Always...

The **** of your Bankai scatters the blades with ease. "I'm in no mood to play around, Kuchiki." The blades return.

"Stop this! Both of you! This was not our mission, Captain Kuchiki!"

"Jushiro...always the intelligent and kind man." He looks at you. "I was coming to think that I would join your squad. I believed under your tutorage I would excel...but the road of life promises many twists and turns, doesn't it?"

"Come back to the Soul-Society, Valentine. You've broken no laws, it is not too late!"

"I'm not gonna go back...there's nothing for me there. They don't understand me and they hate me because of that." You tap your blade against your shoulder. "Except for the Captain's that is...you guys I'm sorry to have to say goodbye to...except for you Captain Kuchiki. You're a dick."

You swear you saw him smirk slightly. "You remind me of someone, Valentine Frost."

"Everyone seems to say that, Kuchiki. The truth is, I don't care."

"That woman behind you...she's an Arrancar, Valentine."

"I know." They both stare at you like you've grown a second head. "What's wrong? By the expression on your faces you look...surprised."

"You're...defending her?" You laugh.

"Defending her? No...she was fast enough to tear my mask from my face, Jushiro. I'm not defending here by any means, because she doesn't need it."

"You've submitted?"

"Wrong again. I've neither submitted to or dominated this woman. I simply understand the difference in power quiet clearly...however..." You turn and whirl the sword around to point it at her. "...just because you're strong doesn't mean I won't try to beat you, Nel. Never forget that." You turn to face them once more. "However, she's shown no hostility that wasn't provoked."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm content to let her do as she pleases. She said...she was serching for an Espada around this place." Their eye's widened, even the always calm and collected Captain Kuchiki.

"The Espada exist no more, Arrancar."

"I sensed the presence of one...I know this to be a fact."

"That's impossible! We exterminated them ourselves!" Hearing a Hollow's cry in the distance you looked from them and then back in that direction.

"Shit...Nel, I'll be back..." You turn and using one of the fastest flash-steps head after the Hollow. It falls with ease before your Bankai and you return quickly finding them still standing off. "What'd I miss?"

No one speaks, they just stare each other down. You step beside her. "Tell the Soul-Society that I'm not coming back...I'll stand beside Nel before I stand beside them again." Jushiro sighs in defeat.

"Very well...I'm sorry you feel that way, Valentine..."

"It's my own choice. The Soul-Society has no right to take it from me...someone who they didn't want to begin with." The pair of them disappear and you seal your sword again. Looking over at Nel you find her staring. Her face stoic.

"What make's you think I won't attack you?"

"You could've killed me at any time. As I said...I'm smart enough to recognize the difference in our power, Nelliel. But...don't mistake this for cowardise, Nelliel. Never underestimate me."

The corners of her lips lift into a small smile before she lets the same stoic expression fall again. "I will be sure not to make that mistake, Valentine." You're unsure what exactly her plans are, but you do not care.

"Where are you headed now?"

"Well, while I am positive I sensed a Espada in this town, I cannot be sure. I may remain here until such time as I can ascertain it's actual survival."

"You should use a Gigai...wait, can Arrancar use a Gigai?" You rack your brain for a few moments before sighing. You're not entirely sure. Technically they ARE a Soul just like any other Spirital being. It's something you'd have to research further.

"I will surpress my spirital energy whilest I stay here."

"It's not that I'm worried about. It's the people. They can't handle the spirital pressure, Nelliel."

"Please...call me Nel."

"Whatever, the point is we need to find a way to make sure you don't accidently kill anyone." She nods and continues to stay are you. "What? Do I have something on my face?" You reach up and run your hand over your face. Under your left eye you encounter a small cut from one of the thousand blades the Captain released. "Oh...guess I do."

You thumb away the blood and sigh. "So...now that they know about you, you're in trouble, Nel."

"You underestimate me, Valentine. The very thing you asked not to do to you." Hearing another Hollow in the distance you motion toward it...and the two of you are suddenly racing toward it. Her Sonido is as fast as your flash-step, if not faster. The Hollow was easily delt with...but more kept coming.

Make that many more. This attracted the attention of a man with a bucket hat and a pair of clogs. He just watched as we delt with the final one and then looked at him. "Who are you?" He smiled and pulled out a fan to his his face.

"I'm just a handsome merchant." You return your Zanpakutō to your back.

"You sell to the Soul-Society?" He nods.

"Of course. What can I do you for?" I motioned back toward the now reading Nel.

"Can you provide her with a Gigai?" You reach into your sleeve and pull out a small sack of coins. Tossing it to him he catches it and tosses it back.

"The first one is always free..."

Some time later the two of you are walking the sttreets of the town. In a Gigai she looks normal...like a normal girl...well, with huge breasts anyway. "Tell me something." You look up at her to find her staring at you. A HUGE blush spreads across your face as you realize you've just been busted. "Why do you continue to stare at my chest when you think I am not looking?"

"I, um...s-sorry, Nel." You reach up to scratch the back of your head in embarrassment. "You're...pretty." It was probably the stupidest thing to say in a situation like this not to mention you're flirting with a damn Arrancar.

"Oh...thank you." You look at her out of the corner of her eye. On her usually stoic face a blush can be easily seen. "That's very kind of you to say to an Arrancar."

"I-I...don't usually. Um, Nel?" You stop and look at her. "We're both against the Soul-Society, so I was thinkin'...maybe we team up? Y'know, stand and fight together?"

"You're a sweet man, Valentine...but what I am doing is only going to get you hurt, or worse."

"I don't care. Having someone at my side is better then being along once again."

"Do you mean that?"

"I've always been alone, Nel. You know what I am. No Shinigami REALLY trusts me. But...no Arrancar really trusts me either. I'm my own kind."

"I'm an Arrancar...how do you know I trust you?"

"You haven't attacked me yet. That must mean something." She turns her back on you. "If it's an issue of strength, I can become stronger. I've never backed down from a fight."

'I sound pathetic', you think to yourself. "Power does not interest me, Valentine. What I need is intelligence." She turns to face you. "How do I know that you will not betray me?"

"I stood against two Captain's and you need me to confirm this further?" She stares at you for the longest time before nodding.

"Very well..." She extends her hand. "Partners..."