/* Hi all! Getting closer to the end! Thanks so much for sticking with me! I do plan on revising this and the Futile Repent as I know there are some plot holes and I'm sure grammatical/spelling errors. One of these days my life will be a little less crazy and I'll have more time for my writing. Anyway, here is chapter 7. Enjoy and thanks for reading! */
Chapter 7 -
They had marched for hours, keeping a reasonable pace for the army at their back. While reenergized from her rejoining with Dairokkan, she still felt the journey exhausting her. She had to keep a strong image, however. She was surrounded on all sides by creatures that would have normally killed her without hesitation. She could not show weakness, not just for her wellbeing but also for Grimmjow's. If it showed he chose to associate with a weak Shinigami-
"Great, not those two goons. Of all the Arrancar to get away from Zev." Grimmjow scoffed, pulling Haruka's attention away from her wandering thoughts. She looked into the distance as two familiar Arrancars were frantically waving their arms in the air and sprinting towards them.
Haruka poked Grimmjow in the side as a warning and earned a disgruntled look before turning towards two incoming flailing bodies. "Grimm-Grimm-sama! Ruki-sama!" Pesche shouted as he came towards them.
Haruka rolled her eyes as Grimmjow's jaw clenched. "Don't call me Grimm-Grimm."
Pesche arrived first, but was so out of breath he couldn't speak. He hunched over, gasping for air. "It's a- Nel-sama is- Phew-"
"Will you spit it out, you scrawny piece of-" Grimmjow began but Haruka held her hand to his chest, causing him to pause.
"Pesche, tell me what happened." Haruka attempted.
"It's Nel-sama!" He choked out. "She's-ooff!" Just as he was about to get his explanation out, a large weeping Dondochakka collided with him. The two of them rolled forward, their limbs entangled and groaning uncomfortably.
"Fucking kidding me." Grimmjow sputtered as he grasped Haruka's blocking hand and gently pulled it out of his way. He took two large strides forward before sending a powerful kick into the top blob and grabbing the scrawny second blob by the neck. "Spit-it-out." He enunciated, his snarling teeth inches from Pesche's face.
"M-my apologies, Grimm-Grimm-sama!" Pesche waved his hands defensively.
"Grimmjow…" Haruka's voice was enough to keep him from ripping the Arrancar in two, but only for a limited amount of time.
"Nel-sama is being turned into one of those things!" Dondochakka suddenly intervened, his head popping up between Grimmjow and Pesche's faces despite them being inches from each other.
Annoyed, Grimmjow dropped Pesche right on top of the chubby Arrancar, causing the two to entangle themselves once more. "Gah, Pesche that hurts! Get off of me!"
"It's not my fault Grimm-Grimm-sama dropped me!" He whined.
"Wait. You said Nel is being turned into a mutated Arrancar?" Haruka asked, her voice mirroring her shocked panic.
The two Arrancars paused, staring at the purple-haired Shinigami. Then they nodded their affirmation. "Halibel-sama, too."
"Shit." Grimmjow cursed.
"They were enclosed in this funny white stuff." Dondochakka tried to explain.
"Funny white stuff! Dondochakka, let me explain it. You make it sound inappropriate for young ears." Pesche straightened up. "What he means is that all the Arrancars are all being covered with this funny white goo…"
"That doesn't sound any better, Pesche!" Dondochakka accused.
"Both of you shut up." Grimmjow snapped. "Ruka, if he's turning all the Arrancar into his mutated asshole minions…"
"We have to get to him before the transformation is complete." She finished his statement. "Does anyone know how long this process usually takes?" She asked to a group of Hollows that were near them.
"We've never seen it." They mentioned.
"If I know Halibel, she'll resist it until she's dead. Same with Nel and the fraccion. Not sure about the rest of the Arrancar under her watch, though. We should hopefully have some time." Grimmjow rationalized.
"I'd rather not test that theory. Let's go."
He felt the pulse of that sapphire fire in the distance long before his minions. It surprised him. He had expected it sooner and not only that, but a full fury of pure hatred and agony for killing his Shinigami wench. The thought hadn't occurred to him that she had actually survived the onslaught. He had felt her reishi diminish to nearly nothing just before leaving his complex and beginning his march on Las Noches. He was certain she was dead.
