Disclaimer: Bleach is the property of Kubo Tite. I am the recent owner of an ultimately useless, almost letter-sized sheet of plastic. But since it has a pic of Ulqui and Hime on one side, Grimm and Ichigo on the other side, it was practically screaming, "Buy me! Now!" So I did.
Chapter Fourteen
A portal opened up in the night sky and the group of inter-dimensional travelers dumped out of it, landing in an ungraceful pile on the white desert sand. When everyone had finally untangled themselves from each other and got back to their feet, Ichigo pushed his way through the group towards Shinji, still bent on slicing the vizard into unrecognizable bits.
Seeing the wrathful look in Ichigo's eyes, Shinji smoothly redirected his attention by pointing to something behind the boy. "Look, Ichigo!" he said with his trademark grin. "What's that over there?"
Still frowning, Ichigo turned around and saw what appeared to be a massive white castle in the distance. Momentarily awestruck by the sheer size of the building, it took a few moments for him to find his voice. "That must be that Las Noches place," he said as he recalled his conversation with Ulquiorra that night before the arrancar returned to Hueco Mundo:
Just outside Urahara Shouten, Ulquiorra took his hand out of his pocket and lightly touched the air before him with his fingers. As the jagged Garganta appeared, the arrancar looked over his shoulder at the orange-haired boy. "When you get to Hueco Mundo, head for Las Noches. It is the largest structure in the midst of a barren wasteland. You will not miss it."
Being as quick minded as usual, Ichigo responded, "Huh?"
"You intend to come, do you not?"
The boy's brows furrowed with determination. "Of course!"
"Then those are the directions. Las Noches is where she is." With that said, Ulquiorra stepped through Garganta and disappeared.
Ichigo stood with slacked jaws for a few seconds before deepening his scowl. "Even the way he gives directions is annoying…"
"That's where we're going," Ichigo announced with certainty.
"How do you know?" Ishida inquired as he studied the large structure in the distance. "Urahara-san never said anything about it."
Ichigo looked away and didn't answer.
Shinji, seeing the reluctance in Ichigo's features, decided to help him out. "Well, it is the only thing within sight around here. It's at least a good place to start. Better than aimlessly wandering the desert."
"That's true enough," Ishida agreed.
"All in favor of going to the white thing?" Hiyori drawled as she raised a hand in the air with a bored sigh.
The rest of the group looked at one another as they took a moment to make their decisions. In the end, it was unanimous and everyone raised his or her hand.
"Settled," Hiyori said. "Let's go." Without waiting for a response, the girl took off. If she let them, they'd probably take all day to decide on anything.
Wordlessly, the rest of the team followed, heading for Las Noches.
Sensing an approaching reiatsu, Ulquiorra opened the door to find a breathless Menoli coming down the hall.
When the arrancar girl reached the doorway, her eyes caught sight of Orihime sitting on the couch within the room. Ignoring the human girl, she turned her attention to her superior, bowing slightly. "Ulquiorra-sama, Aizen-sama has called a meeting with all members of the Espada. Your presence is required at the war room immediately."
Ulquiorra merely nodded and waved a hand in dismissal. By the time he closed the door and turned around, Orihime was already standing in front of him with an anxious look on her face.
"What should we do?" she asked.
"I must attend the meeting. It would be unwise for us to make a move at this point and reveal our intentions without having a better grasp on the situation." He placed his hands on either side of her arms as though to help keep her steady. "I will return as soon as possible with information."
She nodded as she took a shaky breath.
He placed a hand on her cheek. "Be careful."
She placed her hand over his. "Be safe."
Reluctantly, he pulled away and left the room.
Aizen sat at the head of the table with Ichimaru and Tousen standing behind him on either side. All members of the Espada had already gathered around the table, currently watching an image of the invading group running through the desert.
