That night, Shane was out looking for hollows. Actually, that's a lie. Shane was perched on a telephone pole across from Ichigo's house. He had watched Rukia leave about an hour earlier and silently wished her luck. The light came on in Ichigo's room and Shane heard a commotion. There was much arguing and yelling, then Urahara suddenly appeared in Ichigo's window. Shane didn't hear what was said, but then Ichigo, in his Death God uniform, jumped out his window and landed in the street. Before he took two steps, Shane appeared in front of him.
"Huh? Where did you come from?" Ichigo asked in surprise. Shane said nothing, his face hard as steel. Ichigo shook his head. "I don't care where you came from. Listen! Rukia ran away and we have to go find her!" he shouted.
"Why?" Shane asked.
Ichigo was startled at Shane's cold demeanor. "Because she'll be caught and taken back to Soul Society!" Ichigo said.
"And what do you think would happen if you happened to save her this time?" Shane asked.
"I...uh...well..." Ichigo stammered and scratched his head.
"If you go rushing off like an idiot, you might happen to save Rukia. But what about the next time they come for her or the time after that?" Shane asked. Ichigo's face fell. "If you happen to save her this night, you'll only prolong the inevitable," Shane said.
"But, isn't Rukia your comrade?" Ichigo asked, "Don't you want to help her?"
"Help her do what?" Shane asked, his voice rising. "What is it that you think you can do?"
"I'll rescue Rukia and kill anyone that gets in my way!" Ichigo shouted.
"And then what?" Shane shouted back. "Are you going to live out the rest of your days, always watching your back, never at a moment's rest? Why is Rukia that importaint to you?"
"Because I owe her my life!" Ichigo screamed. Shane glared at Ichigo. "She risked her life to save me, when I couldn't protect my own family," Ichigo said. "I know there is nothing I can do to repay her for that, but I still have to try."
"So you are going to throw away everything, just to save someone who is important to you?" Shane scoffed.
"Yes!" Ichigo shouted. He grabbed the handle of his Soul Slayer. "If you won't get out of my way, I'll just have to make you move!" he said.
"Are you sure that's wise, boy?" Shane threatened. His body began to glow a soft silvery color and Shane's spirit power began to rise.
Ichigo put his hand in front of his face. "Heh," he scoffed, "Is that all you got?" Ichigo drew his Soul Slayer and pointed it at Shane. There was a burst of wind and Shane felt Ichigo's spirit power begin to dwarf his own. Shane increased his spirit power output and Ichigo did the same. The ground at their feet began to crack and break apart from the force of their combined spirit power.
"Do you think this is wise?" a calming voice said in Shane's mind.
"Probably not, but the longer I keep him distracted, the longer he has to live," Shane replied.
"They are here," Tsukuyomi whispered.
"I know," Shane said. He closed his eyes and reduced his spirit power to zero. Ichigo felt the resistance fade and disappear. "Ha!" he shouted in victory, "I knew you had nothing."
"You have no idea what I'm capable of," Shane replied. He sighed and stepped aside. "If you want to rush off to your death, be my guest. I'll be along shortly to send your soul to Soul Society."
"Don't count on it," Ichigo said with a grin. "I'll be back in no time."
Shane watched as Ichigo ran off. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, the world seemed to stop and fade out and Tsukuyomi was standing in front of him.
"What do you think will happen?" Shane asked.
"He'll put up a fight, simply because of his high spirt power, but eventually he will fail," Tsukuyomi said.
Shane nodded his head. "I thought so."
"However," Tsukuyomi continued, "There is something strange." Shane perked up to listen. "His Soul Slayer is large because that boy has large spirit power, but the Soul Slayer itself has very little spirit power in it," Tsukuyomi explained. "I can't even hear that Soul Slayer's voice. But that's not all."
Shane crossed his arms. "Now that you mention it, there is something that doesn't seem right," he said. "Now, Ichigo received his power from Rukia. But Rukia herself never had spirit power in the amount Ichigo does. What if, by Rukia giving Ichigo her Death God power, she somehow awakened Ichigo's own Death God power?"
Tsukuyomi nodded in agreement. "That does seem plausible."
Shane frowned. "But something seems to be missing," he said. He felt a sudden increase of spirit power that was Ichigo's. "I suppose I should go see what is happening," he said. That idiot is going to try and fight? I guess I'll be sending his soul to Soul Society after all, Shane thought. Tsukuyomi nodded and faded away, and the world resumed its normal pace.
