Bleach: The Shadow of Las Noches
Chapter 1: The King's Men
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
We were not always as we are now. We did not always have the power and prestige we now possess. As Hollows we led a miserable existence. We only existed to consume souls and be hunted by Soul Reapers. As Hollows we were beings created out of fear and regret. We were delivered from this miserable existence by one man, a man who has no fear or regret: Sosuke Aizen. We now have a purpose, we now have meaning. We now serve him. And me, I am his elite. I am Rork Vesar, the First Espada. I also have a new assignment, and I am honored to be entrusted with this task. The will of Lord Aizen must be done, and tonight the Soul Reapers will know the fear they once forced on us. Tonight the Soul Reapers will know our wrath…
It was almost midnight in Karakura Town. The city lights lit up the night sky and the sounds of city life had seemed to quiet down a bit for the late night. A Garganta opened up in the sky above and six humanoids in white came out. They were Arrancars, Hollow/Soul Reaper hybrids sworn to the bidding of Sosuke Aizen, the defector who betrayed the Soul Society in a quest for greater power. Aizen's most elite Arrancars were known as the Espadas, and the First Espada was in command of this group, Rork Vesar. Rork wore the standard white Arrancar uniform except instead of the jacket he wore a long coat that ended in twin long tails like an old-fashioned tuxedo, except the tails extended all the way down to his feet like a cape. He was tall, slender, and muscular, much taller than most Arrancar. His Hollow hole was in his chest and hidden under his uniform and his skin was pale. His head was bald and tattooed, his eyes were dark yellow, and the remaining piece of his Hollow mask covered his mouth and jaw, making it impossible to see him speak. He wore his sheathed Zanpakuto on his left hip. Accompanying Rork were his hand-picked subordinates, or Fraccion. They were Aranis Grons, Burtik Seral, Chas Res, Dyrj Con, and Hurggo Jast.
Rork scanned their surroundings before addressing his squad, "Do you sense them? Six of them, one for each of us, and if the report is accurate, three of them are Soul Reapers."
"Yes and the rest are pitiful humans." Burtik declared.
"Don't underestimate your enemy Burtik, especially before you even meet them." Rork said sharply. "Aranis, you are to face the higher spiritual power. The rest of you can decide for yourselves who gets the other four. Just remember, the one called Rukia Kuchiki, is mine." He continued.
The Arrancars split up, each going after their targets. At the Kurosaki Clinic, Ichigo was asleep in his bed, but his slumber was interrupted the moment he sensed the spiritual energy.
"What the hell? Can it be?" he said quietly to himself before Rukia burst into the room with her glove on.
"Wait! I'll get Kon and-" Ichigo was interrupted as she pulled his Soul Reaper form out of his body.
"No time!" Rukia replied as she dragged him quickly out the window.
"Oooh that's right Orihime… just like that…" a certain Mod Soul was talking in his sleep.
A few miles away a Quincy was hurrying down the streets and a few blocks away from him a tall and strong Hispanic sophomore stood on a rooftop. They were both confronted by two Arrancar.
"A Quincy eh? A step up from a normal human I guess." Burtik said unsheathing his blade.
"A step up indeed." Uryu replied creating a Quincy bow.
"And what manner of enemy are you?" Dyrj questioned his opponent.
"More than you can handle." Chad replied.
Meanwhile another Arrancar confronted a specific girl with hair clips outside her apartment while another faced a red-haired Soul Reaper in a vacant lot.
"Why are you here?" Orihime asked.
"Official Arrancar business, you could say." Chas answered.
"Prepare yourself." Renji warned his opponent.
"I was just about to say that to you, Soul Reaper." Hurggo retorted.
At the same time Rukia popped a Soul Candy into her mouth and left her gigai in Chappy's care.
"There are six of them Ichigo, and one of them is far more powerful than the rest." Rukia warned while checking her Denreishinki.
She and Ichigo turned a corner and stood face to face with an Arrancar hovering just above them.
"Ah the Soul Reapers have arrived. I was only supposed to get one of you though." Aranis declared.
"What do you mean? Afraid to face the both of us?" Ichigo taunted.
"Bold talk for a Soul Reaper. I can sense by your spiritual power you are the one I am going to fight, but as for your companion, she goes to my… ah speak of the devil."
Rork stepped up behind Ichigo and Rukia and declared, "She goes to me."
Ichigo and Rukia turned around and looked up at Rork who seemed to tower over them.
"Oh yeah? Who says?" Ichigo asked.
"I believe I just did, Ichigo Kurosaki." Rork replied.
Ichigo was surprised for a moment. "You know my name?"
"I know many things, young Soul Reaper. I know who you are, and I know she is Rukia Kuchiki." Rukia's eyes widened as Rork continued, "Attack him now, Aranis."
In the blink of an eye the other Arrancar drew his blade and met Ichigo's. With Ichigo occupied Rork drew his own Zanpakuto and confronted Rukia.
"Shall we begin, girl?"
Rukia drew her Zanpakuto and slashed at Rork, who blocked her attack with ease. In a taunting manner he put his left hand behind his back as he lunged at her. Rukia quickly realized this was the Arrancar with the high level of spiritual energy she detected. Every attack she made against him he blocked and every attack he made she struggled against. It was clear to her he was the leader of this Arrancar invasion, but was he something more? She jumped back before speaking.
"Who are you?" she demanded
"I am Rork Vesar, Aizen's chosen, the First Espada." he answered.
Rukia froze. She was up against an Espada?! Not just that, but the first and most powerful of them?! Rukia needed to reassess the situation and fast. She needed her shikai out and right now.
"Dance, Sode No Shira-" Rukia never finished. With a flash of Sonido, Rork was suddenly behind her and delivered a swift blow to the back of her head with his left hand. He caught her in his arm before she could fall face first into the pavement. She was out cold.
"Rukia!" Ichigo called, his blade locked with Aranis's.
Rork fired a Bala that blasted Ichigo out of his sword-lock and followed up with a Cero. The Substitute Soul Reaper was sent flying into a lamp post.
"That's enough, Aranis. We have what we came for, now we must return to Lord Aizen with our prize." Rork said lifting Rukia up and leaving her over his shoulder.
"Yes sir, Master Rork." Aranis replied, sheathing his Zanpakuto.
The two Arrancars lifted up to the sky and sounded the retreat. Soon enough all the Arrancars were assembled. Rork opened up another Garganta and they departed back to Hueco Mundo. Back down on the ground Ichigo stood up, battered and wounded, but his injuries were the last thing on his mind.
"Rukia…"