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Chapter 27: Back to School

Yawning widely, Kirara slumped over her desk as tears formed from the yawn. She couldn't believe she was stuck back at school. But unfortunately for her, she still had a Shinigami to monitor, so here she was. Closing her eyes, Kirara made herself comfortable.

"Hi Ichigo, good morning!" she heard Orihime call, and Kirara opened an eye to look at the orange haired boy. He approached Orihime, who was standing with Chad at Uryu's desk as the Quincy sat. She had to admit, it amused her that a Quincy was friends with a Shinigami. They were an odd bunch. She closed her eyes again, determined to get some more sleep.

"Oh, you're standing around together like you've got a secret club and I'm not allowed to join it!" her sleep was torn from her as Keigo wailed loudly. "Why is Chad with Orihime and Uryu, it's like the Beauty, the Beast and the Nerd altogether without me! Ever since the beginning of summer break you've been stuck together like glue! I demand to know why that is!" he yelled.

"Good lord Asano, can you please shut up?" Kirara finally groaned, sitting up and stretching.

"Yeah, you're disturbing the delinquent's sleep," Ichigo rolled his eyes. Kirara stuck her tongue out at him.

"Even Kirara is being cold," Keigo whimpered.

"I'm always cold," Kirara retorted, sounding bored.

"You're all so cruel!" Keigo wailed loudly as Kirara put her hands over her ears.

"It's too early for any of this," she slumped back down over her desk with a wide yawn.

"It's always too early for you," Mizuiro commented as he looked over at her. She just shot him a tired glare, lifting a book and resting it over her face so she could try and block the others out.

"Hey Kirara, are you dying your hair black again?" she lifted her book to look up at Orihime, who smiled at her.

"Am I?" Kirara yawned widely, and the red-haired girl blinked at her.

"Well there's less white in it than there was when I saw you last week," Orihime told her. Kirara lifted a couple of strands, realising that because her connection to her sword was repairing, the white was leaving her hair. She gave a small chuckle.

"Yeah, the white got old. So I'm getting rid of it," she told Orihime, who smiled.

"I think it looks nice with the black," she told her. Kirara's smile grew.

"Thanks Orihime, me too," she told her.

"Hi everybody!"

"Oh, Miss. Ochi," Keigo looked over to their homeroom teacher as she walked in.

"Alright, get to your seats everyone," Miss. Ochi instructed as she closed the door and walked to the front of the class. "Kirara, I imagine with your delinquent ways that you must have been out late, but try to at least stay awake for attendance," she called, and with a sigh Kirara sat up properly, lowering her book and yawning widely. "Right, let's see if all of my students are in attendance today!" she opened the register. "Oshima and Soramachi are never here because they're juvenile delinquents, so we won't worry about them, will we class?" she smiled. "I have an exciting announcement! A transfer student is going to join our class!" she announced, much to the interest of most of the class.

Kirara just sighed and leaned her elbow on her desk, resting her head in her hand.

After she'd relayed Urahara's information to the other Vizards, they had been in deep discussion as to what to do about Ichigo becoming a Vizard like them. It had taken the guts of a week to decide on what to do. Initially the others had suggested that Kirara approach him, but she'd immediately rejected the idea.

"No way. It can't be me," Kirara shook her head when eight sets of eyes looked to her.

"Why not? You're already in his class," Love frowned at her as she shrugged, leaning back against the crates she was sitting on.

"Exactly. You think this kid is going to trust me if I go up to him and say 'hey Ichigo, so I've actually been here spying on you for the last couple of months and I know you're turning into a Hollow. Join our group?' He won't trust me as far as he can throw me," Kirara pointed out.

"She's right," she glanced over to Kensei in surprise as he spoke. "It's gotta be someone else. The question is...who?" he asked, looking up.

"I'll-"

"Not a chance," everyone spoke before Hiyori could volunteer. She scowled, folding her arms, but didn't argue.

"Well Love's out, he's listed as my guardian," Kirara pointed out. "They know his face," she shrugged.

