3 Chapter 3: Some explaining to do

Mitch propped himself up against the fence while both Tom and Ania sat cross legged in front of him leaning forward their faces eager to hear just exactly what that crazy bird thing was and who Mitch was. Taking a deep breath he began to speak "Well where to begin, firstly what you see me as now is called a shinigami or soul reaper. I'm the guardian of this entire region and my job is to patrol and search for hollows which was that creature you saw back there."

Both Ania and Tom opened their mouth to ask what was a hollow but Mitch was already one step ahead of them "Now just what is a hollow? It's the result of a person who died and their soul is bound to this world due to a strong attachment or emotion which slowly consumes them and mutates their body into the twisted creature you witnessed earlier. My job whenever a hollow appears is to slay them which then cleanses their soul sending them to the other world called Soul Society.

Mitch stopped talking and looked up to see whether Tom and Ania were still following him. Their eyes were nearly bulging out of their heads from what they had just heard as he just shrugged his shoulders and got up to leave but before he could move even a step Ania grabbed him by the shoulder and threw him back to a sitting position "Alright so explain to me just how you became a shinigami" she said glaring at him. Sighing he leaned back against the fence "Sheesh alright I'll explain, I swear you're scarier than any hollow I've encountered" at that comment Ania's face glowed brightly while Mitch simply shook his head.

"To start off I was born a shinigami, for years I didn't know my father but it turns out he used to be a captain which is a high ranking shinigami officer in Soul Society. I was enrolled in an academy to learn about becoming a shinigami and potentially meet my father but sometime during my 2nd year I found out that he had been exiled due a misconception in which they thought he had betrayed them."

"Eventually after I graduated and gained my seat I was stationed in the real world and around that time I ran into him, not knowing he was my father though. He taught me a few skills and gave me this necklace as a present which helps me transform into my shinigami form". Mitch pulled out the strange looking necklace from underneath his shinigami robe, strung across a fine leather cord was a strange mask shaped like a wolfs face with eyes that glowed a strange bright red colour like they were alive. "I figured I should enroll into school to keep a cover and not to mention around this area there seems to be a high hollow count and that about brings you up to speed with most of my life".

With his story finally told Mitch stood back up and walked across to his other body as he slowly dissolved back into it, when his shinigami form was completely disappeared he let out a gasp of air as his eyes opened. "That never gets any easier I swear" he said hunched over grabbing his breath as Ania moved to help but he merely waved her away "Don't worry about me I've been doing this for years". After catching his breath, he stood back up and started walking back towards the school "Well I guess it's back to school then" he said while Tom and Ania just stared at each other nervously. "Just how long was I out for exactly?" "Well, that fight took about 20 minutes then you were for another 20 so I'm guessing school is nearly into its last period" Tom said as Mitch just grinned "Lucky me skipping out of nearly a whole class" "You of all people certainly can't afford to be missing any classes" Ania said shaking her head.

As the three of them walked back into the school grounds they noticed Berri waving his arms about madly to get Mitch's attention. "I'm off to class then, I'll see you guys later" as he went to leave a hand grabbed him by the shoulder holding him in place as he looked over his shoulder only to stare directly into the eyes of Ania centimeters away from him. "AHHHH, far out you're scary when you do that" she just glared at him and then said, "You meet me after school to discuss more of this stuff". Done with her orders she turned and walked away as Mitch could only laugh nervously "Alright then your highness as you have commanded I shall meet thee after school" and with that he gave a mocking bow and walked off towards class with Berri.

While the two boys wandered off to their class Berri nudged Mitch in the ribs as he had one of his eyes raised "Why the bloody hell are you looking at me like that" Mitch said while Berri began to smile more "So just what did you and Ania get up to exactly outside of school huh, huh?" as he nudged Mitch more who merely sighed "Oh yeah we wandered off to the bush and did what you were thinking, so explain to me why Tom was there with us". Simply shrugging his shoulders, he said "Threesome perhaps?" Mitch stopped suddenly "WHAT! MAN SERIOUSLY!" before slapping Berri over the back of the head "Dude that's not cool, not cool at all seriously!". They began walking to class again with Mitch shaking those thoughts from his mind while Berri laughed at the mere concept of it.

