Shane went back to his room and changed out of his uniform. He put on plain clothes and a straw shade. He packed a few things into a small bag and set out. He avoided high traffic areas and quietly exited the Court of Pure Souls and set out into the Rukongai. He deliberately made his way past the lower number districts and as he walked, the buildings and became shabbier and more run down, the people less and less well off. Here, he blended in with the people and could hide more easily. He ducked into an alley and consulted his phone.
"It's a good thing I got that new mod for my phone when I did," Shane said, pushing buttons and navigating menus. A small antenna appeared out of the phone and a light began flashing at a steady rate. "With this, I can track traces of my spiritual energy." He looked around, then back to his phone. "I hope enough of it is left for this to work," he added. Shane waved the phone around and watched the display. Nothing. Shane frowned and began walking in a gradually increasing circle.
After searching in this way for several hours, Shane began to lose hope. He put the phone away and began walking in any direction. As he traveled, Shane couldn't help but notice the poverty of the outer districts. You'd think someone would do something about this, but no, Shane thought sadly. He couldn't help but become angry. I know life isn't always fair, but even in the afterlife? How is this any better than back in the Real World? Some of these people traded one hell for another.
So lost in his thoughts, Shane didn't see the group of young children and almost tripped over them.
"Hey! Watch where you're goin' mister!" a young boy called out. A chorus of voices sang out in agreement. Shane stopped and tilted his shade back. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you all down there," he apologized.
The boy who had spoken up wrinkled his face in annoyance, then turned his attention back to what he was doing. Intrigued, Shane knelt down to look.
"No grownups!" one of the children said and pushed him away. Slightly surprised, Shane was even more curious as to what they were doing. He reached into his bag and dug around. When he found what he was looking for, he walked off down the street.
When he came back, the group of children were still there, occupied by something. Shane leaned over to look. Almost as one, the children turned to look at him. Before they could tell him off again, Shane pulled his hands out from behind his back, holding sweets for all of them.
"Yay! Candy!" the children shouted and mobbed Shane. Laughing, Shane tripped over one of them and fell over. The children were on him in an instant, grabbing and reaching for the candy. Shane playfully fought them off and regained his footing. "Alright, now be still!" Shane told them. The children became restless as Shane passed out the candy to all of them. When the last one was passed out, the children became very animated, jumping around and sucking on candy. Shane didn't try to contain his laughter.
"What's so funny?" one of the children asked him.
"Nothing, it's all right," Shane assured him. He leaned down and asked the boy, "So what was everyone doing over there?" The boy looked around nervously, as if afraid of being found out, motioned for Shane to come closer. Shane tilted his head to the side and the boy whispered, "Looking for treasure!"
Shane's eyes grew wide and he gasped. "No, really!" The boy nodded his head vigorously. "Did you find any?" Shane whispered back. The boy smiled and held his hand out for Shane to see. Shane looked and saw a large beetle, its carapace changing between blue and green in the light.
"Wow! That's really cool!" Shane said. The boy beamed brightly. He grabbed Shane by the hand and led him to where the other children had gathered. When they say Shane, the children became suspicious, but they recognized him as the man who gave them candy and the boy who was leading him. They quickly gathered around. Shane bent down to their level and whispered, "I hear you're looking for treasure,"
"Did Jin tell you?" one of the children asked. The other children began complaining, but Shane quieted them down. "It doesn't matter how I found out. Now, how would you all like to do something for me?" he asked. The children looked at each other, no one saying anything.
"How about if I give you something in return?" Shane asked. Instantly, the children began jumping up and down and raising their voices.
"Shh, or the other grownups will get mad!" Shane said. The children instantly became quiet. "Now," Shane began, "I'm looking for a small girl, about your age. She has short brown hair, big green eyes and her name is Rin. Do any of you know her?" The children looked at each other, then one by one, shook their heads. "Can you help me look for her?" Shane asked.
"Why are you looking for her?" one boy asked. Shane thought for a moment, then said, "I made her a promise I would come look for her one day."
The children gathered around the boy who had spoken up. Shane realized it was the same boy that had yelled at him earlier. Shane figured he was the leader of the group.
The children began discussing Shane's proposal in hushed voices. Shane let them be and wandered off a little ways. As he was staring off into the sky, he felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down and saw it was the little boy with the beetle.
"You're name is Jin, right?" Shane asked and the boy nodded his head. He looked around and said, "I know the girl you're looking for."
