Break and Bind
"The mane of the sun pouring down / Erases the footprints on thin ice / Do not fear deception / The world already lies atop deception."
Chapter 26: The Legend of Akio Amoux
Tousen's grasp tightened, pressing dangerously against his windpipe now. Furiously, rage freely rushing through him, he couldn't do a damn thing.
Aizen's smile lingered for a few moments while his gaze remained on Grimmjow's incapacitation, before he turned to the others.
"Now that has been taken care of," he drawled — Grimmjow wished he could do more than just scowl and mentally curse — "I will be taking my Espada back to Hueco Mundo."
Grimmjow's eyes narrowed. That didn't seem to match… Aizen wouldn't drag his ass all the way to the human world just to take them back to Las Noches. And he'd dragged Ichimaru and Tousen for the ride…
Kurosaki seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Yeah? And what else did you come here for?" he demanded from Aizen.
The ex-Shinigami chuckled. The noise made the hairs on the back of Grimmjow's neck stand up. "Ah, Kurosaki Ichigo. You're still afraid I plan to recapture Inoue Orihime."
"And what if I am?"
"You don't need to worry…right now, that is." He paused for a moment, letting that sink in.
Then the blond shopkeeper, who'd housed the four Espada delegates and Anza, spoke. Grimmjow forgot he was still there.
"What connection did you have to Akio Amoux?"
That distracted him from Anza for a moment. What?
Aizen laughed again. Grimmjow wanted to shudder. "Clever as ever, Urahara Kisuke," the ex-Shinigami remarked.
Silence fell but Grimmjow's mind was racing. Is that fucker admitting he and Amoux were working together? Aizen knew Amoux was coming here? He knew we'd be weakened… So it's his damn fault Anza's —
He shook his head roughly, then cursed himself. He forgot Tousen still restrained him.
Aizen surveyed them all, and then began to speak.
"Akio Amoux has been made into a Shinigami legend, sometimes told as a morality tale to children. I myself heard his story while studying at the Shinigami Academy. The version I heard went like this: About four hundred years ago, Amoux began experimenting with Hollows, and with his own powers. His laboratory had been far removed from any of the Thirteen Squads' barracks, and as such, no one was aware of his experimentation. Then, one day, Yamamoto Genryusai sensed something was amiss and tracked Amoux down, destroying his laboratory. Amoux had never been seen since then…
"Naturally this version has been altered over the centuries to maximize Soul Society's integrity and virtue in dealing with the situation, while minimizing much mention of Amoux — to, of course, prevent young Shinigami from following in his footsteps.
"However, in the years since hearing that story, I have discovered the complete account, which Soul Society has worked tirelessly to cover up.
"Like myself, Amoux had always had a…fascination with Hollows and an interest in breaking the barriers between our race and theirs. Amoux also enjoyed experimentation on his own powers, altering the abilities of his two zanpakuto, and after several years, turned them into a Hollow-trapping device. One of his blades would act as a regular blade, which he would use to maim the Hollow he chose to capture. He would lace that sword edge with a short-term poison, however, that would slip into the Hollow's bloodstream once attacked, and would considerably slow it down. The other blade would contain spells to coax the Hollow's essence from its physical body. Together, the swords would then extract the soul into the blades for storage.
"Amoux was able to remain undetected — or, I should say, not considered an alarming threat to Soul Society — for many years. However, his next project was to utilize the souls he had captured to attempt to create a new species from them — by mixing their blood with Shinigami DNA.
"Shortly after his work began on this project, he was apprehended by Captain-Commander Yamamoto. The project, as far as Soul Society knew, was terminated. Amoux, who had risen at this point to Captain of Squad Twelve, was banished by Yamamoto from the Gotei 13. His status as a Shinigami was revoked and Amoux was permanently exiled from Soul Soicety. He fled to the most natural place to resume his research: Hueco Mundo, home to all Hollows.
