Didn't mean to go so long without an update, but I had to say goodbye to my cat Jazz, who I've had for over 16 years, and didn't go home for almost a week. I've had literally no desire to do anything, let alone write, but I'm starting to pull back now so hopefully I'll be able to update soon.

Hope you like it!

Chapter 6: Protecting the Protector

Tense silence filled the main room of Squad 11, where the Captain was lying on his side, looking bored. In front of him, Natsuki was kneeling, her head bowed as the pink haired Lieutenant sat beside her, looking curious.

"Can't do it," Kenpachi Zaraki yawned widely, looking out the window nearby.

"Captain please, there's got to be something you can do!" Natsuki's head lifted, her amber eyes pleading as Yachiru blinked in surprise. Natsuki was bright and bubbly and always smiling, the only time Yachiru had seen her in such a way, had been when Natsuki had requested to be placed in a lower rank. "You're a Captain, surely you can have her sentence lessened!" Natsuki pleaded. Kenpachi just groaned, running a hand through his spiky hair and making the bells jingle.

"Look Hamasaki, I said I can't do it," he told her, irritably. Natsuki spluttered, trying to continue arguing, but the man continued. "These orders came from Central 46. Not even the old man can go against them," Kenpachi told her.

"But to be executed by the Sogyoku? For giving her powers to a human?" Natsuki demanded. Kenpachi sighed again at her stubbornness. "You know that's over the top!" she exclaimed.

"There's more to it than that and you know it, Hamasaki. The prisoner-"

"Kirara!"

"Is to be punished for crimes committed a century ago. It's out of my hands, so drop it," Kenpachi rolled over, signalling that he was done with the conversation.

"But what crimes? What did she do back then?" Natsuki demanded, but the Captain didn't respond. "Fine. Thank you for your time, Captain," she growled, getting to her feet and bowing, before turning on her heel and storming off.

"You know Kenny, she's right," Yachiru commented as she watched Natsuki leave. "Why is her friend getting punished? Aren't you curious?" she prodded him between his shoulder blades.

"Not in the slightest," Kenpachi yawned, and the Lieutenant huffed as he dozed off.

"Ichigo!" the orange-haired boy looked around as Kirara landed lightly. She wore their uniform, minus any form of socks or shoes. Not that that was a shock. "Any sign?" she asked him as he turned to face her properly.

"No," he growled, fist clenched tightly. "Dammit, why the hell is that Hollow chasing him?" Ichigo demanded furiously, worried for his best friend. Kirara sighed and gave a small shrug of her shoulders.

"I can't say for sure, but it's probably because of that bird," Kirara told him slowly. She then shook her head. "Forget about the why for now Ichigo, focus on finding your friend," she said. Ichigo frowned at her.

"What? But-"

"Chad needs you, Ichigo," Kirara stated firmly as he tried to argue with her. "That Hollow has already hurt him once; next time could be far worse," she warned. "The only problem is that we can't detect the Hollow until it returns," Kirara sighed, running a hand through her hair. They had no way to track Chad. Ichigo scowled at the idea that they were running around blind, before an idea came to mind.

"Wait, what about the bird?" his question made Kirara arch her eyebrow. "Could we use it to track the Hollow?" Ichigo's question took her by surprise.

"Um...maybe? I mean, it's so weak, it would be hard to pinpoint," Kirara mused as she considered it. Ichigo took a breath, and closed his eyes. A shiver ran down Kirara's spine, and her eyes widened.

"Rei...raku?" she whispered as their surroundings took on a blue haze. "This is crazy...completely untrained and he naturally knows how to do this..." Kirara stared in shock as ribbons materialised around them. "Even I couldn't hone in on such a weak spirit when it's being shadowed by the bird's true soul," Ichigo suddenly snatched a ribbon from the air, and he grinned victoriously.

"Gotcha!" he declared, and immediately ran off. Kirara watched for a moment before laughing to herself, shaking her head and resting a hand on her hip.

"This kid is really impressive. I think I might have to actually teach him some proper Shinigami stuff, if he's capable of stuff like this," she commented to herself, before hurrying after him.

