The sounds of metal clashing against metal echoed brutally throughout the passageway, nearly drowning out the sound of Ash's fast-beating heart in her ears. But she hardly noticed, the cold rage building in her chest growing once more, this time more violently than it had in the past few weeks. Here was one of her sister's captors, calm blocking her path, taunting her. Compared to Amelia, she was generally the one least likely to be riled up by senseless chatter and taunts. But her patience had been worn thin, the emotions finally making headway.

"You are fairly experienced in swordplay," Tosen remarked, his voice emotionless. The tip of Ash's blade was sharply blocked by the flat of his katana, a sharp ringing sound filling the air. The dust had since vanished, allowing her to take in Tosen's full form now. He was incredibly strong, but she noticed his blindness, eyes narrowing.

"And you're adept at fighting," she growled, "despite your impaired sight."

Tosen's head tilted, long thin braids sliding across his white coat. "Did it take you long to notice," he asked, pushing back against her advance, "or were you focused solely on your tantrum?"

Ash scoffed, flipping her staff, the terrible whir of the blades filling the air as she tried to attack again. This time, the blades met stone and rubble, creating large gashes in the wall. She felt the air behind her move, her gut screaming. In the past, she'd felt similar sensations, but in her newly-awakened state, they were more acute. She ducked, the arching swing of Tosen's zanpakuto barely skimming her skull, unfortunate loose strands of white hair the sole victim of the attack. Leaning back into her lowered stance, she jammed one of the blades into the ground, using her staff as a vaulting pole, landing a kick on her opponent's jaw. Despite making contact, it barely sent Tosen flying a foot away.

Rubbing his chin for a moment, Tosen readied himself. "I must say," he began, "I am unfamiliar with your weapon. Where did you receive such a staff?"

Landing on her feet and yanking the staff from the ground, Ash hissed, "That is none of your concern!" She charged, meeting Tosen's calm rebuttal. Sparks flew for but a moment, but the small flickering light reflected against his visor. Gritting her teeth, she continued, "I owe no such explanations to those who mean harm to my loved ones!"

"I have not brought harm to your sister," Tosen rebuked, his voice taking a slight edge. "In fact, your sister and I have barely interacted." He shoved against Ash's staff, nearly knocking it from her hands. In her brief disorientation, he knocked her back with a solid kick, sending her back several feet. "But I will say, she is an insufferable creature," he added, launching himself at her.

"Ha!" Ash retorted, regaining her footing. She braced herself, blocking his overhead attack with the base of the staff, then quickly moving it to block a slice to her gut. "I'd hope so!" she called out between strikes. "She doesn't take too well to being a prisoner." She rotated the staff from the middle, staving off the oncoming slew of attacks Tosen quickly launched at her.

Pausing for a moment, Tosen took a step back. He felt the approach of a few familiar individuals, his head turning to the side for a moment. "Ah, it seems we have a few guests," he stated, confusing Ash for a moment. She hesitated, turning her focus to the five figures that stood in the dim light at the end of the hall. "Good of you to join us," Tosen called to them, never fully turning away from Ash.

From behind the clashing duo, the tense forms of Ash's companions watched as the figures approached. A slightly disoriented Uryu and Chad looked to each other, realizing that they were now facing other opponents. This isn't what I had planned, Uryu groaned internally. All that careful planning for nothing.

"Well, this just got more complicated," Keigo said aloud, glancing towards Tatsuki, who was still dusting herself off. Gritting her teeth, she observed the mysterious figures as well.

"Dammit," she hissed. "So much for getting off easy with one opponent."

"You thought the blind guy was going to be easy?!" Keigo hissed. "He just used you to make a crater in the ground!" He glanced back at the large crack in the floor, surprised that Tatsuki wasn't intensely injured. She seemed to have sustained a few cuts and bruises, but she had shaken it off with some ease. What the hell? He thought. What was Yoruichi teaching her back at the store after all? "Now we have… six opponents," he continued, squinting. "Who knows if they are the same caliber of strength as he is."

"Then I guess we better stay close," Tatsuki replied, wiping her mouth. Blood stained the back of her hand, with dried spittle and dust mixed in. "Between your firepower and my close-range attacks, we'll be able to fend off at least a few of them."

