Alright. Here's the memories of our dearest Shinji. I had to break this up into three parts or it would be far too long for one chapter so please be patient as I post each one. Let me know what you think of the surprises within!

Viper-Sindel

That night, after we got the kids settled, Shinji took me back to the bedroom, stripping me down to my bare skin as he pulled me into bed with him. He stripped away his own clothes and held me close, the delicious feel of his skin against mine a comforting warmth.

"Ready to see my memories?" he asked softly. I smiled.

"I've been waiting all day," I replied. "Show me."

He smiled and closed his eyes, leaning his head against mine… and the first memory came.

Flashback

This is it… the last chance I have… I have to time this just right…

I pulled Sakanade out of her sheath. I then waited patiently, waited for HER. Even after all these months, all my failed attempts to find out what went wrong, I couldn't stop my heart racing when she was near, couldn't stop my hands from lingering when I knew they shouldn't…

You and I both know Kit had something to do with this. She was fine until he talked to her, even receptive.

I sighed.

Yeah… I know… What happened?

I felt a light pang enter my heart before it sped up as she stepped into the courtyard. Her expression was guarded, though I knew I couldn't have imagined all those unspoken hints she'd thrown at me during these training sessions.

I know she cares about me… and I'll get her to admit it…

Don't lose your nerve or get distracted.

I met her cold gaze.

"Ready for your final test?" I asked her. She nodded.

"Of course, Captain," she replied. Even her voice was forcibly even.

Please don't let me be imagining this…

She unsheathed her zanpakuto and looked at me, waiting.

"Collapse, Sakanade," I commanded, then waited. As soon as she had the eyes in place, I attacked!

I knew her limits. I knew how long she would last… and I kept holding back because I didn't want to hurt her… My movements were slow, sluggish… but hers were no better. She was hesitant… her eyes filled with so many swimming emotions, even when she was trying to hide them. Her sword spoke volumes of agony, of grief and remorse.

"Shit!" she swore, closing her eyes, but remaining at the ready.

Do it now!

So, I reached over, wrapped my arm around her waist, pulled her body to mine, and I kissed her. She froze… then kissed me back. I heard her sword get dropped just before I felt her hands on my chest, burning a path up around my neck as she held me to her, as she kissed me like I was a hidden oasis in a desert.

Before my mind could fog completely, I recalled Sakanade and sheathed her, now letting my hands slide over the fabric that encased my woman. I pulled from the kiss and kissed her eyes, her cheeks, her forehead… then back to her lips, holding her head with my hand, never wanting to let her go. Her body eagerly molded to mine, her lips hungrily chasing my own. Shocks of pleasure struck from every point that we touched… and my hunger for this woman grew.

I slid my lips from hers, trailing kisses down her neck.

"Shinji," she moaned softly, her head tilting back even further, baring that flesh to my lips. A wave of desire crashed over me at her submission, at the sound of my name on her lips…

I can't wait any longer…

I slid my hands down and snagged her thighs, jerking them up around my waist. A shudder passed through her as she felt my hardened staff press against her heat, her hips grinding lightly, making me see stars for a moment.

Shit… I'm gonna drop her at this rate…

Through heavily clouded vision, I located the nearest wall and quickly pushed her up against it, no longer trusting the grip of my hands to hold her. She shivered and moaned for me as I slid my hands up her sides, up to cup those marvelous breasts, running my thumbs over her nipples as I kissed her again.

She gasped and arched into me, her whole body responding with fervor to my touch… My hands quickly untied her obi and slowly slid open her robe, giving her plenty of time to stop me if she so wanted… Her pleasure-drugged gaze was all the answer I needed as I slid my lips down her neck once more, reveling in every shiver, every whimper… every moan… She rolled her hips against mine, a hiss forced from me as I struggled not to rip her uniform away and take her right now…

Master…

Not now!

I trailed my lips eagerly down the seam of her robe, pushing it open with my nose as I sucked and teased that heated flesh, finally coming to the curves of her breasts, my lips teasing the sides of those swells…

Master!

WHAM!

