Author's Note: I made a mistake in the earlier chapter where Starrk saved Juushiro… I hadn't read up on the Thirteenth Division since the Bleach wiki makes my computer crash, so I didn't know his third seats were so funny. XD Let's say his Fourth seat died. And I also said Eighth instead of Thirteenth… sigh, mistakes, mistakes…

Starrk's hands shook as he sorted through the closet.

The day had been so wonderful. He'd gone to tea with Rukia and Momo. Renji had tagged along and Starrk was sure he was jealous, now. Was he interested in Rukia or Momo? That he wasn't sure of but he thought it was Rukia. He honestly wished he could reassure the man but he doubted Renji would believe a word of it.

As soon as he'd gone back to the Division he'd gone to his rooms to change into his shinigami uniform. And found this nightmare waiting for him.

I'm so sorry Starrk. Lilinette whispered and he shook his head, rubbing his eyes.

"It's… no one's fault but mine." He whispered, feeling more broken than he ever had. Even when Shunsui had been about to kill him, he hadn't felt this much pain. "It's a stupid thing to be upset about. Items can be replaced." Except they couldn't, sometimes. He found what he was looking for and held back a shameful sob. Lifting out the rich black fabric, now shredded and blotched with paint, he let the tears fall.

When he'd gotten to his rooms, Starrk had immediately seen that his kido lock had been broken. Inside he'd found that someone had torn his room apart. Everything he owned had been destroyed. His paints had been ruined, used to foul everything else. His entire collection of yukata, carefully garnered from second hand stores, was gone. His uniforms were gone. The kimono Shunsui had gifted him with, a thing that he'd truly treasured… that was gone. The pain of it was like a spike in his heart.

Rubbing his eyes, he tried to compose himself. It was only a thing. It could be replaced… although not with something that meant so much. Starrk knew that. Just looking at it had made him smile, reminded him of Shunsui. Even if he could somehow get one just like it, it would no longer hold that association. No, it would remind him of this ruined room and the hatred someone harbored for him. Managing to place a false surface of calm over his roiling emotions, Starrk gently put back the ruined kimono before leaving the room. There was something he needed to do.

"Lupe-san, why aren't you in uniform?" That was one of the seated officers, Ukitake's sixth seat. Starrk paused before giving the man a formal bow.

"I apologize most humbly, Kajomaru-san. I have suffered a misfortune. Is Rukia-fukutaichou still within the Division?" He asked and the man looked a touch startled by the formality.

"Yes, she is. Is something wrong?" He asked and Starrk could sense the genuine concern in him. It made him want to break down and tell the man what had happened, but he needed to keep himself together. Rukia was really the correct person to report this to.

"Yes, something is wrong. I must report." He said quietly before continuing his search. Kajomaru trailed behind him but Starrk hardly noticed. He needed to make his report. It didn't take him too long to find Rukia, once he managed to get his reiatsu sensing into gear. Her power was quite strong. Of course, he could have reported this directly to Ukitake. But Starrk honestly didn't think he could look at Juushiro now without breaking down.

"Lupe, what's wrong?" Rukia said instantly as she saw his face, her violet eyes wide. Renji was with her again – didn't he have work at his own Division? – but for once there was little hostility about him. He mostly looked taken aback, almost fearful. Starrk wondered what his own expression was like. He thought he was holding everything in fairly well… but his anguish must be showing, somehow. He bowed to her, managing to hold himself together with formality. A strange method of coping, but it was working.

"Rukia-fukutaichou, please, I must report a criminal act." Destroying another shinigami's property this way carried heavy penalties. "My room is…" He stopped, struggling with his own feelings for a moment. Taking a deep breath, Starrk continued. "When I arrived at the Division I went to change my clothes and found that my kido lock had been broken. My room has been destroyed. I am afraid I will need new uniforms." He would need those rather urgently. He could do his duties in a yukata but it was not very professional. Rukia's eyes widened.

"Oh my kami. Lupe, may I see?" She asked and he nodded before turning to take them to his room. The sixth seat followed, he noticed. But this was undoubtedly quite interesting.

