DaY TWo

'You…you what?' Urahara said, as if he hadn't quite heard. Shinji looked at him blankly, his zanpakuto resting over his shoulder. Scratching his forehead, the man coughed slightly before turning round to him, shrugging.

'I'm…going to kill Aizen…?' he repeated slower, Urahara shaking his head, a worried look on his face.

'And how are you going to get there? Whether you like it or not, Aizen is still protected by the walls of the Gotei 13, just like any other Shinigami. I'm sorry Shinji, I cannot let you go. It's a suicide mission.' Urahara stated, the defiance in his voice. He was clenching his fist. Clearly the decision was tearing him apart. Shinji turned away sharply and headed for the door.

'Thanks, Kisuke. You're the voice of reason. Especially when I've got the voice of madness livin' in me.' Hirako replied with a sort of sadness to his voice, his eyes shimmering in the light.

'Shinji…' Urahara whispered helplessly as the man turned, his destiny waiting in front of him.

'I know you understand. We can't go back. Our lives have been ruined. There's nothing left, for any of us now. The only thing we can hold dear to is revenge. And that revenge has gotta be fed.' Shinji muttered darkly, the room still and silent, Urahara shaking his head to everything the man was claiming before finally stepping forwards angrily, shaking his fists by his side.

'Just stop it!' he snapped, his blonde hair waving around him, Shinji's eyes wide in shock as Urahara brought his foot back, apologetic. 'You can't fall to revenge, Shinji. It's what the Hollow wants. Then, he can eat your mind, your soul…he can feed on every dark emotion your lust for revenge is amplifying. You can't let it win. It's your only hope. It's…' he whispered, his eyes falling on the bodies. '…everyone's only hope.' he said solemnly, Shinji closing his eyes as if burned by some anguish. Suddenly they heard a scratching noise and they turned slowly, Hiyori rising.

'H…Hiyori?' Shinji whispered hoarsely, the girl looking up at him wearily, sweat running down her small face, her hair matted to her forehead. She was still half lying on the ground, her arms weak.

'S…S…Shinji…' she groaned, her voice barely heard. The floor beneath her was stained a sickly black with blood and she collapsed into it, breathing slowly and wheezing heavily. Shinji darted over to her and held her head up from the ground. He began mumbling her name but she wouldn't answer and he looked up at Urahara, the fright in his eyes.

'You've got to stay…Shinji…' he muttered to him, Shinji sighing. Urahara rested a comforting hand on his shoulder as Shinji hung his head over Hiyori. 'Besides…I think everyone would be mighty angry if you left to fight Aizen without them. This is everyone's fight, Shinji.' He said, Shinji listening intently. He was staring down at Hiyori's face, the weariness evident. The man let out a long, low sigh once again before resting her gently on the ground.

'You're right…' Shinji said, his voice trailing off. '…I'll wait.'

The three figures stood together again by the edge of a forest, the darkness surrounding the area, thick with shadow. The middle man suddenly looked up into the sky, the moon shimmering off of his glasses.

'Oh?' he said bluntly, a thin smile creeping onto his face, one of his eyes visible through the lens. 'I just felt the urge for bloodshed in the air…I wonder who it could be…' he whispered before turning back to the front.

'Yeah…makes ya think, don't it?' the small boy grinned eerily. 'Makes ya think…'