A couple weeks passed since the horrifying encounter, the siblings now live on as if nothing happened. In fact they almost wanted to joke about it. Not a presence was sensed, nor seen. As the sun shined and the weather warm all they cared about was recess and getting to leave the dreary class room and enjoy the rest of the day. Kiri glanced up at the classroom clock and watched as the hands of the clock inched closer to 12. Despite the anticipation the clock began to feel like it was about to count backwards until the hand finally hit 12. The bell began to ring letting the students finally leave their seats and enjoy the fresh air. As the children poured out the door Kiri walked out, in hopes of finding her brother. As she looked around she finally saw him, but in a lost of words he was oddly reading. She thought to herself "What the heck…..of all things he's reading?!...wait….." -Squinting her eyes she barely made out the title of the book- "Demonology and the Occult?...figures it'd be something like that." Now looking for something to do she looked and saw a lone boy on the swings. At first she thought was he just wanting to be alone or are the others shunning him. A min later she realized that it was Ichigo, and thought to herself "Ok theres no reason for him to be shunned but if the rumors are true, then he has to be hurting still from what happened over the summer."
Kiri began to walk over towards Ichigo and slightly nervous began to ponder what to say, until a random thought occured. She snuck behind the oblivious boy and gave a slight push. As he move Ichigo spazzed from unbalance and gripped the chain, turning behind him. First showing nothing but anger, quickly turned into a look of shyness, as he saw Kiriana smiling. "You're Ichigo right?" Asked Kiriana as she sat on the swing next to Ichigo. In a shy quiet tone he replied "Thats me. Who are you?" Still smiling she extended her hand and said "I'm Kiriana...if you like you can just call me Kiri" Being unsure Ichigo slowly extended his arm and shook hands. As the two shook hands Ichigo noticed an odd ripple emanate from Kiris arm. He wanted to ask but shrugged it off and began to let a smile show. Upon seeing his smile Kiri said "So why are you all by yourself? Did some jerk claim you have cooties?" Ichigo gave a slight laugh and said "No, just thinking really. I wanted to defend the people in my life but…."Now returning to the gloomy state he was in before. "Well the most important person….I couldn't defend." Which now seeing the rumor is true Kiri leaned over and put her arm around him. Ichigo froze momentarily and looked up at Kiri, who despite the smile began to spazz in her thoughts. "Crap! What do I say?! I got him to smile and then back to sad..umm dang it Kiriana think something wise…...WHERE'S THE FREAKING CARD SHOP WHEN YOU NEED ONE!?"After a slight pause to herself she looked into Ichigos eyes and said "The important thing is she knew you'd risk everything to save her. How I see it, she risked hers so you can continue protecting others." "Please work because that may have sounded a lot lamer than i'd want it to be."
Despite her thoughts the gloomy Ichigo hinted off a smile and said. " You know...I never really thought about it that way. I only saw it as a failure, but what you said..that really helped. Thank you Kiri" Ichigo leaned over and hugged Kiriana. In turn she returned the hug and said "You just can't be too hard on yourself dude. Everything happens for a reason." Still mid-hug Ichigo noticed the ripple from Kiriana's arm. Unknowingly Ichigo let go soon realizing he couldn't hold it back and asked "Ok what's with your arm? Not trying to sound like a jerk, but somethings not right about it…..Im sorry that sounded much harsher than i wanted it to be." Kiriana let out a sigh saying "So you could sense it...well at least you aren't calling me demon girl." Ichigo laughed and said "If you're a demon then Hell isn't Hell." Giving a small smile Kiri shook her head and pointed towards Keru."See the boy over there with the old book in his face?" Ichigo turned and nodded. "Yeah why?" Kiri then searched the sand by the swings for a rock. Soon finding a good sized one she gripped it and said "Keep a good eyeon his face" She then threw the rock knocking the book out of Keru's hands. Irritated he glared up and scanned for the culprit. After a few glances he mumbled and picked up the book. Ichigo had a puzzled look on his face. "I didn't see what you're going for….he looks like the same as any other kid." Kiri laughed. "Oh you'll see later. Hes far from being the same as the others….with that being said….why not come over after school and hang out with Keru and me?" Ichigo seeming a tad thrown from the offer thought for a moment and grinning said "Sure I mean if you really don't mind that is." Kiri simply laughed and said " If i didn't want you to come over i wouldn't of offered." The bell rang calling for the students to come back to class. As the two got up and walked to the doors Kiri nudged Ichigo. "Just meet us over by the south side of the school. Ill try to let Keru know youre coming over. Granted if he for what ever reason is against it...tough for him. Youre my guest so there" As Kiri stuck her tongue out, causing Ichigo to laugh.
