Thanks to Akai4Ever, Baylee1100, Antex- The Legendary Zoroark and La terrible La for reviewing.
I thought you guys might like Zaya, especially against Aizen. There's another Diablos in this chapter, and a few surprise characters. Remember, Gin knows little about the Diablos, while Grimmjow knows pretty much nothing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Chapter 37: In Hell
Zaya smirked. They were wary of her, but their pride would not allow them to stand down.
Honestly, and everyone wonders why her power was considered overkill.
"I can do this forever," she said.
A whisper caught her attention, and she smirked. So, Tosen thinks that his shikai can help them. Suzumushi's second movement.
As the swords were shot at her, she merely turned her head. It was always amusing to see something like this happen.
Of course, no one expected her to be able to freeze the swords completely. In mid-air.
"Ever heard of telekinesis?" she asked. "It's a very useful ability, once you've mastered it. What makes it so great is that it does not have anything to do with your spiritual pressure. It's completely mental. Even humans with no spiritual pressure can use it, sometimes with devastating results. I know of a girl that used her talent to get even with her classmates, and the entire town. It took her three hours to kill four hundred people."
"And let me guess, you imprisoned her in Hell," Adesto sneered.
"That decision was Kivara's to make," Zaya said. "And, considering the circumstances, she's on probation. Unlike some, we don't have a narrow-minded sense of justice. We consider everything."
If his eyes were visible, Tosen's eyes would have narrowed.
She inclined her head, and the swords became dust.
"I've had ten thousand years to perfect it," Zaya said. "There are other things I can do. Shall I demonstrate?"
…
They landed on some sort of surface. Hard. It could not be called ground. But the sand – if one could call it that – crunched beneath their feet, easily giving way.
"Where are we?" Grimmjow asked.
"Somewhere I didn't think I'd willingly go to," Szayelapporro sighed, standing up and dusting himself off. "We're in Hell."
Yumichika stood as well, and among them, he was the only one that truly looked different. He wore some type of golden armour with a skeletal theme. Somehow, it didn't suit his personality, but he had a feeling that the fellow members of his squad would approve.
"So, this is the skull clad?" Yumichika said.
"What exactly does it do?" Szayelapporro asked.
"It keeps you safe from the Kushanada," a voice interrupted.
Everyone, with the exception of Yumichika, was immediately on their guard, swords drawn. Yumichika sighed as he looked at the man.
"Who are you?" Grimmjow snarled.
The man was unfazed, and he looked on with boredom.
"The name's Baro," the man introduced.
"Diablos of Gluttony," Szayelapporro whispered, putting his sword away. "Although, you don't exactly look gluttonous."
Baro chuckled.
"That's what happens if your metabolism is too fast," he said.
"Okay, so you're another of the Diablos," Gin said. "Like those two other women we've met."
"Nagina and Zaya," Baro said, nodding his head. "Frankly, I'm glad I'm not in Heuco Mundo right now. Zaya's unpredictable and sadistic. A bad combination."
"Then it's a good thing we're here," Yumichika said. "I think."
"So how come he's the only one with protection from the… what did you call them?" Grimmjow asked.
"Kushanada," Baro sighed. "His Zanpakuto was originally forged by Zaya, and so it offers that piece of protection. The armour itself is, simply put, a Kushanada. I've created them to never attack each other. That armour also ensures that anyone who wears it would be able to keep their allies safe. As long as he wears that, none of you will be attacked by Hell's guardians."
"And how about we destroy them?" Grimmjow asked.
Baro's mouth twitched.
"You truly are gluttonous for destruction, so thanks for the meal," Baro said, and Grimmjow became uncomfortable.
Baro then pointed to his left, and the others followed his hand. They saw a large, skeletal figure in the distance.
"Is that a…?" Szayelapporro asked.
"That's a Kushanada, yes," Baro said. "Larger than a Gillian, more powerful than a Vasto Lorde class Arrancar with their sword released."
"Oh," Gin said, and his grin seemed to falter, and become nervous. "Good thing none of them came through."
"Especially considering they remain loyal to the Diablos," Baro said. "In Hell, one of the punishments is to be eaten by the Kushanada, reborn, and eaten again, until your spirit is completely crushed, like the Sinners you see here."
"What Sinners?" Szayelapporro asked.
"You didn't think you were standing on ground, did you?"
Their eyes widened, including Gin's, and in his case his smile completely disappeared.
"To die, over and over…" Baro said. "The few that know about us outside of Hell fear us for that very reason. Zaya can revive the dead, and she uses it to play with you. Not even death can save you from her cruelty."
"Arturo," Gin whispered. "He knows this. But, why did he tell if he's supposed to be afraid of you?"
"They're not supposed to keep the secret," Baro said. "They're supposed to spread the fear. It's a hassle to prove yourself all over again, and it's annoying to be underestimated."
"What about overestimated?" Szayelapporro asked.
"As if that will ever happen."
…
Rith was enjoying a nice stroll through the Seireitei. The late hour ensured that he would, at the very least, have privacy.
"Hold it right there!"
At least, that was the idea.
