Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except Reiko. If I did, we'd see the Vizards more.

Author's note: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To everyone who reviewed and also to those who didn't. Just knowing that people are looking at my story makes me giddy! And because deidaras-darkangel gave me a cookie today, I'm posting another chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: I won't say I'm in love

I awoke to a warm feeling, like I was being cuddled. I snuggled closer to that warmth and breathed in. The scent was strong, but sweet, like vanilla and spice. As I started to come back to consciousness, I felt something trace my outer thigh along the hem of my skirt. I blinked open my eyes and was met with the sight of a black dress shirt with a bright red tie.

"Pretty," I murmured.

I felt someone chuckle. My eyes widened as it hit me. I bolted upright and looked around. I was in an unfamiliar room, in a bed, and as I looked down, I was in bed with a smug looking Shinji. He was propped himself up on his elbow, leering at me; he seemed to do that a lot. He reached up and pulled me back down.

"Relax. Your virginity is safe. I prefer my women conscious," he said.

"Tell that to my thigh," I shot back.

"Hey, you were awake! And besides, I'm male and opportunistic. The chance to touch you without getting beaten presented itself and I took it," he said.

"Where am I anyway?" I asked.

"The vizard hideout, more specifically, my room," he said.

"Why am I in your room?" I asked.

"Well, it was either here, or leave you on the couch and risk Hiyori killing you in your sleep," he said.

"Ah, good choice," I said. "So, you're a vizard. Do you have any badass super powers?" I said, smiling.

He smiled. "Yes, but nothing I could show you."

"Absolutely nothing?" I said.

"Not any of the powers, but I'll show you the mask and my zanpaktou," he said

"Mask?"

"Duh. What do you think 'vizard' means?" he said. I stuck my tongue out.

Shinji put his hand above his head and what looked like light particles started to collect. When he was done, he brought down a mask and held it front of me. I blinked.

"A pharaoh's mask. How fitting."

He cocked an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Well, you do seem to have a god complex. And who thinks they're as close to being a god as a pharaoh?" I said.

He hit me on the head with his mask. "Ow!"

"Serves you right, butthead."

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I touch a nerve?" I smiled.

He rolled on top of me and pinned me to the bed. He hung the mask on the bed post.

"I would suggest you not put the mask on. I don't know exactly what would happen, but I don't want to risk you getting infected with the hollow," Shinji said.

"Be still my heart! You care?" I said, half teasing.

"More than you know," he said. "Now on to the zanpaktou!"

He reached over the side of the bed and pulled up a katana with a purple hilt.

"Ooh, pretty."

"This is a zanpakto. Shinigami use it to send souls to the other side and kill hollows," he said.

"And what do vizards do?" I asked.

He looked at me seriously for a moment then set his zanpaktou under the bed again.

"We wait."

"For what?"

"The war that's coming."

"War?"

"Against a man named Aizen Sousuke. The vizards weren't born, Reiko. We were made. And he's the one who made us." Shinji was looking straight ahead, but not at anything I could see. And he'd used my proper name. He rarely did that. It worried me. I reached up and pushed some of his hair behind his ear and brought his face down to look at me.

"What will you do?"

"Fight. What else can I do? It's more a matter of who I'm fighting for. On the one hand, being cast out by the shinigami because of my vizard status has left me with a certain bitterness towards them. On the other hand, I hate Aizen with a bloody passion and would love nothing more than to see his plans come to ruin. However, he's also got the right idea in re-making soul society even if he is going about it all wrong."

I laid there for a moment and stared up at him. I wasn't sure what I was feeling. I cared about him, sure. But I couldn't be in love with him, could I? I'd only known him for two days, things just didn't work like that. I was attached, but I couldn't be in love with him yet. So, why did I have a nagging voice in my head saying I was?