No Longer Imaginary

by Tiger of Fire

What would you do if you were sitting in your room looking out your window when sudden flashes of black and white started to appear outside? Well Clair being the curious woman that she is does the seemingly obvious thing to do and sticks her head outside for a better look. Harmless right? not sure on parings but there will be teasing and confusion also OOC-ness that's explained

26. Chapter 25 Party Info and Training

Yay a chapter! Moving on nothing funny to say really.

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Chapter 25: Parties, Surprising Info, and Training

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The next morning while the three were eating breakfast Yoruichi came in through the window. "You know normal people use this thing called a door." Clair commented as the cat hopped onto the end of the table where the empty seat was.

"Yes but normal people can't turn into cats." Phoenix joked making Clair roll her eyes and smile. "What's up, we were going to come over in a bit?"

"Actually now that things are a tad more settled with Shunsui as Head Captain they were going to have a bit of a 'party' mainly since he wants to drink a lot and get away with it, but the official reason is he's inviting you, since we will, to a point, be working together to fight the Shadows. So the party is to get everyone used to each other."

"Sounds interesting." Phoenix said nodding taking a bite of his food.

"What about Grimmjow? Is he allowed to come?" Clair asked.

"Yes he's invited, same reason really, Shunsui said that people need to get used to the idea of having him around and since he isn't really an arrancar anymore it'll be easier. Hopefully."

"Alright, when's this happening?"

"Over the next few days. I came to you first since I figured that would be the quickest way for the other three to find out. Urahara is calling Ichigo."

"Cool but we can't be partying the whole time we still need to train." Clair said taking her dish to the sink.

"I'm sure you can find time to do so and there are plenty of training grounds there to choose from."

"Are you and Urahara coming?"

"Yes we are Urahara isn't going to pass up the opportunity to annoy people. We were going to head there around noon if you want to come through with us then, or I guess you could probably just zap yourself there."

"We could and we can 'zap', as you put it, Grimmjow you and Ichigo as well it's faster and you won't have to worry about the stupid train." Phoenix chuckled.

"That's sounds like a good idea. When we get there will you go back to that spirit form of yours?"

"Yes we all will, why?"

"Just curious to see what they look like up close."

"Is it really ok for me to go?" Grimmjow asked finally speaking up.

"Yep and if anyone attacks you they will get in trouble. Don't worry Grimmjow." she reassured him, he nodded finishing his food. "Slow~" she poked Phoenix with her paw since he hadn't finished eating.

"I have all of two bites left jeez." which he quickly ate, "The others will meet us there but um...where exactly should we go? Like within Soul Society I mean?"

"Squad eight is where the party is being held. So how will you take me and Grimmjow along? Also we should probably leave his gigai at the shop."

"You just have to be in contact with us." Phoenix said patting his shoulder which she promptly jumped onto. "Tora will get Ichigo so she'll be a little later then the other two. See ya there." he said to Clair, "Ready?" Yoruichi nodded and they vanished in a flame.

"Let's head to the shop then and drop your body off." Clair said as she checked around the house to make sure everything was shut and locked. They headed to Urahara's leaving Grimmjow's gigai there. "Take my hands." she held them out. "You too unless you'd rather deal with the train?" she smirked at Urahara, he shook his head and took her hand Grimmjow doing the same the next moment they were next to Phoenix and a human Yoruichi who was thankfully clothed.

"Whoa..." Grimmjow breathed looking Clair over. Her hair was much, much longer now nearly reaching the ground and flowed slightly in a non existing breeze. Her clothes were the same colors as her battle outfit but differently made. Her shoulders were bare having no cloth or armor there, the sleeves were of a similar style as her battle forms top but a bit longer. She had no gloves but instead the backs of her hands and up to her elbow was covered in fine golden orange scales. The part that goes around her chest was still a cross over wrap like before, but flowed down her back evenly not just in the six inch strip, a white sash held it shut. Her pants were a similar burnt orange to the shorts in her battle form but were longer brushing the ground above her bare feet. The things that caught Grimmjow's, and the others who were there to see, attention most though was the long golden dragon tail that was swaying behind her coming from under the end of her top. It had two inch long white blond fur running down the top as well as an orange ridge that was shaped like a bunch of little waves right in the middle. The fur came the whole way to the end where it got longer and fanned out to about a foot in length. Her ears had become more pointed and shaped slightly like a cat but instead of fur they had scales those scales reaching the whole way to under her eyes which were more narrowed now but no less bright. "Wow~" She chuckled at his reaction and closed his open mouth with a finger.

