The trio had returned to Las Noches but they were not alone. Aizen carried a blue haired girl unconscious bridal style while Gin carried a purple haired girl.
"Gin, Tousen take them to the rehabilitation chamber."
"Yes Aizen-sama."
Aizen gave Tousen the unconscious blue haired girl.
"Everything will be alright." He smiled.
*Visored Warehouse
"Why would you say something like that to her on her birthday?" yelled Kensei
"I didn't know it was her birthday!" yelled Shinji back
"It doesn't matter if it was or wasn't her birthday. I wouldn't have said it in the first place." Said Hiyori
"Hiyori is right Shinji. You went overboard this time." Said Lisa
Shinji sat down in a couch that was by a pile of rubble. He knew he had fucked up big time. Not only did he hurt the girl he loved but now she was taken away from him by Aizen.
*Flashback…
Shinji had seen their performance and he was mesmerized by how incredibly sexy Tak looked with her black hooded dress. The dress amplified her curves and her high heels complemented her feet giving her an elegant look. He wanted the show to end so he could go to her and have her in his arms.
As the show ended he lost sight of Tak, the girl moved fast and he admired that about her. Shinji had also lost sight of Kensei. Kensei didn't know he had followed him to the warehouse. Kensei wouldn't tell him where he was going so he decided to follow him, good thing he did.
Shinji ordered a drink and was looking around when he found Tak on the dance floor. He smiled to himself but his smile didn't even reach his cheeks for he saw Tak in the arms of another. And the man looked awfully like Aizen making Shinji get mad yet worried for Tak's safety.
He noticed the male turn her around and made her get awfully close to him. She turned towards the bar and he made eye contact with her. She had no expression on her face. She wasn't happy, mad or surprised to see him which made him even more upset.
The man disappeared. Shinji thought she was going to go over to him but instead faced the other way and moved through the crowd, away from him. Shinji wasn't about to let it go. She was going up the stairs to the roof and he hoped that no one would be upstairs. As he got to the roof he was relieved to find no one around. She was heading back when she saw him.
"What do you think you are doing with him?" he quickly snapped at her
"What?" clear confusion in her voice
"What were you doing with Aizen?" he said angry
"What are you talking about?"
He yanked her closer to him grabbing her other arm and shook her from the rage.
"Are you blind? The guy you were dancing with was Aizen!"
"What? No! His name is Sasuke."
He shook her again.
"What is up with you?" she yelled at him
"That was Aizen I know it!"
"You're obsessed!" she shook him off her.
"I am not!"
"Yes you are! You are obsessed with Aizen! You have spent the last 100 years planning your revenge. Get over it Shinji. You were given a second fucking chance and you wasted it staying locked away in that sorry ass warehouse!
Shinji had slapped Tak. She didn't react. She didn't hit him or said anything. She started to walk away from him.
"Tak!"
"Don't. I'm not going to let some asshole ruin this night, do me a favor and don't talk to me ever again."
Shinji felt a stab to his heart as he heard her voice cold and harsh. She walked away. She had walked out of his life and deep inside he knew it was his entire fault.
"FUCK!"
He screamed into the dark night.
"What did you do!"
Shinji turned around to see Gaz and Kensei.
"Shinji?" Kensei asked
"Nothing." Responded Shinji ignoring Kensei
"Don't bullshit me Shinji. What did you do to Tak?"
Shinji looked at Gaz. She had tears in her eyes. He didn't say a word to her.
"You hurt her didn't you?"
"…"
"DIDN'T YOU!"
Shinji looked at her.
"Do you know what you have just done?" Gaz got closer to him
"Shinji."
Shinji looked up at Kensei.
"It wasn't just Gaz's birthday."
"What?" he said confused yet he knew deep down inside what Kensei was trying to say.
"It is our birthday celebration Shinji. Mine and Tak's and you just ruined it for her."
