BLEACH: TO FIGHT- REBORN ARC PART III
"Join you?" said a confused Gantier.
"That's right," said Nimoore, "I could use someone strong like you."
"What are you talking about? I lost back there," said Gantier.
"I know you did," responded Nimoore, "I can tell from your Reiatsu that you're pretty strong. So, what do you say?"
Gantier stares at Nimoore, then he looks at the small group of Arrancars huddling around him. He looks back at Nimoore.
"No," he responded bluntly.
"What?" said a perplexed Nimoore, "No?!"
"Yeah," responded Gantier, "I'm not interested in joining up with this little safe haven of yours. I survived this long by avoiding any unnecessary fighting. Joining you will only increase my chances of dying an unnecessary death."
Gantier starts to walk away. "Thanks for sheltering me and giving me clothes," he said to Nimoore, "but I want to get going."
"Wait! Hold on!" pleaded Nimoore as she chases him down, "Please stay!"
"No," he responded.
Nimoore flies above him and lands directly in his path.
Gantier stops walking, "Why are you persistent on me joining?" he asked her.
"I need your help," she said, "the other Arrancars aren't that strong. From what I can tell you seem to be pretty strong."
"I think you're mistaken," said Gantier, "You haven't seen me battle, how could you possibly tell my strength?"
"I know you killed those two Quincys where I found you. As I said earlier, you gave off a pretty strong Reiatsu," she said to him.
"My answer is still no," he responded.
"How about this then," said Nimoore, "As payment for us taking care of you, you have to stay with us for a couple of days and help out."
"You can't be serious," he scoffed.
"I am," she quipped.
"Fine," he said begrudgingly, "I'll stay here for a couple days."
"Good, glad we came to an agreement," said Nimoore.
The two walk back in the direction of the cave.
*s*
Gantier is slouched against the rock wall of the cave sleeping.
Nimoore walks by him and lightly kicks his leg and startles him awake.
"Let's go," she said, "we'll be on guard duty."
Gantier grunts, he grabs his sword and follows Nimoore.
The two reach the cave entrance. Nimoore sits on a boulder.
"Have a seat," she said to Gantier.
Gantier steps out of the cave and sits down on the ground.
"So we just sit here and wait for enemies?" asked Gantier.
"Yes," responded Nimoore.
Gantier lays down on his back and rests his head against his hands.
"No sleeping on the job," quipped Nimoore.
"Fine!" growled Gantier as he sits back up.
"Tell me about yourself," said Nimoore.
"Why?" asked a pissed-off Gantier.
"Talking will help pass the time," said Nimoore, "I would like to know more about our newest member."
"I'm not joining you," complained Gantier, "I'm doing what you said; paying you back and leaving in a few days."
"I think I can get you to change your mind," said Nimoore.
"Doubtful," responded Gantier.
"Start talking," said Nimoore.
Gantier turns away from Nimoore and faces the desert unresponsive.
"Fine, I'll start then," said Nimoore, "I became a Vasto Lorde a few months back. I didn't quite understand why I did, hell, I still don't."
"She went through the same thing I did," Gantier thought to himself.
"It didn't take long for me to get into my first fight as a Vasto Lorde," continued Nimoore, "I saw some Arrancars being chased down by some Quincys. I didn't even hesitate; I went after the Quincys and killed them in seconds."
"How ridiculous," said Gantier, "You fought someone you didn't even know how strong they were just to save some Arrancars?"
"Why is that ridiculous?" asked Nimoore.
"You sound like every other Hollow in this wasteland," said Gantier, "Throwing away their life for some reason. Why, why does everyone throw their life away?"
"What do you mean?" asked Nimoore.
"Forget it," said a disgusted Gantier.
The two sit in silence, looking out over Hueco Mundo.
*s*
Gantier wakes up in the cave. He sees a male Arrancar approach him.
"Hello," said The Male Arrancar.
"Hi," responded a groggy Gantier.
The Male Arrancar continues to stare at Gantier.
"Is there something you want?" asked Gantier.
"I just wanted to see what you thought of Lady Nimoore?" said The Male Arrancar.
"Why?" responded Gantier.
"Well, she's been good to us," said The Male Arrancar, "She's put her life on the line for us over and over again for months."
"Wait, were you with-" "That's right," interjected the Male Arrancar, "I was with the group she saved when she became a Vasto Lorde. We owe everything to her."
