~Before You Faded~
1. encounter
"i saw you across the room, and i knew that this was going to blossom into something...beautiful."
can't stand it. never shout never. what is love.
It is night, as usual. Around you, the endless sand stretches on, far beyond what even your eye can see. A crescent moon, its tips nearly touching, hangs suspended in the sky; but not a single star winks anywhere near it. A few scraggly bushes poke their way up from the sand, dead fingers framing sand dunes long forgotten. In the distance, you can hear the sound of his bell ringing; the creepy sound is enough to set your teeth on edge. You prance nervously, your hooves driving into the ground with each step, your tail flicking around your back legs as though you are attempting to ward off flies. A rodent, its bleached face glowing, surfaces from the sand for a moment before scuttling back below the surface.
You brush your hands down the fur carpeting up to just under your shoulders, dislodging grains of sand. It looks more like a shag dress than normal hair; sticking to your body but closer and more dense than a male's - and green. You'll readily admit that you're hairier than most people, however, you find it difficult to care less. You raise your head to the sky as a wind blows over the sand from behind you, blowing your hair across your cheekbones. You inhale, intending to catch the scent of fresh air, but that's not exactly how it happens.
Instead you smell predator.
Your hooves storm sideways with precision, nervous system instantly on red alert. Your eyes widen against the landscape, shifting left and right, attempting to spot the predator that you smelled.
Or is it a predator? you wonder. The scent is unlike anything you've ever experienced. It definitely does not smell like an Arrancar, or any sort of Hollow. Something stirs within you; something, perhaps, from your days as a low-level Hollow, maybe even from back when you were a Gillion. But your newer Vasto Lorde mind does not recognize the scent.
Then, far out, you spy three shapes, emerging from the gloom. You skitter forward tentatively, your tail flicking like mad. You twist your finger in the spiral pattern of hair around your navel, waiting for them to approach you, hoping that they're friends and not enemies. If they're enemies, you can always fight them; the four heavy hooves you sport, as well as your two hands, are good enough weapons for trespassers in this desert world. But violence is something you try to avoid as much as possible. You hate it.
The shapes get closer. You can now see that they are some sort of new creature; tall, walking on two legs like the king, but skin covers their faces like you. Two of them have pale skin, one has dark. They are dressed in black robes with a type of white cape or vest covering it, and each carries a sheathed sword at their side. They look male. You tense to fight or to run; females are few and far-between around here, and some males will do anything to get their hands on one. You know of a group of females around here somewhere, but you haven't dared join them. You fear that your power will prove to be too much for their bodies, and you will accidentally destroy them.
They reach you. You try to keep your face calm, but your body betrays you; the bottom half skittering nervously on the sand. The male in the middle's face looks slightly amused, to his right stands a man who looks very amused, and to his left stands a man who looks serious.
-Hello, says the man in the middle. -I am Sôsuke Aizen. Aizen-sama.
He extends a hand to you, but your muscles refuse to work. This man has such astounding Spiritual Pressure that your body won't respond at all, except for your legs, which continue to prance. The very amused man taps his shoulder.
-Captain, he says, still smiling. -You can stop showing off your power now. She gets it.
-Oh, you're right, Gin, the man called Aizen-sama says, and the Spiritual Pressure diminishes a bit. You still refuse to take his hand.
-What to you want? you ask.
Aizen's gaze looks you up and down. -You are a Vasto Lorde, are you not?
-I am, you say. -Who are these two?
-I am Gin Ichimaru, and my silent friend here is Kaname Tôsen, the very amused man says. Tôsen, without looking over at Gin, says, -Oh, do shut up.
-You are obviously very powerful, Aizen-sama says. You nod - not much you can do about that. -I would like to know if you would be willing to join me.
-What are you? you ask him bluntly.
Aizen pretends to be confused. -What, now?
