"*yawn* Now that's called sleep" Atticus said cheerfully as soon as he opened his eyes.
"I see you enjoyed your rest" Candice said as she placed a pie inside the oven.
"I sure did! Thanks to a special someone~" He sang as his purple eyes glanced at her.
She crossed her arms and looked away.
"I don't know what you're talking about" She pouted.
"Heh, as expected of you... But anyways, I see you went ahead with breakfast already" He slowly got up.
"Yes, sir. I'm not going to starve just cause you enjoy lazin' around every morning"
"Oh, c'mon, girl! I usually have a couple things ready for you in time, and I always cook the other two meals so, give me a break"
"I know, I know... I was just sayin', geez" She rolled her eyes. "You know I appreciate all that..."
"I was just playing your game" He smiled as he approached her. "By the way, have I told you just how beautiful you look this morning?"
"Aaaahhh, stop!" She got beet red in an instant. "I'm still not used to that, baka!"
"Well, we need to start somewhere, rite?" He quickly stole a naughty kiss from her, getting a couple moans in response.
"Mnhhh...Mnnph...! Stop!" She slapped him. "What did we say about rushing things?"
"Ow, I'm not rushing, I swear! Just listening to my heart out 'ere" He chuckled. "Besides, you can't tell me you didn't like it"
"Well... No, but... So sudden..." She seemed flustered. "I... It's too many emotions at once..."
"I know. In fact, that's the part I like most" He poured milk in a glass. "Cause, when I feel so many things in the blink of an eye... It's easy to forget the emptiness I was cursed to live with"
"Don't say that... Like I've told you before, you're far from being like that, and so were you in the past. You're not empty... If you were... I would never..." She stopped for a moment, a bit unsure about saying it, but finally: "I'd never have fallen for you" She concluded, wrapping her arms around him.
Atticus was surprised with that development, but he surely wouldn't complain. He hugged her in return to show her how happy that made him.
After all, there was nothing like feeling he was actually loved and needed by someone else.
"Thank you... Candi"
"It's okay... I thought you needed it" She retorted, letting go, still a bit embarrassed. "Just... Don't get used to it"
"Sure" He chuckled. "I'll make some croque-monsieurs, so could you get the table ready?"
"On it" She nodded, smiling comfortably as soon as she turned around. "He's always so warm..."
~~~~X~~~~
In Hueco Mundo...
Harribel returned from her duties in the Seireitei early in the morning, arriving at the gates of Las Noches, now surrounded by a larger citadel which was none other than the Hollow Society (aka Horoutei).
"*yawn* The meeting lasted way longer than intended..." Sung-Sun said tired. "My husband must be already at the hunt"
"You mean our husband" Mila Rose corrected.
"Urgh... Yours, mine, ours... Does it make a difference at this point? He gave each a child, please..." The serpent woman sighed.
"I know, but I don't like when you pretend he's all yours" The lioness bride retorted. "Just cause you're the one he likes kissing the most, doesn't mean you're a better wife"
"Whatever you say..."
"A-And... I remind you that I am the one he ravages the most when we-"
"Ehem...!" Harribel faked to make them snap.
"How shameless of you to reveal such private details in front of Lady Harribel" Cyan mocked her more.
"That happens 'cause of that insidious behavior of yours!" Franceska spat back.
"Enough!" Harribel heightened her voice. "You two clearly need some rest, so go back to your house at once!"
"Yes, Lady Harribel" The two accepted.
"Tell Apacci to report tonight. You two will be free until tomorrow, so make sure to get the needed rest so that you behave and I don't have to tell you off again"
"Understood..." Both sighed.
"Anyways, I'll go report the news to the King. Take care, and don't you dare fight on the way home. I'll punish you both if that's the case"
"Okay. We won't disappoint you, Harribel-sama" Mila Rose concluded.
"Sorry for troubling you, Harribel-sama" Sung-Sun apologized.
"Like I said, I understand that you might be tired, but as my Fracción, I can't allow you to keep falling out of line so frequently, especially in front of the citizens. You are supposed to set an example, so act like it" The Tercera finished and left them behind in a flash of Sonido.
Moments later, she got to the main palace of Las Noches, ready to deliver the news regarding the meeting she had attended at the Seireitei.
As soon as she arrived at the Throne Room, she kneeled before the King and Queen of Hueco Mundo, who were currently busy with other activities.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, but I'm back to report some important details"
It seemed like Nel was talking to Rudbornn about some issue she couldn't catch, while Ichigo finished talking with Cien about some new findings of the scientist.
"...It sounds interesting. Maybe that way we'd be able to locate other groups of Arrancar located far away more easily" Ichigo told him.
Cien now had longer hair, mostly blonde, while the part closer to the head remained with its characteristic pink color.
"I'm glad my investigation is proving useful to your means, Gran Rey Cero" He made a reverence. "Well, I shall head back now, since Harribel seems to have some important information, so I won't take any more time from you"
"Sure. Keep up the good work" Ichigo concluded.
Nel noticed how her best friend had arrived as well, so she quickly ended her talk with the head of the Exequias.
"...Anyway, Rudbornn, make sure to give those details to Inoue-san, or Roka-san if she's busy. But I'm really glad the Healing Division is doing such a great work so far. Please inform the details to Ulquiorra when he wakes up"
"With pleasure, my Queen" The Exequias left.
With the room devoid of any extras, Nelliel quickly threw her arms at her friend, being as fluffy as always.
"Harriiii! You had me worried! I was waiting for your return all night! What happened???" She was almost crying.
"Nel...sama..." She muttered, squeezed by the Queen's tight hug, gaining red and purple tones on her face. "Let me... Breathe a little..."
"Oh...! Sorry..." She softened the embrace, but wouldn't let go. "But I'm so glad to see you back!"
"Haha... It's not the first time Harribel stays the night somewhere else due to her duties" Ichigo reminded. "But still you always behave like this once she's back"
"I guess it's unavoidable at this point" Tier sighed, though then smiled: "But that's one of the things I love about Nel-sama, and I'm sure you do too, Ichigo-sama"
"*sigh* You never drop that honorific, do you...? But yeah, you're right about that" He replied, placing a hand on top of Nel's mask and rubbing it gently.