The fist that connected to my head sent me sprawling! Pain bloomed through my unprepared body as I crashed through the concrete wall. I heard Akalia screech in both surprise and terror.

Master, get up! You must get up!

I'm trying!

My body did not want to co-operate. At least in battle, my Hakuda would have protected me… but like this, attacked without a warning? I knew there was more damage to me than normal…

Shit…

"K-Kit, I—"

SMACK!

My blood began to boil.

How dare he! He hit her!

"YOU NEVER LISTEN!" he roared, striking her again. This time, there was a crunch as the wall behind her protested and she cried out in pain. "DAMMIT AKALIA! YOU ARE SWORN TO ME!"

"What?" she whispered, seeming shocked and shaken. I struggled to my feet, struggled to force my body to move. Wordlessly, I strengthened every part I could reach with my reiatsu. I knew this battle was not going to be easy.

"When your father entrusted you to me, he told me you BELONGED to me!" he spat out, his white-hot fury in his voice. "You're MINE! AND I WON'T LET ANYONE ELSE HAVE YOU!"

"No…" she sobbed, those sobs increasing my anger and tearing at my heart. "No, you cannot be him… You can't be Kit… Kit would never do this to me…"

He struck her again and I growled. Now that I could see, it was time to end this worm!

"Collapse, Sakanade!"

"Shinji…" she slurred… and I felt my fury grow. From her head blood poured down the wall. "Shinji… help…"

And she collapsed.

"Dammit!" I swore, turning on Kit. His eyes were wild, beyond sense… and something dark lurked there. "You never should have harmed her, Demenez."

"You never should have touched her!" roared Kit, moving faster than I had ever seen before. I barely had time to block!

How can he see through Sakanade?!

"Confused, Captain?"

The title was pure mock.

"My zanpakuto removes all illusions around me, rendering yours useless!" he snarled, attacking again. His energy was growing… and changing!

Hollow energy?!

"Bakudo 99, Kin!"

Kit swore darkly as the kido struck, binding him to the ground. He struggled and swore, his energy growing even darker by the minute, the hollow-energy devouring the spirit energy.

"What happened?" Kuchiki asked quickly.

"Take care of him," was all I said, rushing to Akalia. I put my hand on the back of her head and prayed to any god that was listening that she would be okay.

"You think she would ever choose you, a soul reaper?" Kit sneered, his grin sending a bit of fear through me. It was… deranged… "Like she could ever be happy with you! The moment she uses her hollow powers, you'll be forced to kill her, just like you will me!"

Kuchiki quickly gagged the boy, but the damage was done. I looked at the girl in my arms for a moment, a moment of hesitation running through me.

A hollow?

You don't have time to debate this right now! Get her to Unohana!

Quickly, I shook off my doubts and picked her up.

Right… I have to save her!

I flashed to the fourth and called for Unohana. I had no shame in admitting there was a note of panic in my voice. Unohana, thankfully, said nothing, just took her from me and quickly got to work. I stood there, staring at the door for a while.

"You think she would ever choose you, a soul reaper? Like she could ever be happy with you! The moment she uses her hollow powers, you'll be forced to kill her, just like you will me!"

His words haunted my thoughts.

"What kind of power she has doesn't matter."

I jumped at the unexpected voice next to me. Kuchiki stood there, looking a great deal calmer than I was.

"Besides, for all we know, he could be lying to try and guarantee you won't have what he believed was his," he pointed out. That eased my mind a great deal.

Exactly. Famous words of a jealous man: If I can't have her, no one can.

I relaxed immediately.

Of course… Of course, he's lying. Akalia is no hollow.

But the small part of me wondered.

But… if she is… that would explain her reluctance to enter Hueco Mundo… her unease about the whole mission…

If it is true, don't you think, once she allows herself to trust you enough, that she will tell you? Give her the benefit of the doubt. It's clear you love her… and she loves you. No one can fake that amount of passion in an embrace… and a hollow cannot love. Is that not proof enough of her innocence?

I sighed.

Then I will wait.

End Flashback

I was startled. I looked at him in shock.

