Chapter 2: The Hunted

"Man, am I glad finals are over!" Ichigo exclaimed, "All that staying up all night and studying really sucks."

"Well, I hate to be the one to point out the obvious," replied Uryu archly, "but you wouldn't have to stay up all night studying if you studied more frequently."

"Hey, who asked you?" Ichigo snapped back, half-seriously, "Anyway it's hard to make time for studying, what with the reaper stuff and all the extra training with Kisuke. I guess ol' hat and clogs is worried that I might go soft."

"Oh, I don't think so, Ichigo," Orihime chimed in, "He just knows that there's trouble out there and he wants to make sure we all stay safe."

"It's good for us to practice our skills," Chad added, "as we've learned, you never know when we're going to need them."

"You got that right," Ichigo agreed, "Still, I don't know if making me practice every day 'til I'm half-dead qualifies as normal practice. I feel more like he's worried about something. He and Yoruichi have been real out of sorts lately. I think something might already have happened."

"Do you have any ideas about what it could be?" Chad asked softly.

Ichigo sighed, his eyes lowering.

"Not really, no. But it's in their eyes and in the impatience I feel in Kisuke when we're training. I feel like something has happened…and maybe they're waiting for something else. I don't know…but it worries me that they're so serious. I just wish Rukia or Renji were here. You know they'd tell us more about what's up."

"Maybe that's why they haven't been around," suggested Uryu, "Maybe someone doesn't want them talking to us about whatever it is. The soul reapers are often secretive."

"Is that right, Quincy?" said Ichigo indignantly, his eyes flashing.

"Does the truth hurt, Ichigo?" Uryu said, raising an eyebrow.

Orihime stepped between them.

"Ichigo," she said quickly, "why don't we go down to the river. I think it's warm enough to swim. We can take a picnic lunch. What do you think?"

Ichigo glared at Uryu.

"All right, I'll go get a few things from home and meet you there."

He turned away and walked back home, cutting through the park to save time. The park trail wound through the green expanse of the park, tapering off as it came to the river. Ichigo turned toward the road that led to his house, still distracted by the feeling that important things were bring kept from him. He had nearly reached the road, when he heard a sudden rustling in the bushes off to his right. Turning quickly, he spotted a boy who looked to be only a few years older than him, on his hands and knees in the bushes. His face was lowered, but Ichigo could see it was badly bruised and battered. He had long black hair pulled back into a hair-tie. His long-sleeved black shirt and jeans were torn in several places and his hands were scratched and bleeding. Ichigo hurried to the boy's side, reaching down to pull him into the light.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, and then stopped, staring into the boy's intense dark eyes, "Wait a minute," he said softly, "but no, I guess not…"

"I'm…fine," the boy managed.

"You look familiar," commented Ichigo, "Do you live around here?"

"I…just moved here," the boy stammered.

"Looks like you managed to find some trouble…" Ichigo continued, "Do you need any help?"

"Um, no…thank you."

"Ichigo," Ichigo said, extending his hand, "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Thank you, Ichigo," the boy said, taking his hand, "You can call me Shin."

"Okay, Shin, you got a last name, too?"

"It's…just Shin," the boy answered.

Shin climbed slowly to his feet, swaying unsteadily. Ichigo reached out to help, but the boy stepped back uncertainly. Ichigo was struck with a feeling of familiarity that he just couldn't place. He furrowed his brow, studying Shin even more intently. The youth looked around searchingly, as though trying to get his bearings.

"Shin…I don't mean to seem rude, but you're looking around like you're lost or something. Are you sure you don't need any help?" he asked.

"No, I'm okay…I just…I was looking for someone. Look, thanks for your help Ichigo, but I really have to go. Thanks…for giving me a hand."

"Oh, it was nothing. Maybe we'll see each other around, Shin."

"Maybe," the boy said, turning away.

"Wait," Ichigo called after him, "What about the guys who did all of that damage? You sure they won't come back?"

"Don't worry about it," Shin called back, "I'll be fine."

Ichigo stood, shaking his head, watching as Shin walked slowly away. When he was out of sight, Ichigo turned and jogged down the trail to his house. Shin's eyes followed him from the bushes until he disappeared around a bend in the road. Once he was certain that he was alone, Shin walked slowly back to the water's edge, stopping to gather water into his cupped hands to wash his face. Bending over the water's edge, he froze, staring down at his reflection in the water. The face that gazed back at him was strikingly similar to his own face, as it had looked nearly eighty years before.

