Thanks for waiting, you guys! By the way, I now have a Twitter account! So, if you have Twitter, follow me Ren_Conner. Geddit? It's the name of the main character? Damn it! If I need to explain it, it's not funny anymore! Dang! Basically, if you wanna be up to date on my goings on, inside and outside Fate and Destiny, then that's the place to go. That will also get links to my deviantART account occasionally whenever I put up new pictures. So, that's the basic news. On to the story, where Toshiro continues to investigate and spends some time with Ren.
Chapter 19
Each Other's First
"Okay, it should be here somewhere…" Toshiro muttered to himself wandering down a hallway in Ren's house. He looked at all of the brass door handles, looking for any sign of a key hole. At the end of the corridor, there was a single door facing him. Thinking it looked suspicious, Toshiro walked towards. Upon closer inspection, it had a lock. This was the one. Toshiro reached into his pocket and got out the keys Ren gave to him the day before. He found the biggest one and tried it on the lock. He heard a click. He was in. Slowly, Toshiro creaked the door open, as if expecting something to jump out at him. Nothing. Just darkness. Toshiro clicked on the lights.
It all looked pretty normal. Before him was an office with a dark wooden desk on the far end with a computer and a couple piles of paperwork, while jut behind it was a tall grandfather's clock. Just add a few sake bottles, and it would be the spitting image of Rangiku's office. But, what stood out the most was how one wall was lined with bookshelves, and the other had filing cabinets. Five in total, and all of them six drawers high. With no hesitation, Toshiro entered the room, closing the door behind him.
Ren has gone out to the city for a few hours. Her parents have gone to work, so that leaves the house to myself. Perfect. Toshiro thought. Let's see… Toshiro scanned the labels on the cabinets. He focused on only two of them; the ones labelled VILLAGE and REN.
"Let's start with Ren." Toshiro went to said cabinet and looked at the labels for the drawers. One for school, one for work, one for hobbies, one for current school year and one for miscellaneous, leaving the last one blank. Toshiro decided to open the school one first. There were several folders in there, each one representing a different subject, divided up by years. "The anniversary this year is for six years. This year is 2012, so that means it would have happened in 2006." Toshiro took out said folder. "March 7th…" Toshiro opened it up, going through the papers and notes by date. January…February…March…
"What the…" Toshiro raised an eyebrow. "There's nothing here. Before March 8th, there's nothing here." Toshiro flicked through the papers backwards. "Two weeks…There's an entire fortnight missing!" Toshiro closed the folder and placed it back in the drawer, hastily closing it shut as though he had just seen a piece of evidence from a crime scene. He decided to go to the filing cabinet labelled VILLAGE. Each drawer had labels for each of the villages, but upon reaching the bottom drawer, Toshiro became suspicious. The label had been scribbled out with a black marker. He promptly kneeled down and tugged on the handle. It was unlocked. He slowly slid it open, only to find nothing inside.
"That's odd." Toshiro thought out loud. "What was in here before?" Toshiro shrugged it off into the back of his mind. He shut the empty drawer and stood up so that he could open the highest drawer. The one labelled "Hazelford". Toshiro unlocked it and looked inside. He was drawn to the one about "meeting minutes". He opened up that folder and scanned through until he found the minutes from 2006. He got to February, and everything looked pretty normal…until he got to February 22nd. There was nothing there. It had gone straight to March 8th. There was a February 21st, but there was nothing else until March 8th.
Again… Toshiro thought. There's a fortnight missing here, too. Toshiro placed the folder back inside and slid the cabinet shut. It might be a coincidence, but I'd better check everything else.
3 hours later
"Nothing…" Toshiro muttered, closing another folder and putting it back inside. He pulled out the final one in that drawer and flicked through the pages. "Nothing here, either." Toshiro replaced the folder and closed the drawer shut. He stood back from the filing cabinets. "Almost all of them have a fortnight missing in 2006. Meeting minutes, club bulletins, schedules…Even Ren's homework is missing!" Toshiro rubbed his eyes with his fist. Going through all those papers had made his eyes itch. Now, he partially understood why Rangiku skipped out on office work. He had checked through everything in sight. He even looked in the storage cupboard and the boxes around the office. Even the drawers in the desk had no answers in them. So, he had checked each of the folders again at least three times each. He was at a dead end.
A missing fortnight and an anniversary that I know nothing about. Could they be connected? Toshiro narrowed his eyes. This is starting to look like a conspiracy.
BONG!
"Eh?" Toshiro looked at the grandfather's clock. It had just struck 4:30 in the afternoon. With a small yelp, Toshiro realised that he had something else important to do! He walked briskly out of the study, taking his keys with him. But, he was so wrapped up inside his train of thought that he forgot to turn off the light and close the door. As soon as the front door slammed, there was silence in the house. Five minutes later, the front door opened again. It was a man in a dark suit and greying black hair with glasses. It was Ren's father. Carrying a black briefcase in his hand, he unconsciously walked towards his office, but stopped for a moment. It was wide open. Suspicious, he looked inside. The light was still on. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Passing off his behaviour as paranoia, the man placed his briefcase on his desk, opened it up and took out a few sheets of paper. He went to the drawer labelled "Hazelford", and just as he got his keys out, he stopped himself. It was unlocked.
"…" He narrowed his eyes. Placing the papers on top of the filing cabinet, he took out his mobile phone, pressed a button, and brought it up to his ear.
"This is Marcus." He said, revealing his name. "I have some troubling news for you, Altair. It seems that he is close…"
…
"Neat." Ren said to herself, tightening her hair in its high ponytail. She went to a pan and dusted her hands with some more talcum powder. She was in a gymnastics hall, and her usually loose hair was tied up into a high ponytail. She had on a white long sleeved leotard with pink flame patterns on it, and her own addition of a frog head just above her chest. "I'm in top form today! Shiro's friends are working so hard. I have to do my best, too." She clapped her hands together, creating a little white cloud, and went straight towards a beam. She jumped up and climbed rather awkwardly on top of it. "Damn, I wish they made these things smaller." Ren finally stood up on the beam with a relieved sigh. "Now…" Ren walked backwards to one end, and raised her arms up, all while still wearing a smile.
At the same time, Toshiro pushed the doors to the gym open. He looked around, and noticed how there was hardly anybody around. That's weird. Ren said she would be here. All he saw was a girl on a beam performing back handsprings with great precision. But, she stopped in the middle, staying on her hands and performing a slow and gradual split in mid-air for a few seconds before falling back and straightening up, her arms stretched. That girl looked strangely familiar…
"Wow, I could never do that split before." Ren sat down on the beam and jumped down. She clutched her shoulder and swung her arm back as she walked. "If I keep this up I'll be taking on White Raven left and right in no time. Hm?" Ren got to the seating area for an audience, and finally noticed Toshiro, who was staring at her. "Oh. Hey there. Where are the others?"
