Chapter 15

"Talk to me?" Byakuya's eyes were no less dangerous than just a second ago.

"She said if I'm having trouble I should tell you about it. I believe she thinks I need guidance, which as of recent events, I'm inclined to agree." Byakuya's eyes lost some of the anger.

"I was alone before I'd gotten here. I didn't have anyone, save one person who was more of a customer than a friend. Needless to say, this whole life, this seems like a whole different world. At first I was curious, I wanted to learn more about this, then I fell into it. Now I know I could never go back." She smiled absently. "I had a commanding position, I had friends, it felt like I was new. Like everything was wonderful."

"I went to another world. I made new friends, met new enemies, and I had a boyfriend. I'd never had one. It was intoxicating. I keep screwing up, though. I panic at the smallest things, it seems as if I have no self control, and I don't know how to fix this anymore."

"What about Kira-kun? I'm sure he'd love to help you with that. It's something he'd excel at." Aoi shook her head. "He broke up with me. He told me to date other people, when I'm returned to squad 3, if I still feel like this about him then he'll take me back." Byakuya nodded. The anger was now gone from his features.

"You're heart broken."

"Yeah, and that makes everything feel wrong. I can't go back to being alone. I can't go back to Izuru. I'm quickly driving you to insanity. It's like nothing I do is right anymore. I'm such a burden to those around me, and it drives me crazy."

"I try to preoccupy my mind with work, but it doesn't seem to work anymore, since I don't seem to be able to go a day without screwing it up."

"I know I'm supposed to follow you no matter what, so please, Taicho, can you offer any advice, anything at all that would help with this?"

"Stop whining and straighten up." Aoi's eyes widened. "What?"

"It sounds like you're an intelligent person. You seem to know what mistakes you're making. Just straighten up. Do what you know is right, no matter what those around you tell you, no matter what your heart says. Remember this, if nothing else, if a heart is broken, then why follow it? It's no better than following a bottle of sake. You do stupid things, you cause yourself to fail, even though you know you can be so much more. Just ignore it until it's fixed." Aoi nodded.

"It sounds so hard, but I know it really shouldn't be. That's so sad." Aoi smiled sadly at her hands in her lap. "You're better than this. I know you are. Even if you didn't have faith in yourself, I've had faith in you." Aoi looked up at him, surprised. "I know you can do better, because I've seen you happy. I know enough about you to know you make your own world. You made the friends around you. You came to Seireitei. You won Kira's heart. If he's stupid enough to toss it aside, then forget him. It's not worth losing your potential over." Aoi watched him, the words that came out of him with so little effort.

It was oddly inspiring. She smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Taicho. I guess I needed to hear that. I'll try my best tomorrow." She smiled and Byakuya's eyebrow raised. "You're not to leave this bed till I allow it."

"Unohana told me I'm clear for work." Byakuya looked at her surprised, noticing the empty cups on the table. "Are you still drinking the two glasses of water every hour?"

"Yes, Taicho."

"Have you left the bed?"

"No Taicho." Byakuya didn't say anything for a moment.

"Aoi, why didn't you go home and stop drinking the water when Unohana cleared you?"

"You told me to do this till you told me to stop." Byakuya stared at her, surprised by the answer she gave.

"I'll make you a deal." She looked over, surprised. "If you use common sense more often, I'll agree to try and talk with you more." Aoi nodded, oddly happily over the way the conversation went.

The next day Byakuya was impressed. She did well during the day, which wasn't unusual, but she seemed to smile the whole day. She came into the office at about seven that evening, gasping for breath, a grin on her face. "Is everything alright?"

"Me and Ikkaku-san had to go to the same place and back, so we made it a race." Byakuya's eyebrow shifted upwards. "I won." She giggled and Byakuya looked back down at the paper. "We have one more task before the day is over. You need to accompany me."

"Hai, Taicho." she grinned, nodding, but coming to attention.

Byakuya walked with his normal floaty grace. Aoi smiled as they walked through the corridor to the office. Aoi had never really been here and was interested in the building. "Byakuya-Taicho?" He stilled, turning his head, but never really looking at her. "After this, can I ask you some questions about this building? The architecture is amazing!" He turned the rest of the way, looking her in the eye, his words didn't have to be said.

