Chapter 17: The Castle on the Hill
Hello everyone.
So, in a pretty recent review I received for the last chapter, someone asked me if I'd ever thought about including the 'Beyond Resurrección' forms the Espada apparently have in the game "Bleach: Brave Souls." I'll be the first to admit that I've never actually played the game before, but it really wasn't hard to do a quick Google search.
All I have to say is… HOLY SHIT! The transformations for Grimmjow and Nelliel look absolutely INSANE; I love the designs and color palettes so goddamn much. However, I do have a question, and please forgive me if this sounds dumb. Are these 'Beyond Resurrección' transformations basically the same thing as Ulquiorra's Segunda Etapa? If so, then that could actually work with what I already have planned. Grimmjow and Nelliel WILL appear later on in this story, so this concept isn't beyond the realm of possibility.
However, let me go ahead and say that despite the fact that I like this suggestion, I won't always take personal requests like this to heart. I know you guys may want to see certain things happen, but I already have a very concrete storyline in mind, and I don't plan on deviating from it. Some things may happen in this story that you absolutely love, but there could very possibly be other decisions I may make that you might hate with a burning passion.
Now then, onto another review topic that I've been receiving in spades.
A lot of people have been asking me whether or not the events of "Bleach: Hell Verse" are canon to this story. Many of you have pointed out that the movie is generally considered part of the main series' continuity, and I understand your confusion as to why I made no mention of it last chapter. Let's just say that any lingering confusion will most likely be cleared up in this new chapter.
I apologize for taking so long with this chapter, but college has demanded most of my attention. Then the whole coronavirus thing happened, and I was paying a lot of attention to the news. I think most of us will be perfectly fine, but just as a public service announcement, please remember to wash your hands thoroughly and properly. And just be hygienic in general.
Happy reading!
AlucardsBro OUT!
(Hellsing Manor; London England)
Ichigo blinked.
Then did so again.
And then once more for good measure.
"My, what…?"
Sirzechs chuckled, stepping forward to jovially wrap an arm around his shoulders. "Is it really so hard to believe? Your father and I have been friends for a good many years, since well before he even met your mother. When you were born, he asked if my wife and I wished to be your godparents, and we accepted. And yes, I am fully aware of how ironic that title is given my current position."
Ichigo stared ahead blankly, idly registering what he was told. His thoughts were an absolute blur, and it felt as if Kenpachi and Grimmjow were doing their best to beat the shit out of each other inside his brain.
At this point in his life, he'd come to believe that there were very few things in the world that could truly throw him for a loop. He'd fought false gods, clashed with soul-hungry monsters, and encountered beings whose very existence spat in the face of everything he thought he knew prior to obtaining his powers. Seras and Alucard were two such beings. However, even after everything he'd dealt with in the past, nothing could have properly prepared him for what he was currently faced with.
The devil was his godfather…
Even thinking about it caused his legs to go numb.
In any other circumstance, he might have questioned whether or not Sirzechs was actually telling him the truth. But, knowing his dad like he did, asking Satan and his wife to be his godparents sounded exactly like something the old goat would do.
Ichigo's brow twitched as a vision of a cackling Isshin briefly floated before his eyes.
"Hey, you okay there, kid?"
Blinking, the orange-head turned towards Sirzechs, who was looking down at him with visible concern in his eyes. Heh… the Devil was worried about him. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just processing everything, I guess."
"Hm. That's understandable. Please forgive me if I revealed everything to you too quickly. It wasn't my intent to overload you…"
"Nah, its fine. I should be used to having world-shattering bombshells dropped in my lap by now."
Sirzechs cracked a smile at that, before actually letting out a laugh and slapping his hand against Ichigo's back. The force behind the blow, obviously unintended, sent the orange-head tumbling face-first into the floor. Yoruichi gracefully leapt from his shoulders and onto Integra's desk, while Ichigo himself smashed his nose into the carpet in quite an undignified manner.
"Ow…"
"Are you alright?" Integra asked from behind her desk. Her tone conveyed slight worry, but irritatingly enough, she still made no move to help him up.
"Yeah, I'm just peachy…" the former Substitute griped, gingerly pushing himself back up to his hands and knees. There was no doubt in his mind that a dark bruise would be forming between his shoulder blades in the near future. Sirzechs was strong. Crazy strong. And yet, it was painfully obvious that the red-haired man hadn't even meant to exert so much force. How powerful was he when he was actually trying?
A hand suddenly gripped the back of Ichigo's jacket, disrupting his thoughts, and forcefully yanked him back up into a standing position. The orange-head's vision swam with spots for a moment, but when his stability returned, he found his godfather brushing him off casually.
"Sorry about that," Sirzechs grinned lopsidedly. "Sometimes I forget my own strength. You have no idea how tedious it can be to treat the world around you like everything is made from wet cardboard. I didn't hurt you too much, did I?"
Ichigo shook his head. "No, I've been hit way harder than that before. But, if you don't mind me asking, can we get back to the conversation at hand?"
From Integra's desk, Yoruichi finally spoke back up. "I would like to do so as well."
Sirzechs nodded, and his blue-green eyes immediately gained a far more serious edge. "Right, of course. Well, as I mentioned previously, I would like for you to accompany me to the Underworld. This may come as a surprise to you, but there are very few things in this world that I value more than family. I love my wife more than life itself. I also love my mother, father, son, and younger sister; they are the center of my entire existence. I know we haven't had any prior interaction that you can vividly remember, but I truly value you as a member of my family as well. When Amaterasu forbade me from visiting you and your sisters…"
The red-haired devil's fists clenched, and the office was suddenly engulfed in a small cloud of foreboding energy. Small specks of paint peeled from the walls, and the carpet underneath Sirzechs' feet began to smoke and burn.
Ichigo began to feel sick to his stomach, and he heard Integra audibly retch behind him. Casting a look at Yoruichi, he immediately noticed her muscles were tensed in a visible effort to remain upright.
Thankfully, as soon as the oppressive aura appeared, it evaporated into thin air. Sirzechs released a low breath, and raised his eyes apologetically. "Forgive me… but just the thought of it still riles me up to this day. Anyway, I would simply like an opportunity to catch up. You're a young man in your own right now, and you are more than capable of making your own decisions. I know Amaterasu will be upset when she learns of our interaction, but it is not her place to dictate your life as she has thus far."
Ichigo's eyes immediately narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"You… you didn't know? She is the reason why you were kept in the dark about the existence of the larger supernatural world outside of Soul Society. She wanted to prevent you from potentially forging new ties and deciding to align yourself with another Faction outside of the Shinto religion. Did you not tell him about this, Flash Goddess?"
"I wasn't even aware of such a thing," Yoruichi replied, shaking her small, feline head. "Kisuke and I haven't been exactly privy to what goes on within the Soul Society as of the past few decades. Central Forty-Six made sure all ties we had with the Gotei Thirteen were severed, and all classified information was kept out of our reach. If I had to venture a guess, though, I'd say only Yamamtoto himself was aware of Amaterasu's plans."
Ichigo's lips pulled up into a scowl, and he opened his mouth.
However, Sirzechs raised a hand to give him pause. "Please understand… Her Ladyship does love you in Her own odd way, Ichigo. You are a member of Her royal family, and just like me, all She has ever wanted to do is protect you. Even so, it is widely known in the supernatural world that Amaterasu is highly possessive of everything within Her kingdom, and that certainly includes her people."
