Food is a state of life. We live with it
-Marina Juanitas
Chapter 10: Vengeance in the Hollow World
Tia Harribel. Tercera Espada, formerly Vasto Lorde. A woman among the Espada, and completely different by most of them: calm, taciturn, level-headed and analytical, preferring not to engage in combat; content with silently observing both parties until the fighting reaches its conclusion, and refused to fight unless she or her Fracción are challenged or ordered by her superior, and strongly opposed the notion of killing others, especially if done to gain power. Despite this, she was not to be taken lightly: she was one of the best Espada in terms of swordsmanship, a highly proficient tactician, and her power was enough to demolish the entire of Las Noches if let out. She was in her room, meditating
No fool would have never tried to make so much of an ambush at her, not even fellow Espada, the weaker ones would have been swiped down by the mighty of her sword, the one on par with her would have engaged in a fight where the results would have been mostly collateral damages to the Hollow fortress.
But there was in fact one who always tried to take her by surprise. Every single day the intruder sneaked inside her room and with little steps closed distances with the immensely powerful Tercera Espada. Two glowing eyes were staring at the powerful former Vasto Lorde and then a jump with a scream breaking the silence.
"YAYYYYY!", Marina Juanitas, a five years old looking little redhead, yelled as she glomped the Arrancar she was the fondest of, burying her head in Harribel's well endowed chest. The Espada had felt her spiritual pressure from a mile and had enough experience and her power she know she could have incinerated the little girl with a single blow. Luckily for her, Harribel too was fond of the little child and, while she had never openly expressed her thought aloud, the fact which was letting such a small hollow wrap her arms around her could speak more than a thousand of words to any other inhabitant of Las Noches, who could never think or the Tercera to show a direct affection for someone. Instead, Marina could always hug her and, in certain moment when Harribel felt sweet, she could go so far to pet her. Much to Marina's bliss, this was one of these days, as she realized when she felt Harribel's gloved hands running through her hair.
"Hi Harribel"; she said looking up to the blonde woman, to which the Espada made a nod of acknowledgement at this as she kept petting the small child. She let out a sigh thinking of this: Marina was a child. Maybe she was older than she looked, but both her mindset and appearance were the one of a child… and she was there. In her room. Harribel cared a lot for her, but knew a thing: a child like her was not fit in Las Noches. This place was a warrior fortress, where the worst and most powerful creatures in Hueco Mundo lived for two single reason: serve Aizen and kill Shinigami.
Marina … well, she had never met Aizen, and most likely any Shinigami at at all. Every time they were using that word she did nothing but tilt her head confused. Nobody had bothered to reply her, either not to scare her away or because she was not worth their time. Harribel, of course, belonged to the fomer kind of Arrancar. Her expression slightly grimaced as she stood up, still holding the little child. She had always tried to take her on her side: for some reason, she had never liked much Mendocera. He was much gentler than most Arrancar, but there was something which made her wary of him. He was too … she could not point exactly what was the thing which made Mendocera bug her, but was sure I was here.
"Why are you stopping petting me, Tia?", Marina asked her looking her from her comfy spot, making the Tercera snap back to reality and, yes, resume caressing her head.
"Ehi Harribel? – Marina called looking at Harribel, to which she looked down again – where is your hollow? Despite you show much, I've never seen it"
Harribel blinked at this singular request and then let Marina sat on her lat, as she did, she leant her hand and told her the truth.
"Wow… it's… in an inner organ? It's so rare", she asked in wonder. (Reference from the new Bleach Databook Unmasked - note by a disgusted author)
"Yes! I am Espada of Sacrifice, so I think it's…. fitting", she said and again Marina hugged her, burying her head in her chest.
Harribel felt a presence immediately and stood up. Marina afraid just dug her head further in the Espada's bosom, slightly tuning to see who was.
Harribel's star noticeably harderened as two numeros reached inside her room, waiting for her approval to enter at the edge of the door. She would not have let them in. She stood up still holding Marina in her arms , with her piercing and cold voice, she asked the Numeros: "What are you doing here?"
At her speaking, the two lesser Arrancar backed down and Marina, to further mock them: "Are you here to touch her b…."
Harrible pushed her hand on the head of the small child pressing it against her chest, di to avoid her speaking further and break the atmosphere.
"What are you going here?"; she repeated to the two men, nearly freezing their blood.
"We are here… to take that child…..", the first Arrancar, tall, blonde, with a mask shaped like two horns on his forehead, said, controlling his trembling as he pointed at Marina, something which made the Vasto Lorde Arrancar stare at him deathly.
"It ... is… order of Estebanez", the other Arrancar, shorter with brunette hair, attempted to justify himself, but this made only Harribel leak a bit of her golden reiatsu and, despite it was a fraction of it, both Arrancar were on the verge of collapsing at feeling it. She took slow steps towards them, making them nearly faint.
"Estebanez…. You speak about Estebanez? Well, you can tell that Fraccion that if he wants his daughter back… he should not send any other… - she said with a cold voice – but come here himself…"
"YAY! MEIDO-chan!", Marina said interrupting the Espada, making Harribel slightly widen her eyes as the small child managed somehow to break her grip and squish away from the large bosom and jumped on the head of the shorter Arrancar, then lightly bit the head of the other.
"Can I eat ….?"; she asked, but all of sudden remembered the order of her adoptive father.
Do not eat anything standing on two legs and possessing less than two limbs who has a mix of shinigami and hollow energy.
"Awww… okay", she said sighing and resting her head on the Arrancar, her mouth drooling a bit.
Harribel still had her cold and stoic expression, but deep down… she felt a bit heartbroken. She had always treated Marina with respect and love…. Why had she always preferred Mendocera to her…? She just did not understand. Or maybe… she did
Such a strong bond… able to transcend through Hollow nature… I thought I was the only one to have broken it…. By unifying my Fracciones with each other… and even despite I always saw them around… I had never understood… I hope you are going to treat her well for the time being… Mendocera… The wars against Shinigami is approaching… and we might not survive this.