Keigo nodded nervously, raising his cannon into the air. "Y-yeah," he said, fighting the small pang of fear that entered him mind. "Sure thing."

"God dammit," Grimmjow hissed behind Orihime, gripping her shoulder gruffly. "That bastard brought a party with him!"

Orihime turned to him for a moment before examining the approaching figures. "Do you recognize any of them?" she asked him, her voice low. She gripped the hilt of Hana tighter, her determined gray eyes reflecting the glow. Kon scurried across her shoulders, making small distressed noises, primarily quick squeak noises from his feet.

"At least two of em are Espada," Grimmjow analyzed, grimacing a little. "They ain't much higher than me in rank, that's for sure." Their presence made him feel ill, trying to remember them. "As for the others," he continued, "they're probably some Fracćion that Tosen brought with him." His brows furrowed, glaring off at the group.

Taking a small breath, Orihime closed her eyes. Despite the tension she had during this trip, nothing compared to the building terror of that moment. She was potentially facing off against an opponent that far outranked her with an Espada that had hardly any powers and could possibly turn on her in a second. This hadn't been something she'd anticipated.

"Orihime!" Kon's whiny voice interjected, bonking his small paws on her cheek. Eyes snapping open, Orihime found the plush lion clinging to her face. "You can turn back if you want! We don't have to face these opponents!" Tears streamed out of Kon's black eyes, his voice turning to an annoying screech. "I DON'T WANT MY PRECIOUS ORIHIME HURT!"

Ripping Kon off Orihime's face, Grimmjow growled, "Would ya shut the hell up, you perverted little shit?!" Grimmjow's face was inches from Kon's, who held his paws over his face. "We don't need yer wailin'!" Tossing the plush to the ground and giving him a good stomp, the Espada turned to Orihime, his blue eyes calculating. This girl maybe strong, but he knew she'd need backup if she happened to be confronted by one of the Espada.

"Listen up, kid," he barked at her, standing in front of her now, "this ain't like the last little spat we had back in the Forest of Menos. These're some of the strongest sons-of-bitches in Hueco Mundo." He looked back for a second before continuing. "Yer gonna have to pay attention, some of these bastards are manipulative and tricky. Do ya understand me, girl?"

Nodding quickly, Orihime tried to keep calm. It was good to know that Grimmjow wasn't planning on leaving her on her own, but she couldn't hide the fear that crept up in her chest. "Yeah, s-sure," she said quickly. Her sword rested at her side, flicker in the darkness.

"I hope you don't mind some company," Tosen said to Ash, his calm voice mixed in with the slow, measured sounds of footsteps. "I didn't want to bore your little friends over there. They look like they could use some company."

Eyes darting at the now-closer figures, Ash clutched her weapon tighter, her stance never wavering. She wasn't sure if they intended to all surround her or finish off her friends behind her. But judging by the fact that they started passing her, paying her small, disdainful glances. Their faces were shrouded in solemn shadow, but she could see the ghostly white fragments of masks. She remembered the image of Amelia, the bleached toothy fragment that had rested on her collarbone. These were the Arrancar, the Espada. The air around her turned foul, her senses screaming. Her aquamarine eyes were wide. Was her sister just like these… beings?

Turning her attention back to Tosen, Ash's eyes went dark. "Guess this means I get you all to myself then," she hissed, pointing the end of the staff towards him. The already cold air seemed to plummet even further, her breath turning to puffs of white, fading swiftly. At the tips of her fingers a frost crept forward, dancing along the surface of the staff, veins of cold fury that slithered along.

Tosen tilted his head, sensing the sudden cold, though not visibly affected by it. "Do my senses deceive me, or were you hiding your true potential this whole time?" he asked.

"I tend to keep my wild cards for more desperate times," Ash replied.

"I see."

Reaching the very tip of each blade, the frost stopped its steady crawl, glistening an eerie white in the dim light. Twirling it in her hands for two rotations, Ash beckoned the Shinigami. "I know you're curious," she taunted. "Let's get this over with."