"Are you trying to defend Her?"
"Not at all. What She did was unforgivable, and She should have never tried to control your life. But, thinking that they are always in control is the ultimate folly of many gods. All I am trying to say is that I understand why She did what She did."
Ichigo's scowl dropped into a soft frown, and he cast his down at the carpet under his feet. His eyes traced the patterns of the fabric, and he slowly allowed his frustration and anger to seep out of his body. The fact that Amaterasu, who had seemed so kind during their first meeting, had been dictating how he lived his life for the past eighteen years infuriated him to no end. Still, it wasn't healthy to hold on to such anger. And besides, seeing as how no one in the direct area was responsible for said anger, it wouldn't do any good to lash out.
However, if he ever saw the Lady of the Sun again, Ichigo made a promise to give Her a piece of his mind.
In the meantime, though, he supposed it couldn't hurt to be just a little petty. As Sirzerchs had previously said, he was a grown man now, and he had every right to make his own choices. Raising his gaze back up to face the red-haired devil, the former Substitute arched a brow. "You said you wanted me to come to Hell with you…?"
Sirzechs' eyes widened, and a hopeful smile stretched across his face. "That's right."
"How long would we be gone?"
"Not very long; only a few days at the most. All I want is to do a little catching up, and have you meet the rest of my family. We have all followed your exploits as a Soul Reaper with great interest. I wouldn't even be surprised if my son decided to ask you about an autograph."
Momentarily forgetting his decreasing irritation, Ichigo blinked in slight surprise. Were his adventures as a Substitute Soul Reaper really so widely known outside of the Soul Society?
Apparently seeing the look of shock on his face, Sirzechs let out yet another laugh. "Oh yes, Ichigo. You are something of a celebrity within the Underworld, and in the larger supernatural world at that. Your victory against Sosuke Aizen eased the fears of quite a few politicians all over the globe, just so you know. If that madman's goals had been achieved, Soul Society wouldn't have been the only affected realm."
He'd… never really thought about that, quite honestly.
It made sense though; if Aizen had been successful in fully merging with the Hōgyoku without anyone to oppose him, his strength you have become comparable to that of the Soul King himself. Not even Captain Commander Yamamoto would have been able to stop him then, and the old geezer was one of the most powerful people Ichigo had ever met.
He was glad that his efforts against Aizen were so widely appreciated, but he didn't know how comfortable he was with the idea of being a celebrity. He'd watched television, and he definitely didn't want a group of ravenous fans following him everywhere he went.
Shuddering at the thought of it, Ichigo shook his head and turned back to look Sirzechs in the eye. "Okay, I'll go with you. But you have to promise that we won't be gone for more than a few days. I don't want to leave my friends to deal with Millennium all on their own longer than I have to."
Sirzechs waved a hand through the air dismissively. "Bah, don't worry about that. I swear on the Pit itself that I'll have you back in at least three days. Just so you know, though, I could always just teleport you back with a magic circle if something truly serious came up. It isn't even that hard."
"Fine. Let's get going."
"Hold on just a moment," Yoruichi said, rising to her feet. "If you think for one moment that I'm going to allow you to go down to Hell all by yourself, then you're an even bigger fool than I originally thought. I'll be coming with you."
"I don't need a babysitter," Ichigo scowled.
The Flash Goddess smirked, tail twitching in unbridled amusement. "That isn't what your father told me. In case you've already forgotten, I was sent here to keep an eye on you. I intend to do so to the best of my ability, no matter where you go. So, go ahead and suck it up and wipe that sour look off your face."
Ichigo's scowl deepened, and his ears turned red when Sirzechs laughed unashamedly at the exchange. Without another word, Yoruichi jumped back up to rest on his shoulders, where she made herself comfortable.
To the side, Sirzechs ceased his chuckling and waved a hand through the air. A glowing red circle, decorated with archaic runes, appeared on the floor directly beneath the blue-eyed devil's feet. Offering a hand, Sirzechs nodded. "Alright then, we best be off. Grayfia will likely be wondering where I've run off to about now, and I don't want to piss her off any more than she probably already is."
Ichigo took the older man's hand, before sparing a quick glance back at Integra. "I'll be back before you know it. Give me a call if anything comes up."
The platinum blonde nodded, smiling faintly and she leaned her weight against her desk. "Of course. Safe travels, Ichigo."
He grinned back.
In the next instant, he, Yoruichi, and Sirzechs disappeared in a vortex of crimson energy.
(The Underworld; Gremory Territory)
Ichigo let out a gasp as soon as his feet reconnected with solid ground.
Falling to his knees, the orange-head allowed a stream of bile to erupt from his mouth and onto the dirt below him. Yoruichi yowled in disgust, leaping from his shoulders and onto Sirzechs'.
"Oh, I probably should have warned you about that…" the red-haired devil winced, taking a step back as Ichigo continued to heave violently. "Teleportation magic takes a little time to get used to. You'll stop getting sick after the third or fourth time, I promise."
"Ugh…"
"Cheer up, Ichigo. We're here, after all."
Wiping away the vomit dripping from his chin, the former Substitute raised his eyes to observe their new environment. A dark forest surrounded the trio on all sides, but a clear path through the trees stretched out in front of them. Turning his head skyward, Ichigo blinked upon noticing that the sky itself was a deep shade of purplish-red.
Yeah, they definitely weren't in the Living World anymore…
"Where exactly is here?" he inquired, shakily rising to his feet to properly address his host.
Sirzechs cast a fond glance down the path leading into the forest. "At the moment, we are in the forest that surrounds my personal estate. I could have simply teleported us into the main house, but walking there should provide us with a bit of time to go over the remaining questions you undoubtedly have. You don't mind, do you?"
"No. There are a few more things I want to ask you."
"Good." Reaching up, Sirzechs gently scratched Yoruichi under her chin. The former Captain immediately started up a chainsaw-like purr. "Shall we be on our way, then? You can go ahead and start asking questions if you like."
Following the older man down the path, Ichigo stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. There was still a faint sickly feeling swirling around in his gut, but thankfully it was fading away with each passing second. "Okay, answer me this. If the Underworld isn't as bad as all of the myths and religious texts claim, then why don't you do anything to change that reputation?"
"Because the opinions of humans in regards to the appearance of my homeland is inconsequential. They can believe whatever they like; their opinions don't affect me or any of my kin in the slightest. However, I will readily admit that there are several places down here that are in fact just as desolate and fiery as the Bible describes. You've been to one of them, in fact."
Ichigo nearly tripped. "What? You can't be serious… I think I would have remembered if I'd been here before."
Sirzechs cast a glance at him over his shoulder, grinning wryly. "You would think so, wouldn't you? Contrary to what you may think or believe, you have in fact been down in Hell before, Ichigo. However, you were in the territory occupied by Soul Society, and not in my own."
"I'm… not following…"
"You see, there are multiple areas and lands within the larger realm of Hell that are occupied by different supernatural Factions. For example, the Underworld, which is where we are now, is lorded over by the Devils and Fallen Angels of the Biblical Faction. Hades, which is several hundred thousand miles away, is ruled by the Greek Pantheon. The area of Hell you visited several years ago was the property of Soul Society, and to a larger extent the Shinto Faction. Make sense?"
"I… think so. Basically, you're saying that Hell is essentially like the Earth, and the multiple territories that make up Hell are comparable to the different nations and continents in the World of the Living, right?"