"How can this be?" he whispered, stunned, "That's why Ichigo couldn't place me. I'm not sure anyone would know me…except maybe…her. I could look for her. I know she is here, but it's strange. I used to know my way around the living world, but now I can't remember…"

He climbed slowly to his feet, but his chest suddenly tightened and his vision dimmed. It was clear that something was wrong with the body he was imprisoned in, but finding himself suddenly alone in an unfamiliar place, there was little he could do about it. He knew he couldn't stay where he was. Amaya would be following and in the human body, he wouldn't be able to sense when she grew near. He couldn't turn to Ichigo, because it was exactly what Amaya would expect him to do. In fact, it seemed frighteningly odd that she would place him directly in Ichigo's path. Something was not right. If she wanted him to go to Ichigo, then that was the last place he could go.

He remembered suddenly that Amaya had mentioned a clue. Sliding his shirtsleeves up, he quickly spotted the slim silver band on each wrist. He studied them carefully, but found no markings on their polished surfaces.

I don't see any markings! There's nothing there. Either she lied or there is something I'm just not able to see. I have to do something, but what? Once, I knew all of the pathways of the Soul Society and the human world, but now I can't remember any of it. This body is a mystery to me as well. I don't know why my heart beats so fast. I think that what I'm feeling is fear, but I don't understand why it weakens me when I feel it. I can't force it away or control it as I could before. The connection between this body and my emotion is too strong! It's making my lungs burn in my chest. I… can't breathe!

Shin doubled over, gasping for breath. Spots swam before his eyes and the air went dark and cold around him. He felt himself falling and was dimly aware of unseen arms reaching out to catch him as he fell.

XXXXXXXXXX

Shin's eyes fluttered and he moaned softly in his sleep. Orihime leaned over him, empowering the golden sphere she maintained around him.

"Where did you find him, Ichigo?" she asked, studying the boy's battered face.

"He was in the park. As I was coming home, I saw him crawling out of the bushes. I asked if he needed any help, but he said he was okay. Someone had beaten him up pretty bad. When I left the park, he was walking the other way on the path, but when I came back, he was still there. He saw me, I think, and then he just passed out. Damn! I knew I shouldn't have left him like that."

"It's okay," Orihime assured him, "he's going to be fine. He just needs some rest, now. It was good of you to bring him home with you like that."

"Well, what was I gonna do? He needed help."

"He looks familiar somehow," commented Uryu.

"I think so, too," agreed Chad, "But I've never seen him around here. It's kind of odd."

"I was thinking the same thing, myself," Ichigo said, studying Shin carefully. I think, though, that it's not so much his physical features…it's his spirit energy, but the feel of it is just too weak to read."

"Are you thinking he could be a soul reaper?" asked Uryu.

"How could he be? He's obviously human," said Ichigo, shaking his head.

"So are you, if I remember correctly," observed Uryu adjusting his glasses.

"Yeah…but, that's different. Besides, for him to be like me…no, not with such low spiritual pressure. He couldn't be."

"Ru…kia," the boy moaned softly.

Ichigo whirled around, staring.

"How does this kid know Rukia? It can't be from school, 'cause he's new and Rukia hasn't been around for a while. She never mentioned a guy named Shin. No, this is something else. He's connected to Rukia somehow, but there's almost no spiritual pressure around him…just that tiny fragment of familiarity. He's not a soul reaper. So, who is he? Who came after him in the park? Was he coming here looking for her?"

"Maybe we should talk to Kisuke," suggested Chad, "He might know something useful."

"Yeah, maybe," Ichigo replied, his eyes still focused on Shin, "We need to do something soon. When we talked in the park, he didn't seem to want any help. I'm kind of worried that if we leave he'll bolt. I think he's in some kind of trouble."

"Have you considered," Uryu asked, "that he might be an enemy? "

"What?" said Ichigo, "How do you figure that?"

"Well, he showed up out of the blue, practically on your doorstep. He said he didn't want your help, then collapsed. What if that was an act."

"It's not an act," said Orihime, "His body is unstable. His spiritual pressure is low, but it almost feels like it's pulsating. It rises and drops. He's also feverish and he keeps trembling like he's in pain. Something bad happened to him. I just don't know what."

