Thanks to iledian, Suzume Amai, pinkdoughnuts, IrishPrincess1987 and the guest for your reviews! Thanks also to sylph0fspace, MrsAnniething and frostmaker for favouriting and following!

I apologise for any confusion about my last author's note - I've finished writing this story but I'm nowhere near finished posting it! There's still a bit to go!

Anyways, I hope you like it!

Chapter 23: Summer Resolve

Her arms folded and her jaw set in a stubborn expression, Kirara remained seated on the sofa.

"What part of 'no' don't you understand?" she asked as she looked up at Shinji. In what seemed like a role-reversal, Kirara was now adamantly refusing to go back to school. She had gotten up that morning, getting ready for school purely out of her routine, before deciding that she was no longer going.

"What part of 'don't care' do you not understand?" Shinji mimicked her words, making Kirara bristle. "You were the one wanting to keep going to keep an eye on Ichigo, what's changed?" he asked, standing over her.

"The fact that he no longer has any Reiatsu to speak of? That he might not have lived through the night?" Kirara listed.

"So why should I keep going when he's no longer of any interest to us?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Kirara..." Shinji leaned over her, his hands resting on the back of the sofa on either side of her head. She didn't even blink. "You told me yourself that Kisuke is involved. And with Yoruichi in town, who knows what the hell they've got planned," he pointed out. Kirara knew he had a point, but just shrugged.

"That's Shinigami business. Not mine," she answered in a bored tone.

"I agree with her," Hiyori called over, earning a glare.

"You're not going to convince me to go back, Hirako, so there's really no point in trying," Kirara continued with a shrug before Shinji could say anything to set Hiyori off.

"Oh no. You've insisted on going back every time I've told you no," Shinji took a deep breath, and exhaled through his nose. "I'm not letting you win this time," Kirara's smirk was effectively wiped from her face when he grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder.

"What the hell?! Let me go!" she demanded, flailing in his grasp, but he didn't let up. "Put me down, Hirako!" Kirara wailed as the other Vizards stared, not having expected Shinji to go so far. It was rare for him to ever win against Kirara when she was truly being stubborn. Rose covered his mouth his hand, unsure whether to laugh or gawk. Love was laughing hysterically with Mashiro as Hachi stared in alarm, his mouth open. Lisa hadn't even looked up from her magazine, but was smirking as Kensei and Hiyori both rolled their eyes.

"Have fun!" Love laughed as Shinji lifted Kirara's discarded bag and walked out with her still wailing abuse at him.

"Screw you Love!" she yelled back at him before they disappeared out. "I can't believe you did this," Kirara grumbled as she finally calmed down.

"How could I resist?" Shinji replied, before stopping and letting her down. Kirara immediately tried to make a run for it, but his arms wrapped around her waist before she could. "Try anything, and I really will carry you the whole way there," he threatened.

"You're the worst," Kirara grumbled, her face still red.

"Aw, you're gonna hurt my feelings Princess," Shinji smirked as she relaxed in his grip.

"Hah! Yeah right," Kirara scoffed. "I'd have crushed them a long time ago if that's all I needed to say to hurt them," she glanced over her shoulder at him. "And don't call me that," she added, elbowing him in the stomach and making him grunt.

"So harsh, I think you really are going to hurt my feelings," Shinji sighed, loosening his grip slightly. Rolling her eyes, Kirara turned in his grip and kissed him.

"You talk some crap," she told him, before pulling away and grabbing his hand. "Well, come on then, I suppose I haven't got any choice but to go to school," Kirara shrugged.

"You really are going to be the death of me," Shinji muttered, but linked his fingers with hers as they began walking.

"You knew what you were getting yourself into," Kirara giggled.

"Good afternoon Kirara," Orihime greeted brightly as she walked over to Kirara at lunchtime. The Vizard looked up and smiled at the girl.

"Good afternoon Orihime, how are you?" she asked just as brightly.

