Long time no see…since my concentration is divided, I don't think I have written this chapter maximally, forgive me *sighing*

Job-seeking is truly exhausting, what with those interviews and written test…

So, on to the story…

#36: Finalé – Part 1 – Splitting

He felt them.

More specifically, he felt him.

Just like Aizen-sama had said before…the strongest one…the brightest reiatsu amongst the others…his reiatsu was, indeed, quite distinguishable. It was so bright and strong the Quatro was involuntarily shuddering.

He frowned. Ulquiorra Schiffer didn't shudder. And…

… Just, how did he know that the reiatsu owner was a 'he'…? Aizen-sama didn't tell him anything regarding the topic…

Ulquiorra blinked and shook his head inconspicuously. Fool, he chided himself. This isn't the right time to ponder about some unnecessary things…like those memories…and how come do I know that the owner of this strong reiatsu is a 'he' all of sudden…

Somehow, the reiatsu feels familiar, just like the previous two…like I have met them before…

…Nonsense.

These ridiculous thoughts…I don't need them.

Closing his eyes, the green eyed Espada eventually settled to wait…wait for him to come and declare a fight.

And then, he would make sure he killed the intruder—cleanly, effortlessly, quickly.

Because, after all, the young man was only a mere trash.

###

"…Shit."

Renji's cuss rang through the empty hallways. He and the others could only stand before the path—paths, actually—before them. The single hallway had been divided into three sections. Each path was un-illuminated, making them dark and creepy. Renji involuntarily shuddered.

"…Not again." He muttered dejectedly. "I don't really like the idea of us being split up…"

Hitsugaya snorted. "What's the matter, Abarai? Scared?"

Renji sharply whipped his head to glare at the white haired taichou. "Of course not!"

"Then why do you hesitate? It's crystal clear that we have to split up here, anyway…to effectively maintain our chance."

Renji was silent. He bowed his head in defeat and eventually murmured, "…Okay, then, let's do the jankenpo—oi, oi, Ichigo!"

The carrot top had already run towards the middle pathway without much ado, or even care for the vicinity.

"I'll take this way." He confirmed firmly before disappeared into the darkness.

His comrades could only stare at his fading back and sigh. Hitsugaya nodded at his fukutaichou and grunted, "…Let's go, Matsumoto." And he dashed into the right path, followed closely by Matsumoto Rangiku.

That left both Renji and Rukia alone. Looking at each other, they shrugged and eventually ran into the left path.

Ichigo, I hope you'll be alright…I know you'll always be. Rukia thought ominously.

…I just hope that you'll succeed this rescue mission…

###

"I can't believe that they managed to trail after us inside the garganta!" Loly's furious screams could be heard ringing through the empty and vast hallways. Her partner, however, wasn't utterly amused at all.

"Loly, if you feel so much resentment towards them, then why didn't you ditch them back inside the garganta? It's not that they could even manage to cross the void, you know…considering their weak reiatsu…"

Loly's grumbles, somehow, gradually changed into maniacal grin. "Nah… you see, Menoly, this makes more pets for me to keep and play with, ne? Don't you think so?"

Menoly only raised a brow at her counterpart's rhetorical question.

"Yeah, that's the reason…the sole purpose for me to save and drag them away from being swallowed by the garganta is for them to be my pets! That means… aside from these two girls, I have extra four boys to play with~!" Loly squealed happily. Menoly frowned and cast her eyes downward.

Beneath their feet, the pluses were lying around, unconscious. The girl with the glasses, the one with blonde hair, and their male friends were now becoming Loly's pets. Somehow, deep inside her hollow heart, Menoly felt some feeling akin to pity towards the poor souls. Being Loly's pets were as good as being dead for them.

"…Anyway, Loly, let's get going. We don't want our superiors being mad at us, do you?" she paused and whistled in a high pitched sound. Loly glared at her.

"Menoly! What the hell was that for? You don't have to whistle that loud only to call for some random Numerós!"

Her partner shrugged. "It can't be helped. Las Noches can be very vacant of any being within radius a thousand meters already. And I don't want to carry them by myself, thank you very much."

Loly scoffed but eventually she agreed. So, they waited for some random lowly Numerós to come over and help them carrying the burdens towards their quarter.

Koheita, ironically, was the first one to regain his consciousness.

Blinking rapidly, he tried to focus his sight only to regret it later. His head felt dizzy and he was disoriented. Somehow, he was now dangling upside down over someone's—or rather, something's—shoulder. He looked around wildly, trying to comprehend his current predicament, only to notice his best friend's equally dangling and unconscious form beside him.

