Shippoman: Sorry this one took so long. I was having issues figuring out how to write this out. It's something I've never actually done and wanted to make sure to get across the important information without it dragging out too long. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 25:

"Good, you're finally here."

Kensei shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other as he stood at the entrance to the Urahara shop. Beside him, Shinji looked just as uncomfortable as he did. Earlier that evening, they'd both been summoned to the Urahara shop without any explanation as to why. The ex-squad 9 captain looked over at the person welcoming to the store and glared. Something was seriously wrong, he just couldn't place his finger on why.

"Hey, Youruichi," Shinji greeted, pulling the brim of his had down a bit. "Mind explaining why the sudden summons?"

"I would, but I'm not the one that called you," she answered, gesturing for the two of them to enter.

Kensei frowned, but followed her and the blonde inside. Yeah, something was definitely wrong. They still had some last minute preparations to make before the war began; which could be any day now. What did they have up their sleeves this time?

The pair were lead down to the training grounds where they arrived just in time to see Ichigo, Chad, and Ishida jump into an opening the shopkeeper had created. "So he's going to Hueco Mundo," Kensei grunted. "When we heard about Orihime, we figured he would. This isn't what you wanted to show us, is it?"

"Of course not," Youruichi answered. "If that was the case, we'd just tell you."

Kensei looked from her back to Urahara who seemed to be talking to a few kids. What the hell were they up to? "So then tell us now. Did Kisuke need to show us something specific or are you two just wasting time?"

He glanced around at the female soul reaper only to realize she was gone. How annoying. "Good, you've arrived."

Kensei didn't know whether to be surprised or pissed as the shopkeeper. He'd always been annoying, but something about the whole situation made anything the man did ten times worse. "Why'd you call us here, Kisuke?" he demanded.

Urahara smiled, his eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his hat. "I didn't," he answered smoothly. Kensei growled his growing irritation and Urahara simply turned back to the ladder, gesturing for the pair to follow. "You'll have to follow me if you want to understand."

Before either Vizard could say anything, he flashed to the top of the ladder and into the shop. The pair shared a look before quickly following after. He silently led them into his lab where he stepped to the side and gestured toward the center. Kensei felt apprehensive about what was going on, but still followed the directions until he saw a table next to an odd machine...where Yukiko was lying down. She was hooked up to the machine in three different ways while an IV dripped liquid nutrients into her body.

"Yukiko?! What the hell, Kisuke?" He flashed over to the girl and reached toward her but was stopped by Shinji's hand on his shoulder. "What?"

"I don't think that's a good idea," the blonde answered. He turned around to face the shopkeeper, his expression revealing nothing. "Explain, Kisuke. What exactly is this about?"

Urahara stepped up to the strange machine and placed a hand on the top. "I'm only doing what Yukiko asked me to," he answered, flicking on the screen. "From what I understand, this should explain the rest." After that, he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"Kensei, Shinji..."

At the sound of the voice, the two turned from the door to look at Yukiko who was still lying unconscious on the table. They shared a look, clearly not understanding where the voice came from, until they spotted the screen. Instead of blackness, they saw what looked like a lighted room with a full-length mirror in the center. Reflected in the smooth surface, was Yukiko. Were they seeing through her eyes somehow?

"If you're watching this, that means Kisuke was successful in making my request a reality," she said nervously. "I know you're both probably angry right now, but please don't direct it at him. This was my choice, my decision, and I feel like it was the only option I had left."

Kensei clenched his teeth as he looked from the screen to the girl on the table. How could he not get angry at this? "Idiot," he muttered under his breath. "You could have at least stayed with us."

His attention was returned to the screen as she continued.

The two of you are the most important people in my life, having been supporting me from the very beginning. I know there will never be a way for me to repay that debt."

"There she goes making terrible assumptions again," Shinji sighed. Kensei wondered what was going through the blonde's head before he was once more distracted.

