Healing His Solitude - Aizen Sousuke Love Story

Chapter 22 - Comfort

Well! I wanted to put up this chapter on Valentine's Day because it is the start of the sweet moments between Aizen sama and Shiori chan! Yay! :D

Happy reading y'all and Happy Valentine's Day to all my awesome readers! >3< This chapter is dedicated to everyone reading this story!

Hugs and Kisses!

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Aizen pov:

I waited sitting comfortably on a long seat in one of the many rooms in Hueco Mundo. I had gotten quite bored having to stay in the same room all the time. Being generous, I had allowed some of the lower Arrancar arrange this room for me. Along with the large stone couch, it also had two tables on the side.

[a/n: If you guys remember, it's the furniture that is shown in the episode when Orihime is kidnapped. When Ichigo and the others just break into Hueco Mundo, they show Aizen sama sitting on a huge couch/ chair/whatever you call it :P]

I heard footsteps along with sensing Shiori's reiatsu as she entered the room. I didn't open my eyes to look at her until she had stopped to stand in front of me. When I did look at her, she was watching me passively.

Unlike all the other shinigami, humans and Arrancar, she didn't seem afraid of me. She always met my eyes when she spoke to me. She didn't cower in my presence, she didn't fall at my feet for mercy or attention, and she was the only one here besides Gin who spoke to me on almost normal terms.

She had been wary of me when she was first brought here. She didn't look at me then and I could always sense a nervous fluctuation in her reiatsu when she stood in my presence. But after spending a week here in Hueco Mundo, having meals with me often and sitting with me when I drank tea, she didn't get even the slightest nervous around me.

I couldn't be sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. In fact, I did feel that it was easy to be around her. I didn't have to hide my true nature because I had no reason to favor her. She didn't have anything I needed either. I enjoyed her silent company, almost finding her to be some sort of escape from having to be so dominating and uptight. I could sit calmly without having to think or do anything when we were alone.

"Is there something you need, Aizen san?" The gentleness in her voice continued to ring in my ears even after she completed her sentence. She watched me curiously, comfortably.

"I heard from Starrk that your lap is very comfortable to fall asleep on. In fact, I see he's the only Espada who calls you in often to serve as his pillow. Is it true that your lap is comfortable?" I asked as I smiled at her. She chuckled softly and shrugged.

"That's what he says. He usually says it's better to at least have someone's lap to sleep on if not a pillow. I guess it's an individual perception." Her answer had no hesitance. It made me want to test her, to see how she would react in my presence in the same situation.

"Then, I would also like to take a rest. Come sit down." I told her as I moved to the center of the couch. She just nodded with a smile and sat down on one of the ends.

She didn't seem to mind as I turned and lay down with my head in her lap. In fact, I was mildly surprised that she placed one hand on my chest and the other on my head. She caressed my cheeks and forehead, occasionally running her fingers through my hair. I didn't take my eyes off her as she looked over my face as if concentrating on nothing but the gentle touches. In fact, I narrowed my eyes a little at how unaffected she seemed despite me sleeping on her lap.

When she met my gaze, she stopped what she was doing and pulled both hands away from me. "I'm sorry. Should I not do that? I have a habit of doing that to help people fall asleep." She said, giving me an embarrassed smile.