Chapter 53: Vizards

After eating their fill of noodles and chatting about their first day back at school, the four students went their separate ways to head home. Kirara walked with Hibiki for most of it, under the pretence that she lived in the same direction, before splitting off with her too.

The sun was setting, leaving the sky cast in an orange hue that was already darkening by the time the two went their separate ways.

"See you tomorrow!" Hibiki called over her shoulder as she headed off in one direction, waving to Kirara. She waved back with a smile, watching the brunette hurry off. Once Hibiki had vanished, Kirara lost her smile and rested her hand on her hip, reaching out for that faint feeling she'd detected before.

Before the holidays, Kirara had sensed the slightest feeling of power from Hibiki, but now it was stronger. Not as obvious as Orihime or Chad's, but it was there, and Kirara couldn't help but worry about it.

'Is she like Orihime and Chad? Human but…more?' Kirara wondered, not moving from where she stood. 'Is Ichigo responsible for unlocking her power too? It's strange. Even Kisuke has no idea what they are,' she sighed at the thought. She'd already asked Kisuke, but he had no idea just how they had unlocked their strange abilities.

Kirara's gaze sharpened after a moment, and without looking around, she spoke.

"Lurking in the shadows is my thing, Hirako," she said, and a moment later his arms went around her to pull her close.

"Really? I thought your thing was to play the popular schoolgirl," Shinji said, resting his chin on her head as she frowned. "You're certainly good at it," he teased. He blinked, and Kirara was out of his grasp and kicking out. Shinji hit the ground with a grunt, and Kirara's foot pressed against his chest.

"I knew I was going to want to punch you before the day was over," she said, leaning on her knee as she peered down at him. Shinji was still grinning, even from his position on the ground.

"Technically you kicked me," he replied, and grunted when she pressed down harder.

"Idiot," Kirara muttered, before stepping back and offering her hand. She pulled Shinji to his feet, and when she went to let go of his hand, he held on tighter and yanked her into his grasp once more.

"It has been torture, being so close to you all day without getting to do this," his quiet breath made Kirara shiver before he kissed her. She melted into it.

"I think you might be getting a little clingy, Hirako," she whispered as she pulled back just a little. Her breathing was ragged, and when she kissed him again, she felt his grin.

"Seems you're just as bad as me," Shinji murmured as they finally parted. Kirara took in a deep breath to clear her head. There was something surreal about seeing him in a similar uniform to her own. There had been a strange divide in Kirara's mind of a school life, and her real life, and now they were becoming entwined.

"So what's the plan?" she asked, pushing away enough that she didn't feel the impulse to close the gap between them again. Kirara berated herself for letting herself get distracted so easily by the man.

"It feels like a night for Hollows," Shinji answered, looking up at the sky. "Perfect for seeing Kurosaki in action," he pointed out. Kirara raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"I knew your personality was going to clash with him," she muttered, and Shinji reached out to rap his knuckles against her forehead.

"Don't be rude, Princess," with that, he pushed up into the air.

"Don't call me that!" she shouted, following him.

Night fell, and as Shinji had expected, it didn't take too long for a Hollow to appear.

"Shouldn't be long now," Shinji murmured, having been standing on a rooftop with Kirara as they waited for Ichigo to finally show up. "Hell, can't he control that power?" Shinji complained as they felt Ichigo's presence long before they saw him.

"He controls it about as well as he senses it," Kirara shook her head, well used to it by now. Ichigo leapt through the air as he spotted the Hollow, cleaving through it in one strike.

"How disappointing, but I suppose it's to be expected," Ichigo complained as he rested his Zanpakuto over his shoulder. A scream earned his attention, and he looked over to see another Shinigami standing on a rooftop across from him.

"Wh-who are you?" he demanded, pointing at Ichigo. "Dressed up like a Shinigami and acting so suspicious," he shouted.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked, not recognising him.

"What? Who am I? I'm Zennosuke Kurumadani," he introduced himself. "Miss. Rukia Kuchiki was dragged away for some crime, so I was placed in charge of this district instead. I'm an elite Shinigami," he declared with an arrogant smile on his face. "What do you think? Surprised?" Zennosuke asked.

