Chapter 69

Científico Loco

"…I'm lost."

So much so that Lisa Yadoumaru scratched her head. She could have sworn the staircase on her left was one she had traveled up a few times. Then again, the corridor to her right seemed familiar too. Regardless, she hadn't run into anyone or anything in all her walking, something she found strange in light of sensing battle everywhere.

"Looks like I'm missing out on all the fun…"

Enough was enough. She found a nice, comfy spot against a wall and reached into her pocket for a thick magazine. The cover depicted a pair scantily-clad women in swimsuits. Totally engrossed in the literature, she didn't hear approaching footsteps until they got too close for comfort.

"Go away," she muttered, licking her finger to turn to the next page. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"…Please tell me you aren't one of the intruders."

Lisa moved her book down enough to see a tall, brown-haired man standing over her. His apathetic expression clashed with his white uniform, which immediately told Lisa he was aligned with the Arrancar. The development aside, she wasn't all that keen to grab her sword. Given how the man sighed, he too didn't seem interested in a fight.

"What a pain," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his shaggy hair. "Look, let's…let's just pretend we didn't see one another, alright? I was just trying to get back to my room and sleep, but I took a wrong turn, so—"

"You're an Espada then?"

Lisa's sudden question made the man frown even harder. "…Would you want to fight me if I said I was?"

Deliberating the matter, Lisa replied, "Probably…"

Coyote Starrk sighed again. "Sorry, but I'm really not interested. I just wanna sit back and let this whole thing blow over."

"Ah!" Lisa stood out of the blue and then pointed. "I thought I recognized you. You're the creep that took Higuchi's sister. Damn, now we really do have to fight, don't we?"

Silence fell between the two. Neither could exactly call the air 'tense,' though they remained on guard.

"Starrk! What are you doing?! Are you the Primera or not?!"

The screeching voice came from down the hall. Starrk finally looked something other than bored, outright panicking at a tiny figure marching toward him. Lisa watched as a little girl with green hair and golden eyes got to work stomping on Starrk's foot. She wore a large mask with one full horn and another broken, the only indication to Lisa that she was an Arrancar as well.

"Ow…" Starrk uttered unconvincingly. "Knock it off, Lilynette."

Lilynette Gingerbuck did no such thing, pounding his toes with malice. "You were about to go to sleep again, weren't you?! In case you haven't realized, we have intruders here, and that lady is one of them!"

She pointed a stern finger at Lisa, who shrugged.

"No, I was told not to fight them," replied Starrk with a voracious yawn. He woke up in a hurry when Lilynette jumped up and smacked him on the back of the head. "What? You want me to go against orders?"

"You're seriously listening to that faker?! Wasn't it Lord Aizen that we—" Lilynette lost her train of thought due to Lisa staring at her so hard. "What?! What is it?!"

"Don't you think that outfit is a little much for a kid?"

Lilynette's showed off a ton of skin and left little to the imagination.

"Who's a kid?!" the person in question shot back. "Says the lady who waltzes into an enemy base in an outfit like that!"

Lisa pulled on the bow of her uniform. "…You're just jealous you're not old enough to wear it yet."

"I'm not a kid, dammit!" Lilynette, positively seething, looked up at Starrk. "Would you just get your ass in gear already and fight her?!"

"No way." Starrk waved his hand. "Too much trouble. Just let me sleep."

"If I get serious," Lisa began, drawing her Zanpakutou, "will you fight me then? Something about your attitude reminds me of an annoying man I once knew, and I don't like it."

"See?! She's into it! You gotta get pumped up too, Starrk!" cried Lilynette.

Starrk cleaned out his ringing ear. "I'm supposed to be saving my strength for that other thing our fearless leader has cooked up. I can't just fight the first person that—"

His eyes widened. A Cero was moments away from slamming into him. Lisa herself grew stunned when both Starrk and Lilynette seemed to disappear on the spot.

"Whoa there! Was that really a Cero?" Starrk blinked, curiosity adorning his expression. "I've heard about Shinigami that have Hollow powers, but to see it in the flesh…"

Removing her mask, Lisa whirled around to find him and his Fracción a good distance away.

