6: Abandoned
Sephiria had been expecting Trains arrival. She waited in her office, staring blankly at her sword which was lying on the table. Soon it would be time to use Christ against Aizen, but for now she had to refrain, no matter how much she desired to fight.
The door was pushed open gently. Train stepped in first, followed shortly after by Ichigo The two of them looked unwell. Train was bandaged up like an Egyptian mummy and Ichigo was bruised and scarred all over.
"I was expecting you two, but not like this..." She remarked softly.
Train took a seat across from her and Ichigo followed suit. They both set their gazes on her and it felt like they were searching deep within her soul for the answers they sought after.
"I can guess why you are here, but you came all this way. You might as well say it."
Train nodded curtly. "We wish to attack Aizen immediately. We know you won't give us your full force, but an advance team could be organised to-"
"No." Sephiria cut him off. "The first rule of battle is to not divide your forces. Together we are strong, divided we are weak. Against an opponent such as Aizen we need to face him with our full strength at once."
"But Eve is in grave danger! We don't have any time to spare anymore! If we wait any longer both hostages will die and all our efforts will have been for nothing!" Train rose from his seat, getting more agitated than he had hoped.
Sephiria closed her eyes and sighed. "Sit down Train. Take a deep breath and think about this. We have two options: Rush to save two people at the cost of the entire world or we sacrifice two people to save the entire world. Which one do you think is more appropriate?"
"We can save everyone!" Ichigo roared, slamming his hand on the desk. "Nobody has to die! We can save everyone if you help us!"
"You are living a fool's dream Kurosaki. Not everyone can be saved."
Ichigo clenched his fists and he bowed his head. He did not answer.
Sephiria folded her arms. "You see now. War is not like a fairy tale. There are happy endings, but not for everyone. Good people have to die to achieve peace."
A blur of movement caught her attention and in the blink of an eye Sephiria was staring at the tip of Ichigo's sword, barely an inch from her eyes. The hatred in Ichigo's expression was enough to instil fear into the heart of even the mightiest of soldiers.
"How dare you..." Ichigo whispered.
"I-"
"How dare you?" Ichigo roared, cutting her off. Tears of rage were flowing down his cheeks. "Are you so cold as to abandon a frightened young girl just for the sake of your pride? Are you no better than Aizen?"
"Ichigo!" Train tried to calm his friend but it was to no avail.
"I swear to you...If Eve dies then I will hunt you down and kill you! I will tear your pride to shreds and destroy you! I'll make you feel the pain that Eve felt because of your heartlessness!"
"ICHIGO!" Train punched his companion in the face and watched him drop like a bag of stones. "This is not the way to get help. We can't just wave a sword around and make threats! If we are to save Eve we need to use our heads, not just our swords."
"I feel remorseful for Eve and Rukia's predicament but I will not relinquish any soldiers from their current duty. We are still mobilizing for the coming war and you should do the same. That is all I have to say, farewell Train."
Train helped Ichigo to his feet and they staggered out the door, their morale shaken but not gone. They were already expecting Chronos to be a hindrance so they planned for a back-up plan...
If they couldn't get help then they would just have to burst into Hueco Mundo and get the job done by themselves! But first, they had an old friend to pick up on the way and that was the hard part...
Deep within Las Noches Aizen sat atop his throne, watching a garganta form right at his feet. The portal opened and Eve was shoved out onto the floor. She landed on all fours, kneeling before Aizen. Ulquiorra stepped out after her, his hands bloody.
"Ulquiorra, you seem distressed. What happened?"
Ulquiorra reached for his eyes and without even blinking plucked it out from the socket. He crushed the sight organ between his pallid fingers, releasing a strange cloud of dust-like particles. They fluttered around Aizen who closed his eyes and nodded.
"I see. So you have met the boy."
"I assume you refer to the Kurosaki boy?" Ulquiorra asked, completely unfazed by the gaping hole in his head. "He was a miserable opponent. He stood no chance against me."
"In his current state that may be true, but Kurosaki Ichigo is a Vizard. He has harnessed powers not far from yours Ulquiorra. I want you to be careful around him. And as for that human assassin, Train...I have a suspicion about him. There is a hidden power within him. Do not underestimate him either."
"And as for this traitorous little wretch?" Ulquiorra kicked Eve and sent her sprawling on the floor. She looked to be in a terrible state, but the worst was not yet over.
"I shall leave it up to you. Just as long as you don't kill her. I can still have a use for her." Aizen sat back and grinned. "That is all for now. Please take Eve back to her room and issue your punishment. "
Ulquiorra bowed. "Thank you Lord Aizen." He then grabbed Eve's wrist and dragged her out of the room.
Eve said nothing as she was slammed into the stone walls on the way. She didn't want Ulquiorra to have the pleasure of hearing her cries so she tried to remain as quiet as possible. She almost lost her composure when she was thrown into the back wall of her cell. She whimpered quietly as her bruised and beaten body collapsed in a heap.