"You doubted me… and yet you didn't push me away?" I asked softly. My heart ached a bit to know he'd questioned his love for me when he'd learned what I was. He kissed me softly.

"Our road has been rocky," he agreed. "But it has been worth it. I wouldn't trade anything for what I'm holding in my arms right now."

That eased my mind a little bit more.

"Ready for the next one?" he asked me softly. I took a few moments to clear my thoughts, then nodded… and he showed me more.

Flashback

"Captain Hirako!"

I paused, turning to look back at Jushiro.

"Forgive the interruption, but might I speak with you on the way?" he asked. I nodded, curious. It was rare for Jushiro to actually ask to speak to me specifically. I also noted that Sosuke had moved a bit closer, like he wanted to hear this as well.

"Shinji, I know it's not my place to interfere in your squad's affairs, but I'm forced to speak up for one who won't speak for themselves," he began. Immediately, my mind flew back to the other day.

"Is this about that talk you had with Akalia?" I asked. He frowned and nodded, seeming a bit upset about something.

Red flags going up. We are not going to like this…

I frowned.

"Never… send her into Hueco Mundo," he told me, his tone a seriousness I had rarely seen from this man. It shook me a lot more than I'd ever admit. I looked him in the eye.

"Why not?" I probed. "She's more than capable of handling herself— "

"If you intend to keep her alive and unchanged, you must never allow her to set foot there," Jushiro cut me off, grabbing my shoulders firmly. I was completely taken back now, my eyes widening in both my surprise and my growing concern. "You must trust me on this. Why this must be the way things are is not my place to say and I do not blame her for keeping them quiet… but know that she had the best intentions at heart. Akalia can never enter Hueco Mundo… or she won't be coming back."

My heart sank and my through tightened as if someone was squeezing it. I couldn't move right now if I tried.

"What… do you mean?" I forced out, my voice a great deal more strained and shaky than I'd have liked. Jushiro just shook his head, letting go of me as he turned and walked away.

"I gave her my word, or I would tell you," he spoke back towards me. "Just think about what I've said and, if you are wise, take it to heart. Nothing good will come of her going to Hueco Mundo."

He was getting so far ahead… but a new thought nagged at me.

"Wait a moment!" I called, catching up to him quickly. "Why wouldn't she come to me with this herself?"

He looked at me like that was a very heavy and loaded question, one he loathed to answer.

"Because she does not want to lose you," was the reply, before he flashed the rest of the way to the first. I felt a thrill of fear run through me.

What is she hiding… could it be?

"You think she would ever choose you, a soul reaper? Like she could ever be happy with you! The moment she uses her hollow powers, you'll be forced to kill her, just like you will me!"

A hollow that ran away from Hueco Mundo… it was insane, clearly… but…

It's starting to make sense… All of this fear, all of this uncertainty… There is so much here…

Master, be patient. I am certain she will come to you with the full truth when she is ready. Does it really matter if she is a hollow? Does it really change how you feel about her?

I wanted to immediately say no… but part of me doubted the honesty of that answer. If she was a hollow…

…what would I do? Could I bring myself to kill her as the law demands?

Would you love her any less?

My heart grew heavier with every seed of doubt that my mind grew.

"Captain," cut in Sosuke, getting my attention. "It could be something small, like a bad experience she had there, probably with Kit. There could be hollows that still seek retribution for something he did. Kit DID tell us the two had been in Hueco Mundo before and had to leave under strained circumstances. I'm sure it's nothing as awful as… whatever you're tormenting yourself with."

Mark the calendar. It's the one and only time I'm glad that man is your lieutenant. He's right, you know. I'm sure it's nothing.

I sighed, vexed beyond words. I wanted to trust her, to continue to love her exactly as she was… but I began to wonder, really wonder…

Was the woman I loved… a lie?

End Flashback

A cruel hand clutched my heart as how much I had tormented this man hit me. Shinji gently brushed away my tears and sent soothing love through our bond, trying to ease my guilt.

"I should have told you sooner," I whispered softly, feeling lower than a rattlesnake in a gully. "Gods… I'm so sorry, Shinji…"

He kissed me again, silencing me.

