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Chapter I: True Sacrifice

Sacrifice.

What is its truest and most pure purpose?

One would normally assume that its purpose is to give up something you have, or something that you are so that you may achieve a better result in doing so. Giving up sleep to finish work so that you would be in a better position. Sacrificing your pride in a fight and falling back, so that you may fight another day. Or sacrificing some of your time so that you may be able to relax for a little bit and recharge yourself. Those are examples of sacrifice.

However, one would argue- I would argue, that those examples are not the true purpose of sacrifice. That those examples are not sacrifice in its purest form. The purest form of sacrifice is when you are willing to give up your life or limb so that those around you may survive. Knowingly giving up what you have, so that someone else may benefit while alternatively you know that you will suffer. To put something or someone above your own well-being. That is the purest form of sacrifice.

I realized this as I gazed at the blood and bodies surrounding me, strewn across the drifting sands that were kicked up by the whipping gales that tore across Hueco Mundo. Nearest to me were the men who I considered my comrades, the men who consequentially considered me their leader. The people who gave up their very existence so that I...so that I wouldn't end up as they did.

There were Adjuchas spread throughout the ranks of those on my side, their faces buried in the sand while their corpses were sprawled out freely. I knew they would follow me wherever I went, but I thought it was for a sense of protection due to my rank as Vasto Lorde. In a sense, I thought that they followed so that they could use me as a shield while they grew stronger. Better to hunt in a pack than ride solo.

Now seeing them lain out, no longer moving I realized it wasn't for protection that they followed. They saw me as their comrade-in-arms and were truly willing to fight to the bitter end for me. They were genuinely willing to die for me. I had assumed when they said that it was merely to garner my trust; but now I see that they meant every last word.

I looked across to the side of my opponents whose corpses who were fallen next to my comrades, there were a fair amount of Adjuchas and even a few Vasto Lorde's were spread amongst them. In reality, against a foe like this we all should have been dead. But my comrades…my friends had defended me when I could not defend myself. Speaking on that, I pressed a hand against the glaring wound against my pale abdomen. There were other cuts and marks across my skin from the confrontation that led to this, but this one was the most painful and probably the one that would kill me.

It was…sad, really. They had given all they were just to ensure I stayed alive only for me to bleed out and die amongst them. I fell to my knees, the weight of my body becoming too much for me to handle as I slowly crawled on towards the fallen bodies of my allies. I recognized every face…I knew their stories, and I knew who they were truly. And out of everything I knew, I had never known the truest extent of their loyalty until now. The truest extent of their will to sacrifice.

That was when it hit me like a cero. That simple word, sacrifice. I had spent so long thinking on it, yet I hadn't realized something so blaringly obvious. They didn't die just so I could die a slow death from wounds I had suffered previously. They didn't knowingly do all this so that I would just lie down and die. My gaze fell to each and every one of them, recalling who they were for the last time. Not because I would die, no. But because I would carry on, and I may never see their faces again.

But as my gaze fell to one of my comrades, a stocky male whose mask resembled that of an oxen, he shifted ever so slightly as a groan sounded from him. Putting caution to the wind and pushing the pain from my wound aside I scrambled over to him, my hand seizing him as I lifted him a bit closer to my face. Hanzo, was his name. "Y-You live!? I…I am so sorry-" I instantly began to apologize until his strong, bulky hand seized my shoulder and squeezed against the pale skin.

"Devour me." Were the two simple, raspy words that escaped him as his eye holes bore into me. My apologies and regrets were lost as I just stared, slack jawed at the request. The hand only squeezed tighter while he spoke, "You won't survive unless you do, sir. Just…do it. Devour us all; make our deaths something meaningful…Gain power. And save those who need saving, do what you did for all of us."

I heard the words, oh yeah I heard them. However, I could barely begin to process them. This was all too much right now and I just could not focus. What he said made sense, but it also was just unfathomable. Knowing his time was however short as I sensed his spiritual pressure dwindle, I spoke, "I…Your deaths were meaningful, I will survive…You all made sure of that. Your sacrifice won't go in vain. But to consume you all…? I just…It doesn't seem righ-"

"Stop with your morals for once…Save that for when you aren't about to evaporate. It is either you do or our bodies go to waste. Those fucks we killed…? Their power will just disappear…Don't let our sacrifice mean nothing." There was a slight pause as the words registered finally, I slowly nodded, parting my jaws, and uttering two simple words, "I won't."