"I know this might be selfish of me, but I want you to see this. I want you to understand what I've gone through, so that when I wake up, you can continue to support me." She looked like she was on the verge of tears as the image began to blur. She quickly wiped at her eyes before continuing. "I know that I've been acting selfishly this whole time, but allow me just one more request. Wait for me... It might be a very long wait, but I'd like to know that when I wake up, you'll still be willing to accept me."

Kensei felt his gut churn as she finished and slowly reached down to take her hand. He'd wait. She'd waited 107 years to be rescued, he could wait however long it took for her to wake up. Glancing over at Shinji, he felt the blonde was thinking the same thing.

"That was incredibly cheesy."

The two ex-captains looked back at the screen and noticed it was still going. However, neither of them recognized the new voice and wondered where it'd come from.

"You think so?" Yukiko asked, sheepishly. "Was at least better than the last go around?"

"Yes, but that's hardly saying something. Besides, you completely left out that you're enduring an endless loop of the memories of the traitorous three."

"Crap! Okay, do we have time to try again?"

There was a knock and the image shifted to stare at a door which opened. "Yukiko, it's ready," Kisuke spoke from the doorway.

"O-Okay," she stuttered. "I guess that'll have to do, Soyokaze. I just wish I had time to say more."

"Well, at the very least I think you said what was most important."

"Thanks, Soyokaze."

"That's her sword?" Kensei asked in surprise. "Is that how she always communicates with her sword?"

"Probably," Shinji said with a shrug. "Think about it, she's always talked about how her blade was the one keeping her memories in check. Though it is a bit surprising. I doubt there's anyone within the Soul Society that has constant conversations with their own weapon. I mean, I sure don't."

"Me neither. Tachikaze has never been the chatty type," Kensei agreed. It was such a strange thing for them. It was also strange that Yukiko had said she wanted them to see and understand something. See what? His thought process was interrupted as a new image came on the screen. This one showed the squad 5 barracks. "What now?"

Yukiko's voice again came from the screen, though this time she did not appear on it at all. "I think, we're seeing her memories," Shinji muttered lightly.

"But which ones?" Kensei grumbled. He didn't like the insinuation of her wanting them to understand then showing her memories. What would they see?

They watched as past Yukiko went into the barracks and to the Captain's office where she chatted with Shinji. Occasionally, they'd hear her blade chime in, but mostly it was the two discussing her successfully finishing her bankai training. Then past Shinji handed over a file that she glanced through, her thoughts being spoken as clearly as everything said out loud.

"I didn't know she was that worried about me getting tired of her," Shinji said, pulling the brim of his hat down. "If I'd have known what I do now...I'd never have sent her on that mission."

Kensei glanced over at his friend, before his eyes returned to the screen just as the image changed to the front of the warehouse. The silver haired Vizard clenched his fists, knowing what was coming next.

Just as they'd been told, they watched her hesitate at the door as a ripple passed over the handle. Then, despite the urging of her sword and her own reservations, she entered the building alone. Inside her ripples revealed Aizen's hidden lab; complete with hollows in tubes, fluttering paperwork that mentioned hollows the both of them had faced, and then finally the vial of Yukiko's blood.

Shinji needed to place a hand on his shoulder at this point to keep him from breaking something, but the memory wasn't over yet. They watched a she battled Tousen, then Gin, and finally get trapped by Aizen. The two ex-captains were amused when she spit on him, but that changed the moment he went over to a lever and flipped the switch.

The screen went black just after her screams filled the air, next they saw was her waking up in her room at the barracks. "What the hell?" Kensei said, as the image shifted from one side to the other. She was clearly just as surprised.

"What happened?" she demanded, getting to her feet. "Was it, all a nightmare?" The screen showed her looking at herself, clearly searching for where she'd been injured before. There was nothing. "What do you think, Soyokaze?"