Those were the thought of the Tercera Espada as she moved towards the Fraccion, never taking the stare off Marina. She then took her a last time and hugged her.
"Calm down and cheer up Marina. I will take you up once this stupid skirmish with Shinigami is over, alright? - she said, making Marina smile at her as she looked up – you and me till the end alright… You'd have always been a great Fraccion"
"Thanks Harribel-chan. You too would be a great Fraccion!", Marina said imitating her compliment, which would have backfired had she talked to any Espada but the Tercera. The other two Arrancar were sweatdropping at her childishness. Little they knew that it had made Harribel, under her jacket and hollow mask smile. They held hand for a bit as then the Numeros started leaving as Harribel made a nod at them. Marina's fingers slipped off Harribel's gloved hand. A last wave to each other as the Arrancar turned the corner of the hallways.
Harribel was the Tercera Espada, one of the strongest hollow in Hueco Mundo… yet she had no freedom. Her power did not allow her to be free of any duty… and would have never let her see Marina again in this life.
The young Shinigami Nekoru was blinking at the request of the man known as Urahara Kisuke. That man had made him achieve Shikai after, of course, him go through hell. He had to fight against four captains. What that meant? Well, once one of them, namely Yoruichi, had managed to two-shot him so easily he had no time to react to her moves. He could not help but pass out. Not only had he fought against her, but other three person on her level. It was a level of stress nobody should endure, as to even achieve the slimmest of the hope he had to milk out every single equipment he had at his disposal to manage to hold them off for enough time and achieve Shikai.
The craziest part of this, was that, of course, the plan had actually worked smoothly. Well, almost smoothly. The only thing Urahara had not planned was Nekoru splattering ink all over the place, but thankfully a few death threats to him and a mop had resolved the situation and the Urahara's shop was saved once more form the eternal forces of evil and dirt. After this, Urahara had gotten a call and had disappeared for a few minutes, only to return as cheerful as ever after a while, with his grin and waving fan. Nekoru had learnt to fear that expression in a few hours.
Now all of them were relaxing? Nekoru and Urahara were discussing, Ishin was eating snack he had brought from home, Tessai was still fixing the shop up and lastly Yoruichi was laying down on the table taking a nap or just relaxing. Nekoru tried more than once to take a stealth look at her, but every time Yoruichi looked back at him with a smirk only to make him fluster. After all, he was trying to out-stealth HER, the greatest assassin in the history of Soul Society: he had it coming.
What Nekoru did not expect, though, had not come from Yoruichi, though ….. was then Urahara's request. It was rather simple in theory… the way he had put it was utterly
"What about a trip in Hueco Mundo to help Ichigo save his friend?", was Urahara's request in a few words.
Nekoru blinked and rubbed his temples. He and Ichigo had barely interacted with each other (effectively, their only interaction was the redhead knocking him out in a blow while being in a hurry) and he did not feel such a need to succor him, and just felt a bit…. Out of place. After all, just a few seconds ago, Urahara had said that, shikai or not, he was pretty much a weakling. Therefore he was forced to speak up, but in all his puzzlement, the young shinigami managed to utter only two words.
"Hueco Mundo?", he repeated, rather confused by such a situation. Hueco Mundo… he knew very little of Spanish, but he knew what it meant
Hollow world…, he thought in his mind.
"Yes, that Hueco Mundo, the home place of the hollow. Simple one, Menos Grande, Adjuchas, even Vasto Lorde. Of course, this would be what you'd see normally. But, as Aizen took it over, the situation must be much worse. You are going up against an organized army of Arrancar, hollows with such powers they could take a captain single-handedly", Urahara said with nonchalance, making Nekoru and his zanpakuto tremble in resonance this time.
"And I…", Nekoru said, only to have Urahara cut him in
"… Of course, even supposing you are going to defeat them all, you then will be up against not one, but three other captain, all of them with a shikai stronger than the other and a reiatsu powerful enough to knock you out only just concentrating. Most likely your ultimate Ink attack will not even strain their clothes… and they wear WHITE!", Urahara continued still nonchalantly waving his fan
"So you are kidding, right? I am not really going in Hueco Mundo in a suicide Mission?"; Nekoru asked snapping once more
"Of course you are!", Urahara answered with the subtleness of an anvil.
"But I am never going to pull it off alone!", the young Shinigami retorted getting nervous at the Shinigami, who again managed to put him down with a single sentence.
"Are you sure? And what about the support of all the captain you met…. If some of them were to support them…. I mean, in your opinion, Unohana, Mayuri, Kenpachi, Byakuya….. do you think they would not cheer you up? Can't you think what they could tell you? They are actually supporting you from afar, with their trust relying on you. Can't you think what they are going to tell you? Close your eye, use your imagination", he declared triumphant in another pep talk. He had lost faith in Urahara (or rather, he was now sure that he was doing half of the things for self-amusement and the other to screw with others and maybe the rest to genuinely help others) but as he did not feel like retorting once more with his own reserves of reiatsu that were pretty much barely enough to make him pass for a human while Urahara's were practically the same before the training.
Somehow, something was working, and indeed he could hear four voices,,, and not simply four voices of the captains Urahara had listed. They were all praising him… well, their own personal way.
Remember to stay safe in Hueco Mundo. Your health is what matters the most. Only your own health is the thing which should matter to you ^^, That had to be Unohana's comforting, yet somehow scary voice. Her way when she had said 'only' had sent shivers down Nekoru's back
Painter boy, you really got a power up? Nice, your hands must be now much more valued and nice. Ku ku ku… Well, at least Mayuri had done his best to praise him… at least, he thought so. It was very difficult to understand when Mayuri was serious or not. He and Urahara were very akin…. Much more they could think
Maybe after this trip of ours, we might have a fight, now that you have Shikai, Kenpachi's voice boomed, making Nekoru regret in an instant all the training he had just done. His zanpakuto was agreeing with him, sadly enough
Hi Neko Neko! I missed your pastries, Yachiru had said… well, being Yachiru, it was no surpise.
