ohmigawd an update? Thanks to MJLCoyoteStarrk who pushed me into updating XD

Chapter 4: Westward Bound III: Chase the Sky

There's a place not too far from Karakura Town called Seireitei, more of a city then anything else. Across the vast expanse of the desert opposite to this city was the hidden Hueco Mundo, where literally nothing grew. The sand stretched on for miles, whiter than the moon that was always suspended in the sky overhead. It was like the sun was afraid to shed light on those vast hills, a perfect habitat for the lurking, deformed creatures... and it was where the Arrancar had made their base, Las Noches.

Soifon knew that Karakura was the unlikely scene of the war simply because it had been built smack-dab in the center of the two warring counties: Seireitei and Las Noches had been at it for longer than she could remember.

Pushing the thoughts aside, she and Omaeda rode into town, but Soifon had other priorities and ditched her partner at the saloon. She galloped down to Karakura Town's trademark shop, owned by the one man she despised with all her heart and his best friend, her mentor. "Yoruichi-sama!" She announced as she hopped off of her horse, Suzumebachi, "Yoruichi-sama, let's talk!"

"Oh, Soifon," the older woman admonished, seated on the front porch, "What can I do ya for?" Yoruichi was the one who taught Soifon the ways of assassination, how to survive; how to adapt. She was exiled from Seireitei for assisting Kisuke Urahara (the thoroughly hated with a passion shop owner) and the Vizards (now recognized as heroes, but Soifon hates them, too, because she really didn't like anyone) in escaping when Aizen framed them for experimenting with the monsters that lurked in the white sands of Hueco Mundo.

"Yoruichi-sama, I'm on a mission scouting the fields," She bowed slightly before sitting down comfortably on the crate beside her mentor, "and I discovered Barragan's gang lurking around. The Espada were disbanded, but as I traveled I discovered multiple Arrancar-the Stars are actually accompanying Los Lobos-heading towards Karakura. I just came to warn you before I returned to Seireitei."

When Yoruichi had left Soifon felt like someone shot her in the heart, and that wound had never fully healed until they were reunited and ended up settling their differences with a fist fight (Soifon thought she had won for once, but boy was she wrong).

"You should be telling this to the Sheriff, not me."

"You're the only one I care about. The rest of this town can burn to ashes."

Yoruichi sniggered, "Typical." She crossed her legs and took a swing from her whiskey bottle, handing it to Soifon who decided to chug it. "Easy, gal! That's the good stuff!"

"I'm aware," Soifon replied blatantly, sighing with relief as the alcohol burned her throat, "I... ran into some guy from Barragan's gang."

"Did you?" She took back the bottle.

"Yeah. He didn't know me, apparently. Said his name was Ggio Vega." Soifon shrugged, "He was kinda cute. Gorgeous eyes, sleek hair. He reminded me of a cat-person."

"Cat-lover is your preferred type," Yoruichi stated smugly, winking.

Soifon rolled her eyes, "Shut it." She noticed her partner just down the road, waving frantically. She exhaled an exasperated sigh, "Seems Under-Achiever over there needs me desperately. I'll catch up to ya later."

"Make a report to Kurosaki," Yoruichi noted, waving slightly.

Soifon ignored her and rode back over to Omaeda, who was practically having a panic attack, "What?"

"You'll never guess who just hauled their ugly ass into town," He informed her, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder. She glanced over at the small group of bandits gathering in the outskirts of the town, dismounting their horses.

The name escaped her lips, "Los Lobos and friends. Great."

It would have been easier to navigate a safe passage to the other side if the cave hadn't been so dark. "I can't see a damned thing! Starrk, are you sure we're going the right way?"

"Lilynette... shut up. See, look. There's a light up ahead." Starrk winced at the harshness of his own words, but it did get her to shut her mouth. They emerged from the cave, blinded by the bright light of the outside world for a moment. "Told ya I knew where I was goin'."

"It only took us several hours."

"Navigation isn't your strong suit," Harribel mentioned matter-of-factly, earning a cold stare as a counter.

"It certainly isn't Apache's," Mila told them.

"You wanna go?" Apache snarled, but Sun-Sun's horse stepped between them and then strode off, wordlessly and skillfully ending their war before it could even begin-as usual.

