Chapter Three – The Taskmasters

As she hobbled back, Renji tried to pick up Motomi so they would make better time, but she wouldn't have it. Even with her reiatsu shielded, he could feel her polite but rising frustration with his constant pleas of "we must hurry." He didn't ask again. He took the opportunity on the way to introduce himself and Urahara. But other than that, the walk was in silence except for his Hollow tracker going off every few minutes and the sound of her sniffling. Again, she didn't have a tissue.

Once back at the shop, Motomi sat down on the futon and closed her eyes. I won't run anymore, she sighed. I can't. I'm just dreaming and I need to wake up, that's all. She thought, her ears catching the sound of two deep bass voices coming from the kitchen. They were whispering as to not disturb her. Her eyes fluttered like butterflies in the wind as she fell asleep.

Dawn came quickly. Hollows had been wandering around all night looking for the reiatsu which was now shielded by the shop. Urahara poured the tea which would taste good on a cold morning. They were silent for a while, each in their thoughts while they sipped slowly. It hadn't rained, but frost appeared on the windows, making patterns on the glass.

Urahara spoke softly, "Obviously, a memory replacement will have to be done. The only problem is how far we have to go back. The only way to calm down her reiatsu is to make her think she never had a twin at all." He rubbed his chin in thought. Not the best idea I've ever had.

Renji lowered his voice. "We have to do something; we can't go around chasing Hollows forever. In just this one night the patrol killed three dozen Hollows! " He slammed down his tea. His denreishinki beeped again. "Hollow?" Luckily, it was the Soul Society. He read the message quickly.

"It seems our little problem has been brought to the attention of the Central 46," he read. "Her twin's reiatsu in the Rukongai is going crazy and attracting Hollows. Even some of their spells aren't working. They've tried to perform memory replacement to no avail. They are now looking into their archives to figure how they have dealt with this problem before." He took a breath. "I've been charged with Motomi's protection until they figure this problem out." He was the senior Shinigami in the area, so it made sense.

Urahara sighed. "Well, that answers that question, a memory replacement won't work. Their bond is certainly strong." Suddenly, they felt a now familiar reiatsu flair suddenly. "Well, guess who is awake." They got up and went in the other room.

Motomi was looking up at the ceiling, with her hands clasped behind her head. She turned to look at them. "I need some things from my apartment. I can't go around dressed in Hello Kitty pajamas." She sighed. "And I need to call my mother, she continued. They must be planning Mitsuko's funeral and I…need to say goodbye."

Renji didn't think of that. "Does your mother live close?" He asked.

"In the United States, in Hawaii," she stated simply. "So it's not too long of a flight. Can you, like, please make a spell to shield me so I can go?" She asked Urahara. Renji slumped. He would have to go on that flying contraption.

"It's temporary, but yes." Urahara sat down next to her on the bed. "Sasaki-san," he said, brushing the hair out of her eyes, "your sister had a konso performed on her and is in the Soul Society. Her reiatsu is trying to find you and is causing all sorts of problems. The Soul Society is trying to find a solution, but it will take some time. In the meantime, Renji will be your bodyguard."

She looked up, her eyes wide. The easiest solution was for her to join her sister. She shook her head of the thought. It would kill my mother.

She had a headache. She rubbed her temples lightly, trying to get this in her mind. She had woken in the strange place with these strange men and had hoped that the nightmare was over. That he sister was alive and this was just some crazy hallucination.

She rose up and looked out the window at the cold morning. Her thoughts were on her sister's last moments. It had been her fault that she was dead. If she hadn't asked her to breakup with her boyfriend and come to Japan to live with her she would be alive. He hadn't taken the breakup well, and in his anger, he had killed her.

The two men were silent. They were getting the hang of her blazing reiatsu. Knowing when to stay quiet or speak. It was purple now, and with the faraway look in Motomi's eyes, they knew she was deep in thought.

Renji took a deep breath, breaking the silence. "After some breakfast I will take you to your apartment." He stated flatly. "You need some shoes too."

She looked at him. "Do you have to guard me all the time?" She asked, hoping the answer was no.

"That is my job," he said as he went to go get some breakfast.