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Chapter 34: Familiar But Unfamiliar

The next while passed quickly, with the Vizards taking it in turns to work with Ichigo to try and improve his timing with his Hollow Mask. Even after constant training, switching it up occasionally to keep it fresh, the Vizards found that his progression was still incredibly slow. Ichigo had improved, by about 4 seconds.

When it once again shattered, Ichigo hit the ground, breathing heavily.

"Oh come on," Kirara sighed, irritated as she watched him struggle to get up.

"Stop saying that!" Ichigo snapped, pushing himself up.

"I wouldn't have to if you didn't suck so much," Kirara retorted, folding her arms. "Your reactions have improved, but barely. And your Mask...it's a joke," she shook her head.

"I'm so sick of your crap Kirara! Stop acting like I'm useless!" Ichigo grabbed his Zanpakuto and leapt at her. Kirara just took a step to the side, and let him sail past her.

"I told you Ichigo," Kirara frowned at him as he spun to face her again. "You're only supposed to react, not act. You're the worst student ever," she told him.

"Kirara, you're just aggravating him," Rose, who was sitting nearby with Love, told her.

"Yeah..." Love looked up from the comic in his hands. "You tell him just to react and then insult him. Not everyone can match your speed you know," he told her. Kirara rolled her eyes.

"I'm going slow! Kenseicould dodge my hits at this pace!" she exclaimed.

"Oi, I heard that!" Kensei yelled over to her. "Don't make me kick your ass again Kirara," he warned her.

"Catch me and I'll stop!" she shouted back at him with a smirk.

"Hirako, how the hell do you put up with that?" Kensei demanded, turning to the blond as he pointed at Kirara. He didn't reply, deep in thought. Kirara's smirk just widened.

"Rose, you cool to take over now? I'm done for the day," Kirara called over her shoulder.

"Of course," Rose got to his feet, lifting his Zanpakuto. "I imagine Ichigo will welcome the change too," he commented, glancing to Ichigo. The dark eyed boy looked relieved. Out of all of them, Hiyori and Kirara were the ones who didn't hold back on him, and he needed a break from them.

"I'm going for a walk, I'll grab dinner on the way back," Kirara called over her shoulder as she walked off, leaving the others to Ichigo's training.

"Maybe get some respect while you're out!" Kensei shouted, still annoyed at her.

"Why, you running low Kensei? I always thought you were very respectful," Kirara replied in an innocent tone. He tensed.

"Don't kill her Kensei," Lisa spoke in a bored tone.

"Don't tempt me..." he hissed back. Kirara just laughed as she disappeared up the stairs.

Kirara walked through town, her hands behind her back as she hummed to herself, deep in thought.

Time was passing quickly, and it wouldn't be much longer before the Hogyoku was fully awakened. They needed to be ready, but Kirara wasn't sure if she was ready to face the Shinigami who would inevitably be heading to war as well.

100 years had passed before she'd laid eyes on another Shinigami, and the only time she'd encountered those she'd met before, it had completely messed with her head, and they hadn't even been major people in Kirara's life at the time. She wasn't sure how she'd cope with seeing Natsuki, her brother, anyone who had been close to her all those years ago.

Kirara sighed, running a hand through her hair before shaking her head.

"I really should stop dwelling on the past so much," she muttered to herself. "It's just stupid," she shook her head.

'I've been telling you that for years,' Kokoro no Kage said, making her laugh.

"Have you? I mean, I wasn't really able to hear you for a while so..." she commented, earning an irritated hum that made her grin widen. She continued walking, humming to herself, before she turned a corner and immediately bumped into someone. Kirara stumbled backwards, managing to stay on her feet. "Oops, sorry, I-" she stopped immediately. "You've got to be kidding me," she stared at Yumichika, who stared down at her.

"You?!" both exclaimed in alarm. He immediately drew his Zanpakuto, but Kirara didn't react, her eyes darting from it, back up to his face. "You're not escaping this time Kirara," Yumichika hissed at her.

"Of all the people to run into in this town, it's you?" Kirara just sighed, resting her hands on her hips. "Look, Feathers, I ain't going with you, so just leave me alone. I'm just taking a walk here," she told him. "I would really hate to have to damage your pretty-boy face," Kirara smirked. He scowled down at her.

