Chapter 29 – Back and Forth

"Hey…..wake up."

Tatsuki stirred.

"Wake up already!"

The Arrancar was knocked awake by a powerful kick, making her roll onto her side.

"Ow…."

"Tch! That was nothing!"

"Oh yeah! I'll show you-"

When Tatsuki stood up, she finally got to see three important things.

Fact 1 – She was in a dark void, with the floor being made of glass.

Fact 2 – The speaker addressing her was female.

Fact 3 – It was herself.

Specifically, it was a version of her – the original Tatsuki Arisawa. A regular human from Karakura Town, who attended Karakura High, and was skilled at karate.

The copy was wearing a school uniform.

"What the hell?! Who are you?"

"Dumbass, I am you. Or rather….a piece of you."

"Are you seriously going to listen to this crap?"

The Arrancar turned and saw a beast with a mask covering the face….black hair poked out from the sides in sharp tuffs, and the torso was bare. But the mask had stretched down to the neck, making a nice collar.

The same mask remnants Tatsuki currently had.

"…..what is this….."

"Don't listen to this pathetic girl. She's no longer you. You've changed. You are a Hollow now." The beast said. Tatsuki noticed the voice was a distorted version of her own.

"Hollow my ass!" Human Tatsuki grabbed her copy and pulled her around. "Stop pushing your memories away!"

"Ha! Memories?! What good are they? Now you have the means to actually fight…..wasn't that you wanted?" Hollow Tatsuki asked, aiming more at her counterpart.

"Shut up!" She turned to her Arrancar. "How could you. How could you ever forget about Ichigo?! Or Orihime?! Or the rest of our friends!"

"I knew all of those voices….." Tatsuki muttered.

"Yes. You're not Aizen's puppet, and you're not some lapdog for the Espada. You're Orihime's best friend!"

"Some friend!" The hollow scoffed. "What friend lies to you and doesn't help you get stronger?"

"…."

"She and Ichigo had other priorities…..remember the night Grimmjow's mooks came to the town?"

"…what? I was there when….senpai….?"

"Ugh, yes. Don't you remember how you were completely powerless, but Ichigo was struggling with his inner demons? His mother's killer?" Human Tatsuki said.

"Ha! Ichigo never thought of you as a worthy friend, and that's why it took you ages to find help! And then look! It gets you killed!" The hollow shouted.

"You take that back! If it wasn't for Ichigo, our town would be rubble! All of our friends would be dead!" Human Tatsuki countered.

"But…." Tatsuki was so lost. "…..Grimmjow said-"

"He is all that and more." Hollow Tatsuki sneered. "Look at yourself. Look at me! Is the fate you wanted in life? If your Shinigami friend was more willing to be there for you, maybe this would be different! They hunt down us!"

"Ichigo would never hurt us!" Human Tatsuki growled.

"Oh yeah? He's-"

"Stop!"

The Arrancar put a hand on both figures and pushed them away.

"…Ichigo is in this castle, right? He wants to save that girl…..Orihime."

"And you." Her human counterpart said softly. "He cares about you, and so does Orihime. She was trying to make you remember. ...she's lost so much already."

"What do you….mean?"

Her Hollow rolled her eyes. "She told us that her brother became a Hollow and Ichigo purified it. You were there that night, you idiot. But do you really think….Orihime would want to be friends with a Hollow?"

The human punched the Hollow in the face.

"You take that back right now. Orihime will always be our best friend!"

The human grabbed her doppelganger face.

"Remember, Tatsuki. You have to remember….Ichigo will save you, like he always does."

"No he won't. Embrace your Hollow self now. You wanted to be stronger. All of these memories….they're just gonna drag you down!" Hollow Tatsuki exclaimed.

"….remember….?"

"Yeah. If you have that….."

The glass floor was starting to crack.

"…you'll be able to go home."

"….but who's the voice I keep hearing? The….one who calls me Spikey-chan?"

Human Tatsuki smiled, just as the floor broke completely. But only the Arrancar was the one who fell downward.

"That's Yachiru, you dummy. She's…..a really good friend."

Both figures looked as Tatsuki fell further into the void…..the darkness eventually swallowing her up.

"She promised to protect you."


(With Dordonii)

That same good friend had drawn her own zanpakutou.

"Ichi. Go on with Nel-chan. I'll fight this guy."

"Yachiru….you sure?"

"Yep."

Ichigo glanced at Dordonii, who has grinning and about to strike.

"…."

"Time's up nino!"

As Dordonii jumped forward, blade aimed directly at Ichigo's face, Yachiru moved and blocked the hit. Ichigo quickly grabbed Nel and dashed forward.

"Hm…."

Dordonni dodged Yachiru's slash, having turned to face Ichigo.