"Orihime?"

A startlingly familiar voice pricked Orihime's ears, her head turning from Grimmjow to the figure that loomed behind them. Immediately, her senses were on high alert, the peculiar and heavy spiritual presence of the being that stood behind her increasing slowly. The figure was clad in white from head to toe, with a frilly collar extending past their head. But the face was completely hidden in shadow.

Grimmjow's eyes narrowed, not recognizing the voice but knew the uniform from somewhere. The frilly collar, the ridiculous, self-important stature. This was one of the Espada that liked to skulk in the darkest shadows, afraid of the light… His mind was screaming, telling him to move, but his body wasn't moving.

"Who are you?" Orihime asked, her voice shaking in fear. She knew the voice, one she hadn't heard in almost four years, one she'd missed terribly.

Taking a step forward, the figure revealed his face in the light, with kind gray eyes and chin-length brown hair. The small smile on his face grew, emanating a warmth that Orihime recognized instantly. "Don't you remember your own brother, Orihime?"

Orihime's heart stopped. Nearly dropping her sword, she placed her hand over her mouth and took a step forward. Her whole body seemed to react, tremors shaking her small frame. Tears pooled in her eyes, blurring her vision, spilling down her cheeks.

"SORA?!"

Laughing a little, Sora nodded his head, extending his hands out, inviting her to embrace him. "Oh, how I missed you, sister," he said, his voice rich and warm as it always was. His gray eyes glimmered in the dim light. The sounds of the skirmishes beyond seemed to fade as the world crumbled under Orihime's feet. "Come here!"

Without hesitation, Orihime lifted her feet, running towards the man she believed to be her long-gone brother. With the memory of her brother as a Hollow erased by Rukia Kuchiki, she had no reason to be wary. Even with such a weird uniform and unusual spiritual energy, the very sight of Sora erased all sense of caution and hesitation. She wished for nothing more than to hug her brother.

"Hold on there, kid."

A gruff hand slowly gripped her shoulder, gently pulling Orihime back to reality. Grimmjow held her there, strategically standing between her and Sora now. His blue eyes were dangerous, calculating. He wasn't his normal, aggressive self. This was different, and with Espada, Grimmjow knew he had to be careful. "That ain't yer brother," he said, his voice loud. "That's an Espada. Don't be so easily fooled."

Sora's eyes met Grimmjow's, a tiny flicker passing through gray eyes. "Who's your friend, Orihime?" he asked, peering past the middle man. "He doesn't seem like the kind of… person I'd approve of you hanging out with." A small bit of poison fueled the words that fell from Sora's mouth, glaring at Grimmjow with disdain.

"F-friend…?" Orihime managed between happy sobs. She'd forgotten about Grimmjow for a moment, even with him standing right in front of her. All she could think of was that this couldn't be real, that her older brother was alive. She struggled with the thought, though a positive one. It overwhelmed her emotionally. "Gr-Grimmjow's my… friend?" Her words sounded broken.

"Snap out of it, kid!" Grimmjow snapped, turning his head to her. He could see her demeanor slipping and cursed under his breath. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought. Turning his attention back to the Sora look-a-like, growling, "I know ya, bastard. That act ain't gonna work with me here!"

Sora laughed again, this time more raucously. It was a cold, metallic sound, his mouth opening far too wide. It was as if his jaw were unhinging. "Then I guess I'll just have to get rid of you, then!" Sora said, his under eyelids curving creepily. "Nothing will get in the way of me and my sister, I can assure you!"

Before Sora could make a move, Orihime darted forward, rushing towards her brother. Her hands reached out, grabbing for one of his hands. This seemed to surprise Sora greatly, who was unsure whether he should move away from her or not. Grimmjow seemed shocked as well, his eyes going wide. "Kid, what did I-?!"

"Is it really you, Sora?" Orihime asked, gripping Sora's gloved hand. She felt the weight of this person's hand in hers. It was solid, it was there, resting in her palm, heavy as the feeling in her heart. Wave after wave of joy and doubt poured out with each tear that rolled down her cheek. "Can it really be?" she asked again. "How are you here?" She noticed that his hand felt cold, but she figured that was from the constant drop in temperature from the fight afar.