I think I recognize that headband… wasn't it mine? Yoruichi, had you been hiding it for so much time from me on his head?, And this how was supposed to be Byakuya's praise? After all, yes, Nekoru had understood that the headband had to belong him a long time ago, but why was a fantasy pointing this out? There was something iffy in this…
Eh eh eh, yep!, And so, Yoruichi's voice that was replying to Byakuya, instead of asking Nekoru out, made the young Shinigami understand his fantasy was going out of control, and indeed asked for his zanpakuto spirit for help
Uh…. Mei-san, maybe you should open your eyes, the zanpakuto stated a bit too shyly, and made Nekoru inwardly blink, but he still obeyed only to see that… his fantasy was not a fantasy. The captains were really there, speaking to Tessai and Yoruichi
It was the truth. Urahara was next to him, struggling to hold back a laughter as his eyes were looking at the young Shinigami.
Nekoru tried to make an epic speech to put Urahara down, but between his rage, discomfort for being around so many captains, tiredness and all the other emotions which were storming in his head like a hurricane, he managed to yell only three words.
"Why Urahara? WHY?", he cried in exasperation alongside his zanpakuto. The former captain replied with a playful smirk and subsequently ignored him to greet the other captain. Was he doing this to further anger the young boy and make him stand up to captains? Or was he just screwing around with him? Both? Who knew? Urahara was not going to tell regardless.
Frustrated, Nekoru and his zanpakuto reached the group. He was amazed that there were so many Captain-leveled Shinigami. Over seven… and he was not feeling that dozing discomfort back at the time of the Visored. He was also surprised by the small number of seated member, among which the lieutenant and the 7thseat of the 4th division, Yachiru, as usual on Kenpachi's shoulder, and various member of the 12th division (or,to use an offensive term for the members of the 12th division, 'bombshells'). Nekoru noticed among the first thing that Mayuri seemed to have slightly changed his look since the attack of the Ryoka: his face paint had changed, his ear attachments had become shorter and rounder but wider, his teeth had become a golden color, and he no longer wore a hat as there was a golden frame around his face. His hair was also styled into "horns," that sloped down from the top of his head and frame his face,
But it was one more particular surprised Nekoru, and not in the good way: among Mayuri's squad members, there was his lieutenant and daughter, the petite and yourthful Nemu Kuroysuchi. Petite and youthful, Nemu had green eyes and black hair with slightly parted bangs and is pulled back into a long braid. Her expression is almost always melancholic, and it is rare to see her smile or show any real joy in her distinctive green eyes. Her uniform consists of a short black kimono with a white nagajuban under it. The sleeves of her kimono are not as wide as those worn by most Shinigami and the upper parts of the sleeves are puffed. She wears a traditional wide white obi with a red cord fastening it. On her left sleeve is her lieutenant's armband. In addition she wears white gloves that cover only the back of her hands and wrists; as well as a dark red choker.
The young shinigami was shocked at seeing the girl who resembled that horrific doll who had pinned him down back when Mayuri tried for the first time to amputate him. She looked down and shyly muttered something which sounded like: "I understand why he wants your hands"
Even despite her beauty, the compliment was excessively disturbing to the young Shinigami, but his thoughts were interrupted by Urahara's speech.
"Ladies and gentleman – the businessman acclaimed placing his hat to cover his eyes, still wanting to play around a bit before getting serious about the matter – pay all attention to me… yes, even you, painter boy and your creepy girlfriend with the dull stare of a wax statue and the same willpower of a bar of soap"
Of course, the last part was referring to Nemu, who had bowed her head and blushed at this, but THAT was a thing that her father (and creator AND Captain), Mayuri Kurotsuchi, did not approve as it could be easily understood from his grave expression. He had never liked Urahara during his period of captaincy (actually he just waited for him to do a false step so he could inherit the Shinigami Research Institute), but this to him was the last straw.
"Kisuke Urahara – Mayuri growled to a nonchalant blonde Shinigami, his dark pink reiatsu swelling up till it reached a bloody red color, making all the non-captain level reiatsu shiver - How … did you dare to insult… my masterpiece, my lieutenant… my daughter? My Nemu is never going to be painter boy's girlfriend! NEVER!"
This made Isane, Hanataro and Nekoru slap their palm on their own face, as the madman had not focused on the MUCH MORE important insults Urahara had made. Even some of the 12th division wanted to do it, but nobody felt like getting turned into a bomb and getting blown up by Mayuri so they remained silent.
On the other hand, Urahara was completely unfazed by the fit of rage from his former Third Seat and his mere reply was a shrug and resumed speaking: "As you wish, Mayuri"
"Now, let's be serious – Urahara declared switching to his more serious look at the (pun unintended) drop of the hat – You all know why you are here. Ichigo's friend Orihime Inoue has been kidnapped by Aizen's cohorts. As Yamamoto told me to do, I will open the Garganta, which will literally tears open the dimensional fabric separating the worlds, revealing a tunnel of whirling, torrential energy that must be focused and solidified to create a discernible pathway. I suppose that you have already formulated a strategy to find Kurosaki and his allies, at least that's what Mayuri told me, so I guess I am not going to leave you here further…."
" Especially because I don't like how Captain Zaraki is looking at the furniture of my Shop!", he concluded switching back to his buffoon persona and sweatdropping at Kenpachi's laughter as the corpulent man was looking a set of furniture where there was a sign where was written 'FRAIL'. If he didn't hurry a fight would have broken out… and this would NOT be good for his business. So he started making the proper incantation.
"My right hand is the stone that bridges worlds. My left hand is the blade that binds reality. The black-haired shepherd is hung from a chair. Stratus clouds come, and I strike down the ibis. GARGANTA", he chanted as he extended his right hand and generated a rip through the worlds from his hand and a blue energy which extended till it was enough to make the whole group enter. Nekoru was, once more, surprised by the former Captain's skills. He acted but a goof, but he WAS a captain. Powerful, smart, always energic, a complete genius, skilled in both swordsmanship, hand to hand combat, Kido, assassination and even got to get with Yoruichi all the time… what was not to envy of him? A bit mortified at realizing such a gap of power, Nekoru looked at his zanpakuto and looked for comfort
Will we ever become as strong as him and Benihime, in your opinion?, Nekoru bitterly asked him in his mind.
