Kenshin's internal clock woke him long before the alarm Urahara had given him and he sat up from his bed with a yawn. He went into his normal routine of doing a hundred sit-ups and pushups before grabbing a shower. It wasn't as intense as what he used to do back in Seireitei but he was limited in the World of the Living and he made do with it. As he exited the shower he started looking for his school uniform. Then he remembered what he had forgotten about last night.

"It's still at Minako's," he said with a grimace. "Great. Well, this is why I have a spare in my locker. This is gonna be awkward though." He then went about making a simple breakfast before starting to make his lunch. He was about halfway done when a knock at the door caught his attention. "Just a sec," he shouted. When he was sure that the food wouldn't burst into flame he ran to the door and slid it open.

"I thought that you might want this before school starts," Minako said, holding his uniform up. "I'm assuming you remember that you started washing it last night."

Kenshin accepted the clothes as tears of gratitude ran down his face. "You're a lifesaver, you know that?" he said. "Wait a sec. These are still warm. Did you...?"

"Yeah, I skipped breakfast to make sure you didn't come to school naked," she answered with a nervous smile. "I may have also forgotten to pack my lunch too so I gotta run."

"Hang on." Minako stopped as she was walking away and turned to look at Kenshin. "I made a little too much breakfast and I'm in the middle of making lunch. Why don't you come in and grab a bite to eat and I'll make a boxed lunch for you too?"

"Really?" she asked as her face brightened. "Wow! Thank you so much!" As she followed Kenshin into the store she looked around at what was on the various shelves. "Umm, what exactly is 'Soul Candy'?"

"From what Urahara tells me it's an herbal candy that's supposed to revitalize the spirit," Kenshin said as he prepared a bowl of rice for Minako. "How do you like your eggs?" She gave him a quick response and he went about finishing up the meal. After she sat down she thanked him for the meal before digging in. After a few minutes he turned back to her. "Can you grab the bento boxes from the top shelf for me?" he asked to which she nodded.

"Are you sure these are the right size?" she asked, showing him the large boxes and he just nodded. "How are you going to eat...?" She stopped midsentence and shook her head. "Never mind. I've seen you eat and this doesn't even compare to two Gargantuans."

"That was a rare exception," Kenshin reminded her as she handed the boxes to him. "But I stay active enough that I need the extra calories." He quickly filled up the boxes to the absolute brim and topped it off by using the remaining rice to make rice balls. Once he was changed the two of them headed out.

The day went by without incident until lunch where Kenshin had chosen a place under a tree to read up on the reports that Captain Kurotsuchi had sent back to him. The head of the Science Division had gotten his hands on the soul that should have been claimed by Hell and was running tests on him to see why he hadn't been but so far he hadn't found anything conclusive.

"So you're not even going to invite me to join you for lunch?" a sweet voice asked him, forcing him to look up from the report. Minako was only a few feet from him and smiling brightly at him. "Then I'm left with no choice but to include you with us."

Kenshin just stared at her blankly, trying to figure out what she meant until she grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him over to the table where the other girls were sitting. "Warn me before you do that!" he said as she sat him down and then sat down across from him. He looked at the other girls briefly before turning back to Minako. "So are you going to do introductions or something?"

"We're in homeroom with you!" the other girls said in unison but Kenshin just stared at them with a blank expression.

"I'd hope you'd at least remember me," Rei said with a huff as she returned to her lunch. "Seriously, how do you not remember us?"

"It's only been a week since classes started," Kenshin replied as he opened his lunch. "That and I suck with names, so there."

"Are you going to be able to finish all that before lunch ends?" Usagi asked as she eyed his massive lunch. "Same goes for you, Minako. You must be pretty confident in your cooking now if you made that much."

"Well I didn't-" Minako started before Makoto snatched her lunch away. "Hey!"

"I need to see how you measure up compared to my cooking," the brunette said matter-of-factly as she popped a dumpling in her mouth. Two chews in and her face froze, eyes wide with a mixture of shock and fear.

"That bad, huh?" Rei said as Makoto swallowed.

"It's...it's," she stuttered nervously before dropping her head in defeat. "Her cooking is better than mine now."

