~Here we are with the first official chapter of 'Crazy People, These Arrancar'! Woo!~
~So, on the list of things I don't own, can you guess that's #1? Well, actually, #1 is Pluto, and #2 is the Golden Gate Bridge. But #3 is Bleach, which is the property of TITE KUBO and not me. I'm gonna make that disclaimer stand for the whole story now, cause I'm getting tired of writing these thing, okay? Okay.~
~(BTW, 'XXX' indicated a time skip.)~
CHAPTER ONE
Containing:
Four days
An Order
A Complete Disregard of an Order
A Rescue Mission
Training
FOUR DAYS AGO
"Lead the way, Mister Grimmjow Jeagerjack. I want to know about this world you guys are in, and I've got a feeling this will get me some answers."
XXX
Suddenly, Gin grabbed my arm and pushed me into the portal – what did they call it? a garganta? – and I fell backwards.
XXX
"You three girls are going to be training to master your powers here, and will eventually aid us in one way or another, in the upcoming battles. Ulquiorra will be assigned with guarding Orihime. Grimmjow will guard Anna, and Starrk will guard Sasalia. You are dismissed for now."
XXX
Lilynette pulled on my arm again. "C'mon!" she said. Anna rolled her eyes at me. "Catch up with you later, I guess," she said. I tried to keep the smile on my face. "Yea, okay," I said. "See ya."
THREE DAYS AGO
The head captain's graveling voice sounded in the dark room, lit only by the large screen showing his image. "If Orihime Inoue had been abducted, she wouldn't have had time to meet with you. In short, the fact that she came into your room at night to heal your wounds and then disappeared means that she went to the arrancars of her own accord, just like Sasalia Maki."
Ichigo jerked forwards. "You idiot-!" "Stop!" A hand came down on his shoulder. Renji looked down at his shocked friend. "You'll just worsen you position if you talk anymore." He turned back to the screen. "I understand what you're saying, head captain Yamamoto. Therefore I, Renji Abarai, will head to Hueco Mundo to bring the traitors Orihime Inoue and Sasalia Maki to their senses!"
"Renji…" Ichigo said, surprised.
"Besides," Renji continued, "all the evidence points to the fact that Sasalia's friend, Anna Shimizu, has either been abducted or has chosen to leave with the arrancar as well. It'll be a triple-rescue mission, and –"
"You musn't."
The faces of several surprised shinigami stared (A/N: say that five times fast. ;D) at the softly glowing screen.
"We know that the arrancar are ready for battle. All the members of Hitsugaya's advance troops are to return to defend the Soul Society immediately."
"Are … are you saying that you want us to abandon our three friends?" Rukia said slowly.
The head captain's voice rumbled, "We cannot risk the whole world over the lives of those three humans, however gifted they may be."
Rukia stood up straight. "Unfortunately, head captain … I cannot follow those orders!"
"I thought as much … therefore, I'm glad I prepared for it." Two pairs of wooden Japanese doors opened in the air. The faces of the shinigami in the small, dark room turned towards the old doors, eyes wide. Out stepped two imposing figures – Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki.
Kuchiki glared coldly at the shinigami, focusing on Ichigo. "Don't fight us. We've been ordered to take you back by force if necessary." Ichigo lowerded his head. "All right."
"Then I won't ask for Soul Society's help. But at least help me get to Hueco Mundo." The room was deadly silent. Ichigo turned back towards the image of the head captain.
"Orihime is my friend. I haven't known Sasalia or Anna for as long, but I consider them my friends as well! And I'm not going to abandon my friends … I'll go save them mysel–"
"You musn't!"
…
"What?"
The head captain opened his left eye a crack. "We need your help in this battle. I acknowledge that the loss of Orihime Inoue, who was a valuable healer and a probable asset to the Soul Society, is great … I also acknowledge that those two young humans were exceptional among their kind, and it is a great–" "Stop talking about them like they're dead! I WILL save Orihime and–"
"I complement you on your bravery and loyalty to your comrades. However, this will someday be your downfall … child! But for now, I won't allow you to plot your own course of action and die for nothing! You shall stand by until you receive orders. That is all."
The screen flickered and turned off, leaving the room dark.
Ichigo clenched his fists and thought of his friends.
Orihime; goofy and a bit airheaded, with her strange recipes and unique manner of assessment … but with a strong will and a pure heart, and always a kind word for everyone. Sasalia; strong-willed but friendly, inwardly confused as she was thrown into the world of shinigami so suddenly, and yet willing to go along and help them out, developing per powers quickly. Anna; shy and quiet, with a keen mind and hidden powers … and secretly feeling left out, wanting to understand what was going on and be a part of it.
He couldn't abandon them.
Kenpachi turned back towards the doors leading to Soul Society, his face void of the maniacal smile for one. "Let's go," he growled. Most of the shinigami in the room walked to the gate.
Ichigo didn't turn around.
It was dead silent in the room, except for the random static on the screen. Rukia turned back to her friend. "Ichigo…"
He didn't respond.
Eyes downcast, Rukia muttered, "Sorry," and disappeared as the doors closed.
TWO DAYS AGO
"Welcome," Urahara said as a figure approached his shop. It was night and the moon was out. "It's about time you came… Ichigo."
XXX
The pair walked across the vast basement under Urahara's small shop, and the shopkeeper talked. Neither looked at each other.
"I was afraid that Aizen would go after Orihime's power, so I left her out of this battle … taking her feelings into consideration, it was a mistake to leave her out. I didn't have to time to warn Sasalia about that kind of thing, although admittedly I would have. Perhaps it would have made a difference if I had, perhaps not."
The pair continued forwards, and Urahara kept taking.
"I had also sensed, if only vaguely, Miss Shimizu's latent power, but I never thought … well, I should have taken into consideration the fact that she could be used to force Sasalia into action, if nothing else. But for Aizen to desire Sasalia's powers that much … although knowing him, he probably didn't think much of it, merely abduction another human to get the results he desired. The fact that she, too, possesses unique human powers is most likely just icing on the cake."
Urahara took a breath. "…I shall do anything I can to help you, Ichigo."
Ichigo looked forwards, slightly downcast but very determined. "Is that alright? After all, you'll be going against Soul Society's judgment."
Urahara chuckled. "I don't work for the Soul Society anymore."
After the appearance of Chad and Ishida, a display of their powers, and their declaration that they would venture on to Hueco Mundo to save their friends Orihime, Sasalia and Anna, Urahara opened the portal and sent the trio through.
THE PREVIOUS DAY
Two figures, one lean and tall and one shorter and average in size, stood in a large room, a sort of indoor courtyard. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, and the support pillars near the edges of the room – everything was painted white.
The tall figure smiled and spoke in a voice that many would hear as mocking and eerie, but the smaller figure didn't show any signs of dismay. "Ya ready ta get started, Sali-chan?"
"Only if you stop calling me that ridiculous nickname, Ichimaru. But I thought I told you … I've been ready to train with you for quite a while." After all, if I'm going to help you with this plan of yours, I need to gets stronger.
"A'righy, then. Let's go."
~AND THAT'S IT FOR CHAPTER ONE!~
~Okay, like I said on the prologue, I probably won't be able to update all that often. But I'm determined to see this story through, so hang in there! :D Till next time.~
~KIWI OUT!~