Chapter Eleven: Por el Pesimista

When Cyan stared at the sky, she knew too well that she hated it. The sun's rays were difficult for her to handle, so she spent half the time, holding her arm over her face whilst fighting. She found it tricky because she was forcing herself to use her left hand to hold her sword, but managed to find ways to get rid of the pests. According to her partner, the pests would continue arriving until finally, someone strong was drawn out. Even after she anxiously waited for a stronger Shinigami to arrive, nothing came. As the sun set, both were sitting on the rooftop of a tall building, although Szayel Aporro was quick to continue his pacing around besides the railing. She had felt a sort of gaiety the moment the mission was given to her, but now she felt as if she had been deprived of life in general. The heart her human side so meticulously cherished was falling to pieces in her chest. She closed her eyes, hand grasping the white fabric over her chest. It hurt.

The longer she allowed herself to remember, the gloomier her disposition got, something she tried to avoid. She had left that world and died, perished alone like a wilting flower. She had abandoned her family behind, dying of loneliness because she was never able to have what she had wanted. The pain that she thought she abandoned so long ago was returning into her being. It was possible the pain had never gone away, considering the fact that she turned into a Hollow after spending years of watching him

Cyan shook her head, trying to keep a clear mind. She looked up at the clearing sky; at least, you haven't changed. She cringed at the hollow pain in her chest. She'd never felt so much pain at once, it felt tiring.

The pain was accumulating into that single place, the heart. Szayel Aporro noticed something strange in the air. He whipped around quickly, noticing Cyan was gone. He glanced around the entire area, repeatedly tried to pick up her reiatsu, but to no avail.

Szayel Aporro had to find her before news managed to slip by that he was unable to keep track of one of the most interesting specimens he had ever come across. He looked down from the railing, noticing the pond of blood on the ground. He jumped off the tall building and landed safely on the ground, wary of not staining his clothes with the blood on the floor. He crouched down in front of it. It certainly did seem like the pond of crimson belonged to Cyan, but what did that mean? He took his eyes off her for a few minutes and she vanished. How is that possible unless…she died?

That would certainly not settle with Aizen.


Stark's eyes snapped open. He pulled the pillow from his face and set it on his lap as he sat up. He let out a yawn and swore he could have felt his heart stop beating for a few seconds. He held his head, bitterly after awakening to her calling to him. Cyan was gone, why did he suddenly feel uneasy? He wondered how long she had been gone then, but in Las Noches when she was away, he had trouble keeping track of the time. Nothing made sense anymore and he found no joy in anything other than sleeping. He wished he could catch her killing someone else, just to see her for a few seconds, to know she was fine. He shook his head violently, getting all thoughts of her out of his head.

Then he heard them, the rhythmic footsteps outside his door, pacing through the narrow hall. Unconsciously, he jumped to his feet and walked towards his door, pulling it open harshly. There was no one present. He looked both ways. There was nothing but a hollow hallway. He placed his hand on his head, suddenly feeling stupider than he must have looked when he opened the door expecting to see a woman out on a mission in the Human World. He closed the door and leaned against it.

"Stark!" He sighed, recognizing Lilinette's voice from the other side of the door. He stepped away from the door and she slammed it open. "What are you doing blocking the door?" she demanded, stomping inside.

Stark yawned. "I'm still tired," he stated, plopping over his bed, face first. "If it's that important, come back in another hour."

"No!" she shouted, hoping onto his back, stepping on with the tip of her foot.

"Ugh—what?" he complained, jerking up, dropping Lilinette on the ground.

"Hey! I'm not done talking!"

Stark sat back down. "What is it?" he asked seriously. "I would have known if there was a meeting without you barging in here."

"It's not a meeting."

"What is it then?"

"Szayel Aporro came back," she began. "Here's the funny part, Cyan's gone missing."

Stark stood up, involuntarily. Lilinette stared at him awkwardly. "Don't tell me…"

"Hm?"

"You developed some attachment to her!" she accused. "I warned you about this Stark, but you never listen. If you get involved with her you'll just ruin—"

"Lilinette, it doesn't matter if it's attachment, or not," he recited. "I'm going out."

"I'm going with you!" she stated, rushing after him. He sighed, pushing her back into his room before exiting. "What's the problem? You need me!" she protested, angrily.

"Need you to criticize my actions, I do not," he stated, trying to shut the door, but her hands shot up stopping it.

"I don't care what you think!" she shouted. "She's weird and I don't like her."

"Lilinette…" he said slowly.

"I don't! She's like a lifeless doll, creepy!"

"I don't care, I'm still going."

Those words didn't settle with the small girl and she pulled the door open widely. Without Stark expecting it, she brought her foot up and slammed it between his legs. "Lilinette!" he cried, falling on his knees in pain. "What's wrong with you?"

"Go back to sleep then!" she stated, grabbing a hold of his collar and trying to drag him back in.

Stark pushed her hands away from him. "Cyan is dangerous," he said, breathing heavily.

"She's Aizen's problem not yours."

No matter how he looked at it, Lilinette was right. He shouldn't be concerning himself over someone who was already under so much surveillance. But, he couldn't help it. "If you're coming, then come, but don't complain. I want to see her."