"Others?" Toshiro repeated slowly. Ren must have told this girl about the other Soul Reapers. Damn.
"Wait, never mind. I think I know." The girl unzipped a gym bag and pulled out a water bottle. "So, why the odd face?" She asked before taking a swig of water.
"Sorry, but who are you?" Toshiro asked.
"Eh?" She blinked. Silence. Ren narrowed her eyes. "Uuuu! You can't recognise me?! I've only got my hair tied back, for Christ's sake!" Ren pointed at her annoyed face with her water bottle, her other hand on her hip. "Atashi wa! Atashi!"
"Japanese?" A pause. "Ren?" Toshiro finally got it. "Ren Conner?!" He almost exclaimed, a completely baffled look on his face.
"Yes." Ren rolled her eyes. "Do I really look that different with my hair tied up?"
"Well, yeah. But, I'm not really used to seeing you in that…attire." Toshiro said, choosing his words carefully.
"It's called a leotard, Shiro. It's a requirement for gymnasts. I just bought this one in the shops and made my own adjustments." Ren said this while poking at the frog on her chest.
"Right. You like frogs."
"Anyway, why are you here, Shiro?" Ren asked, looking at her watch. "Movie night isn't until another hour."
"I know, I know. I just thought that you might want to see a familiar face after your practice."
"An escort?" Ren said with a beam. "Wow, Shiro. You do know how to make a girl feel special."
"With today being the day that it is, I thought it was necessary?"
"?" Ren blinked, confused.
"It's February 14th."
"Oh yeah!" Ren tapped her fist on her palm.
How dense can she get? Toshiro thought, sweat dropping.
"Sorry, sorry. I just forgot for a moment, what with what's been happening and all." Ren pulled out her hair tie and shook her head, allowing her hair to hang freely. She took out a hairbrush from her bag and started to brush her hair, looping the hair tie on her wrist. "I mean, with White Raven on the loose, I've been coming here more regularly, and having the school closed makes it much more convenient."
"So, is this where you do gymnastics?"
"Yup. There's also a karate hall down the corridor." Ren pointed with her hairbrush behind Toshiro. She flicked some hair over her shoulder, her hair now back to its usual style. "Right." Ren's body glowed yellow, and it disappeared in a burst of smaller lights, revealing Ren in a beige short sleeved zip up hoodie with a white and orange striped top underneath and a blue denim skirt.
"I didn't know you could do that."
"Well, now you do." Ren smiled her usual smile. "And the leotard goes right back in here." Ren tapped her bag, but she quickly zipped it up again. She had something in there that she didn't want Toshiro to see yet.
"Something wrong?" Toshiro asked, noticing her suspicious behaviour.
"Nothing! You just shouldn't look into a girl's bag!" Ren said quickly, picking up the bag and slinging it on her shoulder.
"I wasn't going to." Toshiro insisted. "Wait, why am I defending myself?"
"Because I wanna know what's in there." Ren pointed at the little pink gift bag Toshiro held in his hand. Toshiro gave a start and hid it behind his back.
"Also nothing." He said just as quickly as Ren did earlier.
"…" Toshiro and Ren spent a couple of seconds looking both suspicious and innocent at the same time, which was not an easy feat.
"Listen, Ren. Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Now, I need you to be completely honest with me." Toshiro insisted. If anybody could tell him what was happening, it was Ren.
"Of course. What is it?"
Now, I mustn't make this sound too suspicious. Toshiro thought. I know…
"Maybe…Maybe you and I can do something together. I mean, later on, that is."
"Yeah, that sounds cool! Name the date!"
"I was thinking along the lines of…March 7th." Toshiro looked straight at Ren, waiting for her answer.
"Oooo, sorry but I have plans."
"Really?" Toshiro said, sounding disappointed and curious at the same time.
"Yeah. My dad is making arrangements for an outing for me on that day. I dunno where, though. Hey! Maybe you can come with me!"
"Yeah, that sounds fun." Toshiro muttered, mentally cursing. Either Ren knew nothing about this anniversary, or she was lying. Neither one of them seemed likely, but Ren, as always, was being honest. He could tell when she lied, since she was dreadful at it. This was getting confusing. Can he trust what Ren said?
"What's with the specific date, though?" Ren asked.
"Nothing. I was just wondering." Toshiro said dismissively.
"Well, whatever. Come on. I wanna set up the house for Steph."
…
"Snacks, check. Pillows, check. Movie, check. Soda, check." Ren clapped her hands, her smile on her face. The small table in the living room was covered with bottles of soda, glasses and various snacks. A single sofa also had been littered with cushions and blankets. "All set!"
"Do you do this often?" Toshiro asked, entering the room. Unbeknownst to Ren, he had the same small pink bag hidden behind his back
"Yup. Once a month. Once a fortnight when it's a school holiday. I guess temporary school closure counts as a holiday." Ren's eyes briefly shifted to one of the cushions. She had hidden a little something behind there. Quickly, she reached down and grabbed it when's Toshiro's attention was drawn to a fly buzzing around his head. He quickly waved it off and went towards Ren. Neither of them said anything, trying to think of a way to start a conversation.
"Um…" They both said simultaneously.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Shiro. You go first."
"No, no, I was the one who interrupted."
"How about we both talk at the same time?"
"That's a stupid idea."
"It's better than insisting one talk first for hours. Besides, name one time my stupid ideas have never worked."
"Never mind…" Toshiro muttered, remembering when he found a tally of the stupid ideas Ren had in her filing cabinet. That felt like a knife on his pride.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
"…" Toshiro and Ren hesitated for a few seconds.
"Anyway, here!" They both blurted out at the same time, with one thrusting out a small, flat blue box tied with yellow ribbon, and another a pink bag. "Eh?"
"You got me something, too?" Ren said, taking the bag from Toshiro's hand.
"That's what I was going to say." Toshiro also took the box from Ren.
"It's Valentine's Day, right? I heard that the girls in Japan make chocolates for their friends, but I don't know how to make it without melting other chocolate, so I thought I'd get you something instead, since you might not like sweet stuff, either."
"And Stephanie told me that it's the boys who do all the work on Valentine's Day."
"That makes it sound like a punishment." Ren joked.
"But, that's only a just friends thing!" Toshiro said quickly, looking away from Ren.