"Kurosaki Ichigo. Ishida Uryuu. Sado Yasutora." A close-up of each of the teens appeared on the image as Aizen listed them off. "Together with Inoue Orihime, these four individuals were the ryoka who invaded Seireitei just recently, causing quite an uproar. Though they may be humans, they are not to be underestimated." He paused briefly as his eyes scanned across the table at all his subordinates. "Among the group, there are two shinigami." The image zoomed in on the pair. "Kuchiki Rukia and Abarai Renji, who is a lieutenant. We currently have no information on the remaining members of the group. However, they are not to be taken lightly either."
Though Aizen said as much, the youth with blonde hair did seem somewhat familiar to him somehow. However, with that cap obscuring the top half of the boy's face, the ex-shinigami couldn't really see him all too clearly.
Grimmjow, on the other hand, recognized Shinji almost immediately. As much as he hated to admit it, if Ulquiorra hadn't stopped their fight that day, he most likely would have died at Shinji's hands. Though Grimmjow may not know anything else about the vizard, he knew for sure that the guy was powerful. Nonetheless, he wasn't about to share any of that information with the great and wonderful Aizen.
Seeing Ichigo's face in the image and feeling his reiatsu getting closer by the second was stirring up a bit of a conflict within Grimmjow's mind. On one hand, he really, really wanted to fight him and settle the score. On the other hand, his own situation had changed. It would certainly be beneficial to Ulquiorra, Orihime, and himself to just let Ichigo wreak some havoc in this place. Then again, when was he ever the one to think rationally? That was Ulquiorra's department. Looking across the table, Grimmjow found the fourth Espada sitting there, stoic as ever, not letting on whatever it was that might be going through his mind.
"Return to your respective domains and prepare for battle," Aizen instructed. "Gin will send the intruders to you."
"Just leave it ta me," Gin said, a sly grin on his face. He did so love hallway manipulation.
"That will be all," Aizen said as he stood up, paternal smile in place. "I wish you all an enjoyable encounter." With that said, he walked gracefully out of the room.
Once the ex-shinigami disappeared, everyone else got up as well and dispersed. Some cheered, welcoming the action, while a few others complained. Most, however, kept their thoughts to themselves.
Out in the hallway, Grimmjow leisurely and inconspicuously caught up to Ulquiorra. "Forget finding another way," he said quietly as they fell into step with each other. "I think another way just found us. I'll tell ya straight, Ulquiorra. I'm itchin' to fight that shinigami punk. But…" He gave the fourth Espada a sideways glance. "What are you going to do?"
Ulquiorra gave no response. Everything was suddenly happening all at once. He needed to think fast.
At long last, the merry little group had finally made it to the walls of Las Noches. Currently, they were all standing in a row, staring silently and thoughtfully at said structure.
Looking to the right…there was nothing but wall for miles and miles.
Turning to the left…wall again as far as the eyes could see.
Tilting their heads up…even more wall.
There were no doors, no windows. Just wall.
Before the pondering could drag on much longer, Hiyori raised her hand in the air. "All in favor of cutting through the white thing?"
Twelve hands joined hers in the air almost immediately.
"Settled," she drawled then pointed to Ichigo. "Baldy, get to work."
Normally, Ichigo would have taken offense, but this kind of thing was right up his alley. After three solid swings with his zanpakutou, he had cut them an entryway into Las Noches.
Then after running through the seemingly miles-thick wall, the team eventually found themselves in a circular room with multiple doorways leading out of it. Eleven, to be exact. And if anyone had doubts before about whether or not they had come to the right place, the massive reiatsu that could now be felt laid all those thoughts to rest.
The group formed a circle at the center of the room, facing outward towards the doorways that were now surrounding them, silent once more.
"We should split up," Rukia suggested before another round of pondering could start up again.
Ichigo's blood froze. "What?! No! That's crazy! We're up against the Espada here!"
"Yeah, but we're not exactly chopped liver," Shinji chimed in, half bored, half offended.
By now, everyone had turned around to face each other in the circle.
"Rukia's right," Renji added. "Moving as one group would take too long. Splitting up would be more efficient."