The two ran for a while, following the bird's spirit, before spotting Chad turn a corner. In his arms, he carried the bird's cage tightly.

"Chad!" Ichigo yelled, earning his attention. The massive teen glanced at them, before turning and running in the opposite direction. The large blood stain from where the Hollow had hit him stood out against the yellow of his shirt.

"Chad wait! You need my help!" Ichigo called, but his best friend kept running away.

"Ichigo!" they stopped abruptly at the cry, and turned to see his sister struggling to stand. She gripped a lamp post, holding herself up as her breathing came in erratic pants.

"Karin? You look terrible," the brother commented, taking in her pale, clamming complexion. She looked as if she were about to collapse.

"Ichigo, you better take her home. I'll go after Chad," Kirara told him. Ichigo whirled around, his eyes wide.

"Are you kidding me? I can't just leave you!" Ichigo argued, shaking his head.

"So you'll leave your sick sister in the middle of the street?" Kirara challenged, making him hesitate. "You'll be too worried to fight if you leave her. Not to mention it'd be a little cruel. I'm not as weak as you make me out to be, Ichigo, so go," Kirara told him, and leapt into the air before he could stop her.

Sitting on a wall looking up at the Tower of Penitence, Natsuki tilted her head.

"You look deep in thought," she jolted, and looked down at Captain Kyoraku. The man in the straw hat smiled up at her, and a blush crossed Natsuki's cheeks.

"Sorry, Captain," Natsuki jumped down and bowed respectfully. "I was just wondering how something so grand went unnoticed in my mind for so long," she shrugged, gesturing to the Tower.

"I imagine those sort of places go unnoticed by many, until they have reason to notice them," Kyoraku commented, following her gaze. "It's a shame really," he added, and Natsuki knew he wasn't just talking about the large white tower in the Seireitei that currently housed Kirara. "You're up early. I didn't think many of Squad 11 cared to rise before the sun did," Kyoraku commented.

"Sun...rise?" Natsuki blinked, and looked up to realise that the sky was dark. "Oh..." she went red. Kyoraku chuckled.

"I see," he nodded, realising. "Then maybe you should go and get some sleep," Kyoraku suggested.

"Yeah, thank you, Captain," Natsuki bowed her head. She turned, and started walking, before he called out again.

"Hey Natsuki," she glanced around. "Try not to dwell on it too much, as hard as that may be. There isn't much to be done here," Natsuki's gaze dropped, and she nodded.

"Right," she turned and kept walking, and the Captain gave a small sigh, watching her before glancing up at the Tower himself. "She's right," he murmured. He then continued walking, heading towards the 1st Division barracks.

"Dammit," Kirara grunted as she leapt through the air. "This damn Gigai is screwing me, I can't catch up," she growled, finding herself struggling to catch Chad. "If this is what it's like to be human, hell, I can see why Hiyori hates them so much," she took another long stride through the air, glad that she was still able to do so.

"I smell something delicious..." she stopped as she felt the pulse, and looked around, trying to hone in on it. "You smell really tasty..." her eyes widened and she leapt away from the Hollow that materialised behind her. "But what are you that can smell so nice? And you can see me too..." the Hollow hummed.

"Do you ever shut it?" Kirara growled, leaping at him. Her leg slammed into him, and he grunted. Twisting in the air, she kicked him to the ground, and he slammed down hard. "Dammit...I'm so weak, my Hakuda barely does anything," Kirara muttered as she landed.

"You're going to be fun! I always like playing with my food," Shrieker laughed, leaping at her. Kirara dodged his lunge, only for his leg to catch her. Kirara slammed into a wall with a cry, but shoved herself up to dodge his next attack.

"Why are you after that ghost?" she demanded, breathing heavily. Her back ached with dull pain, but she forced herself to keep moving, preparing for his next attack.

"Eh? You know about the boy? Could you be a Shinigami?" Shrieker wondered. "I've already eaten two who tried to send the boy to heaven," he mused.

"I'm no Shinigami," Kirara's fingers twitched at the thought of her Hollow. She wondered just how it would work in her Gigai. "I just want to know why you want that boy, since you seem to be adamant on chasing him," she stated. The Hollow laughed.

