17 Ways of Erase and Rewind

Disclaimer: Bleach does not belong to me.

Special thanks to my Beta Chancewriter, who makes my crazy ideas understandable and readable. You're THE best!

Warning: SPOILER ALERT! This story is up to date with manga 421: Deicide 23. A/N at the bottom, italics are for thoughts, and some cursing just 2 major words. Guys, in this chapter I used a terminology of basic Shinigami fighting techniques. If you don't know them take a peek at the A/N before you read the story, I give an explanation (I feel like Gin in the Arrancar Encyclopedia) of what they are.

I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls

.

Chapter 9: Hitting below the belt.

She had forgotten what a real training ground looks like until she saw it again. Hiyori didn't complain of the one that they had in the basement of the warehouse.
It was big and everyone could train without problems. But looking at the 8th Division's training grounds that Lisa had gotten for them actually gave her a flashback of moments that she had sworn she had erased from her memory. Like that time when she had to have a special kidou class with an imbecile of a teacher or when Hikifune insisted on her having extra training with her zanjutsu, or even the time she had improved her hohō until the point that she learned how to shunpo with Shinji, no thanks to him of course; he was just there clogging.

Freaking Shinigamis and freaking memories of when she was one.

Even if she hated them, lately with her new found freedom to go everywhere she wanted and when dressed in her forced-to-wear-by-Shinji- attire, she was starting to feel like one again, and she was sure most of the other Vizards were experiencing pretty much the same; the resemblance of the sensation of belonging that she felt right now and how she felt over 100 years ago - it was undeniable. And even when she didn't voice and fight with teeth and nails to not be called like that, she was starting to return to her normal self, the normal self that did not have a Hollow inside. But Hiyori was quite aware that she had to maintain her façade, so she could be protected, because still, she did not trust the Death Gods. So once, when a person from the Rukongai had called her Shinigami, it had taken all of her self-control and Shinji's fast grip not to kill that already dead soul, and the Stupid Baldy dared to utter something like:

"Of course that person is going to call you a Shinigami, you're dressed like one."

She hit him for stating the obvious and also for being him. The idiot. After all, it was his entire fault. What she really wanted to wear was a torn red and white track suit not that stupid black hakama.

The cold window blowing in her face and the feeling of the drops of dew on the grass sticking to her feet that were only covered by a pair of red sandals woke her up from her thoughts and made her look at her future training partner whom was walking towards her with his hands behind his back.

"You sure did take your sweet time Baldy. I've been here waiting for you for over half an hour." She scolded him "You're lucky I needed you to bring my zanpakutou because otherwise I wouldn't have waited at all."

He rolled his eyes "You are too impatient…as always."

Actually that was not true when it came to her recovery. The blonde girl had waited until Unohana had given her medical approval to put one foot out the bed, and it had taken the little Vizard a lot of time and effort to bring herself to be totally fine to be able to train. She had passed through a long process that began with walking and running, and finished with a little reiatsu control in a still position. Now they were going to try kidou while moving, a little of zanjutsu and Hiyori's specialty, hakuda at the end.

Nothing out of the ordinary, just a normal training.

However, the ex-Fukutaichou knew in advance that this would not be a really normal training, not with 'I'm always worrying' Shinji as her opponent or in his stupid words as her 'trainer.' In her opinion, she was already her usual self and he just couldn't grasp that idea. He was too happy taking care of her and worrying over every single intake of breath and frankly after all this time the blond man had started to make her sick with his concerns.

"Shut up Baldy! What took you so long? And where is my zanpakutou? You were supposed to get it, remember?" Even if she was enjoying the place, she was eager to start the training.

He looked at her straight in the eyes and replied, "Still in maintenance."

"WHAT?" Her glance changed into anger and suspicion. "You're lying. I can see it in your face. Even a useless alien like Mayuri is able to repair zanpakutous in all the time I've been locked up in that crappy room!"

He ignored her complains and threw her what he had been carrying behind his back.

