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Chapter 36: Espada

Ichigo was exhausted. The battle against the blue haired Espada Grimmjow had been going in his favour initially, thanks to his Hollow Mask. He'd dominated against him, easily knocking him about.

But then his 11 seconds were up.

The battle had immediately been turned against him, and Grimmjow had beaten the shit out of him. Now he was on the ground, next to the frozen Arrancar, while Rukia tried pulling the Zanpakuto out that had impaled his hand and stuck him to the ground. However, it was wedged tightly into the ground, and the small Shinigami was having issues removing it without damaging his hand.

Then Grimmjow's large hand smashed through the ice and encased Rukia's head. The ice shattered around his upper body, and he smirked at the horrified woman. His hand began to glow red with a cero; the heat of it scorching Rukia and searing dread into both her and Ichigo. A Cero at point blank range like that would leave nothing behind.

"Rukia!" Ichigo screamed, unable to move. His body was beaten and even if Grimmjow's Zanpakuto hadn't been wedged in his hand, he wouldn't have had the energy to stop the Arrancar, and Grimmjow knew it. He gave a vicious laugh, looking delighted at the idea.

Neither Rukia nor Ichigo knew what to do.

So when Kirara appeared beside Grimmjow, earning his attention, they were stunned. Her foot slammed up, and Grimmjow's arm snapped upwards. The force, and surprise of the attack, negated the Cero, and Kirara turned, kicking out with her other leg and slamming him in the gut. Grimmjow was thrown backwards into a building, smashing through the wall.

Rukia sank to the ground, gasping for breath as tears ran down her face. A small burn lined the side of her face, a reminder of what could have been much worse.

"What the hell?!" Grimmjow emerged from the rubble, glaring at Kirara as she stared him down with an impassive face. "Who the hell are you? Are you here to try and fight me too?" he asked, smirking. He leapt over, landing nearby as Kirara didn't react.

"Kirara..." Ichigo whispered in alarm.

"Well?!" Grimmjow demanded, impatient.

"No, I'm not here to fight you," Kirara shrugged suddenly, looking bored. "That's his job," she indicated up, and Grimmjow looked around.

"Man…I really didn't wanna get involved with any Shinigami fights. Whatever," Shinji landed on the roof, his Zanpakto over his shoulder. "With a rumble going on so close by, there's no way I could ignore it," Ichigo stared up at him in surprise.

"What's with you? You his friend?" Grimmjow questioned, his eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, right," Shinji scoffed.

"Then what?"

"It doesn't really matter."

"True enough," Grimmjow agreed, shooting past Kirara. He yanked his Zanpakto from Ichigo's hand, and the boy cried out in pain as blood spurted from the wound. "Whoever you are doesn't change the fact that I'm gonna kill you!" Grimmjow yelled as he leapt at Shinji.

"He just has to make an entrance," Kirara rolled her eyes as Shinji easily dodged Grimmjow's attacks.

"Kirara...what are you doing here?" Ichigo asked, his voice weak.

"This is why we told you not to go, Ichigo," Kirara turned to him, resting her hands on her hips as she took in his beaten appearance. "You weren't ready to take on this guy," she shook her head. Glancing back up, she watched as Shinji summoned his Mask and began to dominate against Grimmjow instead of just taunting him. Her hand raised to her chest as her jaw clenched. 'He's going to pay for this,' she vowed to herself.

'Do not let your anger cloud you Kirara. You dwell on the past too much and it will blind you to the future,' Kokoro no Kage told her.

'I know...I just hate it...' Kirara gave an audible sigh.

'I know,' Kokoro no Kage replied in a soft voice.

"Kirara?" she glanced around to Rukia, who looked puzzled. She was staring at the stranger, who was dressed in human clothes but carried a Zanpakuto on her back. Her long hair still had a few inches coloured white, but was mostly black, and her blue eyes reminded her of Hanataro, only colder. It stunned her to realise that this was the same girl that she'd been in a class with for several months. The same girl who'd run off with Orihime suddenly. "I know that name...you're the one that Renji and the others met in school! They were looking for you!" she exclaimed. Ichigo frowned, tearing his eyes from the sky battle to them.

"What? Why were they looking for you Kirara? Do they know you?" he asked her curiously. She watched the two Shinigami on the ground for a moment, before looking away.

"Can you two just shut up and watch? You got beaten by a guy not using any strength at all," she muttered in a low voice, not caring to answer their question. In the air above, Grimmjow jerked back suddenly, taken by surprise as both Ichigo and Rukia inhaled in shock, watching as red light formed by Shinji's closed fist.

"That's a..." Rukia whispered. "A Cero..." she realised. It exploded out, and Grimmjow crashed to the ground hard enough to leave a small crater and bring up a cloud of dust. As it cleared to reveal the badly beaten Arrancar spitting up blood, Shinji landed nearby.

