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Chapter 37: Showing His Hand

"It's getting colder," Kirara mused as a cold front blew past, making her shiver. Goosebumps popped up on her legs, and her arms were spared only because of the black hoody she wore open over her shirt. After Ichigo had shredded her jacket, she'd taken to wearing a spare hoody. It was a little big on her, covering her hands except for the tips of her fingers.

It had been two days since the Arrancar had attacked and suddenly left, and they were still no closer to figuring out what had happened. All of the Shinigami – minus the useless one on patrol – had suddenly left the previous morning, which only left them with more questions.

"I suppose it is almost Winter at this point..." Rose commented softly as he brushed his hair from his face. The wind picked up again, knocking it back across his face, and he frowned as he brushed it away again.

"Urgh. Don't remind me," Kirara sighed. "I'll have to start wearing shoes soon if it snows," she complained. Rose gave a small smile in response to her words. It never failed to amuse him, how much Kirara disliked wearing shoes. "But that's not the only thing..." Kirara's voice was quiet, her smile worried. Rose glanced down at the woman, whose gaze was on the ground as they walked through town on their way back to the Warehouse.

"Everything will work out as it should," Rose patted her head. His voice was quiet too, betraying his own worry. The Winter War was growing ever closer.

"Of course it will!" Kirara lifted her head, her smile bright again. "It's gonna be tough though," she added.

"Nobody said battles were anything but. You know that well, Kirara," Rose patted her head again.

"Yeah yeah, I do. I just want Sosuke to pay, y'know?" Kirara shrugged. Rose nodded in agreement. That was something they all agreed on.

"Kirara!" she looked around in surprise at the familiar call. Standing nearby, were Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro, all still in their uniforms as they looked as surprised to see her as she was them. "Where have you been? You've been missing even longer than Ichigo!" Tatsuki exclaimed.

"Kirara!" Keigo sniffed, and she rolled her eyes. Seemed he was just as clingy as ever.

"Friends of yours, Kirara?" Rose asked her in amusement, glancing from the three, to his friend. Kirara gave a small sigh, and nodded.

"What are you guys doing out here?" she asked them curiously.

"We're following Ichigo," Keigo answered, and Tatsuki elbowed him. Kirara smiled very slightly.

"Hey Rose, you can go on ahead," she told the blond.

"Okay...but be careful Kirara," he told her softly, walking on.

"I'm always careful!" Kirara called back over her shoulder at him. Rose gave a small laugh.

"I know a few others who would disagree with that statement," he replied. Kirara grinned, before returning her attention to the three humans in front of her. They were watching her with looks that were equal parts curious and wary.

"So why are you following Ichigo?" she asked as Rose disappeared around the corner. The three exchanged looks.

"What was going on with you and Orihime before you left?" Tatsuki asked her in a challenging voice.

"And who were those guys who knew you before?" Keigo added in.

"And what are you hiding?" Mizuiro piped up. Kirara gave another laugh, raising her hands in defence. She had to admit, they amused her.

"I could answer your questions, or you could catch up with Ichigo?" she suggested, and Tatsuki immediately turned her head.

"Come on guys," Tatsuki decided, and they hurried off. Kirara followed, realising that they were tracking his Reiatsu.

"I was to keep an eye on Ichigo in school," she finally decided to say while they walked.

"Why?" Keigo frowned at her, baffled.

"For the same reason you three can tell where he is," Kirara answered with a shrug. "He has a lot of power, and the talent of a rock when it comes to controlling it. So I was keeping an eye on him," she explained. "Orihime found out, and wanted to know more than I could tell her," she added shortly. Tatsuki frowned, folding her arms, but seemed to accept the explanation. It definitely explained a lot about Kirara. "So why are you following Ichigo to...Kisuke's?" Kirara realised as she felt the uncontrolled Reiatsu heading to Kisuke's store.

"Orihime's missing," Tatsuki's abrupt statement made Kirara stop. "She disappeared two days ago, and I haven't been able to find her anywhere. Ichigo knows something, and I'm going to find out what," she vowed. Kirara didn't answer, still following them as she fell deep in thought.

'Orihime's been missing since the Arrancar showed up. I thought she'd gone to the Soul Society with Kuchiki...this is making less and less sense by the minute,' she thought to herself, and they reached the Urahara shop, peering around. They spotted Ichigo, in his Shinigami garb, and as he walked up to the door, he greeted by Kisuke. The four ducked back behind the wall quickly. Ichigo and Kisuke disappeared inside, and the four peeked back out.

