Chapter 5:

Following Kenji around town wasn't the hard part. The hard part was waiting for him to find his companions. He took them all over the place, from the allies between buildings to the riverbank and the bridge. There were no signs of Yuzu or the people who took her.

If Kenji couldn't find his group, then their chances of finding Yuzu were slim to none.

For Yuzu's sake, Ichigo had to help Kenji find them.

"They never gave you a meeting place?" he asked, walking closer to him.

"No."

"Are you sure they didn't ditch you?"

"What is 'ditched'?"

"As in they left you behind on purpose."

"They did leave me on purpose. I was in a weakened state. I was in agreement with their choice."

"But you said you agreed to meet up with them later, right?"

"Correct."

"Did they also agree?"

"They did."

Ichigo sighed. "Are you sure they didn't just tell you that? You meeting up with them will definitely happen?"

"Yes. They assured me." Kenji lifted one of his hands and studied it. "Now that I am useful again, they shall welcome me back. Once that happens, we can move forward."

"So there is a plan."

"One unspoken in my company," Kenji admitted. "I am uncertain what to do on my own, which is why I rely on them to tell me what to do."

Ichigo glanced at him with a frown. "Aren't you capable of making your own decisions? Why do you need them to tell you what to do? Live as you choose."

"Other than doing what is necessary to survive, I do not know what to do."

"Huh?" Ichigo raised a brow at him.

"While in a human body, I must eat in order for the body to be sustained and convert that food into energy. I require sleep in order to recover lost energy I have spent in pursuit of food and any other measures I have taken to ensure my survival. However, the human stomach can only contain so much food and consuming too much leaves you in a weakened state as well."

"A weakened state? You mean getting sick?"

"I do not know what sick is." Kenji continued. "Upon discovering this, I now know that I cannot eat continuously and once the body has recovered enough energy, sleep is an impossibility. This leaves long gaps in the sun's cycle. I do not know how to spend those hours. Therefore, I rely on the group I travel with to tell me how to fill that time."

"Those are what hobbies are for. You can do so much. Like talking or going for walks."

"I do not see the point. It seems needless to me."

"You can use that time to gather more data about people and what you are," Ichigo told him, hoping that would grab his interest.

"Hm. Interesting. I had not considered that. I gather data when it comes to me. Seeking it would be beneficial. Perhaps quicker. Certainly quicker." Kenji seemed pleased with this information. "How to go about such a thing… I gather most of my data from observation. How would I speed up the process?"

"There are things like books. Ever try reading? You can read, right?"

"Certainly. I was equipped with that capability. An acquired skill, not a learned one."

Kenji turned off the path they were walking on to go somewhere else. Ichigo was thrown off by the abrupt change and followed him. Kenji led him to the shopping district of town and began to look around. He stood where he was and stared at a group of humans assembled in front of the shops.

"Shopping," Kenji said quietly. "What is the purpose?" he asked Ichigo when he caught up to him. "I can understand the need for food but why are there shops providing things that are not food?"

"Human also need clothes," Ichigo told him. "Things for their house. Like beds and blankets."

"Blankets to help regulate body temperature for the purpose of staying alive. If it drops too low, a human could die. But why so many designs? A blanket is a blanket."

"Some people like the color blue and some don't."

"Preference?" Kenji said more to himself than to Ichigo. "I do not see the point of such things. A blanket is to serve a purpose. Looks do not matter. So long as it is functional, what does color matter?"

Ichigo wasn't sure how to answer that. Before he could come up with an answer, Kenji was asking another question.

"And these things. These toys children are so fascinated by. What is the purpose? It serves none. It has no function."

"Kids like them," Ichigo told him. "They make kids happy. It's something to play with."

"Play? What is the purpose of that? Just to pass the time? It seems so needless. They should be spending their time differently. Children seem so ignorant. If they were to set aside these toys and dedicate that time to something more prosperous, their time would be a lot better served. They would learn so much more. Playing is a waste."

Ichigo disagreed. "Playing helps kids, though. It makes them happy."

"Happiness is an emotion, not a need. It is pointless. Feelings have no purpose. They do not aid survival. So long as a person eats and sleeps enough, that is all that matters. Happiness cannot sustain life."

"People who are happy tend to live longer. Playing games can help ease stress."