"Because you're always in trouble," Love muttered, earning a glare. "And there's no way I'd pose as a high-schooler," he added.

"I'll do it," Lisa shut over her book to look up at them. Everyone else exchanged wary looks. "What? I'd be a perfect fit!" she frowned at them.

"With the perverts maybe," Kensei told her.

"I am not a pervert!" she shouted at him. Kirara put a hand to her face.

"You thought it'd be easy?" Shinji chuckled as he pulled her into him, sitting behind her and leaning on her shoulders. She sighed heavily.

"Hiyori's a straight up no. Mashiro wouldn't be able to focus for five minutes on recruiting Ichigo," Kirara looked over to the green haired Vizard, who already looked completely lost by the conversation occurring.

"Hachi couldn't pass for a kid no matter what you did, and they already know Love," Shinji continued for her.

"Lisa would freak him out. He's way too innocent for a pervert like her. Then there's Rose, he's off in his own world half the time, so no way," Kirara shook his head.

"You know, I do find that offensive sometimes," Rose frowned, hearing them speak.

"Kensei has no patience for anyone," Kirara continued, not seeming to hear him. "So who..." she stopped, frowning. She looked up at Shinji, who was yawning.

"What?" he frowned, looking down at her. It was then that he realised that the others were looking at him. "Oh no..." he muttered, leaning back and off Kirara. Hiyori snorted.

"The stupid baldy would fit right in with them," she smirked.

"You would be the most suited, the lesser of, well, eight evils," Rose nodded.

"No way," Shinji scowled at them.

"I like the idea as much as you do, but you're the only one with enough patience to do anything," Kirara told him, looking irritated.

"And hey, you two can go to school together! It'll be perfect," Lisa suggested with a smirk.

"I am not suited for a mission like this," Shinji insisted.

"Probably not, but I think if we vote on it..." Hiyori smirked, and everyone, minus Shinji, raised their hands. "Looks like you're going to school," she laughed.

A loud beeping made Kirara snap back to attention, and Ichigo screeched in alarm. He barely managed to catch a small badge, and Kirara raised an eyebrow, seeing the flashing eyes. In a corner of her mind, she registered the presence of a weak Hollow nearby.

"Something wrong Ichigo?" Mizuiro asked from a few seats behind Ichigo.

"Um...it's nothing really..." Ichigo said weakly, looking around to the baffled boy. "My stomach?" he tried.

"Hey, please be quiet!" Miss. Ochi frowned at him, and sighed. She walked over to the door, and slid it open. "You can come in now," she said, but found no-one waiting on the other side. Kirara's phone buzzed in her pocket, and as the teacher's back was turned, pulled it out and opened the message. As soon as she read it, she put a hand to her face.

"Shinji, you're gonna be the death of me," she muttered, glaring at his message that told her he was off to check out Ichigo in battle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ichigo sneak out of the classroom and make a break for it, shortly followed by Orihime and Chad. Keigo attempted to follow, only to be grabbed and hauled back in as he wailed.

"What...?" Kirara glanced around at Tatsuki, who was staring out the window with wide eyes. Following her gaze, Kirara realised she was watching Ichigo, in his Shinigami form, running away from the school.

'Interesting, it seems her own abilities are growing,' Kokoro no Kage commented. Kirara glanced back at Tatsuki, suddenly very interested. Her eyes then darted to Uryu, who was frowning down at his hands.

'Weird...why's he staying when the other two felt the need to hold Ichigo's hand for a simple Hollow?' Kirara wondered, before she realised what was off about him. He had no Reiatsu. 'The Quincy lost his powers? That's weird...' Kirara murmured as she looked away, wondering just what had happened in the Soul Society.

Kirara was dozing behind a book, finally managing to drift off, when she was suddenly wakened by the book being lifted from her hands, and tapped roughly against her head.

"Now Kirara, that is not the kind of first impression I like to give in this class," Miss. Ochi scolded as Kirara groaned and sat up, a hand to her head. "At least wait until a class I'm not teaching before you do that," she told her.