"I thought-"
"That it was just my birthday? The only reason why she didn't tell anyone is because she hates the attention. Every year people would either make a big deal about it or ruin it for her. For once I wanted her to have a nice celebration and she wanted the same for me." Gaz said as tears ran down her cheeks
"How was I supposed to know?" Shinji said
"You were her boyfriend. You should have been able to notice it. But I guess you didn't because you weren't there."
Gaz's words stung his already aching heart.
"I think we should leave."
"No. it's perfect."
Shinji turned around to see Tak next to Aizen.
*End of flashback.
It was true, he hadn't been there. He left her for a month. He didn't bother with her because he was trying to help Ichigo evolve in his hollow powers for the upcoming war. He was too preoccupied with his ambitions that he totally ignored her.
Shinji got up and headed out of the warehouse.
"Where are you going?" asked Hiyori
"Out."
"In case you haven't noticed we still need to train Ichigo."
"You train him."
He was tackled to the ground by Hiyori.
"GET YOUR SHIT STRAIGHT! ONCE IT STARTS YOU CAN GET HER BACK BUT FOR NOW YOU HAVE PRIORITIES!"
Shinji let her get off him, she stormed off. Ichigo looked at him.
"Don't worry we'll get her back."
Ichigo offered him his hand and Shinji took it.
"Now let's get ready for this war."
Ichigo continued to train during the weekend. He had progressed dramatically. Shinji was glad but at the same time he was sad. Every time he thought about her the only thing that he remembered was when he slapped her. It made him feel even worse. He couldn't remember her smile, the way she felt beneath him or her voice. It was as if it had all been a dream. Kensei hadn't really spoken to him, they rarely did but now that Gaz was gone too it felt like it was his fault too.
"Kensei."
Kensei had been training when Shinji approached him. He looked at him,
"I'm sorry."
Kensei looked at him confused.
"For what?" he said as he kept on training
"For losing Gaz and Tak."
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault."
Shinji looked at him.
"Aizen had probably his eyes on them for a while."
"But still."
"Stop."
Shinji looked up at Kensei.
"We have a war to fight we will get them back."
Shinji nodded to him.
"Hey."
Shinji turned back to Kensei.
"You can't remember her anymore can't you?"
"So it's happening to you too?"
"Yeah. I can't really remember much about her must be one of Aizen's tricks."
"Yeah."
Everything was going fine but suddenly Ichigo stopped training. They had felt their spiritual pressure. The espadas had returned.
"I have to go!" yelled Ichigo
"Fine whatever." Said Shinji
Ichigo left the warehouse to face the espadas. Ichigo was fighting Grimmjow but Ichigo was still lacking experience. As Grimmjow was about to attack Rukia, Shinji appeared.
"I hate getting myself involved but I can't let anything happen to him."
Shinji and Grimmjow now fought one another. Shinji was getting the upper hand and beating Grimmjow. Fed up with the way the fight was turning out to be Grimmjow was about to release his zanpakuto but was stopped by Ulquiora.
"Enough. Let's go."
Ulquiora left along Grimmjow leaving a battered Ichigo behind. It turned out that their objective was Orihime. She had given a day to do whatever she wanted to do and soon left to Hueco Mundo. Ichigo and the rest found out about Orihime. They were about to go rescue her but the Head Captain prohibited, stating that if Orihime left willingly she was a traitor and should not be rescued. The majority of the shinigami who had been stationed at Karakura town returned to Soul Society. But Ichigo wasn't about to give up. Ichigo, Chad and Uryu all left to Hueco Mundo with the help of Urahara.
There they were joined up by Rukia and Renji soon after. They also made new friends, Nel and her two companions. They headed to Las Noches were Aizen resided.
"Aizen-sama." Said Gin
"I know."
"What are we going to do?"
"They are not a threat. The plan is still in motion. How are they coming along?"
"Just 10% left and they should be back to their normal self."
"Just in time."
