Akumei held me close to him as we fell from the sky, shielding my head with his own body. "Don't worry, I won't let anything else happen to you."

"I can't be helped when it comes to me. Just don't hurt yourself on my account!" I pleaded but his grip only tightened.

"I have already caused you to suffer needlessly too many times. That was the last. Now, brace yourself!"

The impact sent a wave of dust flying up from the cement we had smashed partly through and by the time the dust had cleared and settled, someone had reached us. In a daze, I managed to lift my head and looked up towards who it was. It was blurry, but I managed to make out a boy with spiky red hair. Behind him was a girl with shoulder length black hair just coming to the scene. She said something to the boy but I could not focus any longer. With a groan I fell forward onto Akumei who was lying motionless on the ground.

Blinking my eyes open, I looked around, surprised to see it was still dark. I was in a shadowedalleyway leaning against a stone wall. Propped up beside me was Akumei and a few feet away the boy and girl were talking in hushed voices. My eyes widened slightly as something caught my eye. Looking straight up I thought I saw something on the building above but it withdrew too quickly. I considered that it might be a hallucination caused by my dizzy mind but then heard a faint roaring.

Then suddenly something leapt down from above to head straight towards me. With a startled cry, I pushed myself into Akumei, sending us both rolling out of the way just as the thing collided. Fragments of stone flew everywhere, as the pavement and wall were both shattered. Staring in shock, I finally managed to see it clearly. It was entirely black except for the white mask on its face and the hole on its stomach. On either side of the mask were two dark holes for the glowing eyes to peer through and at the bottom was a large mouth full of huge teeth. "W-what are you?" I stammered.

It grinned in what seemed to be amusement. "So, you can see me?"

"Are you alright?" The red haired boy cried, racing towards us with the girl right behind.

"Yea-" I nodded, cutting myself off as my body began to glow. I closed my eyes and ground my teeth together as I began changing back to my demonic form, causing the still fresh wounds to sting.

"What's happening?" The boy and girl froze and even the creature looming over me stopped to stare. Slowly the silver hair turned pure black again, keeping the green flecks. The red streaks and moon appeared back on my face and the wolf ears and tail sprouted back out. My teeth and claws grew longer and pointed. The glowing faded and I opened my eyes, green once more. "What just…?" The boy's voice trailed off as the creature laughed.

"So, not human are you? You smell more of wolf now but you're soul smells just as wonderfully delicious." It chuckled, bowing closer towards Akumei and me.

"M-my soul…? I gasped, scooting back from it and trying to pull Akumei with me.

Suddenly its hand lunged forward, wrapping itself around me. I screamed as I was lifted from the ground and held before the masked face. It smiled cruelly as it said in an almost sing song voice, "time to die!" The next instant I was on the ground again, the thing's hand still enclosed around me as it screamed, holding a handless arm.

The boy ran to my side, prying the fingers from around me. "Are you ok?" He asked.

"Yes… What is that thing?"

"It's called a hollow." The girl said, now approaching us. "I'm Rukia and this is Ichigo. What are you…?" She added quietly.

Ichigo turned to her. "It's a pretty weak one. I managed to knock off its hand by kicking it once."

"I'm Kira…" I replied slowly, watching the hollow out of the corner of my eye. "Watch out!" I pushed Rukia over who in turn fell into Ichigo to knock him to safety as well as the hollow's tail lashed out over us. My eyes widened as I saw the fingers roll past to rejoin with the detached hand. Jumping up to use the fingers like legs, it ran over to Akumei and grabbed him tightly, and then attempted to return to the hollow's arm. "Stop…!" I screamed, running towards it.

"No you stop! What do you hope to achieve by rushing in like that?" Rukia shouted, clutching at my sleeve. She froze as the weak fabric fell away in her hand revealing the heavily bandaged arm underneath, wounds caused by Gojyo's chain as he had pulled me back up the cliff. She had overlooked the wrapped up hands before but now saw them as well. "What happened…?"

I growled and pulled away, rushing forward towards the hollow and Akumei. By now the hand had reattached and the thing was laughing again as it raised Akumei to its mouth. "Stop…!" I screamed again as I leapt at it. The laughing doubled in delight as the tail swung at me. I gritted my teeth, slipped my sword from the sheath at my side, and swung it with both hands downwards. The tail hit the ground with a thud, writhing around like a lizards as the hollow screamed in rage and pain. I landed lightly and leapt back up again, this time catching the hollow's arm and cutting the hand loose once more. I crouched beside Akumei and sliced away the fingers that still held him. Slipping his arm around my shoulder, I staggered away from the screaming hollow and back to the two who were now staring in shock.

"How did you…?" Rukia stammered but I interrupted her.

"Shouldn't you… Finish it off?" I asked, wincing in pain as I set Akumei down gently on his side.

"Right…" Ichigo nodded, turning to face Rukia. "Change me into a death god now so I can defeat it."