"It's more risky, but…it would improve our chances of finding Inoue-san," Ishida mused almost to himself, one hand on his chin.
"Yeah, but still…!" Ichigo tried again.
"All in favor of moving as a mass?" Hiyori asked as she folded her arms, annoyed that she had to keep doing this in order to keep things moving.
Ichigo's arm shot into the air. Just his. "Damn it!"
"Settled," Hiyori voiced one last time. "We split on the count of three. One…"
Shinji grinned. "See you all on the other side."
"Two…"
Ichigo scowled. "Don't any of you dare die!"
"THREE!"
The circle broke as everyone whirled around and rushed through the doorway directly behind them.
Orihime paced restlessly back and forth, playing with her fingers nervously. She could feel her nakama drawing near. Things were about to happen and, as much as she wanted to help, she was completely helpless.
Though she was overjoyed that they had come for her, she would never be able to forgive herself if anything should happen to any of them because of it. Then there were Ulquiorra and Grimmjow. She didn't even want to think what would happen if all the important people in her life were to end up fighting each other. And didn't Grimmjow still have a grudge against Kurosaki-kun? What if they ended up killing each other?!
She stopped. She was thinking too much, and her mind was a jumbled mess. Leaning a hand and her forehead against the wall under the window, she tried to calm herself with a deep breath.
Then she perked up at the sound of her door opening and turned around. However, the one standing at her doorway was not the one she was expecting.
Aizen smiled at the perturbed girl. "Orihime…would you please come with me?"
After running through a long and winding hallway, Shinji entered a large room with a high ceiling and no windows. Upon seeing the man whom stood guard in that room, the vizard couldn't help but grin. "Tousen Kaname… You know, I was rather surprised when I found out you were with Aizen. Especially since how you would always go on and on and on with your justice talk and what not." He scratched his head and frowned at the rather irksome memory. "Used to always put me to sleep…"
Tousen's brows furrowed in slight confusion. He did not recognize this person's voice. "Who are you?"
The grin now gone from his features, Shinji merely replied, "It doesn't matter." He unsheathed his zanpakutou and moved in to attack. It wasn't like he were here to reminisce old times anyway.
It wasn't until he arrived at his destination that Love realized he had been followed. "Rose? What are you doing here?"
"Since we have more people than there were doorways," the blonde explained, trying not to roll his eyes, "obviously, some of us will be moving in pairs."
At the other end of the room, they saw a man sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall and his head hanging. Paying closer attention, they were even able to pick up the sound of a snore or two.
"Is that guy supposed to be the guard?" Love asked as he jabbed a thumb towards the sleeping man.
"Who knows?" Rose sighed. "But since the gentleman seems to be resting, let's not bother him and move on," he said, pointing to a door not too far away from the unconscious guard.
The pair made their way across the room and, just as they were about to exit, a Cero cut across their path, forcing both to leap back.
The guard stretched his arms and yawned. "Thanks for the concern. Well…it's a bother, but…I can't let you pass."
"HA! HA!" Love exclaimed as he pointed dramatically at the man. "You haven't realized it yet, but…you are already dying."
The man frowned in query. "Come again?"
Rose's hand met his forehead with yet another sigh. "If you're going to quote a manga line, at least use it at a more appropriate time."
Running a hand through his hair with a tired sigh, the man got to his feet. "Great. Not only do I have to deal with two intruders, they have to be weird ones." Looking back at the pair with more seriousness now, he introduced himself. "The name's Stark. Let's get this thing over with, shall we?"
After running through a hallway, up a flight of stairs, and across a bridge under an indoor blue sky, Rukia found herself in darkness once more. It was quiet, and every step she took echoed through the emptiness around her. With one hand on the hilt of her blade, she proceeded with caution until someone called out to her.
"Yo, Kuchiki! Long time no see."