"Of course." Ren smiled. "I understand." Ren pulled out of the bag a little box. She eased the lid off and gasped. Inside was a stretch bracelet. It was made of eight metal frogs, and there was a crystal like flower made from green petals in the middle of each one.
"It took me forever to find something for you." Toshiro glared at the direction the other house was in. "The others were clueless. Rangiku suggested alcohol, anything Kuchiki suggested was all about rabbits, Ichigo didn't have a clue, and don't get me started on Renji. It was your friend Stephanie who really knew what you liked." Toshiro didn't hear a response. "Ren?" He turned back to Ren, and saw how she was still staring at the bracelet, her eyes watering. "Are you alright?"
"Oh. I'm sorry." Ren wiped her eyes with her hand. "I'm just really happy. It's beautiful." Ren slipped the bracelet onto her right arm and admired it from all angles. "Wow…"
"So…you like it?"
"Like it? I love it!" Ren yelled happily. She promptly hugged Toshiro, who was still not quite used to this type of exuberance from Ren. "Thank you so much, Shiro!"
"It's nothing. Really."
"Oh, but it's not nothing, it's everything!" Ren pulled herself away from Toshiro, holding onto his shoulders. "This is the first time anybody has ever got me anything on Valentine' Day!"
"What? But haven't you had boyfriends before?" Toshiro asked, baffled at this new revelation.
"Yeah, but they didn't really count. They were just crushes, and the only real relationship I had lasted three months. Hell, I haven't even been kissed yet."
"That's hard to believe."
"How so?" Ren asked, cocking her head a little to the side.
"You're popular both at school and at the youth centre. Who wouldn't want to date a pretty girl like you? Ah!" Toshiro realised what he just said and covered his mouth with his free hand. Ren was just as stunned. Did Toshiro just call her pretty? He thinks that she's pretty? "I um…I mean…" Toshiro trailed off, trying to think of something to say.
"Shiro, it's alright." Ren gave Toshiro another hug, but this time, it was much gentler. "You're really sweet, Shiro. You know that?" Toshiro said nothing, not sure whether he should return the embrace or not.
Warm… Toshiro thought.
"Ren…" Toshiro started to raise his arm up.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Eh?" Ren let go of Toshiro and looked up. Steph was right there, her arms folded and a smile on her face. That's what she gets for leaving the back door open!
"No. You are not inte-"
"Steph, Steph, Steph!" Ren yelled, interrupting Toshiro and trotting over to Steph. "Look what Shiro got me!"
"Wow! I knew he was looking for something for you, but damn!"
"I know, right?!"
"…" Toshiro smiled to himself, relieved that Ren liked his gift. He didn't know what part of him wanted to give her that gift, but something inside of him told him that Ren would really appreciate something like that. Maybe he just wanted to see another one of Ren's smiles directed at him. But, that happiness Ren showed was something Toshiro was going to cherish always. Speaking of gifts, what was the present Ren got for him?
"So, are you going to open Ren's present?"
"…" Without saying a word, Toshiro took the lid off of it. It wasn't a piece of jewellery. Instead, it was a silver key ring. But, the key ring was in the shape of a snowflake with tiny little rhinestones in it so that they caught the light. When Toshiro looked at the back, where there would be bare backing, there was an engraving. It said "Toshiro" in elaborate writing. Ren had got his own name engraved on the back.
"I didn't really know what you liked, but then I remembered that your main element was frost, so I thought something like a snowflake would be fitting." Ren then waited for the response as Toshiro took out the key ring to get a better look at it. She braced herself, expecting Toshiro to say something cold like he usually did. Probably something with the word "idiot" used on the end of the sentence.
"Thank you." Toshiro said, looking at Ren with a smile.
"…" Ren blinked a couple of times, feeling her cheeks turn pink. "W-Well, that's good! Whew, that got a load off my mind!" Ren said loudly with her usual smile, trying to get rid of her nerves.
Wow, he said thank you. Ren thought, a little disbelieved.
So, she got me something too. Toshiro thought, looking at the key ring. Ren…there really are no limits to your kindness. He clasped the snowflake in his hand.
"I hope you never change…" He said quietly.
"You say something, Shiro?"
"Um, nothing." He said quickly, pocketing the key ring.
"Okay. Now, let's get scared!" Ren jumped back onto the sofa, followed by Steph.
"Great snacks, as usual!"
"It's your turn next time!"
"Come on, Toshiro!"
"Alright, alright." Toshiro sat down next to Ren, wondering what to expect. Ren clicked the TV on, and the title screen came on with the options.
"Mr Pillow's at the ready!" Ren declared. Steph held up a red heart shaped pillow with a little arm sticking out from either end. Ren's own pillow was a square green and yellow striped one with a picture of Keroppi on the front.
"Pillows? Really?" Toshiro said with narrow eyes.
"Yeah! This is a horror movie, after all."
"I bet it's not even that scary."
"Care to watch the trailer?"
"I'd be glad to." Toshiro responded.
"Alright. Clickity clickity click!" Ren pressed several buttons on the remote. "And we have a trailer."
A couple minutes later, Toshiro couldn't take his eyes away from the screen, even though the trailer was already over. This was what they were going to watch?
"This film gained a lot of reception when it was first released." Ren explained, not noticing the spooked look on Toshiro's face. "I heard that after one of the network big wigs watched it in his office, his door was locked from the outside. He even sent it back in a bin bag."
"Spooky. Let's watch!" Steph said cheerfully.
"Hold on a sec. Check out this trick. Clap off!" Ren clapped her hands twice, and the lights in the living room went off, leaving only the light from the TV left. "Ah, powers. The magical human's laziness. You ready, Shiro?"
"Uh huh." Toshiro said slowly, never taking his eyes away from the television.
"…" Ren smiled slyly. Seems Toshiro was afraid of horror films, after all. "Mr Pillow?" Ren offered Toshiro a square cushion that was coloured a plain blue with plaited tassels on each corner.
"Gimme!" Toshiro snatched the pillow out of Ren's hands, clinging to it.
"Alright." Steph pressed play. "Wait, let me just skip the adverts."
…
"Well, this doesn't seem that scary." Toshiro said, losing his grip on his pillow, although he didn't let it go.
"Just wait, Shiro. They scary stuff happens soon."
"Yeah, I mean, the girl…what's her name, Ren?"
"Katie."
"Katie says this stuff has been happening for a while now. Since she was little."
"And so, Paranormal Activity 3 was created."
"There are three of them?"
"You sound scared, Shiro."
"What? Never!"
"They say the first step towards acceptance is denial."
"Wrong situation, Ren!"