Rukia nodded and pulled on a glove, red with a blue flame that had a skull in its center. She thrust it at Ichigo's chest, stopped as the thrashing tail of the hollow slammed into her. She gasped out a soundless scream as she fell forward, hitting the pavement with a thud. The tail changed direction and came towards Ichigo who scowled and knocked it back with a hard kick before rushing to Rukia's side. "Rukia…? Wake up! You have to change me!" He sighed and turned around to face the hollow who was reattaching itself to the lost tail and hand. "Great… Where is Kon when I need him?"

"Kon…?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"You called?" I gasped out as a small blur leapt on me, snuggling into my chest. It looked like a stuffed lion toy. I gasped and pulled it off with a shaky hand and then tossed it to Ichigo who thrust his hand deep into the toys mouth. It gagged several times as Ichigo fished around and finally came out with a tiny green ball. The toy, Kon, stopped moving as Ichigo popped the ball into his mouth. Instantly there was a flash of blue light as he fell to his knees and another image of himself floated from the back, dressed in black robes.

The black clothed image looked down at the kneeling one. "Kon, stay with them and make sure they're ok."

"Alright…" Kon answered, now in Ichigo's body.

"What just… Happened…?" I whispered, picking up the now still lion doll.

Kon looked at me curiously. "Ichigo transformed into a death god so I take control of his body until he's done."

"Done…?" I murmured weakly, watching as Ichigo hacked off two of the hollow's arms with the huge sword that had been strapped to his back. He landed and immediately leapt back into the air, slicing right through the creature's mask. It shrieked and then faded into nothing.

Ichigo put away the sword and crossed back over towards us just in time to see me collapse, clutching at my sides. "What happened Kon?" He screamed.

"I-I don't know!" Kon stammered back, kneeling beside me. He placed his hand on mine, pulling it back to see it coated in blood. "When did this happen?" He shouted frantically.

"It's from… Earlier tonight…!" I gasped out. "Before… I got here."

"The hollow must've reopened your wounds." Rukia said.

Ichigo jumped and then screamed at her. "How long have you been awake?"

"For a while…" She said simply and then knelt next to me. "You two, back away a little, especially you Kon."

"What…?" Kon asked, attempting to sound hurt. She gave them both a look that sent them scurrying back much further than needed and then turned back to me. "What caused these injuries?"

"Claws…" I whimpered as she readjusted the bandages around my back and waist.

"And on your face and arms…?"

"Claws and a chain… used to pull me back up a cliff that I almost fell down."

She remained silent for a moment and then called over that Ichigo and Kon could rejoin us. They hurried over, sitting on either side of me as Rukia continued her questioning. "So you could see the hollow and you can see Ichigo even now?" I nodded. "What exactly are you?"

"Wolf demon, dog demon, and human… A mix of the three."

She looked startled for a second but quickly recovered. "Why did you appear different earlier?"

"Since I'm not a full demon I transform into a human for part of the night of the new moon. That was my human form." Now that the bleeding had slowed, I was not feeling as dizzy and was able to talk easier too. "Actually, I want to try something that I haven't been able to do recently. I should be able to do it no problem." I closed my eyes, jumping as I began to glow once more. "Not again…" I muttered as I switched back to being human. When it was done, I shied away from the stares I was receiving from everyone. "It's not supposed to happen this often. Usually it is only once! I don't know what's going on…" I closed my eyes again and placed my right hand on the heavily bandaged left arm. It started to glow green and I smiled as I felt the warmth spreading to all my wounds. After a few minutes, I paused and lifted my hand, flexing it a few times and pulling the bandages off. Everyone gasped as they saw the newly healed skin. My waist, back, and cheekwere better as well.

"But I just… Rewrapped your wounds…" Rukia blinked in confusion.

I smiled. "It's a skill I have. I haven't done it in a long time though, since my energy was sealed inside me and unreachable." I paused and then grinned. "Could I have a picture?" I explained to them about traveling and keeping record of who I met and somehow managed to get the three to agree. I took the forgotten camera from its bag at my side and snapped a quick photo before replacing it. "Thanks."

Suddenly a beep sounded loudly and Rukia thrust her hand into her pocket to pull out a small electronic device, flat and rectangular, that was continually beeping. She opened it and frowned. "There's another hollow nearby. Come on Ichigo."

"But what about…?"

"I'll be fine." I smiled. With that, the two disappeared and shortly after Kon departed as well, lion doll in hand. Now it was just Akumei and me again. I sighed as I looked at him, still unconscious, leaning against the wall behind us. "What is wrong with you…?" I whispered aloud.

"I don't… want you to be hurt anymore."

I jumped and stared at Akumei, not having expected a reply. "What?"

"When you were transported last time, you felt drained every time you landed somewhere, right?" Slowly I nodded my head and he continued. "Being transported is hard on the one performing it and the one undergoing it. I'm taking the whole load so you won't have to suffer."

"But…!" I cried, sitting on my knees in front of him. "Now I have to look after you all by myself and I keep getting attacked! I can't protect us both on my own." I bowed my head, holding my fists clenched in my lap with both eyes closed.

A single tear slid down my cheek and Akumei wiped it away. "You're doing a fine job now."

"No I'm not! You missed what just happened!"