Time passed by, and now the bell rung once more. How ever it was the best bell of the day. Keru walked out the of the school doors looking for his sister. He soon saw her over by the the school's rock and walked over. "Hey sis." Turning and waving "Hey Keru." As Keru got to Kiri he kept walking until he felt a tug at his messenger bag. Lost he turned and asked "Uhhh sis schools over….we get to go home?" Kiriana laughed shaking her head and said "Not until our friend shows up" Keru thought for a moment and his eyes widened followed by a look of terror. "What the heck happened in school?! Theres no way we are waiting for that thing to show up again!" Kiriana sighed and rolled her eyes. "No genius not that…..what ever it was. No we have a classmate coming over today….Know Ichigo?" And Keru thought for a moment and said "The orange haired kid? Oh yeah I know him. So how'd you get him to come over?" "I simply asked?" Keru sat on top of the rock and waited for Ichigo with Kiri. Soon after Keru notices The orange hair in the crowd and nudges Kiri. Kiri looked and wove the searching boy over. Ichigo began to walk over and waved. "Hey Kiri. So thats Keru?" Keru woved and said "About time you showed up." Ichigo gave a slight glare. "Sorry would of been sooner but there were a few….issues."
Kiriana with a off look said "Come lets talk and walk." The three began to make there way to the siblings home. She resumed. "So what were the issues Ichigo….come to think of it what happened to ur cheek?" Now also looking Keru examined Ichigo's injury."So don't say you slipped and fell who swung at ya?" Ichigo looked away and gave a slight angered look."Look nothing like that happened…" Now silent the three kept walking which Kiri is now, giving Keru a glare. Now passing a few shops Keru had an idea and vanished momentarily. Kiri soon realized Keru slipped away and asked Ichigo if he saw where he went. He shrugged and gave a quick look around. As the two give up and figure Keru is ahead of them, the two feel a tap on the shoulder. After they turned Keru stood in front of them grinning. "What were you two looking for?" Keru laughed as Kiri is scowling until she noticed he was holding a bag. "Hmm I dont know if id be so mad at me sis." "Umm if anything happened to you, you do realize mom would murder me right? No random vanishing you weasel." Keru grinning shook his head and said "Well then more for me and Ichigo miss follows the rules." As Keru stuck his tongue out and began to dig into the bag. Ichigo looked at Kiri and began pleading his case "Uh Kiri I swear i don't have a clue what he's going on about. Let alone have a thing to do with it." "You're fine i know you haven't met Keru till now, so no chance you're part of his antics." Sighing Kiri shook her head. Keru now finished digging thru the bag, he pulled out two mochi icecreams. "So Ichigo mango or chocolate?" asked Keru as the look on Kiri's face turned to jealousy. "Keru why is there only…" Interrupting Kiri, Keru said " Don't cut the guy off sis that's awfully rude of you." Ichigo despite Kiris moment of anger asked for the chocolate one. Keru then tossed him the ice cream and said " Hmmm only a mango one left….i don't know i mean i want it but perhaps later." Kiri then gave a evil glare and said "That better not be the only other one you got…" Keru then laughed and tossed the bag into a trashcan they passed. Kiri began to clench her fist, then let go sighing. "Ok Keru guess your big sis who saved your butt from dad finding out you were digging through his electronics." Giving his sister a look Keru said. "Really going to blackmail me over ice cream? Hmm think fast!" Keru then tossed a chocolate one from his bag at Kiri, who in turn almost dropped it. "Dude its chocolate and you almost dropped it….." As Keru tilted his head and began to walk on with Ichigo, who then stopped. The siblings noticed the lack of footsteps and turned to a nervous Ichigo.
"Hey you ok Ichigo? Kinda just stopped for nothing" Said Keru. Quickly replying Ichigo nervously said."Oh yeah im fine...not seeing odd things just a random thought." With a look of disbelief Kiri walked over to Ichigo and looked down the alley they were passing. A moment later she began to wave towards the alley and Ichigos face filled with confusion. "Wait are you mocking me or are you being serious right now" Ichigo asked. Giving a smile Kiri signaled Keru to come over to look. "Soooo sis are we not the only ones who see souls or is Ichigo hiding something" Ichigo looked at the siblings with a lost look. "Wait you see the boy too?!" Kiri laughed "Yes we do. Everything from the brown eyes, black hair, shorts, shoes, jacket, and the retro looking baseball cap." Ichigo sighed in relief "Ok so not crazy and not talking to myself the last few days." Keru leaned over and said. "Well to us no….however to normal folks you look like you're talking to yourself. Trust me sometimes its funny to talk to one and watch the reactions of some people who walk by." Kiri rolled her eyes and swatted Keru. "Once in a while but you make a habit of it to almost every time you see a chance for it." Grinning Keru shrugged and began to walk onward home.
