Shinta watched over Yuki as she slept. It had almost been a full day since their battle, yet she still had yet to regain consciousness. Not long after Xzayvion left, Ichigo and the others showed up. Orihime then healed their wounds with a strange technique. Shinta had never seen healing like that before. With someone like that nearby, he began to wonder why he was even here at all.
"How is she, Shinta?"
Shinta turned around to see Matsumoto standing behind him.
"Well...she seems to be perfectly fine. I don't really see any reason why she is still unconscious," he answered.
"...I see."
"Matsumoto...about Yuki..."
"Unfortunately, I don't know much myself. All that I know is that whatever is happening ot her is because of Aizen. She's been trying her hardest to keep it a secret, yet at this rate she may succumb to her other self. Se has also refused any help offered to her as well. She can be so stubborn sometimes..."
"I'm not sure if I understand it completely but..."
-Ding dong-
"Hold that thought," Matsumoto said as she quickly left the room. Once she was gone, Shinta looked back towards Yuki.
"...You promised to help me, so I want to do the same," he said to her. Moments later, Matsumoto walked into the room with Hisagi.
"Whew, I'm glad that she's safe," he sighed in relief.
"Hisagi, we heard that Soul Society was attacked yesterday. What happened there?" Matsumoto asked.
"Yeah, we were attacked by five arrancar yesterday. We lost many people and a few of the captains and lieutenants were badly injured during the battle. Captain Kenpachi managed to kill one of them and Captain Kurotsuchi managed to capture one; she is apparently being questioned at the moment. And in the end, the others retreated back to Hueco Mundo. So, what happened here? I heard that you guys wre attacked too."
"We were attacked by an arrancar and Ichigo fought another one. After a while they just sort of retreated. The weird thing was that they were both taken away by a child..."
"A child? Captain Komamura warned us about him. He told us that there is a strong chance that he may be the strongest."
"Xzayvion...he said that they'll be comming back in eight days," Shinta spoke up.
"Eh? Are you sure?" Matsumoto asked.
"Yeah, he told me that just before he left."
"That doesn't give us much time then..." Hisagi said, "By the way, where is Renji?"
"He left us early this morning. He told me that he was going to train in the meantime," Matsumoto answered.
"I see...I guess at this point that's about all you can really can do. I'm going to stay here in the meantime and wait for captain to wake up. I'm sure that head captain Yamamoto would like to hear her report as soon as possible."
As Hisagi made himself comfortable, Shinta gazed out the window once more. Nighttime was already starting to set in and the half moon shined brightly over the city.
"Eight days...huh?"
Shinta then took a glance at Yuki and then at his zanpakuto.
"...I'm going out to train," he announced, "As Hisagi-san said, it's really all we can do at this point. I...want to be stronger. I don't want to be useless anymore.'
"Go for it. We'll watch over captain in the meantime," Hisagi nodded.
"Yeah, thanks."
Shinta then left the room and headed into the streets.
Kiauna slowly opened her eyes. A bright light shone onto her face, causing her to squint in discomfort. That's when she noticed that she could not move. She looked frantically at her arms and saw that they were fastened to a table.
"Ah good. I see that you are finally awake."
Although she could not see him, she easily recognised the voice.
"Where the hell am I you freak?!" she demanded.
"Now now, there is no need to be rude. Now then, I have a few questions for you."
"...Screw you!"
"I thought you might say that," Kurotsuchi chuckled. He then pulled out a needle and a scalpul.
"If you cooperate and tell me what I want to know, I'll give you this sadative that will numb your pain. If you don't, I'll just start disecting you without it."
"...So regardless of what I choose, you're going to cut me open?
"Correct. So tell me, what is this Aedric Nat up to?"
"Tch! Like I would know. He doesn't ever tell us anything."
"Is that so?"
-Slit-
"Augh?!"
Kurotsuchi suddenly cut a long like from Kiauna's chest down to her stomach.
"Hmm...Let's see what makes you tick..."
"H-hey! I just told you! Aedric-sama never-AUGH!!"
Tears began to well up in Kiauna's eyes as Kurotsuchi stuck his hand inside of her body. She fought back the urge the scream as he began feeling her organs.
"Heart...liver...lungs...The placement appears to be the same as a normal human. Perhaps I should cut a small piece off for furthur study," he contemplated as he lifted his scalpul once more.
