So, this is the prologue for one story I'm trying to get momentum on. The story itself is a Kingdom Hearts fic. I'm in desperate need of a beta for it though. If any of you readers for this one take a liking to it, please shoot me a message. :) Enjoy!

'Words' = Thoughts

"Words" = Words spoken between Terra and Gilth, through their connection

"Words" = Words spoken over a telephone

"Words" = Words spoken by a Zanpakutō


Chapter 1 {The Rock That Protects}

Afternoon light filtered into the hallways of the Karakura town high school. Students milled around, some aimlessly wandering through doors or back towards classrooms, as the end of lunch bell ticked ever closer. One student in particular ran through the hallways, white, layered, shoulder length hair flying as the thin, lanky form ran towards a classroom. They wore a boy's uniform, but something about the thatch like hair, one red viewable eye, sharp, angled chin, and the way the shoulders settled somewhere around the person's ears as they skidded to a halt outside of one classroom was vaguely female.

"Damn it! I am late the day I get back… again!" the albino figure thought stepping into the classroom, and promptly tripping over air.

"Whoa! Careful now. You're an absolute klutz, you know that Terra?" a ghostly voice drifted through the student's head. A boy, wearing a black Shihakushō had materialized in time to catch the white haired teen, though he was plainly rather transparent. His hair was the same white as the others, but cut even with his chin, except for a thin ponytail that hung over his shoulder. Bandages were viewable under his frost colored hair, covering his left eye, and leaving one blood red iris to crease slightly in a smile, mirth viewed in every aspect of his countenance.

'You are such an idiot, you know that Gilth.' A voice answered, apparently coming from the living albino, Terra.

"At least I actually look like which gender I am. You look like a dude when you're actually a chick." The first voice answered, now identified as Gilth. Terra moved forward with a grace that had not been displayed by her earlier trip, but stalled ever so slightly as she noticed a pair of people staring at Gilth's ghostly form. One was a girl with dark hair and dark eyes; the other was a boy with a spiky shock of carrot orange hair.

'You never did tell me what you thought about the attack of all those Hollows the other day.' Terra thought, looking at the ghost and ignoring the two living people staring at her.

"What about it?" Gilth responded.

'Do you think that I am right? That it was actually begun as a baited duel between the new Soul Reaper and that last Quincy? I think that-'

"Terra, you're back!" a female voice exclaimed. A girl with long reddish-orange hair, held back by two snowflake shaped barrettes, and gray eyes glomped Terra from behind, smiling jovially as she did so, interrupting Terra's thoughts.

"Orihime, this was not the longest I have been gone. I have only been gone for three weeks." Terra said quietly, her voice was strangely unidentifiable as either male or female, the same as her body. Orihime let go of Terra and circled in front of her, the orange haired girl's left hand resting on her hip as she waved her finger menacingly at Terra. The white haired girl bent backwards slightly in an attempt to avoid eye dissection.

"Yes that's true, but before that you'd been gone for three months." Orihime chided. Terra raised her hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Alright, I get it. I am in trouble for being sick, but what is it that is causing you to be mad that I missed it?" The albino asked quickly, her single viewable red eye widened slightly to show sincerity. Orihime caught hold of Terra's left wrist and dragged her forward.

"You missed meeting Rukia! She's a new student and she was out that one day that you were back." Orihime paused to pull Terra up even with her, facing the black haired girl that had been staring at Gilth. Said ghost was floating behind the girl, using his hands to sign something to his living friend.

"Terra, this is Rukia, Rukia, this is my good friend Terra. He's out a lot because he's got really bad health." Orihime introduced. Terra bowed, like a gentlemen meeting a lady of nobility at a ball, her tall, lanky form bending with practiced ease.

"How do you do," Terra said, leaning forward ever so much to speak in Rukia's, who was frowning slightly, ear, "Rukia Kuchiki." Rukia gasped, jerked away, and narrowed her eyes.

"What did you say, Terra?" the orange haired boy standing beside Rukia asked.

"Oh, I simply reminded her that frowns bring wrinkles and old age faster than smiles do. No need to worry Ichigo." Terra said, smiling and straightening.


"Orihime, can you tell me more about Terra?" Rukia asked her orange haired friend. The two girls were walking towards the clearing where they usually ate. Orihime put a finger to her chin, obviously thinking.