Let's start with surviving to Hueco Mundo, shall we?, the zanpakuto said in an attempt to comfort him, even though even Scripturae Musa had doubts himself.
You have a point, Nekoru stated with with a nod as he saw the Garganta. The first who jumped inside were a widly grinning Kenpachi and a mildly smiling Unohana, soon followed by a stoic Byakuya and lastly by Mayuri, who seemed to be wishing to see more of the Garganta but had to rush, otherwise the Garganta would have fallen to pieces. Soon followed the lieutenants as a second wave lastly followed by the other members, Nekoru included.
As they reached the rift between the dimension, who was a large corridor with walls who resembled the vision Nekoru had when he got high on his own reiatsu and a large floor who was forming itself as the captainswere walking forward.
Now we should look for a captain who could easily protect us? – Scripturae Musa stated to Nekoru – I guess you remember what Urahara told us. I doubt he was kidding.
Nekoru was forced to agree to the spirit of his inner world once more and, as they all were running through the endless corridor then looked at the four captain. The first captain he laid his eyes on was Kenpachi. As he remember Kenpachi WAS the cause of his fear of captain, he opted to pass immediately. Byakuya too was soon discarded, as that man was so cold he would have most likely ignored him for all his stay. Before he could look at the other two captains, the flow of consciousness of the young Shinigami was interrupted by what was clearly Mayuri's voice.
"Ehi, painter boy – the madman yelled at the artist, making him turn – get near Nemu… and I am gonna cut off your hands"
Nekoru blinked and, while he should not have asked, inquired: "But, Captain Mayuri, aren't you already going to cut my hands off?"
Mayuri just replied with a grin: "Ain't poetic justice grand?"
At this reply, it was decided that Nekoru would have gone with Captain Unohana.
"Master Barragan – Mendocera said bowing down before the former, and to him current and eternal, God King of Hueco Mundo – My humble apologies, my lord, I am bringing bad news for our noble cause. The Novena Espada, Aarionero Arruruerie, is…"
Before he could speak fully, the superior Arrancar interrupting him and replied bluntly: "…dead"
The Fraccion nodded with a sad expression. He was slightly disturbed by such death. Well, there were already demises which had already upset him, the one of most Privaron Espada, executed mercilessly by the Exquias, but now…. Even one of the Espada killed in a fight? This was a massive danger to his magnus opera that was hollowity, one of the Espada… dead. The guilty one had to pay. But there was something which was noticing and only increased his bad mood. Barragan's tone was cold and emotionless, he was not even angry at his companion's death. How in the world?
"Should I go and ensure his death is avenged by taking care of his killer?", Mendocera said with a wide smirk to encourage his master, already tasting the blood on his blade, as soon as he heard his master's approval
"No, Estebanez, no need to avenge a punk of his likes", the elder hollow replied, much to Mendocera's surprise (and veiled horror). He felt for a second panicking at hearing this and could not help but muttering until he finally managed to say aloud what he wanted to say.
"But… Master… a threat of such level … is a threat to all the Espada… and we have to ensure our safe…– the brown haired Arrancar started mumbling only to interrupt and correct himself as he was glared by his king – YOUR safeness and glory for the great Hollow Utopia …"
"Quiet Estabanez", Barragan said again,
"But sir, whoever killed Aarionero…. Might end up attempting to assassinate you, as your Fraccion I cannot allow such…", Mendocera said, but all of sudden Barragan stared at him, giving him through his deathly reiatsu, who could make the Fraccion decay to dust. And indeed that was happening to the borders of his sleeves and part of his skin. The Segunda had snapped and for a second really seemed to be going to kill him… then he started speaking slowly.
"Estebanez, your insolence is starting to bother me. Aarionero was a punk who disgraced all of us with such a pathetic death. Truly the weakest amonst all of us Espada. Remember, Fraccion, your duty is to serve me, no one else. If you defy me a second time… I might not be as indulgent to you - Barragan commanded him imperiously and then stood up before him continuing – You are dismissed"
Mendocera backed away scared by his master and managed to say only a thing before sonidoing away: "At orders. My humble apologies, Master Barragan!"
As Mendocera left he grew more and more upset at this. He was leaning against the wall of one of the endless halls of Las Noches and was building up his slow feeling of uneasiness. Usually Marina would have jumped up and arrived to distract him… but with a war forthcoming, she should have not been there anymore but would be calmly resting in the Menos Forest, with no Shinigami to harass her. At least SHE would have been safe… but this was the least important though to Mendocera Esterbanez, whose mind was groveling over
Barragan… Master Barragan… why have you forsaken your comrade Aarionero? Don't you care for your companions…. Otherwise… no, it can't be… there is a reason for what he did… he must be… masking his grief… yes, but be like this… he has gotten good in masking his anguish… usually I can read his emotion perfectly… and I just saw annoyance at my proposal… otherwise only apathy… yes, he got very good at hiding his wrath. Of course it might also be he really is apathetic towards… NO, WE ARE HOLLOWS, we are superiors too feeble humans and pathetic Shinigami, we'd … never do this… it's not like we… ever did this…. Sure, there was that time I was with Rotoga and Nnoitra… but it does not count… like all the others… ehehehe… I mean, they are not like… well, buddy, Mendocera said, abruptly interrupting himself and he thought of Nekoru. Just thinking of him, of his repulsive reiatsu, of his cultured mind who had helped him develop hollowity, of his weakness, of all the pleasant talks they had together…
Why I, of all the hollows, had to… befriend a human? – Mendocera said holding his head in rage – I don't even know how to deal with him. On one side I'd like to impale his heart… on the other to forgive him for all the lies he fed me with. I hate him I hate him I hate…. No, that's the point, I don't hate him. And I detest such… WHY CAN'T I HATE A SHINIGAMI? Oh, I really hope fo find him…. Where is Rotoga? I need someone to unleash my rage on
The Adjuchas class Arrancar stood up and started sonidoing in rage at this. The more time passed, the more he needed to unleash his frustration. A sudden death like this… could have been… No, it meant nothing. IT HAD TO MEAN NOTHING FOR HIS HOLLOW UTOPIA TO WORK. IT HAD TO MEAN NOTHING
My hollow utopia has to work. Hollow Harmony…. Hollow Harmony… is with us. I have to make Hollowity triumph… Buddy, are you there? I just wonder… what I will do once I will have my hands around your throat… yes, the Arrancar thought grinning briefly overwhelmed by his bloodlust for a second, more because he had finally sighted his Hollow Rival, Rotoga. A smirk played on his lips as he saw him.