But there it was, a vibrant violet flame pulsing next to that suffocating blue beast. He grimaced, his teeth actually grinding in irritation as he continued sensing other chaotic storms beyond them. "Idiots think they can challenge me with a ragtag crew of reject Hollows?" He bellowed while standing. He stormed through the hall and out to the battlements. There, much like he had done previously, was a horde of Hollows with Grimmjow and Haruka at their front. "What fools. They will suffer for this."
With an outstretched hand he pulsed his reiatsu outward, calling to his minions with his orders. "Come to me!" What followed was a deafening sound of screeching auras as his minions moved through the sands and towards the battlements.
They were close enough now to see the damage that was done. Many of the walls had holes in them, created as entry points for the enemy no doubt. The main gates themselves had been smashed to pieces. It was a wonder any of the battlements were even still standing. It worried Haruka tremendously.
"Stay close to me." Grimmjow commanded as he sensed the incoming chaos moving through the sands.
She nodded once while unsheathing her zanpakuto.
"Your enemy is upon us." Grimmjow announced. "Strike now or die."
As soon as the final word left his lips, an explosion of sand ripped around them and revealed the very creatures they were dreading. Haruka's sword connected with the mutant nearest to her. "Void, Dairrokkan!" She yelled, her reiatsu flying to life with more intensity than she had ever felt before. "Raioto o keshimasu!"
A wave of dark energy encompassed the creature, a muffled screech emanating from it. When the smoke finally cleared, all that remained was a scorched pile of remains. Grimmjow smirked. "Now you've got it." He praised before attacking his own monster and slashing it in two.
Haruka grinned before her eyes fell to the next in line. She dealt with that one in a similar fashion, dodging its incoming swipe before slicing it in two. Around her, hordes of Hollows collided with the faceless Vasto Lordes.
"Ruka! We have to move!" Grimmjow shouted over the deafening screeching. She glanced away from her current enemy just long enough to see her lover urging her towards him. She sent a blast of reiatsu towards the faceless being before leaping towards the beacon of blue.
"Do you see him?" She asked as she reached him, dodging flailing limbs and blasts of energy.
"No, but I know he's there." He said firmly as they managed to get a small amount of distance from the war behind them. His gaze fell to the battlements of Las Noches that still seemed eons away, his brow creasing in thought before he began looking around.
"What are you thinking?" She asked gently.
"We need to free the Arrancars before the transformation is finished." He said quickly, a Vasto Lorde appearing close by and attacking them. Grimmjow impaled his outstretched arm through its chest before tossing it to the side. "We ain't getting passed Zev. I need to take him head on so you can get to Nel and the others."
"Grimmjow-"
"We can't kill him alone, Ruka. I've been trying for months to down the bastard on my own, but you saw how well that went." He spat. He sounded ashamed and disgusted with himself. "I ain't going to be an ignorant idiot anymore."
Gentle fingertips pressed into either side of his face, directing his sapphire gaze to her purple orbs. "Don't get yourself killed in the meantime."
"Don't fucking take too long and it won't be a problem." He teased, though her face remained serious. "Haruka-don't do anything stupid." His thumb followed the line if her cheekbone before grasping her chin and bringing his lips to hers.
It was a quick, but meaningful gesture, enough to show his gut wrenching worry. But he had to trust her. They wouldn't win otherwise. "I won't." She affirmed.
He took a few steps back, looking around as more and more of his own army was pushing through the mindless creatures. "Move forward!" He shouted before taking off, eliminating any foe that got in his way.
Haruka watched as he charged, a longing look gnarling her features. Then, she too followed, a warring cry leaving her lips as she sliced through yet another enemy.
They continued to charge, tackling hill after hill, enemy after enemy, until they reached the top of the final embankment leading down to the walls of Las Noches. Then the horrors of what they were facing were truly revealed.
Haruka reached Grimmjow, pushing through their army of Hollows who were granted a short reprieve from the fighting. He stood there, staring out at their task in front of them. It was a sea of white, an endless army blocking their way.
They said nothing as they stood side by side, attempting to process just how they were going to defeat them. "There must be thousands of them." Haruka remarked barely above a whisper.
Grimmjow snarled, baring teeth at the enemy horde that, for whatever reason, remained as still as a windless pond. He knew that the quiet wouldn't last long, however. "Where is Nel's idiot fraccion?" He barked.
A few seconds later, the muffled struggles of Dondochakka and Pesche were slowly making their way to the front of the group. The two were thrown from the crowd, landing right in front of Grimmjow and Haruka just before they attempted to run away. Grimmjow roughly grasped Pesche's ankle and pulled, leaving the flailing Arrancar upside down. "Where do you think you're going?" Grimmjow half smirked around his displeased snarl.
