"You...I know you..." His eyes trembled as he beheld me, which brought a smile to my face that I let him see.
"Indeed. It's been a long time Ichigo Kurosaki, but we both knew this was coming." I focused on just him, ignoring the child at his side.
"Yeah." He drew his Zanpakutō and got a grim determined look. "You know I've been conserving my energy for this, I didn't even take that former Espada too seriously because I knew what your ability was. Figured I'd alarm you, thought you had forgotten about me since I didn't feel it, but now I know better. You aren't using it at all. Why?"
"What makes you think I'll answer? The oversized Shikai or the dumb look on your face?" I affected a disinterested tone.
"No. I just reckon you'll answer, not every question I'm sure, but that's fine, I can just beat the answers out of you."
"You really want to know why hm?" I walked towards him, the tension rising with every step. "It's because I don't need too. You...your friends...none of you were necessary, you didn't need to get involved at all, so I'm going to beat all of you at your best to prove that."
"Oh yeah? I think I got involved because of you!" He stepped in front of the child as I got closer.
"Hardly. You got involved because ghosts couldn't stop trying to eat your family. Your involvement was completely unnecessary, all you're going to do here is get hurt because none of you are fighters. The only one I'm draining is Uryu Ishida."
He gave me an ugly look. "So much for all of us at our best, but why is it just him? You got some kind of grudge?"
I stopped, stunned by his sheer stupidity. "He's a Quincy you tool, he exists to be drained." I shook my head and finally covered my face with a sleeve. "More proof that nobody needs you. I take it I don't have to ask why someone with my ability would want a Quincy?"
He regarded me with weary confusion. "Just him? Not me or the rest? No offense to Uryu but we're all stronger than him."
I sighed. "I have pride you know? Using it on you would be like using it on an Unseated Officer, or some babe stuck in the Soul Reaper Academy. I am not reliant upon the help of my inferiors. Uryu is different because it's his purpose, what he lives for, you're just a clueless boy in over his head."
"Oh yeah? What changed? You were pretty eager to bite down on me before."
"How many times must I say it? Using my power on you is like making scaffolding of meat, like making food from dirt." I glared at him, fed up with his nonsense. "The three of you are useless, we only have need for Orihime and Uryu."
"It doesn't matter if you think we're necessary, we came for our friend!" He struck at me, a cleaver as wide and tall as my body careening towards my face. I blocked it with my wrist, my clothes still immaculate.
"And now look at what happened. Your friend is dead now, and the other one is going to be too."
He dragged the blade down and launched himself backwards as he directed an infuriated look at me. "What do you mean?! Rukia is alive! Where do you get off threatening my friends!"
"Someone so talentless at sensing shouldn't tell me what's happening. As your superior you're supposed to sit there and take your lashes, number one being the fact you killed your friend." Nel looked up at him with..."Are you crying Nel?" Ichigo covered her up with his leg and glared at me.
"You leave her alone! And how the hell do you know her?"
"Hm...perhaps you're right, there's nothing there I should talk about." He was surprised and confused but I carried on. "But you and your friends didn't need to be involved here, so quit being angry that they died." I ignored his gritted teeth. "You're our property, and you will be grateful for whatever purpose we assign you or you will bleed until you understand. I don't mind being cruel for you to understand her divinity." Confusion once again eased his anger. "Uryu and Orihime are the only ones we have a use for. The rest of you can leave or go to hell."
"That's not happening. Now I'm going to ask once again. What do you mean they are dead?" His serious tone didn't bother me.
I walked towards him again. "I mean Tatsuki Arisawa, not that I'm surprised you don't know. And as for where I get off on threatening them it's because it's for their own good, Orihime would have just wasted away in the Living World."
"What?"
"I kidnapped her after killing her brother."
"What? I had killed him! I fought him after he tried killing my friends! And you're saying you-"
"Killed him the same night your mother died." I interrupted. "All that's left is the rest of her deadbeat family that I'll kill eventually and you tots. Your energy would be best used serving us, what do you think boy? Szayel can solve that pitiful lifespan of yours by subjecting you to a proper Hollowfication process, just like with Orihime...oh don't look down at the floor. Do you like being seen as impotent?"
His hair shadowed his face before he bared his fangs and held his sword out in front of him. "Bankai!"
"So you still wish to take her from us? I'm hardly in the wrong for granting you and your friends a new destiny, a duty like this is something to celebrate." My attempts to enlighten him only served to enrage him, as evidenced by the Masked form of Ichigo rising above me. "To be so violent...it's fitting you have two faces, or have you never looked in a mirror before?"
My attempts to point out what I felt was hypocrisy didn't go over too well. "Getsuga Tenshō!" How could he be so mad about a Hollow Orihime when he had a mask on? All the changes would be for the positive frankly, unless her power mutated.
"A Bankai that condenses power and a Hollow Mask hm?" I stood there stoically and waited for it, before bracing my body against the tide of awesome power as he stood there and watched childhoods end. My palm and the pointed toe of my high heeled shoe deflecting the strike only to fail as the force pushed me backwards hard enough for the remaining shoe heel to cut into the floor. I tried pushing it to the side with my other arm, finally getting success from that.
As I started inching the attack to the side we crashed into the wall, Getsuga Tenshō going on to break through multiple rooms as dust and debris rained down on me.
"C'mon Nel. We gotta go..." Heavy laboured breaths came from him after that strike.
"Ichigo are you okay?" Nel, a child, ran up to him.
"Yeah. It's just that...my friends are stuck in a dangerous position." He slowly tried to stand up, a process that took seven seconds.
