Chapter 35: #1 Fireworks Expert

Kirara didn't sleep that night. There wasn't a chance in hell that she could even think to close her eyes for longer than a few seconds, knowing where she was and what lurked just across the wall from them.

So while the rest of her companions slept easily, too young to really understand, Kirara sat cross-legged on the roof, staring at the gate in the distance. Jidanbo still lay there, wrapped in bandages that the residents of the Rukon had provided once Orihime had healed the worst of his injuries.

Kirara berated herself as she sat there. She'd been on edge and downright grouchy with the people she'd come to help. She held no guilt for her attitude towards Uryu - the Quincy hadn't quite earned any respect from her, and she was still harbouring resentment over the Hollow Bait, but the others deserved better.

"Maybe I should tell them," she considered quietly, and sighed. "Maybe," she said, before her eyes narrowed. "And just when were you going to tell me about what happened with Ichigo?" Kirara glanced to the cat that had landed on the roof.

"I assumed you'd work it out, considering his Reiatsu," Yoruichi replied simply, earning a glare from her former Lieutenant. She sat down beside Kirara, looking up at the wall as sunlight began to trickle past it. "It can wait until we're back. Kisuke said it shouldn't be anything to worry about just yet," she said confidently. Kirara bit back a scoff. Instead, she turned to look at the wall again.

"Have you ever come back here?" she asked.

"Never. It seems we'll be making our triumphant return together. Just like old times," the cat said, and Kirara couldn't help but laugh.

"Just like old times," she echoed, shaking her head. "Do you really think it was a good idea for me to come back here?" Kirara asked her. She was still unsure of it herself.

"Probably not," Yoruichi admitted, seeing no point in lying. "But we're desperate, aren't we? Desperate enough to send kids to do the heavy lifting for us," she said, glancing down as Orihime emerged from the house first. She stretched, seeming oblivious to the pair on the roof.

"It's not like Kisuke can come back here," Kirara shrugged, not blaming them at all. "And of the Vizards…well," her smile was wry. "I'm the only one who can get around semi-undetected," she admitted, remembering what the others had said in their discussion before agreeing that Kirara should go.

"You'll be fine, Kirara. We all will be," Yoruichi said with such confidence that Kirara couldn't help but believe her. It made her smile a little - this was why she had followed Yoruichi in the first place and agreed to be her Lieutenant. Despite everything, she still admired her.

Below, Uryu and Chad had joined Orihime, quietly discussing their plans for the day and just who the mysterious Kukaku Shiba was. Kirara grinned as she listened to their theories growing wilder, though her favourite was Orihime being convinced that she was going to be another cat.

"You know their heads are going to explode when they realise your true form," Kirara warned, and Yoruichi chuckled. Uryu had then vanished back inside to get Ichigo, so Kirara got to her feet and stretched.

"You're going to have to sleep at some point, Princess," Yoruichi warned her.

"Don't call me that," Kirara ignored her words as she lifted the cat up into her arms.

"Oh? Can only Shinji call you it?" Yoruichi took on a teasing tone, and Kirara rolled her eyes as she stepped off the roof. Orihime and Chad visibly jumped when Kirara landed lightly beside them, holding Yoruichi in her arms.

"Nobody can call me that," she replied, before smiling at Orihime and Chad. "Good morning. You two sleep okay?" Kirara asked as Yoruichi continued to chuckle.

"Good morning!" Orihime smiled back. Chad nodded. "I slept great! Mr. Yoruichi is so comfy," she said, and Kirara looked down at Yoruichi.

"Cuddling up with young girls? And they call me a pervert," Kirara said, and Yoruichi just looked up at her.

"You are a pervert, Yamada. Don't think I've forgotten your old uniform," she said, and Kirara grinned widely in response. "Where are Ichigo and Uryu?" Yoruichi asked, aware that the two still hadn't joined them yet.

"Uryu went to get Ichigo. I'll go check on them," Orihime smiled, hurrying back to Kuroro's house to look inside.

"Help me drag this dummy away from here!" they heard Uryu's flustered shout from inside. Arching an eyebrow, Kirara walked over to see what was going on.

"Who's the dummy?!" Ichigo shouted, clinging to the edge of the fire pit in a desperate attempt to stay where he was. Uryu had a hold of his leg and was trying to pull him out, putting all his strength into it, but Ichigo wouldn't budge. "I'm gonna beat him up quickly as soon as he shows up, and I'll follow you guys, so go-" before Ichigo could finish his words, three sharp claws slashed across his face. They cut so deep that blood began to spray from them, and he let out an anguished scream of pain.