"Really?" Shane asked. The boy nodded his head and led Shane by the hand down the street. As they walked, Shane tried to not get his hopes up. As they were walking, Jin asked Shane, "You're a Shinigami, aren't you?"
Slightly surprised, Shane smiled and didn't bother to hide the truth. "What gave it away?" he asked.
The boy shrugged and said, "I don't know. I just had a feeling. But to your credit, you look like someone who came from out here."
"Well, that part is true," Shane said. The boy tightened his grip on Shane's hand and Shane gave a reassuring squeeze.
They arrived at an old hut made of old pieces of wood and tin. Shane noticed the chalk drawings on the wall and smiled.
"Hey Rin! Come out here!" Jin called out.
Shane heard rustling inside and a small girl pushed through the tattered blanket that covered the door. When she saw Shane, she became suspicious. "Who's he?" she asked.
"This guy said he was looking for you," Jin said. Rin squinted her eyes and looked Shane over. "I don't know of any grownup that's looking for me," she said and turned to go back inside.
Her words stung Shane. "So you hate grownups too?" he asked. Rin put her hands on her hips and frowned. "They are old and grumpy and don't care about anyone but themselves!" she said strongly. She certainly has changed since that time I met her, Shane thought to himself. I guess living in a place like this will do that to one so young.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to live around here?" Rin said, raising her voice. "When I came here, I didn't know anything. I probably would have died if Jin and the others didn't find me."
Suddenly curious, Shane asked, "Do you remember anything from before you came here?"
"Of course not! No one does!" Rin shouted. She lowered her voice and added, "It's like a dream or something, but I remember something about the Real World and a monster was chasing me, and I was really scared. Then this guy showed up in a black kimono looking thing and said everything would be okay. He touched me on the head with his sword thingie and before I wake up, he tells me he'll look for me in a place called Soul Society. Then I wake up and realize that it was all just a dream." Rin hung her head and her face fell.
"If you could meet that guy in your dream again, what would you do?" Shane asked. Rin made a fist and shook it angrily. "I'd hit him really hard and tell him 'Thanks for nothing!'" Rin glanced up at him and became suspicious. "Why? What do you know?" Shane thought for a minute, then said, "I know the guy who sent you here."
Rin's eyes grew wide. "You mean that dream was real?" she asked. Shane nodded his head. Rin shook her head vigorously and became angry. "Wait a minute. Who are you? What do you want?"
Shane took off his shade and knelt down in front of Rin. "I'm the guy who sent you here," he said. Rin stared hard at Shane. The light of realization slowly began to dawn in her eyes and she slowly backed away. "How? How can that be?" she asked.
Shane sighed and said, "This is the first chance I've had to come and look for you. I've been very busy and a lot of things have been happening."
Fire suddenly erupted in Rin's eyes and she clenched her fist until her knuckles turned white. With a mighty shout, she hit Shane in the nose as hard as she could. Shane went rolling backwards, blood gushing out of his nose.
"You dirty, rotten, stinky liar!" Rin screamed at him and winced in pain, holding her hand. "You told me I was going to a place where I would be happy all the time!"
Shane sat up and tried to stop the bleeding with his clothing. "Well, I certainly had that coming, eh?" he said, smiling weakly.
Rin's chin began to quiver and tears formed in her eyes. "I looked and waited for you, but you never came." Her voice began to tremble and she started crying. "I was so scared! I don't know what to do anymore!" she sobbed.
Shane handed her a handkerchief and Rin wiped her face. "Well, now that I've found you, I have question for you," Shane said. "What?" Rin asked and blew her nose rather noisily.
"How about you come live with me at my place? What do you think about that?" Shane asked. Rin sniffed and asked, "Really?" Shane nodded his head. Rin brightened, but quickly grew sad again. "What about Jin?" she asked. Shane turned his head and saw Jin standing by himself, looking pitiful. Shane reached into his bag and pulled out an object wrapped in paper. He tossed it to Jin, who caught it and opened it up.
"If you decide to come with me, I bet you'll see Jin very soon," Shane said with a smile. Jin looked at Shane and a smile grew on his face.
"What? I don't get it," Rin pouted. Shane waved her off and said, "Gather your things and come with me." Rin dashed inside the hut and Shane could hear her rummaging around. Before long, she appeared holding a small bag made of woven grass. Shane held out his hand and Rin took it, a big smile on her face. He turned to Jin and said, "Remember what I said," Jin nodded and crinkled the empty paper in his hand. Hand in hand, Shane and Rin set off back through Soul Society.