"Nel understands! Nel gets it! If anything happened to Nel's friends then she would be like this too! But ya gotta rest Ichigo. Why don't you sit there and we just talk for a while okay?" She asked with a big and goofy grin on her face.
"Well...maybe I can rest for a bit." He winced in either fatigue or guilt as he sat down again. "What'dya wanna talk about Nel?"
"Well what about the weather?"
"Pass."
"Well then uhh...why'd you attack her when she brought up Hollowfication, do you...hate Hollows Ichigo?"
He winced in real pain at seeing her fearful look and the oncoming waterworks. "No uh, it's just...not right that she talked about Orihime like that, like an object. That and the way I got my Hollow Mask hurt pretty bad, I'm not going to subject her to that sort of pain if I can help it."
"Oh, Nel doesn't remember it hurting at all, but Szayelaporro Granz is a sadist, so I get where you're coming from." She nodded twice, a thing to take note of due to her fat head.
"Oh that's good-wait, what'd you say?"
"She was talking about Szayelaporro Granz, he's the scientist of Las Noches, but he's just another Arrancar." She waved his curiosity away before they turned towards the rubble in disbelief.
"You are slow, even when getting up if you're resting this long." I began. "Or perhaps you put your best foot forward hm?"
"What...how?" His eyes were wide as he beheld me.
"I deflected it with my bare hands." I inspected myself, checking for clothing damage and finding some. "Now that's very disappointing."
"I...it can't..."
I moved towards him only for something to snap and for my balance to falter, the shoe I parried with having snapped. Leaning down I grabbed the important part and left the other one behind. I tucked the broken heel into my sleeve and fired a Bala at him, when he blocked it the sheer force threw him back and destroyed his guard, leaving him open for the next six Balas.
As his body broke through the thick wall of Las Noches I could see an explosion of sand fly into the air before seeing a new trail of sand shoot out of it that was faster than the rest hit the ground running.
"Nel! Are you alright!? Nel! Hold on!" He tried to look at me as I appeared right next to him only to fly upwards and smash into the ceiling of Las Noches so hard he left cracks in it, creating a wonderful backdrop as he fell, the darkness of Hueco Mundo seeping through the otherwise sunny canopy of Las Noches. As he fell down I lowered my leg and waited, wriggling my bare toes in the sand as I did so.
Falling to the ground I could see blood escaping his mouth before gravity wrecked his body again as the sand exploded under him. I ignored the unconscious Nel and whipped out the snapped heel as I gripped his hair with my toes and lifted him up. "You're slow. Even when falling. Which reminds me, you think Byakuya will be the first to die?" I stepped back, eyes wide as something was poked into my breast. "You have three seconds to move that."
"Never!" He obscenely panted, in pain. "Because a person as important as you-" I knocked his sword away with my foot but he got on a knee and continued to monologue, sword at his side. "Is the captain of the Espada! With a power like yours you're their leader!" His face held grim relief despite his battered body. "It's fitting that you're the one, it began with you and it'll end with you! The moment I defeat you this war is as good as over." He began gasping again.
I closed my eyes and moved my arms to cover my chin and torso. "Now I'm confused, I'm hardly a master strategist but something seems off with that logic." I looked down at his battered body and took in the sorry state of his panting and bleeding form, patches of skin having been destroyed where my Balas made direct hits. "You're really telling me the fools you brought along with you are good enough to take down everyone else? How does my loss exempt you from fighting the other Espada as you're implying? Even if you look strong we Arrancar have a sensor technique, Pesquisa, that lets us know just how weak you are. And then your most erroneous assumption..." I shifted my hand to cover my mouth and bought the other hand down to my right leg, as the hand parted the dress and revealed my inner thigh I grabbed his hair with my foot again to give him a better look.
There in bold...the number...
4
"You're...the fourth?"
"I'm the Fourth Espada, Cyan Sung-Sun. There's also a cute meaning behind each Espada, an aspect of death, it's something done to mirror the symbolism of each Court Guard Squad. Ah yes, my own Aspect of Death is Famine."
"But...how? You're surrounded by the Espada! And with your power..."
I eased up on him and stopped pulling his hair. I pulled my Zanpakutō out of my sheath in a dramatic display while dropping the snapped heel and grasping it between my toes. "One to Four, those are the only numbers that matter, Eight and Nine being a potential exception. There's one number that matters most however, one person who has no superior in the world. That's why you anger me so much."
"Kugh!" I pulled my foot back, avoiding the blood spurting from his mouth, the snapped heel having pierced through his ribcage, probably splintering into pieces along the way or splitting his ribcage in two.
I didn't come here to kill him as evidenced by my lack of Killing Intent but I'd be lying if I said I cared if he somehow died from this.
"Absolutely pathetic. One stab and you already give up the ghost, you Shinigami...seems like Zommari has resigned himself to a life of taking out the trash." He crumbled over, falling face first into the sand. "This is proof you're not needed." I put my face on the back of his head and grinded his face into the sand. "She's focused on you, a mistake on my part. Now I need to get her eyes back on me." I glared down at Ichigo before walking away and monologuing. "This is what it means to be one of the four horsemen, victory is inevitable."
I continued plodding along until I heard the faint rustle of sand which made me turn around.
I could see Nel get up from within his black cloak and crawl towards him with tears in her eyes crying his name. Seems she recovered from her shock, or whatever that was.
In any case it was time to face the music. As I walked back to the palace we owned I wondered how to weasel my way out of this. Just saying Ichigo is still alive isn't going to cut it, I have to tell her he's obsolete now.
