Chapter 4:

Monday morning arrived. Buffy dragged herself to school, but her mind was elsewhere. Dismissing Cordelia's daily morning jibes with impressive indifference, she headed straight for the library. Giles glanced up as she entered.

"Buffy, good. Is everyone all right after what happened on Saturday?"

"I'm glad someone remembers" Buffy muttered bitterly. Giles blinked, looking mildly affronted by her terse demeanor.

"I.. well, yes. Granted, I wasn't actually present for the fight. Don't the others remember?"

Buffy sat down heavily by the table and picked up the Watcher's diary covering the 16th century. "No! They don't. Not really. I mean, I'm a little fuzzy too, but at least I have an excuse! I was all juiced up on soul reaper powers."

"You were What?"

"Yeah, but they weren't! And now Rukia's gone, and if I don't find out how to get that power back, I don't know if I'll be able to fight these 'hollows'. Have you seen Faith since it happened?"

"Er, no. Buffy, you're not making much sense. What exactly happened that night?"

"I thought I just told you."

"No, what you did was rant incoherently."

"Oh. A lot happened. In short, Rukia turned up and... I think she lent me her powers. It was weird. Awesome, but weird. I had a sword and everything."

"I thought you took a sword with you?"

"No, this was a different sword. Ah, I can't describe it. It was like it was.. part of me. The sword. Like it was part of my arm. And it was a hell of a lot more effective than the other one." She sighed. "If I don't get that back, and I don't figure out another way to kill them, I'm not gonna be able to defend myself or anyone else against these things."

Giles mulled this over. "..Very well. I'll stay here and see what I can find on fighting these Hollows. In the meantime you should probably get to class."

"But this is…" She trailed off seeing Giles's stern expression. "…Fine. Got it."

Buffy sulkily trudged into her classroom. It was still early and the teacher hadn't arrived yet, so the students simply milled about, chatting happily amongst themselves. Buffy strode over to her desk and hung her bag off the side of the chair.

"Well, if it isn't little miss sulk-a-lot." A familiar voice quipped. "You had some serious attitude this morning Buffy. Calmed down yet?"

Buffy forced an angry grin onto her face and turned around. "Yes, thank you Cordelia." Ever since Xander and Cordelia had broken up, she had returned to her old ways. She appeared to have been accepted back into her old group and was more condescending than ever.

Cordelia shrugged. "Hey, don't let me pop your perfect little bubble of mopyness. I don't want to get any on me."

"Why are you here Cordelia? Are you so stuck for things to do that you actually have nothing else to do other than annoy me?"

"Just thought you could use a wake up slap, Buffy. The whole hostile aura is kinda off putting."

"Oh! Are you Buffy Summers then?" A cheery voice interrupted them.

"Yeah, who-" Buffy stopped short when she saw who was speaking. In front of her stood Rukia Kuchiki, sporting a long sky-blue summer dress and wearing the most innocent and cheerful smile imaginable.

"I'm Rukia Kuchiki, pleased to meet you! I'm going to be sitting next to you from now on!"

Buffy's mouth fell open in utter shock, completely caught off guard. Oblivious, Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"Oh great. Is this school a magnet for freaks or what?"

"Wait.. you can see her?" Buffy managed in disbelief.

"Why, yes Buffy! I can see the girl standing two feet in front of me! Geez, you're really out of it today, huh?" She shook her head and began to move past Rukia. "Welcome to Sunnydale. Try not to die horribly on your first day!"

Rukia's smile did not falter. "What a nice sentiment! I am very much looking forwards to the days ahead!"

"Quit talking like that! What the hell are you doing here?" Buffy hissed.

"I am sure I don't know what you mean!"

It was now that Xander entered the classroom. Seeing Buffy he grinned and made his way over.

"Hey, Buff! I see you made it to class today, that's… hello." He said, seeing Rukia for the first time and obviously not recognising her from last night. "Hey. Hi. I don't believe we've met."

Rukia beamed. "No, we haven't! My name is Rukia Kuchiki, I'm a new student here!"

"I'm Xander. It's always nice to see a new face!" His brow twitched. "It's funny, your name sounds slightly familiar."

Buffy glared at him. Didn't he remember?

"Xander, she's-"

"-Well! This was very pleasant, but I'm afraid I need to have a word with Buffy in private, if that's okay."

Xander blinked, clearly confused. "Um. Yeah! Sure, I'll just… go over here..." He slowly moved away to his own desk, nodding a goodbye to Buffy. He cast several suspicious glances their way as he left.

"Buffy, please follow me!" Said Rukia firmly, taking Buffy's hand and pulling her out of the room. Buffy followed without resisting.

