Flashback:

"Save the compliments," the blonde spat, "I ain't talkin' peace treaties for ya."

"Will you allow me to convince you otherwise?"

After a moment, Shinji sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Go ahead. Ya might as well get used t' fightin' losin' battles."

Aizen's smile only grew as he advance further into the room. "Then hear what I have to tell you of my intentions from the start."

As disinterestedly as he could while being rather keen to hear the story, Shinji shrugged. "I'm listenin'."

"My dream, in its entirety, was not something as simple as power or respect. I dedicated my life to finding a realm where Hollow and Shinigami could exist in cooperation and peace. You, Shinji, and your kind were to be the gateway to that world," a frown touched upon his lips, "but my ideals, I realized, were too advanced for Soul Society's archaic ways." It was worse than observing the humans bestow equal rights to those of the same gender or skin color. Apparently, Shinigami were not as above human frailties as they imagined.

"Ever since my first, failed attempt," he continued, "I have been taking great efforts to lead our world into accepting back the ones I demonized while exploring other means of creating my utopia." He paused for a moment, considering all of his actions. "It would seem, now, that the world I envisioned will never be realized, but I have at least undone most of the damage I have caused."

Shinji wasn't sure what to say and so he kept quiet. It was true that, in some light, Aizen's betrayal of Soul Society had led the Vizard back into Yamamoto's good graces. Had it really been intentional? All for them? Shinji was sure Aizen wasn't that self-sacrificing and deduced that it was likely 'kill two birds with one stone' rather than 'a happy coincidence'. He had always been a multi-tasker.

But somehow, hearing everything, and though he wanted to fight it, Shinji couldn't help but feel a hundred years of grudges and anger begin to drain from his bones. Aizen had been a fool and his actions were undeniably unforgivable, but perhaps he wasn't the total asshole Shinji thought he was. At the very least, he deserved a little help setting things straight.

"Well, when ya put it like that," he finally said, tugging his hat down just a bit, "it's kinda hard to say no." He gave a dramatic sigh. "Ya just love twistin' my arm, don't ya?"

"The only thing I miss more is combing your hair," Aizen assured him with a tone reminiscent of his days as a lieutenant; patient and obliging with the ever-present underlying hint of condescension.

"Only two things ya were ever good at." Shinji shot him a sharp look from under the brim of his hat. "Alright, Aizen. But ya owe me one."

Aizen smiled. "I am forever in your debt, Captain."

End Flashback

Shinji watched from the control room as several figures burst through the rip in space. He let his hat twirl around his finger for another moment before placing it firmly back on his head, a determined glint in his eye.

"Here goes nothin'."

"I've never been through the front door before," Ichigo remarked, tilting his head in consideration at the massive gateway before their group. He had infiltrated Las Noches before, but his entrance hadn't exactly been traditional. Though, if he had to be honest, there were many things different about this trip to the Hollow's world. For one, there was practically no resistance to their arrival. Needless to say, it set just about everyone on edge.

"Be careful," Yamamoto scolded lightly, keen eyes looking for any indication of a trap or ambush. It was undoubted that Aizen was aware of their presence and, as such, that he would have tactics to attempt to deal with them before they ever set foot in his home. Of course, they would be futile, but it was the appearance of having powerful subordinates more than the actual hope that anyone but the God himself would stand a chance against his opposition.

"They're bigger than even your doors," Kyouraku joked lightly in his superior's direction. "Are you sure we'll be able to open them?"

Yamamoto sent a tired scowl to the captain, but quickly shifted his gaze as Ichigo stepped forward, his sword slung casually over his back.

"I'll open 'em," he stated with confidence that couldn't have possibly been one-hundred percent. For all any of them knew, a swing of his sword would barely cut the air. Or it could bring the whole of Las Noches down on their heads. It was a bit too risky, but he seemed to have forgotten as much already.

"Idiot," Kensei muttered, clamping a hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "Don't go swinging that thing around unless you have to. We still have people in there to rescue, remember?"

"I'll handle this," Love insisted as he stepped forward, banging his fists together in preparation. "All I have to do is make a big hole in it, right?"

