Chapter 65
Seven Hearts Beat as One
How Izumi hated her new attire. She couldn't stop fiddling with it, feeling as if she had been forced into another's skin. Just staring at her reflection in a mirror got her blood boiling.
She resembled the people holding her captive far too much.
Another visitor arrived to darken her day. She whirled around to find not Grimmjow but Ulquiorra Cifer. The two stared one another down for a long while, sweat pouring down Izumi's pale face.
"Impressive," the Cuatro Espada eventually remarked. "I see Grimmjow was right about it being pointless masking one's energy around you."
Izumi couldn't speak. Grimmjow might have scared her half to death, and Arashi might have given her the creeps, but Ulquiorra was different. Her teeth chattered, and she grew ice-cold. She backed away as Ulquiorra drew closer.
"Good. I see you've gotten changed. With this, you are now truly one of us."
Izumi snarled. The claim made her sick to her stomach.
"Come with me."
Ulquiorra left without waiting for a reply. Biting her bottom lip, Izumi obliged him.
It wasn't like she had any other choice.
The two moved down a corridor, the silence being almost suffocating. Attendants bowed as Ulquiorra passed. He paid their presence no mind. Izumi, on the other hand, couldn't help but leer around.
They're all Arrancar…
Some of them resembled young women. If it weren't for the bits of mask on their faces or heads, she would have been hard pressed to tell they weren't human. It might have been her imagination, but she could have sworn a number of them were just as terrified as she was.
"Um...where are we going?"
Ulquiorra gave her no explanation. She frowned. Whereas Grimmjow talked too much, Ulquiorra was like a closed book.
"I nearly forgot…"
Him speaking up out of the blue jump-started her heart.
"Your friends have arrived here at Las Noches," he explained.
"...I'm aware."
"I suppose you would be. Of course, their presence should mean nothing more to you."
"…"
"I'm talking to you, woman. For what purpose does your mind and body exist for now?"
She would never do it. Izumi refused to submit to Ulquiorra's will. She had a change of heart, however, when he gave her a taste of his overwhelming spiritual pressure. It dragged her to her knees. Choking, she grabbed her throat.
"I will not repeat myself. Say it." said Ulquiorra coldly.
"I-I...exist to further Arashi Mitarashi's will."
Ulquiorra's energy faded, and Izumi could finally catch her breath.
"Good," he stated before moving ahead. "Don't keep your new master waiting."
That was easier said than done. Izumi couldn't move. A pair of attendant shot over to her, helping her up. Her eyes burned with fury as she stared at Ulquiorra's retreating back.
If you really are coming, Aaron, I'm gonna need you to put this creep outta his misery.
#
Aaron blinked. He wasn't sure why, but he felt a strong, sudden urge to break someone's neck.
"Something wrong?" asked Sasune.
"...No. Just a feeling, I guess."
Aaron and his friends pressed forward, a trying prospect since they could hardly see two feet in front of them. They pressed their hands against the walls of Las Noches to guide themselves down a mysterious hallway.
"Don't piss your pants just because it's dark, Hiyori," Lisa advised.
"Just because I can't see you doesn't mean I can't slit your throat!"
"Aw, that's cute," said Sasune. "You still wet the bed, huh? OW!"
He didn't know where Hiyori's elbow came from, but it nailed him right in the groin. She nearly stomped a hole into him as he writhed on the ground.
"How about I piss all over you since you're so interested, baldly?!"
"Kinky," said Lisa.
"And I've had just about enough of you, you son of a…!"
"Look, while I like Pretty Boy gettin' his ass kicked as much as anyone," said Konoka, "I'm gonna freakin' puke if we don't change the subject."
"Agreed. Anybody got a light?" asked Aaron, who grew tired of stepping on his and everyone else's toes.
Renji grinned. "Say no more. Way of Destruction Number Thirty-One—Red Flame Cannon!"
Everyone braced themselves from a burst of energy. Rather than a huge fireball to illuminate the path, Renji spawned a rather pathetic one that barely lit his befuddled face. Those around him had to shoot their hands over their mouths to muffle their giggles.
"Man, tell me you aren't as inept in the bedroom," said Sasune.
"Shut it, you…!"
Renji lost his train of thought at Sasune's much larger Red Flame Cannon.
"Did you perhaps mean this?" the Quincy said with a coy smile.
"How in the hell can someone like you use Kidou?"
Snickering, Sasune replied, "Anything a crummy Shinigami can do, a Quincy can do much,muchbetter."
Crimson light reflected off of his glasses. He turned to Aaron, who crafted the biggest fireball of all.