"So, what took you so long?" Nelliel asked her as she distanced a bit, just leaving her hands on Harribel's shoulders.
"In short, the meeting with the Captains of the Court Guard Squads lasted longer than expected" She told them. "But it was worth it. Some important topics were discussed, and they involve you especially, Ichigo-sama"
"Oh... Really?" He seemed surprised.
"Yes. There will be a duel between Captain Kuchiki Byakuya, and his Lieutenant, Abarai Renji" She started. "And since it's a big formal event, invitations have been sent in order to attend, and you are one of the VIPs, along with Nel-sama for obvious reasons"
"A duel... That's odd. For what reason?" He inquired.
"Not many details were given, but Captain Kuchiki said it was for his pride"
"Hm... Isn't Byakuya-san's pride... Rukia-san?" Nel recalled.
"Now that you mention it... That would make a lot of sense" He agreed. "Maybe... Renji is going to ask for Rukia's hand after the duel. Damn... That would be a real declaration"
"So your proposal at the fancy restaurant was not real? It doesn't count?!" Nel made a sad puppy face.
"N-No, Nel that's not what I-"
"Just kidding" She stuck her tongue out and closed one eye. "That was as real as it gets... Ichi" She gave him a cute nose kiss that made Harribel look away instinctively.
"Hahaha, I'm glad you think that, but please, let Harribel finish" He chuckled.
"Thank you. So... The issue is... Since the Seireitei seems to be busy with lots of things... The date they authorized for said event is in five days"
"Five days?! That's like, Saturday!" Ichigo gasped. "My schedule is full as heck until then"
"I know... Which is why I considered it an issue" Tier agreed.
"But, couldn't we ask Ulquiorra to clean our schedule a bit? I'm sure there are a couple things that can be moved, or someone else cat take over for us" Nel proposed.
"Can you imagine Grimmjow holding a school's inauguration?" The orange-haired pictured.
Harribel scoffed at the comment, knowing how awkward her boyfriend would look in such an activity.
"No one said it had to be Grimmjow" Nel shook her head, giggling at her husband's silly comment. "I'm sure Inoue-san could take care of that"
"I agree. She likes children a lot" Tier nodded.
"Well, I'll see what we can do" Ichigo concluded, thinking about his options. "Now, what other things did you talk out with the Gotei?"
"They are still concerned with the disappearance of Kagerouza Inaba, so options for investigation were brought to the table, as well as the suspicion about a certain Noble Clan, but they didn't say much about that last detail"
"As expected" Ichigo muttered.
"Yes. By now I've been able to grasp how these Nobles are somewhat untouchable when it comes to legal action, so there's not much we can do about it without getting into trouble"
"I understand, and don't worry. We'll leave that to the Captains. I'm sure at least one of them has something in mind..."
"The rest were general topics about the economy and general info on the balance of the Soul Scale. Apparently, our actions have contributed to keep this equilibrium as well, so there are no complaints about that"
"That's great to hear. To be honest, I was worried that the actions of the Hunting Unit would affect that negatively, but thanks to the Konso Blades the Seireitei gave us, we actually end up doing the Shinigamis' job here"
"Not like you ever were a Substitute Shinigami, right?" His wife teased.
"Well... Lots of things have changed from those days... And now it seems that Karin might take my position" He though out loud. "I hope she's doing well"
"She's your sister, and looked pretty tough when I met her, so I'm sure this will be an opportunity for her to get even stronger" Nel comforted him. "Everything's fine"
"Yeah, I know" He held her hand. "Anything else to consider, Harribel?"
"Nothing new. The rest was all just formalities and usual analysis of our activities. They were a bit concerned about us froming an actual army at first, but since we've been transparent through the whole process, they don't seem to have negative thoughts on that today"
"That's great to hear, not gonna lie. The last thing I want right now is more stupid conflict" He sighed. "Is that all?"
"Yes, it is"
"Great. Then, you're free for the rest of the day, and make sure to replenish your energies in full" He told her. "You've been working really hard, and we appreciate it a lot"
"But that also means you deserve some nice sleep. Oh, and...! I-If you want, you can use my private spa even..." Nel offered with a smug face. "...And I can wash your back, and maybe give you a little massage, and then we could use the sauna...!"
"Haha... What a jokester you are, Nel-sama" Tier hid her blushing face a bit more under the long neck of her jacket.
"Oh, please, like we've never done it before" She could vividly remember. "Resting in the hot spring water... And then we relax, enjoy some skinship... In fact, Yoruichi-san told me you two-"
"N-No...! Th-That's not-"
Harribel had spirals on her jade eyes as she tried to stop Nel from telling so many embarrassing details, especially with Ichigo there.
"Nel... I think what she really needs is a good sleep in her big comfy bed, right?" He gave an understanding look to the blonde.
"Y-Yes, that's right!" She made a fake yawn. "I'm beat, so... I'll have to take down that offer for today"
"Aw... Too bad. But I understand" She beamed in the end. "Still, we'll do it some other day for sure, right? Riiiight?"
"If that's what you want, I guess I have no choice" She shrugged, her eyes smiling back at her friend.
"Oh, I love you so much, Harri!" The Queen hugged her tightly one last time.
"I... I do... Too... Nel-sama" She muttered, almost in a whisper. "We'll see each other soon... So, excuse me for now" She bid the two farewell.
"Sure, take care" Ichigo nodded.
As soon as she left, he pulled Nel from a horn.
"Ahhh! Ichi...! Not so rough... Here..." She panted.
"You really need to learn when to stop, Nel. She was gonna die of embarrassment" He told her in a more serious tone.
"I-I'm sorry... I just thought... She would relax a bit... If I teased her... Like that" She started sweating heavily.