I want to see his power….it'd be no fun if he leaves….

Dordonni sonidoed forward and managed to cut the substitute across his eyebrows, forcing him to release Nel and jump back.

"Don't be so coy, you two. You boast about cutting me, yet you want one of you to leave? You think I can't do a 2 on 1 battle?"

Ichigo growled, rubbing his face. Yachiru was dashing towards Dordonii now.

"I want to see two things, nino…..your Bankai….and your Hollow mask."

Ichigo moved to strike Dordonii, but he blocked the hit. Unfortunately, it gave Yachiru an opening to cut his cheek, forcing the Privaron to flip back. And hit the wall.

"…..this guy's a clown…." Ichigo groaned.

Dordonii stood up and rubbed his head.

"Well, nino?"

"No. I'm not wasting my power on you when there's 93 Arrancar between you and the Espada."

"Restraining yourself for the sake of battle? Very admirable! It's important for those who seek strength."

"Stop wasting my goddamn time already!"

Ichigo jumped to attack, but Dordonii stabbed his shoulder and slashed his arm, jumping back when Ichigo hit the wall and fell down.

"Itsygo!"

Ichigo stood up.

"…that's it, Don Panini. You've pissed me off now, so…..I think I'll just kill you quickly and be done with it."

Dordonii smirked when Ichigo raised his zanpakutou.

"Bankai!"

More of the boy's impressive reiatsu crashed down on him, but now his appearance had changed. A different coat. A thinner sword. But he was still pissed off.

"Great! Let the battle-!"

Tensa Zangetsu was slicing up his face in seconds. Nel was amazed, and Yachiru was more so – she never got to see him physically fight in it before. Ichigo finished his combo by charging up his zanpakutou with red-black energy.

"Getsuga…..TENSHO!"

The crescent energy wave crashed into Dordonii like a freight-train, making him fly through the hall and smash into the wall.

"Yachiru, let's get moving." Ichigo declared.

When the trio were almost to the door, the voice spoke up:

"Whirl, Giralda!"


(With Gantenbainne)

Nemu blocked another one of the Arrancar's powerful punches with her fist with ease, and this time she opted to throw the Arrancar into a pillar. Uryu was standing on the sidelines.

I must see how this Arrancar battles…..I have never fought one before….

"Impressive, Shinigami-san." Gantenbainne got up and dusted himself off. "With no weapon, you still manage to hold your own."

"My name is Nemu Kusamiya."

"…..Forgive me, Kusamiya. I will address you properly."

Nemu's eyes widened slightly when he was suddenly in front of her, his fist smashing into her stomach.

"But now….I cannot hold back."

The girl was knocked back, allowing for Gantenbainne to jump forward and swing his leg, crashing it into her neck. But when she rolled back, she dodged his next strike.

"I am sorry. But neither can I."

Nemu's fist crashed into his skull with impressive force, and Uryu was certain he could've heard several bones crack.

"Aaah….."

Gantenbainne flew into the wall, and Nemu charged him.

"I have a mission, Mosqueda-san."

He got up and block Nemu's next punch, wincing as she began to smash her fists back and forward rapidly, like a piston pumping.

My hierro isn't standing up to her….this could be dangerous…

Uryu's eyes widened.

"Nemu-san!"

But it was too late.

Gantanbainne moved his hand and fired the cero directly into Nemu's side, engulfing her and making her hit the floor as she skidded through the wall.

"Well….." He adjusted his visor. "It seems it's a death match now. ….Ishida, you're not going to jump in, are you?"

"…I accepted your whim to not fight 2 on 1." Came the reply.

Nemu slowly stood up, but now Gantenbainne had readied his dagger, charging energy in between the prongs.

"Uno!"

The dagger and fist pierced Nemu's abdomen.

"Dos!"

Gantenbainne pulled back and delivered a barrage of punches, just like Nemu did seconds earlier.

This is the power of an Arrancar…..how skilled are the Espada with physical damage? Nemu-san is tough, though….she will not go down easily….

"Cientos!"

A final fist was raised and crashed down into Nemu's skull, forcing the vice-captain to the ground as a shockwave rumbled out.

"…is that it…..Kusamiya?"

Uryu looked on in slight worry.

"…..no."

Nemu grabbed Gantenbainne's leg and pulled him to the floor, allowing her to jump up into the air. Blood soaked her face, but she had been beaten worse.

"I have a mission." She repeated. She began to descend.

Gantenbainne scoffed.

I'm sure she knows better than that…..! He began to charge up a cero to stop her movement. Curiously, Nemu did not even try to move away. The cero fired, but before it hit, Nemu disappeared.

"…tch." The Arrancar stood up and looked around. "Where did she go…?"

