The previous story to this is "The Return"
The Snake's Lair
-Los Noches Throne Room-
"Ah, welcome. This is Los Noches, our palace," Aizen's voice echoed throughout the tall daunting chamber as Orihime took nervous steps toward his throne, looking up at him as he sat up high and mighty while casually leaning his chin upon a hand.
"Orihime Inoue, is that correct?" He asked as she replied nervously, "Yes."
"Sorry to rush you…but…will you show me your power?"
"Yes…I…" her thoughts drifted off, thinking to herself "…what was that just now? It felt as if my strength was being sucked out of my body."
"It seems that there are certain people who would much prefer it if I had not brought you here to Hueco Mundo. Isn't that right…Luppi?" He asked in an almost condescending tone. Luppi turned his head to the side in a sigh as he replied, "Yes of course I don't like it. Our entire battle has meant nothing. It was little more than a diversion just so that we could bring this girl here. Frankly it only makes me disgusted with her!"
Aizen however, despite the little Espada's plight, was undeterred by the notion as he simply replied back in a sarcastic tone, "It was shocking. I was surprised to see you beaten so severely."
This was a typical response from Aizen on such matters, but he had a point. Although Luppi was a replacement for Grimmjow as the new Sexta Espada, his power could not match that of Jaegerjaquez. Luppi narrowed his gaze at Lord Aizen as he felt the small sting from his words in slight insult.
"Oh I know what we should do. Orihime, demonstrate the strength of your power for us. I want you to heal Grimmjow's left arm."
Orihime gasped slightly as the much taller blue haired Espada stood but a few feet behind her, but of course Luppi protested, "That's impossible Lord Aizen it can't be done!" He proclaimed in denying ignorance.
"Grimmjow! Director General Tousen turned his arm into ashes! How is she going to heal something that doesn't exist?"
As Luppi continued his onslaught of blind denial and ignorance of understanding Orihime's power, Orihime simply turned around and faced in the direction of Grimmjow as she slowly walked up to him to heal his missing arm.
"She's not a god!"
As the much smaller girl walked up to him, her head just barely at the tip of his collar bone, he looked down at her in silent curiosity as she chanted in a sighing manner, "Souten Kisshun". Two of her flower petals from her hairpins flashed forth in thin small yellow rays of light as they encircled each other and formed a much larger yellow looking type of enveloping energy shield that hovered over Grimmjow's left side. Orihime gently lifted her hands as she concentrated, chanting the final phrase in a wispy type of voice, "Now I…I reject."
If there was ever a time that Grimmjow showed an expression of confused shock, now was the time as he looked down at the glowing aura that spread out over part of his body. Was this really happening? Was his arm really going to be healed? Out of irritation Luppi turned towards the two in the distance and yelled, "Hey! Are you listening girl? If you're putting on an act in a pathetic attempt to save yourself, you might as well stop it!"
Confident that he knew what she was doing he continued to belt out, "Should I see proof that you haven't any power…" he began to threaten as what used to be the remains of a left arm was suddenly forming out of thin air like magic as Grimmjow's empty jacket sleeve was suddenly filling up with a dense volume "…then there's no reason to keep someone like you...a…a-alive…" Luppi stared in complete shock as Grimmjow's left arm had finished forming together right in front of their eyes.
The jawbone masked Espada was now as shocked as Luppi was, holding up his newly restored left arm as he was able to feel sensation again let alone the blood pumping through something that had been previously taken away.
"H-HOW? This is beyond the point of healing! WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?" Luppi cried out in question. "WHAT DID YOU DO GIRL?"
"Don't you understand? Ulquiorra thinks it's temporal or spatial regression, both are interesting theories…"
"…yes…"
"…it can't be. No Human could have such advanced power. It's completely impossible!"
"It is neither one, temporal or spatial. It rejects all form of phenomena. Her power limits, rejects, and negates what has happened to an object. She has the power to return things to the state they existed in before events changed them. It exceeds temporal or spatial regression. Effortlessly it overcomes the limits of all established phenomena. It knows no boarders or barriers. In fact it oversteps the limitations set by gods."