Kensei expected to hear that unusual voice again, but nothing came. Even when she shouted to her sword, there was no response. In fear and desperation, she searched everywhere for her sword, but couldn't find it. Then she ran out of her room, dashing down one passageway after another, bumping into people along the way. Just as she was starting to get desperate, she plowed headlong into a familiar form that caught her before she fell over.

"Woah, what have I said about running around inside the barracks?" he demanded.

The screen shifted and suddenly the two captains were looking at Shinji in his captain's haori. "What's going on?" Kensei growled.

"Did you forget already?" Shinji sighed. "Aizen uses illusions. Yukiko did say she had to deal with illusions constantly after that day."

Yukiko continued to stare at Shinji until a wave passed over his face. "You're not real," she said, backing away. "Where am I?" Then she began looking all around before shouting in anger. "Aizen! Where are you, bastard? Where is this? Where's my sword?"

"Now now, this won't do at all." Yukiko looked around to see Aizen standing in one of the hallways shaking his head. "You have to play along with the game, Yukiko. Breaking the illusion is not allowed."

"What have you done, Aizen?" she demanded.

He sighed again before waving his hand and making the illusion completely disappear. In its place was absolute nothing. "I have placed you in a prison you cannot escape from where no one will ever find you," he explained. "Inside a soul candy."

"I see...well then, I'll just fill this prison until it bursts!" She started putting out as much energy as she could, the waves of wind slicing through the air and going in all directions until they faded from sight. She kept putting out more and more energy, straining herself to the very limit until she ran out and collapsed to the ground. "Why, why couldn't I reach an edge?"

"A soul candy has it's own space inside that has no end, despite being so small," Aizen explained. "You could run in any direction for years and still not reach an end."

The image began to blur and the two captains could tell she'd started crying. They shared a glance as she forced herself to her feet and faced her aggressor.

"Aizen. You can't keep me here," she declared. "Do you honestly believe you can keep this a secret from the head captain? From Captain Hirako? They will find me...and you'll end up in the maggot's nest, assuming they don't execute you for everything you've done that is."

Aizen shook his head. "You're mistaken, Yukiko. No one will ever know if you're even alive." He took a step toward her and she scrambled backward to avoid him, bumping into something solid in the process. "It's time you were punished for breaking the game."

The image was slowly growing dark as Yukiko gasped and looked down to see a blade through her chest. She looked behind her to see the face of her captain, frowning at her. Kensei grit his teeth at this, his hands once again shaking in anger.

"Yukiko. This is what will happen to you if you fail to play along, or break my illusion. And the punishments will get worse."

"That twisted bastard," Kensei growled. "What did he hope to get out of this anyway?"

"I'm not sure," Shinji responded. "But I get the feeling we'll find out if we keep watching."

The image before them faded to be replaced by another. They went through a few different memories, all having to do with Yukiko pretending to play along and ending with her either snapping and trying to flee, or declaring she wouldn't do something she was asked.

Two in particular caught their attention. The first was when she went to Shinji for protection and he took her to a room where four men were standing around and locked the door on her. No matter how much she shouted for him to open the door or not to leave her there, he ignored her. At the same time, the four men approached her and tore her clothes off before the image started bouncing rhythmically. The ex-captains felt bile rise in their stomachs at the sight and Kensei grip Yukiko's hand to try to comfort her. How the hell was she able to the blonde after that?

The next was just as bad, if not worse. It was clearly the next time she awoke, as she ran through the seireitei as fast as she could, avoiding everyone that passed by until she plowed into Kensei. As panicked as she was, she clung to him, pleading with him to protect her and crying about what Shinji had done. He said he understood and would beat the blonde captain up. Shinji watched as the fake Kensei tried to comfort her and lead her back to the squad 9 barracks and into the captain's room. He had to admit, the illusion of himself and of Kensei were good...too good. No wonder she had such issues determining what was real. Kensei's face turned red at this and he momentarily turned away from the image, allowing Shinji to realize what it was.

