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Chapter 41: Cloak and Shield From Their Eyes

A gust of wind swirled around the battlefield, and Natsuki lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the dust and debris that was carried by it. Her heart was pounding painfully against her chest, and any complaints she had about Kirara taking over her fight had disappeared the moment Kirara had released her Shikai. She couldn't breathe, stunned at what Kirara had just uttered.

Once the wind died down, Natsuki lowered her hand and looked back up, her brow furrowing as she saw Kirara still standing in front of Rafael. Nothing had changed. Not even her blade had changed.

"What? Is that it?" the gray-haired Arrancar asked, smirking in amusement. "A little power and some wind isn't going to be enough to take me out. I'll kill you just as easily as I planned on before!" he laughed.

"You say that...but can you really kill me?" Kirara asked in an innocent voice. "If you don't know where I am?" she asked, deflating Rafael's amusement.

"What are you talking about? I can see you clearly, Miss. Vizard," he told her. Kirara rolled her eyes.

"Yes, but can you really?" he spun around when her voice came from behind him, and he found her standing behind him, her head tilted in a bird-like manner. "Really really?" he looked to his side and found her standing a little higher up.

"What? But..." Rafael looked around, finding that she was still standing in all three places. "How?!" he demanded.

"Urgh," all three Kiraras rolled their eyes. "Who cares?" they asked, brandishing their blades. "Cloak and Shield From Their Eyes, Kokoro no Kage," they spoke softly, and rushed at him. Rafael looked around with wide eyes, not knowing who to fight. In the end, he leapt up into the air to dodge their moves, only to feel Kirara's Reiatsu behind him. He spun around, and found three more of her coming straight for him. Focusing on the one that contained her Reiatsu, he grabbed for her, only to pass straight through her arm. The other then sliced up his arm, and he grunted in pain.

"They're not real..." Rafael hissed as blood ran down his arm, dripping into the clouds around him. "They're not real..." he repeated, looking up as all six stood together.

"That may be, but how can you tell who the real one is?" all of them chimed together. "Not to mention…" the clones suddenly shrugged. "I could already be behind you," the nonchalant comment made Rafael's silver eyes widen in alarm. He spun around, and cut through his attacker. The clone disappeared in a wisp of smoke, and he was kicked from behind. "Or maybe not," as he sailed through the air, Kirara materialised beside him, and he lashed out, only for his hand to pass right through her. She then appeared in front of him, slashing up his front. Blood spurted from the new wound, and Rafael crashed to the ground.

"You bitch…" he spat, struggling to push himself up. "Just how are you doing that?" he demanded as she landed in front of him.

"It wouldn't be a very good secret if I told you, now would it?" Kirara asked as most of the clones disappeared, leaving two. "Can you guess?" she asked.

"Those are cowardly tactics," he spat angrily. He looked from one, to the other, trying to tell the difference. One was putting out Reiatsu while the other gave nothing away, but that just made him suspicious. He'd already attacked the one giving out Reiatsu, and it had been a clone. But then again, she knew that he knew, so it could have been a double bluff. The idea was pissing him off.

"So say the ones I use it on, but then again, what better way to avoid your own nasty moves?" the twins chorused, tilting their heads slightly. "So, which one is right?" they asked. With a growl, Rafael leapt at them again, slashing at the one without Reiatsu. He passed right through it, and twisted, lashing out at the other. However, he passed through that one as well, and another appeared behind him. Before he could move, she cut up his back again, and he couldn't stop the cry of pain.

"Wait…" Natsuki tore her eyes from the battle as Izuru spoke softly. "That can't be right..." he muttered.

"What is it?" Natsuki asked curiously.

"That hit…it wasn't in time. It was almost as if it was delayed. She hit him, and then the cut appeared after," Izuru explained, sounding confused.

"How is that even possible?" Natsuki stared at him, baffled.