"Whatever. But, I hear Paranormal Activity 4 is going to be released this Halloween."
"What? They were fine with just three."
"Clearly, you are not familiar with merchandising. They make pointless sequels, and people actually see these ones 'cos they get some kinda thrill from being scared. It's just like the Saw series, except this kind of horror deals with psychology rather than gore"
"I see…Can you pass the popcorn?"
"Here you go." Ren handed a popcorn bowl to Steph, and she took a handful and stuffed it in her mouth. "Want some?" Ren offered it to Toshiro, and he grabbed his own handful without saying a word.
…
"Alright, who's this guy?" Toshiro asked, pointing at the screen.
"A faific." Ren answered, her mouth full of popcorn after grabbing a handful a few second ago.
"A sysick?" Toshiro repeated.
"Shory. One fec." Ren swallowed. "A psychic."
"Oh."
"What's a demonologist?"
"The clue is in the name, Steph."
"Ooooooh." Pause. "People like that really exist?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Hey, Toshiro deals with spirits every day."
"Not since I got here, I don't. But, I guess Hollows are like demons."
"Can Feathers be demons?"
"Sure, why not?" Toshiro said dismissively, grabbing another handful of popcorn.
"So, that spirit is just going to keep following Katie? I can't help but feel sorry for her."
"Try having an organisation on your back." Toshiro retorted after swallowing the popcorn. He was joking about the situation they were in? Whatever this movie was doing to him, Toshiro actually welcomed it. He was having fun, which is something he almost never does.
…
"Alright, more than half an hour in and the only paranormal thing that has happened is the door moving on its own and the lights flickering."
"And the footsteps."
"I didn't hear any."
"With these ears, I'd be able to hear a pencil drop." Ren pointed at one of her ears to prove her point. "I have enhanced senses. Been this way since birth. It's kinda complicated."
"Right…" Toshiro muttered, remembering that clue. Enhanced senses. That should narrow things down.
"Hey, something's happening." Steph suddenly said, bringing Toshiro and Ren's attention back to the movie.
"Did you hear that? It sounded kinda growl-y."
"I heard it, I heard it."
"Getting scared?"
"N-No!"
"Did that chandelier just move?"
"Eeyup."
"Ah!" Steph clutched her pillow, hiding behind it.
"Wuss." Ren muttered.
"I heard that."
"You heard nothing! It was a ghost!" Ren said loudly. At the word "ghost", Steph let out a yelp, while Ren smirked.
"Never turning down an opportunity to prank, are you?"
"Nope."
"Wait." Steph sat up, alert. "Did you hear that grunt?"
"Okay, that's a bit weird."
"I concur." There was another silence for a few minutes, and the three of them still held onto their pillows.
"Alright, next night." Steph said enthusiastically, completely disregarding her previous fear.
"Oh. Katie's getting up."
"Bathroom?" Toshiro suggested, lowering the pillow and moving it to his side.
"No, doesn't look like it. She's just standing there. And now it's fast forwarding."
"Lady, stop standing over him for two hours. It's creepy." Ren said with a tone of uneasiness in her voice.
"It's not that creepy."
"Shiro, would you think it's creepy if I stood over your bed for two hours while you slept?"
"I guess…"
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
…
"What's that thing he's holding?"
"I think it's an Ouija board."
"You know, I find that Ouija boards only make things worse. I hear they're hoaxes anyway."
"He's doing the exact opposite of what that psychic said. What's with him?"
"Micah's a bloke, Shiro. Blokes don't know any better."
"What's a bloke?"
"It's British slang for men. I think it means stupid men."
"Oh."
"How do these things work, anyway? Don't you need two people?"
"Apparently not. They're just leaving it there."
"Huh. My perspective of Ouija boards just changed."
"I get the feeling that the directors are making it up as they go along." Toshiro thought out loud.
"And now it's on freakin' fire." Ren said sarcastically. "That's just stupid." Another silence, which was interrupted when Ren opened up a large bottle of Coke, and the three of them took it in turns to pour their own glasses.
"Talcum powder? Alright, this guy is just egging it on."
"If he dies at the end, I will not feel sorry for him. Micah's a baka. Baaaaaaka! Die at the end!" Ren yelled at the TV.
"I hope nobody dies!" Steph said, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"It's a horror movie. Somebody is bound to die."
"The photo is broken." Toshiro said after a few minutes.
"It's on his face. It's official. He's gonna die." Ren nodded, affirming her declaration.
"How can you two be so nonchalant?!" Steph exclaimed, clinging onto her pillow.
"My job is to kill monsters."
"Horror movies have desensitised me."
"I literally deal with dead people."
"I'm from the internet."
"And now the psychic is scared."
"Wimp."
"…" With a whimper, Steph hid her face behind her pillow.
…
"The nineteenth night? When do we see the ghost?" Ren asked impatiently.
"I'm sure it'll happen soon."
"I hope it doesn't!"
"More ghosts!" Ren yelled, cupping her hand around her mouth.
"Ren." Toshiro nudged Ren lightly.
"What? You scared?" Ren asked with a smirk.
"Of course not! I-"
"Wait!" Ren said quickly. "Did you see that?"
"See what?" Steph peered over the edge of her pillow.
"The bedcovers moved on their own…" Ren clutched her own pillow.
"!" Steph promptly went back behind her pillow.
"I still am not spooked." Toshiro said flatly. "I won't need this." Toshiro dropped his own pillow onto the ground, resting his head on his hand. Seconds later, Toshiro watched the bedroom door, and he then saw a very faint shadow pass over it, and gradually, a scared look appeared on his face.
"Katie felt it breathing on her?!" Ren exclaimed. "Creepy!"
"!" Toshiro quickly grabbed his pillow again.
…
"Hey, isn't that the girl from The Exorcist?" Steph asked, pointing at the screen.
"Nnnnnnope." Ren eventually said after squinting at the screen. "They're just using similar effects. Besides, that woman has got to be in her twenties. Thirties, tops. The girl in The Exorcist was twelve I think."
"Did the exorcism kill her?" Toshiro asked. "I mean, in this film."
"Nah, nah, she became possessed after the exorcism and killed herself. Maybe." Ren squinted at the screen. "Wow, that's a lot of blood for a suicide. You know what? The exorcism killed her. Let's settle it at that. There is no way a suicide could do that!"
"How can you say that so casually?" Toshiro grumbled.
"I pretend that the blood is ketchup!" Ren said, smiling brightly.
"Interesting strategy."
"It really works. It wasn't as effective with Chainsaw Massacre, though."
"Chainsaw Massacre?"