"Exactly!" Sirzechs grinned proudly. "I knew I had you pegged for a sharp cookie!"
"I still don't understand how I wouldn't be able to remember coming here, though," Ichigo frowned, casting his gaze down at the ground in frustration. Being in Hell definitely sounded like an experience he wouldn't easily forget, yet for the life of him he couldn't scrounge up any memories of such an event.
"You can likely thank Soul Society for that," Yoruichi commented from her spot on Sirzechs' shoulders. "If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that Central Forty-Six is responsible for your lapse in memory."
The orange-head's eyes snapped up to her instantly. "What do you mean?"
"You're correct, Lady Yoruichi," Sirzechs said, sparing a brief glance at her feline form before looking back down the dirt pathway. "Ichigo, I know you can't remember any of what occurred, but you actually journeyed to Hell in order to save your sister's soul."
"I-"
"Let me finish. Before we get into too much detail, I suppose it would make sense to provide you with a bit more context before diving right into what actually happened. You see, although the main two territories of the Shinto afterlife are Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, there is in fact, as you've probably guessed, a third place a Shinto believer can go after they've died. Hell is a place where people are condemned to when they've done something so terribly vile during their lives, that they are given no possibility of ever reaching Soul Society. You are aware that Hollows can potentially be purified, right?"
"Of course."
"Well, sinners are never given that chance. They are left to rot in Hell, bound in fire and chains for all of conceivable eternity. In fact, I would dare say that Soul Society's territory within Hell is far worse than anything in the Underworld." Sirzechs actually paused to shiver for a moment, before quickly shaking his head and continuing forward down the path. "Anyway, back to the main matter at hand. Your sister, Yuzu, was kidnapped by several sinners a few years ago, and you ventured down into Hell to rescue her. You were accompanied by several of your friends, and together you all managed to defeat the sinners with the aid of a man by the name of Kokutō."
Ichigo remained silent, keeping his eyes trained on the back of Sirzechs' head as the red-haired devil gave his explanation. It all sounded completely unbelievable, but at the same time, he knew it wasn't. Going to Hell all for the sake of rescuing Yuzu sounded exactly like something he'd do, and he knew in his heart that he would gladly do it again if the need ever arose.
Doing his best, the orange-head reached into the deepest corners of his mind to once again try and piece together any lingering memories of what had happened. To his surprise, he actually managed to latch onto a fragmented image of fighting an enormous creature alongside a man with white hair and an obscured face.
"I… think I remember…"
Sirzechs grunted, continuing forward without looking back. "That's no surprise. Your memories were repressed, not actually taken away. Now that I'm actually describing what happened in detail, you should be able to recall the entire series of events fairly quickly, and being down here again is likely speeding up that process as well. Anyway, back to the story. One thing led to another, and predictably, Kokutō betrayed you like the snake I always knew he was. As it turned out, he wanted your assistance in breaking the chains that bound him to Hell. Doing so would allow him to potentially enter the Soul Society."
Ichigo winced suddenly as a barrage of images flashed through the forefront of his mind. He saw himself battling the white-haired man he'd fought alongside with prior. He also saw himself submitting to the monster that resided inside his soul.
"I… I transformed into a Hollow…" he realized aloud.
"Indeed, you did," Sirzechs replied. "And damn, did you ever do an absurd amount of damage. See, Kokutō needed you to transform the entire time, as your powers as a Vasto Lorde was the only thing powerful enough to break the Chains of Hell."
"Did I…?"
"Did you break the chains? Very nearly, and you would have had it not been for the intervention of your friend, Renji Abari. He sent you and your sister back to the Living World, which prevented Kokutō from being released. Unfortunately, sending the two of you back also trapped Renji and your two other associates in Hell with Kokutō. But of course, being the stubborn fool I knew you were, you returned to fight the bastard and free your friends. And yes, you obviously won that fight."
"How? Did I turn into a Hollow again?" Ichigo asked.
"No," Sirzechs said, shaking his head as he stepped over a fallen tree. "That would have been exactly what Kokutō wanted. Actually, as hard as it still is for me to believe, Hell itself actually responded to your need for power and christened you as its temporary vessel. You were given dominion over the guardians of Hell, the Kushanāda, and the added strength allowed you to take Kokutō out of the fight for good. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that a small vestige of that power still resides inside of you somewhere."
Ichigo looked down at himself, as if doing so would allow him to visibly see the power his godfather was talking about. When nothing appeared, he let out a huff and looked back up at the back of the man in front of him. "You still haven't explained how I wasn't able to remember any of this in the first place."
"Actually, Lady Yoruichi did so slightly already. After everything transpired, I was forced to meet with Captain Commander Yamamoto to discuss what our next course of action should be. He claimed that allowing you to retain your memories would inevitably lead to you questioning the existence of other Factions, due to the fact that Hell is most often associated with the Biblical Trio. If you started asking such questions, then Amaterasu's desire to keep you isolated from the rest of the supernatural world would be threatened."
"So… Soul Society decided to mess with my memories," Ichigo concluded.
"They did," Sirzechs confirmed, stopping in his tracks to look back at the orange-head. "However, you have my word that I fought them with every single amount of political power I possess. Unfortunately, it was ultimately not my decision to make, given that you were completely under Soul Society's jurisdiction at the time. Things are different now though, and I promise to treat you like an actually family member as opposed to just another expendable soldier."
"Thank you. I… really appreciate it."
Nodding, the crimson-haired devil smiled brightly before turning again to continue down the trail.
Ichigo followed him, but elected to remain silent instead of asking any further questions. He'd always know that Captain Commander Yamamoto and the rest of Soul Society were rather paranoid, but this new revelation blew everything he'd previously thought out of the water. They'd wiped his memory. They'd fucking violated his mind, which was supposed to be the one place where he was untouchable. The thought brought a snarl to his face, and he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles began to creak in protest.
A sudden weight suddenly made itself known on top of his head, and he looked up to see a pair of golden eyes staring back down at him.
"Try not to let it trouble you too much, Ichigo," Yoruichi advised. "If I allowed everything from my past to dictate my every thought, then I would be a very bitter person. It's in the past now, so the best thing you can do is let it go."
That was much easier said than done.
If Soul Society had managed to selectively erase his memories without him even knowing, what else could they take away from him? There were many things Ichigo didn't want to forget, such as the friends he knew he could still trust. Yamamoto had now permanently earned a shitty reputation in his eyes, but he was still fairly certain he could trust the likes of Renji and Rukia. There were likely several others such as Toshiro and Rangiku who would take his side, but he wasn't about to blindly put his life in their hands anymore…
"What now?" Ichigo asked.
"That depends," Sirzechs replied, casting a look back over his shoulder. "Do you have any desire to return to Soul Society? If so, then speak now."
"What do you think?"
The red-haired devil smirked. "In that case, allow me to formally welcome you to Lucifer Manor."
Sirzechs reached up to push away a cluster of tree branches, and Ichigo was forced to momentarily shield his eyes from the blinding light that suddenly shone through the gap in the foliage. As his vision gradually adjusted to the light, the orange-head felt his mouth drop in genuine awe as he beheld the sight of what was undoubtedly one of the largest buildings he had ever seen.
"You live here?!" he exclaimed.
"I do," Sirzechs confirmed with a grin. "The house was built relatively recently, only a few centuries ago in fact, so we try to keep everything as modern as we can on the inside. You will find that the manor is fully furnished with the most recent design trends found in the Living World. I hope you can come to think of it as your second home."