The same speed as before. He really is fast…

Lilynette flopped like a fish as Starrk held her under his arm. "Instead of saving me, you should be taking it to her already! Ugh! You're stronger than this, Starrk! Stop letting her make fun of you!"

Starrk curled his lips at her making so much noise. Sighing yet again, he stared Lisa head on as she charged for him.

"Smash," she uttered, "Haguro Tonbo."

Her Zanpakutou transformed, becoming an incredibly long pole arm with a blade that resembled a Monk's spade. Despite Starrk feeling the weapon should have been too heavy to wield, Lisa spun it over her head with ease and thrust it forward.

"H-Hey now!" he cried, dodging a furious flurry of stabs. "Is this really necessary?"

"You're gonna get me killed too if you don't fight back already!" Lilynette squealed.

"…"

"Starrk!"

Rather than going on the attack, Starrk distanced himself.

"…Maybe another time, miss."

Lisa made no attempt to stop him from vanishing again. She already had a hunch she wouldn't catch up. That left her alone once more, something that grated on her nerves.

"…Reading it is then."

She got sucked back into her magazine and forgot soon forgot about her worries.

"Oh, right…I should probably try to save Higuchi's sister. I wonder how the others are doing…"

Right as she would have gotten back on track, she noted something amiss. The floor below her wasn't there any longer. Rather, she gazed down at a black abyss.

"…Huh. That's one heck of a security system."

With nothing holding her up, she tumbled into the unknown.

#

"I SAID GET OFF!"

With tears staining her face, Izumi tried and failed to shove Nnoitra Gigla away. He cackled at her futile efforts, glad she was making some attempt to ward him off. Her just laying there would have made things too boring for him.

"You're feisty, aren't you, Miss Pet?"

"S-Stop it!"

"Make me, weakling." Nnoitra laughed some more, jutting his long tongue toward Izumi's ear. "Did you have fun making a fool of me back there, huh?!"

His grip on her tightened, and she began to choke.

"Master Nnoitra—"

"Shut it, Tesra! I told you to watch the door! I won't kill her…not yet. I'll have her entertain me for a while. You hear that, woman? We'll have a lot of fun for the—"

"Master Nnoitra!"

Tesra darted in front of a bewildered Nnoitra as a giant Cero illuminated the area. Tesra swatted it aside, where it destroyed a portion of the room. Trembling, Izumi used that chance to break free at long last and scurry into a corner.

"That's my prisoner you're harassing there, Nnoitra. Back off."

Scowling something fierce, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez stood in the doorway. He and Nnoitra locked eyes, and Izumi could immediately pick up on the hatred they radiated.

Wait, he's saving me? …Did hell just freeze over?

"Out of the way, Tesra!" Despite his Fracción coming to his aid, Nnoitra smacked him aside and across the room. "I already told you I don't need protecting!"

"F-Forgive me, Master Nnoitra."

"Shut up already." Paying Tesra no more mind, Nnoitra focused his anger solely on Grimmjow. "Here to save the damsel in distress, are you? …Grown soft in your disgrace haven't you, Grimmjow?"

Grimmjow smirked. "I don't give a damn what happens to her, but I need her alive for the time being. Get lost."

Nnoitra looked taken aback at first. Then, he broke out in mad laughter that reverberated across the room. It ran Izumi's blood cold.

"To think some punk former Espada would speak to me in such a fashion. I've been meaning to kill you for a while anyway, Grimmjow, so this makes it easy."

"'Former?' You're mistaken." It was Grimmjow's turn to have a laugh. "If you're talking about that bastard Luppi, I'm afraid I've killed that eyesore and took back my spot. Maybe I'll take your number next, freak."

Izumi gasped.

So, that's what I felt earlier! What's the deal? Weren't those guys on the same side?!

If Grimmjow was capable of something like that, she feared she wasn't in safer hands with him versus Nnoitra.

"So?" was all Nnoitra had to say to Grimmjow's boasting. "You're all trash to me."

"Master Nnoitra, allow me to—"

Nnoitra brandished his massive Zanpakutou and then aimed it at the charging Tesra, convincing the latter to halt.

"Move again, Tesra, and I'll kill you myself."