"I think we all need to confirm this," Usagi piped in as she pulled the box from Makoto despite Minako's complaints. As the girls passed the bento box around they had various comments, all praising "Minako's" cooking skill. As Minako wrestled Rei for her lunch back Usagi opened the box the rice balls were in and passed them around.

"Hey! Those are mine!" Minako cried. "And I'm not the one who made it either!"

"Well there's no way you have a store-bought lunch this good. I don't even think they make them that big," Makoto said as Minako's lunch made its way back to her.

"They don't," Kenshin said between bites. "Trust me, I've looked."

While the other girls bickered Usagi snuck a peak at Kenshin's lunch before he snapped at her with his chopsticks. "Hang on a sec. Your lunch is the same as Minako's," she realized as the girls turned to her, affording Minako her chance to rescue what was left of her own lunch. "And if she didn't make hers then..."

"I happen to be very proud of my cooking, thank you very much," Kenshin replied as he opened the spare box of rice balls and placed them between himself and Minako. She thanked him and started eating one while the other girls glanced between the two of them several times.

"Are you two dating?" Makoto finally asked only to be answered with a spit take of rice from Minako.

"It's...a bit more complicated than that," Kenshin answered while trying not to choke on the food he'd been swallowing. "I'd prefer to leave it at that if you don't mind."

Despite the awkward silence afterward Kenshin did his best to mingle with the girls until the bell for the next class rang and they went their separate ways. Classes came and went until the last bell rang and they all headed for their respective after school clubs.

Minako adjusted her kendo uniform to make sure that it matched the directions on the locker room poster. It felt too loose to her but that was supposedly correct so she grabbed a bamboo sword off the rack and made her way into the practice room.

"Based on yesterday's tryouts I only have two positions to assign," Ikkaku said as he looked over his club members. "As you may have guessed Kenshin will be your Captain from here out, we clear?" The class gave a quiet affirmative only to have Ikkaku slam his wooden sword into one of the practice dummies. "I can't hear you!"

"Yes, Madarame-sensei!" the class shouted in relative unison. The bald instructor smirked and nodded his approval.

"Your vice-captain will be Minako Aino since she was the only one that managed to dodge Kenshin's attack," he continued. "The rest of you will strive to be half as good as these two, got it?" They shouted their affirmative again. "Alright then. To get warmed up we'll start with two hundred swings."

By the time the day was over Minako couldn't feel the majority of her upper body and her bag felt like it was filled with bricks. As she trudged home Kenshin held his hand out and Minako quickly handed him her bag. "How are you not exhausted?" she asked him.

"I've been doing martial arts since I could pretty much walk," he told her, "so being pushed past my normal limits is something I'm used to. Trust me, in a month or so you'll look back at this and wish for it."

"You're not helping," she muttered. "I guess that also explains how you took down Kiba last night." Her face turned crimson as she remembered how that night had ended. "So what kind of martial arts did you study?"

"Mostly Chinese Kenpō and Judo but I did take a few Muay Thai boxing lessons too," he said, looking into the sky as he tried to remember his training. "A few years ago I started experimenting with combining the kenpō and judo with the occasional boxing move thrown in to keep it interesting. My judo teacher even started calling it 'Suzaku Style'." He chuckled as he shook his head. "I don't like the name much but it kinda stuck." There was an awkward silence before Kenshin decided to bite the bullet. "About how last night ended..."

"I'm really sorry," Minako apologized quickly, stopping to bow and emphasize her point. "I didn't mean to put you on the spot and-"

"It's alright, really," Kenshin said quickly, trying to hide his own embarrassment. "I was actually trying to ask you about something when you went for my cheek so I should be the one apologizing. That and I, umm, I've never actually kissed a girl."

"Yeah, me neither," Minako admitted. When Kenshin didn't answer she looked over at him to see blood dripping from his nose. "That's not what I meant, you pervert!" Despite how heavy her arms felt she gathered enough strength to karate chop Kenshin, bringing him to the ground in one swing. "Geez, is it too much to ask that even one guy doesn't think like that?"