'Don't say unnecessary things.'

She quieted, her smile faltering for a moment before she nodded.

They walked into a room at the end of the main hallway. The door was big, red and looked ancient.

"Yamamoto-Taicho. I was told to meet you here." Byakuya spoke softly and Aoi stood tall, a smile on her face. The old man turned to him with a frown. "There's been a situation. I need you and Aoi to go to the real world. You will remain there for three days and watch, see what happens. Any hollow are to be disposed of."

"Can I ask what kind of situation?"

"We had three Menos appear, they knocked the guard there out, and had to be killed by the human, Kurosaki Ichigo. Our alarms never went off. Kurotsuchi believes he can have the problem diagnosed and fixed within a few days. If the need arises, I may have to lengthen your stay. I've already made arrangements for you, your gigai are ready, you'll be staying with Urahara-kun. I'm sorry to have to send you personally, but I needed someone that I knew could dispatch as many Menos as possible, you two were the best suited."

"Hai, Taicho. Is there anything else?"

"I was wondering, actually, Aoi." She bowed lightly, acknowledging her attention. "How are things with you?"

"Byakuya-Taicho is working with me on my problems. I'm very grateful for his help." She looked up at Byakuya with a smile and he shook his head as if to show embarrassment.

"Good. Byakuya-sama, please keep up the good work. You're dismissed."

They bowed before leaving the room.

"Aoi." She looked up, smiling still, surprised by the lightness of her mood. "Please don't say such things to Yamamoto-Taicho. I have a certain reputation to uphold."

"Would you prefer it if I would have burst into tears and told him that you're working me like a horse?"

"Yes." Byakuya stated flatly, causing Aoi to stop, staring at him in shock. He turned to her, a smile on his face. "I was joking."

She just stared. She'd never seen him smile. It was odd, refreshing almost. "You should do that more often. You have a beautiful smile." She smiled back, watching with surprise as he turned, feigning a cough to hide the sudden blush across his cheeks.

They were at the Senkai gate within minutes. There were no words of encouragement or mission orders before they went through, they just went. Aoi walked out onto the sky, looking down below at the city. It was dark, the sky covered in clouds. She looked up as the rain fell to her. She held her hand out, the water was cool, but not cold. She smiled up and looked forwards, Byakuya staring at her. "I love the rain. It's cleansing." She fell back into place at his side.

They reached Urahara's shop and walked in, Urahara sitting behind the counter. "I heard you were on your way. Aoi, how's your side?"

"Much better, Thank you." She smiled. "Are any of the people from here going to come for this?"

"I dunno. They have a tendency of dropping in whenever. Your gigai are in the next room. As you can imagine, I can't leave them out here in the main room." Aoi nodded. She walked into the next room, looking at the gigai. Byakuya walked up behind her, looking with curiosity as she bent down, poking her gigai. "This is kind of cool." She bent down, falling into the body before her.

They sat around for a bit with Urahara, as his alerts let him know if a hollow was there, even if the ones in Seireitei didn't work.

Byakuya was dead silent, which was at least bearable as Urahara was there, and he was in great form. He was busy telling her the story of the introductions of the others. He was about to the part where Ichigo beat his first Menos, now on the verge of laughter when Ishida tied the Zangetsu to his own head. Aoi was laughing, her hand over her stomach to stop the pain. "That's classic! Oh my god, that's great!" Urahara seemed to be enjoying having someone to talk to as well.

"He was on one knee, his bow at the ready, barely able to hold up his own head with the weight of that massive chunk of metal on his head! He had an idea to use Ichigo's excess power to blow the Menos away with his bow! I'd never seen anything like it!"

"Did it work?" Urahara flipped his fan open, covering his mouth. "No, but it was a great idea!"

They heard the door open and turned, seeing a smiling girl in the doorway. "Hello! Welcome to my shop, Young Kurosaki!"

Aoi turned to the girl who came in, smiling. "Hi! I just need to get a few things." She smiled, her eyes shifted over to Byakuya. She stilled for a second, taking him in before she went about her shopping. She got her items and met at the register, taking her bag before walking out. "Urahara-san, you take care." She smiled.

"You called her Kurosaki. Is she related to Ichigo?"