Home? Home?!
This place was nearly the size of the entire Seireitei! Ichigo didn't doubt for a moment that he would end up getting lost in the enormous structure several times before even coming close to grasping its full layout.
Without another word, Sirzechs led him from the edge of the forest and across the field that led to the house. Trimmed hedges and marble statues decorated their pathway, and everything looked meticulously pristine. How someone managed to keep everything so spotless and perfect, Ichigo would never know. Before too long, they reached the elaborately decorated front door, which Sirzechs pushed open with a mild flourish.
"Welcome home, Lord Lucifer!"
Ichigo blinked at the chorus of voices that greeted them. Gathered just on the other side of the door was what appeared to be a collection of servants; the uniforms they all wore made it highly unlikely that they were anything but. At the head of the group, a silver-haired woman with cool eyes stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Welcome home, My Lord," she said plainly.
"Grayfia, darling!" Sirzechs laughed, moving forward with his arms outstretched for a hug. "Why so casual, my love? Come here and give me a big fat kis- ACK!" The Crimson Satan yelped in pain as he was harshly elbowed in the ribs.
"Do not forget proper etiquette, My Lord," Grayfia said, looking down with mild irritation as her husband collapsed to the floor. Letting out a rough sigh, she quickly turned her attention to Ichigo. "And you must be the new Young Master. Welcome to Lucifer Manor; if there is anything you require, please do not hesitate to ask one of the members of my staff."
"Welcome, Lord Kurosaki!" the rest of the nameless servants cried out in unison.
Ichigo bit down the urge to snap out and demand that they never call him such a thing ever again. If this was their way of doing things, he wasn't about to require that they conform to his personal tastes. "Uh… thank you. Is he gonna be okay?"
Grayfia looked down at Sirzechs, who was still twitching on the floor. "He will be fine. The Lord Lucifer has suffered much worse over the years, after all. Now come, allow me to show you to your room."
The group of servants parted immediately, and Grayfia turned to walk through them and down the large main hallway leading from the door. Able to recognize an unspoken request when he saw one, Ichigo wordlessly followed after her with Yoruichi still perched atop his head. Once he and Grayfia were far enough along down the hall, the servants silently broke apart and moved off in multiple directions, presumably to carry out their daily duties.
Ichigo watched them go for a moment, before turning his eyes back to Grayfia. "So… have we met before?"
"We have," she confirmed without turning around. "However, you were little more than an infant the last time I saw you. I don't expect you to remember too much."
Ichigo nodded in understanding, even though he knew the silver-haired woman wouldn't be able to see. Rather quickly, the atmosphere was overtaken with an uncomfortable silence, and he desperately wracked his brain for something else to help start up a conversation. Grayfia didn't seem like the kind of person who often indulged in idle chatter, but Ichigo had a feeling she would still answer any questions he asked.
"So… what should I call you?"
"What do you mean?"
The orange-head reached up to awkwardly rub at the back of his neck. "Well… I'm just not sure if there's some kind of formality I'm supposed to use when speaking to you. Am I supposed to say 'Miss Grayfia,' or…?"
Without missing a step, Grayfia cast a surprisingly amused look over her shoulder. "Just Grayfia is fine. However, given our relationship, I would not be opposed to having you call me godmother."
Ichigo nodded, and the silver-haired woman looked away.
Another stretch of silence engulfed them, and Ichigo found himself growing anxious once again. A black paw suddenly reached down to boop him on the tip of the nose, and he crossed his eyes to look up and meet Yoruichi's golden gaze.
"Ask her about devil culture," she suggested with a whisper. "It can't hurt for you to learn as much as you can about this place. You wouldn't want to be ill-prepared if something were to happen."
Not a bad idea.
Clearing his throat, Ichigo opened his mouth to follow his former instructor's advice. "So, Mis- uh, Grayfia- is there anything you can tell me about the Underworld? Sirzechs didn't really give me too much information aside from the fact that its only one of the major territories within Hell."
His godmother sighed. "I had a suspicion that might end up being the case. Well, to answer your question, there is a multitude of information I would be more than happy to share with you about the Underworld's customs and history. Shall I start from the beginning?"
Grayfia's tone sounded much more excited and enthused than anything he'd heard out of her thus far, and Ichigo desperately grasped hold of that enthusiasm as quickly as he could. "Yes, please! I'd like to know as much as I can." Even though he couldn't see her face, he immediately knew his response pleased Grayfia immensely.
"Very well. To start with, I suppose I should explain that although the Lord Lucifer possesses the title of 'Satan', he is not actually the being who was cast down from Heaven by the God of the Bible. That would be his predecessor."
"You're saying there was another Lucifer before Sirzechs?"
"Indeed. At the beginning of our history, we Devils were actually residents of Heaven. However, there were four of us who wished to abandon the grand design of God of the Bible in favor of complete dominion over the world of mankind. As you can undoubtedly guess, God did not appreciate this treachery in the slightest, and so he cast those four from Heaven, along with their sympathizers. After founding the Underworld, these four individuals named themselves as the original Great Satans, and declared war against the forces of Heaven."
"That sounds pretty synonymous with what basic religion preaches."
"I would think so. However, there is more to the story of the war between Devils and Angels than most ordinary humans might expect. You may or may not already know this, but there was actually a third faction within the war that made itself known shortly after the conflict began. This faction is known in modern times as the Fallen Angels."
"I thought Lucifer was described as a Fallen Angel in the Bible? Are Devils and Fallen Angels two entirely separate things?"
"Quite so," Grayfia replied with a nod. "Modern Devils are the descendants of the original beings cast out of Heaven at the beginning of the war, while Fallen Angels fell from God's grace of their own accord later on. You see, when a pure angel falls victim to one of the Seven Deadly Sins such as lust or greed, they become a Fallen. Their white wings become black as night, and they are barred entry from Heaven for all sternly unless they are able to prove themselves worthy once again."
"But then…"
"I can only assume the original Lucifer is occasionally referred to as a 'Fallen' due to the fact that he technically did fall from God's grace. Correct translation can be lost over time after all, and it has been several centuries since these events occurred."
"I see…"
He really didn't. Ichigo would fully admit that Devil history was more than a little complicated, and he had a sneaking suspicion that Grayfia had only scratched the surface with what she'd told him. Hopefully he'd be able to grasp it all a little easier as more time went on…
"Well, here we are," Grayfia said suddenly, stopping before a highly decorated oaken door. "This will be your room for the duration of your stay in the Underworld. I apologize for having to cut our history lesson short, but we will undoubtedly pick up again at a later date. For now, though, I must ask that you clean yourself up and get changed into the clothes laid out on your bed."
"Can I ask why?" Ichigo questioned with a raised brow.
"Dinner will be served in about an hour, and the Lord Lucifer's direct family will be in attendance. It is only proper that you make as best of a first impression as you can. Please press the button on your desk if you have any troubles." With that, Grayfia turned without another word and walked away down the hall."
"My desk…?" Curiously, Ichigo opened the door to his new quarters.
He was not ready for what awaited him on the other side…
A massive bed was positioned at the far end of the room, with the headboard resting against the wall. On the wall opposite of the door, and enormous window took up the entire expanse of available space, giving him an unobscured view of the forest surrounding the mansion and the sky above. A large mahogany desk, easily the same size as Integra's, occupied the area between his bed and the window, and Ichigo quickly noticed the small button which Grayfia had mentioned that was built into one of the wooden legs.