"Please, she's your best friend. You perfectly know that wouldn't happen" He looked at her straight in the eye. "You're way more of a sadist than I thought you'd be after the incident"
"It's involuntary... I swear...!" She apologized, but then smiled a bit. "Though... It was really funny... ~Kuhuhu~"
"And that's why I'll punish you, until you truly know how to control those dark impulses" He pulled her strongly by the horn towards him and bit her lip until it bled.
"Agh...!" She complained as she felt the warm pain, though helplessly aroused as well. "Ichiii..."
"Make your pick..." He grinned. "The throne or the bedroom...?"
"Hm... It's been a while since we did it here" She smirked.
"Just remember... Either way you're getting the stick" He reminded her it was supposed to be a punishment.
"And I couldn't be more excited about that~" She purred, entwining her horn to lock him in a naughty kiss.
"Haa... We might not have long... But I promise I'll make every second count" He whispered in her ear as soon as his mouth was freed.
"I trust you will, my King..." She slowly licked his cheek. "Give this sadistic bitch a lesson she won't forget"
He could only chuckle at that response. She rarely talked dirty, let alone referred to herself in such a degrading way, but it was proof of just how horny she truly was.
It was almost as if he could see yellow reptile irises in her hazel eyes when her dark side took over, but at this point, he could handle it so well that he was more than glad that her darkness peaked from time to time.
If there was a trait worth leaving his human life behind, it was the libido only a Whole could experience when its soulmate was in heat.
~~~~X~~~~
In the Human World...
Two men were sitting at a table, having a silent dinner until one broke the silence.
"Uryuu" The serious man of gray hair called his name.
"What's wrong, Ryuuken?"
"I know you were contacted by the Wandenreich"
"Okay" His son simply replied. "So?"
"I just hope you know what you're doing"
"I don't know what you're talking about" He dismissed. "I'm just doing what any real Quincy would. Be loyal to the King"
"Then... What will happen to Kurosaki?" Ryuuken clarified the root of his worries.
"Yuzu? What's with her?"
"Have you told her about it? Or even introduced the existence of the Quincy Reign to her?"
"Of course not. I have no intention of dragging her into that..." He admitted.
"Then I guess you've reached a point of inflection" He drank a sip of ice tea. "Don't tell me you're so naïve to think that said interaction with the Wandenreich will have no effect on your pupil"
"Well, it shouldn't. It's me they want" He argued. "I have no interest in making Yuzu a soldier, let alone a full-fledged Quincy. She just needed to control her powers, so we helped her. That's all"
"Then why did you give her her mother's cross?"
"Cause..." He clenched his fist, unable to refute his contradiction behavior. "It... It felt right to do so"
Ryuuken let out a loud sigh as he thought about his son's situation.
"You are swimming in a lake of contradictions right now" He spoke the truth. "But then again, that can only be expected of human beings. That said, you better be prepared in case things go South..."
"In this moment, I can't say I am..." He admitted. "But I'll find a way... I swear"
"Just know, that if things get tough... You can count on me, son" He called him that way to ensure that his words reached him.
Uryuu looked at his father in disbelief for a moment, only to turn his back afterwards, trying his best not to show it had affected him.
"Now don't get carried away" He spat back. "I'll make sure that won't have to be the case. Take care, Ryuuken" He walked out his father's office.
In solitude, Ishida Ryuuken opened a drawer to get hold of an old memento.
He took a moment to stare at the picture, one of his family, with the smile of his wife still undaunted by the tragic twists of fate as she held their baby boy in her arms.
"You took her away from me, Yhwach..." He muttered, clenching his fist furiously. "But I won't let you do the same with my son. Mark my words..."
~~~~X~~~~
Two Days later, Silbern.
"So, everything's ready?" Atticus asked her, yawning afterwards as it was early in the morning.
"Almost" She merely replied, even though she clearly had packed everything.
"Hm? What do you-"
"I don't think I should be making a point on this, but just to be sure..." She grabbed his shoulder tightly and looked him in the eye. "Not a single word or action that could give out what our relationship status is, you hear me?"
"Oh, that. Well, if you say so, it's okay" He shrugged as he accepted her conditions. "But if you're feeling lonely at night, you can always come to my tent, alrite?" He bat an eye at her and caressed her cheek.
"Kgh... Why you...?" She grinded her teeth, unable to contain her blush or her true feelings towards him when he acted cool.
"Although it's night at most times where we're going, so that doesn't make a lot of sense... But if we're having some sleep, then it counts as night I guess" He digressed.
"Oh, right... I think I never asked you: Where are we going?" Candice remembered. "Like, I know we're going to Hueco Mundo, but aside from that..."
"Ah, yeah, I don't think I told you the details of our expedition, so I'll tell you about it as we get to the rendezvous point" He put on a large backpack and grabbed two bags with clothes and other important stuff for their journey.
"Okay. Um... You sure you don't want me to lend a hand with that? One of those is mine after all..." She asked sincerely.
"Don't worry, I can handle it on my own, no problem" He retorted happily. "Besides, you wanted to make it seem like there was nothing between us, so this would make the most sense"
"I... I guess you're right" She agreed, with a slight look of discomfort.
The two started walking towards the place they had been ordered to meet with the Jagdarmee, which wasn't too far from their home so there was no need for a Gate of the Sun.
"So... To start things off, you know what Hueco Mundo is, right?"
"Oh c'mon, everyone does! It's this place where Hollows and Arrancar live, which is basically an endless desert with an equally endless night above it"
"Um... Kinda. Y'see, that last part is where you're wrong"
"Huh?"
"For many years, it was believed that Hueco Mundo was indeed nothing more than an endless desert, but thanks to the intel gathered from the Soul Society these last couple of years, today we know that couldn't be more inaccurate"
"How so?"
"Cause simply, there's way more many landscapes and different environments through Hueco Mundo than just that desert. There's forests, canyons, caves and even lakes!"
"For real? Like, lakes with actual water?" Candi seemed astonished.
"Apparently so, cause I haven't seen them myself, haha... But we're going to visit a spot in particular that will change that"
"And that is...?"
