Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach

Chapter Seventeen - History Repeats

"Shiro," Kasumi said as she followed her best friend down the familiar streets of Karakura. "Are you sure that this is going to work Shiro-chan?"

Shiro glanced back at Kasumi over his shoulder, a somewhat distant expression in his blue-green eyes. He had been lost in thought and considered it a lucky break on his part that he'd even registered the fact that she'd been speaking to him. But he couldn't help but pick up on the concern in her eyes as he gazed back at her. "I'm hoping that it will… but on the off chance that he doesn't want to cooperate I have a backup plan in mind."

Kasumi nodded, lapsing into silence at this point. She really wasn't all that surprised that the white haired captain had both a Plan A and a Plan B. Shiro had always been one to plan things out and he seemed determined to travel to Hueco Mundo in order to confront Heikichi and find out exactly what was going on.

It wasn't long before the two friends reached a familiar shop. The doors were closed but Shiro was completely unconcerned by this fact as he walked over to one of the doors. Reaching out he tested the door knob and, finding it unlocked, he let himself in.

The door squeaked as it swung open to admit the two teenage Shinigami and a voice from somewhere toward the back of the store called out, "We're closed!"

"You mean you were closed," Shiro called back, not halting his forward progress. There was a commanding note in his voice that he hadn't meant to use but he refused to apologize for it. "Now you're open. Get out here."

"Attitude problem and no manners," a familiar voice called out casually. "It must be Kurosaki's kid." A few minutes passed and then a familiar head of blond hair appeared around the doorframe. "What can I do for you Toushirou?"

"I need your help," Shiro admitted, somewhat reluctantly. He knew that Urahara had the capability to help him but there was still the chance that the former captain would refuse. He was friends with Shiro's parents after all and may decide that they should be involved in this mission. An outcome that Shiro was desperately trying to avoid. Mainly because he was fairly certain that both Ichigo and Rukia would frown upon his decision to travel to the world of the Hollow in search of someone who appeared to have allied themselves with the Hollow.

Urahara's interest was piqued as he heard this admission from the teen. Shiro had always been fairly independent, preferring to do things for himself whenever possible. Which to Urahara meant that that wasn't possible this time. "And what exactly is it that you need my help with?"

"I need you to open a portal to Hueco Mundo," the white haired youth replied, gazing at Urahara through unflinching blue-green eyes.

Now it wasn't often that Urahara was surprised by anything but the former Shinigami had to admit that he hadn't seen this request coming. He stared at the boy, trying to figure out what exactly could have possessed him to want to travel to the world of the Hollow. But the moment that the answer came to him he offered the teen a smile. "I see… and does Ichigo know that you plan to travel there alone?"

"I'm not traveling there alone," Shiro snapped, having feared that the shopkeeper would cause problems. He had hoped that wouldn't be the case but in the back of his mind he realized that he'd known better. Kisuke Urahara wasn't exactly known for making things easier for people. Quite the opposite in fact. "Kasumi and I are going together and I assure you that we're both aware of what we're getting ourselves into."

"Are you really?" Urahara questioned, gazing at the two teens with an intense look in his eyes.

"Yes," Shiro said, his voice unwavering.

"And are you absolutely certain that the person you're going there to save wishes to be saved?" Urahara asked, gazing at the boy so that he could judge his reaction to this question. He was fairly certain that the boy wouldn't be expecting it and that his facial features would speak volumes.

And he was not disappointed.

Shiro's blue-green eyes widened as he heard this question but his surprise quickly vanished. "Of course you know… because you know everything." The young captain took a moment to think about the question before he said, "I'm convinced that Heikichi didn't betray me."

"If that's the case then why not get help from the other Shinigami?"

A shadow passed over Shiro's eyes at this point. "Because I'm not sure that they'll feel the same way."

Urahara studied the boy for a moment before he made his decision. "Very well then. If you're convinced that this is the right course of action then I'll help you get to Hueco Mundo. Just know that once you're there there's nothing that I can do to help you."

