The cold, white dome and monolithic towers of Las Noches loomed against the empty sky. To Gin it felt, from the moment it had risen above the horizon, like someone must be watching from the walls. Even from such a vast distance they must be obvious; three black ants crawling across the endless desert.
Logically, rationally, he knew that the skill of three captains was adequate to hide themselves from any searching eyes, but all rational thought seemed to be slipping from his grasp. All that was left in its place was a sickening fear of Aizen, fed by a century of memories. Watching the monstrosities he had committed, even joining in them had been endurable because of the absolute focus with which he had held onto his goal, the destruction of Aizen, but, now, that goal felt out of reach, and all that remained was the sure knowledge of what would happen to him if he was captured here.
"We should go down," he suggested, suddenly. The idea was only partly inspired but the need to get out of view of Las Noches. He had also put together at least the pieces of a plan.
Kuchiki stopped abruptly and turned narrowed eyes on Gin. He looked like he could guess exactly why Gin was making the suggestion.
"You are suggesting the Forest of Menos?" Kurotsuchi asked. "I have no interest in Gillians, and I understand the more powerful Adjucas and Vasto Lordes prefer the surface. It would be logical to assume that Arrancar also prefer the surface. Is that not Las Noches? The home of the most powerful Arrancar? You said Aizen has made it his seat of power. Why would we go instead to the Forest of Menos?"
"The Arrancar get hungry," Gin answered. "Hunting on the surface takes time. A fracion in a hurry can take a trip down to the forest and fill up before his boss realizes he's gone. There are underground paths into the Nas Noches from the forest that are watched less carefully if we aren't lucky enough to catch somebody on a snack run; better than walking up to the front door, don't you think?"
Kurotsuchi looked at him doubtfully for a moment. "Considering your situation you are likely to favor the option of lowest risk. We will follow your suggestion," he said. Then he turned to Kuchiki, "Unless you have some objection?"
Kuchiki raised an eyebrow. "I do not see a staircase anywhere. How do you suggest we reach this underground forest?"
Gin smiled. "Hado 88? Anyone? I'd do it myself but I'm always getting the striking and shaking mixed up."
Kuchiki looked at him in disgust, and Kurotsuchi looked much the same. "They will let anyone be a captain these days," the scientist said. "First an incompetent with kido and then a child. Bankai is hardly the only skill necessary."
"Oi!" Gin protested. "Shiro's very good with all the kido; don't go lumping him in with me. Everyone knows I murdered and cheated my way to the top. Shiro's there on pure ability."
"He is quite unusual. I would have liked to have tested the extent of his abilities myself, but your wife refused on more than one occasion."
"If you hadn't insisted on calling him an experimental subject you might--"
"Hado 88: Flying dragon, striking heaven, shaking thunder cannon," Kuchiki said, extending his hand to the desert sand.
The blast of white power was nearly blinding, and the earth shook at the impact. Immediately the sand began rushing down into the hole the hado had cut in the earth's crust. All three captains slid downward. It was like riding down a water slide.
Then they were falling through the open cavity beneath the desert. Each easily escaped the falling sand to land on the tree-like pillars of the dark forest. Crowds of Gillians surrounded them, looming hungrily with their towering black forms and white masked faces, but the three captains made quick work of the nearby hollows and dropped quickly to the ground.
They each hid their reiatsu and moved out of sight before coming back together under the cover of one of the trees.
"And now do we continue in the direction of Las Noches?" Kurotsuchi added.
"In that case we might have done better to wait to descend to this place," Kuchiki said. "The going here will be much slower."
"But we might catch someone on the way," Gin pointed out, still smiling. He wasn't going to admit to Kuchiki, at least, that the sight of Las Noches had been scaring him silly. He'd rather fight a thousand Gillians than return to the surface. "The further out we are the better chance we have of not raising any alarms. If we trigger an alarm we'll have every bored Espada on us in minutes, and I'm sure none of us want that."
He looked pointedly at Kuchiki as he was fairly sure Kuchiki's main goal in coming was to slaughter as many of Aizen's Arrancar as possible on his way to fighting Aizen himself. He had to know he couldn't defeat Aizen, but, as far as Gin could tell, it didn't seem to make any difference to his resolve.
"As we agreed before we began this mission, the capture of an Arrancar is of prime importance. My binding will only hold it for a limited time, and it must be returned to the base camp as swiftly as possible. If necessary, I will leave you behind to slow any attackers after the Arrancar is captured."
"Whatever happened to 'no man left behind'?" Gin asked.
"I am sure, as a captain, you have the strength to protect yourself and find your way back alone," Kurotsuchi answered.
"Did you know you're almost as difficult to like as I am?" Gin told him.
"What use do I have for the feelings of others?" Kurotsuchi demanded.
"I find it difficult to believe that anyone has any positive feelings for either of you," Kuchiki said.
"You're awfully quick to judge for someone who hasn't smiled in at least half a century," Gin felt it necessary to point out.
"At least I do not terrify the entire Gotei with a false grin."
"Nah," Gin agreed. "You do it the usual way with all that glaring and threatening. I'm much more creative."