Author's note: Erm well, sadly it has been about a year or so since I've updated this story. But I truly thought about writing new chapters almost daily! But alas… lack of time, university, and just the unpredictable student life prevented me from doing so. But I'm very determined to keep on writing! Even if it takes me weeks or months or years to update, I'll still do it….. :D
Anyway about this chapter…I did not think how hard it would be to write an action scene. Bleach is all about fighting, and Kubo really draws the scenes well, without much devotion to the dialogue. But as a writer, how would you paint such scenes using words while still maintaining the superb visual and fast pace? It's intriguing, but I hope to develop good writing techniques from this story.
But for now, I hope you won't be too confused, bored or appalled with my writing. And I'm more than open to criticism
And also, thank you for reading the story so far!
Do you remember a time when the clouds reined the sky, completely engulfing the blue? Everything felt grey, dull and still, even the shadows elongated in a darker tint. Pupils contracted from the white hanging over your head, forcing you to look down on the ground or stay shut indoors. It felt as if the clouds were a heavy burden sent upon us, only to deliver fear and despair.
This is only a scant comparison to Lautlos Flur.
A dismal atmosphere lay nested in the air, pressing down on the onyx sands. No signs of life or evidence of death stretched across this black desert. The tense calmness foreboded something ominous, but the still scenery told otherwise. A sheer white sky slept above with not a single cloud in sight.
Barragan stood fixed to his spot watching the black hills of sand. The tiny sand particles carried by the wind could easily be spotted against the contrasting white horizon.
"Luisenbarn-sama, forgive my intrusiveness but El Majestad Supremo is calling a meeting. All Espada are to attend." Said a young looking Arrancar.
"Tch, meetings won't help us solve anything anymore, we just have to take them out until there's not one left." Barragan said, turning to face the man.
"You may go now Stark. Go round up the Fraccion for me, will ya? Those bastards," he pointed at the desert "will be waking up soon and I want to rip their heads from within their grounds."
"Did we not try that before and nearly got ourselves killed?" Stark asked with evident sarcasm.
"Don't question my decisions, boy. Do what you're told." Barragan snapped at him.
"Yes sir." With a bow, Stark retreated back into the hallway and soon disappeared among the black walls of the base.
Groaning something under his nose, Barragan stepped out of his room and headed towards the opposite end of the hallway. The base looked a lot like Las Noches, only ten times smaller, and instead of white, it composed of compressed black sand. Small torches evenly distributed along the walls accompanied Barragan with their white flames. Ironically enough, they called this place Las Días.
Making his way to the meeting room, Barragan slowly opened the gigantic black doors. They slowly revealed five figures seated at a big square table.
"Please, Barragan, take a seat. We have just a few minutes to discuss this." Called a voice form the far end.
Without saying a word, Barragan took the last seat beside the second Espada.
"Now that we're all here, I'd like to quickly say, there is a change in plans." The same voice spoke, "The research faction detected unusual activity far north, we suspect there may be an Exsequor in that area. Thus all the Fraccions here are to head towards there, I will be leading."
"Arkiel-sama, in order for us to reach north this fast, we need to shift the Akuma's attention somewhere else." Barragan spoke.
"Precisely. This is why I've set up a bait in the east."
"Ok my cute Números lets not fall behind!" Lux sung.
"Las Días should be just up ahead!" She yelled, enthusiastically marching through the sand.
"What the hell is she so happy about at this sort of time!" Ciro complained.
"Idiot, unlike your scared ass, most of us can't wait to cut Akuma throats." Felix answered.
"Well Ulquiorra's and Nnoitra's faces sure don't show it!"
"How bout' you look at what's in front of ya." Nnoitra said, with a slight threat.
"That's fine by me." Ciro grinned and turned his face forward, eyeing his velvet eyes at Neliel's behind.
Nnoitra getting pissed off at this, readied to lay a devastating punch on Ciro's vulture mask but Felix managed to hold off his tyranny.
"Maur-sama, we've been walking for a good half-hour already, maybe we went in the wrong direction?" Neliel asked.
Lux, walking five meters in front of the group stopped to shoot a pathetic look at her Faccion.
"What, getting bored?" She asked sadistically.
"N-no…it's just, it's so hard to walk in here. Looking up is difficult because the white sky blinds you and looking down makes you dizzy from this black sand and... the air is too thin…"
"Well no one said this is going to be easy, princess" Lux said, looking up at the horizon, raising her hand to shade her eyes.
"It seems that there will be no buildings in sight for quite a while…" She said and trailed off into thought, putting a hand to her chin.
"Maur-sama…I know everyone is aware of this but it is odd that there seems to be no trace of fighting," Ulquiorra began, "and we have not encountered the enemy yet."
"I know it's rather strange..." Lux said with a perplexed face.
"Ok, I tell you what, all of you camp out here for now and I'll scout ahead and see if I'll find anything. I'm putting Ulquiorra in charge."
"Yes, Maur-sama" Urquiorra bowed.