"H-he's going to sacrifice everyone in Karakura and make himself the hollow king! There! Are you happy now?!"
"I see that you are not as stupid as you appear to be. But since you took so long ot give me a straight answer, I think I'll hold back on the sadative until you answer a few more questions for me."
"Y-you bastard!"
"Next question, what has been the purpose behind your recent attacks? If you just wanted to sacrifice all the citizans of Karakura, I highly doubt that you would attack us and draw attention to yourselves."
"We wanted you all
out of the way so that we would go unchallenged."
-Slit-
Kurotsuchi suddenly swiped his scalpul across the heart on Kiauna's cheek.
"Ow! What the fuck was that for?!"
"Sorry but that tattoo of yours was bothering me. I hope you don't mind,"
"You bastard! The second I get out of here, I'm going to kill you!"
"Hmm...when you release your zanpakuto, does your skeletal structure change as well?"
"H-hey! Are you even listening to me?!"
"...You're being so noisy. Perhaps I should just skip the questions and just continue the experiments," he sighed, "Now I'll ask you again, what was the purpose behind your attacks?"
"...Aedric-sama wants to catch the attention of Yamamoto. He wants to fight him one last time before becoming king," she muttered.
"Now that wasn't so difficult now was it? Now I want to know more about your comrades. Out of all of them, which one is the strongest? If you tell me what I want, I'll give you the sadative."
"...Jaku Weiss. Out of all of us, Jaku is by far the strongest."
"And which one would that one be? Would he be the one that Zaraki killed?"
"He looks like a little kid. I'd be surprised if Jaku lost to one of you. He may act careless, but he fould fight each of us at the same time and still win easily," she explained.
Kurotsuchi then jabbed the nedle into Kiauna's neck.
"That sadative will only last a few minutes, so if you don't want to suffer, you better keep answering my questions," Kurotsuchi explained, "Now then, next question..."
-Ding-a-ling-
Shinta walked through the doors to the Urahara shop.
"Ah, welcome...Murakami-kun, was it? What brings you here?" Urahara greeted him.
"Urahara...Kisuke..."
Shinta then bowed down before him.
"Please! Train me!" he begged.
"Oh? And why would you need training from me? Abarai-kun is already training downstairs, I'm sure if you asked him-"
"No, I would prefer it if you were the one to train me. The arrancar are going to return eight days from now. I need to get stronger by then so that i can join the battle."
"If what you say is true, then it might be better if you just step back from the front lines," Urahara explained.
"B-but..."
"Soul Society should easily be able to take care of this situation. As a medic, you should help out the 4th division and help with healing injuries."
Shinta felt defeated, however, he would not give up.
"One of the arrancar...he killed me when I was alive. I would od anything to avenge myself so...please..."
"Oh, come on Kisuke, just train the kid," a voice spoke out from behind Urahara.
"Y-Yoruichi! Uh, how long...?"
"Long enough. It's not like you have anything better to do these days anyways. You never know, he could become a strong ally."
"B-but...I don't wanna..." Urahara complained.
-Smack-
"What do you mean 'I don't wanna'?! Stop being so lazy and do something for a change!" Yoruichi yelled as she began shaking him violently.
"O-okay I will! J-just s-stop shaking me!"
As Yoruichi let go of him, she glanced over at Shinta.
"Hey kid."
"Y-yes?"
"You owe me one, okay?" she said as she left the room.
"...Scary." Shinta whispered to himself.
Aedric's footsteps echoed loudly as he walked towards his subordinates. Before him stood Tusnelda, Txaran, Dainora and Xzayvion.
"Yesterday's operation was a failure. Kiauna was captured, Ansel was killed and neither of you managed to even kill one captain. So tell me, what makes any of you think that you are worthy enough to even look at me?"
The others remained silent as Aedric began to walk towards each of them.
"Tusnelda..."
"I could have killed him, Aedric-sama. Had I been given just a little more time-"
"Are you...questioning me, Tusnelda?"
"N-n-no! Of c-course not!"
"You were careless, Tusnelda."
Aedric then grabbed what was left of her arm and squeezed hard.
"If you had payed just a little more attention, maybe you would still have your arm right now, don't you think?"
