The next day at school, Shane was slightly on edge. He noticed that Ichigo, Orihime, Chad and Ishida hadn't shown up at school. Shane figured they were off training to get stronger. When the final bell rang to end the day, Shane sat in his seat and waited nervously. He glanced across the room at Tatsuki, who was putting her books away.
Come on man, this is probably the easiest thing you'll ever do, Shane thought. Yeah right. I haven't seen to her since that night and she probably never wants to talk to me again. Tatsuki stood up to leave and Shane tried to call out, but the words caught in his throat. He stumbled out of his seat. "Wait Tatsuki!" he called out, but she had just left the room. Shane sighed and stood there in the classroom, feeling dejected. The door slid open and Shane glanced up to see Tatsuki enter the room. She noticed him and stopped. "What do you want?" she asked angrily.
Although he expected it, Shane was still slightly put off by her hostility. "I was going to ask if you wanted to come over on Sunday for dinner and meet my friend, but since you're still mad at me, I figured it would be a waste of your time," he said.
Tatsuki said nothing and walked back to her desk. She rummaged through some papers and when she found what she was looking for, she shut the desk. Tatsuki stared at the paper, completely ignoring Shane. "Are you trying to kiss and make up?" she asked sternly.
"Who said anything about kissing?" Shane asked in shock.
"What? Nothing! It's just an expression," Tatsuki stammered, her cheeks turning pink.
"Do you want me to kiss you?" Shane grinned evilly. He puckered his lips and chased Tatsuki around the room, making wet kissing sounds.
"Stop!" Tatsuki cried and began attacking Shane. He dodged her attacks and continued trying to kiss her. "Enough!" Tatsuki roared and picked up a chair. Shane's eyes grew wide and his face fell. "You wouldn't," he whispered.
"Try me," Tatsuki hissed. Shane slowly puckered his lips again and raised his hands to grab Tatsuki, who raised the chair higher over her head. The stalemate lasted for several tense moments, then Shane lunged forward. Tatsuki screamed and swung the chair as hard as she could. Shane saw stars and the world went topsy turvy, before going black.
"I'm really sorry. He doesn't normally act like this," Olivia said.
"Humph. He's just lucky, that's all," Tatsuki replied.
Shane opened his eyes and noticed the world was fuzzy. He shook his head to get his eyes to focus and was rewarded with a jolt of pain. Shane groaned and rubbed his head.
"I see our patient is finally awake," Olivia said, moving into Shane's view. He glanced around and saw he was in an unfamiliar room. "Where am I?" he asked.
"This is the school infirmary," Olivia said. "When you didn't show up after school, I went to investigate. I found Tatsuki beating the stuffing out of you with a chair."
Shane looked past Olivia and noticed Tatsuki nearby. When she saw him look her direction, Tatsuki crossed her arms and turned her back to him.
"She really was worried about you," Olivia whispered.
"I was not!" Tatsuki said loudly.
"Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?" Olivia chided. Tatsuki whirled around and glared at the two of them. "Fine! I accept your offer!" she said and pointed an angry finger at Olivia. "But only because she talked me into it." Tatsuki stormed out and slammed the door behind her. Shane winced at the sound.
"You really have a way with the ladies," Olivia teased and mussed Shane's hair.
Tatsuki stared at the piece of paper in her hand and frowned. She turned it around several times and even flipped it over. "That idiot gave me these silly directions and now I'm lost," Tatsuki said dejectedly. She remembered what Shane had told her yesterday.
"My house is a little out of the way, but if you follow these directions, I'm sure you'll make it," Shane said.
Tatsuki stared at the paper. "I can't read this," she said.
"What do you mean?" Shane asked and snatched the paper away. "These directions are clearly labeled and drawn to perfection." He handed the paper back to Tatsuki. "Now, start here at the school. Make this left here and walk until you don't see anything you recognize. If you see a fish market, keep walking until you find a dead tree next to the road. If you find yourself at the pachinko parlor, you went too far and you have to backtrack. Anyway, at the dead tree, there is a fork in the road. Literally. A fork in the road."
"What?" Tatsuki asked, clearly confused.
"Don't worry about it," Shane assured her. "It makes sense when you see it. Anyway, when you come to the fork, go left and walk three blocks until you come to The Ramen Bar. Take a right at the next corner, and presto! My house."