-What are you? You're not a Hollow. You're not an Arrancar. You're nothing I've ever seen before. I'm asking you what you are. Your gentle voice is not used to making commands. It's not even really used to talking. You suddenly catch a whiff of the king from their robes, and realize they've just come from him. You can't help but back away a little, the green hair covering your torso rippling with the movement.
-That's a good question, Aizen-sama says. -Although I'm surprised you have risen to the rank of Vasto Lorde without ever realizing what we are. Gin, Kaname, and I are Shinigami. Soul Reapers, if you will. It was once our job to hunt and slay creatures like you. Aizen-sama stalks forward a bit, still smiling. -Yes, I do believe that it's our duty to kill you.
You retreat in terror. Fighting doesn't even cross your mind. Aizen-sama is more powerful than anyone you have ever met in your whole life. He would kill you before you can land a scratch on him.
-Yes, he says, lazily reaching for her, I must say that -
Out of nowhere, something white flashes through your vision. Your legs rear up in terror. You blink to see a white body rolling through the sand away from you to your left, appearing winded. Aizen-sama has one finger up, as though he had fended the blow away with just that touch, and his expression is amused and disappointed.
-Well, well, well, he says. -What have we here?
The white thing stands. It's a panther: white with black stripes, a hole going through its stomach. Its spine is on the outside of its body, laying on the top of the hole and extending off to form a long tail. Its eyes are blue, bright blue. Azure, even. Make that his eyes are blue - you can smell his maleness from where you stand. He shakes himself off with one movement, sand scattering from his muscles as he glares at Aizen-sama.
-What is this? A powerful male molesting a weak female? he sneers.
-Watch it, Adjucha, you hiss.
Aizen-sama smiles. -Oh, I wasn't doing anything to her, Adjucha. I was simply telling her that I used to be someone who would have to kill her, but now...well, I'd love it if she would join me, I must say. He directs his smile at you. -I'll meet you here tomorrow at this time. Please have your answer by then. His form shifts and him and his partners are gone.
You legs buckle under you, and you collapse onto the sand. -Who...the hell...are you? you gasp at the Adjucha.
-Grimmjow, he half-snarls. -And you are...?
-Someone. What are you doing here?
-Saving your ass- what does it look like?
Okay, well, he does have a point. -I mean - where did you come from? you ask.
-I -
Grimmjow breaks off from his personal history. His eyes widen. -What -? he chokes out. His body begins to shake. Bright blue light twists around him, up and up and up into the sky. You have to shield your eyes because it is so bright - but when you look again, the Hollow before you has changed.
It is now a man. He is as tall as you are, his body still white, but now the stripes are thinner. His mask fragment covers his forehead, and long, light blue hair flows from his head. His legs are pieced together strangely, almost looking like they bend backward, and his feet are small and black like a panther's. His hands are also black, his claws long and lethal. He has sharp teeth like an animal, and blue markings under his still-azure eyes. His hollow still goes through his stomach, and you can see his spine still on the outside of his body going back behind it, and then becoming a skeletal tail.
He looks at his hands in disbelief, then twists around and looks behind him at his back, astonished.
-What-?
-Wow. You must have been close to the breaking point. I imagine just being close to that man made you a Vasto Lorde, you say. -Congratulations.
-Wh- huh? Really? He grins. -A Vasto Lorde?
You know what will happen next. You've been around far too many males. And you're correct. Grimmjow raises his hands to the sky, throws back his head, and laughs. You wait until his fit is over before clopping over and giving him a big pat on the back. To your surprise, he pulls you into a hug, squeezing you tightly, still laughing a bit.
-Can you believe it? he exclaims. -Can you BELIEVE it?
You can. He was a very powerful Adjucha, even before he came in contact with that incredible Spirit Energy. Now he is even more powerful. But still not as powerful as you are.
This is unfortunate, because it means you'll have to leave him. You were rather enjoying his company. And for once, this is not a male you'd like to destroy, however accidental the destruction may be.
