A.N.: Finally, here is chapter four of Bleach Alabaster Remix. Sorry for the delay, I had High School Graduation stuff going on for the last, oh, maybe two or three weeks. And so, I can say now that I am through with High School.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Tite Kubo-sempai does, though.

Chapter Four: Hollow Daze Part Three – Proposición

Days passed, weeks turned into months. Quickly three years passed by for Alex and his new allies, his new nakama. Within the first few months of being with Harribel and her three followers, he had found himself enjoying their company.

Unsurprisingly, he spent most of his time with Sun-Sun. Though he got along well with Apache and Mila-Rose, Sun-Sun was his closest companion among the quartet. All of them followed Harribel with adoration and no small amount of reverence for the beautiful, shark-like Vasto Lorde.

As time passed by, Harribel began teaching him. She taught him the generic Hollow abilities of cero and the less common bala. She taught all of them how to fight effectively alongside each other, but also how to fight when alone. She taught them how to exploit weaknesses and how to make up for their own.

For Alex, his greatest weakness that Harribel had noted was that of physical strength. While he could make up for this by making so many consecutive hits, he had to wear an opponent down before he could land just a single killing blow. However, he also found that he could easily withstand any form of physical damage due to his regenerative abilities.

Because of this, Alex had trained mercilessly with his fellow Hollows so that he could become more skilled in his areas of expertise. When sparring, he usually went up against Mila-Rose, since she was the second strongest in physical strength among their group, next to Harribel, who refrained from joining the sparring matches the others of her group had.

As for living quarter arrangement, Harribel had insisted that they all still use the same section of their oasis. She had also designated Alex and Sun-Sun as bed-mates, since the rock Sun-Sun had used, and Alex had recovered on, gathered heat and light from Hueco Mundo's ever-present crescent moon. Being reptilian in nature and literally being cold-blooded, both needed the warmth.

"But Harribel-sama, I can go without the warmth if I need to!" Alex quickly rejected the idea, mixed from his prudish attitude and his respect for his fellow Hollow. Sun-Sun covered her mask's mouth with a clawed hand, curling her coils up around her. Alex, crouched down as usual with his tail swishing erratically out of embarrassment more than irritation, blushed underneath his mask. If one could see it, his blush would have stretched fully cross the bridge of his nose.

Harribel enjoyed seeing him embarrassed, if only because Alex did care about all of them, but had an obvious crush on both herself and Sun-Sun. It wasn't that he didn't find Mila-Rose or Apache unattractive, and Harribel knew that all four of them had a crush on her. "Alex," Harribel calmly addressed him, "I would have all of you as comfortable as possible when you rest. As I've told you, rest is essential to being able to train or fight."

She continued, "I understand that you do not feel comfortable with taking away her 'space', but this is not a major issue. I'm sure that Sun-Sun has no problem with you doing so." This time, it was Sun-Sun's turn to blush at her superior's words, while Apache and Mila-Rose sat on the sideline thinking the whole 'conflict' was hilarious. The lioness and doe Adjuchas knew what the outcome would be: Alex would be sharing the 'bed' with Sun-Sun, if only because Harribel told him to put aside his prudish leanings. Eventually, after about two days worth of Harribel talking to him, Alex relented, though still feeling quite embarrassed.

About a week after this incident, Harribel had begun to feel a disturbance in her Niebla. With her abilities in manipulating water, she had learned how to spread a mist over a large portion of her territory of Hueco Mundo. This mist, which she had named Niebla (Spanish for "mist", Japanese for "Realm of Mist"), allowed her to scan for any Hollows, Shinigami, or Pluses within her domain. Through this, she had sensed a powerful trio of Shinigami headed to Barragan's own territory.

She could tell that all three of them were Captains, if not by their attire then by the strength of their spiritual energy. She had heard rumors from Starrk a few days prior to sensing them. Though Starrk and Lilynette's spiritual energy was deadly to most Hollows, Harribel was able to meet with them to relay information between them. From what they could gather, these Shinigami were extremely powerful, but their intentions were entirely unknown.