"If you have enough strength to chop me might I suggest carrying your own bag?" Kenshin asked, his voice muffled by the ground. He held his arm up only to have Minako pulling him up to his feet. "I'm guessing you're feeling better now?"

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't too hurt," she replied matter-of-factly as she turned and kept walking, leaving Kenshin with her bag. She stopped after a few steps and turned back to him. "I never really did thank you for making lunch, did I?"

"In all fairness I think your friends ate most of yours," Kenshin admitted as they both started walking again. "Well, not counting the bits Makoto had to pick out of her hair too." A smile crept onto his face as they neared Urahara's store. "Still, they seem like an interesting bunch."

"That's one way to put it." They stopped in front of the shop and Kenshin handed Minako her bag back. "Umm, you said that there was something you had wanted to ask me last night."

"Oh, right. Almost forgot," Kenshin said with a snap of his fingers. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the amusement park this weekend."

"Like...a date?"

A silence hung in the air as Kenshin measured his words carefully. "How about we see how the day goes before calling it that?" he offered finally and Minako nodded, her face beaming. She kept on heading towards her house with a wave to Kenshin as he headed into the store.

"Not a damn word, Urahara," he said as he closed the door behind him. The former shinigami was seated at the table drinking his tea, a smug smile on his face. "The only reason that I'm going along with this idea of yours is because Captain Kenpachi told me to and that's it."

"Using the date as cover for investigating the amusement park isn't a bad plan," Urahara commented as Kenshin put his things in his room. "So how are you planning to work without drawing suspicion?"

"I'll send the gikon in with her while I check the place over," Kenshin said, sitting down at the table and taking the tea Urahara offered. "It would also seem that the other objective is moving along smoother than anticipated. She introduced me to her friends today and they seem to accept my cover at face value."

"So what do you think?"

Kenshin took a long sip of tea before answering, "These so-called 'Sailor Guardians' aren't really all that impressive. The only one that seems to have any real power is Sailor Moon seeing that she purified a Hollow of its human sins. Their reiatsu isn't even on the same level as most unranked shinigami." He took another sip of tea. "This idea of infiltrating their ranks is pointless. Whatever is going on in this city has nothing to do with them. They're just in the way."

"I see," was the only thing Urahara said as he stood up and began taking inventory of the store. After a few moments he added, "You should know better than anyone that underestimating them would be a serious mistake. Consider what we've heard of their accomplishments."

"Of Sailor Moon's accomplishments."

"They're one in the same. Her strength is dependent on her friends. What do you think she'd be without them?" Kenshin thought the point over for a moment or two before ceding the point. "My advice is to spend the time at the park with Minako. If there's something else going on there you'll pick up on it easily."

The week wore on and the closer the weekend came the more excited Minako was. On her insistence Kenshin joined the girls for lunch each day unless he was off running errands for the teachers. During kendo Ikkaku made their lives miserable, leaving the other girls wondering if Minako would have enough energy for her Guardian duties. Despite their worrying the city had been fairly quiet since the first Hollow attack and the girls figured that enjoying the peace was worthwhile.

Friday came and Minako awoke bubbling with excitement. It was taking everything she had to not give away her excitement to her friends. She had no intention of telling them that he'd invited her to the park since she knew that they'd insist on coming with if for no other reason than to eavesdrop on the two of them. Yet despite her excitement she couldn't fight the feeling of complete exhaustion she'd had since she and Kenshin had gone to the movies. Each day it got progressively worse but near as she could tell it was just the intense kendo training Ikkaku had been putting them through every day and her body just hadn't recovered yet.

She met Kenshin on the way to school and they walked together like they had every day. As a treat he'd made her lunch again for which she was very grateful. By the time lunch rolled around Kenshin's mood had fallen and he was just barely poking his bento.

"What's wrong, Kenshin?" Usagi asked, sneaking one of his dumplings when he wasn't looking.

"We have our first day of P.E. today," he replied with a sigh.

"Big deal," Makoto said, unsure of what the problem was. "What's the worst that can happen?"

"Ikkaku Madarame is the new teacher," Kenshin told her, looking over at Minako as he did. The blonde dropped her chopsticks as her eyes widened.