"Relax," he told me softly, then started the next one before I could respond.

Flashback

As I began walking out, I heard Kensei whisper to Akalia.

"I need to talk to you."

The way he spoke caught my attention completely. I knew that tone, knew it was serious… and looked back at Sosuke.

"Head on back to the office," I told him. "I'll be there shortly."

"Of course, Captain," he stated, then left. Meanwhile, I swallowed my reiatsu and calmly got up on the rooftops… and followed Kensei and Akalia as they started walking away. Halfway to his division, Kensei finally spoke up.

"Akalia, why are you even with that airhead?" he demanded.

Airhead?!

Then I saw her expression.

She's trying not to laugh… but…

Then it hit.

She knew this was coming…

"He doesn't even have the decency to keep it behind closed doors!" he raged on.

"Kensei, did you ever consider that I like how he does that?" she cut in gently, softly. He stopped in mid-rant, looking at her in disbelief. "And can you honestly say, if I were with you instead, that you would hesitate to do the exact same thing?"

Immediately his face flooded with color and he began spouting off, denying it vehemently, saying he would never and that he wasn't talking about himself as another option, obviously, etc. etc. etc.

She chuckled softly, getting him to stop. I failed to see what was so funny about all this…

"Kensei, I suggest you put that night out of your mind permanently," she told him.

What night? What am I missing?

The red in his face vanished as his expression got serious.

"I can't," he answered me honestly. "I've tried… and it continues to torment and haunt me."

He stopped her, putting both of his hands on her shoulders. A fierce jealousy grew inside me and I knew my hands were digging into the tiles as I struggled to stay put and not remove him from her space.

"And I know I shouldn't be like this, you're with my best friend for crying out loud!" he went on, seeming to curse his own mind. "But the more I think of you with him…"

"The angrier and more possessive you get," she cut in, like it was something you'd find in a textbook. It was like…

She knows EXACTLY what's going on…

"I know EXACTLY how you feel, but I can't explain how I know. No, it's not because I feel the same way. I've chosen Shinji—"

Damn right she has!

"And yet he seems in no hurry to claim you," the irate man shot out. "Dammit, Akalia! I wouldn't be hesitating! I'd have already married you by now!"

My brain stilled for a moment.

Marriage?

"It doesn't matter what you would do," she said firmly. "I've chosen Shinji."

"Then you chose wrong!" he shot out.

What the hell, Kensei? You're supposed to be my best friend!

She sighed and pushed his hands off of her shoulders.

"You saying that… merely confirms that I've made the right decision," she informed him coolly. "I'm sorry, Kensei… I've given my heart to him and him alone."

Then she started to walk off.

"Dammit!" I heard him curse. "Akalia, wait!"

She paused and looked back at him.

"Please, disregard everything I just said," he begged her. "I don't… I don't understand what keeps coming over me…"

She sighed softly, that knowing look on her face again. It was almost… tormented.

"Consider it disregarded," she answered him softly. "Though I expect a few more conversations like this in the future… and no, they will not be of your own true doing…"

His gaze met hers, things snapping into place for him as they had for me.

"You know what's happening to me…"

She nodded softly.

"And I'm afraid I cannot explain it to you," she told him softly. "I'm sorry."

Then she left, flashing away. Kensei just stood there, staring at the spot she'd just been… then shook his head for a moment… before giving a frustrated yell and smashing his fist through the nearest wall.

"Dammit!" he swore. "Dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit!"

I know how you feel…

Just as Kensei's world had just been shaken, so had mine.

Marriage…

It is the inevitable conclusion to any relationship full of love, is it not? You really need to think about ending your playing days and figuring out what you want in life. Akalia is very clearly yours… what's stopping you?

I felt torn, deeply torn.

Marriage… I… I don't think I'm ready…

No one said it had to happen now… but perhaps a step in that direction is called for? Test the waters?

I sighed and thought about it.

Yeah… It might be time…

End Flashback

I was reeling.

"Marriage… that early?" I breathed. "I might have had a heart-attack!"

He chuckled, kissing me again.

"Then it's a good thing I waited," he agreed, making me smile softly.