Chapter 60

Más Conquistadores III – Mala Suerte

Aaron, in a world of hurt, locked eyes with his attacker. He couldn't believe it.

He wouldn't.

The woman standing over him removed the hood draping her features. A bundle of curly, brown hair fell out. Her amber eyes settled on her victim.

"Kana…?"

No. While they might have shared the same face, the woman's malevolent grin clued Aaron in that she was someone else entirely.

"So, you are Aaron Higuchi." She used her sword to lift his head. His wrinkled nose did little to deter her. "Kinda lousy if I do say so myself. I thought you stronger given you faced Sousuke Aizen and lived to tell the tale. No need hold back just because I have a pretty face. Were you the one that damaged my precious Grimmjow?"

The fallen Grimmjow snarled like a rabid dog. "Go fuck yourself! I didn't ask for your help!"

"And yet, here I am. Perhaps I should have left you with both of your arms. ...You're rather useless to me now."

"You son of a…!"

"Who the hell are you?!" cried Aaron. His mysterious attacker crouched down to him. It really was eerie how much she resembled, and even sounded, like his friend.

"I don't really have a name, but if you must call me something...it's Arashi. Arashi Mitarashi."

"...What?"

Arashi made her way toward Grimmjow. "But not that Arashi. Though, I suppose with a cute face like mine, that's obvious. Honestly, it's an interesting story, but you're about to die, so I guess there's no point wasting my breath."

Grimmjow, though wobbly and dripping with blood, managed to stand. He stared Arashi straight on. She could almost feel the hatred he radiated. It put a smile on her face.

"Someone's in a bad mood. Killing this boy should make you feel better. He shouldn't be able to summon that mask again in his state."

"Get the hell away from Higuchi!"

Both Arashi and Grimmjow spotted Ichigo charging at them.

"Ichigo Kurosaki. Aren't you a handsome devil? It's a shame you have to die. You would have made a useful asset," Arashi remarked. She flung her Zanpakutou at him. "Flood everything in sight, Ekitai Ouji."

A wide-eyed Aaron discovered Arashi's name wasn't the only thing the woman shared with Kana's fallen brother. Her sword became water, water that formed into an exact replica. It pounced on Ichigo, driving her sword into his hands. His pain was nothing compared to being unable to move.

"He's mine!" Grimmjow roared. "Don't you dare lay a finger on him!"

Arashi sighed. "Have it your way. I think I would like to chat with our other friend."

Grimmjow hated having his meal served on a silver platter. Only Arashi's stern gaze convinced him to act.

"Guess you can't call the mask of yours either." He loaded up a Cero right in Ichigo's face. "Don't worry. A Cero from this distance will blow that shitty head of yours clean off!"

"Stop it!" Aaron pleaded. Right as he rose, Arashi landed a bone-shattering kick to his midsection. "D-Dammit!"

"It's best not to get in between Grimmjow and his prey. He's irritable enough as it is. As for you…" Arashi had a casual seat next to the violently coughing Aaron. "I never imagined your Hollowfication would come so far. Pretty cool. Tell me—who exactly taught you to use it? I have a pretty good hunch, but how about we make it a game of twenty question?"

"Kiss my ass!"

"I'll have to decline." Arashi wrapped her fingers around his throat and lifted him up. "Whatever. I'm sure Szayelaporro will relish cutting you open and seeing how you tick. Maybe I'll even watch."

Her tightening grip made it clear she strove to break his neck. Though trying his hardest, Aaron really couldn't call his mask again. The effort only tired him even more.

God dammit! I didn't do all that training just to die here!

Death's cold embrace came sooner than he imagined.

"...What?"

No, the air around him was what grew frigid, so much so that he could see his breath. Ice suddenly froze the hand strangling the life out of him. Arashi stared at it curiously.

"Second Dance…"

She turned her head and spotted another problem.

"White Ripple."

Rukia sent an avalanche of cold air at an unsuspecting Arashi and Grimmjow, encasing them, and most of the street, in a thick layer of ice.

"Jesus…" Aaron muttered as he took stock of the frigid air lingering about.

"That's some power," said Ichigo. He let out a cry of pain when Rukia began wrenching the sword restricting him.