"We're gonna die, aren't we?" she asked and Kenshin nodded.

"This is the guy that runs the kendo club, isn't it?" Rei asked suddenly nervous. Both Kenshin and Minako nodded. "Just how bad can it be?"

"Not really a question you want to ask about Madarame-sensei," Minako said as she poked at her lunch sullenly, a mirror image of Kenshin. The other girls looked at each, worried both about their friends and what awaited them in gym.

As the last period rolled around Ikkaku had them meet him at the track where he was speaking with an attractive male in a dress shirt and slacks. His black hair came down to his jawline and a braid down the right side of his head. Brightly colored feathers flared out at his ears, matching the eyelash extensions he wore as well.

"Yumichika Ayasegawa," Kenshin said when Minako asked about him. The other girls, Ami excluded, were too busy being mesmerized by his looks to ask about him. "All I know about the guy is that he's the superintendent's new assistant. Not sure what he wants with Madarame-sensei though."

As Ikkaku's class assembled Yumichika took a step back and smiled, obviously enjoying the attention being paid to him. Once Ikkaku was sure that everyone was there and changed into their gym clothes he started. "For those of you that don't know I'm Ikkaku Madarame, your new P.E. teacher. And since everyone seems ready to get started we'll warm up with ten laps around the track."

"Ten laps?!" Usagi complained before Kenshin and Minako clamped their hands around her mouth.

"Since Tsukino there doesn't think it's enough let's up it to twenty laps in thirty minutes," Ikkaku said with an almost evil smirk. "For every lap you don't finish it's a hundred pushups." The class, minus Kenshin, stared at him in shock while the new kid immediately started running, knowing Ikkaku well enough to know he wasn't joking. Taking the hint the others quickly filed behind him.

"It looks like he's fitting in well enough here," Yumichika noted as he watched Kenshin. "He seems to be enjoying it despite the fact that the Captain had to order him to do it."

"That might be how it looks but he still resents it," Ikkaku told him. "The kid's a decent actor though. Heh, maybe this way I can actually teach him a thing or two about swordsmanship and have him listen for once."

Yumichika smiled at his friend's enthusiasm. "I somehow doubt that."

On the track Makoto had worked her way through the others until she was tailing Kenshin. Ami had quickly pointed out that they needed to run no more than minute-and-a-half laps in order to meet Ikkaku's order. Usagi and Rei were in the middle of the pack with Ami not far behind them. Minako, though, was at the very back struggling to keep up.

"What does this guy do that he's so freaking fast?" Makoto thought to herself as she lengthened her stride. Almost as if he was tuned into her thoughts Kenshin did the same thing and widened the gap between them. It didn't take long before they started lapping members of their class and halfway through they'd lapped everyone at least twice. When they finished the last lap Makoto collapsed onto the grass, gasping for breath, while Kenshin kept going. "No...freaking...way," she panted.

After a bit the others of the class dropped into the grass next to her, all gasping as though their lives depended on it. There were only a few stragglers left, including Minako, plus Kenshin who was at it like he was still warming up. Minako, on the other hand, was running on fumes as she finished her sixteenth lap. It took everything she had to keep moving and at the rate she was going she wouldn't make Ikkaku's deadline. At the 200-meter mark she tripped on her foot and started face-first into the ground.

"I can't...give up," she thought, trying to catch herself but her arms refusing to move. At the last second something pulled her up back onto her feet and she felt a surge of energy rush though her.

"C'mon, just a few more to go," Kenshin said, sweat running down his face. Minako nodded, too tired to speak, and kept pace with Kenshin who had slowed down for her. They crossed the finish line together and Minako all but passed out on the ground, not even making it to the grass.

"You should have left her behind, Suzaku," Ikkaku said, a hard edge to his voice. "The weak need to be left behind so that they don't hold the strong back."

"No offense, sir, but that's a load of crap," Kenshin shot back, drawing all eyes to him. "It's the duty of the strong to help the weak."

"Is that so?" Ikkaku's fist was shaking from how tightly it was clenched. "Well then since Aino finished a minute late you can take her pushups. After all, if she wasn't strong enough to finish on her own then I doubt she can do these."