"I'm fine, but I should be asking you that! How are you feeling today? You looked really unwell yesterday," Orihime leaned close, looking concerned. Kirara leaned backwards, giving a small laugh. "I didn't think you were going to come in, you missed this morning's classes," she added.

"I'm much better. I just needed to sleep it off," the woman told her quickly, hoping that Orihime would back off. "Slept way longer than I realised," she added.

"I'm glad," the red-haired girl smiled with relief. "Oh, did you get your Japanese History essay done? I was so confused by it!" Orihime remembered, and began to babble about it. With a smile, Kirara fell into conversation with the bubbly girl, unable to resist her friendly attitude. It reminded her of Natsuki, only without her eagerness to fight.

Both looked around as Ichigo walked in, and Orihime excused herself to speak to him. Kirara stretched and slumped back in her seat, her eyes on Ichigo. They then moved to the empty seat that had separated her from Ichigo. Nobody seemed to be commenting on a missing student, which led Kirara to believe that their memories had been erased of her.

"There's no point in me being here..." Kirara muttered irritably.

"That's awfully confident of you, just because you scored number 21 in the tests doesn't mean you can't learn anything," Kirara jolted and looked around to see Mizuiro grinning at her.

"There's a week till summer break. What's there to learn?" Kirara huffed, trying to regain her composure. "And besides, you can't comment on my score, judging from Keigo's lack of reaction to you, you didn't reach the Top 50," she accused.

"And proud of it," Mizuiro snorted. Kirara rolled her eyes.

"You're as bad as he is," she muttered.

"I find that insulting," Mizuiro told her, looking offended.

"I find that I don't care," Kirara smirked back at him.

"Oh, so cold," the boy shivered. "So where were you this morning?" he asked her curiously.

"Sleeping," Kirara replied with a shrug. "Wasn't feeling well yesterday and I slept for longer than I expected," she lied.

"Huh," Mizuiro blinked at her. "Cause Keigo said you were really ill the day before yesterday after school," Kirara stiffened, clenching her fists as she remembered almost attacking him. "Maybe you should go to the doctor if you're not feeling well, instead of pretending to just ditch all the time," Mizuiro scoffed.

"Well you're slightly right," Kirara told him. "But most of the time I just can't be bothered with school," she told him. "I know what they're telling me, so what's the point?" she asked, lifting her lunch from her bag and setting it on the table.

"Uh, cause you're a kid and have to go to school like the rest of us?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

"What's up with you anyway?" Kirara looked up and frowned at Mizuiro. "What's with all the questions?" she asked, confused by his attitude.

"Nothing, just trying to make conversation. Kinda curious as to why you almost punched Mr. Asano," he shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant, but Kirara saw his hand tighten, his phone in his grip. His eyes were also filled with curiosity, as he seemed to be wanting to ask her more.

"He took me by surprise," Kirara muttered, not about to admit that if she hadn't managed to regain control, there probably wouldn't have been enough of Keigo left to tell Mizuiro what happened.

"Yeah, he does that," Mizuiro nodded, before pulling up a seat. "Hey, so have you talked to Ichigo today?" he asked as Kirara wondered just how he thought her hostility had been an invitation for him to join her for lunch. "He's been acting even weirder than usual," he commented. Kirara couldn't deny that. He seemed shifty, and couldn't stay still. The two began to talk, with Kirara asking Mizuiro about his theories about what had been occurring lately.

Resting her hand against a tree, Kirara felt it stir. She gave a small smile at the familiar feeling it gave her. Slightly warm to the touch, it was comforting, and for a moment, Kirara didn't want to move. When she did, her smile immediately faded as she surveyed her Inner World.

Gone were most of the thick tall trees that filled it, and the thick fog was only growing worse. At first, Kirara had put it down to the intruder of Kokoro no Kage's domain, but had quickly realised that it had nothing to do with her. Now that she knew that her connection with her Zanpakuto Spirit was unravelling, she knew what it was. Her Inner World was disappearing, just like Kokoro no Kage would eventually do.

