A few weeks later

"Y'know," Shinji said, feet skidding backward in the dirt as he blocked Ayame's blade. "Ya could probably learn kido now."

"Kido?" Ayame asked. Her feet pushed off the ground to avoid Shinji's swing.

"Yeh. Demon arts. Ya use incantations to perform spells with yer reitsu."

Ayame gripped the handle of her katana, swinging with all her force. Sparks flew through the air as Shinji blocked the attack, their swords crossing.

"You think I'm ready for that?"

Shinji slipped his zanpakuto back into it's sheath at his side and sat on a rock. "Yep. Yer practically oozin' spiritual pressure. It's time ya learn how to control it."

Ayame sheathed her katana and crossed her arms. "Alright. I'm game. Show me something."

Shinji grinned, rising from the rock. "We're gonna start with the first Kido. They're numbered, each incantation stronger than the last. Someday, ya might be good enough to do nineties level spells without the incantation."

"Can you do that?"

Shinji smirked and walked away from Ayame. He turned and extended his palms. "Bakudo #99: Kin!"

Ayame gasped as black fabric wove it's way around her arms, restricting her movements. She fell to her knees as iron shafts pinned her arms further into place.

"Hirako-san!"

"Sorry, somebody provoked me," he said with his cheshire grin. He helped her to her feet and removed the incantation.

"I can see where knowing this would be useful," Ayame laughed, rubbing her arms where the fabric used to be.

"I want ya to try an attack spell first. Hado #1: Shō. Plant yer feet, extend yer index and middle finger towards me, and say 'Force from heaven, align to my bidding, Hado #1 Shō.' Yer gonna have to channel yer spiritual pressure. Ya think ya can try it?" Shinji asked.

Ayame nodded. She adjusted her feet into a kendo stance and extended her fingers. "Force from heaven, align to my bidding. Hado #1: Shō!"

A blast of air shot from her fingers, colliding with Shinji's chest, knocking him backward. Shinji coughed.

"Good job. Ya did it, first try."

"Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" Ayame asked, rushing over.

"Hunny, it takes a lot more than a level one Hado to hurt me," Shinji smirked.

"Okay, good. I don't want to hurt you."

Too late for that, Shinji thought, brushing his haori with his hands. "Let's call it a day, ya?"

Shinji led Ayame back towards Aizen's room.

"Thank you for taking the time to train me, Shinji. I appreciate it."

"Can't have my best friend as a liability, now can I?" Shinji responded.

"I want to make my own way in this life, uninhibited by anyone. You're helping me do that."

Shinji scratched the back of his head. "Why ya still moochin' off Aizen then?"

Ayame frowned. "Our relationship may not be ideal but I do still care for him, Hirako-san."

Shinji sighed. A part of him hoped she'd forget about him while he was away. Alas, he was wrong. "Are ya really sure he cares about ya in the same way?"

"I am. He lets me see a side of him that he doesn't show anyone else."

"Ya? Like what?"

Ayame pushed Aizen's door open and sat on the futon in the corner, gesturing for Shinji to join her. "Did you know his glasses aren't real?"

"What do you mean 'not real'?" Shinji asked, joining Ayame on the futon.

"They don't have correcting lenses. They serve no purpose." She leaned her head against Shinji's shoulder.

Shinji sat up, his mind whirring a mile a minute. "Why would Aizen wear glasses for no reason? They have to serve some kind of purpose."

"I don't know. He said something about it maintaining his desired image."

Shinji's brows knit together. "Desired image, eh?"

"You know, he's really a lot smarter, and stronger, than you give him credit for," Ayame continued.

"Sure. Don't know the kid too well."

"Isn't he your fukutaicho? Your second-in-command?" Ayame asked.

"Ya, doesn't mean I like the guy."

"Why haven't you taken the time to get to know his strengths? Isn't that an important part of being allies?"

"There's somethin' off about him. I don't trust him."

"Doesn't mean you should open yourself up to difficulty in future conflicts. I know I don't have to explain to you how important trusting your subordinates is. You should take the time to understand what he's about."

Shinji groaned and shifted in his seat. "If all yer gonna do is talk about yer boyfriend, I'm going to my office. I have paperwork that needs to be done."

Ayame sighed and looked at Shinji. "I'm sorry. I won't press the issue any further."

Shinji's eyes admired the curves of her face. The sparkle behind her eyes, the slight upturn of her lips.

"It's fine, darlin'. I just trust my intuition more than anythin' or anyone else. It's never steered me wrong before."

