Never before has one encountered such a story as this! It's long... It's slightly epic... AND! AND it was written while I was distracted. Something that happens not that often. I went into the late hours to finish this.
Oh look, Riddick's on TV... again.
Chapter 10
"Glad to know that my face is recognizable to you, Arrancar," stated the ex-shinigami flatly and tonelessly. "I'm also glad to know that you will be dead within the next few moments. Tosen! Help me here."
"Gladly," replied his tall, foreboding, dark-skinned subordinate, coming forward in step with his commander and drawing his sword in synch with the silver-haired warrior. They both wore hardened expressions, and even Gin did not seem to have his usual, playful aura around him. His face sported a genuine frown for probably the first time in his life. Faced with both of them on his own, and with them both as angry as they were, Arturo was sure that a battle now could only end in defeat, since he would not only be preoccupied with dueling both of their immense rieatsus at once, but he would also be caught up in trying to protect Ulquiorra from them as well. He darted his glance around for a possible escape route, but his eyes met only the door through which they had entered, and the hole in the wall that he'd created using Aizen as a ram. Slowly, cautiously, he picked up the limp 4th Espada and stood, keeping himself poised to run just in case he was attacked or lunged at.
"Where are you thinking that you could go?" Gin asked, keeping his sword at the ready at a right angle in front of him as he walked. Tosen was keeping his sword angled towards them in a slightly less sharp way, but still keeping it poised to strike both of them dead if they dared to move.
"There is nowhere he can go to escape us," stated the 3rd in command of Las Noches as they stalked up upon him and his brother. Arturo scowled at them both, tightening his grip on Ulquiorra, and continuously darting his gaze back and forth between his possible escape routes. He wouldn't dare fight them with his brother unconscious, and he needed to get him away before he could beat them both back. But then…. Then there was Starrk, Lilynette, Nnoitra, Yammy… everyone. How was he going to get out of here after murdering Aizen? Just taking himself away would be easy enough, but would Ulquiorra even agree to go?
"I'm afraid your little mission ends here," stated Gin emptily. "Now tell me, where is Aizen?"
"Aizen?" Arturo asked, getting a sudden idea and flicking his gaze towards the hole in the wall. "Can't you guess?" Just as he'd planned, both of the warriors looked sideways at the gaping gap in the wall beside them, peering in to see their master lying in a pool of his own blood, the pool of which was expanding underneath him still. Taking full advantage of their distraction, Arturo made a bold dash, using sonido, straight between the two of them and headed straight for the wide, open door, not pausing for a second when they both turned with yells of surprise. He sped along with an all-out burn-up of his remaining energy, shooting away from the throne room with as much speed as was inhumanely possible, instantly covering his spiritual energy up the second he got far enough away to be located with ease.
Yet, still he ran. He had to absolutely make sure that he wasn't going to get caught, or let his brother fall to the hands of these monsters… He just had to be absolutely sure. In the middle of tearing down what must have been the twentieth hallway, he finally heard a small groan escape the lips of his brother, and slowed gradually until he came to a full stop right beside the corner of two adjacent hallways, looking down to make sure that his unique cargo was alright.
"Ulquiorra?" he asked, his voice tight with concern, still panting heavily from his long run. Crouching, he placed his brother with his back against the wall, and then joined him in that position, beginning to realize that his head was still reeling from the mind probing he'd received earlier, and that he felt extremely weakened after releasing his first wing state while attacking Aizen. He just felt like he needed to close his eyes for a few minutes… to get some rest before getting up and running again. After a moment, it felt so far away, the thought of having to start moving again. He just wanted to fall to sleep – to regain the energy he had lost so that he could go farther and faster when he did have to start up this game of cat-and-mouse again. He just needed to wait a moment….