A fear began to cloud over Luppi as he trembled lightly at the thought. It wasn't just the idea of a being holding such power. It was the idea that a Human could hold such powers and if a Human could possess powers like that, where did that leave him? Grimmjow on the other hand didn't particularly care about the reasons for the girl's power. He simply only had one thought in mind as he flexed his hand a few times.
"Hey girl…" getting Orihime's attention as she slightly turned her head at the calling of his voice "…come heal one more thing," he turned around and pointed towards his back, a small burn like scar easily seen just under the tip of his jacket. And as commanded she walked over and began to heal the scar on his back. As the scar quickly healed, the ranking number 6 tattoo was unveiled once more as Grimmjow rightfully and forcefully took his place back as the Sexta Espada.
Luppi immediately protested out in a threatening, but questioning protest, "Just what do you think you're doing Grimmjow?"
Turning his head towards the little twerp with a rather large grin on his face, he quickly turned to face him as he quickly thrust his hand through Luppi's stomach, blood splattering to the floor and dripping from Luppi's mouth.
"G-G-Grimmjow…you BASTARD!"
Grimmjow could only grin in delight as he held up his right hand, "Your days are done, goodbye…Mr. Ex-Number 6!"
Within seconds a cero blasted from Grimmjow's right hand as it hit Luppi's body at point blank range, completely blasting away the entirety of his upper torso, leaving only his waist and legs left over as the half torso toppled to the floor in cold blood. It only took a moment, but happiness and pleasure quickly took over Grimmjow as he held up his hands in pure unrefined delight, a laugh bellowing from his throat, "ITS BACK!"
Aizen merely looked down upon the Espada as he grinned along with him as Grimmjow continued to belt out in an excited passion, "My power is back! The Sixth Espada is GRIMMJOW AGAIN! HA, HA, HA, HA!"
His laugh continued to echo as the surrounding Espada's could only listen in a sighing disgust, leaving Orihime to wonder how she was going to get out of this one.
-Within the Cavity-
Without much effort, Kein had opened up the garganta as everyone entered inside while they all began their path to rescue Orihime. There was no turning back now and Kein knew that above all else so there was no point in telling the others just how much of a suicide mission it really was since she didn't want to lower the morale of the group. It wasn't fear that set her back or lack of confidence in the other's fighting abilities; it was simple reasoning of the situation that worried her the most. Since Aizen left Soul Society, he has had a significant amount of time to set his plans in motion, not only that but the Arrancars had ranks. And if it was hard enough fighting Grimmjow knowing he was only ranked number 6 Espada, she couldn't comprehend imagining the power of the number 1 Espada and who knows just how many more there were beyond that top 10. She knew all too well just how much of a suicide mission this truly was, but because she couldn't get Ichigo to reason to stay, even with the knowledge that Orihime wouldn't be killed, she had no choice but to go with him to give peace to her mind of knowing exactly what would be going on.
However, in addition to that, she had new found confidence in her abilities and new powers that she had yet to fully unleash and with the uniqueness of her techniques she felt she could add a great deal to the effort of trying to get Orihime back. But out of all the reasons she could think of to go with, there lied one reason above any other that drove her decision; her excitement in meeting and fighting Grimmjow for a final time. Her heart pounded at the thought and made her blood race with anticipation.
"Hueco Mundo is beyond here," Ichigo claimed out loud as his foot suddenly and nearly cracked through the reishi built road he was forming in front of Kein and Chad.
"Gah…uh…damnit! He talked about making a path with reishi as if it was so easy."
"That's because you're an amateur," Kein retorted in playful insulting banter as she sighed a little and quickly ran in front of Ichigo as the reishi path she created was smooth, firm, and flawless.
"Wait, what? What the hell?"
"She's right you know. It's rather pathetic," Ishida added as he flew up next to the group on his own type of surfing reishi board. Ichigo, rather irritated in retort replied, "Just shut the hell up! I told you I'm not good at things like this didn't I? And I want to know what that thing is you have! It looks like you're cheating!"
Ishida sighed as he flew along, "It's a variation of the Hirenkyaku. It's nothing really."
"Ha, ha, ha, you two are so funny," Kein chuckled out loud as Ichigo barked back, "And how the hell are you making the path so easily? Are you using something to help you?"