Stumbling over his words, Sora tried to form a sentence. "A-ah, y-yes of course it's me, Hime!" he managed, his smile never wavering. He gripped her hands gently, resting his other hand under her chin, lifting it slightly. "And you have grown since I've last seen you," he continued. "You've become quite the young woman and – oh look! You're wearing the pins I gave you!" He lifted his hand, brushing against the blue flower hairpins, Shun Shun Rikka, fondly.

A small change took over Orihime's face, a nearly serene smile crossing her face. This man was every bit like her older brother, right down to the smile and the way he spoke. She couldn't explain the immense joy that burst in her heart, relieved he didn't remember the argument they'd had the day he had given her Shun Shun Rikka. A small tremor of guilt passed through her, remembering the pain that had once been in his eyes…

"WOULD YA LISTEN TO ME!?" Grimmjow shouted, turning Orihime to face him. "THIS AIN'T YER OLDER BROTHER!" He attempted to pull her to him, his eyes bright with anger and frustration. "DO YA WANNA DIE DOWN HERE?!"

Gray eyes filled with irritation and resentment, Orihime yanked her arm away from Grimmjow, gritting her teeth. "Would you STOP?!" she shouted at him, wiping tears from her face. "Why are you so insistent this isn't Sora?! THIS IS MY BROTHER!"

"ARE YA BLIND?!" Grimmjow shouted back, taking a step towards her. "CAN'T YA FEEL JUST HOW DIFFERENT THIS BASTARD IS?! HE'S NOT HUMAN!" He pointed to Sora, seething. He wasn't entirely worried about Orihime's life or feelings, but he wasn't keen on letting the Espada get his way. The sneaky bastard wasn't going to get the best of him. But, even then, he remembered that he unfortunately owed her one. He cursed himself for letting himself get involved with humans in the first place. "DON'T MAKE ME DRAG OUT OF HERE!"

As Grimmjow attempted to take another step towards her, Orihime raised her hand, the bright orange glow of her spiritual energy blade pointing straight at him. "Try it, Espada!" she shouted, her gray eyes wide in rage. "I'll kill you before you can lay a finger on me!"

"Ah, that's my girl," Sora encouraged, patting her on the head. "Dispose of this garbage quickly so that we don't have to waste our time on him anymore than we have to." A terrible glimmer filled Sora's eyes, the edges of his smile crumbling away to a predatory display of teeth.

"Orihime, I swear to god," Grimmjow hissed, "put yer sword down." He had no real game plan, given he had no weapon of his own. However, he felt confident he could outmaneuver her if she tried to charge him. "I'm on yer side here, unfortunately for me, so just take a moment to think." He raised his hands up, partially in surrender and the other part for preparation. Between "Sora's" grip on Orihime and her blade pointed at him, he knew this was an uneasy situation. Dammit, he cursed mentally.

Orihime said nothing, lowering her head as her arm remained extended. In her mind, a war waged between doubt and desperation. She wanted to believe that this was Sora, so much so that she was almost willing to throw aside her Espada companion. He meant nothing to her, he was just the enemy. He didn't give a shit about her. Grimmjow was nothing compared to her love for her brother. But there was a small part of her screaming, telling her that she was missing something important. Her eyes flickered for a moment, glancing back at the one who called her sister.

And there it was, staring at Orihime in the face. Yes, the face that stared back was Sora's, all smiles and gentleness. His eyes were the same gray they always had been, the same color as their mother's, his hair the same color as their father's. His slim figure leaned the same way his did as well. But there, in his kind eyes, lay something… else. A darkness that had never been there before, disjointed, shattered in the illusion she'd fallen for. His body was cold, tense. He felt like a predator that waited for his prey to walk further into its trap. A cold fear washed over her, the extreme bliss and joy she'd felt moments ago fading in an instant.

"Y-you're not Sora," she whispered at last. "There's no way you could be."