"My only guess is that wasn't actually her…that it was another clone," Izuru told her slowly. "But that wouldn't explain how he was cut by her," he frowned. Natsuki looked back up to see Kirara's clones rushing at Rafael from all directions, and he was forced to leap away, unable to tell which the real one was.

"Enough!" as the clones all shot at him again, Rafael held out his hands. The clouds swirling around his body suddenly grew, and lightning shot out in all directions. The clones' eyes widened in alarm, before the lightning cut through them, and they all disappeared. "What? How-how were none of them real?!" Rafael spun, searching for Kirara as he breathed heavily.

"I'm guessing to do that, takes a lot out of you," he looked up at Kirara standing above him.

"Maybe try and focus a little harder," Rafael looked around as another clone stood behind him. She raised her hand to her left, and another clone emerged from her. She blinked at him, looking bored.

"Because otherwise you're going to lose this fight," another appeared in front of him. Rafael glared at her, before taking a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. As soon as his breathing settled, he threw out his hand again. The clouds continued swirling, and there was a low rumble of thunder as his Reiatsu pulsed. Rafael threw out more bolts of lightning, smaller in size but much faster and more concentrated. They pierced each clone, causing them to disappear.

"Dammit," he hissed. "Where is she?" he wondered.

"Behind you," he jolted as Kirara whispered behind him, and spun around, firing another blast of lightning. The clone was ripped apart, and disappeared.

"Show yourself!" Rafael yelled angrily. Kirara appeared in front of him immediately, followed by more copies that stood together around him, circling him. When they flew in at him again, Rafael growled, and suddenly spun. The lightning he threw out followed, and struck each clone, and when another flew at him from above, he moved, arcing over her and throwing more.

This time when the lightning faded, he twisted, firing it up into the air, and down below. The clones of Kirara barely had a chance to blink before it slammed into them. However, this time, it seemed to make contact with one, and each of the other clones jerked backwards before shattering, leaving one remaining. She slammed to the ground, and Rafael smirked. "Looks like you're out of luck," he taunted loudly as the dust cloud faded to reveal Kirara on the ground, pushing herself up. She twitched a little, and her hair curled at the ends, standing up.

"You think one hit is enough to take me down?" Kirara asked, gripping her sword tightly.

"She flickered," Natsuki murmured. "That's not the real Kirara," she realised.

"But they're not real copies, but she took a hit…how could it not be her?" Izuru asked. Natsuki's brow furrowed.

"I don't know," she admitted, watching as Kirara shook her arms out.

"I have to admit, that was a pretty good hit," she commented, touching her shoulder. "You burned right through my jacket," she complained, pulling it off to reveal a nasty burn on her shoulder. She then tossed it aside, and Natsuki noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She glanced around, and noticed the hoodie lying on the ground nearby. Her eyes widened in shock.

"You're lucky I was conserving power," Rafael replied.

"I know. But you're not quite so lucky," Kirara told him, lifting her free hand. As it went over her face, she curled her fingers in as if hooking them around something, and pulled down. Rafael froze, his face turning even paler as he stared, watching as Kirara's Mask formed over her face. "Because I've been doing the same," her warped voice made Natsuki shudder. The dark power filled the area, and Rafael stepped backwards.

"What the hell are you?" he demanded.

"I told you," Kirara sighed. "I'm a Vizard," she then shattered suddenly, and Rafael's eyes widened even more.

"Another fake?!" he cried out. "When did you switch?" he demanded, looking around. Kirara was suddenly in front of him, and in alarm at the monstrous Reiatsu, he stumbled backwards.

"Who's to say that I was there in the first place?" Kirara asked him, and Rafael shrieked as her Zanpakuto stabbed through his stomach. He coughed, spitting up blood that ran down his jaw, and turned his head. With a low growl, he reached to grab the blade, only for her to pull it free with a rough yank. "That was for hurting Natsuki," Kirara told him as he fell to his knees. "Normally, I'm a little more merciful when it comes to granting swift deaths," her voice was low, raising her Zanpakuto over her head.

