A.N: It's good to be back...again. Anyways, I feel bad about being M.I.A this long after surgery, so I'm going to make it up to you, my loyal readers. This will be one of three chapters released today.
So here it is, part 3: Return to the Land With No Rain
Return to the Land With No Rain
Chapter 1: Reunion in Darkness
Benito Muerta was livid, that was the best possible way to describe how he was feeling at the moment. He was livid that after all the effort he had placed into his trap, it had failed because he had failed to account for outside interference. Just who was that person, who outside of the war would have the audacity to interfere with my plans? Benito asked himself.
The King of Hueco Mundo was soon surrounded by several of his subordinates, eager to hear the details of his previous actions. One of them was Armando Brizna, one of his generals. "So what happened then?" Armando asked. "Did he beg for his life? Did he snivel like the common coward a Soul Reaper really is?"
Armando was referring to Squad 9 Captain Ichigo Kurosaki of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Benito had planned to kill him personally in order to remove one of the few actual threats to his plan. And he would've been dead if it hadn't been for that mystery man. "Gather up the other generals," Benito replied, controlling his anger. "And I will explain what happened."
Armando nodded and ran off to do so. Fielhombre Guardia, Benito's most trusted Fracción, looked at Benito. "He is dead, right?" He asked.
Benito paused. "That remains to be seen," He finally replied. "With the injuries he sustained, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't soon die."
Fielhombre's eyes widened at this. "At the moment, however, I'm pretty sure he's quite alive. How long, however, remains to be seen."
Benito turned to Fielhombre. "Inform Pascual that we have unwanted guests in out domain. Have him seek out two injured Soul Reapers and the Arrancar-traitor harboring them."
Fielhombre was shocked by this. "A traitor amongst our own kind?"
Benito nodded. "There are only a handful of Arrancar left that can perform Descorrer. And they're all loyal to me." Benito explained. "It makes me wonder who the traitor is."
Darkness. That was the last thing Ichigo Kurosaki saw before he started to pass out, his body still in shock from the deadly stab he had received from Benito. He just couldn't believe what had happened. Was Aizen really right? Was Benito truly the one who will bring down the Soul Society and with it, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. I'm a failure, he thought, ready to embrace death. A complete and utter failure.
The depressed strawberry was ready to die, too ashamed to face anyone because he had failed those he cared about. Renji...he thought, Akio...everyone...and especially Rukia...
The young captain could not find the strength to cry, nor would his body allow it due to it being occupied with the injuries. I'm sorry, he said to himself. I let all of you down. I tried to protect all of you, but in the end...I failed to realize just how useless I really am.
I'm sorry, everyone, he thought, especially to you Rukia.
Rukia, the love of his life, the annoying midget that could put a smile on his face on any given day. I love you Rukia, I love you so much. But Renji was right, I don't deserve you. You deserve a king...more than a king, someone who could give you the world. Someone who could protect you with his life, time and time again. And I couldn't do that. I failed you Rukia, but I will always love you.
"I hope..." Ichigo whispered as his consciousness started to wane even more. "I hope you find someone who can protect you."
Renji Abarai could only remember one other time he had felt so guilty. It had been two years ago when he had at first chosen to not help Rukia during her execution. The guilt he had felt when he realized his mistake back then, however, was nothing compared to the guilt he was feeling now. This time, he had not just betrayed Rukia, but he had betrayed Ichigo and the rest of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. And all because I got a little jealous. Renji thought, bitterly.
It was an understandable reaction to some, but in the end it was selfish. For if Renji truly cared about Rukia, he would've respected her decision. But in the end, it was his own insecurity that came from being left alone that caused him to make such a mistake. And Ichigo ended up paying for his mistake. I swear, Renji thought, I swear on whatever honor I have left...to never take the path of a coward again. I will bravely take what's coming even if it's something that I hate...like Ichigo and Rukia being together. If I can't do that...then I have no right to even call myself a friend to anyone.
Renji watched as another hole opened up in front of him as he was carried down this familiar path of darkness. This is definitely a Garganta we're going through. Renji thought. Which can only mean we're going back...back to Hueco Mundo.
Renji paled upon the realization of this. He did not have good memories of this place (nobody did). He slowly realized that the person who saved them was an Arrancar. Crap, he thought. As the humans say, out of the frying pan, and into the microwave.
"Hey, Arrancar," Renji managed tentatively. "Why'd you..."
The cloaked Arrancar shook his head, silencing him. The cloaked Arrancar then moved with Sonido across the deserts of Hueco Mundo. Of course, Renji thought. Most of this place is under that bastard Benito's control. Makes me wonder if there's anywhere safe here.
