Episode 54: Nights I
"Banzai Benendes...I must ask you something..."
"Yes Lord Aizen."
"How has your brother been faring with those Shinigami brethren of his?"
…
Tears stain the pillow of my chambers. I'm really not sure what's happening with me at the moment. I curse these pathetic emotions but they won't leave my mind. They are like a parasite, supping my conscience of logic and reasoning. I curl my head and study the hole in my chest where my heart once resided. This dark void serves as a reminder of who I really am – a hollow. I am a hollow, but I feel as weak as a human at this very moment. Damn Michael! Damn Sheehari! Damn Ulquiorra!
Damn Aizen!
"Oh sorry are you alright?" A pleasant voice enters the room. It's Hazelta.
"Yeah I'm fine Hazel, I think the material in this pillow is giving me allergies that's all."
She cocks her head in confusion. "Funny, Arrancar don't have any allergies."
Quickly changing the subject. "So what did you wish to speak to me about?"
"Oh yeah Aizen was requesting an assessment report for Karakura before the invasion."
"You mean-?"
"Correct, Aizen is finally going to lead us to the Winter War against those oppressive Shinigami." She clutches her fist in passion whilst firmly gripping her sword.
"Karakura will surely fall, but what will Aizen do with us once he has achieved his goal?"
"Who knows? All that matters is we follow Aizen who will lead us to victory."
I look at the palms of my hands, the cracks are filled with dirt and blood from the hundreds if not thousands of Shinigami, hollow, Arrancar and human souls I have slaughtered and devoured. A rouge drop of eye water splashes onto my crusted hands. I capture the droplet and look into Hazel's soft eyes.
"Once the war is over...perhaps I will no longer need to kill."
She holds my hands together and brushes against the rough skin with her soft and supple palms. "Once the war is over...I don't think there will be anything left to kill."
"KYAH! PLEASE STOP THIS!"
I jump from my bed "It's Orihime!"
…
"You think you're such a princess don't you? Aizen has you wrapped around his precious finger! We'll teach you a lesson so you know where you stand."
I crash onto Orihime's room and much to my surprise find her on the floor in tears. Loly holds a few locks of her hair whilst Menoly stretches her arm ready to pummel her.
"How dare you treat our guest in such a degrading manner!" I grab the hilt of my sword but Hazelta puts her hand over mine before I can draw my blade.
"Please Banzai let me deal with this." She waves her hand to the doorway. "Outside! NOW!"
Hazelta has a very commanding tone in her voice when she is angry and has demonstrated her status as the third Espada. Loly and Menoly soon walk out the room with their heads hanging low. She quickly turns back to address me before she leaves. "Check the girl is okay, I have this under control now."
As I help her up she questions my motives. "Ben-san...why are you helping me?" I'm thrown back by her remark. I possibly just saved her life and she protests to this act of kindness. "I still begrudge you for what you did to Kurosaki-kun."
"Orihime Inoue, I have a very important favour to ask of you." I reach for her hands and press them around the edge of the gaping hole in my chest. "You have the ability to reject reality correct?" She nods cautiously. "I can't stand this life any longer...I need you do-"
"Banzai!" Ulquiorra's voice disrupts from the doorway.
I quickly stand up and acknowledge my superior. "Ulquiorra, the guest was shaken up by a few envious female Fraccion, she's fine now."
"I see." Ulquiorra brushes past.
I stop before the doorway. "Where were you when your fledgling was being brutally assaulted...Ulquiorra?"
"Humph. If she was in any real danger I would have already sensed it before you had."
"So the girls can beat her to pulp and it's fine as long as she lives huh?"
"Lord Aizen ordered me to be her caretaker, not her protector. She serves as Aizen's instrument for the war against Soul Society and nothing else."
Cursed Ulquiorra, he finds her to be expendable...He really is devoid of a heart...Though I am one to talk...The only reason I intervened was so I could use her for my own purposes...
"Aizen will see too it that this girl is adequately looked after." I conclude the conversation as I leave Orihime to her neglectful guardian. If only I had taken the opportunity sooner to request that favour. If not for Ulquiorra's arrival it would have been implemented.