"You decreased the amount of damage you took by ramming your own Cero against mine, huh?" he commented, having noticed Grimmjow's actions. "Not bad," he nodded, sounding slightly impressed. Grimmjow looked up at him, glaring darkly, before tightening his grip on his Zanpakto and leaping to his feet.

"Now Grind!" his Zanpakuto began to glow blue, taking everyone by surprise. However, before he could release it, a hand gripped Grimmjow by the wrist, stopping him dead. Kirara had her Zanpakuto drawn in an instant, standing beside Shinji as Grimmjow looked around in alarm.

The newcomer was another Arrancar, whose Mask was on his head like half of a helmet, covering most of his black hair. Cold teal eyes were on Grimmjow, and his Zanpakuto rested in his obi. He radiated power, enough to raise the hairs on the back of Kirara's neck without even trying.

"Ulquiorra," Grimmjow growled with obvious distaste.

"The mission's completed," Ulquiorra told him. "We're going back," the crack appeared in the sky, and light hit the two Arrancar. They began to move up towards the blackness inside the crack, with Grimmjow glaring hatefully at Shinji, while Ulquiorra's eyes didn't move from Ichigo. Once they disappeared inside the crack slammed shut, Kirara sighed, sheathing her Zanpakuto and resting her hand on her hip.

"Now that made no sense," she commented.

"You're telling me," Shinji muttered, lifting a hand to his Mask. It disappeared; white fragments floating off before vanishing. "He wasn't fighting with any strength at all. And that other Arrancar was far more powerful. It's almost like it was..."

"A diversion," Kirara finished, a bad feeling gnawing at her stomach. Shinji gave a slight nod to show he agreed.

"Ichigo!" they glanced around at Rukia's cry, and found the Shinigami at Ichigo's side. He had slumped over, unconscious, finally succumbing to his beating. Kirara blinked, and glanced to Shinji.

"Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who carries him back?" she offered with a weak grin.

Nobody spoke as Hachi sat over Ichigo, his glowing hands working to heal the badly beaten boy. The air was tense, not only because of the Shinigami waiting outside, but because of the events of the afternoon.

Kirara sat on a crate nearby, resting her hands on her ankles, watching Hachi perform his healing kidos with expert precision. However, it was taking a long time, and it was putting them all on edge.

'Why?' Kirara wondered to herself. 'Those Arrancar, they weren't fighting to destroy. The blue haired one...he might have put some effort in, but the other one didn't even consider fighting us,' she thought to herself, and scratched at her head, causing some of her hair to fall from its tie. 'The mission's completed...what did he mean? Why did they show up in town? What is Sosuke after?' Kirara put both her hands to her head as she became more frustrated with the lack of answers. Soundlessly, she kept messing up her hair as she thought all of it over. They'd sensed more of the Arrancar fighting the rest of the Shinigami in town, interrupted by Kisuke. 'He has the Hogyoku. He has enough Arrancar at his disposal to easily wipe out the Shinigami in town if they wanted to. So what does he want?' Kirara's frustrated thoughts were interrupted when Shinji put his hand on hers, stopping her from messing with her hair even more.

Wordlessly, he took a seat beside her, keeping one of her hands in his. Kirara watched him for a moment as he kept his expression neutral, watching Hachi working, and she gave a small smile, letting her other hand fall to her side. Her gaze returned to Ichigo, who hadn't woken since they'd brought him back to the Warehouse, and she gave a soft sigh. She stood, pulling her hand free of Shinji's, before turning and walking to the entrance as he glanced at her.

Stepping out of the barrier, Kirara came face to face with Rukia, who looked startled to see her emerge. The Shinigami had been standing by the barrier, the burn on the side of her face still apparent.

"Ichigo...is he?"

"Still being healed," Kirara replied shortly, walking past Rukia.

"Who are you people? What is Ichigo doing with you?" the violet-eyed Shinigami turned, following Kirara away from the barrier.

"If Ichigo wanted to tell you that, he would," Kirara jumped up onto a small wall, walking along. "You should take care of that burn," she added, and Rukia touched her fingers to it, as if she'd forgotten it was there.

"Renji said your name's Kirara Yamada, and that you were once a Lieutenant in the Gotei 13. Is that true?" she asked, watching as Kirara walked along the wall, her eyes lifting to the sky.

"Once upon a time, maybe," Kirara's vague answer made Rukia frown, irritated.

"Are you going to answer any of my questions?" she demanded loudly, and Kirara glanced to her. She watched Rukia for a moment, before laughing.