Contemplating his options, Yamamoto finally gave a small grunt and a confirming nod. He watched with a grave expression as the former captain withdrew his sword and shouted its release. Perhaps Love hadn't thought his Hollow mask could muster the proper destruction necessary, or maybe he realized that it would put the Captain Commander on edge. Either way, Yamamoto was grateful that he settled for his zanpakutou.

"Oh, man! You guys really know how t' make an entrance, don't ya?"

"Sh-Shinji?" Ichigo was the first to react, wide-eyed as the Vizard's head poked out from the large hole Love had made moments before.

Shinji waved a hand in front of his face, clearing away enough dust so he could get a good look at the group. Most of them had been expected, though he was admittedly unnerved to see Yamamoto there in the flesh. This was going to be more difficult.

"Y'know, ya coulda knocked!" he informed Love, motioning to the fortress beyond. "I was standin' right there."

"If you were right there, then you should have opened the door," Kensei informed him with a frown.

"Are ya kiddin' me?" Shinji asked, tilting his head back as far as he could to get a good look at the large doors. "There's no way I could open somethin' like that!"

"Then knocking wouldn't have done any good at all!"

"A warnin', obviously! Ya almost crushed me with that thing!" He slid a glance to Love with a grin. "Unless that was your intention."

A tense silence settled over the group as Love's blade shrunk back down to a less-imposing size and he slid it back into its sheath. "Of course not."

"If no one else will say it," Kyouraku interrupted, stepping forward with a severe look on his face, "then I guess I will." He caught Shinji's eye and paused for a moment, trying to decipher what the other wasn't telling them. "You look suspicious out here, Shinji."

"Suspicious?" he repeated, breaking the eye contact and giving a shrug. "I was just out for a walk an' I heard a big explosion."

Yamamoto's steely gaze caught every bit of Shinji in its grasp. "Where is Aizen?"

"Aizen? I thought ya were here t' get me." The look he wore suggested he knew better. "Everyone's all about Aizen; I was gonna feel special, for a minute." At Yamamoto's tense silence, Shinji grinned. "'e sent me out here t' greet ya. I think 'e was hopin' I could change your mind 'bout goin' any further. Ya know, just turnin' around an' goin' home. But ya ain't got the face of someone who came for negotiations."

"We came to rescue you, idiot!" Lisa shouted at him from behind Kyouraku. She took a step forward and calmed a bit. "And we came to kill Aizen."

"Well, then." Shinji gave a light sigh as he heard the familiar rip of a Garganta open behind him. His head cocked over his shoulder as Starrk came into view and turned to head toward the Espada. "Let's take the quick way, yeah?"

Shinji was positive he had never been in a more tense environment. Behind him stood his friends- and Yamamoto- while before him sat Aizen, flanked on either side by Gin and Ulquiorra, with Starrk and Grimmjow standing close by. He could practically feel the bloodlust in the Vizard behind him and felt his own Hollow cry out to join them. It would be so easy to hate Aizen right now; so easy to join his friends. He had nothing else here to lose. And yet...

"Captain Commander," Aizen greeted, a calm smile spread over his lips, "have you recovered well from our last meeting?"

"Aizen," Yamamoto all but growled, fingers already tightening around the hilt of his zanpakutou, "I didn't come here to talk. You won't escape twice."

"Escape?" the exile repeated with a faint air of amusement. "Why would I wish to escape my home? Rather, it is you whom I wish to leave. I am offering you peace; what more could you ask for?"

"Peace, you say?" the old man's voice nearly held a chuckle in it as he spoke. "You are the very antithesis of peace. Do you expect us to leave here without your blood on our blades?"

The smile faded just a touch. "If all wars were fought without treaty and until one side was completely exterminated, there would be little left of that order and pride you speak so highly of." He paused, surveying Yamamoto and then the Vizard and Shinigami behind him. "Your followers would no longer be 'soldiers' but 'destroyers'. Is that your aim for Soul Society? A tribe of barbarians?"

"In this instance," Yamamoto told him, an unimpressed look glimmering in his eyes, "I will accept any label they are worthy of, if it means your death."

"I see." Aizen let out a soft sigh and allowed his eyes to close. "You make things difficult, as always." And, he observed, with so little conviction. It seemed, at this point, Yamamoto was waging war simply for the sake of waging it. Those types were, admittedly, the harder ones to convince.

"Enough of this," Ichigo stated, stepping forward. He had eyes for no one but Aizen and pointed his sword directly at the Espada leader. "We didn't come here to talk, right? So, then let's stop!"

