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Chapter 2

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How long had it been? Since she had any contact with Soul Society? Black eyes brooded moodily. Sure, there had been the occasional encounter with those low ranked shinigami, but all she had to do then was pretend she didn't see them. The hollows were weak, and she was sure her strength was slowly slipping past her fingers. Ayaka gave a low chuckle. Training by oneself was lonely and not a very good way to grow stronger.

Her cloak billowed out behind her with the breeze. Training the kid would help her get in shape again.

She gazed at the sun, which was starting to rise. It's almost five…

"It's been raining all night."

Ayaka glanced down at her zanpakuto. Deciding that she could chat with him for a while, she sat down and unsheathed it. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she was in a lush forest. A giant silver snake was coiled in front of her. "Hello, Gindoku."

The snake raised its massive triangular head. Its yellow eyes bore into hers as she looked on unflinchingly. When it opened its mouth, giant fangs were visible. "You know, what they said is true."

The woman sat down on the ground. "I know. I just can't do what they tell me to do. Face them. Talk to them. Embrace what wounded you before. It's impossible."

"It's not impossible. You're just letting your fear dictate what you do."

"If I let my fear dictate what I do, I would have stayed with Shinji and the others."

"On the contrary, you feared their reactions to you, so you left."

"I had to leave! Otherwise…"

The silver haired woman fiddled with the plant nearby her nervously.

"…they would get mad at me."

"Shinji wouldn't have gotten mad at you."

"Yes he would've!" Ayaka looked at the reptile, her eyes pleading, willing the reptile to sympathize with her. "I can't face how he'll say it's all Aizen's fault. How I shouldn't have trusted him. How I shouldn't have even fallen for him."

"You're being weak. Face your fears head on." The giant silver form slithered towards her and its head leveled with hers. She reached out and touched the cold scales.

"I can't."

A white figure walked towards them. As it made its way towards them, its figure defined itself slowly. It was an exact replica of Ayaka except everything was white. Its hair, its skin, and its clothes. Even the zanpakuto was white.

"I can't stand it. All last night, it was raining. Can't you control your own god damned emotions, master?" the woman sneered.

Ayaka looked up at the albino and gave it an empty look. "Nishiro."

"If you can't control your own body, I'll have no choice to take over it. You wouldn't like that, now, would you?"

"Nishiro, I'm in no mood for your games. Please just leave."

"I'm hurt, master. You're being so cold."

"Leave!" the supposed master glared up at the imitation.

"Like I'm gonna follow the orders of such a weak master. C'mon, loosen up. Don't be so serious all the time. You're gonna grow gray hair."

"If you haven't noticed yet, Nishiro, my hair is already silver."

"Yea, silver. Not gray."

Ayaka strangely felt herself relaxing. She enjoyed her imitation's company, no matter how many times the stupid woman tried to take over her body. She was like a companion now to Ayaka…a detestable one, true, but a necessary one.

"That's right, Ayaka. Relax." Gindoku soothed.

"You're so weak! Can't you face your fears? Stand up tall and train that stupid boy how to fight! What's it's like to feel the rush of battle. Never shake your resolve, never lose your courage. That's what you used to be…what are you now? A cowering mess," Nishiro goaded.

"Shut up, you stupid hollow," Ayaka felt herself smiling despite the fact that Nishiro was trying to get the opposite effect.

"Train him and show Soul Society that you're still alive. C'mon, train him. Make him control his powers. And send him off to Soul Society. It would be a good idea if you went too," the albino grinned. Despite her smug exterior, her words were sincere and hit home. "I haven't fought for so long!"

Ayaka snorted. "You're probably the nicest hollow I've met so far. What's with the encouragement?"

Her counterpart's grin widened even further, ignoring the question. "Nah, just doin' my job."

"Do you know what to do now, Ayaka?" Gindoku asked.

Ayaka looked away. "Yea, I know exactly what to do."

"Good. Remember, fight for yourself. Fight for your resolve. Never waver. Cut the enemy down. Rush into the field of battle. Only then will you know what to do."

"Yea. Thanks, Gindoku. Nishiro."

"No problem. It can't rain forever. And remember…let your guard down even once, and I'm taking the reigns."

Ayaka pulled herself out of her mind. She stared at the sun again. Her sword sheathed, the figure stood up and looked over the city. A new look hardened into her eyes, and she smirked.

"Get ready, Shinji, Aizen, because I'm gonna be barreling into your lives once more."

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"Thank you, Nishiro. She needed that."

"She needs to face her fears, the stupid woman. I wanna fight so bad…"

"She's decided to go to Soul Society with the kid. Don't worry, you'll get your fair share of battles."

The white figure smirked, and her demeanor softened slightly. "I'm getting too old and soft for this shit."

"You're only a hundred years old…"

Nishiro pouted. "Ruin all the fun, will you, Gindoku?"

The giant snake raised its eyes to the sky.

"Nothing will ever be the same again, will it?" Uncharacteristic sadness showed on the hollow's face.

"No. This is the turning point. Our destinies change now. Get ready. We're headed for a rough couple of rainy weeks…possibly months, or even years."

"Yea, yea."

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A/N: Review! Cuz I love all of you so much I couldn't resist writing another chapter. Reviews are welcome. Alright, suggestions, anyone? C'mon, please review! *grin* Thanks for reading again and putting up with my crappy story! I also edited the first chapter (I feel like I'm gonna be doing that a lot…so sorry!).

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