'The soul reaper who gave Ichigo his powers?'. He looked at Rukia again. "So you're Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's younger sister and the one who gave this boy his powers... I expected someone taller"
"And you're the newest deputy of Karakura and the one who physically scarred my brother... I expected someone more unhinged" Runkia responded with a deep scowl
"I'm guessing you feel animosity towards me?"
"Yes. Very much so actually"
Arata nodded in understanding. "I welcome you to try and exact vengeance anytime you wish. I will meet you head on" he challenged.
"As much as that offer sounds tempting, I afraid that will have to wait. Right now...". She looked at Ichigo, ready to pounce. "I have business to take care of" and with that, she lunged at Arata's fellow deputy intending to kick his face... but was stopped when Arata grabbed her before impact."W-What the hell?! Let me go, you brute!"
"As the sole security guard of Karakura high, I cannot allow violence to ensue unless you wish to deal with me too"
"You think that's enough to scare me from setting this idiot straight?!"
"Wait" Arata then dropped her. "That was your intention? Seriously?"
"Yeah, why?"
He study her a moment but found that she was legit serious. He nodded at her before he turned to Ichigo... and slapped him across the face. "You want next hit?".
Surprise crossed everyone's face while Ichigo's fumed in rage at the painful slap across the cheek. Renji was the first to get knocked out of his stupor as he grabbed Ichigo from behind and held him in place. Rukia let out a small smile and stepped next to Arata. "Well then," she chuckled. "Keep this up and I might start to warm up to you"
"Even after I injured your brother?"
"I'm still pissed about that mind you, and I want a full explanation later as I wasn't told the full story"
"Deal"
Rukia looked up at her friend and slapped him across the other cheek. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" Ichigo yelled in indignation.
Arata back slap him in response. "That was for your stupidity"
Rukia then slapped him again. "And that was for your pathetic face!". She then dragged Ichigo out his body with a red glove. Stunned at the turn of event, Arata still followed behind as they leaped out the window. Arata transformed mid jump and follow Rukia piggy-backing Ichigo to somewhere.
Rukia turned her head to see Arata trailing not so far from them. 'Why are you...?'
They landed on the roof of an apartment building. Confused, Ichigo said, "I don't see anything"
A loud crash in the middle of the open courtyard bought their attention. "Now you do" Arata said as he was about to engage hollow below. Rukia's hand on his chest paused him and she shook her head at him. 'Ah... I see now'
"A hollow?" Ichigo said.
"Yes. Now get it!" and she kicked Ichigo to the bottom to face it. Arata followed, standing back to observe. Rukia had a plan to somehow get Ichigo out of the funk he was in and from what he has been told, she was an intelligent and quick-witted girl. She surely must know how to get Ichigo back to it.
Just as Ichigo was about to pull out Zangetsu, he hesitates. Arata frowned as he saw Ichigo get slugged by this basic hollow. 'For an experienced warrior, this just a pitiful display'
"What are you doing? Hurry up and kill it!" shouted Rukia. "You call that fighting?! Just what are you waiting for!?"
"Nothing.."
"If that's the case, stand up and fight. This is but a simple hollow. You're more than a match for it" Arata stated.
"I know that. Don't tell me what to do" Ichigo said through gritted teeth. He proceeded to dodge the hollows next attack, distancing himself from the beast. He was just about to unsheathe his sword... but he froze, just like he did against Yammy.
Arata could only wonder why. If it was so much of a problem, why hadn't Ichigo settled it? Better yet, why hadn't he found a way to control this hollow to use its powers to his advantage. Ichigo wasn't dumb, and Arata knew this. Surely he could see the use such powers would bring.
He drew his blade, but it was still wrapped in its white cloth. "I think I know what happened" Rukia started. "You got beaten by the arrancars and now you can't function as a soul reaper. What are so afraid of?!"
Ichigo deflected the hollow off him, but it sent him to the ground. The hollow was about to crush his back but it was stopped by Arata's hand. He pushed the hollow back and turned back to Ichigo. "They roughed us up badly, I know. You, me, Chad, and Orihime. But will you let that one defeat define you? Are you really going to give up just like that?" Arata questioned. "What are you afraid of, boy? Are you afraid of losing? Are you afraid of death? Are you afraid of losing everyone you love? Or is it... that you're afraid of the hollow within yourself?"
Ichigo's eyes widen, but he shouldn't have been surprised. Arata had hollow powers too and must have an inner hollow by proxy. He must have sensed his problem from a mile away. Honestly, every time he looked at him he was reminded of the harrowing situation he was in and how incapable he was at dealing with it. It made him envious of the killer and frustrated at himself; If this newcomer was able to wear his mask without trouble, to connect with his hollow on a deeper scale, what was he doing?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"If you're afraid of losing, then you'll just have to get stronger!" Rukia motivated as the hollow stomped forward.
"If you're afraid of death, then you'll need to get stronger and challenge death up to it face" Arata added as he moved out of the way next to Rukia.
"If you're afraid of losing everyone you love, you have to get stronger and make a vow that you'll never let them down" Rukia said as the hollow approached with killer intent.