He still hasn't let go. -So what are you going to tell him? Grimmjow rumbles. -You going with that Shinigami?
-You make it sound like a bad thing.
Despite the fact that you have long legs, Grimmjow is still taller than you, your head coming up to about his jaw. -Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, he amends, shrugging; either way, it doesn't matter to me. I think he's dangerous. You should stay away from him.
You pull out of his celebratory embrace (because being hugged by a stranger is awkward no matter how you look at it), looking up into his bluish face. -But what's this compared to danger? I think I might rather die than stay out here forever. It's insanely boring.
Grimmjow barks a sharp, short laugh. -You really think so? You should try traveling around with Hollows sometime. Great way to pass the time. He sneers, his upper lip lifting to reveal his sharp, canine teeth. There's something attractive about them. You shake your head to ward it off.
-Yeah. Unfortunately, other Menos' company is not something I can afford to have. You smile tentatively. -My Reatsu always proves to be too much, and they crumble into dust in the sand.
-How poetic.
-I've had hundreds of years to practice. You twirl your finger in the spiral of hair near your navel again, your nail combing through the short green hair. -Had /you/ ever heard of Shinigami before now?
-Of course. You're the only ignorant one. Grimmjow begins to walk, his legs bouncing like they have shock absorbers in them. He turns back to you, his long hair twisting over his shoulder. -Well? You coming?
-Where are we going?
-To get dinner. He flashes a lethal smile at you. You shiver; clutching your arms under your breasts, and follow him. Eating is your least favorite part of the day; killing things goes against your nature as well as your morals. It is something that you wish you could skip altogether.
Grimmjow, however, could not look more excited. He is practically bouncing along on the sand, the shock absorbers in his legs enhancing the effect. His long hair flounces behind him, and he doesn't give a backwards glance to see if you're following him.
But you /will/ follow him. This is the longest anyone has ever lasted around you before they perished. You can't help but want to keep company with at least someone; so, hesitantly, you follow him, your hooves digging into the sand with every step. Confidence suddenly aids you, and you gallop forward for a second to catch up with him, light green hair blowing briefly behind you before you slow to a stop and it falls down to your furry back. He stumbles for a second, and his black hand falls on your other back, the ibex part, to keep his balance; but when he regains it, his hand stays there, companionably resting on the dip in the middle.
You walk on, the two of you, side by side, feeling...well, at least you feel like you've found a friend, finally. It's been a long time coming.
Suddenly Grimmjow raises his head in the air and sniffs. He smells his prey. You wilt a little; killing will happen here, with a hunter as deadly as him. It's not something you're happy about. But you need to eat, so you resign yourself to the fact that something is going to die.
Grimmjow bounds away. You can see the unfortunate Adjucha now; a weak male, probably just now becoming an Adjucha. Grimmjow pounces like a cat, hair swinging wildly, and kills the beast before he has even realized what is happening. Next thing you know, Grimmjow has turned, his face and paws dripping with blood, his lips stretched wide into a sadistic smile. He nods his head to you to come join him and, stomach turning with revulsion, you do so.
After the meal is over, you feel very tired. Grimmjow's lids are also drooping, his body and mind exhausted from the strain of updating Hollow class. You offer him to stay with you that night; he accepts a bit too eagerly for your comfort, but you fold your green legs down into the sand and he rests his head against your side, his arms folded behind his head, staring up into the sky. His hair is really soft; you play with a tiny piece of it, which he doesn't seem to notice.
-Say, he says; I still don't know your name.
You hesitate to tell him what the real truth. But you decide to throw all caution to the winds. -Yeah, I don't either.
-Oh, you never named yourself? You should have done that a while ago. He shrugs, his shoulders moving up and down against the bristly fur on your second stomach. -Maybe we should make up a name for you. Before you join that guy, I mean.
An awkward silence stretches over the two of you. You squirm slightly under the pressure.
-You are going to join him, right? he hedges after a moment.