"…"

"How many times do I gotta say I don't need protecting? I'll—"

Nnoitra didn't flinch at Grimmjow drawing his own sword and coming in for the kill. His supposed attacker grew alarmed at his sword making contact with Nnoitra's neck but doing no damage. It instead slid right off, creating sparks.

"Dumbass," Nnoitra spat. "You forget I have the strongest Hierro out of any Arrancar. Is that really all your crippled ass can do?"

Izumi ducked for cover as a kick from Nnoitra sent Grimmjow flying over her head and into a wall.

"Don't waste my time," spat Nnoitra, seething. "Fighting weaklings does nothing for my reputation."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

Though a bit shaken up, Grimmjow was no worse for the wear. He remained grinning, looking the part of a hungry panther about to hunt.

"…You might wanna get down, woman," he warned Izumi. She didn't know or care what he meant, following his order in a hurry. "As much as I'd love to wring your neck right now, Nnoitra, I got bigger fish to fry."

He turned his sword on himself, slashing a cut onto his finger. With a steady flow of blood at his disposal, he gathered energy into his outstretched palm, blue energy that violently swirled and crackled like lighting. Izumi really was glad he had given her prior warning since the force of his surging attack tore apart the room.

"Gran Rey Cero!"

Upon firing Grimmjow firing his attack, it warped the space around it as it spun toward its targets like a razor.

"Master Nnoitra!" cried Tesla, who spend in front of the Cero's path.

"Move your ass, Tesra!" Nnoitra shouted. Izumi could hardly believe the genuine concern in his declaration. "That ain't something you can—"

The ensuing explosion came dangerously close to blowing a shrieking Izumi away. The scale of the Cero was tremendous; she had never seen anything like it. By the time things returned to some semblance of normalcy, she grew astounded at their being a gaping hole in what was once her room. Coughing, she fanned some thick smoke away. She could see the white desert outside as clear as day, the fact making a frail chuckle leave her lips. Nothing but smoldering wreckage stood where both Nnoitra and Tesra once were.

T-These guys are monsters!

She doubted even someone as strong as her brother could match Grimmjow's overwhelming strength. He could have easily killed them both just now, and he didn't look to have a shred of regret.

Speaking of the Sexta Espada, he gave her quite the start by wrenching on her arm and dragging her to her feet.

"Now then," he began. His fierce expression scared her nearly as much as Nnoitra had, and she had a sudden urge to flee. He kept a tight grip on her, however, threatening to tear her arm out of the socket. "I just saved you, so now you owe me a favor. Understand?"

"…Y-Yeah."

"Good. Don't say anything. Just listen. You're gonna help me find someone. That's what you're good at, right? Picking up on spiritual pressure? This castle is huge, and I ain't in the mood to look all over the damn place."

"You…you want me to help you find someone?"

"That's what I said, ain't it? I don't care about any of those other parlor tricks you have. Ichigo Kurosaki. You know him, right? Find him for me."

That wasn't a request. Izumi, now helpless as Grimmjow hoisted her into the air, quickly understand that he would kill her the same as Nnoitra would if she refused. With that in mind, she hurriedly nodded her head.

"Good girl."

#

"What the hell was that?"

Aaron nearly lost his footing on account of the entire castle seemingly shaking. Whatever had happened came alongside a sudden but brief burst of energy.

That had to have been another of those Espada. Does that mean one of the others bumped into them?

"Oy, mutt. You felt that too?" asked Hiyori. Aaron nodded. "Sounds like someone's havin' fun without us. We need to get a move on."

"Is ya scared?" wondered Nel Tu inquisitively.

Hiyori growled at the suggestion. "Shut it already, kid, and get the hell outta here unless you're really in that much of a hurry to die."

With a toothy grin, Nel patted Aaron atop the head. "But he's would dies if Nel left!"

"Do you have that little faith in me?" he asked, his tone weary. He thought his standing might have been improved after surviving a fight with an Espada.

"You are beat to hell mutt," Hiyori replied. "We gotta keep you outta trouble for the time being."

"…So, both of you think I'm just some helpless kid, got it."

Annoyed beyond belief, Aaron almost forgot about the strange discussion when he felt yet another swelling of power.

Kuchiki!

He knew the feeling of Rukia releasing her Zanpakutou better than most.