"Don't speak. This is hard enough as it is. I had a feeling you were up to something foolish, Ichigo, but you managed to rope Higuchi in as well. Besides, that was some crazy power you two were using yourselves."

"...Shut up."

"…"

Rukia could tell Ichigo's pride was a bit shattered being rescued. Aaron, on the other hand, had half a mind to kiss Rukiaj for her timely arrival.

"I see this one's an Arrancar, but…" Rukia studied Arashi's rigid form carefully. "...This isn't Mitarashi, right?"

"No. Or...maybe? Probably not? Um...I'm still trying to figure that one out actually," admitted Aaron.

"Wait, do you suppose this is the person that…?"

Having her head grabbed interrupted Rukia.

"Don't underestimate me, Shinigami!"

Even worse was Grimmjow shattering the ice around him.

"How did you…?!"

"You think freezing me when I have Hierro is enough, idiot?!"

Rukia couldn't break free. Her eyes shrank at Grimmjow seconds away from unleashing a Cero.

"Let her go, bastard!" Aaron hollered. The blood pouring out of his chest wound, alongside the crippling plain, prevented him from doing anything more than crawling.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Ichigo tugged at his arm, still fixed to the ground by Arashi's sword. "STOP IT!"

#

Kana's Cero hurdled toward Ulquiorra, flooding the Dangai with its light. Its massive size aside, Ulquiorra didn't flinch. He lifted a hand and began to fend it off.

"Your spiritual pressure is indeed quite like a Hollow's. However…"

With the flick of his wrist, he sent the blast over his head. Kana stood in shock.

I put everything I had into that, and he only needed one hand…?!

His other rested in his pocket, a good indication he wasn't taking things seriously.

"Are you done then?" Ulquiorra inquired. He didn't wait for a response. A Bala hit Kana's right shoulder before another clipped her left leg. She fell to one knee, unable to stop a third Bala from hitting her square in the chest.

"Ow…" she mumbled, wracked by white hot anguish. The damage aside, she at least took solace in her limbs being intact.

"Mitarashi!" cried Orihime.

"Stay back!" Kana rose. As she did, her breathing became unsteady. "Not to sound symbolic or anything, but this mask is heavier than I thought…"

It did have one boon—her pain melted away as its power spread through her.

"You're an Espada, right? That means you got a number."

Wordlessly, Ulquiorra moved his shirt aside to reveal the number four. Kana let out a squeaky laugh.

"Well, I guess that's better than one..."

Regardless of the number, she had a job to do. She put her Zanpakutou away. She had no use for it for what she had in mind.

"You'd better put up one of those barriers, Orihime. It's about to get hot."

The person in question might not have had a clue what that meant, but she complied.

"Hey, pasty! Did you know I graduated the Shinigami Academy with top marks in Kidou? Let me show you why!"

Her energy skyrocketed. Its pressure shoved Ulquiorra back.

"Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness…"

"Kidou…" Ulquiorra muttered.

"Shooting hands unable to reflect the blue sky. The road that basks in light, the wind that ignited the embers, time that gathers when both are together, there is no need to be hesitant, obey my orders. Light bullets, eight bodies, nine items, book of heaven, diseased treasure, great wheel, grey fortress tower. Aim far away, scatter brightly and cleanly when fired! Way of Destruction Number Ninety-One—Thousand-Hand Bright Heaven Cannon!"

Ten points of energy spawned around her. With the point of her finger, they converged on Ulquiorra. They moved too swiftly for him to even consider dodging. The explosion that followed rocked the Dangai. It also led fearful Orihime to question if her shield would hold.

"Was Mitarashi...always this powerful?"

Kana's mask shattered, and her remaining strength went with it. She hardly cared. Even while gasping for air, she smirked at her opponent no doubt being reduced to ashes.

"I...might need another round of healing, Orihime."

"N-No problem. I'll…"

Orihime gasped when Kana fell flat on her face.

"Yep, really shouldn't use that Hollow mumbo-jumbo without practice," she moaned.

"Is that all? I would say I'm disappointed, but I didn't expect anything from you in the first place."

Kana's blood ran cold at the sound of Ulquiorra's voice. The Arrancar emerged from the settling smoke. More concerning was him not having a scratch on him.