Ichigo woke up in a very familiar place. A place filled with hundreds of skyscrapers. There was only one place he knew of that was filled with skyscrapers: His Inner World. That world had two inhabitants. One he was cool with, one not so much. "Ichigo." Came a very familiar voice.
Ichigo turned around to see the spirit of his Zanpakutō, the old man named Zangetsu. "Came to say goodbye old man?" Ichigo asked sadly.
"Quit acting like a pussy King." Came another familiar voice.
Ichigo's Inner Hollow soon appeared. "You do this every freaking time. You lose to one guy and you get all depressed. It makes you look like a wuss."
Ichigo glared at the Hollow. "Piss off, you weren't much help you know."
Hearing how useless he really was infuriated the Hollow. He prepared to strike the man who he had been trying to take over for a long time, only to be grabbed by Zangetsu. "You were quite useless." Zangetsu told him.
Zangetsu then turned his attention back to Ichigo. "That Arrancar was quite powerful, wasn't he?"
Ichigo nodded sadly. "We're clearly not strong enough at the moment to fight him." Zangetsu continued.
"That's encouraging." Ichigo muttered sarcastically.
"So clearly," Zangetsu continued. "We're going to have to come up with something new to fight him."
"And what would that be?" Ichigo asked, irritated. "It's clear that this guy's stronger than most Soul Reapers. He might even be a match for the old man."
Ichigo sighed. "There's nothing that a Soul Reaper can use to beat him."
Zangetsu's hard expression remained. "If one door won't open," he said after a long pause. "Then find one that will."
Ichigo turned to his partner when he heard these cryptic words. "Why the hell do you have to speak in riddles?"
"You must find that door yourself," Zangetsu said, ignoring his partner. "But first, you must wake up."
"Wake up?" Ichigo repeated. "But I'm dying, right?"
Ichigo was suddenly surrounded by darkness once again.
Damn old man, Ichigo thought. He always does this!
Suddenly, Ichigo felt the spot he had been wounded become damp. What the hell? Ichigo thought. Why am I wet all of a sudden? What's going on outside of my head right now?
Ichigo's eyes fluttered open just as his wounds received another splash of liquid. He then looked up and discovered with horror that the liquid was saliva from a hooded man's mouth. "What are you doing?" Ichigo screamed.
The cloaked figure noticed that Ichigo was awake and screamed. "ICHIGO!"
A woman? Ichigo thought.
The hood flew back as the woman was revealed to be a busty green-haired girl with hazel eyes. The woman threw her arms around Ichigo in a vicious hug and sobbed. "I'm so happy you're okay!" The woman sobbed happily.
Ichigo, despite being in a chokehold, still recognized this woman."Nel?" He managed to choke out.
Nelliel Tu Odelschvank, the former Espada, kept her tight grip on Ichigo. "Oh Ichigo, why didn't you visit earlier? I was so sad!"
"Long story," Ichigo gasped. "But could you please let go?"
"He's right, you're gonna kill him!" Renji spoke up, finally overcoming his shock.
Upon hearing that she might kill her beloved Ichigo, Nelliel let go. She sniffed and smiled. "I'm so happy to see you again." She said.
Ichigo smiled. He then noticed something: his wounds had been healed. "Hey, my wounds are gone, how'd that happen?" He asked.
Nelliel smiled brightly. "Of course they're gone, Nel Shower will heal any wound."
Nelliel turned to Renji. "In fact, it's time for Mr Redhead's treatment."
Renji backed away as quickly as his one good leg would allow. "Hell no!" He shouted. "There's no way in hell I'm letting you vomit on me!"
"It's not vomit, it's saliva." Nelliel retorted."
"IT'S VOMIT!" Renji screamed.
Ichigo laughed, but then he realized something. "Wait, what're you doing in your adult form?" Ichigo asked. "Last I saw you were a little kid again."
"Oh that," said Nelliel. "That is a tale of a young woman's wish to see her Ichigo again!"
"I had a feeling she'd give a messed up answer like that." Ichigo muttered.
"You see," Nelliel began. "After the fight with Nnoitra, all my memories came back. That being the case, I vowed I would train so I could revert back to that form forever. That way, should Ichigo ever come back, I could be the one to protect him!"
Nelliel's smile widened. "My dream has finally come true! I protected Ichigo this time!"
Ichigo remembered his crushing defeat at Benito's hands and frowned slightly. Then something else crossed his mind. "How'd you even know we were in trouble? And how'd you even manage to get to the Soul Society to go to Karakura Town?" Ichigo asked.
Nelliel's smile, if even possible, widened more. "I have three super secret spies that work in Las Noches. I met them with Dondochaka and Pesche and they immediately asked to join us."
