Disclaimer- I don't own BLEACH, just Ai, Manami, Shizuko and a few others.

Special Thanks!!! ToIllegitimi- I know you didn't want this but you deserve this! She is my muse!

5. Rage

Ai awoke early. The day before had been a wild one; after Byakuya woke her up late and discovered the scars she's always kept hidden, she had spent a good portion of her day with her Captain, Lieutenant, and twin, followed by a round of energetic yet unsatisfying sex with Renji. The day had ended sweetly when she'd returned to Byakuya's home as he had seemed completely clueless as too the recreation she had taken part in. A big downer was she was still unable to satisfy herself-which she would openly admit to doing on a regular basis; perhaps the fact that she couldn't be too loud was a part of it…she wasn't sure but whatever the problem was sure as hell made her uncomfortable.

She sat at the oak vanity pulling the top back of her hair back when the door opened. It was Byakuya. It gave her an odd thrill to see him without his captain's robes, scarf, or kenseikan. His eyes met hers in the mirror and held for longer than she felt was appropriate.

"You're awake." He said as he stepped toward her.

When she would normally have responded with a sarcastic comment, she only replied a quiet, "Yes…

We're training today…"

"That's productive," he gave a nod. Seeming to be uncomfortable he shifted, "Since you still have a good hour, are you hungry?"

She turned to face to face him, "you're going to let me eat?"

When the anger flashed in his eyes, she stood up to face him on even ground, "Fine," he said sternly, "go hungry." He looked around the room, "Make your bed. The servants don't come to your room."

"Well, seeing as it's probably meant to be your closet; no one should come in here," she tilted her head. Then she decided to have some fun with him, "Unless this is the room you hide your mistresses in," she took one more step and taking the lapels of his robes into her hands.

When his heart rate sped up, his stomach dropped. This feeling hadn't touched him since…Hisana. The shame oozed into the pit of his abdomen, why should such intimate feelings be awakened by a whore? She was so beneath him it was laughable, but here she was trying to play games with his head. Well, he why shouldn't he teach her a lesson? If she insisted on acting like a whore why shouldn't he treat as such?

He let his hands rest on her waist and lowered his head until his mouth was even with her ear, "it could be…" his right had traced up her back as the left ventured down over well-toned ass and down her thigh bringing it up over his hip so he was positioned between her legs, "What do you say?"

She didn't even have to gasp before he had her pinned against the wall with her legs around his waist and her hands digging into his shoulder. His mouth traveled down her jaw, stopping to suck at the soft skin under her ear. However, the next thing Byakuya knew her elbow was colliding with his throat. He stumbled back in shock.

"You arrogant son of a bitch," she spit, "How dare you! Do you realize what a hypocrite you are?"

"Don't even start," he coughed, "You came onto me."

"Ha!" she gave and exasperated laugh, "But there was absolutely nothing serious in that! You have made it very clear what you think of me…"

Having recovered almost completely he was straightened, "Should I pay you next time?"

Smack!

The pain exploded in his cheek.

"You are such an ass…" she growled before stalking out of the room.

When he appeared before her, she screamed in frustration, "Get away from me."

"You will not walk away from me." He told her calmly. He took by the arm and walked her back into the room. He took a deep breath, "I will apologize for my actions. But you must-" he stopped when he saw she had turned away from him completely and covered her ears, "Really, Ai don't be childish." he went to take her arm again, but she abruptly turned and bit his hand, "Dammit, Ai!" he swore shaking his hand.

"NO!" she shouted jumping up, "Don't call me Ai! You may be my superior, I may be required to live under your controlling roof, but we are not on a first name basis!"

"Would you calm down? I am on-"

"No, I will not calm down!" She spit leaning towards him, "You have insulted me and I will not stand for it. I have worked my ass off to earn my position. I might sleep with men for extra cash, but after what I've lived through I will always believe that I can never have enough. And I don't sleep with any man with cash, I actually have some standards. My body is mine and it will not be used unless I approve. I am in control of my life…" her chest was heaving by the time she was done, her eyes dry, "Now get out of my way, I have to go to work."

Understanding he could get no where he simply stepped out of her way. She stormed past him. He was left to stare at an empty room. She was nothing like any other woman he had ever dealt with and he doubted there would ever be another like her. She was just the opposite of what was appropriate for the head of the Kuchiki household to even think of allowing under the roof. But it was part her punishment; surely the elders would understand if word of her presence got out…then again he was the head of the family so why did it matter? Why did it matter that it mattered about anything? Shouldn't he be able to tell them her crime? Why did he felt obliged to keep it quiet?

Maybe it was because of her demeanor; she wasn't afraid to tell him to stick it nor to speak her mind. She wouldn't just bend to what he said, she stood her ground. She wasn't ashamed of her decisions. Then the family bond he'd witnessed sparked more than just envy…deep down he wanted her to help him. He'd done so little on his own and was still unsure of the choices he made, but she didn't seem to regret even one.

Ai walked upon Momo and Shizuko at the training grounds from the west at exactly the same time Manami arrived from the east. They smiled at one another before going to work. They placed one bag of wooden block by each pile of blind folds Momo had laid out. Working together they had everything set up a good fifteen minutes before eight.

They sure did work well together, Ai found herself reflecting. Shizuko was one different Captain that was for sure, but it was neat to learn completely new tactics for training. Momo was dedicated to what she did, giving it her all. Then Manami was the most competent and level-headed in every way-or that's all she was willing to share. It had the potential for a kick-ass team, which Aizen would never see coming from the division he'd deserted.

Ai's heart went out to Shizuko when the skeptical division arrived. The hard times were just beginning for the new woman.