"Bullshit!" Kana snarled. "That was a level ninety spell! What the hell are you?!"

Ulquiorra pointed a pair of fingers at her. Green energy formed at the tips.

"I really do dislike rushing things, but you've wasted enough of my time, and I still have a mission to accomplish."

"S-Shit…"

Kana dragged her head up but could do nothing more. Her last attack had been an all or nothing gambit, one she had lost.

"Y-You better run, Orihime, or…"

But Orihime had no plans on leaving. She darted in front of Kana.

"Stop it! I'll come with you! Just leave her alone!" she voiced

"Move, woman," said Ulquiorra coldly.

"I won't! You'll just have to kill us both!"

Kana muttered, "I mean, I'd prefer not dying, but…"

"I won't ask again," said Ulquiorra. "Move."

Orihime didn't. Ulquiorra called her bluff. His Cero rocketing toward her only froze her up for an instant.

"Santen Kesshun!"

The two forces met head on, and sparks flew. Orihime dug her feet into the ground. She couldn't lose.

She wouldn't.

"You're insane!" Kana shouted. "Stop it already! You'll die!"

The idea of anyone smiling under such duress seemed impossible to her. Nevertheless, Orihime did just that.

"I...had fun training with you and Kuchiki. Thank you both. I don't think I ever really had a chance against the Arrancar, but I felt like I did when you two were at my side. ...Please, give Kuchiki my regards and...tell her I'm sorry."

"I-Inoue…?" Something finally clicked with Kana, leading her to gasp. "No!This fight doesn't have anything to do with you! You're just a human! You don't have to…!"

Orihime's shield started to crack. She grit her teeth and poured more of her power into it.

"That might be true. Even now, I'm scared out of my mind. Even so...can you do me another favor? Tell Kurosaki that I...I…"

"ORIHIME!"

Orihime's barrier gave way, and the Dangai swelled with light.

#

Rukia stared death on via Grimmjow's steadily growing Cero. Wrenching on his arm didn't help one bit.

"If you're going to kill her, Grimmjow, get it over with," Arashi barked. Turning a bit pale, she added, "And no blood, okay? I hate that stuff..."

"Shut the hell up! Don't tell me how to fight!"

"Meanie." Arashi stuck out her tongue. "Once our plans come to fruition, you can kill as many Shinigami as you please. For now, get rid of that one. You're wasting my precious time."

"Fuck you! Like I give a damn about your 'precious…!'"

Grimmjow wasn't so talkative when an energy blast came close to blowing his head off. Instead, it grazed his arm, inadvertently freeing Rukia. Arashi watched the blast turn a building into a blazing inferno before she caught wind of a pair standing on a nearby rooftop.

"Dammit. This ain't even got nothin' to do with me."

Shinji Hirako, with a sullen look, tapped his sword on his shoulder.

"Guess I just can't turn down one of your shitty requests," he whined.

"Shut it, baldy! I didn't ask for your stinkin' help!"

"Yeah, yeah…"

Aaron wasn't sure whether to be glad or horrified at Hiyori Sarugaki being there too. He leaned more toward the former when she Flash Stepped above Grimmjow and brought her Zanpakutou down. He blocked with his forearm, positively fuming.

"And who the hell are you two supposed to be?!" He got another surprise upon laying eyes on Hiyori's mask. "You one of their friends?!"

"Let's just say I got an issue with you trying to kill my property!"

Hiyori got up close and personal before giving the Arrancar a taste of a Cero.

"There she goes charging in without a plan," noted Shinji. He cleaned out his ear, adding, "Maybe I'll head back home then..."

"Shinji Hirako, correct?"

Shinji raised an eyebrow at a beaming Arashi. "...Have we met? That face of yours is familiar."

"Nope! I have been searching for you and your ilk for quite a while, however. So, you Visored are still alive."

Genuine irritation replaced Shinji's look of boredom.

"And you know more than I'd like. You one of Aizen's goons?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. You and your associates are the only things I care about at the moment."

"Too bad I don't want whatever the hell it is you're selling."

Arashi's good mood didn't falter even when Shinji tried hacking her to pieces. No matter where he swung, she dodged with the grace of flowing water.