A long thin arm slams against the wall and blocks my path. "I see you've met the human."
I follow the arm until it meets with his crude snake-like smile. "Nnoitra..." I curse his name as I recall the murderer of Nel Tu.
"And I know you've been chatting up that bitch Hazel." He laughs like a sadistic donkey. "You dog! What if Neliel was here?"
I snap and grab his neck, throwing him into the wall. "Don't you dare utter her name again...I swear I will one day avenge her and bring you to justice."
He frowns briefly before a sly smirk creeps up his repugnant face. "Banzai...that's not how we treat our superiors." He produces his grossly large tongue which now has the tattoo number '5'. Sudden;y I'm winded by a large knee to the gut. Before he throws my head into the wall then slams it to the ground. My face is further planted into the hard ground when he stands over me. He twists his foot so the dirt and concrete further grinds away the skin of my face. "You're not fit to be one of the Espada, I can't believe Aizen had you replace Grimmjow."
"It is a sad sight in Las Noches to witness one Espada turn against another." An older sounding voice travels through the doorway. I turn my head and find a slight and neat old man strolling down the corridor with his hands behind his back. He has slick ivory hair and a bushy white moustache.
"Banzai isn't an Espada, Grimmjow deserves to be the Espada."
"I think it is not who deserves to be an Espada, but rather which Espada deserves Lord Aizen's gratitude." He closes his eyes as he continues his philosophical talk.
Nnoitra becomes aggressive towards this seemingly senior Arrancar. "I'll deal with you first old man." He throws his large crescent shaped blade towards the old man who doesn't budge. In fact the blade enters through his entire body. "Hah! You've shown yourself to be as strong as who you are, an old man indeed."
He opens his eyes and calmly responds. "Gee I hate it when young ones become too arrogant." It Is only then I notice the Arrancar has reappeared behind Nnoitra who tries to swing his blade around to swipe him. However it is only another phantom that gets slashed as he reappears to his left then right side. This old man is a master is Sonido. Eventually he closes in and disables Nnoitra by grabbing his hand and uttering the words. "Caja Negacion" Nnoitra seems to completely disappear.
"What was that you just performed?" I ask in astonishment as he helps me up.
"Oh I just sealed him away into another dimension so he can think about his actions." He warmly introduces himself. "I'm Thesues Spartanicus, the Primera Espada."
After hearing his one of the highest ranking Espada's my introduction is rather unimpressive. "Banzai Benendes, Sexta Espada."
"You seem like a charming young fellow, how did you wind up becoming a hollow now anyway?" He chuckles.
"Well it's a long story, but basically my brother became a Shinigami whilst I was left in the human world to remain in limbo."
"Hmm such a tragic tale...I'm sorry to hear that. Anyway, Aizen has called all of the Espada for an urgent meeting."
I'm grateful for this man's sudden intervention. Perhaps Nnoitra may have killed me this time. If the fifth Espada is as strong as he seems, then I cannot comprehend how powerful this old man must be. I shouldn't make enemies with this one.
…
CONFERENCE ROOM:
"Please be seated." Aizen sits at the head of the table whilst his Tousen and Gin stand by his side. The final members of the Espada take their seats. Aaronero, Hazelta, Yammy and Barragan sit closest to Aizen, as Shawlong and Ulquiorra sit adjacent to me.
"I saw Nnoitra attack you earlier." Shawlong whispers. "I was about to intervene when Theseus arrived...remember if you need to form an alliance with me just let me know." I may not need to resort to the former Fraccion of Grimmjow's assistance yet as Nnoitra has been banished to the Netherworld.
"Please enjoy some tea while Tousen discusses the current situation." Aizen signals for some maids to cart in a small trolley with some freshly brewed tea. I thank the lady as she hands over the warm liquid and take a sip, drowning my throat in a pleasant flavour.
Tousen flicks on several monitors each showing a different area of Las Noches. "We are under attack..."
Intruders have infiltrated Las Noches...What could they possibly be after? Are they mad? Or just desperate to die? Should we even consider them to be a threat? Find out in the next exciting chapter!