"Stress is another emotion. A harmful one. Why do humans have such an emotion? What purpose does it serve? If stress can harm someone's health, why have it?" Kenji came to a conclusion. "If humans did not have emotions, their lives would be improved. No harmful feelings to get in the way and jeopardize their health. If there is no stress, then there is no need for happiness."

"What good is that?" Ichigo asked him. "Then you'd be empty inside."

"Humans need food and sleep to survive. Not emotions. They are unnecessary."

"They serve a purpose," argued Ichigo. "Without feelings, you'd just be existing. Having things like happiness make life worth living. They bring joy to your world and gives you motivation."

Kenji turned his head. "You are saying that life needs emotion? That it gives humans a reason to live otherwise there is no purpose?"

"Well, yeah."

"Interesting. Explain."

"Huh?"

"Explain your logic. How does feeling emotions such as stress and anger make life more fulfilling? Why are humans not content to simply sustain themselves with the most basic of needs?"

"Uh…" Ichigo wasn't ready for such a philosophical question. "Well…"

"Even these things I see humans using to pass the time. These games. They stand in line for hours to purchase something only to use it then forget about it. Humans seem like such fickle creatures. Would their money not be better put to use by purchasing the provisions they need such as food and warmth? Wasting money on something they will only use until it is spent then discard it, or to use it on something that will not provide them with rest or energy. These things you call 'cards' and 'video games' seem so pointless to me. Why are they so important to humans?"

"Because humans like that kind of stuff. It's entertainment."

"Entertainment?"

"Yeah. It passes the time and it makes people happy."

Kenji lowered his head in thought. "I do not understand humans. The things you find joy in. How you choose to waste your time. I find it meaningless, but you seem to find importance in it. I wish to understand why."

This creature was so foreign. Even the most basic things were confusing to it. Kenji did not understand human emotion or why humans did the things they did. Ichigo had to admit he felt a little sorry for it.

"I also wish to ask… Why do you have such a wide selection of food?" Kenji asked. "Food is food, is it not?"

"Well, depending on the type of food, it has its own benefits," Ichigo told him. "Different foods give the body vitamins to keep it healthy and energized. Things like calcium to make the bones strong and protein for strength and iron. Things to keep you alert and fit."

"I see. So different foods provide the body with essential nutrients. I understand the importance." Kenji pointed at a shop with colorful letters in the window. "I see humans going into that store frequently. What does it provide?"

"That?" Ichigo asked, pointing. "That's an ice cream store. Ice cream tastes good."

"Taste?" Kenji repeated. "What does taste have to do with it? If food offers something vital to humans, why is taste so important?"

"Because if something tastes bad, we want to spit it out and not eat it. If something tastes good, then we want to eat it because it's pleasurable."

Kenji didn't look satisfied with that answer. "But if the food provides you with what you need but it has an unpleasant taste and the human wants to spit it out, then that would be counterproductive. It does not make sense. Taste seems unnecessary to me. Flavor is not important. What is important are the benefits."

Ichigo sighed heavily. "Taste also makes life more enjoyable."

"Does life have to be enjoyable?" asked Kenji. "Life is life. Survival is important."

"Then what's the point in living if it's not enjoyable?"

Kenji blinked. He didn't have an answer for that. "Interesting notion." He looked away. "I assumed survival was important because it is a basic instinct implanted in every life-form. Plants seek to grow, but they do not have feelings. Yet, they wish to survive. Plant and human life are so different and yet they are both lives. I must study this further."

Before Kenji could wander off as before, Ichigo grabbed his shoulder. "We're getting off track. Just find your group so I can get my sister back."

"Return to the group?" Kenji turned his head. "You said I was free to make my own choices and did not need to wait upon them to instruct me. If I can acquire mental stimulation elsewhere, why would I go back?"

"Huh?"

"If I do not need them, then there is no reason for me to return."

Kenji no longer saw any reason to return to his group so he had stopped looking for them.

"I never said-"

"You told him what?!" Uryu appeared behind him. "Why would you say such a thing?"

"I didn't know he would jump to that conclusion!"

"If this guy's only two days old and doesn't have a lot of experience, what made you think he wouldn't misinterpret?" Uryu snapped.