"There is something incredibly unbeautiful about you," Yumichika frowned.

"Oh, I'm wounded," Kirara said dramatically, putting a hand to her chest. She then rolled her eyes. "I'm not important, Feathers, so just leave me alone. I'm done with you damn Shinigami, and your shitty ways," she told him.

"You're important to Natsuki," Kirara stiffened, her fists clenching tightly.

"Leave her out of this," she warned him. A glimmer of victory shone in his eyes.

"She asked us to try and find you, when she found out that you were here. She never stopped believing that you were alive. Are you really going to turn your back on her?" Yumichika asked her, moving slowly towards her.

"Shut up. Just shut the hell up. You have no idea what you're talking about," Kirara growled at him, furious at herself when tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "The Soul Society turned its back on me, why should I give a damn about anyone?" she demanded.

"Lying isn't very becoming of a woman," Yumichika told her. Kirara gave a dark laugh.

"Oh Feathers, you have no idea how much I want to hurt you right now," she hissed, and before he'd realised it, she'd gotten in close, disarming him in one move. His Zanpakuto clattered to the ground. "I wouldn't even feel guilty about damaging your pretty face. I could kill you easily, but that's your way, not mine," Kirara told him, taking a step back. "So I'll tell you again. Leave me alone," she told him, turning and walking off.

"I can't do that," she turned, and barely managed to dodge his strike. "I made a promise that I'd find you! I'm not going to stop!" Yumichika lashed out again, and Kirara dodged, before her back hit the wall.

"Why?" she muttered. "Why is it so important? You should be focusing on getting stronger for the war. If you're so easily disarmed by me, what chance do you stand against Sosuke?" Kirara asked him. Yumichika stared at her, baffled by her sudden change. He then gave a small laugh, and took a step back.

"You're not quite the beauty that Natsuki claimed. You have no elegance or grace," he told her.

"Yeah, because Natsuki would say that shit about me," Kirara snorted. "I'm more likely to be called callous than graceful," she told him.

"That would be more likely, you seem quite the irritating girl," he told her.

"And you seem like a real asshole. Now, are you going to let me leave, or-"

"Yumichika!" they looked around as two other figures caught up. "Sorry we took so long, I had to..." the taller of the two young boys, who had black hair and wide blue eyes, realised that Yumichika wasn't alone, and that she could see them.

"Whoa, who is this?" the other boy, who had brown hair in a ponytail on the top of his head, blinked at Kirara.

"Nobody important," Kirara told him coldly, and glanced to Yumichika. "Later, Feathers," she turned, walking away as she began humming again.

"W-wait!" she heard the other boy cry out. With a sigh, she stopped, angling her head to him. Kirara froze, her entire being going cold. His earnest, wide-eyed expression tugged at her memories. Of her younger brother, before he became a Shinigami. Of her mother, who had retained an innocent air about her. "Are you...Kirara?" he asked slowly.

"What's your name kid?" Kirara asked him, trying to hide that her heart was slamming against his chest.

"My name is Hanataro Yamada. 7th Seat of Squad 4," the boy introduced himself. "My...my brother, he used to tell me st-stories, about our sister," his voice was soft, and filled with nerves that Kirara didn't believe were just from talking to her. Inside, she was cursing herself. She shouldn't have humoured the other Shinigami, she'd wasted time. "He used to tell me about her, about how stubborn and lazy she could be," Kirara almost laughed at that. Trust Seinosuke to talk about her like that. "But he also said that she was a fierce fighter, and a good friend to those she cared about," Hanataro said, walking towards her.

"Stop," Yumichika grabbed his arm, stopping him from getting any closer. Kirara didn't take her eyes off him, a lump in her throat.

"Are you her? Are you Kirara Yamada?" the medic asked.

"You said 'used to'. Why did he stop telling you stories?" Kirara dodged his question with her own. Hanataro's gaze drifted to the ground.

"He died...almost forty years ago," his voice was soft. Kirara's eyes widened very slightly, and she turned away as she felt herself grow numb. Tears burned at her eyes. "Please, tell me, are you my sister?" Hanataro asked her, pulling in Yumichika's grip. Kirara closed her eyes, and swallowed.