"Arturo?" he heard someone ask, in a voice just as tired as his. Re-opening his eyes a little, and looking to the right, he saw Ulquiorra giving him a slightly worried look. One of his slim, white hands was resting on Arturo's shoulder; the other was wrapped around the base of the horn on his helmet. Seeing this, the turquoise-haired Arrancar gave a deep sigh.
"I'm sorry that had to happen to you, Ulquiorra," he said resignedly. "I really am." The hand grip on his shoulder tightened a little when he said this, and he looked up again to find his little brother with his eyes closed and shaking his head.
"You do not need to apologize, brother," he said, addressing Arturo in that way for the first time since he'd become aware of their relation. "It would not have pleased either of us if you had let yourself become forced to serve under Aizen, and I am glad that you resisted the way you did."
"Glad?" Arturo asked, still unsure. The world had started up reeling again, and he realized that it was getting harder and harder to keep this conversation up and make it still make sense. He shook his head to clear it of the swirling images it contained, and then opened his eyes again as he finished off his thought. "How can you be glad?"
"Hmm…" Ulquiorra said thoughtfully, pondering this for a moment. He thought it out before answering. "Emotion has become renewed to me, I am assuming, although not very much of it. I still can not understand much of it at this point, so I do not know how to answer your question directly."
"No, that isn't what I meant," Arturo sighed, pressing one of his palms to his temple and leaning back on the wall. "I meant how can you be glad even though I managed to get you injured? It really doesn't require much emotion."
"I can still feel this way because I think I can accept the fact that you are my brother now," Ulquiorra stated, his voice still sounding as lacking emotionally as it had before. "You managed to get us both out of there alive."
"So what if I did?" asked Arturo, closing his eyes as he leaned on the wall, glad for a rest. "What can we do now, is the real question."
"Are you alright, Arturo?" Ulquiorra asked, re-tightening the grip he had on his brother's shoulder. "You do not look well. We should get away from here as soon as possible and find a safe place to rest."
"I can agree with you on that…" Arturo said, now pressing on both sides of his head, trying to relieve the pain that had decided to return, pounding into his skull with just as much force as before. Thinking quickly before the pain got too bad, he sensed around for the spiritual pressures of Grimmjow and Szayel, trying to root out where the odd pair was. They turned out to be low, and strained, as if they had been put under restraint. He could sense Starrk and Lilynette's satisfied reiatsus nearby, and could quickly guess what had happened.
"We need to free Szayel and Grimmjow," Arturo said quietly. "They've been taken prisoner."
"Free them?" Ulquiorra asked, looking up. "Why would we need to free them?" Arturo spared him a glance.
"Well, they did help me get to Aizen, which is where my plan SHOULD have been completed, but it went wrong," Arturo continued. "I believe I owe them a favor like this."
"To be honest," said his brother in a low tone as well. "I do not know if they would like to leave this place with us. They have no reason to."
"Us?" Arturo asked, a little surprised, before it occurred to him not to. "You mean… you've decided to come with me?"
"Yes," Ulquiorra sighed lightly, re-directing his gaze to the floor. "It was a difficult decision for me, but… something odd occurred and I realized it would be better to follow you away from here. I am sure Aizen could easily replace me. The Espada do not 'miss' each other, so it would not be any harm to the others."
"What was this… odd something?" asked his brother, who was beginning to realize that this was the last question he would have time to ask. This pain was getting too much to bear, and he could feel his breathing get subconsciously heavier. Ulquiorra darted a glance at him before he answered, also becoming aware that it would be time to move on.
"I had… a dream," he said slowly. "After Aizen knocked me unconscious."
"What?" his golden-eyed brother asked, giving him a strange look. "Really? I didn't think you could dream without emotion."
"That is why I deemed it odd," replied his black-haired, slim younger brother. "I have not had any emotions since the time that I became a Hollow, and then an Arrancar, and then an Espada… up until now, all of it escaped me altogether."
"I can sense something in you," was the reply. "Of some emotion at least."
