupted when Grimmjow suddenly decided he was fed up with all the waiting and grabbed the front her top, hauling her to face him. Azumi stared at him, amused. Grimmjow wasn't really the type to get all flustered and civil around a woman. It was one of the things Azumi admired about him, it didn't matter what her gender was, Grimmjow treated everyone the same, though sometimes it just depended on his psychotic mood swings. It was good to know that he had never really changed over the years. Though the kingreally ought to know how to treat his queen, so she pushed at a certain pressure point, his hand released, and she knocked him on his ass.

It took Grimmjow a moment to realize what happened before his face screwed up in a mix of irritation, anger, and embarrassment. But before he could do or say anything, a portal opened, and stepping out of it came a graceful looking man with a serious face, along with a red headed man with black tribal looking tattoos. Damn, more soul reapers…Azumi thought in a panic. They were attracting way too much attention, it was time to scram. Flash stepping over to her sister she managed to pry her off of Ulquiorra and dragged her away, getting them as far away from the park as fast as she could. And if Grimmjow was just as stubborn and Ulquiorra just as curious as they were as humans, then they would follow soon behind.

Ten miles later in a densely forested area, and Azumi was pretty sure they were in the clear of any true danger. Azumi stood taking in the beautiful surroundings. Grimmjow and Ulquiorra were still a ways behind due to them staying a while longer in the park (at least according to their spiritual pressures) so it would take a while for them to arrive. Ashyah sat on the ground near a log, pouting. "Relax, they'll come…" Azumi assured. Though while she was pretty confident that Grimmjow would come, she wasn't too sure about the emo. Those cold eyes flashed in her mind, it was hard to imagine a man like that caring about anything. Ashyah poked at a mushroom. Azumi wondered if now was a good time to ask some of her own questions. She decided that now was a good as time as any.

"Ashyah?"

She tilted her head up at her name, looking innocent and clueless, though Azumi knew damn well otherwise. "How is this all possible? How are they…" Azumi left it at that. Ashyah shrugged and then bit into her hand, causing a good amount of blood to flow, and started to draw on the log with it. Azumi was about to reprimand her for it, but her curiosity won out in the end. Ashyah had just finished drawing a dead tree when two spiritual pressures started to close in. Ah hell, they couldn't wait ten more minutes?Azumi would just have to wait for Ashyah to explain later. The first to arrive was Grimmjow, looking pissed and confused to the events taking place. Ulquiorra followed soon after, looking bored. He made his way over to Ashyah and examined her blood drawing. As if it were some exotic plant he had never seen before. Azumi turned to face Grimmjow. This whole situation is just a mess...Azumi thought to herself. Wondering how she could explain anything to Grimmjow when she could hardly understand what was happening herself.

GRIMMJOW'S POV

At this point I had a list of questions just waiting on the tip of my tongue. Why was I following two little girls was at the top of said list. I couldn't comprehend why I felt so drawn to them. Or more prominently, her. She was strange, there was definitely something that wasn't right about this. Most of all though, I felt an unknown happiness in finding these strange girls. Like I had found something that I had been searching for, for a long time. I didn't understand why I felt like there was something I had forgotten. Why did the girl with the red eyes seem so familiar? I would remember a spiritual pressure like that. It was unlike anything Grimmjow had ever felt. How could something be alien and familiar at the same time? It doesn't make any sense...

ULQUIORRA POV

Why did this creature intrigue me? Perhaps it was the look of everythingthat went through her eyes, something that was missing entirely in my own empty ones. Perhaps it was her quiet demeanor that spoke to me. But what what drew me to her the most was the fact that she held onto me.He couldn't once recall a time thathad ever taken place. It was the most strangest of things, it made me wonder if she was an actual being since the only thing that would ever willinglytouch me was air the I breathed. Her blue eyes looked like the never ending sky. She was everything, and I was nothing. Perhaps I couldn't help being drawn to something like that. But there was one more thing that was strange about this creature...the fact that Ifeltsomething. Not just physically but a yearning to know more. A curiosity that was new to me. I would have to keep this creature, it was not trash, there was no reason to throw it away.

ASHYAH POV

Now was the time, it was the perfect place. But first Azumi needed to understand what was happening. I had already seen the visions. I understood the current situation. But none of them did. Which made things complicate- oh look a dead elephant… though a moment later it was gone. Ashyah quietly sighed, she knew what she would have to do, and it wasn't going to be easy. But it was the best way to get things sorted without any of them killing each other. Ashyah looked at her still bleeding wrist, drawings weren't going to get the job done, the time wasn't there like she had hoped it would. At this rate a bleeding wrist was the least of her worries. She didn't want to screw this chance up, so she had no choice, she would do it no matter the consequences. While Azumi was distracted with Grimmjow, I unclasped my collar for the second time that day, a world record. Then I concentrated all of my spiritual energy into showing Grimmjow and Ulquiorra their human lives, and Azumi the vision I had seen of both Ulquiorra and Grimmjow's lives as Arrancar's. It would be a while before anyone could sense this power though due to most of this power being concentrated in one area on one thing. The energy, you could say, was contained in the job of showing them the memories and visions. It was both painful and blissful, like blood being drained from the body…

AN:Sorry this took so long to update (there was something wrong with my copy and paste) But hope you enjoyed!^-^ Please review to let me know what you think of it so far:) And yes, I did draw the pic.