"You're a cat not a codfish yes?" she smirked and he blushed. Yue showed up next her spirit form took a closer resemblance to her fight ring outfit though. Her top was slightly loose but instead of hanging off her shoulders was a turtleneck the sleeves were long and slightly loose but not so much that they were baggy. The shirt tapered off in front and back starting at her waist and ending a few inches above her knee. The front was a dark gray and the back black, the back also had a hard leather on it. Her pants were long but like her sleeves were only slightly loose. The most odd thing was that she had a long black, live, snake with red eyes curling about her. Her eyes were both blue, and her hair was again black but instead of the braid from her battle form was pulled into a bun with some of the hair hanging loosely around her neck. "Morning." Clair greeted.

"Hello..." Yue said with a yawn, "Moringsss sssuck..." the snake hissed scaring those who weren't expecting it to talk.

"Well isn't that intriguing?" Urahara commented after getting over his own slight shock. "So...are you still one being or?"

"Yes and no, snake can separate and go on her own should she wish but I tend to keep her close she has a habit of getting in trouble." Yue said the snake shaking its head "like you can talk turtle..." Yue growled "Tortoise!"

"Tortie?" Clair asked with a smirk getting a sharp look from her friend. "What it was just a suggestion? Hello Ryu." he nodded Grimmjow's eye skipped up to what was coming from his head. He had branch like horns that started at about his temple and went back at an angle. They were blue at the bottom matching the scales that led up to the horns then brown in the middle and turned mossy green at the top, and seemed to be about eight or nine inches long. His ears were a lot like Clair's now but had blue scales instead that also came out to under his eyes though covered a but more of his cheek bones then Clair's did. His hair was very different then in his battle form, it was short as in messy and spiky staying about five inches till it got to the back of his head were it got much longer reaching to about his waist. The color was also a good bit different being a mix of greens and blues. The scales that covered his ears and part of his face ran down the sides and back of his neck then along the bottom of his collar bone and covered his chest. The coat he had on was left open revealing his toned, and scaly, chest and stomach. It was a rich blue color and long. The sleeves were very baggy but not in a messy way. They had a crescent shape cut to the end making it so they came further down in the front and back of the sleeves. The color turned a bark brown as the sleeves got closer to the end. His pants were not unlike the hakama that the shinigami were wearing but were a deep blue. Also like with Clair a long blue dragon tail was swaying behind him from under the long back of the coat. It had fur that matched his hair coloring that went down the length of it, splitting a foot and a half from the end and fanning out on the sides. The length of the fur there varied making it look like a leaf.

"Nice horns." Grimmjow said reaching out to touch them. Ryu let him even leaning his head down a bit to make it easier. He was used to people wanting to touch them. "It feels different depending on which part I touch...scales bark and moss." Grimmjow comment pulling his hand back.

"Hmm." he nodded, "So this is a party thing then? You didn't explain much." he said to Phoenix, who then repeated what Yoruichi had said in full rather then just the tid bit he had before. "I see. Here comes Shunsui, hello."

"Hello? Um you all look rather um? Different?"

"Our spirit forms. We used to take them quite often back in the living world...till people began to fear us..." Clair said sadly. "But that's sad and this is supposed to be a party so moving on. Thank you for inviting us."

"No problem, though actually there was something else I'd like to ask of you then just mingling."

"Ask then."

"You've fought these uh...Shadows before but none of us have. Would you be willing to help teach us how to deal with them?"

"Of course we need to train anyway we can do that at the same time. Bout time you got here." she said to Tora and Ichigo who just showed up. Tora was now in form fitting but flexible clothing. It was all white aside from the molten gold tiger stripes that decorated the shirt and thighs of her pants. The top of the shirt cut straight across an inch below her collarbone but had two braided strips on either side that went over the top of her shoulders. She also had a gold choker with a silver tiger head hanging from it. Her hair was white as well with stripes of orange and yellow through it and was in a loose French braid. Her ears were of course tiger ears now the fur reaching out much like it did for Grimmjow's resurrection and the scales that Clair and Ryu had now. And she had a long fluffy tiger tail to match.

"Sorry Kon was giving us issues." she told as Ichigo looked her over before reaching out to pet her ear making her purr.

"I could get used to this." he smirked and she stuck her tongue out at him. "You two look awesome." he said to Clair and Ryu, Clair smirked but Ryu just nodded. "Where's Yue?" they all looked around finding her near the sake pulling the snake from the table that it was sitting on as it tried to down a bottle.

"So that's what she meant by getting in trouble. Though seeing a snake get drunk would be pretty funny." Ichigo laughed at the thought.