"Look, Nimo-Neema-whatever, she seems like she has good intentions," said Gantier, "But she won't change my mind."
"Would you please consider," pleaded The Male Arrancar, "She needs the help to protect us. Our group used to be much larger. But it has dwindled the last few months. Each time they find us, we barely escape."
"She didn't mention that," said Gantier.
"I'm not surprised, it's been weighing down on her," said The Male Arrancar.
Gantier looks at his sword then back at The Male Arrancar.
"Where is Nimoore currently?" he asked.
*s*
Nimoore flies around the sky observing the landscape.
She looks down and sees Gantier staring up at her. She slowly descends and lands next to him.
"What is it?" asked Nimoore.
Gantier lets out a sigh, "The day you found me was the day I became an Arrancar. I had been an Adjuchas for years," said Gantier.
"Where did this come from?" said a confused Nimoore.
Gantier ignores her question and continues, "I don't get fighting. I never felt compelled to fight for or against anyone. I don't understand why anyone would throw their life away by fighting."
"I see, may I ask how you became an Arrancar?" she asked.
"I remember seeing some Arrancars being slaughtered by humans. I walked away and felt something inside me. I smashed my head against a rock and the next thing I knew, I became an Arrancar. I figured that feeling was a sign of me becoming an Arrancar."
"A feeling? What did you feel?" asked Nimoore.
"It felt like a knot in my stomach. It didn't go away until after I became an Arrancar," said Gantier.
"I appreciate you opening up to me," she said, "but let me say this. That feeling wasn't a sign of you becoming an Arrancar. You were feeling guilt."
"Guilt? Why would I feel guilty?" he asked her.
"I think that is something for you to figure out," said Nimoore, "I have to head back and help out with some things. I need you to finish scouting the area for me."
Nimoore flaps her wings and flies off.
"Something I need to figure out?" Gantier said to himself, "What could she mean?"
Gantier looks out over the desert. "Did I feel bad for them getting slaughtered?" he thought, "Why would I feel bad for them? I've seen plenty of Adjuchas die and felt nothing. So why would I start there and then?"
Gantier turns around and slowly walks back to the cave.
"Did I really wanted to save them? But I couldn't," he thought, "I was just an Adjuchas. I wouldn't have stood a chance. Did I become an Arrancar to save them? To stand a better chance to save them?"
Gantier hears a low, soft rumbling sound coming from the distance.
"That still doesn't make sense. I didn't win that fight against the group that came after me after I had killed two of their comrades. Why did I lose then? Was it because…I didn't have anything to fight for? Did I beat those two because I had something to fight for?"
Gantier sees smoke rising off in the distance.
"That's coming from the direction of the cave," he said to himself.
Gantier uses Sonído multiple times until he reaches a hill overlooking the cave.
He looks down and sees a large group of Quincys surrounding the corpses of the Arrancars from Nimoore's group.
He notices Nimoore struggling to fight Captain Gerelina dressed differently from the others.
"No, they found us," he said to himself while falling down onto his knees.
*s*
Nimoore blocks slash after slash from Gerelina's sword with her arms.
"You have a strong Hierro," said Gerelina, "But can it hold out any longer?"
Nimoore clenches her teeth. "This woman is strong? Stronger than any of the other Quincys?" she thought.
"Do it!" commanded Gerelina.
Three Quincys use Hirenkyaku and appear suddenly behind Nimoore. Each one stabs her in the back, piercing her Hierro.
Nimoore coughs up blood and collapses.
"I never fought a Vasto Lorde before," Gerelina said while lording over Nimoore, "I thought they were supposed to be stronger than this?"
Nimoore struggles to get up. Gerelina stomps on her back, knocking Nimoore back down.
"Tell me where this newly birthed Arrancar is?" demanded Gerelina.
Nimoore grins, "Like I would do that to him," quipped Nimoore, "Besides, he probably has seen you and already ran off."
"We'll find it eventually," she said.
Gerelina takes her blade and rams it through Nimoore's chest instantly killing her.
"Everyone, disperse and investigate the surrounding landscape!" commanded Gerelina, "It couldn't have gotten too far!"
Gantier appears suddenly behind a Quincy and grabs him by the neck with one hand. The group turns around after hearing Gantier's Sonído.
"You," Gantier growled at them, "will pay!"
Gantier crushes the Quincy's neck.
"So, we finally found you beast," said Gerelina.