"Shouldn't you be with the other Privaron Espada, Rotoga?"; Mendocera said with a sadistic smirk. Rotoga snarled and sighed at Mendocera's continuous irreverence
"The other Privaron are dead, Mendocera", Rotoga replied nervously.
"Indeed, you should be with them! - the weaker hollow said with a smirk at this, then his stare become more serious and nervous - I can't believe it that even now, you are just running away, Rotoga… you truly are a coward of the likes I've never seen…"
As he was going to give him his usual speech which Rotoga usually ignored, but he had been standing that shitty hollow for years, but his real fear for his life and all the things which were happening recently… made him snap.
"MENDOCERA! YOU SHITTY HOLLOW! STOP BEING A FUCKING HYPOCRYTE! – Rotoga yelled, surprising his rival as he continued – YOU ARE BORING. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TELLING ME I AM A COWARD? STOP IT, I DON'T CARE AT ALL. OKAY, I AM A COWARD, AND WHAT? AT LEAST I DON'T TRY TO CATCH UP TO AN INSANE THEORY"
"What do you…"; Mendocera said as he was interrupted by the furious Arrancar.
"INSANE, YES, I TOLD YOU! YOU ARE BATSHIT INSANE. YOUR THEORY DOES NOT HOLD UP AT ALL. A PLACE WHERE ALL HOLLOW ARE HAPPY. MENDOCERA, WE ARE CANNIBALISTIC. YOU TOO ARE NOT PURE OF THIS EMOTION. YOU ARE AN ADJUCHAS, AFTER ALL. AND YOU EVEN GAVE HOLLOWS TO FEED YOUR DAUGHTER, AS SHE WAS A FATASS MENOS GRANDES. NICE HOLLOWS DON'T EXIST, NOBODY BELIEVES YOUR THEORY….", The Privaron Espada yelled, his eyes budging out, his veins popping out of his body
"But, there are the likes of Nelliel and Harribel….", the weaker arrancar weakly justified himself, only to be immediately rebutted by Rotoga
"HARRIBEL? NELLIEL? THEY ARE FUCKING VASTO LORDES, MENDOCERA? THEY HAVE EATEN MILIONS OF HOLLOWS BEFORE THEY COULD LOOK LIKE THEY ARE. NONE OF US IS INNOCENT, AND REALLY, WHY SO DEVOTED TO SUCH A LOST CAUSE? AT LEAST I HAVE A PLAUSIBLE GOAL!", Rotoga snarled with rage. This made Mendocera snap and grit his teeth.
"You value nothing else but your life. How can you call it goal?", the Fraccion hissed.
"You think it's a low goal. Mendocera, can I ask you if you remember how you become an hollow? Do you remember how you felt your mind eroded, the pain of being chained, the void which was slowly formed around. And you remember the worst part… you were not aware of this… you realized this after how much time…. All of sudden, Shinigami tracked you down and called you monster. It was then you realized, right? You were not anymore the human… and because of this they deserved death. They had made you aware of being a monster and worse, all your mind could formulate was compulsive desires, flashes of violence and pain. You craved wanton destruction? A certain person? An object? I don't know nor I care…. The point is…. I don't want to live that again. EVER AGAIN! Death scarred me, really. None of us… or at least I don't… do you blame me? I don't care. At least I am not either stupid or arrogant, like you are…. You know, I have to thank you … I finally told you off... I hope you will shut up after this! Now, sorry, you are distracting me from finding dying Shinigami to kill", the Privaron Espada said as he left to concentrate. Mendocera wanted to call him back, show him how such a shivering coward Rotoga was, make a speech who would have led his foe to suicide…
But he was frozen… he remembered it, sometimes….fragment of a life different… and then that gap…
I have always thought it was a different person the one I saw… - he thought to himself then shook his head and focused again – I have to find a place where to register all that is happening in Las Noches… map out the area and keep informed Master Barragan…. I should be able to follow such simple orders.
Saying so he sonidoed once more to the top of one of the towers of the Hollow fortress and started using his Pesquias to map out the area… he was feeling too much of a new reiatsu and he did not like it
Shinigami….
Nekoru finally landed on Hueco Mundo, next to the team formed by Unohana and her lieutenant Isane. Immediately everyone had split up, indeed. Mayuri had his daughter spin her arms like a drill, earning a weirded out expression by Nekoru who was immediately countered by the 12th Captain's death glare and near accuse of staring at his daughter, and dig a tunnel underground. Apparently, he wanted to explore the underground of the Hollow World. From his grin, Nekoru had understood he did have a plan in his mind, as if he was targeting a specific area, the one most convenient to him… but of course, this was just Nekoru being paranoid… right?
Kenpachi and Yachiru, instead, had not stopped for a second after their landing and had rushed away in the horizon of Hueco Mundo, oddly enough in a direction completely different from the high concentration of reiatsu everyone was feeling. Nobody was fast enough neither to reach not to warn them… hopefully, they'd have noticed the mistake on their ways.
Byakuya too had been like this, his face showing his stoic pride, but not without an hint of…. Concern? Yes, it looked like this. Apparently there was something which was worrying him. What? Nekoru could not say, but seemed to be too concentrated to say anything. This way of acting, though very subdued, did not go unnoticed by Unohana, who immediately ordered her 7th seat, Hanataro, to go after him. Whether he was going, it was a place someone with healing skills would be needed: Mayuri knew a certain extent of medicine and Kenpachi was one who could take enough care by himself. But Byakuya looked like he was going to succor somebody, therefore an healer was needed. Sure, he would have not appreciated, but Unohana would have had a talk to him about this later.