"I-"

Kisuke arrived and ended the yelling. "Just a second." He faced Kenji. "We still had a deal. You must keep up your end of the bargain. Besides, there's still a chance you can obtain a wealth of information by being near those people. After all, we still don't know why they took Ichigo's sister. Wouldn't you like to know the answer to that?"

Kenji was naturally curious and sought information. Kisuke understood this and exploited it.

Considering how much more he could learn, Kenji agreed. "Very well. I shall continue to look for them. However, I seek to learn as much as I can. If I believe I can learn something valuable, I will see it through."

He would help them, but he wouldn't let them get in the way of his learning.

"Fine," said Kisuke.

Kenji turned and walked through the shopping area without another word.

Ichigo followed him closely while Uryu and Kisuke hung back so Kenji wasn't so crowded. Kisuke kept an eye out for anyone who was giving them unwanted attention and anyone who looked suspicious. So far, no one was following them and no one was staring. Kenji's comrades weren't here.

Kenji walked inside a bookstore and started flipping through an encyclopedia. He was apparently a fast reader, spending about two seconds on each page of tiny words. Halfway through, he put it back on the shelf and picked up a book on animals. He scanned the pages quickly and put it back on the shelf. He took one book off the shelf after another and put them back when he was finished. He moved from one section to the next then left the store.

Ichigo followed him into an electronic store and watched him look around. He spent very little time in this store and left pretty quickly. He went into a clothing store and looked around, then left. He went into a coffee shop and left because he could not stand the smell.

"Is this guy even looking for his friends?" Ichigo asked himself. "This is just a huge waste of time."

Kenji finally stopped walking and settled behind a bush fencing an outdoor cafe. He was staring at the people eating and chatting at the white plastic tables. He was observing their behavior.

Some people were laughing, some were talking quietly, some loudly, and some were reading. Some were mothers with their children, some were groups of friends and some were couples.

A man got up from one of the tables and started to leave with his dog. They passed by the bush Kenji was standing behind. The dog looked at him and growled. Kenji looked down with the same vacant expression he always wore. The dog started barking and the man tugged on its leash. The dog pulled and barked, sensing something was different about this person. It would not stop.

Kenji did not like the sound the dog was making. He saw its teeth and saliva.

"Threat."

Ichigo saw the blades slowly rise up from his spine. If he did what Ichigo thought he was going to do, then everyone in the area would panic which might prompt Kenji to attack them.

He rushed forward and put a hand on Kenji's back to hide the blades. "Sorry about him. Cute dog." Ichigo shoved Kenji away from the man and his pet. "Get over here!"

The blades slipped back into place as the man pulled his dog away and left.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" Ichigo hissed.

"The dog was a possible threat. It could do massive damage with those teeth and the noise it was making was so loud."

"If you use those blades in public, people are going to see and flip out."

Kenji looked at him calmly. "You are implying that they would call attention to me and attack finding me threatening?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Then I will cut them down in order to defend myself. If they cannot move or speak, they are no longer a threat to me."

"No killing people!" Ichigo snapped at him. "If you don't attack, then they won't think you're a threat. Besides, that dog was on a leash. It wasn't going to hurt you."

"There was a possibility."

"Don't attack people, ok? If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone." Ichigo pushed him away from the cafe area and back onto the sidewalk. "Listen to me. You look like a normal human being. As long as you act like one, they won't think otherwise. Which means, don't use those blades on your back. Keep them hidden."

"What should I do if a human threatens me?" he asked.

"Instead of attack them, try talking to them. And if you have to attack, use your fists, not the blades, ok?"

"Hurt but not kill."

"Yes, exactly."

Kenji agreed to those terms.

Uryu slumped against the side of the building he was hiding behind and groaned. "This guy's a piece of work. I knew we shouldn't have relied on him for this."

"What choice do we have?" asked Kisuke who was pretending to read the paper. "He knows what his friends look like and they have Ichigo's sister. As irritating as he is, Kenji is our best hope of finding Yuzu."

Uryu sighed. "He might be annoying, but that wasn't the trait I was referring to. This guy is dangerous."

If he was willing to use his blades in public because a dog barked at him, it was painfully obvious that Kenji was indeed dangerous. Especially if his logic involved killing people who saw his blades, threat or not.

"Which is why Ichigo is staying so close to him. Someone has to keep an eye on this guy."

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