Thanks to AmericanNidiot, IrishPrincess1987 and Suzume Amai for your reviews! Thanks to LadyShinkukaze, flaming hunter, CeeGilbert8987, redrosebird, Final-Kingdom-Anime-Fan, Shaybo27, ChigUnnie and OtakuisOtacool for favouriting and following!

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 35: Arrival

Her eyes closed, Kirara sat with her legs crossed in a quieter part of the training grounds, keeping her breathing even. With a moment to herself, she decided to work on her focus. Although she wasn't entirely happy with the idea, there was a chance of her being forced to release her Zanpakuto. So, she needed to ensure her focus was perfect, as it was vital in order to control her Reiatsu.

While Kirara loved her Zanpakuto, and its abilities suited her perfectly, especially during her time in the Militia Corps, it was awkward at times, especially when she'd first learned his name. Her training had revolved around focus and speed for a long time afterwards.

Her focus was interrupted as there was a loud crash nearby. Giving a frustrated sigh, Kirara opened her eyes and looked around to where Ichigo was lying amongst rubble.

"Hiyori!" Kirara called to the blonde standing in the air above. "I asked you not to throw Ichigo over here! I'm trying to focus!" she shouted irritably.

"Hey, it's not my fault the dumbass can't block for shit!" Hiyori shouted back at her.

"Yes, but you can at least aim him for somewhere else," Kirara retorted.

"Shut up! You can't talk about aiming when you're the reason we had to replace the ceiling three times!" Hiyori snapped at her. Kirara's cheeks coloured pink.

"Ceros are difficult to aim..." she muttered. Ichigo suddenly recovered and leapt at Hiyori, continuing their fighting. With a sigh, Kirara closed her eyes, trying to ignore their yells, but it was proving difficult.

'Distractions will prove a helpful training method, Kirara,' Kokoro no Kage told her. 'After all, battles are not often quiet affairs,' he pointed out. The smallest of smiles showed on Kirara's face as she lifted her Zanpakuto from her side.

"You're right about that," she agreed, getting to her feet. Using Shunpo, Kirara moved even farther away from the group. Once she was a good distance away, she unsheathed her Zanpakuto. "Confuse My Enemies, Kokoro no Kage!" she tossed the blade into the air, and leapt up to catch it as it changed shape. Landing lightly, Kirara sat down again, her legs crossed as she balanced her sword across her lap.

In the distance, she could still hear Ichigo and Hiyori screeching at each other, and rolled her eyes before closing them.

"And here I thought one Harpy was enough," she muttered, letting her Reiatsu move in circles around her, occasionally raising it into the air and back down, before shattering it and making it reappear in another spot, flying towards her. It flickered and shattered when the arguing grew louder, but she quickly reformed it and kept going, before her eyes opened. "What's up Rose?" she asked, releasing her grip on her Zanpakuto's handle. Immediately her Reiatsu returned to her as she looked up at the blond.

"Love's reading my comics again, and in my determination to avoid his irritating spoilers, I found myself drawn to your strange Reiatsu movements," the blond flicked his hair over his shoulder, and Kirara got to her feet, stretching.

"Well, then I suppose you can help with my training, if you want?" Kirara offered with a smile. Rose blinked at her in surprise. Kirara had always been incredibly secretive about her Zanpakuto's training, often disappearing while the rest of the Vizards trained together. And it had only been recently that he'd learned of her Zanpakuto's ability. She'd never let anyone train with her. Rose doubted even Shinji had had the privilege.

"I'd be honoured to," he smiled, drawing his Zanpakuto. Kirara grinned back at him.

"First to touch the ground loses?" she asked.

"As always," Rose nodded, and both leapt into the air. As soon as they were both ready, Kirara shot at him, disappearing at the last second as her Reiatsu seemed to rush straight through him. Rose shivered at the phantom touch. It was cold, and not entirely welcome, despite the bubbly feeling of her Reiatsu signature. "That wasn't very nice," Rose complained, turning to block the strike he felt coming from behind automatically. Of course, there was nothing there, but a flicker of black caught his attention.