Rukia led Buffy to a secluded area behind the school where they were sure not to be interrupted while the rest of the school was in class. When they arrived, Rukia turned to face Buffy, her face once again stern.

Buffy folded her arms. "Why the hell are you here?"

"My, what a cold greeting. Not pleased to see me?"

"Actually, I kinda am, you haven't been very helpful so far and I'd like to know what's going on. I thought you'd returned to that Soul Society or something, left us in the dust."

Rukia's face darkened. "I can't. Only a Soul Reaper can return to the soul society."

"Isn't that what you are?"

"Not anymore." She looked away. "I only intended to give you half my powers, but you nearly took them all. I have only a bit of spirit power left."

"Oh. Ah. Is that my fault? Sorry." Buffy laughed guiltily. Then she paused. "Wait… so I still have that power? I can still go all reaper mode?"

"Precisely. And that is something I have to talk to you about. Until I regain my powers and are able to return to my duties, you must assume the duties of a substitute soul reaper." Rukia said sternly.

Buffy began to laugh before she realised Rukia was serious.

"Um. Yeah, no thanks. I already have a full time job slaying demons, I really don't have time for another."

"You don't have a choice. You took this on yourself when you drained me of my power."

"I was protecting my friends!"

"Your friends are not the only people in danger from the Hollows! You would refuse to help a stranger where you would help a friend?"

"Don't you understand? I already do that! I do that every day! I repeatedly put my life on the line for people I have never even met! Me, I go out there, I and I fight the creatures that no one else can fight! Because I am the only one who can."

Rukia listened quietly. "And how is this any different?"

Buffy was so frustrated she could scream. "It.. it's different... I just don't need any more of this…" She looked sadly at Rukia. "Look, this power? Take it back. This 'Spirit energy' I've got. I don't want it. Just take it, take it from me, from my friends, so we won't be targets any more and you can go home."

Rukia's expression had softened to... was it sympathy? "I can't."

Just then, something in Rukia's pocket beeped. She took out her phone and looked at the screen.

"Perfect timing." She muttered, and looked back up at Buffy. "We have an order. A hollow has just appeared, it's not far."

"Huh? You want me to..? Oh, no. Nope. I am not doing this." Buffy turned on her heel and walked away, so she did not see Rukia pull a red glove over her hand, then run up behind her and…

Wham! Rukia slammed the palm of her gloved hand into Buffy's back, propelling her forwards.

"Oof!" The air was forced out of Buffy's lungs with the surprising force that Rukia had put behind the attack. She fell forwards onto the ground, grazing her skin against the asphalt.

"Hey!" She growled as she stood up and brushed herself off. "What the hell was that f... huh?" With a jolt, she realised she was once again wearing the black robe of the soul reaper. She reached up and felt her hand brush over the hilt of her sword.

"That is your Zanpakuto. The main weapon of a soul reaper." Rukia explained, watching. "Although I don't know why yours is that shape. Zanpakuto usually have the outward appearance of an ordinary katana."

Buffy's eyes were drawn to the floor.

"Woah! What? Why is… huh?" She stammered as she backed away from what appeared to be her body, lying motionless on the ground in front of her.

"Right now, you are in spirit form, your soul has left your body." Seeing Buffy's terrified expression, Rukia chuckled. "Don't worry, your body is still alive. Just put it somewhere safe and out of sight until we can come back for it."

Buffy glanced up at Rukia. "How did you do that? Get me in spirit form?"

Rukia held up her hand. On the palm of the red glove was a skull surrounded by blue flames. "I got this from... A friend. It has the power to force a soul out of it's mortal body."

"You aren't in soul form, are you? Cordelia could see you, and I'm pretty damn sure she doesn't have any spirit power."

"Correct. I am in a gigai, an artificial body for soul reapers to use. As you already have a body you won't be needing one, so don't worry about that. Now, hurry. We must get to the hollow before it hurts anyone!"

They ran out of the school and down the street, Rukia leading the way. "It's down here!" Buffy recognised the path they were following: they were going to the graveyard.

They arrived just in time to see a hollow advancing on a young child. Buffy looked closely. It was a ghost, and he was trying to run away but he wasn't fast enough. She went to draw her Zanpakuto, but Rukia call out, "Don't"

Buffy turned, confused. "What? Why?"

"Don't help him."

"Are you serious?"

"A soul reaper must treat all souls fairly. If you help him, you must also help the rest. If you meant what you said and don't want to take on the responsibility, you mustn't help."

"I am not going to stand by and watch while a kid is slaughtered right in front of me!"