Presumably, pressing it would summon a servant.
Turning his head slightly to the right, Ichigo noticed yet another door. It didn't take a genius to determine a bathroom likely awaited him on the other side. "This is insane…"
"This is customary," Yoruichi replied, leaping off his head and down onto the floor. From there, she sauntered across the floor and over to the bed, where she jumped up and immediately made herself comfortable. "Sirzechs is easily one of the most important political figures within the Underworld, and that means he needs to flaunt his power."
"Isn't that a bit egotistical?"
"It might seem that way, but if there was ever anything I learned during my time as the Shihouin heiress, it is that most other people in power will only respect you if you show them you can compete amongst the elite. Do you think my family was well-recognized solely for our ability to transform into animals? No, we were recognized for our abundant wealth, and the way in which we presented ourselves."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, whenever I was escorted into public, I was always forced to wear the finest kimono that could be afforded. You see, things in the Underworld are not so different that in Soul Society; Sirzechs needs to remind those who come into his home that he is a top dog, and all of this extravagant decoration hammers home that fact on a constant basis. Understand?"
"I think so… but it's still stupid."
Yoruichi snorted. "On that, I believe we can both agree. Now, go take a bath. You are starting to smell a bit rank."
"I am not!"
"Oh really? Think you can remind me which one of us has the hypersensitive nose right now?"
Ichigo scowled, but did not argue any further.
(Forty-Five Minutes Later)
One hot soak and a fresh change of clothes later, Ichigo found both himself and Yoruichi, now in human form, being led from their shared room by a servant to the main dining hall.
Mildly uncomfortable, he reached up to fiddle with the collar of his unnecessarily tight dress shirt, but the appendage was quickly slapped away by the lighting fast reflexes of his companion. "Hey! what was that for?" Ichigo snapped, eyes angrily darting towards Yoruichi.
His former mentor merely shrugged in response. "Leave it be. You look fine."
"I don't feel fine. I feel like an idiot."
"Well, I'm afraid that's just something you'll have to get used to. Believe me when I tell you that noble houses are more than a little fond of top of the line clothing. Back when I was still the heiress to the Shihouin family, I was forced into the most elaborate kimonos money could buy. Do you think I enjoyed being paraded around in something like that?"
"I wouldn't think so."
"You think correctly. It was awful and suffocating beyond belief, but it was necessary. Nobility is impressed by formality, after all. Besides, it isn't like you're the only one being forced to wear fancy clothing."
She had a point there.
However, whereas he had been stuffed into a dark black jacket and matching pants, Yoruichi was now garbed in a fairly form-fitting evening gown. The dress was dark purple, and littered with sequence that glittered in the reflective light given off by the lanterns lining the top of the hallway. There was no denying that Yoruichi looked beautiful in such an outfit, and Ichigo found himself having to force himself to avert his eyes from her admittedly eye-catching figure.
Soon enough, their party stopped in front of a large set of double doors, lined with maroon curtains on both sides of the entryway. The servant girl who had been leading them turned around, and crossed an arm over her chest in a polite bow. "This is where dinner will be held for the evening. Lord Lucifer and his family will be arriving shortly, and I encourage you to take the pair of seats on the right side of the table."
Ichigo prepared to respond, but Yoruichi beat him to it. In a display of surprising formality, she enclosed one fist and pressed her knuckles into the open palm of her other hand, bowing in return. "Thank you for guiding us. I believe we will be alright from here."
The servant girl blinked several times, mouth falling open in obvious surprise. The expression only lasted for a moment, though, and she quickly hurried away back down the hall after voicing a final formal farewell.
"That was unexpected," Ichigo snorted, stepping forward to open the set of doors.
"Whatever do you mean, dear boy?" Yoruichi asked coyly, standing up straight and passing through the threshold and into the dining room. "Is it such a surprise that I would be polite to someone who deserves it?"
"Yes."
"Hmph. You're such a rude one…"
Ichigo barked out a laugh, following his friend into the dining hall. A large wooden table, possessing legs decorated with elaborate carvings, was positioned in the exact center of the space. A crystal chandelier hung overhead, casting a soft glow over the room as the light from the candles near the walls refracted against it. It was actually pretty beautiful.
"Enchanting, isn't it?" Yoruichi remarked absently.
"Yeah, I guess it is…"
"Come on then, let's sit."
And so, they did. Deciding it was only proper, Ichigo stepped behind his mentor's chair and pulled it out for her. The Flash Goddess gave him an appreciative nod, and allowed him to push her closer to the table as she sat down. He then took his own seat, and began inspecting the odd number of forks and spoons laid out on the table in front of him.
"Who the heck needs more than one fork…?"
"One of them is likely for a salad," Yoruichi supplied helpfully. "And the smaller spoon is probably used for soups."
"Who decided a salad needed a separate fork?"
"I'm assuming some fancy-pants bureaucrat. Now hush. I can sense several approaching energy signatures."
Ichigo blinked, turning his head in the direction of the main doors just as they were pushed open, revealing a new pair of individuals. The man of the two was tall, and looked as if he could've been Sirzechs' older brother. The red-haired man's facial features were a bit sharper than Sirzechs' though, and there were more visible lines under his eyes and around the corners of his mouth.
The woman standing next to him looked close to the same age, but her hair was a light brown in color. Additionally, whereas her companion wore a dark navy suit and tie, she was dressed in a pure white evening gown decorated with golden embroidery. Both of them radiated a strange energy, and Ichigo found himself inadvertently lowering his eyes in respect.
That, and he really didn't want to be caught looking at the woman's breasts…
Seriously, what was with supernatural women having abnormally large assets? It was enough to drive any normal man insane!
"Good evening," the male newcomer greeted cordially, offering both him and Yoruichi a kind smile. "Am I correct in assuming you are the Lord Kurosaki and Lady Shihouin?"
Ichigo opened his mouth to deny the title, but Yoruichi swiftly kicked him in the shin under the table.
"Ow!" the orange-head yelped.
"We are," she replied, ignoring his angry glare. "And might you be the Lord and Lady Gremory?"
Ichigo blinked.
Gremory? That was Sirzechs' former last name, which could only mean these two were…
"Indeed," the man confirmed. "I am Zeoticus, and this enchanting gem is my wife Venelana. It is a true pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise," Yoruichi nodded respectfully, before once again kicking him in the ankle.
Despite feeling the urge to bite out a scathing curse, Ichigo took the hint and turned to his godfather's parents, also inclining his head. "Uh, yeah. It's really nice to meet you both."
"Nonsense, young man," Venelana chuckled, stepping toward the table and allowing her husband to pull out her seat. "I can assure you that the pleasure is completely ours. We have been eager to meet you for quite some time, after all."
"R-Really?"
"Quite so. Sirzechs speaks so fondly of you, even though he has not seen you for a good many years. Additionally, the tale of you victory against Sosuke Aizen has become somewhat of a popular story among the Underworld's children. My son has already welcomed you into the family, correct?"
"Yes ma'am," he nodded.
"Oh please dear, there is no need to be so formal with us. I know that our relation is not connected by blood, but it would truly mean the world to me if you called me grandmother."
Ichigo blinked.
That… had definitely not been what he'd expected to hear.
