The next day, Shane reported to the Squad 13 main office. Before he could enter, Kyone Kotetsu threw open the door, a wild look in her eye. Shane opened his mouth to speak, but she grabbed him and pulled him inside. "You're late!" she shouted. "Were have you been?"
"Relax," Shane said, "I just got here. What's going on?"
"The captain wants to speak to you!" she shouted and Shane cringed. "Why are you yelling this early in the morning?" he asked.
"Because you're a bum and the captain made someone like you the Lieutenant!" Kyone continued shouting. Curious onlookers were starting to stare and whisper amongst themselves. Shane waved and gave them a sheepish smile. "Are you still mad about that?" he asked Kyone. She ignored him and dragged him down the hall to Captian Ukitake's office. She threw him inside and slammed the door behind him.
"You really have a way with the ladies," Captain Ukitake chuckled.
"But I didn't do anything!" Shane pouted. Captain Ukitake motioned him forward and Shane stepped up. "How were your days off?" he asked.
"Not very relaxing and left me with a lot of time to think," Shane replied. Ukitake nodded his head and folded his hands. "I have a special mission for you," he said. Curious, Shane asked, "What is it?"
"A large, unknown spiritual aura was detected in the Real World," Ukitake said. "I want you to investigate."
Shane looked up curiously. "Is something like this really worth sending a Lieutenant?" he asked. "Can't one of the lower seats handle something like this?"
Ukitake shook his head. "The aura was graded as Captain-cass or higher. I'm sending you because we can't spare someone else of higher rank." Shane said nothing and read further. "This is in Ichigo Kurosaki's hometown. Are you sure he's not the source?" he asked.
"Our sources have lost contact with Kurosaki's particular spiritual aura," Ukitake said. Shane finished reading and looked up. "There's not a lot to go on here," he said. "Okay, I'll go take a look. I'll be back soon." Ukitake nodded his head. As Shane turned to leave, Ukitaked called out, "I hear you have a young girl staying with you." Shane stopped. "Is that a problem?" he asked.
"I have no issue. Don't let it interfere with your work," Ukitake warned. When Shane didn't say anything, Ukitake said quietly, "This girl can't replace Olivia."
"I know that," Shane said.
"Do you?" Ukitake asked. Shane sighed and turned to face the captain. "I saved her from a hollow in the Real World and before I performed the Soul Burial, I told her I'd look for her here. Is it a crime that I followed up on my word?" he asked.
"Is it a crime to make promises you can't keep?" Ukitake asked. He shook his head. "If you think this is best, then I won't say no." Shane turned and left.
Shane appeared in the Real World under the cover of darkness wearing his old SMC uniform. Crouching in a tree, he put his hands together and whispered, "New Moon Technique." His spiritual aura vanished and he became like a shadow. Without a sound, Shane moved to carry out his mission.
He stopped when he came to a park. A lone streetlight provided the only illumination. Shane reached into his shirt and pulled out several pieces of paper. He scanned through them and sighed, putting them back in his shirt. "This is going to be tough," he whispered to himself and jumped off again.
Seconds later he was kneeling on the roof of a small house, thinking about what to do next. What should I do? he thought to himself.
Oh, the agony of choice, Dark Tsukuyomi teased.
We cannot help you with this choice, but we will support you regardless, Light Tsukuyomi offered.
Shane closed his eyes and cleared his mind. He made a quick gesture, removing the New Moon technique and jumped off the roof, landing gently on his feet. He pulled back his hood and mask and knocked on the door.
After a few moments, Mr. Akagi opened the door. He seemed startled to see Shane. "Oh, it's you!" he said. "What brings you here at this hour?"
After a moment's hesitation, Shane said, "May I come inside?" Mr. Akagi opened the door and motioned Shane inside. Shane walked in and Mr. Akagi shut the door behind him. "I was worried when I didn't hear from you after your friend had her incident," Mr. Akagi said, moving toward the kitchen. "How is she? Is she well?" Shane cleared his throat to break up the lump that was forming. "She's fine," he stammered. Mr. Akagi reappeared with two cups and a teapot. The sat at the table and Mr. Akagi poured the tea. "So, what brings you here at this late hour?" he asked.
Shane grasped the cup and stared into his tea. What should I do? he asked himself. His eyes grew unfocused as he sat lost in thought. Frowning, Mr. Akagi reached out and put a hand on Shane's shoulder. "Is everything okay?"
His touch sent a jolt through Shane and he suddenly jerked back, spilling his tea in the process. "Aw crap," Shane said, clearly embarrassed. He looked around for something to wipe the mess up with. "Do you have a napkin or dishtowel or something?" Shane asked. Mr. Akagi stared at him with a look of confusion. "Why are you here?" he asked, growing serious.