"Don't be so cocky!" Rafael threw out his hand, and lightning exploded out everywhere. Natsuki leapt away as it got very close to her, and caused the barrier around Izuru and the other Lieutenants to crack. Kirara's copy dissipated, and Rafael continued throwing out blasts of lightning around. Every time he caught any glimpse of the Vizard, even if it was just the ends of her hair or a glint from her sword, he had it cut through in seconds.

Thunder boomed even louder, rattling the damaged buildings around and reverberating through Natsuki's chest, making her inhale deeply. She was forced to move back, dodging whatever stray bolts were thrown her way, but there weren't too many, as Kirara kept him facing another direction. She appeared on a building above, and Rafael threw out his hand. However, the lightning petered out before it even got halfway, and Rafael slumped, breathing heavily.

"Done already?" Kirara reappeared behind him, dodged when he swiped at her.

"Just finish me off, if you're going to toy with me!" he snarled at her.

"I wasn't toying with you," Kirara replied calmly, dodging as he punched at her again. She stepped back and out of the way of each of his sloppy, angry attacks. "I couldn't get close, so I thought I'd let you waste your power," she told him. Rafael reddened in his anger, and when he punched again, Kirara caught his wrist and twisted. She then slammed her palm up, and his shriek echoed through the area with the sickening snapping sound.

Rafael stumbled away from her, his breathing laboured as he glared at her, pale and sweaty from the pain he was in. Not only did he now have two wounds through his stomach that were barely being held together by his Resurreccion, but his arm lay useless by his side. The pain was so bad he wanted to puke.

"Well what are you waiting for? Kill me!" he yelled at her. Kirara watched him for a moment, her gaze frustratingly blank, before she sighed.

"I won't kill someone who can't fight back. Never have, never will," she told him, and Rafael reddened. Thunder rumbled low, making Kirara blink. "Just give up, please," she requested.

"I am a member of Barragan's fraccion, I will never give up," he hissed, grabbing at her suddenly. When his fingers wrapped around her wrist, he smirked victoriously, but as the thunder rumbled again, her fist slammed into his face. Stunned, he let go, staggering back, and her foot embedded itself in his stomach. As he doubled over, coughing up blood, Kirara's other foot connected with his upper torso, and Rafael slammed into a wall.

"I'm not going to kill you, so just stop," Kirara sighed heavily. Rafael didn't move, struggling to breathe as his now broken ribs protested at the attempt to get back to his feet. Looking at him again, Kirara then turned and walked away, shaking her head slightly as she let her Mask fade. As she did, the pain in her shoulder made itself known, and she groaned, looking down at it.

"Kirara!" she looked up as Natsuki called her, not moving from beside the barrier that contained the five Lieutenants. The dark haired woman smiled very slightly, walking over. "That was incredible! How long have you had a Bankai?" Natsuki asked her curiously, her eyes wide.

"Really? The Bankai is what you want to ask me about?" Kirara tilted her head, any trace of a smile gone. Natsuki turned serious, fidgeting.

"What is that Mask Kirara?" Natsuki asked her softly. Her best friend didn't answer, looking down at the unconscious Lieutenants as Izuru worked on healing a dark haired young girl. Kirara's expression hardened suddenly, and Natsuki turned, following her gaze. She saw the Lieutenant's badge on Momo's arm, and looked back at Kirara. "What did Aizen do to you?" she asked.

"It's a long story," Kirara's voice was suddenly tired, and she turned away, looking up. She could see the others in the sky above, with only Hitsugaya, Lisa and Hiyori left fighting.

"Why did you disappear? We could have-"

"Have what?" Kirara interrupted, her voice controlled. "Helped?" the scepticism in her voice made Natsuki frown.

"Yes!" she nodded, and Kirara let out a bark of bitter laughter.

"No, you couldn't have. Just drop it Natsuki," she told her, not looking around. Clenching her fists in her anger, Natsuki stormed over.

"Natsuki!" Izuru cried out in alarm, and Kirara looked around just in time to dodge Natsuki's punch.

