"You're as bad as Ichigo," she scolded. Shane simply smiled. He stared at the clouds and basked in the sunny afternoon. Just then, his phone started to beep. Shane sighed and dug in his pocket.

"It's a Hollow," he said. He sat up on one arm and looked to Rukia. She was lost in thought about something. Shane decided not to disturb her and he quietly left. He left his faux body behind a tree and jumped off to find the hollow. Shane noticed the signal was coming from a different part of the cemetery. He landed in the grass and saw the spirits of a young boy and elderly man. They were desperately trying to escape the Hollow that was chasing them. Shane let the man and boy run past, then stepped in front of the hollow.

"Eh? What's this?" the hollow asked. It looked at Shane and cocked its head to the side.

"You are wearing shinigami clothes, but you don't smell like a shinigami," the hollow said. It took another sniff and added, "But your spirit power does smell delicious."

Shane frowned. "What do you mean, I smell different?" he asked the hollow. "I'm as much a Death God as the next Death God."

"Perhaps," the Hollow agreed, "but there is something different about you than other shinigami I have come across."

"Whatever," Shane said. He pulled his Soul Slayer from his sash and held it in front of him. "Let's just get this over with, okay,?"

The hollow narrowed its glowing yellow eyes. "Oh?"

Within the next few heart beats, Shane had closed the distance to the hollow, slashed it with his Soul Slayer, and replaced his Soul Slayer back in his sash. The hollow disappeared without moving.

Shane performed a Soul Burial on the two spirits that were running from the hollow and he made his way back to his body. When Shane emerged from the trees, he was once again in his faux body, but Rukia was nowhere to be seen. Just then, Shane heard a loud CRASH somewhere in the distance. He ran to find what had caused the noise. While he was running, he felt an enormous surge of spirit power. Shane staggered to a halt.

"Whoa," he gasped, and spent a few moments to catch his breath. "This must be Ichigo's enormous spirit power." Shane stood up and thought quickly. "Ichigo must be in trouble if his spirit power increased that much that fast." Shane took off running again and found himself running through the heart of the cemetery.

When he got closer, Shane could see Ichigo fighting a large hollow that looked something like a hamster with a skull mask and pink feet. Rukia was trying her best to help, but she was of no use. Shane once again changed to shinigami form and hid his body in a shelter.

"Rukia!" he called out. Rukia quickly turned around to see Shane running toward her.

"Where were you?" she shouted. She was bruised and clearly distraught.

"What's happening?" Shane shouted back. Rukia glared at him and filled him in on the situation. "Ichigo and I were talking in the forest when we heard a scream. My phone alarm rang and we figured a hollow had attacked Ichigo's sisters. When we arrived, that hollow had his sisters trapped and was about to eat one of them. Ichigo freed his sisters and Kon took them to a safe place," she said.

Shane took a closer look at the hollow. "That particular hollow seems familiar somehow," he said.

"It's the Grand Fisher," Rukia said. Shane's eyes widened in surprise. "The Grand Fisher?" he asked. Rukia nodded her head. "We've been after this hollow for many years," she said.

"I've heard of him, but this is the first time I've ever seen him," Shane added. Ichigo was trying his best, but the Grand Fisher was too much for him. Shane watched as Ichigo was thrown around, beaten and bloodied. But every time, Ichigo wearily climbed to his feet and continued to face the hollow.

"You got guts boy, I'll give you that," the hollow said, "But you are still a thousand years too young to go up against me!"

"I'll grind you to dust!" Ichigo shouted and charged the hollow. The Grand Fisher smiled held out a closed hand. When he opened his hand, Ichigo stopped and stared. In front of the Grand Fisher was a young child with short dark hair and pale skin. It was wearing a white robe with black trim and the child had a weird smile on its face.

"Wh-what are you doing with that hollow?" Ichigo asked the child. Shane sensed Ichigo knew this child from his past. Just then the child's head started to split down the middle and a pink tentacle appeared out of the top of its head. The tentacle sprang up into the air and connected itself to the Grand Fisher's forehead. The child's skin continued to split down the middle, revealing a faceless doll-looking lure.

"You like my lure?" the Grand Fisher laughed. "This is how I get my prey. I find people with high spiritual power and lure them to me with this."

"You disgust me," Rukia said, her voice dripping with contempt.

"Oh?" the hollow noted. "Not one but two shinigami!" The Grand Fisher became excited. "I can't remember the last time I ate a Death God, but I remember that it tasted so good! Once you have eaten a Death God's soul, nothing else can compare."

"Heh," Ichigo scoffed. "You forget something," he said to the hollow.

"Oh? What's that?" the Grand Fisher asked.

"We're not dead yet," Ichigo replied and raised his Soul Slayer.

"Ichigo wait!" Rukia called out, but Ichigo had run after the hollow.

By now, the day had grown late and a steady rain began to fall. Ichigo ran after the hollow with Rukia and Shane close behind. Ichigo finally caught up to the Grand Fisher and they resumed thier battle in a large open field. Ichigo was still trying his best, but the hollow was still beating him up.

"Shane, go help Ichigo," Rukia commanded. Shane took a step forward.

"NO!" Ichigo shouted. "Stay back. This is my fight!"

"Idiot!" Rukia screamed, "he's too strong for you! You'll die on your own!"

"Shut up!" Ichigo replied. Rukia suddenly grew quiet. "This hollow attacked my family and tried to kill my sisters. I have to beat this guy and protect them!"

"Ichigo..." Rukia whispered.

Shane felt a warm feeling spread across his body, despite the rain. Shane closed his eyes and concentrated.

"Shane," a voice commanded.

Shane opened his eyes to find that everything had faded out and time seemed to have stopped. A shadowy figure approached Shane and was revealed to be Tsukuyomi.

"What is it?" Shane asked.

Tsukuyomi looked in Ichigo's direction. "Although that boy is still a human, his spirit power is unnaturally high. We should not interfere with this fight," Tsukuyomi said.

"Are you sure?" Shane asked.

Tsukuyomi nodded. "That boy is capable of great things. When the time is right, you will see," Tsukuyomi said, then faded away. The color returned and time resumed its normal pace. Rukia stepped forward, but Shane held her back.

"Ichigo will be fine," he told her.

"But-" Rukia started. Shane cut her off. "Ichigo isn't fighting because he wants to, but because he has to," he said. Rukia remained silent and Shane continued. "The Grand Fisher attacked his family, those Ichigo holds dear. Ichigo is fighting to protect them and also his pride."

"Pride?" Rukia asked. Shane could see the lost look in her eyes. Shane thought for a moment, then spoke again. "I wasn't there when it happened, but I've heard what happened Captain Ukitake's lieutenant." Rukia gasped, and Shane nodded. "Although the time is different, I believe the circumstances are similar. Right now, the only thing we can do is believe that Ichigo will win."

Rukia bowed her head and shivered, not from the cold rain, but from a cold memory. Shane put his arm around her to try and comfort her.

"You are right," Rukia said quietly. "It's best if we stay here and let Ichigo fight on his own."