"Let's see now...if you let me eat you, I'll tell you," he chuckled.

"Or I'll just take you out, and ask the kid himself," Kirara moved into a fighting stance, and the Hollow laughed again.

"You? With those measly kicks? What can you possibly-" he was cut off when Kirara's leg slammed into his Mask again, and the Hollow crashed into the wall. Kirara bit back her curse as pain ran through her leg.

"Dammit Kisuke, you had to make this thing as damn inconvenient as possible," she hissed to herself.

'Kirara, perhaps you should-'

"No," Kirara cut off the Spirit's suggestion. "I ain't running. I need to keep Ichigo's friend and that kid safe from this psycho," she told him.

"I told you, those kicks are useless!" the Hollow recovered and was on Kirara before she could react, grabbing her in a massive hand and slamming her against a wall. "If not a Shinigami, what are you? You're no human, so what could you be?" he asked, tightening his grip as Kirara struggled. As his grip grew tighter, a quiet chuckle echoed in the back of her mind.

"Go to hell," Kirara hissed, both to the Hollow holding her, and the one in her mind.

"Eh?" the Hollow leaned closer, his breath making Kirara grimace. A fist suddenly slammed into his face, hard enough to release Kirara. Shrieker went flying with a yell, as Kirara stared at her saviour.

"It...it hit?" Chad wondered, looking at his fist.

"You...you hit it?" Kirara was on her knees, trying to will away the pain in her head as she caught her breath. "Wait, can you...see..." she stopped as Chad turned and began punching the air. Kirara stared blankly, before starting to laugh. "Lucky hit huh...this place is full of weirdos," she mused.

"What the hell?!" Shrieker got up, rubbing his face. "A lucky punch? I almost thought he could see-" he was cut off as Chad's fist connected directly with his face, throwing him along the ground.

"Alright, that hit," Chad commented quietly as Kirara stared at him.

"I always knew this kid was a little nuts...but this is going a little far for me. He can't hear or see it, yet he has no trouble facing that Hollow," she murmured.

"Damn..." Shrieker got up, and leapt into the air. Kirara's eyes widened as wings unfurled from his arms, and the Hollow laughed. "Can't lift a finger, can ya? What are ya gonna do now, weak little thing?" he taunted.

"Out of the way!" Kirara grabbed Chad's arm, pulling him back. "It's in the air, you can't reach it!"she told him. Chad looked around, surprised.

"Yamada...you can see ghosts?" he asked.

"I'll explain later, but you need to move now," she told him.

"Where is it?" Chad asked.

"What?" Kirara frowned, not understanding.

"It's flying, right?" Chad walked over to a telephone pole. "Which direction?" he asked her. Kirara blinked rapidly, before pointing at Shrieker.

"Right there. Why?" she asked, and Chad turned to the pole.

"So I can do this," he grunted, and pulled hard. In the air above, Shrieker laughed, until Chad ripped the pole up.

"Still there?" he asked. Kirara laughed.

"Oh yeah," she nodded, and with a roar, Chad brought the pole down hard. Shrieker was caught directly with it, and slammed into the ground. He lay there, unmoving as Kirara approached him warily.

"Just give up. We'll be taking care of you shortly," she told the fallen Hollow. However, he began laughing, and her blue eyes narrowed. "What's your problem?" Kirara asked.

"You're cocky. And underestimate me!" Shrieker looked up, and before either Kirara or Chad could move, they were grabbed from behind and slammed to the ground.

"What the hell?!" Kirara struggled as the Hollow got back up.

"This is what they call a reversal of fortune," Shrieker told them as Kirara twisted to find small creatures all over her, holding her arms and legs down. "Let's see...which should I eat first? She's so delicious, I should save her for seconds...but can I resist?" he wondered to himself.

"Dammit..." Kirara struggled, before seeing Chad move. He roared, and got to his feet, ripping the creatures off himself. He narrowly missed punching Shrieker in the face again, and began punching the air. "Yo! Kick right above me!" she shouted. Chad did so, freeing Kirara of the creatures. "Thanks, big guy," she grinned, and pushed forwards, slamming her leg into Shrieker. He roared as he crashed to the ground. "That's for calling me delicious, you creep!" she shouted.