Tatsuki was now hopelessly lost in an unfamiliar downtown district. The crowds of people pressed in tightly, moving with a sense of purpose. The area seemed older and a bit run down, but had a familiar atmosphere. Despite being lost, Tatsuki was certain she wouldn't get into trouble. She stopped at a store and asked the elderly lady for help. She smiled and pointed Tatsuki in the right direction. Tatsuki followed the street and noticed the noise and hustle and bustle began to fade and she was in a quiet neighborhood. All the housing buildings were packed tightly together, making Tatsuki feel slightly claustrophobic. She checked her paper and came to house number 715. Tatsuki rang the door buzzer. When there was no reply, Tatsuki looked closer and noticed the door was cracked open. She knocked lightly and pushed open the door.
Shane looked up from where he was sitting and saw Tatsuki. "Hi. Come on in," he said. "You're a little early."
"No one else is here yet?" she asked and looked around the room. Shane's house was very tiny. Tatsuki cold spread her arms out and almost touch both walls. In the center was a small table with cushions around it. But what surprised Tatsuki the most were the stacks and stacks of manga collections scattered around the room. What space that was left was occupied by bowls of cup noodle, some empty, some unopened.
"What is this?" Tatsuki asked incredulously.
"What? Is something wrong?" Shane asked, looking around the room. Tatsuki went around the room looking at the manga books. Some she recognized, some she didn't. "Have you read all these?" she asked, waving her hand around the room.
"Well, most of them," Shane admitted. He waved for Tatsuki to sit down. "Is this all you do in your free time?" Tatsuki asked, "Eat cup noodle and read manga?"
"Not always," Shane said. "There's a really good ramen bar just down the block that I like." Tatsuki rolled her eyes. Shane put down the book he was reading and stood up. "Would you like something to drink?" he asked.
"Water is fine," Tatsuki answered. As Shane went to the kitchen, Tatsuki looked around the tiny apartment. Upon a closer look, Tatsuki saw the house was very clean and well kept. In the back corner, the partially open curtain revealed a neatly folded futon and sleeping area. She decided it really wasn't a bad place.
"Here," Shane said and placed the cup on the table in front of Tatsuki. "I don't see how you make it to school on time," she said, picking up the cup. "I spent a few hours trying to find this place."
Shane gave her a curious look. "It only takes me about 20 minutes to get to school," he said. Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "Of course! You know exactly where you are going and how to get there. All I had was your crummy map and terrible directions."
"What? You couldn't read my map?" Shane took the paper from Tatsuki and pointed. "See? This is the school here, and this is, um, huh?" Shane frowned and stared closely at the map. He looked the paper up and down, sideways, backwards, upside down and every which way. Tatsuki didn't even try to hold her laughter. "See? Even you couldn't follow those scribbles."
"Well, whatever. You're here now and that's all that matters," Shane replied and crinkled the map into a ball and tossed it carelessly behind him.
About that time, the door to the house burst open and Orihime and Olivia piled inside. "Hi Shane I'm back!" Olivia called out. She stopped when she saw Shane's guest. "Oh, I remember you!" Olivia said with a smile.
"Tatsuki Arisawa, meet my dear friend Olivia," Shane introduced.
"I'm pleased to meet you on better terms," Oliva said.
"Likewise," Tatsuki agreed.
"Why? What happened? What did I miss?" Orihime chimed in. Tatsuki patted Orihime on the shoulder and Olivia laughed. "So where is this wonderful dinner we were promised?" Tatsuki asked. All eyes turned to Shane, who was reading a manga. After a moment, Shane felt three pairs of eyes staring intently at him. He looked up from his book and asked, "What are you all looking at?" Tatsuki hit herself in the head in annoyance, Olivia sighed and shook her head, and Orihime giggled. Shane slammed his book shut, causing the girls to jump. "Right! I'm hungry, so it's time for dinner!" Shane jumped to his feet and struck a pose. "Prepare yourselves! Your taste buds will dance and sing at the meal that I, Shane Akiyama, have prepared for you!" He struck another silly pose and shouted. "Yes! Wonder in awe at the glorious feast I have prepared!" Tatsuki groaned at Shane's flamboyant behavior. Olivia and Orihime were totally into Shane's gimmick and cheering wildly.
Shane disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared with four bowls and other dishes containing the meal. Orihime's eyes went wide when she saw the spread. "You made this much?" she asked.
"Well, I knew someone had a large appetite," Shane said and hurriedly sat down to eat. Tatsuki shot him an evil look and went to taking her food. When dinner was over, Shane brought out desert, which consisted of banana splits. While the girls leaned back and savored the meal, Shane cleared the dishes and cleaned up. When he came back, he was holding four cups and a teapot.
