Janus frowned from where he sat on a rooftop a few blocks away from his and Gabriel's house. It was such a shame that Milo was unable to see the light.

But then again…Why do I serve those I-

I will make you strong and powerful to protect your own kind from the Shinigami, Zommari.

Yes, that is why, but… Janus glanced over his shoulder, his many eyes noticing the moon overhead near the horizon. It's far too late for me to be awake and, he searched his surroundings for Aizen, but he was back at the hotel room across the city. Once Milo escaped, he and Janus had left the hut in the woods, deciding to head to the city to finish what ever Aizen had begun. When they had arrived hours and hours later as Janus himself had to scrape up the money from something, so hours of humiliation in the form of begging followed, Aizen decided to settle in a hotel for the time being.

And I am still being humiliated, Janus realised, feeling tears come to the many eyes of his released form. "I… I was lied to." Ever since he regained his memories from the sword Aizen handed him after they had arrived in Toronto, a little voice in the back of his head kept saying: What are you doing serving him? He lied to you. Why?

Why can't life be as it was before?

So much better.

We can go back to that, Janus. We can.

"I can," Janus took a deep breath. "I have a choice." He glanced around the darkened world around him. He had to call Milo and his parents. He wasn't going to stand for this anymore. He wasn't going to be used anymore to gain something he did nothing but die for.

And Aizen is wrong if he thinks I'm going to die for what he wants.

No.

I am going to live a long life and give up yoga. No more calm me. Being calm is stupid and how do I get out of this? Do I just…I'll just go to where I am needed, but I can't lead Aizen there. Janus knew what the shinigami wished to do as he spoke of his plan on their venture to the city and it seemed to be all to possible. But then again, if Aizen isn't a hollow, would it work? Using Szayel's regeneration powers? I doubt it…. The DNA and stuff shouldn't match and if he hasn't thought of it yet… why would he be sending me out here to find Gabriel? And if Aizen's busy trying to get this reincarnation thing to work, then it will buy all of us time to figure out how to kill him.

Janus grinned.

It was a risk worth taking-Or is it?

What if he really does succeed, then we're in trouble. But we're in trouble now. If I do nothing, I'm gonna die and that means one less for our team and Aizen doesn't have the Hogyoku anymore. He traded it and his hollow form-Oh. Hollow form. He doesn't have one anymore! Yes! His plan isn't is going to work. He traded that, some of his natural intelligence (it seems), and the stone for his freedom from the shinigami prison. He made a deal with the Hogyoku to make a imprisoned copy, didn't he or something? Aizen talks too a lot.

Janus glanced around the quiet suburban section, the houses all lined up in their perfect little rows and perfect little green yards. He had to get moving before Aizen thought he was stalling or his plan was a failure. Sorry, Gabriel. I don't mean any of this, but if I can keep him busy…

Janus appeared in the street just as he saw his parents make their way across the street. What happened? He thought as he captured both of them with two of his eyes, their forms completely in his control. It was the only way to keep them safe for what was to come. The second he appeared on the street, he sensed Aizen move, surely planning to join him in the next five-no wait- Aizen was slower than before- fifteen minutes.

Now, Janus glanced at the front door of Gabriel's front door, but nothing happened. How long will it take for them to realise that our parents aren't in there? I hope not long…

…But leave it Gabriel to talk and talk and talk and-Janus yawned ten minutes later, wishing someone would at least notice his presence, but no such luck. Great. And it's cold out here. Come on!

Janus wanted to yell at them, Aizen less than ten blocks away and this time, this time I won't listen to the voices in my head. Not like I did before-I will make you strong and pow-Why does Aizen even have to come here? And I am NOT going to empty my mind! That was a mistake I made. I wanted to be enlightened, but it-the Shinigami, Zommari. I will make-Old MacDonald had a farm! Ei I Ei I oh!

Janus knew it was silly, but it was the only thing which made it possible for him to think correctly, his whole world becoming pretty and full of colour… everything's so vibrant….

"Is everything taken care of, Zommari?"

Janus looked to his left to see Aizen standing next to him, a thoughtful look in his eye.

"Yes," Janus replied, moving his captives away to the side, glad they fit in with the rest of the-

"What are you doing with two mere humans?"

"I was trying to capture Yammy, but I missed and captured these two in his stead," If Janus said they were his parents, he knew Aizen would kill them. That was the last thing his little brother needed and himself as well. "He seemed to run into that-"

Just then, the door of Gabriel's house opened-finally! And Janus watched Lyneth, Karri, Connor and Gabriel along with a whole bunch of other people rush outside.

Where's Milo? Was Janus' first thought as he and Aizen were swiftly surrounded by the others. I don't seem him out here.

"What do you want?" Lyneth demanded of them both, not sounding pleased at all. "I thought I drowned you, Aizen."

"Takes more than that to kill me," came the shinigami's reply, "you know that, Starrk."

"Well, you're not getting the chan-"

Janus appeared before Lyneth and captured her in his eyes with a single word. Damn it. Seems like Starrk hasn't been practicing soindo and I'm sorry. He made Lyneth turn around as his other eye captured the woman with red hair just as she drew a gun from her jacket. Where she got it, Janus didn't want to know and nabbed the young man in the leather jacket as well. He didn't need to move either.

Just please work… Janus prayed as he watched Aizen walk up to Gabriel who didn't seem able to move; if out of fear or the shinigami's mere presence, Janus didn't know.

The two look at one another for a moment, neither saying a thing and it was over in a mere second. Janus didn't have to time to be shocked as Aizen's hand went right into Gabriel's middle, extracting some flesh of sorts before just disappearing.

Just up and disappearing.

No speeches or anything.

He must be despera-Janus let his captives go before taking a step back so Karri could rush past him to where Gabriel's body was laying on the pavement. From what Janus could tell, the scientist was alive, but definitely injured. While they were all in shock of the event, Janus stepped back and after a moment of clearing his head, he reverted back to his usual human form.

Yes, he wasn't wearing anything and his hair was pink, but he wanted to let everyone under his control go. "I want to be free too," he whispered and sat down on the street, throwing Burjeria across the pavement where it skittered, sparking, at Azura's feet.

Janus met her eyes and she picked the blade up before making her way over to the others, leaving Janus to close his own eyes and slowly fall asleep.

Author's note: Finally. The next chapter! I was so hesitant on this one as the first three versions didn't seem correct and then all of a sudden Janus just began talking and I went:

THAT'S IT!

And here it is.

And yes, he's falling asleep, but they've all been up about 24 hours by now, so I don't blame him.

On another note, I wanted to thank Timothy27 for their wonderful story about Zommari that inspired the part about Janus' vibrant world:

s/10462196/1/Ecstasy-Broken

Read it. It 'tis wonderful.

(Also, thank this story for some of Janus' traits.)

I love reviews and questions, so feel free to leave some if you wish. Most of all, I want to thank all of my readers for being so patient for this next chapter. The next one won't take a month, I promise.