"Holy crap." Renji muttered as he saw the devastation. Starrk was rather glad that he could eliminate the redhead as a potential suspect. Renji had been with him at the tea house, there was no way he could possibly have done this. "Who would do something like this?"

"Someone who hates me for being what I am." Starrk said quietly before pointing at one of the walls. There were filthy words written there, in his own paints. He didn't want to read them, his eyes just skating over the colored patterns. There was a soft gasp, but not from Rukia. She took a deep breath, gathering herself.

"Kajomaru-san, please take word of this to Ukitake taichou immediately." She said crisply and he nodded before leaving the room. "Lupe-san, I will assign you a new room and see what uniforms we have for you. Come." She commanded and Renji trailed behind them. Not really being useful, just too curious to leave. Although he did have some useful input.

"How will you stop it from happening again?" He asked and Starrk felt a moment of despair. How would he stop this from happening again? But there must be better kido locks.

"I will see about learning a better kido to lock my door." He said as calmly as he could. "That was the only such spell I knew, but there must be stronger ones." There had to be more powerful seals that he could use. Renji nodded, looking subdued. His new room was pretty much identical to the old one. He had no belongings to put away so he merely noted the number before going with Rukia to get new uniforms. Kajomaru found them as they were picking out a few that would fit, until he could have new ones tailored.

"Ukitake taichou would like to speak to you, Lupe-san." He said with a small bow and Starrk nodded, unsurprised. Of course Juushiro would want to see him. He knew he would break down, he wouldn't be able to help it, but now that things had been taken care of it might be a good time for that.

"I will go immediately." It was better not to keep a taichou waiting and he had his new uniforms. Hesitating a moment, he bundled them up, along with his yukata. He would carry them with him for now. Perhaps Juushiro would have a good kido lock to teach him.

Starrk barely managed to maintain his composure as he saw Ukitake looking at him, those warm brown eyes filled with concern for him. Carefully shutting the door, he tried to smile for his lover and knew it must look terrible from the alarm on his face.

"Kami. Lupe, please, have some tea." He said softly before gripping his arm. Starrk swallowed and nodded as he was guided to a seat. "I'm so sorry."

"It's alright. It was just things." He said, his voice husky. It was a lie and they both knew it was a lie. Juushiro poured him some tea and Starrk tried to drink, hoping it would calm him. It was a mixed success at best. "It will be some time before I can replace it." His paints had been expensive. Perhaps he would just forget about them, work with pencils and paper for a while. If anything happened to that it would be cheap to replace.

"Lupe." He stiffened as Juushiro suddenly moved, then relaxed as warm arms went around him. "You're holding everything in. Stop it. You can let go." He said softly and Starrk abruptly let go. He allowed himself to finally feel his pain, release it in quiet sobs and hot tears. It hurt. As much as he might deny it, it really, truly hurt. The warm arms around him, Juushiro's soft voice whispering comforting words, encouraged him to get the pain out.

It took a while for Starrk to wear himself out and when he did, he could tell that Juushiro's clothing was wet with his tears. They just stayed together for a moment, Juushiro holding and rocking him. Starrk wasn't too concerned about anyone seeing. No, this was something Ukitake had likely done for many of his soldiers, when they suffered something terrible. Finally steadying himself, Starrk let go and pulled away with a wan smile.

"Thank you, that helps." It really did. He felt tired and empty now, but the pain was mostly gone, worn out in that spat of crying. "It was just… unexpected." Very unexpected. Honestly, he would have preferred a fist in the face. Juushiro smiled at him reassuringly. "Do you know a better kido lock spell? I need to learn." He didn't want this to happen again.

"Yes, I'll teach you." At a better time, that might have led to something intimate. But right now, Starrk was too engaged in his own pain to even consider it. And this wasn't a good time or place, anyway. Juushiro patiently began to tutor him on the kido and Starrk soon mastered it. This was a far more potent sealing spell and hopefully, it would be enough.

He did not want this to happen again.

"Oh Lupe, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss." Shunsui said softly and Starrk smiled at him. It wasn't a very good smile but it was the best he had.

