Chapter Three

Chapter Three

The next morning at school, Rukia and Ichigo got there at the usual time, but noticed the new girl wasn't there. "Odd, why isn't she here?" Rukia thought, as the bell rang to start class. The substitute teacher came in at the bell with a smile on her face.

"Hello again, everyone," she greeted them. "I have a couple of new students to introduce you to. One I didn't know, but she started yesterday, and the other started today.

At that, two girls that looked practically identical to each other entered. The only difference was that where one was pale, the other was tan, and where one had dark hair, the other had fair hair. "Nice to meet everyone. My name is Arashi Bantsu."

"My name is Oto Sakura. Nice to meet everyone," the other greeted, surprising everyone by revealing that they weren't related.

Bantsu went to the seat she was in the day before and Sakura was seated two rows to the right of her. "Ok, now let's start the lesson," Kazu announded, opening the textbook.

The whole school day was fairly quiet, with no hollows or any kind of disturbances. 'Today has been a little too nice for it to be real,' Rukia thought. Just as she thought that, her soul phone and Ichigo's badge went off. The two looked at each other and the others and stood up. "May we go to the restroom?" they said in complete unison.

"You may in five minutes," she said calmly.

"But we really have to, Shinji-sensei," Rukia said for both of them.

"You may run out of here in five minutes, Ms. Kuchiki," she turned to look at the two.

The two sat back down, listening to the noise, Rukia tracking the hollow's movement. "She let us go yesterday, but not today? What is going on here?" Rukia thought, still trying to figure this all this out. 'Bantsu, this one is all yours, have at it,' Sakura sent to Bantsu. 'Yes, I am so excited. Be right back,' Bantsu sent back, turning into a little soul ball before leaving the room. Though, as they had planned, she was not unnoticed. Rukia and Uryuu saw her leave the room, but also realized the body was still responsive. Not even a minute later the hollow's signal vanished. 'So this is what has been going on,' Rukia thought, assuming she was that much closer to finishing the puzzle. Once the five minutes were up, the bell rang, ending the school day. Rukia waited for everyone to leave the classroom before she approached the teacher.

"You just had to go to the restroom, why are you still here?" she asked, knowing full well that Rukia never needed to go to the restroom

"Because, Sensei, I think I know who you really are and I want to know why you're here," Rukia said, looking at her.

"Don't think you can act like your brother, Ms. Kuchiki, I have told you that before. It is unbecoming of you to copy him," Kazu scolded Rukia quite bluntly.

Rukia was stunned, the last person to say that was..."You're the analyzer."

"Well, it seems little Rukia was finally able to figure it out," Kazu said, rising from her chair.

"Why are you here?" Rukia asked, once she recovered from shock.

"You already know why I am here, Ms. Kuchiki," Kazu replied.

"I know that, but why now? Why has the soul society never shown an interest before?" Rukia demanded to know.

"Help them out a few times, and they want official records. I really don't know, I'm just following orders," Kazu retorted, knowing she was not going to like that.

"I know there is more to it than that, and I want to know what it is," Rukia demanded.

"Sorry, I can't tell you anything beyond what I have," Kazu told her.

"Liar, now tell me!" Rukia yelled at Kazu.

Kazu's expression changed to something very dangerous. "Rukia Kuchiki of Squad 13, either you stop this, or I will send you back to the soul society for the remainder of this testing," Kazu yelled back with more anger and force.

Rukia backed off at that, knowing it would not be worth the fight or punishment for disobeying orders. Kazu didn't say anything else, she just left the room, leaving Rukia to her thoughts.

Meanwhile, Ichigo approached Sakura and Bantsu on their way out. He had a plan to find out who they were, because they didn't feel like any of the others did. When he got closer to the two girls they turned to look at him.

"Hey, Ichigo, how are you?" they greeted happily.

"Uh, Rukia and I were wondering if you two wanted to hang out with us," Ichigo asked, not very confidently.

"Sure, but where is Rukia?" Sakura asked nicely.

Just as Sakura asked, Rukia appeared from inside the school building, walking outside. "Oh hey, Rukia, are you ready to go?" Bantsu asked with a smile.

Rukia stopped where she was, confused about the whole situation. "Go, go where?" she thought, staring at the other three.

"Hey, why don't we go to the arcade?" Bantsu asked excitedly.

"Bantsu, you always want to go to arcades," Sakura complained.

"Because it is always so much fun, Sakura! All the different types of games are different challenges," Bantsu explained happily.

"That sounds like a great idea," Ichigo said, starting to leave.

The four walked to the arcade shop with very little difficulty, Bantsu talking happily to Sakura like normal high school students. 'Could we have been wrong about these two, or is this just a ruse?' Rukia thought, observing the two. Once they got to the arcade, they all entered, but Bantsu turned to address the group.

"Well, since Ichigo and I are really the only two that want to play, why don't you two go do something else?" Bantsu suggested with a smile.

"What do you think, Rukia?" Sakura asked.

"Sure, why not? You two have fun," Rukia said, walking over to Ichigo to whisper in his ear. "Let's use this to get the information we need."

With that, Rukia and Sakura went to a juice stand, while Ichigo and Bantsu went to play a popular fighting game.

Once Rukia and Sakura got their drinks, they went to the park and sat on one of the benches.

"So, what are you two planning, separating us?" Rukia asked pointedly.

"Not surprising you caught on, Rukia Kuchiki," Sakura said, taking a sip of her drink. "The second phase started today, and this is necessary before the test starts, but you shouldn't worry about Ichigo. The others have probably already started."

"What do you mean?" Rukia asked, suddenly worried.

"Bantsu's ability in this form is to manipulate space and matter. It doesn't matter where she is, where the target is, or how many there are," Sakura explained. Noticing Rukia was about to leave, she took out her flute and started playing. Once Rukia realized the trap, she tried to get away, but once Sakura's flute sounded, she couldn't move her body. "What is going on?" Rukia thought, struggling to move.

Meanwhile, at the arcade, Bantsu and Ichigo took their sides on the machine. "Come at me with your best, Ichigo. Just because I'm a girl, it doesn't mean I'm not good at this!" Bantsu boasted. As the game started, the rules changed drastically, not just for Ichigo, but for the others as well, who were suddenly seeing people within shadows prepared for attack at any moment.

Author's note: Um, sorry for the cliff hanger here…not much to say here but I will try to update as much as possible I have drawings and other writing projects in the works on top of a lot of other stuff as well, so the plan is to update as much as I can before summer and spring break but once those come around I will try to update more so that way I have an idea for stuff to actually get done for a change of pace. Reviews are always more than welcome I like hearing what you the ones that actually read this think of it, and suggestions to possibly make it better. Well till next time Ja matte!