He inwardly growled while maintaining a calm, stoic persona. He turned to face the one that had spoken.
"Captain Sui-Feng," he greeted. "How nice to see you."
She did not look amused. Not in the slightest.
"I hope you know that I still don't trust you," she said.
"I know. You make it perfectly clear, and I can smell your distrust."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Where exactly have you been?" she demanded.
"Well, when you originally lost track of me, I was in Hell, meeting with the other Diablos. The rest of the time you couldn't find me, I was purposely trying to avoid you, and this conversation."
"You have something to hide."
"I'm three thousand nine hundred years old. I've seen more than you can imagine. So yes, I would like to keep some things to myself, thank you very much."
Her eyes narrowed once again.
"Walking around at night immediately tells me that you're up to no good," she said.
"Really? Because I thought it said that I don't sleep, and haven't for over three millennia. And, really, can you blame me for being bored enough to take a walk. A walk, when I could fly."
She said nothing as she walked away.
He knew that she remembered what his true form looked like, and as much as possible, he will use that to get out of situations that he doesn't want. He knew that he would be able to take her in a fight, but he didn't want to cause trouble while they're supposed to be allies with the Soul Reapers. But with someone like Sui-Feng not trusting him, it's a little hard. He liked to have freedom, and with someone like her limiting him, it gets a little frustrating.
Perhaps he could ask one of the others to trade jobs with him?
Well, he had to ask Zaya if that would be possible. She's the only one that was a better flier than him, and the only one that he was actually afraid of. She was his mentor, and he had a deep respect for her.
And speaking of mentors, he wondered how his former fledgling was doing.
…
Ulquiorra shuddered as he returned to his room. Immunity or not, being near Zaya when she's using her abilities was always a bad idea.
Even for the sake of avoiding suspicion, it was still annoying!
"My head hurts," Stark, who was accompanying Ulquiorra, along with Lillinette and Harribel, said.
"If you go to sleep, I won't blame you," Lillinette said, massaging her own head.
"I hear sounds that aren't meant to be heard," Harribel said.
"I think that's the price we pay for Lord Aizen interfering with the affairs of Hell," Ulquiorra said.
"So you actually believe that she has anything to do with Hell?" Stark asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Don't you?"
He knew that he had to play his cards right with the two of them. Zaya was only playing earlier. He did not want to be there when she was angry.
…
They walked in silence, making their way towards the upper levels. Their skins crawled because of Hell's strange spiritual pressure. Even Szayelapporro looked nervous.
"Whose idea was this?" Grimmjow asked.
"What?" Baro asked.
"The spiritual pressure. How'd you do it?"
"It's a combination of all the Diablos' spiritual pressures. Hell is nothing more than a complex Negacion, and it took on qualities of its creators."
"This is a Negacion? Huh, nothing like what any of us made."
"Of course not," Szayelapporro sighed. "They've had more practice than we have. And besides, they're a lot stronger than we are, so their Negacions are more impressive."
Baro chuckled.
"You should really see our personal Negacions, then," he said. "We go there when we want to escape each other's company. I designed mine to be a simple hut, but the food never runs out. Outside the hut, it's always raining softly, and there's a fire burning in a fireplace."
"Wow," Yumicika said. "That actually sounds nice."
"I don't know what the others' look like," he said. "The point was to be private. The only other Negacion I've visited is Zaya's, and that was back when I was a Painted Mask. Hers was impressive. It was a large field of multi-coloured flowers, with different-coloured butterflies fluttering around. There were peacocks nearby, and a large, crystal clear lake with swans atop it. There was also a castle, with the walls made from a reflective black stone. Each room inside was different, and looked like a work of art. Like this one room, with the ceiling stained glass of different colours. The walls were mirrors, and it seemed as though you were inside a kaleidoscope. She's always been one for details."
Yumichika's eyes looked blank, trying to imagine what the Diablos had just described. It seemed incredible.
"Sounds like a headache to me," Grimmjow said.
"That is art," Szayelapporro said. "Of course you wouldn't understand it."
…
Zaya sighed, content for now.
Playing with others was always fun. Especially a group of arrogant fools that think they own the universe. Silly children.
Hollows are especially susceptible to the sin of pride. If she should venture a guess, she would have to say that only one of the Espada isn't guilty.
But that was a filling meal, to say the least. She enjoyed it immensely. Her power had certainly increased, not that it needed to.
She entered her domain, where the dark sky welcomed a treasure trove of stars, a bright, full moon shining down, making the flowers completely visible. The butterflies still danced around.
She entered her castle, the black stone reflecting her features, like a mirror. The first room was a regular room with a large, stain glass window with the image of a swan in flight. The light of the moon reflected through the glass, providing a beautiful symphony of colour.
She smiled before she went into a room far deeper in her castle, where she could happily enter a state of meditation.
She had consumed quite a lot of pride, and now she needed to rest for just a while. She decided to do it in her domain, where no one could bother her.
Another advantage to this was that she lived outside of time. She could remain there for centuries, and when she returned, no time would pass at all. She would return to any of the worlds and it would be the very second that she left.