"Yes, but the majority of it still makes no sense at all," said Ulquiorra. "The point is that for me to have had a dream at this point, after so long… I believe it has something to do with you."
"What… was… the dream?" Arturo asked raggedly, not able to contain he pain he was harboring any longer. He clenched his fist and closed his eyes tightly as the pain hit him full-on once again. Noticing this instantly, his brother rose unsteadily to his own feet and then helped to lift Arturo onto his.
"I will tell you another time," he said, lifting one of his brother's arms over his shoulders. "But for now we must find an exit to the desert outside, and find a place nearby where we can stay until we have recovered."
"Good idea…" Arturo replied, his head sagging as his consciousness reduced itself to a small flicker. Closing his eyes, Ulquiorra took the time to mask both of their reiatsus even further, making sure that both of them became seemingly nonexistent to the rest of Las Noches.
"Come on, brother," he said in monotone, carefully guiding his mostly limp older sibling down the hallway, constantly searching back and forth, front and back, to make sure that they were not being followed. Trying hard to ignore the quick-to-set-in pain that was starting to spread from underneath his Hollow mask, Ulquiorra found it harder than normal to use his exceptional strength to transport his older brother away from this place. Faltering every few steps, he cursed at himself for not being able to live up to his own standards. He also cursed at himself for not being able to clearly think long enough to come up with an adequate plan to get them out of there without being caught. They needed rest, but they also needed an escape. What was there to be done?
Finally, after going just two halls away from where they had been sitting before, Ulquiorra fell unceremoniously to his knees, quickly supporting Arturo so that he did not fall unguided. He gave a low sigh, trying to regain himself before attempting to move on. His breathing had become irregular by now, but he did not let that stop him from trying to reconstruct his composure again. Suddenly, there was a flicker. Snapping his eyes open, the 4th suddenly sensed an approaching spiritual presence, and recognized its strength as an Espada. He looked up sharply in the direction that it was coming, and then tried to lift Arturo up in the position they'd adopted earlier, so that they could make a getaway. His attempts to return to his feet as he tried were unsuccessful the first time, and when he tried a second time, he only managed to fall again – this time with his older brother half on top of him.
By now, the spiritual reiatsu was close enough to touch – too close for comfort – and Ulquiorra realized that this might be it, although his mind didn't seem to process this information with the terror that was supposed to accompany it. Whether this was from his lack of fear altogether, or because his mind was far too tired to care, he did not know. Instead, he turned his back towards the attacker and placed himself between his brother and the new presence. If they were both going to be apprehended in their weakened state, then he was going to be the first to go. He could hear the footsteps now… they were coming closer and closer; thick, heavy footfalls that resounded of death and destruction, his clouded mind thought… coming closer to destroy him and his brother. He bent himself over Arturo in an attempt to make himself look alone in the great hallway, hoping that maybe their pursuer would leave Arturo for dead after killing him. The presence rounded the corner of the hallway, stopping when it came to and saw the sight before it. Ulquiorra tensed himself, keeping himself rigid and prepared, somewhat through a fog, for the final blow. He heard a low chuckle.
"Ulquiorra," he heard a familiar, unusually calm voice say slowly. "Don't worry… I'll take you to safety you helpless dog."
"Wh-?" the 4th could not help but mutter as he lifted his head, too curious to find out who this was to let it pass. Turning his head behind him, he saw the huge, hulking, (and now distorted, as the pain sank in) figure of the pushover 10th Espada, Yammy. The huge monster-like Arrancar had a huge grin on his face, showing off his even huger teeth, and was standing with his arms crossed in an almost parental manner as he stared at the barely conscious pair. The cuatro Espada could not help but feel relief at the sight – and the words – of the enormous beast.
"Th…thank you… Yammy…" he managed to breathe out. "But… why?"
"Because," he heard the hulking figure reply. ULquiorra felt himself be taken by the arm and lifted from the ground and by a huge hand, and then watched gladly as the same happened to Arturo. "I can see that even though you tried to kill Aizen, it was for a good cause. Besides, I didn't care much for that jerk anyways."