"You don't wanna know."
"Twentieth night…" Steph said quietly, her voice full of dread.
"This should be goooooood!"
"Hm."
"There's the shadow…"
"What the…Did she just fall out of bed?"
"No she's…she's being dragged…She's being dragged!" Ren exclaimed.
"Get her, Micah!"
"This is getting weird!"
"Shiro is scared! Shiro is scared!" Ren sang.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Stop being so childish!"
"You're the one who started it."
"No I didn't!"
"Yeah ya did."
"No I didn't!"
"Then why are you still continuing?"
"Well, I'm finishing it now. And I am not scared."
"Hey, Katie got bitten." Ren said, looking back at the TV.
"Okay, maybe a little bit."
…
"Alright, this is more than paranormal activity. You do NOT see this sort of thing happen in real life!"
"I know. That woman just spoke in two voices at once! And the man didn't even notice!"
"Bloke. Blokes never notice."
"Why are you the only one not freaking out?"
"It's all gonna happen on the last night. Night um…thirty one."
"How can you tell it's the last?"
"I'm psychic." Ren said mysteriously. Pause. "That and it's been more than an hour."
"I figured."
"Aaaaand she's going to stand over his bed again." Pause. "What was the point of pulling the bed covers off? Is it trying to give him a cold or something?"
"Shut up and let me be scared!"
"It's okay, Steph. It's nearly the end. Everything is going to be fine."
"Hold that thought. She's leaving."
"Eh?" All three of them stared at the TV, waiting for something to happen. "Where'd she go?" Pause. "Kaaaaaatieeeeee…where areeee yooooou?" Ren called
"MICAAAAAAAAAH!"
"DAAAAAAAAHH!" All three of them yelled at the same time. Steph was so surprised, that the bowl of popcorn she was holding had the entire contents emptied on the sofa.
"Steph!" Ren exclaimed, but she still picked a few off her lap and ate them.
"Sorry."
"Damn…" Toshiro brushed the popcorn out of his hair.
"Micah's following her!" Steph pointed at the TV.
"No! Don't go there!" Ren yelled.
"Yeah, it's a trap! She's gonna kill you!" Toshiro also yelled out, now well and truly spooked.
"Get out the house!"
"Get out, get out, get out, get out!" All three of them almost chanted. Silence soon followed, both from the television and from the three friends.
"Mm hm." Toshiro and Ren nodded at one another, knowing what this meant.
"Wh-Why is it so quiet?" Steph asked, uneasy.
"Hold on. I hear footsteps."
"They sound heavy."
"Is it the girl?" Toshiro asked, leaning forward.
"Probably."
"Uuuu…"
"It's getting closer…" Steph clung to her pillow tighter than ever.
"…" The three of them couldn't stop staring at the screen, getting more and more uneasy as the footsteps got closer. Silence. Ren swallowed loudly. In the movie, a body was suddenly thrown at the screen.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" They screamed. Steph used the empty popcorn bowl to obscure the top half of her head, while Toshiro and Ren discarded their pillows and held each other, but they were so drawn to the movie, none of them noticed.
"That woman killed somebody!"
"That settles it! She's possessed! And her name is Katie, Shiro." Ren added the last part with a quick mutter, almost as an afterthought.
"Why is she sniffing him?!"
"Alright, this is creepy!"
"…" Steph partially took off the bowl to look at the movie, just as the actress playing Katie smiled at the camera, before she suddenly lunged at it, prompting her to place it back on.
"Oh my god!" Ren exclaimed, jumping back.
"That must have scared several years off my life!"
"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask. How old are you?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Oh. Words." Ren read the letters on the screen. "Micah's body was found…Katie's whereabouts remain unknown."
"Wait, does that mean it actually happened?" Steph asked in a panic-y tone, lifting the bowl off partially.
"O-Of course not! This is just a movie made to look like an actual event! I hope…"
"What do you mean "I hope"?!"
"It's the credits." Steph took the bowl off her head, relieved. "It's over."
"Oh, thank god!" Ren sighed. "Ha! That movie wasn't scary!"
"Yeah! I wasn't scared!"
"Really?" Steph said with a smirk. She stood up and flicked the light switch on. "Then why are you clinging to each other?"
"?" Toshiro and Ren looked at one another, and they both simultaneously realised they were, indeed, clinging to one another. "AH!" They both jumped off the sofa, letting go of one another and trying their best not to make eye contact with the other, embarrassed.
"Let's never speak of this again." Ren said quickly.
"Never speak of what again?"
"Exactly."
"Don't worry, you two. This will stay with just the three of us." Steph reassured.
"Phew!" Toshiro and Ren both sighed.
"And all the people I will tell." Steph said quickly with a smile.
"NOOOO!" Toshiro and Ren yelled.
"Kidding!" Steph yelled, grinning.
"Steph, I swear…"
"It's Valentine's Day. Why are we watching horror films?" Toshiro asked, hanging his head. Those last frights had completely drained him.
"Because we're single." Steph answered simply.
"Yeah. Romantic films will just get us depressed. Also, they're gross and corny." Ren pulled a face right after this.
"I thought girls liked romantic films."
"Well, I'm not like other girls!" Ren said proudly, pointing at herself with a smile. "Although the occasional chick flick is okay."
"So, Toshiro. What do you think?"
"About what?"
"The film."
"Oh. Um…it was pretty scary. But…I actually enjoyed it." Toshiro himself was surprised that he was saying this. Enjoying a movie? That was something new. Maybe it was because he was with Ren?
"That's good. But, be careful when you go to bed tonight. You never know when Katie might attack." Ren grabbed one of the blankets off the sofa and placed it over herself. "Woooooooo!" Ren waved her arms around, going towards Steph and Toshiro. But, she stopped. "Ooooo!" Toshiro and Steph then heard some munching sounds.
"Ren, you greedy pig! What are you eating?" Steph pulled the blanket off Ren, revealing Ren with popcorn in her hand.
"What?" She said with a shrug.
"Oh, yeah. I spilled the popcorn." Steph rubbed the back of her head, embarrassed.
"I've got it." Ren looked at the sofa, and all of the popcorn lifted off the ground and the sofa, and it all dropped back into the bowl. "Done." Ren looked at the disgusted look on Toshiro's face. "Relax! I'm gonna throw it away!"
"That doesn't bother me. Well, it does, but isn't that a waste of food?"
"Shiro, would you be willing to eat floor popcorn?" Ren asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Apparently, you are." Toshiro pointed out.
"This isn't floor popcorn, its blanket popcorn."