"The tortoise can hold her liquor the snake ...not so much. She would probably pass out after half a bottle and I doubt Tortie wants to be carrying around dead weight." Clair giggled as she watched tail twitching in delight.

"So how long would you say your tail is?" Urahara asked crouched down looking at it.

"Like..." she looked down at it thinking, "five feet maybe six. It's longer then Ryu's I know that."

"Only by a foot!"

"Considering how much bigger her actual dragon form is then yours that really amazing." Phoenix snorted.

"Oi!"

"How big is your dragon form?" Grimmjow asked Clair curiously.

"At max...fifty feet long." She shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, and to her it wasn't.

"Damn!"

"I can shrink myself down to about three feet though." she smiled.

"Really?" his eyes got big like a kid's. "Can I see?"

"Hm...no...not because I don't want to but..."

"You can't yet?"

"Yeah Phoenix can you take on your bird form?"

"Maybe~" he teased but at the blank look he got he caved and did so turning into a large fiery bird. He was probably near ten feet tall just standing there. "Happy?" he held his wings out in a bird like shrug.

"Would it hurt if I touched you?" Urahara asked.

"You could find out. I honestly don't know. Why would you want to though? You are not pulling any of my feathers!" Phoenix pulling his wings in around himself defensively.

"Aw~" the shopkeeper complained at getting caught.

"Buzz off!" he changed back.

"Please try not to piss the firebird off. He has a ...flaring temper." Ryu chuckled as Phoenix groaned at the horrible pun.

"I don't sssee why I can't have sssome?" the snake complained as Yue brought it back over. "Because you get drunk easily and then all you are is a pain in my ass." Yue retorted.

"You know it's a lot less creepy when there's actually something else for her to talk too. Rather then her just seeming to have a conversation with herself." Grimmjow said.

"You mean like Ichigo and Shiro?" Tora smirked.

"Oi!"

"It's weird Ichigo face it. Hello Rukia, Renji." Phoenix greeted. "Byakuya."

"Captain Kuchiki."

"That's what I said, Byakuya." a vein showed up on the man's forehead as Ichigo and the others snickered. "Ukitake." he nodded to the captain "and the niblets." They gave him a confused look but ignored it looking him and the others over in awe much like many of the shinigami were doing.

"Hello again. I'm glad we are meeting on friendly terms this time...I must say you all look...well like something out of a story." he smiled and the five laughed at the joke. While others it just flew over their heads.

"Hey Clair I thought you were only a little taller then Yoruichi…" Grimmjow said seeing them standing nest to each other.

"I'm in my spirit form Grimmjow, I'm taller when I'm like this." She smirked.

"Hey! Why are all of you just standing around this is a party!"

"Looks like Rangiku started early." Tora chuckled. "Hey Toshiro, and don't bother trying to correct me it won't help."

"It never seems to." he sighed "Matsamoto would you stop hanging on every person you come by!" he yelled at his lieutenant who was hanging on some random eighth squad guy. Though he didn't really seem to mind as her chest was right next to his face. The girl rolled their eyes at the pervert.

"Ah~ but captain~" she whined "loosen up~ it's a party have fun~!" he groaned.

"She is right Toshiro you need to light up just a tad." Shinji said coming up to them Momo trailing behind "Hello all!"

"Hi..." Clair looked at Momo blankly then back to Shinji with a smile "so what did you think of Grimmjow's shift?"

"It was definitely different. But it suits him somehow. Gotten any better?" he slapped Grimmjow on the back then hung an arm over his shoulders. Grimmjow tried to lean away but was held in place.

"Haven't had a chance, we didn't train yesterday. We went to an amusement park."

"Ooo~ that sounds fun!"

"It was great I got a huge panther stuffed animal! Grimmjow won it for me!"

"That was nice and boyfriendly of him." Shinji smirked as Grimmjow scratched his head. As they talked a bunch of others showed up letting the party start for real. Kenpachi was trying to get Ichigo and/or Phoenix to fight him but was not succeeding. Ryu was talking with Ukitake, Shunsui, and Byakuya about different things they have in their archives. Tora was helping Yoruichi pull pranks on people while Phoenix picked out targets. And Clair was sitting on the roof watching it all.

"Not going to join?" Grimmjow asked sitting next to her with a bottle of sake.

"I don't do crowds so well anymore."

"But you used to?"

"Oh I used to love mingling and getting to know people...but with things that have happened in this life...it's hard to let myself do that." she said sadly. He rubbed her back pulling her closer. Her tail wrapped around them both making Grimmjow think of a cat which was ironic and funny. "I want to but...I'm scared of getting hurt."

