Chapter 6: The Mission, Success Beyond Expectation

"So, remind me Ulquiorra, why are we going to the Human World again?"

"Soledosa, were you not paying Lord Aizen attention?" Ulquiorra asked me in his typical monotone.

"Should that not be obvious, bat boy?" I chuckle at his expression. "Oh, was that surprise master Ulquiorra?"

"Silence, Sekizen. Our goal is to measure the worth of one Ichigo Kurosaki. If he poses a threat we are to eliminate him." he said matter-of-factly.

'Man, this guy is cold. No wonder this guy is Aizen's one-man special task force' "Ulquiorra, what if Ichigo's not a threat? I mean, what if I can get him to join us?" I ask.

"That, Soledosa, is nearly impossible. Kurosaki is adamant when it comes to his convictions about hollow. Seeing as our Grand Fisher had a hand in killing his mother, years ago."

"How would you possibly know that, Ulquiorra? Digging through the secret knowledge vault in your spare time?" I mock the Quarto Espada that walks beside me.

"Sekizen, if you were the least bit productive, Lord Aizen would trust you with the information he divulges to me. As the Cero Espada, you are closest in power to Lord Aizen; as such you should at least show a similar dignity to his," Ulquiorra states.

'Man this guy has no passion' "Ulquiorra, why is it you are so…"

"Nihilistic," he fills the gap.

"…boring. You show no passion for anything. You follow Aizen's orders as if he is your purpose of living. Ulquiorra, you're a powerful being. You are the single Espada capable of rising the ranks of the Espada without killing off those above you."

"That is because he is. If Aizen never found me in the wastes of Hueco Mundo, I would have no reason to exist. I am here to serve and protect Lord Aizen." Ulquiorra almost made an expression. "As for your suggestion that I have some sort of 'hidden power', I assure you, I have no idea what you're talking abo-"

"Segunda Etapa," I cut him off. This caused him to halt his step.

"How did you,"

"I have a powerful gift, Ulquiorra. Remember when I used your regenerative abilities to heal Llargo?" Ulquiorra just nodded a micron in acknowledgement, his eyes green eyes meeting my black, "When I touched you, I felt everything about you; from the fact that you are devoid of emotion, to your greatest of secrets."

"And what is his greatest secret, Sekizen?" Ulquiorra and I turn to see Yammy had followed us through the Garganta.

"That is no concern of yours, Yammy." He paused, "I remember telling you to stay behind. This mission has no need for your skill set." Ulquiorra was subtly trying to get him to turn back.

"But Ulquiorra, I want to see this Kurosaki brat too. Don't worry I won't do anything too ba-"

"Llargo, I assume you know that I have no patience for trash like you, so if you don't want to die, turn back." I say in my best Ulquiorra impersonation.

"You son-of-a…" he was cut off by Ulquiorra's hand on his arm.

"Go back to Las Noches, or I will aid Sekizen in your death," as he said this I could feel his killing intent. It radiated off him like cold waves of pure death.

"Fine, I will go 'to the human world a head of you'." He said the second part under his breath, almost just a sigh. I just smirk at his child-like defiance.

Yammy opened a Garganta to Las Noches and left. Ulquiorra and I continued on in pregnant silence. We arrived in the Human World, causing a more-than-fair amount of commotion in the immediate vicinity. 'Why did we arrive as a meteor?' I ask myself.

"Oi, Ulquiorra, what took you so long?" we hear Yammy yell to us.

"Damn it, Yammy, what the hell are you doing here!? Only Ulquiorra and I were given permission to come to the Human World." I yell back at him.

"Fuck you Solesoda. You don't even deserve to be here with Ulquiorra. You are a no-class imitation of an Arrancar, I mean where the hell is your mask fragment?" he yelled at me.

"I don't have one. Don't need one, I'm too bad ass for a mask fragment. The only evidence I need to prove that I was hollow is this," I presented my left hand to him, "hollow hole and my black sclera. No need to parade the broken mask you un-natural Arrancar possess."