"Never tried that before. You didn't like it?" Kirara asked as her Zanpakuto smashed against his, forcing him down.

"Not really," Rose admitted. Kirara grinned, disappearing again. Rose took a breath, and tried to ignore the feel of her Reiatsu racing around the area. Instead he heard the rustle of her jacket, and jumped back, dodging her swing.

"Oh, nice one," Kirara praised, impressed as she dodged his counterstrike. He gave a small smile in response. Rose then attacked again, but Kirara disappeared, and reappeared behind him. When he turned to strike, she reappeared on his other side, before disappearing again when he countered. When she finally attacked from above, Rose found himself pushed down closer to the ground.

"That is truly a remarkable Zanpakuto," Rose commented as he looked up at the smiling Vizard. "It robs us of one of our senses, as such, doesn't it?" he asked.

"I suppose it does, in a way. We're trained from the start to sense Reiatsu and react to it, so when it's just an illusion..." the bubbly feeling rushed at Rose from behind. He twitched, but didn't move. "It's hard to kick the habit and rely on the other senses that are instinctual," Kirara grinned.

"To rely on sight is dangerous, with your speed," Rose nodded. "Unless combined with the other senses. Sound, smell, even touch," he rushed at Kirara again, and she used Shunpo to escape his sight. "It's an unusual play indeed," he murmured, and when Kirara reappeared in front of him, he swung before she could, forcing Kirara down through the air before she'd realised it.

"But it's not quite effective on everyone," Kirara admitted. "Which is half the reason I dislike using it," she added.

"What's the other half?" Rose asked curiously.

"I didn't want it to become public knowledge," she explained. "When I was in the Militia Corps, I didn't want my enemies to know what I could do. My Shikai was the best way to lower their guard, if they thought I was looking in the wrong direction," Kirara shrugged.

"You were in the Militia Corps?" she paused at Rose's question, realising what she'd said. She looked away.

"Yeah. As soon as I graduated the Academy and finished the Onmitsukido training, I was immediately placed within the first Corps ranks. I was there for about 13 years before I joined the Patrol Corps, and worked my way up from there," Kirara admitted with a sigh.

"What made you want to join the Onmitsukido?" Rose asked her a question that he'd wanted to ask since he'd first met her. Until he'd become a Captain, he'd not had much interaction with her, as a forth seat of Squad 7 beforehand.

"Yoruichi asked me to join, back when I was still in the Academy. Damn cat got me in a position where I couldn't refuse," Kirara muttered, before frowning. "Hey, we're sparring, this isn't the place to tell my life story," she told him. Rose gave a small chuckle.

"And here I was so close to uncovering the mysteries that surround you, my dear," he commented, making her laugh.

"Maybe one day Rose, I'll tell you more," Kirara told him, before disappearing.

"I look forward to it," Rose said, but as he moved, dodging Kirara's attack, they heard a loud clanging. Both looked around to where they could see Kensei in the distance, wearing an apron as he held up a frying pan.

"Chow time! Get your butts here on the double!" his low voice echoed across the training fields. "Last one in line has to do the dishes! You hear me?!" he roared.

"Oh, better go," Kirara slid her Zanpakuto back into its sheath, and as she did, it returned to its normal shape, and her Reiatsu returned to her.

"Not like it won't be Ichigo again," Rose muttered. Ichigo was always last in line, usually recovering from an attack when dinner was called. Kirara just laughed, turning and leaping off as Rose watched for a moment, smiling softly.

Kirara watched Ichigo with amusement as he furiously scrubbed at the dishes in the makeshift sink that had been set up in the training area. With Ichigo's training taking up almost all of the time, they had spent a lot more time there, and had set up an area to eat, which meant a lot more cooked meals, as opposed to constant take-out.

"Kirara...stop it..." Ichigo growled low, looking up to glare at her.