This left only the calm team of the 3 left Shinigami. While Isane seemed ready to fight properly, Unohana kept always her usual polite smile, to the point of upsetting the young Shinigami…. Especially when she turned at him and kindly said: "Please, Mei-san. Be careful to attack only in self-defense"
For some reason, though, both Nekoru and the zanpakuto felt chills down their bodies as they head her.
If I were you, and I am a bit, I'd obey such kind request, you know it?, Scripturae said trembling a bit at her, Nekoru answering with a nod
What do we have as a main form of defense, Musa?, Nekoru asked him
Well, the best I can offer in terms of defense are the jet of inks…. And solidifying the sword…. And that's it, Scripturae said
Sigh, I should have been more of a troubled soul with a dark past… I bet I would have a cooler zanpakuto with a dark and melancholic name, something invoking death or blood most likely… and a ton of reiatsu to back it up, Nekoru said with a sigh, which made his zanpakuto roll his eyes
Focus and do your best with our resources… Still, you impressed a pair of captains with your skills, do you remember what they told us before crushing us… wait, it did not come out right…. Oh well, not my fault if you are weak, the zanpakuto started rambling, causing Nekoru to sweatdrop and looked at him with an upset look. Unohana looked at the bickering of the two for a second with her usual kind smile and somehow made them stop.
They had walked a lot and at the end they saw what looked like a mountain… no, much bigger, it was Las Noches. And it was …. A giant building. No, giant… immense, endless. At a fist glance, it looked to dwarf the whole Sereitei in terms of size. Nekoru was looking with a calm expression, but was actually struggling with himself to maintain his collected composure, though the way he was tightening his grip over his zanpakuto. They had met no hollows, which was strange, considering they were in Hueco Mundo
Unohana must have been using her reiatsu to drive them away, Nekoru thought noticing Unohana's reiatsu was leaking a bit. They reached one of the many entranced and as Nekoru was formulating a plan to get into the fortress, predicting he had to use a swift combinations of Kido spells, Unohana placed her hand over the doors through sheer reiatsu induced superhuman strength, which made both Isane's and Nekoru's eyes widen slightly. After a kind gesture of Unohana they got him, remaining amazed by the fact of the first thing they saw up at the ceiling of the fortress.
A sky? Aizen built a sky? How megalomaniac can you get?, the young Shinigami wondered, not realizing unlike the captain, the spying properties of the artificial special sky which served as s roof to Las Noches. Ironical though that for a place which means Night, the sky was not a nocturnal one. Was it a way to contrast to Hueco Mundo's endless night?
Then the hall bifurcated in two long areas. Of course Nekoru knew what it meant
"Mei-san – Unohana asked – might you go forward and inspect that hall? I and Isane are going to check the other direction! Call us on our Soul Phone is the situation turns dire. Do not worry about us"
"Hai, Unohana-sama!", he said standing uptight and then bowing down as sign of respect. Soon the team split up once more and they started going through their new path. The two women would have found the almost unconscious bodies of Chad and the Privaron Espada Mosqueda just before the Exequias could get rid of them. Nekoru's path… was to lead into darker places….
Mendocera had felt the enemy reiatsu, and indeed was not surprised at it.
"Shinigami….. no…. buddy", he muttered unsheathing his zanpakuto and following the traces of reiatsu and where they were leading him.
Marina in the meanwhile was being taken care by Durante and Raul, under orders of her adoptive father 'Meido-chan'… and was proving herself to be absolutely unmanageable. She kept playfully biting them and drooling over their mask, plush she complained about their bony chest, as she was not able to bury well their head in them, being obviously hungry as she had not been eating any hollow for over a whole day. A poor little critter has to eat at least ten Menos Grandes per day, after all…. Or at least, that's what she felt she needed to eat.
Also she had been a bit worried about her daddy. Mendocera had been acting a bit colder these day. He had never done something like refusing to pet her. Even Harribel had petted her. And who could resist the cuteness of Marina Juanitas after all and her purple eyes.
Even I think I am the cutest being alive, she mused with a cat-like smile, before biting again Durante's head. The two Numeros were getting exasperated by her and indeed, were not out of avoiding Mendocera's wrath (who was still known to fight on par against Rotoga by sheer skills), they would have violently killed her.
Marina then felt something… actually, she felt nothing. Usually, around there used to be Dondochokka and Pesche playing Eternal Pursuit with Nell Tu, and she loved playing with them(either as Pursuer or Pursued, she was glad Nell Tu was a self-referred masochist). Also, there was a stronger than usual energy out of the place they had gotten out. She was too curious and wanted to know, she did not care about the Menos Forest if Nell was not there. But those Numeros would have gotten in her way and she did not know how to get them to manipulate them, so she did the first thing she thought. She opened her mouth wide opeon, showing her sharp fangs and especially the slow gathering of pink energy, which was released into a Cero enough strong to make them freak out and toss her away in fear. Landing safely on the ground she stuck her long lizard-like tongue at them and sonido-ed fastly, she had to run and find Meido-chan as soon as possible.
In the meanwhile, Rotoga had found his targets. Two women, one of them not even carrying her zanpakuto. It would have been too much of an easy prey
Espada place, I will soon come back to you, The cloaked Arrancar thought as he gathered enough energy for a Cero and was ready to shot it but immediately one of the women rushed against him, a young looking human female with gray eyes and short silver hair, some of which was braided on one side of her head, and was wearing a standard Shinigami uniform with her lieutenant badge on her left arm. Rotoga smirked and was ready to cross his zanpakuto with hers, when the other Shinigami, a very youthful woman with blue eyes and black hair worn as a large braid in fron with the standard Shinigami captain uniform, looked at him and politely interrupted them
"Greeting sir – Unohana said, receiving a snarl form Rotoga, but continued – I apologize for our intrusion here, but we come only for peaceful intent. We are the medic squadron, only here to heal the wounded one. We are even taking tending the injuries of your companion. Might you please let us go?"