Ulquiorra glared at her with the inhuman eyes of his. His perpetual scowl was ever present and his black lips parted to utter something in his cold, expressionless tone.
"You have disobeyed Lord Aizen and myself. You shall pay for your insolence. I may not be able to kill you, but that does not hinder me in any way. I shall merely break you down until you are begging for death. You shall experience pain unlike anything you have ever imagined. You shall be punished."
Eve hid the fear that gnawed away at every fibre of her body. She folded her arms and dug her nails into her shaking limbs to stop herself from shaking. Fear was what he wanted. If she did not show the slightest fear he would lose interest...Hopefully.
In the room next-door, Rukia leaned against the wall watching sand blow through the window and drifting down to the floor in front of her. She had been locked up for what had felt like years, but surely that was just her mind playing tricks on her. The inane sheltered life she was forced to live in captivity was beginning to take its toll on her.
She could overhear loud noises in the next room. It sounded almost like screaming...Soft, feminine screams, drowned out by the harsh lashings of a cold male tongue. It was almost as if an angered parent was taking his rage out on his daughter...But such a situation could not be happening in Hueco Mundo, the realm of hollows.
Rukia dwelled on the possible situations but it was some time until she remembered she was not the only captive in Las Noches. Eve had been taken as well...
The cries were coming from her. Someone was hurting Eve. Rukia knew she had to help out the poor young girl, but her options were limited. She was trapped here, within a thick, stone walled cell.
She tried knocking on the walls, but the only result was sore fists. Rukia then resorted to yelling back but no-one answered her. The voices in the next room quietened for a moment but returned shortly after. It was hopeless.
Rukia had no other choice but to listen to every spine-chilling scream and tortured squeal as Eve was attacked. She cradled her head in her hands and repeated the same thought over and over within her mind…
Ichigo...Save me...Save us!
Urahara waited on the front porch of his shop. He already knew what his customers would ask for. He could already identify them both. He had been waiting for a while now.
Train and Ichigo arrived on his doorstep looking tired and exhausted. They approached him slowly, Ichigo gradually stepping out in front. He got down on one knee and clasped his hands together.
"Urahara...Soul Society has abandoned us. Chronos have abandoned us...Please...Help us save Rukia and Eve!" Ichigo was begging. He was on his hands and knees by the time he finished and he was on the verge of tears.
Urahara placed his paper fan in front of his face, shielding all but his eyes. "You wish to go to Hueco Mundo. I already know that. I also know how to get there."
Ichigo's face lit up.
"However, I cannot condone you going by yourselves. You need more than two people to do what you wish to do."
Train rose to his feet. "Creed Diskenth has vowed to fight by my side. We also have an idea..."
"Sven?" Urahara spoke for them. "His soul is most likely wandering around Soul Society as we speak. Finding him shouldn't be too difficult. But still...Four of you are not much. The Gotei 13 won't be making their move for some time yet..."
"Do not fear Urahara-san." Ichigo grinned. "If we are truly destined to die...Then we will just have to take them all down with us." His facade betrayed the rampant fear that tore at his mind.
Kisuke could see through his false smile, but he knew better than to refuse them. Their resolve was strong enough. It would be their guiding light through the perpetual darkness of Hueco Mundo. It would give them strength when they were weak and forever fuel the burning passion within their hearts.
Urahara folded up his fan and bowed his head. "Very well. I shall take you there. But first, we must go to Soul Society..."
SEREITEI
Two guards stood by the large senkaimon. The large courtyard was bare aside from the great gates which led to the World of the Living. They were beginning to tire of their boring job, standing guard for an intruder which had never arrived.
Their rest was interrupted when a blinding white light spilled out of the gates and three silhouettes appeared within the beam of light.
The two guards took up their spears and pointed them at the intruders.
"Hey! Ryoka! Stop right there!" The first guard roared.
The second one was unable to help. He was already knocked out. The first guard turned to watch his partner fall but before he could even scream a blade was pressed against his throat. He stared into the icy blue eyes of his opponent and became paralysed with fear. The scream died in his throat which was suddenly sliced open. Blood erupted from his neck and he let out a rasping gurgle as he dropped to the hard ground.
The three visitors walked to the centre of the courtyard and looked around. Two of them kneeled before their leader who had frosted blue hair and a venomous smile.
"Where to now, Grimmjow?" One of the subordinates asked. He had long blonde hair and a small horn on the side of his head.
"Yes, master Grimmjow. Where is the target?" This one was tall and thin, with cropped dark hair hidden under a tall white mask.
Grimmjow grinned evilly and spread his arms wide. "Our target...Is all around us! Ha ha ha ha!"
Soul Society is under attack? train and Ichigo need to get to Sven before the enemy finds him first! Will they make it? Find out in the next chapter!
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