"She must be knocking heads with someone," noted Hiyori.

"We should—"

"No. Didn't we all do that stupid ass speech sayin' we could count on one another?"

"…"

"That girl can handle herself. Don't insult her by suggesting we go and help."

Aaron swallowed his pride and nodded, considering the point fair. Konoka and Sasune had handled themselves thus far, and he had little doubt Rukia would do the same. He slapped his cheeks, reminding himself to focus solely on the task at hand.

You'd better be alright, Izumi.

"You think Yadoumaru is okay?" he wondered.

Hiyori punched him in the side. "Did I not just tell you to worry about what we're doin', mutt? God, you are impossible sometimes."

Aaron, tearing up, nodded. He feared Hiyori would kill him long before their enemies.

Well, Yadoumaru is kinda weird, but…

#

Lisa sneezed. "Oh, is someone talking about me?"

She rubbed her itchy nose and supposed that was the least of her worries. The pitfall she fell down went on long enough that she gathered she must have been deep below Las Noches now. She lifted her head to figure out just how far, but her eyes widened at the hole mysteriously disappearing.

"This place isn't alive…right?" she half joked. "Wait, am I alive?"

Other than her behind stinging from the rough landing, she felt fine. She climbed to her feet with that in mind, wiping off her skirt. A quick look around revealed nothing of note. More corridors and white pillars awaited her, the fact making her sick to her stomach. If she could burn all of Las Noches down and get away with it, she would have done so in a heartbeat.

"…Is someone there?"

Was it just her imagination? She could have sworn she heard something in the distance. It induced her to cup her hands around her ears. There it went again, some kind of howling. Whatever it was grated on her nerves given how obnoxious it sounded. A bit weirded out, she prepared to move ahead.

"…Huh?"

She turned around in the blink of an eye with her Zanpakutou brandished. Pointing it dead ahead, she relaxed at the red-haired man pointing his own weapon at her.

"Ah…it's you." Renji Abarai breathed a sigh of relief and then sheathed his blade. "Who are you exactly anyway?"

"Just a busybody who didn't have anything better to do, I guess."

The casual reply threw Renji for a loop. "I'm guessing you fell down that pitfall too."

"Probably a trap for idiots like us."

"Yeah, maybe that's—wait, who are you calling an 'idiot?'"

"Looks like we're both still alive. Should we celebrate our reunion with another chant?"

"Alright, now I know you're making fun of me!"

Lisa smirked, and Renji became as red as his hair. He calmed though once he noticed something amiss.

"Wait," he began, whipping his head around. "Where'd that idiot go?"

"Who?" asked Lisa.

"I, well, we weren't the only ones who fell down here. I was with—"

Mad laughter cut him off, the clamor echoing around the two. Their senses immediately heightened.

"Bingo!" the same voice said with glee. "And here I thought I was wasting my time coming up with such meager traps. Not one but two imbecilesfell for the simplest one!"

"Told you," Lisa whispered to Renji, who glared.

The far-off voice continued with, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I need to introduce myself, don't I?"

"I don't really care who you are," Lisa made perfectly clear. Even though neither she nor Renji could see who busied talking their ear off, they could practically feel the irritation in the individual's stunned silence.

"…I will enjoy dissecting you first, Visored."

At last, the man made his presence known by stepping out into the open.

"Should I even bother introducing myself? Beings like you with such simple intelligence might immediately forget. Oh, well. I may as well."

"I really don't care," Lisa again affirmed.

"…I may dissect you alive just for the fun of it." No longer smiling, the pink-haired man's nose wrinkled as he pointed at her. "I am the Octava Espada, Szayelaporro Granz."

As much as Lisa claimed not to care about his identity, when he announced his rank, her eyes widened a little.

"An Espada, eh?" said Renji. Finally, he had something to grin about. "One of the ten people who rule over the Arrancar, right?"

Lisa replied, "Another one, eh?"

"Huh? Did you already fight one?"

"I'm pretty sure the guy was one, but he ran away like a little girl before I could be sure."

"…"

Lisa grew upset at the incredulous look Renji let her have. "I'm serious! I think he—"

There it was again, she thought. She could hear some sort of anguished screaming coming from behind them. It was too muffled for her to make out properly though.

