Chapter 71: The Enemy of My Enemy
The voice that had cut through the tense, hopeless atmosphere that had descended upon most of the Shinigami took everyone by surprise. So fixated on Captain Ukitake and Kyoraku being taken out, followed by the reveal that both Barragan and Harribel were unharmed, and the release of Aizen, Ichimaru and Tosen from their fiery prison, none of them had noticed nine more arriving on the battlefield.
Aizen's smug, cold smile had vanished the moment he heard the voice he hadn't heard in a century, and he turned to survey Shinji and the rest of the Vizards.
"There are a lot of familiar faces here," Ichimaru chuckled as the initial surprise wore off, and the smirk returned to Aizen's face.
"Looks like we made it in time for the main event, Aizen," Shinji called over. Aizen didn't reply as his cold smile returned, icier than ever.
"That woman…" Hitsugaya murmured, recognising one of the group of newcomers. He'd only seen her for a few moments in Ichigo's school, but Kirara had that same smirk on her face from before. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she, like the rest of the Vizards, were focused on Aizen. "But who are the rest of them?" he wondered quietly.
"They're…" Soi Fon breathed.
"I think this would have been a lot more dramatic, had a certain someone not shown their face early," Rose's words were almost a complaint. Kirara's eyebrow arched, and she turned to him.
"I did tell them that I hadn't seen you lot in a century, what more do you want?" she argued, and he smiled back at her patiently.
"For you to be less of a shit liar, maybe," Kensei muttered. Kirara huffed, glaring at him.
"Other than the Princess…" Shinji started, and the glare was turned on him. "It's been a while since we last saw them. Is there anyone in the Gotei 13 you guys want to say hello to?" he asked.
"No!" Hiyori's loud refusal made him roll his eyes.
"Shut up, Hiyori! I wasn't talking to you!" Shinji snapped, and Hiyori's scowl grew. Kirara rolled her eyes and sighed loudly.
"What do you mean, you weren't talking to me? You're talking to everyone, right?!" Hiyori shouted back at him.
"Why can't we go five minutes without this?" Kirara complained, already sounding exhausted.
"Shut up, Kirara!" Hiyori snapped at her. Kirara just turned away, and the short blonde growled in her anger.
"I'm fine," Love spoke up, ending the arguing abruptly.
"Me too," Rose agreed, disinterested in talking to anyone.
"There's no-one there I want to talk to," Hachi added.
"Me neither," Kensei just gave a dismissive shrug, barely looking at any of the Shinigami who were staring at their strange group.
"Berry isn't here, I wonder why…" Mashiro murmured. Kirara's eyebrows furrowed at the comment.
"Still in Hueco Mundo, then," she muttered as she cast a look around at the groups below them. She could feel Haruki's power below them, steady and gentle, before she spotted Natsuki staring up at her. Instantly Kirara hesitated, unsure as she looked away.
"Hey!" Hiyori shouted when Lisa suddenly vanished. "Where are you going, Lisa?!" she demanded, but received no response.
"In that case, I'll go say hi to the Captain Commander," Shinji decided as he returned his hat to his head.
"Hey! Wait, Shinji!" Hiyori shouted, but he'd already gone. Kirara closed her eyes for a moment, taking a breath to steel herself.
"Sorry, Hiyori," she apologised, and when the temperamental woman turned to her, Kirara disappeared too. Hiyori's angry shouts carried for some distance, which only made Kirara laugh lightly before she landed in front of Natsuki. Instantly the Fourth Seat sucked in a breath.
"You came back," she said softly. Kirara grinned at her, ignoring the massive, imposing form of Komamura nearby, and the young man inside the healing barrier who stared openly at her.
"Course I did. We owe Aizen some payback," she said, resting a hand on her hip. Her grin then faded as she took in Natsuki's beaten appearance. Her Shihakusho was burned and torn, and bandages covered her exposed body. "What happened to you? You look like hell," Kirara snorted. Natsuki grinned back wildly.
"I'm still standing," she replied. "And maybe if someone hadn't shown up late to the party…seems like some things never change," Natsuki retorted.
"Hey, it's not my fault. The barrier around this place is crazy. If we hadn't found Lieutenant Sasakibe guarding it, we probably wouldn't have gotten in at all," Kirara complained, before mischief flashed in her eyes. "Besides, it would have denied us a dramatic entrance," she smirked, and Natsuki laughed. Kirara softened. "I'm glad you're alright," she admitted. Natsuki shrugged, suddenly embarrassed.
"Yeah, well, I had to be. You ran off before I could talk to you the last time," she pointed out. "Not that I blame you," she shrugged again, remembering all too well the last time she and Kirara had spoken.