"Well, Terra and I have known each other since we were young. The first time I met Terra, he saved me from getting hit by a car. We were about four at the time. I remember Sora saying that Terra was tall for five years old, and Terra correcting him, saying, 'I am four, four years old and already seen more evils than others twelve times my age.' I didn't understand what Terra meant until later." Orihime said, slowing to a stop as she spoke.
"What did he mean?" Rukia questioned. Orihime looked uncharacteristically sad as she began to speak.

"Terra, he had seen his parents' murder four days before then. He barely escaped with his life, and as it was, Terra lost his right eye. That's why Terra wears his hair like that, so he doesn't freak people out more. Terra's like that, always thinks about others before himself." Orihime said, brightening as she said it. Rukia looked rather uneasy.

"Is he always like that? Like he was earlier this morning I mean. Clumsy one moment than practically cat-like the next?" the black haired Soul Reaper asked.

"Oh yes, Terra's a bit of a klutz, but he's a trained fighter in hand to hand combat and other forms of self-defense too. He never uses contractions, which is kind of weird, but Terra will be Terra. He's also always a perfect gentleman, as you discovered this morning." The orange haired girl said, her eyebrows rising suggestively. Rukia's eyes widened.

"You don't think I-" Rukia trailed off at Orihime's expression.

"Why else would you be asking about Terra? And I thought you were interested in Ichigo!" Orihime asked. Rukia trailed off, spluttering. However, as the orange haired teen skipped forward, Rukia's expression fell into a serious frown. Thinking over what Orihime had said and what she had seen.

'I didn't even sense that plus until he got in the room. Something's wrong with it, but I can't tell what. That guy wasn't normal either, despite what Orihime said. He knew my family name, and not the fake one I've been using, before I even spoke.' Rukia dragged herself away from her thoughts as she and Orihime arrived at the circle of girls eating, plastering a bright, cheery smile on her face.


The wind blew gently over the roof, ruffling hair and pulling slightly, though insistently, at loose articles of clothing. Ichigo, Chad, and some of Ichigo's other friends sat near the fence, lunch boxes strewn around them. A solid black lunchbox sat open a little ways away, everything still inside except a bottle of soda.

Terra stood on the lower guardrail, perfectly balanced, hands calmly tucked into pockets, staring into the sky. The wind tugged slightly at her hair, revealing a little bit more of her face, but not much. She could feel Ichigo's gaze on her ever so often, but he had yet to act on Gilth's 'appearance'.

"I told you I recognized her. The look on her face…" Gilth said, laughing hysterically. Terra rolled her eye, suppressing a low chuckle.

"Hey Terra, you'd better get down, the wind's picking up." Ichigo called. Terra looked over her left shoulder.

"Really, I had not noticed." Terra said, sarcasm dripping off her voice. The wind blew slightly harder, the strands of hair covering the right side of her face lifted ever so slightly, showing the edge of white cloth on her face, usually hidden under her hair. It stretched from her hairline down to her cheek and over, seemingly secured behind her right ear.

'Better go, or you won't have time to eat.' Gilth murmured, trying to ignore the two sets of eyes boring into his back. Terra blinked slowly, and then fell towards the roof into a back flip. The albino girl landed perfectly on her feet, hands still in her pockets. Ichigo stared at Terra as she approached. Terra sat down and began to rifle through her lunch box.

"Do you always act so reckless?" the orange haired boy asked. Terra looked up from her lunch box, a triangle of sandwich clenched in her teeth and cookie crumbs around her mouth.

"Humph?" Terra managed around her food.


The wind whistled as it roared down past the dark alleyway. A black cat padded through the shadows, gold eyes scrutinizing the walls. It didn't seem perturbed by the loud, echoing noises or the rodents scampering about the edges of the shadows. Finally, the cat stopped and stared at one brick in the wall. Scratched into the surface was a message. Beside the name was a happy face with upside down 'u' eyes and a fist showing a 'v' peace or victory sign.

Yoruichi,

Insert some of your spirit energy into this brick and it will transport you to my current location. It will be good to see you again, you crazy cat lady!

-Terra

"You haven't changed much, have you Terra?" the cat said quietly. Yoruichi shook her head, an exasperated sigh escaping her before beginning to do just as the message had instructed.

One blur of color later, Yoruichi stood off the main floor of a training dojo. Terra's body was slumped against the wall and Terra's soul form sat in the middle of the raised floor, her sword sheath in front of her. As Yoruichi watched, Terra mouthed the words, "What is your name?" If Terra's legs were crossed, it was impossible to tell because up to Terra's waist was invisible. Terra's breath came in ragged gasps, her face a mask of pain. Yoruichi took a step forward, but Gilth sat up and picked the black cat up, setting her on the other side of his extended legs.

