~~~Yuki's POV, next morning~~~~

When I went to the office, I only found Emily-chan inside. That was weird. Usually she would be there with Hirako-san, chatting and sometimes laughing. Now he was missing, though he joined us a little later, with Naoki. I exchanged worried glances with my childhood friend as we both felt the tension towering up between the other two. Luckily, Naoki actually decided to break it, though not the way I expected him to.

"Yuki-chi, what are today's pairings?" for fighting, that's what he meant.

"Well, dunno, I think it's you and me and Taicho with Emily."

"We did that yesterday after you two left." Emily said simply. I hoped they would talk during their spar. Here went my plan.

"Then… why don't you get Naoki?" I asked. Emily shrugged.

"Okay, and you and Taicho?"

"Yes."

Then a heavy silence fell, her words ringing in my year. She always called him by his first name. This was the first time she had called Hirako-san anyway else. I looked at Naoki, seeing that he shared my concern. Something bad had happened last night.

~~~~Later, normal POV~~~~

Yuki was sparring with Shinji, as they had decided. She was getting tired, even though she was fully aware he was really far from going all-out. She decided to avoid any subtle comments and spoke her mind.

"Hirako-san, what happened between you and Emily-chan?" He smiled bitterly, already expecting the question, but still without an answer.

"Nothing… we just had an argument… don't worry about it."

"Why not? Aren't we all friends? When something goes bad between the two of you, it's our job to fix it, isn't it?"

"Yuki… stay out of it." Shinji said, sheathing his sword. He had made up his mind. Yuki tilted her head in confusion. "I'm done for today." He said, turning to leave.

"Hirako-san, wait!" Yuki cried. She still had to receive an answer.

"Don't worry. It's just something I really need to take care of." Were his last words, before disappearing with shunpo.

Yuki looked at the spot where her Taicho used to be. She knew she shouldn't get involved. He would take care of things. But she had also noticed the tone he had used, and that confused her. He seemed angry, determined and worried, all at the same time. 'Did they both get involved in something too big to handle alone?'

Emily was sparring with Naoki. They weren't using Shikai and she only had 5 seals released. Naoki was kinda confused as to how to ask her what he was supposed to ask her. He usually asked Shinji what was wrong… Oh well.

"Niagra-san, did anything happen between you and Hirako-san?" she stopped for a second shocked, but resumed to attacking him before he could notice.

"No? Why would you ask that?"

"Yeah, sure. You never call him Taicho. You think we didn't notice the tension building up between the two of you?" Yuki came to join them. Emily looked at her, confused.

"Hirako-san said there was something he had to take care of." She said simply.

"Like?"

"I don't know. Anyway, we change the pairings. Two on one."

"Well then, I'll have to release one more seal, ne?"

Shinji knew what he had to do. Emily was pissed and him, and it was all his fault. Aizen. 'Fuckin son of a bitch!' He finally found his Fukutaicho. The man looked at him as if he hadn't done anything.

"Anything I can help you with, Hirako-Taicho?" he asked as if he were clueless. 'People would actually believe him!' Shinji avoided all formalities and grabbed his Lieutenant by the collar of his clothes, slamming his hard against the wall of an empty storage room.

"Listen, I'm getting sick of your games, so I'm only gonna ask this once. What the fuck do you want with Emmalin?" Aizen's wide eyes were replaced by a knowing smile that only made Shinji feel like killing him.

"Taicho, Taicho, what would anyone want with the Senkai?" he teased. Shinji's eyes widened.

"Are you fucking around with me? How the hell do you know she's Senkai?" 'Dammit!'

"Now, now, Taicho, if I told you, this wouldn't be any fun, would it?" Shinji's fist clenched around Aizen's collar.

"If you get her involved in all your mess I'm gonna make you pay." Shinji let go of Aizen and prepared to leave. Aizen had other plans.

"I won't be the one to get her involved. You will." He said, leaving in Shunpo. Shinji froze there, confused. Then it hit him. 'The bastard won.'

~~~~Later~~~~~

Shinji was sitting on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was thinking about Aizen, trying to figure the man and his schemes. He was fully aware he couldn't do it alone. 'I just want a calm, normal life.' He couldn't get Emily involved either. "Are you gonna stay like that all night? You're just like Master, geez!" Shinji shut up almost instantly, just to see a bored-looking Helen lounging on his couch. He had labeled the Hollow as harmless long ago, so he just lounged back on his bed.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing, actually. Curiosity is killing me."

"What do you mean?"

"As in 'Why don't you just talk to her?'"

"No."

"Why the fuck not?"

"Just no. She should just be friends just with Yuki and Naoki, anyway. I'm the odd one out." Helen stared at him incredulously. She was fully aware he didn't want that to happen, but it only confused her more.

"So, what's with the Aizen stuff?"

"What's with it?"

"You tell me, since you obviously know more than I do. I won't tell her." Shinji sighed and looked at the Hollow. 'You can trust her, believe me.'

"I don't know much either. I just found him with that kid when I followed him. He knows that Emily's Senkai. She should avoid all this mess if she wants a peaceful life."

"Too bad she doesn't. She's already made her choice. Like it or not, she's in. With or without you. And that peaceful life is far away." Shinji closed his eyes.

"I can't. Aizen said that I'd get her involved."

"So you let him play you." Helen concluded. "He said that so he could keep you two split! He's afraid of what you can do together… Please talk to her! I don't like this. I beg you… Do it... Now."

"Why? And what should I tell her?"

"The truth. Just like that and things'll go back to normal."

"Fine. Tonight."

"Not tonight. Now. I'm waiting in her Inner World. If don't show up, I'm gonna annoy you for the rest of your life."

Helen slowly vanished. Shinji stared at the spot she had once occupied, doubting everything. It all felt like an illusion, a living nightmare starting to build up. It didn't help at all that it was 23rd September…