"Three centuries later, I encountered Amoux shortly following my first visit to Hueco Mundo. I had already begun experimenting in the attempt to create a Hollow-Shinigami hybrid, inspired by stories of Amoux's work. Yet, I possessed the key to this project's success, something which Amoux neither possessed, nor could possibly dream of."
"The Hougyoku," stated Urahara. His voice was level yet hinted anger.
"Indeed," smirked Aizen. "Upon first-hand inspection of Amoux's laboratory and research, I could see the potential his work had. I officered him usage of the hougyoku, to use it how he would. In return, I requested permission to use Amoux's creations — and Amoux himself — as part of my plan to eventually destroy the army I had begun to build at the time."
Aizen lapsed into silence while the remaining soldiers took in his words. With varying degrees of comprehension, his words began to sink in. Ulquiorra and Grimmjow, the only Arrancar present, stared at their master in disbelief.
Ichigo glared at Aizen, his hand, tightly clutching Zangetsu, shaking in fury. "Why would you do that? Why waste your time creating something if you're just planning on destroying it?"
Aizen's smile turned mocking. He looked almost as if he was about to say something, but then Urahara spoke once more.
"Because he wanted to use them to destroy Soul Society for him, isn't that right?" Urahara looked at Aizen with a blazing stare. "So he could steal the King's Key and fashion himself a god?"
Aizen inclined his head. "Indeed, this is true," he confessed, his tone devoid of any guilt. He started to slowly approach them. His pace was light, like he was merely taking an afternoon stroll. "My, my. My own Espada disappoint me. Of the four I sent here, only two remain: one is tied up" — he glanced at Grimmjow, who glared back — "and the other" — a glance in Ulquiorra's direction — "could very well follow."
Grimmjow twisted his body against Tousen's restraint and choked, "You fuckin' bastard. Look at that disgusting loyalty and ass-kissing so many Arrancar gave you. Hell," he gasped when Tousen twisted the wrist held behind the Espada's back, "look at Ulquiorra, the biggest ass-kisser of them all. And for what?"
Aizen chuckled. "Ulquiorra, like all other Arrancar, yourself included" — Grimmjow flinched — "fell into my trap."
Grimmjow started to growl, but he quickly stopped when Tousen twisted his wrist further.
Before anyone could even think to move, Aizen had already shunpo'd to Shinji, who still bent over, his face set in a grimace with blood dripping from his chest. "Hirako Shinji. My last…failed experiment." Then Aizen's zanpakuto slid from its sheath — A swish — The unmistakable soft crunch of a blade entering a body — Its sliding out —
Shinji's eyes closed as he fell from the sky.
"SHIN —" Ichigo started to yell, barely managing to finish the name when Kenpachi's immobile body dropped as well.
Yoruichi flash-stepped from beside Urahara to six feet away from Aizen. Her yellow eyes glared. She looked ready to rip Aizen to shreds. Waves of rage rippled off her.
Then a whirlwind swept from her, raising everyone's hair and whipping at her own. Some wondered if she was about to turn into a sphinx like Anza had. Her reiatsu spiked as the ferocious winds ripped at her clothes. Shreds of her sleeves, the back of her sweater, flew into the air. She ripped the rest of them off, revealing a black, skin-tight halter top.
"Shunko!" she roared, her right foot outstretched, swinging to Aizen's side for a roundhouse kick. He calmly blocked it but her other leg had already swung high for another strike. He caught it with his other hand. Yoruichi twisted to free her right foot. Aizen's grip wouldn't slacken; she gave a sudden pull of her leg back towards herself. He lurched a little forward; her eyes widened — Then he stopped her attempt and tightened his hold. Faster than anyone could blink, he flicked his wrist. The resounding crack swept across the air.
Yoruichi's eyes widened and she grunted a curse. Aizen carelessly tossed her away and she landed in the air, on her injured leg. She sank to a kneel. Sweat dripped down her nose.
Urahara and Byakuya shot forward but Ichimaru and Tousen vanished from restraining Grimmjow to appear before them. The two looks at one another and nodded.