"When I come back all of your asses better shine with glamour because I won't be so nice after this." Lux threatened everyone and Sonido-ed away.
"What a relief…" Neliel sighed, plunking on the sand.
"Get a hold on yourself Neliel, or you'll fucking die here." Nnoitra casually replied, walking to stand about two meters away from her, which by his terms, felt like sitting next to her. Neliel buried her head in her knees, without giving much reaction to his words.
"Hmph, bringing this woman here was a big mistake. She can't do anything in her current condition." Ulquiorra spoke coldly.
The four men excluding Szayel glared at Neliel who showed no reaction to their stares. She simply kept her head down, hardly breathing. Szayel Aporro on the other hand, busily focused his attention to the white sky, having no problem looking directly at it while Nnoitra, noticing how the environment hardly affected him, couldn't resist saying something idiotic:
"And what the fuck are you all glittering about, you pink haired fag?" He cursed.
In an instant everyone, even Ulquiorra, turned their attention to the four-eyed man.
"Hmph," Szayel began, arrogantly fixing his glasses. "You gentlemen are a bit too thick-headed. Why is it that I am able to withstand this atmosphere you ask?" He said, spreading his arms and widening his smile.
"No, I'm sure we didn't ask you that…" Felix mumbled sarcastically.
"Well it's simple! You see, I have devised these eye lenses," he pointed at his glasses "capable of filtering ultraviolet light as well as balancing out the rest of the gamma channels. In other words, this field looks no different to me than Hueco Mundo." All full of himself he finished and looked at everyone for a reaction.
However no one paid attention to him. Ulquiorra, hands in pockets, stood aside from everyone else studying the landscape. Felix and Cero sat on the sand across from Neliel and had a small chit-chat about their Ceros. Nnoitra settling himself exactly a meter next to Nel, began to play with the sand.
"F-fine! Don't praise my invention! I won't give a fuck when all your retina's burn to-"
"Oh shut your over-fucked hole up!" Nnoitra cut him off with a death stare.
Enraged, Szayel probably wanted to comment on whose facial hole looked bigger, but he knew too well what happened to the last guy who made a comment about Nnoitra's face. Hence Aporro refrained from answering and quietly sat down on the sand turning his back away from everyone.
No one spoke for five minutes. Only a slight breeze coming out of nowhere suddenly broke the silence. It felt very ice-chilling despite the spring like temperature in Lautlos Flur.
"The sun is setting…" Ulquiorra spoke to himself looking at the distant sand.
"Huh? Where?" Ciro asked dumbly looking around for a sun.
"Not here you idiot, on Earth!" Felix explained.
Dumbfounded, Ciro paused to think.
"Hey! How the hell can you tell??" He whined.
"Ugh, sometimes I wish your brain was as sharp as your ears..." Felix said.
"And what the hell does that mean? I'm not stupid just cuz' I can't tell time!"
The two argued again. Their hoarse voices pierced the silence and made the tense atmosphere look deadly.
Nnoitra kept on pondering the sand, occasionally looking up at Neliel shivering in the breeze. He slowly picked up the black shimmering dust and dropped it, watching as the wind blew it away. The sand felt cold on his fingers and when he slit his whole hand through, it felt as if he emerged it in ice cold water. Small pulsations echoed through his body every time he'd touch the sand, tensing every muscle in him. He could not tell where this sensation came from - the sand or perhaps something else - but with every passing minute the pulsations intensified.
"Don't be a fucking hypocrite Felix! I know you were looking at those naked human chicks too!"
"That, was probably Szayel, I'm not as perverted as you two."
Szayel sharply turned around upon hearing this disgusting accusation.
"You fucking make me sick! As if I would ever do that for my pleasure! I was simply studying the females in their natural habitat for my research!" Szayel defended himself.
"Ya know, I wouldn't call the bath-house a natural habitat." Felix sarcastically noted.
"Hahahaha! Good one Felix!" Ciro laughed.
"Y-you bastards!" Getting red and fixing his glasses, Szayel stood up. "Don't associate me with the likes of you! Your puny brains can't even comprehend the importance of huma-"
"Shut the fuck up!" Nnoitra cut him off.
"The hell?! Stop shutting my fucking mouth!" Szayel yelled back at him.
"Just shut the fuck up! All of you!" Nnoitra snapped, anxiously kneeling over the sand with his left hand fixed firmly on the ground.
"Th-there's something moving underneath the ground…just listen" He added.
Everyone immediately fell silent and focused on Nnoitra. Instantly they heard a faint echoing all across the desert. The sounds resembled little jerking cries of seagulls mixed with rubbing resin on plastic surface.
"W-what the hell is that?" Ciro asked, backing away.
"Hey, keep your panties on. Could there be something underneath us?" Felix turned to Szayel.
"It is difficult to tell where the sound is coming from…" Szayel began.
"It's them" Ulquiorra added.
` "Huh? Who!? Where?!" Ciro cried, shaking all over and hopelessly looking around.