"What am I supposed to do?" she whispered.

'Not give...' she looked around as the cloaked figure appeared from behind one of the trees. Even his eyes were not as bright as they used to be. '...find a...together,' he told her, his tone both firm and calm.

"I know..." Kirara nodded slowly, but tears burned at her eyes all the same.

"Oh? What's this?" Kirara stiffened as a voice came from behind her, breathing down her neck. "Sounds to me like you're...afraid..." Kirara spun around and glared at her twin, who still remained identical to how Kirara had looked the day she had appeared in her Inner World.

"Back off," Kirara snarled, shoving the Hollow back.

"That's more like it!" the Hollow squealed with laughter. "You're much more interesting when you fight back," she said, the wide smirk never leaving her face. Not that it ever did. "After all Princess, ya need to keep fighting if you're gonna keep this place alive," she told her, making Kirara scowl.

"I know. I'm not stupid. But if you can come up with a way of locating Kenjiro Shirobara, let's hear it!" Kirara challenged her.

"Uh-uh. You're the Princess here," Kirara scowled at the name. "Ya fought to be in charge, so be in charge. Fix this mess. Keep this place interesting," Hollow Kirara told her with a giggle.

"You say that, but you'll disappear as well. You and Kokoro no Kage are linked," Kirara reminded her.

"Will I?" the Hollow asked. "Or will it mean that I'll be more in charge? More able to take control at the slightest sign of weakness from you?" her smirk grew as Kirara glared back at her. "Who's to say? I could disappear too, or I could grow even more powerful! Even without the old man, I could tear everyone limb from limb, with my bare hands!" she declared with a cackle of laughter.

"Never going to happen," Kirara said firmly, though her heart pounded painfully against her chest.

"So ya say. But either way, it'll be interesting," Hollow Kirara shrugged, still smirking.

"It doesn't matter. I'll never stop fighting you," Kirara told her.

'I hope so, Princess. Between you and your Knight, I'll never be bored,' With a giggle, her Inner Hollow began to disintegrate, the fragments returning to Kokoro no Kage. "We'll get through this," she told him. He didn't speak, only giving a brief nod.

Opening her eyes, Kirara felt a wave of determination roll over her. She couldn't – and wouldn't – give up. She would figure out how to restore her connection to Kokoro no Kage. After all, Urahara had told her that the connection should have severed long ago, but had slowed down a great deal, allowing her to remain connected for 100 years.

"Hey Kirara!" looking up from the Zanpakuto resting across her legs, Kirara found Kensei standing over her. "You're up," he told her. Kirara groaned, but pushed herself to her feet. She walked over, drawing her Zanpakuto and tossing her scabbard aside.

"I wonder, should I have fun, or take this seriously?" she suddenly grinned at the much taller man, who scowled as he grabbed his small Shikai tightly. It was rare to see Kensei's Zanpakuto in its seals form anymore.

"How about you take it seriously, for once in your goddamn life?" Kensei demanded, and suddenly disappeared. Kirara smirked, and flickered out of view as well as Kensei appeared behind her. He didn't look around, blocking her attack by raising his Zanpakuto over his shoulder.

"Okay," his eyes widened in surprise as Kirara grinned, pushing harder. Kensei pushed her back, and spun around to keep fighting, but Kirara just disappeared, reappearing higher up. With a growl, Kensei followed her, and slashed down. Instead of using Shunpo to dodge, Kirara moved slightly and kicked up so his swing was knocked off course.

"Oh? I believe Kirara may be taking this a little more seriously than normal," Rose commented from the ground, watching the two fight.

"I think you're right," Love nodded in agreement. Normally when Kirara sparred against Kensei, she dodged so much and made Kensei end up chasing her around as she taunted him. This time she seemed to be genuinely fighting back, instead of just playing.

"Go on Kirara! Show that meanie who's boss!" Mashiro cheered loudly.

