Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 5: Pushed Too Far

Three months had passed since the exchange student had come to Karakura High School. He still arrived at the same time everyday, wearing the same clothes and the same pendant. He still had a strange hair colour and piercing, unknowable eyes. He maintained average grades, had a neutral disposition, was courteous but not sycophantic towards his instructors; in other words, he acted just enough in the school environment to fit in yet go generally unnoticed or ignored. The smitten girls harassed him in a routine way that he dealt with in a similar manner; so as to not discourage them to stop, yet not encourage them to be bolder either. He met any jealousy he received from his male classmates with an attitude that was magnanimous and showed understanding, so as to leave his male comrades confused about their relationship with him. He would be approachable enough to invite amicability, yet remained distant enough so that nobody would miss him or think about him greatly if he vanished one day, which was, of course, his intention from the beginning. In short, he acted perfectly as a spy, in such a way that no rational person would have reason or desire to cause him any problems.

There was, however, a decidedly irrational and chaotic member of the class, Asano Keigo, who was not affected by Kemeto-san's actions, and remained internally hostile and distrustful of him. One day, some three months after his arrival, he finally decided to do something about it.

It was lunchtime and he was sitting on the roof with his friends, eating, when he decided to bring it up.

"Hey guys, have you noticed how that Kemeto annoys everyone?"

"What's your problem Keigo, the guy's never done anything bad to anyone," replied Ichigo.

"As odd as this sounds, I agree with Kurosaki. I can't say that I like him, but his manners are impeccable," added Ishida Uryuu.

"Besides, I thought that annoying people was your job, Asano-san," finished Mizuiro. Chad remained silent as always.

Keigo looked as if he was on the verge of tears, but he held them back. "And here I thought we were friends who supported each other. Well I'm going ahead with my plan anyways."

"Your plan for what, Asano-san?"

"Revenge, of course!"

"And what are you planning on taking revenge for?" inquired a very bored Ichigo.

"Isn't it obvious?! Look at how strangely the girls are all acting around him. And I swear I've seen him taking quick glances at my Orihime!" responded a now very riled up Keigo.

"It sounds to me like you're just jealous Asano-san," replied Mizuiro.

"Since when is she your Orihime anyways?" added Ichigo.

"I've seen those looks he gives people, and they show much more good taste and etiquette than your brazen leering," finished Uryuu. Chad just nodded.

At this point he was expecting a response like this, so he ignored it and continued. "My plan is the confront him after school. I'll rough him up a little, he'll back down, and then I'll have all the girls to myself once again. What do you think, guys? He doesn't look very tough at all, does he?" Keigo then started laughing out loud, completely pleased with what he assumed to be brilliant planning.

Chad, Ichigo, and Uryuu, however, all stopped listening to him after he had talked about confrontation. The three looked at each other; their understanding and anxiety was passed wordlessly between them. While none of them could detect any palpable threat, they sensed something amiss, and all knew better than to cast stones at what could turn out to be a hornet's nest. Ichigo was the first to express his feelings to Keigo.

"You know, Keigo, I don't think that's such a good plan."

"Nonsense, Ichigo. Just watch. Everything will turn out fine."

The three of them looked at each other again. 'This is bad,' they thought simultaneously, ' he clearly won't be dissuaded'.

"Hey Kemeto-chan!" yelled Keigo, already adjusting his attitude from its usual comical state to a more aggressive one.

The Reiou heard this, of course, but continued walking.

"Hey, I'm talking to you little man!" he yelled again. The Reiou, however, kept striding at his brisk place, eager to return to his resting spot after another tiresome day.

At this time, Keigo was still following his classmate, unwilling to give up, and his pursuit had already taken him outside the school grounds and its perimeter, where he had hoped to confront him. There were no other students now, and precious few others on the abandoned path near the river they were currently walking. This, however, didn't cross the young boy's mind, who had long since forgotten the part of the plan that involved humiliating him in front of a crowd. At the moment, all he could think about was how angry he was at the callous individual who had been ignoring him. Unable to take it any longer, Keigo started sprinting and cut off the other man, who stopped accordingly.

"Listen you, you and me have a problem."

No response.

Grabbing the Reiou's collar he yelled, "What do you think you're doing, ignoring me?"

"Remove your hands from my clothing, now," spoke the Reiou in an altogether calm yet threatening tone that went, for the most part, unnoticed by Keigo.

"Why don't you make me, cowar…" Before he could finish his sentence, time froze for Asano Keigo.

The Reiou punched the boy in the chest, shattering several ribs. He then knocked the boy out with a blow to the back of his head, which he delivered as he started walking around the boy. Still unaware of what was happening, the Reiou delivered his last blow to the boy's back, causing him to him the ground with a loud resonant sound. He continued on his way.

The Reiou stopped and looked back at his handiwork. The last blow had left a small crater in the earth that his body was now laying in. Blood was pooling there, albeit in much smaller quantities than he had expected. The boy's intercostals were damaged, but he was surprised that the blows had not ruptured his heart or lungs, nor even given him a concussion.

'Maybe it was pity…no matter. Even if he does revive and heal, the experience will only leave him humbled. And if he uses this to cause problems, I'll just wipe his memory.' The Reiou contemplated these things as he walked towards his chosen resting place, completely at ease with what had just transpired.

Keigo's last thoughts before losing consciousness were, 'What just happened?'