"Stop what?" Kirara tilted her head innocently.

"You know what. Leave me alone," he told her.

"I'm just sitting here!" Kirara defended, but her eyes were gleaming with mischief.

"You know Ichigo..." Lisa sidled up to him. "You get awfully worked up when it comes to Kirara," she commented, earning a baffled look from him.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, staring at the straight-faced Vizard.

"Do you have a crush on her?" her simple question made Ichigo shriek in alarm, splashing water everywhere. Kirara struggled to hide her laughter as Ichigo spluttered. The entire thing was very familiar to her, and she couldn't help but be amused that it was being turned on someone else now.

"Are you insane?!" he demanded, splashing more water around as he glared at Lisa. His face was going bright red. "Why would you think that?! Just why the hell would I like Kirara like that?!" he practically roared.

"She is pretty cute," Lisa commented, glancing to Kirara. Ichigo followed her gaze, and his face went even redder as Kirara winked at him. "And you always seem to get riled up when she's about," she added.

"I don't have a crush on her!" he practically shrieked at Lisa.

"Ichigo..." he looked around as Kirara jumped off the rock she was sitting on and approached, her hands behind her back. "I'm hurt, what's wrong with me?" she asked innocently. Ichigo glared at her, his face burning in humiliation.

"You're an asshole, for starters," Kensei muttered.

"Rude!" Kirara exclaimed, insulted. She turned to him, putting her hands on her hips as she stuck out her lower lip in a playful pout. He just glared back at her, unfazed.

"There's only one who can out-asshole you, Kirara," Love spoke up, glancing up from his comic. Shinji blinked as they all suddenly looked at him. He frowned at them, realising what they meant. "Seems kinda apt, don't you think?" he asked, and there was a collective hum of agreement. Kirara laughed, practically bouncing over to Shinji and taking a seat beside him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she told them. Shinji cleared his throat.

"So? How's Ichigo's Hollow transformation going, Hiyori?" he asked, changing the subject and looking to the blonde girl. Kirara grinned as Ichigo went back to furiously scrubbing the dishes.

"Can't ya tell just by watchin' him?" Hiyori was leaning against a bolder, glaring at the orange haired boy. "He sucks. Nothin' but a sack of dick-cheese that's still stuck right at ten seconds," she shook her head slightly. "That dickhead ain't even worth talkin' about."

"You have no skill at all," Lisa commented as Ichigo's scrubbing got more furious as he could clearly hear her words. "Why don't you just give up?" she asked him with a snarky tone that made him bristle.

"Go back to your porno books! You haven't helped me train at all!" he yelled at her. "I'm not taking any insults from you!" turning away from the dishes, he slammed his hands down, causing more water to splash out. Kirara wouldn't have been surprised if there was no water left by the time he was done. The ground around him was already soaked and covered in suds.

"I helped you plenty, dumbass!" Lisa shouted back, her arms folded as she glared at him. "I loaned you one of my rare porno mags, remember?" she told him, and a blush worked its way up Ichigo's face.

"I didn't borrow anything from you!" he screeched back. "Stop saying that stuff like it's a fact!" he pleaded, his clenched fists covered in bubbles.

"Maybe you should, Ichigo, it might help you chill out a little," Kirara called over.

"I don't need any advice for you, delinquent!" he hissed at her. Kirara gave an exaggerated sigh.

"Do they not do it for you?" she tilted her head. "I mean, you trained with Yoruichi, the Queen of nudity, maybe the magazines aren't enough for you," she commented as Ichigo's blushing spread to his ears.

"Shut up Kirara! You're just as much of a pain as that damn cat!" he yelled at her, his voice rising in pitch. Kirara just smirked back at him. She knew what her former Captain was like. If she knew how much of a prude Ichigo was, she would have absolutely tormented him. The woman had no shame and a body worth flaunting.

"Don't be shy, I borrow a book from her every two days," Love told Ichigo, whose blush only worsened as the others watched with vague amusement at how worked up Ichigo was getting.