"They're the same…you know what, never mind." Toshiro quickly gave up, knowing that there was no arguing with Ren's logic.
"By the way, Shiro, I have an off topic question to ask you."
"What is it?"
"What are your favourite colours?" Ren asked.
"…" Steph looked at Ren after she said this. Those familiar words were spoken to her years ago. Steph smiled. She knew what this meant.
"My favourite colours?" Toshiro repeated, confused. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just tell me."
"Alright, alright. Um, I don't know. Green and blue, I guess."
"Sweet!" Ren ate the rest of the popcorn in her palm and clapped her hands, smiling her smile. "Right! I'd best get this cleaned up!" Ren trotted out of the room, snacks and rubbish following her in mid-air.
Why would she ask me that? Toshiro thought.
"I think that Valentine's gift got to her." Steph said, smiling. Toshiro looked at her, listening. Did she know something? "After all, she asked you for your favourite colours."
"What does it mean, though?"
"Well, let's just say that the day is not far off for you, after all." She left the room, calling out Ren's name. Toshiro was left in the living room to ponder. The day was not far off? Could that be the day Ren trusts him fully? Toshiro couldn't help but feel a little thrilled about this. He was getting closer to Ren finally letting him in! This was it! But, part of him was still uncertain. After all, with the mysterious anniversary coming up, he wasn't sure if he could trust what Ren said about it, or more like what she didn't say. After realising what he was thinking, Toshiro shook his head to get that bad thought out of his mind. He couldn't possibly think of Ren like that! After all, he was gradually knowing more and more about her. If she knows something, she would without a doubt tell him.
Besides, Ren never lies.
…
"Alright, here we are! Ren proclaimed, walking through the automatic doors with outstretched arms, wearing the same outfit as yesterday. They were inside a spacious arcade, with various electronic and table arcade games scattered here and there, along with change machines and food stands. The room was dimly lit, but there were various flashing lights off different colours, so it wasn't that dark, and music played over the speakers, so the whole place was filled with the noise or arcade games beeping, and the sound of different soundtracks over the speakers.
"Remind me, how old are you?" Toshiro muttered, walking in with his hand in his pockets.
"Oh, come on, Shiro!" Ren said with a smile. "You're never too old to have fun! I mean, you seemed to enjoy that movie."
"…" Toshiro looked behind him at the other Soul Reapers and Ren's two human friends about to follow them in. If Ren carries on talking about the movie, she'll bring up how spooked he was right in front of them. He didn't want that!
"It's so funny to see you so sca-" Toshiro quickly interrupted Ren by clamping his hand over her mouth.
"Ren…Ixnay on the oviemay." Toshiro hissed, trying not to move his mouth as he looked at the others.
"Huh?" Ren raised an eyebrow, lowering Toshiro's hand. "Is that pig latin? Hmmm…" Ren held her chin. "Nix…on the…movie." Pause. "Shiro, what does nix mean?"
"…" Toshiro slapped his forehead. Her intelligence only comes when she needs it the most. The rest of the time, she was either a dense airhead or a complete and utter moron. Right now, she was both!
"?" Ren cocked her head to the side, confused at Toshiro's reaction. "What's wrong, Shiro? I was just saying how the movie spoo-"
"Not so loud!" Toshiro said frantically. "The others must not know about last night."
"Why not?" Ren asked, an innocent look on her face. "It's not like we had sex or anything."
That's not something you should say in public! Toshiro exclaimed in his thoughts, once again baffled at how stupid Ren could be.
"Just…Just don't tell them." Toshiro said with closed eyes.
"Okey dokey!" Ren said brightly, smiling her usual smile.
That didn't take much convincing. Toshiro thought.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?"
"Nothing, Ichigo!" Ren said brightly. "We were just talking about the movie we watched with Steph last night. Ha-ha! You should have seen the look on Shiro's face!"
"!" Toshiro flinched as soon as he heard those last few words. What part of "Don't tell them" did she not understand?!
"Oh, really…"
"Nn. He kept denying he wasn't, but I can see through a bluff easily. In the end, he was almost as spooked as Steph, and I tell ya, she gets pretty spooked over horror movies!"
"Ren, I told you not to tell them." Toshiro said in a low hiss.
"Oh, THAT'S what you were talking about!" Ren said, tapping a fist on her palm. "I though you meant that part where we clung to one another at the end. Ack!" Ren's face became stunned as soon as she realised what she said. Silence.
"Busteeeeed…" Steph sang with a smile.
"Whoopsie." Ren rubbed the back of her head with a sheepish smile.
"Ren…" Toshiro grumbled.
"!" The Soul Reapers, especially Rangiku, flinched as soon as they heard that tone in Toshiro's voice. He was mad. Very mad! They all braced themselves for the onslaught that was to come. Toshiro looked up, and he said…
"You're completely hopeless, you know that?"
"Yuh huh!" Ren said brightly, not noticing the angry tone before.
"…" The Soul Reapers and looked at one another, confused. No yells? No drops in temperature? Forget White Raven. This was even stranger! However, as soon as Rangiku saw Ren lead Toshiro towards a Street Fighter game, she came up with an idea. She looked at the other Soul Reapers, and Ren's two human friends, and most of them seemed to think the same.
"Taking all bets!" Rangiku proclaimed with a smile. "Taking all bets!"
"Did I hear the word "bet"?" Nathan asked, just entering the arcade.
"You sure did!" Rangiku said happily.
"Wicked! What are we betting on?"
"Them." Rangiku pointed at Toshiro and Ren, who remained oblivious to their deeds.
"Alright…" Nathan held up a handful of money. "Fifty pounds says they don't hook up."
"I think Ren will dump him after the first date." Tom also held up some money in his hand.
"I bet it won't be a long distance relationship."
"I bet we all go home with nothing different between them at all."
"I bet that they won't even figure it out."
"You do realise that you're all betting against them right?" Steph pointed out.
"Safest bet." They insisted at the same time.
"Besides, is it really right to bet on the relationship between two people? We should just sit back and let things take their-"
"Aw! But that's boring!" Rangiku whined. Steph sighed, defeated.
"Fine. I say that they'll get together." Steph waved a twenty pound note. "I'm betting twenty on it."
"Yeah." Rangiku pulled out her own money from her pocket. At first glance, it would seem she had hundreds. "I'm putting it all of them."
"Are you crazy?!" Renji exclaimed. "You do know who we're talking about, right?"
"Yeah. But…" Rangiku smiled to herself. "Love can be an incredible thing…" She said quietly.
"What was that?" Rukia asked.
"Ah. It's nothing. Now, come on! Let's have fun!"