"Hang on," Minako started but Kenshin shook his head before dropping down and starting the pushups. Minako dropped next to him and started in on them as well.

"What are you doing, Aino?" Ikkaku asked, genuinely curious.

"Kenshin shouldn't...be blamed...for my...weakness," she replied between sets. "If he's doing them...then so should I."

Yumichika couldn't help but give a slight smile. "The girl's got spirit," he admitted.

Despite her brave front Minako quickly realized she may have bitten off more than she could chew. She was halfway through but now her arms were trembling and her vision was fading in and out. She slowly lowered herself and as she was pushing back up everything went black.

As she started to come Minako could feel something cold and wet on her forehead. Her eyes gradually opened as she realized that she was in the nurse's office. Just off to her side she saw Kenshin with his head nestled in his arms, fast asleep and snoring loudly. "Ken...Kenshin?" she said weakly and the boy's eyes shot open.

"Minako! You're awake!" he said, relief washing over him. Before he could say anything else the other girls pushed him off his chair and onto the floor with a loud thud! as they gathered around their friend.

"What happened?" Minako asked weakly.

"The nurse said it was heat exhaustion," Ami explained. "That combined with the stress your body's been under with the kendo training made you collapse in the middle of your pushups. How do you feel now?"

"Still tired," she admitted with a yawn. "I don't really feel all that different than after running those laps."

"The nurse did say it would probably take you a few days to fully recover," Kenshin added, picking himself up off the ground. "I offered to watch over you for the weekend since I live the closest but I was outvoted on that." He shot a somewhat-serious glare at the girls who just glared right back.

"Thanks you, guys," Minako said with a smile. "What about kendo today?"

"Madarame-sensei was feeling generous and only gave us two hundred overhead strikes as punishment for missing today," Kenshin told her.

When Minako asked what he meant Rei stepped in. "Kenshin didn't even wait for the okay from Mr. Madarame," she said. "He just picked you up and bolted here as fast as he could. He hasn't left your side this whole time."

"Yeah, Mr. Madarame and that pretty guy he was talking with both stopped by to see how you were doing," Makoto added. She was also staring at Kenshin, unsure of how she should feel about the guy who had repeatedly helped one of her best friends.

Ami left briefly while they made light conversation and returned with Minako's bag. "No, I've got this," she insisted as Minako reached for it. "The nurse wants you to take it easy this weekend and that means we get to dote on you."

"I'm not an invalid," Minako complained as she got out of the bed. As she put weight on her legs her vision started spinning and she was poised for a faceplant until Kenshin caught her on his back. He wrapped her arms across his collar and held her up by the backs of her knees.

"That's the second time I've saved you from a broken nose today," he commented as she rested her chin on his shoulder. The six of them headed out of the school as they took their time on their way to Minako's. The sick blonde looked at the crimson sky, surprised by how late it was. "None of us were about to abandon you," Kenshin explained when she pointed this out. "Besides, this is pretty much my fault." The girls looked at him, surprised by his admission. "If I'd done like Madarame-sensei had said then you wouldn't have passed out pushing yourself."

"But she still would have had to do the pushups as punishment for not finishing on time," Rei pointed out but Kenshin shook his head.

"Madarame-sensei can be a hardass but he's not a bad guy. Besides, he never said that those pushups had to be done right after running." Usagi offered to take over carrying Minako but Kenshin shook his head once more, commenting that she was pretty light and earning a scoff from Rei. When Minako didn't react Kenshin turned his head to see that her breathing had become labored and she was sweating profusely.

"We really need to get her to a hospital," Ami suggested.

"Something tells me they won't be able to help," Kenshin said as he narrowed his eyes. "Whatever this is it isn't heat-related. There's something seriously wrong here." When asked what he meant he replied, "It's not something I can really explain but I know someone who specializes in this kind of thing. C'mon. He's not far from here." With that he started sprinting with the other girls hot on his heels.

