Chapter 36:

Back and forth, their attacks flew, sent and returned. Kira fired Kido and Yaku reflected them back.

It seemed like a waste, but Kira was exploring his options. He wasn't sure if the mirror could be overloaded or not. He wanted to test its limits. He was also trying to tire Yaku out, but he was still going strong. Considering the fact that he didn't stray too far from that one spot, Yaku had plenty of energy to spare. Kira was the one running and dodging. Yaku only moved when he had to.

Kira paused his strikes and rested the tip of his sword on the ground. Between the two of them, Kira was the one getting tired.

"Come on, think." Kira had to think of something to win this fight. If things continued to drag on like this, he would be too tired to move. If he couldn't move, then Yaku had this fight won.

Kira explored his options again. A direct attack wasn't good. Reflect could send anything he threw at Yaku back at him, including Kido. His mirror could make a copy of him which could fight in his place. He could even drain the Spirit Energy from his body but Yaku admitted that he didn't like using that power. If he was desperate enough, he might.

What else? What could he do?

Reflect. A clone.

The clone.

Kira looked down at his sword.

He had crossed blades with that mirror image several times.

He looked back at Yaku.

"The mirror..."

Yaku watched him closely.

Kira lifted his sword and gave a single nod of his head. "I know what to do."

It was only a theory, but it seemed legitimate. Yes, it was certainly a possibility.

He had to try.

Kira ran forward and Yaku lifted his mirror.

"Reflect."

Kira jumped at the last possible second, sailing over the last Kido attack the mirror absorbed. His feet hit the ground and continued to run straight at him.

Yaku started to back away, unsure of Kira's proximity.

Kira raised his weapon over his shoulder with one hand.

Yaku held up the mirror. "Reflect."

His mirror pushed Kira's sword backwards and Kira along with it. Kira's heels dug in the ground, slowing him down. He ran forward again, launching the same attack.

Yaku saw him coming and readied his mirror.

Kira raised his sword in the same fashion but before he could swing, he changed the sword's path, cutting diagonally instead of vertically.

The sudden change didn't throw Yaku off as much as Kira had hoped. With a slight adjustment to his mirror, Yaku sent Kira and his sword flying backwards yet again.

Kira picked himself up and charged again.

Yaku frowned, certain Kira would try a different attack this time while making it look like the previous one. Kira was trying to trick him.

Kira jumped and swung his sword again.

Yaku stepped back. "Reflect."

Kira released his sword.

"Huh?"

Kira intentionally let go of his sword.

His Zanpakuto flew backwards and landed on the ground with a clang. At the same time, Kira's body kept moving forward and punched Yaku in the face.

As Yaku reeled back, Kira grabbed onto his mirror with both hands.

"Give me that!"

Yaku and Kira grappled over the mirror.

"Let go!"

"You let go!"

Twisting and pulling, yanking and shoving, they both wanted that mirror.

"Reflect!"

The mirror began to glow bright red and unleashed another Kido it had been storing.

Kira ducked while his hands remained attached to the mirror's decorative frame. The Kido went over his head, but his hands felt hot. His palms were too close to the mirror's surface, leaving him with minor burns.

Yaku kicked Kira in the face and, keeping his foot on Kira's jaw, twisted the mirror from his grip.

Kira grabbed Yaku's leg and held on tight.

"Are you that desperate now?" Yaku tried to shake him loose but Kira wouldn't budge. "This is pathetic. Let go of my leg!"

Kira wrapped his arms and legs around Yaku and held on tight.

"Get off!"

"Give me the mirror!"

Yaku held it high above his head.

Kira tried reaching for it but Yaku held it even higher, stretching his body as far as it would go.

Now the mirror was facing the sky, which was exactly what Kira wanted.

Still pretending to reach for the mirror with his hand, he turned his palm toward Yaku's chest. "Hado 31, Shakkaho!"

He couldn't reflect it.

The blast sent both of them flying in different directions. Kira tumbled away while Yaku soared and came crashing down with his right hand clutching his mirror. Yaku's chest was smoking and he was charred but still able to fight. Yaku sat up slowly and gave Kira a cross look.

Kira ran back to his sword and picked it up. He ran back to where Yaku sat and got ready to strike.

After being hit with that attack at such close range, Yaku should have been weakened.