His answer was Nemu rising from the floor and delivering a powerful uppercut to his face. The force propelled him to the ceiling, and now Uryu heard more bones crack, including the neck.

"I will finish this, Uryu-san."

Nemu jumped up with a determined look, but:

"Strike, Dragra!"

The burst of reiatsu forced her to the ground, and now Uryu had narrowed his eyes, instinctively readying his bow.

This is an Arrancar's resurreccion...

Gantanbainne's new arms were longer and the daggers now looked like dragon heads, but most striking was the dome-like armor. He jumped and landed across from Nemu.

"Are you ready, Kusamiya?"

Nemu saw Uryu stepping forward, but she raised her arm to block him.

"This duel is between me and him, Uryu-san. Please relax. I will take him down."

"…there's nothing wrong if you want to switch out."

Nemu shook her head.

Part of the reason was simple – she had feelings for him and did not like to see him get harmed, even if he had his powers back. But she couldn't take too much risks with Mayuri Kurotsuchi involved – she could take a lot of physical punishment, but not the Quincy.

The boy had to be at 100% when they found him.

"I will continue fighting."


(With Cirucci)

Nanao ducked to avoid another swing of the whip-disk, and Chad did the same. The movement crashed into a pillar and made it topple over.

"Tch…this is slightly annoying!"

Cirucci moved her weapon downward, but Nanao flash-stepped away as Chad jumped to dodge it.

"Hmmm?"

Chad turned and charged her.

"You there, human…what's that power you've got?"

Chad aimed his transformed fist directly at the girl, but she moved and used her whip-disk to force the half-Mexican to jump back as it cut a hole through his shirt.

"Answer me!"

"I have no reason to tell you anything." Chad replied, glancing at the whip-disk crashing into more pillars as it moved away.

He charged Cirucci again, but she smirked and snapped the weapon back towards Chad with stunning precision.

"Bakudo #81 – Danku!"

Until the transparent barrier blocked it from cutting his head off. The blade sizzled as it spun against the weight of the barrier.

"You! You little….!"

"Sado. I will set up an opening for you." Nanao whispered. Chad didn't reply, still looking down at his arms.

It seemed like now that he was in range of an actual Arrancar, a more sophisticated Hollow, being exposed to her energy…..the tingling feeling was getting more intense.

Cirucci pulled her weapon back.

"Is the game you really want to play, Shinigami? Magic tricks?"

"How insulting." Nanao scoffed and dispelled the barrier. "Kido is not magic. With powers both of us share, can anything be called….magic?"

"Yes. You're not even using a zanpakutou!"

"I don't need to use it." Nanao replied.

Cirucci growled.

"You know, the arrogance from both of you is getting on my nerves! So I think I'm done playing around with you!"

Cirucci sonidoed to a pillar and began to spin the weapon around and a wide arc, but eventually she moved her arm around. The buzzing of the disc became louder, and now it seemed like a pillar was being struck every five seconds.

Nanao gasped as her sleeve was cut, as was Chad's.

She's picked up speed and the path is more erratic now!

The two jumped in different directions, using their senses to guide them. Neither was sharp enough to see actually the weapon, but they were perceptive enough to jump and dodge accordingly.

Unfortunately, the blade still managed to cut both of them in different places. Nanao looked up.

"Hahahaha! Awww, scared? You're like little rats now!"

Cirucci's movements began to go faster, and now it seemed like her arm was a blur of limbs. Chad couldn't prepare an attack now; he was concentrating as hard as he could to dodge.

Nanao was doing the same, but as she was dodging…..she noticed something.

Sado and I are injured…..but he keeps jumping in the same pattern. One back. One left….one right. Like a triangle.

Nanao felt her cheek get sliced open. The one Driscoll had punched days ago.

I see. She can't switch it up or else she'll lose valuable attack speed. She's forcing us on the defensive, but she's not bothering to protect herself. She just wants us to tire, then she can kill us.

Chad grunted as his forehead was sliced open.

One shot then….

Nanao charged her finger up while still dodging. She felt her glasses fly off by the wind of the strikes.

Heh heh….the pillars are about to fall! They'll be crushed!

"Bakudo #4…."

Nanao flipped to dodge the next strike, rather than jumping as usual. This caught Cirucci's attention.

"Ha! Got you!"

She switched her arm's movement, but in the few moments of respite….

"BYAKURAI!"

The burst of lightning was able to fire before the weapon could strike Nanao. It blasted Cirucci, making her topple over and fall down.

"Sado!" Nanao called out.

Before Cirucci could regain her footing, the purple first crashed her backside, breaking her spine.

"El DIRECTO!"

The blast launched Cirucci into the ceiling, but the force of collision rang out in the room, making it rumble. Including several of the pillars about to topple over.

"You…..!"