"Wait…" Ichigo said slowly, "If he is a soul reaper…then he has to have been attacked. Rukia lost her power. Maybe he did too."

"Well, that could be why he seems familiar," said Chad, "We met so many soul reapers when we went to the soul society. He could have been there…but he would have been beneath our radar…in the background."

"I suppose," muttered Ichigo noncommittally.

"I'm all done here, Ichigo," Orihime said, jarring them out of their thoughts, "Healing makes me hungry! Can we go eat? Kisuke said he'd make dinner for anyone who showed up tonight."

"Yeah, right," Ichigo said with a shake of his head, "He just wants to get me down into that training room again. It would give us a chance to ask him some questions regarding Shin. Whatever, at least he's a good cook…Oh, sorry Orihime…I didn't mean that the way it sounded. All right, let's go. Karin said she'd keep an eye on him if I had to go out. I think she thinks he's cute."

XXXXXXXXXX

I have to wake up! I don't know when she'll come after me. I only know she will. I won't be able to see her coming until it is too late. I can't stay where I am. I heard Ichigo and the others…I'm at Ichigo's house, I know. This is exactly where she'll come looking for me. I…have to…wake up. I must leave here, but how? I don't know where to go and I don't know the first thing about living among humans!

In the midst of his dreams, something told Shin that he was in grave danger. He didn't know how he knew, but he felt it as surely as if his soul reaper senses had told him. He opened his eyes and rolled to his feet, his head spinning as he made his way across the room. The pain in his body had lessened significantly and the dizziness faded rapidly. Shin stared out the window guardedly. The sky, though it had been clear all day, had deteriorated into a twisted mass of dark rain clouds. Shin noticed that Ichigo had provided him with fresh clothing, black sweatpants and a dark-colored sweatshirt. He dressed quickly, listening for others who might still be in the house. He moved to the window and slipped it open, easing the screen out of it. He climbed out the window and found a place where he could drop safely to the ground. As he landed, he heard footsteps behind him. His heart began to beat faster and, instinctively, he turned to run.

"I thought you might run," said Ichigo, stepping into view, "What's going on, Shin?"

Shin turned away and broke into a run. Behind him, he heard Ichigo call his name again. Suddenly, he felt a change in the air all around him. A sharp breeze hissed by and then something struck him hard from behind, knocking him to the ground.

"What the hell?" cried Ichigo.

A moment later, Ichigo's body dropped to the ground. Shin felt the sudden weight of intense spiritual pressure and was forced harder against the ground, his body unable to move. He could barely make out the sounds of two voices…Ichigo's and Amaya's.

"What's the big idea picking on a kid who can't even see you? You're a reaper, aren't you? I thought reapers only attacked hollows. What gives?" he demanded.

"Things aren't always as they seem, Ichigo Kurosaki," Amaya replied, "You mean to say that he hasn't told you? How interesting!"

"Hasn't told me what? Who are you? Who is this kid and how does he know Rukia?" Ichigo pressed.

"You know, I think I'll let you figure that out for yourself. Consider it a game, Ichigo Kurosaki, one with very high stakes. Good luck figuring it out! Good-bye!"

She disappeared suddenly in a brilliant flash of light.

"Hey, where are you…crap! Ah well, I really don't feel like chasing her. I've got a feeling she'll be back."

A moment later, the spiritual pressure decreased and Ichigo's body reanimated. Shin pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, and then leaned back against a nearby tree, staring warily at Ichigo. Ichigo walked over and sat down facing him, giving him a hard stare.

"You got something you want to tell me, Shin? Why is a soul reaper trying to mess with you?"

"I couldn't see it," Shin said, shivering, "I could only hear it a little."

"Okay, Shin, how does a kid who can't even see soul reapers know about them? Just who the hell are you?"

"I can't tell you that, Ichigo." Shin replied quietly.

"Hey!" Ichigo said, leaning toward him, "Did you miss the part where I just saved your ass? What if she comes back? You won't be able to see her. She could be sitting nearby, waiting for you to go off alone. You need help. Look, I'm not trying to be pushy or anything, but Shin, let me help you. I can at least see her."

"I know you can see her, Ichigo," Shin replied, struggling to keep his voice calm, "but what you don't understand is that she only found me because you brought me here."