Nelliel's face formed a more quizzical look. "Although its strange, all three took one look at me and started drooling. In fact I think I heard one mutter a word that starts with a 'b' but I can't figure which word it was."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS? IT'S OBVIOUS WHY THEY WANTED TO JOIN!" Ichigo and Renji screamed in unison.
"I was informed that the king had a super secret plan to kill the Captains of Squad 9 and Squad 3. I soon learned that everyone was excited that 'Captain Kurosaki' would be dead soon. I realized that Ichigo might be in trouble. So I snuck into Las Noches. As it turns out, a former Soul Reaper that defected had established a permanent link between Las Noches and the Soul Society. So I used that link, went to the nice town, and SAVED ICHIGO!" Nelliel squealed the last part.
Damn that Mayuri, Ichigo thought. Now they can attack us at anytime they want.
For the first time, Ichigo noticed the location they were in, they weren't just in Hueco Mundo, they were in a small, dark cave. "You live here?" Ichigo asked in disbelief.
Nelliel smiled sadly. "There's no other choice," she replied. "Most Hollows, regular and Arrancar alike, are taken to serve King Muerta. Most pledge their loyal for the better world for our kind that he promises them. Those who refuse are killed. Only a few manage to avoid his Cazadores and are forced to hide out."
"Cazadores?" Renji inquired.
"His police force and the men who gather soldiers for his army. It doesn't matter who you are, you will be brought to the king, and you will either serve him or die."
Ichigo scoffed. "That bastard," he said. "What kind of better world is he preaching?"
Nelliel paused, she then shockingly gave Ichigo a hard look. "You shouldn't speak so ill of him, Ichigo." She told him.
Ichigo looked at her like she was crazy. "What?" Was all he could say.
Nelliel sighed. "He may seem heartless, but he wasn't always that way."
"You make it sound like you know him." Renji pointed out.
Nelliel's mind seemed to wonder as she looked outside the cave. "Yes, I knew him once, and that was a long time ago. He was a magnificent man. One who preached peace and harmony among the Arrancar."
Nelliel looked down. "He was a good friend as well. I truly admired his ideals."
"You two were friends?" Renji asked.
Nelliel nodded. She then got up. "I'm going to see how Pesche and Dondochaka are doing with catching dinner tonight."
Before she left, Nelliel stopped and looked at the two. "Remember you two, love and friendship are permanent. As such, it is a friends responsibility to help one find the right path once again. If I don't do that for Benito, I'm not worthy of being his friend."
Nelliel left the cave. Friendship is permanent huh? Ichigo and Renji thought, looking at each other.
After a long, awkward pause, the two spoke in unison. "I'm sorry."
The two looked at each other in shock. "Huh?" They both said.
Ichigo gestured to Renji to go first. "I'm sorry," Renji repeated. "I was the one that got us into this mess. I was willing to give up two great friendships with you and Rukia just because I wouldn't accept that Rukia might love someone else just a bit more. I was selfish and stupid and I'm sorry."
Ichigo sighed. "I'm sorry too," he said. "I was worried about how you'd react but I chose not to do anything, I figured that if you had a problem then you'd deal with it. I'm sorry, a real friend wouldn't have left you alone while he dated the girl you like."
Ichigo chuckled. "Although I won't deny you screwed up big time."
Renji nodded. "I did, didn't I?"
Ichigo nodded. "But we're gonna fix this, we're gonna get back to the Seireitei, and then we're gonna get everyone else, come back here, and kick that bastard, Benito's ass." Ichigo said confidently.
The two were silent for awhile before Renji spoke again. "About what Nelliel said...do you really think there was a time where that guy was actually...nice."
Ichigo paused for a moment. "I don't know, Renji," he said. "I don't know."
Benito silently looked across the fields of Hueco Mundo from the balcony in his chambers. "Could the cloaked one really be..."
Benito heard someone enter the room. "They're angry, aren't they?" He asked.
Tia Halibel shrugged, Benito had told his generals that Ichigo Kurosaki might not be dead. They were all silent, but Benito could tell they were shocked...and angry. "Morale will probably be lowered...unless the Cazadores produce results and bring those three to us." Said Halibel. "So yes, they're upset."
Benito nodded. "Tell me Tia, who do you think our little mystery traitor is? There aren't many Arrancar that can use Descorrer you know."
Halibel thought about it. "Do you have anybody in mind?" She asked.
Benito chuckled. "I might have a few."
Benito left his position at the balcony. "I'm going to contact the Cazadores and tell them to be extra vigilant. These aren't your average on-the-run soldiers, these are two Captains, and with them is possibly an Espada-level Arrancar."