"Beat me to it," Kirara murmured, looking over to where Yoruichi stood over Ichigo. His blood had splattered on the mat beside him, and he twitched in pain.

"Have you lost your cool and forgotten why you're here in the first place?" Yoruichi demanded as she sheathed her claws. "Fool! Kirara told you last night, you're not here to fight with every passerby!" she shouted. "Rukia's life depends on this journey. Surely you haven't forgotten, have you?!" at the mention of Rukia's name, Ichigo started to move to push himself up. "You can't waste time just to see who's more stubborn," Yoruichi scolded as Ichigo sat up, his back to the cat. "If you understand that, get ready!" she ordered him.

Ichigo didn't reply, but his expression was grim and his eyes were full of determination. His guilt at getting carried away was obvious, but the others could tell he wasn't about to wallow in self-pity.

"That blood better wash out, cat," Kuroro warned as he dropped a sack into Kirara's arms. "I'm past the life of cleaning stains out," he said simply. "Breakfast for the trip to the Shiba place," he added, and Kirara grinned up at him with that devious smile he hadn't seen in a century.

"Aw Kuroro, you did miss me," she said. Kuroro rolled his eyes and shoved her out the door.

"Don't darken my doorstep again, Yamada," he said roughly, making her laugh.

"Thank you for everything, Mr. Kuroro," Orihime beamed, and followed Kirara out as the others did the same. Kuroro scoffed, but as they headed out in the early morning sun, he hid a faint smile.

"Not a bad lot for you to be with, Yamada," he murmured to himself.

The sun was high in the sky by the time they were leaving that district, beating down on them relentlessly. Sweat ran down the back of Kirara's neck and from her forehead, making her wipe it away.

"Oh, I didn't miss this heat," Kirara admitted out loud as she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the bright light.

"Here you go," Orihime passed her water. "Mr. Kuroro included it with breakfast," she explained. They'd all gratefully devoured the basic breakfast that he'd given them, and it gave them the energy to continue walking in the direction that he'd given them.

"Thanks," Kirara took it gratefully and took a few gulps. It was still cool enough to be refreshing, to her relief. She passed it to Uryu, who looked surprised but thanked her as they continued to walk.

"Looks like we've come to the outer reaches of a village," Ichigo was the first to notice the smaller, more modest buildings as they walked. "Are you sure this is the right way?" he asked Uryu, who had taken the map for them. "Hey!" he shouted when the young man didn't reply.

"Shut up! According to the map the Elder gave us, it's supposed to be around here," Uryu brandished the map that Kuroro had given him. "If you have any complaints, you take the lead!" he growled at Ichigo. Instantly the orange haired boy backed down.

"No, I'm not complaining," he muttered. Kirara chuckled as she walked past him, and he glared at her.

"Kukaku Shiba probably wants to keep his identity a secret," Orihime suggested as a way to calm Ichigo down. "That's why he lives in a place like this," she said. However, she heard Kirara laugh again, and her smile fell.

"Unfortunately, that is not the case," Yoruichi said as she walked alongside Uryu.

"You'll wish that it was, but Kukaku is…strange, to say the least," Kirara grinned. "I think every member of the Shiba clan is bizarre, really," she added. Yoruichi hummed her agreement as the four looked concerned.

"Don't worry. This person moves around quite a bit, but their house is always built the same way," she said as they followed her. Kirara's smirk widened as she noticed that Yoruichi was avoiding specifying anything about Kukaku, but she didn't say a word. "Once I see it, I'll recognise it," Yoruichi told them confidently.

"Once you see it, huh?" Ichigo repeated, a little wary.

"Yes, yes," Yoruichi confirmed. The group continued to walk, looking around the quiet, sleepy area that the map had led them to, before Yoruichi slowed to a stop. "Oh, I see it. There it is," she called. Orihime gasped, while Ichigo, Chad and Uryu couldn't stop their visible stunned reactions.

"Wh…"

"What is this?!"

"Wow, how neat!" Orihime exclaimed with delight as they took in the eccentric design of the Shiba house. Kirara just laughed, noting that even in a hundred years, the design hadn't changed.

The house itself was modest looking, and alone wouldn't have garnered any attention in the area. It was the massive stone columns carved into arms, holding up a massive sign that read 'Kukaku Shiba' that really drew their attention, along with the huge pillar behind the house that seemed to go for miles.

"You can recognise it once you see it, right?" Yoruichi had a wide grin on her face. Both Ichigo and Uryu looked as if they were about to pass out from how ridiculous it was.

"This time, they went with human arms holding the banner…that's a nice touch," Yoruichi mused as she started walking again.