"Hey! Dont walk away from being scolded" Kiri yelled. Scowling she sighed and nodded at Ichigo to come along. Now with the three resuming their way back to the house. Within a few minutes passed they finally reached home. Kiri reached in her pocket for the keys and to her dismay misplaced them. She began to dig through her bag and then sighed turning to keru. "Where did you put them?" Keru shrugged and thought for a moment. He then tapped her shoulder and Kiri turned. "So uh sis should we just use the hidden key. I mean it's not like ichigo would seriously misuse the hidden keys location." Kiri groaned and said "Ok fine but where did my keys go because other than the house I have my locker key and chest key on them." Keru shrugged and then noticed a jingle as Kiri turned. "Umm sis which loop did you put them on?" Kiri then runs her hands along her waist and discovers the keys were on the back belt loop. Tinted in embarrassment Kiri unlocked the door and walked in, followed by the others. "So what do you guys wanna do since it's just the three of us till mom or dad comes home?" Kiri asked as she ditched her school bag by the hall. "Uh well what would you have in mind Keru?...Uh Kiri he vanished again." Ichigo replied. While Kiri and Ichigo were thinking of what to do. Keru was pillaging the kitchen for snacks. A while after he returned with a chip bag in one hand and a few sodas in the other and plopped down on the couch. "So why don't we see if Ichigo can beat you in that Zoids game. most I've gotten you was 3/4s of your health. Maybe he can finally break your kill streak." Kiri laughed and said" Oh come on. We just made a new friend, we don't want to lose em already." Ichigo thought about it for a moment and said "The Zoids game for the GC46?...Bring it Kiri" Kiri and Keru both looked at Ichigo with their jaws dropped, not expecting that answer. "Oh youre on!" Kiri replied as she was setting the game up. Keru sat back and debated on hinting Ichigo off on Kiri's usual game plan, tho ended up remaining silent in anticipation. The two selected their characters, then their the match began.
At first the two kept distance, soon coming to quick pass bys. For awhile it seemed the only shots fired were warning shots. Kiri and Ichigo both kept on testing the others mettle to Keru seemed like hours. "Seriously guys neither one of you have any damage and shooting dirt." Keru groaned as he watched the virtual game of chicken resume. After a few more rounds of chicken Ichigo grinned and vanished from Kiris sight and oddly was in the sniping scope. Kiri then began to search until a dirt cloud poofed in front of her zoid. "Ok where are you hiding you lil sneak." Ichigo laughed saying. "Whats the matter never thought of the hiding spots on the map before?" A couple sniper shots later Kiri figured out where Ichigo was hiding and kept it hidden. She instead played dumb and let Ichigo get full of himself, until she managed to hide herself. "Ok i had you entirely traced how did I lose you?!" Ichigo said with an alarmed look on his face. Kiri simply returned his question with a evil grin and Ichigo turned white as the sounds of missiles locking on bleeped numerously. "Ooooh Ichigo...I win" With that Kiri released the trigger. Keru watched her side of the screen to see a vast amount of missiles flying right for Ichigo. Shortly after the release Ichigo's zoid lit up in flames and soon the words "Player 1 WIns" glew on the screen.
"Dude no fair! How did you...I mean seriously how did you slip out of my sight? From where I was hiding I could survey the whole map!" Said Ichigo as he sat there confused to his defeat. Laughing Kiri said "Look you managed to last a million times longer than Keru ever had fighting me." She then looked over to her brother seeing he was scowling at her for the remark. Keru shrugged. "I can't deny it you're definitely better at this game than i am. Granted….ok im sorry but she blew your butt into dust." Keru began to laugh as Ichigo gave him a look and soon joined in laughing. After they got the game system put away, Keru and the others ended up putting the tv on. Which for a while sufficed and Keru began to hear a whisper in his ear. He turned to see no one there. Seconds later he began to hear the whispers again but now more audible to tell it was a woman's voice. Keru scanned the room and didn't see anything. He then resumed watching the show until the whisper turned to a soft voice. Keru looked to the corner of his eye and saw a middle aged woman standing next to the couch. He then looked at Kiri and Ichigo , to see if they noticed. The woman then spoke saying "So who'd of thought Kamiko's little ones would befriend mine." Keru for a moment thought of alerting the others until the woman placed her finger in front of her lips. "Dont worry Keru you're not crazy. But not to be short but please look after Ichigo you and your sister both. If anything just make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble. Which by the way tell your mother Misaki says hello." With those last words the woman vanished leaving Keru lost. Keru then turned to Kiri and Ichigo asking "Sooo random but does the name Misaki Ring a bell to either of you?" Kiri thought for a moment and said "It's vaguely familiar but I honestly can't but a face to the name." The two turned to Ichigo who's face turned pale. He then dropped his head and softly said "Misaki is my mother's name…"