"You kinda remind me of Byakuya," Rukia froze at the mention of her adoptive brother. "Trying to be prim and proper, but there's a temper under there," she chuckled, looking back up at the sky. "All it takes is to push the right buttons. I might answer your questions, Kuchiki, if you start asking the right ones," Kirara told her, her hands behind her back.

"Then...why are you out here? If you're not going to answer me?" Rukia asked her, confused.

"That is the right question," Kirara nodded, turning to her. "See, I don't trust you Shinigami. I don't like that you're here so close to my family. I'm here to keep an eye on you," she told Rukia with a pleasant smile that made the woman shiver. It was threatening, and put Rukia on edge.

"So what? I don't tell the others where you are?" she asked.

"Now you're getting it," Kirara nodded.

"You have a Zanpakuto. That makes you a Shinigami. How can you not trust us?" Rukia asked.

"Oh? Having a Zanpakuto makes you a Shinigami, does it?" Kirara tilted her head. Rukia nodded. "Then does that mean that Arrancar are Shinigami too?" she asked, and Rukia paused.

"That's different! They're Hollows who acquired the powers of a Shinigami!" she argued. Kirara just gave a small laugh, looking away again. "So what? You're an Arrancar?" Rukia demanded.

"I never said that," Kirara hummed.

"You're really irritating," Rukia muttered under her breath, but Kirara heard her, and smirked.

"So everyone tells me," she told Rukia. The Shinigami wasn't surprised at all.

"You were in school with Ichigo before. I remember you," Rukia accused her. Kirara scratched her head, and realised how much of her hair had fallen from its ponytail. Undoing the ribbon, she let her hair fall down around her. "What were you doing there?" she asked as she watched the strange woman.

"Well I was a student, I was there to learn," Kirara glanced around at her with an innocent expression. Rukia's fists clenched. She was getting really tired of Kirara's refusal to answer her questions. Kirara smirked at her expression, before leaping over her head. Rukia spun around, ready to shout at her again, but stopped when she saw the group Kirara had landed beside.

She recognised one, other than Kirara, as the man who had fought off Grimmjow with a Hollow Mask and Hollow-like powers. But other than them, she had no idea. They were a group of strangers, most of whom were carrying Zanpakuto as well. In the hands of the largest of the group; a massive man with pink hair and a green suit, was Ichigo, bandaged in his human body and still unconscious.

"This is the best I can do," Hachi announced gravely as he set the unconscious boy to the ground in front of Rukia. "My ability isn't exactly healing, but a type of time-reversal. In order to use the technique correctly, I must have precise knowledge of what to reverse," Rukia's eyes didn't leave Ichigo as Hachi voiced his explanation. Kirara tilted her head slightly, finding herself less uneasy with the Shinigami there, with the expression on her face. It was too pathetic to take her seriously. "Right now, Ichigo's Reiatsu and the Reiatsu absorbed from the Arrancar's attacks have melted together in his wounds. In order to get him through this as quickly as possible, it's important that we separate him from people like ourselves, who have similar Reiatsu type as Hollows," she barely even seemed to register Hachi's words. "Please take him home and let him rest. That's the best thing for him right now," Rukia gave a slight nod.

"Yes. I understand," she managed to pull Ichigo up, and disappeared. With a sigh, Kirara rolled her eyes and walked back inside, passing through the barrier and making it ripple.

"Do you think Ichigo will be okay?" Mashiro asked as she walked in with Kensei and Lisa.

"Who knows?" Lisa shrugged.

"I knew it was too soon for him to go out there. He should have left it to the Shinigami in town," Kensei snorted, shaking his head.

"Kuchiki didn't stand a chance against that guy either. He almost blew her head off with a Cero," Kirara called over, pulling her leg up behind her to rub it. While the Arrancar had been a little on the lean side, he was well built, and Kirara's kick to stop his Cero hadn't gone without consequences.

"I told you not to do it," Shinji muttered, passing her.

"You're not the only one who likes an entrance," Kirara called after him. She stuck her tongue out at his retreating back, and he glanced back as if sensing it, and did the same to her.

"I still think you should have left them to it. It's Shinigami problems," Hiyori muttered. Kirara glanced to her, slowly lowering her leg back down.

"Not any more Hiyori," she spoke softly, looking away. "You know that isn't true," Hiyori scowled, but didn't argue.

"I wonder if Ichigo will come back to train more," Mashiro wondered as she sat down, swinging her legs and bouncing them against the sofa. Nobody answered her. None of them knew the answer.

Spotting the glinting metal out of the corner of her eye, Kirara dodged the blade by dropping down, and pushing backwards. She then pushed back up, swinging her own blade down. Shinji raised his Zanpakuto, blocking her strike. Kirara kicked out, but he leapt backwards to dodge it, easily moving out of her reach.