"Blackwater Park" He couldn't help but grin when he said it, an enigmatic feeling rising inside of him. "The darkest place in all of Hueco Mundo"
"Is that even possible? I mean, with a dark eternal night?"
"For some reason, reports of Spies the Wandenreich has sent indicate that there are now days in that realm" He explained. "Probably it has something to do with the Infernal Incident"
"For real? Wow... I feel stupid now" She realized how wrong her previous statement was.
"Don't sweat it. We're about to confirm such a phenomena with this journey, so you couldn't have known before"
"Oh... That's true" She seemed a bit better with herself. "But wait, if there are days now... Yet this place is the darkest... You mean that"
"Precisely. The 'Dark Eternal Night' you described is still above that area's sky" He clarified. "A report from a meeting between the Gotei and a member of the Espada let us know that not even the 'Hollow Society' has an answer to such an inexplicable event"
"Er... And why do we have to such an ominous place?" She inquired, such a claim sending shivers down her spine.
"Cause that's where I'll find what I'm looking for. It was written in a piece of paper when I got here, and I saw the specific place in a vision before my arrival"
"Okay, that sounds sketchy as fuck" She spoke her mind.
"Without much knowledge of who or what I am... I don't judge you. But that's why I'm glad we've gotten closer lately" He beamed with his eyes closed.
"Shush! What did I tell you about that?" She scolded him.
"I know... But what I mean is... That I hope I'm not mistaken to believe you trust me, right?"
She stuttered for a moment, but decided to say what was on her mind:
"Most of the time, I don't know what you're thinking, or understand everything you say, let alone finding sense to many things you do... So it would be hard to claim I trust you blindly" She said honestly. "But, despite all that, I still believe in you, and don't feel threatened by that aura of uncertainty. So I hope... I'm not wrong placing that amount of trust in you"
"Phew... I was worried for a moment, not gonna lie ahahahahahaha..." He laughed, unable to scratch the bag of his head due to the bags he was carrying. "But in the end, I'm really glad you can tell me that. For real"
"And I..." She added.
"Hm?"
"Nothing...! I was just, thinking out loud" She dismissed energically. "But I really hope you can become someone I can trust wholeheartedly, someday" She finally wished inside her mind.
Upon their arrival, Quilge's company was already waiting for them.
"Mr. Arctopus and Miss Catnipp, good morning. I must admit I'm glad to see you respect our tight schedule"
"Sure, Quilge. This mission came up due to me after all, so the least I can do is be punctual, wouldn't you agree?"
"True, true..." He gave that ugly smile he had, like some vulture staring at its prey. "But anyways, I'd like you to meet my officers, soldiers!"
"Yes, sir!" A man and a woman agreed.
"I am the Sub-Captain, Daxx Dârstor. A pleasure to meet you two" The man said first.
He was really tall (190cms), looked relatively young, probably slightly older than Atticus himself, and had short but grown gray hair and fair skin, but the most distinctive feature he had was most likely his eyes, of a bright teal color, like a Caribbean Sea. He clearly had a muscular complexity under the uniform.
"Lieutenant, L'Via L'Viaquez, at your service" A way shorter woman continued.
She was shorter than Candice, but not a midget either (158cms.) Unlike Dârstor, she had light brown skin, and dark chocolate eyes, as well as long wavy black hair combed in a tail. Some freckles could be appreciated on her face, as well as thick lips and pronounced curves on the rest of her body, while still looking slim and athletic.
"I picked them at a young age and trained them harshly for years" Sternritter J claimed proudly. "My company may be rather small, at 8 members excluding myself, but they are the best Soldat you'll find in all of the Wandenreich"
"They do look competent, so... Well done" Atticus praised him, knowing the Captain's personality.
"They better be, or else they'll just drag us down" Candice noted while crossing her arms.
"We'll make all the effort possible to avoid that, Miss Catnipp" L'Via promised.
"Mr. Arctopus, if you would allow me..." A masked Soldat of the company extended his hand.
"Oh, thank you so much!" He gave him the bags. "Then, are we ready to leave?"
"Just a minute" Quilge retorted. "So, to summarize once more, this mission is an IN-FIL-TRA-TION. Not 'Conquest', 'Seek And Destroy', 'Take no Prisoners' or anything silly that could pass through your heads. We are going to move on foot to avoid any possibility that we might be discovered by the Hollow Society.
Any technical issues or doubts you might have on theoretical and data aspects are to be resolved with the expedition leader, Sternritter Ω - Atticus Arctopus, while all tactical and military decisions are to be made by myself, obviously"
"Unnecessary remark..." Candice muttered as she rolled her eyes, earning a chuckle from Atticus.
"Ehem... And on this opportunity, we're accompanied by Sternritter T - Candice Catnipp, who is in charge of protecting Arctopus, and our company as a secondary objective"
"No lie in that" She admitted with a shrug.
"So... Are we going now???" Atticus couldn't help but show his impatience, bored to death with the unnecessary delays.
Quilge exhaled from his nose loudly, showing his clear annoyance, but complied with the expected request:
"At once, Mr. Arctopus"
Without further delay, the Jagdarmee Captain opened the special Gate that would lead them into Hueco Mundo's desert.
Different from the usual Gates of the Sun used in the Wandenreich to move faster, this was more like a passage or doorway rather than a plate, but this made it more friendly to Atticus, somewhat.
"Thanks, Quilge. Let's get going" Atticus lead the group.
After entering the gate, as if it was a portal, the soldiers crossed to Hueco Mundo swiftly and casually.
"Damn..."
Atticus and Candice seemed rather fazed by this feature, while the Jagdarmee showed no emotion.
"Hmhmhm... Surprised, Arctopus?" Quilge smirked.
"To be honest, yeah... I never thought that a passage to other dimension would be this... Swift" He admitted.
"Those nerds at the Science and Tecnology department don't mess around apparently..." Candice recognized her amazement as well.
"The only detail is that we cannot return in such a quick manner" Quilge clarified.
"Let me guess... Recharge energy, coordinate calculations, etcetera, etcetera?" Arctopus imagined.
