Chapter 3

Damn, what the hell's up with this guy?

You don't need to know the answer to that. You're about to die, after all.

Ichigo!

Chad...

Ah, I figured this was the case. Ichigo was the friend you spoke of, right, Chad?

Who are these guys?

These spirits are not our enemy. That's all I can say.

Got it. If you say so, I guess I can trust 'em.

Believing in your friend 'til the very end, huh? How touching.

Unfortunately for you, this won't be the end. I didn't think I'd see you again here. What do you want?

I'm just here to check up on the other mirror! I do feel bad for what happened to its twin, after all.

You're gonna have to try harder if you want us to buy your lies, you know.

I'm being serious. But I have to say, I didn't expect the other seal to be undone as well.

I find it hard to believe that you weren't the one who tampered with it!

A short while before you arrived, Ichigo's seal broke suddenly and he appeared before me.

However, he was struggling to keep his form together. It may be because he was awoken in such an unstable state.

So, that's why you said you had no time to speak to us.

What happened to the mirror now that the seal has been broken?

I've still got it. I have no idea what to do with it, though.

You could always give it to me if it's too much for you to handle! Pretty please?

I'm not stupid enough to hand it over to a bad guy like you!

Oooh, so scary! How about now, then?

............

Rukia!

I, My apologies, Kaien.

You poor girl, staying behind in a place like this with no weapons or protection. Didn't anyone ever warn you about getting taken by the bad guy?

More like the bad fox. Hah.

Your move, Ichigo. It can't feel good to have a girl's death on your conscience, can it? Even if you don't know her.

You little, !

You have two choices. Either give up on Rukia or give up on the mirror.

Nope, we've got another one.

And that's to defeat you!

Aaaarrrgh!

Ruten Kairu!

Kaien-Style Roaring Thunder!

Whoa, three against one? That's going to be tough. Guess I don't have much of a choice though, do I?

Sokatsui!

Ack!

Correction. It's four against one.

Nice one, Rukia!

Thank you, Kaien.

What are you after? What do you gain from deceiving demons and stealing the mirror?!

There it is, the dreaded question. I'm only acting on someone else's orders!

All I was supposed to do was weaken the seal of the mirror I had little by little and break it before I passed it on.

And then what do you know? After everything was done, my orders suddenly changed! It's tough work being an errand boy.

Then why don't you just stop if you hate it so much? If you turn yourself in now, you could get off with a lighter punishment.

Just what does the mastermind who gave you those orders have planned?

No clue! But there is one thing I do know.

That Grotesque kid stands no chance of fighting or even protecting himself with only half his powers.

It's only a matter of time before he fades away into nothingness.

Fox 'o Nine Tails!