Shiori was bored. She had decided to assist Shinji in the real world while the younger academy students went about their training exercise against the dummy Hollows. On one hand, she didn't want anything to happen, yet on the other hand she really wanted to do something other than sit in the shadows. Thankfully she didn't have to wait long as she heard the roar of a Hollow and while it was still far away, she took the chance and shunpoed to where she heard the roar from. Drawing her Zanpakutō, she emerged from the shadows to see another Shinigami that she recognized as Ichigo fighting the Hollows, as well as Rukia, Ishida, Orihime, and Chad.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!" Rukia said as she released her beautiful Zanpakutō to reveal the white blade with the long ribbon at the end of the hilt. She quickly stood back-to-back with Ichigo as more Hollows surrounded them.
"Break-" Shiori started to release her Zanpakutō but there was a quick burst of the most excruciating pain assaulted her mind and due to the unexpectedness, it caused her to black out as she fell from the sky and thankfully caught by Chad.
When Shiori woke up, she saw that she was staring straight up at a ceiling before she realized that Orihime was sitting next to her. "Where am I?" She asked, her voice sounding a bit horsed.
"You're at the Urahara Shop." Orihime replied and poured some water for the girl before helping her to sit up.
"Urahara?" Shiori asked as she took the glass and drunk some of the much needed liquid as the door slid open to reveal none other than Urahara and the others.
"Welcome to the Urahara shop." Kisuke said as he fanned himself with his fan. "I heard that was quite a nasty fall you took." He said and sat down next to Shiori and put a hand to her forehead for a moment, then removed it. "You don't seem to be experiencing any side effects from an attack."
Shiori was about to push Urahara's hand away from her forehead but he removed his hand before she could move. "I don't know, I was about to join in the fight when pain exploded in my head…" She trailed off as the memory resurfaced and she gasped when she made sense of it all. "Thank you for your hospitality Mr. Urahara, but I have to get back." She said and stood up only to stumble into the arms of Ishida.
"You're not going anywhere at the moment." Ishida stated as he stabilized Shiori.
"I have to go back now." Shiori said as she moved away from Ishida. Kisuke could see the determination and he merely sighed.
"I'd rather you stay and at least have dinner with us, but if you feel you must get back, then I'm not going to argue." He submitted, knowing full well what a prick Soul Society could be at times. "Follow me if you must Miss Shiori." He said and led the way to the large underground cavern.
"How do you know my name?" Shiori asked, a combination of surprise and suspicion on her face.
"Shinji told me of course." Urahara admitted. "He tried to find you and when he failed to do so, he quickly alerted me in case you showed up." Within a couple of seconds, he opened up a Senkaimon and stepped aside. "If you feel well enough, feel free to go through."
"And make sure you give Soifon my regards." A black cat spoke from the Shoulders of Chad.
"Um, why did that cat just talk? Wait, scratch that… how did the cat talk?" Shiori asked as she tried to comprehend that it was indeed a cat talking. Before anything else could be said, Rukia's phone went off.
"Hollows." Was all she said before she and Ichigo made their way out of the cavern, followed closely by the rest of the group.
Shiori wanted to asked one more question, but it was too late and so she had little choice but to cross the gateway. As she ran, she reflected on the memory that had assaulted her and with a growl, she ran faster.
As Shiori's feet touched the soft grass, she recognized that she was on the grounds of her squad and she allowed herself a small smile before switching over to her mission mode. Closing her eyes, she sensed for Sky's spirit energy and once she found it, quickly took off in his direction.
Sky could barely hide the smirk as he stood in the shadows and watching Soifon, just waiting for the right moment to strike. Once he over powered her, he was going to become the next captain of squad 2. His confidence made him believe that he would win since he had a Zanpakutō nothing like she could have seen before.
"SKY, YOU BASTARD!" Shiori shouted just before Sky made his move and he cursed as his position was surely was given away. She watched as he stood up and faced her.
"My, my, what strong language from a friend." He scolded. "Did you hit your head too hard in the real world?" He asked, seemingly genuine concerned.
"All this time I thought you looked familiar, and now I know." Shiori growled. "How long have you known I was under you… partner?"
"Ah, I see, so I guess you remembered that after all." Sky said, the concern melting away into calmness. "Let's see, since about the time you got out of the academy. In fact I was the one that requested you to be here."
"Why would you want me to be in the same squad as you if you remembered?"
"Because I enjoyed betraying you the first time, tell me Shiori. Does the scar hurt still?"
"You don't need to know!" She cried out before shunpoing towards Sky while drawing her Zanpakutō and bringing it down with her might on Sky, who had enough sense to block with his blade. Shiori leapt back to put some distance between them but she hadn't expected his three friends to emerge from various places and hold her from moving. "Andrew, Rachel, Tony, get your hands off me now or you will lose them." She growled dangerously and her only response was for them to tighten their grip while Sky walked closer, making sure to take his time. Meanwhile, Soifon was watching yet pretending she didn't see anything as she figured Shiori could take care of herself. Blending into the shadows, she waited to see how it would play out.
"This is your last chance." Shiori warned and gave them a few seconds to remove their hands, but she kept her word. Quick as lighting, her sword rang through the air before she stood fully upright and it was a second before anything happen. Three cries shattered the silence as three hands fell to the ground and the blood spraying over Shiori until the three backed away while holding their bloodied stumps. "I warned them."
"So my partner is really serious about getting revenge?" Sky asked with a smirk as he looked from her to his blade, and back to her. "Except I'm the third seat, you're the fourth seat… and as everyone knows, four means DEATH!" He shouted before shunpoing behind Shiori and trying to add another scar to her back on the other side but she ducked and lashed out with her sword.
"I get first hit." Shiori said even though she only managed to cut the Shihakushō.
"Tch, it's not even close." Sky replied as they began to fight, all traces of playfulness gone. Though Shiori had a few more cuts that were bleeding, they were almost even due to the fact that they had worked together so often back when they had both been alive.
"I think it's time to end this Shiori." Sky said after several minutes of neither getting anywhere. "Obliterate, Reimei Kokushibyou!" He called out and his Zanpakutō and his blade morphed to take the form of a fan with blades sticking out from the tips from the ribs. "You better release your Zanpakutō; otherwise you will die for sure. Of course, it won't matter, but it's fun to give the prey a fighting chance."
He didn't give her any time to release her Zanpakutō since he remembered the release command was a lengthy one and wanted to make sure she couldn't release her Zanpakutō or perform the incantations for any of the Kido. With a sudden move, he swept her legs out from under her and stared down with a blood-lust joy. "It's been fun partner, but I'm just going to kill you and send you to Mexico… I meant Hueco Mundo."
For the first time that she could remember, Shiori was afraid for the fact that she didn't know her Zanpakutō's name, despite being as high up as she was. Normally her skills at assassination and tricks were enough to keep her from being suspected, but she always had time to prepare. "I don't need my Shikai to kill you." She stated and hoped her voice didn't fluctuate.
"I think you'll regret saying that." Sky said as he shot towards Shiori, fully intending on finishing the fight once and for all.
"Byakuya-sama, I'm sorry I couldn't see you again." Shiori whispered to herself as she waited for the final strike but everything went white and that was the last thing she remembered.