Fearless

Prologue

White sands stretch out before her. Turning her hand slightly in either direction reveals more of the blistering white sand. The everlasting darkness of Hueco Mundo surrounds her lean animal-like body as if it wishes to suffocate her. The only shapes that break the landscape are the occasional rock. Nothing moves for what seems like miles. The light reflecting from the surface of the sand comes from the moon that rests lazily in the sky. To her eyes, the moon never moves.

Pains of a hunger that never leaves interrupts her thoughts. Twisting her animal-like body to her right, she walks in hopes of finding a meal to satisfy the intense pain.

The adjucha rips off another mouthful of meat from the unfortunate hollow that attacked him. Finishing off the last bite, he turns to let unusual blue eyes roam the white sands. Nothing catches his attention. With a snort of kinds, he turns his panther body away from the scene he created. The lasting hunger sated….for now.

Without a conscious thought of what his body is doing, he begins to run. Only the sound of four paws being cushioned by the sand and even breathing reach his sensitive ears. He loves the feel of his muscles tensing and relaxing due to the exercise. If he could, he would run forever. However, this is not meant to be as he is once again attacked. With a vicious snarl, he turns to face the new threat.

Sickness, disgust, and sorrow feel her. Not wishing to prolong the unnatural ritual, she concentrates on doing the actions. Rip, chew, swallow, and breathe. Time passes slowly for her.

Finally, after an eternity, the Hollow is finished with her meal. She is free from the chains that bind her to her hunger for the time being. With a shake of her body, the Hollow turns away from the mess she created in the pure looking sand. Bile rises in her throat at the thought of what her meal consisted of.

Flattered, not that it would show in his body language and blue eyes, the Adjucha stares at the five Hollows before him.

Him? Their king? The thought was almost laughable to him. He wanted to fight and live alone. However, he knows help is needed to survive in this desolate world. Fixing a look of anger upon his face, he snaps his jaws shut.

"Fine. Follow if you wish. However, don't stand in my way," his gravelly voice rings out clear and cold in the silence that had fallen over the Hollows. Without waiting for their answers, he turns and begins a long walk with a lazy pace.

There was no need to hurry. His stomach was full. It'd be a while before he needed to eat. He had plenty of time to find a worthy meal. Blue eyes are cast over his shoulder to look at the Hollows who now follow his every move. It was plenty of time to test out each and every one of his new 'subjects'. His lips curl revealing long, sharp teeth.

He was excited at the prospect they had offered him. The smirk on his panther face reveals how much.

Shinigami, Soul Reapers. Never has she seen one standing in Hueco Mundo. Nor has she ever thought of what he was offering her.

Becoming a human once again, or as close to it as she could get. She wanted to leap at the chance, yet she was cautious. Caution has kept her alive all these years.

"Well?" Her eyes flick to the brown haired Soul Reaper. Aizen. That's what he called himself. A spur of the moment choice decides her future.

"Yes, make me an Arrancar. In return, I will serve you." Her soft voice is muffled slightly by her wolf-like mask.

White light surrounds her body. Blinding pain follows. It hurts so much she can't even scream. It feels like her body is being pulled apart and rearranged. Her mask breaks free.

The pain, the stretching, and the light cease as suddenly as it came. Cold penetrates her legs, bottom, and the palm of her hands contrasting with the rough texture of the sand she'd been in previously. For a moment, she wonders where she is and how she got there.

Slowly, her eyes open to meet a white tiled floor. Voices drift into her ears. Rising her eyes, they travel up a white uniform. They finally arrive and rest on Aizen's face.

"Welcome to Las Noches, comrade," he says with a comforting and warm smile. "What do you call yourself?"

Without hesitation, she answers in a soft, but confident voice.

"My name is Asami….Akatsuki, Asami."