Still, the motherly look on Venelana's face was not something he could refuse in good conscience. "Well, if you insist…"
"We certainly do," Zeoticus smiled kindly, taking his own seat. "I know it must be strange to hear two complete strangers speak to you in such a way, but I truly hope you can come to think of us as your family in the near future."
They were right. It was a pretty strange thing to hear, but Ichigo couldn't find himself able to fault them for it. Zeoticus and Venelana seemed like two genuinely kind people, and if they were this willing to bring him in as a member of their family, it would only be right for him to try and find a comfortable place within it.
"I'll do my best. Thank you."
Zeoticus nodded, before turning to his wife to begin their own private conversation.
Ichigo glanced down at the table, allowing his eyes to follow the patterns in the tablecloth as his brain processed everything. A light touch on his left knee distracted him however, and he looked up to meet Yoruichi's approving smile.
"You're doing a good job so far," she praised quietly. "Make sure to keep it up."
"I'll do my best…" he snorted.
Silence quickly occupied the space between them, and Ichigo turned his attention back to the tablecloth. As his eyes traced the fabric, he allowed himself back to the earlier discussion he'd had with Sirzechs. Yamamoto's face appeared at the forefront of his mind, and an incredibly ugly sensation made itself comfortable in his chest. He'd always known the old man was paranoid beyond belief, but still…
He had no excuse.
Neither did Amaterasu.
They had defiled his memories, and all for what? Just so the Lady of the Sun could have her way and keep him from the other Factions? Not only was that unjustifiable, but it was downright certifiable. What person thought they had the right to meddle so much in the life of someone else? Even if she was a god, and even if she was his biological grandmother, Amaterasu would have to get down on her knees and beg for his forgiveness if she ever wanted to possess it.
And even then, Ichigo wasn't so sure he could grant it.
The ugly feeling in his chest began to slowly expand…
Thankfully, though, a sudden surge of demonic energy pulled him from his thoughts. Everyone in the dining room turned collectively to watch as the main doors were opened once again, this time revealing a young woman who appeared to be no more than sixteen or seventeen. Her long red hair hung down to just below the middle of her back, and her sparkling blue-green eyes shone with vivid interest.
It didn't take a genius to deduce that this was also one of his new relatives.
The hair color was definitely the biggest giveaway.
"Mother! Father!" The redheaded newcomer smiled brightly, and swiftly stepped forward to wrap her arms around Venelana as the latter stood up.
"Goodness Rias," the brunette tittered lightly, "it certainly is good to see you again. You've grown splendidly."
"Oh please mother… I've only been gone for a few months."
"A few months too long if you ask me."
Zeoticus stood up as well to greet his daughter, and Ichigo caught himself smiling at the display. It was actually kind of surreal, in a way, to see a species usually depicted as cruel to act so lovingly. If anything, it was a reminder to not take the world at face value. He'd initially learned that lesson back when he'd first met Byakuya; the stoic Captain had seemed so cold-hearted at first, but as time went on it became abundantly clear that he cared for Rukia more than anything else in the world.
Rias suddenly looked his way, and her smile seemed to widen. Gently pulling away from Venelana, she moved forward and seated herself in the empty chair to his immediate right.
"Hello Ichigo!"
"Hey," he replied lamely.
She giggled, bringing up a hand to unsuccessfully hide her mirth. "My brother has told me so much about you. Is it true that you were the one to defeat Sosuke Aizen?"
Ichigo felt a bead of sweat drip down his temple.
Yoruichi snorted in amusement to his left.
"Well, I definitely fought him. But I can't really say that I was able to beat him all by myself. I only stalled him until one of my friends was able to separate him from the Hōgyoku." Taking all of the credit for the Winter War would have just been dishonest. Yoruichi, Kisuke, and his old man had definitely done their fair share of fighting, and so had quite a few of his other acquaintances in Soul Society.
On the other side of the table, Zeoticus tapped his index finger against the wooden surface, nodding in approval. "It impresses me to see that you are so humble, Ichigo. However, according to Sirzechs, you actually nearly managed to vanquish Aizen on your own. Do you deny this?"
"I mean… no, not really. I guess I was pretty close to finishing him off, but even at my strongest I just wasn't good enough to do the deed."
The red-haired man hummed at the information. "Do you think you might be able to regale us with the story while we wait for everyone else to arrive?"
It couldn't hurt, could it?
And so, Ichigo told his tale.
He began with the story of how Orihime had been captured by Ulquiorra, before leading into the rescue mission he'd launched with the rest of his remaining friends. He told them about his first meeting with Nelliel and her ragtag band of Hollow outcasts, as well as their infiltration of Las Noches. When he reached the part detailing his first Hollowfication during his fight with Ulquiorra, he noticed all of the Devils present lean forward with significantly more interest.
Odd.
Odd, but not really concerning.
As the minutes continued to tick by, and the story continued to progress, Ichigo finally reached the bit concerning his final fight with Aizen. The memory was not an incredibly pleasant one, but he did not let that stop him from going into every specific detail he could think of.
"Wait…" Rias suddenly spoke up, interrupting him. "If Aizen was as powerful as you say, then how were you almost able to beat him?"
"Well, I used a technique I learned while training with my father," he explained. "Actually, I learned it directly from my sword, but going into that would just be too complicated to explain right now."
"Okay…?"
"Anyway, the technique is called the Final Getsuga Tenshō. Essentially, in order to pull it off, I was forced to use up every last bit of my Spiritual Energy, which is why I don't have any of my powers anymore. Still, I think it was worth it."
"I take it this was what allowed your friend to remove the Hōgyoku from Aizen, correct?" Zeoticus asked. "You managed to decrease his strength to such a degree that he was unable to stop his inevitable defeat."
Ichigo shrugged. He didn't really understand the exact mechanics of how the former Captain had been defeated, but that sounded about right. "I guess so. All I know is that it worked, and now that psychopath is trapped deep below Soul Society where he'll never be able to cause trouble again. That's all I care about."
"Well said!"
The doors to the dining room burst open, revealing Sirzechs, Grayfia, and a young boy who seemed around nine years of age. A far cry from his earlier appearance, Sirzechs was currently dressed in flowing robes and gilded shoulder armor, no doubt to emphasize his status. Grayfia, in a slightly humorous contrast, was still dressed in her simple maid uniform. The red-haired boy standing between them was clothed in a white undershirt, covered by a navy jacket and matching shorts.
Again, yet another dead-ringer for Sirzechs.
Undoubtedly his son.
"Apologies for the wait, everyone." The Crimson Satan moved forward, taking a seat at the head of the table. Grayfia sat on his right, next to Venelana, while their son moved down to sit at the end of the table opposite his father, between Yoruichi and Zeoticus. "Paperwork got the better of me, but I think I can put it away for the rest of the evening."
"Only to pick it up again in the morning," Grayfia said, raising a brow. "Right, My Lord?"
"H-Heh… of course, darling. Ichigo, I take it that my parents and sister have already introduced themselves?"
"Yeah. We had a nice conversation."
"Splendid! Millicas, why don't you say hello to your godbrother?"
All eyes turned to the young boy at the other end of the table, who shrunk in on himself slightly. It was more than apparent that he did not want to be the center of the attention, and Ichigo immediately felt sorry for the kid. They definitely had that in common.
"H-Hello…" the child stammered
"Come now, Millicas," Grayfia admonished. "Speak clearly and respectfully."