Slowly, silently, the tips of "Sora's" fingers tensed, leaving small bruises on the human girl's skull. A terrible expression crossed his face, but not one of anger or rage like Orihime anticipated. It was disgusting, a terrible crack in his face forming where she had once seen a serene smile. The corners of his lips seemed to disappear in his flesh as he laughed. "Well, that wasn't what I was expecting," he said. "Guess I better work fast!"

With that, Orihime began to turn her blade from Grimmjow to the imposter but found herself flying from the swift blow that the imposter dealt. A solid kick to her stomach knocked her back, her body crashing into Grimmjow, who found himself sliding across the floor. He grunted in pain and surprise, his back hitting the ground.

"ORIHIME!"

A small, nasally voice filled the air, the sound of a plastic object dragging on the ground and the small squeaks of Kon's paws running following. Groaning in pain, Orihime looked up and saw Kon dragging a flashlight towards them, his small beady eyes glistening. "DON'T WORRY, MY LOVE!" he shouted once more, raising the flashlight. "I'LL DEFEAT THE ONE THAT HURT YOU! BUT FIRST I NEED TO SEE WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE, IT'S TOO DARK!"

"What… is that damn bastard… doin'?" Grimmjow heaved, forcing himself to his feet. "He's gonna get himself killed!"

"What's this?" the imposter asked, sneering at the plush. "What are you going to do, little one? Bludgeon my ankles till they bruise?" He laughed, approaching Kon. He leaned down, grabbing the plush by a leg. Kon held onto the flashlight for dear life, watching as the imposter's face was aligned to his. "What are you going to do now?"

"TAKE THIS!" Kon shouted, clicking the button on the side of the flashlight, the fluorescent light shining into the Espada's face. Quickly, Kon almost regretted his decision, for what stared back at him wasn't a face, but a horrible monstrosity. It was there, for a moment, staring back at him. Orihime and Grimmjow could see it as well, shining in the light. Orihime nearly screamed and Grimmjow's eyes widened in recognition. "I FUCKIN' KNEW IT WAS YOU!" he screamed.

The being hosted a large, glass tube, filled with a crimson liquid. Bobbing in the bubbling fluid were two malformed, eyeless faces, revolting in horror at the light. They screamed an ungodly scream, dropping Kon to the ground. The flashlight skittered across the ground, flickering for a moment before turning off completely.

"Aaronierro Arruruerie," Grimmjow managed, struggling to pronounce the name. "Ya ugly bastard, I knew it was you." He grinned maniacally, vindicated in his suspicion. "I just… had to remember yer damn name. It's too fuckin' complicated."

A wheezing noise could be heard from the hunched figure of the Espada, who shifted slightly. "You piece of garbage," Aaronierro hissed. "You should never have stepped foot back into Las Noches." The Espada's voice was still that of Sora's, but the small screechy voices could be heard intermingling.

"I shall be your undoing!" he shouted.

"We'll see 'bout that," Grimmjow countered, wiping his mouth.

"Why did you choose these pieces of garbage again?"

Standing before the confused and mildly terrified duo of Tatsuki and Keigo were three of the oddest creatures they'd ever seen. The one who had spoken twirled his thick, black curly hair between his fingers, sizing up the humans. "We could have picked the two very handsome young men over there," he said, pointing to Uryu and Chad. "But nooooo, you just had to pick the two weak ones, Ggio!"

The shorter of the three, grinning sadistically from under his sabre-tooth mask fragment, rolled his eyes. "Charlotte, please," he said to his companion, "these two look fun! They'll be great practice for when Lord Barragan leads us into battle!" Ggio ran his tongue over his lips, sizing up the two humans.

"You just want easy prey!" Charlotte retorted, crossing his large arms. "This isn't fair!"

"Oh, Charlotte," chided the blond Arrancar, "the quicker we dispose of the vermin, the faster we carry out Lord Barragan's orders!" His single eyes lilted arrogantly, staring down the human pair. "Besides, I don't particularly like being so close to the Forest of Menos," he continued, waving a hand in front of his face. "It smells like desperation down here."

"Do they know we can hear them?" Keigo asked Tatsuki, glancing over at the Arrancar. "I feel like they think we can't understand them." His brows furrowed as he raised his cannon. "How rude!"

