You may know that I'm a Beta Reader, so I'll certainly preview your work if you'd like. For everyone who lacks interest here, just enjoy this new chapter of DWD.
The hollow screamed at the top of her lungs. A teal-haired hollow held her by the throat, and raised a long, bony, clawed finger to her forehead. "Don't worry," he said, "I'll put you to good use." and he plunged his claw into her skulled, and silenced her.
Another little hollow sat in the sand, curled up and leaning on one of the other dead hollows. She watched as the teal-haired hollow ripped his finger out of his victim's skull and opened his jaw wide and slowly but surely swallowed her whole. Once he consumed the hollow, his body shrank, getting smaller and closer to a humanoid shape. The little hollow didn't believe what she saw. She was witnessing a Vasto Lorde coming into form. She could feel the crushing spiritual pressure as he turned to her and slowly approached and stared at her with a pair of terrifying yellow orbs.
"Give me that hollow." he said pointing to the dead hollow she was leaning against.
She looked at it and spread her arms over it. "No... th-this is my kill..." she said shaking.
"I wasn't asking for it, I said give it to me!" he shouted. The little hollow cowered at the sound of his loud voice, but stood her ground and guarded her well-earned meal. The frightening hollow growled and reached for her throat. The little hollow grabbed his wrist and tried to keep his hands away, but his arm moved like an emotionless machine and let nothing stop it. He wrapped his fingers around her neck and lifted her off the ground. The little hollow gagged and choked, kicking walking nightmare without fazing him. To her relief, the machine merely tosse her out of the way and claimed the dead hollow, tearing huge chunks out it at a time. The little hollow watched in disappointment as he consumed her prize.
Quietly, she crawled toward the monster and tried to sneak a piece of the hollow, taking a dismembered leg and sliding it away from him. She jumped and started shaking even more when the yellow daggers gazed upon her again. She clenched the leg and quickly took a bite out of it, staring the hollow right in the eye. The heartless glare mad her heart race as she continued eating until he finally grabbed the leg and picked it up with her still holding on tight.
"Let go!" he yelled trying to shake her off of the leg.
"NO!" she yelled in a childish tone.
"I said OFF!" he shook harder.
The little hollow held on tight, saying, "No!" every few seconds. She could tell he was getting mad, and in a panic she made it worse. She drew her head back and slammed it into his face. The headbutt was so strong and unexpected that the hollow lost his grip on the leg and stumbled backwards, falling flat on his back into the sand. The little hollow quickly ate the rest of the leg and turned to him to defend herself.
"Why you little..." he swung his arm in and attempt to grab her, missing as she jumped over it and on to his back. She thought fast and grabbed his long, teal hair and yanked as hard as she could. He yelped and shouted, "Get off of me!" as he tried to reach her.
She let out an annoying child's scream as she pulled harder. The hollow finally reached up and grabbed her arms, throwing her on the ground and panting. The little hollow was surprised he hadn't killed her yet. "I win." she said in a stroke of confidence. She looked up at him to see he was walking the opposite direction. She stood and chased after him until she caught up. "Where are you going?" she asked, some fear still present in her voice.
"Go away." was all he said.
"What's your name?"
"None of your business."
"Are you looking for something?"
"More hollows."
The fact that he gave an actual answer this time made her more curious. "Why?"
"So I can get more power."
The little hollow cocked her head in confusion. "What do you mean? You're a Vasto Lorde, aren't you?"
"Not quite yet." the hollow looked at his body. "I'm still not completely humanoid. I still have a ways to go."
"Oh." she put a finger to her lips thinking of more questions. "Why did you decide to answer me?"
"'Cause you're annoying."
"Why didn't you kill me?"
"You aren't worth my time."
"Can I come with you?"
The hollow stopped and looked at her. "Why?"
"It's lonely out here."
"That's how you get stronger. You can't have people holding you back. So no. You'll only slow me down." he said as he continued walking.
"Aw, pleeeeaaaase?" she kept following.
"No."
"Pleeeeeaaaaase?" the little hollow's voice got a bit more irritating.
His eye twitched. "No."
"PLEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASE?!" she screamed.
"FINE!" he shouted stomping his foot. "But only if you stop that."
"Yay!" she cheered.
"But don't think of me as a friend. I am your master, and you will refer to me as such."
"Aye aye, Mister... What's your name?"
"I am Arturo Plateado."
"Mister Plateedo." she said in salute. Arturo sighed at the mispronunciation. "My name is Noucozai Miriyesferyn."
Noucozai remembered her first meeting with Arturo like it was yesterday. It was a memory she had to learn to cherish now that he was gone. She stepped toward the small wooden memorial with his name carved in it and wrapped the charm around it, then stepped back to look at it. She didn't want to cry when she stared. Arturo always taught her it was a sign of weakness, and she didn't want to disappoint him now.
Cicero stood next to her as she stared in silence. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked.