"Sure..." Kirara yawned.

"Or maybe sleep at night at home?" Tatsuki grinned at her.

"Where's the fun in that?" Kirara asked with a smirk, and was hit over the head again by the teacher. "Hey, not sleeping!" she complained.

"That was to make sure you listen," Miss. Ochi smirked at her, before walking back to the front of the class. "Okay, now that the delinquent is awake-"

"I take offence to that!"

"Then stop acting like one," the teacher told Kirara. She just shrugged in response. "Alright, pay attention everyone. The transfer student I told you about earlier is here. Why don't you introduce yourself?" she asked, turning to Shinji, who had been watching the teacher scold Kirara in amusement. His eyes darted to Kirara for a quick moment, before he turned away. As he wrote his name on the board, Kirara stretched, watching as he wrote his name in reverse, making her arch an eyebrow.

'He loves to show off,' she thought to herself.

'He's not the only one,' Kokoro no Kage commented. Kirara frowned.

'Shut up old man. You're just as much of a showboat as I am,' she retorted, making him hum in irritation. Blinking as the Spirit faded from her mind, she glanced to her side as Shinji took the seat between her and Ichigo.

"Hey there, looks like you and I are gonna be neighbours. I hope we can be friends, Ichigo," he smiled to Ichigo, who looked like he had been in deep thought.

"Huh...oh, yeah," Ichigo said slowly. He looked away again, and with a chuckle, Shinji glanced to Kirara. She just rolled her eyes, choosing instead to zone out instead.

"Ki-ra-ra!" hearing her name being sung, Kirara side-stepped, and Keigo crashed to the ground.

"Really starting to consider calling you out on sexual harassment," she mused, looking down at him as he whimpered from the ground.

"You're so cruel! This day sucks," he whined.

"Suck it up Asano. Come on, let's have lunch," she told him, and he looked up with wide eyes. They immediately became teary.

"Are you inviting me to have lunch with you, just us?" he asked hopefully. Kirara snorted.

"God no. I've invited Mizuiro as well, he's meeting us up there," she told him, and Keigo's face fell instantly. "Come on, or I'll leave you there," Kirara teased him, and with a wail he leapt back up. Kirara turned to walk away, and walked straight into Shinji, stumbling backwards.

"Whoa, careful," he caught her wrist and stopped her falling. She arched an eyebrow at him as he smiled at her, acting how he had been in class.

"Thanks," she pulled her wrist free. "Hirako, right?" she feigned ignorance as Keigo hovered behind her awkwardly.

"That's right!" he smiled back, and Kirara resisted rolling her eyes at his overacting. "And you're Kirara, right?" she just nodded, looking bored.

"Right. If you'll excuse me, me and Keigo were just heading off to lunch with Mizuiro, so..." Kirara edged around him, and Keigo followed, shooting Shinji a suspicious look.

"You know," Shinji blocked Kirara's way again, and she frowned. "You're pretty cute," she stiffened, feeling her face go bright red as he leaned closer. "How about a date?" he winked, and Kirara's blushing only grew as Keigo let out a wail of horror.

"Huh. No thanks," Kirara spoke quickly as she recovered from the surprise. "Later Hirako!" she grabbed Keigo's wrist and pulled him away as Shinji watched, frowning at the pair as Kirara practically ran away.

"What took you guys so long?" Mizuiro asked as he looked around to see Kirara and Keigo arrive.

"Bumped into that new transfer student," Keigo muttered as they took a seat by the railings around the rooftop.

"Oh yeah? What's he like?" Mizuiro asked curiously as they started to eat.

"I don't like him," Keigo muttered, making the black haired boy blink as Kirara laughed. "He had the nerve to call Kirara cute, and asked her out. He's only been here one day!" he growled.

"Huh..." Mizuiro glanced to Kirara, who shrugged.

"New guy has guts, I'll give him that," she replied with a chuckle. However, she was going to kick his ass when she found him later. She'd told him straight up that she wasn't going to know him in school. If Ichigo realised that they knew each other, he'd have even less of a reason to trust them. "Bit too much for my liking though," Kirara shoved rice into her mouth.