"Sorry kid. I have no idea who you're talking about," Kirara told him, keeping her voice level but quiet as she started walking away. "I'm sorry to hear about your brother," she added, but she quivered at the end.

"Wait!"

"Stop. She's dangerous, and you're here on a mission, remember?" Yumichika reminded him irritably, but was glaring at Kirara's retreating back. "The sooner we get back to work, the sooner my job is done, so let's go," he told Hanataro, who nodded silently.

Shinji's head lifted as soon as he felt Kirara return to the warehouse. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Ichigo and Rose were still sparring, and nobody else was paying much attention. Love and Kensei were training together, while Hachi and Hiyori played a game of chess and Lisa continued reading.

Getting to his feet, Shinji moved away from the group silently, shoving his hands in his pockets as he wondered just what could have set Kirara off now.

Once he was far enough away from the others, he stopped, and turned around just in time to block Kirara's punch. His eyes widened very slightly when he found that her expression wasn't impassive, as it was when she got angry or upset, but instead tears ran down her face. He'd only seen Kirara cry like that three times before.

Not speaking, Kirara threw another punch, and Shinji stepped back, deflecting it with his hand as Kirara kicked out. He countered, knocking her back, but Kirara immediately recovered, pushing harder as she jumped up, spinning and kicking out at him. Dodging, Shinji got in close and grabbed her wrist, flipping her. Kirara managed to stop upside down, her hands barely skimming the ground as she spun, kicking out repeatedly at him and shoving him back.

The two continued to fight for some time, until Shinji finally caught her wrists in a tight hold, and Kirara stopped. She could have continued, kicking out, but as soon as his slender fingers had wrapped around her wrists, her resolve had broken, and she allowed him to pull her close.

"Seinosuke's dead..." her quiet words were barely above a mumble. Shinji gave a soft sigh, leaning his chin on her head. While they had long since seen the Soul Society as their home, and the Shinigami their friends, they could not deny it completely. The ghosts of their past still haunted them all.

"How'd you find out?" he asked softly.

"My other brother told me," Kirara's words made him frown. As far as he'd known, she'd only had one sibling. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have..."

"It's fine," Shinji sighed, lifting his head so she could look up.

"I don't get why you put up with me...I was such an asshole for so long, and now..." the tears began anew.

"Why I put up with you?" Shinji couldn't stop his laugh, before leaning in and kissing her softly. The salty taste lingered as he let go of her wrists to touch his hands to her face, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. "You're such an idiot," he murmured as he pulled away. "And I believe we were both assholes over the years, so I think we're even," he murmured, kissing her damp cheek and making her giggle as it tickled.

"Stop," Kirara giggled when he kissed the other cheek, and she squirmed in his grasp.

"What? Here I am being nice after you attacked me, and you're telling me to stop? I'm hurt Kirara," his voice was quiet as he continued to kiss her by her eye, making her squirm again.

"You're full of crap Shinji," she told him with a giggle, before reaching up to kiss him again. "Thanks," she murmured before closing the gap between them. As his arm looped around her waist, pulling her flush against him, there was an alarmed yell, and with an irritated sigh, Shinji pulled away to glare over at Ichigo.

"Aren't you supposed to be training?" he asked, his eyes narrow as Kirara tried to hide her laughter at the orange-haired boy's reaction. He was going bright red, looking away from the pair stubbornly.

"Sorry Shinji, our training got away from us," Rose landed nearby with a smile. Shinji directed his glare at him instead, and Kirara nudged him.

"Hey, don't you defend him," Shinji told her, looking down as he frowned at her. Kirara stuck out her tongue at him.

"Hey Ichigo, you okay?" she looked away and over to Ichigo. "Your face is kinda red," she commented, making him go even redder. She leaned her head against Shinji's chest as her arms went around him, and for a moment he blinked, confused as his face coloured slightly pink at her movements.

"I'm fine," Ichigo growled, but when he looked at her again, his face went even redder, spreading to his ears.

"If you want, I can get Lisa to lend you one of her magazines, you look like you could do with some relaxation," Kirara continued. Rose and Shinji watched, surprised as Ichigo's face continued to darken until it was an impossible shade. Steam seemed to pour off him.

"What?! Why the hell would I want that?! You sick perverts can keep them!" Ichigo yelled at her, his voice getting very high in pitch. Kirara was quivering with her barely suppressed laughter.