"Uh, we were just going to see if anyone needed our assistance! W-we are not suitable for the front lines Grimm-Grimm-sama. I mean look at Dondochakka! He's so chubby he could easily get in the way!" Pesche attempted to rationalize.
"Me? Pesche you're so skinny and frail that these Vasto Lordes would break you in half." Dondochakka argued.
Suddenly Pesche was standing right side up and out of Grimmjow's grasp, much to Grimmjow's surprise. "Skinny and frail?! Dondochakka, I'll have you know that I can carry three of you atop my shoulders-ack!"
"Oi, shut up." Grimmjow wrapped his fingers around Pesche's thin neck. "Listen to me very carefully. I want you two idiots to take Ruka in the side entrance. Take her to where Nel and Halibel are being held."
"The side entrance! We know where that is, right Pesche!?" Dondochakka said excitedly.
"You think he doesn't know about it?" Haruka asked as Grimmjow released Pesche's throat.
"It was built long after he was around. It was Szayelaporro's little pet project." Grimmjow answered.
Haruka adjusted her zanpakuto and sighed. "Ok, it's worth a shot. Let's go you guys." She ordered Nel's fraccion who saluted her in response.
Before they could leave, however, a strong grip wrapped around her forearm. "If he has discovered it, get the hell out of there. Don't get yourself trapped." Grimmjow said firmly.
"I won't fail you." She returned, her gaze hardening with determination.
"Nothing you do is ever a failure to me." He whispered.
She allowed a small smile to pull at her lips for a breath of a second before her eyes glanced at the enemy horde one last time. "I will free them. Stay safe in the meantime." Her hand slid to the back of his neck, bringing his head towards her. She brushed her lips against his ear so that only he could hear her, "I love you."
She pulled back, giving him one last warm smile before turning towards her goal. Then there were arms around her, pulling her back against a hardened chest. Hot breath tickled against her ear. "In case I don't ever get the chance to say it-" He began, stopping just long enough to nuzzle against her neck, "I love you, too."
He didn't grant her enough time to even visibly respond. As quick as the last word left his lips, he was marching back to the front of his army. "We are outnumbered, but that does not mean we are defeated." He shouted to the group. Haruka let her violet gaze run along him one last time before she, too, turned and marched towards her mission. Regardless of what he said, she would not fail him; because her failure would mean his death. It would mean the death of all of them.
"We have something those bastards don't." She continued to hear his voice echo across the desert even as she and the fraccion sprinted away.
"Something worth living for…"
She ran.
She ran and ran and ran until the bottoms of her feet were raw from coarse sand and every muscle in her legs burned. The image of him, that last little piece of him where the rest had become monstrous, had been impaled on her weapon. This place was nothing but a hell. Aizen had brought her to hell.
It was where she had to kill the man she loved.
And where she had lost everything yet again.
So she ran. She ran back to that little entrance Aizen had shown her and the others. She ran back to him, like he was some kind of savior. He was not. And she would refuse to let him continue to destroy her.
But really, what else could she do, but run?
Once again she found herself navigating through the maze like hallways. She was thankful at least Nel had taken her through not that long ago, less she get lost for countless hours following these two.
"No, no, no, Dondochakka. It's this way!"
"Wait, Pesche. I think you're going the wrong-Ahhhh!"
"You two ok down there?" She called down from the top of the newly formed pit. "Oh and you were both wrong. It's that way up there." She said as she pointed towards an obscured hallway off to the side. If she hadn't been so lost in her own thoughts, she might have been able to stop them in time.
"Ruki-sama! Can you help us get out!?" Pesche's voice called from the darkness below.
Haruka sighed. "Let me see if I can find some rope or something." She looked around briefly before sprinting towards the correct hallway in search of anything. "Nothing." She breathed. She continued moving down the hallway, instinctually knowing she was nearing the main section of the palace.
As soon as she stepped through the doorway, a familiar looking beast was upon her. She cursed, dumbfounded at how she didn't even sense the slightest bit of its reishi. The creature's almost featureless face collided with her sword, its mask much harder than others she had been fighting. It was then she noticed the differences. This creature was much taller and broader than the others, something she didn't notice at first in the way it crawled on all limbs…all six of them. One other feature that was markedly different was the gaping mouth that housed many rows of sharp teeth set at the very bottom of the mask.