The fake Kensei consoled the crying Yukiko, holding her close, then leaning over and beginning to kiss her. Shinji averted his gaze at this point, as he listened to the make out session. It sounds grew worse until he heard the sounds of shifting clothing. Then Yukiko asked what was going on. The fake Kensei more or less told her she wanted it as much as he did and that she shouldn't fight it. Shinji glanced over at the real Kensei as Yukiko began begging him to stop, to back off, to not do what he was clearly doing. The silver haired captain looked like he was about to explode and break the machine to keep from hearing any more.

Shinji quickly went to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Believe me, I don't want to see this any more than you do," he muttered, trying to ignore the sounds of sex going on amidst the desperate pleas. "But there's a reason Yukiko wanted us to know. The least we can do is wait it out."

Kensei nodded reluctantly and their attention returned to the screen just as it changed again. Again it showed her running through the halls until she ran into the fake Kensei...where he greeted her like nothing had happened. She panicked and ran in the opposite direction as the fake Kensei gave chase and her progress was halted by none other than Aizen. The image was blurred by her tears, bu there was no mistaking that figure.

At first, they believed he was going to punish her for trying to run away again, but this time he simply wrapped her up in his arms and led her off saying he'd shield her from whatever was troubling her and that she should explain what happened. When they reached his quarters, she explained about Shinji and Kensei before devolving into a fit of sobs. Eventually, she calmed down and looked up at her protector.

"Aizen, what am I supposed to do now? I can't trust Captain Hirako, or Kensei. But I still have to do my job."

Aizen lifted her chin so she was staring into his eyes. "Trust me. I won't let any of them harm you any more. I will protect you, Yukiko."

"Aizen..."

He drew closer to her, their noses almost touching. "Please, call me Sousuke."

They remained that close to each other as she breathed. "Sousuke."

As soon as she said his name, he moved closer and...

The image suddenly shifted again to where Yukiko was kneeling on the ground inside a broken building. The two captains again shared a look at this, not believing what they'd just seen. She was again able to speak with her blade and moments later, Youruichi appeared in her cat form. It was the moment she'd been freed.

"Ichigo broke her out...just in time," Shinji breathed. "Chances are if that scene had finished playing out, she would have been Aizen's pawn."

"What the hell was with that kiss?" Kensei growled as she slammed his fist into the nearest object, almost breaking it.

"Isn't it obvious? He was trying to replace everyone she held close to her with the three of them," Shinji explained, turning from the screen which had gone dark. Looked like the show was finally over. "The only thing he couldn't fully do was replace you. She was in love and love tends to blind people. So, he had to form the same sort of connection with her in order to remove you from that position while making you do the worst thing possible to her. He very nearly succeeded too."

Kensei felt his blood boiling over as he remembered seeing the image of himself forcefully taking her and Aizen about to take his place. His hollow was relishing the anger flowing through him and encouraging him to take it out on someone. No, that'd have to wait. He was going to unleash every once of hatred he had on that bastard. He was going to pay for everything he did to Yukiko, for everything he did to the Vizard, for everything he did to his squad.

"Come on, we're out of time," he said lowly. He gave Yukiko's hand one last squeeze before turning and leading the way to the door. "He'll show up any day now, we need to be ready, so I can tear him in half when we finally see his face again. I'm going to kill him."

Shinji smirked to himself, knowing just how his friend felt. It was finally time for all of them to get a little vengeance on the traitorous captain. It would all end soon, and he couldn't wait to get his hands dirty.

Shippoman: The time's finally here. Shinji and Kensei finally have a better understanding of what exactly happened to Yukiko and what Aizen was aiming for. Now, all they have to do is eliminate the threat before she awakens. In the next chapter, the war goes on and the Vizard step in to assist. Get to see how this all goes down through Kensei.

I just want to give a shout out to TheDragonQueen706 for your review. It's always good to hear what you the readers think of my story. Your comments help keep me motivated and make me a better writer. Thank you to all of you who've been with me from the beginning. I hope you'll enjoy the last couple chapters.