"A wodden katana?" She said with surprise.

Shinji moved his fake sword to stand on guard. "We are starting with these."

Yes, the lack of answer and his position were confirmations that the imbecile was lying to her face.

"Who do you think I am?" She yelled at him and scowled deeply. Hiyori felt insulted. She was recovering. She had already faced that fact, but to make her start and practice with sword 101? It was a clear and blunt offense.

He didn't answer her, but grabbed his own wooden sword in an offensive move and in one skillful swing, and with practically no resistance on her part, Hiyori's fake zanpakutou was on the floor and he was aiming at her chest.

"I think you are an immature little brat that does not know the extent of her healed injury." He voiced in an angry tone.

She was scowling even more with fury in her eyes, scratch the insulted part, she felt completely beaten and humiliated not only because he disarmed in one movement but also because of his words. Her entire body was trembling in rage and her fists were closed containing her response at his actions.

Shinji knew that his words were heavy on her, but since the moment she had voiced that she wanted, no, that she needed to start training he had decided that there will be no more concessions, no more whims and no more faking his lack of strength to not make her feel bad. If anything, Shinji (and almost all the captains and lieutenants) had learned in the fight with Aizen, is that they had took their strength for granted. They were nothing compared to the asshole that was the former ruler of Hollows, a pebble in the shoe, an amusement act.

So if he was going to let her go on fighting as a Shinigami, as a Vizard or as a human, she would have to be stronger, not only physically and in reiatsu, but also mentally. Because make no mistake, Sarugaki Hiyori may look tough and stone faced, but the girl had always worn her heart on her sleeve. And he had lied to her. Phase one was not zanjutsu or kidou; it was growing a thicker skin.

"I also think you're potentially good, but you can only get so far with those skills because they're the same that I and many others have seen when it comes to you for more than 100 years." His words were aimed properly. It was an insult but not completely direct, but he knew she would take it as the greatest of the offenses because the de facto leader of the Vizards was messing with her fighting abilities.

It took her no more than a second to grab her wooden zanpakutou and crash it fiercely against Shinji's. Her eyes were completely narrowed.

"Potentially good?" She repeated his words. "I'm stronger than almost all the lieutenants here and most of the Vizards." Shinji broke the crash and she avoided one of his blows. "And you dare calling me potentially good?"

It happened again in just one movement and her sword was on the ground and Shinji's was at her chest.

"If this had been a real fight, I would have killed you twice Hiyori." He wasn't yelling, but his goofy tone was missing and was replaced by a somber one. "You are not concentrating enough." And he lowered his katana.

"How do you expect me to concentrate if you don't shut up!" She was bluntly yelling at him, forgetting the training or her wooden weapon.

Shinji raised one more time his fake zanpakutou and poked her chest. "And this would have been the third."

She open her eyes as wide as it was humanly possible, opened her mouth but closed it again, gasped and turned around starting to walk away.

"What are you doing?" He asked as she was beginning to get away from the training grounds.

Her eyes were half closed and her glance was directed to her feet, and when she replied her voice was echoed by melancholy. "Ok Shinji I get it…I'm not ready. I would not try to rush my training again." And she continued to leave with direction of her 4th Division room.

"BAKA!" This time it was a yell.

He had shunpoed before her. His legs back, completely straight, his mouth had become a thin line and his eyes had sparks in them. Hirako Shinji was angry. He just couldn't believe what he was seeing; she was giving up when he had pushed her just a little? Who was this girl before him? Because the Hiyori he knew punched, kicked and crashed her zanpakutou or even her fist before giving up, especially for something as small as his comment.

The old Hiyori would have taken her wooden sword and hit him in the head for not playing by the rules or at least would have given the finger and a sassy response. But she wouldn't just walk away as if she had committed the worst of the sins.

"Answer me this." And he clutched her arm with his left hand to make her look at him. "Why were you hurt in the battle against Aizen?" He needed her to snap out of this to realize on her own that for her to be able to be in a battle again she would have to be a warrior prepared for comments that could hurt her ego or even the feelings of her comrades.