"Kanzaki! Psshh, Kanzaki!" Koheita whispered harshly, trying vainly to wake the puppy eyed man up. Thankfully, his hands were not tied, so he went to shake the other man's shoulder as well. "Kanzaki!"

His friend let out a croaky groan as he rubbed his dizziness aside and eventually responded to his insistent call. Kanzaki scrunched his nose and rubbed his eyelids before opened them slowly. He immediately let out a soft groan as he realized in what position he was in for now. "…Damn, my head's dizzy. Why am I dangling upside down like this…?"

"Psshh, Kanzaki, over here…"

Kanzaki looked towards the voice's direction and frowned at his friend's frantic waving. "Hm? Koheita, what—"

"Looks like you've finally awoken, boys." The cold, menacing voice was laced with girly giggles, coming from somewhere beside them. From another side they could hear someone scoff in resentment. "Congrats, then! You're the first two who have been conscious so far!"

Kanzaki frowned as he tried to recognize the girl's voice. He didn't remember things much ever since he and the others jumped into the twirling dark void to chase after Mayu and Asahi, who were being kidnapped by those horrible girls…fuck! It was one of them, talking to him and Koheita right now!

He craned his head to look at their assaulters—and eventually saw her and her partner, accompanied by two ill-shapen creatures in white and hollow masks, each carrying two of his other friends over their shoulders. One carried Mayu and Asahi, while the other had Masamura and Yajirou. They somehow resembled giant apes, with plain hollow masks and clawed hands.

Kanzaki gaped at them, terrified beyond belief. Dimly, he had inkling that he and Koheita were also carried by one of those monsters.

Loly giggled, utterly amused by their blatant display of shock. "What a face you make, silly pets. Are you scared? Don't worry…These ugly oafs are just lowlies, after all."

Kanzaki couldn't voice his words as he turned around to look at Koheita. His friend also wore the same frightened expression—though, in more comical way.

There were some simultaneous groans coming from the previously unconscious forms in the huge creatures' shoulders. Kanzaki and Koheita shifted their attention at their barely awakened friends with mixed feeling. First, there was no movement outwardly, but soon later, they could see Yajirou wriggle his body from side to side, trying to get up or move away from whatever had rooted him in place. And then, eventually, before Kanzaki could voice his warning, the bulky young man had toppled from the shoulder he was laid over.

THUD! "Oww…that hurts…"

In normal situation, Kanzaki would have sweat-dropped for witnessing such inelegant and ridiculous behavior. But as for now, considering the time and their current predicament, he didn't even feel slightly amused. He was worried over his friend's safety; as he was now, successfully, making himself as the center point of the show. Who knew what those horrible female ar—arra—whatever, would do to him right now? Not to mention, the giant hollows…

"Shit! Why did I fall? Just where did I fall from?" Yajirou rubbed his head gingerly, nursing the throbbing pain from his spectacular fall. When he realized that he was currently facing something unordinary big just right in front of his nose, he eventually craned his head upward—and saw the creature.

Kanzaki and Koheita instantly cringed hearing Yajirou's terrorized scream later. They even swore that his scream could be heard miles away. Both of them gave their traumatized friend a sympathetic look.

"W-w-w-what the hell is that thing?" Yajirou bellowed, horrified, as he scrambled away from the creature. Thankfully, the huge hollows were dumb enough—or obedient, whatever—not to crush him in an instant.

Loly laughed gaily as she watched the entire scene. Even Menoly smirked at the bulky man's predicament. Kanzaki glanced at their captors and somehow pondered about one thing in particular…if they were hollows (previously), then where the hell their hollow holes were? It must be somewhere on their body, right?

"Ahahahahahahahaha! Look, look, Menoly! How fool he is, flailing around like that only to fall flat on his ass and scream like a girl after seeing these ugly Numerós! How funny!" Loly squealed in absolute joy as she pointed at Yajirou, who looked terrified and tore his gaze between her and the creature. Menoly only chuckled.

Numerós? Kanzaki thought, his curiosity piqued. …What are they?

Strained gasp could be heard from Masamura as the lanky man eventually came to his sense. He somehow froze in place, unable to move even a single muscle as he realized just where he was laid now. The same strained yet more girly gasp from Mayu and frightened yells of 'Let me go!' from Asahi confirmed Kanzaki's guess that both of their female friends had already awoken by now.