"Reflect."

Kira ducked down and swung at Yaku's legs.

Unable to gauge how close he was, Yaku's legs were struck. He felt the pain but didn't see any blood. He scrambled away and looked down at his legs. He was hurt, but he wasn't cut.

He looked back at Kira's sword and realized that a curved blade like that wouldn't be able to cut easily. Kira must have struck him with the side of his blade instead of the blade itself.

"Of course. How could I forget? I mocked you for that just a few minutes ago when you were fighting your clone."

Kira pursued him.

"In fact, why don't you say 'hello' again?" Yaku held out his mirror. "Mirror Image."

The clone was back and ready to fight. It swung at Kira and Kira blocked. He swung his Zanpakuto and the clone blocked.

Yaku held the mirror straight out in front, guiding the clone to where he should strike.

Their swords clanged together. Over and over again, they clashed.

"Just as I thought." Kira looked at the mirror's framed edge. He took his attention away from the clone for an instant to cut at the mirror's frame.

It was a success. His Zanpakuto hit the mirror's edge.

Yaku adjusted the mirror, thinking Kira was trying to cut off his fingers, but that wasn't the case.

The clone struck Kira again. This time, on the shoulder. Kira jumped back, holding his arm. He wasn't cut, but it was a hard hit. Kira picked up his sword and went for the mirror's edge once again. He cut the rim and Yaku moved to the side.

Kira turned his head and saw the clone coming at him with an overhead strike. He jumped to the side and then jumped into the air. Yaku saw Kira descend upon him from the sky and held up his mirror to block. This gave Kira a blind spot to take advantage of.

Holding the mirror in front of his face blocked Yaku's view of him which was a deadly mistake. He expected the hit to come at his face but when it didn't happen, he got confused. He lowered the mirror and looked around. Kira was gone.

"Hyah!" Kira slashed at Yaku's legs and then at the mirror.

Yaku ran to the side in retreat. He knew Kira was too close and had to get some distance.

Something was wrong.

While Yaku wasn't a typically fast runner under normal circumstances, he was still plenty fast and could get away if needed. However, at the moment, he was slow. His legs couldn't keep up with his demands. They felt sluggish.

And heavy.

Within no time, Kira had caught up to him and prepared to strike once more. Yaku held up his mirror to block and Kira cut the rim instead of Yaku's head. He then ordered the image to attack Kira which it did, but not before Kira could get in an extra strike on the mirror's rim.

Kira and the clone crossed blades again. Back and forth, they struck. Then Kira retreated. He ran to Yaku's back and tried to cut him while his back was turned. Yaku turned the mirror and had the clone take the hit for him.

Undeterred, Kira ran to the left and tried again, but again the clone blocked. Kira ran to the right and slashed at Yaku's arm. The blade of his Zanpakuto hit the mirror's frame instead of Yaku's arm.

Yaku jumped back and pointed the mirror at Kira. The clone brandished its sword threateningly.

Taking a deep breath, Kira charged.

At the last moment, he dropped to his knees and slid under the clone and beneath the mirror. He cut it with his sword at the same time Yaku stepped on his neck.

"Filthy Soul Reaper!"

Kira rolled away before Yaku could inflict more damage. He coughed and retreated to a safe distance. His neck was sore and it felt like his windpipe had been crushed. The damage wasn't that severe but the pain was.

Kira held up his hand. "Had... Hado 31, Shakkaho!"

The clone vanished and the mirror absorbed the attack.

Before it could be sent back at him, Kira dashed forward and took a swipe at the mirror. The edge of his sword nicked the rim of the mirror. It knocked the mirror off coarse just slightly, but Yaku easily corrected its path.

"Reflect."

Kira dodged, but it was too close for comfort.

Supporting his mirror with both hands, Yaku took aim. "Mirror Image."

The clone was back and swinging. It cut into the ground where Kira lay, forcing him to retreat. The clone dragged its sword across the ground, drawing a line in the dirt. It lifted the sword and swung at Kira's head. Kira ducked, bent his knees and launched himself into the clone from below.

The attack was enough to rattle the mirror in Yaku's hand.

While the clone was in the air, Kira cut the rim of Yaku's mirror again. Before he could strike again, the clone slammed the sword into Kira's spine and knocked him to the ground.