But the complete opposite of what he wanted happened. Hiyori swallowed hard and audible, redirecting her honey eyes to the side, finding the blue sky interesting. "Why do you want me to say something you already know?" Her voice was still a whisper.

He clutched her arm even tighter.

"Shinji you are hurt-"

"Answer me!"

Shinji didn't yell, at least not like he was doing in that moment. He had lectured her practically all her life, even more than Hikifune did, but he never shouted at her. So what was different this time? She just couldn't understand what was happening, why he was so mad all of the sudden. This was nothing more than training.

"Why was I hurt? Because I didn't listen to you." Her tone, eyes and entire face was still unrecognizable. A complete shadow of her normal self.

"Answer me what you think, not what you think I want to hear." He had stopped grabbing her arm as tight as he was before, but still kept a firm grip on her. The blond would not let her run away from this.

There have been moments in her life when Hiyori hated Shinji, even when her normal feelings were completely the opposite she had detested him in more than one occasion. He had also made her cry for different reasons in different times since they had met. But today, the tall man was aiming for a superior and more horrific feeling, if such a feeling existed.

"Why are you doing this to me Shinji?" A tear escaped her eyes and she shoved away fiercely with one of her hands. Hiyori was not sad, she was furious. "Don't you see I have feelings too, asshole!" She would not take this treatment from anyone, not even the imbecile that supposedly loved her.

So she vented…

"You want to know what I think! I think I was brash and that I didn't think. That I just acted because he kept insulting us! Speaking to us like if we were trash! His fucking trash! Yes I got hurt but a part of me does not regret doing something about it because you did not move Shinji! YOU JUST STOOD UP AND TOOK ALL HIS TAUNTS AND INSULTS! FOR PETE'S SAKE HE CALLED YOU HIRAKO-TAICHOU! HE WAS LAUGHING AT YOU IN YOUR FACE!" She was shaking while talking and some other enraged tears had escaped her eyes. "And I don't care what you think Shinji. I'll say it with pride. I got cut in half because I took his insults seriously…"

Something clicked in her mind. It was like the last half an hour had bounded perfectly with her speech and with him being upset at her. Shinji was taunting her on purpose and she had realized just now. How stupid was she?

Her face and body relaxed. Unconsciously she repeated it in a soft voice. "I took his insults seriously."

"Yes, you did."His expression had changed too.

She moved her honeyed, puffy and red eyes to his face. How can I hate him when he looks at me with that look of pride and adoration?

She closed her eyes and the last pair of tears fell from her eyes. "This was my stupid training, right Hage Shinji?"

He chuckled. "I'm glad you realized. Maybe you're not as dumb as you look." and he kneeled to brush off the trail of tears on her freckled cheeks.

She chuckled too. "Gee… thanks Baldy"

Shinji touched her cheek letting his hand rest on her face. "Do you know what I learned in that fight Hiyori?"

"Lock the crazy girl in a closet before you leave to fight your biggest enemy?"

"That is a nice idea, but something tells me you'll break my closet door," and he grabbed both sides of her face. "I learned that I can't always be there to protect you, so I need you to be able to protect yourself."

She raised her eyebrow and answered. "I'm perfectly able to protect me."

"You're strong Chibi. Your hakuda is comparable to none and your zanjutsu is pretty good, but when your enemy opens his mouth you're toast. The littlest of mocking throws you over the edge and we cannot let that happen again." His forehead was touching hers and he was staring deeply into her eyes. "I did tell you a long time ago, do you remember?" She nodded, but he continued like she hadn't. "Your life is not yours to waste anymore Hiyori. What do you think I'd do if I lost ya?"

That was her cue to kiss him. She knew he had thought about losing her and maybe it was what hurt her the most. She had charged against Aizen without thinking and had shattered her life and his. Unohana had glued them back together and they had worked hard to recover for the last month.