Noucozai stared at the memorial for a second longer before looking at him and nodding with a smile. "Arturo wouldn't let me cry before he died. I don't think he'd let me now."
Cicero smiled. "You were quick to move on. Not that that's a bad thing."
Meanwhile, Ichigo walked down the halls to Orihime's holding cell. As far as he knew, it was Ulquiorra who was lucky enough to end up as her caretaker. He could hear him speaking to her as he drew closer to her cell.
"You will eat your nutrients, or else I will force them down your throat with my bare hands." he said.
Ichigo leaned against the bars of the cell and grinned. "Oh, come on Ulquiorra, that just sounds nasty."
Both Ulquiorra and Orihime looked at him. "What are you doing here, Ichigo?" Ulquiorra asked.
Suddenly Orihime dashed over to him and said, "It is you! I knew it looked like it was you, but I wasn't sure. But now that I heard your name, I know that it is you, Ichigo."
Ichigo stared at her in surprise. "Uh... yeah, that's my name. Why is that so interesting?"
Orihime's eyes widened. "Ichigo... it's me, Orihime. Don't you remember me?"
Ichigo still looked confused. "Of course I rememeber you."
Her eyes lit up. "I knew you would remember!"
"Well, of course. Aizen hasn't shut up about you for a week, how could I forget you?" Ichigo's words made her heart sink.
She stepped back and sat down. After a few moments of silence, Ulquiorra pointed to her food and said, "Eat." She complied and started eating her food.
Ulquiorra exited the cell and left with Ichigo following. "What do you think that was about?"
"Based on her reaction, I'd say she recognizes you from your life as a human." he said as they walked.
"If that's so, then it's some coincidence that I have the same name as back then."
"I agree. Especially since Lisa was the one who named you." The two walked until they were a good distance from the cels an anyone else, then Ulquiorra stopped. "Tell me, Ichigo," he said, "You show remorse for your fraccion Arturo's death, even though you had no hand in it. I wish to know why."
Ichigo seemed surprised by the question, especially since Ulquiorra of all people asked. "I just can't help but feel bad for it, I guess. Why do you ask?"
"I have taken interest in what humans call 'heart'. I believe your guilt may be a result of such. If it is so, then I suppose even hollows may even have 'heart'. But I am still unsure." said Ulquiorra.
"That seems like more of a reason that you'd ask about that." said Ichigo. "Everyone else who asks me about it wants me to stop feeling bad."
"And why would that be?"
Ichigo put up his hand. "Sorry, if I thought I could explain it to you, I would. But I don't, so... Anyway, speaking of fraccion, are you finding Fisher to be useful?"
"He has limited use for me, however I still believe he may be of some use in the future."
Ichigo didn't like that answer. "Just remember not to send him on any errands that involve me."
"Of course, I have remembered that you dislike him." said Ulquiorra.
"Good. Now I'll be off to... wherever I need." Ichigo turned and started walking. "See you at the next meeting."
Meanwhile, Noucozai lay on the bed, remembering her time with Arturo. She remembered when she made him the charm. She had collected the teeth and horns from the hollows they killed, and then tied them together with a string.
"Look, Arturo!" she said as she handed him the charm.
"What is it?" he asked. He examined the thing she handed to him. There was a big horn, and a smaller horn right next to it, both with little faces carved in them, and ten teeth surrounding them.
"It's a charm!" she said smiling.
"Why are there faces on these two?" he said pointing at the two middle horns.
"'Cause that one's you," she pointed at the big horn, "And that one's me!" she pointed to the smaller horn.
Arturo blushed. "And what are these supposed to be?" he touched all of the teeth.
"Those are all the hollows that will follow us when we get strong enough to rule them!"
"I'm the only one that will rule them. You'll just be another follower." Arturo corrected.
"Oh, whatever! Do you like it?" Noucozai asked excitedly.
"No." Arturo tossed it in the sand.
"Hey!" Noucozai ran over to the charm and picked it up. "You didn't have to throw it, meany!"
"I don't want it." he said. Noucozai suddenly tackled him. "What are you doing?! Get off of me!"
"No!" she started using one of the sharp, pointed teeth she picked up to sew it to his jacket. He kicked her off of him and looked at his jacket that now had the charm attached to it.
Arturo groaned. "You annoying little..."
Noucozai stuck his tongue out at him.
Arturo must have liked it. He left it on his coat that whole time, even though he could have ripped it off like he did. It made her smile to remember those fun times. She heard the door open and close. Noucozai sat up and saw Ichigo. She had a question for him.
"Ichigo." she said.
"Yes? What is it, Noucozai?" he asked walking over to her.
"Do you know who it was... who killed Arturo?"
Ichigo gasped at the question. But he thought for a second and said, "A Soul Reaper named Kisuke Urahara."
Noucozai nodded. She would remember that name for as long as it took, and the next time she heard that name, she'd be the one to carve it into the gravestone.