I know, I know, you all are thinking: WHEN ARE THE SHINIGAMI COMING!?

Patience people! They will show up…Soon ::grin:: You all are probably wondering just who Kira really is…She definitely isn't Rukia! I can tell you that much! Kira is an original character. I'm trying to go for the awkward teenager vib with her, which I truly am struggling with. I want Kira to be one of those teenagers that just never truly fit in.

Here is the next chapter yall! I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: The Dragonball Franchise and Bleach, their characters, settings, etc., belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to ME.

Chapter 3: Smudge

Bulma had been true to her word, paying for Kira's education in a top art school with clear advances to universities, known as Kahn Academy. There was a slight problem though, Kahn Academy was centered in the city, much too far from the Son residence. Thus, it was determined Kira would stay with Gohan and Videl, going to the original Son residence on the weekends. Knowing Kira was safer with Gohan, as his life was much more normal than most and the fact that Kira would miss most of the insanity, Chi-chi happily agreed with the arrangement. Goku could truly care less, as he was more focused on his daily training. Videl treated Kira kindly and little Pan was adorable. Upon her first day in the home, Videl took Kira out shopping, little Pan tagging along.

Gohan had returned that day to see his wife in the kitchen, his daughter happily napping on the floor in the living room, no sign of Kira.

"She's in her room putting up her clothes." Videl knew where her husband's mind traveled. "She's a bit overwhelmed."

"I could only guess so." Gohan said then walked down the hallway towards Kira's room. A light knock but when she didn't answer he answered back. "Kira-chan?" He opened the door a bit and poked his head in. The girl was there on her bed, drawing in her orange notebook. He smiled, she certainly loved to draw. "Drawing again, Kira-Chan?"

Finally registering his voice the teen girl blushed and put down her pencil. Her head down, she muttered a, "Sorry…"

"It's okay! I'm glad you have something that interests you!" Gohan just continued to smile. "Videl wanted me to get you…Dinner's ready!"

Dinner at Gohan's home was vastly different from the original Son home. Here meals were more subdued though there was still tons of food. Throughout dinner, Kira seemed to keep her eyes on a window, why Gohan wasn't too sure.

"Are you excited for school, Kira-Chan?" Videl asked Kira, breaking whatever trance Kira had been in.

"Uh…Yeah…" She gulped down her water. "Sorry…Everything is just…" She gripped the glass. "Surreal."

Gohan stared at her. "Ne…What was your previous school like?" He saw her tense. "Hey, no worries…I guess it's not like a dream school huh?"

Slowly Kira nodded. "I…Why…" She looked down at her plate. "Why is everyone so nice to me? It…Doesn't make any sense…I mean…I'm just here because my grandfather forced me onto you guys…"

Videl gave the girl a motherly smile. "Well…You are now family, Kira-Chan…" She placed a hand on the girl's own. "I know it's a bit overwhelming, but…You'll see…"

"Kira-Chan." She looked over at Gohan. "If you're uncomfortable…"

Quickly she shook her head. "No! I just…"

"Everything is setting in place so fast that you are worried it's all a dream, ne?" Videl asked her and Kira sighed, slowly nodded. "Everything will be okay…Trust me."

"Okay…I guess…" She frowned. "I'm…Not used to all this…Family stuff…"

Gohan frowned. "You and your grandfather…?"

Kira picked up some mashed potatoes and stuffed them in her mouth. Videl chuckled silently, swearing the teen was already acting like a Son at the dinner table.

Swallowing Kira said, "Not really…We didn't have anything in common honestly. Don't get me wrong…He was a good guy…A little weird sometimes, but good. He had all these…weird rules…one of them was never going outside at night. I couldn't go anywhere alone either. And he absolutely hated crowded areas…He was always tense whenever we needed to go into the city…Said it was full of unseen dangers."

"Well…It sounds like he cared for you, in his own way." Videl told her.

"I guess." Another bit of those amazing potatoes. "But…I don't think he liked me drawing…Sure he got me a notebook every year but…When it was filled up…" She paused.

"He made me burn it."

Gohan blinked. "Burn it?"

"Yeah…At first…I figured it was because I wasn't good enough and I guess that's why I wanted to get better every year…" A poke of broccoli. "But…No matter how good I got, every time my book was filled, in the fire it went."