"Don't put me in the same class as you…" he turned his glare on the Vizard with star-shaped hair.

"And I read two every day," Lisa added shamelessly.

"I know, dammit!" Ichigo scowled at her, having been scarred every day by her magazines. "Anyways, I'm not part of your little group, and I never have been, pervert girl!" he told her furiously.

"I am not a pervert!" Lisa shouted back, seeming to take offence at the term. "I've just got a healthy interest, that's all," she explained as Kensei walked by, brushing his teeth.

"That's basically what makes you a pervert," he pointed out, and Lisa's glare intensified as she turned to point out that Kensei read them too. They bickered, sparing Ichigo any more teasing, and Kirara gave another laugh. She then glanced to Shinji, who was deep in thought; his expression unreadable. She tilted her head slightly, knowing what he was thinking about.

It was what they were all wondering about. Ichigo was able to maintain his Mask for roughly 11 seconds, no time at all. They'd been training with him for a month, trying different techniques, but he still had barely progressed. They didn't have much time left until the Winter War, for which Ichigo needed to be prepared. He was the only one who hadn't fallen prey to Aizen's Zanpakuto.

"You know..." Kirara blinked when Shinji spoke softly. "If you keep staring at me, I'm gonna get embarrassed," he said dryly, and Kirara gave a small laugh.

"Sure you will," she poked his cheek. "I ever tell you that you're full of crap?" she teased. Shinji rolled his eyes.

"I ever tell you that you're going to be the death of me?" he retorted with a heavy sigh, making her laugh again.

"Once or twice," she sang lightly, still smiling.

Her smile dropped, and their heads both lifted as they felt several heavy Reiatsu suddenly appear in the town. The other Vizards reacted as well, sensing them. Even Ichigo felt it, and abandoned the dishes to grab his pass.

"I gotta go help!" Ichigo emerged from his body and went to run up the stairs, only for Love and Kensei to grab him, wrestling the struggling boy to the ground as he put up a fight against them. "Let go!" Ichigo roared, but they didn't let up.

"It's still too early!" Love told him. "Your pals from the Soul Society came to take care of situations like this, right?" he pointed out as Ichigo continued to struggle. "Let them deal with it!" Kirara watched, having stood up, as Ichigo seemed to ignore him, fighting the pair.

"And I've been training to help them!" he turned his head to shout back at Love, refusing to back down. "There's no point if I don't go too!" when a hand grabbed Kensei's shirt, everyone looked at Shinji in surprise.

"Let him go," Shinji ordered in an irritated voice. Surprised, the two released the boy, and Ichigo took off straight away.

"Hey, what are you thinking, Shinji?!" Kensei demanded as they watched Ichigo run up the stairs. Shinji didn't reply as he walked off, deep in thought again.

"This doesn't make any sense," Kirara murmured, taking a seat again. Pulling her legs close, she rested her hands on her ankles, deep in thought. "Why are they here now? The Hogyoku doesn't fully awaken for another two months...and there aren't that many of them here...are they on a recon mission? Or are they after something?" she wondered aloud.

"Y'know Princess, talking to yourself is the first stage of madness," she looked up as Shinji stood beside her.

"Really? I thought it was talking to you," Kirara then reached over and punched him lightly. "And don't call me that," she added. He barely reacted, his gaze up at the ceiling designed to look like the sky. "Hey, what are you thinking?" she asked softly, frowning at him. Shinji didn't reply, walking off. "Hey!" Kirara jumped up, following him.

"Stay here Kirara," his voice was soft as she caught up to him. Kirara gave a short laugh.

"You realise who you're talking to, right?" she tilted her head. Shinji sighed in response, realising she was right. There was no way he'd convince her to stay behind. She was far too curious for her own good.

"Fine. Come on then," he nodded, his Zanpakuto in his hand as he headed towards the stairs. Kirara watched him curiously, but followed regardless.

Shorter than usual, sorry about that!

Hope you liked it anyway!

Please review!