"What of Stark then? He is also a natural Arrancar, like yourself. He wears his mask fragment under his chin, as a necklace. Or your precious Hallibel who's hollow mask covers half her face." Ulquiorra interjects.

"You're wrong."

"About?"

"I'm not a natural Arrancar, like Stark. I'm not an un-natural Arrancar, like you or dumbass over there," I gesture to Yammy; that tweaked his nipples.

"Oh? Then what the hell are you?" he bellowed at me.

"I am a Hybrid Arrancar. You should know this Ulquiorra. When I was turning into an Arrancar after my Judgment test, Aizen presented the Hogyoku to my hollow hole, and enforced my transformation. The result would be my black stained sclera replacing the usual mask fragment. The power in had still resides with in me, my form just changed."

"You have no Zanpaku-to?" Yammy asked.

"Not in the ususal sense no. What I have is different," I say as I close my hand around the air, forming a Zanpaku-to, "I can create my weapon from my spiritual pressure. When I resurrect my natural form returns. But enough about me, Ulquiorra we have a mission to finish."

"Yes," he turned to Yammy, "Actually you could help in luring the target here; perform your Gonzui." Ulquiorra demanded.

"Huh? Gonzui?" he smiled widely, "Alright, getting hungry anyway," he inhaled deeply, very deeply. As he inhaled the souls in the immediate area were sucked into the gaping maw of Yammy's ability. When he finished he simply said, "Blegh, these souls were disgusting,"

"That's to be expected, there's no way these weak souls would be appetizing." Ulquiorra plainly remarked. "Hmm, there seems to be some survivors."

Yammy walked up to the black short-haired girl, "So you survived my Gonzui, eh? That means your soul had enough power to resist it or hide, right? Ulquiorra is this one Kurosaki?"

"No, the soul is about to shatter from your presence alone, she is nothing more than trash."

Yammy was going to kick the girl, then a large tan boy with a black sleeve and a buxom red-head came from nowhere. "Eh? Who the hell are you?" Yammy asked.

"Orihime, get Tatsuki out of here." The large tan boy demanded.

"Ulquiorra, is one of them the guy?" Yammy asked.

"Yammy, your Pesquisa needs work. Honestly, you should be able to tell from a glance. They're nothing but trash. Every one of them."

"Got it," he yelled.

At this the boy began to charge his reiryoku in his sleeved arm, preparing a punch. Nothing happened though, Yammy caught the boys arm, and destroyed it, barely being held together by anything. "CHAD!" was all the cute red-head screamed as she saw it happen.

Yammy threw him down, "Ulquiorra, that girl over there, she trash too?"

Ulquiorra closed his eyes, "Yes, she's trash,"

"Knew it!" Yammy said, extending his pointer finger and lunging it at her.

"Santen Keshun," she shouted. A dull yellow force field formed before her stopping Yammy's attack, only cracks formed on the shield. She stood defiantly, disiapating her shield, "Souten Kishun," she said and a field of energy formed over the large boy, Chad I think it was, his arm healing it completely.

Chad's arm was piecing itself back together, much to all our surprise. "Huh? You tryin' to heal this guy? You mean he's still alive?! No fuckin' way!" Yammy bellowed.

Ulquiorra was analyzing the whole process, "You're very unique, aren't you little girl?" he asked. She still looked at us defiantly.

Hope and anger were burning in her eyes. She held her hand before her, palms facing us, "Tsubaki, Koten Zanshun! I reject!" A yellow projectile fired from her hands, directly at Yammy. He simply held up his hand and destroyed the projectile.

"What the hell was that? You shot a fucking fly at me?" Yammy let the projectile crumble from his hand.

"Tsu-Tsubaki… He…" the red-head stammered.

"Ulquiorra, what should I do? She's got some funny spells, should we bring her back to Lord Aizen?"

"No, there's no need. Hurry up and kill her already, Yammy." At this Yammy lunged for Orihime only to be stopped by an orange haired boy, in a shinigami outfit and an over-sized sword.

"Who the hell are you?!" he shouts defiantly. 'The confidence this kid shows… he must be…'

"Ichigo…" the girl spurted.

