Author's note: Okay, guys. I know I've basically been a comatose patient of an Author for like the past decade, but I really think I have it in the bag now! I'll be honest with you. For this fic in particular I really felt I lost my way...I'd sort of...plotted myself into a corner as it were. But lately, I had this thought: 'I'll re-watch Bleach', and so I started. Do you know what I found? Answers! Who knew, huh? This, accompanied by an epiphany I had, I think has really put me back on track. I know I suck and if any of my dearest followers are still interested and have faith in me, it'd make me so happy!

Disclaimer: I don't know Bleach or any of it's characters. If I did, most of them probably wouldn't own a shirt.

Observation Is Key;

Chapter six: Solitude.

Suffice it to say that earlier that day I had found Grimmjow's behaviour appalling, and that was putting it politely. Despite everything, my conforming to Aizen-Sama's rule, my obedience to him, my willingness to please him and what I would suppose could be considered my loyalty to Nnoitra (may he never know I could think such a thing), the thought of being possessed was repulsive to me. Of course it didn't matter to Aizen-sama, Nnoitra, Grimmjow or anyone else for that matter, but I have always strived for independence, perfection. As I have said before...I think of everything. I am perfect.

I am perfect.

I am perfect.

I am perfect...so why is nothing working? It has been three gruelling days since I left the life of Las Noches behind, in favour of my own, solitary, open space. The epicentre of Las Noches. This was the centre of everything, and nothing at all. It was poetic in a way. A solid fortress – the centre of civilised life in an otherwise barren and empty word. A haven, protection against the every day horrors that our world presented. Home to a God in an otherwise Godless, lawless wasteland. Yet...at the centre of this fortress? Nothing.

I wondered briefly if that meant anything, is there no foundation? No reason? No substance to our position here? A foolish thought of course. I wouldn't trust Aizen-sama as far as I could throw him, but he wouldn't go out of his way to gain our allegiance just to throw us away. We had a purpose to him. We were important. As long as I am here, I serve his purpose, but I serve my own as well. I have no desire to leave Hueco Mundo, nor Aizen-sama. Not yet. I am no ready yet.

For three days I have worked tirelessly. My Fraccion have been coming and going, bringing my materials and my equipment. Before I left Las Noches, I returned to my laboratory after my...spat...with Grimmjow and barked out my orders. I took some basics and went ahead. Although I would have liked Nnoitra's company, suddenly find that I am rather glad of my current situation. The past week has been so hectic that I find I now welcome the opportunity to simply work. The past three days has seen the near completion of the 'control centre', which is more or less a solid foundation and two of four walls. My Fraccion – the capable ones – that I had designed with the capacity to understand construction have been building the structure around me as I worked to construct the shield's control panel. It was so far a garish mess of wires and switchboards. So far only the basics have been attached, although I do have many metallic panels waiting to be put on the frame of the control panel.

Honestly, I find that although this work was more trifling than particularly challenging, and if I had been in any other mood, I might have found such trivial work aggravating, yet, I used it as an opportunity to take my time. I was entering my second week working on Aizen-sama's project, and while I dislike 'roughing it', I almost feel as if I'm going back to my roots...which I am quick to decide is not a pleasant thought in the slightest, I welcome the silence. When I get it at least. Being a construction site, I get a few hours of complete and total silence every day, and because of that, I have had very little sleep.

Although they might try, my Fraccion were never meant to be ninja-like. They are just there to do as I will them, which in truth is all I really want for my Fraccion. I cannot cope with the thought of having to mind other weaklings constantly. Nnoitra wastes his time with Tesla and Barragan is too old to be playing 'King' with Ggio and whoever the rest of them are. Worthless. Ulquiorra is a much more solitary creature than even myself, and although I like quiet, sometimes I want to feel warm flesh pressed against my own.

As it stood however, I worked beneath the light of the mood, a lantern at my side, somewhere beside my waist as I worked, my chest hidden within the confines of the control panel itself. The face of the device has been attached quite early on, after all, how can I attach wires to their respective devices if I have nothing to hook them to? Somewhere to my left, in the distance, I could hear the distinct ramblings of my Fraccion as they milled about, following my orders to the letter. Their competence made me wonder why I put up with Lumina and Verona as much as I did. Utter fools, both of them. I would give them an upgrade but for the fear that if they started thinking in any sort of depth, they might just be the end of Las Noches, if not Hueco Mundo itself.

I am not ashamed to admit to being tired at this point, although my hunger has been growing lately. Thinking back, I wonder if I should have eaten Ilforte after all. My Fraccion cannot be spared at the moment, nor will they suffice any more. I'm too hungry.

I jerk out of my thoughts when I hear and obnoxious clang and a shout, sitting up abruptly, which of course resulted in my head meeting my metal panel above me. I yelped and cursed before scowling and scrambling out from inside the controls. "What," I snap, wincing hand bringing a hand to my forehead as I come to stand "is going on?!" My Fraccion are scattered, come trying to reclaim their hold on the metal beam they had lost, whilst others seemed to flee, although they weren't going anywhere. Circles. They were just panicking, which wasn't unusual. Although what exactly had startled them was a mystery...

Until I pulled my gaze away from the chaos.

I lower my hand to my side and frown. What could be want at this hour? Ambling towards the sight, towards me, I could see clearly now, was a familiar figure, although one I had never cared much for, although I did somewhat admire his mischievous nature. His smile was always somewhat unsettling, Nnoitra's smile at least had a bit of charm to it. This...

Ichimaru Gin.

"What are you doing here?" I asked bluntly, my mood having been ruined not moments prior. He was smiling that smile of his, looking rat-faced and sly as usual.