"Exactly, so when we're ready to leave, we should try to approach this starting point as much as possible to allow a smoother transportation back home" Quilge responded. "But... You should've known this beforehand, Arctopus. After all, you were given a file with all this detailed info"
"I-I was...?" He scratched the back of his head ashamed. "Geez, I really don't remember anything aside from Ytsejam's instructions"
"Ytse... Jam...?" Quilge repeated confused.
Candice facepalmed.
"Argh, he's just messing with you. He sometimes calls his Majesty that, it's just backwards" She sighed. "He's such an idiot some- no, all the time"
"Tee-hee~" Atticus giggled in a dorky way. "But seriously, I didn't receive anything else in the last couple of days, but it's nothing to worry about"
"What do you mean? You're supposed to know all the instructions and details beforehand, you can't just-" Quilge seemed to be offended.
"I mean, you seem to know the details, so who cares" He merely shrugged. "Besides, you love being in charge, so what's the big deal?"
"N-No! Th-That's not...!"
"Hey Candi, why don't you take the lead with L'Viaquez so you can keep an eye on the front while I watch the rear with Dârstor?" Atticus just moved on.
"Sure... If there's no issue with that" She accepted and then looked at L'Via. "What do you say?"
"Oh... Um, I don't think I have a say in this...?" The girl retorted, somewhat confused.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Candi frowned.
"Mr. Arctopus is the Expedition Leader, so his words are absolute" She replied seriously. "Same goes for you. As a Sternritter, you have the right to order me anything, as long as it doesn't interfere with orders from superiors, in this case, Mr. Arctopus and Captain Quilge"
Opie grinned as he thought: "That, you goons, is a model soldier, but slackers like you would never understand the joy of training not a person, but a weapon!"
"I... See..." Candice looked at Quilge with disgust as she felt sorry for the girl due to the calm she expressed when accepting such an inhumane treatment. "She's not a girl... More like a pet, or even a tool!" She thought sadly.
"Well... Try your best to get along!" Atticus wished the two without further delay. "We'll go to the back and if anything happens you can yell or even throw a thunderbolt, haha. Whatever you prefer" He chuckled.
"O...kay" She simply replied, trying to figure out how to establish a normal conversation with the soldier given her background.
A while later...
The two men kept walking behind the rest of the squad, occasionally looking at their surroundings to make sure there weren't possible threats close.
"Ehem... Mr. Arctopus?" Dârstor spoke, much to the Sternritter's surprise.
"Yes, Dârstor?"
"I read the file the Captain passed for this mission... But I'm not completely sure I understand what we must find or recover"
"Oh, so you want details on the 'artifact' we must recover"
"Yes, sir"
"Hm, but it's too bad, for both I and Majesty considered that was confidential information" Atticus shrugged.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Arctopus. I understand" He quickly apologized.
"But, y'know...? I'm not the kind that truly believes in that kind of secrecy and stuff" Atticus grinned. "I'm more of a... Business man"
"Pardon me?" Daxx didn't seem to get where they were heading.
"If you are willing to tell me something confidential of equal value, I would be willing to spill the beans"
"But wouldn't that be-"
"Treason? Please... It's not like you're an enemy. You are part of this expedition, and as such, exceptions can be made"
"R-Really? Then... What would you like to know?" He seemed troubled, but in the end, he complied.
"No need to rush things... So for now, just tell me a bit about yourself. You know, where you come from, what motivated you to become a Soldat, that kinda thing"
"Oh, really...? Well, I don't think there's much to tell. The Dârstor family is a branch of Echt Quincy that comes from Romania. I am the oldest of four brothers, and as such, I was trained and taught to become head of my family someday"
"That's pretty cool! But it sounds quite demanding as well" Atticus pointed out.
"Hm... I can't really deny that, but it's my duty to live up to those standards"
"I see... But, although you've done everything they ask of you, you're not content with your current level, am I right?"
Daxx gasped as he was left speechless.
"Bullseye it seems" Atticus grinned. "So... What's the problem? Smarts? Strength? Power...?"
"It's not something so simple... As in... I feel I'm stronger than most men in my rank, but... It's not enough to... Ugh, it's just not enough" He sighed in a rather troubled manner.
"I see..." Atticus understood. "There's something you wish to achieve, that you can't get at your current level, right?
"Something like that... I guess" The way in which he started talking casually gave away that he was starting to reveal his true colors.
"Interesting..." Arctopus played with his hands a bit. "And what if I told you that... I can give you that power?"
"Eh...?"
"After all... I'm no ordinary Sternritter, pal" He could savor pride as he believed those words to be true without a hint of doubt. "This is one of those little secrets Majesty told me to keep but... My true skill, my... Schrift, as you would understand, is the ability to not only improve skills... But to create them from scratch"
"Is that... Possible?!" Dârstor thought such a power to be inexistent.
"Unfortunately... It isn't. Not yet" The abnormal clarified. "But... If we get the artifact that lies somewhere in this dark world... I will be able to do so"
"I see now" He understood. "But say... In the case that you somehow gave me a skill... That wouldn't go against his Majesty's wishes, would it?"
"Hm... I don't know. Maybe?" Atticus retorted honestly. "Cause, he told me to use my power on the Sternritter, but never mentioned Soldat"
"That doesn't sound possible then..." Dârstor muttered disappointed. "Guess some of us are just not meant to get such abilities"
"Well, if you think that way, good for you" He walked in front of him. "But if you truly desire something, you should be willing to do anything in order to get it, right?"
Daxx was left speechless as they continued watching over the rear of their formation, while Atticus had a sly smile drawn on his face, knowing that the seed had been planted in Dârstor's head.
Meanwhile, in the front...
"So, you told us you were trained from a young age to form part of this unit, didn't you?" Candice confirmed.
"That's correct. I was 11 years old when the Captain selected me" L'Via nodded politely.