Chad dashed over to Nanao as the Arrancar begin to fall. Her body was crushed.

"…dare…..!"

"Ise, are you okay?" He asked. Nanao stood up and picked up her glasses.

"….hit me…..!"

"Yes, I'm fine." Nanao replied.

"Rip….Golondrina!"

Cirucci's body was enveloped in dust as it began to transform, and the burst of reiatsu released caused two things to happen.

1 - Chad's arms had flashed white.

2- The pillars were forced to fall, with one directly in front of Nanao.

"Ise-san!"

Chad moved to knock out her of the way, but suddenly…..his other arm had morphed in shape. The other arm had begun to shift as well. The pillar was centimeters from their heads.


(With Kaien)

"….K-Kaien-dono….what are you doing here?"

Kaien jumped down to the floor.

"What do you mean, Kuchiki?"

Rukia was still stammering.

"You…..I…..Metastacia! He took control of you….I…..was the one who….!"

"Ah, that." Kaien sighed and rubbed his head. "Funny story, really. We have a lot to discuss, so maybe we should sit down."

He gestured to a cushion right under Rukia, who obeyed and sat down.

"What the hell is this?!" Candice shouted. "We're not here to catch up! We have friends to save, remember?"

"Sssh!"

Kaien sat down across from her.

"Huh….I didn't know you would bring a friend, Kuchiki. You never had too many of those back in the day."

Rukia nodded, wanting him to explain.

"Well…..after the events of that night, when you brought my body back to the Shiba house….my soul was crushed, shattered. Thrown into Hueco Mundo."

Candice scoffed.

"But that Hollow….it was designed by Aizen to regenerate every time it died. So when it did….I was regenerated with it…..but this time, I had the control."

Rukia looked slightly skeptical. Candice wasn't buying a single word.

"It's true, I tell you! ….so I became an Espada." Kaien took out a white mask with 8 small holes. "I wanted to get revenge on Aizen for what he did."

"Oh you have got to be-"

"Kaien-dono…..why?"

"Why? Well I prefer the dark, and the sunlight created by the dome is no good for me….u-uh, because of my complexion." He said.

"No….all of this time…..there was no way to give any of us a message? The entire divison….we were….shattered by your death. Yours and….Miyako-dono's."

"Did someone call my name?"

Rukia's eyes went wide.

Now her beloved third seat had entered the room, wearing the exact clothing her husband was. Her pristine smile and hair looked no different from her last days.

"M-Miyako-dono?!"

"Yeah, she's here too!" Kaien grinned. "When I took control of Metastacia….I managed to break her soul out!"

Rukia was completely overwhelmed.

"We…..you….oh my…." Her head was spinning now. "The two of you survived….I can't believe it! We….you….can you believe it, Catnipp?"

Candice rolled her eyes.

"Kuchiki, I think you're getting a little too crazy here. So you know these people. So what? Just bring them so we can go already!"

"Who's this?" Miyako asked.

"Oh never mind her!" Rukia smiled and stood up. "Let's just go! Captain Ukitake's on this mission too, and when he sees you…..gaaah! I have to tell Kiyone and Sentaro!"

She didn't see the flash of panic on the couple's faces.

Candice did.

"Umm…..hold on, Kuchiki. There's something you need to do first."

"Anything!" She replied, eyes shining. "I will do anything for you two! …..after all that's happened…"

"Good." Kaien smiled and stepped forward. "It's just a small favor. Miyako and I are both part of this little mission, and we would really need your help. If you don't mind?"

Rukia nodded. Candice glanced at Miyako, who wasn't saying anything, following her husband's words carefully.

"Okay."

Kaien unsheathed his blade and held it out.

"Understand when I ask you…you should obey. Because….well, you know the story."

The "story" was that one night, the Hollow Metastacia had killed Miyako Shiba and her entire squad. Kaien had went out to avenge her, but when he found him, he had been killed and possessed.

Rukia Kuchiki was forced to kill him, thinking he would be freed of the torturous fate. Now her excitement had turned to guilt.

"…..right." She said quietly, looking down.

"Okay, someone explain this crap right now!" Candice shouted. "Or I'm busting heads!"

"Simple." Kaien said. "I died….and Kuchiki here was forced to kill me. Take my life away. I had a brother and a sister, a division…..she took that away."

Rukia closed her eyes.

"It's true." Miyako added. "…..now look at us. Being in Las Noches…."

"You're not making any sense. How can you be around if a Hollow iced you both?"

"Metastacia-"

"Shut up!" She shouted, making Rukia glare at her. "This girl….and her captain….obviously care about you. So why wasn't the first thought to go home to them?"

"…Aizen-"

"Why would you want to be here?" Candice demanded. "I bet your little brother and sister were more heartbroken then she was!"