"G…good…" he managed to say, before his eyes rolled back and he fell unconscious in the 10th's grasp. Yammy frowned when this happened, but he did not let it affect him as he started up his walk towards the gates that opened up to the desert outside. Looking down at the slim, green-eyed Espada who he felt the most respect for among his comrades, Yammy silently told himself that he would go along with whatever the 4th had in mind. And this blue-haired one? He'd heard of and felt this prisoner's attempts on Aizen's life as well, but somehow, when he saw Ulquiorra hunched over him in that way before, he had guessed that the 4th had protective feelings over him, and heaven knew THAT was improbable. Yet, if anything – anything at all – could manage to get that emotionless shell to feel any sort of protective anything over something, then it was most likely a very highly emotional subject. What in Heuco Mundo could be the cause of the 4th's attention to this Arrancar? He had no idea.
And frankly, as he delivered them both to the main gate the desert outside, he realized that he didn't care. As far-fetched as it seemed, Ulquiorra had been the closest person to a friend he'd had inside these walls and out of them, and even that was enough to give him reason to help him and anyone else whose help was required by the 4th.
Darkness… thick, velvety darkness. It felt like he was resting inside of a coffin… like Aizen's fabled Hado #90.
Aizen.
Ulquiorra.
At these thoughts, Arturo's eyes opened suddenly, when the feel of a light breeze touched him, and rustled through his clothes and hair to rouse him. The first thing he saw when he awoke was a huge, crescent-shaped moon hanging placidly in the sky, settled in the inky blackness deeply, and still managing to cast its meager light on the wind-swept lands below with an arid sense of cold warmth. A little confused, he realized he was lying on something soft and grainy, yet pleasant to the touch, and soft as silk. Where was he? Why was he here? Where… where was Ulquiorra?
Turning his head to the side, Arturo saw stretched out, the wide, sweeping white sands of Heuco Mundo, colored blue in the light of its moon. There was a huge, hulking shadow of a figure sitting nearby to him, facing the desert, and giving small sighs every so often as it did so, breathing the smell of the scentless wind each time a breeze passed them by. Who was THAT? Well, it didn't matter. As long as he wasn't being attacked, and Ulquiorra was alright, then he guessed it wasn't a threat at the moment. Still staying silent, just in case, Arturo turned his head slowly to the other side, hoping to find his brother there. Immediately he saw Ulquiorra, looking paler than ever in the meager light, and breathing irregularly as well, lying on his back in the sand – either unconscious or sleeping. Judging from the size of the crack in the side of his mask, he was probably unconscious.
"Ulqui…orra…" he said quietly, pushing himself up onto his elbows and then breathing in deeply of the air around him. The pain from his head was gone, and now he felt more like a normal Arrancar should… with no feeling at all, except of the necessary things. His gaze still rested on his brother as he sat up easily this time, turning to get a better look to make sure that this new development of his brother's Hollow mask would not be permanent. Behind him, Yammy heard him rise and turned around curiously. Seeing the turquoise-haired newcomer inspecting the 4th closely and carefully made him raise his eyebrow, and he instantly became confused in his inner mind.
"Who are you?" he asked in his unintentionally loud voice, at the conscious Hollow.
"GAH!" Arturo yelled, whipping around quickly with a surprised cry, even though he'd been expecting a greeting from the figure sooner or later. Upon seeing the stupid, confused look on the Espada's face, he calmed himself and let his heart rate go back down to normal. Scowling, he turned away.
"I am Arturo," he replied quietly, returning his attention back to Ulquiorra. "Arturo Plateado."
"Oh?" Yammy asked, scratching his head. "I think I heard about you once a long time ago when I was a Hollow. Didn't you attack the Soul Society and lose?"