"She's training, let her be. She'll have to stop soon anyways." Gilth said quietly, munching on a red apple.

"How long will it take her, wait, HER?" Yoruichi exclaimed. Gilth gave her a foxy grin.

"Oh yeah, you didn't know did you? Well that shouldn't faze you Ms. I-sound-like-a-guy-when-I'm-really-a-woman!" Gilth said in a playfully chastising tone. Yoruichi looked surprised for a moment, and then she collected herself as a sad song echoed from Terra's body's pants pocket. The haunting lyrics became more pronounced as Gilth pulled the cell phone from Terra's school uniform's pocket.

"You'd better answer it. It's Orihime." Gilth murmured, opening the phone and setting it before Yoruichi. The cat cleared her throat.

"Hello?" Yoruichi spoke into the receiver.

"Mr. Yoruichi, is that you?" Orihime's voice echoed through the speaker.

"Yes, it's me Orihime. Is Urahara ready?" Yoruichi asked.

"Yeah, we're actually just waiting for Ichigo, and then we're going to go. Um, Yoruichi, why do you have Terra's phone?" Orihime's voice was hinted with suspicion, and Gilth quickly shut the phone, grinning sheepishly.

"Let's get going." He said. Yoruichi nodded and glanced at Terra, who was only viewable from about even with her elbows and above, as her sword glowed, then dimmed. Terra fell backwards, shoulders slumping in exhaustion and pain.

"G-Gilth, I need to g-get back into my body, now." Terra hissed through clenched teeth. Gilth, instead of dragging Terra's body to her, gingerly lifted the androgynous albino and carried her over, gently lowering her into the limp body. Yoruichi watched as Terra's pale face contorted into a grimace.

"Are you gonna be alright?" Gilth murmured. Terra moved her head in a jerking nod. Gilth picked Terra up and turned to Yoruichi.

"She'll be okay; the encroachment just barely touched her heart." The white haired boy said, masking his worry with well-practiced ease. Yoruichi looked like she might question Gilth's statement, but seemed to think better of it. Instead the cat replied with,

"Urahara's at his shop."

"Who?" Gilth questioned, his face in, as Terra would have called it, an adorable puppy dog questioning expression. His head was even tipped to the side. Yoruichi sighed.

"Mr. Hat-'n-Clogs." She stated resignedly. Gilth gave a nod of understanding.


Ichigo, Chad, Uryu, Orihime, Tessai, and Urahara stood by the Senkaimon. Ichigo was pacing back and forth, while Orihime fidgeted nervously. Uryu was checking to make sure there were no loose threads or specks of dirt on his clothes, while Chad simply stood, watching Ichigo's annoyance grow. Finally, it seemed to get the better of him.

"Why can't we leave yet?" the orange haired boy yelled. Urahara continued to calmly fan himself.

"We're waiting for three other people." The blonde man said stoically.

"I know Mr. Yoruichi's coming, but what about the other two?" Orihime queried. At that moment, loud, arguing voices reached the group.

"There is no way in hell I am going down there!" one voice shouted.

"Why does that voice sound familiar?" Ichigo asked aloud.

"Well, I'm not going to carry you! Come on, the others are waiting damnit!" a second voice yelled. Abruptly, a shriek echoed around the cavernous room.

"Urahara move!" Yoruichi's voice shouted. It took all of half a second for the group on the ground to scatter before something crashed into the packed earth. A cloud of dirt billowed up from the impact point. As the dust settled, Yoruichi and Gilth walked up. Terra finally became visible, crouched low to the ground. Suddenly, the female albino popped to her feet. She slapped a hand over her mouth and looked decidedly queasy.

"I think I am gonna be sick." Terra murmured around her hand.

"Terra, oh my that was you yelling! I didn't know you were coming with us!" Orihime exclaimed.

"And I didn't know you were scared of heights." Ichigo commented.

"For your information, I have vertigo. Get me too high off the ground, and I get dizzy, double vision, nausea, headaches, and etcetera. Quite disastrous when I have to fight flying enemies." Terra said stiffly, her queasiness obviously abated enough to speak as she brushed dirt off her clothes. Ichigo and his friends blinked as Yoruichi began whispering fervently to Urahara behind them.

