Consciousness was a state of being that I reluctantly accepted. My head pounded in a thunderous drumbeat, and my throat still burned from the abuse done to it earlier. Still, nothing else seemed to be wrong and I felt significantly calmer than earlier even if I didn’t want to accept I was in a world of cannibal murder ghosts and scheming masterminds. Maybe if I just lay here, it will all go away?

No, going by my life so far I’m going to be stuck here. Best get up and deal. I need to find out when I am in the timeline I remember and see if it's possible to get out of this world. One of my archive souls has Dimensional Navigation,right? I should be able to skip out and go elsewhere if I can figure a way out into the Dimensional Sea again.

Grudgingly opening my eyes I see the suit from earlier leaning over me with his eyes closed and lips pursed getting closer to my face. Instinct kicking in, I punch him in the face, grabbing his arm as he recoils. I quickly pull his arm off to the side forcing him face down into the ground as I use the momentum to launch onto his back, pulling his arm again and locking him in place.

“Wait! Waitwaitwaitwait! I was just worried about you I swear! We were talking and, well I was talking you were just kinda listening cause your voice was all messed up, and then I was explaining where we were! But you got really pale and started breathing really fast! Then you fell over and I didn’t know what to do! I tried shaking you awake but I’m not a doctor or anything and the internet says you shouldn’t shake people cause they might have spine injuries, but I don’t know if that counts when you’re dead, but I didn’t know what else to do so I thought to try CPR and then you woke up! I wasn't trying anything indecent I swear please don't kill me!”

I blinked. That… was an impressive amount of words rambled off that quickly and now that I wasn’t dealing with a surprise kissy face I realized I might have overreacted a tiny bit. Still, I’m going to take advantage of the situation and find out more before I plan my next steps.

Settling my breathing, I try slipping into a calm reasonable tone while loosening my hold on his arm so its no longer painful, but not enough that he can throw me off. “I’m sorr-” Gah! I break off in another fit of coughing. My voice sounding like I tried to deepthroat a chainsaw. “Sorry, I… overreacted when… I saw… you.” My throat protested each word, but at least I could talk if I took it slow.

“Okay, perfectly understandable for a girl in your position! Um.. If it isn't too much trouble though could you let me go? Not that I don’t think you’re pretty but this is moving kinda fast and my mom always said that you need to take a girl out before you get physical with them and not to mention you seem kinda… young?...for me? Not that there's anything wrong with you liking older men, but maybe we can just be friends from now on?” He said earnestly.

Aaaand cue mental lockup. What? He thought I was making a move on him? I would accept it if he was commenting on my overreaction, but he seemed serious about everything he said! And young? This guy looked like he was no older than thirty, how old did I look now? Taking a deep breath I forced the last few seconds out of my mind and turned my attention back to what I was starting to assume was a masochist.

“Ignoring that. Let’s start over. Who are you?”

“Oh! Right introductions, of course! I’m Tite Kubo, I was an administrative assistant for an insurance firm and was walking home one day when I was grabbed by this guy by that road over there.” He points up to the top of the hill where I first saw him. “I thought the worst would be if it was some sort of mugging cause that’s what normally happens when a guy grabs you, right? But he was all twitchy and saying that the dark gods needed more sacrifices, I don’t know about gods or whatever but he stabbed me and ran off saying my soul would feed the dark ones. Crazy right?”I opened my mouth to cut him off but he just kept rambling on. “I actually think that he might be the murderer who was in the area a few years ago. But you might not know about that, would you? Well there is one, a murderer that is, killing people all over town and no one can find any clues of him. The police said so when they found my body, it was similar to the Kurosaki murder but not the same cause they said the weapon was different, but that makes sense right? Having different tools over the years? My mom always said you need to keep updating things or you will fall behind on the times!”

Well that was far more than I wanted to know. I was only looking for a name for crying out loud! But he said something about the Kurosaki murder. That means Ichigo’s mom was already killed. Sorry Ichigo, couldn’t save your mom as my act of good before I find my way out of here, but it is a good way to find out where I am in the timeline.

“Kurosaki. When?” I rasped out.