"I wanted to thank you," Kirara said softly, trying not to think about that moment. It still gave her nightmares. "For keeping my secret, after everything. Thank you," she said. Natsuki stared at her for a moment, before snorting.
"Idiot," her grunt made the smile return to Kirara's face.
"Where's Haru?" she asked, changing the subject. Natsuki's eyebrows furrowed.
"Taking care of Captain Ukitake," her words were grim.
"I see," with that, Kirara was gone, her Shunpo too fast to keep up with. Natsuki laughed quietly to herself, shaking her head. The despair from before was long gone. She reached up, brushing the cut on her cheek. It was still oozing blood, but had slowed from before.
"That woman…" she looked up at Captain Komamura when he finally spoke. He'd remained a short distance away, letting them have their moment. "She was the Ryoka from before, wasn't she?" he asked, and Natsuki nodded. "I see…" he spoke softly, and Natsuki wondered what was on his mind.
"How's he looking?" Haruki jumped when Kirara suddenly knelt beside him.
"It's bad, but I can handle it," he said, keeping that confident tone he'd learned to master over the years as a member of Squad 4. It was reassuring to others, he found, even if he didn't entirely believe the confidence himself.
"I believe you. He's in good hands," Kirara straightened up. "Be careful of yourself too, Haru," she told him.
"You're such a liar," Haruki's words made Kirara pause, and look back at him. He had finally lifted his head to look at her. "So much for not having seen them in ages," he said, but to his surprise a delighted look crossed her face.
"You believed me?" she giggled, and embarrassment turned Haruki's face red. "That's incredible. Everyone else calls me a shit liar. I'd be telling everyone, but, well," Kirara grinned widely. "You gave me the ultimate torment in telling me about those rumours, so I owe you," she winked.
"Rumours…you mean…" Haruki remembered the last time they had met. Kirara lifted her head, her smile softening as she did.
"Stay safe, Haru. One day, I can hopefully tell you everything," she admitted, and before Haruki could question what she meant, Kirara vanished. He huffed, annoyed that even now, she left him with more questions than answers. Instead of dwelling on it, however, he returned his focus to taking care of Ukitake, determined to heal him.
"Someone's popular," Love remarked as Kirara landed beside him, pushing her hair from her face. Lisa had already returned before Kirara had even reached Haruki, looking as indifferent as ever.
"I've always been popular," she replied loftily.
"You've always been a brat, you mean," he retorted. Kirara stuck her tongue out in response. Shinji then reappeared, making them all turn to him.
"You're finally back," Rose spoke as Shinji walked towards them.
"That was shorter than I expected from you and the old man," Kirara commented idly.
"Are you done talking?" Love asked, a little curious.
"Nope, but we can't waste anymore time," Shinji shrugged. "The enemy is losing their patience," he pointed out. As if on cue, Wonderweiss let out a loud yell that seemed to carry power behind it, and the monstrous Hollow behind him began to move. Once again it opened its massive maw, and black ichor dripped out.
"Gross," Kirara muttered, shuddering at the sight. They watched as the black sludge then poured from Hooleer's mouth, forming a horde of Menos that instantly rose and began to roar.
"It can't be!" Lieutenant Kira gasped.
"Are those all Gillians?!" Soi Fon hissed.
"There are so many!" Natsuki exclaimed, staring up at the terrifying sight with wide eyes. They had never seen so many in one go.
"Let's go," Shinji's words were low as he tossed his hat into the air. They all reacted in sync with his words, calling on their powers as they pulled their hands down over their faces. Kirara felt the dark power, usually buried, rise to the surface as her Mask formed over her face. Her Reiatsu shifted into something darker, and her normally blue eyes turned golden.
Another roar echoed from one of the Gillians as they ambled towards the group, and Kirara launched herself forwards. She didn't even bother drawing her Zanpakuto as her knee smashed through the face of one of the roaring monsters, causing it to crumble entirely.
By the time the Gillian began to fall, disappearing, Kirara had already moved onto the next one to kick it hard enough that it crashed into two more of them. She held up her fist, sending out a Cero that was bright blue in colour. It collided with the three Menos, wiping them out in an instant.
"Hey!" she shouted suddenly, having been moving towards another of the Hollows when Rose cut through it with ease. "That one was mine!" she whined at him. Rose patted her head, ruffling her hair.
"Then be faster," he teased, his voice warped like her own as his fond smile was hidden behind the bird-like Mask he wore.
"Wh-" before Kirara could start to get insulted, he leapt overhead and cut down another of the Gillians. She huffed, and turned, smashing through another Gillian that got too close to her instead.