"Just drop it? Are you insane Kirara?!" Natsuki yelled at her, punching at her again. Kirara dodged easily, scowling back. "You disappeared without a damn trace 100 years ago, then you show up like it's nothing, and tell me to drop it?!" she demanded, furious. She suddenly shoved Kirara, who, not expecting it, tripped over her feet and fell to the ground. Her Zanpakuto was still in her hand, clenched tightly.

"What do you want me to say Natsuki?!" Natsuki was surprised as Kirara raised her voice. "Do you want me to apologise for being forced to leave the Soul Society and go into hiding? Do you want me to apologise for being hunted for 100 years? Do you want me to apologise for being turned into a damn monster?" she stood up slowly. Natsuki stared at her, guilt replacing her anger and twisting her stomach.

"Kirara…I-"

"You could have helped? Central 46 ordered our execution the moment they found out about us! They didn't try to help. The only ones who did, were Kisuke, Yoruichi and Tessai!" Kirara continued, too furious to stop as she approached Natsuki. The blonde backed away. "We can't trust anyone but ourselves. After all…" Kirara suddenly gave a bitter smile. "Even you're terrified," she breathed. It was then that Natsuki realised just how scared she was of Kirara approaching her like that. The Hollow Reiatsu still burned in the air. She was terrified of the strange power that Kirara now had.

"Kirara, I…" Natsuki sighed. "Yes, I'm scared. Hell, I'm terrified. But you're still my friend. Please, talk to me," she pleaded. Kirara frowned at her, before closing her eyes and turning away. Natsuki felt tears burn at her eyes.

"There were strange disappearances happening in the Soul Society," her head lifted in surprise at Kirara's soft voice. "Kensei and Mashiro were deployed with some others in Squad 9 after they didn't hear back from the Patrol Corps sent out to investigate. Hiyori was sent to deliver some stuff from the Research and Development team, when Kensei and Mashiro's Reiatsu vanished," Kirara's fists clenched. "The rest of us were sent to investigate, and we found…" she stopped, unable to say.

"What?" Natsuki asked, her heart slamming against her chest.

"Sosuke was practising Hollowfication, Natsuki," Kirara finally spoke after a minute. "He turned us into damn Hollows," her voice was bitter.

"What are you talking about?" Natsuki asked slowly, not understanding.

"See him?" Kirara pointed her sword to the unconscious Arrancar nearby. "I'm basically his opposite. A Shinigami who crossed over, into the realm of the Hollows," she echoed dully.

"That's not-"

"Not what? Possible? You've seen our Masks, you've felt the Reiatsu. That's why you're scared," Kirara glanced at her. "So please, let's just drop it. We've got more important things to deal with," she told her. Natsuki swallowed, and bit her lip. She then took a breath, and walked over to Kirara, and rested her hands behind her back.

"Yeah we do. Like the fact that you and Hirako seem a lot closer than before," her light tone made Kirara's eyes widen, and a blush spread across her face. Natsuki spotted it instantly, and a wide smirk grew across her face.

"I have no idea what you're on about. You're as delusional as ever," Kirara just rolled her eyes and folded her arms, trying to play off her red face. Natsuki grinned even wider.

"Oh yeah? Then what was with all that -" Natsuki stopped when Aizen suddenly moved, standing behind Harribel, the last remaining Arrancar. Everyone was taken by surprise when he struck her down.

"Guess he got fed up with their losses," Kirara murmured as the blonde Espada attempted to fight back. However, it was futile, and she fell to to the ground with a rumbling crash.

"Now, shall we begin? Gotei 13, and you failed mock Arrancars," Aizen spoke to everyone now, smirking widely. With a growl, Natsuki pushed up into the air with Kirara, and they stood with everyone as they regrouped, facing against the manipulative man. Kirara glanced down to where Mashiro was still fighting Wonderweiss, ignoring Kensei's advice. When her Mask suddenly shattered and Wonderweiss got in a powerful punch to the face, Kirara turned, her heart slamming against her chest in horror.