"Ichigo...it was him, right?" Keigo asked nervously.

"Definitely," Mizuiro nodded in confirmation. Kirara leaned against the wall, her eyes on the door to the store, which had been left ajar.

"You'd recognise that hair anywhere," she snickered.

"I don't get it...what could he be doing here at Urahara's shop?" Keigo voiced his confusion.

"That's the only reason why we're here, isn't it? To find out exactly what's going on," Mizuiro looked up at him, before glancing to Kirara. "You said a name. Do you know the owner of this shop?" he asked her, his dark eyes on her. Kirara's gaze slid to him, and watched the perceptive boy.

"Hmm...maybe," she shrugged. Mizuiro rolled his eyes, and looked back at Keigo. "Well?" he asked expectantly.

"Well? Listen to you! What are you saying?" Keigo stared blankly down at him. "You're the one who brought this up in the first place! We followed Ichigo all the way here!" he complained, and both looked to Tatsuki, who hadn't looked away from the shop.

"What do you think we should do?" Mizuiro asked her. Tatsuki just looked away.

"Tell us Tatsuki! What should we do?" Keigo whined at her, and Tatsuki punched him.

"You talk too much!" she snapped as he fell to the ground. "We're definitely going in there!" she declared. Keigo gave a laugh from the ground, changing suddenly.

"Now you're starting to act like yourself," he smirked, and Tatsuki jolted, going red. She looked around when Kirara clapped a hand to her shoulder.

"For once the idiot's right," she grinned, and Keigo let out a cry. Mizuiro gave a small smile. "You don't need to worry so much. Come on," she walked past them, and they watched her for a moment. "Well? What are you waiting for?" she called over her shoulder, sliding the door open.

"H-hey! Wait up!" Keigo jogged after her, followed by the other two. Kirara glanced around as she stepped inside.

"Nobody's about...not even Tessai, Ururu or the brat...and that damn cat is nowhere to be found either," Kirara murmured, looking around. She could sense everyone below, including Chad and Uryu, and her curiosity grew. They walked through the shop and to the back, where another door lay open to reveal an open trapdoor. She gave a small chuckle. "Kisuke, you're one devious bastard," she murmured. "So, who's first?" she glanced over her shoulder to the startled three.

"Me," Tatsuki narrowed her eyes in determination, and Kirara's grin widened. She stepped aside, allowing Tatsuki to begin climbing down the ladder.

"You're not reacting at all..." Mizuiro commented as Keigo went down next, looking excited. "You said you were keeping an eye on Ichigo because of that presence he has. Why?" he asked. Kirara, who was looking around as she remembered the last time she had been in the back of the shop – when Kisuke had warned her about Sosuke and Ichigo's Inner Hollow – didn't look at him.

"How long have you been able to see ghosts?" he jumped, his eyes going wide in shock at her soft question. "Since Rukia showed up in town and Ichigo's presence became stronger, I bet," Kirara finally looked at him with a gentle smile. "There's so much going on, and not all of it is my story to tell. I'm far too arrogant to tell another person's story," Kirara told him. "So get going, or you'll miss the show," she told him.

"Kirara..." Mizuiro's voice was quiet as he stared at her, before giving a small laugh. "You know, if you were older, I might have actually liked you," he told her, and Kirara started to laugh.

"Oh Mizuiro," she let her head fall to the side. "You have no idea," she smiled.

Once the four were at the bottom, with Kirara still smiling in her amusement, they ducked behind a large rock, peeking out to see Ichigo standing with Chad and Uryu, with Kisuke standing on a pillar above them.

"Alright boys, the time has come!" Kisuke's voice echoed as he looked down. "I shall now open the path to Hueco Mundo!" his announcement killed Kirara's amusement, and she sank to the ground.

"No...not there," she whispered, her heart beginning to hammer against her chest. "Why would they go there of all places?" she looked up again.

"Kirara? What's wrong?" Keigo noticed her reaction. "You're really pale," he commented. Kirara didn't answer as everything made even less sense to her.