"You're clearly wound up Ichigo, you should take some time to, you know, take it easy," Kirara continued teasing him. "It's totally healthy, you know-"

"For sickos like you! Stop talking about it!" Ichigo yelled at her.

"Will you stop shouting?" Shinji asked, leaning his head on Kirara's as his grip tightened. "It's giving me a headache," he complained.

"Come on Ichigo, let's get back to training," Rose called to the flustered boy, who shot Shinji and Kirara a glare before following Rose away. As he did, Kirara finally broke and burst out laughing.

"Shut up Kirara!" Ichigo yelled over his shoulder at her. Unable to stop her laughter, Kirara buried her face into Shinji's chest, and he shook his head, finding himself wondering – not for the first time – just how Kirara operated.

"What am I doing..." Kirara sighed as she stood on the roof of the Urahara House. Despite everything that had happened a few days before, Kirara couldn't help but sneak off to see her younger brother, wondering just what he was doing in the World of the Living. It was early in the morning, and she'd initially gone on a morning run, but had found herself at the shop before she'd realised it.

"Come on," the door suddenly opened and she watched a bound spirit rushed out. "She leaves flowers early, we need to go," he ushered. Kirara tilted her head, watching as the three Shinigami emerged as well, with Yumichika carrying a cake.

"Now I've seen it all," Kirara crossed one ankle over the other as she watched. She folded her arms, watching as they left the grounds and began walking through town. "Three Shinigami being bossed around by a Spirit? Why not just perform a damn Konso on the guy?" she wondered, but found herself following them all the same, leaping from roof to roof. She stopped, darting away with a quick use of Shunpo as Yumichika suddenly looked up in the air with a frown.

"I-is something wrong?" Hanataro asked him nervously.

"I thought I sensed something, but I suppose it's just my imagination," Yumichika shrugged. "Let's hurry this up," he told the two boys behind him, and they increased their pace.

"Okay, so he's not entirely useless," Kirara murmured to herself as she watched them, landing on a building to leap to the next. "I just wish that he wasn't so hell bent on getting me back to the Soul Society..." she complained, watching as they reached the place that seemed to be the main connection for the ghost. Kirara tilted her head, seeing an older woman leaving flowers. "Are they fulfilling his last wish? Weird..." Kirara muttered to herself, watching as they spoke with the confused woman. She landed on a building, watching as the woman turned away, and the spirit tried to grab the cake, only for it to fall to the ground. "This is why you just perform the Konso...this is ridiculous. The Soul Society really has gone to shit," Kirara muttered.

She turned, about to leap away, when she heard a scream and a blast of energy. Spinning around, she saw red light sparking from the spirit's chain. "He's losing control..." she muttered, before lifting her head. Spinning around, she watched as a crack appeared in the sky, and a massive Mask broke through. With a long pointed nose and bright red eyes, the Hollow looked around before breaking through completely. "A Gillian...this is why you just perform the damn konso and move on" she muttered, looking around. Nobody else was around of the group of Shinigami hanging around town.

"Getting worked up over a Menos?" Yumichika suddenly burst through his Gigai and leapt into the air. "Give me a break!" he blocked the Cero that was fired at the group. Kirara watched him from the rooftop, wondering if he'd be able to handle it alone. The Shinigami went to attack again, but when the Gillian fired another Cero at close range, he reacted instinctively and dodged, letting it past. "No!" he yelled, seeing it aiming straight for the cake.

"Oh please don't-" Kirara couldn't even finish her groan before Yumichika leapt in the way to take the hit. She put a hand to her face.

"Yumichika!" the brown haired boy cried as he staggered. The Gillian roared, firing another Cero at them, and both younger Shinigami let out cries of alarm, freezing up as Yumichika fell on one knee.

"Are you for real?" they gasped, looking up as Kirara appeared in front of it, easily cutting through the Cero with her Zanpakuto. It dissipated instantly, barely even worth the strike. "Taking a hit for a stupid cake? You're a damn idiot," she told Yumichika, who stared at her.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded once he found his voice. Kirara just rolled her eyes.