"No need to hold back," she informed him. "I might look delicate, but I assure you I'm no weakling."

"...I really wish you had a different face. I might enjoy killing you more."

While the Visored dealt with her enemies, Rukia used the opportunity to check on Ichigo and Aaron.

"I'm fine," said Ichigo preemptively. Rukia finally removed the sword out of his hands.

"Uh...I'm alright," mumbled Aaron in spite of still being unable to move. "What the hell is going on?"

"Why did that pain in the ass have to rescue us?"

"I heard that, baldy!"

Hiyori and Grimmjow soared out the of the scarlet smoke.

"Who the hell are you people?!" asked Grimmjow.

"What's the point in telling a dead man?"

"Heh! I guess you're right. Who you are has nothing to do with me killing you!"

"Yeah, chopping you to bits is gonna be fun!"

The two were clearly having the time of their lives as they exchanged steel.

"They're...kinda the same in a messed up kind of way," said Aaron, shaking his head.

Shinji kept a close eye on Hiyori, assured she would do something stupid. That proved difficult while being surrounded by a group of water clones.

"I won't kill you," Arashi assured him. "You're more valuable to me alive. I may have to cut off a few of your limbs though. Can't having you running, after all."

Slipping his mask on, Shinji replied, "Too bad you ain't worth squat to me."

He spun like a top and cut the doppelgangers down to size. In the next instance, he moved on Arashi. The swiftness of his attack, one she barely managed to parry, threw her for a loop. Her sword liquefied, becoming a snarling shark. Shinji moved his head to the right and avoided having his throat torn out. His fingers wrapped around her face before he tossed her into the nearest structure. It came crashing down, leading the onlookers to hope and pray no one had been inside.

"We are messing this poor city up," Aaron lamented. "I…"

Something came over him out of nowhere, something that made his eyes widen like saucers. He faced Ichigo, who had the same look of bewilderment.

"What's wrong?" asked Rukia.

"Where's Inoue?" Ichigo spat out of the blue.

Rukia blinked. "She...should be making her way here through the Dangai. Mitarashi is with her."

Her explanation did nothing to ease Ichigo's nerves.

"Is this the vaunted strength of someone who's Hollowfied?"

Other than a gash on her head, Arashi was no worse for the wear. She licked the trailing blood, whereas he amber eyes swam with wonder.

"You are one freaky chick."

"Thank you. Andyouare strong, Shinji Hirako. That's not surprise from the former Captain of the…"

Ulquiorra appeared by her side. Even without him opening his mouth, she could tell he wasn't there to bring her good news.

"We've failed then?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Oh, phooey. I guess it's time to head back. I've had enough fun for one day."

Grimmjow struggled to fend Hiyori off. Her blows got more ferocious with each swing. A particularly stiff kick to the head might not have snapped his neck, but it roused his blood to a boil.

"Bitch!"

"Tell me something I haven't heard before."

"Don't screw with me!"

"Sorry to say, but those baldies over there are mine. You fuck with them, you fuck with me!"

She blasted him away with another Cero to drive her point home.

Rukia, puzzled, leered at the baldies in question for an explanation.

"You fake ass Hollow!" Grimmjow, climbing out of some rubble, took firm hold of the hilt of his Zanpakutou. "GRIND, PAN…!"

The sudden swell in his spiritual pressure gave Hiyori a momentary jolt. Ulquiorra put a stop to whatever he had in mind, however, grabbing his arm.

"We're leaving."

"What the hell do you think you're doing, bastard?!"

"The mission is a failure. It's time to return to Las Noches and regroup."

"The hell? You fucked up?!"

Aaron might not have had a clue what they were talking about, but he didn't like the sound of it.

Who the hell is that guy? His energy feels even worse than Grimmjow's…

He and the others braced themselves when a pillar of light fell over, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and Arashi.

"Negación!" noted Ichigo. As much as it pained him to admit, he knew without question that his enemies were now beyond his reach.

#

"Dammit, don't mess with me, you geta-wearing…!"

The same light encompassed Yammy. Rather than brimming with rage, he raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Does that mean the mission's over or what?"

"Dammit!"