"Yes! Uh… my name is Millicas Gremory, second in line to inherit the Gremory estate."
"Nice to meet ya," Ichigo replied casually, waving a hand. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Oh, I know that!" Millicas said, suddenly becoming far more enthusiastic. "All of my classmates at school think you're so cool!"
"Is that right…?"
"Mhm! You're the one who came down to Hell and was able to command the Kushanāda and break the Chains. You also kicked that Aizen guy's butt!"
"Millicas!" Grayfia admonished sternly, features drawing down into a frown. "Do not forget your place. You are not to use such language, do you understand?"
"Oh… yes, mother. I apologize."
Ichigo frowned. He knew it wasn't really his place to tell Grayfia how to raise her child, but this seemed like a bit much. The kid had only been having a little bit of fun; was there really such a need to get on his case so harshly?
Coughing, and effectively breaking the tension, Sirzechs clapped his hands. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I am positively starving. What say we get this meal started, hmm?"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the doors to the room opened yet again, and an ensemble of servants poured in wheeling carts laden with covered dishes of food. Heavenly smells began to float through the air, and Ichigo felt his stomach start to rumble in anticipation.
A plate of salad was placed in front of him, and the former Substitute allowed himself to relax as the conversation began to drift into lighter topics.
(Location Unknown)
This was wrong…
Everything about the situation…
Still, there was nothing she could do but continue to go along with the plan. Bambietta hated the idea of slaughtering millions of innocent people, but in the end she had no real choice in the matter. If she refused the Major, then the pudgy little monster would undoubtedly report her insubordination back to His Majesty.
And then she would never see her dream fulfilled…
"It isn't fair," she scowled, launching a pillow at the closest wall. "It just isn't fair!"
A sudden knock echoed from the door to her room, and Bambietta whirled towards the noise. "Who is it? What the fuck do you want?!"
The door opened, and bright head of electric-green hair filled the entryway. Bambietta immediately breathed out a tense sigh, sloughing against the remaining pillows still on her bed. "Oh, it's just you. What is it?"
"Just me, huh?" Candice Catnipp parroted sarcastically. "The fuck kind of a greeting is that? Here I was, thinkin' I would be nice and come check on you, but you give me that crap? Nuh-uh… try again."
"I'm sorry…" Bambietta sighed. "I'm just… ugh. Did you ever think we would end up like this?"
"Like what?"
"Taking orders from psychotic Nazis. When we started training in His Majesty's school, I was told that we would grow up to fight a righteous and liberating cause. This sure as fuck doesn't feel like either of those."
"Eh, I know what you mean." Moving forward, Candice came to sit next to her on the bed. The green-haired Quincy's eyes drifted straight ahead, fixing on some indiscernible point on the metallic wall across the room. "This whole situation is messed up. I mean, yeah, I like my fair share of bashing in skulls and zapping people to ashes, but I sure as fuck didn't sign up to kill at random. Not when the people we're supposed to kill are ordinary humans."
Bambietta nodded in agreement, but didn't reply.
Killing Soul Reapers would have been different. They had been the ones to nearly decimate her people, and therefore they would have deserved the death they received. Ordinary people, on the other hand, deserved no such fate. They were simply trying to live their everyday lives, completely oblivious to the supernatural turmoil going on around them.
Sighing, she allowed her thoughts to drift to her wish. The thing she had been promised by His Majesty should she be successful in her task.
To be reunited with the mother she barely remembered…
Would the woman she so desperately wanted to meet approve of her life choices? Would she believe that the means justified the end? Bambietta highly doubted it. Still, there was no other way to get what she wanted. Neither her father nor His Majesty had ever reveled her mother's name or her address, meaning the only way she would ever be able to find her was to do as commanded. No matter how much it pained her…
"What is your wish?"
Candice blinked, seemingly startled from her own train of thought. "Huh?"
Bambietta sighed, propping her chin up with a hand. "What did His Majesty promise you? There must have been something."
"'Course there's something. It's… it's just kinda embarrassin'." Rubbing her arm and blushing lightly, Candice drew in a deep breath. "You ever wanted something so bad, but knew you would never be able to get it on your own? That's the kind of thing I want."
"Care to explain?"
"Ugh. I want to meet someone, okay…?"
Oh.
OH.
Bambietta blinked. That certainly hadn't been what she'd expected to hear. For as long as they'd known each other, Candice had always seemed like the type of girl who would always be content to look after herself. She was tough, thick-headed, loud-mouthed, and didn't do well when challenged by authority. Still, Bambietta supposed the heart would always desire similar things, no matter who said heart belong to.
"I can't say I blame you. But I'll admit, I'm a little surprised…"
"Yeah, I figured you would be," the green-haired Sternritter snorted. "But when we were kids, I found a book filled with stories. One of them was about a happy little family who lived in a cottage deep in the forest. I guess it just kinda appealed to me, ya know? Don't me wrong, I love fighting, but someday it would be nice to be able to take a break from it all…"
"Is that why you-"
"Why I spend my time chasing after random Soldat and luring them back to my room? I guess so. I know it ain't the most sensible thing to do, but it takes my mind off of things for a while. Having those desperate little bastards run their hands up and down my body makes me feel wanted."
Bambietta winced.
She was well aware that Candice had been abandoned as a child, but what she'd just heard wasn't the right way to seek out attention. Admittedly, she'd indulged herself with a few of the Soldat every now and then, but that was only when she desperately needed to find relief that she couldn't achieve herself. The way her longtime friend had been behaving for the past few years just wasn't healthy…
"Tell me about him."
"About who?" Candice frowned.
"Mister dream guy. Tell me what you want him to be like, and maybe I can help keep an eye out for you." It was an admittedly pathetic attempt to lighten the mood, but if it worked then it worked.
Candice grinned, rolling her eyes. "Well… I like tall guys."
"I don't blame you."
"Heh. I don't mind a few muscles either."
"Amen to that."
"And you know he's gotta have a big dick."
Bambietta laughed out loud, slapping a hand down onto the mattress. "Now you're speaking my language. Preach it, sister!"
Candice laughed as well, but sobered up quickly. "But seriously… I know I'm pretty fucking hard to approach, but I'd like to meet a guy who isn't afraid to dish it back out. Someone who isn't afraid to take my crap and meet my intensity at every turn."
"That isn't going to be easy…"
"Fuck you!" the green-haired young woman snorted, punching Bambietta lightly in the shoulder. "But yeah, I get it. I'm a handful, and I know that. But I want to find a guy who will be there for me when I'm at my lowest. A guy who will pick me up, give me a good dicking to improve my mood, and then pour back a drink with me while we watch a dumbass movie. I… I want…"
Bambietta's eyes softened. "You want to be loved."
Her friend cringed visibly at the word, but didn't deny it.
Who didn't want to find love? Even she, for all her desire to kill Ichigo Kurosaki and see her mother again, had occasionally thought about settling down at some point in the future. She didn't want to do it anytime soon, per say, but the thought had still crossed her mind now and again.
Still, she couldn't allow such things to distract her at present.
She had a job to do, and as much as she didn't want to be an accessory to genocide, she didn't have a choice. No matter what it took, and no matter what she had to do, she would see her mother again.
And there was no one who would stand in her way.
Not even orange-haired Soul Reapers…
(Atlantic Ocean)
It would be any moment now.