"Huh. Would have thought you'd like that," Mizuiro commented, watching Kirara carefully for a moment before eating his own lunch.

"Nah. Hey, long shot, but have you guys finished that summer assignment?" Kirara changed the subject, and Keigo snorted.

"Yeah right!" he scoffed.

"See? Long shot. What about you?" Kirara asked Mizuiro, completely changing the subject away from the new student.

Kirara stood, brushing off her skirt, and turned to the wire mesh that blocked off the roof. Her fingers curled around it as she looked out into the distance. She took in the view of the trees covering the mountain, bright green in the summer sun; a stark contrast to the large buildings in the town.

"Hey Kirara, you coming or what?" she glanced around to Keigo and Mizuiro, who were standing in the doorway.

"I'll catch up," she told them, smiling before turning back to the view. "So peaceful…they have no idea what's coming," Kirara murmured as her smile fell. Leaning her head against the railings, she looked out, her mind on the upcoming war.

Blinking suddenly, she lifted her head and sighed. "I told you I wasn't going to know you here, dumbass," she turned around, before she found Shinji's mouth on hers. Her resolve instantly shattered as he overwhelmed her senses, and she allowed him to push her back against the railings. His hand moved behind her head as Kirara caught his shirt and pulled him as close as he could get, and he nipped at her lower lip, deepening the kiss when she obeyed instantly.

Finally he broke the kiss as his lungs demanded air, and the two breathed heavily as Kirara stared up at him with wide eyes. After a moment, Shinji smirked at her, smug at his victory.

"That was pretty intense, considering you don't know me," he commented. She blinked multiple times, still a little dazed, before sticking her nose up, turning her head away.

"You caught me off guard," Kirara sniffed, though her heart was hammering against her chest.

"You're a crappy liar, Princess," Shinji's rough fingers brushed her cheek and turned her head back to face him, touching to her chin to tilt her head back up.

"Stop calling me that," she grumbled, blushing from his touch.

"Would you prefer delinquent?" he murmured, leaning in closer. Kirara's hands splayed on his chest as if to push him away, but she couldn't find the strength. "You've been here too long, you've been acting like a real school girl," he taunted.

"What, like you and your creepy friendly attitude?" Kirara finally pushed him back, but he didn't move very far back. "'You're cute, how about a date?'" she mimicked, and to her irritation his grin only widened.

"I couldn't resist getting you all flustered in front of your friends," Kirara frowned at him, and as she tried to push him back further, Shinji caught her hands and linked them with his.

"It was only Keigo, who cares?" she asked, rolling her eyes. When his smirk faltered very slightly, Kirara arched an eyebrow. "Unless…" her eyes went wide and she grinned widely.

"Unless what Princess?" Shinji's voice was guarded, a complete giveaway that made Kirara start laughing.

"You got jealous," she accused, and his eyes narrowed.

"Not a chance," he denied it instantly, but the red spreading across his face didn't back him up. Kirara couldn't stop her laughter, her entire body shaking as she put her hands to her face. Irritated, Shinji released her and went to walk away, but Kirara caught his hand.

"You really are an idiot Shinji," she pushed up to kiss him softly. "There's no point in getting jealous, because you're the one I care about," she told him.

"I'm not jealous," he hissed, closing the gap between them again in a much harder kiss. He could still feel Kirara's amused grin, which only irritated him more.

"And you call me a crappy liar," she teased, pulling away and almost bouncing to the doorway.

"You're delusional," he called after her.

"If you say so," Kirara sang back at him, disappearing down the stairs.

"And I meant what I said," Kirara arched an eyebrow as he leaned over the bannister. "You are cute!" his words served their purpose and made her go red as other students passing by turned and stared at her. She glanced back up and glared at him as he smirked back, turning it back on her.

"Dumbass!" Kirara kicked Shinji as he grinned from the ground.