"Shut up!" Kensei yelled back down at her with a glare, blocking Kirara's next attack. However she moved around him and kicked the back of his knee, knocking him down slightly. "Oh, you think you're funny, huh?" he growled at his opponent, who winked.

"I'm pretty funny," she nodded, and when he slashed at her, she dodged, coming in from above to slash down at him. Letting out a yell, Kensei swung again, and when she blocked, he repeated her actions and kicked her back. He then swung Tachikaze hard. A strong wind picked up, throwing Kirara even farther backwards as she was battered. She struggled against the powerful winds, and looked up as Kensei appeared above her. Knowing she couldn't dodge, she blocked his hit, and was pushed farther down.

"Why does Kirara never release her Zanpakuto?" Mashiro wondered aloud, looking to the others as they watched the fight above.

"I've always wondered that too," Rose nodded. Lisa hummed in agreement as Kirara dodged Kensei's next hit, appearing behind him and kicking him in the small of his back. Kensei stumbled forwards as Kirara kicked him again, disappearing when he countered.

"She's never unsealed it here," Hiyori spoke up as well. "And I never saw it before either," she added.

"Because it loses her the element of surprise," they looked over at Shinji as he spoke in a low voice. "She was part of the Onmitsukido, remember?" he didn't look away from the fight as he reminded them of the past. Above, Kensei slashed again, creating a powerful wind that made caught Kirara and threw her backwards, making her flip in the air. "They rely on surprise, and to show her Zanpakuto's true abilities easily is not something they'd practice," he shrugged as Kirara managed to right herself.

"Explains why she never unseals it during training," Love muttered. The others nodded, understanding as well. They always forgot that the childish Vizard was once part of the infamous, secretive force, let alone one of the Corps Commanders that were in charge.

"That's no fun..." Mashiro pouted, looking curious.

"What about you Shinji? Have you seen it?" Lisa asked suddenly, and Shinji frowned very slightly. He didn't answer, but his mind went back to when he had come across Kirara fighting Kenjiro Shirobara. He'd only witnessed the end, but he hadn't missed her Reiatsu moving in strange ways.

He was snapped from his thoughts by a loud crash, and everyone looked around to see Kirara emerging from the rubble that Kensei had thrown her into.

"You alright?" Kensei called down hesitantly.

"That was amazing!" Kirara couldn't help but laugh as she shook her head, causing a small dust cloud. Feeling something running down her face, she reached up and touched the blood that was pouring from a cut across her forehead. "Oops," she wiped her hand on her shorts, and lifted her Zanpakuto from the ground beside her.

"You trying to kill her Kensei?" Lisa shouted up to the silver-haired Vizard. Love laughed loudly nearby.

"If I was trying, I'd have succeeded!" Kensei snapped back as he landed roughly near her. Kirara leapt over, grabbing her scabbard to sheath her Zanpakuto.

"I gotta fight seriously more often, that was awesome!" Kirara grinned as she ran the back of her hand across her forehead, smearing blood across it. "Oops..." she muttered again.

"You're an idiot," Lisa sighed, getting to her feet. "Come on, let's get you patched up," she grabbed Kirara's wrist and pulled her away and up back into the warehouse. "Honestly, why do you always get hurt when you fight seriously?" the glasses wearing Vizard muttered as she found the first aid kit kept in the kitchen. To save Hachi from constantly having to use Kidos to heal them, the others usually went for the first aid kit, which, needless to say, often had to be restocked.

"I got excited?" Kirara offered, her cheeks flushed from not only embarrassment over being tended to, but from the exertion of fighting Kensei.

"So it seems," Lisa hummed, and Kirara winced as she dabbed at the cut with a swab soaked in antiseptic. "Are you sure that you're not going overboard to hide what's happening to you?" Kirara's eyes shot open and she stared up at Lisa, who was sitting in front of her.

"Wh-what?" she breathed as Lisa frowned at her.