"Most of it, I don't really mind." He said as he sampled a bit of the food. Word had gotten around quickly about what had happened to him and Shunsui had taken the opportunity to send him a hell butterfly, inviting him to supper. Starrk wasn't sure how wise it was but he wasn't going to turn it down. He needed the support. "The one thing I'll miss is the kimono you gave me." That was still the thing that pained him the most. "Not for the kimono itself, I hardly ever wore it, but for the memories it held." He said and Juushiro nodded sympathetically. Shunsui looked a touch surprised.

"You enjoyed the ball that much?" He asked wonderingly and Starrk laughed before shaking his head.

"No, not really. It just made me think of you, and how you trusted me to help you." He said and Shunsui smiled, his eyes softening. "But I still have that, and we can make new memories." He didn't need the kimono to remember. It had been nice, but he didn't need it and would not continue to suffer over the loss.

"Speaking of which. I was wondering if you wanted to be the innocent young recruit tonight?" Juushiro asked, a touch diffidently. Starrk smiled at the thought.

"And we even have the uniform! What a wonderful idea." Shunsui said admiringly and Starrk blushed. He'd left one of his uniforms here a long time ago, before the ball in fact. He'd kept forgetting to take it back and no one had noticed the lack of one uniform when he'd graduated. "Or he could be the god of strawberry shortcakes." Shunsui suggested and they both laughed.

"We don't have strawberries. And I don't want him losing one up my arse." Juushiro said merrily as Starrk went to change into the uniform. It still fit him quite well, but it wasn't like his body had changed much. He'd been toned as the Primera and he was toned now.

"You summoned me, Ukitake taichou?" Starrk said in a tone that managed to be innocent and sexually charged at the same time. "Kyoraku taichou, I wasn't expecting you." He bowed, pretending to have just entered their office.

"Weren't you?" Shunsui looked him over with a roguish smile. "Well, we were expecting you. Perhaps we could teach you something, hmm?" He said teasingly and Starrk smiled before turning his attention on Juushiro. He usually took less of an active role than Shunsui… but perhaps, not tonight.

"Perhaps, but I believe you were the one who summoned me, Ukitake taichou." Starrk said and Juushiro took the hint, taking him in his arms. The kiss that followed was sweet and loving and Starrk played the virgin very well, letting his lover take the lead.

"Let's take this to my office, then." Juushiro murmured and Starrk shivered a little at the thought. There was a desk in the bedroom, a perfect place for this play acting. Letting the white haired taichou lead him by the hand, he smiled at the grin on Shunsui's face. He loved to participate but he would certainly enjoy watching.

This was going to be a very good night.

Starrk watched the progress of the argument in front of him with absolute fascination.

He'd never imagined that two people could argue so much about who deserved the privilege of delivering a tray of cookies and a small cup of milk. Apparently, the milk was the vehicle for a medicinal tonic. Starrk was a bit uncertain about why milk would be good for that, but he would take it on faith that the healers knew what they were doing.

Of course, it would help if Ukitake actually got it. Deciding that he would take matters into his own hands, Starrk muffled his reiatsu and moved with well-practiced ease. He picked up the tray as Ukitake's third seats continued to fight. Now they were dredging up incidents from the past that Starrk had no knowledge of and less curiosity about. Taking advantage of the distraction he slipped past, going to Juushiro's office and knocking on the door.

"Come in." Starrk opened the door. Juushiro was at his desk, working on some paperwork. He looked up and his eyes widened a touch in surprise as he beheld his lover. "Lupe? Oh, thank you!" He said with a slightly puzzled air. "I would have thought Kiyone or Sentaro would have brought me that." Juushiro said and Starrk laughed softly as he set it on the table.

"I thought you wouldn't want to wait for the next ice age to get it." He said cheerfully and Juushiro smiled, amused. No doubt he knew all about his warring third seats. "Besides, I'm the one who loves you best." He murmured, looking at Ukitake through lowered eyelashes. He blushed slightly before taking a sip of his milk. "But I had best be going." Hopefully it wouldn't take them long to notice the missing cookies and milk. If it did, well, he was speechless. Juushiro smiled warmly.