"Hey, Hirako," Kirara spoke softly as she followed him. He went to block her attack, only for Kirara to disappear. He turned, dodging her attack as she rushed at his side.

"Yes, Yamada?" his voice was just as low as he swung at her. Kirara dodged, leaping over his head, and after a moment he felt the cold bite of metal press to his throat.

"I hate when you hold back, asshole," she murmured in his ear. She lowered her Zanpakuto, wrapping her arm around his neck instead. "We're supposed to be training, not playing here," Kirara complained as he leaned his head back against her neck.

"Oh yeah?" Shinji asked softly, his hand reaching up to touch her arm. He moved quickly, grabbing her arm. Kirara gave a startled cry when he suddenly flipped her over his head, and twisted her arm up behind her, pressing it into her back. His Zanpakuto came up her front, stopping her from moving. "Then why are you holding back, Princess?" he whispered.

"Felt like making it a little easier for you," she replied with a small smirk.

"Oh?" Shinji rested his chin on her shoulder. "How kind of you," he said, before releasing her. Kirara immediately turned, not completely out of his embrace. He barely managed to catch her punch before it connected with his stomach. "Now that's playing dirty," he commented, pushing her back. Kirara just stuck out her tongue, raising her Zanpakuto again. They continued sparring, until Kirara got in close. As she went to strike him, his arm looped around her waist and pulled her into him.

"Hey!" Kirara exclaimed, struggling in his grip until her feet touched the ground. "You jerk," she complained, thumping his chest with her closed fist, as Shinji gave a small laugh.

"You started it," he murmured, loosening his grip to kiss her softly. Kirara dropped her Zanpakuto to the ground and wrapped her arms around him as he lowered his own, keeping her close.

"So much for training," Kirara murmured when she pulled away, and he didn't loosen his grip on her.

"This is more fun anyway," Shinji replied, making her grin. She couldn't deny that.

"Hey Shinji," her voice was quiet as he kissed the corner of her mouth gently.

"Huh?" he didn't pull back as he trailed his mouth along her jaw. Kirara shivered at the motion.

"I-"

"Shinji!" Mashiro's call made him sigh, half tempted to ignore her. However, Kirara let go of him, kissing him quickly before stepping back as Mashiro ran up, smiling her innocent smile. "This was on the ground outside!" she declared, waving a small bag in the air.

"What is it?" Shinji frowned at her as Kirara lifted her fallen Zanpakuto, ignoring the irritated hum in the back of her head.

"I have no idea!" Mashiro smiled back at him.

"Don't pick up things if you don't know what they are!" Shinji scolded in his disbelief, staring at her. Kirara gave a small laugh, standing up.

"Don't be mean to Mashiro," she told him, elbowing him.

"Yeah Shinji, big jerk!" the green-haired Vizard giggled. Shinji rolled his eyes at the pair. "It was just sitting there all alone, right in front of our place! I had to pick it up!" Mashiro explained as she handed over the bag and Shinji opened it.

"Bandages?" he frowned when he found several rolls inside.

"They're the ones Hachi used on Ichigo," Kirara realised as she peeked around him. Mashiro chattered at them, bombarding them with questions as neither paid her any heed.

"Why would he go through the trouble to send this?" Shinji wondered, before spotting a piece of paper hidden with the bandages. He lifted it out, and they found that it was a note that simply said 'thanks'. His grey eyes narrowed. "That guy's an idiot," he sighed.

"I could have told you that," Kirara hummed. "Hey, Mashiro," she finally turned to the green-haired woman. "They're Ichigo's bandages, that he's giving us back, because he's done training with us. Now please, stop," she pleaded with her.

"But why isn't he coming back?" Mashiro pouted at her.

"If he's not coming back, then he mustn't feel like training here will serve him any further purpose, not with decent short-term rewards," Kirara explained slowly.

"Oh..." Mashiro blinked, and then smiled brightly. "Okay!" she then bounced off, and Kirara sighed.

"I'm exhausted..." she put a hand to her head. Shinji chuckled, ruffling her hair.

"You've got too much running around that head of yours," he told her, and when she turned to frown at him, he poked her forehead.

"I can't help it. Nothing is making sense right now. The Arrancar were here on some sort of mission that wasn't to wipe out the Shinigami or Ichigo. Shinji, they've done something, and I'm starting to get the feeling that that's the reason why Ichigo's not coming back here," Kirara admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.

"You're probably right," Shinji agreed. "But there's not much we can do about it at the minute until Sosuke shows his hand. So, let's get some sleep," he suggested. Kirara sighed.

"Fine, I guess you're right," she rolled her eyes.

"Kirara..." he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Of course I'm right," he smirked at her, making Kirara roll her eyes again.

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