After yesterday's incredibly gut wrenching, blood curdling, spine snapping ordeals, I felt completely drained; and that's a rare occurrence for me. Ichigo had ferried Rukia off somewhere, and I didn't care where really, just as long as she was safe. After sleeping for several hours straight, thankful that everyone was too busy to bombard me with paperwork, I finally felt back on top. I was once again doing the thing I loved most: strolling through the Serete. I love looking up at the cascading, white spires as well as the smaller buildings they were all amazing, even though they seemed so delicate.
Everything was peaceful again. They had decided to pardon Rukia after reviewing how much of an asset she was to the Soul Society, as well as offering her substitute a Soul Reaper job. Now I would at least have some friends around here instead of people full of murderous glances and hushed insults. Although everything seemed complete to me, I was struck with a very disturbed feeling one day. It had occurred when I had arrived home from a day of Soul-Reapering. A strange, enigmatic note had been deposited onto my desk in my private living house that no one can get into without authorization. Ever.
The note was concealed in an oddly black envelope, which was already odd, considering Soul Reapers used traditional white to signify good news. Maybe this was bad news. What finally struck me was what was on the front. Holding the small, black paper in my hand, I saw a crest on the flap that I hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime. The crest of the Arroncars. My hands were already shaking as I traced the white seal with my finger, the seal in the shape of a hollow's skull. It had used to be so familiar, stamped on every letter I had sent, but now it was strange and dangerous. I didn't even want to open the letter.
I knew that if the Arroncars wanted something to do with the Serete, I was endangering everyone by not opening the letter, so I obliged to the Arroncars' wishes. Gingerly tearing the top of the ash-smelling paper, I retrieved the soft, parchment inside. The writings were scribbled messily in an old ink well pen, most likely the quill of a bird hollow. Sighing in disgust, I slowly read the contents.
Dear Ulquiorra,
We know where you are, and we know what you've done. You've betrayed the blood that is yours, and the kin that have fought to make you what you are. As you most likely wouldn't know, this is a sin punishable by the most severe consequence in the history of the Arroncar. Please be aware that we have alerted all of our most skillful Arroncars that if found, you are to be immediately delivered straight to Huevo Mundo. We also know of your rank in the Soul Society, and have placed many spies amongst your Soul Reapers. We also know who is working with you, and we will use this to get close to you. We shall be seeing you very soon, Captain Shiffer. I can promise you that.
Sincerely, Hallibell.
The last sentences left me with a sick feeling in my stomach. I had remembered Hallibell, and how awful she was. I guessed she had been promoted to the leader of the Arroncars now, since she had sent me such a commanding letter. Quickly destroying the parchment, I considered my options. 1) Stay with the Soul Reapers, and possibly have everyone killed. 2) Willingly return to the Arroncars and be killed myself. 3) Scream and run whilst flailing my arms like a bat out of hell. The third option seemed tempting, but I knew it was useless. Even if I willingly went along, the Soul Reapers would be killed. I would never be able to live with that.
So I chose option 1. Even if a brigade of the strongest Arroncars appeared on the Serete front doorstep, we would most likely be able to destroy them. Not only is the Serete jam packed with experienced, agile Soul Reapers, but they had an Arroncar on their side. Then, something caught me. The letter had detailed spies amongst the base. This thought shattered my entire train of good ideas. The spies would most likely be close to me, even on my own squad, and probably know how to disable me. First, I would have to find out who these spies were. Then I would put my ideas into motion. But then there were the others. I contemplated telling them of the strange letter, thus preparing them for an attack. If I did this, I would come across as a traitor that wormed my way into their stronghold to ambush them, but then becoming soft and partnering with the Soul Reapers like in Avatar.
A sudden depression plopped itself right on my shoulders, so heavy my head drooped towards the floor. I felt completely and utterly defeated. It wasn't a good feeling. I had been feeling it a lot lately. Sighing in grief over the future loss of all my companions, I lumbered out the door to begin my search. As an Arroncar, I could easily depict who was a hollow and who was not, but only if I tried. That was probably why I hadn't found them before. Skittering towards the spires of the Serete, I nimbly leaped upon the buildings, the familiar feel of the roofs under my feet. Mustering all of my hollow energy together, I let my hollow presence leak out of me, illuminating the paths around me. I saw creatures writhing against the white walls, shadows slithering across the floor. Shrieks pierced the air, those of humans and those of monsters. This was what it was like to have the mind of a hollow.
I had always supressed these things, in order to keep my wits about me, but I could always resurface it. In order to reach my full hollow strength, I had to be in this state; even if it hurt me. The writhing shapes and horrible images must have been the souls of my slain brothers, trapped inside the Serete, forced to be purified. That's what happens to hollows when they are slain; transported to the Serete and used to create the foundation of the purity. It sounded so horrible to me know, so much so it churned my stomach. I reminded myself that I had not been properly made a hollow, so I shouldn't be feeling sympathy. Shaking my head, I continued through the bloodied, horror stricken streets of the Serete, searching for my target.
A shape caught my eye, although it was quite strange at first, I knew what it was. I could see it through all the buildings, a red spot amongst all the black shadows. It was absolutely horrifying. I had found the Arroncar, but instead of a simple person, it was a horrible monster, a beast that harboured more writhing shapes than anything in the Serete. This Arroncar had killed more things than any Soul Reaper here, as I could see the black, mottled shapes clinging to his clothes, trying to pull themselves up but smashed to the ground by his spirit energy.
Taking a deep breath, I leapt from the rooftops, trying to get closer to him. He seemed oblivious to my presence, even as I stopped right behind him. The odor he gave off was absolutely rancid; it smelt like rotten souls and dried blood, the insides of bones and the cries of the innocent. I would have killed this abomination to all things good, but I couldn't. Not yet. I had to know who it was. Grasping the creature's shoulder, I turned him around to see a face not even a demonic mother could love. His eyes were that of black pits that leaked spilt blood, and a smile that wound itself around his entire face, like an insect or some other horrifying thing.
"Can I help you, Captain Shiffer?" he hissed. His voice to anyone else would be normal, even charming, but to me it sounded like tar being poured into cracks in a road, like rocks falling from a mountain, crushing the unknowing passerby's below. I almost had to close my eyes; they stung so badly from his retched breath.
"Ah…yes, I wanted to assign you something. You see, there is…some riffraff in the Roukon District! Yes, it's very terrible, and it requires your immediate attention. I think I might just go with you, to make sure no one is hurt. I heard it was in the plains, by the birthing pools." I explained, trying to keep a straight face. He looked confused for a moment, but remembered his place and did as he was told. Following him through the Serete, I gladly switched off my hollow powers, to get a look at the creep's face. The face that replaced a almost made me stop in place, a face I had known so well over the years. A face I would never forget from this day forward.
Renji Abarai.
Well, there you go, brand new chapter just for chu. I don't own Avatar as it was depicted above; it belongs to James Cameron. Jeez, to think you'd know that by now. I do love that movie…I know, I know, this chapter is a little dark and all, what with Ulquiorra's head being all scaaarry. If you don't like it, just review and say "NO NO NO I want happy things." And I will try my best to make it better~. Also, I know some of you will hate me for this, but yes, Renji is a baddy. I was thinking as I was typing at my computer, I'm like, "Hmm…who should I make evil. Bayakuya? No…hmm…RENJI!" and it happened just like that. Well, maybe if you all hate it enough, I'll do something about it, but for now, RENJI IS EVIL! Mwuahahaha….