Using flash steps, Shane covered the distance quickly. He saw Uryuu Ishida laying on the pavement and Ichigo and Lieutenant Renji Abarai engaged in a furious battle, while Rukia watched in horror. Shane glanced around and saw Captain Kuchiki watching with little interest. Shane instinctively reduced his spirit power to zero to avoid being seen. Ichigo laid Renji low and was about to finish him off when Captain Kuchiki suddenly appeared to be holding something in his hand.
Shane blinked. What just happened?
Renji stared in shock and Rukia's mouth went up and down, but no sound came out. Ichigo had a look of confusion on his face, and he realized that the blade of his Soul Slayer was missing! He looked around and his eyes went wide when he saw Captain Kuchiki holding the blade of his Soul Slayer. Captain Kuchiki dropped the blade and it clattered on the ground. The Captain then reached for his Soul Slayer and Ichigo turned to face him.
Here it comes, Shane thought.
Captain Kuchiki suddenly appeared behind Ichigo, his hand still on the handle of his Soul Slayer. Ichigo had a blank expression on his face, then blood began to spurt out of a wound Ichigo never felt happen. Ichigo began to slowly fall forward. Shane saw Captain Kuchiki's hand twitch, and Ichigo fell face down on the pavement, now bleeding from a second wound. Shane sighed and lowered his head. Well, that's that, he thought.
"Wait," Tsukyomi said. Shane opened his eyes and glanced around, but saw nothing. "Before the second strike, I felt a sudden drop in that boy's spirit power. The very instant the second blow landed, Ichigo's power was no greater than that of Rukia Kuchiki," Tsukuyomi said.
"Are you sure?" Shane asked, "I didn't sense anything."
"Believe me when I say it happened," Tsukuyomi said. Captain Kuchiki suddenly raised his head and looked in Shane's direction. Shane gasped and ducked behind a bush. "I know you are there, so come out," Captain Kuchiki called out. Shane cringed. Oh well, he thought and stepped out. Shane flash stepped and kneeled in front of Captain Kuchiki.
"Shane Akiyama of Squad 13 reporting sir," Shane said. Captain Kuchiki said nothing and Shane could feel the weight of his stare and spirit power bearing down on him.
"Report your reason for being here," Captain Kuchiki commanded.
"Sir!" Shane said, "I was sent by Captain Ukitake to observe Rukia Kuchiki and monitor her progress while Miss Kuchiki was on mission here in the Real World, sir!"
"So you have been here the whole time?" Captain Kuchiki asked.
"Yes sir!" Shane replied.
"So you did nothing when Rukia Kuchiki committed this felony?" Captain Kuchiki asked. Shane felt the burden increase.
"Sir! Rukia Kuchiki is very clever and managed to elude me. I have failed in my mission and I will accept any punishment you deem necessary!" Shane said quickly. Liar, liar, pants on fire, Tsukuyomi whispered in Shane's head.
Shut up! Shane thought back.
Captain Kuchiki thought for a moment. "It is not my place to punish someone who is not even in my squad. I will inform Captain Ukitake of you failure and have him deal with you as he sees fit," he said.
"Yes sir, thank you sir!" Shane replied.
Captain Kuchiki stepped away and Shane stood up and watched Captain Kuchiki, Lieutenant Abarai and Rukia returned to Soul Society. Just as the doors closed, Rukia turned to look back at Ichigo and Shane, then she was gone. The door disappeared and the rain began to fall, leaving Shane and Ichigo in the middle of the street. Shane looked down and saw Ichigo's face wrinkled in anger and pain. Shane thought about saying something to him but stopped. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. When the line picked up, Shane said, "Captain, we have another problem," He briefly explained the situation and hung up.
Shane heard the click-clack of wooden sandals and saw a familiar person appear, holding an umbrella. Urahara stood over Ichigo, whom had blacked out.
"My, my, what have we here?" Urahara said. He looked to Shane. "It's done then?" he asked. Shane nodded his head. "They just left for Soul Society."
"Well, we haven't much time, so we need to get started immediately," Urahara said.
Shane frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Urahara stared down at Ichigo's unconscious body. "This boy still has an important role to play," he said. He turned to Shane and stared with his one visible eye from under his hat. "And so do you," he added.
"Me?" Shane asked in surprise, "What can I do?"
Urahara grinned. "You'll see," he said.