Everlasting Reflections: The Moon Underwater

Arc II: Dawn of Dreams

Chapter 47: United


He smiled at Isshin's sharp observation and then answered, "Indeed I am at my limit, Isshin… but my limit as a Soul Reaper."

The violet cross in the middle of Aizen's chest became slightly bigger and Hogyoku began to radiate more violet light all around it. Soon enough his transformation started, the Hollow-mask remnants-like white tentacles emerged from the Hogyoku and slowly began to cover Aizen's body. However, everyone got shocked upon witnessing Urahara's attack out of nowhere that halted Aizen's transformation in the middle. "So you have come… Urahara Kisuke," Aizen spoke as he turned around and saw Urahara along with Yoruichi Shihoin.

The Urahara Shop, World of the Living…

Tessai was extremely busy in the panel room as he was monitoring not only the Battle of Fake Karakura Town but also Harribel's condition. On the other hand, Jinta was guarding the main gates of the shop while Ururu had joined him a few moments back after noticing a significant improvement in Harribel's condition. Suddenly all of them got utterly shocked upon sensing a powerful spiritual pressure from the secret training ground which was right beneath the shop. Tessai immediately turned the surveillance mode from Harribel's room to the secret training ground while both Ururu and Jinta rushed there with their respective weapons.

In the secret training ground, a huge Garganta had appeared on the devices of portal arrangements. At first, Sesshomaru came out of it following whom both Uryu and Orihime and at last Ulquiorra appeared out of it in his Segunda Etapa form. Both Ururu and Jinta were shocked to see Ulquiorra along with them. Sesshomaru simply walked past them but they stopped Uryu and began to ask him anxiously in a low voice about the reason behind the arrival of the Fourth Espada. Orihime heard them whispering about Ulquiorra and she bent down a bit upon reaching close to them, she smiled and said in a soft tone, "don't worry, he is in our team now." Ulquiorra didn't react to the situation though he was feeling slightly awkward since Orihime was still holding his hand in a firm grip.

Suggested Music: "Welcome to Persia" from game Prince of Persia: Sands of Time

On the other hand, the sound of Sesshomaru's footsteps was echoing in the room where Harribel was taking rest. She was already feeling a strong urge to see him upon sensing his spiritual pressure while the sound of his approaching footsteps had increased her heartbeats. He stopped for a moment and looked at her before he slowly resumed walking inside the room while she immediately got up from her bed upon getting mesmerized to see him. After a few moments, Sesshomaru broke the silence by asking "Are you alright?" Harribel remained silent for a bit longer but a slight smile appeared on her lips before she replied in a soft tone, "yes, I am… now."

"Hmm…" He responded while carefully looking towards her belly and then her shoulder. It seemed that both of her critical injuries were almost healed by now but before he could have said anything, Harribel spoke to him in a sad and extremely serious tone, "I want to say something to you, Lord Sesshomaru." He looked towards her while wondering what made her so serious all of a sudden. "Forgive me… for misbehaving with you all this time, for saying all those things to you and for..I have never imagined that I would do something like that to you." She spoke in a low voice while tilting her head down with the guilt upon remembering the time when she slapped him. "I don't know if I am even worthy of apologizing to you or not," she added after a pause. "Your memories were being manipulated so it's not your mistake… don't blame yourself," Sesshomaru replied in his usual tone. "I just don't want to be a burden to you anymore," she spoke further. "You are simply overthinking," he replied in a low voice before he looked towards her face. Now she slowly lifted her face to look into his eyes while none of the two seemed to be aware of the fact that how close they were standing to each other.

However, the next moment, both Sesshomaru and Harribel snapped out of their trance when they listened to Orihime's voice, "well amm… he is right, if you don't mind me interrupting… you shouldn't feel guilty when he cares about you so much." They immediately stepped back and stood at an appropriate distance away from each other while slightly blushing upon realizing that Jinta, Ururu, Uryu, and Ulquiorra were also watching them along with Orihime, making the situation even more awkward than it already was. Uryu whispered to Orihime, "Inoue-san, I don't think, interrupting them like this was a good idea." Orihime smiled in a silly manner upon his words and then she said to both Sesshomaru and Harribel while bowing down, "we are sorry if we disturbed you guys… please continue, I will just close the door." Now it startled both of them a bit and Harribel immediately responded with red cheeks, "No, no… there's no need, we weren't doing anything," She looked towards Sesshomaru immediately afterward and it didn't take her long to realize by his expressions that her line was a bit misplaced. "She meant we weren't discussing anything very important," Sesshomaru said to Orihime and others, quickly covering up what Harribel said. "Ah… yes, we understood," Uryu replied while pushing his spectacles up in order neutralize the situation.

Now everyone left and sat down in the guest room to discuss the strategy against Aizen with Tessai but Ulquiorra was still standing in front of the room. "What is it, Ulquiorra?" She asked him. "I want to have a word with you… in private," he replied in his usual emotionless and serious tone. "Hmm… I will be waiting outside the shop," Sesshomaru said as he walked away. "I will be there soon, Lord Sesshomaru," she replied.

After Sesshomaru left, Ulquiorra entered the room and said to her, "Lord… Sesshomaru, you say." She responded, "Yes, what about it?" He asked, "Have you betrayed Lord Aizen and joined his army now?" Harribel narrowed her eyes on him before she answered, "Either you don't know anything Ulquiorra or you simply do not want to accept the truth." Ulquiorra responded with slight confusion, "What do you mean, Tia Harribel?" She looked away from him for a moment and spoke in an extremely serious tone, "I regret being a part of Aizen's army and you should as well since he is the one who attacked me in the end when both Stark and Barragan died in the battle. Regardless of our loyalty and dedication, we were merely objects for him… objects to be used and then to be eliminated."

"Hmm… he betrayed us like this… Aizen!" Ulquiorra mumbled to himself as he was shocked as well as angry which he was trying to suppress. Harribel understood how he was feeling when he uttered Aizen's name without the title of Lord. However, it didn't take him long to come back to his senses and then he asked her, "Why did your Lord resurrect me then?"

"Oh, are you trying to say you were dead?" Harribel asked with a shock. "Yes, all the Espadas in the Hueco Mundo were dead when he came there and resurrected all of us," he replied. "I see, so that's what he has to do in order to cure me," she uttered to herself in a low voice after listening to the words of Cuatro Espada. "So, he revived me and the others because of you?" Ulquiorra asked. "Yes," she replied in a slightly sad manner.

"Did you join his army when you met him years back or have you joined it now?" Ulquiorra asked her again. "No, it's not like I have joined his army… I don't even know anything about his kingdom," She answered. "I don't understand, if you are not his subject then why do you refer him as 'Lord'?" He asked with slight confusion. She felt a bit uneasy and turned around before she answered him, "I used to refer Aizen as Lord because we were working under him… but it's different with Lord Sesshomaru."

"Yes, I can see that… the way he is working for you," Ulquiorra spoke which made Harribel a bit more uneasy than she already was. "Besides it seems you have acquired a new and more powerful form than Resurreccion," She spoke in order to distract him from the topic. "Yes, even he hasn't seen this form of mine," He replied while referring to Aizen. "Hmm… so, what will you do now, Ulquiorra?" She asked. "I think the most sensible thing for me to do would be, to follow the one who has given me this second chance." He replied to her before walking out of the room.


To be continued…