With that final word, he pushed forward, swinging his blade down upon Aizen's head. He wasn't ultimately surprised, though thoroughly annoyed, when it was stopped with another and a flash of emerald green met his eye.

"Ulquiorra," Ichigo growled, gritting his teeth. If there was anyone he had a bigger grudge against than Aizen, it was the Espada before him. Words were no longer needed between the two and they silently agreed that their dispute would finally be finished.

"Looks like this won't be easy, after all," Kensei muttered, raising a hand to pull down his mask. All around him, the Vizard mimicked his lead and he shot out toward Aizen, if only to draw out his next underling.

He wasn't disappointed when a fiery-eyed Espada with a wide, vicious grin blocked his assault. "Grimmjow Jaegerjaques," he introduced in a arrogant tone before his grin widened and he sent a blow straight at Kensei's mask, "in case you were wondering who's gonna kick your ass."

Kensei blocked the fist, but grunted lowly as a sturdy kick to his chest sent him hurtling back. Of course, he just had to get the obnoxious one.

Kyouraku observed the rest of the room and, instantly, met Starrk's eyes. With a lazy grin, he appeared in front of the Primera in an instant and tilted his hat to the side lightly. "We meet again~"

"You sound far too happy about it," Starrk informed him, shooting a glance to survey the rest of the Vizard and Yamamoto. "They can't really expect to fight in such a small space as this."

"Of course not," Kyouraku agreed, "that's why I chose you. We can wait it out this time, don't you think?" The look he was given told him Starrk couldn't have agreed more.

"I guess we're the ones that get to go for the head honcho," Love observed, tilting his head back to take in the remainder of the group.

"Hey, stop!" Shinji's head swiveled as he took in the two battles, which he knew would take very little time to get vicious and destructive, before focusing his gaze on Yamamoto. "Old man! It ain't gotta go down like this. Why don't ya ever listen to me when ya should? There ain't no point t' this, anymore. We're just wastin' lives like this!" He motioned around the room. "Aizen already sent Hiyori home, so ya got no reason t' be here." He caught Lisa's form out of the corner of his eye and didn't dare to even search for Hachi. "An' I'm stayin' here."

At the final words, both Ichigo and Kensei halted in their assaults, every eye in the room now on Shinji and Yamamoto. If possible, the Captain Commander's look grew even more severe.

"Hirako Shinji," he stated in a low, clear voice, "to claim as much would be to claim your loyalty to Aizen and your betrayal of your allies."

"Ya don't get it, do ya?" Shinji wondered with a frown. "What Aizen wants, what everyone here wants; those sortsa things don't even apply. 'Traitor' an' 'enemy'," he kept his gaze focused on Yamamoto, unable to look at his family and friends as he spoke, "even things like 'allies'. To keep the worlds separated, Hueco Mundo an' Soul Society, would mean that we ain't gotta worry 'bout that kinda stuff anymore."

"Shinji!" It was Ichigo that finally spoke, eyes showing clearly that he didn't understand a bit of what Shinji was trying to say or do. "This was your plan, all along? To sacrifice yourself, regardless? I told you that we'd follow you!" He took a step closer, trying to communicate everything across the short distance between them. "No matter what, this is what we'll do!"

"It ain't your decision!" Shinji told him, shortly. Ichigo didn't get it; he didn't expect Ichigo to get it. He didn't even really expect Yamamoto or Kyouraku to get it, but the rest of them...

His stomach still turned a bit as his eyes quickly found Hachi's serene face. As big as the guy was, he practically faded into the background in these sorts of situations, but Shinji hadn't forgotten for a minute that he was there. And when the large man smiled just a little, he felt something in him rise up. He turned back to Yamamoto and placed a hand on the hilt of his blade. He could have laughed when Yamamoto tensed at the action. "Relax, old man, I ain't gonna attack ya." His eyes traveled down to the sword, silently apologizing to his companion. "Ya said givin' me back Sakanade was your way of repayin' me, right? I said it wasn't nearly enough, but if ya want, I'll give 'im back." His eyes returned to burrow into Yamamoto's. "I'll hand 'im over if ya'll accept Aizen's offer- nah, accept my offer in place of it."