"Stop," her body locked into place at Shinji's soft voice. "Kensei has it handled," he glanced to where the other Vizards were standing, all ready to defend Mashiro. "We have other matters at hand," they glanced back to Aizen, whose smirk seemed to have widened. After a moment, a pillar of light burst up from the ground as Kensei's Reiatsu skyrocketed.

"Aizen, let's settle our score from a hundred years ago!" Hiyori growled as she removed her Mask, her Shikai in her hand. "You now, I really liked those days back in the Soul Society," Hiyori was trembling in rage as she spoke. "Shinigami are always in death's way, because of their existence and line of work," she spoke softly. "We may die the next day. We may be talking one moment and be dead in the next. No-one talks about it, but everyone has that thought in the corner of their minds. We saw death up close. We felt death up close. That's why we were able to cherish each day. Death will eventually come to us all, but that's what made us united. That's what I believed," Hiyori lowered her head slightly. Kirara watched her with wide eyes, the normally brash and vulgar girl voicing all their feelings without meaning to. "But you…Aizen…I don't hate you because you betrayed us. I hate you because you made me hurt my friends! You used me, and trampled on our bonds and our feelings! Aizen! I'm seething with an anger that's been boiling for a hundred years! I won't go back to the way I was until I kill you!" she yelled. Aizen just watched her, amused.

"Don't approach him carelessly," Shinji spoke up, breaking the silence that had fallen. "Aizen's got power. If you approach him recklessly, it's over," he reminded them.

"I know that," Hiyori's voice trembled with anger.

"You idiot, I'm talking to you!" Shinji growled, looking at the blonde girl. "Relax, Hiyori," he warned her.

"How typical," Aizen finally spoke "You have such caring words, Captain Hirako," Hiyori jerked at his taunt, her attention drawn to the cunning man again. Shinji kept his expression carefully controlled. "But it's so silly to say that it'll be over if you approach me recklessly. Even if you approach me recklessly or carefully, or even if you don't approach me at all, the end result will be the same," he told them calmly. "I'm not talking about things to come. Your end is inescapable. It's an event of the past," most of the Vizards reacted instantly, raising their Zanpakto angrily as Natsuki put her hands to her mouth. Shinji raised an arm quickly, his eyes narrowed in a glare as well.

"He's taunting us! Don't fall for it!" Shinji yelled, knowing exactly what Aizen was doing. It was the same as the last time. Kirara bit her lip, furiously fighting back the angry tears that stung at her eyes.

"What do you have to fear?" Aizen continued, his eyes gleaming as he continued hitting the right buttons. "All of you already died on that night, a hundred years ago," Aizen breathed. They all reacted without meaning to, stunned at his vicious words. Before any of them could recover, Hiyori's grip on her Zanpakto tightened and she shot straight at Aizen, ignoring Shinji's yell. As she raised her blade, there was a glint from the sun reflected in the distance, before something seemed to slam into Hiyori's head. She grunted, her eyes going blank as she dropped her Zanpakuto and hurtled towards the ground. As she dropped like a stone, a blade shot up where she had been standing, cutting through the air.

"Hiyori!" Shinji yelled, but there was no response as a small cloud of dust rose into the air. Kirara put a hand to her mouth suddenly, leaning forwards.

"Kirara?" Natsuki tore her eyes from the baffling sight to look to her friend.

"Eh? It looks like I missed...but it feels like I hit something..." Ichimaru commented from a small distance away, his Zanpakuto still extended as he tilted his head. Nobody moved, confused as to what had happened. Something had knocked Hiyori out.

"Well well..." Aizen spoke again, his smile still there. "I believe you did hit something...or rather, someone..." he commented as blood suddenly began to run down the blade.

Another cliffhanger...yay?

I'm off to Dublin on Friday so doubt I'll get the next chapter posted between then and now, but I'll try! If not...sometime next week!

Please review!