Chap. 4: Another Friend

The rest of that day went by, fairly uneventful. There were a few times when my vision returned, but they only lasted for as long as ten minutes, and it was really blurring in one class, but there.

Once school was out, Max, Fang and I met up with Nudge, Gassy, and Angle, but we waited for everyone else to leave before leaving ourselves. Sadly, Max didn't want us flying.

"I want to wait till dark. It was fine and all to fly this morning, but that was when the sun was going to be in their eyes. Now, its dim enough they'll see us. We'll look around on foot, and then take off after its gotten dark enough." She said.

So, now we were walking down a street. It was full of two story, two complex apartments, and Max said that if we could find one not in use, then we'd put it in use, free of charge, curtsy of Moa.

We were just passing by one- well… one of the many on the street- when I had a sudden burst of vision again.

Blinking, I found it wasn't as good as it normally was. It seemed to be dimmer not just blurry.

I took three more steps and it was gone. Frowning, I stopped, and blinked. That was the quickest it had left. What the hell?

I noticed that the others had stopped and knew that they must be looking at me, most likely with odd expressions.

"What's wrong Iggy? You heard something?"

I had the slightest urge to inform them that I was not a dog. But shook it off, and shook my head no.

"Just a cold chill…"

I could tell that they- or at least Max and Fang- didn't quite believe that, but, once again, they had no reason not to believe me.

I was about to continue walking, when Max called for us to stop.

"No. We'll take off now. I think the light is dim enough; the people won't be able to tell. Looks like we're not getting anywhere with these apartments anyway."

We were all relieved to hear this. Sure, long flights- like overseas- wore us out to the point of complaining. But, even then, we liked it better then walking, or being in a tin can of a ship/plane. Flying was just that good. And then the short trips like this were just plain great.

We took off. Max and Fang went first, Gazzy, Nudge and Angle next.

I was about to take off when I heard an excited yelp from somewhere behind me.

"Oh, yum!" Orihime said, having just taken a bite of her masterpiece. A rice and bean stir-fry with honey, terioky, and curry mixed in. She also added some soba noodles.

But she didn't get to have her next bite as she felt a sudden pressure of spiritual energy. Jumping up, her dinner forgotten, she ran the window and looked out. There was a Hollow.

It looked like a kind of frog mixed with a bird. The body was that of a frog, but the front legs were also wings. The mask was also shaped like a frog's, but with a beak.

It was looking at some kids walking down the street just in front of her house.

Orihime jumped out of the window and onto the roof. She called up her power.

Just as she jumped to the ground, she yelped in surprise as two of the kids took off. Into the air! Then another and another!

It was the kids she'd seen earlier!

Then, the Hollow howled and she looked at it. It was preparing to jump at the ones in the air.

She was just about to send out her power, when she heard the quick tapping of someone running. Looking back, she was surprised to see the blond one running at the monster, face set in determination and wings expanding.

He jumped and flapped hard and within seconds was at the Hollow. He delivered a uppercut in the style of a kick rather than a punch.

The Hollow reeled back, having not seen him coming, as its attention had been on the ones in the air.

She shook her head both in amazement and to clear it. She needed to help him.

I turned.

My vision suddenly back, I saw a girl jumping down from the roof of a building. She looked astonished to see us- well, that really should be expected, seeing flying kids wasn't an everyday experience. But then something else caught my eye.

It was another one of those beasts- Hollow, that's what it was. It let out a howl and was prepared to jump. I didn't have to look to see what it might be jumping at, 'cause there sure wasn't any planes going overhead right now.

Without thinking about the possible consequences, I ran, letting my wings out. I passed the girl and jumped, and in seconds was at the Hollow, delivering an upper-cut-kick to its beaked frog face.

While it was reeling back, I dived for its stomach, intent on knocking it's breath out, but was caught by surprise as something whizzed by, and hit the beast.

It arched its back and fell to the ground.

I looked at it in confusion as it tried to get back on its feet. Then I heard the tapping of feet. Looking back, I saw the girl running over.

Great, now I'd have to deal with not only the Flock's questions, but possibly some stranger? Although, I could just ditch her, and let her think it was just some crazy dream. After all, seeing flying kids and a huge ugly beast thing in could be something in a dream…

But, for now, I'd have to get her to leave, so she'd not be in harm's way.

"Get out of here! There are…." What do I say? Surely I can't just say there's some huge beast trying to eat us… "There are bombs going off!" Hey, that's what the other's thought the other night. Why not?