His life belonged to her and her life belonged to him. He had told her the night they woke up after the Hollowfication and she was losing her temper as usual telling things like they would have been better off dead. He had said exactly the same thing: "Your life is not yours to waste anymore Hiyori. What do you think I'd do if I lost ya?" She had replied: "You'll probably die of boredom or go crazy without your daily kick in the ass." And last time he had kissed her, so this time she did.

Hiyori was deepening the kiss like if that love gesture could erase for him all the concerns of the last month, and could show him that she understood, she was willing to try but could not promise him anything. She just had a short temper, she had always had it.

"O! Oi! Shinji respect the sanctity of training grounds!" Love voiced, making the other two jump and separate into a safe distance. The other six Vizards were coming in to train as well, both blondes had forgotten. But Shinji instead of looking blushed like Hiyori, looked at the other ex-Captain with a reproachful expression.

"Why are you only blaming me? She was kissing me too, you know."

At his words Rose and Kensei put their hands in their ears muttering things like, "Disgusting" and "I do not want to hear kiss and Hiyori in the same sentence."

Lisa only sighed and in a low voice she said a simple "Bakas" at the two men. The others, maybe even Shinji included, didn't fully understand that Hiyori was not a girl anymore. Her appearance maybe resembled the height of a child, but her face, experience, character and even body had grown in this last month. They would have to get used to this new Hiyori, the one that was a woman and of course, the one that liked to kiss boys and for boys Lisa meant Shinji.

Love narrowed his eyes. "But I know Hiyori didn't initiate that." His tone sounded as if Shinji would took advantage of the little girl's innocence.

A wicked grin crossed the mouth of the girl in question and she stuck out her tongue to mock the tall blonde. It was funny how the tables had turned since this time she had been the one who started it (as usual when it come to Hiyori misbehaving), but the difference was that Shinj had been the one who took the blame and was scolded by Love. How ironic?

"Che…If you only knew what the evil midget is capable of." he muttered to himself and looked at her direction. He would not resolve anything by blaming her; between the two blondes, all the Vizards assumed that the lewd actions would come from him.

"Did you say something, Baldy?" She used a tone of threat.

"Me?" and he grabbed the wooden sword faking innocence. "You must be hearing things dummy."

And he threw the katana at her hand. "Be ready this time Hiyori."

She breathed deeply, grabbed the fake zanpakutou tightly in her hand and waited for him.

"Here we go again." Shinji announced. Maybe some real zankensoki training would do for today, but tomorrow he was resuming her other type of education.

.

A/N: First chapter completely outside the 4th Division since chapter 2, it does feel nice not talking about white rooms, beds, chairs or bathrooms after 7 chapters. At least I think it's a nice change.

I know Shinji goes a little meanie in this chapter, but there is a real reason behind it. Think for a moment. You're able to prevent the loss of the love of your life, to really take actions to avoid from happening, in his case, again. Would you do it? Personally I would and I also think Shinji being the smart man that he is would too.

So what does our lovely Shinji give to sweet dear Hiyori? Some tough love.

Erase and rewind… war against Aizen. But I still think the same as I thought about in the last chapter. Something as big as the loathed feeling they have against the brunette can't be erased as easy, but this is a start.

The title is about boxing rules NOT about something a little more NC-17.

luv

Kate

PS: People asking me for a Ichigo/Hiyori, I'm sorry I really CAN'T write a couple I don't really enjoy (sorry :( ) and besides that I'm mentally unfit to write a In Character Ichigo, for some reason.

.

.

Fighting Terminology

Just a tiny note for all of you, like myself, that don't remember. The Zankensoki is the basic way Shinigamis fight against their enemies. Zan (Zanjutsu) refers to sword fighting techniques. Ken (Hakuda) refers to unarmed fighting techniques. So (Hohō) refers to moving techniques. Ki refers to Kidō. All of which require the controlled usage of a varying amount of Spirit Energy.