As the Vizards tore through the Gillians as if they were nothing, Haruki watched wide-eyed from the ground below. He'd been unable to look away from the moment he'd felt the change in the air, watching as Kirara effortlessly smashed through the Menos as if they were weaker than a regular Hollow, utilising the power of the Hollow Mask on her face.
"This is what you've been hiding," he realised, his voice quiet. This was the reason for the distance she kept between them; why she had escaped the Soul Society after Aizen had revealed himself. Why they had all vanished a hundred years ago.
"Honestly, Kirara," Natsuki couldn't help but laugh quietly. "I keep your secret, and you go showing it off to everyone," she muttered, unable to deny her awe over the power they all displayed. All of them had been incredibly strong to begin with as former Lieutenants and Captains, but this was far more.
Finally drawing her Zanpakuto, Kirara swung quickly, cutting a Gillian's head in half. It collapsed in on itself, vanishing, and she looked around at the fighting around her. The rest of the Vizards seemed to have as little difficulty as she did, utilising their own skills to wipe them out with barely any effort. Her eyebrows then furrowed.
"Where did…" Kirara trailed off as she spotted Shinji facing off against Aizen. "Impatient idiot," she hissed.
With his focus solely on Aizen, Shinji had leapt at the man with his Zanpakuto drawn. Before he could get close to the quiet, smirking man, another stepped in the way with his own blade aimed right for his head. Shinji then felt himself being yanked back by the collar, and his attacker was kicked away. "Idiot!" he knew who had grabbed him before she spoke, and Kirara's Mask vanished as she glared at him.
"Thanks…" Shinji muttered, his head lowered as he crouched beside her. Kirara sighed, releasing her hold on his collar as she turned to glare instead at Tosen.
"I missed…" Tosen murmured, raising his blade as he recovered from Kirara's kick.
"Don't be ridiculous," when Shinji lifted his head to reply, blood was running down one side of his face from a deep cut. "You hit me," he told the former Captain.
"I wanted to slice off everything above your left eye. I don't consider that a hit," Tosen replied coldly.
"Big talk coming from a small fry," Shinji retorted as Kirara watched Tosen carefully. She didn't know too much about the man who had once been a part of Kensei's Squad, but something about him put her on edge. She didn't know what, but her senses were prickling.
"You must really hate the fact that you're going to be killed by a small fry," Tosen retorted, his voice just as indifferent. As he moved into a fighting stance, Shinji's gaze darted to Kirara for just a moment, and she rolled her eyes before moving back just slightly. However, as Tosen charged, his Zanpakuto was blocked by a punch from Komamura, knocking the blade off course and stopping Tosen in his tracks. "Komamura…" Tosen hissed, dashing backwards to stand further away from them.
"Allow me to assist you, Masked Visitors," the wolf-like Captain addressed the two behind him as he kept his eyes on Tosen.
"Are you sure you want to help shady-looking guys like us?" Shinji asked.
"He looks even shadier than us, Shinji," Kirara commented, and he smirked a little as the Captain's ears twitched.
"True, I guess it's not that big a deal then," Shinji nodded his agreement as he stood. "No wonder he's up for joining us," he said. Kirara grinned as the Captain tried not to react, but his ears twitched once again.
"You fought against those Menos Grande. And I remember you from Sokyoku Hill," Kirara lost her mischievous smile at his gruff words, and Shinji's gaze moved to her. She didn't reply, looking bored, but her body language was rigid. "Those actions alone are enough for me to call you allies!" Komamura declared. "I have decided to fight with you!" he said as he turned his head to look at the pair. "I will hear no objections, Masked Visitors!" Komamura declared.
"What a pushy fellow…I'm no good with guys like this," Shinji complained.
"That's because you're just as pushy," Kirara muttered, and he turned an annoyed look on her. She just shrugged, an innocent smile on her face.
"At least Captain Komamura is honest enough to share how he feels," Natsuki couldn't help but laugh below, hearing Komamura's declaration as it echoed throughout the fake Karakura Town. Her attention was then diverted, as she felt a familiar Reiatsu pulse. Seoane smashed through one of the houses, gunning for her with murderous intent. 'How many times do I have to take you down, you creep?' Natsuki wondered, seeing that he was almost completely healed.
Before he could reach where Natsuki stood, protecting the injured, Kirara appeared and kicked him backwards, where he smashed through another of the houses and caused it to collapse in on itself.
The rest of the Vizards had split up too, as Lisa and Hiyori intercepted Harribel before she could attack Hitsugaya. Their Masks vanished, and they stood ready to fight the Espada.
"Guess there's no time to question whether you're a friend or foe," Hitsugaya commented as he looked at the two who were with him. Hiyori scoffed.
"We don't really want to help you Shinigami out! But now's not the time to be saying that," she said roughly, glaring at him over her shoulder.