"The rest of you better stand back a little bit!" Kisuke continued on. "It's pretty dangerous here!" he ordered, and Tessai, Ururu and Jinta moved backwards. A small wind began to pick up as power filled the underground training area, and Kirara managed to stand to continue watching with the others. A hole appeared in the sky above the three teens waiting. "This hole that the Hollows come and go through is known as the Garganta! There is no solid ground beyond this point. Only a chaos of Reishi," Kisuke explained. "Each of you must create his own path out of that Reishi. Go toward the darkness, and you will arrive in Hueco Mundo," he instructed.

"Alright, fine. Kisuke!" the man looked down as Ichigo called him. "Can you let my family know that I'm alright? I want you to tell them not to worry, that I can take care of myself," Ichigo requested.

"Yes, of course I will," Kisuke nodded. "And what about your friends?" he asked, and the three humans beside Kirara exchanged looks.

"When I come back home...I'll apologise to them," Ichigo decided.

"Alright then. Good," Kisuke nodded. The three then leapt into the air, and shot through the Garganta, which closed after them. "There they go...why don't you four come out now?" he called suddenly. Slowly, Tatsuki, Mizuiro and Keigo emerged from their hiding spot, looking sheepish. "I said four, Kirara," he called again. Kirara stood, giving a small laugh. "I see you still like spying on things that aren't really to do with you," he commented, and she blushed slightly.

"Hey, what can I say? I'm curious," she grinned.

"So how long did you know we were here?" Keigo asked with a nervous laugh.

"Yes, how long did I know Kirara?" Urahara called, his back to them.

"I'm guessing from the moment we stepped onto the shop grounds," Kirara leaned on the rock in front of her. "Why else would you leave the front door to the shop open, let alone the entrance to your underground training area?" she asked with a grin.

"Kirara, you knew this whole time?" Keigo looked up at her. "And he knew the whole time?" both just shrugged. "Who are you people?" he wailed.

"Just a humble shop-keep, and a humble schoolgirl," Kirara smiled innocently at him.

"Oh come on!" Keigo shrieked as he leapt to his feet. "A giant hole just appeared in the sky and Ichigo, Chad and Uryu just jumped inside! What's going on!" he wailed. Kirara gave a small chuckle, glancing to Kisuke as he smiled slightly, putting a hand to his hat to hide his face.

"Ichigo...I can't believe how naïve that boy can be. He thinks that friendship is a thing which you can end just by being cold to everyone..." Kisuke mused.

"So Kisuke, are you going to explain what's going on?" Kirara jumped up onto the rock, her arms folded. "Just why the hell did you let Ichigo, the big guy and the Quincy go to Hueco Mundo of all places?" she demanded, and Kisuke turned back to her. "That's where..." Kirara looked away, giving a soft sigh, before looking back up. "He wasn't ready," she told him. Kisuke didn't respond immediately, but instead stepped off the pillar. Tatsuki, Mizuiro and Keigo gave alarmed shouts, but the shopkeeper moved down towards them as if descending down steps.

"The Arrancar that attacked the other day. They weren't there to destroy," Kisuke said in a low voice, turning serious.

"That much I know," Kirara nodded, her arms folded. "It was a diversion. The blue-haired one was going to release his Zanpakuto, but another stopped him, saying the mission was complete," she told him. Kisuke turned away.

"That mission was to capture Orihime Inoue and take her to Hueco Mundo," his soft words stunned all four.

"What are you talking about?" he turned around as Tatsuki leapt at him. She yanked him forwards as her hands fisted in his robes, shaking him slightly. "What happened to Orihime? Start talking in ways we can all understand!" she yelled at him, tears in her eyes. Kirara put a gentle hand on her shoulder, and Tatsuki let him go slowly. Kirara looked up to Kisuke, whose eyes were on the ground.

"Kisuke...as much as I hate to tell someone else's story, I think they need to know," she said softly.

"You're right," Kisuke nodded.

"So Ichigo's a Shinigami with major power, Uryu's a Quincy who's supposed to be mortal enemies with Shinigami, and Chad and Orihime have magical powers?" Keigo summed up what Kisuke had explained to them. The three of Ichigo's friends sat on the ground as Kisuke spoke, and Kirara stood on a rock nearby, interjecting occasionally with what she knew.

"And this super evil guy has taken Orihime captive, so Ichigo and the others have gone to save her?" Tatsuki continued.