"Oh? And what about others? Are they not worth being saved just because they don't happen to be near you at the time? Don't be selfish!"

Buffy scowled. Selfish? That was a new one. She looked back to the child. He had tripped and fallen down, and was now scrambling backwards as fast as he could as a clawed hand reached towards him. She couldn't watch. She knew she had to do something.

She cast one last irritated glance at Rukia. "Screw you."

She lept forwards, bringing her sword up. She cut cleanly through the wrist of the gigantic hand and then, without allowing the creature time to recover, spun through the air and delivered a merciless blow to the head. She stood and watched as it crumbled away into nothing. "Just like a vampire," She muttered. "Just cleaner."

The hysterical sobs behind her brought her back to attention. She turned and knelt down beside the child, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Hey, hey. It's okay now. It's gone. You're safe." She said soothingly.

Rukia approached her. "You should perform the soul burial"

"What's that?"

"It's the ritual to send souls to the soul society. He'll be safe there. Simply touch the end of your Zanpakuto's hilt to his forehead."

"Oh, okay.." She reached for her sword, and the boy recoiled in fear.

"Hey, it's alright, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to send you so where safe, okay? Somewhere away from the monsters."

The boy nodded, but never taking his eyes off the blade. Slowly, Buffy raised the blade and gently pressed the end of the hilt to his head, just as Rukia had described. Taking it away revealed a ghostly blue light that settled where the Zanpakuto had touched. The boy closed his eyes, a sudden serene look passed over his features as the light spread around him and he slowly sank into the ground.

When it was done, Buffy turned to Rukia. "Are you sure he'll be safe there?"

"Yes. Hollows don't come to the soul society. He will be well protected." Rukia assumed a serious expression. "So. I take it you've made your choice? Are you ready to assume the duties of the soul reaper?"

Buffy sighed in defeat and smiled weakly. "Sure, why not? It's not as if I'd be going terribly out of my way."

Rukia smiled. "Glad to hear it."

"Come on. If we hurry back we might be able to catch the rest of History."

The rest of the morning passed quickly. Rukia and Buffy were scolded by the teacher for being late, to which they mumbled a quick excuse about 'losing track of time', and they sat down silently. Both Willow and Xander exchanged intrigued glances at this, resolving to ask Buffy about it later on.

The bell for morning break came. As everyone packed up to leave, Buffy approached Rukia.

"How were your first human lessons?" She asked teasingly.

"It was… interesting. And weird. And a bit dull."

"Yeah, school in a nutshell." Buffy grinned. "Come on, I want you to meet the gang."

Rukia cast her a confused glance. "The gang?"

"Y'know when I told you I was a Vampire Slayer? I wasn't kidding. If you're gonna be hanging around Sunnydale for a bit you really ought to know what's going on." She shrugged. "To be honest I'm kinda surprised you don't know, you being a guardian of death and all. I'd have thought it all tied in pretty neatly."

Rukia looked at her thoughtfully, but said nothing.

Willow came up to them. "Hey, Buff! Where'd you go? You missed a good ten minutes of the lesson." She nodded and smiled at Rukia. "Oh. Hi! You're the new kid aren't you?"

Rukia assumed her cheery, false persona. "Yes, good to meet you! I'm Rukia Kuchiki, and-"

"-it's okay, Rukia. You don't need to act around Willow, she's in on everything."

Rukia turned to stare at Buffy disapprovingly. "Really?"

Willow glanced between them. "Um. Right. Buff? What's going on?"

"Let's get to the library. I'll explain there."

Giles glanced up at Buffy entered. "Buffy! Good news, I've read on a bit in the journals, and-"

"-No need for that anymore. I've found our rouge soul reaper." She stood aside, revealing Rukia behind her.

Willow gasped, eyes fixed on Rukia. "Ohh, you're the soul reaper?"

"This is incredible." Giles jumped up and strode over to a slightly stunned Rukia, and shook her hand. "Rukia Kuchiki, yes? It's wonderful to meet you!"

"I-I.. um, yes…"

At that moment, Xander entered behind them. "Buffy, Rukia, where did you two go?" He glanced uncertainly at Rukia, unsure of how much he should say in her presence. "Was it to do with… that thing?"

"Well done Xander. Subtle." Buffy reproached him sarcastically. "Rukia's the soul reaper I was telling you about the other day."

Xander jumped. "Oh. Right. A soul reaper! Okay..." He looked curiously at Rukia. "So that's all real? I mean, really?"

Buffy sighed. "Turns out we've got ourselves mixed up in something big. Or rather, I have."