"Thanks for the meal Shane!" Orihime smiled. "Yeah, it was pretty good," Tatsuki admitted.
Shane bowed deeply and said, "I am deeply grateful for your lovely comments."
Olivia leaned over and whispered not too quietly in Tatsuki's ear, "He's not really that good. That's the only thing he knows how to make." Tatsuki recoiled in fake horror. "You fiend! You tricked us! Oh, my heart is betrayed!" Tatsuki put her hand to her forehead and fell back, sending Olivia and Orihime into fits of laughter. Shane slumped to the floor. "Alas, my secret is revealed. The shame is too much! What should I do?" Shane ripped open his shirt dramatically and produced a dagger. "This is the only way to atone for my sins! Ancestors, forgive me!" Shane cried out and held the dagger high over his head. The girls shrieked and knocked Shane over to prevent him from "committing suicide". They all rolled around the floor, kicking and screaming and carrying on, knocking over most of Shane's books.
They managed to untangle themselves and sat around the table drinking tea and trying to straighten themselves out.
"That was the most fun I've had in a while," Shane remarked, straitening his glasses.
"A little laughter and exercise is good for your health," Olivia added while smoothing out her hair and clothes. Tatsuki sat hunched over her tea while Olivia and Orihime chatted about various things. Shane noticed and nudged her with his elbow. "What's wrong?" he asked. Tatsuki shook her head. "This doesn't make any sense." Tatsuki leaned forward and shouted, "This doesn't make any sense!" Orihime and Olivia stopped their conversation and looked at Tatsuki. "What doesn't make any sense?" Orihime asked.
"I don't know!" Tatsuki said and grabbed her head in her hands. "I just don't know." Olivia put her arm around Tatsuki and gave her a squeeze. Shane sighed and asked Olivia, "Do you want to do it or should I?"
"I'll do it," Olivia said. Olivia then told Tatsuki everything about Soul Society, Death Gods and hollows, in greater detail than Shane had explained the other day. At times, Shane would add his comments, but largely stayed silent. When Olivia was done, Tatsuki sighed. "I guess that means you're just like Shane?" she asked. Olivia nodded her head. "I too am a Death God, but my speciality is medicine and Death God magic, or kido."
"So that body isn't real?" Tatsuki asked, poking Shane in the arm. "Nope. It's fake, just an empty shell occupied by my spirit," Shane said. He popped a piece of Soul Candy. There was a flash and a popping sound and Shane was dressed in his Death God uniform, the body lying on the floor.
"So if you're a spirit now, how can I see you?" Tatsuki asked.
"Because Ichigo is stupid and can't keep his enormous power under control," Shane said. "After his powers awakened, you were exposed to it and became what we call 'spiritually aware.' That's why you started seeing things and can see me in this form."
Tatsuki thought for a moment, then said, "I've seen you like this before, haven't I? I mean, before yesterday when you almost got me killed and left me on the roof of that building?" Tatsuki glared at Shane who reluctantly nodded his head. "Why have you been lying to me this whole time?" she asked.
"To protect you," Shane answered. Tatsuki shot him a curious look and Shane continued. "Hollows like to eat human souls. The better quality of the soul, the better it tastes. Death Gods are an extremely rare delicacy for hollows, followed by humans with high spiritual auras. Orihime and Chad have also been exposed to Ichigo's enormous spirit power, and have gained their own powers as a result. Since you haven't shown any special abilities or powers, you can't defend yourself from hollows. It's better if you don't know about this. But now it can't be helped I guess."
"That sounds more like a disadvantage for me," Tatsuki said sourly. Shane fell silent and looked away. "The normal policy of Soul Society is when we encounter humans that can see us and hollows, we end their lives and send their souls to Soul Society, where they can't be harmed by hollows," Olivia said. Tatsuki's eyes went wide with shock and horror. "Don't worry, we won't kill you," Olivia assured her. Orihime held Tatsuki's hand for support. "I'll protect you Tatsuki," Orihime said. Tatsuki smiled and squeezed Orihime's hand.
"Okay, I'm sick of this mushy stuff," Shane said loudly. He merged back with his faux body and stood up. "There's still a little day light left and there is a park nearby. Who wants to go?" Three eager hands shot up into the air. Shane struck another silly pose. "Then let's go! Off into the setting sun for a grand adventure!" he shouted. Tatsuki rewarded him with a hit on the head.
