Chapter 13: The Watch

Renji starting glaring at Hector as he was staring out into the night's sky. It had been a half hour since he switched shifts with Hitsugaya. Renji had mixed feelings about Hector. On the one hand, he was not only a Maestro, but one of the five most powerful and leaders of the Maestro. But at the same time, he didn't seem like a major threat.

Hector turned around and said," Why do you do what you do?"

Renji looked at the Maestro confused," What do you mean?!"

Hector smiled and said," I mean why do you fight? What is your reason for fighting?"

Renji smirked and said," That's an easy one: to become stronger."

Hector shook his head," No that is not your reason. It is a reason to fighting, but it is not your true reason. Only you and I know what your true reason is."

Renji glared at Hector and said," So tell me, Mr. Psychic, what is my reason for fighting?"

Hector said," Your reason is to earn the love of Rukia."

Renji's face went red and said," That's not true. Rukia has nothing to do with my fighting."

Hector said," You cannot fool me Captian. She was your only friend, but when you entered the Academy, she didn't notice you. So you did everything you could so that she would notice you. Becoming a lieutenant, achieving Bankai, perfecting your kido, and now becoming captain. You were able to achieve all of these things in such a short amount of time. Tell me, am I wrong?"

Renji glared at the Maestro with a blind fury, but then calmed down," At first it was because of Rukia. But as time went on, I found that after everything we both went through, we are just friends. To be honest, I don't have a reason to fight."

Hector smiled and said," Well then we have to find you something worth fighting for." Hector then picked up a bottle of sake and poured Renji a drink," It is my own personal belief that a person is only at their strongest when they are protecting something important or important to them. Whether it is a material object or someone they love, a person will try anything to protect it. Thereby surpassing their limits and reaching their full potential. Oh, here have a drink." And Hector gave the small cup to Renji.

Renji drank the cup and said," Thank you. So tell me, what's your reason?"

Hector looked down at the ground and said," I'm looking for something. But I can't talk about it right now. Your shift will be ending soon." Then Renji got up and looked at the Maestro as he left the room. He thought that all Hollows were evil, now he wasn't sure.

Rukia leaned against the wall as Hector sat in a meditated state. He had not spoke a word since she got here. Then all of a sudden, Hector got up and said," Do you believe in fate?"

Rukia looked at the high-ranking Maestro and said," What?"

Hector looked at Rukia with a smile and said," Do you believe in fate? I was just curious."

Rukia looked away from him and said," I'm not going to answer that question."

Hector looked puzzeled," Why not?!"

Rukia said," Because you can read my mind. There really is no point in answering the question because you no the answer before I can respond."

Hector shook his head and said," Not with you I can't."

Rukia then looked confused," What do you mean?"

Hector said," Normally when I try to read minds or sense emotions, I fell something. But for some odd reason, I can't sense anything from you. It's almost like you are shielded by something. Or maybe I'm getting rusty. By the way, I want to ask you a question if it is okay?"

Rukia glared at Hector and said," What is it?"

Hector said," What do you feel about Ichigo Kurosaki?"

Rukia's face suddenly went red. She began blinking really fast and started sweating profusely. " Ichigo is just a friend. Nothing more, nothing less."

Hector laughed and said," Miss Rukia, I may not be able to sense your emotions, but I know when someone is lying. Tell me the truth, do you love him?"

Rukia lowered her head and said," Yes. I love him."

Hector clapped his hands and said," Was that so difficult? Now why don't you go tell him of how you feel?"

Rukia said," Because it's too complicated."

Hector said," If there is one thing I know, that is love is never complicated. Why do you feel it is?"

Rukia looked grim and said," Because the last time I fell in love with was killed. Also a friend of mine also cares deeply for him as well. I don't want to hurt her by doing something like that. And I don't want to be in a relationship with Ichigo because if he dies, I don't want to feel that pain again."

Hector remained silent. Until he got up and said," Have you ever heard the saying,' it's better to have loved an lost than to have never loved at all'? Sounds cliche but trust me, those words are true."

Rukia said," I'm going to go, my shifts over."

Before Rukia walked away, Hector got up and said," Think about what I said. You'll find out that I'm right." Then Rukia walked away. Knowing that the next person will have their secrets ripped out of them.

Ichigo sat down, staring at Hector for a long time. This was boring. All Hector was doing was sitting there in a meditated state.

As soon as Ichigo jumped up in frustration, Hector looked at him and said," You won't be able to beat them. You are not strong enough. Not yet?"

Ichigo looked at him and said," What the hell are you talking about?"

Hector said," I am saying that you aren't ready to fight Dante or Payne. They will kill you with out breaking a sweat."

Ichigo said," Well I'm stronger than I was when I first fought Dante, now I thing I can take him."

Hector said," He was holding back. Because we are so powerful, each member of Jaque mate Cinco must conseal our spiritual pressure before leaving Hueco Mundo. Our powers are split in three parts, our bodies, our weapons, and our masks. When you fought Dante, he was barely trying. If he was able to use his full power, he would have destroyed you instantly."

Ichigo said," I had no idea that the Jaque mate Cinco were that powerful. And I still have nightmates about the Arrancar."

Hector said," You are a Vizard are you not?"

Ichigo looked at him and said," Yeah, so what?"

Hector said," It's strange. I have fought against Vizards before. When I fought them, they were two different entities, one shinigami and one hollow, occupying the same body. But when I look at you, I see one entity with two vastly different spiritual energies: one shinigami and one hollow."

Ichigo looked a little shocked," What does that mean?"

Hector said," I am saying that your hollow is a manifestation of something that layed dormant inside you for years. It only appeared recently because it finally had a chance to take a physical form."

Ichigo said," So what, my hollow is basically a split personallity?"

Hector said," In a way, yes. But the difference is that he is aware of what he is. And he doesn't want to be a dormant part of your psyche. He wants complete control."

Ichigo said," Great. First I was worried about an evil spirit trying to take control of my body. Not it turns our that I'm a freakin schizo."

Hector said," It's not that simple. The split personallity has, over time, become a hollow. In a way, it's a little bit of both. But in any case, you must be able to defeat him."

Ichigo said," What happens if I don't?"

Hector said," Your hollow is the only thing keeping you away from achieving divine spirit energy. If your hollow becomes the dominate personallity, the Hollow King will use it to destroy everything, Earth, Soul Society, maybe even Hell. You must make sure that doesn't happen. You must defeat him."

Ichigo unsheathed Zangetsu and said," I've had enough of this. You are going to tell me why you are here? What do you want? And I want to know NOW!"

Hector only smiled and said," I will tell everyone tomorrow. But right now, I'm tired." Hector walked back to his bunk and decided to go to sleep. Ichigo then leaned against the wall and continued to watch Hector.

Hitsugaya flash-stepped across the 5th division bunkers, trying to make sure that he was not seen by anyone. He walked up to Hinamori's bunker, until he sees some of the guards doing their nightly patrol. He quickly walked into the bunker without being seen. As he entered, Hitsugaya smiled when he saw Hinamori holding a one-year old baby boy with silver hair.

Wow! We learned a lot of stuff this chapter. Next chapter we will learn more about Hector, his backstory and stuff like that. So keep on reviewing. I love your feedback.