The monstrous being leaped away, the pointed bones protruding from its spine moved as it flexed its back. Long strings of liquid poured from the lipless chasm at the base of the mask as a deafening sound erupted from it.
"You're a little different." Haruka breathed inquisitively. The creature roared in response before charging her yet again. She grunted as she took the impact with her weapon. "Raito o keshimasu!" She shouted as her sword erupted with purple waves as high as the ceiling and consumed the creature.
When the waves of energy cleared, there was nothing. The mutated Arrancar, or at least that is what Haruka assumed, had completely vanished. Haruka's gaze travelled cautiously around the room, around pillars and in cracked doorways. Her sword was lifted, both hands steadily clasped around it as she strafed cautiously along the wall.
The further she moved into the palace, the more her hackles rose. Strange pulsing reiatsu overwhelmed this place. It drove her senses crazy as the very energy itself felt deformed and insane. It made it difficult to concentrate; impossible to even hear above the buzzing.
Perhaps that is why the monster was able to sneak up on her.
Her reflexes twitched as she felt its presence a mere breath from her. She swiped her sword, connecting with the grotesque cavern of its mouth just before it made contact with her arm. She cried out as its face forcefully pushed her, sending her into the next room skidding on her back. She rolled over backwards, using her hands and the force of the push to leap back to her feet. She dug her toes into the roughness of the stone floor, preparing for the next impact.
"Stop."
The new voice was familiar, even in its distortion. Haruka glanced to her left as the creature paused in its attack. A new sensation of utter dread fell upon her. "Nel…"
There, standing tall and hovering above the floor was her guide and companion in Hueco Mundo. The top of her head was covered in an ivory white shell that fell to her nose and consumed her skull completely around to the back of her head. Her beautiful green locks peeked out from beneath the base of it, cascading over her shoulders and down her back. Her mouth and chin were visible, but the rest of her was shadowed unevenly in that bright white shell. It ran over her body like forbidden tattoos, weaving in and out in no specific pattern. Haruka wondered to herself if maybe the transformation had yet to complete.
"Nel!" She shouted, though Nel did not move. She remained hovering there with her arm outstretched and the flat of her palm standing straight, signaling her command to the creature to halt. It was then Haruka was able to glance around the room. It was filled with round structures made of the same shell-like material that covered Nel. All of it made Haruka's skin crawl.
Nel's hand suddenly twisted down, pushing into a forward motion. "Come to me." She said. At first Haruka thought she was talking to her, until several of the large egg-like structures exploded open and revealed more horrific Arrancar mutations.
"You've got to be kidding me." Haruka cursed as she raised her sword defensively, watching as Nel's new minions congregated around her.
"Surrender." Nel's distorted tone ordered.
"Never." Haruka returned.
Silence followed for several long moments before the inevitable words left Nel's lifeless lips, "kill her."
Haruka grimaced before changing her stance, preparing for the onslaught. "Bankai."
"Haruka…" His voice was hoarse from the endless battle cries that erupted from his lungs. It was endless, this sea of monsters that just kept coming in waves. Yet at the feel of his Shinigami's Bankai, he felt a renewed urgency in his step, renewed vigor in his attacks. Another three foes fell at his swipe, another dozen at the explosion of his cero. He tore limbs from bodies, decapitated heads, bled hearts; anything to rid his home from these mindless things.
He glanced up at the battlements after each downed foe, keeping his gaze set on his true enemy. He would have to conserve as much of his energy as possible in order to fight him. He half wondered why Zev hadn't yet made an attempt at his life, but then again, Zev was calculating and impossibly patient; much like Aizen. Only when the fierce pulse of Haruka's Bankai was revealed did Zev turn, only a hint of concern marring his features. It was then Grimmjow knew he had to get to him. He had to keep him distracted long enough for Haruka to free the Arrancars.
"Oi, asshole!" He shouted over the mob of monsters. "Why don't you come down here and defend your claim?"
The taunt caused an amused smirk to lift the corner of Zev's mouth, yet he remained. "Maybe you can't see it from down there, Grimmjow, but from up here I see that your army is getting smaller." He chuckled.
Grimmjow growled before glancing around. It was true. His army of Hollows was getting smaller. Compared to Zev's mindless horde of Vasto Lordes, his minions weren't much better. He was running out of time.
"All it takes is one of us to rip your heart out." He sneered in response, causing those left around him to rally.