I consumed and consumed, the power of my fallen comrades intertwining with my existing strength. The power of my enemies also joined me as I felt it swell within me, such a sudden consumption of strength making my body feel like it was practically alit with spiritual pressure. With the task done, I gave one final look back as I began to stagger on ahead.

I wouldn't forget what they did. I would make their sacrifice worth it, I would show them what they helped create. It was at that moment that I vowed I would not let my life go to waste. Not after so many had given up their own just so I could still carry on.

My wound wasn't healed yet and I could still feel the pain clouding my mind along with the intense euphoria from such power.

I began to lose sight of things as I just moved ahead without regard. My vision was so blurred that I just latched onto the first thing that I noticed. A white structure with white dots around it that stood in contrast to the dark skies of Hueco Mundo. I could make out nothing more. While no longer knowing my purpose, I was drawn ahead to carry on like a moth towards a wayward moon. I had no clue that the moon I was drawn towards would change me and all I am, and would lead me to a life different from what I have known.

My name is Mitsunari, and here is my tale.

~ Harribel's PoV ~

"Master, not that I doubt your actions, but may I ask why we are waiting out here?" Apacci droned out, going to a sitting position atop the tower that overlooked Hueco Mundo. I remained silent and merely stared ahead, my eyes fixated on one moving object, something Apacci could not see.

"If you bothered to truly look then you'd see that there is someone heading for Las Noches." Sung-Sun responded with a hint of condescension in my steed, her gaze fixated in the same place. Even Mila Rose seemed to be aware, her gaze fixated into the never-ending desert of Hueco Mundo on one exact spot. Apacci gave a snort of irritation as she rose and approached the edge to see who was so wonderful to warrant them leaving Las Noches to greet.

After a moment of searching, she found the figure that was staggering towards Las Noches and barely looked alive with the trail of blood it was leaving behind. Apacci merely arched a brow and titled her head, "Okay, we have someone coming here. I still fail to see why that interrupted our evening nap. It obviously isn't-"

That was must have been when she felt it, the reiatsu radiating from him because she silenced herself instantly. It was something Harribel had picked up on earlier, it felt as if he had just consumed several strong hollows and that he was unable to fully control the surge in strength. "That is the strength of a Vasto Lorde, a rare level not often achieved by most. I wanted to get a firsthand look." I clarified, hoping that she'd now seen why we had come.

Apacci faltered a bit, understanding better now the reason behind all of this. Vasto Lorde's were rare, but so was that power radiating from him. The question was if it was merely a surge that would level out soon or if that was his genuine level. Regardless, it was worth noting.

"Should we help?" Sung-Sun asked after a while. It wasn't exactly out of compassion, but more so out of being fed up with waiting. "It feels like it will take him forever to get here, and if he dies before that happens then we just wasted our time."

Yet again, I didn't dare take her gaze from him. "He is in no danger of death; if he was he would be dead by now. I am merely observing right now, I want to make sure it is not a trap, to lure us out and then strike. Not many hollows move in the direction of Las Noches, so there must be something going on. And I will find out." My fraccion did notice that as he slowly grew closer, the power radiating from him began to level out and lower. It was still evident, but it wasn't as wild and untamed as before. Apparently, it was just a surge from a large consumption.

After sometime, he had finally drawn close enough to the tower to warrant using sonido to reach the desert floor and confront him. Now I could finally get a good look an observe him. He had a fairly humanoid-shaped form, not overly large or bulbous as some Vasto Lorde's could become. The mask he wore was a plain white but covered in dried blood. It covered his face from his chin to his brows, leaving two circular slots for actual eyes instead of just black holes. And instead of a mouth he had rows of sharp bone-like teeth that were clasped together.

His irises were an amber hue, and seemed incredibly jaded and clouded with every step he took. There was no spark of life within them; they seemed devoid of any emotions or power. And he refused to meet her own gaze, his face gazing down into the sand as he moved ahead.

Short caramel-colored tresses spilled from the top of his head and partially obscured the upper-end of his mask, his hair in complete disarray and dried blood within it just like on his mask. Other than that, he looked fairly plain. Nothing in particular stood out besides his exceptionally pale skin and the spiritual energy that radiated from him.

Her eyes drifted to the wound he was clenching to cease the blood flow, other cuts and marks also laced his form and drew blood with every step. He hadn't seemed to notice her, his face downcast as he moved through the shifting sands.