"Come on." he stood holding his hand out, "I'll keep you safe."

"How much have you had?"

"Nothing yet this hasn't even been opened." he shook the bottle a bit. "Come on, you have to start somewhere."

"alright." she took his hand and they went back down into the crowd of people. Urahara had joined in with Ryu, Ukitake, Byakuya, and Shunsui. "What do you think they are talking about?"

"Not a clue wanna find out?" he said heading in that direction Tora had also sat down with the small group Ichigo next to her.

"Can we join you?"

"Of course find a piece of blanket." Shunsui waved his hand at the area.

"That would probably be easier for them if you sat up." Nanao said as she walked by making him flinch and the others laugh. He sat up grumbling as he took a swig from his sake bottle.

"What is everyone doing all grouped up over here I though we were supposed to be mingling?" Phoenix asked coming over.

"We are, we are mingling amongst ourselves." Clair said.

"I don't think that counts."

"Actually now that most of you are over here I have a question." Urahara spoke up. Phoenix raised an eyebrow at him and motioned for him to continue. "The other day when Clair first revealed herself as the Center you spoke of your home. Can you explain that for me?"

"Ah. Sure it's like our own little world. The Soul King made it for us way back when. We each have a place to stay when we aren't in the living world. Like Ryu has a forest and Yue has a lake and Phoenix just sits in a little fire. Tora has these metal trees and I have a prism like structure. We-"

"Wait! Wait wait wait wait!" Shunsui waved his hands to stop her "You said...did you say the...the Soul King made it for you?"

"Well yeah, did you think it just appeared because we were alive that's silly. Anyway as I was-"

"But I'm confused...you know the Soul king?"

"Well yeah. He's the one who helped me come into existence. Anywho when-"

"He what now?"

Clair sighed annoyed about continually being interrupted but understood it at the same time, "Look I didn't use to exist like this," she motioned to herself "I used to be earth and light nothing more. But elements, they have a will of their own in a way, they see what humans can't, they know what humans don't. I saw, and I wanted to be able to do. The Soul King felt that, so when a pure beam of light touched on some of the richest soil he helped me take a more physical form. That of a great gold dragon. We decided that while staying in the living world was great I should have a place that I can rest so we made the place I call home. At first all there was, was a place for me and open fields of rich grass a small river and a few sparse trees. From there I worked as a protector for eeeverything. But I needed help so I asked the Soul King to teach me how to call on others and he did agreeing that it would be easier for us both since at the time it was really just the two of us watching everything, you know like no shinigami and stuff like that. So I called and wood and water answered and they were given duties as well as a place within our world that suited them a forest for Ryu and a lake that attached to the river for Yue. When the first fire was struck I knew it would be of help, the will within that new element was strong and in a way refreshing as there hadn't been an element quite like it before. One that could be so out of control and yet so useful. I took that fire to our home and gave it a place to rest then called out to it. It easily answered and came to form a great bird. A good bit later when the humans began fashioning strong metal tools to help us against the Shadows Tora was called out and she too gained a place in our world...unfortunately so did the Shadows."

"What do you mean?" Urahara asked serious.

"These things as we've said are darkness personified...but there's a bit more too it then that...you see they aren't just the element darkness that technically impossible since darkness is merely the absence of light... These didn't come from the shadows made by the leaves or the puppets you make on the wall to tell a story...this darkness comes from the soul..."

"That's rather...heavy...and unforeseen." Ukitake commented. Other shinigami that had gathered awhile nodded agreeing.

"they feed not only on the absence of light but of the dark emotions which people give off...they can even control people using those emotions whispering things, promising empty promises... They...are the shadows of a person's heart."

"You said feed on the absence of light is that why they want you gone?" Byakuya asked.

"Yes. I embody light in the way they embody darkness...they get rid of me they get rid of light...the earth will also become dry and cracked, unusable. The same with the others, if Phoenix were to be killed by them no fire would ever light again, Yue dies the waters would become like poison and flow out of control. Ryu nothing would grow and no wind would blow. Metal would become soft and useless as well should Tora be taken out."

"But you've died before plenty of times from what you say." Soi Fon questioned.

"Naturally, never to their hands. It's different, when we die, leaving the living world, we simply go to our home and watch from there continuing to shift things as needed till we need be born again to stop the Shadows. If we die to their hands...we die for good..."

"Well...if say Clair died but I was left, all I'd really have to do is make my fire bright enough near her to heal and bring back her light. But...I don't know about the rest." Phoenix commented.

