Yaso was laying on the ground with Seree on top of him, his arm around her protectively and his face stuck with an expression of shock over what had just happened.

"Are you okay?" Seree asked, sitting up on her knees besides him, and looking down inquisitively at his face.

"Just fine." He muttered. "Are you? What was that?"

"That was Abarai-s..." She was interrupted by someone shouting her name. "Yeah, that's him. Abarai-san!" She turned to look at Renji as he came running. "He's the one who saved me, please..."

Her face suddenly froze when she turned to look at Yaso and her eyes fell on his chest. Her mouth was hanging open, repeatedly trying and failing to start talking.

"Seree! What's going on, are you hurt?" Renji called as he reached them.

"M-M... M..." Seree muttered, failing to speak.

"Eeeh? What's wrong girl?" Renji insisted.

"M-M-M... My hair!" She finally cried out.

Yaso's chest was covered with long multi-colored hair. She had jumped towards him when she heard Renji calling his attack, crashing on his chest as she tried to get him out of the way. He had grabbed her as he fell, and that way both had dodged Zabimaru. It had been very close, and only at that moment she realized just how close it had been. Close enough for a rather drastic haircut. Seree reached with her trembling hands for the back of her head, and her eyes opened even wider as she felt for the hair that was no longer there.

Renji's face looked terrified.

S-S-Shit! She's going to kill me! I'm so dead! Captain Unohana is going to kill me!

The short conversation they had had before coming to the real world became that much more vivid in his head.

"You know, Abarai-kun, Seree used to tell me you looked very scary when she was in the 6th division." Unohana had said, in her most pleasant voice.

"Ah? You make it sound like I eat babies or something, Captain."

"Of course not." Unohana smiled. With an almost audible click, her tone changed and Renji felt a chill up his spine. "But please. Take care. Of Seree."

"S-S-Sure... C-C-Captain!"

She's going to kill meeeeeeeeee!

Renji's panic attack subsided when he noticed Yaso had sat up on the soft grass and was looking at him, or, rather, looking at his sword. He had been so distracted that he had sealed Zabimaru without even thinking.

"What are you looking at?" He asked, then his expression changed suddenly. "Wait, you can see me? Who the hell are you?"

"Another guy with a sword. Oh great, and another. Oh-kay..." Yaso muttered as Hanatarō arrived, running and breathing heavily. "Itou Yaso. And who may you be? And what on earth is going on here?"

Before Renji could answer, Seree grabbed his sword arm with her right hand.

"Abarai-san please, he saved me."

Renji gave Yaso a final look, pulled up with his arm to help her stand up, and in doing so made her yelp in pain.

"Ayay! Miyanaga-san, you're really hurt!" Hanatarō cried out, rushing to her side.

Renji let go suddenly with the most eloquent oh crap expression anyone could ever make, and Hanatarō hurriedly knelt besides her.

"Look, just take her to a doctor, there's a clinic I know not far from here." Yaso talked as he stood up and picked up his saber and scabbard. "If you don't want to tell me what's going on that's fine, I'll just be on my way."

"No wait!"

Yaso had turned and started walking away, so Seree quickly stood up and ran towards him. When she grabbed his sleeve, he reacted instantly, turning around and pulling back with wide eyes and clenched teeth. Seree reacted in a similar fashion, and took a quick and cautious step back. They stared at each other for a couple of seconds.

I was sure he was going to reach for his sword.

"What." Yaso said, rather than asked, in a very flat voice.

"Please come with us."

"What?" Both Yaso and Renji said at the same time.

"The person who attacked me, you fought him and, well, we need to ask you about him. I barely saw his face but you had a much better look, and..."

She stopped talking and looked at Yaso. She had just realized she had barely stopped to take a look at him either. He was about six feet tall, very short hair and an oval face with a slightly squared jaw which, together with his deep seated eyes, gave him an air of strength in his looks. She also remembered he had felt strong when she bumped into him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ah? Nothing!" She stammered, thankful for the low light she hoped covered her blushing. "Will you come with us? I'll tell you what's going on too."

"Oi Seree, this is Shinigami business, don't go mixing a human with us." Renji chided her.

"Shini..." Yaso muttered.

"Lieutenant, please!"

"Lieutenant?" Yaso, again, muttered in confusion.

He looked quite confused while Seree and Renji exchanged looks. Her voice had been firm, and she held her eyes fixed on the Lieutenant, no sign of hesitation. Renji sighed.

"Man, this sucks." He muttered, resting Zabimaru on his shoulder. "Fine. But it's on you if we get in trouble."

They both turned to Yaso. He seemed to think about it for a while, then nodded to himself.

"Okay, fine, I'll play. But help me pick up my gear will you?"

"Hm?" Renji asked.

"My fencing gear." He turned and started picking up pieces from the ground. "Man, what a mess, how on earth did he send it all flying like this? And... Crap, the bag's ruined!"

The only one who helped him was Hanatarō, Renji and Seree stood on one side and talked in a low voice.

"So who attacked you? Hanatarō said it was just a hollow, like the one..."

"A Shinigami."

Seree had interrupted Renji as he spoke, but didn't look at him. She had her left hand on her right shoulder, but the trembling on her voice didn't sound like it was because of pain.

"You're kidding."

"No. He wasn't wearing the uniform, but it was obvious."

Renji didn't answer, just turned his gaze towards Yaso and Hanatarō. He suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at Seree with a surprised face, and saw that she, too, had her eyes fixed on Yaso.

"He fought a Shinigami?"

"Uh-huh." Seree nodded.

Man, this town's ridiculous. Renji thought, shaking his head.

In the meantime, Hanatarō and Yaso were looking for the latter's belongings in the dim light of the riverbank.

"Itou-san! Is this yours too?" Hanatarō asked.

"That's an empty can! Why on earth would I carry that dirty thing?"

"Ah! Hahaha, so I guess it isn't..."