Szayel Aporro returned after searching for Cyan as long as he could before he had to report to Aizen. Unfortunately, to Aizen's surprise, one Arrancar entered the throne room when it should have been two, and it wasn't whom he favored. The room fell into an awkward silence as Aizen stared down at Szayel Aporro seriously. He could have easily began the conversation by asking where Cyan was, seeing as how Gin was suddenly present in the meeting, but it'd be better for the subject to explain his reasons for not bringing back the woman he was sent with.

Szayel Aporro quickly got on his knees, bowing down to his leader, though it displeased him groveling at that man's feet. "Forgive me, I've searched for Cyan de Imortell everywhere, but as you had said, you wanted a report…" Szayel Aporro paused, noticing Gin standing near the tall throne, wondering what he was doing there. That man never showed his face when other Arrancar where near Aizen, if he was found, he was usually being suspicious. "When we first entered the human world, we had a run in with two lieutenants; both were defeated in battle, but not killed. I managed to stop Cyan from releasing—"

"She sure is an impatient one," Gin commented with a chuckle. "Having her release, would cause a dilemma especially being in the human world."

"Szayel Aporro, continue with your report," Aizen stated, his eyes on Gin, who merely shrugged. Cyan's Resurrección was beginning to become the talk of Las Noches since she had not been allowed to release it, even if she was about to die.

Szayel Aporro nodded. "Surprisingly the entire area you had us cover was full of weak Shinigami. We both easily disposed of them, there were no actual problems…until I lost track of Cyan and—"

"How was her reaction to the human world when you entered?"

Szayel Aporro raised his head, surprised by the question. Aizen had never showed interest in any Arrancar. It made him wonder if there was more going on that met the eye, but that had been obvious a long time ago, when Cyan was created. "Cyan showed great interest in the human world, but after a few hours, she began to show obvious hate for it."

Aizen chuckled. "Well, what are you waiting for? Look for her," he ordered.

Szayel Aporro got to his feet and rushed out the door. Aizen eyed Gin cautiously. "You don't seem to mind the disappearance," Gin stated, walking into the darkness.

"Not that I don't mind it, it might be for our gain," Aizen replied, leaving as well.

"What'd we gain if she were to be found by Soul Society?" he asked.

"It'd instill fear in them; she looks very much like her, doesn't she?"

"Can't deny," Gin replied, chuckling. "Too much alike, but the personality is way off."

"A quieter disposition and deep perception," Aizen commented, joining his friend.

"What kinda plans do ya have for Sayomi-chan's lookalike?"

"I'd like to use her as bait to bring apart Soul Society."

"An' the King's Key?" he inquired.

Aizen smirked.


Szayel Aporro stormed into his lab, having collected bits of Cyan's blood as samples for his search through a larger monitor. Pesquisa didn't seem to work and she was specifically known for being able to fade right through the senses. Still, all of the information he gathered on her would make the search much faster now that he was inside his laboratory. Her sword had the unique ability of absorbing reiatsu, which was incredibly odd within the Arrancar; there were abilities some possessed that had the same aptitude, but not the same as hers. It was stranger than normal; would that be her main ability after releasing her sword? Maybe the sword was tampered with after her rebirth, seeing as no one had an initial run-in after that day. In fact, she was believed dead and defected, by everyone, not only himself.

Szayel Aporro continued working under pressure, hoping to find her before she is physically harmed and the blame falls on him. He wouldn't be murdered for losing one of the Espada's assets, would he? He shook away all the pestering consequences, focusing on the issue at hand. He wasn't very enthusiastic about looking for her, he believed she was grown enough to know what to do with herself. She was the least of his worries; he'd already accomplished all he wanted for the while, a blood sample. At the same time, he might want to search for her dead body.

He smirked.

"So you are back?"

Szayel Aporro turned around, disturbed. "You should learn to knock," he stated, looking at Nnoitra. Standing a few feet behind him was Tesla and the fresh face of a tan-skinned woman with red hair.

"So, where's Cyan?" he asked, walking over to Szayel Aporro.

"If you haven't been told already, she's missing," Szayel Aporro stated, turning back to his work.

"Would that mean she's dead?"

"I'm sure she's alive."

"Is there a way to kill her?"

"I already made things clear last time I worked with you, I don't plan to do it again," he stated, looking through his monitors in the real world. He had left some sort of surveillance around the place. "You don't know how to acknowledge my work."

Nnoitra huffed. "Wouldn't it be easier to leave her—?" Nnoitra had turned around to face the monitors and found himself watching the sky tore open. When he expected a lower-level Arrancar he saw the Primera Espada walk out along with his fracción.

"What's he doing out?" Szayel Aporro inquired slowly.

Nnoitra moved away. "Tesla, Sinlen, let's go."

Szayel Aporro turned around. "Where do you think you're heading?"

"Where do you think? I'm hunting that bitch down an' killin' her."

Szayel Aporro shrugged. It didn't matter what happened to him anyway. Two Espada were already out, might as well let them do whatever they want. Instead, he sat back down on his chair. This would be enjoyable.


Title Translation: Por el Pesimista, Spanish for 'For the Pessimist'