~Know my name~

Without opening his eyes, he sensed a small foot lunging toward his lower half. "I'm awake." He said quickly. Lilynette huffed and prodded him anyway. "Stark, how come you sleep less now?"

"I don't know. I just do."

The child-like Arrancar pouted, "that's no answer and you're just as lazy anyway."

"Uh huh. Say, Lilynette…"

"Yes?"

Stark folded his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, "what do you think of the Shinigami? Are they really our enemy?"

"Of course they are, silly!" she punched him ineffectually on the ribs. "Thinking like that could get you in trouble with Lord Aizen!"

"Perhaps." Then thoughtfully he added, "Maybe some of them aren't as bad as we believe."

"Huh?" she looked confused.

"Lilynette," he sat up, "there's someone I want you to meet."

"Here?"

"In the living world."

~*~

Now there were two of them.

"It's a SHINIGAMI!!!"

"It's another Arrancar!!!"

"Could you both please keep it down?" Stark calmly interrupted; they eyed him like he was insane. "Sit down, Lilynette and you too, Shinigami."

With an angry huff, they sat down opposite each other.

And stared; finally Lilynette spoke, "and who're you?"

"I might ask you the same question." The Shinigami threw Stark a furious glare. It couldn't be denied that he purposely had sought her out. Waiting until she was completely alone before showing up, his fraccion in tow. Now for introductions, he thought. "You never told me your name, Shinigami."

"Why should I?!" she roared.

"It's only polite." He replied with composure he knew she found irritating. Oh it was fun pushing her buttons.

"Hmph. Kuchiki Rukia." She crossed her arms and turned away.

He was undaunted, "Lilynette." She looked and nodded briefly at the small Arrancar who grinned evilly. "And I'm Stark."

"Stark? That's a weird name." She didn't look quite so angry anymore. Lilynette reached over and grabbed a hold of his arm, clinging tightly, "uh huh. He's mine! No sharing!"

She laughed.

Lilynette looked affronted, "what's so funny?"

"Nothing. It's just I've never heard a Hollow speak like that about another. It's odd is all."

"Yeah well we're Arrancars, not plain old dumb Hollows." Lilynette corrected her.

Rukia pretended to see, but shared a secret wink with him.

He was pleased.

~*~

"Stark…"

They were back in Las Noches.

"Hmm?" he wasn't asleep.

"That Shinigami wasn't…" Lilynette struggled, "like what I always pictured them to be."

"I know what you mean."

"Are you going to see her again?"

"Maybe…" he smiled.

" 'Cause I want to come too!"

*~*

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