"Selection? As far as I knew, Sternritter don't go picking their subordinates like that"
"That isn't the norm, I'm certain. However, Captain Opie is one of the men his Majesty trusts most, so he has some special privileges"
"I see. What was your life like before that though? You were pretty young after all"
"I..." For the first time, L'Viaquez seemed to lose that robotic form of speaking along with her poker face. "I'd rather not speak of something so... Pointless"
"O...kay..." Candi grinned nervously as she looked away thinking: "Looks like I'm not the only one who had issues growing up"
"Changing the topic, what's your relation to Mr. Arctopus?" She asked back in the same monochromic tone.
"HUH?!" She immediately looked back at her with a mixture of confusion, embarrassment and annoyance. "What do you mean?! I-I don't...! We don't-"
"I just wanted to know if you're his all-time bodyguard or this was just during this mission..." She retorted confused. "But apparently, there is something else"
"Wait, what? No! Nonono, you're clearly getting some weird ideas"
"Am I? If I am wrong I apologize, but your exaggerated reaction made me think that" She clarified.
"Look, I was just caught off-guard with such a misplaced question, that's all" She pointed out. "So to make things clear, I am directly in charge of supervising and protecting Atticus cause his Majesty ordered me to. That's our only 'relationship', if you wanna put it like that..."
"Oh. I... See..." L'Via looked quite a tad bothered by that reply, pressing her fist a bit.
"Hey, everything alright?" She noticed a human trait was showing in the Soldat again. "Wait... Don't tell me...!" the Sternritter widened her eyes.
"She noticed?" L'Via thought in shock.
Candice smirked triumphantly.
"I see how it is..." She chuckled. "That robotic form of speech... That emotionless expression... The 'perfect soldier' attitude... It's all a freaking ruse, ain't it?"
"I... I don't..." She felt cold sweat forming in her neck.
"C'mon, L'Via-chan... No need to hide it. I'm an understanding Senpai, I swear" She grabbed her by the shoulder tightly. "That question before was worded like that on purpose, wasn't it?"
"Argh...! Miss Catnipp... You're hurting me!" A girly voice was heard for the first time.
"Then answer this straight... Did Quilge order you to get info out of me?!" The gaze of her poison eyes was all over the girl.
"..." She pressed her lips.
"C'mon, answer!"
"N-No..." She said almost in a whisper.
"LOUDER!"
"No! He didn't! I just wanted to make sure-" She realized her mistake.
"Huh? What's that?" Candice smiled again. "Make sure? Make sure of what?"
"N-Nothing, it's something silly..." She blushed as she looked away.
"Wait... Don't tell me you..." Her eyes became pale and hostile. "Like... Atticus?!"
"No! It's not that!" She denied quickly.
"Haha... Are you sure?" She felt a sudden urge to punch her in the face. "C'mon, if you like him just say so... So I can bury you six feet underneath right now!"
"Eh?" She was bewildered by such an aggressive response. "I swear I don't! Really, I just met him, what the Hell?!" A strong Latinamerican accent appeared in that last sentence.
"Wow... So this is what the real you is like" Candice became more calm after seeing she was telling the truth. "Sorry for getting so worked up, but you didn't leave me a choice"
"Excuse me? I was being honest since the start, but you doubted me and got all violent, especially when you thought I liked Mr. Arctopus!"
"What? No way! I was just making sure you were not lying, so I had to push you a bit" She pouted while avoiding eye contact.
"Yeaaah, right. Sí, claro, Señorita!" She felt outraged. "And you tell ME to be honest? When it's clear as water that you like that man?"
Candice got beet red in between rage and awkwardness, but gave way to a calm yet way more dread look.
"Now stop right there, soldier girl. In the hypothetical scenario that I did like him, WHICH I DON'T... That would still be none of your business" She made clear. "One thing is that you dropped that stupid façade, and another completely different is that you pretend we're on the same level, Soldat"
"Kgh..." She grinded her teeth, but made her best effort to calm herself and reply with her mask: "Understood, Miss Catnipp. I apologize for my rudeness"
"And now we're back at square one, fuck..." Candi facepalmed. "But whatever... I don't give a shit about what you wanna do. Just follow orders and stay out of mine and Atticus' business, thank you"
As the Sternritter walked away, L'Via couldn't help but sigh: "This is gonna be one long journey..."
~~~~X~~~~
Morning in the Seireitei.
A blonde Captain and his Lieutenant had woken up early to a summons that came, at a minimum, as a shock to him.
"Taichou...?" Momo muttered as she followed him.
Hirako didn't reply.
His head was somewhere else entirely, which wouldn't be a surprise with a trivial matter but...
"He's so focused he can't even hear me" The Lieutenant thought. "Just what did that letter say? And where are we going?"
In spite of frequently moving around the various squads of the Gotei, there were still some places she wasn't used to visiting, and most likely, some she had never been in before.
Now it appeared to be one of those cases, as no matter how much she tried to recall, there were no memories of that place whatsoever, and as much as the curiosity could be killing her, she didn't want to bother her Captain by forcing him to reply.
Everything would make sense once they arrived...
Right at that large gate with the ominous symbol that was rarely seen through the various members of the Gotei.
"This is...!" Momo finally realized.
Hirako snapped out of his trance for a moment to respond to his Lieutenant's reaction.
"You recognize that?" He asked rhetorically. "You might have ended up here... If you had chosen to, that is"
"I did get a recommendation upon finishing my training in the academy, but... I never thought I truly had what it takes"
"And what were you missing? You're pretty darn skilled in Kidou" He honestly retorted. "I would've talked you into it if I had been around back then"
"But still... Thanks to my insecurities... I was able to keep seeing my friends more often, and even meet you, Captain!" She smiled.
"Yeah... I guess that's true" He smiled a bit. "Now then, are you ever gonna open up? I'm gonna be late if you keep delaying me!" He shouted at the door, though no one could be seen.
Still, right after he finished talking, the gate was opened, letting them enter the grounds of one of the most mysterious divisions of the Gotei:
The Kidou Corps.
With an almost unnoticeable presence, the members of the Kidoushuu carried out a handful of jobs at the Seireitei, the most important being the opening of the Senkaimon and releasing the seal of the Soukyoku during executions.