"I came to ask about your sword," Shane said, motioning above the doorway.
"No you didn't," Mr. Akagi said tersely.
"Then I came to ask how you came here," Shane said warily.
Mr. Akagi's eyes narrowed. "Why are you so tense?" Startled, Shane said, "I'm not tense,"
"Yes you are," Mr. Akagi countered. "I can see it in your body language." He stood and stared Shane in the eye. "Tell me, why are you here."
"I'm here to take you back to the Soul Society," Shane said evenly. In his mind, he was on full alert, not knowing what to expect.
"Is that so?" Mr. Akagi said. He began circling the table to where Shane was standing. "Do you even think you can?"
Slowly, Shane started backing away. "Why are you running? Are you that afraid of an old man?" Mr. Akagi asked sternly.
"What happened? Why did you leave?" Shane asked cautiously. They had circled the table, and were now opposite from where they started. Mr. Akagi's face grimaced and Shane could see the hurt and pain in his eyes. "Is it because of your wife?" Shane asked.
"Silence!" Mr. Akagi shouted. "My reasons are my own! They have nothing to do with you!"
He's getting really worked up over this, Shane thought. I don't want to fight him.
Afraid of hurting an old man? Dark Tsukuyomi chided. Shane ignored the comment.
"Actually, I'm not here for you specifically," Shane said. "I was sent here to investigate a suspicious spiritual aura. It was traced to this location." At this, Mr. Akagi stopped. "But why now?" he asked, clearly confused.
"That's why I wanted to know about your Soul Slayer," Shane continued. "I didn't think the source was you, since you have been hiding all this time."
"But why?" Mr. Akagi asked. Shane shook his head. He thought for a moment, then asked, "What if I take your Soul Slayer back with me? I could say I never found you, or that the sword was the source of the anomaly." At this, Mr. Akagi furiously shook his head. "I can't let you do that either," he said.
Exasperated, Shane shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Then what do you want me to do?"
Mr. Akagi put his hands on the table and looked to the floor. He began whispering to himself. Shane leaned forward to hear what he was saying.
Suddenly, Mr. Akagi looked up and shouted, "Get out of my house!"
Surprised at the sudden outburst, Shane rocked back hand barely put his hands up in time to shield himself from a massive burst of spiritual energy. The door to the house exploded outward and Shane ended up in the middle of the street. Through the dust and splinters, Mr. Akagi appeared. He was wearing a Shinigami uniform and wielded the sword Shane had seen.
"It's been too long since I've worn these clothes," Mr. Akagi said. He stepped out into the street. "You are the first to come for me in a long time," he said.
"I didn't think Soul Society cared about Death Gods who ran away," Shane said. Unconsciously, his hands drifted to his hips and grasped his swords.
"Soul Society is afraid of my power," Mr. Akagi said. He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head at Shane. "I'm surprised they let you run around like this," he said.
Shane frowned and said, "What do you mean?"
Mr. Akagi shook his head. "They must have done a real number on you," he said. He looked back to Shane and said, "We are not so different, you and I."
Confused, Shane said nothing and watched Mr. Akagi carefully. "Back in my day, I was a master swordsman," Mr. Akagi said. "My Soul Slayer is unmatched in that respect." He grasped the grip, and slowly drew his sword. Shane's hands tightened around his own. Mr. Akagi held the blade in the palm of his free hand. "It has been so long since I have seen this sword," he said. He gently ran his fingers over the polished steel.
I sense a strong presence from that Soul Slayer, Light Tsukuyomi whispered in Shane's ear.
Definitely not a pushover, Dark Tsukuyomi agreed.
"What now?" Shane called out. Mr. Akagi turned to look at Shane. "My Soul Slayer and I request a duel," he said. Shane nodded his head. "Very well. What are the terms?"
"If you defeat me, I will tell you everything I know," Mr. Akagi said. "If I defeat you, you must return to the Soul Society and never bother me again. You are to tell them you found nothing of interest."
"What are the rules for the duel?" Shane asked.
"Swords only. No hand to hand or kido. Shikai is authorized," Mr. Akagi said.
"What about Bankai?" Shane asked. "You don't know Bankai," Mr. Akagi scoffed.
"Do you?" Shane asked. Mr. Akagi dismissed this with a wave. "It is irrelevant." He stared at Shane and asked, "Do you accept this duel?"
Shane nodded his head. "I accept your terms."
Mr. Akagi pointed his sword at Shane and gripped it with his other hand as he settled into his stance. Shane slowly pulled his swords free and held them in a back hand grip. Mr. Akagi narrowed his eyes and said, "Your sword style is unorthadox. I've never that before."
Shane shrugged and said, "Well, it works for me."