"Oh come on, it was funny!" he told her, sitting with his back against the wall. Kirara just kicked him again.

"You're at the school to recruit Ichigo remember? Not hit on me," she folded her arms and scowled at the remorseless man on the ground.

"That's why we're here!" Shinji said brightly. "Besides, I wasn't wrong," he said as he got to his feet. "You are cute," he said, kissing her cheek as Kirara went red.

"You're an idiot," she muttered, punching his arm lightly. "So you plan on recruiting Ichigo here? In the middle of the night, where he is nowhere to be found?" Kirara tilted her head slightly, watching him with a raised eyebrow.

"He's a Shinigami, he'll be out to clear out the Hollows," Shinji reminded her, patting her head as he walked past her. Kirara leaned against the wall, watching him.

"There's another Shinigami in town to do that remember? Has been since Kuchiki left," Kirara reminded him. She hadn't come across the other Shinigami, but had sensed his arrival. He had brought less of a catastrophe with him than Rukia had done, so Kirara hadn't bothered with him.

"Why do you have to be such a whine?" Shinji grumbled.

"I'm not whining, I'm just questioning your 'ingenious' plan," Kirara argued, scowling at him.

"Someone's grumpy tonight," Shinji poked her side, making her squirm.

"Not grumpy," she swatted his hand away. "Just worried," Kirara shrugged.

"I know," Shinji murmured, losing his teasing tone. "But it'll be fine. We were fine the last time," he said. Kirara looked up at him, not entirely sure he was right. When they had first become Vizards, it was tough. As he reached up to touch his hand to her face, they felt the Reiatsu of a Hollow suddenly fill the air. "Shouldn't be long now," Shinji said as he looked up to the sky. Sure enough, within moments, Ichigo was there, slicing through the Hollow's Mask and destroying it. Kirara sighed, before noticing someone else standing on a roof.

"Oh, looks like we're not the only ones here to witness his work," Kirara nudged Shinji, before a loud yell echoed through the streets. They looked up at another Shinigami, who had a large brown afro.

"Hey, why are you dressed up like a Shinigami?" the Shinigami demanded, pointing at Ichigo, who hadn't noticed his presence until then.

"I think Shinigami have gotten stupider," Kirara commented.

"I don't know, you weren't particularly smart back then either, Princess," Shinji taunted, but disappeared before Kirara could react.

"What an asshole," Kirara sighed heavily, watching the Shinigami shouting at Ichigo, who held up the badge that Kirara had seen him with in class. It gave off a strange presence, which led her to believe that it was from the Soul Society.

The Shinigami, who had loudly introduced himself as Zennosuke, burst out laughing at it. "Now what is that dumbass planning..." she wondered, before seeing Shinji approach Ichigo from behind. He drew his Zanpakuto, and with a laugh, attacked. Ichigo realised at the last moment, turning to block his attack. Kirara slapped a hand to her face as a powerful wind picked up from their Reiatsu clashing.

"Who the hell are you?!" Ichigo demanded as he stared at the one he recognised as the new transfer student. Still smirking, Shinji hushed him.

"You mustn't make too much noise, Ichigo Kurosaki. Those with high Reiatsu like you possess need to learn how to stay calm," he told the stunned boy. "Or...your presence will be felt," he warned. Kirara shook her head in disbelief.

"Felt by who?! Who will feel it?!" Ichigo yelled.

"Does he not remember his friends who can sense Reiatsu?" Kirara wondered quietly.

"It seems I need everything to be out in the open for you understand it," Shinji rolled his eyes, his smirk falling as he grew irritated with the boy. "Children are so foolish and blind," he complained. Kirara's head turned, feeling not one, but two powerful Hollow presences appear in town. They seemed strange, as if right on top of one another. Ichigo then shoved at Shinji, and their Reiatsu clashed again, causing an even greater gust of wind that almost sent Zennosuke flying, had he not grabbed hold of the roof he was standing on.

