Masao Rin paced in the training area of Urahara's shop. He had his powers back, he knew it. He was able to perform Kido while in this body, but he had not been able to separate into his Shinigami form. And all the while, Tamotsu Toshiyuki had headed off to Soul Society for his own reasons and left him alone with that pathetic excuse of a man Don Kanonji.

Kanonji had been working hard, trying to perform the same spell over and over. He was only able to perform the Byakurai Kido spell, becoming completely exhausted after only casting it twice. Masao, even in his physical body, could cast it a hundred times and not feel the effects.

He had intended on catching Tamotsu after he came back the day before, but the Tatsuki girl pulled him out for some tournament. Now there was another Reincarnate to contend with, someone who had already managed to divide before meeting with Tamotsu. It was too aggravating, Masao decided. If he wasn't important enough then he would just have to find his own way.

Climbing up the stairs to the main level of Urahara's shop, Masao made the decision to do something. If he wouldn't get the help he wanted, he would just have to take things into his own hands. He didn't know where the Konpaku were being kept, but he did know where there were at least four. Probably not the best choices, but he was willing to risk it. He wanted his Shinigami form back.

"WHAT?" Kanonji cried out as he watched the television screen. "There was a paranormal investigation team that contacted the spirits and I wasn't there?"

"Although the team came together with very compelling evidence," the announcer was saying, "experts believe this to be nothing more than fancy special effects and altered digital format." Images showed various readings the team had gathered as well as some of the more compelling video.

Kanonji's face drooped at the sight of these images and Tamotsu took note of it. He had indeed gone out with the intent of pranking the investigators, but it backfired when he got bored and had to defend them against a Hollow attack. He felt bad for the man staring at the video monitor. Kanonji tried so hard to show kids not to be afraid in the face of adversity and viewed himself as a hero in their eyes. Problem was, he was just going about it in all the wrong directions.

There had to be something they could do for the man, Tamotsu decided. The main problem , like with the investigation team, is that nobody actually saw what was going on. Even those sensitive to Spiritual energy wouldn't be able to see what was going on in the video screen. Stuff like that just didn't transfer. But could it?

Stepping outside of the room while Kanonji sniffled at the video footage now being played in a loop, Tamotsu turned the corner and found Urahara sitting at a table.

"Ah, Tamotsu," Urahara said. "What's on your mind?"

"I'm just wondering about something," Tamotsu responded. "Kanonji's been working hard on getting his powers under control and I get the feeling he really wants to get out and do his show more. Problem being, nobody can actually see what's going on. Not unless they're able to see spirits and are on the set with him."

"I see," Urahara said as he sifted in his sitting position. "I've actually been working on something ever since he came in here. Its not finished yet, but it will definitely help his disposition."

Urahara was about to continue when Masao walked past the room. He stopped and looked in on the two briefly before becoming overly dramatic and defensive. "Don't blame me, Urahara! Please!" he said. But it wasn't Masao's voice coming from the man. "He came up too quickly, there wasn't anything I could do!"

"Kurodo?" Urahara asked.

Kurodo in Masao's body nodded. "He grabbed me and pulled the pill out of me and the next thing I know I was in his body and he was running out the door." Pulling the pink rabbit purse from behind him, Kurodo frowned. "He broke my strap and it'll have to be replaced."

"Kurodo, how long ago was this?" Urahara asked.

"About ten minutes I think. I'm sorry, I was too afraid to come any sooner."

"Its okay, Kurodo. Tamotsu, let's get you in Shinigami form and find where Masao went."

Tamotsu sighed in frustration. "Sheesh, do I never get any rest? Ever since I got my powers its been one thing after another. Find the Reincarnates. Fight the Hollows. This and that. That and this. Seriously, am I ever going to-"

Tamotsu was cut off as a hand came in with a blue glove and struck him on the forehead. With a flash, his spirit and body separated. Tamotsu looked to see Rangiku standing in front of him.

"Rangiku! You hit me! Again!"

