~~~~~Several days later~~~~~

"So, I take it you two are willing to see the ex-sensei of the ex-Senkai, Tsukimi Masao." The Soutaicho voiced.

"Hai…" Shinji responded. 'Oh, fuck, he doesn't seem particularly happy.'

"May I inquire the reason, Niagra-san?"

Emily fidgeted uncomfortably in her spot. "I… I wanna see him. I miss him… a lot."

"Then why is Hirako-Taicho coming with you?"

"There is a very dangerous area to pass. It was a challenge for us even as Senkai… but I think Hirako-Taicho will handle it, since the Hollows there are attracted to reiatsu… and you know how Andrew was…"

"Hmm…" The old man seemed thoughtful.

'He won't buy it, fuck, he won't buy it and he'll punish us for even trying to lie to him!' Emily thought.

"No one has been there for a while. Shouldn't we check on it?" Shinji said.

Yamamoto sighed. "All right, you can go. I'm expecting a message from Tsukimi-san when you return."

"Hai!"

The other two vanished instantly in shunpo.

"Arigato, Shinji. I owe you one for this." Emily said as they left.

He smiled. "Don't mention it. You know I'd do anything for you." He kissed her forehead. "Why else would I come?"

~~~The next day~~~~

"So, where exactly are we going?" Shinji asked.

"It's hard to explain. I'll just show you." Emily said.

"Okay."

The two started travelling via shunpo through the districts of west Rukongai, then past them, reaching the mountains. They travelled through the icy cold rocks, finding no sign of any life. "There should be a cave nearby." Emily announced. Shinji nodded. They entered the cave and made a fire with kido. Emily snuggled close to him, trembling. He held her close, nuzzling her hair. "It's so cold… I forgot about this…"

"How much more do we have?"

"Well, tomorrow we exit the mountains… and then there's the Hollow field… then other mountains, where sempai lives. When we leave these ones we need to send a signaling kido so he'll know it's me. I will send it."

"Okay. So tomorrow we'll be there?"

"Hopefully. The Hollow fields are dangerous, especially at night." Emily said, voice trembling.

Shinji pulled her closer, kissing her hair. "Go to sleep. You need to rest. Long day tomorrow."

"Yeah…"

~~~~In the morning~~~~

"Emily, wake up." Shinji said gently.

"No, Shinji, I'm so comfortable…"

"Emily… please, we need to go." He started shaking her.

"Grr, fine."

They ate in silence. Emily was nervous about the Hollow field. Shinji, on the other hand, was thinking about her sempai. He had no idea how the man would see him and that freaked him out. Emily had said that he was extremely strong, and Shinji wasn't too fond of a premature death. He sighed, seeing that she had finished eating, and got up. "Let's go, shall we?"

Emily nodded. "Yeah… we should go."

They left in shunpo and easily passed the mountains. Emily stopped on the top of the mountain, looking down at the hollows squirming around in the valley. Shinji gulped.

"We have to pass this valley?"

"Yeah…"

"Damn…"

"Prepare yourself while I fire the kido. Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!Hadō #31. Shakkahō" Emily started gathering reiatsu in her hands, the kido being far stronger than usual. After firing it, she fell on her knees, panting. "Damn… it wasn't supposed to be like this… I could… easily…"

Shinji helped her up. "It was overpowered. You should've told me to do it."

Emily shook her head. "You need to save your strength. These guys won't leave us alone."

He nodded. "Use your mask." Concern was tinting his voice.

"What?"

"Do it. Your reiatsu gets Hollow and they'll ignore you."

"No! Shinji…"

He interrupted her angrily. "Urusai! That's an order, 3rd seat."

Emily didn't say anything. Instead, she summoned her mask. Shinji grabbed her hand and ran with the sword in his other hand. Emily followed him. Unluckily, as a Taicho, Shinji didn't go unnoticed and the two were surrounded.

"Emily, hold your breath…" he whispered. She nodded. "Collapse, Sakanade!"

"Show your power, twins of Ying and Yang!" Emily joined Shinji as he ran through the Hollows, trying to get to his destination. He looked at her every once in a while to make sure she was doing well. Emily could keep up, but was slowly getting tired. Shinji decided to take matters in his own hands. "Bankai."

~~~~~Emily's POV~~~~

With a few swift moves, Shinji made his way towards me. I always admired the way he fought. Clean, lazy, bored, yet graceful at the same time. He was next to me immediately. "We need to move now. Let's go." I nodded, following him through the enemy territory. I was nervous. The more we ran, the more Hollows we got on our tail, although Shinji cut most of them instantly. "Down!" Shinji yelled suddenly. He pulled me down with him, my mask shattering in the process. I heard a familiar voice boom.

"Way of Fighting No. 3: Plasma." My eyes widened. The yellow rays sliced above us, instantly killing all the Hollows gathered there. "You can get up, kids… though I have to admit, I'm curious. What are you doing here, Emerald, and with a Captain nonetheless?"

The voice was unmistakable. My eyes were teary as I spoke. "S-sempai!"