"Before Kiyone and Sentaro can see you." He said, very accurately. Starrk laughed before nodding. "I'll cover for you." Starrk bowed slightly before slipping out. He heard the fighting suddenly cease before Kiyone's voice rose up.

"Oh no! Someone stole Ukitake taichou's cookies! What will we do now?!"

"I… don't know… bake some for him…?" Starrk couldn't help but snort as he continued walking. Had he started an epic quest to procure more cookies and milk? He only hoped Juushiro didn't have to eat all of them. Maybe he would take them home for Shunsui?

A spring in his step, he went to see Rukia. Apparently, he was being assigned to a new duty. Right now he was running patrols in the Rukongai, keeping the hollows there under control. His success had been noticed and he was being assigned to something more difficult.

"Lupe-san!" Rukia said warmly as she saw him. Starrk knew that Renji would be quietly fuming if he saw it. He was sure now that the redhead was jealous of their camaraderie. He and Rukia were getting along very well and truth be told, she was very close to his type, physically. It was lucky for Renji that his heart was already elsewhere. Starrk suspected that Rukia had no idea her childhood friend was holding a candle for her. "Please come in." She invited him into the meeting room. "Have you ever been to Karakura town?"

"Uh…" Technically the answer would be no. He'd been to false Karakura town, which had occupied the same space but been complete fakery. How had they made so many false buildings? God only knew. "No, I haven't." Starrk said honestly. "I haven't visited the Living World much at all." So far his duties had been entirely in the realm of Soul Society. He'd seen the Living World only in a few academy field trips. Rukia smiled, pleased with his answer.

"Then it's time you did! I'm sure you've heard of Kurosaki Ichigo. Soon, he's going to be going to University. That's a centre for advanced human learning." She translated the term, which was quite helpful really. Starrk had no clue. "All of his friends will be leaving, in fact. Karakura town has only a small community college. Frankly, the current shinigami there has been letting the ryoka do his job for him." She sounded faintly exasperated and Starrk nodded his understanding. "That is simply not acceptable now. Karakura town is a spiritual centre. It's not the only one in the Living World, but it is the most powerful. Will you take over as the shinigami assigned to Karakura town, Lupe?"

"Of course, Rukia-san." He said sincerely. Being entrusted with this much responsibility, for such a new member of the Division, was a great honor. Although it did pose some difficulties. "May I ask some questions?" He asked and she nodded. "How often can I return to Soul Society?"

"That partly depends on how well you do your duties. There is a quota of hollows you must meet every week although more is preferable." From her tone, Starrk was willing to bet the current shinigami was doing the bare minimum. "It's really very similar to your current duties. Just more independent. You can return to Soul Society every day, if you choose, or you can stay in the Living World. Staying there is more efficient."

"Hmm." Of course, where would he stay? Starrk thought he could do a very good job as a street person. Lilinette would be able to guide him. "I'm sure I will be able to more than meet my quota." That, he was absolutely certain of. When it came to hollows he was a bloodhound. Although, perhaps he could finally try the other tactic he'd had in mind. That would be fun.

I think you're a dumbass but if you're going to do something really stupid, that's a good place. Lilinette said and he smiled to himself.

"Excellent! Your new assignment will begin next week." Rukia said happily and Starrk nodded. He was definitely looking forward to it now. It might cut into the times he could visit Juushiro and Shunsui, but maybe not too. He was sure he could be very efficient.

"I will get ready immediately." He said, coming to his feet. He would have to ask around and see what he would need to survive in the Living World. Would he need a gigai if he didn't plan to interact?

It would be quite interesting.

Well, your career as a street person starts today.

"Hush, you." Starrk muttered as he began setting up his tent. It was a spiritual thing and would be completely invisible to the majority of the town. Hopefully one of the spiritual minority wouldn't call the police to report the squatter in the park. If they did, the police officers would be annoyed. "Camp stove… food… sake – wait, what?" Starrk blinked at the bottle in his bags. He was absolutely certain he hadn't packed that. And there was a note wrapped around it? Unrolling the paper, he smiled as he read the message.

