Chapter Text
How many days have passed like this?
The city, the crowd is fading, moving on
Sometimes I have wondered where you've gone
Story carries on... Lonely, lost inside
I had this dream so many times
The moments we spent have passed and gone away
Could there be an end to this?
What I'm feeling deep inside?
You know there's no looking back
Prologue
The sky is blue… that is nothing more than fact.
It is not to be a surprise that at the moment the Kidō Corps along with, probably Urahara Kisuke, decided on building a copy of Karakura town to fight on, they decided on sky blue for embellishment of this well-crafted fake city. And if you were to look around in this glasslike kidō barrier, all you could see would be flashes of blue with fluffy clouds making for a placid normal day.
Blue sky came also with a natural silence and tranquility, and at this particular moment came with a smooth, deep voice that made everything sound ominous, important and most of all condescend….
Such kind words. Just as I’d expect from you Hirako Taichou. However, this whole ‘It’s over if you approach him carelessly’ business sounds rather funny. It doesn’t matter whether you approach me carelessly or whether you approach me with caution, or even if you don’t approach me at all, all of the outcomes will be the same. I am not trying to predict the future. Your demise is an inescapable fact of your past. After all, that night a hundred years ago is when you all died.”
It took less than a microsecond after the words were utter to hear a loud push of reiatsu at Shinji’s right side.
It took him less than a millisecond for him to scream her name to try to stop her.
And It took less than an actual second for a high-speed extension type Zanpakutō to divide her in two.
It was a lie; the sky was not blue. The glassy sky was red, the color of blood and there wasn’t silence anymore. There was a taunting remark from the owner of Shinsō and the sound of her name being screamed at the top of someone’s lungs.
Wait… was it him? Was he the one who yelled for her?
Then he acted. That what was Shinji was, he was a doer, he wasn’t brash or thoughtless, but he rather put plans into motion than staying put masterminding everything. So, when she was falling in two pieces instead of one, he shunpo as fast as he did one night a hundred years ago and caught her just like that night and the blonde landed on top of a broken building.
There was something wet on his face. Her blood? His tears? Or his sweat? He didn't really know, and he didn't care. He clutched Hiyori closer to him, repeating her name several times in a whisper. He would give anything for her to be okay; his reiatsu, his mind, his body, even his life, everything if it was a guarantee that the blonde girl in his arms would be fine.
“S-orry...Shinji…I-I..jus´ couldn’t take it…” She wasn't dead, but her breathing was getting shallower and shallower with every second that passed.
“HACHI!!!" And the realization that the aforementioned pinked-haired man was missing a hand, making impossible to use a healing technique came over Shinji like an ice bucket. Who else could help her? None.
None beside…. “That’s right. If we have Orihime-chan’s power, we can still heal her. ICHIGO! What the hell is it taking you so long?"
He closed his eyes once again. The reality was that he didn't love her as much as he told her when they were alone, he could admit it now; when it comes to the little blonde he was a cowardly, useless good-for-nothing. How ironic, she had been right all those times when she had called him a thousand of colorful names.
He didn't prove to her with any actions that the words he told her everyday several times a day behind closed doors were true. In the past, he was unable to prevent her from the sad feelings that ruled her soul when Hikifune left her. He wasn't strong enough to save her when the Hollowfication occurred or when she was hurt by Tōsen's sword. He wasn't capable to help her fight her Hollow in her inner world. He was powerless at her nightmares of every night no matter how tight he held her while she tried to sleep, and now this…
A solid prove he was not qualified to be her protector.
Hikifune had screwed up when she asked him to look after the girl trusting his hidden public relationship -the one she was fully aware not by the mention of any of them- was enough to make her safe.
His so-called love had only brought her trouble.
He opened his eyes and looked directly at her dilated, light brown eyes, the pits of hell he had called them several times. He was mistaken. It was a pool of honey and love. So, if she made it, if everything worked out in the end, he would prove to her how much he cared for her, for real this time. He would delete and comeback moments in her life with his future actions. Every single bad circumstance she had suffered because of him would be sent into oblivion and would be replaced by a new, better and endearing one.
"If ya wanna see me make an ass of myself, you have to stick around, bokke. I'm sure you of all people would have a lot of fun at my expense" He mentally told her.
But even if by some miracle the crappy Shinigami representative had a pound of brain, and brought with him Orihime-chan, and Hiyori was safe he would have to get rid of the person who had caused everything to fall apart since the beginning – Aizen.
He looked up with fury in his whole demeanor. His former Fukutaichou was standing in the air next to Ichimaru. After Aizen, the fucking eye-fox will be his exclusive prey.
Aizen gazed at him with disdain in voice.
"I like that look," He said staring at the blonde holding Hiyori "I feel like I'm seeing eyes that been dull for a hundred years come back to life, Hirako Shinji"
He stood and left her in Hachi’s care while Aizen continued talking in a mocking tone, for once he’d play Aizen’s game and Shinji; Shinji would unequivocally win.
He repeated his silent promise to her while he moved to be in front of the Arrancar leader. If they made it, and Aizen was long beaten and forgotten, he would show her what she really meant to him.
Shinji was making a solemn promise to her and hellish sandals.
<Omake>
“We ain’t your allies, moron” and the look of surprise on the other Vizards was visibly at Shinji’s words, “… Is probably what Hiyori’d say. Thanks, Unohana-san”
Unohana Retsu started walking away slowly at his words, but suddenly came to a complete halt, made half a smile, directed her gaze to the Leader of the Vizards and spoke to the air, apparently a bakudoh: Tenteikūra, was being used to communicate between all the healing squad “Oh I see… It seems that Urahara Kisuke has instructed to Iemura-san to bring Hiyori to the Seretei, he’s concerned, and there is another business with her that will require more observation.”
The 4th Squad Captain paused with the intention of hearing complaints from anyone in the exiled shinigamis, but no answer was given. “Do not worry, she won’t be harmed and of course you’re welcome to come along if you wish.”
Shinji exhaled loudly and scratched the top of his head with an annoyed expression “My, oh my, Hiyori is not going to like this when she wakes up.”
“We can always say it was Shinji’s idea,” Lisa added fixing her glasses.
Rose openly smiled “Sounds good.”
“I actually heard him suggested it” Love chimed in.
Hachi only smiled apologetically.
Shinji eyed them with an exasperated face but understood this will help defuse the tension all of them were feeling “Thank ya very much, guys.”