"I think they go out of their way to find Shinigami missing most of their braincells to patrol this place," Kirara muttered, exasperated by the man's declaration. Shinji grinned at her comment, pressing a kiss to her temple before he vanished. Kirara stood just out of sight, watching the pair.

"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. Substitute Shinigami," Ichigo introduced himself, ignoring the rest of what the man had said. "Here's my pass," he held up the Combat Pass that Ukitake had given him.

"Wh…at?" Zennosuke repeated, and burst out laughing. "What is that? A Combat Pass? I've never seen or heard of such a thing," he dismissed the Pass, still laughing as Ichigo flushed.

"What the hell? This damn thing is completely useless," Ichigo glared at the Pass, remembering how Kirara had reacted to it. She hadn't recognised it either.

"Come on, say something! If you want to apologise, now's your chance!" Zennosuke shouted at him. Ichigo ignored him, trying to determine if the Combat Pass was useless or not. In his distraction, he only registered that someone was approaching him from behind at the last second.

The quiet laugh and careful slip of Reiatsu had been all Shinji had needed to give himself away, giving Ichigo enough time to react and block his strike. Instantly their power collided, creating a burst of wind that sent Zennosuke flying.

"You're…Hirako?" Ichigo remembered him from class earlier that day, before his attention was drawn to the blade that had clashed with his own. "Is that a Zanpakuto? Who the hell are you?" he shouted. Shinji shushed him, still smirking.

"Don't make too much noise, Ichigo Kurosaki," he said quietly. "Guys with Reiatsu like you shouldn't make a fuss so easily. The world will tremble, and they'll notice you," he warned, their blades still pushing against one another.

"'They'll notice'? Who will?" Ichigo demanded, his mind a whirlwind of questions. When he heard a thud nearby, he looked around quickly and his breath caught when he saw the Shinigami who'd been shouting at him collapsed on the rooftop at Kirara's feet.

"Come on, Ichigo, it's not that hard to work out," she pointed out, exasperation in her tone.

"Kirara? What the hell is going on?" Ichigo demanded. Kirara rolled her eyes, and vanished. She reappeared in a flash beside Shinji, folding her arms.

"I tried, Ichigo. But you wouldn't listen to me," Kirara said, and Ichigo stared at her. She almost sounded apologetic.

"Must I tell you everything before you understand? You fool," Shinji complained. As he spoke, Kirara felt a shiver run down her spine, and glanced over her shoulder. Another shiver ran down her spine, and she looked in the other direction, her eyebrows furrowing.

'What the hell is going on? More Hollows? But one feels…bizarre,' she thought. Before she could do anything, Ichigo growled and put more force into his push, managing to force Shinji back. Their clashing powers caused another burst of wind, blowing Kirara's hair out of her face as she stood strong.

"Something's up," Kirara murmured to Shinji as she moved beside him.

"Yeah, I feel it too," he frowned, looking around.

"Hirako…who are you?!" Ichigo demanded. "And Kirara, why the hell are you with him?" he shouted at the pair.

"I ask myself that a lot, really," Kirara shrugged, earning an irritated look.

"I mean it! Who the hell are you?!" Ichigo didn't find it funny, raising his voice.

"This is all because you were releasing your Reiatsu," Shinji told him ignoring his question. Kirara resisted rolling her eyes. She knew he would rile Ichigo up.

"I was asking you who you are!" Ichigo shouted up at him, ignoring his scoldings.

"You sure are difficult," Shinji rested his Zanpakuto over his shoulder. "Are you really that concerned with who I am?" he asked. "I guess it can't be helped," he raised a hand, and instantly a dark energy started to gather. Ichigo could only stare, his anger replaced by horror as he watched the energy gather as white fragments to form a Mask in Shinji's hand. "Take a good look. What is this?" he challenged.

"A Hollow Mask?" Ichigo breathed, and he looked at Kirara quickly. She looked grim.

"You wouldn't listen to me," she said, her voice apologetic again. "I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen. So…" Kirara looked at Shinji, who held up both his Mask and his Zanpakuto.

"Now do you get it?" Shinji called down to Ichigo. "I'm a Shinigami who crossed over into the realm of the Hollows," his words reminded both Ichigo and Kirara of Aizen's own explanation. "I told you…'Let's be friends'," he asked, and Ichigo thought back to his comment in class. "We're Vizards, the same as you. Come with us, Ichigo," he offered. His words made Ichigo briefly look at Kirara, who met his gaze evenly as realisation dawned on him.