"I think the bird wings were my personal favourite," Kirara recalled.

"Oh, yes. They were a good one," Yoruichi agreed. Orihime happily followed, while Chad took a second more before doing the same. When they realised that Ichigo and Uryu hadn't started moving, they looked around. "What's the matter? Hurry up!" the cat shouted back at them.

"Yeah…" both reluctantly agreed. Ichigo took a breath and stalked towards the house quickly, determined to get it over with.

"Hey, Ishida! I know you don't want to go, but hurry up!" he shouted when Uryu dragged his feet.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Uryu scowled at him. As they approached the house, Uryu looked up at the massive pillar behind the house. "What's with that chimney? It's awfully big compared to the house," his eyes widened as he got close enough to see the end. "It looks like the opening is closed up. What the…"

"It's not a chimney," he looked at Kirara as she walked beside him. There was something knowing in her gaze, but she didn't elaborate past that. Uryu started to try to ask what she meant, before two voices rang out.

"Hold it!" the two deep voices chorused together. "Who goes there?" one shouted as they looked up to see one man on each arm.

"Strangers! And one is a Shinigami!" the other shouted. They then leapt down, landing in front of Ichigo, who suddenly seemed tiny compared to them. Instantly he went for his Zanpakuto.

"You're suspicious characters," the first declared. "I, Koganehiko…"

"And Shiroganehiko…" his brother spoke.

"Will not allow you to pass!" they declared together.

"Be gone!"

"Or you'll die right here," they warned, looking down on the much smaller group. Ichigo cursed loudly.

"Damn, not gatekeepers again. The Soul Society is such a pain," Ichigo complained. Then Kirara cleared her throat, and they finally seemed to take stock of her, and the black cat by her feet.

"Master Yoruichi and Miss. Kirara?!" the two yelled loudly in realisation. Before long, they were escorting the group inside, where they found stairs leading down straight away.

"A descending stairway as soon as you enter? This house is really weird," Uryu muttered aloud.

"I wonder how you get upstairs," Orihime said as she looked around. It was dark and spooky, and they had no idea what they were going to face when they reached the bottom.

"Please pardon us! We did not know it was you, Master Yoruichi, and your companions," Koganehiko apologised profusely. "Please forgive our rudeness," he pleaded. Ichigo rolled his eyes.

"That's alright. It's my fault for not notifying you beforehand," Yoruichi soothed, making the man laugh.

"Thank you! Such generous words from such a great personage," Koganehiko beamed as they finally reached the bottom. It was a well lit corridor, seeming completely normal despite being underground. "Please wait here a moment," the man requested as he reached one of the sliding doors. There was then a thud, and someone clapped inside, making him jump. "Y-yes! Right away, Master Kukaku!" he went to his knees, and pushed the sliding doors open.

It was a wide, spacious room, with very little around it to decorate it. On the far end, sitting on a mat surrounded by cushions, was a woman with messy black hair and a prosthetic arm. Her green eyes were sharp as she surveyed them, and Yoruichi walked inside without waiting.

"Hey, it's been a while, Yoruichi," Kukaku greeted. "And Yamada too. Seems those rumours were exaggerated," she commented as Kirara walked in. She flashed a smile at the woman before bowing politely to her.

"For now," she said, making Kukaku's grin widen.

"K-Kukaku is…"

"A woman?!" the rest finished for Ichigo, taken aback.

"I never said Kukaku was a man," Yoruichi pointed out as Kirara couldn't help but laugh at their reactions. If this was how they'd react to Kukaku, she couldn't wait to see how they'd respond to Yoruichi's true form.

"Huh? Who are those kids?" Kukaku asked. Yoruichi turned back to her, before sitting down.

"Actually, Kukaku…I have a favour to ask of you," she admitted. Kukaku didn't look surprised.

"That's usually the case when you come visit," her gaze was piercing as she didn't look away from the cat. "Is it a difficult problem?" she asked seriously.

"Most likely," Yoruichi said honestly. Kukaku smirked.

"It's been a long time since we've talked like this," she said, and leaned back. "Alright, tell me. I love difficult things," she said. Kirara hid her smile. Of course she did. That was exactly why Yoruichi always went to her.

Kukaku took a long drag from her pipe as she took in Yoruichi's explanation, nodding to herself. She'd listened patiently to the story, waiting until she was done to speak.

"I see…" she said, letting out a puff of smoke. "I get this picture," Kukaku then took another drag. "Alright, I'll take on the job," she grinned.

"Really?" Yoruichi seemed almost surprised by how willing Kukaku was to help them out. Behind her, Kirara sat cross-legged, and just behind them sat the four teenagers who still had no idea what was going on.