"That must be Dondochakka! He's who I was talking about before," Renji explained. "Wait…if he fell before me, why in the hell is that fat idiot just getting down here?!"

"Heads up," replied Lisa, pointing to a massive hole on the wall. Both she and Renji got out of way.

"Heh. That was a close one. I nearly let one of our own guys squash me like a—"

A wailing Dondochakka Birstanne really did squash Renji like a bug, flying out of an entirely different hole.

"OW-WWWWWW-W! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! My butt really hurts! Know what I'm sayin'?!"

Lisa, shielding her ears, didn't doubt the claim given tears gushed out of the holes in Dondochakka's mask he called eyes. Of course, she felt the twitching Renji was in far more agony.

"What the heck was with that hole?! It was hella scary! Know what I'm sayin'?!"

"No! Get the hell off of me already!" Renji commanded, unable to feel his limbs. Dondochakka just continued to wail.

"Do you two want some alone time?" Lisa joked.

The audacity of her words made Renji yell, "I-If you have enough time to stand there and laugh, get him the hell off of me already!"

Dondochakka made everyone's eardrums bleed again when he shirked at the sight of Szayelaporro.

"I-It's you! The great Szayelaporro Granz is here in the flesh?! Know what I'm sayin'?!"

"Not really. Friend of yours?" asked Lisa.

Dondochakka gasped as if not knowing was some serious crime. "H-He's the top research specialist in all of Hueco Mundo who's made lots of amazing spirit-based weapons. N-Not that most peons like me know the majority of his research. Know what I'm sayin'?"

He covered his eyes and shook like a leaf. Lisa had half a mind to give him a comforting pat on the shoulder.

Renji, far less sympathetic, screeched, "You know, I appreciate the explanation, but I'd like it more if you weren't busy crushing my spine!"

"Huh? What're you doing under my ass, Renji?"

"…"

"That ain't comfy, right? Your pointy hair is making my butt hurt some more? Know what I'm sayin'?"

"…"

"Oy, Renji?"

Renji suddenly thrust his foot into Dondochakka's face. The Arrancar spilled the floor, rolling all over it in agony.

"What'd you do that for?! That hurt! Know what I'm sayin'?!"

"Just shut the hell up already unless you want me to kick you some more!" Renji hopped around on one foot, holding the other because it stung something fierce. "Dammit! Just what is your mask made of anyway?!"

Everyone turned their head to a loud footstep. It came from Szayelaporro, who looked rather humored.

"If you three are quite done with this boorish display," he remarked, "I would like to get this over with. I have much research awaiting me. Oh, but once I'm finished here, I'll have even more, won't I? What to do? What to do…"

Both Renji and Lisa scowled at him, prompting him to put his hands up.

"How scary. Please, there's no need to go all out on someone like me. I am indeed a member of the Espada, but fighting really isn't my forte. It's like that big one over there stated—I'm merely a researcher. Therefore, I propose—"

"Yeah, I've had enough of this." Renji drew his sword. "I didn't come here to shoot the breeze. The only reason I'm here is to beat the shit outta you and the rest of your Arrancar buddies. I don't care who you are or what you've done. If you really wanna run that mouth of yours, do it while I'm slicing you to ribbons, Mister Octava Espada."

"That's kinda harsh," noted Lisa, smiling nonetheless. "Just look at the guy. He's a twig. You sure we should be so rough with him?"

"Sorry, lady, but 'holding back' isn't in my vocabulary."

Shrugging, Lisa stood back. It was clear Renji was about to do something big.

"BANKAI!"

Hihou Zabimaru roared onto the scene, its massive form coiling around Renji.

That lasted only a few seconds. Much to his bewilderment, his Bankai burst apart, leaving him to stare blankly at the raining pieces.

"Uh…interesting Bankai," said Lisa halfheartedly.

"A-Are you serious?!" Renji shot back. "I didn't do that!"

"Yes, that would be me." Szayelaporro was all too happy to raise his hand and even more thrilled to explain. "Now, if you had let me finish speaking, you wouldn't look even more idiotic than usual. Don't bother with that Bankai of yours. It won't work in this room."