From the ground, Kira could see an opening between Yaku and the mirror. "Hado 31, Shakkaho!" He aimed carefully, but it was no use.

The clone retreated back into the mirror and the smooth surface absorbed the attack before it could hit Yaku.

"Thanks for replenishing my arsenal, Soul Reap-"

Yaku's bent elbows straightened as the mirror suddenly dropped straight down.

"Wh- what?" Yaku's back arched as he tried to lift it. "What is going on? Why is it so heavy all of a sudden?"

Kira lifted himself up into a kneeling position. "Actually, it's been getting heavier. You just didn't notice until now. I guess that last attack sent it over the edge."

"Huh?" Yaku's body pitched forward and his mirror came to rest on the ground. Yaku's knees were bent, his hands still clutching his precious mirror. "What are you talking about?"

"Your legs, too. I would imagine they feel heavier, don't they?"

Yaku took his attention off his mirror to look at Kira. The fact that Kira knew such a thing must have meant that he had something to do with it. He must have been the cause.

Kira stood, looking at the sword held in his right hand. "You see, my sword doesn't always cut the way you'd expect."

Yaku continued to try lifting the mirror but it was so heavy, he might as well have been trying to lift a cinder block.

"My Zanpakuto increases the weight of whatever it cuts. It doubles the weight each time the object gets cut. Five becomes ten, and ten becomes twenty, then twenty becomes forty, and then forty becomes eighty. You get the idea."

Then Kira was never trying to cut Yaku's fingers. He really was aiming for the mirror. He wanted to make it so heavy Yaku couldn't hold it anymore. Now it was too heavy for him to lift.

"When I was crossing blades with that clone, I noticed that no matter how many times its sword struck mine, it never got heavier. So that got me thinking. I realized that the image you made of me doesn't have my Zanpkuto's power. But it seemed that no matter how many times I cut it, it also never seemed to increase in weight. I assume it has some sort of power. I'm not sure how it works, but given that the surface could change shape and that the clone comes out of the mirror, it must be within the mirror and not the mirror itself. So I decided that I had to attack the mirror itself and not the image."

Kira still didn't have a full understanding of how Yaku's mirror worked but through trial and error, he learned enough to get this far.

A normal mirror could never do the things Yaku's mirror was capable of. A mirror's surface could never change shape like that, which led Kira to believe that Yaku's mirror could change its properties and morph. Not on the surface but from within. When the mirror wasn't active, it functioned as a regular mirror. The glass remained smooth and clear. When he used his mirror to make a clone of Kira, the glass bubbled and rippled like water. It wasn't glass anymore. That much was certain when Kira tried cutting it and the surface was hard like steel. Glass would have been much easier to break. Therefore, Kira came to the conclusion that the mirror could change its form, but only below the glass surface.

To Kira, it seemed like the glass was moving out of the way in order to let the clone go forth. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. All he knew for certain was that the mirror's glass wasn't glass anymore when it did this. If it changed, that might have explained why it didn't increase in weight when Kira cut it with his sword.

The mirror could also absorb attacks into its surface and send them back at the opponent. Those attacks weren't a part of the mirror itself. Perhaps the clone was the same way. It wasn't technically part of the mirror.

Kira wasn't certain either way.

However, he knew one thing. The only part of the mirror that never changed was the frame. The frame was part of the mirror but not the glass itself so it didn't change as the glass did. That was the only place he could cut.

"You might have also been so focused on the fight that you didn't notice the mirror's weight increasing. Once you did..." Kira looked at Yaku who was still hunched over his mirror, desperately trying to pick it up. "Well, you're aware now."

Yaku couldn't lift it.

"If you can't lift it, you can't use it."

Yaku didn't have to be holding the mirror in order to use its power, but if he couldn't angle it, then it was useless to him. He couldn't expect Kira to hold still and let the mirror land a hit on him.

He had to move it.

Yaku heard Kira's footsteps and knew he was coming.

Yaku pulled with all his might. The mirror tilted. He straightened his back, pressing his feet into the dirt. It looked as if he were trying to move the ground with his legs and dislodge the mirror from the earth.

Kira was steps away now.

Yaku saw him. He felt his shadow. Kira was right on top of him.