"Whoa." Sasune's jaw widened. "I guess they don't call you Chocolate Thunder for nothing."
"Very funny," said Aaron. He couldn't hide a slight smirk. Said grin faded when the entire corridor filled with light from Rukia's absolutely gargantuan fireball. "Damn…"
"You all are children," she commented. They couldn't take her criticism seriously while she basked in her triumph.
"Well, I know when I'm beat." Aaron shrugged. "At least we can see now."
Thanks to Rukia, the group had no trouble making their way into a circular room. She extinguished her spell, having no need for it thanks to the many torches on the walls. The area was in shambles. It alerted Aaron that they had perhaps only just missed an intense battle.
"Man, it's even worse here than that other place," he noted.
Sasune, spotting blood on both the ground and the walls, replied, "Whatever happened here, I say we're lucky we missed it."
"Ichigo…" muttered Rukia somberly.
Renji couldn't help but grimace. "I knew that guy was strong, but…"
"Are we chickenin' out after comin' this far?" wondered Konoka. "If anythin' we should be thankin' Kurosaki for makin' it so easy to track him down. Looks like he took out the trash too."
"I don't know about that," said Aaron. "There's still a lot of energies up ahead, and I'm not all that interested in bumping into them."
The group turned their attention to the five paths in front of them.
"Looks like we'll have to split up," said Lisa.
"How cliché," Sasune voiced. "I'd like a word with the architect of this place on why this would ever be useful."
"It is what it is. Let's do this," said Renji, stepping up to the plate.
"Hold on," Aaron interjected. "We're in the middle of the enemy's base. Is it really such a good idea to go off on our own?"
"Who told you to speak up, mutt? Unless you want us to be here until we're old and gray, we don't have much of a choice," Hiyori spat.
"Maybe, but…"
"There are seven of us and five doors. That means at least two people will have someone watching their back," said Lisa.
"I appreciate the concern, but you're honestly insulting everyone here if you think they can't handle themselves. We're warriors, aren't we?" said Renji. His defiant statement left Aaron lost for words.
Rukia added, "All of us trained for this moment. We are the very last people in need of protecting."
"I didn't mean to start a debate," a sighing Aaron replied. "Alright, I get it. We'll...split up."
He couldn't help but wonder if Ichigo would protest if he was there.
"Don't worry," Lisa told him. "Hiyori wouldn't let you go alone."
"Yeah, I wouldn't…!" Blushing up a storm, Hiyori tried punching Lisa, though the latter dodged. "W-We all know this mutt wouldn't last ten seconds without help, so…!"
"Is that right?" Konoka scowled Aaron's way, making him break out in a cold sweat. "Can't even wipe your ass without her, huh?"
Aaron wasn't sure what he had done to get ganged up on out of the blue.
"Whatever." Konoka, folding her arms, moved toward the center doorway. "I think I can sense Sado up ahead, so I'm goin' this way."
"And it feels like Uryuu is down this way," said Sasune. "No doubt he's making a total mess of things."
"That's no doubt the same for Ichigo," noted Rukia.
"Right. Kurosaki's waiting for us, so if we're doing this, let's go," said Aaron.
"Hold on," Renji informed everyone. "Gather around."
Though confused, the others did so.
"Let's do a chant before we get going."
"Stupid," Hiyori snapped at once.
"Just watch then if you think it's stupid! Who even are you anyway?"
"Renji…" Rukia said in a warning tone.
"Fine, fine. Listen, this chant is a bit of an old tradition the Gotei Thirteen used to do before going out of style. People used to do it before big battles. I think this sort of situation calls for it. Everyone hold their hand out."
Sasune eagerly did so, while Rukia wasn't far behind. Lisa silently placed her hand on top of theirs, then Konoka.
Hiyori smacked her lips. "Stupid…"
However, once she noticed Aaron joining his hand with the pile, she begrudgingly did the same.
"We, at this moment," Renji shouted at the top of his voice, "head into the decisive battle! Have faith that our blades can withstand the coming onslaught! Have faith that our hearts will not falter! Even if our paths should differ, we all share the same bleeding heart of iron! Swear that even if the ground beneath us is torn asunder, we will live and meet again!"
Seconds passed.
Sasune broke the silence with, "Yeah, that was kinda stupid."
Renji resisted the urge to kill him on the spot and instead dashed through his chosen doorway. Aaron, sprinting away himself, felt the speech was exactly what he needed to clear his lingering doubts.
"Well, that was good for one thing," said Konoka. "It probably let everyone know we're here. ...If blowin' a hole in the wall didn't do the trick."