"You heard me," Kirara flinched as she dabbed at the blood that dripped from the wound. "I know you know what's going on with you. You're not exactly a subtle person, Kirara," Lisa told her.

"It's not-I'm not-ow!" Kirara yelped as Lisa pressed a fresh swab to the cut. "I'm not going overboard! It's nothing, I-ow!" Kirara cried again as Lisa pressed it harder. "Stop doing that!" she flinched away.

"I will when you stop lying," Lisa replied.

"But I'm f-ow!" Kirara wailed, pulling away. "You're a bully!" she yelled as she ran away from her.

"I'm not a bully, you're a terrible liar!" Lisa called after her, remorseless. "You're still bleeding you know!" she shouted.

"Don't care, better than you torturing me!" Kirara yelled over her shoulder, before slamming directly into someone and bouncing back. She was caught by the wrist, and saved from falling.

"What's this about torture?" Shinji asked, an eyebrow raised as he pulled Kirara back up.

"Kirara's being overdramatic," Lisa replied flatly. Kirara turned and stuck out her tongue at her. "And a brat. Well, I tried to help. I'll leave you two alone," she stood and walked past the two. "Try to behave, okay? Don't do what you see in my books," she smirked as as she passed them.

"You're just an old man in a woman's body, you know that Lisa?" Shinji rolled his eyes as he angled his head to glare at her. She didn't react, disappearing back down the stairs as Kirara giggled. "What's so funny?" Shinji frowned as he looked back at her, and the woman poked his cheek.

"You're blushing, Hirako," Shinji's eyes widened very slightly. "Have you been reading Lisa's books when no-one's looking?" Kirara teased him, and to his horror and irritation, his blushing grew.

"Don't insult me," he rolled his eyes, walking past as he tried to ignore it. Kirara continued to giggle, following him as she decided to keep teasing him.

"I know I call you a pervert-"

"That was an accident!"

"But I didn't think you were that bad," Kirara kept going, until Shinji grabbed her arm and pulled her back over to the first aid kit, making her sit down in front of her. "Maybe Lisa should check to make sure none of her books have gone mi-ow!" Kirara yelped as he suddenly pressed a swab to her forehead. "You're as bad as Lisa," she complained.

"Then stop being a brat," Shinji replied.

"Not my fault you're a pervert," Kirara retorted, and cried out again as he poked the cut. "That's just mean, " she complained.

"Maybe it'll teach you to be a bit more cautious when fighting Kensei," Shinji replied as he cleaned the blood smeared across her face.

"Doubtful," Kirara muttered, and flinched when he flicked her nose.

"Then I'll tell you to be more careful. I prefer you to be in one piece you know," Shinji frowned at her. Kirara rubbed her nose, before smirking. Shinji couldn't stop himself from letting out a cry of alarm as Kirara threw her arms around him and knocked him off the crate he had been perched on. They landed on the ground, with Kirara on top.

"Still telling Lisa to keep an eye on her books," she teased him as he stared up at her.

"Kirara..." after a moment, he spoke softly, sitting up. "What's wrong?" Kirara's smirk instantly and her eyes widened slightly.

"What? I don't-" she started, and he sat up, knocking her down onto his lap. "I'm not..." Kirara started, but tears filled her eyes as he frowned. She immediately put the backs of her hands to her eyes, attempting to stop herself. "You dumbass...why'd you have to say anything?" she mumbled, her voice quivering. "I don't want to lose him Shinji, I can't do it," Kirara said before she could stop herself from speaking her fears from when she'd first spoken to Urahara about her Zanpakuto. All of her emotions that she'd hidden behind a wall in her determination to find Shirobara broke loose at once.

"You idiot..." Shinji sighed, pulling her close as Kirara's tears spilled down her face. She buried her face into his chest, shaking with her sobs. "You said it before. No more secrets. So stop hiding how you really feel," he muttered as Kirara hiccuped.

"Okay," she mumbled, her hands reaching up to grip his shirt tightly, not moving as he kept her close, and the tears just continued to run free.

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