At this Rotoga stopped for a second and indeed seemed to consider the offer, putting his blade down and waiting for the lieutenant Isane to do the same.
So…. – the cowardly hollow thought – I am facing a team of no-combatants who is of vital importance to our enemies…. Ohhh… so perfect
"What about no, bitches?", he replied with a sardonical laughter at this with a sonido he raised his blade and successfully slashed Isane's cheek, making her jump back in surprise. At this, all of sudden, the arrancar felt for a second shivers down his spine for a mysterious reason. Unohana, with her calm composure, walked next to her lieuntenant and kindly asked her: "Are you fine, Isane-san?"
As soon as she got a nod as a reply she made another request: "Please, Isane-san, hand me back my zanpakuto. I think I should deal with our sir personally! In the meanwhile, might you look after our patient?"
At this, Isane's eyes slightly widened in fear, understanding what she meant and promptly gave Unohana her blade, a normal looking nodachi, and she slowly walked near Rotoga. The Arrancar was looking at her with a cruel look, but as their stares crossed, Rotoga's eye slightly twitched. How come? She was just a mere woman… how was possible she was …. Spreading fear through his body? No it could not be…. But yet as she walked forward, he was not even moving to fight her back. He had not noticed the density of her reiatsu was so hard the floor she was stepping on was cracking.
"Sir… you have made your choice", she said with her calm stare, now looking more fake and upsetting, as if it was hiding an infinite amount of rage, then pointed afinger at him, aiming at a zone below his neck and then a silent Kido. Rotoga screamed in pain. Indeed, this was the power of Hado 25, Itami. Sending a blast of Kido which spread a deep sensation on pain at his enemy. It was simply psychological warfare, but still it was clear what it meant. Rotoga just looked at her surprised and promply swung his sword at her, which not only was promptly blocked, but a cut on his cloack and chest appeared. Rotoga surprised went for a thrust at her heart, but the blade was deflected once more and he felt her zanpakuto piercing through his stomach. Before he could try to back away, Unohana had twisted her blade and then she kicked him away, knocking off his feet.
Rotoga looked at himself. It was the first time he had been outclassed at this level, but her calmness… pissed him off. She had not for a second changer her expression from a smile, said nothing, just wounded. He had still a last resort technique.
"Melt, Amoeba", he said releasing his zanpakuto and transforming drastically. Her Mask fully reformed into a large and tall helmet covereing everything except her mouth and eyes, which remained human, his teeth sharpened into large fanges and slowly his lower body started melting into a dark pink goo. His sword, instead turned into an upper body armor with two blades over his shoulder.
"Bring it on, bitch", he said with another laugh as he circled her with a rapid speed, launching towards her several droplet of his pink jelly like subastance, which slowly latched to the captain to suck out her reiatsu, then promply drove into a trust with both his blades at her back, a cheap but effective move in theory. To his horror, the attack failed as she leaked out her reiatsu, incinerating the pink goo in an instant and generating without moving nor speaking in an instant she casted Hadō 88, Hiryugekizokushintenraiho, a large and gigantic beam of electrical and spiritual energy resulting in a truly enormous explosion. At first Rotoga was not worried, as they could regenerate, but as soon as she glimpsed an hint of his regenerating skills, she promptly used the same hado again, making the armor crumble to dust and wounding Rotoga through all of his nervous system due to the electrical nature of the kido.
At this, Rotoga looked at her. Now it was really time to panic.
How in the world…. This Shinigami… is so powerful… her reiatsu…. Looks… even stronger than Aizen's… I must escape, he thought in terror as he was about to flee, but then felt his head bumping into something invisible. A kido barrier was surrounding them both. The Arrancar, even though released, was caged with what he now considered the embodiment of fear, and … she looked to be holding back, as she had her blades, therefore most of her power sealed
"No escape from me", Unohana muttered as from the barrier the crimson spears of the Hado 91 Senjū Kōten Taihō started spouting and she raised her zanpakuto to strike again.
Nekoru met an Arrancar in the hallways he was crossing and immediately unsheated his sword and pointed at him. Even when he recognized the reiatsu he was not amused
Him…. Be careful, pal – Scripturae said – You know most of his attacks, but was still stronger than us
Right, Nekoru as he looked at the Arrancar before him. Mendocera had his arms crossed thoughtfully, his large pitchfork-shaped zanpakuto tied to his back. His eyes, two black pools circled by his mask, unmoving, his mouth closed, overall a serious expression, but not one who seemed to be looking for violence.
"Buddy….", Mendocera said coldly looking at Nekoru who simply exchanged a nod with him, his grip on the sword tightening.
"I am not here to fight buddy! We have been…. Friends for too much time. We had that bad run in Karakura Town, and I admit I have been a bit too… harsh on you… even though I don't understand why you kept manipulating me into befriending you", the Arrancar continued slightly tilting his head as if he was attempting to center his stare with the Shinigami.
"I did not, Mendocera, I had simply no idea you were an hollow back then… and it's easy to say it as if nothing happened. You did everything out of spite", the young boy reply to the half hollow, who nodded calmly at his comment.
"Yes – he blurted out as he slowly circled his – I admit I exaggerated, and was quite cruel…. But you are a shinigami, your race hunted down mine for centuries… no, millennia… Please follow me. I want this fight between Shinigami and Arrancar to end once for all…. Follow me, I will bring you to the prisioner"
At this Mendocera started walking away and Nekoru quickly caught up with him, making him nod as he felt his reiatsu.
He is not even turning at us to talk… do you think…?
Yes, I think Mendocera is blind. And he still defeated him… must be good at detecting reiatsu…. Still, I am not sure of him… let's keep an eye on him… or otherwise… it might cost us our lives, the Shinigami thought
"You should not be surprised that I have not killed you yet. No…. even the fact I am simply alive… thousands of Shinigami attempted to kill me in my over 500 years of life…. I simply wanted to survive… as if other hollows were not already a problem… I had to protect my little Marina from so many enemies…. "
Nekoru raised a brow at the mention of such a name. Marina? Who she was…. why his was former friend speaking of her as it she was a daughter. Unless….