Kein rolled her eyes as she yelled back, continuing to run ahead of the group, "No it just means I understand the control of reishi much better than you. I've been doing this for over a hundred years remember? It comes natural you dumbass."
"Don't make me come up there and slap you!"
Kein chuckled further as the group continued along her path, Ishida flying on his varied Hirenkyaku like a surf board. Now that there was silence, Chad spoke up in question, "Uryuu, I was told you made a deal with your father. Kisuke said that in exchange for all of your father's training, you wouldn't get involved with Soul Reapers or their associates. That's what he said you agreed to."
Uryuu gasped slightly as the group slowed down and stopped. Chad made an excellent point as he further asked, "So Uryuu, why are you here?"
Kein first looked at Uryuu and then at Ichigo as the orange haired Shinigami asked in continuation, "Is that true? Because I didn't hear anything about it. Talk Uryuu."
The Quincy sighed as he replied, "Yeah, that was the agreement, but during the middle of my training Kisuke paid me an uninvited visit. He informed me of the situation with Orihime and the Arrancars as well and that you, Ichigo, were going to go in and try to save her by yourself is what made all the difference."
"Really? What is that? I mean I don't get it. I'm still a Shinigami, even without the Soul Society helping me out."
"That's incorrect. You're a substitute Shinigami. And further more you've been abandoned by the Soul Society. In other words you're neither a Shinigami nor one of their associates. So even if I associate myself with you it doesn't go against my contract."
"That's an illogical argument," Ichigo retorted in irritation.
"I prefer to think of it as a loop hole.
"WHATEVER! WHAT THE HELL IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?"
"Shut up. Who's side are you on anyway?"
"Your enemy!"
Chad couldn't help but smile and think how typical it was of Uryuu to find a solution to a situation that would seem unwinnable. It was one of his best qualities when in a fight, figuring out the opponent's weakness and exploiting it to his gain.
"So I'm guessing your father wouldn't consider me a Shinigami or one of their associates as well?"
The group became a little quiet at Kein's question, but it was a question she also knew the answer to. Hearing Uryuu describe that Ichigo was in reference to the Soul Society, she couldn't help but feel a little shot down considering she was practically the same. She was neither a Shinigami anymore or an associate. It wasn't until this moment that Kein realized that even though she left Soul Society, it wasn't until this moment that she truly considered herself as an Ex-Shinigami.
She didn't know why, but now was the first time her heart realized that Soul Society really did abandon her especially after she was sentenced to either choose to be put to death or choose to become a lab rat. The thought cut her deep as she sighed, neither wanting to hear or be given an answer from Uryuu. Her question was merely just rhetorical. Ichigo didn't need to see her face to know the hurt that was in her asking. He knew exactly what she meant behind it. So in order to break the awkward silence he came up with his own question that was more legitimate to the situation at hand.
"Hey Kein let me ask you something."
"Hm? Oh, sure. Ask away."
"You've been to Hueco Mundo before right? So just how much do you know of the area? I mean will you be able to take us straight to the Arrancars?"
Kein thought for a moment, trying to remember her past time visits to the endless sand dune. The first time she had gone there was to fight Ernesto Gutierrez before they had merged bodies and souls, ultimately awakening the true Hollow inside her, but back then that was before Los Noches ever existed. The only other time she had visited was when she was leaving Soul Society, but that particular thought was interrupted at the sudden image of Grimmjow in her head. It was the first time the two warriors had met face to face and in only such a short moment. She smiled.
"Hey! You daydreaming or something?"
"Huh? What? Oh, sorry Ichigo. Yeah kind of trailed off in thought, but to answer your question, no. I don't entirely know the layout of Hueco Mundo nor do I know how to get to Orihime. However, I do know a lot of the dangers there. It's the home of the Hollows so that kind of speaks for itself, but I can explain more when we actually get there."
"Good enough. We'll need all the direction we can get. "
The moon of Hueco Mundo shined brightly upon Los Noches as it broke through the darkness of a single room that faced it. The light trickled past a single window through the bars that kept its prisoners inside as it lit upon Orihime who sat silently upon the floor under the moonlight. She stared up at the moon in trailing thought in hopes that somehow she could get out of this situation. She sighed as she spoke out loud, "I was told to stay quiet here, but there's nothing for me to do. I'm so hungry. I can't help but wonder if it was really a good idea for me to come here. I wonder if the battle got worse because I healed those people."