"Well light is pure isn't it wouldn't you be able to fix what was damaged then call on the elements again?" Ukitake asked.

"It sounds logical in a way but I really doubt it." Clair shook her head. "But us dying right now isn't the problem...the problem is what I was trying to get to earlier before you asked about our connections to the Soul King. And that problem is that the Shadows originally simply stayed in the living world but we knew they would continually wreak havoc there so we created another area within our home one far away and set up many barriers and sealed them there. They can only leave a little at a time to go to the other worlds."

"But?"

"They got past our barriers...they are within our home. We hadn't reset the barriers before we came here this time...it was a big mistake on our part, that is why they are stronger. They have absorbed the energy, the power of their elements. Now like I said to Grimmjow they won't have our powers as we have them but... They have the strength of them."

"Only their elements?" Yoruichi asked.

"All our individual homes have barriers as well mine is still standing...for now."

"Pisssesss me off!" the snake came slithering into the middle of the blanket as Yue sat down. "Regardless we can do nothing but wait right now." Yue told it. "Ssstupid turtle...waiting will get usss killed!"

"No Snake! If we move to soon we will die." Phoenix said grimacing, his eyes far away. "We aren't strong enough yet...and even if we are stronger there so are they we wouldn't stand a chance!" he punched the ground. "Damn it!"

"Have they never broken through?"

"No they haven't...managed to weaken it a good deal but never actually get through." Ryu said tail twitching angrily. More so at himself for the same were they all angry about, for not refreshing the barriers.

"Ssso we jussst sssit and wait!?" The snake hissed loudly.

"No like I said before we train, we get stronger, we gain back all our powers, then we make our move." Clair said tail lashing back and forth behind her ears flattened against the sides of her head like a pissed off cat. The people behind her had to move so not to get hit by her tail. "Till then there's nothing else we can do."

"Well tonight is about relaxing and getting better acquainted with one another so enough of this gloom and doom and let's get back to having fun yes?" Shunsui said "besides I'm out of sake." he said looking in his bottle making everyone chuckle a bit. They all broke off into groups again going back to having fun and chatting. Ichigo, Ikkaku, and Renji were having sparring match...well more like a jumble of limbs rolling around as they spat lame insults at each other. Phoenix joined Yoruichi for a drink by themselves over by a wall. Yue mumbled about how she was ready to tie her snake half to a tree so it would stop trying to get in the sake as she drank with Yumichika, Shuhei and Kensei. Tora went back to her pranks, while Clair and Grimmjow floated on the edge neither really sure how to interact with everyone for separate reasons.

"Smistin." Soi Fon came over to them looking on edge.

"Yes?"

"I... After hearing..." Clair held up a hand stopping her.

"If you are going to apologize simply because you know now that we knew the Soul King don't. It wouldn't make much of a difference."

"That's not! Well it's part of it, but now that I know more about what's going on, what those things are. I wanted to apologize for the first time we met and how I acted towards you about them."

"I see, accepted then. But only if you apologize to Grimmjow for being a complete bitch to him."

"I...am...sorry..." she managed to grind out, Grimmjow wasn't so sure she actually was sorry but nodded nonetheless. Just the fact that she pushed her pride down enough to say it was enough.

"See was that so hard?" Clair chuckled.

"Don't push it. I'm still angry over what your brother did!" the small captain growled.

"He had every right. We came before you, we were the balancers first. Yamamoto was given plenty of chances to listen and refused due to being blinded by his position. He needed to step down a long time ago. It's a simple fact and truth hurts so get over and move on there's nothing to be done about it now anyway. Though I suppose...I should apologize a little too, I didn't exactly act nicely toward you that first meeting...or the second, either. So shall we let bygones be bygones and attempt to get along?" Clair held her hand out to the small captain. Soi Fon looked at it unsure but took it nodding. She stood there awkwardly before nodding to them both again and hurrying off.

"That was weird."

"That last part? Yeah, I think she may have wanted to say something else but maybe didn't know how. Hi Rose."

"Hello Smistin-san, Grimmjow-san. What are you doing over here I'm sure you'd have more fun further in."

"Well...I have issues with crowds...and Grimmjow..."

"I'm not exactly sure how to act around people when I'm still getting glares from half of them."

"Ah~ yes that can be a problem. How about you join me for a drink over with Shinji and Urahara? There's a couple people from both our divisions so that will be a start at least."

