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Hopefully you'll continue to be part of this stories journey. Now for the next part.
The Polished Pearl
Grimmjaw looked around, the others were getting up as well. Nel looked down as her hand found my cheek. "Ichigo." I smiled at her. With a sudden shock she realised she was still aiming her Cero at me. It died down instantly.
"I prefer Shiro." I said watching her return the smile, before leaning forward, hugging me. "You know... I remember these..." I poked her boobs. "bigger." "Advantages of having done it before." Tia said holding out both her hands to help us up. "You have no idea the back pains those gave us." I noticed her f-cup rack had shrank to C, just as Nel's had. We accepted her offer for help and got up.
"Being a hollow suits you." Tia said brushing her hand over my eyes. "We merged, it was necessary to survive the blast. Grimm?" "I'm good." He growled walking closer. "Ulquorra?" "Cifer." He said walking up to us with his arms leisurely hanging down to his side. "I think we've fought enough to be on a first name basis by now, don't you?" A bit of laughter... it felt good after all the bloodshed.
Although the need to kill and feed was ever with us for the moment. "We'll need to find clothes." Cifer said not appreciating being naked. "We do, I'm not so sure about the girls, though." Both Tia and Nel hit me over the head. It was a moment later we found ourselves surrounded by our Fraccions.
Loly knelt before me, holding out a familiar looking Kimono, although this one was white.
Yilfordt knelt before Grimmjaw, holding out an outfit he'd worn before.
Pesche and Dondo, knelt before Nel. "We dug through the dirt to find these remnants." The woman hugged them. "Y-you're still undressed." "You've seen all of me already, no need to become flustered now." She said just.
Cyan knelt before Tia, offering her Garments. She was now a lot more covered than before with her chest smaller.
Mila Rose was looking quite blushy while offering Ulquorra his own set of clothes back. He had no real Fraccion quite yet. That would change.
"We thank you." Everyone gave a nod. "You came prepared." "It's the duty of the Fraccion to serve their masters." Loly explained dutifully. Cifer took a knee next to Mila, brushing his hand over her arms, down to her back and stomach. Very soon she was healed.
"You have to know." I explained. "That we went through a total reset. We remember everything, but we're not the same people. Look to Cifer, the first time he went through the Ascension, he was completely alone, now... he has family." "Where do we go from here?" "Las Noches first, I can raise it from the ground. When we're back there we will evolve and grow strong still." I showed them the Hogyoku that had been hidden inside me all this time.
"And then?" Grimmjaw asked curiously raising an eyebrow at the orb he knew to have been Aizens weapon. "And then we do to them what they did to us. We raze the so called Soul Society. To the last man, woman and child." It was Tia who stepped forward, she was still only half dressed. "Shiro... you have to remember who you are. Or perhaps in your case. Decide who you want to be. I know your need for conflict is... commanding you to search for enemies. But remember who they are, what they do. I heard you have family in the human world, do you really wish to appear before them, a killer?"
"It's high time we educated him." Grimmjaw said nodding." "Calm your heart, because it's back there now." Tia said placing her right hand on my chest. "Let's go to Las Noches and get the strongest of us a throne to rest his ass on." Grimm said grinning looking to me. "Afterwards the rest will follow." I wasn't sure I was happy with this, it felt like they wanted to keep me from my vengeance. I did want to go to visit the Shinigami, the more I thought about the more I wanted... no. Needed to go there and eviscerate them all, but this was good enough for now. I'd said it myself. First we grow stronger. Then we fight. Especially since none of us had their swords quite yet. I sighed to myself.
"Has anyone seen Menoly? Loly is still looking for him?" "Sorry, sadly I haven't encountered him." said Tia. "Neither have I." Nel agreed. "Or me." Cifer shook his head as well. "Thank you for asking them Lord Shiro." said Loly smiling. She swore Menoly was yet alive. She could feel it... or so she said.
We finished getting dressed and finally... it was time.