"I understand," the two teens said in unison, both holding identical looks of determination in their eyes. Both had made their decision and there was absolutely nothing he could say that would cause them to change their minds.

Their course was set and they would get to Hueco Mundo with or without his help. It was just that with would make things so much easier for them.

"Very well then…" Urahara turned away from the two youths, gesturing for them to follow him. "If that's your decision."

As the two young Shinigami fell into step behind him Urahara led the way to the back room. Then, once they were all standing in the small space, Urahara opened a trap door in the floor which both teens knew led down to a secret underground training facility.

"I still think you have the weirdest basement on the planet," Shiro commented drying as he descended the ladder that led down to the cavernous space.

"That's been said a time or two," Urahara said once they were all three standing on the dry dirt floor of the training facility. "But that's hardly important right now."

"I know," Shiro said in a quiet voice. He fully understood what he and Kasumi would be up against but that didn't lessen his determination to go. He was convinced that Heikichi hadn't betrayed them and he wanted to save the older boy from himself.

"As long as you're aware of the dangers…" Walking over to a large device that looked like the frame of a door, Urahara held out his hands. He hadn't activated the portal to Hueco Mundo in quite some time but he was none the less confident that it would work. He'd built it after all. Muttering incoherent words to himself the former captain activated the portal, then turned his attention back to Shiro and Kasumi. "Now, you'll have to use your reiatsu to make a path to walk on but that shouldn't be too difficult for you."

Shiro nodded as he and Kasumi stepped forward, toward the portal that could possibly change their fates forever. "Thanks Urahara," the white haired youth said quietly.

"No problem," Urahara said, a calculating look in his eyes that was hidden by the brim of his green and white striped hat. "Just make sure that you come back alive or else your parents will kill me."

"Right," Shiro said before leaping through the portal, followed closely behind by Kasumi. The moment that they passed through the portal the pair immediately summoned their reiatsu, concentrating it at their feet so that they had a path to walk on. "You ready for this Kasumi?"

"Of course," the young girl said, offering her best friend a smile. In truth she was a little nervous about his mission but refused to let him know this fact. Because it would make him feel guilty for allowing her to come along and she didn't want that. After all, it wasn't as though he'd had a choice in the matter. And she had loved Shiro for as long as she could remember and would follow him anywhere, even to the very pits of Hell.

After a fairly exhausting journey through darkness Shiro and Kasumi emerged in Hueco Mundo. Landing lightly in the sand Shiro scanned the territory, searching for signs of the familiar reiatsu of the boy that he had trained.

But he felt nothing.

"This is strange," Shiro muttered as he turned to face Kasumi. "I don't feel his reiatsu… do you?"

Kasumi shook her head, a somewhat confused expression in her blue eyes. "I don't… but I'm certain this is where they were going. Perhaps they're hiding their reiatsu."

"That must be it," Shiro muttered. "But it doesn't matter… I'm going to find him."

At this moment a loud roar interrupted the conversation and caused both young Shinigami to whirl around. A huge Hollow was approaching them at a rapid pace, followed closely behind by a group of smaller ones.

"Tch," Shiro growled, reaching up and grasping the hilt of Hyourinmaru and drawing the zanpaktou from the sheath that he wore secured across his back. "I don't have time for these bastards right now. Reign over the frosted, frozen sky, Hyourinmaru!"

At this command a huge dragon comprised of ice and water erupted from the tip of the sword. The dragon soared toward the group of Hollow, twirling around them gracefully before turning them to ice. Leaping forward Shiro slashed at the frozen enemies, shattering them into a million tiny pieces.

Meanwhile, in the palace of Las Noches, two sets of eyes brightened as they felt a familiar surge of power. Two little heads turned to gaze at Heikichi, smiles appearing on both little faces. "It's Nii-san!" they exclaimed in unison, recognizing the reiatsu signal.

"So it is," Heikichi said, a smile spreading across his own face. This was exactly what he had expected to happen.

A/N - End of another chapter and I'm sorry that it took so long. Hope that you enjoyed, please leave a review and tell me what you thought.