"You don't know the story, Quincy-san." Miyako said quietly. "You don't know….us. Stop trying to insert yourself into the situation."

"So do you agree, Rukia?"

"Yes….I agree. I will do anything you say…..if it means making up for what I did." Rukia said. "I…..ruined so many lives that night. Kiyone and Sentaro…..they really missed you, as did Kukaku and Ganju. But I'm sure Isshin was also in dismay…"

"Heh heh yeah, that crazy Isshin! He…uh…." Kaien was slightly confused.

"Isshin. He's your uncle, remember?"

"R-Right! Ah ha….."

Rukia cocked her head and blinked.

"Anyway, all you have to do is swear your life to us. That sound good?"

"Certainly, but I mustn't forget my friend. Orihime Inoue. She's in this castle…"

"Right, right. Well I'm sure that can wait. Now Rukia, it's simple. You must…..kill this Vandenreich member."

Candice was shocked. As was Rukia.

"…something wrong?"

"….I can't do that. She's also looking for her friend."

Miyako shook her head. "Aren't you forgetting what Quincies do?"

"Yes…..I know the story. But she hasn't eliminated any souls."

"Yes, but she has in the past." Kaien said. "And that's not good, for the….soul balance."

Candice narrowed her eyes.

"….But I…."

"You killed my husband, Rukia. You were the one that denied us the chance for a family."

Rukia gasped.

"But I…..!"

"No buts, Kuchiki." Kaien said coldly. "You want forgiveness? Go kill her."

Rukia turned her head towards Candice.

"…..go ahead, bitch. Touch me and I'll zap your face off." She growled, cracking her knuckles. "If you want to listen to these two and kill me, fine. To think I trusted you Shinigami…."

"….no."

"What?"

Rukia turned back to the Shiba pair.

"You heard me. I'm not doing it. Captain Ukitake trusted her and her friend when they came with us, and I follow him. He would never allow one of his subordinates to kill an ally."

"You'd trust that white-haired fool over me?!" Kaien shouted.

Silence.

Candice noticed Rukia's reiatsu was starting to billow out, with the room decreasing in temperature.

"….you're not Kaien-dono."

"Excuse me?!"

"Kaien would never insult Captain Ukitake, and as his Sixth Seat….I would not defy his morals and ethics."

Now Miyako looked frustrated.

"Is that why you were about to be executed under his command?!"

That had snapped a nerve.

"Shut up! Now who doesn't know anything about the situation?!" Rukia shouted, taking her out zanpakutou. "You and Kaien-dono were dead when that happened! How would you even know?!"

Kaien slapped Miyako.

"You dumbass! You ruined the whole thing!"

Miyako slapped Kaien back.

"You were the one who insulted her captain!"

"ENOUGH!"

Both figures stopped and looked at Rukia. Now the room's walls were starting to freeze up. The small Kuchiki was pissed, and neither Ichigo nor Byakuya had caused her this much rage.

"I don't know who the hell you two are…..but I will not tolerate anymore of this…spitting all over the memories of Kaien and Miyako Shiba!"

Kaien and Miyako had loved each other dearly, with the 13th Division often watching in contentment whenever the two kissed each other or embraced each other.

It was the love that had charmed every member. They would never strike each other.

Candice grinned evilly when Rukia released her zanpakutou.

"Well, well…..finally time for a fight!"


Mayuri shook his head.

"That moron. I allowed his heads to get their own body, and he completely flubbed it! Ah…."

His eyes widened when he switched to the other feeds.

"Something is going on with Sado….and I see Ichigo Kurosaki is ready to kill. And of course Nemu wouldn't die to Mosqueda. Well, one of them will soon be paste."

He flipped the feed and cursed.

"Accursed captains! They're almost to the fortress! I must delay them!"

Mayuri pressed another button.


(With Dordonii)

Ichigo dodged the incoming cero.

Dordoniii's resurreccion form had given him armor, faster speed, and most striking of all, his wounds had regenerated. The substitute had never seen an Arrancar release before.

"You're fast, nino! But I see you starting to struggle!"

Yachiru jumped to attack Dordonii, but one of the cyclone extensions caught her off guard, the bird-like end slamming her into the wall.

Nel was hiding behind Ichigo.

"Shit! Yachiru!"

Ichigo flash-stepped away with the small Arrancar to avoid the other cyclone, reappearing right behind the Privaron. But Dordonii turned and blocked his zanpakutou.

"Heh! Come on! Is that it?!"

The cyclone that had hit Yachiru spun around and knocked Nel to the floor.

"Nel!"

Ichigo jumped down and blocked the next cyclone from hitting the girl, noticing Yachiru approaching Dordonii from behind.

"Are you going to show me your power….nino?"

Ichigo gestured for Yachiru to stop in place.