"…The hell does that mean? My Bankai?"

"Oh, so you do understand the words that come out of my mouth. Good. I'm not fond of repeating myself. The reason you can't—"

"Smash, Haguro Tonbo."

Szayelaporro spun around to find Lisa about to pounce on him with her Shikai in hand.

"Damn!" she shouted when, like Renji's Bankai, her own Zanpakutou shattered. That left her wide open for Szayelaporro's leg to drill her in the stomach, sending her skidding against the floor.

"Oy! You alright?!" Renji hollered at her.

"…Peachy. I didn't like those ribs anyway."

"Q-Quit joking around already!"

"Yes, perhaps if you did so, you'd have enough common sense to listen to me." Szayelaporro, exasperated, shook his head. He could sense a headache coming. "As you can see, Visored, your Zanpakutou will not work here either. I have all the information I require on both of your weapons. Their shapes, their powers, their strengths and weaknesses. Yes, it's quite simple. Because I know how your Zanpakutou work, it is no problem at all for me to seal them within this space."

The washed over Renji and Lisa slowly, and the two exchanged glances.

"You're full of it," said Renji at once.

Lisa concurred, adding, "Where would you have even gotten this info?"

Szayelaporro chuckled. "Renji Abarai, you fought my older brother."

"…Come again?"

"Ah, I knew you'd forget my name. You're much too simpleminded. Very well. Just this one, I'll repeat it. I am Szayelaporro Granz. You fought an Arrancar by the name of Yylfordt Granz. He was my older sibling."

Lisa noted the realization adoring Renji's face and guessed he at least could follow along with the conversation.

"So, that's when you—"

"Indeed. I'm shocked you remembered trash like him. Your mind clearly works in rather mysterious ways."

"Wait, you killed his brother then?" Lisa asked Renji. "So, this guy must've brought you here for revenge."

Again, Szayelaporro laughed. "What would make you think such a ridiculous thing? Only an idiot would hold such sympathies. Yylfordt's only use to me was being the carrier for my spirit recording insects. I'm not so childish as to throw a tantrum over losing a mere container."

Him speaking so casually of his brother's demise disturbed his onlookers.

"Trash," uttered Renji.

"Something's wrong when I feel for this Yylfordt guy more than his own flesh and blood," added Lisa. Her tone held equal contempt.

"You two are going to make me ill." Szayelaporro reached for his Zanpakutou. "Right, where was I? Oh, yes. You, Lisa Yadoumaru. Yes, I know quite a bit about you too, as well as the fact you're a Visored. You can't possibly understand how long I've been wanting to meet one of you. To think you would come right to my doorstep. I wonder how long it would take me to dissect that body of yours? Oh, the secrets it must hold!"

"Not the greatest pick up line I've ever her," Lisa admitted, grimacing. "I'm going to presume Aizen told you about me and the others. …Really should've killed him while I had the chance."

"Your brief battle with Coyote Starrk helped as well. I'm shocked that layabout actually came of some use. You see, he is one of the few Espada I've managed to implant with my spirit recording insects. He allowed me to do a bit of…experimentation on him in exchange for me never bothering him again. That brief fight you two shared was more than enough for me to disable your abilities.

"Do you both understand now? I've eliminated any chance for either of you to win or even escape this room. Of course, I may be willing to be merciful, Visored, if you lead me to the rest of your kind."

"I think I'll pass, four-eyes."

"Aren't you both wearing glasses?" muttered Renji.

Ignoring him, Lisa ran her fingers against her face. However, she became alarmed at nothing happening.

"Your Hollowfication? I'm afraid I've sealed that as well. My apologies," said Szayelaporro, smirking.

"…You're seriously starting to piss me off, four-eyes."

Szayelaporro sighed. "Is that so? Let's see. This is the first time I've had a person here who can use Bankai, and we can't forget the other with Hollow powers. Yes, I'm practically trembling with excitement. I must ask that you two don't rampage too hard. I would prefer killing you with all of your limbs intact."

"…This'll be fun," noted Lisa both sarcastically and wearily. "Honestly, this is more up Hiyori's alley. I can't stand dealing with creeps like this."

"I think I'm starting to understand what you mean," replied Renji, clicking his tongue.

END