This was why Kirara had been forced to leave the Soul Society a hundred years ago. Why she had escaped once more after losing the Hogyoku to Aizen. She had an Inner Hollow.

Feeling the presence of multiple Hollows around and on the attack, Kirara cursed.

"Shinji," she spoke softly, and he glanced at her.

"Go. I have this handled," Shinji said, reading what was in her gaze. Kirara smiled very slightly, and vanished.

"Oi!" Ichigo shouted as Kirara used Shunpo to leave them behind.

Deciding to focus on the unusual presence instead of the two Hollows that were together, Kirara leapt through the air over Karakura Town. To most, the town seemed peaceful and quiet. Only a few could sense the lingering threats, and the closer Kirara got to the one she had followed, the more she frowned. It was definitely more powerful than a regular Hollow, and that didn't bode well.

"Dammit Shinji, why'd you have to get Ichigo all worked up?" Kirara grumbled under her breath, before hearing a huge, rumbling crash followed by a terrified scream. Finally she reached the presence, and her eyes widened as she saw the massive form of what felt like a Hollow, but seemed oddly different. "What the hell is that?" Kirara breathed, stopping for just a moment.

"Hold on a second!" she heard a voice that seemed oddly familiar, and finally spotted the much smaller figure leaping through the air. Kirara cursed, recognising Ichigo by his physical presence, but when she felt the presence, she knew exactly who it was. "Let's not fight in the middle of town!" Kon pleaded desperately.

"Why do you run away, Ichigo Kurosaki? Return to your Shinigami form!" the monster gave chase, smashing through the side of the building as he chased Kon.

"Dammit! Why does this always happen to me?" Kon wailed, tears streaming down his face.

"Maybe because you're an asshole running around at night in Ichigo's body?" Kon gasped at the question that came from right behind him, but before he could turn, a hand grabbed him by the arm and yanked him to the side at a speed that made him scream.

Grand Fisher's hand swung through the air where Kon had been, but he vanished along with Kirara as she dragged him along. She landed on a rooftop nearby, and the monster snarled.

"What?" his roar echoed as Kirara glanced over her shoulder at him for just a moment. Her eyes widened as she spotted the massive Zanpakuto that was hanging by his side, as a furious face peered out from under the Mask.

"Oh, shit," she hissed, realising just what the monster was. When he recovered from the initial surprise of someone interfering, Grand Fisher launched at Kirara, who tightened her grasp on Kon's arm.

"Wait-" he screamed again as she yanked him along, keeping him out of range of the massive monster.

"A Hollow with a Zanpakuto," Kirara spoke out loud as she processed what she'd just seen. "Not good," she landed on another rooftop, taking a look around. While she didn't care in the slightest for Kon, she had to get him to safety before Grand Fisher could do any damage to Ichigo's body.

"Wait, you're-" Kon finally got a good look at the woman holding him up by the arm. Still in her school uniform, it was easy to remember her, and fear overtook the Konpaku. "Don't hurt me!" he wailed, yanking out of her grasp and staggering away.

"I just saved you, dumbass!" Kirara snapped at him, before turning as the massive monster reached them. "Back off!" Kirara launched herself up, delivering a spinning kick that threw him across the street into another building. "Shit," she winced at the destruction, and turned. "Oi!" Kirara shouted as she saw Kon fleeing.

"Leave me alone!" Kon wailed. "I haven't done anything, that creep wants Ichigo, and you're just as scary," he told her, only for Kirara to reappear in front of him. Kon screamed and stumbled away.

"I'm trying to help you," she pointed out, blocking his path.

"You tried to kill me before!" Kon wailed, and Kirara's gaze darkened.

"Believe me when I say that if I'd been trying, I'd have succeeded," Kon stiffened at the furious growl. "You were harassing a class of kids, you're damn lucky I didn't break your bones," she pointed out as Kon took another uneasy step away from her.

The roar made them both look around quickly, and both leapt away as Grand Fisher threw himself at them. Landing on the ground below, Kirara watched as he focused entirely on Kon. Her eyebrows furrowed. Even after demonstrating that she was willing to fight, he chose to go after the one who was running away.

"Any idea what that's about?" Kirara asked, before Kisuke stopped beside her.