"If that's what you want, fine."

Ichigo put a hand to his face.

"But you're going to regret it, Don Panini."

Said Arrancar moved his wind to blow Yachiru back again.

"It's Dordonii!"

With a roar, Ichigo moved his hand and summoned the familiar mask, his eyes becoming like that of a Hollow's. Now his reiatsu seemed more menacing than ever.

Nel gasped from behind Ichigo, but Dordonii grinned.

"Excellent!"

Ichigo didn't move when he put his hands together and charged up a large red cero.

"Now let's see…!"

Ichigo followed suit, preparing another Getsuga Tenshou.

"Can your attack….stop this?!"

Dordonii fired the cero, but Ichigo raised his zanpakutou seconds before it could crash into him and Nel.

"GETSUGA TENSHOU!!"

Yachiru's eyes widened in surprise as Ichigo's blast easily overcame the cero and pushed it back, the combined energy smashing into Dordonii. The cyclones dispersed.

"Itsygo…..?"

Yachiru flash-stepped to next to Ichigo and looked him over.

"Wow, Ichi…..you've really gotten stronger that thing!"

Ichigo removed the mask and glared at the dust cloud.

"Are you dead, Don Panini?"

The cloud cleared to reveal a severely wounded Dordonii, and his resurreccion form had faded. He couldn't move, but he had a solemn expression.

"…Afraid not, nino. But….I suppose you're going to finish me off?"

Ichigo turned to the door.

"Nah. I told you I didn't want to waste anymore time on you. We have friends to save."

Dordonii nodded, coughing up blood.

"…..you're powerful, Ichigo Kurosaki. I'm glad….I got to see that power. Maybe….you'll get stronger along the way."

Ichigo picked up Nel and Yachiru followed him.

"Maybe."

Eventually the three were gone.

Dordonii sighed.

Here I was…..trying to get back into the Espada. That boy…..I felt his anger, his passion. If the other Espada are going to stop him, they're not going to win so easily…but they're just tools. I….wanted to be more.


(With Gantenbainne)

Gantenbainne looked vaguely surprised when the girl's hands turned into spinning drills.

"…..interesting. What exactly are you, Kusamiya?"

"A Shinigami." Came the response.

The Privaron merely blinked. Nemu flash-stepped forward and aimed for his back, but Gantenbainne swung his tail into her face, knocking her down.

"Very predictable, Kusamiya…."

Nemu didn't get up when the ends of Dragra began to charge up with energy.

"…..tch. I was hoping for more…"

"Nemu-san! You need to get away!"

Still no movement.

Gantenbainne frowned and stepped back slightly, then fired his beam. What he didn't hear, however, was the whoosh from a last-minute flash-step. Suddenly he cried out in pain.

A drill had pierced his backside, bone pieces and blood spattering everywhere.

He moved and threw Nemu into the wall, then smashed his large form into her, causing her to cough up more blood and fall to the floor again.

"Hah…..a dirty trick…."

Then an electric current had discharged onto his body, forcing him to drop to the ground in pain.

"Aaaah!"

Nemu stood up.

"My drills are not useless when they've been deattached."

Dordonii looked up in disbelief, only to have a foot smash into his face, sending him upward. Nemu jumped over his flying form and crashed her heel into his neck, smashing him into the hole already formed by an earlier collision.

She zoomed down and smashed both of her feet into his stomach.

"Gaaaah….!"

Nemu picked up the Arrancar, the other drill turning back into a hand.

"Forgive me, Gantenbainne Mosqueda. But I did not come here to lose to a lesser Arrancar. I came here for two distinct purposes."

Gantenbainne didn't even attempt to attack. The glare of Nemu's green eyes were something so powerful, so intense, he couldn't help but continue to listen to her.

"I came here to rescue two of my friends…one Orihime Inoue…..and one Tatsuki Arisawa. The other purpose….is to destroy Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

That got Gantenbainne's attention.

"Kurotsuchi….you know of him?"

"He….created me."

Gantenbainne's eyes widened. But he managed a reply.

"….The day I first saw him….I knew he was…..not to be trusted. And if a creation of his wants to destroy him….."

Nemu didn't drop her glare. She did reach around and take out the stopped drill from Gantenbainne's back, reattaching it to her arm.

"…..Understand that I still have my honor. I must attempt to defeat you, Kusamiya."

"I admire your code, Mosqueda-san. But understand nothing is to stop me from accomplishing my goals."

"….then what?"

Nemu raised one of her legs, revealing her white panties from the skirt underneath. The foot had transformed into a large lead ball.

"One of us is to lose right now."

And with that, Nemu crashed the ball into Gantenbainne's face with such force it cracked the floor, eventually causing a hole in the ground and the Arrancar fell down. The sound of bones smashing echoed through the hole.