Ayame chewed on her lip. "I hope one day I can say the same thing."

Shinji tugged at a strand of hair by her face. "If yer kido today is any indication, I'd say yer halfway there."

Ayame laughed. Shinji's fingertips grazed her cheek. Her eyes raised to meet his. Their faces were mere inches apart. Shinji could feel her warm breath on his face.

"Hirako," she breathed.

"Hm?"

Without another word, Ayame closed the space between them. Shinji stiffened slightly, then melted into the kiss. He grabbed her face in his hands. All the feelings he'd bottled up for centuries spilled out through his lips.

Ayame leaned back on the futon, pulling Shinji down with her. Her hands grasped at the neck of his haori, his hands on either side of her head. Shinji's heart soared as their lips danced. Ayame moved her hands inside his haori and pushed the garment off his shoulders, brushing her leg against his side. Shinji pulled away, sitting up slightly.

"Ayame."

"I wish you'd never left."

His heart dropped to his stomach. "But I did. And now ya have a boyfriend. I'm sorry, doll, I can't do this to him."

"He doesn't need to know," Ayame responded, looking up at him with big eyes.

"That just ain't how I roll," Shinji said, standing up before adjusting his haori.

"It hasn't stopped you in the past."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Shinji snapped.

"Yoruichi has a boyfri-"

"That's entirely different! God, I shouldn't be here. I'm no homewrecker."

Shinji shunpo'd out of the room, finding his way to the Twelfth Squad barracks. He stumbled to Urahara's office and pushed the door open.

"Hirako-san, are you alright?" Urahara asked, rising from his seat and rushing over to his friend.

Shinji grabbed Urahara's robes and pulled him closer. "Don't ask questions. Don't speak. Just kiss me."

Confused, Urahara grabbed his friend's face and kissed him gently. Shinji snaked his arms around Kisuke's waist, pulling him closer. Kisuke wrapped his arms around Shinji's neck. Shinji's tongue slid across his friend's lips, pleading for entrance.

Kisuke pulled away, looking Shinji in the face. "I don't know what happened, but this surely isn't the way to fix it," he started.

"Please, don't talk," Shinji whispered, his head falling on Kisuke's shoulder.

Urahara hugged his friend, one hand on his back, one hand smoothing his hair. Shinji's back shook as he sobbed, unable to hold back his feelings any longer. Kisuke leaned his head on Shinji's, holding him tighter.

"She kissed me," Shinji choked out.

"That's good, isn't that?"

"Sosuke is still in the picture, Kisuke."

"Maybe she'll leave him now."

"She made it very clear she still cares about him."

"Before or after the kiss?"

"Before."

Urahara sighed, still holding his friend tightly. "What did she say after?"

"I told her I couldn't sneak around on Aizen, and she said he didn't need to know. Then she had the audacity to bring up Yoruichi."

"That's way different."

"That's what I said." Shinji sighed, pulling out of Kisuke's embrace. "Why'd she have to come here? Are the gods torturin' me?"

"Life is mysterious. Many things happen, seemingly without logical reason, but reason becomes clearer down the road. You gotta give it some time, Hirako."

"I don't know if I can, Kisuke. It's torture, watching the woman I love by the side of the most annoyin' bitch in this place. She deserves so much better. I've been trainin' her for weeks, hopin' she'd finally feel strong enough on her own to drop him, but it isn't working that way. She wants me to be her dirty little secret. Is that all she thinks of me? That I'm just someone to kiss in the shadows?"

"If she doesn't respect you, and clearly doesn't respect her own obligations, taking a step back might be a good idea. Meditate, clear your head. Make peace with the fact that you'll probably never get the chance to make things right with her."

Shinji's shoulders slumped. "Yeh, I guess yer right. No more trainin' sessions. No more conversations. No more ramen. I need to clear my head, once and for all."

Urahara sighed. "It's for the best. Besides, Yoruichi and I are here to help in any way necessary, even if it's just getting your mind off things temporarily."

"Did a shit job of that just now," Shinji said with a forced smirk.

Kisuke touched Shinji's cheek gently. "You weren't in the right state, Hirako."

Shinji breathed deeply. "Yer right, as usual, ya bastard. I know what I need to do now."

"Good."

"I'm gonna go meditate. Thanks for all yer help."

"Of course. Can't let my friends stay broken messes."

"I am a broken mess, ain't I?"

"There's hope for you yet, Hirako-chan."