She reflected back on the images Ulquiorra showed her to convince her to go with him as flashes of all the battles of her friends went through her mind. She sighed, "No, but right now I have to make them think that I'm of use to them no matter what at least…at least until everyone is prepared for battle."
Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden trepidation of a mix of spiritual pressures entering nearby. Ichigo and the other's finally had broken through the other end of the garganta as they appeared out into a sparkling sand dune, but the garganta was high in the sky as it closed up, leaving Ichigo, Chad, and Kein to freefall to the ground with a thud. Uryuu merely floated downwards as he landed softly, his Hirenkyaku disappeared.
"Ow! Geeze, you think you could have closed that thing a lot closer to the ground?" Ichigo barked as Kein retorted, "Hey shut the hell up! If we had used Kisuke's version of a garganta, that thing would have taken us in the middle of nowhere with no direction whatsoever! With mine however, I for the most part understand how to even move and or direct it to a location that is ideal to me as long as I have used it there before. You should be thanking me!"
"Yeah, yeah whatever."
Dusting themselves off they stood up and looked around to get a feel for the area they were in. There was nothing but endless…endless sand that seemed to suck out all the color that one could ever know or grow familiar with. It was nothing but grays, blacks, and whites that enveloped them, leaving a cryptic monotone feeling of silence as the half lit moon above them shined down like an ever watching eye.
"So this is Hueco Mundo," Ichigo stated rhetorically in wander. "It seems like a pretty lonely place doesn't it? There's nothing here, it's completely desolate."
"There are some plants around, but they seemed to be withered," Chad added.
"They're not exactly plants," Ishida interrupted while plucking off a branch from a nearby spiked like small tree. "They're made of some kind of quartz like crystals.
"So that's Los Noches," Kein interrupted as she laid her eyes on the monstrosity of a dome white building in the distance surrounded by multiple white towers. The others turned to look in the direction she was facing as they gasped at the sight.
"You mean to tell me that thing is Los Noches? It's enormous," Ichigo questioned.
"Are you really that surprised? Aizen considers himself a god so naturally he'd build a palace to match his compensating ego. Not to mention accommodating for his top ten Espadas let alone who knows how many Arrancars he has in there."
"That makes sense," Ishida agreed.
"It's hard to tell exactly how far away it is," Chad observed, a little worried by its size.
"Well, at least seeing it from a distance gives us an idea of its size."
"But that doesn't change anything," Ichigo added, undeterred by its appearance. "In any case at least we're not going in blind."
"Exactly," Ishida agreed once again.
"Heh, well I don't really care. We're here to find Orihime and at this point I'm going to assume that's where they're keeping her."
"There's nothing to assume. She's definitely in there," Kein interrupted.
"What? You can sense her?" Ichigo questioned Kein.
"No, of course not. Maybe if she had your amount of power I'd be able to, but it's just a feeling I have. Besides, there's nowhere else to go. This is it."
"You're probably right. There isn't any other place they can hide her."
"Enough talking. We need to move if we want to avoid needless battles. This place is full of Hollows."
"Alright then, lets go!"
-Arrancar Meeting Chamber-
Large towering white doors slowly creaked open as all the top ten Espadas piled into the large meeting room, commenting back and forth to each other.
"Looks like we have intruders."
"How do you know that?"
"A garganta was opened near the region of the palace—"
"—you idiot. It was probably just some Arrancar using it to travel around—"
"—yes but it wasn't just any ordinary garganta."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It's too bad really. It would have been more interesting if they had broken into the throne room instead."
"Ugh, shut up. I'm tired as hell. Lets have some peace and quiet around here," Stark interrupted the useless chit chat as the remaining Espadas sat down quietly. At the back of the table sat Yammy and Aaroniero, then on the opposite sides next to them sat Halibel across from Barragan, Szayel across from Nnoitra, Stark across from Zommari, and lastly Ulquiorra across from Grimmjow with the last remaining chair that went to Aizen.
"Good morning my dear Espada," the lord entered in with his subordinates; Gin and Tousen. "It seems we're under attack. Before we talk about that, let's have some tea first."