Wait...
What was I sensing?
Was he for real?
The building exploded as Nnoitra released his Zanpakutō.
I covered my face with my palm exasperated beyond all belief by him. That turned out to be another mistake. I was so wrapped up in Nnoitra's foolishness that I hadn't noticed a figure running towards Ichigo's fallen form.
Strangle To Death, Anaconda!
"I promise Lady Harribel." Cyan walked away from them as the doors opened, showing Orihime sitting on the bed and gazing outside.
"Hey girlie, your friends have come knocking."
"What?" Orihime turned to Emilou.
"Yeah, they're all comin' here to save your ass cause your weak as shit!"
"Wait!" She ran past us and towards Cyan, absolutely terrified. "What are you going to do!?"
Sung-Sun coldly replied to her. "Just a bit of course correction. It's not like it'll matter if I stay anyway, just like it wouldn't matter if I hadn't killed your brother. It's Rukia's destiny to die to Aaroniero just like it was his to die that night in his car." She turned away from her and kept walking.
"Wait! Please! Don't kill them! I'll do anything just please don't!-"
The human wasn't prepared for Apacci to throw her to the floor by the neck. "God shut up! Does that mouth of yours ever stop moving! You just don't stop complaining do ya!?" She stomped right beside her head, leaning forward on her knee and making Orihime flinch and cover her face. "Maybe I'll correct that attitude of yours huh!"
Orihime squeaked as Mila stabbed her between the legs and left her sword there, pinning the girl there and leaving Harribel to glare at her for damaging the floor, but Mila was only paying attention to Orihime. "You know Emilou that ain't a bad idea, she's a pretty damn mouthy brat."
Emilou looked back at her with a grin. "You wanna bet that some interesting things come out of that mouth?" She leaned down and cupped the girls cheeks with her thumb and forefinger. "Hey, do you hate us huh?"
"You're right. That would be very interesting, well girl? What's you're answer?" Rose was looming over her.
"Yeah and that's what cupcake over here is! Man these humans are so pathetic they can't even answer a question!" She increased the pressure of her grip but Orihime didn't seem that affected, something must have changed within her. "Well? C'mon toots! You hate Sung-Sun? Maybe Harribel?"
"No." Orihime replied with a firm voice. "I...I don't hate any of you..."
"Hmph, I think she's saying it cause she's powerless, don't you?" Emilou grinned at Rose. "Knowing her though it might be because she's so spineless."
"I suppose we could find out right now." Mila gave Orihime a serious look. "You know that's a real problem right. You know who you work for now? Who you serve? It's unforgivable if you're too spinless to die for her sake don't you? You belong to her and she doesn't have the time to make sure you're not a screwup, you need to protect her from attacks and heal her if it comes down to it. You got that?" She stared her down until Orihime nodded. "If anyone thinks about hurting Harribel you kill them, got it?"
Orihime sullenly nodded.
"Yeah, you're her property now, which means!-"
"Lord Aizen has called for another meeting." Emilou was interrupted by a servant at the door.
"What? Already?!" The two of them looked to Harribel for an answer because...did all of them really go? Knowing Aizen that was a possibility so...
"Rose. Stay here and guard her, and while you're at it teach her a few things."
"Yes Ma'am." She watched as Emilou and Harribel departed. Ignoring the afterimage of Sonido and staring off into the distance. "You're her property you know? You and the rest of your friends too because I'm after everything." She glared at the girl out the corner of her eye. "Each Espada has a meaning to them, an Aspect of Death. Mine is War." She faced the girl and put her boot on her lower ribcage. "In the end all of you will bow before us. That's right, even the Human World will be conquered, everyone and their dog is going to know her, and we got some pretty big ideas for it. But you don't know why do you?"
She would have said more but the side of the room exploded, revealing Renji Abarai and Uryu Ishida standing outside.
"Well Renji, I'd say that played out splendidly don't you?"
"Hmph, don't flatter yourself so much. We still gotta get through her to get to your friend."
"Hmph." Uryu fired an arrow at Mila. "That's not going to be a problem." His eyes narrowed as his opponent didn't dodge, didn't even bother blocking and just took the hit head on.
"You were saying?" Renji smugly said. He was tense though, he knew just how strong Uryu actually was, but even if it seemed impossible to beat her that wouldn't stop them.
That was what their bravado was for. They might not win, but that wasn't a good enough reason to not try at all.
Mila for her part simply drew her sword and kicked Orihime to the side, seemingly giving up on keeping her prisoner in exchange for a fight.
The artificial light shone down on Mila Rose, seeming to highlight the number on the back of her hand.
4
Strangle To Death, Anaconda!
"I didn't believe anyone could be so incompetent before but...here we are." I walked towards Nnoitra, who had released his Zanpakutō, Santa Teresa while Tatsuki was standing there without a scratch on her. "Grimmjow and you honestly deserve this, I had no idea Christmas came early but I'm quite happy with my presents, your comeuppance."
He had a manic look on his face, something emphasized by the changes in his body like crescent shaped rock going through his head and the four arms covered in bones. His Zanpakutō had split up into four separate pieces, giving him a scythe in each hand to strike with. It hinted at what he was, his true capabilities as befits us Arrancar. The split Zanpakutō held in newly grown arms and the 'headpiece' were telling of his newfound capability if you thought about it.
"You can be quiet! I'll be through with her in a few minutes."
I lowered my sleeve and gave everyone a smug little smile. "Maybe you should handle my leftovers instead." He turned to me and growled. "It's in your league." His weapons were rattling. "And she's ever so excited to meet you."