In fact, she could practically smell the stench of freshly-spilled blood rising up from the VTOL aircraft carrier in the waters below. How wonderful! Such a thing meant her subordinates had been successful in their mission! Ah, the Major would be so happy.
As he private helicopter descended through the sky towards the ship, Rip van Winkle gingerly ran her fingers along the barrel of her beloved musket. Her digits moved in time with the tune of her favorite opera, 'Der Freishutz', as it was being played through the copter's loudspeakers. As it stood, the night was turning out to be nothing short of fantastic. All that was left was to complete her own end of the mission…
When the helicopter was a scant few feet above the ship's landing pad, Rip leapt down onto the main desk and twirled around happily. "Wie wundervoll! What a beautiful evening! The moon is out, the air is crisp, and the scent of blood is filling my head! Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor…"
As she ceased her pleased little dance, and trio of men ran towards her across the deck. She turned to give the man in the middle of the group her attention, and once he was close enough, the blond snapped into a respectful salute. "Welcome aboard the HMS Eagle, Ma'am. Everything is in order, as per your instructions. The ship and its crew are now at Millennium's disposal."
Rip's upper lip pulled up into an amused sneer. "How does it feel, my newly-minted Captain? How does it feel to become a vampire, lead a mutiny, murder your crew, and commit high treason all in one night?"
The uniformed man swallowed thickly, but did not voice an answer.
"I see…" Rip allowed her brow to pull down into a judgmental frown. "Then perhaps you might tell me how it feels to have condemned your fellow countrymen to hell… doomed to walk the Earth as ghoulish, rotting corpses. What was that like, hmm?"
"I… well…"
"I suppose you're right, Captain… it really doesn't matter anymore, does it? In any case… excellent work! This is really amazing, you know? Millennium is more than happy to have go-getters like you on our team!"
"Thank you…?"
"Oh, you're so welcome! We really couldn't have done it without you. And of course, the Major is so proud of the effort and drive the three of you have shown! You all definitely deserve everything that is coming to you."
The trio of vampiric Englishmen visibly relaxed, and toothy smiles spread across their lips at the praise. Their shoulders slouched slightly, and the muscles hidden underneath their clothing released the tension that had been building up inside them.
Ha.
Idiots…
Rip's smile morphed into an absolutely shark-like sneer. "Well now. I guess the only thing left for you to do… is die."
Raising her musket, Rip pulled the trigger and allowed the iron ball already held within to shoot out in a bright flash of blue light, accompanied by a slight whistling. Unsurprisingly, the blond Captain managed to evade her shot and leap over her head to the crow's nest.
"The bitch set us up!" he roared furiously.
Indeed, she had. But had they really expected anything less? Millennium only used the best of the best when it came to completing their ultimate goal, and desperate fools hungry for immortality were only worth serving as temporary tools. Or as cannon fodder, on occasion. Briefly ignoring the furious Captain behind her, Rip moved her eyes in the direction of his two remaining comrades.
In an instant, the pair of men both exploded into shows of flesh and blood.
The Captain choked in surprise. "H-How?! You only fired one shot!"
"One shot is all I need…" she chuckled under her breath. "I am the Huntress, Rip van Winkle. Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor… my bullet punishes all without distinction."
The Captain let out another enraged howl, and leapt forward with the clear intent of ripping her head from her shoulders. How adorable.
"Silly creature."
In a flash of blue light, Rip's musket shot swerved through the air and raced towards the rapidly descending man. With no way to gain leverage and change direction, the recently transformed man was rendered completely helpless as the shot rammed into his left eye, popping his head open like a watermelon. His body tumbled onto the deck of the ship, and the rain of his blood lightly splashed against the tip of Rip's previously spotless shoes.
Immensely pleased with her own success, the blue-eyed vampiress reached into one of the inner pockets of her black suit and pulled out a paintbrush. Stepping forward, she dipped the bristles into the Captain's freshly spilled blood and watched as the fluid was soaked up. Footsteps gradually approached her from behind, and she turned momentarily to smile at the other vampiric officers who had traveled with her on the helicopter.
"Well done, ma'am," the largest man said.
"Oh, well thank you so much Fritz!" Rip replied cheerily. "Do you think you could ask one of your boys to get a few more bodies for me? I don't think this one man will be enough to help us christen our pretty ship."
Things were gradually falling into place. Soon, London would burn, and Hellsing would be there to watch before they too were condemned to the same fate. She hoped she could be there to see it!
After all… how often did one witness the return of a Soul Reaper?
Once again, I am sorry for the long break.
Rest assured, I AM still working on The Legend of Earth Land" and Fibers of the Universe." I have not abandoned those stories, nor do I plan to anime soon. As I have mentioned before, sometimes life just decides to creep up on you, and you are forced to put certain things on hold.
In other news… BLEACH IS COMING BACK!
I REPEAT: THE 'THOUSAND YEAR BLOOD-WAR ARC' IS RECEIVING AN ANIME ADAPTATION!
This is absolutely insane, you guys! I honestly didn't believe it at first when I initially heard the news, but with so many different news sources talking about it as solid fact, I can now confidently say that this information is confirmed. With that said, you know I'm going to have to rewatch the entire series, lol. I can only hope the original voice cast will return. I actually got to meet Johnny Yong Bosch pretty recently, and was able to convince him to do a Hollow roar which echoed all throughout the convention hall. Pretty badass stuff.
On a more serious note, I feel like I should repeat my earlier statement that is is highly important to maintain good health habits during this time. I don't personally know anyone who has contracted the coronavirus, but I would really hate to see any of you guys get sick. Wash your hands, and please practice social distancing if possible.
Also… DON'T HOARD TOILET PAPER!
None of the symptoms of this virus state that it will give you the Hershey Squirts, so buying idiotic amounts of bathroom tissue is completely unnecessary. If anything, it will only prevent people who need it immediately from getting it. Don't be the asshole who inadvertently forced someone else to wipe their butt with a leaf.
Other than that, stay clean and safe.
Now, let me go ahead and talk about something within this chapter that is bound to ruffle some feathers. Rest assured, Candice and Bambietta are still villains, but I did do my best to humanize them in some small way. There is nothing wrong with humanizing the bad guys. In fact, in my own opinion, I find that villains who are more relatable to the audience are by far the most interesting.
I guess that's why RWBY has such shitty bad guys…
But THAT isa conversation for another day, lmao. If you want to crap all over the villains in RWBY, send me a DM.
But yes, Candi and Bambi are still bad, and they are still working with Millennium. Also, I know there are going to be several people who will likely criticize me for my choice of Candice's wish to find love. Keep in mind that this is a fanfiction. Yes, there will be a majority of elements from canon stories, but there are a few things here and there I will tweak to progress my own personal plot.
I have seen so many other fics where the reviews are filled with nothing but criticisms about how the story is not the exact same as the source material. Look, I'm not asking you to accept absolutely everything I do and like it. However, when you are about to pass judgement on ANY fanfiction for having deviated from canon, please remember that the story you are reading is exactly that.
A fanfic.
Apologies if any of this sounds overly defensive, as that was not my intention. I merely wish to provide my own personal reasoning for doing certain things. Worry not, though, as Candice will still most definitely retain a very good portion of her canon personality.
As mentioned before, I will be alternating between the main Hellsing storyline and Ichigo's adventures in the Underworld for the next few chapters.
Unfortunately, there will not be an omake this time, as I wish to continue writing for my other stories as soon as I can. I hope you can understand.
AlucardsBro OUT!