"alright." the party went on all day and into the night but by the time midnight rolled around almost everybody was so drunk they had passed out, including the snake that had managed to drink a bottle and a half of sake. Clair was once more on the roof looking up at the stars. Grimmjow had gotten pulled into a few sparring matches by Ikkaku, Renji, and Kensei along with Ichigo, and with two and a half bottles of sake he was in need of sleep. He was using her belly as a pillow as she ran her fingers through his hair making him purr a little in his sleep which in turn made her smile. Phoenix and Yoruichi were still off by themselves somewhere and Clair was fairly certain that Tora was spying on them wherever they had gotten to. Yue was talking with Komamura with the snake curled around her lap completely out of it. Ryu was still talking with Ukitake and Byakuya.

"Hello." Unohana came and sat next to her.

"Unohana? Hi."

"He looks peaceful." she smiled at the arrancar turned visord sleeping on her stomach. "It's very different then what I have heard of him."

"I'm sure. He's actually very sweet when he wants to be. He's still grumpy sometimes but I think everyone is every now and then. So...why are you up here?"

"I wanted to speak with you if that's alright." Clair nodded "You all have healing powers yes?"

"To a degree. They work best on each other, humans aren't too hard since they don't have power to work past or with, its just flesh and blood. Ichigo and Grimmjow aren't too hard to heal but it's different the healing each other or humans."

"How do you go about it?"

"I'm...not sure how to answer its more like I think about what I want to heal and the power goes to my hand and starts healing it. Sorry I can't be of more help."

"No that just means it is a natural thing for you to heal people." Unohana smiled kindly.

"I guess...I just wish I could heal more then just the physical though..."

"Everyone does."

"...Are you mad? ...About what my brother did to Yamamoto?"

"No, I heard from a lot of people what happened and watched the footage. He was being very...uncooperative. It makes me sad that it happened but as you said to Soi Fon earlier it's already happened and there isn't anything to be done about it."

"Where is he?"

"Still at the fourth. It was quite the shock to his system, as well as his mind."

"Oh...he's not like totally screwed in the head now is he?" 'Not that he wasn't already.' she added in her head.

"No he's not. He's...well he's an old man."

"I see. Just keep an eye on him..."

"You are worried about something particular?" Unohana asked her worriedly.

"The Shadows, if he turns hateful for what happened, they could try to use him."

"He has no weapon."

"They will give him one by invading his heart."

"That sounds...very painful."

"I've seen it happen...it's not a pretty sight." Clair grimaced at the memories shutting eyes tight against them.

"Is there anyway to stop it once it starts?" Clair shook her head, "I see, I will watch him carefully and explain to him what is fully going on, he'll listen to me he normally does." Clair nodded before yawning. "Hm~ someone's sleepy."

"He-heh yeah it's been a long day and I'm a bit buzzed." she hadn't had much but sake was strong then beer, she yawned again. "Good grief... I wonder where my brother got too?"

"I saw him walking with Yoruichi-san awhile ago. Here." she unfolded a blanket and put it over Grimmjow then another over Clair then handed her a third to put under her head.

"Thank you."

"Of course, it's my job to make sure everyone stays healthy." she smiled before going back to the ground to place blanket on others, Hanatoro was helping and checking on those that had had too much and made themselves sick. Clair closed her eyes and let herself drift off.

In the morning she and Grimmjow had switched positions with her using him as a pillow and his arm wrapped around her holding her to his side the other behind his head. He woke up first and had to stop before he stretched so he didn't wake her, "Mm~ morning~" she mumbled after a few seconds snuggling closer "I no wanna get up..."

"Me neither." he chuckled, "But someone's coming so I think we'll have too." she grumbled but sat up Grimmjow doing the same as Phoenix flew up. "Hey."

"Hey breakfast is almost ready wanna come?"

"Yeah...so~ where'd you and Ms. Kitty go last night?" Clair asked.

"We just roamed around some then stayed at the second."

"Together?" she wiggled her eyebrows.

"No Soi Fon would have killed me in my sleep had I tried to stay in the same room." he laughed before hopping off the roof and waiting on the ground for them. They followed him down and to the eighth squad's mess hall to eat. Grimmjow immediately felt eyes on him as he entered. Some were merely curious but most were wary or still slightly hateful.

"Maybe I should eat somewhere else." he said backing back up to the door but Clair caught his wrist stopping him. "I'm obviously not welcome."

"You have done nothing. They need to get over themselves." she said giving the entire hall a sharp look making most flinch "You were invited by Shunsui same as us. If they have a problem they'll have to take it up with their new Head Captain. Remember if they do so much as scratch you their asses are grass." she reminded everyone in the room not just Grimmjow. "And all of you should be ashamed of yourselves not only does your glaring and hate towards an ally disrespect us it disrespects your former Captain and new Head Captain. You all should be apologizing. I understand that he was, emphasis on was, an arrancar but he isn't anymore so get over it. You accepted Ichigo easily enough why can't you accept him?" most looked away or muttered sorrys.

