Emperador
"Aw, shit... I think Esteban's in trouble... I just felt Tatsuki's reiatsu flare up near that place he went to check out," Ichigo sighed.
"Jeez, I knew he liked the girl, but to stoop so low as to stalk her? Esteban, you dog-" Kaizo was remarking, before Ichigo put his fist in the gigai's mouth.
"That's my friend you're talkin' about, you wise ass! Besides... if Esteban were stalking her... she'd rearrange his face in three seconds flat."
"Ooh, tough girl, huh? Not my type... I like the soft and tender ones..." Kaizo smirked, as he eyed the raven-haired girl next to Ichigo a second time.
"You had best keep those eyes someplace else, Kaizo. Ichigo might only punch you. I can do much worse," Rukia threatened, malice glinting in her eyes.
"Like I said... the soft and tender ones," Kaizo averted his gaze, not even bothering to suppress a shudder. "You're so cold, Kuchiki-san..."
"Well, she does wield 'the most beautiful snow-type zanpakutou in all of Soul Society'," Ichigo quoted as he scratched his head.
"You're damn right, I do. Now let's go before Esteban gets outed in front of Tatsuki," Rukia pointed out, and the three of them ran as fast as they could toward the spot where they felt Tatsuki's reiatsu.
--
"Hmm?" Esteban turned to look at Tatsuki, thankful that his mask was still on. "Hold on a minute... you can see me?"
"Well, duh... it's kinda hard not to see a freak wearing a mask carrying a sword around," Tatsuki said in a no-nonsense manner.
"Heh, you've got a point there."
"Say... your voice seems familiar. I've seen you around before, no doubt about it. So just who the hell are you?" Tatsuki demanded.
"Uh..." Just as Esteban was about to answer, a higher pitched voice cried out, "Tatsuki!" as Orihime came running, closely followed by Ichigo, Rukia, and Kaizo. "Are you all right?" the bubbly girl asked, her voice laden with worry.
"Just fine, these punks came around thinking I was easy prey... I showed them that I'm not the strongest girl in Japan for nothing... then I bumped into this weirdo... friend of yours, Ichigo?"
"You could say that," Ichigo said, and then mouthed to Esteban, Dammit, I didn't know Tatsuki could see you! Now what are we gonna do?
How the hell should I know? You never told me she had high spirit energy! Thinking quickly, thankfully for Esteban, Kaizo made up a story.
"Oh, don't worry about him, Tatsuki-chan, can't you tell he's one of those cosplayers? Come to think of it... I think I've seen that character in an anime or a manga somewhere..."
"Oh, Esteban, I didn't see you there," Tatsuki jumps, not expecting to hear the voice. "Oh well, whatever..." She turned to leave. Then she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Wait just a minute!" she yelled. "That's NOT Esteban!"
"Huh?" Kaizo blurted, taken aback. "O-of course I'm me, Tatsuki-chan, what a thing to say!"
"Can it, imposter. You look like him... and sound like him... but I don't recognize your... your aura. You!" she roared, rounding on Esteban. "Take off your mask, freak! I wanna know who you are, right now!"
Kuso! Esteban swore under his breath. I didn't want her to find out like this...
"If that's what you want, Tatsuki... guess I have to do it." He pulled the mask aside and rested it on his hair.
"E-Esteban!" she stuttered. "Then you really are... a... a-"
"A Hollow... yeah," Esteban sighed, his gaze cast to the ground.
"In name only!" a loud and obnoxious voice boomed from above.
Everyone stiffened as they heard the telltale ripping sound. A garganta had opened in the sky above them. And from it came three Arrancar.
"Wondered how long it'd take your punk ass to show up... Yammi," Esteban stared up at the leader from the corner of his eye.
"So it's you then, Esteban. Why'd you have to go and rape Rubido with your sword?" Yammi boomed jokingly.
"I told you last time you asked me... back before I left. Because he likes it that way," Esteban smirked as he answered with the usual reply.
"You know I'm here to kill you, right?" Yammi asked rhetorically.
"I see you're still dreaming, then," Esteban said, no longer smiling.
Yammi heaved a sigh. "Guess I'll just make it quick... I don't wanna miss tea with Aizen-sama."
Yammi and the other Arrancar held their arms out, and prepared to discharge their Cero all at once. Before anyone could move, the three devestating attacks fired off, with everyone still in range of the blasts.
A/N: I don't have time for an author's note! Sorry if the word count is low, this was hurried up!