[The Substitute Shinigami Arc] Part 24: Chase Chad Around

# Next Day | May 23 - Karakura Town, Minamikawase #

I was getting ready for school while watching TV. I was thinking about yesterday's accident and I confess that I deliberately took a while to go to the clinic with Rukia. I already knew that Chad would run away during the night, so I only went there to have Rukia confirm that he had been attacked by a Hollow.

Come to think of it, that was the first time I had to interact with Isshin and it was pretty…weird. Seeing him acting like an idiot makes it really hard to believe he was a captain.

Rukia: "Yato, won't you end up being late for school?"

Yato: "I'm waiting for something."

Rukia: "Waiting for what?"

Suddenly someone started knocking on the door. And by the way they were beating fast, I already imagined it was Ichigo.

Yato: "Waiting for that. Go see what Ichigo wants while I finish getting ready." - I said while turning off the TV."

Rukia looked at me suspiciously but ended up going to answer the door anyway and was even more surprised to see that it really was Ichigo.

Ichigo: "Rukia, did you or Yato see Chad!?" - He asked in a hurry.

Rukia: "No, I haven't seen him since yesterday."

Ichigo: "Damn it! Tell Yato that Chad is missing! I'll look for him at school!"

He ran off without even waiting for Rukia to say anything.

Rukia: "Yato! It's Sado, he-"

Yato: "Disappeared...I heard Ichigo screaming."

Rukia: "Yato…did you know this would happen?"

Yato: "No, it was just a hunch. By Sado's personality, if he was attacked, most likely he would walk away so as not to involve the others. As for Ichigo, I felt his spiritual energy increasing, probably when he discovered Sado's disappearance."

Rukia: 'I couldn't feel Ichigo's spiritual energy… how much did Yato's perception improve in that short amount of time?' - She asked herself while looking at me in surprise.

Yato: "I'm going to look for Sado. Maybe I can find his spiritual energy."

Rukia: "I'll go with you. If there really is a Hollow around, I won't let you go after him alone."

I locked the front door and then we ran to find Chad. I have to admit that my perception has indeed improved, but not to the level that Rukia probably imagines. All I do is remember some facts from the anime and use the excuse that I felt spiritual energy. Which means we spent a long time running without any results.

Eventually we ended up meeting Ichigo, who also hadn't met Chad in high school. The fact that Rukia didn't receive any messages on her cell phone wasn't helping either.

Ichigo: "What about that parakeet Chad was carrying? Is there no way I can try to track his energy?"

Rukia: "What? No, that wouldn't be possible-"

Ichigo had ignored Rukia right after he got the idea and started to concentrate. I watched as Ichigo used "Reiraku". The ability to visualize a spirit's energy. The skill manifested itself in several white colored spirit ribbon.

Ichigo: "I found it!!" -He yelled as he grabbed one of the ribbon and ran while Rukia and I followed.

Yato: 'If I remember correctly, Uryu also used this ability so it shouldn't be exclusive to shinigami... Cheshire?'

Cheshire: 'Did you remember that I exist?'

Yato: 'After I solve this problem with Chad, we'll talk more, okay?'

Cheshire: 'Hmm…maybe. So what do you want?'

Yato: 'First, thanks for helping me with the fullbring earlier.'

Cheshire: 'Have you started fawning over me yet? Started well. Keep going, hehehe.'

Yato: 'Is there any way to fight the Hollow? I don't have a zanpakutou and at the moment I think I can only dodge him if he appears.'

Cheshire: 'You'd have to take the time to learn those skills...I could circumvent this rule now but you'd be in danger then...for now you'll have to make do with what you already have.'

Yato: 'In danger? Let me guess, you would do the same thing to me as you did to Tatsuki... but I would pass out from the lack of energy in the middle of the fight.'

Cheshire: 'Exactly. Maybe Reiraku you can still try since you "witnessed" it. It makes things a little bit easier.'

Yato: 'Hmm...okay, thanks anyway.'

Ichigo: "There he is!!"

We finally found Chad. He was running while carrying the cage. When he saw us, he started to run in the opposite direction and when we were about to continue our chase, Ichigo's sister appeared.

Karin: "...Ichi..."

Ichigo: "Karin!! What happened to you!?" - He shouted as he ran to his sister, who was barely able to stay on her feet."

Yato: "Ichigo, take your sister home. Let Rukia and I go after Sado."

Ichigo: "What are you talking about? You guys can't…"

Rukia: "Don't complain! Yato's right, if your sister stays here you'll be worried about her and that might distract you during the fight."

Yato: "You're her older brother. She is your priority. Take her home where she'll be fine. After that you catch up with us."

Ichigo: "Rukia… your powers haven't returned yet, have they…? Try not to overdo…"

Rukia: "You fool, as if I would make that kind of mistake for you to have to worry about me."

Ichigo: "Yato…keep an eye on them…try not to get hurt until I get back."

Yato: "Like I'm going to let a stinking Hollow touch Rukia...or me." - I said smiling.

Ichigo ran back to the house as he carried Karin in his arms. Unfortunately, as Chad had continued running after all that conversation, we ended up losing sight of him again.

Rukia: "Damn it, if only I could track him down somehow..."

Yato: "Relax, I'll try to do what Ichigo did before." - I said as I closed my eyes, concentrating.

Rukia: "Yato, what he did was something only high-level Shinigami can do-"

Following Cheshire's words, because I visualized the skill, it somehow actually felt easier to do. Spirit ribbons soon formed around me.

Rukia: "It's-impossible…"