Here is the seventh chapter of "Shining Angel"! I just realized that I will need a multitude of OCs for the Tournament itself, so I would love it if you send me ideas of characters to use in this story! You will be given credit, of course! Also, sorry about my forgetting to post the disclaimer last chapter! With that aside, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Shining Angel"

Talking/Actions

Thoughts/ Emphasis

Zanpakuto Conversation/Release

Tiffany returned to consciousness as she felt something or someone nudging her gently. She groaned and stirred, before opening her eyes and blearily looking at the sky, her mind trying to recollect what happened before she fell into exhaustion's hold.

The sky… so blue… my mindscape… my Zanpakutō is Michael… Forest Predator… WAIT! Tiffany's eyes snapped open. Toshiro and Emmanuel!

She didn't have time to register a mass in front of her face as she raised her head, before she went smacking into it. She heard an exclamation of pain and held her forehead gingerly.

"Ouch! Dang, Tiffany, you have one hard forehead," Emmanuel groaned.

"Emmanuel? I'm so sorry! Are you okay," Tiffany apologized.

Emmanuel nodded and added, "I'm fine, thanks to you! However… Toshiro isn't looking in his best shape."

Tiffany gasped and turned to look at the lying body of her -apparently- comatose friend. Toshiro was breathing irregularly, due to internal damage and possibly damage to certain functions of the brain. Tiffany put her left hand over her mouth, her expression one of horror. Slowly, she placed and then caressed her right hand along Toshiro's feverish cheek.

Tiffany asked, "Wh-what can I do, Emmanuel? He… No, both of you got hurt because of me. I have to do something!" Tiffany's voice rose when she said the last part and then she hung her head, tears flowing down her cheeks, dripping to the small expanse of grass the trio was sitting – one lying- on.

Emmanuel placed a hand on Tiffany's back and said, "Don't worry. You did help us. I used my Shikai's second ability, Kokoro no Hon (Book of the Mind) to- if you would mind my using of the term- pry into your mind while you were asleep and see what happened after I fainted. When you got your Shikai, that ball of light which protected me was actually mending my wounds, most likely because mine was more severe than Toshiro's at that moment, and stopping the bleeding from Toshiro's wounds, both internal and external. When I woke up around an hour ago, I was completely healed, just sore and containing a few bruises. So I used my Shikai's third ability, Iyashi no Hon (Book of Healing) to take care of the bruises and close Toshiro's wounds, healing him internally at the same time. You were a bigger help than you think. I give you my utmost gratitude."

Tiffany stared at Emmanuel, impressed by his Zanpakutō's abilities and skill to provide medical attention. Then she smiled, happy at the fact that she helped them a lot.

"You are a great fighter and healer, my Maiden," Michael mused.

"Thanks, Michael. You helped me the most, really," Tiffany replied.

Emmanuel stared at Tiffany with concern.

Michael informed, "We can converse through your mind and thoughts, so there is no need to speak."

Tiffany blushed and explained, "Umm… I was talking to my Zanpakutō. Don't worry, this won't happen again. You're welcome, Emmanuel!"

Emmanuel nodded slowly, unsure if Tiffany is actually okay, before saying, "Anyways, that aside, I still sense that powerful Reiastu from before… before the Forest Predator. It might be the wind gem, though, we can't carry Toshiro, or we might reopen his wounds."

Tiffany nodded, thinking. Michael. Do you think that we could summon that ball of light from before and make it carry Toshiro?

"Yes, we can. However, it will continuously drain you of your Reiastu," Michael answered, "To bring it into existence, just say 'Stasis Shield' or 'Recovery Shield'. If you were wondering what the difference between the two was; I shall explain it to you now. During Stasis Shield, the user will erect a golden shield that is either form-fitting, so it will stick to the person's skin, or an oval shaped 'egg' to hold an unconscious, unmoving, or severely injured person. While it is in use, it will slowly ebb away Reiastu, but whatever injuries that might come the user's way shall not affect them, keeping the user in the exact same condition when the shield was activated. As for Recovery Shield, it is better used as a defensive shield, when not in combat because it improves the user's endurance and skin's hardness while healing all injuries at the same time. In some ways, it repels time from the wounds. It is either form-fitting or oval 'egg' shaped, just like Stasis Shield. If you have enough training, you might be able to merge both skills into one, like you did during the battle with that Hollow."

Tiffany sat in silence as she listened to Michael and when he was finished, she asked; Then, how did I do it during that battle if I haven't learned it yet?

Michael explained, "It was your first time and you were fueled by your emotions, thus letting your subconscious perform the move. However, that would explain why you were exhausted when you were finished."

Tiffany nodded and explained the details of their conversation to Emmanuel, who started thinking deeply.

"Aha," Emmanuel exclaimed, "Tiffany, if you can, use Recovery Shield on Toshiro- 'egg' mode would be best- as soon as possible. When we travel, I will take care of all the Hollows that might lurk around here. You are to focus on healing Toshiro and keeping your Reiastu at considerable safe levels so you can be prepared to help me out at moment's notice! Is that okay with you?"

