I know Shinji is a Vizored, not a full Hollow, but I really wanted to use him as their mentor. It was either him or Urahara and he doesn't have any Hollow powers so Shinji kind of made more sense.

Four

(Dark)

'That's a great scythe you've got there!' Rangiku points out, grinning as she gestures towards the weapon strapped to my back. I blush and say, 'Yeah, it's pretty cool...'

'And your sword looks pretty dangerous, too,' Rangiku says, turning to face Hollow who snaps out of whatever daydream he had as he was staring out of the window.

'What? Oh, yeah.'

'Isn't it a bit heavy?'

'Um... no. I've gotten used to using it.'

'Well, both your weapons are super impressive! I'm really jealous!'

As if, I think angrily. You're not the one being chucked in the arena. We are. Well, I am, anyway. He's jumped into this.

'I bet you two have never been on a train before! Did you know, it's travelling at two hundred miles per hour...'

As far as I'm concerned, I'll probably be executed before I can get in the arena because the chances are by the end of this trip, I will have killed Rangiku Matsumoto. If. She. Doesn't. Shut. Up. Right. Now.

'… Oh dear, Shinji was supposed to be here by now! Where could he have gotten off to...?'

Great. So we'll have to put up with a crap mentor too... so much for hope.

'There you are!' Rangiku exclaims, standing up from the squishy red armchair she's been positioned in, staring behind us at someone who must have walked through the door from the carriage behind. Hollow and I are sitting on an intricately patterned blue sofa, and we both stand up and turn around to be greeted with the sight of our mentor.

Shinji has brown eyes and jaw-length blonde hair with a straight cut, and he wears an amber shirt with a dark tie and a cap. He looks slightly worn out and reluctant to be here, as if he was in the middle of something. Like sleep. He really does look like he's just been woken up.

'Why'd you call, Rangiku?' he says in a playful voice, pretending to sound irritable.

'The tributes need to talk to you,' Rangiku chides, finally looking annoyed, and not being annoying. About. Damn. Time.

Shinji squints at Hollow and I, obviously analysing us as if trying to work out what our chances will be in the arena. Personally, I think that if Hollow and I form an alliance, we might have a chance, at least against some of the other tributes. The Careers from Districts One, Two and Four will be a problem, as always, because they have trained for this their entire lives. But I'm well practised at using my scythe, and from what I've heard so far, Hollow is an expert with that overgrown kitchen knife he calls a sword.

'So you're District Twelve's very first volunteer, eh?' Shinji drawls, eyes now staring at Hollow alone.

'Yes.'

'Just being noble, huh?'

'Slightly more complicated than that, but among other things, why not?'

'Did you like your chances, kid?' Shinji asks.

'No. Nobody's won in Twelve since you. Hardly gonna get very far with those Careers, am I?' Hollow mutters.

'What about you?' Shinji asks, turning to me. 'How d'you think you'll do in the arena?'

'Same as him,' I reply, jerking my head towards the albino.

'I'll be the judge of that,' Shinji concludes. 'You'll both be assessed on your combat skills during training, and then you'll get a private session where you can show the Gamemakers what you're made of. Any other techniques you're capable of besides using your weapons.'

'I've got a fast sonido,' Hollow answers.

'Me too,' I add.

Shinji grins. 'Well, that's always useful. Do you two reckon you'll be working together in the arena?'

Hollow and I remain silent. It's not exactly awkward, but Hollow gives the honest answer that is flashing through my mind as well.

'Too early to say. We don't know each other. I'd rather we got used to seeing each others' skills before we make that decision.'

XOXOXOX

[Hollow]

Dark pulls me into an empty compartment the moment they say we can go. It's full of boxes, evidently storage, and it's in the last carriage.

'Why did you volunteer?' she demands as we stand facing each other

I sigh. There's not really much point in keeping any secrets from her, especially if we are considering working together.

'I... I'm the murderer.. from this morning...' I murmur, watching her lilac eyes widen. 'I'm the one who killed that human.'

'Why?'

'I'm... not very good at controlling my hunger... I kind of... go insane sometimes... anyway, I thought that if I volunteered they probably won't pick on my family, unless I do something reckless in the arena. Besides, the kid that was Reaped once saved my little sister. I guess I kind of owed him.'

She stares at me for a few moments, then says, 'So you're kind of soft.'

I'm taken aback. 'Am not!' I protest.

She smirks. 'But you wanted to stop a younger Hollow from going in the arena, just cause he saved your kid sister. You are soft,' she decides.

'I killed someone this morning!' I reply furiously. I know she's only teasing me, but there's no way I'm going into the Seventy-Fourth Annual Hollow Games with someone calling me soft.

'What about you?' I say, rounding on her. 'You're a Kuchiki! You've been raised in a posh household! I bet you've never got dirty in your life!'

'I was adopted. Before that, I lived on the streets,' she answers coolly. 'Your brother is friends with my sister, after all; Didn't he tell you?'

'Never mentioned it,' I say coldly.

She makes a 'tsk' sound. 'Well, never mind. Right now we have other things to worry about. Shinji said that we need to get people to like us, so we can get votes. Apparently it will give us an advantage in the arena. To get people to like us, we have to be friendly. I've only known you for a few hours and I can tell you're not the friendly type.' She says this almost accusingly.

'Yeah, well, I could say the same about you,' I growl, trying not to appear as if I'm sulking. 'I mean, you spent that entire time in the lounge glaring daggers at Rangiku! Don't deny it!'

'You didn't exactly look like you were enjoying her presence, either,' she shoots back.

Damn. There is just no arguing with this girl.

We both take deep breaths, and I wonder if I should bother with a retaliation. This argument is getting us nowhere.

'Are you strong?' I ask finally.

She looks at me strangely, and then she says, 'Yes. I reckon I could last a while in the arena, if I'm lucky. What about you?'

'Same goes for me,' I reply. 'I haven't exactly been training like the Careers, but I've practised with my brother. I'm guessing you have with your sister?'

She nods.

'Right,' I say, decisions through my head, until I hold out my hand. 'Temporary alliance?'

She hesitates, then takes my hand with her own. 'Done.'