"Marina is your daughter, right?", the shinigami asked, remembering one of the many long dialogues he and Mendocera used to have.
The Hollow nodded and added: "She is such a sweet hollow! Though she is a bit voracious, she is very kind and understanding"
Nekoru flinched: "Is she a child? You…. Are keeping the soul of a child into an agonizing state like an hollow"
The Adjuchas widened his eyes and he understood what the Shinigami meant and yelled: "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PURIFY MY CHILD"
"But Mendocera….", Nekoru said
"NO BUTS, purification is a nightmare to hollow… plus, were you to do it… she'd become human. Why should you make her become an inferior race? You know how many people attempted to kill me out of this 'noble' cause… one destroyed my book as well… I should not have gone to that city….. He deserved to die! Nobody touches my books", the Arrancar said clenching his fist in rage.
The Shinigami raised a book: "You value a book over …. somebody's life?"
"Correction: I value a book over a SHINIGAMI's life - Mendocera said with perfect calm – books have been the key of my sanity,… the key of my… hollowity"
"Hollowity", the black haired youth asked puzzled.
"Hollowity, yes, the values of hollows… one day, hollowity will rule over Hueco Mundo… and ìt will be wonderful… a world of… happiness, peace. No need to eat anyone anymore… and I and Marina will settle down to private life… Once this war is over… everything will end. Hollow race will be in peace", the Fraccion said with pride, making his buddy's eyes widen.
"Wait a second… you… are waging war…. Under Aizen's order… for world peace? - Nekoru wondered aloud, receiving a proud nod from Mendocera – But…. Aizen is a shinigami"
"Oh… I thought of such a thing already… don't worry….", Mendocera said, putting on his usual smirk Nekoru had often seen on, flashing his sharp teeth. It was…. upsetting to say the least.
Is he lying or is he crazy?, Scripturae Musa wondered in Nekoru's head
I have no idea, Musa…. But actually… Mendocera seems to be more misguided than anything else… after all, you know, I too risked to become an hollow… He seems to be… attempting to take an hold of his vestiges of humanity…. I think I can talk him out, the Shinigami, said, then turned to the hollow
"Mendocera…. From what I understand… really… you are …. Quite a … noble hollow. You care about others and I admit that your goal is… unique. Why don't you join us to bring down Aizen? It would be for a good cause, join the side of good", the former painter said with a smile at him. Mendocera immediately looked at him and hissed venomously, his eyes narrowing to splits.
"What do you mean shinigami? - Mendocera said shaking in rage – That there was a second… that I swayed from the side of good? I have always been good along… that's what you never understood"
At this, Nekoru remained speechless… so, that was Mendocera…. He… did not know what to say anymore. Luckily, it seemed their walk had been close the end of the path, as they had reached a large door and seemed there was quite a reiatsu which, as Nekoru could say form a glance feeling, had no semblance neither of hollow or Arrancar. For a second, Mendocera stopped, as if he was feeling something weird he had been taking track of…
Where did Rotaga go?… I am not sensing him anymore in Las Noches. And I keep feeling more and more Shinigami reiatsu and less Arrancar… not good, Barragan shall not be pleased, he thought to himself.
"I'd like you to understand what it means to be an hollow… - the Arrancar continued – and indeed, I will try to explain you a thing… you know we are often judged by you Shinigami….. always as evil… and cruelly executed? I mean…. Do you know how does it feel to be at the mercy of the likes of you?"
Nekoru understood Mendocera's idea, and indeed was about to back away when Mendocera grabbed him by the collar, facing him with his cruel smirk and threw him against the door, making it open. The poor young man had to roll over a pair of time and still had a rough landing against the floor. But there was worse to come, as he could testify from the fact his former friend was bowing down. Now he recognized the reiatsu, to his horror.
"Well, already a Shinigami captured… it is unexpected to see you… Mei-san"; a deep voice said looking down at him.
He trembled in fear as he muttered the name of the man before him: "Aizen…."
Rotoga was lying down in a pool of his own blood. He was not anymore in the rooms of Las Noches, but the sands of Hueco Mundo, after such a brutal one-sided fight against that monster whose name, Retsu Unohana, would have remembered for the rest of his life. He was in horrible shape and could barely keep his body in a remotely humanoid shape, seeming a large pool of pink colored blood right now. The only thing intact was his head and mask, who were looking more like an hollow-like beast than anything else
Damn you woman… you really were a bastard beast, throwing me away so many miles from Las Noches with that shitty move…. Was it Kido? I don't remember anymore…. But … you underestimated me… my body can regenerate even now… slowly… but it will … once I will be fully operative.. I am gonna get you.. you bastard… not even that shitty hollow has pissed me off. This hartred. Why so many people are against me…. Just because I am more pragmatic than them? But I ….
"Can I eat you?", A voice interrupted him. Not far from him, there was the little redheaded child-like Arrancar known as Marina Juanitas… but was not looking so much cute. Her mouth was open, revealing a series of shark like teeth and a long lizard-like tongue. She had been running for several hours since her escape from the Menos forest… and now she was really hungry, poor her. And Las Noches was still far that she could barely see it.
When she had looked at the weird mask lying on a puddle of goo, she remembered again the words of her father: 'Do not eat anything standing on two legs and possessing less than two limbs who has a mix of shinigami and hollow energy'
It has less than two limbs and is not standing on two legs… and he looks even to be dying – Marina thought with an innocent smile and childishly licking her lips – YAY! YUMMY SNACK! :3
Rotoga recognized Marina and his eyes, which were barely closed, widened in fear as his minds recalled when Mendocera had told him 'As Marina already ate part of your mask, well, she should eat the rest as well'.
He attempted to yell at her, but was too late. The last thing he saw was the small girl jumping, her fangs lunging at him.
BE CONTINUED…