Somewhere deep within Hueco Mundo, a certain hollow was lurking around. She had physical aspects of a panda bear with huge, bulky legs and paws. She walked on all four limbs. Her mask featured large protruding teeth and panda ears, as well as gray circular marks around her eyes. The hole that other hollows often sported on their chests or abdomens was strangely enough located on her tongue.
She wasn't like the others though. She didn't feel desire to kill and devour human souls, she simply fed off of the reishi-thick air. Her mind and thought processes were far more advanced than the other monsters, and she often wondered why she existed. She wondered why she was so different from the rest of the hollows. She didn't know why they acted to beastly. Didn't they all used to be human themselves? She just didn't feel like this was where she belonged. But she looked like them, so why was she so different?
She vaguely remembered being human. But she didn't remember how she became a hollow, or how she appeared in Hueco Mundo. She didn't remember her name either, but she really wanted to. Other hollows often attacked her but she was able to fight them off, sometimes tearing of their limbs or appendages as a warning. She didn't like fighting though and felt sorry for injuring them like she did. But it was either that or hold back and get killed. So she chose the former.
Every day she would wander around Hueco Mundo and try to remember. But no matter how much time passed, she couldn't. She became sad. Then she almost wanted to die. Maybe if she did, she could pass on somewhere and live a life with purpose.
She traveled to the world of the living once to try and remember. She tried communicating with the souls there, but they were all afraid of her because of what she was. So she went back to Hueco Mundo to continue her meaningless life.
As she was walking among the ivory sand, she saw another hollow sitting on a rock in the distance. By the look of its body, she guessed it was male. He was almost twice as tall as she was, and had crescent-shaped horns on the sides of his head. One horn was longer than the other. He had six arms and hands that were shaped like giant scythes. His hole was where his left eye should have been. She felt that his spiritual pressure was far greater than her own, and yet, she didn't fear him. He looked down at the ground, appearing defeated. She felt sorry for him and wondered why he looked so…despaired. She wasn't sure if she should approach him though. No other hollows she came across before had been any sort of friendly. But she wanted to. A large part of her wanted to comfort him since she didn't like seeing other beings in pain. Just then, he noticed her and his eye shot toward where she was standing. It startled her and she began to feel a little nervous. Luckily, he didn't charge at her. He just sat, and stared. She stared too. They stayed like that for a moment. But before she could do anything else, he got up and Sonidoed away. While she was glad that he didn't attack her, she was also disappointed that he went away. There was something about him that drew her to him, she just couldn't describe what. She hoped in her mind she would see him again…but she didn't know why…
Suddenly she noticed a small hollow being ganged up on by three larger ones. It cried for help. It was in trouble. Then she felt something she hadn't before…desire. Desire to help, protect, and defend. She sped over to the group of other hollows and lashed at the three offenders. She bellowed out a roar and reared up on her back legs. She took on all three of them by herself. There was a lashing out and gnashing of teeth. She bit, clawed, and slammed them into the ground as they tried to get a hold of her. She was wounded quite a bit, but managed to fend them off. They ran away, all of them limping and moaning in pain. She didn't pursue them because she didn't want to kill them. As long as they learned not to challenge her again, it would be alright.
As she looked back at the small hollow that was being attacked, it was trembling. It was a little monkey-like hollow. She attempted to approach it but it scampered away, fearing that she too would try to devour it. She sighed, and continued on her way.
But as soon as she began walking, she stopped. She felt something inside of her telling her to pull off her mask. Maybe if she got rid of the thing that made her a hollow, she could become human again. Then nothing would fear her anymore. Maybe she would remember her name then. She never thought of removing her mask before, let alone tried it. She stood on her back legs and gripped the sides of her mask with both front paws. She pulled with all her strength. The amount of pain it caused her was tremendous, but she didn't want to give up. She clawed at it and kept tugging on it. She screamed in agony as she finally felt it release her head. She fell on the ground, panting and bleeding. Then all of a sudden her body started to change. Her front legs shrank a bit and turned into arms. Fingers protruded from paw-like sleeves where claws used to be. Her mask now revealed her human face. Two panda ears rested on her head of long brown hair with teeth sticking out of the bottom of them. Glasses rested upon her face as well. She became more human-like.
She stood up, amazed at her transformation. She felt her face with her hands then ran on her two legs. She smiled as she started to remember her name.
"I…
…an…
…is…?"
She said quietly.
"Ianis? Is that my name?"
She jumped around with glee. Maybe she did have a purpose after all: to protect others.
Maybe if she kept doing it, she would remember more.
Then she noticed that she had a sword now. It was resting on her back in a sheath. She grabbed the hilt and held it, admiring its beauty. It had a lavender covering on its hilt, and three strings of shimmering beads dangled from the end of it. She swung it a few times, then sheathed it again.
"Just like using claws." She said to herself.
Now she spent her days searching for weak hollows that were unable to defend themselves that were mercilessly attacked by others. When she came upon such a situation, she saved them. She was almost always wounded from her fights with near equally strong hollows, but she was able to heal quickly.
This went on for a few years, until one day she was making her usual rounds through Hueco Mundo, when a human man approached her. He had brown hair that was slicked back and he wore snow-white garments that were trimmed in black. His spiritual pressure was incredible, and she fell to her knees in terror as her pupils shrunk.
What was he going to do to her? Where did he come from? What was a being like his doing in Hueco Mundo?
"Interesting…After searching for so long I thought I had found them all. But it appears I have missed one." He said.
What was he talking about? Was he going to kill her?
The man chuckled and spoke again. "You don't have to be afraid of me. Although I don't blame you…" he grinned at her. "Rise, and tell me your name."
She didn't want to suffer any consequences lest she refused, so she did as he said.
"My name is…Ianis…" she said softly.
"Ianis, do you wish to become stronger?" he asked.
She thought for a moment. If she was stronger, then she could defend those in need better than before. Maybe she could even protect human souls in the world of the living too.
"Yes…" she answered meekly.
"Excellent. All you have to do is follow me and join my army. Then I can make you stronger. What do you say, Ianis?"
His army? Were there other Hollows like her that changed? Did they think and act like she did? She was excited to find out, despite her fear of this man. So she agreed.
"Great, then come along."
She followed him until they reached a huge building-like structure.
"This is Las Noches, it's where you'll be staying from now on." He explained. "If you want to enjoy the safety of this place and become stronger, then you must obey me. If you refuse…well…let's just say you won't be doing it again. Ever. Along with anything else. Do you understand what I'm telling you?" he asked.
She understood him perfectly. She didn't want to die yet. She was curious about what was inside. So she replied "Yes…"
"Good, you may refer to me as Lord Aizen." He said as they entered the structure.
She followed behind him, scared and excited.