You squirm some more. -I don't...know. I hadn't really...thought about it, I guess?
He snorts. -You've been thinking about it this whole time. Don't lie to me, sweetheart.
Under the pink stripe covering your cheeks, your face heats up at the casual nickname. -I'm not lying. Even that's a lie. You have been thinking about it this whole time. And what you have come up with is this:
-I'll go if you go.
-Sorry to disappoint you, but I wasn't invited, Grimmjow reminds you a little impatiently. -You don't just show up at a party without an invitation, right?
You sneak a little peek at his face. He's staring impassively at the sky, his blue eyes focused and intent. His lips are parted, revealing his sharp, animalistic canines. His face is illuminated from above, the everlasting moonlight casting very sharp shadows on his face.
-I'm inviting you, you say.
He doesn't stir, doesn't even blink. -I don't think you're allowed to have a plus-one just yet.
-Why not?
-That Aizen-sama worries me, he says, not answering your question. -Just his name unnerves me. What kind of man would assume the suffix of 'sama' just before attempting to murder a female?
The last part is said slightly uncertainly; neither of you know what kind of man would do such a thing. You don't know many people, either of you.
-He wasn't actually trying to kill me, you point out. -He was just trying to make a point. There's a difference, Grimmjow.
He snarls angrily, but doesn't argue.
The silence stretches on, coiled and tense. Grimmjow is strangely silent, so you sneak a peek at him. He's asleep, his mouth slightly open, a thin, shiny strand of spit connecting his sharp canines. You sigh, tired as well, and follow in his footsteps, diving into the murky world of dreams.
**!**
-Are they asleep, do you think?
Your mind slowly swims back from dreams to reality. You don't open your eyes yet, though, curious about the childish voices that woke you from your slumber.
-That's not important, because they obviously are, says a second voice. -What's important is, are they lovers or friends? Why are they...why are they...s-s-s-sleeping together? The last part comes out as a kind of embarrassed choke.
-You're always trying to be so dramatic, Dondochakka, says the first voice. -But you just end up acting stupid! They're just friends. If they were lovers, they'd be in each other's arms, duh. Plus, he's, like, a panther thing, and she's like a, like a goat lady or something. Duh.
-Why are you so mean, Pesche?
-Not mean. Just smart.
An animalistic roar has your eyes flying open in alarm. Two figures are crouched over you; one with a large, red, orange, and yellow body and a clown-like mask; the other thin, purple, adorned in a loincloth, and with a white mask shaped like a cross between a horse skull and a crab. What looks like a yellow Post-It note is pinned to its right eye.
-AAHH! they yell in unison, leaping backwards and stumbling over each other, tripping and landing on their butts. The thing they tripped on, a dark purple wormlike thing, slithers a bit and suddenly you can see the whole thing: a huge, HUGE worm/eel thing. The worm/eel tips back it's head and gives another roar, and the tail whiplashes, sending the purple Hollow flying.
Grimmjow stirs.
-The fuck?
-Glad you could join us, you say. -About time you woke up, Grimmy.
He gets to his feet slowly, a snarl forming on his thin mouth. -What. Are. These. Idiots. DOING. HERE? he spits, getting madder with each word. He comes alive suddenly, his eyes dangerous, spit flying, hair twisting around behind him as he lunges toward the male Hollows that woke him, sending them skittering backward in terror.
-GRIMMJOW!
You lunge after him, snagging his long white tail in panic and yanking him backward. He yowls in pain and falls backwards with thump. Sand billows up from his fall and the tail is yanked from your hand.
-Calm down, Grimmjow, you say impatiently. -They're just wandering Adjuchas. Leave them alone.
-But they -! Grimmjow starts, but you raise your hand.
-Don't forget, Grimmjow. I am much stronger than you. Remember your place. You up your reatsu a little, watching him with interest. He holds his ground. Impressed, you up it a little more. His knees start to shake, but he remains on his feet. The other two Arrancars, however, have fallen on the ground in terror.