In one fluid motion, Yaku ripped the mirror from the ground with both hands and spun. The side of the mirror smashed into the side of Kira's head and knocked him down. Yaku spun halfway around from the momentum, mirror still in his hands. Then the mirror dropped, taking Yaku with it.

It was still too heavy.

Kira pressed a hand to the side of his face. The hit had him reeling. By increasing the weight of the mirror, he had given Yaku a new weapon. Kira felt as if he had been struck with a hammer.

As soon as the ground stopped spinning, he picked himself up and went after Yaku.

Yaku's back was aching. The mirror was so heavy. Just how much did it weigh now? A hundred pounds? Yaku knew he wasn't the strongest physically so maybe it did only weigh a hundred pounds. Still, that was a lot for something he could easily carry in his arms all day long and support with only his fingertips.

Now it weighed so much he could barely move it. As he tried, the decorative rim cut into his palms leaving deep indentations.

Kira was coming. He saw him coming. He felt him coming.

Yaku pulled. He still had that one Kido left inside his mirror. If he could just hold it up, he could unleash it and hit Kira. Or he could lay the mirror on the ground and use the blast to force it off the ground and into his arms.

"Reflect!"

The mirror shot off the ground and into the air. Yaku grabbed it and turned. Kira was heading straight for him.

The mirror's weight was suddenly realized and Yaku's arms fell.

It might have been his luck. He fell to the ground with it just as Kira's sword passed over his head.

Yaku kicked Kira's ankle, knocking him off balance. Yaku went back to his mirror and tried again to lift it.

Kira stumbled and fell to one knee.

They were both equal distance apart and they were both on bended knee.

It was now or never.

Kira picked up his sword.

Yaku wrapped his hands around his mirror and pulled.

Kira pulled his sword back.

Yaku lifted his mirror off the ground.

They both turned to face each other.

Kira swung his sword at the same time Yaku held up his mirror to block.

It took all of Yaku's strength, but he managed to hold it out in front of his chest just as Kira swung.

CRACK!

Yaku stood frozen.

Kira stood with his sword pointed at the ground, his diagonal swing finished.

The mirror in Yaku's hands cracked and the glass shattered. The mirror itself was cut in two.

A line appeared on Yaku's chest, running from his left shoulder to his right hip.

Blood.

Yaku stared at his shattered mirror with wide eyes. Then his gaze traveled down to the wound cutting him in half, just like his mirror.

Then he looked into Kira's eyes and spoke his final words.

"Well, that's depressing."

Yaku fell backwards and lay dead on the ground among the shattered remains of his beloved mirror.

All at once, the Soul Reapers laying sprawled on the ground in the sickbay shook themselves and sat up. Some looked at each other in confusion while others murmured and started to stand.

"Look!" exclaimed one of the nurses.

Everyone in the sickbay stopped what they were doing to watch the Soul Reapers gather themselves and stand on their own. They hadn't moved in days so this was a sight to behold. Some even shed tears of joy upon seeing the Soul Reapers return to normal.

The Soul Reapers asked questions. Some asked what had happened to them, some wanted to know if they could leave and some wanted to know what was going on at that moment outside. Although, some Soul Reapers just picked themselves up and went on their way without asking too many questions.

"Does this mean it wore off?" asked one of the nurses to another.

"Or could it be that someone defeated the Quincy responsible?"

Around the Seireitei, Soul Reapers began to lift themselves up and look around with bright eyes. The once listless Soul Reapers stood up and looked around with the energy and hope that had been lost to them moments ago. Some went off in search of friends and others went to see what had caused this sudden change.

Out on the dirt field, Hisagi's dull, dreary eyes regained their light and he lifted his head.

"... Kira?"

Kira turned around, hearing his voice. "Hisagi!" He came sprinting over and slid to a stop on his knees, crouching over his friend. "Hisagi, are you alright? How do you feel?"

Hisagi grinned. "I feel so much better." He looked like a great pain had been taken from him and was able to breathe again. "What about you?" he asked, his eyes becoming serious. "Are you ok, Kira?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Hisagi looked around. "What about that guy? The Quincy. What happened to him?"

"It's ok," Kira told him. "I defeated him."

Hisagi looked at him in surprise. "You did?"

"Yup!"

"But... What about that mirror? How did you..? You didn't get hit with it? How'd you manage that?"