She had informed her four followers of the possible danger, which led to Apache over-reacting, Mila-Rose taunting her, Apache reacting again to Mila-Rose's comment, and Alex and Sun-Sun making a light, sarcastic comment toward the two. After their banter ended, Harribel addressed them again, "We need to be prepared, especially since they have at least the spiritual energy level of a Shinigami captain of Soul Society."

Even with the spiritual energy of a Vasto Lorde, Harribel required rest, which meant her Niebla lay dormant when she did. As such, her four followers spent their time in shifts, making sure to sense any spiritual energy near their oasis. After a full week, they had easily sensed some sort of massacre happen in the direction of Barragan's "Las Noches" area. Not an easy feat in and of itself, but it was definitely a sign that whatever the three Shinigami wanted, they were not to be underestimated.

Three days went by since that time, Alex becoming more restless with the continued "calm before the storm" atmosphere that crept up on them. While he tried to keep his cool about it, Apache and Mila-Rose were less reserved about their distress, and were visibly frazzled, Apache's hair standing on end and Mila-Rose's mane looking as though she had gotten shocked, repeatedly, by a Van de Graaff generator.

On the fourth day after feeling Barragan's area change, Harribel sensed the three Shinigami on their doorstep. Well, in reality, it was really just the main entrance to their labyrinth of caves that could lead to their oasis. However, she deemed them a definite threat to herself and her four followers. With practiced ease, she sped into the sleeping quarters with fluid steps, finding her followers still asleep, blissfully aware. If not for the emergency at hand, she would have left them alone.

Mila-Rose was sprawled out on her rock, mane still frazzled. Apache was curled up on her own, peaceful in sleep. Looking over at the lighted 'bed', Sun-Sun had her coils around Alex's waist and they were chest to chest as they rested, Sun-Sun nuzzling her head into his shoulder. With a quick burst of cold water at Apache and Mila-Rose and a warm blast of water at the sleeping Alex and Sun-Sun, she awoke her four followers.

Spluttering a bit after their wake up call, the four Adjuchas quickly went kneeling to their mistress' side or the equivalent in Sun-Sun's case. Harribel stated abruptly and with all manners of a warrior queen, "The three Shinigami are within the labyrinth leading here. Be on your guard; do not allow them to 'purify' you." Here her voice inflected "purify" as if she were trying to get an extremely foul taste from her mouth.

Her aquamarine eyes staring at each of them in turn, Harribel finished her orders. "I will flood certain pathways that those Shinigami Captains may try to use. This most likely will not deter them from whatever it is that they have planned; be wary." With that command, the five of them made their way to the main cave, where Harribel's largest spring was held and where they usually sparred. Harribel walked into the center of the spring of water, wading in until it was covering her whole form. She spread her arms out on either side and pushed all the water within the labyrinth to cover the floor of the pathways.

Aizen, Tousen, and Gin stared at their feet as water began to rush down the path that they had taken. Knowing the Vasto Lorde Harribel would sense them and be prepared brought a slight smirk to Aizen's face, but he nodded to his two comrades, and they used shunpo to rush forward through the cavernous trails. Quickly as they could, which was considerably faster than most Shinigami, the trio of traitorous Captains began to close in on Harribel and her four followers.

With Harribel and company, the spring's water level had gone down enough that it only reached Harribel's just above her waist, but all throughout her cave system, the water level rose high enough to deter most intruders. Apache stood in front of Harribel, Alex and Sun-Sun to either side of her, and Mila-Rose behind her; all of them standing just a foot away from the water's edge. All of them were in a stance ready to attack, crouching and ready to fight.

Alex's tail was twitching and swishing through the air erratically, Apache shuffled her hoofed feet from side to side, and Sun-Sun was coiled to strike at any enemy at any time. Mila-Rose, though frazzled, was a bit less tense than her comrades, if only in outside appearance. Harribel stood in the center of her companions, aquamarine eyes closed, concentrating on feeling where the three Shinigami were within her realm.