"but if you're afraid of the hollow within yourself, then you must not just become stronger to confront it, you must vow to yourself that you WILL confront it" Arata finished. The hollow reared it giant fist, ready to smash the teen's head open for lunch.
"Even if no one believes in you, stick out your chest and scream your defiance! But that is the kind of man you are! I know it in my heart!". Her words gave Ichigo the strength to stand.
"Ichigo," Arata then started his voice raising for the first time in long time. "You said to me you don't want to stay weak. Yet even now I doubt your words and your resolve. Prove me wrong. Show me your warrior spirit, and rise to every challenge with that stubborn persistence in your soul and the blade in your hand! You hold the potential to rival all who oppose you, so PROVE. ME. WRONG!". His word then gave Ichigo the strength to unsheathe his blade and finally face the hollow before him.
The teen grinned. "You're awfully noisy. All of you". He turns to the hollow. "Here I come". He then jumped in the air, his sword raised high above him and with one swift cut, he ended the hollow right then and there.
Some time later...
"This world is so strange" Arata muttered as he witnessed Ichigo apologize to Orihime for his weakness.
"I'm sorry, Orihime. I'll get stronger. I'll get stronger, I promise you. So that next time, I won't let them hurt you" the boy said, his eyes returning to their original shine. The sight relieved the girl to the high heavens.
"Thank you, Ichigo". She turned, probably to hide her face, Arata wondered. "Arata, Rukia, thank you too". She turned back again, this time facing only Rukia. "Welcome back"
The scene was heartfelt and warming to witness. If Arata was someone else, he would've cried. It did bring... old memories back in mind.
*Flashback - 9 years ago*
Arata, sixteen years old, was standing in the doorway, facing away from his shinobi companion, Shinobu Ichijou who was fifteen at the time. She was 5'2 with short black hair and blue eyes. Visible on the side of her neck was a black fox tattoo. The girl laid in bed dressed in a white gown, recovering from a near fatal mission she and Arata embarked on.
The same one that gave Arata his head scar.
"Do you really have to go?" she asked.
Arata nodded. "I have to get stronger by myself. This mission was a wake up call that... I need more growing. And I'm afraid you are not in the picture"
Shinobu stammered quietly until she quieted, accepting Arata's choice with a supporting smile. "If... If that's what you wish... I understand". She chuckled, "Can I at least get one last kiss goodbye?"
The teenage boy agreed. "Close your eyes though". She did and waited. She did not wait long as Arata lifted his mask and bestowed a breathtaking kiss to the injured shinobi. He parted, but saw on her face her desires and it made him ache.
"Please don't go..." she whispered.
The aching worsened, and Arata forced himself off the girl. "Goodbye, Shinobu. The next time we meet, I will be much stronger than now. I promise you that". He did not wait for a response as he grabbed his axe and left.
"...Goodbye, Arata"
"Arata..."
"Arata..."
"Arata..."
*Flashback end*
He didn't know how long he was in his head, but he came to when Ichigo called out, "Arata!"
Arata jumped, startled that he was suddenly pulled out of his musings. He looked down and saw Ichigo. "What?" he said somewhat harshly.
"Sorry" Ichigo apologized. "Did I disturb you?"
Arata sighed. "No... I just thinking random thoughts is all. Now, what do you want?"
"Nothing much" Ichigo smiled. "I was just wondering if you wanna hit the arcade? I'm in a pretty good mood thanks to you and Rukia, so why not?"
"...Why?"
"'Why' what?"
"Why are you asking me? Why don't you just bring Rukia instead?'
"She's coming along too, you know. And besides..." Ichigo's smile did not waver. "If it wasn't for you two, I'd still be a wallowing mess. Think of this as my way of thanking you... and my way of apologizing" he said. "If it wasn't for my weakness, you wouldn't nave gotten hurt too"
"My injuries were the result of my carelessness and that brutish arrancar. There's not need to apologize" Arata dismissed. "And in response to your gratitude...I was simply stating what needed to be said"
"Whatever you say, man. I'll be waiting by the gate if you're interested" Ichigo said with a smile.
"Why will you be waiting at the gate? I thought you and Rukia were going to the arcade"
"We will" Ichigo confirmed. "Hopefully with you too, but Rukia said she wanted to talk to you first". Ichigo then walked away, leaving him with the petite soul reaper.
"I assume this is concerning your brother? Are you challenging me right now?" he questioned as he turned to face her.
"Not really. I just wanna get a feel for you" Ruka stated simply as she leaned on the railings. "You know, most of squad six is pinned against you after they heard about what did to my brother. The Kuchiki clan is also not pleased; last I heard, they were planning to send assassins after you for disrespecting the clan"
His arms crossed, Arata said, "What's stopping them?"
"They heard you fought Captain Zaraki and won" she chuckled as she saw the faces on the clan elders faces when they realized they were dealing with a Kenpachi level threat.
"Ah. I see..."
"I also read up on the reports. How you killed about eleven human criminals and openly admitting to it" Rukia then said.