"Las Noches... let's go." I said. With the white fabric billowing behind me we now moved as a group. And the hollows now bowed to us. For they knew the conflicts were over. Those who wished to rise to the top, would have to do so far away from us or face the rage of both the old and new top dogs in Hueco Mundo.
I remember Nel, never once letting go of my hand. She never once asked me to call her Neliel, the name was something that was in her past. I remember Harribel's face, disapproving of the open showing of affection. She just walked next to us with her arms crossed in front of her chest. So I offered her my other free hand. "We're all free to do what we please now." Hiding her face in the high collar she accepted it. Soon Mila was holding Cifers hand.
"So what am I supposed to be educated on?" I asked feeling Nels hand tighten at the question. "What do you know about Hollows?" Before answering my mind quickly started to think and go over the information I'd been given.
"Souls that stayed behind in the human realm, because of unfinished business tend to forget their lifes, who they were... the spiritual energy corrupts them... hollows are born." "That's not... entirely right. We want a chance... at righting wrongs. The energy that corrupts a soul, is in it's essence the pure Reiatsu that comes from a Shinigami... they leave it all around, don't misunderstand me..." Nel said clarifying. "There is no right or wrong here. If the Shinigami cleaned up after themselves, souls wouldn't get corrupted, but at the same time the souls would clock up earth, the whole balance of life and death would be shot and in the worst case... everything breaks down. But they have the opportunity and resources to grant a soul what it needs to move on. They just don't care, once again. Balance. It's why they didn't destroy Hueco Mundo, they need us. Just as we need them. Do you know what it means to devour a Hollow as we've done?" "Apart form gaining their power?" I asked quickly. "No."
"We cleanse them, it's messy and the time they'll take to reincarnate will be much longer than normally, it will hurt and for many of us. It's preferable to stay Hollow. Even with the holes in our chests. We felt as any human does, longing, friendship, lust, love, jealousy, happiness... but in a world that is as unforgiving as this one. There is no point in giving in to the temptation of allowing those emotions. Not when everything you hold dear could crumble in a bare moment." Now things were different. I knew. The holes were gone. "Although..." Grimm added. "Somehow I feel... closer to my emotions now. Does that make sense?"
I stopped and looked at them all with all the seriousness I could muster, I wanted this to imprint on their minds. "No more petty rivalries, no more honorable fighting... if you encounter a Shinigami that is powerful enough to be a threat... to kill you, you run. You win, by surviving. If the negative souls have to pass through here, than we'll do what the Shinigami's can't we'll be helping them. We are the ranking Espada now, we'll regain our swords, we'll help the unique Gillian, those with promise to evolve. The weak ones, we kill... to evolve and survive ourselfes. We need to replenish our ranks. Grow our Fraccion's. And then we'll go and reintroduce us to the Captain-Commander. Cifer, I expect you to teach us how to reach Secunda Etapa." The man smiled. "I'll do my best, though I've yet to summon my sword." That was of course true for all of us. "It'll come, it's part of our souls, we just need to settle back into these bodies. Especially me, since I haven't been a Vastro Lorde or Arrancar before. For now, we are neither of the two part something in between. It'll take some time to evolve into true Arrancar again. Then again by the speed we've been going a month or two should be sufficient." "You're doing very well enough." Tia whispered squeezing my hand.
"Above all else, everyone... survive. And kill whatever and whoever keeps you from doing so. We're the only family we have now." As I remembered the human whole... rage bubbled up inside me. It would be some time before I was safe and in control enough to return their. "Talk about natural leadership, I got goosebumbs." Grimm said slapping my back. "Don't worry, we'll make sure they remember that Hollows do not get crossed."
We stopped our long walk overlooking the ruins of the once great Night Palace. There wasn't much left. Everything the Shinigami hadn't destroyed was hit by the blast from the Hogyoku I'd created with the reset. I took the small orb from my cloak and smiled at the warmth it spread from my fingertips through out my body. It seemed glad for the contact with something 'alive'.