"Tata, Miss Mitsumi. May we meet again under the star of destiny," a winking Sasune remarked.
"I'm gonna puke if you don't stop. ...Don't die, Pretty Boy."
"And make leave you forever? My dear, I wouldn't dream of it."
"...On second thought, I hope they rip out your organs."
Their leaving prompted Lisa to say, "Better hurry up, Hiyori."
"What are you on about now?"
"Your prized mutt is getting away."
"So? That baldy can get himself killed for all I care. H-Hey, hold on! I'm talking to you!"
Even so, Lisa kept on walking away. "I'll leave him to you. I think I'll go this way."
"I told you to hold it dammit!"
Hiyori, left high and dry, chewed her bottom lip. Though faltering, she did indeed sprint after Aaron.
"Stupid dog! Who told him to go anywhere without my permission?"
Nel, Pesche, and Dondochakka suddenly discovered themselves alone.
"That's a little cold. Know what I'm sayin'?" Dondochakka stated.
"Well, I suppose we aren't seeing them again thanks to their upcoming, and gruesome, deaths," said Pesche. He tapped his chin. "What do we do now?"
"Yeah, even if we go back, we're still in hot water…"
Nel gulped as she caught a final glimpse of Aaron before he vanished into darkness.
"Is something wrong, Nel? Need to go potty?" asked Pesche. He and Dondochakka gasped when she ran off.
"Nel is goin' after Aawon too!" she cried.
"You're going to do what?!"
"Nel is worried 'bout him! I is gonna watch his back too!"
"Wait, Nel!"
But she charged full steam ahead. Pesche and Dondochakka leered at one another in horror. However, that feeling soon changed to excitement.
"Alright then! We're gonna…!"
"Come along too! Know what I mean?"
They didn't get very far. Surrounding by pathways, they didn't have the foggiest idea of which one Nel took.
#
Izumi arrived in a spacious room, keeping close behind Ulquiorra.
"What's going on?"
Like usual, Ulquiorra didn't explain. A light shined on Izumi and forced her to shield her face. She looked up, spotting Arashi waving like they were old friends.
"Hiya! Oh, you look good in that outfit! I hope your accommodations are suiting you nicely."
"What a freak…" Izumi muttered. Arashi wasn't alone. The Espada flanked each side of her. Ulquiorra went to join him, but Izumi cried, "H-Hold on a sec! What the hell is this?! Why am I here?!"
He set his sights on her, his scowl alone enough to shut her up. With that, he vanished.
"Don't mind him," said Arashi. "He's a bit moody. Or...maybe he's not moody at all? Hmm. You know, I can never get a read on that guy."
"Yeah, that's nice and all, but it someone gonna tell me what the hell is going on?"
"Oops! Sorry. I thought Ulquiorra filled you in. Time is of the essence, I'm afraid. As you know, your pals are here, probably to rescue you. Everyone present thinks you being here isn't worth the trouble, so I would like for you to show them your power. A firsthand demonstration, if you will."
"A...demonstration?"
Izumi didn't remotely like the sound of that. She wasn't too fond of the stern glances thrown her way either. Grimmjow in particular stood out to her.
"Oh, Nnoitra!" a cheery Arashi chimed. It was only then Izumi realized an Espada was missing from the ranks. A tall, lanky man emerged from the shadows. He dragged a bizarre weapon behind him, one that instantly rooted Izumi to the spot. He raised an eyebrow at her presence.
"The hell is this?" he remarked, looking Arashi up and down. "You told me this would be interesting. I don't fight garbage."
Izumi shuttered at him lifting his huge Zanpakutou over his shoulder like it weighed nothing. He gave her a crazed smile, further sinking her spirits.
"Aren't you a pretty thing for a pet. Well, Miss Pet, has Ulquiorra disciplined you already? If not, I'm more than willing."
A long tongue jutted out of his lips. Tattooed on it was the number five. Izumi, hyperventilating, huddled against a wall.
God, his energy! How can anyone have such twisted spiritual pressure?!
She felt sick to her stomach, even more so than when Ulquiorra punished her earlier.
"Hey, you," Nnoitra bellowed. "They say you can sense energy pretty good. Why not make yourself useful and find me some strong guys to fight? Some of the idiots trying to save you will do."
"Nnoitra." Arashi's tone was stern. "I gave you a specific task. Do not waste the little faith I've placed in you."
"The hell you say, you…!"
Something about the fury in Arashi's tone made even someone as prideful as Nnoitra Gilga stop talking. Smacking his lips, he settled his wrath on Izumi.
"...Don't die on me too fast, woman."
At last, Izumi understood why she was there.