Kirara felt another presence, completely different but still a Hollow. And much more powerful. She pushed herself up properly, her arms falling to her sides. Shinji looked around, sensing it as well, and glanced to Kirara. He gave a small shake of his head, but she just smirked and disappeared, much to his irritation.

Using Shunpo to move through the town, Kirara moved towards the powerful Reiatsu she felt. Landing on a roof, she spotted Ichigo's body, housing the Konpaku she had met before, on the ground and staring up at a massive figure towering over him.

"Ichigo...Kurosaki..." the Hollow chuckled, and Kirara got a good look at its face. It was almost human-like, mostly hidden under a Mask. By its side, the Hollow had a Zanpakuto.

"Shit, a damn Arrancar already?" Kirara hissed as Kon whimpered on the ground.

"Grand Fisher!" he cried, recognising the Mask. He got up and sprinted away quickly, using his enhanced leg power that being a Konpaku had allowed him to possess. Grand Fisher followed him, attacking him and slamming his fist into a building.

"Are you for real? Why has Ichigo even bothered with a Gikongan? That guy is useless," Kirara rolled her eyes, and followed. "I can't very well just let that thing trash Ichigo's body," she muttered, using Shunpo to get ahead of the Hollow. As Kon leapt through the air, he screamed as an arm hooked around his waist and pulled him away from Grand Fisher.

"What the hell! Let me go!" he wailed.

"Moron," he looked up sharply at Kirara, who dropped him to the ground as she landed.

"It's...it's you!" Kon gasped, scrambling away from her. "Don't hurt me! I never told anyone about you!" he cried, and Kirara sighed.

"Hey genius, I just saved your sorry ass from the Arrancar, so you could at least stop screaming," she told him, making Kon stare at her, tears of fear in his eyes. "And wipe that stupid look off Ichigo's face," Kirara added.

"Why...why'd you save me?" he whimpered, sniffing.

"Because I doubt Ichigo would appreciate it if you got his body trashed, now would he?" Kirara looked around, hearing the Grand Fisher stomping around. "Just why does that freak want to kill Ichigo anyway? Hollows don't normally target like that," she said.

"He and Ichigo have history..." Kon snivelled, irritating Kirara even more. She really didn't care for the Konpaku, who was as big a coward as he was a pervert.

"Found you!" Grand Fisher suddenly announced, making Kon scream in fear. "Ichigo Kurosaki, why do you run? Fight me as a Shinigami," he demanded, but Kirara's foot suddenly slammed into his face. He let out a roar of pain, crashing to the ground. Kirara then grabbed Kon by the waist again as he scrambled to his feet to run away.

"Hey wait, stop-" Kon started, before screaming as Kirara shot into the air to escape the Grand Fisher. She really didn't want to fight. With Ichigo and Shinji clashing, those who could sense Reiatsu would notice if she suddenly appeared.

But if she had no choice, which it seemed like with Grand Fisher chasing, then she would have to.

"Bastard is fast," Kirara muttered, suddenly veering to another side as the Grand Fisher's fist flew at her, slamming into a water tank.

"You cannot get away from me that easily, Ichigo Kurosaki! I'm going to destroy both you and that irritating bug helping you!" he roared.

"Bug?!" Kirara demanded, looking around angrily. Grand Fisher's fist then slammed into her, and she was forced to let go of Kon as she was tossed through the air and he crashed to the ground below. As she hit a building and bounced off, an arm looped around her waist and stopped her from falling.

"And here you deny getting involved in the middle of everything," she looked up at Shinji, who was carrying her under his arm.

"Well I didn't intend on it, then that Arrancar was trying to destroy Ichigo's body..." Kirara chuckled. "Speaking of Ichigo...how'd it go?" she asked, looking up at him as he frowned.

"Well..." Kirara started to laugh.

"You really that that was the best way to persuade him? You really are a dumbass," she teased. "You can let me go you know," Kirara added.

"After you called me a dumbass? I don't think so," Shinji then threw Kirara over his shoulder with a smirk, moving through the air with ease. "Besides Princess, you're injured, you should take it easy," he told her.

"You suck," Kirara muttered.

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