"Wow, you're strong," Chad commented, having seen the resulting crash.

"You have no idea," Kirara chuckled, and pointed up. "He's in the sky again!" she told him, before her grin widened. "And I have an idea," she told him.

"Yamada..." Chad swallowed as he held the woman in an arm. "You sure about this?" he asked.

"Eh...best I don't answer that," Kirara told him with a smile. "But your strength should give me the force needed to take this asshole down," she said confidently, and looked up. "Now, aim a little more to the left," she instructed.

"Okay..." Chad muttered, doing so.

"Little lower, to the right," Kirara told him, and he moved again. "Perfect, let's go!" Kirara cheered, and Chad hurled her hard into the air. "Now this is what I'm talking about!" Kirara cheered as she hurtled through the air, making Shrieker cry out in alarm.

"No, stop!" he cried, before smirking. He lowered his arm, and one of the creatures emerged from his fur. Kirara's eyes widened as it spat leeches at her, and Kirara cried out as they hit her dead on. She was knocked down, and Chad leapt to catch her.

"What's wrong?" Chad asked her.

"Urgh, I'll never live this crap down..." Kirara grumbled, pulling at the leeches. "What the hell are these?" she tugged at one as she stood up. "Some sort of leech?" she wondered.

"Exactly," Shrieker laughed as he landed. "They don't come off easily. And, they're my targets," he opened his mouth, and his tongue, oddly shaped to split and curve in, began to vibrate. Kirara screamed as the leeches on her shoulder, hip, knee and head exploded. She staggered as pain sang from the burns all over her body.

"Yamada!" Chad caught her, but she pushed away, staggering as blood trickled down and stained her uniform, which was ripped and burned.

"Those leeches are mini bombs," Shrieker explained. "They resonate with the sound from my tongue and explode. Tch. Letting your guard down like that," he taunted as Kirara put a hand over the burn on her face.

"Please, I've...had worse," she growled at him. Kirara glanced up as Chad walked past her, approaching Shrieker.

"Wanna go, big boy? But you got..." Shrieker glanced down, and they noticed the cage sitting beside him. Chad started, horrified, and Kirara bit her lip.

"Damn, he was buying time to get the kid here," she realised with a hiss.

"Sorry mister...I got caught," Yuuichi apologised.

"Shibata..." Chad murmured. Shrieker laughed.

"Looks like you understand, big boy," he taunted. "Now, it's time to play with you, little weak one," Kirara glared at him. "Run around! Let me have my fun hunting you!" Shrieker told her.

"Dammit..." Kirara hissed, and forced herself to straighten up. "Okay Chad, you need to stay here. Otherwise he'll blow up that cage, so please, trust me on this one," she grinned at Chad.

"Yamada..." he murmured, watching her. Kirara's smile widened.

"Don't worry. I won't get caught. Like I said, I'd never live it down," she winked, and turned, running off.

"With who?" Chad wondered, oblivious to the small creatures that chased Kirara. She glanced around, and growled, speeding up. She dodged the ones that landed in front of her, moving to jump over a wall, only for another to appear from the bushes and catch her with more leeches.

"Oh, looks like you got caught!" Shrieker was behind her in an instant, blowing them up, and Kirara screamed again as they exploded across her upper body, throwing her around like a ragdoll. "Now I bet it hurts, that blood soaked look is a cute one for you," Shrieker taunted as Kirara got back to her feet, bleeding even more as she leaned against the wall, catching her breath.

"Not as bad as having to hold my insides in, no. Go to hell!" Kirara turned and sprinted off again, ignoring the pain that ripped through her body.

"Oh come on! Where's the fun in this! Will you keep running?" Shrieker pursued her. "You can fight back if that suits you more," he taunted, and Kirara suddenly skidded to a stop. The Hollow, taken by surprise, did the same.

"Oh, can I?" Kirara whirled around, clapping her hands together in delight. "I can fight back?" she asked in a higher pitch, looking delighted.