"I believe that's the Arrancar form of Grand Fisher, a powerful Hollow who Ichigo forced to retreat to Hueco Mundo," he answered. "It's a surprise to see you out here helping," Kisuke smiled pleasantly at Kirara, who rolled her eyes.

"Arrancar. So that's what they're called," she murmured. "I just happened to be out and wanted to see just what the Reiatsu was about," Kirara added as they watched Grand Fisher chasing Kon. "Shouldn't we help with that?" she asked, glancing at Kisuke. His arrival was the only reason why she hadn't jumped back in.

"Someone else has it handled. Don't worry, Kon will be fine," Kisuke soothed. Kirara snorted.

"I couldn't care less about him. I'd just rather Ichigo not come back to find his body in pieces," she said, and winced at how much that made it sound like she cared. Kisuke's smile only widened as he picked up on it as well. "So who's this mysterious 'someone else'?" Kirara asked, feeling the pressure of another arriving nearby. She didn't recognise it.

"Let's just say they're an interested party," Kisuke's words earned him a droll stare from Kirara, but he didn't lose that mysterious, annoying smile. She grumbled, understanding why it annoyed everyone else when she did it. "But you shouldn't get involved any further. Too many variables that could cause problems," Kisuke warned her.

"Damn. Must be awkward if you're warning me away," Kirara said, turning in the opposite direction. "Too bad. Would have been interesting to go Vizard vs. Arrancar. See which is better," she sniffed.

"If you struggled against an incomplete Arrancar like Grand Fisher, I'd truly worry about your capabilities, Kirara," Kisuke said cheerfully.

"I don't know whether that means you believe in my skill, or not," Kirara retorted, shooting him a suspicious look. It was impossible to tell what Kisuke Urahara was thinking at any time, and this was no different. He chuckled, reaching out and patting her head to ruffle her hair. Kirara let him, and wondered just what it was about her that made people think that it was okay to do so.

"I wouldn't have asked you to return to the Soul Society if I didn't believe in you, Kirara," he said softly. Kirara flushed, looking away in embarrassment before swatting his hand away.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll make myself scarce," she said, and Kisuke watched her walk away, his eyes glittering.

"There's only one reason you're lurking so late. The same reason Ichigo's Reiatsu is so wild," he murmured as Kirara vanished from sight. Kisuke adjusted his hat. "This is getting truly complicated now," he said with the faintest smile on his face.

Huffing as he stayed standing on a nearby rooftop, Shinji thought about Ichigo's parting words before he'd run off to investigate the massive power across town.

"I'm a Shinigami!" he'd declared with stubborn pride, refusing to be anything more than that.

"He sure is difficult," Shinji complained, before jumping as Kirara's arms went around his neck from behind.

"Did I scare you?" she asked, amusement in her voice as she leaned on his shoulders. Shinji turned his head just enough to glower at her.

"You could have mentioned just how problematic he is," he told Kirara, whose eyes flashed with amusement before she let him go and stood beside him.

"Why do you think I had to get you involved in the first place?" Kirara pointed out. "You've got your work cut out convincing him that he needs our help," her words made Shinji grimace even more. "It wasn't a Hollow," she then changed the subject, and the confusion in his gaze made Kirara elaborate. "The massive presence, it's what Kisuke called an Arrancar. Incomplete, but a Hollow with Shinigami powers all the same," Shinji cursed under his breath at her explanation.

"You have a real talent for finding out annoying information," he said, almost making it sound like a complaint. "What about the Shinigami presence?" Shinji's question made Kirara arch an eyebrow as if she was going to make a snarky comment in response.

"No clue. Kisuke told me to get out of there before they saw me. All he said was that they're an 'interested party'," instead, Kirara answered honestly and shrugged. Shinji remained quiet, clearly processing what she'd told him, while also thinking about his confrontation with Ichigo. "Come on. Let's go home," she said, holding out her hand to pull him from his thoughts.

"Telling me what to do, Yamada?" Shinji asked, but took her hand all the same. Kirara grinned.

"Always, Hirako," she replied. "Tomorrow's another day. Ichigo will listen eventually, or, well…" she trailed off, leaving the words unspoken. Both of them knew the end of the sentence.

If he didn't, his Hollow would take over and they would have to kill him.

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