"How did…..?!"

Nemu turned her foot back to normal.

"Let us be off, Uryu-san."

"Wait!"

Uryu got up and ran over to the hole.

"…how did you….?"

"My hands are not the only body parts capable of transformation. The ball was storing energy from every jump, land, and collision in this battle."

Nemu wiped some blood from her face.

"….I take it…..the night we got rid of the microbes….?"

Nemu nodded. She glanced at the ceiling.

"He is watching our every move, Uryu-san. It is better you and I do not show off too much before the fight can truly begin."

Uryu looked down the hole.

"…..He must've fell through…..more than one floor….but aren't we on the ground level?"

Nemu gently took his hand.

"Come, Uryu-san. I will protect you as we get closer."

Uryu blushed slightly, but nodded.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"I have sustained worse physical injuries than this."


(With Cirucci)

Cirucci descended and smirked, flapping her new wings.

"Well well! Have you two been crushed to a paste yet?"

The dust cleared. The pillar had been crushed to several pieces. By a still standing Chad.

"WHAT?!"

Nanao looked amazed.

"You….have transformed, Sado."

Chad looked down. His purple arm had extended slightly and the end had reformed into a shield. The other arm had turned white. It looked confusing, but something in his mind….gave him the answer.

"…..this is the true form…..of Brazo Derecha de Gigante….."

"The Right Arm of the Giant…..?" Cirucci muttered. What was this human?

Chad flexed the fingers of his other arm. The left one.

"And this…..is Brazo Izquierda del Diablo."

"I don't care about your…..freakish powers! Look at me! An Arrancar heals their wounds when they release, and the both of you are still injured!"

Nanao picked up her glasses and put them back on.

"What can you do now….Sado-san?"

"I'm not sure. I…...feel different. Not just physically, but internally as well."

"Will you two stop ignoring me?!" Cirucci hissed.

She quickly fired a cero from her mouth. Nanao flash-stepped away, but Chad….somehow….disappeared in a buzz of static.

"…..was that sonido?!" Now the Privaron was getting nervous.

"Bakudo #61 – Rikujokoro!"

Cirucci gasped when six rods of light slammed into her midsection, holding her into place.

"Bakudo #4 – Hainawa!"

And the rope of energy tied up her tail. Then Chad appeared across from her and began to run towards her.

"You think I'm helpless just because I can't move?!" Cirucci growled, moving her wings. The edges began to glow as a humming sound rang out.

The left arm of the half-Mexican began to crackle with energy.

"Ala Cortadola Dispersion!"

Cirucci moved a wing towards Chad and began to fire multiple blades from the surface, forcing him to raise the other arm. Surprisingly, each blade bounced harmlessly off the shield.

"What the hell are you made of?!" Frustrated, Cirucci recalled the blades back and fired both wings at once.

She didn't see Nanao appear behind her.

"Hado #45…."

Cirucci's eyes widened. She turned quickly and moved her wing to slash Nanao, knocking her to the ground.

"Ise-san!"

"Well, well…..I think it's time you join her…..human."

Cirucci sneered and turned back around, only to have another buzz of static grace her ears. Chad was now directly in front of her.

"Wha-"

He smashed a white fist into her torso.

"LA MUERTE!"

Nanao's form was thrown upward as the entire room shook, forming a skull-shaped crater on the ground. Many pillars fell to the ground with a large bang.

And Cirucci's resurreccion form was shattered to pieces.

"…why…!"

Chad dropped the defeated Arrancar to the ground. He walked past her and helped Nanao get up.

"…..why….?!"

Chad looked over. Cirucci had barely enough strength left to move to look at him, her form broken.

"…why do you have that power?! You're…..just…..a human….!"

Chad frowned.

"I am. But even a human can do great things. This power….."

His mind flashed to Ichigo. Uryu. Orihime. Rukia. Tatsuki. And lastly…Isane.

"….is to protect my friends."

"Go on, Sado. I need to find my glasses again."

Chad nodded and quickly dashed out of the room. Cirucci merely moaned as Nanao searched around for them.

"Shinigami…..finish me off…..!"

"Is it because you want me to, or because you don't want to deal with the shame of losing to a human?" Nanao asked, finding the pair on the floor again.

"…Espada…..are warriors. We're…..not supposed to lose…..we…..we're supposed to win….this war…"

Nanao shook her head.

"Allow me to tell you something my captain once said."

Cirucci looked on with weak eyes as the vice-captain headed for the door.

"….It doesn't matter who's good and who's bad. When war begins…..we all become evil."


Mayuri's jaw nearly dropped.

"How interesting! So more of his form has become Hollow-like…..I should've kidnapped him as well! But….no matter."

He looked at three feeds.