He laughed. "Well no matter what you say I'm not reversing it. You are even in a human form now. The effects would be much worse!" He smiled again and raised a hand in front of me. In an instant, my torn clothes were mended. "Ah… I'm going to rest more now…" His voice trailed off and he lay still again.

"Well, now I know what's wrong with you…" I turned over my hand and traced over the rounded fingernails. "But… What is wrong with me?"

I shrank back as I heard footsteps rapidly approaching. Soon a tall figure had turned the corner and was running towards me. Our eyes met as he staggered past but I looked away as soon as the next thing approached. It was another hollow. This one stood on two strong legs and had four arms, two on each side. The mask was shaped with a wicked grin permanently on its surface. It turned from the man it had been chasing and smiled down at me as the man disappeared from sight. It slowly advanced on me, laughing as I desperately tried to stand with Akumei's arm draped around my shoulder. He was bigger than I was and in my human state, I could barely support him. "See Akumei?" I shouted. "I need you!"

I screamed as the hollow reached out and was forced to drop Akumei as it pinned me back against the wall. "There…!" I heard a voice cry out and in the next moment, I was on my knees on the pavement blinking in confusion. I looked up to see the man it had been chasing standing in front of me. He looked over his shoulder at me. "You should run." He was tall and heavily muscled with brown hair to his shoulders that covered one eye.

I shook away my surprise enough to point at Akumei. "I can't leave him!" The man nodded and turned back to face the hollow. He squinted his eyes and threw a punch, missing completely. "Can you… Not see it…?" I asked in shock.

He shook his head. "Can you?"

"Yes… Duck…!" I shouted and he threw himself down as the hollow's fist collided with the stone wall above me, showering me with dust. The next arm followed swiftly behind, grazing my right arm. I gasped out as it felt like a knife had pierced the skin. Bringing a shaky hand to my arm and the pulling it away, I stared wide eyed at the red liquid that covered it.

"We have to get out of here." The man was kneeling in front of me, looking over my wound. "Come on." He moved over and slung Akumei gently over his shoulder before taking my left hand and starting to run. I was dragged quickly behind him.

I have my sword… Can I use it properly as a human? Maybe… I have been training! I debated with myself the entire time we were running and finally decided to risk it. I suddenly stopped moving and my hand slipped from the man's. He turned in time to see me drawing my sword and spinning to face the hollow that had been closely following. It stopped in surprise, seemed to think for a second, and then charged me, roaring the entire time. I gritted my teeth and tightened my hold on the handle before leaping to meet it, going higher than expected which threw off my aim. Instead of piercing the mask, I plunged my blade deep into its shoulder. It screamed and disappeared from view. I sank to my knees, wiping my face.

The man returned to my side, crouching beside me. "Are you ok?" He asked.

I gritted my teeth, nodding. I had used my right arm to attack, the same arm the hollow had just injured. "I'll be fine." I muttered as I sheathed the sword.

He shook his head. "Well we better go see a doctor or something. My friend's dad happens to be one. He has treated me before."

"I said I'll be fi-" I cut myself off as something cold hit me from behind and wrapped itself around me. I looked down to see some dirty brown gooey substance encircling my body, pinning my arms at my sides. Then I heard the roar of the hollow. "Ah-!" I started in frustration as I struggled uselessly, feeling its presence behind me. I looked over and noticed the man was standing. "What are you doing?"

He didn't say anything but instead remained staring down the hollow. It hesitated and then charged with another roar. Suddenly a blue light shot from the sky and impaled the hollows head. It shrieked and thrashed around, soon stilling and fading away.

A shape leapt down from the closest rooftop and landed beside me. It was a boy with glasses and black hair. "Are you alright?" He asked. I nodded wordlessly as he looked at the junk that held my arms pinned. The man crossed back over to join us.

"Ishida…?" He asked. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same, Chad." He replied before tapping the gooey stuff lightly. It jiggled slightly just like jello but otherwise did nothing. "Hmm… I'm not sure what this is, or how to get it off. Heat maybe…?"

"Well, could I please have a picture of you two?" I asked suddenly.

"What?" Chad, the man I first met, asked in surprise.

"I'm keeping track of everyone I meet and now you too are now included in that. So can I?" I pleaded. Finally, they both agreed and we managed to get a picture even though my arms were tied up so I could not hold the camera.

Suddenly I began to glow and both of them leapt back, startled. "What's happening now?" Ishida asked.

"Quickly, lean him against me!" I shouted referring to Akumei.

"Oh, I hadn't even noticed him." Ishida commented as he and Chad obeyed.

"Could you… Place one of his arms around me?" I asked, blushing furiously.

"Why…?" Chad asked but he did so anyway.

"I'm about to be transported away from here and I need to make sure he's taken with me."

I jumped as the young girl's voice sounded in my head again. I'm sorry. I meant to warn you first. Are you ready now?

I nodded. Yes, I am. "Bye guys… Oh and by the way, my name's Kira." I called aloud as I disappeared, bringing Akumei with me.

Chad and Ishida exchanged shocked glances before the ever serious Ishida bid him goodbye and left.


"I've… Transported her again…" The little cat girl murmured in almost a whimper. Then she closed her eyes as if concentrating so neither Hiei nor Kyoshi spoke.