Everlasting Reflections: The Moon Underwater
Arc II: Dawn of Dreams
Chapter 39: A Deal and a Favor
"Urahara, can you heal her?" He asked. "Umm… sure, just make her lie down over there," Urahara replied while pointing towards a bed with a confused face. "The very sight of you makes me sick," Harribel mumbled angrily while glaring towards Sesshomaru. "So… what the hell is happening?" Yoruichi anxiously asked Sesshomaru. "She is injured by Aizen," he replied. "Then why does she seem to be so angry at you? Who is she?" Yoruichi asked in a serious tone. "She is the same female Hollow whom I was seeking when I came here the first time, around 50 years ago." He answered.
"But what have you done to her?" Yoruichi asked Sesshomaru in an insisting manner. "When I arrived in the present the very first time, she is the one who helped me locating my sword in the Hueco Mundo while in return I helped her in rescuing her comrades but after my fight in the Soul Society when I went to return the Mask remnant to her…" Sesshomaru answered Yoruichi but was interrupted in between by Urahara. "Then her behavior towards you got changed for no reason and probably she even refused to recognize you, isn't it?" The blond guy in sandals and hat spoke with a mysterious smile on his face. "Yes," Sesshomaru responded with amazement. "Oh, how do you know all this, Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked upon getting shocked to notice by Sesshomaru's response that it was the truth. The next moment, Urahara went inside his shop and came back with that Mask remnant and a small piece of a golden gemstone. "This is the same Hollow-mask remnant that you left on my shop around 50 years ago, I found this yellow gemstone embedded in it and when I studied it, I found that this little thing actually possesses the power to manipulate one's memories," Urahara explained to him in a serious tone. "Hmm… I think I know who is responsible for this," Sesshomaru mumbled in a serious tone as he remembered that he saw similar golden gemstones embedded in the body of Orkos.
"What are you thinking?" Urahara asked him. "There are several things about your world which I need to discuss with you but first, I will have to fix her memories and in that, I need your help," Sesshomaru said to him. "Sure, just tell me what I have to do," he responded. "I want you to send me to the Hueco Mundo once again," Sesshomaru said in a serious tone. "I think, both Espadas and the Captains are still battling over there," Yoruichi spoke with concern. "I have no business with them, there's someone else I seek," he replied to her. "Yoruichi-san, can you make the Garganta arrangements for him? I am a bit busy in preparing that special Kido seal for Aizen and your armor," Urahara requested. "Sure, why not," she replied and left to the underground section of the shop while Sesshomaru followed her. "Jinta, you go and help her. Ururu is there to monitor Harribel's condition," Urahara said after which Jinta also left to that underground training ground.
It didn't take them long to open a Garganta to the Hueco Mundo but the moment Sesshomaru was going to enter it, Yoruichi asked him, "Earlier she helped you in locating your lost sword but why do you wish to save her now?" Sesshomaru got speechless for a moment upon her question but soon enough he answered, "I have got a personal score to settle with the person who had done that to her, that's it." Yoruichi chuckled slightly and didn't ask anything else as she had realized that he won't simply admit the truth about his feelings.
Fake Karakura Town, World of the Living…
The battle had become unexpectedly fiercer after the elimination of the Espadas because now the main unit of Aizen had entered the fray. Wonderweiss had already defeated Mashiro while Kensei had begun fighting against him in order to avenge Mashiro as well as to eliminate him quickly.
Meanwhile, Hiyori was getting impatient to attack Aizen but Shinji was constantly trying to stop her. However, Aizen taunted all the Vizards and successfully provoked her due to which she couldn't help and rushed towards him but ended up getting critically injured by Gin's Zanpakuto.
On the other hand, Hisagi and Komamura were fighting against Tosen but he was easily dominating both of them after getting Hollowfied. During their fierce battle, Tosen changed his form further and turned into a complete Hollow. Now in his new form, he utterly dominated Komamura and crushed his Bankai but before he could have killed him, Hisagi attacked Tosen from behind and tore his throat by releasing his Shikai with his Zanpakuto penetrating right through his neck. Afterward, Tosen reverted to his original body in his final moments and when he was in the middle of a warm and emotional conversation with both Komamura and Hisagi, his body got burst all of a sudden which terribly enraged Komamura.
An unknown castle, Feudal Era…
Yang was taken to an unknown bizarre castle by those grey soldiers. The weather around the castle was oddly different than the rest of the places. Dark clouds were seemed to be suspended over the castle in a large area due to which it was quite dark in the surroundings while the nearby land was cracked and it seemed that lava was erupting out of the cavities. Yang was unable to see properly but all she was able to comprehend that the soldiers left her before a spacious heightened platform, upon which a tall and armored humanoid figure was sitting on a throne while a feminine humanoid figure was seemed to be standing right beside him. However, she was clearly feeling their spiritual pressure which was far exceeding her own, especially of the male who was sitting on the throne. It didn't take her long to realize that he was far more powerful than her Lord Orkos.
"We have heard that you deliberately got yourself arrested in order to meet my lord," the sweet feminine voice addressed Yang. "Ye..Yes… I was actually sent here by… Lo..Lord Orkos," she replied with hesitation. "Why that coward has sent you to me?" The demonically echoing masculine voice echoed. "He was expecting you in the Feudal Era and he has told me to provide you with this," Yang responded and the next moment she took out a golden gemstone from her pocket. The male stretched his hand and the next moment the gemstone reached him telekinetically. After observing the gemstone for a few minutes, he ordered, "You may go."
The soldiers grabbed her arms immediately and took her out of the castle while Yang pondered over this uncomfortable experience and headed towards the Bone-Eater's well silently.
Negal Ruins, Hueco Mundo…
The Garganta portal opened directly into the Negal Ruins after which Sesshomaru didn't take much longer to reach the underground areas. Soon enough he confronted Yin and as soon as she saw him, she said, "Follow me." Sesshomaru began to follow her upon realizing that Orkos must be expecting him and that's why he had sent Yin in advance. They reached the chamber where Orkos was waiting for him, in no time. "Sesshomaru," Orkos murmured upon seeing him. "Orkos," he mumbled while giving him a cold stare.
"I can't express my gratefulness to you in words, for rescuing my sister from that mess," Orkos said to Sesshomaru in a polite tone. "There is one more mess and I want you to take her out of it," the Daiyokai replied. "And what makes you think that I will do it?" Orkos asked him in a playful manner. "I will simply make you do it by force," Sesshomaru answered in a serious tone while slowly putting his hand on the hilt of his sword. Yin immediately unleashed her electric whip in order to defend her Lord but before she could have clashed with Sesshomaru, Orkos signaled her to stop.
"I think we can come to an arrangement, Sesshomaru. A favor in return of a favor, what do you say?" Orkos asked him with a mysterious smile on his face. "What is it?" He asked while continuously giving him a cold stare. "A lot of significant Hollows had lost their lives in the ongoing battle and that includes my sister's Fraccions as well. But you Sesshomaru, you can provide all of them with a second chance," Orkos explained his desire. "Hmm, but first, you will be fixing her memories," Sesshomaru said in a serious tone. "You desperately want her back, don't you?" Orkos muttered to him while throwing a golden gemstone towards him. "She helped me when I was injured so I am simply returning the favor to her," Sesshomaru responded while catching the gemstone. "This gemstone will guide you about the dead Arrancars… my sister will be proud of you, Sesshomaru," Orkos said before the Daiyokai left.
To be continued…