"And this is all leading up to a war that's supposed to happen in the winter, against the rest of the Shinigami who live in another world and use their power to defeat monsters called Hollows and send spirits to the other side?" Mizuiro finished.

"Yep!" Kisuke nodded, waving his fan in his face.

"Where do you come into all of this?" Mizuiro asked.

"I'm just a humble shop-keep who likes to help out now and again!" Urahara waved his fan in his face.

"You're as bad as her..." Mizuiro grumbled, glancing to Kirara, who smiled, her hands behind her back. "And you? What's your part in all of this?" he asked her, not expecting an answer. She just smiled even wider, and he sighed.

"I like to think of myself as an information gatherer," Kirara shrugged casually.

"No..." her eyes widened, before a hand gripped her ear and twisted, making her yelp and start flailing. "You're just impossibly nosy," Shinji told her as she wailed.

"Let go! That hurts, you jerk!" she cried. "What are you doing here?" Kirara demanded, tears in the corners of her eyes as she grabbed his wrist, trying and failing to pull free.

"I had a feeling you'd be sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong," the blond rolled his eyes, not letting go. "Rose told me you were up to trouble. Again," Shinji said as he watched her feeble attempts to break free.

"Hey..." Shinji's grey eyes moved to the three humans he recognised from Ichigo's class. "Isn't that...that new guy who hit on Kirara and Orihime in class, who left after like 2 days?" Keigo muttered to Mizuiro. The dark haired boy was watching Shinji with a piercing gaze, neither paying attention to Kirara's wails.

"You were there for Ichigo too! I remember him shouting at you!" Tatsuki remembered, pointing at the lanky blond. He was standing behind Kirara with a raised eyebrow, and while his gaze was on them, he was still holding onto Kirara's ear.

"My my, Ichigo's quite the popular boy," Kisuke waved his fan with an amused smile. "And Shinji, could you maybe stop abusing her?" he glanced to the pair. Shinji glanced down at Kirara, who had both her hands around his wrist, tugging uselessly.

"Once she starts learning not to run off alone and-hey!" he yelled suddenly when Kirara leapt at him, grabbing at his hair and pulling.

"Dumbass!" Kirara yelled, pulling hard as he grabbed her other ear. "Let go!" she yelled.

"You let go!" Shinji yelled back at her. "Dammit Princess, you're gonna pull my hair out!" Kirara pulled harder at his words.

"Hey, then you really will be a dumb baldy!" she yelled.

"Don't start acting like the harpy!" Kisuke sighed, shaking his head slightly as he continued to wave his fan in his face.

"My my...why does it always end up like this?" he wondered to himself in amusement. Tatsuki and Keigo gaped at the pair, who were yelling abuse at each other. They'd never seen Kirara act so childishly. Even Mizuiro was blinking rapidly.

"Asshole!"

"Brat!"

"Pervert!"

"Hah! You're an even bigger pervert than me!"

"Are you two...together?" Mizuiro's question made them stop abruptly. Kisuke's smirk was hidden behind his fan.

"Wh-what?" Keigo's eyes grew wide at his friend's question. "But I thought...ah, none of this makes sense!" he wailed, messing with his hair.

"Does he do anything but scream?" Shinji asked as he let go of Kirara's ears. She let go of his hair to rub her ears as Keigo continued to wail.

"Not usually," she sighed. "Sosuke showed his hand. He's taken Orihime to Hueco Mundo and Ichigo's gone after her," she looked up, and Shinji didn't react at first. Then he put his hands over hers, his thumbs rubbing her ears and making her squirm.

"Now that's a play we can understand," he murmured.

"Looks like Yoruichi owes me some money," Shinji glanced to Kisuke, whose eyes were glittering under the shadow of his hat. Kirara looked up as well, and when she saw his grin, she blushed, looking away stubbornly.

"Shut up Kisuke," she grumbled, but made no attempt to move. She then looked up at Shinji, who was watching her with a smirk, enjoying her embarrassment. His smirk widened when she went even redder. "We should get back and let the others know what's happening," she mumbled.

"Oh, finally she learns," Shinji let go of her hands to flick her forehead.

"Jerk!" Kirara huffed, stomping away. After a moment, she stopped, turning around. "Oh, make sure to give Ichigo hell when he gets back with Orihime!" she called to Tatsuki.

"Right!" Tatsuki nodded back, recovering from her alarm to grin back at Kirara.

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