Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, The Avengers or (Sam Raimi) Spider Man. Any concept you do not recognise may or may not belong to me, however.
A/N: Late due to Demonic Intervention. Seriously!
9.
Uryuu turned on the stove, setting it into high heat before placing the wok over it; he waited for the wok to heat up before adding two-tablespoon oil into it.
''Why, did you not tell me?'' Kurosaki inquired.
''I did not want to worry you.'' Uryuu said. Once the oil was hot enough, he added the onion and stirred-fried it until it was softened and translucent.
''Of course, I would be worry Idiot.'' Kurosaki said, sighing. ''Are you planning to tell me about this?''
Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, Uryuu added the chicken into the wok, then, the curry paste, he stirred-fried it until it let out peculiar fragrance. Uryuu did not answer him. His silence answered enough.
''I thoughts so'' Kurosaki scoffed. ''How long do you know about your change anyway?'' He inquired.
''Since I first woke up from the coma.'' He said nonchalantly. Kurosaki reiatsu flared up again, thankfully, he had more restrained this time. Nevertheless, that did not stop Kurosaki's gaze to drill a hole at the back of his head.
''That was sixth weeks ago.'' Kurosaki said through gritted teeth.
The chicken had turned browned; Uryuu grabbed the bowl with carrots and potatoes in it and added it into the wok, he stirred-fried it for a minute, then, added the chicken broth, sugar, salt and pepper. ''I was not very sure myself at that time.'' Uryuu lied. He covered the wok with a flap and damped down the heat, letting the chicken curry to simmer.
''We should call Geta-Boshi.'' Kurosaki said.
Uryuu looked over his shoulder at the redhead sitting at the eating table ''for what?''
Kurosaki gave him that looked. That one peculiar looked that he always sends to Asano. The one that said he was an idiot. ''What else do you think? To help us find a way to change you back of course.'' He said.
''Yadorigi-san said it was impossible.'' He said, returning his attention to his cooking.
''Yeah, but Geta-Boshi is a genius, I am sure he will find a way somehow. He always did the impossible.'' Kurosaki said.
'The one who always did the impossible is you Kurosaki.' Uryuu thought. Once he sure the chicken was cooked; he removed the flap and tasted the curry. Satisfied with the tasted, he took two plates already filled with rice and poured the chicken curry over it. ''I do not think Urahara-san can do anything for this one.'' He sprinkled the ground coriander over the dish, then, brought the plates to the dining table. He placed one plate in front of Kurosaki, and the other one in front of him before settling down on the chair opposite the redhead. ''Just liked he cannot do anything for your hollowfication.'' He said.
''Well, that was because my—'' Kurosaki paused. Uryuu doubted that peoples can discern the different, but Kurosaki had different scowls for every expression. The one he wore right now was what Uryuu dubbed as his 'Eureka moment' scowl. ''Wait, are you implying…'' Kurosaki trailed off, his expression morphed into one of Disbelieved.
Uryuu's lips twitched upward. ''Wow, Kurosaki, that is very fast. I never thoughts you could figure it out with such speed. I am so proud of you.'' He said mockingly, earning him a glare from the protector, which he promptly ignored.
''Now, can we eat first before we continue our conversation? I am hungry.'' Uryuu said. Kurosaki nodded ''All right.'' They both said 'Itadakimashu!' and ate their food in silence.
As silence reigned over them, Uryuu thoughts wandered to the day he had returned to consciousness at the hospital. He had noticed right away that he was different. He could felt it under his skins; an unbidden energy was flowing within his veins and arteries. His sixth senses had become stronger. Not only did he not need glasses anymore, he could hear the spiders crawling in the ceiling as if it were neared his ears. Kurosaki's spiritual presence had also become more vivid — a feat that he thought was impossible.
When he looked at himself in the mirror, Uryuu could not recognise the man staring back at him. To others, he from now and he from before were as different as dark blue to indigo, yet, to himself, he was as different as the day to the night.
He had freaked out that time.
Thankfully, no one was around when it happened. It certainly will not go well with his pride.
After that, he went on denial. He pretended that nothing had happened just liked Ryuuken pretended that there were no ghosts wandering down his Hospital corridors.
He wanted to throw up; to thinks he had acted liked that man even for only just a second leaved him wanting to drown himself in the ocean.
Then, Kurosaki reminded him that he always there for him, even when Uryuu did not want him to. Liked the morning sunlight peering through his window, the protector woke him up from his nightmare with his golden radiance. Kurosaki had reminded him that he was not alone in this… so did Kurosaki now.
The path he forced to walk through was far from easy, but he will manage. Kurosaki had been there before he did not walked on this path alone.
''Hey Uryuu''
''What is it Kurosaki?''
Kurosaki wore his worry scowl. ''Have you not listen? I am talking to you.''
Uryuu felt his cheeks warmed up. ''Oh, sorry, my mind is wandering for a moment.'' He said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. ''So, what are you talking about?''
''I am asking you, what do you think we should do about their offer? They made it clear that they expect 'yes' for our answer.'' Kurosaki said before bringing another spoonful of chicken curry to his mouth.
''We know nothing about this Naidruga organisation. As far as I am concern, they may have been the second coming of the Xcution.'' Uryuu said.
''Do you think Geta-Boshi know something about them?" Kurosaki inquired.
Uryuu shrugged. ''Probably, he always know something that is not a common knowledge. However, I have a feeling that asking Urahara-san about Naidruga is not a good idea this time around.'' He said with certainty of the sun rising from the east.
