Shinya felt strange in his gigai. He felt vulnerable knowing that he could not produce Shibotsuki's edge at a moment's notice. He could still use the little bit of Kido he had bothered to learn…but that wouldn't help him without killing someone. It was very unnerving to feel so naked, having spent so much time in Eleventh Squad had given him a sense of might that not many got the chance to know. At the same time it was humbling to know that naked feeling and he was strangely thankful for it.
He stopped abruptly in his ponderings as he strode past a store front tucked away from the main bustle of Karakura. No mistaking it, this was Urahara's shop alright. Without a second thought he strode inside,
"Urahara!"
He shouted as he entered. Sure enough the Captain turned fugitive poked his head around the corner.
"Shinya-kun! What brings you to my humble little shop?"
He asked as he stepped fully around the partitioning wall.
"I need to speak to Shihoin-san."
"So formal all of a sudden…this must be very important. And who sent you to speak to her, hmm?"
Urahara cocked a comically suspicious glare at him.
"Shibotsuki."
The comic stare turned frighteningly serious in an instant.
"It's about damn time. I thought you'd never be ready."
Another voice came from a slight shadow in the corner,
"Neither did I, but here you are."
A black cat slunk out of the shadow and rubbed against Urahara's leg. Shinya gave a curt nod to the cat,
"Yorouichi-san."
"What you are going to go through will be rigorous, it very well may kill you if you aren't truly ready. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Would Shibotsuki have sent me if I wasn't?"
"I don't know…"
Urahara chimed in,
"She seems like kind of a sadistic bitch. She might just want to watch you bleed…"
Shinya cocked an eyebrow at the cane in Urahara's hand,
"Can you say any less of Benihime?"
The smile the crept out from underneath that stupid hat was rather disturbing, reminding Shinya that Mayuri wasn't the craziest to have headed Twelfth Squad.
"We'll start tomorrow. Get here early and be ready for a fight. I've seen zanpaku-to like Shibotsuki before…she'll come out swinging."
"Madarame-san!"
Ikakku turned to see Kuchiki Rukia hailing him.
"Kuchiki-san. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
The sarcasm in his voice was palpable.
"Cool the attitude, Madarame. I just wanted to know if you'd heard from Shinya?"
"Not since he went to the Living World. Haven't you?"
"No, nothing."
"Damn him…Where'd that bastard run off to? Probably doing some secret training somewhere, trying to show me up. I'll bet he's somewhere right now laughing it up thinking he's going to take me by surprise…"
He wandered off still ranting, completely oblivious to Rukia's continued presence. She shook her head and wandered off her own direction, wondering where Shinya could have disappeared to. It had been six months since he left to find Yorouichi in Karakura. The Seireitei hadn't received any activity reports from the area for some time and no one had been there for even longer. Lost in thought she didn't even notice the large shadow that suddenly stretched over her.
"You should stop thinking so hard. You look like an old woman."
She looked up ready to give who ever had said that a firm tongue lashing when she realized it was none other than Shinya. There he stood a stupid grin plastered on his face, Rukia couldn't help herself as she reared back and slapped Shinya across the face as hard as she could. He took it in stride still smiling as his head was jerked sideways by the force and without missing a beat,
"Yep, I deserved that."
"You asshole! Where have you been?"
"Sorry, I couldn't exactly send you a Hell Butterfly you know. I wish I could have let you know I was okay, but I do have some good news to give you for your trouble."
He leaned in and whispered into her ear and her eyes lit up.
"You didn't!"
"I did. I was a little surprised myself."
"Hopefully I never have to see it."
"There's always the chance…"
"I know. Just promise you won't use it for something stupid."
"I'll try…"
"Rukia!"
It was Shinya's voice. She turned to find him jogging up to her as the Senkaimon opened behind her.
"So you are going to Karakura."
She nodded,
"There's been some pretty erratic Hollow activity in the area, we need some one on the ground to pinpoint it."
"Just watch your ass down there. I'm not going to be on your six this time around."
"I know. Stop worrying, I'll be fine."
With that she turned and stepped through the Senkaimon. As it closed behind her a heavy gauntleted hand socked him in the shoulder.
"She'll be alright, Aniki. She's a big girl."
"It just bothers me, Toshi…why can't Seireitei get a lock on the Hollow activity in Karakura. It's more than a little strange; don't you think?"
"Yeah, it is a little weird, but hey, maybe it's nothing."
"Maybe your right."
"Oh, I almost forgot. Zaraki-taicho is looking for you."
At this Shinya finally looked away from where the Senkaimon had been, finally saw the massive bleeding gash across Toshiya's chest that had been haphazardly bandaged.
"You been to the infirmary to get that fixed up."
"Are you kidding me? This is nothing. Besides,"
Toshiya dropped his voice a little a averted his eyes,
"Isane would kill me."
"How'd you manage that anyway?"
"Are you gonna keep Zaraki-taicho wating?"
"Nice try little brother. I'm not done with you yet."
Shinya took off in search of Kenpachi while Toshiya shook his head. Such a small effort made him slightly dizzy and he looked down at the blood soaked bandages.
"Maybe I should…"