"Yeah," Kukaku nodded. "If Urahara's involved, I can't refuse even if I wanted to. However, while I trust you and that brat beside you…" Kirara smirked. She'd met Kukaku more than a few times, and had more than earned that trust. "I don't trust those kids," she admitted as she got to her feet. "I'll include an underling to keep an eye on them," Kukaku decided.

"An underling?" Ichigo repeated, his usual scowl on his face.

"Yeah. Well, he's actually my kid brother. He's still a brat and not that useful," she admitted, going to one of the side doors. "Oi, are you ready?" Kukaku called. Instantly they heard scrambling on the other side.

"Oh, just a minute!" her brother yelped.

"I'm opening the door, so behave," Kukaku warned. She pulled the door open, and they saw a large man kneeling in front of them, wearing a white bandana over his hair.

"How do you do? My name is Ganju Shiba," Kirara's eyes widened, before the man lifted his head with a smile. "Please be good to me!" he said. It took him a second to realise who was sitting on the other side, before his smile vanished.

"Oh no…" Kirara put a hand to her face. A beat passed, before both Ganju and Ichigo leapt to their feet and screamed, pointing at one another.

"What? You guys know each other?" Kukaku asked with a rare surprised look on her face.

It didn't take long for a fight to break out, with both Ichigo and Ganju landing punches as Kukaku watched. Ichigo threw Ganju through the nearby shoji, but as he ran in, Ganju kicked him in the face.

"Let's get to safety," Yoruichi suggested to Uryu, Chad and Orihime as Kirara followed her to the door. They headed back up the stairs, still hearing the squabbling downstairs.

"I knew Ichigo was a hot-headed idiot, but this feels ridiculous. We've been here a day and he's more focused on fighting this guy than getting into the Seireitei," Kirara sighed, shaking her head.

"At the end of the day, he's still just a kid," Yoruichi said, sitting on Orihime's head.

"Ganju insulted his pride," Chad spoke quietly. They looked at the quiet young man, who knew Ichigo better than any of them.

"I'm surprised you didn't step in again, Kirara," Uryu spoke up, adjusting his glasses as he looked at the woman who had her arms folded.

"I don't need to this time," Kirara shrugged. "There's a reason that Kuroro called Kukaku a maniac," she said. As if on cue, the ground rumbled, and the house behind them seemed to explode from within as Reishi burst from the ceiling, blowing out the windows. The banner was blown away, and the house sank into the ground on one side. Both the stone arms sank into the ground too, tilting inwards before stabilising.

"Did she have to go that far just to stop their fight?" Uryu asked nervously, having felt the sheer power behind the move.

"I think it was less about stopping their fight and more about punishing them," Kirara said slowly. She'd expected Kukaku to interfere, but the level of power was…insane.

"I think I know why she always moves around," Chad swallowed.

"It must be hard…" Orihime breathed. Kirara just pinched the bridge of her nose.

After Kukaku was done yelling at Ichigo and Ganju, she led them down another corridor that had escaped her wrath unscathed.

"Wow…why is there light when we're underground?" Uryu asked as he looked up at the lights that kept the place well lit. "I didn't see any generators," he commented.

"I keep Hotarukazura in the ceiling cracks and on both sides of the wooden frames," Kukaku explained as she led the way. After Kukaku had yelled at them, both Ichigo and Ganju were on their best behaviour.

"Hotarukazura?" Uryu repeated, not recognising the name. "Is that a plant or something that's only found in the Soul Society?" he asked curiously.

"Yep," Kirara confirmed when Kukaku didn't answer. "They're nothing too impressive, and they don't have many uses, but they're useful for lighting places like this," she said.

"We're here. This is it," Kukaku announced as they reached another set of doors. This one had 'Authorised Personnel Only' written across it, making them seem more official than anything else in the bizarre house. "Open it, Ganju," she ordered her brother. With a yell, he yanked the doors open to reveal a massive pillar that went up through the ceiling.

"What is this?" Ichigo breathed, staring up at it.

"It's huge!" Uryu exclaimed. Kukaku walked towards it, to where a small entrance was built in.

"I'll shoot you guys into the Seireitei with this. From the sky," Kukaku's simple explanation made Kirara grin.

"From the sky?!" both Ichigo and Uryu screeched together.

"My name is Kukaku Shiba. I'm the #1 fireworks expert of the Rukon District!" her declaration echoed through the massive room. Stunned silence fell in response to her words.

"Well, nobody said breaking into the Seireitei was going to be easy," Kirara said.

I'm back at last!

Hope you liked it!