"You do realize you sound like a girl when you talk like that." Uryu commented. Terra locked her eye on the black haired boy.

"Well, that would be accurate, seeing how I am a girl and all." Terra said, her voice leading towards casual.

'Three, two, one.' Terra thought, speaking with Gilth so no one else could hear.

"What?" the four teens unaware of the disturbing fact shouted.

Terra and Gilth stood off to the side of Ichigo's group. Terra was still in her physical body, and she and her white haired friend were talking quietly. Urahara walked over.

"Are you ready?" the blonde haired man asked. Terra nodded in reply.

"I am as ready as I will ever be. It is not everyday someone more than likely signs their own death warrant. The encroachments have reversed and I will have a total of twenty-four hours before I will essentially have to d-disappear." Terra said, her voice momentarily betraying her when she got to 'disappear'. She, Gilth, Urahara, and Yoruichi understood she said 'disappear' instead of 'die' for the sake of the, hopefully still, friends that were in their present company.

"Then again," the albino girl thought, "the doctor said I have only got a few more months before my lungs collapse completely. Guess this just makes it easier. They can think I died from the fighting rather than a stupid ass illness."

"What do you mean Terra?" Orihime asked, her voice quavering with some of the hurt she felt from not knowing about Terra's gender, even though she was the oldest friend Terra had besides Gilth at the moment. Terra didn't make a move to explain, still wrapped up in her thoughts and even then she couldn't bear to face Orihime at the moment, so Gilth turned to the teens that he had never spoken to directly until now.

"We're starting this rescue mission with one person already with a foot in the grave. None of us know why, but Terra is limited to how long she can stay in her soul form." The white haired boy said evenly. Terra nodded to Urahara who quickly knocked Terra's soul from her body. Terra staggered back, then promptly tripped over a rock and landed on her back.

"Ow." She said quietly. Terra then flipped to her feet, showing she wore the telltale Shihakushō of a Soul Reaper. Black bandages were wrapped around her right arm, starting at her hand and disappearing underneath her sleeve, and over her right eye.

"I didn't know you were a Soul Reaper." Ichigo said, sizing up the, to his annoyance, taller girl. Terra tilted her head slightly and smiled, eye closed to hide that her smile was fake.

"I was getting lots of Hollows before Rukia became involved. Then you came along and I had to lay low. I could not have the Soul Society coming after me because of Gilth. Then we would be in a world of hurt." Terra said.

"How come I never realized that you were a Soul Reaper? I should have realized that you had a lot of spiritual pressure." Uryu questioned.

"I learned a long time ago to suppress my spirit pressure. I got attacked too much." The albino replied.

"Let's get a move on." Yoruichi called.

Inside the Senkaimon, everyone was running. As soon as Uryu got caught, Terra and Gilth looked behind, seemed to see something, and took off towards the dot of light in the distance.

"What's their problem?" Ichigo asked. Yoruichi shot a look over her shoulder, saw what the two albino's had seen, and then quickly turned her run into a headlong sprint.

"Run!" the black cat shouted.


The two white haired teens exited the Senkaimon at the same time, landing in perfect sync on their feet. The two leapt out of the way of the entrance to the Senkaimon, making room for the others' exit. As Gilth looked around, a grin spread over his face. Terra's viewable eye narrowed, as she scrutinized Gilth's face.

"Gilth, you glad to be back?" Terra's voice was heavily cloaked to hide her feelings. Gilth took notice and whirled to face Terra. The boy's grin faded for a moment, before becoming insanely huge.

"Remember, Terra, I'm your friend. I go wherever you go." Gilth said. Terra's mouth turned up at the corners, showing the beginnings of a smile. Gilth smacked his androgynous friend upside the head.

"You need to gain a brighter outlook on life." The white haired boy chastised.


A dark haired teen panted as he struggled to rise from the ground. His white clothes had an increasing dark red stain, originating from a wound on his left shoulder. Uryu fought with his poisoned body, finally standing and facing his assailant, the black and white-faced Captain of squad twelve, Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

'I'm sorry master. It looks like once more I must disobey you.' The Quincy thought, resting a hand on one of the spikes on his glove.

"Stay your hand, Uryu!" a voice shouted. Uryu froze in the action of breaking the spike off and he, the Captain, and his injured Lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, swiveled their heads to see a white haired figure standing on the nearby roof.

"That's impossible! I – we all saw her die!" Uryu thought.