Looking confused at the high school student Xion placed his hands on his hips growing impatient. He couldn't understand why the boy wouldn't talk then it hit him that maybe he couldn't. Thinking about the things that he had left behind to save the boy, the shinigami again used the flash step to grab his materials together and bring them back taking time to scare the school boys who were still at the scene scratching their heads in confusion. That was his one good deed for the day. He tossed the backpack full of books and notepad to the boy then tried again to ask the boy about the captain, "You saw a man dressed similarly to me with the exception of a white coat on earlier correct? Where can I find him boy?" His tone lent that of irritation in it as he awaited the boy to give him an answer so he could relay the message to the captain.

Ash bit her lip but nodded slowly, glancing away as he got dressed. As he asked of his shirt she took a few minutes but did indeed find it. She held it out to him, her free hand behind her back as she looked at the man and held out the shirt. There was a faint blush on her cheeks beneath her freckles and she looked…uncertain. This…..was just awkward.

Of course… that kept her from noticing another schoolmate passing the gym. The blond woman paused for a moment to watch the two, seeing the shirtless man and the one who should be ashes as far as she was concerned. She curled her hand into a fist, anger on her dainty face. She’d seen Ash with Ryu…how dare she hang out with such a boy when sleeping with some older man! Before pausing to verify her false conclusion the blond ran causing ash to look up…

Ash saw a retreating form but it was gone before she could figure out what it was. Shrugging gently to herself she looked back to Conri. “I… You should probably go back… Hopefully you’ll find me again when a hollow tries to eat me.” She only half joked, her mind going to Ryu… she’d have to stop and check on him somehow… she didn’t know where he lived though… this could be a problem she thought with a frown.

"My sources tell me that you were with him earlier so I would like to know where he is. Plus I the fact that you can see and feel me is reason enough to believe that you are special in your own ways. Now could you kindly point me in the direction I would be able to find spirit please." Trying to sound like a kind being even tacking on a smile at the end of the request Xion was trying not to get upset. He took a deep breath and relaxed. The news was urgent but he could tell that they were in no immediate danger at the time.

Xion thanked the boy and rushed off towards the school gym hoping to finally catch up to the captain so that he could get him back to the soul society. When he finally arrived there he saw a girl handing the captain his shirt and the shinigami couldn't do anything but hit himself in the face. The captain was already making a fool of himself, he definitely needed to get back to soul society. But an even bigger question at the moment was who is this girl. Xion slowly approached the girl and looked her up and down. She was human but why was she hanging out with a shinigami? Xion finally asked her, "Who are you? And what are you doing with Conri? Or better yet what was he doing with you?" This whole situation looked bad.

Ashli looked up and dropped the shirt if Conri didn‘t grab it before she did, tilting her head to the side. She looked perplexed, innocent enough it took her a minute to figure out what Xion could mean by the second question. She flushed but then was distracted a moment by the new man’s energy. It was a lot like Conri’s in nature…. Was he an ’angel’ too…what were they really called she thought absently.

She shook her head and reached up to take her reading glasses off the top of her head and play with them absently in both hands. “My name’s Ashling but you can shorten it to whatever…and what am I doing with him? Nothing obviously. He was going to help me with something but …then …he ended up.. Sick when he got here and he’s just been trying to stand up…who are you?” She shifted slightly as she said ‘sick’ and made a face but said nothing else. When she asked the last question, however, her voice went from a little annoyed to simply curious. She had a feeling she might not get the answer…

( Off to bed for me! G'night! <D )

"Oh, Lieutenant Xion, what a pleasant surprise or is this a not so pleasant one? Well at less I don't have a reason to hide in the drunken gigai anymore." Conri said before getting out of it fully cloth. "So I guess I have to go back don't I?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head.

He looked back at the girl and smiled. "Well it really isn't what it seemed like. Trust me, it it got too out of hand I would have ditched the gigai anyway." he said to confirm that nothing sexually was happening. "Oh, and by the way... don't tell anyone I got drunk. It's bad enough I went missing but they would kill me for getting wasted again."

"I assume you take me for a fool, I can clearly see he is drunk. And I am Xion it's a pleasure to meet you Ashli. Now if you will excuse me I need to get him home. We have some important issues to discuss once he wakes up." Xion made his voice sound as polite as possible trying to keep her from asking too many questions which he figured she would.

Ash glanced to Conri a moment, hearing him speak. She watched him step from the gigai and blinked as if confused but ignored it. She really didn’t need to think too much on that… though it was good to know that they could take on a body everyone could see at least. Much easier to explain that way….


She started to say something, confused by his saying ‘got too out of hand’ and only now realized what he meant…or why he wanted her to wear tights. She flushed, a look of anger and embarrassment crossing her face. She was starting to think she understood why her family did not like drunks… what a terrible thing it seemed to her right now… who would CHOOSE to be that way?