"Kurosaki is different!"

"How am I different exactly?" he asked coming up next to Grimmjow and resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I came and messed you guys up bad just to get Rukia back. The only people Grimmjow attacked were me and Rukia, the rest he left alone. Both of us have forgiven him, the fact that you can't even when he did nothing to you is petty and childish. And well, just rude so grow up I'm sure most of you are minimum 100 years old you aren't toddlers so stop acting like it." at that the rest turned their heads sheepishly back to their food. "Let's get something to eat I'm starving." he walked to the food. Grimmjow followed after his stomach gave a growl making Clair and Phoenix laugh.

They sat with the other guardians and ate talking about random stuff. "So snake are you ever going to learn not to drink so much of something that strong?" Tora asked the hungover serpent.

"Shhhut up..." It groaned making them laugh. "It's your own fault. I told you not to." Yue said eating unworried.

Yoruichi came in just as they were finishing. "So you guys ready to train some people?"

"Huh? Oh sure where we going?"

"This way, you'll be starting with squad six members. Byakuya already has them out on the training field." she told them leading the six of them away from the eighth to the sixth. "Here we are. They're all yours."

"Goodie. Alright um...Phoenix?" Clair said turning to look at him when everyone in the training area looked at her. He chuckled and stepped forward.

"Alright there's a few things you need to remember when fighting these Shadows. First do try not to fight angry or out of fear. These things like negative emotion, they will feed on it and use it against you. They may also try to use that emotion and turn you on each other. You do not want to give that kind of opening once they get a hold of you it's very hard to get them to let go. Questions? Yes?" he asked one that rose his hand.

"Um what kind of weapons do they use?"

"Good question, answer is anything they damn well please. Like us they can change what they use. Meaning they could go from a scythe," brought out his own, "to a sword," it changed, "to a gun of they wanted." it once more changed and many wide eyes could be seen. "That's why you will be practicing against us. We can and will change weapons on you for this training. It will be random in time and weaponry, so be prepared for anything."

"It's best as well to work in groups which I should hope you are familiar with." Ryu spoke up "for now let's do groups of...three. Ichigo, Grimmjow you two can do your own thing over there somewhere, or join in with one of the groups." they decided to join in with the groups. Renji and Byakuya also joined in each going to a different group. "For now stay with your sealed sword till you absolutely can't fight without releasing it. And you two there with Grimmjow, I see you giving him the stink eye careful or Clair will rip you a new one." they both swallowed visibly and Grimmjow sighed rolling his eyes.

"Now we can obviously only work with five groups of three at a time so who's first?" Tora asked moving to one area a group came over to her. The other four also spread out groups going to them as well. "Alright shall we begin?" she asked not even finishing her own words before attacking. The others doing the same.

Grimmjow, Ichigo, and Byakyu's groups were not fighting yet so they were watching Renji and his two fight Phoenix. Ryu had switched his serpent sword into a straight up whip after only a minute. Tora waited a bit longer before changing to use claw hooks (think wolverine) and Clair hadn't even started with her bow instead bringing out two guns similar to Starks resurrection. After four minutes she switched to twin broad swords. They went for a good hour long before taking a break the groups going to the sides to rest as Hanatoro, there on order from Unohana, brought water out to the five. After a fifteen minute break the next five groups went out one being Ichigo's he ended up facing Yue. They continued on this schedule till all the groups had gone.

"Should we make the groups bigger?" Byakuya asked.

"Yes let's make it ten vs. two, Clair can you handle like seven on your own?" Phoenix asked.

"Why not I'll just make like a ninja and create a rock clone." She chuckled.

"Huh?" Ichigo asked dumbly.

"She means she's going to in a way split her elements making it so she's kind of like Yue, one being light and one being earth. She can't do it for very long but long enough to fight for a good bit." Phoenix explained as Clair split herself she sort of shimmered then the more earthy colors left her and a duplicate in those colors appeared next to her. Looking almost exactly the same but the hair was an earth brown and the clothing burnt oranges and tans and such. Both still had purple eyes and golden dragon tails though the copies was slightly darker.

"That is so weird." Both smirked at Ichigo, the copy stretching a bit testing its movment.

"It's weird to feel then to see I assure you." Clair said "let's do this then. I can only hold it for so long." the copy stayed quite but nodded bouncing slightly but staying on the ground as it flexed its hands warming them up.

"Can that one not talk?" it shook its head.