"Halt." I commanded simply, I had no desire for him to get too close and find out if this was a trap. However, he paid no heed and just continued on ahead towards me. As he drew closer I repeated the command to no avail. By now my fraccion had come down as well and were shouting commands at him with the same amount of success. I inched my hand towards my weapon, preparing for anything.

He did however stop as he came within a meter or so. Well, he didn't so much stop as he did fall onto one knee. For the first time he cast his gaze upwards at me, his amber orbs seeming to flicker with some semblance of life as he spoke quietly, his jaws parting.

"Help me…" Those were the only words he spoke before truly collapsing, falling to his other knee and going face-first into the sand.

I carried the wounded Vasto Lorde throughout the halls of Las Noches, my fraccion following behind me and talking amongst themselves. The topic being of the hollow in my arms, they interest fully invested in the Vasto Lorde. Though such an occurrence was obviously not something we were used to, so it was understandable.

"He looks like he just got done bathing in blood." Apacci commented dully, looking around me to his unconscious form.

"That he does, perhaps we should clean him before we take him to Lord Aizen?" Mila Rose, a notion I didn't even entertain. Nor did I need to as Sung-Sun piped in, the usual voice of reason.

"I doubt Lord Aizen will be more concerned with his appearance than Master Harribel presenting him first off. Plus, we don't know him in the slightest. Taking him into our home without knowledge could be lethal." Mila Rose would have retorted but she saw the logic and stifled any smart remark she cared to make.

The conversation about him silenced as we approached the meeting room, the doors opening as we came within distance. From the reiatsu in the air, it was clear that the rest of the Espada has been drawn here as well, either by interest or Aizen's order. However, it did seem odd for Aizen to deem this necessary enough to call in the rest of the numbers.

I walked in, my head held high as I met nobodies gaze by Aizen's. I could hear murmurs from all around as I moved ahead, ignoring whatever was being spoken in hushed tones. Everyone else was irrelevant in this case, the rest of the Espada and their fraccion had no say in this and frankly, it was none of their business. She had found the Vasto Lorde, so the business was between her, him, and Lord Aizen.

As I drew closer, I felt my fraccion fall back and keep a respectful distance. Probably what was best. I could see a small smile etched across Aizen's features as he looked not to me but to the Vasto Lorde I carried. Once before his throne, I laid him down in front and kneeled with my head bowed respectfully.

"Report." Aizen ordered, his soothing yet commanding voice silencing any whispers from the Espada gathered. I played back my report dutifully of what had happened exactly, going over every little nuance and detail in-depth. Aizen did not appreciate poor commentary, that was the type of thing that got you punished.

Once finished I looked back up to him, finding his gaze still on the male Vasto Lorde before me and his smile still there. He parted his lips to speak, "Excellent job, Tier." He stated smoothly, his irises flickering to me for a moment. "I am glad you showed restraint, I fear some of our more aggressive Espada would have tried to…finish the job. Especially due to his power, some may desire to perhaps take a bite from it."

I could easily tell Aizen's words were acting as a warning to those like Yammy, that if another case like this arose this was how the matter should be dealt with. As he finished saying that, he remained silent for some time as he observed steadily.

"Use the Hogyoku." Was the order that follow, and I could only stare in slight surprise. He intended to make him into an Arrancar? He easily had potential, but wasn't this a bit sudden? I didn't dare voice these opinions so openly as I hesitated and looked down to the male before me.

"Do you believe he can't handle it?" I quickly shook my head, finding the words to speak.

"I just feel doing it without consent could have less than ideal result, Lord Aizen. Especially in such an injured state."

"I understand what you are saying, however his wound does not seem to be healing and if you were to tear away his mask then it would regenerate, would it not? The fact of it being forced is pointless; if he is ready then it shall work. If not, then he dies regardless. He is either consumed and turned into a rabid hollow or left to bleed out." As much as I may have disliked this, Aizen's logic made sense. If I did nothing he died, if I did something there was at least a chance he'd survive.

Aizen had removed the shining orb from his coat pocket, the Hogyoku acting as a beacon within the dim lighting of the throne room. He tossed it down to me, a sign of trust and respect. Without a moment of hesitation, I caught the orb and pressed it to his chest.

For a reason I couldn't explain, I found myself urging him to live and come out on the other end of this better than the bleeding mess he was.