Shizuko sighed and swallowed her pride, "Hello there everybody," she smiled brightly, "I'm Shizuko Fon, which you probably already know." Breath Shizuko! Ai's mind coached. "I am your new-you know what forget it! I'm not gonna waste my breath…Why don't you just ask me if you want to know something." When the lean guy with pale white skin, coal black hair and ominous blue eyes but looked 100 percent cocky raised his hand, Ai braced for the worst; Shinya Kai had a reputation for being an all-around pain in the ass.

"Is it true you're banging Captain Zaraki?" he smirked.

Shit. Ai's gaze shifted to Shizuko to see how she's react, but the Captain's face never changed.

"Yes," she replied without batting an eye.

"Sort of a cheap way to get Captain," he shrugged. His eyes laminated with sick humor.

He always had to be a dick…

"Whatever works right?" Shizuko lifted an eyebrow. Damn, Ai smirked to herself; girl can roll with the punches. Perfect. "Anymore questions?" no hands, "Great." She turned to Momo, who Ai new was pissed, "Let's get started." Shizuko then faced the rest of the group, "We are going to split you into groups of seven, the four us will have a number groups a piece to manage. However, only one group for each of us will go at a time. You will each be blind folded and given two or three shapes however your leader-Lieutenant Hinamori, 3rd seat Takahashi, 4th seat Takahashi or myself- will keep two. There are seven different shapes and five colors of each shape. Your job is to figure out the color and shapes your leader is holding. Now the only-"

The same guy from earlier snorted. Don't be an ass, Ai prayed; but like that would have mattered "If we're blind folded how can we know the color?"

Imbecile…

Shizuko gave him a patient glance, "A wonderful question! And if you would let me finish you would know. The only way we can help you is by telling you the color of your own shapes."

"What good will this do us?" her ever so curious friend demanded. Ai could only shake her head.

"Excuse me dear, but what is your name?" she was being forced to relate back to her deep breathing tactics.

"Shinya Kai," his chest seemed to puff out. The biggest dick-head this side of the Seireitei… Ai finished his intro in her head.

"Well, Shinya," Shizuko stepped toward him, "if each of you are strong individually, but suck-ass as a team, where can you get?" she circled around and Ai's head came up, "How do you expect to fight an army, if you can't work together? If you try to fight by yourself, they will over power you because you won't know how to play off of each other. There is the saying; "you're only as strong as your weakest link". Well from what I've seen most of your links aren't even connected."

Wow…She had hit the nail on the head, that was part of the reason so many teams had failed the human world simulations for hollow fighting back in the academy, because they couldn't work together. Aizen would e counting on that for sure.

By this point Shizuko had circled back to his face, "Any questions?" he shook his head. His eyes were wide and the perfected picture of shock, "Good, we'll do this my way. Hinamori, help me count off."

By the time they were done for the day Ai was wound tight! All had gone generally well, some groups had gotten the hang of things and got it done fast with a single person taking charge and getting real stuff done. Other groups would sometimes argue and gripe for ten minutes before getting the right idea. Overall though, it had gone well.

"That was great," Ai exclaimed with a hoot of laughter, "you really handed it to Shinya! The look on his face was priceless!"

"I believe the division benefited very much from today," Manami said as well.

"Manami…" Momo spoke, "Are you alright?"

"Just a headache," she raised a hand to her temple, "I-um…I should be heading to Captain Kurotsuchi…"

"Anxious much?" Ai cocked an eyebrow. She had refrained from saying anything as Manami handled her problems on her own, but she was acting very strange…

She paled visibly, "Well no-I only-you see, if I get done fast it's less time I have to spend with him you know…"

"Well yeah but," Ai went to take her twin by the wrists and the she whimpered in pain. Ai's guard went up, "Manami," she growled shaking her head. She knew very well what it was as she used one daily herself, "you let down the illusion kido, now."

It was more than easy to know when she did. The three other women were horrified. Her wrists were bandaged in what must have once been white, however blood had begun to soak through. Her temples were a ghastly site as bruising was spreading down to below both of her eyes from a matching set of holes directly set on each temple.

"I'll kill him!" Ai howled; she pulled out her sword. The demented man had no idea what was coming for him. Ai's rip his balls off and then feed them to him. Manami would not be hurt. Not again. They had been through hell and back and Ai wouldn't dare to let her do it again. "That son of a bitch has no idea what's coming! Captain or not," Ai continued to rant, "Momo you take her home, I'm going to the 12th division. His balls are mine!"

"NO!" the screamed ripped from Manami and all eyes turned to her. The only time Ai had ever heard Manami scream was when either of them were being hurt. It nearly ripped her in two to hear it then, "I asked him to. He bandaged me, really I'm fine…He was hurt too…they machine malfunctioned and in attempt to get it off of me, he hurt himself…really, please…I won't volunteer anymore, but I do owe him…"

Ai was fuming. Her sword drawn in one hand the other clenched in a fist, "Why?'Nami…" what was the world coming to?

"I don't know…"she looked to the ground, "it was dumb, I won't do it again."

Ai's jaw was still tight. What choice did she have? She was in no position not to understand. So she said the only thing she felt plausible, "Don't hide anything else."

"Manami," Shizuko put a hand on her shoulder. "We care about you, if you need us…all you have to is-" Shizuko stopped short. She proceeded to empty the contents of her stomach beside Ai's feet.

"Captain!" Manami gasped leaned over her, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she groaned, "I just have extreme pre-menstrual symptoms…"

"Gross," was the agreed upon reaction, which only had Shizuko laughing.

OK! There you go! A really good chance for Ai to interact with out using her sexual organs! And be her erratic self!

Please check out Scientific Love! Its Manami's story with Kurotsuchi!

OR

Take a look-see and Tainted Innocence! The romance between Shizuko and Kenpachi!

BTW: Reviews really help keep me motivated…

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-Fallon-