The room fell silent and, for a moment, even Aizen looked as if he pitied the man who was sacrificing so much for his plans. Yamamoto's gaze, however, held no sympathy in it. Only an attempt to understand the man in front of him, as he had always tried to do. Tried and failed.

"Why would you protect him?" he asked slowly. "The man who robbed you of your status and home; who mutated you and shamed you from the life you knew? Why would you give up so much to protect him, now?"

Shinji tilted his head over his shoulder to look at Aizen, not all impressed by what he assumed was supposed to be a comforting smile on the other's lips. "It ain't about 'im," he stated, looking back to Yamamoto, then motioning to the rest of the room. "It's about everyone. T' protect them. I ain't new at bein' a leader, an' I always had this policy not t' take anyone else's feelin's int' account when I make a decision." Lisa's eye caught his and he hoped his next words hit home to her. "'Cause what they want ain't always what they need. They don't need me, anymore. They need peace an' quiet. They need their home back an' their life back." He narrowed in on the Captain Commander once more. "Bein' a leader, ya should know somethin' 'bout that, right? An' right now, ya can't be thinkin' 'bout what you want, or even what might make everyone else happy. Ya just gotta think 'bout what they need, an' another war- one ya might end up losin'- ain't really what anyone needs."

Had it been Aizen- or really very nearly anyone else other than Shinji- speaking the words, Yamamoto would have dismissed it as something pretty covering up something very ugly; words perfected and manufactured to persuade and manipulate. But because it was Shinji, a man he knew would sooner die than sacrifice his values and his morals, he took them into consideration. To classify him as persuaded or swoon by the speech may have been a bit of an overstatement, but a quick survey of the room told him he was just about alone on that.

The Vizard, even his captains, seemed to have relinquished their fighting spirit. Kyouraku seemed content with the outcome and even Ichigo, who must have been gunning to take on the pale Espada once more, seemed to hesitate in his actions. If he continued, Yamamnoto knew, he would likely be doing so alone or with very little manpower to back him up. He was powerful, but he had faced Aizen once before and knew he could not do so alone. Whether Shinji's goal was to persuade him personally or simply put him at such a great disadvantage that he had no choice but the comply, the end result of a slackened grip on a dark purple hilt was met.

"It seems," he finally said in a voice that said his hand was being forced, "that you have left me little choice, Hirako Shinji." They shared a look that told Yamamoto it wasn't exactly a victory for the other man, either. His attention turned to Aizen. "Aizen Sousuke. Your request for our worlds to be separated is not a simple one to grant. You should know that, as Shinigami, we are responsible for a balance between the worlds. Hueco Mundo is an important part of that balance, as are the Hollows that reside within its boundaries." His gaze narrowed. "This place, Las Noches, however, is a burden upon all life and can be easily and not the least bit regrettably sealed away."

Shinji knew immediately that Aizen would see the words as a compromise, and as big as Las Noches was, it was a blip on the radar compared to the expansive lands of Hueco Mundo. At Aizen's contemplative silence, he frowned.

"Well," he said loudly, drawing everyone's attention to him, "it ain't like there's a lot t' sightsee around here, anyway. Ya seen one sand dune, ya seen 'em all, am I right? An' this place is big enough as it is. I could get lost for years walkin' 'round here!" His tone was light, but his gaze was intense as it caught Aizen's. "Ain't a big difference between fuckin' big an' really fuckin' big, right, Aizen? As small as we are, we'll never be able t' tell the difference."

And, despite his internal despite at accepting anything less than everything, Aizen felt a kick in his gut at how Shinji still reminded him of such a demanding child, only asking for so much to be sated, if only temporarily. The corners of his lips turned up; Shinji knew well enough that Aizen could hardly deny him when he acted as such. He deduced that, still, the Vizard had yet to see the world outside of himself that also needed attention and care.

"A small price to pay," he finally decided, letting his eyes close for a moment, "for such a large reward." Then they were back open and looking to Yamamoto. "I believe your visit here has reached its fruition, Captain Commander."

A finality in his words seemed to close the deal and, on instinct, Ichigo stepped toward Shinji, defiance still riddling his features. Before he could speak, though, Shinji did.

"Don't worry your head 'bout it, Ichigo," Shinji told him with a wink. "Just make sure things stay good on your end an' I'll do the same here, okay?"