"I will admit, Grimmjow, I did underestimate your desire to kill me. I never would have imagined you'd collect a horde of reject Hollows to try and take me down. It suits you though, the company that you keep. All of you are nothing but a bunch of failed rejects." Zev laughed maniacally. "The only thing missing from this group is that reject Shinigami you fawn over." His gaze shifted to the palace where he knew Haruka was currently. "I will go visit her soon. I can't afford her to meddle with my work. I have been sure to put in the proper precautions with that though."
Grimmjow's stomach twisted with instant apprehension. "You underestimate her." He growled.
"Do I? Why, then, do you suddenly look so worried?"
"Why don't you come down here and backup all your big talk?"
"I'd rather not waste my time with Aizen's failed experiments." His back turned to him, ready to retreat deeper into the castle. "My minions will deal with you."
"Grind, Pantera!" Grimmjow's reiatsu exploded, throwing back the Vasto Lordes nearest to him. He roared as he charged through the mass of bodies like a bright cero.
"This is so trivial." Zev sputtered as he halted, turning to meet Grimmjow's outstretched, razor sharp attack. He blocked effortlessly, the impact reverberating off of them and destroying the battlements. Grimmjow smashed a kick to the side of Zev's head that was subsequently blocked with an immovable hand. He followed it up with a series of punches, all of which Zev managed to dodge and block.
"Grimmjow-sama!" The call of his name had him leaping back, creating a bit of distance.
"What?" He snarled at the desperate Hollow.
"We are losing, Grimmjow-sama. We must retreat!" The Hollow sputtered.
"There is no retreating. If we don't win this, we all die." Grimmjow responded, his tone hardened and emotionless. He didn't stay to see the Hollow's response, a desire to destroy Zev fueling his motivations.
The exchange of blows continued. "Come on, Ruka. Get this done for me." He thought. The normal joy from bloodlust was not present here. There was too much at stake now, too much to lose if he failed.
These thoughts were distracting.
A particularly powerful punch made contact with his chest, sending him flying through the air and exploding the sand around him. Instantly, the mass of Vasto Lordes were upon him. "I have no time for you." Zev said from above him. "Finish him off."
"What's the matter? Don't have the balls to finish the job yourself?" Grimmjow taunted as he sliced through Zev's mindless horde.
"I already told you. I don't like to waste my time on Aizen's failed experiments. It's beneath me." He scoffed.
"I will kill you!" Grimmjow snarled as he continued to fight, his eyes searching for any of his brethren, but the vast majority was either dead or fleeing for their lives. "I can't die here." He thought desperately. "I can't leave her to this shit."
He barely noticed the rumblings beneath his feet; or at least not until the sands themselves were shifting. The roar that followed had him smirking. Instantly, a third of Zev's army was swallowed up by the forming Runuganga.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Grimmjow cackled as the giant guardian revealed himself.
Zev scowled, "I see you have broken free from my trap, Runuganga."
"Traitor, I will end you." The giant sand guardian roared before slamming itself upon Zev's massive army, swallowing them up.
"My, my, what an interesting predicament you've gotten yourself into, Grimmjow-san." A familiar sneaky tone mentioned from behind Grimmjow. He turned, instantly annoyed by a wide-brimmed hat and obnoxious clogs.
"Why am I not surprised?" He scoffed. "Ruka said you couldn't make a garganta for another six months." He mentioned as he watched Runuganga consume Zev's minions like water in a dry desert.
"I've been doing a bit of research while you two were away. It went particularly well if I do say so myself." Urahara mentioned proudly while propping his cane up on his shoulder.
"Oi, Kisuke!" Another voice interrupted the two, this one unfamiliar to Grimmjow.
"Yoruichi-san, I believe our target is that one there." Urahara pointed his cane to the grimacing ex-Espada who stood on the remaining battlements.
"Perfect." She smiled wide before disappearing in a flash of shunpo, only to reappear when she was sending a powerful kick into Zev's side.
"Grimmjow-sama, I believe you should go to Akiyama-san's aid. We will clean up this mess." Urahara mentioned before unsheathing his zanpakuto.
Grimmjow's jaw clenched. Part of him wanted to stay, wanted to watch Zev's last pained breath as he ripped the asshole's heart out. But then he felt it again, the frantic pulse of the familiar Bankai deep within the palace walls. He nodded once, the movement forced, before sprinting away in a blast of sonido and towards Haruka.