"Heh," Arturo huffed at the words. "No, I attacked the Soul Society and did so too well. They locked me in the chambers of Central 46 and then forgot all about me until I managed to break out and fight my way back here to restart."
"Eh?" Yammy asked. "Restart what?" Arturo sighed.
"I'm on a quest to kill all Soul Reapers," he stated flatly, disgusted even to have to speak the words. "I decided that maybe if I killed Aizen and his two subordinates first, the Soul Society would become even more aware of my skills and their fear for me would grow. I figured that maybe I could even gain a few allies out of the Espada."
"Really?" asked Yammy, who had now turned to face the two of them since Arturo had begun to speak. "That is a very good plan. The Soul Society has much fear for Aizen."
"So do the Espada," the golden-eyed warrior could not help but add. He darted his glance back at Yammy a little cautiously. "And who are you? Another of Aizen's pets?" A giant grin spread across his face when this question was asked.
"I am Yammy Riyalgo, 10th Esapda in Lord Aizen's Arrancar army!" he said grandly, just as he would have before battle.
"Oh?" was Arturo's response. Yammy began to notice the concern etched into the Arrancar's features. He raised his other eyebrow.
"What're your reasons for taking a fancy to Ulquiorra?" he asked, intrigued. The warrior glanced back at him slightly.
"He's…." he paused. "My brother."
"Whaaaa…?" exclaimed Yammy, raising both eyebrows again, to another new level of highness. "You're… his… what?"
"Brother," said Arturo. "But look, that's not important right now. I need you to look after him while I'm gone. Make sure he's alright, and that he doesn't follow me when he wakes up."
"Eh?" asked Yammy inquisitively. "You're going back?"
"Yes," stated Arturo in a finalistic tone. "I have to free Szayel and Grimmjow – they helped me too much to just pass them up on this. Plus, I want to kill Aizen before I leave this place."
"Haha!" Yammy suddenly started howling. "Hoo hoo! You idiot!" he roared.
"Wh-what?" Arturo asked, turning his head with a wild expression. "Who are you calling an idiot? What's your problem, Espada?"
"Your plan!" Yammy hooted. "It's idiotic!"
"And how is that?" asked Arturo plainly, his tone flat.
"Because, you can't just walk in there, free two Espada from the prison section, and then stalk up and kill Aizen BY YOURSELF!" he cried, the tears nearly streaming down his face with so much laughter. "You'd be dead the instant you set your foot back inside that place!"
"Is that so?" Arturo asked indignantly. "And what makes you think I can't do all that when I wiped out half soul reaper army singlehandedly?"
"Simple!" Yammy pointed out. "Because not even the WHOLE Soul Reaper army could stand up to one or two of us. The Espada have the power of the Hôgyoku, and that is why no one can beat us. It is that simple."
"Hm…" Arturo mused. "Are you saying I should just wait for us all to recover before going back?"
"Yep."
"And why, may I ask, are you helping us when turning us in to Aizen could probably get you promoted within your ranks?" the turquoise-haired warrior could not help but ask, raising his eyebrow at the hulking figure. He eyed Yammy suspiciously, only to be greeted with an affectionate smile, but not for him. It was directed at his younger brother. Yammy motioned at the 4th as he spoke.
"He's the only one who ever cared to check if I was still alive or not after my arm got cut off," he said, not bothering to explain to the man why it had been removed in the first place. "He's the closest thing to a friend I have around here."
"Hmm…" said Arturo. "Good. So now all we have to do is wait?"
"Yeah."
"But what about his mask? Can we fix it?"
"It will fix itself in time. Ulquiorra has quick regeneration. It won't hold him back for long."
"Good, then all we need to do is wait," Arturo said. He looked up and clenched his fist as he saw the familiar cluster of white buildings in the distance beyond the few sand dunes that separated them and Las Noches.
"Look out Aizen," he thought. " I'm coming for you."
Oh JOY! The format keeps itself on the fanfic site! DA hates me. :D