"That's right," Hachi nodded as he stood with Soi Fon and Omaeda. "Strangers don't need a good reason to team up in battle," he told them.
"The enemy of your enemy is your friend!" Lisa said, watching Harribel closely. "That's a good enough reason to join forces," she pointed out. Soi Fon just hissed a scoff, and a wry smile crossed Hitsugaya's face.
"Indeed," he agreed.
"We may not be allies of Shinigami, but…" Kirara watched as Seoane emerged slowly from the rubble. "We're Ichigo's allies. We all share a common goal, so we may as well work together to achieve it," she shrugged. Natsuki tilted her head at her words, but as she started to walk towards her, Kirara turned her head. "Focus on protecting them," she called over her shoulder, stopping her.
"What? But he's my fight," Natsuki complained. Kirara smirked at her.
"Should have been faster, then," she replied. Natsuki just stuck her tongue out in response.
"Yeah, yeah," she shook her head, and stayed where she was. Lieutenant Kira looked at her in surprise, before looking over at where the woman in clothes from the World of the Living stood.
"So the one who fights for the sake of fighting isn't bothered anymore?" Seoane asked as he leapt out of the rubble and landed in front of Kirara. Her teasing smile had faded to a cold look as she turned her attention to him completely. "And now I have to fight another woman. You could have at least sent that annoying man in again," he complained.
"If you're saying that to annoy me, good luck," Kirara replied, studying him. While he looked mostly unharmed, his white clothes were ripped and torn. 'High-speed regen, most likely. Explains why Natsuki looks so beat up,' she considered. "Looking down on me because I'm a woman just means that you'll get yourself killed," she told Seoane, who sneered at her.
"So who are you, exactly?" he asked, noting her clothes and the Zanpakuto over her shoulder.
"Kirara Yamada," she answered simply. The Arrancar frowned.
"That's it? No fancy title like her?" he asked, looking over to where Natsuki stood, watching them. Her brown eyes glittered with bloodlust, and he could tell she wanted nothing more than to step in.
"Nope," Kirara kept her replies short, seeing that it annoyed him more.
"Fine," Seoane rolled his eyes. "Not that it matters. Whoever you are, I'm going to kill you!" he charged with no warning, but as he reached Kirara, she appeared behind him.
"Doubtful," she said, and her foot collided with the small of his back. Seoane went crashing through a nearby wall, and as he recovered, Kirara grabbed him and threw him with surprising strength straight into the air. Seoane cursed as he struggled to stop himself, twisting in the air to slow down. Through the memories of his two sides, he recalled Rafael fighting Haruki, who fought in a similar style. He was fast, but not this fast, and not as strong. A healer, he'd called himself.
Seoane turned a scowl on Kirara as she followed him through the air. She most certainly was a fighter. He drew his Zanpakuto to swing it as Kirara got in close, but she easily weaved around it, well used to fighting Hakuda vs. Zanjutsu. Seoane coughed as he smashed against the ground, already feeling his body repairing, but he was forced to move before her foot came down on his chest.
Kirara didn't give him a chance to stop, knowing that it was too risky to take it easy against him. He didn't seem particularly strong, but the High-Speed Regeneration meant that he could prolong the battle if she let him. So instead, as he staggered away from her and continued healing, Kirara pulled her blue shirt off.
"Hold onto this please," she said as she tossed it to Natsuki.
"What, I'm your maid now?" the Fourth Seat complained as she caught it. Kirara smirked at her.
"Please, nothing about you is right for a maid," she said, and Natsuki grinned before she could stop herself. "If I'm going to take this seriously, I don't want to lose yet another shirt," she said, and turned back to Seoane.
"You're too cocky," he warned, and Kirara smirked at him.
"I've been told that plenty," she said, and held up her arms. Her power began to rise, causing a small wind to pick up around her. "But is it arrogance when you have the power to back it up?" Kirara asked, and the power exploded around her. Black shadows whirled around her arms and legs, crawling up her back.
"Wh-" as Seoane tried to speak, Kirara got in close again. He pushed backwards as she jabbed at him with a shadow-covered fist, seeming to miss, before the shadows lifted from her fist to slam into his chest.
Instantly a shudder raced through the Arrancar, uncontrollable as he stumbled, leaving him open to her next attack. Kirara caught him this time with a kick, and the shadows sank into his body where her leg connected with him. He hit a wall, gasping as the cold, unpleasant sensations roiled through him.
"All that training with Kensei was really worth it," Kirara mused aloud, looking at the shadows swirling around her fist. She then looked up, moving into another fighting stance. "Let's go, creep!" she challenged, ready to take down the Arrancar.
Finally, Kirara's showing off some of her powers in battle. Some, anyway.
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