"Eh?" His face was frozen in shock. "What the hell are you talking about? There aren't many women I'm cursed with knowing."
"Why don't you go find out? She's excited to see you." I quit smiling as I stood next to him and looked at Tatsuki.
"You...you think.you can boss me around!? You think you're all that?! A difference in just one number isn't worth that much!"
"Really? I think you offed her because she was higher ranked than you? Or was it because she was bossing you around like I am?" I cocked my hip, holding back a sigh at his attitude.
"No...it can't be..." His eye was shaking until he looked over and squinted at Ichigo, trying to look for that distinctive head of hair before finding something else. "Huh? It's your new pet." We turned to each other in confusion. "What's she doing here?"
I used Pesquisa since his only worked on a single person. "It seems her bratty friends broke her out and are currently fighting Mila, Emilou and Her Majesty seem to be meeting with Aizen."
"Huh...she's not stopping, bold little runt isn't she?"
"She's tried to make friends with Emilou, I guess it's cause they both have thick skulls."
He reared his head back and gave a sharp laugh before walking towards Orihime, making the distant figure stop in her tracks. "Maybe I'll let her heal him so I can rip him apart in front of her! Or maybe I'll dangle him just out of reach while kicking Nel around. Who knows..."
I faced my would be opponent. "I insult the man for failing to kill you, but to fail to scratch you is truly stunning, it makes sense he'd lose the fight considering your power however, but to beat him so soundly is incredible. Something that can't be chalked down to some incompetence on his end, yes, I've realized what your power is Tatsuki Arisawa." I took one last careful look at her.
Formfitting jeans and a shirt with steel tipped boots and spiked knuckle dusters.
Pathetic. Suicidal. Amateurish.
But there must be something there. Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin were there to mentor her. But there was a clue however, the colour of those knuckle dusters. At first I thought they really were knuckle dusters but the pure shade of white they were hinted at their material.
Sekkiseki stone.
"Oh yeah?" She grit out with clenched fists.
"Your power...is so basic that even Gillians discard it. But you took that power to its natural end just like Aaroniero Arruruerie did. He took eating to its end where you took acidity to its end. It's such an obscure power that I had to be sure of it, but I got many hints. The first clue came when you entered Las Noches. However... it's hard to tell where your achievements begin and where the blacksmiths ends. Making knuckles out of Spirit Repelling Stone? It's a frightening weapon if I must be honest."
It wasn't the only reason he lost though, Nnoitra was about as fast as the Ninth Espada. I'd say Grimmjow was twice as fast as Nnoitra and I was better in every way than Grimmjow, so she couldn't beat me.
I doubt I was biased when I compared myself to Grimmjow.
"You noticed huh? Yeah, only me and Orihime could wear it, Chad saw no use for it but it won't cancel out my power, something you apparently figured out."
I brushed my hair back as I told her. "My power is a 'poison' that travels through the air and takes Spirit Energy, of course it lets me keep track of anyone it's in as a side effect. But you kept destroying it." I narrowed my eyes at her. "I could only find you through Pesquisa, a nerve detection technique, all the other hints came when we met and then you beat Nnoitra."
"Heh. Frightened? That guy was just one rank below you and I'm here. Did you think you could get away with all you've done!" She became confident, even going so far as to smirk at me.
"That. That's the final clue. You don't even know do you? Nnoitra had an unusually tough Hierro and you didn't even notice it despite all his boasting. The fact you beat him says it all. But there's nothing to fear." I adopted a fighting stance. "You're just a watered down version of Baraggan. Come girl, you'll pay for comparing me to that vulgar fool."
She rushed at me with a fist held out in front of her and no guard, I used Sonido to get right in her face and went to hit her only for her to barely react and move her head out the way. Her outstretched fist elbowed me in the side of the head, followed up by a knee in the stomach, making me gasp. I shoved the handle of my sheathed sword into her in retaliation and tried to bowl her over. I managed to throw her to the ground, and immediately went to smash my knee into her only for her to somehow grab it and strike my knee, stabbing right through it.
I winced in pain, my Hierro having melted in her presence but I recovered and punched a Bala into her side, sending her away and letting me recover. "You're fast girl." We stood and faced each other.
"And you're going to be a real pain." We sized up each others wounds, her side revealing torn threads and a brutal burn and my regenerated body. She grimaced at it before I closed in and struck her, getting into an exchange of blows where I wasn't winning.
How?
She was faster than Ichigo! Each strike was slapped away and each attempted grab would lead to a quick counter, but that was fine. As I hit her in the kidney she kneed me in the stomach and punched my shoulder, puncturing it as I fired a Bala into her kidney. I tried to spin kick her as we broke away but she guarded it. "Ugh, you're actually a bit familiar, that's twice now you've pretended to be weaker than you are. How fitting that you'd learn from a woman who has a history with me, how is Soifon by the way?"
"She's just fine." She replied with a stoic face. "I suppose she won't like me finishing her job for her, but that's too bad. I'm going to pay you back for all you've done to us."
"You think you can win?" For a brief instant she vanished and appeared right in front of me, fist already reaching for my face, I had no idea how a human learned Shunpo but I dodged it and jabbed her in the throat before kicking her side and backing away. "I think I love speeches, because I'm tempted to explain what just happened to you." Her confused look remained despite the pain and my smug tone. "Your power makes you totally unaware of what just happened, but I just exerted my Spiritual Pressure. I got serious. I don't like taking hits to the head, especially from a power like yours, you may melt through my Hollow Mask entirely." I brushed a hand through my hair and showcased the pinky sized remnants. "You're an excellent specimen Tatsuki, but in the end you're just a human girl, give up while you still can." She looked at me with narrowed eyes before raising her fists, making me sigh.