Unfortunately, it was far too late to run.
"Do not damage the goods, Nnoitra," said Arashi. "She's no good to us dead. Dammit, why didn't I get someone more competent to take care of this?"
"No one else could be bothered," a humored Gin Ichimaru remarked. "Besides, we both know the type of person Nnoitra is. His complaining aside, he jumped at the chance to prove his strength."
Arashi, pouting, replied, "Well, he's still a big, fat jerk…"
"Know that there will be severe consequences if you do kill her," Kaname Tousen announced.
Irritated, Nnoitra spat, "I ain't interested in listening to that bitch's lapdog."
He disappeared on the spot. By the time Izumi even realized it, Nnoitra stood right in front of her. His long fingers ran their way down her pale face. His pleasure turned to confusion when Izumi, like him, vanished with an audible static sound. Izumi, now half way across the room, gasped for air.
Nnoitra muttered, "Sonído…?"
"Interesting," said Zomari Rureaux.
A grinning Szayelapporro Granz said, "Now I'm interested. Just who is this girl?"
"How the hell did you do that?" asked Nnoitra.
"S-Stay back!" Izumi cried.
"I asked you a question, bitch! How does a human like you know Sonído?!"
"Is this really necessary?" said Tier Harribel, facing Arashi. "If you only yearned to scare that girl half to death, you've succeded."
Arashi, sipping on some tea, didn't answer.
"This is fucking stupid…"
Grimmjow walked away from the scene, only for Luppi Antenor to bar his path.
"Something wrong?" Luppi asked with a toothy grin. "You of all people, Grimmjow, can't stomach this? My, the former Sexta Espada has fallen so far."
"Watch your mouth, scum. You ain't gonna be breathing much longer talking so much shit."
Grimmjow shoved his way past Luppi, the latter annoyed at his opponent putting up so little a fight.
"You better do it again, woman, if you don't want to die!"
Nnoitra stuck out his tongue. A yellow Cero formed at the tip, growing by the second. Izumi's pupils shrank as it headed for her. Without thinking, she held out her hands and fired a Cero of her own. The two blasts destroyed one another.
"Cero too, eh? What a curious human," said Baraggan Louisenbairn. He couldn't have asked for better entertainment.
A livid Nnoitra appeared from the settling smoke. Izumi, having lost the strength in her legs, sat a nervous wreck. The idea of a mere human matching his Cero was too much for Nnoitra to stand. He would see if luck fancied Izumi twice as he prepared another. In a panic, Izumi pointed at him. Six thin rods of light slammed into him and stopped him in his tracks.
Gin whistled. "Even Kidou. That's a lil' scary...though I guess not as much as Nnoitra's face."
The person in question shouted with vigor. The Kidou binding him shattered.
"You stupid bitch!" he roared. The ground quaked at the might of his spiritual pressure. "You think you can make me look like a weakling and get away with it?!"
Izumi fired Cero after Cero at him. They bounced off ofdw him harmlessly. Nnoitra stood over her, lifting his weapon to bring the farce to an end.
However, he froze. The three swords at his throat convinced him to do so.
"We've seen enough," said Tousen.
"My, my. You ain't never gettin' a girlfriend like this, Nnoitra," Gin noted.
"If you value that number of yours, I would recommend you stand down," said Arashi, a bevy of anger in her threat. Seething, Nnoitra heeded her words. Even so, he made sure to let Izumi have the most hateful glare he could muster.
"I'll remember this!"
Izumi could have sang praises at him stomping away.
Aaroniero Arruruerie stood. "I see now why this girl is so important. Using other people's abilities...that's strength I can acknowledge."
Harribel stood to leave as well. She shook her head, muttering, "Foolish…"
As the room emptied, Arashi crouched down to Izumi, giving her a sweet smile.
"That was pretty scary, huh?" she said, extending a helpful hand. "Sorry about that. I didn't think Nnoitra would go that far. Hmm? Are you listening?"
Izumi, still a little out of it, nodded lethargically.
#
Kana's behind hurt. She couldn't say how long she sat on the cold, damp floor. Not that she had any plans of budging. With her nose held high, her determination remained as rigid as a statue.
Suzuka sat beside her. He yawned, finding himself both bored and sleepy.
"Go home, kid," Kana spat his way.
"Nah. I still haven't learned Shikai."
"You're gonna learn the meaning of pain if you don't stop all that yawning. And you! Just how long are you gonna eat, old man?!"
Kana pointed a stern finger at Kagami.Unaffected by her shrill voice, he gobbled down another helping of bread.
"When are you going to stop trespassing on my property?" he argued.
