Kon and Tegan were once again wandering the streets as they scouted for hollows. Kon was not in the long-armed monkey forma around Tegan's neck as it had become the form he used when they were in public. Otherwise, he took to trotting behind Tegan in a polar bear form that was the size of a dog and had metal claws that could be charged with reiatsu for attacks. Tegan had gotten better with her odd attack too. She and Kon had taken to calling it the cannon as Tegan often complimented it with one word – "boom."

The duo had become even closer in the past few weeks of working together and had adapted to each other's fighting techniques.

"Tegan."

Tegan looked down to meet Kon's black eyes. He could not blind in that form and so merely stared back before turning his head to their left.

"Do you feel that?"

Tegan paused, taking in the hollow's reiatsu.

"Yeah but it's being taken care of."

Tegan knew that there was a shinigami in her town but could only sense the soul reaper when they were fighting. She figured it was better this way. If she left the shinigami alone, hopefully, they'd leave her alone and – by extension – Kon.

Kon nodded in reluctance and the two made to continue down the street but stopped as a figure stepped from the shadows. It was a man with wild blond hair that stuck haphazardly from under a green and white hat. He wore matching green clothes and carried a cane. His appearance was not what put the duo on edge though – it was his spiritual pressure. It rolled, waved, and pressed around them – making it hard to breath and impossible to move. Kon was shaking and though Tegan seemed impassive, her heart was hammering in her chest.

The man chuckled at the sight of them as held his can idly in one hand. Tegan's fist clenched. Did he think their fear was funny?

"Well, well." He said, smiling. "Would you look at this – an illegal mod soul."

Tegan's eyes widened as Kon moaned in fear. The man continued, "I had wondered what had happened to the one from my shop. Good thing I found out who it was sold to."

He eyed Tegan. "Though I had hoped that you would still be oblivious. Let me guess, you tried to eat it with the rest of the candy?"

Dumbfounded, Tegan could only shake her head negatively.

Kisuke Urahara frowned but did not comment, instead he said, "I'm afraid I have to remove the mod soul, Miss. He isn't supposed to exist, you see."

He lifted his cane so that it faced the terrified Kon and the cane faded to reveal a sword. Kisuke pulled Benihime back but froze as he heard an odd sound. He turned his head to see Tegan aiming darkly colored reiatsu at him. His eyes widened when he realized the similarities between it and the attack known as "cero."

Kisuke's eyes locked on Tegan. The girl's breathing was erratic and her whole body shook – but she was centering the attack so it would spread rather than hit a specific spot. She would have less of a chance to miss.

"Go near him and I'll blast you." She hissed, her blue eyes narrowing to slits as she stared angrily at him.

Kisuke frowned. "Now… How did you learn that attack?" he questioned, not seeming to be worried at all. Only curious.

"None of your business." Tegan snarled angrily, irritation clearly on her face but Urahara could see the fear in her eyes.

"Oh, I think it is my business." Urahara stated, allowing a cold smile to form. "You see, not only do I seem to have an illegal mod soul on my hands but a human with forbidden techniques." He disappeared.

Tegan jerked backwards in surprise only to freeze as the tip of a blade was placed at her throat. The man was now behind her – safe from the attack that Tegan could have unleashed – and Tegan was now at the mercy of his blade.

"Watch it Syketon! This one's poisonous!" Rukia's warning echoed through the air as Syke rolled backwards to avoid the hollow's attack.

"Of course it is!" Syke shouted back, frustration evident in her voice. She rolled her eyes in exasperation. Why was it that she always got the ones that spewed fire, breathed poisonous gas, and hurled explosives? It just wasn't fair.

Pulling her zanpakuto up, Syke prepared herself for hollow's next attack as it sped towards her. Just a minute more-

BANG!

The hollow was stopped in its advance by a bright blue attack that sped towards it and ripped through its mask. With a cry of pain, the hollow disappeared.

"Hell yeah! Now that's how it's done!"

Syke could only stare dumbfounded as Pyro walked towards them, shouting in victory. Close behind him, trailed Match and Kyvain.

Syke blinked slowly. Kyvain was wearing the robes of a soul reaper…