"Aw, now that ain't nice...greetin' lil' ol' me wit so little respect," Gin started, still smiling at me. He looked up at me, where I stood on the high stone foundation of the control centre. I felt, for a moment, superior to him, watching as he watched me, standing on the ever-shifting sands. "An' I jis' came ta see ya." He said, as if I would believe this was purely a social visit.

Forcing myself to swallow my annoyance, literally, I leaned against a partially constructed railing, although not heavily, with one hand, and spared the ex-captain a smile of my own "Forgive me, Gin-sama," I said, without a trace of remorse. Gin was as dangerous as any man, but I would not play the snivelling whelp for him "Did Aizen-sama send you?"

For an instant Gin disappeared from my line of sight and turned, just in time to see him stop before me. Flash-step. "As a matter o' fact, yeh." Gin said, smiling as always. It was just like him to try and intimidate me. Gin seemed to think that anyone below Hallibel's level was free-game. He would taunt us relentlessly if he could, I am sure. "wanted me ta check on things here," his smile widened slightly, and he graced me with a glimpse of his teeth.

I was not afraid of Gin, and under the right circumstances, I would defeat him with little to no trouble at all, that said however, I really think I should run simulations for battle-tactics concerning Ichimaru...although I have little data on him, which would make the exercise almost completely pointless at this moment in time. "Is that so?" I asked, my eyes narrowing slightly in what appeared to be delight. I gestured to the mess of a construction sight behind me with a flourish. I did not hesitate to make a show out of this situation, despite it's unfavourable situation.

Partially constructed and no where near completion, showing my project off like this felt like presenting a poorly groomed animal to a panel of judges. It was wrong, and it felt like...no, this was an inspection. Gin-sama was going to report this miserable sight to Aizen-sama and I would be punished for sure. A progress report...how insulting. I wanted to scowl as Gin turned his gaze from me and wondered to the metallic structure that was going to to be the main control panel for the shield, with his white cloak swaying with each and every step. "Oh~" Gin said, peering at the walls closely for a moment before getting distracted by the only piece of the entire project that was even the slightest bit important. The controls. "Lookit here~" he seemed to coo, half-hunched over the machinery "ya got yer hands full wit these do-hickies." He said in his light tone.

My brow twitched. Do-hickies? Now, perhaps Gin wasn't the most scientifically minded person in the world, but he knew better than to talk to me about do-hickies. If only I could voice my disdain for that particular choice of...terminology. "Not particularly," I said with an air of ease "The mechanics are quite simple, it is merely putting it all together that is the long-winded part." He turned to look at me then, and simply stared, slipping his hands into the sleeves of his uniform.

"Will ya' be needin' an extension on ya' deadline?" He asked me, his tone...I realise, somewhat condescending. He shifted then and took to leaning back against the frame of the control panel. I was thankful in that moment that I had made sure the framework was sturdy and stable.

I could only chuckle and sigh, shaking my head slightly, "No," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear "a kind, but absurd offer, Gin-sama." I informed him pointedly, almost to the point that despite my seemingly relaxed countenance, I was more than a little insulted by the suggestion. Me? An extension? Perhaps I was a little...well...significantly behind schedule admittedly, but that was the reason I have been working for as long as I could, day and night. I have not eaten and barely slept. I am determined to catch up on the time I lost doing that ridiculous autopsy and doing that near-fruitless research for this project.

I had theorised to the best of my ability, which of course, was vast, that partially solidifying reiatsu and projecting it into the form of a barrier through the use of my mechanical genius in the form of a machine that magnetised spirit particles, forcing them to stay in a particular area. A force-field as it were. Of course, if my theory is correct than, simply having partially solidified reiatsu at my disposal would be utterly pointless. A Shinigami could break that down in moments, and although I know that even forcing the solidified reiatsu to move is not necessarily a permanent solution, given that in enough time, the Shinigami could still break the shields down, although getting a hold on that energy and finding a moment to exploit the opening when they find it will be difficult, the barrier can still be broken, which is not, unfortunately, what Aizen-sama wants.

I needed a more permanent solution, but nothing sprang to my mind that I could use on such a large scale as this. This was the only method I could see that would cover the entirety of Las Noches.

"Well," Gin started, starling me out of my thoughts. "If ya' say so." He said, standing, at which point I hard a rather loud snap. My eyes widened slightly. It had come from- "Whoopsie." Gin said, holding up a small wire for me, plain to see. "Clumsy me." He said, and admonished himself with a small smack on the back of his hands as he dropped the wire onto the floor, always smiling.

My breath hitched as he began to move, and I'm certain my anger was palpable. I could barely contain my rage as he meandered past me, seemingly without a care in the world. His smile only widened as he brushed by me and I am certain I'd never wanted to kill him so badly before. I could not move, and did not, until I felt a small burst of reiatsu as Gin used his flash-step. I for one, am glad he made a swift exit. If I had moved when he was still around, I am certain I would have gone, not to my work, but to him, with the intent of teaching him just want happened when people messed with my 'do-hickies'!

Still, I stood there, for as long as it took me to calm down. I needed to absorb the situation and calm down. I took several deep breathes and moved, stepping up to the damaged wire and kneeling before picking it up. This particular wire, while small, was a significant component in the inner-working of my machine. This little wire, ruined due to Gin's...Gin's...malicious behaviour, was one of the main cords involved with hooking up the force-field projector to the mainframe. It would take me some time to gather all the necessary components to remake such an important piece of equipment.

Damn that Ichimaru.

Damn his games. My eyes narrowed as I stood. There is no way I'm getting that extension now.

(A/N: Ho, ho~ Well, I dunno about you, just I'm proud of that. It's the first chapter of anything I've written lately that I feel is really going somewhere. God I love epiphanies. Best invention ever. Except maybe anime...and hugs. Anyway. Do tell me what you think, I hope I haven't displeased you all after so long. Keep faith! Please~)