She needed to relax. Ten thousand years of managing affairs in different worlds took its toll, but she would not allow herself to show it.
And she could use this opportunity to look ahead. After all, knowing how things are going is the best way to make a plan.
…
They were at the third level, walking in silence. There were a few Sinners scattered here and there, and some have actually attempted to pick a fight, but they were easily cut down by Baro. It would seem that while the others enjoyed playing with their opponents, Baro preferred a swift end. Eventually, the Sinners got the message and stayed away.
"I thought you liked to play with your opponents," Szayelapporro said, after one decided to get daring and attacked them.
There were always idiots that simply couldn't get the message.
"Outside, perhaps," the Diablos said. "But here in Hell, we tend to end them swiftly. There's no fun in toying with them, and whenever we're in Hell where the Sinners reside, it's usually on business. They're nothing but nuisances."
"I see," Gin said. "I wonder, just out of curiosity, how did you die?"
Baro chuckled, but he had no problem.
"Out of all the Diablos, I'm the most likely to end my opponents in a swift death. My death was also swift, and the reason I became a Void was because of the life I lived. I was hit by a bolt of lightning." He held out a hand, and sparks flew. "Our powers are ironic, to say the least."
"What about the others?" Szayelapporro asked.
"Kivara was sacrificed," he sighed. "Fire. Rith was buried alive under a rockslide. He suffocated. Nagina was bit by a serpent in a garden. Instead of looking for help, she chose death, seeing as it was better than her life. Leva was drowned by her brother. Zeron died from hypothermia. And Zaya committed suicide."
"Won't they be mad at you for telling us how they died?" Grimmjow asked.
"With the exception of Leva and Kivara, we have no problem with speaking about the way we died. But we're not willing to talk about our lives. Ever. It took me a thousand years to learn Leva's backstory, and the two of us are close. Zeron took longer to tell me. I still don't know Zaya's story. No one other than Zeron knows."
"Doesn't she trust you?" Szayelapporro asked.
"It's not a matter of trust," Baro sighed. "It's a matter of the emotional trauma. All I know is, she was half human. She's the only one of us that was never a true human to begin with."
"Sounds familiar."
They paused. Behind a rock, four Sinners were sitting, two of them with the appearance of children, obviously twins.
They sat there, looking calmly at the quintet. But they still heard a lot.
Yumichika frowned. One of them looked familiar.
"Well, well," Baro said. "Looks like four of the Bounts have made themselves known. Where are the others?"
Yumichika was startled. These were Bounts?
"Do we know you?" the redhead, and the one Yumichika recognised, asked.
"Let's just say, I have a high position here," Baro said. "You know, we could easily ignore you if you had just stuck to the usual. Going after living humans, and then trying to destroy the Soul Society… Honestly."
"Oh, shut up," the one with the goatee said.
"Wait," Yumichika said. "Tell me, do you know anything about a Sinner called Adesto?"
"Everyone knows him," one of the twins said. "The White Devil. Personally, we're glad he's gone."
"Some of the Sinners tend to be a little harsh with the rest," the redhead said.
"Mabashi," Baro said. "Glad to see that your time here helped you return to normal."
"How'd you know my name?" Mabashi asked.
"He has his sources," Yumichika sighed. "So, you're telling us that the White Devil terrorised you?"
"Oh yeah," the second twin said. "We're essentially helpless without our Dolls."
"Um, yeah," Baro said nervously. "Ho and Ban were the first Bounts that made their way here. We haven't exactly made provisions for them."
"Tell me something," Yumichika said. "How would you like to help put Adesto in his place?"
Gin and the two former Espada looked at him incredulously, while the Bounts and Baro looked at him intrigued.
"Interesting," the one with the goatee said. "Go on."
"He and several Sinners escaped from Hell," Yumichika said. "The idea is to lock them so deep that not even the Kushanada have access."
"Long story short," Baro said, "what you've seen is nothing compared to what lies at the deepest levels."
"And what's in it for us?" Mabashi asked. "Why should we help you?"
"As I said, I have influence," Baro said. "And what I'm offering is your freedom."
I know that, technically speaking, the Bounts should be gone for good, but I have an explanation next chapter. And these were my favourite four, and they could be useful. They no longer have their Dolls, and thus they have no power, but the Diablos could easily remedy that.
At the beginning of the chapter I refer to Carrie, and if memory serves, the body count was what was given in the book (I read it a year ago, so I might be wrong). I've wanted to have Zaya to have telekinesis since before I started the story, and Carrie is a prime example of the risks involved.
Each Void had a Diablos for a mentor. Ulquiorra's mentor was Rith, and Rith had Zaya. Baro's mentor was Leva, which is why they're particularly close. Baro was also the mentor of Nagina. The mentors are important, since it explains a lot of the relationships of the Diablos. There are a few that had two mentors, such as Kivara. I'll explain them as time passes.
I'm working on a fic that tells the backstories of the Diablos, but I'm going to complete them all first before I post them. I've finished with Zaya's and am currently working on Zeron's, but it's almost finished. Another page or so. The name of that fic will be 'Sins of the Deadly'.