Urahara whirled around. He was too late. Negación swallowed Wonderweiss and Luppi too.

"How unfortunate," Luppi said with some haughty, albeit exhausted, chuckles. "Looks like you all don't get to kill me after all."

Sasune had no thoughts of letting him go. Though he aimed his bow, Rangiku shot her hand in front of him.

"That's Negación. There's no getting through that."

"You've gotta be kidding me!"

Luppi got the last laugh out of the Quincy's frustration. "Don't fret. We'll meet again. And when we do...I'll crush your shitty heads like grapes!"

His laughter seemed to reverberate long after he and his allies disappeared.

#

Ulquiorra surveyed the irate faces staring back at him. He took particular interest in Ichigo and Aaron.

"Strong indeed...but is that truly the extent of your abilities? It would seem you've acquired new powers for nothing. You had your chances, but it's over now. The sun has set, and it is in our hands."

"What the hell is he looking at?" muttered Ichigo bitterly.

"He's going to be a problem," said Aaron with a sigh. "A big one..."

"Shinji Hirako!" a gleeful Arashi shouted with a wave. "If you change your mind about my offer, I implore you and your comrades to join me in Hueco Mundo."

"Crazy chick," Shinji echoed. "She makes you look sane, Hiyori."

His observation got him a sandal to the back of his head.

"It's your fault they're getting away, baldy! You should've killed that bitch while you had the chance!"

Though he loathed to agree with her, Shinji watched the Garganta in the sky close, having a hunch he really would regret being so lenient with Arashi.

"Hey, thanks for saving us. We really…"

Aaron also felt Hiyori's wrath, specifically across his mouth. She whacked him over and over with her sandal. Rukia tried to intervene, but Ichigo gave a quiet—and frantic—warning to stay out of it.

"What did we tell your stupid asses?! You just had to run off and play the hero! Maybe try that shit after you dipshits have grown out of diapers!"

She continued to tear into her victims with far more force than any Arrancar.

"My first two loves aren't here," remarked Shinji with a pathetic sigh. "Just my luck…"

#

Kana couldn't say when she came to. Coughing up smoke, she couldn't even tell if she was alive. Every part of her ached. A quick pat down confirmed she still breathed. She didn't have any broken bones or missing limbs either.

"Wha…? W-Where am I?"

The Dangai. Everything that happened came to her in a flash. Ulquiorra was nowhere to be found. Kana could no longer sense him. She could hardly take pleasure in the fact.

"Orihime?!"

It didn't take her long to find her friend. She moved toward her slowly, wondering why Orihime chose now of all times to sleep.

"C-Come on. Get up. We...we have to get out of here."

No amount of shaking got a response out of Orihime. The color from her skin had gone. She was cold to the touch. Kana ignored this, paying more mind to the peaceful smile on her friend's face. It really did appear she was doing nothing more than resting.

"Quit messing around!" Kana tried a frantic use of Kidou to heal Orihime. "Y-You'll be alright! Just...just hang on!"

"She's dead, ma'am. There's nothing you can do."

A hand rested on Kana's shoulder. One of the Shinigami Orihime saved gave Kana a sullen look.

"Shut up!" Kana slapped his hand away. She poured more of her energy into her healing spell. Even still, Orihime didn't stir. "Come on! You're stronger than this!"

"M-Ma'am, you can't…"

"Shut up! There's no one my Kidou doesn't work on!" Kana's hands shook violently, and she lost a grip on her breathing. "Be a good girl now! Come on…!"

"Stop her! She'll expend all of her energy at this rate!"

What happened next came as a total blur to Kana. She couldn't say when a group of Shinigami dragged her away from Orihime or when Captain Ukitake arrived on the scene. He barked out orders to his men before saying something to her. A near catatonic Kana felt he might as well have been speaking a different language.

"What in the world happened here…?" Ukitake muttered.

"D-Do something, Captain Ukitake!" Kana snapped back to reality, thrashing about so badly that Ukitake's men had to restrain her as a group. "DO SOMETHING! SAVE HER!"

"Mitarashi, I can't…"

"DO SOMETHI-IIIIIIIIIIIIIII-ING!"

Ukitake could do nothing more than lower his head in shame as Kana let out a cry of pure agony.

END