She charged at me from the front again as the both of us became blinded by the sphere of bright pink energy to our sides.
Tatsuki naturally got distracted by Nel regaining her form, allowing me to get closer and pelt her with Balas, giving her light burns.
She was pissed, something made far worse by the light burn marks on her face. "That was cheap." She grit out.
"Talking isn't a free action sweetie, but I suppose I can indulge in it now if you like. I assume you're spiritually deaf so I'll tell you that Nel done that." I put a hand on my hip as I chatted our ears off. "From the moment she came in here I determined she was an Espada of some kind, not an Arrancar since she's more than a match for Zommari, the Seventh Espada. In fact she seems just a bit tougher than Nnoitra."
"How's a sweet little girl like her end up as an Arrancar? It can't be that she's tricking us."
"As I understand she used to be the only female Espada before we came along. Grimmjow and Nnoitra are under the delusion women can't fight, I wouldn't be surprised if even some rank and file Arrancar thought the same things. Canon fodder don't know there place, those two still labor under the delusion that they'll actually be somebody. It's sad and laughable. As for why Nel seems to have become a powerless child I couldn't tell you why definitively, but there's a reason I don't want you touching my Mask. Cracks aren't a feature."
"I see-wait what the hell?! Are you telling me the Espada tried to kill her?! Why are you working with them?! Aizen betrayed the Soul Society and everyone who looked up to him and he's just standing by as the Espada backstab each other? Why are you working for them!?" She was confused and outraged, understandably.
"You misunderstand me, I don't care for the other Espada and their designs bar the only one who can hurt me. You misunderstand Hollows, Nel was a fool not to expect betrayal. We eat souls to fulfill a hole in our hearts but most end up becoming power hungry, the reason Aizen leads us is because he understands the nature of power and fear. He understands the chaotic nature of our lives on top of having the ability to manipulate anyone. A psychological master that knows exactly how people work. Knowing this I couldn't possibly be loyal to him."
"Then why? Is it because you're surrounded by strong people?" She had a lost, pained expression on her face and let her guard down in...confusion?
"Because I love another Espada." I covered my face again.
"Wha?!"
"I told you most of them are power hungry, becoming your typical meatheaded man, but some like the Primera Espada hunger for simple things, like a friend."
"So you-?"
"No. Coyote Starrk is a complete loser, if he cared at all about himself he'd be here and Nel would still be an Espada. As it is he's so pathetic his soul has literally divided itself to fix the problem. To give him a reason to live or to restore his self-preservation instincts, I don't know which but his loneliness is so crippling that it carried over when he died and actually empowered him. No, the one I love is someone who saved me. Help is a foreign concept to every Hollow, even family members aren't exempt from this. Do you know what it means for her to have done that in a world of hostility? To save me, not to use me, but to save me."
The violent clash between Nel and Nnoitra was reaching a crescendo to make up for our calm, the outcome was favouring Nel heavily, Nnoitra having revealed an extra two arms and scythes already only to graze her at worst with his trick. Nel was clearly his superior even if he refused to recognise it, she had been cutting through his Hierro in her base form, nevermind when she released her Zanpakutō and took on her true form, that of a centaur.
Yes...this too was proceeding according to my desires. All my poison was concentrated on Nnoitra, not to kill him but because he was going to die and I couldn't care to change it. Looking at him now it was obvious to see he was never going to accept our rule, so why help him?
"But...Aizen is gonna hurt the two of you, just like he stabbed his Lieutenant! Why aren't you running away or something, why are you throwing yourselves at his enemies?"
"Why do you think the three of them betrayed the other ten court guard squads? Because they're confident enough to kill all of them in direct combat. The moment you realise that you understand the Arrancar are a pony show he arranged to satisfy his god complex and to get used to ruling whatever he'll conquer. He has all the makings of a great Hollow which is why he commands an army like us." Her bizarre sympathy affected me enough that I gave her a soft, sad little look. "The frank truth is if he was honest and didn't hide his power he might be Head Captain, certainly the best candidate for it, if given the chance to bloom it would be impossible to stop him. Yes, even by my standards he is too ambitious and I have been named after a horseman of the apocalypse. I who wish to instill a zealous, religious love for Harribel in all the races across the worlds pale in comparison."
T'would be a humorous remark if only I were the pale rider.
"That last bit was real creepy and I still don't know why you're sticking your neck out for this guy."
"Because everyone who's against us must die." She had a look of disbelief. "When all our opponents are broken we shall move to spread her name across the globe, for who could stop us? No one. Mountain ranges will be turned into temples and Mount Rushmore will be replaced by our likeness as the Tajh Mahal will have sculptures of our weapons hanging down from its spires, and for each time Humanity rejects her a country will be obliterated. I shall glass the Middle East the moment it happens and take life indiscriminately, how else will they meet their saviour and liberator if not in death?"
She was taken aback by my proclamation, shaking and getting pale.
"You...you sick freak! H-how can you say any of that with a straight face? And you said Aizen's ambitions were worse?!"
"And I am right, I would not steal what belonged to Harribel. And even if you're a heretic that refuses her you'll still find I'm right, whatever Aizen would do to satisfy himself would be worse than our methods."
"You just said you'd glass a country!"