"So each Privaron has failed…..no doubt because they're all idiots….but this 2 on 1 game is not fun for anyone. I should do something about that."

Mayuri typed in a few keys.

"…..I see Kuchiki hasn't dropped dead quite yet….it should be interesting to see if Aaroniero can work together…or fail horribly in two different bodies."

He switched to another feed.

"Hmm. Zommari will get some interesting challengers. I can finally see what they can do."

And another.

"Ha…..are you joking? Goodness gracious, they'll die in seconds!"


Kensei and Mashiro ran into quite the particular room.

It was slightly lit, but there was no mistaking the posters of Aizen attached to the walls. There were a few pillars, but only enough to make a triangle formation in the center.

"Geez…..this place is creepy, Kensei."

"You're telling me. I didn't know Aizen was that self-centered." Her captain said in disgust.

Then the door sealed shut behind them.

"Oh no!"

"Come out!" Kensei growled.

The calm form of Zommari Leroux arose from the shadows.

"Greetings…..Shinigami."

"You're one of the Espada." Kensei remembered Soi's account from Yoruichi. "Fon fought you in Karakura."

"So you're friends of Captain Fon? How…lovely." He said sarcastically, drawing his zanpakutou. "I am Zommari Leroux….Sexta Espada."

"Number 6…." Kensei cracked his knuckles. "Fine with me."

"Yeah! 9's a higher number than 6, you idiot!" Mashiro stuck her tongue out to taunt the Arrancar.

"In Las Noches…..the opposite is true. Number 6 means I surpass….four Espada. Does that scare you, Shinigami?"

"Looks Aizen forgot what math is." Kensei smirked, knowing it'd provoke the man.

"….do not insult Aizen-sama, you arrogant man. For that….I will kill the both of you."

"Is Aizen your boyfriend?" Mashiro asked, slightly creeped out. "Because….you know, ew."

"Starting with you, girl."


Hanataro continued to whimper as he and his companion headed down the long winding hall.

"Relax Hana-kun! I think we're getting closer!"

"But we h-haven't seen anyone…..!"

He gasped when they found a pink-haired man sitting at a small table, reading a newspaper and sipping a cup of tea.

"Arran-"

Hanataro clamped a hand over Meninas's mouth before she could finish.

"Sssh! Let's go back. Maybe he didn't notice us." He whispered.

"I did."

Hanataro whimpered louder. Meninas kept her glare on the man, who finished his tea and stood up.

"Ah! Delicious. Aizen-sama knows how to pick them."

Szayel smiled as he looked over his opponents.

"Well….a Quincy, and a Shinigami. I suppose I got lucky!"

"…We were just g-going….sir…." Hanataro squeaked out.

"No need! Can't we just stay and chat? Why, I didn't even get your names!"

"Meninas McAllon."

"H-Hantaro….Y-Yamada. …..Seventh Seat."

"Hmmm!" Szayel was impressed. "Seven, that's a marvelous number! I do adore it so. It's better than eight, wouldn't you say?"

"Umm….y-yes, sir. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, because I'm the Septima Espada. Szayel Apollo Granz."

Hanataro really wished his captain was back now.


Lilinette continued to stare at the ceiling in the Primera palace.

"…..Lilinette, you should do something else. Either spar or take a nap."

"Stark…."

She looked to her better half, who was trying to sleep next to her.

"….Stark!"

He opened his eyes.

"What?"

"…..I'm not sitting around and waiting." She declared, standing up. "We….can't let Kurotsuchi just do what he wants."

"But he's watching the whole castle."

"Not the whole castle."

The two looked up. Gin was standing by the doorway.

"Ichimaru….what do you want?" The smaller Arrancar pouted.

"….you two want to act, right? Well…..maybe your chance has come. Cap'n Aizen is focusing on the Hogyoku, and Kaname is training."

"…what of Kurotsuchi?" Stark asked, suspicious.

"He's focusing on the intruders, not everyone in sight. He once said the two of ya don't really interest him, because you don't do anything."

Both of them growled in offense.

"So that means…." Gin smiled. "You're the last two he would expect to….interfere."

Lilinette looked at Stark, who looked back.

"Maybe you can start by getting his latest test subject. Better hurry…..Cap'n Aizen might give an order soon."

They both stared at Gin.

"Or, you know…..she'll die."

That was all the Primera Espada needed to hear.

"Where is she being held?"

FIN

Ending notes - Hopefully I've gotten slightly less terrible at writing these fights. Alas, poor Privarons. As for the other Espada fights, Kensei/Mashiro vs. Zommari should be interesting. Poor Hanataro and Meninas might not be so lucky against Szayel..

Predictions on what opponents the Gotei captains will fight?

Next time - Mayuri's little creations begin to appear, and Gin continues being sneaky.