The canyon slowly sloped until they were spat out into the desert again. Dunes like a still ocean spread out across the wasteland, ending with Karakura Town. "There it is!" Lilynette exclaimed. Peaches suddenly took off when the girl's spur stuck her side. The "undersized horse" sped right past the opening in the rock formation, straight into the wide open of the shifting sands.

Starrk felt his senses tingle, "Lilynette!" He raced after her; to his relief her pony had slowed down.

Harribel was confused, "Starrk, what's wrong?" but he was out of ear shot.

Sun-Sun gasped, "On the plateau!" She pointed to the two Vizards, one holding a rifle, "He's aiming for Lilynette!"

"Get him, Mila Rose; Apache!" Harribel ordered. The Stars didn't waste any time and took their horses up the protruding ledges. "Starrk! STARRK!" He still didn't hear her, but she trusted he knew what he was doing. She watched as, in a moment's heart beat, the rifle's shot echoed through the canyon. Sun-Sun held her breath, biting her sleeve.

Lilynette was fine, but Starrk had just passed in front of her when the shot rang out. Casco swerved and made a U-turn, but Starrk slipped from his saddle and hit the ground. Lilynette jumped off Peaches and kneeled by Starrk's side, shaking him. Harribel almost sobbed, "S-Starrk..." She raced over to them, forcing Tiburon to a stop before them. She dismounted and lifted his head in her arms, "C-Coyote!"

He cracked an eye open, clutching his side, "Whew... That was close..." He lifted his hand to reveal that he had caught the bullet, and that he was merely faking. "I would've been more alert. Guess I'm getting rusty."

"You worried me!" Harribel hissed, shoving his face in the dirt, "Dammit, Starrk!" She left him choking on sand and stood, brushing dirt off her pants. Apache and Mila Rose strode up to her, dragging with them the two tied-up Vizards. "Damn, girls. This must be a new record."

Sun-Sun passed by, "Nope, they've scaled a canyon, caught three trackers, tied 'em up like hogs, and returned to you in half this time before."

"Shut it," Mila seethed, dismounting and pushing the two to their knees. "Love and Rose, from what they told us. I bound their mouths because their voices gave me a headache."

Apache snickered, "Imagine how I feel when you talk."

"You wanna take that back?"

"Make me!"

"Ladies," Harribel said grimly, silencing them. She wagged her head, "Love and Rose, huh? The Vizards..." She bent down and hooked her fingers into the collar of Love's sweater, "This should be an interesting trade, then. Girls, get 'em on Anaconda since she's stronger. Sun-Sun, ride with me."

Starrk was still recovering from Harribel's bashing, spitting mud from his mouth, "Disgusting!" He stared at a teary-eyed Lilynette, but then he pat her head and-still gagging-mounted Casco. He smirked at the Stars throwing insults at the Vizards and even at each other as they prepared to move again. "Lil, I'm scared."

She gazed at him, "W-Why?"

"Aizen's moving again," He told her slowly, "I'm afraid because I don't know what he's planning."

Lilynette jumped on Peaches, "You worry too much! Let's just head out, OK? Worry about it later?"

Starrk muttered under his breath, but then he started off. "Come on, girls! Daylight's burning!" They rode off to Karakura again, Harribel racing at his side furtively, but this time Starrk felt a growing pain in his chest.

He knew there was a war coming, but he didn't know how to stop it.

In town, they paused before the doors of the Sheriff's office. "You girls wait out here," Harribel coerced, shoving the Vizards off Anaconda. Starrk lifted them by their collars and towed them inside, nearly kicking the door off its hinges. He chucked them to Ichigo's feet, irritated. Ichigo merely stared down at them and up at him, back and again. "They shot at us," Harribel said, her tone grating on Renji's nerves.

"I… uh…" Ichigo didn't know what to say. He had told the Vizards to spy on the Arrancar in the canyon, and they had gotten captured… but not killed? Now the most wanted criminals in the entire western hemisphere were poised before him, not even bothering to make a move or a trade? "Thank you?"

"They shoot at us again and we'll hang their bodies from the Water Tower," Starrk remarked, smacking Love in the head with the bullet from his rifle. Renji and Rukia exchanged anticipated but very puzzled looks. "Have a nice day."

"Starrk," Harribel droned, "We're here for a reason. You're not goin' anywhere."

He sighed. "Whatever you want."

This was going to be an interesting conversation.