She looked confused and paused.

"That's no bomb… That's a Hollow."

Well who'd've thought? She knows!

"You…. You know…?"

"Yes. I've fought them plenty of times, how could I not?"

Fought them…? This girl…? No way…

Then again, there was that thing that wizzes by and then she comes running up…

"It's getting back up! Get over here!" she yelled.

Indeed it was, and it was also preparing to hit me when it did.

I just managed to jump back when its fist came down on the ground where I'd been, making a small crater.

Seeing that it had missed its mark, it gave a howl and lifted its arms. For a second it looked like it would take off for an airial attack, but then sharp looking feathers started to shoot at us.

"Sen! Ten! Keshu! I reject!" the girl yelled, her hands held out in front of her. I saw small things flying around, and they reminded me of farriers. They formed a triangle and a force-field appeared before us and all the deadly feathers bounced off.

I felt a sort of tickling in my wings and they twitched.

"Use us."

I blinked, not knowing where the voice's had come from, but there were ten, maybe twenty.

Just then, a crack appeared in the force-field that the girl was holding up. That didn't look good.

Looking at the way the deadly feathers bounced off, I got an idea. The majority of them were flying up and then disappearing after 50 yards. They also provided a bit of a screen, what with them glowing a pale bone white.

I gathered myself, I jumped into the air. I heard the girl gasp, but wasn't sure it was due to the crack spreading, me taking off, or both.

I flew high and then angled down. At the last second I pulled up, and did a flip in the air to where I would end up at a 90* angle from him. Coming at the thing from the side now, I looked for where a weak point would be. There. At the base of the beak, where the two lips came together. It was a joint spot.

I increased my speed and then kicked out; hitting it before it even realized I was there.

I broke a chunk out of the top and bottom beak, but more than that, I made the bottom beak fall clean off. That, however, didn't really matter. What did matter was the chunk out of the top beak was starting to branch and more pieces fell.

And finally, just as it had dong with the first Hollow, it split diagonally across the face. It gave its loudest howl and then disintegrated into ashy particles.

"Wow! That was amazing!" the girl said, running up to me.

I turned, feeling more than a little sheepish, and not to mention on edge around a stranger.

"Yeah… ah.. thanks…"

"No, no! I mean, real amazing! You should meet my friends! Especially Ichigo!"

Well this girl was just full of surprises. 'Course, maybe it was normal to keep tabs with the other people that fight these things…

"Ichigo? You mean the guy with flaming orange hair?"

"Yes! So you have met him?"

"Ah… yeah… I've seen him around…"

"Seen him around….? Oh! You're one of the new students at school! Now I remember! It's nice to meet you, I'm Orihime Inoue." She said bowing.

"Ah… hi. Iggy." I said, bowing too, although mine was very much awkward.

"So, um…. How come you're just walking around…? It's dangerous at night, as you can see. The Hollows come at day too, but their more abundant at night."

"Ah… we're just trying to find a place to stay…" I had a brief thought of wondering why I was telling this girl, this stranger, so much. Something about her just made me trust her though…

"Looking for a place? If… if you want, you guys could stay with me… I've got plenty of room, as I'm living alone."

"Um… I don't know… I really don't want to bother you or anything-"

"Oh, don't worry!" she smiled sweetly and softly, "I love to help people in need."

Yes, but what about the others…? I thought to myself as I glanced at them. They'd landed and were of course looking at me with looks like I'd lost it, and were on the verge of possibly tackling the girl.

I know I trusted the girl- which was kinda odd; I have to admit, seeing as she is a complete stranger-, but the others might not share the same opinions…

Sighing, I realized there was no getting around this.

"Sorry… Its not that I don't want to take you up on your offer but, well…" I glanced at the Flock, "Well, its complicated… Thanks for the offer though."

Looking a bit sad, Orihime reluctantly nodded. "Well, you know where I am if you ever change your mind. I hope you can find a place to stay."

"Yeah… Thanks, again… Guess I'll see you at school…."

Feeling a pit of sadness myself- even though I couldn't figure out why- I jumped into the air and took off, knowing the Flock would catch up with me.

And then, I was blind.

AN: Hey guys! So... yeah... I'm not dead. I just couldn't seem to get this chapter done... For about two years... Yeah... I know. I suck. But its up now, and I've been going though a big burst of creativity lately, so there might be more to come! Here's hoping!

So, R&R if your still with me on this fic ^_^