To keep you warm until you see me again. It was unsigned but Starrk didn't need to be told who had slipped it into his bags. Or the bundle of sugar cookies. To his amusement, he recognized them as from the tremendous batch that Kiyone and Sentaro had baked. They had gotten into a fight about who could bake better and it had turned into two batches, not just one, as they struggled to outdo each other. No one could eat all of that so plates had been put out for the entire Division. Clearly, Juushiro had saved some for him, likely freezing them.

Okay, I have to admit it, those guys are keepers. Lilinette said and Starrk chuckled as he put the bag away.

With his camp fully set up it was time to begin his duties. He didn't want to try his little gambit in the park, though. Or rather, not this park. His campsite might be ruined. No, he needed to find another spot for this. Although…

"Oh blerg." As he walked through the streets of Karakura town, Starrk had to pass by several hot dog stands. It was lunch time, so it was fully understandable that the food trucks would be out. However… "Kami, what's wrong with me?" He moaned as he struggled to control his nausea. His lunch, which had been salad with a bit of fried calamari, was threatening to leave him. "I thought this was going away!" Kira's mind tea had been working wonders. "Maybe I should go to the Fourth…"

No, you shouldn't. Lilinette sounded very unhappy and Starrk blinked. There's something really weird going on, Starrk, and it feels like… I don't know. Something you were designed to do.

"…What does that mean?" It sounded alarming. What could Aizen have put into him that created random bouts of nausea? Lilinette made a frustrated sound.

It just means it doesn't feel wrong, okay? You still feel perfectly healthy to me even if there's something weird going on in your belly. I don't think you can take this to the Fourth without getting into trouble. She said and Starrk sighed, glancing down. It was impossible to read the patterns of his own reiatsu so he had no idea if that 'pattern' Kira had noticed was still there. I don't know but I bet it is. I can't read your reiatsu like that either, I see things from the inside.

"Well, I suppose I will have to endure." It was more of a nuisance than anything. Then he caught the whiff of something really bad and abruptly lost it. Starrk barely made it to an alley before the contents of his stomach came back to haunt him. It didn't taste nearly as good coming up as it had going down.

"Um, are you okay?" That voice was a surprise and he looked up to see a boy in a school uniform staring at him. Rukia had warned him that many, many people here would be able to see him. It seemed he had just met his first.

"I'm fine." He said before reaching into his robes for his water bottle. A quick rinse of his mouth and he was feeling better. "I am Lupe Ruiz y Mendoza." He introduced himself. "Lupe is my first name." Just so the child would know he didn't follow the usual Japanese naming conventions. "May I ask your name?" It would be nice to know. The boy looked dubiously at him.

"Asano Keigo. Are you sure you're alright? You look awfully pale." He said and Starrk tucked away his water bottle with a small smile. "And what are you doing here, if you don't mind me asking? You feel awfully strong." That made him blink slightly. But then, he wasn't hiding his strength at the moment. Most basic hollows would take one whiff of him like this and run away. His unbridled reiatsu spelled a quick trip to Soul Society. This boy seemed a bit alarmed by him, though.

"I'm taking over as the shinigami assigned to Karakura town." He said, which seemed to ease the child's mind considerably. The boy perked up before chatting happily.

"Oh, you won't have much to do! Ichigo takes care of everything!" He said and Starrk gave an amused sigh. "Um?"

"Kurosaki Ichigo is going to be leaving for school in Tokyo soon. That's why I'm taking over, to give Karakura town the coverage it deserves." Starrk smiled at the boy, who suddenly looked thoughtful. "I am looking forward to working with him as long as he's here, though." He was actually quite interested in meeting the substitute Soul Reaper. He'd defeated Aizen. That was an incredible achievement and it made Starrk quite curious. How had he managed it?

"Oh, that makes sense! He's at school now but I'm sure you'll see him soon. Oh, I'm late!" The boy suddenly took off running and Starrk watched him go, bemused. Then he winced as his belly twinged. Rubbing himself through his robes, he went to find a park.

It was time to put his plan into effect.