Alarmed, she turned around at the sound of that unforgettable voice from her distant memory. Her heart nearly stopped at the sight she was met with. "Kaien…dono…"
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
All right. Admittedly, that was not the manliest battle cry for a lieutenant class shinigami. Then again, falling down a hole wasn't really considered a battle situation. How was Renji supposed to know that the floor would just suddenly open up and drop him down a tunnel?
Eventually, the tunnel came to an end and dumped him into a room. When Renji picked himself up off the floor, he came face to face with a pink-haired man.
Peering at him through the frames of his glasses, said man was currently sizing him up while wearing one of the most sadistic grins Renji had ever seen.
Mashiro looked over her shoulder with a pout as she continued to run. "Haaaachiiii!" she whined. "Stop following me! Mashiro wants to play by herself!"
Hachigen paid no heed to her nonstop complaints. However, when they at last reached their destination, he found himself a nice corner and planted his bottom on the floor. "No need to get upset. I'll just sit here."
"Good!" the girl said as she folded her arms, still scowling at the big guy. "I don't want you spoiling my fun."
"One who does not take this battle seriously has no business being here," said a voice from behind the girl.
Mashiro turned around, blinking innocently as Zommari Leroux approached.
Hiyori sauntered into the large room with her hands in her pockets and saw a lone old man sitting in the middle with his eyes closed and his legs crossed. She came to a stop, eyeing him for a moment. "Yo, gramps. Don't tell me you're supposed to be my opponent or something."
"Am I not good enough for you, brat?" the old man inquired as he slowly opened his eyes and stared at the girl.
If that look was meant to intimidate, it had absolutely no effect on the cocky young vizard. "Just don't want anyone sayin' I'm disrespecting the old, that's all."
"Aren't you already doing it by running your mouth?" he retorted.
Hiyori grinned. "Well, if you think I've already crossed the line, then…guess there's no point in holdin' back now, is there?" She unsheathed her zanpakutou as her mask began to materialize on her face.
On the desert sand under a false blue sky, Risa and Nnoitora stood motionless with folded arms, staring each other down with displeased frowns on their features. The glaring contest had actually been going on for quite some time now.
Eventually, the fifth Espada spoke. "Che. Can't believe I waited this long just to fight some chick." Then his frown turned into a grin as his eye traveled down the length of her body. "Well, at least you're easy on the eye."
"I, however, can not say the same for you," Risa responded dryly, completely unfazed by his lecherous behavior. "I was hoping to fight someone who's at least marginally good looking. But what do I get? A creep who can't even measure up to the third-rate characters in the books I read." If this were a contest to see who could be the most condescending, Risa would be taking the lead at this point.
Nnoitora frowned. "I don't know what you're blabbering about, but that sure as hell sounded like an insult."
She sighed. "And he's stupid, too."
He laughed a menacing low laugh, his eye narrowing in fury as he held his arm up above his head and began to spin his zanpakutou by the chain. "I'm definitely going to enjoy hacking you to pieces."
Just looking at his opponent was enough to burden Kensei with a sense of extreme discomfort. Was it because of the awesomely oppressive reiatsu? No. It wasn't that. In fact, he was pretty sure it was because of her clothes…or perhaps, the lack thereof…at least in the area where he strongly believed clothes were originally invented to cover up. How was he supposed to fight properly when he was being…distracted?!
Halibel, however, was completely at ease as she gracefully reached behind her back and pulled her blade out of its sheath. Words were unnecessary at this point. She simply moved, closing in on her opponent.
As Kensei took up his stance, even though he knew this was the beginning of a serious battle to the death, the vizard couldn't help but wonder…with what she was wearing, how was she going to keep 'certain things' from revealing themselves while engaging in battle?
He gave himself a mental slap. Damn distractions! He sighed. The fight was already beginning to feel long, and they haven't even crossed blades, yet…
As soon as Yammy saw who walked into his domain, he simply laughed out loud. "I remember you. Didn't get enough the first time and had to come back for more, huh?"
"I think you will find I am much stronger than before," Sado replied calmly.
"Hope so," the bulky arrancar sneered. "Or else, this is gonna be real short." Without warning, he shot a Bala.