"Sorry, I was late again, Orihime" he looked back at the girl. She was almost in tears now. 'Well her confidence fled like the wind' She began to blubber her apologies needlessly, "Don't apologize Orihime, you don't have to worry anymore. From now on, you can leave these assholes to me. Ban-Kai!" as he finished his word, a large expansion and compression of spiritual pressure caused a twister of energy to form around him. Everyone looked on expectantly. "Tensa Zangetsu," he said swung his long black daito and glared at us. "Orihime, get the other's out of here."

"Yes, Ichigo," she complied.

"Bankai, eh? Oi, Ulquiorra," he turned to Ulquiorra and I,"Is this guy…"

"Yes, though it's hard to believe such a trivial burst of power drew him here, there's no mistake; orange hair, black bankai… Everything is as described, he is our target, Soledosa."

"Que Suerte! That means we don't have to waste more time lookin for ya!" he lunged a punch toward Ichigo. He simply held his blade in front of him.

"Chad's right arm… The one who did that to him was you… Right?" he asked in a very Ulquiorra-like way. "You owe him… Your arm!" he jumped and cut through his arm with ease.

"Wha-" was all Yammy said. Ulquiorra, believe it or not actually looked surprised. "What the fuck!" Yammy screamed.

'So, he cut though Yammy's hiero that easily, eh?' I chuckle to myself.

"God damn it! You… You piece of shit!" Yammy's still spouting off his impressive vocabulary.

"Hmm, you're still standing; I figured you were at least a little tough…" Ichigo mocked.

"You look a bit worse for wear, Yammy. Would you like to switch?" Ulquiorra asked.

"Shut the fuck up!" Yammy screamed back. He reached for his zanpaku-to only to be interrupted by me. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Sekizen?!"

"To waste your release on trash like this would be a tragedy, Llargo." I say, again imitating Ulquiorra.

"Who are you, black eyes?" Ichigo asked with bravado.

"I am Soledosa Sekizen, the strongest Arrancar in Hueco Mundo," I announce. This seemed to enrage Yammy, he again tried to draw his zanpaku-to, only for me to open a Garganta to Hueco Mundo beneath his feet. He feel through the portal, screaming profanities, declaring that he'd get his revenge. "My apologies for my, less than intelligent, associate Ichigo," I looked toward the black clad boy.

"Soledosa," he said simply before charging in, "Getsug-" he was cut off by my hand around his throat. Ichigo tried to continue his swing, but I caught his wrist.

"Hmm? Why do you not release your Zanpaku-to, boy?" I ask as I squeeze, constantly increasing the pressure. His grunts, and groans of pain reveal the pain he's in, and his white knuckles reveal his determination to defeat me. "That is a beautiful blade, Ichigo; Tensa Zangetsu, correct?" I inquire the name of his sword.

Ichigo wrenches his arm from my grasp, again trying to slash me; this time however I allow him to follow through. His zanpaku-to just glanced off my Hiero, the shock on his face was amusing. "Wht te fuck…" was all he could say. Suddenly we were in his inner world, out of no were a white version of him embedded his blade in my forearm.

"And you would be?" I ask looking at him.

"I don't have a-"

"Don't lie to me, boy" I interrupt him, "What. Is. Your. Name." I demand this time.

"Hehe, guess you'll just have to beat it out of me, wont you, black eyes?" he laughed manically.

"No, I won't." My other hand reached out and grabbed his wrist, in doing so I learned his desire. "You want to be king," I smirk at his shocked reaction. "What if I tell you, you can realize your dream… if you join me," I study his thoughtful look. At first it seemed like he was going to accept, then…

"I cannot allow that," a voice bellowed around us, pure authority could be heard in the voice as if he were an emperor or something.

"Oh? And who intrudes upon my dealings?" I demand.

A blue sword pierced the hiero on the hand holding the hollow Ichigo, "I am Zan-"

"No, what is your real name, Quincy?" Both Ichigo's looked shocked, but different shades of shock.