"Honestly, Kiyoshi," Rangiku said. "You're starting to complain more than I do."

"All right then. Let's go find out where Masao ran off to. You want to do this the old fashioned way or you want me to find his spirit ribbon?"

Urahara looked up, his eyes narrowing. "You're able to follow spirit ribbons? That's a pretty advanced technique."

Tamotsu closed his eyes and a thousand ribbons flew up all around him. Concentrating, he made all the white ones disappear and felt around the remaining red ones. There were a few he didn't recognize, but finally he found the one belonging to Masao.

"He's at the downtown park," Tamotsu said. "I think he's trying to get back to Soul Society on his own."

"But you need a Jigokucho in order to do that," Rangiku said.

"That's correct," Urahara answered. "Also, his reiatsu is probably different than before and the Senkaimon will probably not recognize him."

"We'll need to hurry before he tries," Tamotsu said. "Rangiku, I'm going to need a lift there."

Rangiku nodded as Tamotsu jumped onto her back and she jumped away using Shunpo. Urahara stayed behind and narrowed his eyes again.

This boy, Urahara thought. He spends forty years in the Academy in his past life but was able to not only learn but perfect several Kido spells. Since his reincarnation, he has been able to easily alter Kido spells and be able to detect spirit ribbons. This is something only the most advanced of Shinigami can do. What kinds of things are hidden even from him I wonder?

Masao Rin stopped at the edge of the trees in the park. Here he was, finally in Shinigami form once again. He was ready to proceed to the Soul Society once again. And once he was there, he would confront the one who betrayed him.

A whishing sound caused him to turn around. Rangiku Matsumoto and Tamotsu Toshiyuki had entered his presence.

"You did well to find me so quickly, Tamotsu," Masao said. "But as you can see I no longer need your help. I am a Shinigami once again. And I am going to Soul Society."

"You can't do that, Masao," Tamotsu said. "You can't open the Senkaimon."

Masao clenched his fist and closed his eyes tight. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do. I heard about how long it took you to graduate. I died there in the Soul Society before you graduated, but you were rumored to be the one who would forever remain in the Academy. You're worthless and I won't allow you to make my decisions for me."

Tamotsu took a step forward. In response, Masao put his hand on the hilt of his zanpakuto and continued speaking. "You may have had some talent when we sparred, but now my skills have returned completely. I was once the Third Seat of the Second Division under Captain Soi Fon. You remember what that is, right? The Punishment Division? The Stealth Corps?"

"Why are you doing this, Masao?" Tamotsu asked. "What are you looking to find? What do you wish to prove?"

"You wouldn't understand. You're too young. Too naive. I've played your game long enough. Now, we face each other. And the loser shall do whatever the winner bids."

"Stand back, Kiyoshi," Rangiku said, placing her hand on the hilt of her own zanpakuto.

"No, Rangiku," Tamotsu responded. "I can handle this."

"Kiyoshi…" Rangiku hesitated, then removed her hand from her zanpakuto and stepped back. "If you get into trouble, you know I'll intervene. I hope you know that."

Tamotsu nodded. He felt Hinohebi loosen around his shoulder, then go slack and fall on the ground. It was clear that Masao meant business. Drawing his own zanpakuto, Masao set it in front of him. The two stared at one another for a long moment. Masao was tense, and Tamotsu was loose but focused.

It happened in a flash as Masao disappeared briefly then reappeared in the air above Tamotsu, sword drawn high. Throwing his whip up, Tamotsu blocked the blow with a shower of spark raining down from the impact. Although his zanpakuto was a whip, loose and flexible, it was as strong as any bladed weapon.

Tamotsu pulled back, the blade at the end of his whip coming within inches of Masao's hand. Masao jumped back and stood in the air. "What's the matter, Kiyoshi?" Masao asked. "Still can't stand in the air?"

Tamotsu's eyes narrowed. "The only one who calls me Kiyoshi… is my sister!" Throwing his hand into the air, Tamotsu pulled suddenly toward himself. "Hado 2. Hiku!"