But in spite of how vital they were for the Seireitei, it was very rare to encounter a member of the Kidou Corps hanging around the Citadel, let alone an officer.
Now though, as expected of the Division, one member appeared to welcome them a couple steps further. He was wearing the typical attire corresponding to the Kidouushuu, with that white cloak covering from his head to his legs.
"Welcome, Captain Hirako, Lieutenant Hinamori" The man saluted them. "Please follow me"
"Sure" Shinji accepted, while Momo just nodded politely.
As they went through the barracks, more members started appearing. Some practicing spells, others working in their healing capabilities, and some carrying out normal errands, almost giving the impression that this was a division like any other.
But in spite of appearances, the oddity of encountering a Kidou Corps Shinigami outside these walls was rather ominous, to say the least.
And, to be fair, this wasn't a new trait acquired with the actual Captain, but something that had always been part of this mysterious group.
Their guide stopped in front of a large building that looked like a temple, with polished stone bricks, carved wooden doors with two guards awaiting for the opening command, and pure gold ornaments decorating the entrance, molded in shapes of clouds with dragons on top. Momo couldn't help but open her mouth as she stood in awe.
Such clean surroundings, calm ambient and refined buildings... It was a sight more than rare in the Seireitei's quarters.
This was a sight worthy of a Royal Family's territory.
"Please proceed through those stairs to the room ahead. The Captain is ready to receive you"
"Thank you" Shinji gave a slight nod. "Momo"
The Lieutenant, still baffled, snapped out of her trance as soon as the Captain called her name.
"Ah, sorry!" She bowed a bit and followed Hirako.
The guards swiftly opened the gates to the Captain's quarters as they stepped out of the staircase, welcoming them into the heart and soul of the Kidou Corps.
As she entered behind Shinji, Hinamori noticed that it wasn't drastically different from the other main houses of the Gotei, though the immaculate state of the barracks was even more pronounced in this room.
However, any more inspection of the inanimate ended abruptly as soon as her eye caught a glance of the enigmatic Captain of the Kidou Corps.
"No way!" Momo could only think. "So... So... Beautiful..."
In front of her, a rather tall woman stared back at them with a serious dry look, giving out an aura of elegance unlike anything she had ever seen.
Fair skin that looked as soft as silk and long blue hair which wouldn't envy the ocean, combed in a huge ponytail, were just what the first glimpse gave out of this goddess.
With body proportions only on pair with Rangiku's, the Captain looked simply gorgeous.
She was wearing a purple robe with the Kidoushuu symbol above the normal Shihakushou, instead of the typical Haori Captains used, which still showed her wide bossom in all its glory.
Below, her hips were covered by a red Kimono girdle with white lining and secured by a thinner white belt.
Looking upwards, her neck displayed a black choker, which held a gold necklace with an azure Sapphire on its center.
Upon seeing her face more carefully, Hinamori realized how said jewel was barely comparable to the azure of her eyes, alluring and powerful. Below her left eye, an attractive mole could be appreciated.
The rest of her face was equally as stunning, having thick skin-colured lips, a sharp yet delicate nose, and round ears that held jade prisms as earrings.
Stunned by the fact that she had never seen such a unique beauty in all her years in the Gotei, Hinamori didn't realize her Captain was already seating in front of the woman.
"Yo. It's been a while since I last saw you..." Shinji said without a hint of respect. "...Baka Nezumi" He grinned.
"Eh...?!" Momo couldn't believe what she just heard. "T-Taichou! How rude!"
"I would expect no less from Uzagi, even after he returned from the dead" The Kidouushuu Captain retorted without losing her composure.
Her voice was strong yet it didn't lose a hint of the feminine energy her looks displayed.
"Ho? Are you hurt that I didn't call you after I returned to the Seireitei?" Hirako asked. "Sorry, I didn't think you'd be the kind to really care"
"Is that so?" She frowned. "Then I guess I made a mistake to invite you in the first place. If anything, I was expecting an apology on your part"
"Apology? For what? All those times I scared you? Or the ones I easily beat you? Or maybe... That time I rejected your love confession?"
"That never happened!" She quickly replied, blushing as she finally lost her cool. "Geez..." She pouted, cutely inflating her cheeks.
Momo was surprised to see such an ideal female Captain easily turned into an annoyed High-school girl by the Vizard Captain.
"Heheheheh... I knew you'd show your true self if I picked the right words" Shinji smirked cheekly.
"Well, what can I say? You're naturally gifted for pissing people off" She closed her eyes and shifted her look.
"I know, I know..." He chuckled. "But I'm glad to see you're doing well, Sayuri"
The woman looked back at him, and after pressing her lips, her eyes couldn't take it any longer, letting a couple tears out.
"S-Stupid Shinji... You could've told me you were alive!" She sobbed. "I missed you and Hiyori so much... I mourned you for months after you were gone!"
"*sigh* I thought something like that would happen... But things were delicate after we left the Soul Society" Hirako explained. "The higher-ups wanted us all wiped out, so we simply had to disappear. Attempting to contact you only would've stirred up trouble, so we decided to keep the mouth zipped about it"
"I know! I get it! But... That won't make the sorrow go away... Not from those days" She dried her tears.
"Maybe not..." Shinji sighed. "But at least we'll be able to spend some happy moments again, although I can't promise it'll be the same as the old days, especially since Hiyori simply doesn't wanna come back here"
"I understand her" Sayuri replied comprehensively. "Who would want to go back to the place that turned its back on you after all those years...?"
"Although... Some of us don't mind coming back as long as we get a good pay" He smiled. "Besides, I simply couldn't leave things be knowing the mess my idiot Lieutenant left..."
Sayuri seemed especially hurt at such a mention.
"Did she know... Aizen?" Momo wondered as she saw her reaction.
"Sorry... I guess I shouldn't have brought that up" Shinji apologized.
"N-No..." Sayuri shook her head. "As hard as it is... I must get over it... Someday"
The air became dense as fog, memories cutting like a knife for the three of them.