…
"What?! I lost?!"
"Aw, tough luck, Shiro!" Ren said happily.
"You've done this before, I know you have!"
"Uh, yeah. That's how I won. Duh!"
"Rematch!"
"Come on, Shiro. We've been on this thing for ages. Admit it. I'm awesome at fighter games."
"True. You do have brawn. But…" With a sly look in his eyes, Toshiro pointed at another game. It looked like a black arcade game, only there was a huge brain on top of it that light up. "Do you have any brains?"
"A quiz game, eh?" Ren linked her fingers together and stretched them back. "No problem."
Five minutes later
"I don't believe it…" Toshiro muttered, dumbfounded. "I lost to Ren on a quiz game."
"Hee…" Ren grinned. "I may be a moron, but there is one thing I am not, and that, sir, is an idiot."
"They mean the same thing." Toshiro sweat dropped.
"Nuh uh."
"And besides, how can you get every single one right?"
"I've played this game so many times, I know all the answers off by heart. For example, the answers for the Global History category is AABDCCDDDDAACBDDBCC-"
"Alright, alright." Toshiro said quickly
"Ren!" Tom waved at Ren from the air hockey table. "Come and play!"
"…" Ren looked at Toshiro, who simply nodded at her. With a smile, Ren trotted over to the air hockey table, grabbing a red mallet. Toshiro watched her go with a subtle smile. She sure was one hell of a gamer.
"So…you having fun?"
"Ah!" Toshiro jumped back, stunned by the sudden presence of Katelyn, who smiled at him.
"Did I surprise you? Goodie! That's what I wanted!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Um, I was invited?"
"Oh. Right." Toshiro, in his surprise, had completely forgotten that Katelyn was also invited. How embarrassing. That reminded him… "Listen, there's something I want to ask you."
"Sure. What is it?"
"But first, promise me that this can be kept between us. Just you and me. It's to do with the villages."
"Um…okay. I can't make any promises, though, but I'll try."
"Does the date March 7th mean anything to you?"
"!" Toshiro saw Katelyn's eyes widen a little, and he knew he hit a spot. "No." Katelyn said. She looked at Toshiro straight in the face. "No, it doesn't."
"But, just now, you-"
"Ah, Steph! You're playing Mario Kart?! Can I join?!" Katelyn was soon bounding towards Steph, taking a seat in one of the plastic driving seats.
She's lying. Toshiro thought. She knows something. There's something she's not telling me. There's something that everyone's not telling me. But… Toshiro glanced towards Ren, who was in deep concentration over the air hockey game. Is Ren lying to me, too? Just what are they hiding from me?
"Three one! Ren is in the lead!"
I know… Toshiro thought, hearing Nathan's voice. I'll try and get an answer out of him.
"Four one to Ren!" Nathan proclaimed, waving a hand to Ren.
"What?! You're kidding me!" Tom exclaimed, scratching his head.
"Hee hee!" Ren smiled her smile.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were using your Wind Shackles." Tom teased.
"Well, ob-vi-ous-ly." Ren said slowly, waving her arm at Tom to show there was nothing on them besides the clothes she wore and the bracelet Toshiro got her.
"I know, I know. Your serve."
"Hey."
"Hm?" Nathan glanced down to find Toshiro looking up at him. "Oh, hey. What's up?"
"Over here." Toshiro pointed to his left before proceeding to go in that direction.
"Um…Can you two keep the score for a minute? I'll be right back." Nathan said before following Toshiro.
"Sure." Tom said dismissively.
"…" Ren watched them go, a smile on her face. It looked like Toshiro was starting to get along with Nathan. That's good. But, in her distraction, the puck went straight into her goal.
"Yes! Four two!"
"Gack! No fair!"
"So, what is it?" Nathan asked as soon as Toshiro stopped.
"I have something to ask you."
"Ask away."
"March 7th. Does the date have any-"
"I don't know." Nathan said quickly and sharply.
"?" Toshiro raised an eyebrow, suspicious. Why the quick answer? It can only mean one thing; Nathan knows something.
"I don't know." Nathan said in a normal tone. "That date does not mean anything to me."
"That's a lie. I heard you talking to Ren's friends about it. Something happened on that day six years ago, and I want to know what."
"Wow. You actually heard that?" Toshiro nodded in the affirmative. Nathan glanced in different directions for a few seconds, then he beckoned Toshiro to come closer.
Yes! Toshiro thought, realising he was going to get an answer. He moved closer.
"Alright…" Nathan said in a low whisper. "I can't tell you much, but I'll do what I can."
"I want to know what happened on that date."
"I can't give you the specifics. I'm under orders not to."
"By who?"
"The village leaders."
"So they're behind it…" Toshiro said thoughtfully, holding his chin in thought. "But what are they hiding?"
"The Hidden Village."
"Huh?"
"Steph told you there were five villages, right? That was a lie. In reality, there are six of them. However, you'll find that nobody ever hears from the sixth."
"Why?"
"I can't say."
"Damn…" Toshiro cursed. But, he could somehow make a connection with the empty file and the new information on a sixth village.
"We all know what happened. But, we are under instruction to not speak of it until that date."
"Including Ren?"
"Yeah…She is." Nathan answered, but Toshiro couldn't help but notice how he hesitated in his answer. There was something else he knew. Something important. But, judging by the suspicious tone Nathan spoke in and the information he was given, Toshiro decided that he should lay off the questions. For now…
"Well…um…thank you." Toshiro muttered, glancing away from Nathan. He really hated the idea of thanking a person he punched a few days ago.
"Wait…Did you just say-"
"Ow!"
"I'm sorry, Ren!"
"Ren?" Toshiro immediately looked in the direction of Ren's yelp. She was rubbing her forehead, and a plastic puck was rolling on the floor. "Ren! Are you alright?" Toshiro rushed towards Ren, leaving Nathan alone. He knew that what he just said was taboo in the villages, but what could he do? It was a way to at least try to earn some form of forgiveness from Toshiro. And, judging by the thank you he just gave, it seemed to be working. Good. That's how it should be. If he can earn Toshiro's forgiveness, then that's good.
"Shiro, I'm fine. Really. Tom just hit the puck too hard, and it hit my head. It's nothing."
"Let me see." Toshiro moved Ren's hand away from her head, and he leaned a little closer to Ren. "It does look a little red."
"It's just a bump on the noggin'. I've had plenty in my lifetime."