"Yes, and Aizen is capable, and willing to do far worse. How do you think Arrancar were made in the first place? He experimented upon his so called friends and peers, but at a certain point there was simply no need for it but he kept doing it for fun, and yet you want that power hungry man to be God?"
"Well at least he won't destroy a country!"
"No, he'd start changing the shape of them after the destruction got boring because you are nothing but toys to him. The problem with our rule is that we are too passionate, as we ought be. Thus, for small offenses I, Famine, or Violence shall appear and punish the town instead. Farmland cratered, water sources melted under the heat of my techniques, those are the punishments I shall give as I starve both the body and soul for sustenance. Violence will live up to her name as well and beat the heretic with whatever icons they defiled before treating the town like a sandcastle. For heinous offenses to Her Majesty I will strike the ocean and create a tsunami, Violence will turn herself into an earthquake."
"There's no way you could do that!" She spat out. "I'll stop you before that happens, and even if I can't the Soul Society's not gonna just sit there!"
"Las Noches is supposedly the size of California, now ask yourself this; why can't she release her Zanpakutō?" Though she didn't understand she looked appropriately scared. "Espadas ranked fourth and upwards can't release inside Las Noches because we'd destroy it if we did. All it takes is to release our true forms on the Earth and all the sins will be washed away, burnt, purified. Who could stop us? Trap us? Not even the Twelfth Division could do it, and after our war with the Soul Society they will be in no condition to even look at the Human World. If my plan was supposedly impossible then your real enemy was the Soul Society all along for allowing Hollows into the Human World, most Hollows end up escaping a Shinigami mid-fight through a Garganta, they have no hope of catching me if I use Descorrer. This is not a war for humans." She began shaking uncontrollably at that, her pale face staring at me with wide eyes. "Ask yourself what earned the love of cruel, hollow, heartless beings like ourselves. She has restored my heart and filled it with love, how could I resist the urge to spread her name?"
She was silent after my speech so I surveyed the land and saw Nnoitra dying, I was too far away to hear his last words and doubted it'd be anything interesting. It seems Nel on her last legs after beating him along with her Reiatsu seeping out the crack in her mask.
But I was more interested in Ichigo and Orihime who were close enough to hear my declarations but Tatsuki came at me before I could get a good look.
I counter-charged her, going as fast as I could and bringing my palm down on her skull, marshalling my full might to kill her this time rather than play around.
She smacked aside my wrist and kneed me before smashing my face into the sand and went to punch a hole through my skull until multiple Bala into her stomach sent her flying, but Tatsuki quickly moved her arms and legs, sending Anken flying towards me.
Typical Second Squad maneuver, though how she tucked them away in her clothes was beyond me.
Jumping after her I deflected the Anken with my sword before sheathing it as the knives fell into the sand, the two of us drawing nearer.
As she went to kick me I tossed out a few Balas, a few of them smashing into her and flipping her over. As I kicked her she blocked it with her forearm, and then kicking out with the other leg she twisted her entire body to grab it between her legs and stopped blocking the leg, grabbing the foot instead and instantly stabbing me through the stomach with an Anken using her free hand before pulling it back and drawing three more Anken and throwing them into my collar.
Her newfound capabilities astounded me. But...her power was meaningless in the end.
I cut deep into her wrist and through her stomach before she suddenly moved my leg into the path of my own sword. Against a lesser opponent this would have worked but I was quick enough to react and stab her through the foot instead. Which had a horrific reaction.
Her red blood rained down on my ankle, melting it to the point my foot dropped off. Even her blood was acidic!
I didn't bat an eye as it fell to the ground instead deciding to use my other hand to fire Balas at her. Now that the surprise was wasted I had the upper hand but she still would have been laying into me had I flinched. Now with the upper hand bruises and cuts were quickly piling up before she let go of her grip, sending the both of us sliding through the air but I immediately jumped at her, sword extended to pierce.
She desperately tried to cancel my thrust by throwing more knives but I still pierced her shoulder, meaning the fight was pretty much over and done with. Now...for the flourish.
Stepping on her battered ribcage I jumped over her and brought my sword down on the other arm, she stiffly tried to dodge it only for her foot to fail her which meant...
Ichigo screamed to the heavens as my blade shone in the sun, her arm falling to the ground as blood decorated both the sand as she fell, screaming and clutching her stump as best as she could with a perforated shoulder. "As for why I'm not running from Aizen, Tatsuki...it's the same reason Ichigo is fighting him." I fell with her towards the furiously screaming Ichigo only for a last minute surprise.
From the earth arose Spiritual Pressure, enough to irritate my eyes and threaten me in other ways.
Ichigo stood tall and glared at me.
"That's enough Sung-Sun, I'm not gonna let you hurt my friends any longer. You're going to give Orihime up and we'll all go home."
"Really..." I muttered. As we hit the ground I tossed Tatsuki at him. "You're going to talk like that to me?!"
Ichigo caught her with an arm, cradling her as he passed her over to Orihime. "It's alright now Tatsuki, you don't have to fight anymore." Arisawa put up some meaningless protest or another, something I couldn't be bothered listening to as I marched over there.
"You heal only her arm Orihime."
"Hey! You think you can hurt people and tell them what to do? You already failed when you attacked my friends."
"You have done nothing but risk your 'friends' life by barging in here thinking your die hard attitude will somehow get you through a gauntlet of Thirteen Captain class opponents! You could barely beat Dordoni! Keeping your Bankai up for hours, fighting some of the strongest people in history all at the same time and you complain when it hurts?!"