"True... But that day doesn't have to be today" Hirako clarified in an understanding tone. "So, changing the topic, I thought I could introduce you to my Lieutenant"
"Oh. Yes!" Momo bowed on the floor. "I am Hinamori Momo, Lieutenant of the 5th Division, pleased to make your acquaintance"
"The pleasure is all mine" She nodded. "I'm Ukitake Sayuri, Captain of the Kidou Corps, and old member of the 5th Squad, under Captain Hirako over there"
"Ukitake? Are you somehow related to the 13th Division Captain?" She inquired.
"That's correct. He's my older brother" Sayuri smiled.
"B-Brother?! Really...?" Momo had trouble finding any similarity within the two.
"I know what you're thinking" Sayuri giggled. "The reason we are nothing alike is cause I was adopted into the family when I was very little.
"Ah... I see now" Hinamori smiled. "And you used to be under Hirako-taichou too?"
"Yep. I was with him for quite a while, but after seeing my talent in Kidou, my brother convinced me of joining the Kidoushuu"
Shinji showed a face of disbelief at her remark, but they didn't notice.
"Oh... Then you became a Captain after the Hollowfication incident, right?" Momo concluded. "Hirako-taichou told me that the Captain and Lieutenant of the Kidou Corps were both cast away from the Seireitei after that"
"Well... I did become a Captain because of that free spot eventually, but it wasn't so quick, nor easy" Sayuri made clear. "In fact, I needed your help, Shinji, cause there's something Lieutenant Ushouda should be able to help me with"
"Huh? You mean Hachi?" Shinji never heard someone call him that. "Sure, I can help with that. You wanna give him a call or somethin'?"
"Um... Not exactly. I'm afraid this is a more... Delicate matter" Sayuri retorted.
"Ah... You want me to pass him a love letter from you?"
"Ha ha ha, so funny" The woman said with clear sarcasm. "I just need you to get him to meet me here. It's a matter regarding the Kidouushuu"
"Alright, alright. I'll see what I can do then" He accepted.
"Thank you" Sayuri smiled grateful. "Now, since I don't normally have any guests... Would you like to have breakfast with me?"
"As long as the food's as fine looking as this place... I don't see why not" Hirako grinned.
"I would be delighted to share a meal with you, Ukitake-taichou" Hinamori said politely.
"Oh, please. Just call me Sayuri. As much as I love my family and my brother, I don't like the idea of being called the same" She asked her. "In return, can I call you Momo?"
"But of course! I'd be really happy if you did" Hinamori blushed a bit. "As long as it doesn't bother you"
"No way. I like to treat people closely if possible, and besides, I think we could be really good friends"
"You flatter me... But I don't think we'll be able to form such a close bond seeing each other so rarely"
"Then why don't you come more often?" She invited her. "I know you're quite skilled at Kidou, so how would you like to train with me?"
"Oi, first you stole my heart and now you wanna steal my Lieutenant?" Shinji teased. "Gimme a break"
"W-What are you saying, Uzagi?! I'm not trying to take her away forever... A-And I never stole your heart!"
"Really? But you were my first love" Shinji replied.
"Hirako-taichou has a terrible habit of telling that to every beautiful girl he sees" Momo said with annoyance. "I apologize on his behalf"
"Oh, there's no need for that. I'm used to his senseless gibberish" Sayuri giggled.
"So I see, hahahahahahaha" Hinamori laughed too.
"Well, I guess not a single girl would believe it after knowing I say that so often" Shinji thought. "But this time...
I swear it's anything but a joke"
Shinji simply enjoyed the view of the two women laughing together before enjoying a delicious breakfast with them.
Oh my God, I'm awful at keeping the pace this time, I'm so sorry. As much as I could use Uni as an excuse, I won't deny this was mostly to laziness getting the better of me.
Still, I've tried my best at writing another lively chapter for the beginning of this story, and this time we introduced quite a couple OCs.
All with the exception of the Kidoushuu Captain are my original creation. Ukitake Sayuri belongs to a DeviantArt artist called Miyuki Tsukiyono, so be sure to check her profile out for more art on Sayuri. She's one of the best OCs I've ever come across, and I thought her existence would contribute the story greatly on this part, so adjusting some minor details about her official info I added her to my story.
Without anything more to add, I'll be going to sleep hoping I don't take so damn long for next Chapter lmao.
Evhron out.
In the desert of Hueco Mundo...
"Good job, everyone, the camp has been set for the night. Make sure to have a good meal and a repairing sleep. Tomorrow we have another long day of travelling" Quilge told his soldiers. "Today's centinels will be Dârstor and L'Viaquez. Gute nacht"
Atticus gave soft pats on Daxx's back: "Looks like it ain't over for you just yet, my friend" He said sympathetically.
"It's fine. The Captain's orders are absolute, and we're more than prepared to lose sleep for a night or two" Dârstor retorted.
"I feel a bit better knowing that's the case, but still, good luck" He bid him farewell.
A couple tents from there, another Sternritter gave her 'best wishes' to her partner in the way everyone would expect from her.
"Ha! Looks like you won't be sleeping tonight, SOLDAT" Candice dissed her. "But it's no wonder. Beauty sleep is for queens, not for hunting dogs. So see you tomorrow!"
L'Via could only grind her teeth in silence as her superior bullied her.
"Urrrgghhh... I HATE HER SO MUCH!" She screamed inside her head as she groaned.
Upon entering her tent, Candice sighed at the sight of a sleeping bag, having a great contrast with her Queen-sized bed.
"Well... Knowing the fate of 'La Señorita' out there, things can always be worse" The girl accepted. "I just hope it doesn't get too cold... Or else I might even consider that poor excuse of a stud's offer" She could already see the smirking face of Arctopus in her head. "You gotta be strong, Candice. You can't let him win this!"
Glossary:
Baka Nezumi: Stupid Mouse in Japanese.
Uzagi: Japanese combination of Uzai (Annoying) and Usagi (Bunny).
Señorita: Miss or missy (depending on the context) in Spanish.