As Xion spoke of Ash thinking him a fool she frowned, tilting her head to the side. She simply didn’t deal with drunk people much…well at all, this was the first. The only reason she knew he was drunk and not just ill was because Ryu had mentioned…er written. She’d just been too polite to say the word… had she offended him? All she needed was an angry ‘angel’…. as if being a hollow magnet wasn’t enough…

Seeing him keep his voice polite, however, she decided he was not offended. He was wrong to think it would reduce any of her questions, though she really only had one. “Something bad’s happening huh?” She said simply, a sadness in her face and even a slight fear as her memories sprang to life in her head. She could still hear her friends scream as they were murdered by something they couldn’t even really see…

((last post for tonight))

Conri looked down and seemed to stare to into space. He he looked back at her he smiled again, "Well all you need to know is if something bad was going to happen, we are going to handle it. I won't let anything happen to the innocent people of this world."

He looked up at Xion and tried to look for any sign of suspicion. He would tell the society about Ajit but he knew they would put so much yellow tape around the subject he most likely wouldn't get a chance to help. Anyway, Ajit was his problem to take care of. If he had to tell someone, it would been someone he could trust... or kill. I wonder, will that arrancar tell me what I need or will I have to make him talk? Conri thought to himself.

"Don't worry about it I'll keep it under wraps but you really need to stop. We have some things we need to discuss. As for you Ashli to answer your question yes there are some bad thing going on right now that we need to get under control before some people get hurt now if you will excuse us we need to get back now." He smiled confidently to Ashli while keeping his voice sincere and then turned towards Conri as if to get approval for their exit.

The will anyway…Ash thought to herself absently. She knew Conri had saved her, but she also knew through experience how ‘normal’ people fell through the cracks. Hell… If she couldn’t see them she would likely be one… sTill the shadow of these thoughts only touched her face for a moment before she looked up and forced a smile.

“Okay…just be careful hmm?” She forced out a laugh, knowing it was silly to say….could they even die? She didn’t know much yet… but she still worried… it always felt like a storm was brewing… Shaking her head to herself she gathered up her school stuff she’d sat down, glancing at the two Shinigami a moment in thought. Would she see either again she wondered…

Xion was a little taken aback by the fact that the girl was pacified so quickly he thought he would have to use more charm but it was a good thing that she was. The more time they wasted the more time they would give their enemies to plot and prepare. Time was of the essence at this point and it was a commodity not intended to be wasted by him. He turned again to the girl and smiled then he gave her a gracious bow out of respect and in thanks for her understanding of the very little he could tell her of the situation. He would make sure nothing happened to anyone here in the human world so they they would have nothing to worry about. Then he again turned back to the captain waiting for his conformation to leave.

Ash turned to him returning the bow politely before standing fully. She tried to return his confident smile but there was something sad in her own smile. She rubbed her arm a moment, one of the places that had been stuck most when she was in the hospital…Nothing would be so simple as they wanted to pretend it would be… but what could Ash do? Nothing… she was just human, able to see but not do anything needed… shaking off the thought she gave a little more cheerful smile, intending to watch them leave before she left… who knows, maybe they’d drop a clue…

( Note on terms... - Commander = First squad captain. )

( Conri is hardly made out to be a commander. xD )

(My apologies my mistake)

( Tis fine. Tis only a note. >O )

Conri nodded to Xion, giving him the ok. He looked back at Ash and before the door to the soul society appeared and said, "Well Ash, I'll see you later. Make sure you keep a eye on Ryu, that will make my job a lot easier. And... you might want to stay well rested. You will never know what the next day will bring." Then he stepped into the doorway.

( After you guys finish up, I'll do a time skip to the next day if you want. =O )

( Or Shinigami can continue while earth time skips. )

Ash nodded and murmured a soft “Good bye…” As she watched them leave. The red head frowned a moment, worried for her friend. Keep an eye on Ryu? Was there something he knew she didn’t? It worried her deeply and made her frown but she nodded again and headed for the gym exit. She’d head home after that, ignoring her parents yelling at her for not coming straight home. She didn’t say a word after this… anxious to see Ryu at school the next day.

Ryu reached home finally. His stomach was killing his with every step. The more he forced himself, the more he had the urge to vomit. Finally, though, he reached his front door. He stepped inside, tapping his shoes off before stepping out of them and slipping into some slippers. He peeked to his mother chopping some veggies up for dinner, smiling softly to her as she greeted him. She wasn't drunk today. Or... rather, she wasn't drunk yet. Dinner seemed to be promising if he could keep it down.

He headed up to his room, slipping his backpack off and moving to the mirror, lifting his jacket, sweater and shirt in order to examine his bruising stomach. He tapped it before hissing in pain and covering it back up.

He sighed and took his books out from his bag, placing them across his desk before pulling them closer one by one and working on his homework. Thank goodness tonight was only a light load.

( Time skip to tomorrow. =D )

Ash awoke almost anxiously, shivering a little as she remembered the prior day. Life was not making sense…then again did it ever? Laughing softly to herself though still nervous, she got dressed. She put on a friendship bracelet on the way out, one she and the two friends whom had died wove together. Her strand was red like her hair, the other two were silver and black….

Saying a quick ‘morning’ to her mother she then headed out without even a bite to eat she headed towards the school. Heading to homeroom she looked for Ryu, telling herself she was anxious for nothing… then again she would be paranoid about her friends now… or rather friend..