Within a second, three static jolts came from one of the entrances into the cavern, signaling the arrival of the shinigami. Aizen in front with Tousen and Gin following behind, Gin reminisced that this was the same formation that they usually walked around in when in Hueco Mundo. Harribel noted that they did not seem to be hostile, but remained on edge. She inquired, with no small amount of disdain left from her voice, "What business would three shinigami captains have with my companions and I? Having felt some of what happened to Barragan."

Aizen raised an eyebrow, but nodded. He spoke, with an obvious flair inflected, "My name is Aizen Sosuke, and these are my companions: Tousen Kaname and Gin Ichimaru. I would like to extend an invitation to you, Vasto Lorde: Tia Harribel." Behind her mask, Harribel had a blonde eyebrow rise as well. "It would seem that you have done your research shinigami." Her followers tensed at Aizen's knowledge of their leader's full name, but noted that Harribel had yet to tell them to attack.

Both Aizen and Gin looked at the four followers of the Vasto Lorde in turn, and Aizen commented. "I see that you have taken strong Adjuchas as your followers, highly respectable." Aquamarine eyes met hazel, and Harribel tersely prompted, "Shinigami, I have little patience with your kind, speak your piece before I decide to destroy you from the inside out (1)." Aizen chuckled, "Of course, of course. I understand. I will get straight to the point…"

With a change in mood almost as quick as he arrived, Aizen continued. "I am forming an army of Arrancar with a goal of mine being the destruction of the status quo. I would like to invite you are your companions to join me in this quest." Harribel nodded slowly, 'Arrancar…' Harribel turned to her followers, "What do you think, Apache, Alex, Mila-Rose, Sun-Sun?"

Apache and Mila-Rose nodded to the idea, while Sun-Sun held her peace about it. However, Alex turned his orange eyes to the shinigami in front of them, then back to his mistress. "I…do not want to follow any shinigami, Harribel-sama…" He hissed out the accursed name of shinigami, remembering his mother, and the lack of help she and he received. However, he continued, "…but, if you wish to join in this man's cause, it does have merit. I will follow you whatever decision you make, Harribel-sama." He concluded his statement, blushing a bit at how fervent he was in his speech.

Harribel turned away from her embarrassed follower, "Very well then. Aizen Sosuke, I accept your offer. I will join your cause to break the status quo between shinigami and Hollows." The brown haired manipulator smiled amicably, and made a short bow to the female Vasto Lorde. "I thank you, Harribel Tia, welcome to the ranks of my army; I hope that this proposition will be beneficial to both of us…"

Is this a deal with the devil? What lies ahead for Harribel and her followers?

A.N.: Proposicion literally means proposition, offer, or treaty. I think, and hope, that you understand why this chapter is named what it is.

(1) Harribel is referencing her vast control over water, even in spirit form. Some might disagree, but I feel that Human Shinigami are likely made of the same amount of water as living humans (exception being Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who knows what all the hell he's done to his body). With her powers, she could easily freeze or boil the water in a body, dehydrate, or a whole lot of other ways to kill a Human Shinigami opponent. This is not canon, but I feel it plausible.

Niebla (Niebura; Spanish for "mist", Japanese for "Realm of Mist"): Harribel spreads a mist of water filled with her spiritual energy over a large area. This mist allows her to scan the area for any Hollows, Shinigami, Pluses, or any other form of Spiritual Being. "Realm" is a reference to Harribel being the "Imperial Shark Empress".

And, YES, there will continue to be Alex (Ichigo)/Sun-Sun FLUFF! It will not be overwhelming, but there will be fluff. I may or may not do lemons…But the relationship will be pretty obvious, as will be Alex, Sun-Sun, Mila-Rose, and Apache's heavy crush on Harribel.

REVIEW! Since I'm done with high school, I can focus more on my stories for a while.