Wow. This is pretty bad. I have lost count of how many times I've died, but somehow came back to life. I must have more lives than 8 or 9 cats. What's it all for? Do I really matter that much? Am I so important that people can't afford to let me die? Shoot, maybe Captain Ukitake did make the right person his lieutenant. I'll bet he's with the other captains, bragging about how he managed to get a lieutenant who never dies. Hmm. I must not be dead because I don't think dead people think of this much random stuff. I wonder what's for lunch.

Shane slowly opened his eyes. When his eyes finally adjusted to the light, he noticed he was laying in a room in Urahara's shop. He sat up and winced in pain. The covers fell down and he looked at his mummified body. Shane slowly moved around and was not surprised to find everything hurt, including his hair.

"You know, you're costing me a fortune in medical supplies," Olivia said, entering the room. She kneeled down and gently pushed Shane back onto the bed. "If they ever find out what you're made of and sell it, you could make a lot of money," Olivia said.

The door opened again and Tatsuki entered. When she saw Shane was awake, she stopped and blushed. "If you die from something stupid like that, I'll never forgive you," Tatsuki stammered and rushed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Shane winced at the loud sound.

"She's come by every day to check on you," Olivia whispered.

"Do I even want to know how long I've been out?" Shane whispered back. "What century is it?"

"Well look who's finally awake!" Urahara said as he entered the room. He sat beside Olivia and Yoruichi the cat curled up beside Shane. Urahara became serious. "What happened?"

"I was out one night and was attacked by a large number of hollows. A strange Arrancar appeared and she beat the tar out of me. That's all I remember," Shane said.

"Was she one of Aizens?" Olivia asked. Shane shook his head. "I think she works for Akuma," he said. Olivia gasped and Urahara's fan hid his face. "Was the Arrancar everything you thought it would be?" Yoruichi asked.

Shane rolled his eyes and said, "Gee, ya think?"

"Well, what do you think?" Olivia asked.

Shane sighed. "I think I'm in trouble." He then looked to Urahara. "I have a favor to ask," he said.

"What is it?" Urahara replied. Shane picked up Yoruichi and looked her face to face. "Well, it kinda involves you too," he said.

"I'm listening," Yoruichi the cat said.

They stood in the enormous room under Urahara's shop. In the distance, Shane could hear Renji and Chad's training.

"So, run this idea of yours by me again?" Yoruichi asked. She stood a short distance away, her arms crossed.

"From what I can remember, when I'm either near death or already dead, something inside me takes over, and I become a ruthless killing machine," Shane said. "You are going to beat the crap out of me and see if we can't get it to come out." He pointed to where Urahara was standing. "And Urahara will attempt to record any data so we can analyze it and maybe figure out what this power is, or where it's coming from."

"So, you're just going to let me beat you?" Yoruichi asked. Shane grinned. "Who said anything about that? I still owe you a sparring session, do I not? Show me what the former captain of 2nd Squad and 'Goddess of Flash' Yoruichi can do."

Yoruichi sighed and unfolded her arms. "You asked for this," she said. Shane suddenly saw three different Yoruichi's and they all hit him at the same time. Remember, it's what you wanted, Shane said to himself.

Next time, I think I'll just shoot myself in the face and it might be less painful...

Shane remembered the last time they sparred and this was nothing like that. Yoruichi was truly trying to kill him, and she was succeeding. Shane realized she was stronger and faster than he had thought and he had severely underestimated her. Well, that was stupid, he thought. Shane fought back the best he could, and managed to get a few good hits in, but Yoruichi quickly adjusted her fighting style, and Shane was left with nothing.

Finally, Shane was left, beaten and bruised, barely able to stand. He felt like his lungs were on fire with every breath he took. Sweat mixed with blood and stung his eyes. He would have wiped his face, but he had lost all feeling in his arms and legs.