That was…Weird…Gohan couldn't imagine why Kira's grandfather was forcing her to burn her artwork.

"He started giving me more notebooks when I entered high school." Kira continued. "I…Didn't really like high school and…drawing was my only outlet so…I drew more and more. But…Every time…The images got burned. I…was able to save one notebook, after he died."

Gohan and Videl shared a glance at one another.

"Well…You can draw as much as you want, Kira-Chan." Gohan told her. "And you can keep everything you draw. When you run out of space in your new notebook let me know and I'll get you a new one. Promise!"

"We'll have to get you some new supplies anyway…" Videl smiled at the teen. "You'll be starting art school right? Be sure to make a list of everything you'll need and we'll go out this weekend and get it."

Kira just blinked. "Really?"

"Of course!" Gohan grinned. "We'll make it a family thing!"

After dinner, as Videl cleaned the kitchen, Gohan played with Pan on the carpet while Kira drew on the sofa. It was starkly reminiscent of her first night with Goku, Chichi, and Goten though it seemed more subdued…More…Peaceful to Kira.

"Whatcha drawing, Kira-Chan?" She looked up and saw Gohan smiling at her, Pan effectively crawling all over him. Kira watched the little baby drop into her father's lap and let out quite an unladylike fart.

Laughter hit the air, causing Videl nearly to jump herself. Turning around she saw a most amazing sight. There was Kira, doubled over in laughter with Gohan joining in and Pan as well. Letting out a deep breath, Videl smiled at the scene and continued her work.

Videl soon took Pan away, getting the baby ready for her nightly routine, allowing Gohan and Kira a chance to talk alone. Gohan was just glad Kira was actually laughing now.

"You're going to be fine here, Kira-Chan." He told her. "I promise."

"I think…I believe you." She said and returned to her notebook. "Thanks…" It took her a few moments before she finally said, "Done." And tentatively presented her latest masterpiece of Gohan.

It was very detailed to be sure, the picture of him and his daughter on the floor, laughing and enjoying life. Like the many drawings he had seen, the lines were visible again, this time around him and Pan. In the background was Videl's turned back in the kitchen. There was something else…Hanging out in the window in front of Videl…A shadow of black…This one seemed defined…With a human like shape.

Gohan quickly gazed at the window in the kitchen. There was nothing there, just a night sky.

"Kira-Chan…" He looked at the teen. "Was there someone in the window when you drew this?"

He saw the change instantly. She closed her notebook and rose from her seat.

"It's just a smudge…That's all." She said and Gohan could see the wall she instantly put up between him and her. "I…Need to go to bed…Got a crazy day tomorrow." She headed into the hallway.

"Kira-Chan…" Gohan followed her. "Are you…being watched?"

She froze in her steps, his words hitting her. Gohan's senses became on high alert…Something told him to be ready for anything…When did the hallway suddenly feel so dark? So small? Why were his muscles tensing? Something was…Wrong…What was wrong!? Where was Pan? Videl!?

"I told you…It's just a smudge." Kira's words brought Gohan back to reality. He watched her disappear in her room down the hall, the click of her door releasing the tension he held. Frowning, Gohan returned to the living room and crossed into the adjoining kitchen. He stared at the particular window from her picture.

Something didn't feel right…Kira was hiding something, he was sure of it. He walked outside of his home and went to the spot where the window was seen; he noticed instantly the window was rather high. He would have to float at least a foot or two off the ground to peer into it. Either this shadow was tall…Or it could fly.

"Whoever you are…" Gohan glared at the offending skyline, the bushes, everywhere. "Leave her alone…She's my sister now…If you know what's good for you, I suggest you back off…Immediately….Or you will find out just why she's here."

Gohan had a feeling Kira's grandfather had ulterior motives with this arrangement. Who better to protect Kira than the famous Son family? Whatever that…Smudge was, he was certain Kira knew what it was and was scared of it. Or maybe she didn't truly know what it was just…saw it…like the lines in her drawings.

And the burning of her pictures? That made no sense to him. Why burn drawings? What was the reason?

There were just too many questions to ponder. Right now he needed to concentrate on protecting his new sister from whatever was stalking her.

And hopefully…Someday…She would finally open up about it.

Next Time: School Days