"I have a favour to ask Hogyoku, will you hear me as you've done before?" Dark Violet ribbons of energy quickly rose from it, surrounding our small family. "I think that means yes." Grimm said from a 'respectable' distance. I held the orb high. "I ask that you give us back the great Pearl."
But I was much more specific, I wanted a place not just to live at, but to call home for us all, I wanted a changed world. An opportunity to be so much better than all those that had tried to rule Hueco Mundo before us. And once again it obeyed me glowing and flashing brightly of the familiar spiritual energy.
The others watched as grass began sprouting around us, green trees with leaves, bushes and flowers of all imaginable colours, a river flowing past and around the ruins as the rubble began to float upwards. The sand and rock and everything that was left of the Palace joined forming building materials. We watched as those materials created a small number of houses first shaky and seemingly easily broken from the amount of sand but then solidifying, the foundations and new homes became strong. They evolved as we do.
The half moon in the night sky disappeared for the first time in existence. There was no sun, not directly in any case instead there was a beautiful sunset that bathed all of Hueco Mundo in an Orange light. I had my fun with it. More colours joined the orange. The sky moved with the Reiatsu around us. Like drawing lines into sand. The colours changed. A red sky, a blue. A mixture. Before going back to the orange one I'd first made. What it would like like from day to day. That was something Hueco Mundo would decide all by itself.
This place wasn't purgatory... why should it look like it?
"It's been... a long time." Cifer said reaching out is hand towards the light. The beast trio was rolling around on the ground laughing as they felt the grass. Cyan was smelling a rose. "Have it be known that those who threaten this new world, will meet their end swiftly and without mercy." "Yes, Lord Shiro."
"We should get you a hair cut." Nel caught some of my fairly long her between her fingers, twisting it around smiling. "I also think we should teach him how to change his appearance, he's way too pale." "Oh? I thought being a Hollow suits me." I playfully pouted at Tia as she blushed. "Now you made me sad." I thought it was very good, she shook her head flicking her hand against my forehead. Tears appeared in my eyes which made her laugh. "I'm such a good actor." I said proudly. "Pesche, Dondo... take Bawabawa and look around the place, see if you find anything valuable... Zanpaktou left behind or any such things." They bowed to me before leaving. "Loly, you are free to go and find Menoly, Meanwhile I expect you three..." I smiled as they turned towards me. "Mia, Cyan, Emi... spread the word. All the Arrancar are to return to Las Noches..." I pointed to the small village that had just come from the ground and the huge compound with a Villa in it. How else was I going to enjoy myself? "Tell them that Loly is looking for Menoly. Afterwards you're free to return. The rest of us will do as we've been doing. We'll grow stronger."
The villa was large of course, I had created it for all of us. It was also both western and eastern in design. The exact decorations would happen as we continued living there. The Hogyoku had granted us high level materials, smooth wooden tables, chairs, clean cloth, and an assortment of clothes for us all.
My own room had a King sized bed, a window to look outside. There was a desk for work and a night stand with a vase of flowers. Although I was sure Cyan had brought those in before I go there. However the hell she had managed that I couldn't tell you. The colours used here were all dark reds and silver. The place did have a sort of royal feel to it.
Both Tia and Nel had come with me. Still holding my hands. Together we admired the Hogyoku's work. Cifers room was themed emerald and black. Grimm went with dark blue's, like his hair.
After familiarizing ourselves with our new home. It was time for me to get my hair cut. "Now you're absolutely hot again." Nel purred turning around to look at me in the mirror. Once more my hair was short even slightly shorter than before, it had also gone back to orange, though this too was much darker now.
With some work Tia had taught me to change my skin colour as well. Something all of them had done unconsciously. Even Cifer which thinking back surprises me. He would never admit it but it was of course for Mila's benefit. I'd made mine a nice tanned colour. The black of my eyes turned back to white, the yellow however I kept. In honour of the one who saved me. The one who had once sworn to take control when the opportunity presented itself, but instead... opted for co-existence. No longer horse or King. But instead brothers.