Yoruichi stared at him impassively. Suddenly, there seemed to be several Yoruichis and they all seemed to hit Shane in the same spot on the back of his head. Lights out...

Urahara shifted his stance and made sure he was ready with his video recorder

Shane's eyes went dark and he started to teeter. Yoruichi waited to see what happened. Shane's momentum carried him forward, but before he completely lost his balance, he stepped loudly and caught himself. Yoruichi squinted and looked closely. It seemed as if Shane were still unconscious. His head snapped up, his eyes hazy and unfocused. Yoruichi was taken aback by the sudden change of his spiritual aura. "Are you getting this?" she called out.

"Yes! You're doing a splendid job!" Urahara encouraged. Yoruichi was on edge, unsure of what was going to happen. Shane lashed out. Although she expected it, Yoruichi was surprised at the speed and power behind Shane's punch. Yoruichi jumped back and Shane stopped. Yoruichi cautiously went forward with several light attacks to probe Shane's reaction. He countered and caught her square in the kidney with his knee. Yoruichi's eyes went wide with shock. She attacked him and again he countered with a forceful palm heel strike, intending to shove her nose back into her brain. Yoruichi dodged and jumped back.

"Well?" Urahara called out.

Yoruichi wiped her mouth and gently massaged her back. "I don't know what this is, part of me wants to see what he's capable of."

"It's up to you," Urahara replied, focusing his camera. Yoruichi smiled and ran at Shane. He met her head on. The resulting collision of their bodies and spiritual energy created another crater in Urahara's massive room.

"That's not going to be cheap," Urahara winced.

Yoruichi was getting serious for the first time in a long time, but at the same time she was intrigued by Shane's mysterious power. If she had to guess, Yoruichi would say that Shane's fighting spirit, will to live, his inner whatever, was so strong, it moved his body when his mind was unconscious. Shane was matching her hit for hit with a fighting style she was unfamiliar with. His movements were wild and chaotic, but she noticed he was never out of control of his body.

Yoruichi paused to catch her breath and wipe her mouth. She wasn't surprised to see a thin trickle of blood. She sighed and looked at Shane. "I'm going to show you something you might be able to use someday. You probably can't comprehend what I'm telling you anyway," she said. Yoruichi raised her arm out to the side about shoulder height. A spark of electricity raced down her arm and the area was blinded by an explosion of light. Yoruichi's outer top was shredded, revealing her arms and back.

"This is called shunkou, or Flash Cry. It combines hand to hand and kido. Focus a large amount of spirit energy, and through an explosion, that energy is forced into the arms and legs," Yoruichi explained. "However, this technique is very dangerous, but I don't think you care about that right now." Shane cocked his head to the side, as if comprehending her words.

With Flash Cry, Yourichi's movements became faster and her attacks packed incredible energy. Urahara had a difficult time tracking her movements on the camera. It appeared as if Shane was being buffered by an intense wind from all directions. His body danced as if attached to strings being pulled haphazardly. Shane was breathing heavy, undoubtedly close to being beaten to death again. Yoruichi stopped several feet away from Shane. "It seems we are both close to our limits," she said. She cocked her head sideways and added, "But I'm starting to wonder if you have any limits." She raised her hands and unleashed a massive explosion of energy. The entire room was bathed in bright light and Urahara was forced to take cover. As the wave of energy rapidly approached Shane, he put his hands in front of him. A wall of energy appeared around Shane as the blast engulfed him, like a wave breaking over a rock.

When the light faded and the dust settled, the ground in front of Yoruichi was vaporized, forming a trench that grew deeper and wider the further out it got. Shane was revealed to be standing on a small patch of ground that was saved by his barrier. His body was completely still. Several seconds passed, then Shane fell flat on his face, his nose breaking his fall. Yoruichi sighed in relief, then collapsed. Urahara came out of hiding and helped her to her feet.

"Well?" Yourichi asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Urahara surveyed the carnage. "I wonder who's going to pay for this?" he asked.