"Well I ain't gonna let a bunch of murders do what they want just because they got numbers and knives. You people want to destroy my hometown for your own purposes, now who gave you the right to do that?" He gave me a tight smile.
"Harribel did."
"So what? You're friends mean more than mine? Tch, what am I saying, of course they do to you. Well you're in for a rude awakening, now on the matter of your friends I'm curious where they rank among the Espada, I haven't met them yet."
"You know they rank among the Espada yet you still persist in this? Humans are insane. Have you just not noticed that I regenerate?" I moved the new foot for effect. "Are you under the delusion you harmed me with your Getsuga Tenshō?"
He was silent, but then spouted something insane. "Well the plan hasn't changed. All I need to do is put down the strongest, and I'm going to guess that person is...Tier Harribel!"
"Are you sure about this?"
"You're damn right I'm sure!"
"No. I don't think you are." I swaggered over to him, slowly drawing my sword as I did so. "It's...Karin and...Yuzu, right?" He immediately grit his teeth. "Go ahead, I welcome the attempt. If you dare to harm her, if you dare to cut her, if you so much as dream of bruising her then I will repay the grievance you have caused me. We will kill your family in front of you like we have so many others. But first we'll kill your friends, starting with young Nel. She's ordered me to not kill you and your first instinct is to hurt her? Typical Hollow, you're absolutely disgusting."
"I'm a Visored not a Hollow you reactionary." I made eye contact with Neliel as I kicked her into Ichigo as hard as I could. "Nel!" As he abandoned his guard to catch her I went to run him through only for his instinct to kick in, letting him bring his sword down to barely knock my sword inches to the side. I still drew blood, but the cry of pain wasn't that of a man's. "NEL!"
A horrendous wail erupted from her as her foot was almost cut in two, her bone having been cut through. "That right there is why you're scum Ichigo Kurosaki. It was instinct to save yourself before her, and yet a selfish creature such as yourself would hurt Harribel?! You're a Hollow precisely because of that!"
"Gah!" He was buckling under the force of my hits, probably because he didn't have his Hollow Mask on but I didn't care.
I wanted him dead at this point.
So why was Grimmjow interrupting me?!
"Hey! Ichigo! How about you fight me instead?"
Ichigo and I broke away to stare at him. "Grimmjow...what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to kill you of course Ichigo! I don't want anyone else to do it but me! I'm gonna rip out your insides because of what you cost me!"
"And what about you Cyan? You did say that I'd have to fight multiple Espada at the same time." He gave me a cautious look, he was still willing to fight however.
"Quite frankly the two of you disgust me and I want the both of you dead...but that will leave me in no condition to go to war with the Shinigami. Not as long as Orihime is out in the open. Say goodbye Ichigo."
"Wait you can't just!-"
I caught Orihime with Sonido, glancing down at her as she shook in my grasp. "You've only restored her arm?"
"Yes..." She muttered.
Looking at Tatsuki I couldn't see her stir. It was good enough for me.
I felt like I couldn't check myself if I wanted her to serve us willingly, so I'd choose my words carefully so as to tempt her into willingly serving us.
Sadly I couldn't do the same for her friends tried to kill me for something I said or did. Clearly I'd have to leave them to Harribel if we wanted them alive since she got Emilou and Rose to not kill each other.
As I was bringing her back to Harribel's palace Ulquiorra began approaching me at high speeds on his way to the battle.
Afterimages of his pasty body rapidly got closer with bursts of sound each time.
"What happened?"
"Grimmjow is trying and probably failing to kill Ichigo Kurosaki, something I've allowed to happen so as to get back custody of Orihime." She turned away from him the moment he looked at her.
"I see. Lord Aizen has requested you for a meeting, so do not be tardy."
"Of course, while you're here would you mind holding onto this for me?" From my sleeve I pulled out a small black box.
"A Caja Negación? Why would you insist I carry it?" He looked at it for a second or two before grabbing it. "I am surprised you didn't give it to Harribel in the hopes that she would use it on one of your so called friends. It is utterly useless in my hands and will not see use."
"Precisely why I gave it to you, though that is a fantastic idea. Grimmjow is only going to last for so lets make ourselves scarce."
He stared at me for a few seconds. "I don't yet know what the meaning of this is, but I would hope whatever you're up to will not impede me in any way. If this Caja Negación is some petty attempt to inconvenience me the consequences will be dire."
"Of course not." We got out of each others hair even though that parting comment made me fairly angry.
Strangle To Death, Anaconda!
Post Script. 9696 words.
Holy. Shit. Writing scenes after beating Ichigo was so godamn slow, I am so sorry. It didn't actually occur to me Orihime was getting out of that room to heal Ichigo till I was done stabbing him with a shoe. Kinda shows you how impromptu or ad-hoc this all is.
I feel pretty good about this chapter, biggest problem was how long it took to get out. I was concerned about my pacing at the end, I also think I went a bit heavy on speeches and fat paragraphs, I want to improve on this but I don't know how I could. Body language perhaps?
I've finished the epilogue for the Winter War though and I'm quite pleased with it, I've also been thinking about rewriting the story, or rather writing a separate version of it. (Since I've lost access to essentially every chapter you read so far.) One where "C.N" is bricked. I wanna rewrite it because I think my earlier chapters are god awful, that and some critics had a problem with it, I thought they were a minority opinion at first but then they became a bit more prominent. I guess I might've been living in a bubble. I still don't fully get why they have a problem with it but I suppose I'm coming around.
I suppose I'll answer your reviews now.
I'm still sorry this took so long.
Ahmed Maged! Thank you! I hope I can keep entertaining, it's what I live for.
