A month after the fallout of the invasion of the Fake Karakura Town
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My eyes cracked open a fraction as my alarm clock started to beep. It was only three in the morning!
"Dammit Kisuke… It's too early." I yawned "This must be how Starrk felt every day."
Sitting up and hitting the snooze button, the alarm clock folded upwards to reveal a screen and two speakers slid out from the sides. As static cleared from the screen, Kisuke began the details of the job.
"A large group of hollows have been sighted in North Karakura. Soul Reapers have been sent to dispatch the hollows, but they need assistance."
"Is this a stealth mission?"
"Negative. If they're not rescued in time, they're not going to make it. Saving the Soul Reapers is your primary objective, but exterminating all the hollows will earn you an extra fifteen thousand Kan."
"I keep telling you Kisuke, you don't need to give me any extra reward."
"Yeah, but it works so well with your tough mercenary attitude." He grinned, flipping open his ever-present fan "Kisuke out."
The alarm clock returned to its normal form as I leapt up off the floor. Slamming open the wardrobe door, I dug out my Arrancar clothes and the white half-helmet that covered my eyes with a blood red visor. On the left side of the helmet, a slightly tilted number eleven had been painted on, slightly overlapping the visor. I have no idea why Kisuke decided to do the whole mercenary routine on me, but it kept me in money. At least I didn't have to do the silly poses before I started fighting.
Sliding into my jacket, pants and helmet, I took my spear, which now had a long length of chain attached to the back, off the hidden rack behind my clothes and slid it into the sheath on my back.
"Time to save some Soul Reapers."
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The Soul Reapers below were in close combat with a small group of hollows, a small amount of the hollows lay defeated, but the others had the Soul Reapers pinned against a wall. Jumping down as I unsheathed my spear, I slammed it into the head of one of the hollows, killing it instantly. Whirling around, I threw the spear at another, pinning its arm to the brick and mortar wall.
"Don't just stand there! Either help me or get the hell out of here!" I shouted to the stunned soul reapers. The soul reapers then dove back into the fray, slashing hollows left and right. Pulling my spear out of the wall with the chain, I swung it at another hollow, who jumped back just in time to avoid my swing, but he was then cut down by one of the soul reapers when a cloud of dust was thrown into the air as the old wall I had thrown the spear at crumbled.
I heard a crackling noise as my earpiece came to life "Alright Sivir! Mission complete. Your payment has been transferred to your bank account. Don't hang around though. These guys might want to question you."
"Roger that." I said into the mic. Jumping from the dust cloud, I waited above the alley for the Soul Reapers to leave.
"Who was that guy?" one asked
"I dunno. Did you catch a glimpse of his face?"
"No. He was wearing some kind of mask."
"Yeah, me neither." The other said, scratching the back of his head. "Did you see the number on the side of his helmet?"
"Yeah. Eleven? What could that mean?"
"Wait, didn't the Espada have numbers somewhere on their bodies?"
"What?! They're back already?!" one of them shouted
"And worse, it sounds like there's more of them."
"We'd better report this back to the captain. He'll know what to do."
With that, the two soul reapers opened a gate to the Soul Society and left. Cursing softly, I put my hand to the side of my head and brought by earpiece back to life "Kisuke, I think I've been compromised."
"Why? What happened?"
"Two soul reapers are going to talk to their Captain about my appearance. They think I'm an Espada."
"That can't be good."
"I think this might spread a few rumours, not to mention a hunting party."
"Don't worry about it. I'll see what I can do to cover it up. Over and out."
"Hmph. I thought I felt a familiar spiritual pressure." A voice said behind me. Turning around, I saw Uryu, wearing a simple high school uniform. "How've you been Sivir?"
"I've been fine." I said, taking off my helmet "Just finished off a run in with a few hollows."
"Any damage?" he asked
"Thankfully, no. So how are the patients?" I asked. Uryu had promised to keep me posted on their condition
"I think you should see for yourself." said a familiar voice as Harribel appeared next to Uryu. "Long time no see, Sirviente."
"Sorry Lady Harribel, it's just Sivir now." I replied, standing up a little straighter
"Ah yes. Of course." She said, folding her arms. "I must thank you for your assistance. If you didn't find us, I doubt we'd be having this conversation."
"It's the least I could do to return the favour." I smiled
I couldn't tell, but I think Harribel smiled under her high collar as well "So what will you do now Sivir?"
"My place is here. Karakura needs all the help it can get defending it from rogue hollows." I said "But what will you do?"
"As your place is here, mine is in Hueco Mundo. I will take up Barragan's empty throne and rule there. For your generous actions, I will also attempt to stem the flow of hollows into the human world, though I cannot guarantee that I can stop them all. One person can only do so much."
"But that same one person can make a huge difference." I nodded in reply.
"Indeed. Before I go, I must tell you of one last thing. The details are written on the last page of the book you used to heal me and my Fracciones."
"I'll remember it." I nodded
"'Till our paths next cross." She said, opening a black tear in the sky as she disappeared into the black abyss
"Goodbye. Harribel." I muttered as the black tear closed behind her
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"So how much do I owe you Isshin?" I asked
"You don't owe me squat kid." The doctor said, leaning on the counter
"Well I've gotta repay you somehow. I don't like my debts going unpaid." I shrugged
"Well, there is something…" he said "Could you go check up on Ichigo?"
"You mean that orange haired soul reaper?"
"Yeah, but he's also my son. He's over at Urahara's shop. If you could go and…"
I heard an electronic chime as the clinic doors slid open.
"I'm home."
Isshin leaped over the counter and jumpkicked Ichigo in the face "Ichigo! What have I told you about coming in through the Clinic?!"
"What the hell Dad?! I just finished recuperating!" he shouted angrily, slamming his father into a wall.
