"Welcome to Bleach B Station!" Ichigo shouted with fake enthusiasm over the radio, after Rukia informed him that he was on the air. "That's right! This is a new program, so don't turn off the radio because you have no idea what's going on. Anyway, this is your host, Kurosaki Ichigo, and-"
"and second host Kuchiki Rukia!" she added playfully also with fake enthusiasm, although to her many adoring fans her voice was more convincing than Ichigo's. "We are live from Karakura High. This is an after school program, where we will invite one of your fellow students each week. Stay tuned to find out who this week's guest will be after this commercial break."
"You seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit." Ichigo's tone reverted to his regular somewhat scary unintentional implication, as the listeners couldn't hear what they were saying during a commercial break.
"Oh, are you just upset that my radio voice received 99 percent of the votes while yours received only one percent during the demo?"
"It's not like I really care about that. I didn't even want to do this radio thing in the first place. It was your idea."
"You fool." She also reverted to her regular somewhat scary strong, unfaltering tone. "You better take this seriously. Did you forget? The idea of appealing to the students is just a cover-up. The reason we are really here is because apparently the hollow Grand Fisher was reported to be near this school."
"So why don't I just beat it?"
"Don't be a fool. You couldn't possibly beat him. He has evaded us Shinigami for 50 years. Only a vice-captain would be able to beat him."
"Then why don't you just call Soul Society with that cellphone and ask for one? Then we can stop this ridiculous radio show."
"I... can't contact Soul Society."
"Why? Is something wrong? Reception?"
"No, it's not like that. It's... I really need to tell you something..."
"Yes, and we're back on the air! This week's guest is... Arisawa Tatsuki!"
"Yes, this is Tatsuki," she introduced. Her fake enthusiasm was actually worse than Ichigo's. "How long is this going to be anyway?"
"Uh, well, we're really happy to have you as our guest today."
"I only did it because Orihime asked me too. Although I do have some questions, for you, Ichigo, no, both of you, about that night, when I visited Orihime's during dinner. I saw-"
"Why don't we introduce our first corner," Rukia interrupted cleanly. "Our first corner is Zanpakuto Naming Game!"
"A zanpakuto is a special sword that responds to the owner's unique talents and feelings," Ichigo read from a script. "In this corner, we will take fan suggestions for Tatsuki's zanpakuto. You can send in your suggestion to Rukia's cellphone. Apparently everyone already knows her email. So, Tatsuki, what should people consider when naming your zanpakuto?"
She thought for a while, then decided, "Martial arts, I guess. I used to beat Ichigo up all the time. I'm still better than him at the arcade." She didn't know what a zanpakuto really was, but if she did have one, she would use it to protect those she cared for, like Orihime. She vowed one day that she would protect her from all the people that would try to hurt her, but she didn't say that on the radio.
"We'll read fan suggestions after this commercial break!"
"Ichigo, I really need to talk to you." Rukia would have said the exact same words, if Tatsuki hadn't said them first. That monster, that attacked Orihime, what was it? Both of you were there. You managed to defeat that one, but are there more?"
"You can see ghosts?"
"I've seen them more than once now. I know you fight them, wearing black clothing."
"Does Orihime know?"
"I don't know. Her memories of that night are completely different than mine. To her it was just a random dream, but I saw what happened."
"It's not something you should get involved with. They're really dangerous."
"Ichigo, you're such a show-off. I don't care how dangerous they are. If there are more of them, and they're attacking Orihime, I want to know what's going on! I'm not going to just sit back and let them hurt her! You use these zanpakuto to fight those monsters, right? Then give me one!"
"I told you we should have chosen a different corner," Ichigo said to intentionally rile up Rukia, "and you were the one worried I would blow our secret identities."
"I gave her and Orihime memory replacements," she explained, "it's impossible she could have remembered." Unless she has immense spiritual power, but those thoughts were secluded to herself.
"Welcome back! This is Bleach B Station, corner: Zanpakuto Naming Game. We will now read fans' suggestions for Tatsuki's zanpakuto. Then I will go first. Radio name: Orihime. 'Attack, Orihime Robot, with flames spewing from her mouth and a 400 horse power engine...' It keeps listing other abilities... she even drew a picture... the robot is crying..."
"Then next is my turn. Radio name: Chizuru. 'Ichigo o tousse, bishoujoken!'" (Defeat Ichigo, Pretty Girl Sword!) "Well, Tatsuki, what do you think?"
"I like the part about beating up Ichigo," she answered, "but I don't care for the bishoujo part. Maybe I'll have better luck. Let's see... this one is unsigned. 'Makenai, Mamorimaru!' I guess I'll choose this one." It meant: "Don't lose, or don't give up, the one to protect!" It was almost as though the person who wrote that letter had read her thoughts. If she were to have a zanpakuto, that was the one she wanted.
"Well, we're out of time for today's show! We want to here your comments so don't forget to send us mail. Also, every month there will be a trivia question. The person who answers correctly will be July's first guest! This month's questions is, 'What is the name of Kuchiki Rukia's zanpakuto!' Everyone, try your hardest. That's all for today's Bleach B Station! Byebye!"
After Tatsuki left, Ichigo asked Rukia, "What should we do about her? She seems to be able to see us."
"Leave her be," Rukia said. "She won't tell anyone."
"Not that. She says she wants to fight hollows. She's a determined girl. If she says she wants to, then nothing's going to stop her."
"Are you worried?"
"Of course. How could I not be?"
"Are you close? She was the first one you asked to be this week's guest." Actually, she was the one that was worried. She just couldn't go outright and say that she was worried about him and Tatsuki, together, though.
"I guess you could say we're close. We've known each other for a while. We used to practice martial arts together, at the same dojo... back then. That reminds me. Next week, I won't be able to make it to for the radio. You'll have to do it without me."
"What are you talking about? It's only our second week!"
"I'm sorry."
"What if there's a hollow?"
"All you care about are hollows!" His sudden outburst of unprecedented anger shocked Rukia. "There's something that day I have to do."
Rukia left first, without him, even though they did live in the same house. She secretly lived in his closet. She decided it would be best to leave him alone, so she didn't get a chance to tell him about her pressing matter.
It began to rain, and Ichigo still hadn't left. Next week was the anniversary of his mother's death. She had died protecting him, so he blamed himself, even though his family didn't. He thought they should, but they didn't. He loved his mother, of course, like any other person, but that fateful, day, he lost something more.
Tatsuki suddenly entered, carrying a wet umbrella. "What are you still doing here," he asked her.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," she replied right away. "I have club activities for Judo, remember? What about you?"
"Just thinking."
"Next week's almost here, isn't it."
"Yeah."
"Do you have an umbrella?"
"No."
"Will you share mine?"
"Thanks."
"It's nothing."
"You were the only one that voted for my radio voice during the demo, weren't you?"
"I only did it because I was mad at the immature boys for ogling over Rukia, but... I don't mind listening to your voice. If you ever want to talk, I'll listen, even if the rain is this loud. You don't seem to care a lot about your radio business, but I want you to try your hardest, because from now on I'll be your number one fan."
"Thank you. Even if Rukia gets 99 percent of the vote, just one person is enough."
Her rare but beautiful bright smile was able to lift his spirts. The two of them walked home together, under one umbrella, protected from the rain.