"Yilfordt made this for you. He thinks you might prefer a bit more colour." Tia handed me a Kimono that was white on the outside but black on the inside. "I'll continue to wear the white garments underneath and this above it. I'll have to thank him for it soon." "Shiro?" "What it is?" "I want to kiss you." Nel said confidently surprising me. "Hey!" Tia yelled stepping between us. "Stop that." Completely out of the blue Nel darted forward and planted her lips on Tia's. "I'm getting a show... excellent." I said laughing and sitting back on my bed. "She's been too shy... and too dumb to tell you that she likes you. What is it? His strength?" Tia shook her head being released by the other womans hands.
This was... surreal. More so then the rest. Now... they'd made me back into a teenage boy with not one but two stunningly beautiful girls in his bedroom. "You guys should know I 'died' a virgin. I have no idea about how this..." I waved my right hand between us, "is supposed to work." They smiled and moved over to sit to either side of me. "Tell me." I closed my arms around both of them as they laid their heads on my shoulders. Family... as a human, the concept was always very clear to me. I had loved my sisters above all else. All I'd ever wanted was to see them safe and protected. Now... the idea was strange and even slightly alien to me. As a hollow. Family is something entirely new. The closest any of them had ever come were Nel and her fraccion. And Stark and Lilynette. So how do I recreate the idea of family? I do what my family has always done. I'm going to be honest and demand honesty in return.
"Tell me what you've never told anyone else." I said clearly. Tia sighed. "I was killed, raped and killed to be exact. In your time it happened about 40 years ago." She explained, with a certain heaviness in her voice. "Sorry... I didn't..." "It's fine." Tia said accepting Nels hand in hers over my stomach. "I killed myself," Nel admitted. "I was bullied in school, clothes vanished, notes were handed out, insults... destruction of my things. Maybe you think that's silly but I just couldn't take it anymore. I jumped head first from the school building. When you came here as Ichigo... I looked at you and even if I didn't realise it... I thought, if you had been around back then. It wouldn't have happened. If I'd had someone with your strength, not physical but emotional strength. I would have lived a happier life." "There's something about you Shiro. Something that makes people believe in you. That's why the hollows joined you 8 months ago against Aizen. It's why Ulquorra stopped his attacks and instead listened." I gently traced my finger along the wound above her chest. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep it from happening." "This is why I like you, you take responsibility and try to fix things, even if they are really not your fault at all. You have a good strong heart, an honest one. I think you can do what Aizen promised. Make this place liveable. You've already had a good start." She said grinning upwards at me. "I know you wanna... get settled first. But maybe we could just stay for the night?" Nel asked hopefully, we all just wanted that warmth. A place to belong. "Get dressed appropriately, then we rest."
They joined me wearing perfectly fine long white nightgowns, their masks were placed on the night stand beside the King sized bed, were mine was already resting. Both woman had let their hair down allowing me to play with it a little bit. Admittedly I was a bit like a child. In a way we all were. We slept in each others arms, as close to each other as possible. Just the way Grimm and I had slept when we'd still been little more than animals. I was sandwiched between them and I loved it. They were warm, they smelled amazing... especially now that I'd integrated certain wolf aspects into my being.
The thing I will never forget, my first realisation. The softness of their skin. Not battle hardened the way I'd come to know them. Women... girls that were just as breakable, just as defenseless in their sleep as any Human.
A few hours in, Nel was hugging my naked torso under my shirt from behind while Tia hugged my waist, with my knee between her legs, and her head below mine, hidden in the cranny of my neck.
I woke up to find them smiling in their sleep. In retrospect I realize the amount of trust Tia had put in me that night. I'd after all just learned that the reason for her hollowfication was that she was raped and wanted to see justice done.
I pulled her closer, hearing a very quiet moan as her womanhood slid softly up my upper thigh. "This is just the beginning." I whispered to her, to her and all of existence. The Hogyoku was safely hidden away in a room deep below new Las Noches, in a place only I knew. And I would use it and work with it until the Shinigami shivered in fear of hearing my name. Long live the King. And may whatever god you believe in help you if you dare challenge me.