The next two days were spent with conversation. Shinya and Rukia drew confused stares as they passed, laughing and making friendly jabs at one another. Shinya turned to face Rukia as they neared the entrance to the auditorium,

"You ready, Rukia-chan?"

She lifted her head and grinned up at him eagerly,

"Hai!"

Shinya threw his right hand up over his head and called out,

"Cast your shadow…Shibotsuki!"

The beautifully lethal weapon materialized as he called it, balancing perfectly in his hand. Rukia drew her zanpakuto from her waist, bringing the blade level with her eyes.

"Dance! Sode no Shirayuki!"

The brilliant sunlight that sparkled off the mirrored edge danced to life. A white ribbon trailed from the butt of the hilt, playing lightly on the wind. A cool breeze caressed Shinya's neck, sending an energetic chill through his entire body. This was the first time he had seen Rukia call her shikai.

He looked at Rukia, both of them grinning ear to ear in anticipation.

"This…should be fun."

As Shinya lifted Shibotsuki from its resting place at his side he noticed thin airy wisps of fog curling around the crescent blade. He took stock of this with a quizzical expression. It dawned on him far too late; Rukia was attacking him!

"First Dance: Tsukishiro!"

Shinya dodged just as a column of ice erupted from the mist and shot skyward. He noticed a breeze across his chest; looking down he saw that he had not dodged as soon as he had thought. The ice had caught the front of his training robe, which now flapped wildly in the wind.

Wow! She really has gotten stronger.

He tore off the ragged top, exposing his toned scarred torso. Rukia raised an eyebrow, allowing herself a very normal but far from appropriate thought. She shook her head and went after Shinya with abandon. Those that had looked upon them with confusion now stared in total shock at the ferocity of their attacks.

As their blades clashed, sparks flew, and smiles played across their lips. Another wicked clash sent a wave of dust and reiatsu radiating away; they both collapsed…laughing.

"What sort of mischief are you two making?"

Shinya sat up, an idiotic grin plastered on his face, still chuckling lightly.

"None at all, Aizen-sensei. Just having a bit of harmless fun."

Hmm…it didn't seem that harmless."

Rukia countered with a playful giggle. She stood and dusted herself off, smiling at Shinya as he nodded his agreement, still wearing that stupid grin. Aizen looked from one smiling face to the other, then shook his head.

"At any rate, the exercise is about to begin."

Shibotsuki's unforgiving crescent parted yet another hollow. Shinya let a smirk cross his lips as blood spattered his face. He felt Sode no Shirayuki's cool mist on his skin as it froze the crimson droplets that fell from his chin. He felt elation! Complete and utter joy; but not from the sight of freshly spilled blood like so many times before. No, it was knowing that this woman, that Kuchiki Rukia, was beside him.

How many of Aizen's 'exercises' have we lived through? he thought.

Shibotsuki proved her name once again.

And through it all, Rukia has been there. Complimenting my every move.

The crescent sang through the air with lethal efficiency.

I can't believe it! he shook his head, I really think I'm in love with this girl!

A quick movement caught his attention and the flash of lambent bone made the threat all too real.

"Rukia!"

Warm blood sprayed across Rukia's face and chest as she stared in horror. Shinya was now the one receiving a scythe's hospitality. The forelimb, and the overall figure for that matter, of the hollow resembled that of a giant mantis. Shinya's wound began just below his heart, went width-wise through his chest, and exited just below his right kidney. If it hadn't already killed him; it soon would.

He gripped the forelimb with terrifying and unbelievable strength, sending a pulse of energy that rocked the hollow to the core of its being. Shinya held out his right hand, blood running from the corners of his mouth.

"Shibo…TSUKI!"

He lifted his head to reveal a sadistic blood-soaked smile. The hollow's eyes widened; for it saw something that Shinya could not. A skull mask over the right side of his face. Shinya began to spin Shibotsuki in his hand, quickly forming the all too familiar whirlwind. Despite the familiarity of it, though, Rukia could sense something different about it; something very…wrong. The wind howled with an unearthly anguish. Shinya smiled wider, his voice grated,

"DIE!"

Shinya's Getsuryuga ripped through the hollow like a saw through tatami. The lethal ring screamed through the open air beyond, cutting a beautifully twisting arc and returning…for another strike. And where the attack, still in full force, found no hollow it found Rukia. The air cracked as the ring sang by, Rukia managing to dodge by a fraction; the massive currrent blowing her off balance. The attack cut another arc and returned for a third strike; it showed no signs of slowing. Rukia managed to deflect the blow, barely maintaining her footing. She braced herself and focused on the task at hand. The fourth was closing fast.

"Tsukishiro!"

The ice column shot skyward but her timing was off just so. The ring was caught half way. The current broke and became a lethal slingshot. It whipped and shattered the ice, showering Rukia with razor fragments.

Shinya collapsed, having been unconscious for some time by this point. Rukia managed to stumble her way over to him before falling to her knees. Tears filled her eyes as she gazed at Shinya's lifeless form.

"Please, forgive me…Shin-kun."

Her vision blurred as the tears streaked her face, then darkened as she slipped from consciousness. The hollows closing in around them seemed so far away.

"Roar! Zabimaru!"

The fanged chain cleaved the nearest two hollows and swept over the unconscious pair, barring further advances. The remainder retreated, having lost interest in what could have been an easy meal. Renji sighed heavily,

"I'm gettin' tired of babysittin' you two."

He knelt and picked Rukia up under his left arm and threw Shinya's limp form over his right shoulder. He grunted under the weight as he stood.

"What a pain in the ass…"