Chapter 13: On Fire

I was not in a good mood. The fact that I was training with Hiyori didn't help. And there was a glowing red ball flying at my face. What had they called it? Oh, yeah, a cero. I opened my mouth to scream when the cero go sucked in. I started to cough and hack as it burned its way down my chest.

"What the hell?!" I screamed. Shinji stepped in front of me and Hiyori stood next to him.

"Cero absorption," she said.

"Hmm… interesting," he replied.

I looked at them glaring. "I am not a science project!"

"Of course not, darling," Shinji said, helping me stand. I stood and starting walking back to the stair case.

"Where the hell are you going?! We're not done, yet!" Hiyori yelled.

"Oh, yes, we are. You shooting a cero at me is my limit for the day. If you wanna fight so bad, fight Shinji. Maybe, for once, he'll fight back."

"Hey!" came the indignant reply. I looked back to see Shinji pouting. I shrugged at him and he huffed. Then, Hiyori was in front of me.

"I mean it, Hiyori. I'm not in the mood for your crap today."

She lashed out at me. What the frickin' A?! The bitch slashed at me! I fell backwards and she followed. I looked around. Shinji had disappeared. He probably went somewhere to sulk. Figures. Hiyori wouldn't have pulled this shit if he were here. I pulled up my zanpakto and blocked her.

"You know, I can help you with this," my spirit whispered.

"How so?" I asked.

'Your sword has other forms. A zanpakto's first form is called shikai. I can give you the command.'

'What's the catch?'

'You have to ask nicely.'

'Will you, Emerado Kasai, greatest zanpakto spirit in the known galaxies tell me how to achieve shikai?'

'Oooh… that was good. Okay, since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you.'

He whispered it to me. My eyes snapped open and I looked at Hiyori. She froze. I held out my sword.

"Breathe, Emerado Kasai," I whispered.

My sword lengthened to that of a normal katana. The blade started to glow emerald green and burst into flames. I pointed the tip at Hiyori. The flames shot out like a rope, wrapping around her ankles. I tilted the hilt back and the flames quickly retracted, dragging her with them. When she was about five feet from me, the flame wrapped itself and pulled back into a glowing green blade. I resealed the sword.

"Like I said, I'm done for the day."

Hiyori went to pull her mask down, but it didn't come. She stared at me in shock.

"When the flame touches you, it neutralizes your abilities. Hollow and shinigami. Enjoy the next three hours because that's all you've got."

She nodded and ran up the stairs. I followed. I got up to the main room and saw Shinji, Lisa and Love camped out on the couch. They were all staring at the entrance. Hiyori must've bolted that way. Shinji looked at me hard.

"What was that about? And why couldn't I feel her reiatsu?"

"Congratulate me. I have shikai," I replied.

"That doesn't answer his questions," Lisa said.

"It does, actually," I said, walking into the kitchen.

"Congratulations. Now give a better explanation," Love said.

"Well… um… Hiyori's gonna be out doing normal people things for the next three hours because I kinda neutralized her powers. Pie, anyone?"

Suddenly, I was surrounded by three people with looks ranging from utter joy to completely pissed.

"Care to repeat that?" Shinji said.

"No, 'cause I'm fairly certain you heard me the first time."

"That wasn't a request."

"It sounded like one."

"Reiko…"

"My shikai has the ability to neutralize a person's spiritual abilities. Hollow and shinigami. So, for the next few hours, Hiyori's essentially human."

"Hmmm… interesting," Lisa said and went back to her Josei.

"Can I be next?! Please, please, please!" Love said.

"It's not a carnival ride," I said. Shinji was glaring and his attitude was beginning to get on my nerves.

" 'Good job, Rei. You've powered up!' 'Thanks, Shinji! Now you don't have to defend my weak ass anymore. Tee hee.'" I rolled my eyes and stomped up the stairs to our room. I was going out and he could either come with me or stay out of my way. He, of course, followed hot on my heels.

I put on my coat and stuffed my cell phone and ipod into my purse, heading for the door. Except there was a tall, angry blonde wall in my way.

"You're not going anywhere," he said.

"I'll be fine. You worry too much. Ichimaru hasn't harassed me in a few days, so I'm going to a movie. You can either go with me, or stay here, but I am walking out that door."

He seemed to debate for a few minutes before sighing in defeat and putting on his trench coat. "Fine, but the minute I sense something's off, I'm dragging your ass out of there. No questions asked." I grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door.

We walked down the street and he still had a sour look on his face.

"This is our first actual date. You could at least pretend to be a little enthusiastic. And exactly what is your problem with my Shikai?" I asked.

"You shouldn't give her false hope. Hollowfication is permanent," he said, disapproving.

I stared at him with wide eyes. "I'm not giving her false hope. I'm giving her a break. And it's not like I got to choose my shikai. So why am I catching shit for something I didn't ask for?" I yanked my hand out of his. "Why can't you just be happy for me?" I stormed past him and he followed.

"I am happy for you. And I'm so proud of you for doing something that takes most people years to achieve, but I have to think about how this will affect everyone else."

"It won't if they don't know about it."

He grabbed my arm and pulled me into an alley. "This isn't something you can just hide."

"Why?"

"You're going to have to use it at some point."

"I'm not going to be there, remember?"

He pulled me into his arms. "I'm trying to protect you, idiot."

"And what about you? You're not immortal, you know?"

"I know, but I've lived a long time. You're just beginning."

"Even if we lose, I'll still see you on the other side."

"Don't talk like that."

"But you can? And do you really think that if you die, I'd let myself live long enough to be forced into the arms of another man?" Shinji tightened his hold, but didn't say anything.

"I need you, dummy. Don't you know that?" I said.

He pulled me back and brought his lips down to mine.

"I love you. More than you'll ever know," he said.

We separated and I took his hand. I kissed his knuckles and pulled him toward the theater.