"What should I have done? Left you unconscious in the park? Look, I'm sorry if it's my fault she found you, but I really was trying to help. Is there someone else you can go to?"

"Yes," Shin said, looking at the ground, "I can go to Yoruichi Shihoin. You know her, right?"

"How do you…?"

"Please, just tell me where to find her," Shin said, closing his eyes tightly.

"I'll take you to her now," Ichigo offered.

Shin shook his head firmly, his eyes hardening.

"No…your reiatsu is too strong, too easy for the soul reaper to sense. She'll search for me, but with my low spiritual pressure and the darkness, I can stick to the shadows. She won't find me."

"You are a soul reaper!" Ichigo said sharply, "You've been injured and lost control over your spiritual pressure. Don't bother to tell me I'm wrong, Shin. There's no other explanation for your knowledge about spiritual pressure and soul reapers. But what I don't know is how you're connected to Rukia. Do you have an answer for that, Shin?"

Shin stared at him silently.

"You won't tell me anything, right? Well, you sound like your mind's made up. Okay," Ichigo said, taking out a pen and a slip of paper, "I think you're asking for trouble, but if that's the way it has to be…"

Ichigo scribbled the directions onto the slip of paper and handed them to Shin.

"Be careful, Shin," Ichigo warned him, "That soul reaper had some serious spiritual pressure around her. Oh, my number is on there in case you get into trouble. Good luck."

"Thank you, Ichigo," Shin said, taking the slip of paper, "I know you want to do more, but believe me, this is for the best."

"I hope you're right, Shin," Ichigo whispered as Shin slipped away into the shadows.

Shin remained in the shadows as he made his way back to the park. The trees and bushes gave him cover as he worked his way across Karakura town. The park soon gave way to a maze of streets and he followed the path Ichigo had laid out, careful to remain in the dark patches as much as possible. He had walked for some time when he sensed that someone was following him. He stayed frozen in the shadows, watching and listening until he was convinced that whoever followed must have given up and disappeared behind him. He had only just stepped back onto the road when he felt Amaya approaching again. He only had time to realize that he had sensed her sooner this time, then her arms wrapped around him pulling him tight up against her, her zanpakuto pressed into his back.

"I told you to be careful, Shinotsuro. I told you what I would do to you if I found you. You know, you shouldn't continue to refuse help. It's going to get you killed. Time to pay for your foolishness, Shinotsuro!"

With incredible speed, she thrust her zanpakuto through him, and then pulled it out slowly, watching with gleaming eyes as he gasped harshly and sank slowly to his knees, his face pale with shock. He fell forward onto his stomach and then lay, unmoving, at her feet, his blood pooling beneath him.

"This is becoming pointless. You are truly pathetic. It's like you're not even trying. If Aizen hadn't demanded we let this go on longer, I'd finish you off right now!"

She knelt next to him and took him by the hair, pulling his head up so she could see his face.

"You're very lucky, Shinotsuro. She is coming. Maybe with her help, this will become more interesting. You have hardly been worth the time! You should let her help you. See you later…if you survive."

Shin felt Amaya's presence fade and found himself alone in the darkness, the wetness of his blood turning cold on his skin. His eyes still open, he saw the flash of two golden orbs approaching. Out of the darkness, a black cat appeared and moved quickly toward the boy. Shin stared into the golden eyes.

"Y…Yoruichi…Senpai…" he gasped, pushing himself up onto his hands and knees and reaching for the cat.

The cat stepped closer, gazing at him sternly. His chest heaved with the effort of breathing and he felt his consciousness fading.

"Senpai…" he managed in a whisper, and then collapsed completely.

A white light flashed around the cat and out of the light, a nude woman emerged where the cat had been. She knelt next to the boy, checking him for signs of life. She could see he was rapidly losing blood and moved to lift him. As she did, his hand opened and a slip of paper fell out. She caught the slip of paper and squinted down at it under the light of a streetlamp. Her eyes widened and looked at the boy again, studying him closely.

"So who are you and why were you looking for me?" she asked, gazing down at him intently, "Obviously, you're in no shape to answer. It seems I have little choice, but to save your life first and ask questions later."

Lifting him carefully, she flash-stepped away, leaving the bloodied alleyway empty.