Antex! Its oddly relieving to be able to do this again I must say, but no, she didn't poison him in the end, I want a measure of pride in her, whether that be her circumstances or her friends. I'd like to say she'd stubbornly stick with her friends rather than swap them just to prove something. One thing I wish I got off my chest though was that Sung-Sun was stealing Starrk's power.
I actually like Nnoitra quite a bit but I figured he'd be too slow to catch someone trained by Soifon and Yoruichi.
I'll keep this up, don't you worry. I'll finish this story if it's the last thing I'll do.
Ruimask! Yeah, I really should have waited and put in a few more scenes where they interact with Orihime, hope I've kept it interesting for you, and you'll get your wish, I've already granted it even. Just be careful, I might end up killing some of your favourites, then again that kind of thing can be exciting can't it?
How's the pacing here? No man deserves a half hearted writer after all. But yeah, those two are in on it as well, I think the first draft of this story had Emilou start it all, and as a Futa at that. Thankfully I stopped the degeneracy since the bad jokes about horns would get...out of hand. But yeah, that was quickly wiped and Mila would instigate it all in a shower room. It would greatly upset Cyan in the process before she'd come around and stick with her for the long haul.
I think my worst jokes came from that time period, looking back I feel like I was being your typical hot blooded brat, glad I tempered myself when writing this...have I? I'd hope so. That part's a reason why I want to rewrite this story I think.
Now that I've got the reviews out the way how about this? An Omake. Been a while hasn't it?
Strangle To Death, Anaconda!
In a world where Aizen prematurely betrays Harribel and her servants..."That is an interesting ability you have, but I must ask you to stop using it upon my subordinates."
I turned away from the balcony and faced the Head Captain. "What do you mean? Soifon has already innoculated herself to it."
"Something that irks you greatly I imagine. But I was referring to Shinigami in general, they'll need to grow stronger if they wish to stand against the enemies forces."
"Come now, you don't honestly believe that." I looked back and took in the view. The sun making the Soul Society's walls shine beautifully.
"No, but there are some vaguely promising Seated Officers in your poisonous grasp."
"Really? There are Seated Officers in there? Are you sure they're promising?"
"Perhaps not, but nobody is promising so early are they?"
I preened. "I suppose that's the problem when you look so sophisticated, everyone thinks you're a lady rather than a young maiden. Still, to be complimented over my age by the Captain Commander."
"So you've been reading reports you really shouldn't have, concerning, but you are an exception. You're forgetting how much work it took to raise your companions to a similar level to you, which is why I'd hope you would stop sapping the strength of the students." He sounded calm as ever despite the serious topics.
"Well when you ask like that how could I refuse?"
"Thank you. They were eating leftovers just to replenish Spirit Energy, if it went on any longer they might have tried to eat Captain Komomura." He moved to stand beside me. "I find it strange that you would request to stay in a place so open, surely you've seen the price on your head, and you are surrounded by the enemy. Don't you think the Stealth Force is keeping it's eyes on you?"
"...What my lessers think and try is below me. I care only for one thing."
"That zeal may get you in trouble one day young lady, I think she would be quite upset if such a thing were to happen." He was remarkably casual for such statements, his eyes closed and his guard gone.
"Since I've met her up until now I have been struggling to express my feelings for her, how on earth can I not be restless until I have done so? How can I rest until she knows my feelings?"
He looked incredibly bothered by that, sighing and opening his eyes and taking on a tired tone. "That's the problem with young people now, too busy for even the slightest amount of self reflection. It seems likeness attracts if you and those other two are any indicator." I had a violent full body twitch at that. "I would like to say that she wants you to live as much as you want her too. It would make her a terrible person otherwise."
My body was seizing up in anger at this old fools sheer *gall* but I couldn't refute him since I'd insult Harribel if I did. After a moment of repose the best response I had was: "It seems you picked up a few linguistics tricks old man."
"Hmph, base insults from you are a reward more than anything else, a sign that I've won, that I was right about likeness! You're like your friend Apacci!"
I was so angry I almost swallowed my tongue. "No wonder Aizen betrayed you, you're like one of those disgusting fish with a parasite for a tongue."
"And yours is forked. Not as much as his is, I had thought it would take a snake to spot another, but it seems you are made of sterner stuff." I was drawing my sword until he said that last bit. "You're a fine young lady indeed, it's a shame you're not a Soul Reaper, loyalty and power like yours would have gotten you far indeed. Certainly more trustworthy or smart than Kaname, he had seemed loyal too up until now."
"Hm, you realise I'm loyal only to people don't you old fool? I'd betray you in a heartbeat if Harribel ordered it."
"Yes, that honesty is something I can believe in unlike those three traitors. Harribel would be a Captain, but the attitudes you three have make me wonder if you could be Captains at all."
"Seems you have gone senile if you've forgotten about Mayuri or that brat Hitsugaya."
"Hm. A fair point, you would definitely replace that young lad I'm sure."
"Keeping the insane clown and his posse? Smart choice, truth be told I've an odd liking for the man despite his designs for me."
"He will not be able to enact them."
I leisurely turned to him at that. "I heard rumor that you lied to Rukia when you went to execute her, something about offering Ichigo mercy? I teased that out of the Captains I've talked to." He had no visible reaction, but silence was it's own answer in my eyes. "I guess Aizen learned from you, lead by example and all that. It's wonderful to know Harribel believes the same too, but has decided not to lie to me. If you'll excuse me I'll go find more people to annoy."
I could hear the wooden cane held in his grip crack as I walked away.