"Senkei, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi," intoned Byakuya. A thousand pink cross-like blades encircled him and the two defected Captains. Urahara slipped past them, heading straight to Aizen. He raised Benihime, eyeing the exposed part of Aizen's neck…
SLAP! SLASH! SWISH!
Dazed, Urahara fell and it took him a couple seconds to realize what had hit him. Something hot and wet dripped down his cheek. He raised his eyes to see Aizen sheathe his sword. A self-satisfied smirk curved on his lips. Urahara's gaze dropped below him. A similarly dazed Yoruichi looks up at him with a goofy look on her face.
He shook his head and made a mental note to bring this up to her once the battle was over — if they all made it out alive. He extended an arm to her and, still looking like she was in a trance, she took it.
He frowned. She's like deadweight, he thought.
Just then, Yoruichi's face contorted and her body started to dissolve. Urahara released her hand in shock but she smiled — a smile that wasn't the one he knew so well…
Her skin lightened, her body broadened, and her hair began to turn brown and short…
Aizen Sousuke slashed Urahara in half. His body bubbled then split apart in two halves whizzing through the air like a balloon with the air being let out of it.
The real Urahara appaeared behind Aizen, Benihime pointed at the tyrant's neck and his hand braced against it. Ichigo raced towards the brown-haired ex-Shinigami, yelling, "GETSUGA TENSHO —"
Ten feet to his left, Byakuya's Senkei exploded. Tousen Kaname flung himself forward to meet Ichigo's attack. His reiatsu skyrocketed. He held his zanpakuto point-down. "Hundred Insect Ritual: Lunatic Cricket!" he shouted. Purple-black reiatsu poured out from him. Deep purple threads stretched out from every angle, solidifying and turning black. Several merged together with a squelching noise. Six black, hairy arms sprouted from his body, and a tail behind. Upon his head was a white, bone-like mask with bulbous knobs where eyes should go. The eyes opened to reveal giant orange eyes with tiny green irises surveying them all. With lightning-like speed — faster than anyone had seen him move before — he appeared before Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho. It looked like it would obliterate him entirely —
SWISH!
Ichigo's Getsuga was split in two. Pieces of reiatsu scattered and vanished into smoke.
Then suddenly Tousen began to laugh, wildly, ecstatically, "HAHAHAHAHA! I CAN SEE!"
"What the…fuck…" hissed Grimmjow, stepping forward. He looked like he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Why would you choose to be a Hollow?" inquired Ulquiorra. He had not moved from where he stood.
Tousen laughed again, a tinny sound now to his voice. "Why else but power! Aizen-sama offered me more than you worthless Arrancar could ever dream of having!"
"Tch," scoffed Grimmjow. "Yeah right." He grinned. "Always wanted to kick your ass, Tousen!"
He lashed out but the Shinigami-turned-Arrancar easily caught his arm and twisted it. Grimmjow shot out his other hand, claws raking against Tousen's furry body but unable to pierce through. He clawed his hand into a fist and punched the new Arrancar's face. Tousen's grip slackened enough for Grimmjow to twist his arm around and yanked it towards him, when Tousen shot forwards as well, Grimmjow jerked around to land a solid kick to the ex-Shinigami's ribs.
Swish!
Tousen was gone. Grimmjow scanned the area then spun around. Tousen charged towards him. Grimmjow readied himself — even though he felt his stamina draining. He wouldn't be able to hold up his resurrección for much longer at this rate… Tousen's reiatsu kep rising and rising much higher than Grimmjow had ever sensed it go — There was no way he'd be able to take this on but to escape would use more energy —
Shitshitshitshitshitshit!
He clawed his hands and slashed them through the air — when they were about eye level, something flashed right in front of him. He froze and the blue glow that had surrounded him ebbed away.
A Shinigami stood in front of him, a few inches shorter than him. The Shinigami's shihakushō was torn at the sleeves. He had short, spiky, dark-purple hair. Nothing special except for the weapon he held in both hands. Two giant scythes connected by a thick chain. But this Shinigami was hunched over, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly, heaving and panting deeply. Grimmjow's sharpened sense picked up the smell of some fresh, some drying blood, a lot of it.