"Not really no, like Phoenix said this is only sort of what Yue does. Now let's go who are the seven I'm going against?" she asked impatiently. Seven came over to her and they started. After the hour she quickly re-merged with herself and sat down "I'm going to need more than fifteen minutes." She panted a good bit.

"I take it that is for emergencies only?" Byakuya asked and she nodded still panting a bit. "Does it really take that much out of you?"

"You try splitting your soul in half and holding it for an hour while fighting! Let's see how tired you are afterwards!" she snapped. "It doesn't help that I am constantly trying to go back into one being so I have to concentrate on keeping myself separate." she added with a mumble. "It's a lot of work."

"How did you even figure out you could do that?" Urahara asked, he had been watching for awhile along with a good many people from other squads.

"I needed to be in two places at once in order to save two sets of people. It just sorta happened." she shrugged. "Long time ago, that was like...I think that was before we started being born as humans."

"Correct." Ryu said handing her some chocolate which she gladly took and scarffed down. The four took the next few groups of ten while Clair rested. Then she joined in again splitting herself once more. At lunch Unohana showed up demanding in her Unohana way that everyone stop and eat for their health. After lunch Clair and the others went to the second squad where Yoruichi and Soi Fon were waiting. Phoenix told them roughly the same thing he had told squad six and the began training till dinner when they were once more stopped and told to eat then relax till they went to bed.

Clair let herself fall on a couch with a loud sigh, "I'm so tired..." She yawned. "We did a lot today didn't we?"

"Yeah, Yoruichi said we'd be going to the fifth and eleventh tomorrow." Tora said laying out on the floor and stretching. "I don't get why we don't just do them in order, you know one through thirteen."

"I guess it just depends on who's ready and who isn't. Kenpachi wanted to do the training today but didn't have most of his squad since they were out patrolling. So unless we want him throwing a tantrum we train with the eleventh tomorrow." Phoenix sighed sitting in a comfy chair. "I'm honestly not looking forward to trying to explain to Kenpachi he can't fight the way he usually does...let alone fighting with him. I don't care how strong I am he's crazy."

"I understand completely." Ichigo agreed also sitting in a chair he gave a slight 'oof' when Tora got up off the floor and plopped herself down in his lap. "At least tell me we don't have to deal with him in the morning?"

"No we get Shinji in the morning."

"Ugh that means dealing with Momo..." Clair whined.

"Try to be nice." Phoenix chided. She just waved him off moving so Grimmjow could sit down on the couch and used his lap as a pillow. "At least we have a basic schedule now though. But I think it would be best if you don't split yourself while at the eleventh."

"I was thinking the same thing." Clair agreed yawning again "I'mma fall asleep right here, g'night." she made herself more comfy and closed her eyes still using Grimmjow's legs as a pillow.

"What about me?" she shrugged uncaring. "Let me get more comfortable at least." she let him shift and they both dozed off.

"And we've lost them." Ryu chuckled. "So today was...fun?"

"I liked the party better. Less work." Tora mumbled cuddling up to Ichigo like the giant cat she is.

"Lazy kitty." he chuckled petting her head. "It was interesting working in groups with the shinigami though, I've never really done that. I kinda like fighting on my own better though, even if teamwork is safer."

"Yeah but teamwork doesn't have to come from being right next to each other. We fight as a team without being up in each other's business." Ryu pointed out.

"True. But these guys fight like that, they all stay really close, I feel nearly claustrophobic when I fight in groups with them like that." Ichigo sighed letting his head fall onto the back of his chair. "Ah~ I'm about to fall asleep too." Tora mumbled her agreement. Eventually the whole group was fast asleep, Phoenix had actually found a bed and Yue and Ryu had curled up in the floor next to each other. Tomorrow they would deal with the next two squads.

()()()()

The end, of the chapter at least that would be rather mean of me to just stop the story right here. But don't worry that's not what I'm doing, I plan on getting the whole way to the end…wherever that may be, and how ever long it takes. I honestly don't know I'm still amazed that I got this far, when I started, and I think I said this before, I didn't think it would be a very long story and here we are at the end of chapter 25. I say thanks to all of you who have stayed with me, and those who review especially Sceahime who has reviewed pretty much every chapter. (unlike others who have left me hanging, Sceahime is the only one who seems to be reviewing anymore) So thank you, thank you, thank you!

Please, please, please tell me things, whatever is on your mind while you read this fiction, did you laugh, did you groan, did like it, did you not, was there something that you didn't understand, was there something you thought should have been done differently? I want to know what you think, I'm not a mind reader so you have to type it out for me.