Sado dodged.
Their battle began.
Ichigo felt like he had been running forever. Only now did a doorway appear at the end, casting a ray of bright light into the dark hallway. This is it!
Drawing his zanpakutou, he leaped into the room and… "Eh?"
The orange-haired youth was met with emptiness.
Ishida stood in the midst of silence as his eyes scanned the room his path had led him to. Strange…I thought for sure there'd be someone here…
Ulquiorra and Grimmjow walked briskly down the hallway with purposeful strides, heading for Orihime's room.
"I thought you said you wanted to fight Kurosaki Ichigo," the fourth Espada commented.
Grimmjow grumbled with agitation. "Shut up! I'll deal with him when this is over!"
With everyone too occupied to pay them much attention, the two of them would go get Orihime, find the hougyoku, and leave Hueco Mundo. While this was not what Ulquiorra would consider a well thought out plan…in fact, it could hardly even be considered a plan at all…he also knew that this kind of opportunity was not going to present itself again. They had to act now.
Arriving at Orihime's room, they opened the door only to find the girl missing.
The first person that came to Grimmjow's mind as the most likely suspect was Nnoitora. However, that wasn't possible, because he could sense the fifth Espada's reiatsu at the other end of Las Noches, already in the midst of battle. "Who could've…?"
Ulquiorra stood rooted to the floor, keeping that sense of panic at bay as he tried to think through this logically. "Aizen-sama has her," he finally concluded as the ex-shinigami's casual comment about using Orihime as bait returned to him.
Ulquiorra closed his eyes, a small contemplative frown on his features. Bait… If not for Kurosaki Ichigo, then…who?
The sound of his clogs echoed through the grand halls at a slow and steady pace as Urahara Kisuke approached the throne room. Upon entry, the exiled shinigami found none other than Aizen himself standing in the middle of the room with Orihime standing in front of him.
With one hand clamped down on the girl's shoulder, holding her in place, Aizen held his zanpakutou to her throat with the other. "I have been waiting for you, Urahara," he greeted with a smile. "Welcome to Las Noches."
With his eyes still hidden behind his hat, Urahara spoke. "It has been a while, hasn't it…Sousuke?" Lifting his head to look the other man in the eye, he revealed a pair of glasses on his face.
Aizen's brows creased in slight confusion.
"Like the new look?" Urahara asked with a grin as he readjusted the frames on the bridge of his nose. "I made them just for you. Wouldn't want any hallucinations to get in the way of a proper reunion now, would we?"
Aizen smirked. "I see. So, I take it those glasses are a countermeasure to my bankai."
Urahara snapped his fingers. "Correct!"
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
"It's nothing fancy, really," the exiled shinigami said with a shrug. "The glass just refracts light a bit differently and acts as a filter to everything I see is all." Seeing that Aizen wasn't going to respond, he continued. "Well, since we're in the mode of pleasantries…how is it coming?" he asked as he gave a knowing grin. "The hougyoku's awakening."
A/N: Ok, about all the fights…I have decided that, aside from the couple of key battles, I won't be going into them in detail. There are many reasons. One, I feel it would be branching out too far from the main plot of the story. Two, most of these characters' abilities are currently still unknown. Three, there are like…over 10 different battles! It would be brutal to write and probably difficult to have to read. LOL!
At the same time, however, I also feel that just briefly summarizing them with a few sentences seems a bit lacking and not enough. So, I am employing what I call the "keeping tabs" method where I basically keep track of where everyone is without getting into the fights too much. I hope that will be a happy medium. Well, you can tell me when this is all over whether you thought it worked or not. Heh…
So, if you were worried about having to read through a bazillion fights, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Haha!
OMG! Sado spoke! LOL!
"…how was she going to keep 'certain things' from revealing themselves while engaging in battle?" That's my burning question for Halibel. It looks like just by simply raising her arms, things will start falling out all over the place. LOL!
Thanks again for reading! Reviews appreciated!