"That's his youngest sister. He has another, but she doesn't come in here." Aoi nodded. "His father is here as well, but his mother has departed."

"Departed?" Aoi looked at him, confused. "She passed away when he was six. She was killed by a hollow." Aoi nodded. "How sad."

"It's too bad I never got to meet her. If Isshin was interested, chances are she was wonderful." He sighed.

It was nearly an hour later that the alarm when off. Aoi and Byakuya stood, leaving the gigai laying head down on the table.

They were back in five minutes, as there had only been one Menos. Aoi fell into the body, talking animatedly with Byakuya about how interesting the hollow were. Byakuya, of course just listened. "You should talk more. People wouldn't feel so unsafe around you."

"I like it when people don't like me. Their fear keeps the drama away. You wouldn't believe how much drama can come out of people. It's too much of a hassle." Aoi nodded. She couldn't argue with that.

"That was fast!" Urahara sat, a fresh mug of tea in his hands. "It was only one. If thirty come through again, though, we may be in trouble." She looked over at Byakuya. "I heard you once took out over twenty Menos yourself." Byakuya said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

"That's correct." She nodded lightly.

"Then we have to worry if more than forty or fifty come through. I can handle quite a few." Aoi's eyes showed her mirth at getting him to talk, causing him to clear his throat before walking away to get more tea.

"So, are you and him an item now?" Urahara asked, his eyes showing the reason behind his curiosity. "No, I think I drive him crazy." She shrugged, sipping the tea, not really caring that it was room temperature.

"Maybe, then you'd be interested in me?" His eyes shone and Aoi smiled, blushing. "I'll talk with you a little more, get to know about you some first. Alright?" He nodded, sitting up straight.

The evening was fairly boring. Aoi and Urahara continued their banter, while Byakuya watched, more and more aggravated as the night came in. "Where's my room?" Byakuya eventually asked, not able to handle the conversation anymore.

"It's the third door on your right. I hope you don't mind, but you and Aoi will have to share a room. I got a new shipment in a few days ago and don't really have much space right now."

"That will be fine." Byakuya walked down the hall. Aoi watched him, sighing. Urahara didn't miss it. "It seems like you like him."

"I do, but as I said, I think I've driven him against me. I've been getting into a lot of trouble, and he keeps havening to take care of me, as well as my work. I feel bad about it."

"Don't." Urahara said with a bright smile. "It's good to keep those damned bastards on their toes!" He grinned, causing Aoi to still. "That's not very nice."

"I never said I was nice. I used to be a Taicho, you know. Trust me, they have way too much time on their hands." Aoi's eyes lit up. "You were? Really?"

"Before I was banished from Seireitei, I was Taicho of the 12th squad. I was the one who actually made it the research and development squad." Aoi nodded. "You strike me as the mad scientist type." She sipped her tea casually.

"Really?" Urahara asked, genuinely surprised. "No. I've met the guy they have running it once, he's weird." Urahara nodded, grinning. "That's Kurotsuchi for ya. He's a little much sometimes."

The conversation led late into the night. It was around two when she finally went to lay down.

She crept slowly into the room, stepping over Byakuya, sliding off her cloths. Byakuya had been married, he'd seen more than this, she was sure. She was in a tank top and her underwear when she finally laid down on the futon. It was soft beneath her skin. She yawned before closing her eyes.

"Aoi." She startled, sitting up quickly. "Yes?!"

"Remember, he was banished for a reason. It's better to not get involved with him."

"Are you jealous?" She grinned, smiling over at him.

He sat up and turned, looking her dead in the eye. "You said you'd listen to me. Don't get involved so personally with someone like him." She sat still, looking him in the eye.

He laid back down, closing his eyes.

Aoi laid back down, trying to surrender to sleep as well. "I was kind of hoping you'd say yes." This time his eyes shot open.

"You want me to be jealous of someone who was banished to this world?"

"I would like you to be jealous of someone who's getting so much of my attention." He sat back up, looking at her. "Why is that?"

Aoi turned away from him and just before she fell asleep the words came out. "Because that would mean you wanted me to spend my time with you instead."

Byakuya nodded. He understood what she meant.

He laid down and they were both asleep within seconds.