"Shinji..." It was Lisa's voice that broke the silence, next. Her eyes didn't beg him to stay with her, but at the very least to leave fully if he was going to go; to give them the closure they all craved.

Frowning a bit, Shinji turned his back to the group and was met with his new roommates, so to speak. He closed his eyes; he couldn't bear to see Aizen's self-righteous smile at the moment. "It ain't a good idea t' have a face like that when you're talkin' to a traitor," he told her evenly, "'specially right in front of the old man's face."

"Not all of us owe him silence," Love insisted, also moving up.

"Then ya owe it t' me." Finally, shoving down every feeling he was sure would come back and bite him in the ass, later, Shinji glanced over his shoulder at the group. "Ya know how terrible I am with messy goodbyes." A million words passed through their gazes as he took each one of them in turn, finally resting on Hachi. "But do me a little favor, yeah? Tell Kisuke an' Hiyori..." He paused, falling into deep contemplation for a moment as a spark of regret shot through his chest. "Tell 'em it's alright if they wanna hate me for this."

"Idiot," Lisa muttered, "we could never." It was clear the message had been for all of them.

Upon Aizen's subtle command, Ulquiorra begrudgingly opened a pathway for the intruders. As they passed, one by one, he turned away. Most of them he didn't mind letting go; most of them posed no threat. But as Ichigo cut through his line of view, he raised his head again. Their eyes met and, for a moment, Ulquiorra was sure that he saw something like disappointment. He attempted to recall that burning hatred he felt for Shinji, whenever the other had forced him into failure, but where Ichigo existed he could only remember duty and obligation. Perhaps, he mused as the substitute disappeared through the portal, not only to Aizen.

Shinji watched as the last of his friends disappeared from sight. And though they were gone, he still reined in the feelings that were burning against his chest. He had a feeling Aizen would get some sort of satisfaction out of seeing him break, now. It was one- perhaps the only one- he wouldn't give him. He needed only to remind himself that this was a necessary sacrifice and it was enough to quell his feelings to the point of keeping his face straight and his eyes focused.

However, as those so-focused eyes turned to their captor (he certainly wasn't a leader and Shinji would be damned if he'd call Aizen a lord or master, so 'captor' seemed ever-appropriate), the man's image slowly began to crack.

And then it shattered altogether.

Widened eyes observed every startled face in the room and it wasn't until Shinji saw what was clearly the true Aizen emerging from another door he had failed to take notice of, with Yamamoto in tow, that he vaguely understood what had happened. But only just.

"Our apologies for taking so long," Aizen spoke with a warm smile aimed at the baffled Vizard, "but the terms of negotiations are much more delicate than to be decided on a whim and far too personal to be discussed in front of others." He stopped a mere foot from the other man, his face softening slightly. "My sincerest apologies, as well, Shinji. Your friends will be terribly angry with you."

"What're ya talkin' about?" Shinji muttered, swtiching his gaze from Aizen to Yamamoto. "Old man?"

Yamamoto gave a soft grunt and continued his pace across the room toward the awaiting Garganta. "You are to return to Soul Society," was the only explanation given before the Captain Commander disappeared through the gateway.

"Wha- wait! Hey!" A soft growl sounded in the back of his throat. " Aizen!" But his fierce gaze was met only with an enduring smile.

"Farewell, Hirako Shinji. It has, undoubtedly, been a pleasure to know you."

And Shinji recognized the smile. It was one he had given his friends when he sent them off to live their lives without him; the one he had given Ichigo when the other realized he was powerless to do anything but walk along the path that fate had shoved him down. It told him that Aizen knew he was never the type of person to be parted from his family; from the people he wanted to protect. Shinji wasn't strong enough to be okay with something like that. But Aizen was.

Slowly, Shinji's feet led him to close the small gap between himself and the fallen God. He tilted his head up to take in every aspect of Aizen's features before glancing off to the side. "Yeah," he finally managed out, "it's been one hell of a ride."

Another moment gave way to an acknowledging nod in Starrk's direction and the next found him stepping through the Garganta, the portal closing behind him as his last words hung in the quiet air of Aizen's throne room.

"Thanks, Sousuke."

Essentially the end of the story, though loose ends and unwinding will take place next chapter. It's more of an epilogue than anything.