"Uh..." Kira didn't want to say it. "Ah, it's... It was nothing. I just..." He grinned. "I just... broke his mirror."

"You did?"

Kira nodded.

"I see. So that's how you managed it." Hisagi started to sit up. "I could hear you fighting but I wasn't paying attention. I felt so empty and miserable. I hope I never feel that way again." Hisagi patted Kira on the back. "I'm glad you didn't have to go through that. I'd hate for you to feel that way."

"Yeah... Heh heh." Kira looked away with a feeble grin.

Hisagi looked across the field at the body laying on the ground. "Is that him?"

Kira looked. "Yeah. I defeated him. It's done."

Hisagi stood up. "Good job." He stared at the body for a while, then his face grew serious again. "We're not done, though. Not only do we have to report this, we also have to look for other survivors. There was another Quincy who got into the Seireitei. We have to check things out."

"That Quincy might have been defeated, too. Yaku over there said he sensed it."

"We still have to make sure." Hisagi pointed. "You go that way and I'll go this way. You can use medical Kido so you should heal anyone with serious injuries. I'll go check on a few things while you're doing that. Got it?"

"Got it."

There was no time to waste. They could rest later. While they were busy fighting Yaku, the condition of the Seireitei was unknown. They had no idea what had transpired during this time. For all they knew, there were people in desperate need of attention.

Hitsugaya heard footsteps. He hoped it wasn't another enemy. He was in no condition for another fight.

The footsteps came closer then stopped, casting Hitsugaya in shadow.

Hitsugaya lifted his head and looked up.

"It's you."

Cedric bent down and looked at Hitsugaya's injured body. Then he looked at Zalya with a frown.

"It's ok. I defeated him. He's dead."

Cedric looked back at Hitsugaya. "That looked like no easy feat. You're heavily injured."

"I'll live," said Hitsugaya.

"Even so." Cedric lifted Hitsugaya into his arms and carried him away.

Hitsugaya was in no condition to get himself medical attention which he desperately needed so he didn't protest being carried off like a child.

"The others," Hitsugaya whispered. "Did you find any other injured Soul Reapers?"

"I found a few," answered Cedric. "I took them to the sickbay to be treated and that's where I'm taking you. I'll look for more after I take you there."

"Good. And thanks."

"You're not going to complain that I wasn't here to defeat the enemy for you and save you from such injuries?"

"It's a Captain's job anyway. Besides, I imagine you were looking after your own. Linnette, right?"

Cedric turned away. "It would seem that she has run off on her own. I do not know where she is."

Hitsugaya turned his head. "Aren't you worried?"

"Of course."

Hitsugaya looked away. "Don't worry. If she's run off, she must be with someone. Even if she's not, I'm sure she's safe. Otherwise you wouldn't be here, right?"

Cedric looked down. "That is not the only reason for my concerns."

Kira ran down one street and was ordered to stop by another Soul Reaper.

"Lieutenant Kira." Akon approached him along with other members from Research and Development. "Is it true that one of the Quincies has been defeated?"

"Uh, yes. I did."

"Where is the Quincy?"

"Uh..." Kira pointed over his shoulder at the dirt field.

"Over there? Thanks." Akon pointed. "Body's over there, guys."

"Yes!" cheered one of the researchers. "Let's go gather 'em up!"

"No piece left behind, men."

"Ahem, and ladies."

"You're the only girl here!"

"I still count!"

Akon rolled his eyes and followed the group.

Kira watched them with concerned eyes. "I hope Mayuri didn't order them to retrieve the body for something weird. Knowing him..." He shook the idea from his mind and went off in search of survivors.

"Captain!"

Byakuya looked up from his desk. Two Soul Reapers were standing in his doorway looking flustered.

"Captain Kuchiki... There was an attack. It seems the Quincies returned."

Byakuya frowned.

An attack? And he wasn't informed? How was it that no one knew about this until now? Were they keeping quiet about it? For what purpose?

Byakuya stood up. "Where?"

"Captain, that's not why we're here. It seems that the matter was settled."

"That's right. We came here to tell you-"

Renji appeared behind the two men and said, "A meeting was just called for all Captains."

"Yeah, that," the Soul Reaper said, his shoulders slumping.

Byakuya was even more irritated now. "Fine."

Hopefully they would explain at the meeting why no one was informed of the Quincy attack.

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