Giggling maniacally, Loly beckoned the creature to pick poor, helpless Yajirou from the floor. Yajirou could only try his hardest to shrink on the spot as the hollow's huge and clammy hand picked him up and settled him once more on its shoulder. Masamura, settled on the other shoulder, gave his friend a helpless look. Yajirou could only sigh in defeat and still himself.

The creatures which carried them walked again in lagged steps until one of them—the one ahead—abruptly halted at the middle of the turnoff. Menoly immediately darted to inspect; though, however, after knowing the cause, she also froze in place.

Loly, unable to comprehend her partner's sudden halt, yelled to Menoly. "Menoly, what the hell are you doing by standing rigidly like that? And, you, lowly oaf, why stopping? Keep walking!"

Menoly, however, glanced at her counterpart fearfully. Loly blinked as she realized that her partner was trembling. "Me—Menoly?"

"…Loly, we're in big trouble."

"…What?"

"…What are you trash doing here?"

A disturbingly familiar monotone voice emanated from behind the turnoff. Kanzaki blinked, somehow confused. He exchanged a questioning look with Koheita, who shook his head at him; and tried to listen for more conversation, for more of the familiar voice. He wasn't disappointed.

"…Trash, I asked you a question."

Loly was trembling now. This was disaster! She didn't want to get caught by her despicable mistress, let alone another Espada—and, especially, not this particular Espada. Ulquiorra Schiffer, the Quatro Espada, was Aizen-sama's loyal and closest henchman. Just like Aizen-sama had stated in their meeting, Ulquiorra had every right and full authority to judge and punish every arrancar, Espada—who were lower in rank than him—and Numerós alike, right on spot. Though he was naturally aloof and indifferent person, Ulquiorra was infamous for not being hesitant when it came to discipline and regulation.

And both Menoly and she had disobeyed the rule—moreover, it wasn't any regular rule. It was Aizen-sama's direct order for not crossing the garganta and goofing around.

"…Answer."

Menoly gulped. "U-U-Ulquiorra-sama, we—we, well, we were—were, uh... walking around…"

Ulquiorra gazed at her, his brilliant green eyes indifferent. He shifted his sight towards the oaf and its burden. He blinked as he saw them. Pluses. It seemed that these trashy Fracción of Sexta playing around again. And not exactly playing around, mind it. They blatantly disobeyed Aizen-sama's direct order for not going anywhere by garganta—which included the living world and Soul Society. Looking from the pluses' attire, the silly girls were most likely going to Soul Society. How foolish…

Without much ado, he stepped forward until he rounded the turnoff and eventually spotted Loly and other two creatures, carrying other pluses. He blinked again, though his composure and expression didn't even change. Both hands inside his hakama's pockets, straight posture, and direct gaze were his remarkable traits. His green eyes gazed at Loly's quivering purple one and locked it. Eventually Loly couldn't hold his gaze and look away.

"…What are these?" he was indicating at the pluses. Loly's head snapped back to look at him.

"They…" the pigtailed arrancar's voice trembled. "They are my—my new pets."

Ulquiorra didn't even blink. "…And where did you get those?"

Loly exchanged look with Menoly.

"W-w-we got them from—from…" Loly trailed off, glancing at Menoly with frightened look. Menoly shared the same expression.

The silence was heavily palpable as the Fourth Espada waited for their answer. Kanzaki strained his ears to hear more of the newcomer's voice, but unfortunately, the man didn't speak again. Though, he could feel his reiatsu and shivered. The man was ridiculously strong; his reiatsu only prickling his skin. And Kanzaki was sure that the man contained most of his reiatsu.

Though…somehow, his aura was also familiar…

A shocked gasp coming from Koheita made him turn to see his friend's face. Kanzaki blinked as he saw his friend paled. He barely went to ask him about the matter when the man spoke again—still in his familiar monotone voice.

"Aizen-sama told me to …'take care' of you two." He paused dramatically, letting the two girls in question absorbing his words. He observed closely as the girls' eyes widened after hearing his statement. "…Your disobedience will be punished properly. Those…pets of yours will be my responsibility from now on, until Aizen-sama orders otherwise."

Loly almost went to argue him, but Menoly held her arm firmly and shook her head no. Loly looked at her partner and her indirect superior in turns, seemingly bewildered and mostly infuriated by the statement. She looked at Ulquiorra again, furious; as she eventually let out her wrath in an angry yell.

"What the fuck?" she yelled furiously. Loly seemed ready to pummel Ulquiorra to death—as if she could do it as easily. Ulquiorra, however, didn't even bat his eyelashes. "You—you…asshole!"