Urahara greeted them at the entrance to the store, his jovial expression wiped away when he saw Minako's condition. He invited them in and had Kenshin lay her down on one of the futons. "Kenshin was right that this isn't heat related," he said, stroking his chin as he thought. "Someone, or something, is interrupting the flow of her chi." He ignored the girls' questions as he wrote a quick list. "Kenshin, I need you to make a quick run for these things. Everything else we need I have here in the store." Kenshin nodded and bolted out the door, eliciting a yell from Makoto as she tailed him while Urahara turned to the other girls. "I'll need the rest of you to help me get everything set up. It may look strange but you'll have to trust me on this." They nodded and followed the instructions he gave them.

Makoto slid past her turn as she tried to keep an eye on Kenshin. He had chosen to free-run rather than follow the streets which in turn led him to leap across large gaps between some of the houses as if they were nothing. "This guy is something else," she thought to herself. "Just where did he learn to move like this? There's no way a normal human should be like this. Is it possible...?" She let the thought trail off as she shook her head, nearly running face-first into a wall. She didn't like the idea of him being a youma or being possessed by one but it wouldn't be the first time that it had happened to one of their friends. Still, feigning concern over Minako's condition while being the one causing it was a pretty good cover. "I'll figure you out, boy." She grit her teeth as she said this. "And if I find out that you're using her it'll be the last thing you ever do."

She came to a stop at the closest shop near Urahara's, panting to try and catch her breath. She was fairly sure Kenshin had come here but she'd lost sight of him for several minutes. Her belief was validated when he came out with a bagful of supplies. "Makoto?" he asked, genuinely surprised. "When did you get here?"

"I just... How did you...get here so fast?" she asked still panting.

"Not really important," he answered as he ran past her. "What is important is that we get these things back to Urahara ASAP. You gonna be able to keep up?"

"Maybe if you don't go jumping off roofs I can," she said as she started keeping pace with him, well aware that he was holding back for her sake. To show this she put on the speed, overtaking him by several steps. "My friend's life is at stake. We don't have time for you to take it easy."

"Well, you did say no jumping from roof to roof," he replied, appearing next to her with apparent ease. "But if you're having problems keeping up then..." With one movement he swept her off her feet and onto his shoulder before leaping to the top of the wall and onto the nearby rooftop.

"PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW!" Makoto screamed into his ear, both surprised and furious at the same time.

"You sure about that?" he asked, humor devoid from his voice as he vaulted from the roof. "I can honestly move faster without you but I'm not too sure you'd like the fall." She glared at him only to have him return it, sending a chill down her spine. There was something in his eyes that truly frightened her but she didn't know what it was. She decided it was better if she kept her complaints to herself and be glad she'd also worn a long skirt to school that day.

When they landed outside Urahara's Kenshin put Makoto on her feet and they both ran in. Usagi, Ami and Rei were all passed out around Minako but before the tall brunette could comment she fell to the ground unconscious. "You picked up on that quicker than I expected," Urahara admitted, kneeling next to Minako. "How long did it take you to realize what I was up to?"

"Why do you think I brought Minako here?" Kenshin responded. "Something's been gradually draining her reiryoku over the last few days. The way I see it you can use healing Kidō to reestablish her body's normal balance." He looked Minako over to see that her condition hadn't changed. "I'm guessing that didn't work."

"I was able to slow the flow down quite a bit but she's already lost a large portion of her reiryoku." Urahara rubbed his chin. "Your Tanma Otoshi is impressive, by the way. When did you use it on her?"

"I pretty much carried her back here," Kenshin said as he pulled out his gikon and swallowed the sphere, separating his shinigami form from his gigai. "It was easy to get her with it and set it up on a timer." He turned to his gigai which stood at attention. "You and Urahara get some beds out for them and call their families. Make sure they understand that they're here of their own free will to make sure their friend's okay."

"Sir yes sir!" the artificial soul barked, saluting Kenshin who replied with a sigh.

"It won't be easy to track this thing," Urahara said as Kenshin headed for the door. "It's gone to great lengths to hide itself."

The shinigami tightly gripped his saya as he stood in the doorway. "Then finding and cutting this thing down will be that much more satisfying." He gave the former Captain a feral grin. "I'll show this bastard what happens when you screw with the 11th Division."