Kurosaki lifted his brow while simultaneously still retaining his scowl. Really, how in the three realms did he do that? ''What do you mean about not good idea?''
Uryuu shrugged. ''I just knew.''
Kurosaki hummed. ''So, the only way for us to find out more about them is by accepting their offer to join with them.'' He said.
Uryuu raised his brow. ''Kurosaki, do you hear me when I said they probably another organisation like the Xcution?''
''Yes I hear you.'' Kurosaki nodded. ''Just like you, I am not sure if we could trust them; however, from what they imply, their organisation seem to have some ideas about what is going on with you. We need to get your power under control, and it takes priority from the possibility of being backstab. We really have no choice but to take the risk.''
Uryuu sighed. ''You had a point there.''
Kurosaki wore his thoughtful scowl again. ''Hey, you know what; it reminded me of Shinji and the Vizards. At that time, I did not trust them either, but they were my only chance to get my Hollow under control.'' He smirked. ''Have I told you? When I go to their Base, I declared that I was there to use them for my own end.'' He said.
Uryuu rolled his eyes. ''Why, I do not surprise?'' He said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
''Hey, it worked did it not?''
''Yes it is.'' Uryuu said dryly. ''But, I do not think we should do such a thing to Naidruga.''
Kurosaki nodded. ''All right then, so how do we contact Dango-san?'' Kurosaki inquired.
Uryuu blinked. ''You mean Yadorigi-san?''
Kurosaki nodded. ''Yes him, and his partner. How, do we tell them that we accept their offer?'' He inquired.
Brow furrowed, Uryuu turned his gaze at the squirrel-shaped, ruby pendants lying on the coffee table in the living room. ''Yadorigi-san said, the pendant will help us find them.'' Rising up from his chair, Uryuu walked over to the coffee table, picked up the pendants, and then, returned to the kitchen. Settling back on his chair, he placed the necklaces on the table between them.
Kurosaki poked the ruby squirrel with his fork ''Now what?''
Uryuu's brow furrowed. ''Maybe, it just like the name card.'' He said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he picked one of the pendants from the table and held it in his fist. Bit by bit, he poured his reiatsu into the pendant just liked he did with the name card, and slowly, he felt the stone getting warmer.
''So, you have decide to join us, that is a good decision.''
The two rose up to their feet, bow and zanpakutou drawn; they turned toward the direction of the voice, ready for battle.
The sharp-dressed man lifted his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. ''Easy now, the name is Gerard Brimstone.'' He said. ''I am Ben Morgan's and Tsubaki Yadorigi's employer, and soon to be yours to.''
Kurosaki and Uryuu shared a look, then, looked back at him. Different from Yadorigi and Morgan, Uryuu could sense a presence from the sharp-dressed man. However, it was nothing liked he had ever felt before. Uryuu had no doubt that the man in front of them was not human; however, he was not a Hollow, Quincy or Shinigami either.
Brimstone shoved his hands into his pants pockets. ''All right, let us go then.''
Suddenly, the kitchen started to ripple liked water before melted liked candles, and the next thing they knew, they were standing in the middle of a gloomy room that seemed to come straight out of Dracula films. Brimstone sat in front of them, behind a large mahogany desk filled with mountain piles of papers and documents.
''Where are we?'' Kurosaki inquired.
''My office'' Brimstone said, picking one of the documents and flipped over it. ''Before I began, I would like to ask you two not to tell your families and friends about us.'' He turned a stern gaze at Kurosaki. ''Especially your Shinigami friends, Mister Kurosaki''
''Could, you please tell us the reason?'' Uryuu inquired for both of them.
Brimstone picked the ballpoint from the penholder and took one of the papers from the left piles, signing it, and then placed the signed paper on the right piles. ''We just like to be wary that is all.'' He said, signing in another paper. ''We do not know how they will react to our existence, so, we would be very grateful if you keep our existence a secret from your Shinigami peers.''
He and Kurosaki looked at each other. Uryuu raised his brow. What do you think Kurosaki?
Kurosaki shrugged. It is very important to them, so I think we should went along. After all, it would not be the first time we keep secret from our friends.
Uryuu nodded. All right then. He turned to Brimstone, who not once looking up from his paperwork. ''Your secret is safe with us.'' He said.
Brimstone looked up from his paperwork and gave them a grateful smile. ''Thank you''
''So, Brimstone-san, do you mine telling us who or what are you?'' Uryuu inquired. ''You are obviously not human, but neither you are a being we have encounter before.''
Brimstone smirked, propping his chin against his palms. ''Well, individually, my kin are known as the 'Night Lord'.'' He said. ''But as a whole, here in Naidruga, we are known as 'numalis', it is like how you call yourself 'human' in general regardless of nations, ethnic groups or skin-colours.''
''I see.'' Uryuu nodded. That 'answered' was far from satisfying. It explained nothing whatsoever about what 'Numalis' was capable off. 'I guess we just have to find out along the way.' He thought. ''Then, could you tell me what I am now? I no longer human, well, partially at least, but I have feeling that I am not a numalis either.''
Brimstone closed his eyes and shook his head. ''No you are not a Numalis.''
''So, what am I then?''
The dark-haired man looked at Uryuu. Sapphires locked with Rubies. ''Do you really want to know?''
Pressing his lips together, Uryuu nodded. ''Yes''
''You are what Aizen Sosuke failed to be.''
Thank you very much for reading! *bow gratefully*
English is not my native language, my Deepest Apologies for any incorrect grammar and tenses you find. Please tell me what you think.