"You idiot be quiet!" Felix snapped, "Just focus on where they'll come out from!"
The group frantically looked at each other, straining all their senses as the jerking sounds crept closer, faster, and faster. Nnoitra and Neliel were the only ones left sitting on the sand. His hand firmly lay planted on the sand and cold sweat dripped down his face. Somehow, not knowing why, he could feel them with every cell in his body. There were millions of them under the sand, flowing their way up to the surface, and in any second they would sprout like an infestation of deadly weeds. The question was, where would the first ones strike? If only he could focus his body more he would see them…
"Fuck concentrate!" Nnoitra thought to himself. "Where will they-"
He suddenly jerked and looked up. "Nel…" he whispered, looking at Neliel's shivering body.
"Neliel get away!" Nnoitra screamed lunging towards her.
In a split second a body of black smoke erupted from beneath the sand, diving out like a great white towards its helpless prey. Nnoitra, with Neliel grasped in his arms somehow managed to doge the black beast in mid-air. Both of them landed and rolled a meter away from the black thing.
"Ugha-! Akuh-keuh!" Neliel coughed from all the dust erected by the creature. Nnoitra helped her get up pulling on her arm.
Right in front of them formed a large figure enveloped in black dust. It stood on all fours and its beaming almond eyes faintly emitted a gray glow.
Neliel couldn't tell if the beast's spiritual pressure or just the fear itself that strangled her throat and paralyzed her body. The only thing she understood while eyeing the Akuma and clutching Nnoitra's right arm was that if it wasn't for him, she'd be crushed by the thing's cadaverous jaw.
"N-noitora…" Neliel uttered.
"Idiot, get a hold on yourself Nel." Nnoitra said, holding out his Zanpaktou with his left hand.
The creature shook off the sand and when the dust settled, the Akuma appeared in the blinding daylight. It had long black claws, ridged hide and a large wolf like face, short pointy ears, long tail, and deadly canine teeth. The Akuma growled slightly and advanced towards Neliel and Nnoitra. From its mouth a dire black fluid dripped onto the onyx sands, instantly blending with the ground.
Within seconds hundreds more jumped out of the sand all over the desert.
"Shiiiit! Lux just had to disappear at a time like this!" Ciro whimpered.
"Such a troublesome thing…" Ulquiorra unsheathed his sword and lunged for the Akuma in front of Ciro.
"Make sure they don't bite you," Szayel began "it'll be the end of it once you'll get possessed by their essence like Neliel did last time…although at this rate-" He took out his sword just in time to block a charging Akuma.
The overwhelming power of the beast pushed Szayel backward but Felix slashed the Akuma in half from behind.
"I-I don't need the help from the likes of you!" Aporro screamed, fixing his glasses.
"Shut up. These shit heads are dumb." Felix said, slicing another one. "They don't have any analytical skills and just charge at whatever target they see in front of them."
"Out of all of you I know that best!!" Szayel screamed, dodging an Akuma's jaw.
"That's why we should put our differences aside and work as a team!!!" Felix pushed Szayel aside and cut off its head.
Szayel tumbled backward while clenching his sword.
"F-fine! I'll work with you but I'll never acknowledge you!!!" He shouted back at Felix's back.
"Haaaaaah?" Felix turned his head and glared down at Aporro. "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Ciro" He grinned.
"OH GO TO HELL!" Szayel jumped while slicing an Akuma behind himself.
Ahead of them, Ulquiorra skilfully advanced his way through rows of fiends. He dodged, jumped over, under and around them, leaving a trail of dead black bodies.
"Ulquiorra! Wait for us!!!" Ciro screamed chopping his long bastard sword at a group of dashing imps.
Off to the side Nnoitra slashed at every incoming, jumping Akuma, skewering them to the sides with Santa Teresa. Neliel clung to his back, digging her head into Nnoitra's clothes.
"Fuck Nel, I can't get rid of them like this! Let go of me!"
"My body won't move!" Nel cried.
Nnoitra reached and wrapped his left arm around her body and jumped away from a surrounding herd of imps, firing a yellow Cero at the Akuma. Upon its impact bits and pieces of black body parts scattered in different directions through a cloud of dust. When the sand settled, an Akuma twice the size of a regular one stood among the dead body parts. It opened its mouth and fired a metallic blue ray at Nnoitra and Neliel.
"Wh-what the-!" Nnoitora gasped as the unknown ray approached them.
"B-both of you get away from that thing!!!" Felix screamed a hundred yards away from them.
But it was too late. The beam hit the pair and projected a large sound wave that blasted the sand into the air, blacking out the white sky and knocking Szayel, Felix, Ciro and everything else off their feet. After the explosion ceased, silence filled the desert.
Some translation notes:
Lautlos Flur: Silent Corridor [German]
Exsequor: Avenge/ punish [Latin]
Akuma: Demon/ fiend [Japanese]
To be clear, I've decided to give Lautlos Flur a German theme and Hell a Roman theme…