Tiffany nodded and added, "Michael says that is a great idea, too!"

Tiffany and Emmanuel stood up, watching Toshiro intently. Emmanuel walked and pointed to the Northwestern direction, stating that a couple miles away from here is the wind gem's location. Tiffany clenched her hands in determination.

I… I can do this! I can trust in Emmanuel to keep Toshiro and me safe! Tiffany sighed and whispered, "Recovery Shield!"

The light that was beaming in the clearing the trio were currently at started to bend and shift, until there was a golden oval egg encasing a floating Toshiro. Tiffany willed the egg to move and (A/N: No sh*t, Sherlock! XD) it did. Tiffany exhaled a breath that she didn't know she had been holding. Emmanuel motioned for Tiffany to follow him and she shuffled behind, with the Recovery Shield hovering above her.

XXX

They had been walking for almost an hour when Emmanuel finally shouted:

"We're here! The wind gem is just past those trees!"

The two sped up, with Toshiro trailing in the Recovery Shield egg. When they broke through the tree lining, the clearance they stepped into was so windy that Tiffany had to exert a bit more Reiastu to keep Toshiro from being swept away with the wind currents. In the middle of the field was a beautiful, emerald gem that was floating in the air, with wind currents circling it, keeping it afloat.

"The wind gem," Tiffany whispered.

Emmanuel- over the wind- yelled, "What did you *leaf whips into mouth**gah**spits leaf out of mouth* say?"

Tiffany responded, "I said, 'The wind gem!'!"

Emmanuel mouthed 'Oh. Okay! Let's go!' and Tiffany followed him, handling Toshiro in the egg. When they finally stood in front of the gem, Emmanuel reached out slowly, only to have his hand receive a deep cut when he came into contact with the wind circling the gem.

"Ouch," Emmanuel hissed, "You want to play hard to get? Fine! You're going to regret it!"

Tiffany laughed; I'll have to remember to tease him about talking to air!

Emmanuel said, "Heal, Iyashi no Hon (Book of Healing)!"

His hand immediately was encased in a green glow from his tome, and the gash started to mend itself, healing until there was no trace of it ever existing- not even a scar. Emmanuel proceeded to add:

"Exist, Yōso no hon (Book of Elements)! Manipulation of Wind!"

Emmanuel had a strained expression on his face, as if he was wrestling with someone over the control of the wind. He raised his right hand and the wind circling the gem slowly began to dispel, until the gem was floating in an emerald light. He gently grasped it.

He whispered, "This is too much of a drag, but… Bloom, Hana no Hon (Book of Flowers)!"

The winds all but disappeared as a bunch of flower petals floated out of the forest, enclosed the gem, and sank into the book, its page rippling until Emmanuel stopped chanting. The page that the petal-covered gem entered showed it bobbing in the center, as if in a different dimension. Tiffany didn't bother to ask Emmanuel how he did it because she trusted his actions. Emmanuel suddenly sat down on the ground, his Zanpakutō transforming back into its sealed state.

"Le-let me cat…ch m-my brea…th," Emmanuel panted, "Over… exerted my-myself… Oh, man…"

Tiffany chuckled and sat down in front of him, a meter away so she could gently place Toshiro between them and keep healing him. Toshiro shifted and groaned, before relaxing; making his two friends become excited, thinking that he was going to awaken. After a while, they realized that he just shifted, so they sighed in unison and sat down.

"I hope that he'll be okay… I'll increase my Reiastu output a bit and see the effects as I rest… Please come back to us, Toshiro. We miss you…," Tiffany whispered.

Omake #7

Me: Hmm... not bad!

Tiffany: What's not bad?

Me: The story! What else? *rolls eyes*

Tiffany: DID YOU JUST ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME?

Me: Uh... No?

Tiffany: Good. I was contemplating killing you.

Me: *whispers* Thank goodness. *normal tone* So, what do you think of this chapter?

Tiffany: It's good. Just don't make me into a Mother Teresa. I need some action!

Me: Yeah, yeah, I know.

Tiffany: What are you implying with that tone?

Me: N-nothing!

Tiffany: *Takes out a switchblade and holds it at her side threateningly* I'm not stupid. I've taken AP Psychology!

Me: Re-really! I didn't mean anything, you psychotic sadist!... Oops. That came out wrong.

Tiffany: *eye twitches* You think? YOU'RE DEAD!

*Cue cat and mouse chase (I'm the mouse! Wah!)*

*Michael descends from the sky on a angelic chairot*

Michael: Please review! *Flashes a smile*

Comment for Comment

strawberryshini: Yay! *Hugs back* Thanks!

Tiffany: Thanks for texting me your review... again. ^_^

Mom: I know that you're reading this! Though you haven't said anything to me at home, thanks for reading! ^_^