"I'm not sure," Tatsuki replied, rolling her eyes at the trio, "but they are getting on my nerves." She cracked her knuckles, glaring at them. "Would the three of you stop your yakking? We're right here, ya know!"

With partial surprise and disdain, the three Arrancar looked over at the Humans. "They speak!" Charlotte said, raising a hand daintily to his mouth. He did a double take when looking at Tatsuki, his eyes widening. "And are you supposed to be a woman?!" A superior smirk crossed his face. "Human women are particularly hideous if that's the case!"

Tatsuki's eyes narrowed. "Come again, you oversized peacock?" she hissed.

"Talk about ugly," Ggio chimed in, approaching Keigo with a confident, arrogant smirk on his face, "take a gander at this guy's weapon! It's hideous! Where'd you get that from, huh kid?"

"What's wrong with my cannon?!" Keigo cried indignantly. "Have you looked in the mirror lately? The museum of natural history called, they want their sabre-tooth cat skull back!"

Ggio stopped for a moment, confused. "What's a museum?" he asked, his head tilted. "Oi, Findorr, what's this human talking about?" He pointed to Keigo, addressing the blond Arrancar.

"Who knows," Findorr replied, mildly annoyed, "and who honestly cares. It's a human. KILL IT!" A blood-thirsty expression crossed the Arrancar's face, impatience in his voice.

Uryu and Chad watched as the silent figure of their next opponent sat before them with legs crossed and eyes closed. Was he meditating, was he sleeping? Or was he just messing with them. The two humans glanced at each other, unsure what they should do. If they disturbed him, it could lead to a surprise attack. But if they left him in his state, it could be even worse.

"Um… excuse me," Chad piped up, his quiet voice breaking the awkward silence.

The Espada opened an eye, a single gold iris peering out at the two humans. His face never changed, his dark skin and features mingling with the shadows on the wall, the small white horns protruding from his bald head. "What do you wish to ask me, human?" the Espada asked, his deep voice empty.

"W-well," Uryu began, looking to Chad before continuing, "we're just a bit… confused, I guess." He gripped his Quincy cross tightly in the palm of his hand, prepared for the moment their opponent snapped. "What exactly are you doing?"

Both eyes opened now, a brow raising like a lecturing teacher. "What does it look like I am doing, human?" the Espada replied in the same tone. Lifting his head, he addressed both humans, glancing between the two. "A true warrior must balance himself if he is to remain focused in the face of battle." He shook his head a little, as if admonishing the two of them. "It is a shame neither of you adopt the same idea."

"Balance is important, sure," Uryu said slowly, eyes narrowed, "but meditation is not my go-to move on the battlefield, especially while your opponents are standing right in front of you."

A small laugh passed from the Espada's lips, mocking the Quincy. "Why would I be worried about that?" he replied. "I fear neither of you. What could you do to me?"

This time the two shared an incredulous glance, mildly shocked and miffed by the Espada's claims. "What makes you think we can't do anything to you?" Chad asked this time, glaring down at the Espada, fists clenched.

"It is because I am the fastest Espada of them all," came the reply, the Espada's eyes closing once more. "No one is faster than I, Zommari Rureaux, the Septima Espada." His face never wavered, serenity his god.

Behind Zommari stood Chad, fist raised. "But not fast enough to notice that I don't have the normal speed of a human," he challenged, prepared to land a blow on the Espada. The tip of Brazo Derecha de Gigante began to glow a bright red, readying his El Directo.

"CHAD, WAIT!" Uryu shouted, preparing his Ginrei Kojaku.

But it was too late. A tap on Chad's shoulder alerted him to his fatal mistake. Turning his head, Chad could see the expressionless face of the Septima, his gold eyes watching his realization overtake him. "What-?!" He was cut off by the sudden palm that enveloped his face and lifted him from the ground, launching him behind the Espada. The energy from the building El Directo exploded as he hit the ground, creating a crater in the floor.

"Foolish Humans," Zommari chided. "You should have remained content to be our prey, but now you will become our play things."

A/N: This chapter didn't turn out like I was expecting and honestly... I'm not mad at it! It should make for an interesting fight! See you soon!