"How did you…" he looked at the wound he inflicted upon my arm. He saw the blue sword he was using turn pitch black. He let the blade go, and jumped back, "I am Juha Bach, Emperor of the Quincy Order." He said, looking at me under his brow.

"Only a fool would drop his blade in combat," I say monotonously.

"Only a fool would assume his opponent has one weapon," his black/red clock opened and revealed a stark white outfit, and closed his hand around thin air forming a new pure blue weapon. As he did the first dissipated, and the black reiatsu was absorbed into the wound, instantly regenerating the minor injury.

"If I join you, what will you do with them," the white Ichigo gestured to both Ichigo and Juha.

"I will do nothing, It is up to you to do what you will, King." I grin at him. He grinned back, when he did I released his arm.

Hichigo immediately attacked the Quincy Emperor, "This is for holding me back, you pretentious son-of-a-bitch!" he attacked Juha mercilessly, landing attacks left and right. The Quincy Emperor didn't last very long at all. "Well that was pathetic as all hell," he said putting his sword back on his back. He sauntered back over to Ichigo and I, "So, King, what do you think of your real power?" he asked looking Ichigo in the eyes.

"Wha… What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked, looking very distressed. It started to torrent rain; it came down in sheets.

"I'm saying this pussy," Hichigo pointed to Juha Bach, "was repressing me. ME! That self-righteous son of a…" he began to release waves of killing intent and white-and-red outlined reiatsu.

"Zangetsu, calm down," I say to the enraged hollow.

"Calm down… CALM! DOWN!?" he was pissed off now. He pulled his Zanpaku-to on me, "I'll put you in your place, you weakling!" he charged at me. And just like Ichigo, his blade just skimmed off my skin.

"Hmm, what a pity; these hakama take forever to custom fit." I say, in a calm emotionless voice.

"He.. hehe… HAHAHAHAHAHA," Zangetsu began to laugh maniacally. Suddenly he stopped, pointed his sword at me, the ribbon at the end wrapping around his arm, "BAN-KAI!" he shouted. Just like before, a large burst of reiryoku and reiatsu burst from the call. The burst caused a large twister of energy, with a pillar of white and red energy towering from the top, to form. Hichigo swung his blade and dissipated the storm, "Tensa Zangetsu," he said calmly. Now he looked like an Arrancar.

He wore a mask fragment, much like Ulquiorra's; it covered the top left of his head. The horn stood strait up and jutted forward, over an eye that looked like mine. The other eye held a normal sclera and a blue eye, under pure white locks. His shihakusho turned into a long white robe, with black… fur?... coming from the collar, wrists, and end. The sword looked like Ichigo's but the blade was white, and the guard and hilt were black.

"Now you will know despair," he said he sonidoed to me and impaled me through the stomach. "DIE, DIE, DIE," he chanted. He pointed his fingers at me and began to charge a cero, "DIE!" he said as he fired the shot through my chest. The shock on his face when it only left a small burn on my chest was hilarious. The broken part of his blade was in my hand, as I pushed it through his sword arm, "Gyahhh, AHHHHHHH!" he screamed as his own blade was burrowing into his arm.

"No, this just won't do, you are far weaker than I thought you'd be; still only at Vasto Lorde level." I grab his throat, "Now I will help you get stronger, only if you join me, horse." I say, as I let him go. He dropped to his knees, glaring up at me, "Yes just as a horse would do," I offer my hand, "Join me, and I'll make you King." I say.

"You'll make me King, eh?" he looks down, through the torrential rain, and the window of the building we're standing on, I can see he's deep in thought. 'He looks sad…' I think to myself.

"Yes, I can make you the King." I say, still offering my hand. He reaches up, and grabs my arm. I pull him up, and he looks into my eyes, I can tell he's still thinking. "Relax, I won't betray you. I don't betray those who trust me. You can ask any in Hueco Mundo."

"Fine, let's go," he said as we both exit his inner world.

I come back, and look at Ichigo; I release him, and he looks at me, as his eyes cloud black and yellow he grows a crazy grin, "All hail the King!" he shouts to the sky.

"Okay, that's a nice victory pose, now co-" I stop when I see the red-head wander back into my view.