“Oh, it was a few years ago, maybe around five or so? It happened right here too! Terrible shame.” Tite continued to talk, but I heard what I wanted. If I remember right Ichigo was nine when his mom died and fifteen at the start of canon. So I should have maybe a year before things kick off around here. Not a huge amount of time to figure out my abilities, but short enough that I might be able to dodge getting dragged in to the issues of ghost samurai.

Releasing Tite, I started walking up the slope to the road ignoring his protests. I was going to need to find shelter soon, and I’m sure a pair of former captains made sure any anomalies in the area were investigated and either encouraged to go elsewhere, or more likely, removed depending on what they were. I didn’t think they would kill me on sight but I also don’t want to get involved so them finding me would be bad. Reaching the top of the hill I glanced around for a clue on which direction might have a suitable shelter for a girl with no identification and no money. Two problems that would really limit my options. But finding the fastest way to town should be step one. Finding a place to hide should be step two. And from there I could plan how to get out of this place.

Spotting a jogger heading towards me, I raised one hand to flag them down and quickly approached. “Hey, could yo-” While I could understand a reaction to the mess that was my voice, the jogger gave no sign of hearing me at all and continued on their way without giving me the impression they noticed me at all. Leaving me stunned with my hand in the air as they continued on their way.

I had assumed that seeing spirits was a result of my EMIYA soul given that Servants could detect each other even astrialized, but that seemed to be something they needed to consciously do, not their default state. Tite walked back up beside me and started talking, but I was focused on how limiting only being able to interact with spiritually aware people would be for me.

As I pondered what the hell I was supposed to do now I realized that Tite had stopped talking at me and was just silently watching. The somber look of concern on his face such a difference from his normal puppy-like personality made me self conscious he had asked me something and I was silent enough to actually make him worried.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

He gave me a searching look that made him completely different than the rambling goofball that somehow took a submission hold as a romantic advance. “Was that your first then?” He asked softly.

“First what?”

If anything that just made him look sadder. “First time you met one of the living? It's hard, knowing you don’t exist to them anymore. But Mom always said that things will get better! So cheer up, and don’t let something like death bring you down!” Tite visibly brightens as he finishes his little pep talk. It actually wasn’t a bad speech, I kind of feel bad that I’m not feeling bad about dying, cause I’m pretty sure I never died in the first place.

Oh well, the thought is what counts. “Thanks you. I won’t” I really hope my throat heals quickly. Talking like I tried to gargle glass is annoying.

Still I need to find a place to bunker down and start planning my next move. I need to figure out somewhere I can hide from the Urahara bunch, escape notice from any wandering Hollows, and ideally has room for me to practice in that order. Not sure how feasible any of that actually is, but a girl can dream, right?

Turning to Tite, I ask “Which way to town?”

“Oh, just follow this road and it will take you past the outskirts, then once you get there it’s really just any direction to the more marketable areas. Karakura is a really nice town, and you shouldn’t let something like dying here ruin the experience! In fact, now you can do all these things for free, too! Like going to watch the sports team, or watching a movie, or or - !” He exclaims happily. Guess he is back to normal. Good for him.

Facing the road, I look over my shoulder back at Tite. “Coming with?” I ask. For all that he talks about nothing, he is a local source of information. And he seems nice enough that I wouldn’t mind helping him find the current Soul Reaper to help move on as repayment for the info he gave me. Just as long as I can stay hidden.

Again, Tite goes quiet and gives me a soft smile, “I would like to go with you, you seem really nice when you aren’t screaming for hours,” Yeah, well, I didn’t want to do that either, maybe I shouldn’t bring him with, “But my mom still comes by to where I died to tell me about her day. I want to watch over her even if there is nothing I can do but listen.” Dammit now I feel like an ass. Maybe I can find some other way to bring him to the Soul Reaper’s attention. Don’t want him eaten or left to hollowfy after all this. Enough delaying then, time to get a move on.

“Thanks again, bye.” I start walking towards town, waving as I go.

As I walk, my mind whirls with what I know about what is coming. I just need some time to take stock and plan for the future. A smile creeps onto my face as I remember Tite’s little speech. Yeah I won’t let something like death get me down, cause after all everyone knows you don’t fear the Reaper.