The Shinigami looked over his shoulder. Grimmjow noticed three scars, straight lines, down the right side of his face. Then the next second, the Shinigami pushed him out of the way, then shunpo'd next to him. Tousen whipped past the spot where they'd both stood seconds ago and skidded to a halt. Grimmjow scowled, now owing his life to another fuckin' Shinigami. In light of the present situation, he held back commenting on what a perv this Shinigami's gotta be if he tattooed "69" on the other side of his face.
"If you…don't…mind," the Shinigami panted, "I'll handle this one." At Grimmjow's glare, he added, "This one's personal."
Grimmjow shrugged. "Whatever. It's your funeral."
As the Shinigami and Tousen cleared off to fight, Grimmjow looked back at Aizen.
Fuck!
Ulquiorra, Kurosaki, Urahara, and that Yoruichi woman attacked Aizen with everything they had left but Aizen was just catching them easily or, most tiems, not even bothering. He'd shunpo away. Even if they tried to corner him from all angles, he'd still be able to escape.
Fuck… Sorry, Anza.
He rushed into the battle, kicked back almost instantaneously. Wounded and panting even heavier, he doubled over, cursing his weakness. Seconds later, something black and white swished past him. Ulquiorra.
Then Aizen appeared in front of him. Grimmjow glared at him with all the hatred he had for this son of a bitch.
"Ah. At last," drawled Aizen. That damn smile was on his face again. "My dear Espada…" He laughed again. "I thank you both for your services, but I have no need for either of you anymore."
Grimmjow realized what Aizen was about to do a second before the ex-Shinigami shot towards him and Ulquiorra, too fast for him to be able to put up his hands and defend himself. This was it, this was the end of him…
Well, he thought grimly, maybe I'll see Anza again… He snorted to himself. Who am I fuckin' kidding? I'm going straight to Hell.
Just when he thought it was all over, when he was clinging to memories of Anza to hide his fear, his own death so close he could just see the Gates of Hell rise up to take his soul —
Flash!
Another Shinigami stood in front of him, also shorter than him. Long balck cape, crazy fuckin' weird reiatsu, thin black sword out… and that damn orange hair.
Shit! Not again! That was the second time he owed his life to Kurosaki!
Grimmjow turned around to see if Ulquiorra was finding this as weird as he was. The Cuarta's face was as blank as usual but his eyes were widened.
Grimmjow turned back.
Aizen laughed. "Kurosaki Ichigo, defending my Espada?" he drawled, amusement in his voice. "I see my decision to eliminate them is not flawed. Befriending Shinigami? Unacceptable."
"We're not friends," Grimmjow cut in angrily.
"Grimmjow, shut up." He opened his mouth to angrily retort, but Kurosaki spoke over him. "I want you and Ulquiorra to get back."
Neither Espada moved.
Ichigo sighed but addressed Aizen. "I'm not gonna have you slaughter your own subordinates like that. They were loyal to you — and you just throw them away like that?"
"Sympathy for Hollows from a mere Shinigami." Aizen chuckled again. "Then again, ryoka boy, you are becoming a Hollow yourself."
Ichigo tensed.
"My Arrancar were intended to be destroyed. Those who failed to keep you and your friends from penetrating Las Noches have been dealt with, with the exception of the four I sent here. Szayel Aporro lost his battle with Abarai Renji. You, Grimmjow, lost to Kurosaki Ichigo, and Tia Harribel, who had been watching the battle, did not step in to prevent him from penetrating further. You, Ulquiorra, allowed yourself to be caught in Grimmjow's Caja Negacíon and once you broke out, lost to Kurosaki Ichigo and permitted him and his friends to escape with Inoue Orihime. Two Espada have already gone down, and you two are heavily weakened by fighting Les Railles and Akio Amoux, as I had planned. And now, I shall obliterate you."
"No," said Ichigo firmly. Dark red reiatsu gathered around him. He raised his hand to his face. Hollow reiatsu swept over him as his energy soared. "You'll have to get past me, Aizen!"