A/N: Wow! My first fanfic! I hope it doesn't suck…. 0.o
IMPORTANT NOTE: The non-plot of this fic is my own imagination. It is NOT the Kubo truth. Espadas do NOT have a hidden ability. I have no idea why Ulquiorra has a 2nd Resurrection. This is just my best guess. If you look on Bleach wiki, there is NOTHING about a hidden power (I checked). I repeat, this is NOT the truth; it's just a fic.
Disclaimer: Do not own
A surprising number of things are not known about the Espadas. Not even Aizen knows everything about his creation. Some facts are jealously guarded secrets, some with very good reason. Espadas are the best warriors, after all. It would stand to reason the best warriors would have the best-kept secret.
Or at least that's what Starrk told himself, lying to Aizen yet again that no, he was not more powerful than he said he was and yes, he always fought to his full potential. How was it his fault that two captains teamed up against him and Lilynette in the battle at the fake Karakura town? At least Aizen had the good sense to retreat when he did; if not the remaining Espadas would certainly be dead. They were lucky that Barragan miraculously survived, even if he would be in a recovery coma for months and months.
In fact, Aizen was lucky Ulquiorra was able to defeat that Ichigo kid and take him hostage, otherwise many of the Espadas would be far more dead than they currently were. (It was a bit of a shame about Zommari and Aaroniero, though. Orihime wasn't able to heal them.)
Not that Starrk would ever say that. Especially not while he was "sleeping" through another one of Aizen's boring meetings and poisonous tea.
"Ulquiorra, please tell us about the shinigami captains who infiltrated Hueco Mundo while you were in charge and how you managed to subdue them." Aizen's melodic voice said.
Stark smirked in his "sleep." Everyone at the table knew Ulquiorra failed majorly and he was in the metaphorical dog house right now. It was high time Mr. Better-Than-Thou took a fall.
"The shinigami came through a Senkaimon of unknown creation while I was fighting the ryoka boy. Nnoitra, Yammy and Starrk defeated them but they escaped through another Senkaimon, this time generated from one captain. Then they came to my aid and the ryoka boy was defeated. I believe he is currently in the care of Orihime." Ulquiorra emotionlessly stated.
"So, three captains entered my domain through a means of transportation only arrancar can use while you were fighting a teenager and it took four Espadas, three of which defeated a captain on their own, to overcome an already-injured teenage boy, all while you were in command?" Aizen asked.
"That is correct, Aizen-sama."
"I see. You are dismissed, Ulquiorra. Starrk will inform you of the details of the remainder of this meeting if he feels it is pertinent to you." Aizen said. Everyone internally winced. Missing a meeting was not good. Being dismissed from one was even worse.
"But—Yes, Aizen-sama." Ulquiorra wisely choose to follow their sovereign's order. Starrk watched him depart through slitted eyes. Cue the emo sulking.
Aizen waited until the Cuatro's footsteps faded, then continued. "Now, the rest of my loyal Espadas, I have a task for you. Becoming stronger is imperative; Seireitei's warriors proved this to us. The Hougyoku and I will continue to strengthen while you train and become more fearsome warriors. In addition to this, I want you to convince the ryoka boy and Ms. Orihime to join and support our cause. They will be a great addition to the Espadas now that Zommari and Aaroniero are gone. Ulquiorra proved this well enough." Aizen paused for a chuckle to reverberate through the arrancar. "Now go. Complete your tasks, mature your powers, and Soul Society will fall." And with that, the Espada knew the meeting was over. Starrk "woke up", yawned and stretched, and left the meeting room. Yet another "let's get stronger" speech by the oh-so-inspirational Aizen.
Starrk pondered the hidden meanings of Aizen's words as he roamed the white halls of Las Noches. That Ichigo kid and Orihime were strong and had the potential to become even stronger, but humans as Espadas? Starrk wasn't sure he was comfortable with the idea. 'Becoming stronger' and 'maturing our powers'….. Did Aizen know about the Espadas' secret abilities?
Starrk arrived at the door of Ulquiorra's room. He softly knocked. "Enter," the Cuarto called through the door.
"Do you think he knows?" Ulquiorra said, never one to mince words. He was sitting on a white uncomfortable chair in the midst of other white uncomfortable furniture in an uncomfortably white room. Las Noches was functional, not comfortable.
Starrk closed the door before replying. "About our hidden abilities? To a certain degree, yes. I think he knows we're hiding something, but he doesn't know what."
All Espadas have a hidden ability. None of them knew why, but Starrk suspected it was that crazy Hougyoku stuff. The hidden abilities varied with the personality and powers of the Espada and their zanpakuto, but all the abilities made the Espada much more powerful and needed an immense amount of reiatsu to work properly. The Espada never shared what their special skill was, but having seen Ulquiorra after the battle with Ichigo, Starrk knew Ulquiorra's was a second resurrection. The lucky bastard. Starrk's own special power was fast sonido; the fastest sonido ever, in fact. Starrk was faster than the shunpo of the fabled Shihoin Yoruichi and Kuchiki Byakuya, the sonido of all the other arrancars including the deceased Zommari, and the Quincy Hirenkyaku. That is, he was faster than all of them when Starrk wasn't being lazy (which was rarely occurred.)
"Do you think Nnoitra and Yammy will tell?" Ulquiorra asked. Starrk could tell he was nervous about the consequences of Aizen discovering Ulquiorra had hidden something from him.
"No, I doubt they will. If they do, they'll have to reveal their own abilities and you know they'll never do that." Starrk said lazily while slouching over to the white uncomfortable chair across from Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra relaxed minutely but stiffened again. "Will you tell?" He asked seriously.
Starrk considered this for a moment while studying the Espada opposite him. Starrk personally didn't care if Aizen knew about his sonido, but some Espadas were really touchy about their secrets. Starrk didn't need that many enemies, and he knew Lilynette would certainly object.
"No." Starrk said finally.
Ulquiorra relaxed in relief. "Good," moving along, he continued with, "did anything of importance occur in the meeting after I was dismissed?"
"Not really. Aizen-sama blathered on about becoming stronger and stuff. Oh but we are supposed to befriend the humans and convince them to join our cause."
"Alright. That shouldn't be too difficult; I already have the girl eating out of the palm of my hand. With her influence I am positive we'll be able to turn the boy to our side. Thank you for telling me, Starrk." Ulquiorra stated.
Starrk knew a dismissal when he heard one. He rose to his feet. "Of course, Ulquiorra. See you around." Starrk said as he departed.
Well, now all Starrk had to do was convince a part-shinigami human and his annoying busty human friend to join a cause he wasn't sure he believed in. And he had to tell Lilynette.
Oh, joy.
Ta-daa! The end of the first chapter of my very first fanfic! *sobs with joy* Well, I hope you like it and thanks for reading! Reviews would be much appreciated, but the choice is yours! (But please choose yes!) ^.^
- River