"Y-yes Aedric-sama...I-it hurts..."
And with that, Aedric released her.
"Now, go to the lab and get yourself a new arm. You are useles to me the way you are now," Aedric said coldly. Tusnelda nodded and walked out of the room. Once she was gone, Aedric turned his attention to the next one.
"Txaran...I apprecate your effort to prove yourself to me, but to me, you are only useful only in survailance, nothing else. Your barbs are very useful to me Txaran, it would be a waste to lose you."
"Thank you, Aedric-sama."
"Now then, I want you to go to the human world and set your barbs near the shinigami who live there. I wish to know more about their abilities."
"Yes, Aedric-sama!"
Txaran then cut open a portal and left the room.
"Dainora..."
"I-it wasn't my fault, Aedric-sama. More and more people interfeared and under those circumstances I couldn't..."
"Don't worry Dainora, I'm not angry with you. Had Ansel not have been killed, I wouldn't have doubted that you would have been successful."
"T-thank you, Aedric-sama!"
"You may go now."
Dainora quickly bowed and left the room.
"Xzayvion..."
"Yeah yeah, I know. I screwed up and I ignored your orders. So just go ahead and give me a slap on the wrist and-"
Xzayvion was suddenly slammed onto the floor. Aedric then stomped his foot onto his back.
"You on the other hand could have easily killed your opponents whenever you wished. Tell me Xzayvion, why do you keep defying me?"
"Heh, it's because I don't like you, Aedric."
-Crack-
"Gah!"
"That's 'Aedric-sama' you disrespectful little whelp! Do not forget who it was who introduced you to your power. By accepting it, you vowed to serve me until death."
"Tch! It's not like we had a choice! It was either serve you or die, what kind of choice is that?! Nobody here respects you Aedric, we only serve you because we cannot kill you"
Suddenly, a blade was placed at Xzayvion's neck. The zanpakuto was completly clear, as if it were made of glass.
"And now I give you that choice again, do you wish to serve me or do you wish for death?"
Xzayvion swallowed his pride and turned away.
"I'll...follow you..." he muttered.
"You'll follow me...what?"
"I'll follow
you...Aedric-sama..."
"Much better."
Aedric removed his zanpakuto from Xzayvion's neck. With one quick motion, then then cut Xzayvion's arm off.
"Now, go to the lab and get yourself a new arm. You are useles to me the way you are now."
Xzayvion grasped his bloody stub and slowly left the room while cursing under his breath. Once he was gone, Aedric walked over to a nearby window. He looked up into the sky and gazed upon the crescent moon.
"I see you still watch the moon in your free time," a voice spoke from the darkness.
"What do you want, Jaku?"
"Oh...not much. I just came to check up on you," Jaku answered. He then stood beside Aedric and joined him in his moon watching.
"Y'know, it wouldn't hurt to be a little nicer to everyone."
"...They are my servants, I'll treat them how I see fit."
"Oh? And does that apply to me too?"
"I doubt you would listen to me if I told you that you were careless."
"Eh? I'm not that careless, Aedric-kun..." Jaku complained.
"Jaku...You still haven't told me yet..."
"Hm? Told you what?"
"With your power, why didn't you become a vasto lorde? And about the hollow king..."
"Hm? Why would I know about that kind of stuff? I'm just a kid," Jaku teased.
"I want to know now. You were the one who set me on this path, yet you haven't told me anything yet!"
"The reason why is because...you are a spoiled brat."
Aedric suddenly drew his blade in anger and swung it towards Jaku's neck. However, he stopped just before hitting him.
"...Why do you hesitate? Is it because you know that if you kill me, you'll never know about the secrets of the hollow king? Or...is it because you know that you can't kill your sensei?"
Frustrated, Aedric removed his zanpakuto and sheathed it.
"I grow tired of your games, Jaku," he warned.
"Don't worry Aedric-kun. Once this is all over, I'll tell you everything. But for now, it's past my bedtime!"
And with that, Jaku ran out of the room. Aedric chose to ignore him and continued gazing at the moon.
For those interested, you can see some pictures of the characters in this story on KyokoKitten's deviantart page. At the moment, there are several pictures of Yuki, one picture of Shinta and Yuki and a picture of Aedric. She also said that she eventually plans to draw the other eight arrancar at some point. /plug