"I-Ichigo?" she asked, "Is that…"

"No, I am Zangetsu. I'm the King, now. Sorry," he said with a grin. Orihime just dropped to her knees, looking like her mind just broke. Zangetsu looked back to me, "Is there anything you can do for her? She took care of Ichigo in my absence, and I don't like to be in someone's debt…"

I smirk at his sudden attitude change, "Yes, Zangetsu. Just a moment." I reach into the air, and pull a cocoon from seemingly nowhere.

"How the hell is a cocoon gonna hel-"

He's cut off by Odioso's head pushing through the shell of chains, "Yes, captian?" he asks.

"Heal," is all I say as I drop him. He takes a moment to unbind himself, and look around.

He spots the bodies of Yammy's Gonzui left behind, "Mostly just those I can't heal, but there's a few…" he looks back to me, "survivors." Odioso gets to his feet, drawing his sword, "Consume them, Cuatro Sombras de le Muerte," he says. He sonidoed over to the black haired girl, knelt down to her, and gently picked her up princess-style. He spun his Zanpaku-to was about to stab her, when suddenly…

"Stabbing an unconscious young woman is monstrous, even for an Arrancar," some guy appeared. He was wearing a black kimono, green and white stripped hat, and holding a cane sword. "What are you doing, Arrancar?" he asked as he held the blade of his sword to Odioso's neck.

Odioso simply smiled widely, and pushed his head into the sword, "My specialty," he said before cutting off his own head after stabbing the girl.

"NOO!" A woman's voice echoed through the clearing. Ulquiorra and I turn to see a tan woman wearing black spandex pants, an orange sweater, and a light colored scarf. She charged over to Odioso's body and kicked it into the nearest tree.

"That really hurt you know," Odioso's head said. Both of the new comers looked surprisingly at the head.

"What the…" they say in synch.

"Perhaps you should see what is specialty is before you judge," I say as the girl drew a loud gasping breath, Odioso's Sombras was still stuck in her chest.

"None the less," the tan woman said as she stomped Odioso's head.

As she did, Odioso's body sprouted a new head, "Do you have any idea how much that stung?" he says as it was regenerating.

"That's… not… pos-"

"Not probable, would be better. But it just happened, so deal with it," he said. "Now can I continue healing these guys?" he asked. He raked his hand through the grass, grabbed the chain of his Zanpaku-to, and pulled it back to him. As it got to his hand, he mumbled, "Mocion Sanativo," as he swung his sword. Everything alive that the blue black outlined wave hit was instantly healed. "Now that that's over where are we?" he asked. "This doesn't look like how the Seireitei is supposed to look…"

"It's of no consequence Odioso, come." I demand. Odioso was immediately at my side, "Will you join me, Zangetsu?" I ask turning to the former Ichigo.

His black eyes met mine, and he nodded. He stepped toward Ulquiorra, Odioso, and I, "Yes, Soledosa."

"Ulquiorra, if you please," I say. At my word, he opened a Garganta to Las Noches and we all stepped through. Before the portal closed, Zangetsu looked back to see the tan woman and Hat 'N Clogs with a stupefied look on their faces.

"See ya, Yoruichi. Duces Kiskue," he said with a grin.

Before the Garganta closed, Odioso sonidoed out for something. I instinctually grab the chain and flick it around his neck, and yank… hard, "For the love of god Odioso, get your ass back here!" I shout.

I stop him before he got to Yoruichi, "But… I… Just… Wanna… Poke the nose!" his fingers extended toward her surprised face. He barely brushed her nose, "Boop," he squeeked before he was pulled back though the closing Garganta.

"Well, that was…"

"ICHIGOOOOO!" Orihime screamed.

"That Soledosa guy was frightening. To turn Ichigo like that…"

"Yeah, but that Odioso," Yoruichi shuddered, "I'm scared of that one…"

"Oh? Why?" Kiskue asked.

"I didn't even see him move before he appeared in front of me…" again shuddering.

"Come on, we need to care for Ichigo's friends." They both look at the Chad and Tatsuki trying to comfort Orihime.