"Clearly you lack in brain cells as much as you lack in manners, Feathers," she told him, making him bristle. Kirara then turned her attention back to the Gillian. Taking a breath, she leapt up into the air, slashing at it. Cutting across it's front, Kirara caused the Gillian to roar loudly. It then spat a black substance at Kirara, who dodged it easily. She leapt in again, cutting through more of its attacks. Below, the Spirit screamed again, and Kirara's eyes widened as she looked around to see another Gillian break through. "Fantastic," she hissed as Rin and Hanataro shrieked in fear.

"Another? We need to stop Heita!" Rin cried out.

"Preferably before he calls a damn army!" Kirara yelled back, leaping up higher. Pushing off, she shot at the Hollow and spun, slashing across it's Mask. However, it didn't get deep enough as she was forced away by the other Gillian. "Hell no. I am so not getting pushed around by footsoldiers," she snarled, spinning again. Her foot slammed into the Gillian with the broken Mask, and it toppled into the other as its Mask shattered.

"That power..." Yumichika was too surprised to move as he watched Kirara easily dominate the two Hollows. The first disappeared, and the other fired another Cero that Kirara cut through easily.

"Please... if you can take out Hiyori's tantrum Cero; a Gillian ain't threatening at all," she muttered to herself.

"Fill, Hisagomaru!" she glanced down to see Hanataro throw a wave of energy at the Gillian, and leapt out of the way. The power flooded the area as his attack sliced up the front of the Hollow. It roared in pain and reeled backwards, giving Kirara her opening. Getting in close, she stabbed her Zanpakuto through its Mask, and yanked up, cutting right through it. The Hollow roared, and disappeared as Kirara breathed out slowly.

"What a waste of time," she muttered, and dropped to the ground. "That's how you deal with a damn Menos, idiot," Kirara told Yumichika, who glared at her.

"I had it handled," he told her.

"Is that why you're injured?" Kirara challenged him mockingly, pointing to the blood running down his arm. "Taking a Cero for a stupid cake," she muttered.

"It's not stupid!" she glanced to Hanataro as he approached. "We made that for Heita's mother, so she could have one last reminder of her son!" he exclaimed. Kirara watched him for a moment, before giving a soft sigh, resting her sword on her shoulder.

"Of course you were. Just in future, be more careful kid," she told him, shaking her head.

"So um..." the brown haired boy approached. "Are you a Shinigami too?" he asked.

"No," Kirara said sharply. He jolted back away from her, eyes wide. "Just a passer-by. One who is going to get their ass kicked for helping out," she sighed heavily. If the others were awake enough to sense her Reiatsu, there was going to be hell to pay. Especially if Hiyori found out she'd just helped out Shinigami.

"I see..." the boy gulped.

"Thank you, for helping us," Hanataro smiled at her.

"I had it handled!" Yumichika snapped. Kirara smirked.

"Of course you did, Feathers," she spoke in a condescending tone that irritated him more and more.

"Stop calling me that," he snapped. Kirara ignored him. Her eyes slid to the unconscious Spirit, who groaned as he started coming to.

"Well, that's me done with heroic gestures for the day. Bye," Kirara turned, walking away.

"Please, wait!" Hanataro grasped her arm.

"Kid, you should listen to Feathers when he says I'm dangerous," Kirara stopped, and gave a tired sigh. "Leave me alone, before you get hurt," she told him.

"I don't believe that," Hanataro shook his head. "You helped us, I don't believe you'd hurt us," he insisted.

"Let me go," Kirara told him softly.

"But you-"

"I'm just a passer-by who keeps ending up in the middle of things that aren't my concern," Kirara told him, yanking her arm free from his grip.

"Then why'd you help us?" Hanataro's question stopped her.

"Because I can't stand anyone getting hurt while I sit back and do nothing," she told him, and turned to him. He wasn't much smaller than her, with a nervous gaze and a timid stance. "It's never been in my nature to let others do the fighting for me. But it won't happen again. I won't show my face a third time. Bye kid," Kirara put a hand on his head and ruffled his hair as he stared at her, before she turned away again. "And I'm sorry, again. For Seinosuke," she added.

"I never told you his name!" Hanataro exclaimed, but Kirara just kept walking.

"Try staying out of trouble kid," she called back, before leaping into the air. "But if you're anything like me, that won't happen," she chuckled, not looking back as Hanataro watched her leave, wondering if he'd see her again.

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