Meanwhile in Art all Ania and Tom could talk about was what they had just witnessed happening. "Whatever Mitch does it's definitely some heavy shit" Tom said leaning back on the chair deep in thought. "I'd agree with you, it certainly is dangerous but that just adds to the already long list of dangerous and idiotic stunts he does anyway". Sitting in silence they both thought about the situation for a moment before Ania started talking again "Well anyway we have the whole afternoon to quiz him on this I guess".

There were so many questions racing through her mind all needing answers and right now!. "So, I suppose we tell no one about this?" Tom asked as Ania glared up at him basically with a look that said, "Yeah and everyone would believe us idiot". Shrinking back from her gaze Tom quickly looked away trying to think of something to distract himself.

The bell rang for the end of school as Tom and Ania bolted out of the classroom and were waiting at the bottom gate with Ania tapping her foot impatiently. "Where the bloody hell is he" she growled as Tom took a step back and tried calming her "He could just be late, or maybe he was held back in class". The roaring laughter Mitch caused them both to spin around and shake their head in disbelief as there he was walking down the hill with his arm around two girls from their year. Both were blonde, white skin and average height with an amazing figure on them as their eyes were locked with Mitch's. He had a massive grin on his face as he continued to walk down the hill chatting happily to both "So what are you girls up to tonight? How about we hit the town and paint it red, head to a few clubs and parties then see where we end up after".

With the last of her patience snapped Ania stormed over and stood right in front of Mitch as he looked up and finally acknowledged their prescience. "Oh, hey guys I was just about to meet you when I ran into these two ladies and decided to invite them out with me" "We're leaving NOW" Ania roared kicking Mitch in the shin as he jumped back in pain "Owww jeez I'm sorry I took so long". Turning back to his lady friends he noticed they had already walked off with some other guy. Turning back around the glare he received from Ania made his blood run cold "Heh what can I say I got sidetracked?". Quick as a flash Ania's hand raced out and smacked him over the back of the head as she spun to leave mumbling under her breath "Idiot!" quickly he trotted along behind her deciding to be on his best behavior as to not incur her wrath.

Arriving at his house Mitch opened the door and was greeted to a giant German Shepherd crouching happily with his tail wagging frantically. "Yes, I'm home Rex and I brought guests with me" the moment Rex spotted Ania he raced past Mitch and barked happily "I swear he loves you more than me" "Of course he does" Ania knelt giving him a pat on the head. "Alright so what do you want to know exactly" Mitch said tossing his bag onto the ground and sitting down at the table as Tom and Ania both took a seat across from him already bustling to ask questions. Tom was the first as he rattled off his question "So do you have to be related to a shinigami or something to have these powers?".

Leaning back Mitch rested his hands behind his head as he shut his eyes to think "Well as far as I know you don't have to be directly related, you merely have to be spiritually aware so basically what you guys are right now". Upon hearing that Ania rattled off her question like a machine gun "Does that mean we can become shinigami?" before he could even begin to answer the question, she fired off another "If we can, how do you go about becoming one?"

Both questions completely caught him off guard as he nearly fell back off his chair in shock that she immediately went there. "Well, I suppose technically you guys can become shinigami, all we need really is to train you guys out of your bodies and then you should be able to call upon the shinigami powers" upon hearing that both Tom and Ania's eyes lit up at the prospect of being this shinigami alongside Mitch.

"Can you train us then please, pretty pleassseeeee" Ania asked giving Mitch her most innocent face as he sighed shaking his head "Well I can't say no to a face like that, but I do warn you it's dangerous and won't be easy" but the two of them weren't listening at all as they had already jumped up and were dancing around the room as Mitch shook his head "This is going to be trouble I know it".