Kana clicked her tongue. "You know full well why I'm not leaving! If you want me gone, just give me what I want already!"
"Right, right…"
Kagami, with some lackluster nods, returned to his meal. Now thoroughly ticked off, Kana jumped to her feet, frightening Suzuka. The latter grew even more alarmed when she drew her Zanpakutou. She aimed it at Kagami, who didn't flinch.
"I'm no longer asking! You're teaching me Bankai whether you like it or not!"
"Take it easy," said Suzuka gingerly. He got in front of her, but she shoved him aside.
"Say, how's Aaron doing?" Kagami asked. "Hope he's alright. Rukia too. I always liked her. Nice girl, that one."
One of Kana's eyelids jerked.
"Don't do it, Mitarashi!"
She ignored Suzuka's plea and brought her sword down.
Instead of lopping Kagami's head off, she hit nothing but air. Her head whipped about, and she found him on the other side of the room.
"The bread's staler than usual," he complained. That didn't stop him from taking a huge bite out of it. Neither did the red fireball hurtling toward him. He swatted it away. The blast left a gaping hole in the stone wall behind him, putting a frown on his face. "You're paying me back for that, right, Princess? This place is falling apart enough."
"Get serious!" Kana grit her teeth and prepared her next spell. "Way of Destruction Number Sixty-Three—Thunder Roar Sear!"
Suzuka ducked for cover as the orb of lightning shot over his head.
"Hey, watch it, old guy!"
His warning proved unnecessary. A clear barrier shielded Kagami. Kana stood in disbelief.
He can use a level eighty binding spell without an incantation?!
Now she got why he got on her nerves so much. He reminded her far too much of Kisuke Urahara.
Kagami stood. He wiped the crumbs off his blue kimono before setting his piercing sights on Kana.
"If you keep making a mess of things, I'm going to get upset."
His gaze spread an overwhelming fear across Kana. Nearly dropping her sword, she got a firm grip of it, holding it out in front of her.
"I guess I've finally gotten your attention," she stated, forcing a smile.
"...Something like that."
Suzuka gulped. "Um...I-I don't think fighting each other is the right idea."
An unnerving silence ensued. He could almost feel the hostility in the air.
"...Follow me."
Kagami left the room without an explanation.
"That's more like it."
Kana followed close behind.
"W-Wait for me!"
Suzuka was hot on her tail. He and the others moved from damp corridor to damp corridor.
"Wow. What's with this place? I would've never imagined it being under the Seireitei. I wonder who built it?" said Suzuka. When Kana didn't humor him, he got the hint he should stop talking.
The three entered a large, vacant room. Kana could instantly tell it was some sort of training area. Scratches and signs of Kidou damage littered the walls.
Is this where CT and Rukia trained?
Kagami pulled up a chair. "Alright. Go at it, you two."
"Come again?" replied Kana.
"I'm bored. If you won't leave, at least keep me entertained. I'd like to see what a pair of spry, young Shinigami can show a man who hasn't seen action in well over a hundred years."
"Sorry, but I didn't come here to goof around. You can get your kicks somewhere else."
Kagami pointed squarely at Suzuka. "You said you wanna learn Shikai, right?"
"Hell yeah! Wait, is that why you're telling me to fight Mitarashi?" Suzuka gave Kana a cautious glance over. "H-Heh. I mean, apart of me is raring at the chance to fight someone as strong as you, but I'm probably just gonna get my ass kicked."
"It doesn't matter," Kana barked. "I'm not interested."
Kagami turned his finger on her. "Why is it you want power so much? What are you going to do with it?"
"Excuse me? Isn't it obvious?"
Kagami sighed. She wasn't sure what that meant.
"What about you, kid?" he said.
Suzuka pointed at himself. "Me? Heh! That's easy! I became a Shinigami because I wanted to protect people. One day, I'm gonna do that as a member of the Royal Guard. For that, learning Shikai is the first step. I know the road won't be easy, but I'm not giving up until I'm protecting the Soul King! No one's gonna die under my watch."
Kagami chuckled. "Good answer. Do you get it now, Princess?"
Kana didn't, not one bit. "Just get to the point already."
"If you still don't get it, putting it into words won't make a difference. Maybe facing this kid's blade will open your eyes."
"…"
Though loathed to play into his hands, Kana drew her Zanpakutou. A yelping Suzuka did the same.
"I'm not holding back, kid," she informed him. Her spiritual pressured skyrocketed as if to cement her point. "If there's something you can teach me, you'd best hurry it up before I really lose my temper."
"Y-Yes, ma'am! It's a privilege to fight you!"
"...Whatever."
END