"Falcon Punch!" I chuckled under my breath
"Eh? Who are you?" he asked, turning his attention towards me
"Name's Sivir. It's nice to meet you." Extending my hand in greeting
"Ichigo Kurosaki." He said, shaking my hand
"So what was up with the mortal combat just now?" I asked, looking at Isshin who was still buried in the wall
"Oh, that? Just a little family squabble."
"Little?"
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Ichigo and I had retreated to outside of the Clinic to talk.
"So where about do you live?"
"I live a couple of blocks away. You live here in this Clinic?" I asked
"Yeah."
"Well, I gotta head back home. I'm getting kinda hungry." I said, standing up.
"Right. See ya."
I was about to walk away when I saw a familiar woman and a guy with tattoos and red hair walk around a corner.
"Oh. Hey Rukia. Renji. What's up?" Ichigo asked
"Ichigo! Get away from him!" shouted the black haired woman, putting a hand on her sword
"What the… Why?"
"He's some kind of new Espada!" She said, edging her sword out a little while the red haired man had drawn it all the way.
"What?! I thought we killed them all!" Ichigo shouted in disbelief
"There's more. We estimate that these new Espada's numbers are twice as large as before, with two of the original Espada is the high ranking positions." Rukia said, eyes narrowing "The one in front of you is number Eleven."
"We can't let him escape!" the red head shouted, swinging wildly at me while I dodged out of the way with Sonido. I hadn't taken my Arrancar socks off that morning.
Now that just sounded plain silly.
"Renji! He still has his hollow spirit energy around him, so don't underestimate him!"
Turning to flee, I saw Ichigo standing in my way like a scowling brick wall.
"If what they say is true, you're not getting out of here." He said
"I have absolutely no desire to fight you." I said, panic creeping into my voice as I looked behind me at the two rapidly approaching soul reapers "Can't we just talk this out?!"
"You can talk it out with your interrogators!" Renji shouted again, swinging his fist into my head, knocking me to the pavement.
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When I woke, I found myself in a darkened room, tied to a chair. Looking down at my feet, I cursed as I realised that they'd taken my damned socks off!
Still sounds really silly.
I heard a door creak open behind me and slam shut again. I saw two people cloaked in white jackets, with black robes underneath.
"I don't get why we have to interrogate this human." One of them spat "Hardly worth my time."
"From what we've heard from our sources, he's got close ties to one of the original Espada, not to mention being a member of the New Espada." The other said, leaning closer, revealing his snowy white hair "Isn't that right, Sivir?"
"You know my name?"
"We know a lot about you already." The other said, folding her arms
"Well I guess there's really no point to me being here." I scowled. The next minute, I was on the floor, the side of my head aching
"Don't give us that crap!" the woman yelled "We want to know exactly how many of the New Espada there are, and their names!"
"How the hell should I know?! I haven't been back there since the battle with Aizen ended." I said "And I'm in no hurry to go back."
"So you're a traitor then?" the white haired one asked, up righting the chair and I with one hand
"No, not really." I shrugged "I just didn't belong there. Harribel did all she could to get me out of there. I'm not going to throw away her gift to me and come running back."
"Harribel? As in Tier Harribel, the third Espada?" the woman asked
"Yeah, though I guess it could be higher now. I don't know." I muttered "Though what you should know is that this whole 'New Espada' thing is a lie. Harribel's just the new ruler of Hueco Mundo. Nothing more."
"So how do you explain this?" the white haired one asked, tossing my helmet to the floor, the number eleven shining in the light.
"I really don't know why Kisuke added that. I knew that thing was going to cause a misunderstanding."
"I knew it." The woman spat
"Start explaining. How do you know Kisuke Urahara, and what's his involvement in this matter?"
"I'm sure it'll be more believable if I explained it." I heard a familiar voice as the door creaked open again
"What are you doing here Kisuke? We're interrogating this prisoner." The woman shouted, yanking on my collar
"Relax Soifon, Sivir doesn't mean any harm." Another voice said, walking in behind Kisuke "In fact, he's done a lot of good around Karakura Town."
"Lady Yoruichi!" Soifon whispered to herself, straightening slightly.
"Sivir here was a human that got captured in Hueco Mundo after appearing there. He was kept there for a few years until Ichigo and his friends left with Orihime. Now, he's working for me to kill hollows." He said, putting a hand on my shoulder
I noticed that he had purposely left out the part of me rescuing Harribel. I made a mental note to thank Kisuke for that after I got out of here.
"That still doesn't explain his hollow powers." The white haired soul reaper said
"Well how about this, Captain Hitsuguya. If you don't question his hollow powers, I'll give you this jumbo bag of Amanatto from my shop!" he said cheerfully, holding up what looked like a brown paper bag barely able to contain the amount of sweets inside
"Oh please! Do you think Captain Hitsuguya would fall for such a-"
"Hollow powers? What hollow powers?" he asked innocently, snatching the bag from Kisuke's grip and dumping it into one of his coat pockets. Though it remained fairly obvious, as his coat slid slightly from one of his shoulders from the weight of the bag.
Soifon on the other hand looked at the short Captain in astonishment as he struggled to maintain a cool expression. "Come on Soifon. I think we've learned all we can here."
"You may be bribed so easily, Hitsuguya, but I will continue my interrogation."
"Hey Soifon!" shouted the other woman appearing behind her and tapping her on the shoulder "Tag! You're it!"
"H-Hey! Get back here!" she shouted, disappearing
"Here. Let me just get these ropes." Hitsuguya said, untying the knots "You'll find most of your equipment in the locker outside."
As the door slammed shut, I stood up and picked my helmet up off the floor "Well I guess that clears that up."
"Yeah. Though that bag of Amanatto is going to come out of your next paycheck." Kisuke grinned
Thank you revoked.