Chapter 19: When in Rome

Aizen and Ichigo launched into their fight, while the rest of kept our guards up. Mine was especially trained on Gin. Every time he wasn't in someone's view, bad things happened; sexually assaulting me; bisecting Hiyori. The man's moral compass broken. At this point, I didn't think the battle could get anymore fucked up. Scratch that; Aizen just turned himself into a condom. Appropriate for someone acting like a dick; he might as well dress like one.

Unfortunately, Ichigo was getting his ass thoroughly handed to him. It wasn't all that surprising. Centuries old shinigami evil overlord vs. sixteen year old who can barely control his own reiatsu. It was a long shot, but still it was a shot and if anyone could beat Aizen, it was Ichigo.

Shinji took my hand and looked at me. I nodded. We joined everyone as they started to form a wall between Ichigo and Aizen. Suicidal? Probably, but like I said, he was our best shot. Aizen was given one of his speeches. Lord, that man loves to hear himself talk. If he wants to be a god, then this group will be more than happy to send him on his way. The world would be a little less evil once he was gone. But that's not how things went.

Aizen seemed to blaze through the first row people, but he paused in front of me. Then, he pulled me so my back was to his front. And with Shinji watching, drew his sword across my neck, slitting my throat.

As I dropped to the Earth, I managed to look up and see Aizen stab Shinji, but not badly enough to kill him. It was the final insult in a long and ugly fight that had been going on since before I was born. Killing me and making him watch. Keeping Shinji alive to live with the pain of losing me.

I hit the ground and whatever breath was left in my body got knocked out. I felt the last of my blood spurt out. I felt everything start to shut down. My eye sight was going dark. I felt my heart beat start to slow down. I couldn't breathe and it was the worst feeling in the world. My sight finally went black and I went still. And that was how I died. Alone.

Or that's what I thought. My eyes shot open and I sat up and looked around. I saw my body on the ground. Yep, still dead. I got up and stared at myself. It was weird seeing my body on the ground and knowing that it would never get up again. Then, I looked at my present state. I was sort of transparent with a large sticking out of my chest; nifty. I started pulling at it.

"Are you sure you want to keep doing that?"

I knew that voice from the way my skin crawled. I turned to Gin.

"Why not?"

"It could make you hollowfy faster."

"I've survived it once, I'm sure I could survive again."

He was leaning against a piece of rubble, but his eyes were open and the smile was gone. Pale blue eyes bored into mine. I might've found him attractive if his soul wasn't so rotten.

He shrugged. "True, but I like you as much as you hate me. I'm not willing to take that chance."

He flashed in front of me and grabbed the back of my head. He brought the hilt of his zanpaktou down and stamped it on my forehead. He let me go and stepped back. Then, he was gone. Probably off to join his lord and master.

Yellow light bloomed out from underneath me. I started to sink.

"Rei!" I heard Shinji yell.

I turned my head and saw him running toward me.

"What's happening?"

"Konso. You're being sent to Soul Society."

He was on his knees outside of the circle, but it was like he could touch me.

I gave him my biggest smile. "I love you! I'll see you soon!"

He looked scared. "You don't know that."

"What?" I said as my head went under.

And then, nothing.

Author's note: I just want to thank everyone for sticking with the story, even though, it took forever. But it's not over yet. Stay tuned for a sequel! :D