-Fine, Grimmjow says angrily.
-Fine.
-I hope I'm not interrupting anything, comes a smooth, silky voice.
You spin around as best you can on four legs. Standing behind you is Aizen-sama, flanked by his two thugs, Gin-sama and Tôsen-sama.
-Not at all, you say, instantly uncertain.
-Well then, he says pleasantly. -Have you made up your mind?
You cast your eye down at the ground, gathering resolve. You know that if you don't join him he will probably kill you on the spot.
-As long as these three fools can join us, you say.
Aizen doesn't look surprised at all.
-Well, that depends on what the 'three fools' say, he says agreeably. -What say you, Vasto Lorde?
-S'not like I have anything better to do, Grimmjow says, turning his face away so that Aizen-sama can't see his scowl.
-Adjuchas?
-S'not like we have anything better to do, says the horse Adjucha mockingly.
-Shut the fuck up, you dirty little Adjucha, Grimmjow snarls, and the purple Arrancar dives behind his friend in fear.
-Language, please, Aizen-sama says smoothly.
-So we'll take that as a yes? says the one called Gin, his voice slithering around you like a snake.
-Hai.
-Very good. Please follow us, then, Aizen-sama says. This is your first order, disguised under pleasantry. You know it will be followed by many, many more, all hidden under a mask of perfect politeness, but when it is stripped bare, it doesn't matter if he is ordering you to get him a glass of water or to massacre a village of women and children. You follow his order or he will kill you.
The four of you follow closely behind Aizen-sama and his posse, the Adjuchas trailing you and Grimmjow. Now faced with this powerful man, your argument is forgotten and you are once again allies.
You walk in silence for a little while, not needing words. Finally Grimmjow opens his mouth. -What do you think - for the love of Pantera, what is that?
You ignore the fact that he just interrupted one of his questions to ask a different one and follow his finger. In the distance is a sprawling white building, with a dome sky-high and towers surrounding it all around. The place is seriously massive.
-My palace, Aizen-sama tells you. -Las Noches.
-It looks like it will take us about a year to get there, you comment.
-Very perceptive. Aizen-sama turns to look at you as he walks, one eyebrow very slightly cocked. -That is the effect of my Kyoka Suigetsu. Or...is it?
He snaps his fingers, and the huge white castle seems to ripple. Then all of a sudden, your heads snap back as the castle is suddenly looming before you, straining to see the top of the building.
Gin bows his way to the door, which he pushes open - it's huge, stretching above him, all around, but he seems to open it without any trouble. You step inside, looking all around in awe.
The first thing you notice is the ground, actually. For the first time in your life you're not standing on sand, but smooth white marble. It's cold and almost slippery to stand on. Definitely not designed for hooves. After that you see that the walls are all also made of the same white rock, with white pillars supporting a white ceiling.
-Welcome to Las Noches, Aizen-sama says grandly. -Your new home.
For some reason, the way he says 'home' makes it sound like 'prison.'
A/N: So the story that so many of you were awaiting has been published at last. :D
I will warn you that this is not going to be updated, like, every week. Maybe every 2 or 3 weeks if I'm lucky. The way this is written makes it extremely difficult. But I think it will be worth the waiting, ne?
I KNOW GRIMMJOW IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE VASTO LORDE BEFORE HE GOES TO AIZEN. But, know what? I always imagined that all the Espada started out as Vasto Lordes. Otherwise how the hell would they be so powerful? So in my story, that's how it goes. And if you don't like that then I will happily make s'mores on your flames. lololol
So please don't forget to review/subscribe for 2 reasons: 1 because I love to hear from you, and 2 because it always makes me sad when someone sends me a good review and doesn't subscribe, because then I don't know if I'm going to hear from them again. /tear Also, if you're not reading my collaboration with moonlightrurouni, Doomed to Remember/Cursed to Forget, don't forget to check that out as well! :D