"Huh?" Shrieker stared at her, confused. A foot suddenly slammed down on his head, and shoved him down.

"Hear that Ichigo?" Kirara smiled brightly.

"'Hear that Ichigo?' my ass!" Ichigo snapped at her. "I thought you would behave and not get yourself in this crap," he growled.

"Aw, Ichigo!" Kirara smiled. "You do care!" she exclaimed in delight.

"Go to hell Kirara," Ichigo rolled his eyes, before the Hollow began moving.

"You bastard, how long you gonna stand on my head for?!" Ichigo leapt back as Shrieker stood again.

"Ichigo Kurosaki, 15 years old. Currently a substitute Shinigami. If you wanted to play tag, you were playing with the wrong person," Ichigo smirked up at him.

"Substitute Shinigami?" Shrieker repeated. "Dammit, if that's how it was, I should have went after you from the start!"he yelled, and fired leeches at him. The exploded, but as the smoke faded, Ichigo was out of his body, leaping through the air at him as Kirara dragged his body away. As the two began to fight, Kirara groaned as the pain finally began to make itself heard, and she slumped.

"Damn Princess, I really can't take my eyes off you for a second, can I?" Shinji caught her before she could fall.

"And I'll tell you what I told that Hollow. Go to hell, Hirako," Kirara pulled from his grasp. Shinji rolled his eyes and caught her as she stumbled again, unable to stay on her feet.

"So damn stubborn," he hissed.

"Ichigo!" they looked around as Chad reached them, carrying the bird cage. "What happened to him?" he demanded.

"Great timing Chad, hide his body would you?" Kirara smiled at him. Shinji rolled his eyes again.

"What? Yamada, what the hell is this?" Chad demanded.

"Don't worry. You''ll be safe now," Kirara sagged, and Shinji hauled her into his arms, watching Chad with an arched eyebrow.

Kirara was torn from her dreams of the past as banging reached the tower. She yawned, sitting up and running a hand through her hair as she tried to process what was happening through the haze of her sleep.

"Chad?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. She blinked repeatedly, before remembering where she was. "What's going on? An emergency?" Kirara wondered, peering out the window.

"Emergency alert! Emergency alert!" the voice, boosted with the power of Kido, echoed through the Seireitei. "Intruders in the Seireitei! All squads, please take defensive positions!" Kirara blinked as the voiced echoed. She listened intently. "Repeat, emergency alert!" the message repeated, and Kirara stared out the window.

"You've got to be kidding me," she looked up at the pale morning sky. The sun was only beginning to rise. "Ichigo, if that's you, I swear I'll kill you myself," Kirara hissed.

Natsuki, pulled from only a few hours sleep, emerged from her quarters and hurried to join her Squad as the warning repeated.

"Intruders? In the Seireitei? This is crazy!" she exclaimed, rushing towards the main barracks. "Ikka! Yumi!" she called to the two.

"Everyone knows what to do, so stop running around like idiots!" Ikkaku yelled to the Squad, keeping them in order.

"Could it be the Ryoka that tried to break in the other day? The ones that fought Captain Ichimaru?" Natsuki wondered.

"Who knows, but..." Yumichika trailed off as they heard a noise almost like a low rumble. They looked up, eyes wide, and saw what looked like a massive bubble flying towards them. It slammed into the shield above.

"It stopped!" one Shinigami called.

"It hit the anti-soul shield and stopped!" another called.

"Brace yourselves!" Natsuki yelled at them. "It's still whole, which means it might just-" as Natsuki spoke, the rumbling grew worse, making them stumble, before the ball burst through the shield and vanished. A shockwave pulsed, and something flew from the dissolving bubble, hurtling towards the ground. Another four lights burst from it, and the ball exploded. "Did they just..."

"Make it inside?" Yumichika finished for her.

"Yup. Now let's go greet them," Ikkaku smirked, and the three headed to meet the ones headed right for them.

Bit of a flashback heavy chapter, the next chapter should be a bit more focused on what's happening! And it seems even without her powers, Kirara always manages to get into trouble. She's a little exhausting, and that's coming from me.

Let me know what you think!

Please review!