Masao found himself being pulled down to the ground, almost as if he had been grabbed by an unseen hand and yanked from his position in the air. Unable to react quickly, he landed hard on the ground as dirt plumed from his impact.

Standing up shakily, Masao coughed from the impact and from breathing in dust. "Seems I've underestimated you," he said. Raising his zanpakuto, Masao charged and swung at Tamotsu who blocked with the whip and then used it to trip Masao.

Grunting from the impact, Masao scowled and stood once again.

"Why are you doing this?" Tamotsu asked. "Did you just become impatient or is this about something else?" He didn't dare mention that he had asked Captain Soi Fon directly about what happened. He could only guess about the true motives, but he wanted to find an alternative means of dealing with Masao.

"I won't answer your questions!" Masao cried, hand clenching the hilt of his zanpakuto. "If you intend to fight using your Shikai then I shall do the same!"

Tamotsu readied himself. There was no telling what type of zanpakuto a former Second Division member would have.

Masao placed his zanpakuto in front of him, the blade level with the ground and placed his other hand on the back of the blade. "Slice, Ishikiri!" Nothing happened. "Huh? Ishikiri?"

Tamotsu and Rangiku took a chance and looked at each other. Not sure what to think, they merely shrugged.

Hinohebi, Tamotsu thought. What's going on?

Ishikiri is not the name of his zanpakuto, Hinohebi responded in Tamotsu's mind. Ishikiri did not choose to stay with him after his death in Soul Society.

Tamotsu approached Masao, hand still ready to fend off an attack but made no threatening gestures. Masao continued to shake his zanpakuto and yelled at it further.

"Ishikiri! Come out!"

"That is not the name of your zanpakuto," Tamotsu said.

"But… but Ishikiri was my zanpakuto in Soul Society. I remember. It was so sharp it could cut through stone. Why does it not answer?"

"Because," Tamotsu responded. "He did not choose to stay with you after your death. The zanpakuto you now wield has a different name. A different ability. And you may have made it angry by assuming its name to be something else."

Masao looked as if he had been stabbed in the heart. His knees became weak and he fell to the ground. "My zanpakuto… chose not to stay with me? But you were able to keep yours. Naomi and Takeo as well. Why would my own choose not to stay with me?"

"When I first regained my powers, the first thing I asked was if my own zanpakuto, Hinohebi, was with me. But that's not important right now, Masao. Come back with us. We'll forget about this little incident. You got your powers back. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

Masao nodded slowly. "Yes. Yes, I suppose you're right." Standing up, he looked at his zanpakuto. "I am sorry, zanpakuto. I should not have assumed."

Rather than jumping into the air and using Shunpo to go back, Masao sheathed his zanpakuto and began to slowly walk back to Urahara's shop. Rangiku and Tamotsu watched and Hinohebi materialized behind them.

"You know what his real plans are, don't you Master?" Hinohebi asked.

"I know," Tamotsu responded. "But I hope to free his heart from these feelings of bitterness. I just hope I can help him before he tries again."

"What are you two talking about?" Rangiku asked.

"Masao Rin was once part of Second Division under Captain Soi Fon," Tamotsu answered. "I don't know all the details, but apparently he isn't happy with her on the conditions surrounding his death there. I think he wants to do her harm. She knows about this. I spoke with her last time I was in Soul Society."

"I see," Rangiku said. "Do you think he can change?"

"We can only hope."

NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR

Okay, cutting it a bit short I know. Just keep end up getting good stopping points in the chapters and don't want to drag it out and end it with a different emotion than what was built up to. A couple of things worthy of mention in this chapter. First of all, my development of Hado #2. I figured it was only fitting to have the second Hado spell be opposite of the first one. Hiku translates to "pull" as opposed to Hado 1 which is "Push."

Second note is the name of Masao's former zanpakuto. Ishikiri was a sword forged by a legendary sword smith Kanemitsu and translates to "stone cutter."