"Loly!" Menoly desperately tried to warn her partner—to no avail, since Loly had already stomped her way towards the Quatro, seemingly forgetting that the man was, matter-of-factly, far stronger than her and even her Espada.

Grasping Ulquiorra's front, Loly hissed dangerously. "They are my pets! I got them myself and I will never, never give them up to someone like you!"

Ulquiorra raised one of his brows inconspicuously. "…Even though, it's Aizen-sama's order?"

Loly froze. "…That—"

Ulquiorra fixed his emerald gaze at the infuriated girl in front of him. He could feel Loly shiver in fear. Foolish trash, he bemused. She doesn't know her place…yet. The Quatro Espada let out a slight pressure of his reiatsu and immediately, as he had guessed, the Fracción instantly fell onto her knees, panting heavily. She was pressured by the small fragment of his raw reiatsu only.

Pathetic…

"Lo—Loly…" Menoly gasped as she tried to breathe under the much heavy pressure. No wonder Aizen-sama made this arrancar as his personal henchman… Ulquiorra indeed had a magnificent and distinct reiatsu to begin with.

"…Trash." Ulquiorra's words rang through their ears when, suddenly, Loly felt the pressure oppressing her gradually multiply. She gasped as she began to lose her consciousness. Unable to withstand the force anymore, she eventually blacked out.

"Loly!" Menoly shouted frantically while trying her hard to maintain her own breathing. She scrambled to get close to her partner, but Ulquiorra blocked her way. She looked upward, terrified as the Quatro gazed coldly at her.

"…Take your companion with you and leave those pluses here. They will become my responsibility, as Aizen-sama has told me."

Menoly felt the pressure abruptly vanished after Ulquiorra spoke. Falling into her all four, she gasped and panted as she tried to compose herself. The Fourth Espada, however, ignored her and Loly; and deliberately walked towards the huge hollows holding Kanzaki and co. Ulquiorra glanced at the hollows and they immediately obeyed his silent order. Slowly and carefully, they put the group down.

Ulquiorra could feel Menoly's hurried departure—with Loly on her shoulder—behind his back. He stepped forward to check on the trash pluses, when suddenly startled gasps, followed by a shout of "You—?" could be heard from them.

Ulquiorra inwardly frowned.

Those trashes just don't know how to be quiet…

Kanzaki felt his body being lowered and put onto the floor. He looked towards his friends and breathed in relief when he saw that Kanzaki and the others were also being put down by those monstrous hollows. He then eyed the hollows warily as they stepped slowly backward—though they didn't leave the place—and stayed silent. His gaze, however, eventually fell onto the person wearing all white uniform and a strange half helmet on his head.

Kanzaki couldn't believe his eyes. He gasped in shock. He could hear several similarly shocked gasps from behind his back, indicating that his friends had also seen the man. No…it can't be…

"You—?" Koheita pronounced their shock literally loud and clear. Kanzaki could see that his best friend was genuinely shocked—the same way like himself. He glanced at Asahi and Mayu—the latter was pale and more horrified than shocked by the scene. Masamura and Yajirou literally gaped in their shock.

He looked back at the man—who had an indifferent expression despite being yelled at. Though, Kanzaki somehow felt that the man was agitated. He stared at him unblinkingly, still unable to comprehend the reason why did he, of all people, wear that white uniform and act like hollows—no, arrancars—here…

"…Shizu Uriya-san…"

Ulquiorra stared at the puppy eyed man before him, when the young man uttered something wistfully. He could hear it clearly and the words he spoke of made his eyes widen. Shizu Uriya…the name sounded familiar…

It was the same name that woman within his reminiscence called him with…or so he thought. Ulquiorra didn't recall he had ever had some kind of memory like those—he was hollow after all. Hollows didn't supposedly have their past memories intact. Hollows simply didn't remember.

Hollows ate. Hollows evolved. Hollows were just being…hollows.

Hollows didn't remember.

"…What do you say?" he coldly inquired the group, who immediately went silent as they heard his deep voice. Ulquiorra almost had a scowl. These trashes were insufferable…

He went to move closer to the insufferable pluses when a sudden pressure of distinguishable reiatsu halted his movement. He couldn't help but frown as he felt the reiatsu was getting nearer and nearer to his place.

That man finally came to encounter him…alone…

Mayu gasped as she recognized the aura. Looking around at her friends with a joyous expression on her face, she exclaimed gleefully.

"This is Kurosaki Ichigo-sama's reiatsu!"

###