"If you say so…"
"Caaaaptain!" Rangiku yelled happily, running towards the others, with a Winnie the Pooh under her arm. "Look what I won! Whoops!" In her haste, Rangiku didn't notice the puck on the floor, and she slipped on it. She was about to fall, but her outstretched arm touched something, preventing her from falling. Unfortunately, that something was Toshiro's back, which pushed him forward. Neither Ren nor Toshiro could get out of the way, and before they knew it, their lips met in a kiss, and they both went wide eyed.
"!" Everybody stopped what they were doing to look at what just happened. Rangiku, as soon as she regained her footing, looked both amused and horrified at the same time after seeing her captain and Ren. Good, because it meant the bet was in her favour, and bad because Toshiro was going to yell at her later. Katelyn was so surprised, that she drove her virtual car off the cliff, while Steph stopped just short of the finish line. Renji and Ichigo were resisting all urges not to laugh, Rukia was struck speechless, and Nathan took out his phone and snapped a photograph while he had the chance. He was NOT going to let them forget this. Tom, in his shock, let go of his mallet, letting it glide across the air hockey table. After several seconds of a tense silence, Toshiro and Ren pulled away from one another, stunned. Neither of them said anything. They just stared at each other, wondering whether that really happened or not. In that moment, it seemed even the machines had gone quiet. Ren and Toshiro brought their fingers to their mouths, remaining silent.
"And we have a freak out in three, two, one…" Steph said.
"!" Toshiro and Ren instantly went red in their faces.
…
"NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
"RANGIKU!"
"Hm?" Epona looked up at the arcade building, pulling her hood down. "What happened, I wonder?" Epona shrugged off her curiosity. "It does not matter. It is time. But first…" Epona pointed her palm at the building the gang were inside. "Attack."
I will see the extent of her light… Epona thought. And I will extinguish it forever.
…
"RANGIKU! Why couldn't you have watched where you were going?!"
"I'm sorry, Captain." Rangiku whined. She was right. Toshiro was yelling at her. Ren, on the other hand, was crouched on the ground with her hands on her head, muttering "That was my first kiss" over and over again. Ichigo and Renji didn't bother holding back, and were laughing their heads off at the reactions from the victims. One was predictable, and the other seemed almost adorable.
"What's the big deal, Toshiro?" Tom asked. "It's just a kiss."
"The big deal is that Rangiku was careless enough to not watch where her feet were!" Toshiro looked away, a little embarrassed. "And…it was…" Toshiro muttered something after this.
"What was that?" Tom leaned closer to Toshiro.
"It was…" Toshiro muttered the last part again, but in an angrier tone,
"Speak up, Captain."
"Rrrr…It was my first kiss!" Toshiro yelled louder than he wanted to, prompting the others to back away and for Toshiro to look straight at the ground. He hadn't expected that one. He was starting to surprise himself.
"Eh?" Ren stopped muttering and looked over her shoulder at Toshiro. "You mean…you haven't, either?" Ren asked, standing up.
"No… I mean…not anymore…" Toshiro answered, trying not to look in Ren's eyes. He couldn't look at Ren properly without getting embarrassed
"We're each other's firsts." Ren pointed at herself and Toshiro.
"I guess we are…"
"I um…" Ren fiddled with her hands, blushing a little bit. "I'm glad that it was with you..."
"…" After hesitation, Toshiro nodded. It may have been an accidental kiss, but his anger at what happened had vanished the second he heard Ren say those words.
"I'm glad it was with you…"
"Me too."
"Eh?" Ren blinked, looking straight at Toshiro.
"I'm glad it was with you…too…" Toshiro looked away, feeling incredibly shy all of a sudden.
"Did they just say…?" Renji asked Rangiku, pointing at the two of them.
"They did." Rangiku smiled. "Looks like you'll be paying up soon."
"By the way, Rukia…"
"Yes?" Rukia was suddenly alert as soon as Ren called her.
"Move fifteen centimetres to your right." Ren said, indicating with her hand.
"O-Okay." Rukia immediately did so.
"Thank you." Ren clenched the air hockey mallet she had been holding the entire time, and threw it where Rukia was previously standing. The sound of plastic hitting bone was heard, and the person it hit burst into smoke, and after several seconds, the smoke reformed into a person wearing all black, with only the eyes showing, prompting Rukia to back away from it and straight to Renji.
"What the…" Renji stammered, holding Rukia's shoulders protectively.
"Ren, what are you doing?" Katelyn asked, confused as to why Ren would attack someone.
"Haven't you noticed how we're the only ones here?" Ren asked loudly, prompting the others to look around them. She was right. The machines were still beeping occasionally, but there were only a handful of people around.
"Is it an attack?" Tom asked.
"Looks like it. Stay together, everyone. The enemy is right here. They've been right under our noses the entire time." After Ren said this, the few people in the building turned black, until it made them appear to wear ninja garb, obscuring everything but their blank, white eyes. "These "gamers" aren't real. I've been getting an uneasy feeling since I came in, so I thought "wait and see", and I've waited, and now, I see." Even though Ren was speaking in a serious tone, it didn't stop her from smiling.
"How did you know?" Toshiro asked, amazed by her deduction.
"Always trust a woman's intuition."
"I'm not sure if it works like that…"
"For me it does. Katelyn, you stick by Tom and Steph. Nathan, you join 'em."
"Nathan, what's going on?" Katelyn asked, hoping to get an answer.
"I know and I don't know at the same time. Just go with it."
"The rest of you, stay alert." Ren clicked her heels together, and the Fire Shackles appeared instantly.
"Ren's on fire!"
"Later, Katelyn." Fire appeared around each of Ren's hands, and in each one was a silver pistol, with the handle coloured red and an orange teardrop shape on each side, and another few smaller orange teardrop shapes on top. "You ever held a gun, Shiro?"
"No. Wah!" Right after Toshiro said this, Ren tossed him a pistol, and in his panic, Toshiro tossed the pistol between each hand before he finally managed to grip it.
"Well, you have now."
"Wait, how am I supposed to use this?!"
"Easy." Ren said, wearing her trademark blank expression. "Point and shoot. Just pretend it's a gun that fires those chokaho's you use."
"Choca-what?" Ichigo said, confused.
"I think she means Shakkaho." Renji said to Ichigo.
"Oooh."
"Okay, ninjas! Get your gamer caps on!" Ren pointed her gun at the crowd of black clothed people with blank eyes, wearing an excited smile on her face. "'Cos it's game time."
TA DA! That took longer than expected. Whoops! Well, I'm back in England now, and have just had Christmas, so there should be a more continuous flow of chapter updates coming your way. Coming up, Ren faces off against the ninjas, and Epona finally makes her move. What does she have in store for our hero and heroine? Stick around and find out! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!