"I feel so shame for ending the lives of human scum"
"They might've been scum, yeah, but you certainly turned a lot of heads in the squads. The reports also described your personality, at least from what you demonstrated. Few key words were 'homicidal', 'rebellious', and 'Kenpachi material'"
"There is truth in most of your words, though I do not know if I am 'Kenpachi material'" Arata admits. After seeing the strength of Captain Unohana, a woman of reputable strength, and hearing her state that Zaraki was way stronger, there was no way he could hold a candle to them. 'Doesn't mean I cannot try though' he added.
"Is this repeat of already-known information leading anywhere?" Arata questioned.
"From all accounts I've read and heard, they deem you as insane, capable of being a threat to the Soul Society. A deputy with little regard for our rules, only bound to us through uniform"
"I am bound to no one but myself. Being a soul reaper is only convenient to me for the powers" Arata said. "There's also the paycheck, which is not so bad, but mostly the powers" he then added offhandedly. "I take it that after all you've read and heard, you do not trust me?". If that was the case, he understood completely.
"For the most part, yeah, and it's going to take a helluva lot of time for me to trust you. But Orihime and Ichigo seem to like you enough, so I'm gonna give the the benefit of the doubt for now. I just wanna know what your intentions are with my friends?"
Arata tilted his head to the side in response. "I do not understand"
She elaborated. "You came with me to help Ichigo today. That couldn't have served you in anyway. There was no benefit or reward for doing so. So why did you do it?"
"...I don't find most things annoying, and I don't feel hatred at most things as well. But when I saw how poorly that boy was handling his powers, how he kept evading his problems... it was vexing to say the least. It frustrates me seeing people waste away their potential and die without even figuring it out" Arata stated. "And as I told Ichigo, I was simply stating what needed to be said"
"That can't be all" Rukia muttered in denial. Even if he did feel frustrated with Ichigo's situation, it still wouldn't affect him. He did not need to step in yet he did, and that was what confused the small soul reaper. She helped Ichigo because he was her friend which made this a personal problem for her. Unless it was personal for Arata too, she couldn't see him helping out simply out of frustration.
"Tell me, Rukia: Do you know my favorite color?" Arata asked out of nowhere.
"What? No"
"Do you know where I come from?"
"You gave no information to the captains, so no"
"Do you know what sneakers I find most comfortable?"
Rukia scowled. "What's the purpose to this line of questioning?" she demanded.
"Do not think just because you read reports and heard words means that you know me" he simply stated. "Unless I tell straight out, then you know very little". He turned to leave when he suddenly felt the air shift, and he dodge and incoming kick to the butt from the girl.
"Idiot! This conversation wasn't meant to establish that I know you as a person! This conversation was meant to establish to me that if push comes to shove, you won't leave or betray Ichigo, Orihime, or any of my friends!"
She stood panting slightly before him. Under a scrutinizing eye, he studied her and found her intentions entire heartfelt and genuine. He lightly nodded. "I see..."
"Yeah, and which is it? Will you up and leave if things don't turn your way, or will stay and fight with your friends?"
"'Friends'?" he parroted. "I don't have 'friends'. I have allies and assets... I don't do 'friends'"
"Oh yeah?" Rukia then smirked. "People don't go out of their way to take you to dinner to mend broken relations if you're just an asset to them"
"How do you know that?" Arata interrogated with narrowed eyes.
"Orihime told me" she answered. Arata rolled his eyes at himself for not thinking of the most logical answer. "You still didn't answer my question"
"Like I said, I am bound to no one but myself. But... to answer your question, unless anyone of you stab me in the back or give me a great enough reason to leave, I will not do so. I am a warrior and executioner, but a turncoat I will never be. Besides, I already set my dice with the soul reapers. I'm already fighting with them whether I wanted to or not"
She took his words with a grain of salt, but she was satisfied for now. "C'mon. Ichigo is probably getting pissed we're taking so long"
Arata shrugged, finding the arcade a nice distraction for now. "That boy is the most mature teen I've ever seen, but even he succumbs to his emotions like any other"
Rukia laughed. "Trust me, it gets worse the more you know him"
Later...
After an hour of fun, Ichigo, Arata, and Rukia went to Ichigo's home as Rukia set up a meeting of sorts in Ichigo's room to the teen's discontent. They were greeted by Yuzu and passed by Karin and Isshin. Arata took a look at the soul reaper-turned-father, the two sharing a nod before Arata followed behind Ichigo.
As he neared Ichigo's room, he heard the cries of a certain lion plush. "Same old Kon I see" Rukia said. Arata peeked around the door and found her stepping on the faux lion's head.
'Didn't Ichigo mention he was a pervert?' Arata thought. Hitokiri started to laugh
The little rascal is probably enjoying this!
"Yeah, only one person would stomp me without hesitation after we hadn't seen each other for a whole summer. It has to be Rukia! I'm so happy I could cry!" Kon groaned in happiness as the soul reaper continued to grind him into the ground.
Arata closed the door behind him and pulled out a plastic bag from his pocket. "Excuse me, may I?" he said when he tapped Rukia's shoulder.
"Um... Sure"
Still irked this little urchin almost took his mask off, Arata more than happy to bring a little sadistic punishment to the lion. Rukia let her foot off Kon's head, only to be grabbed by Kon by the head. He brought him to his face and glared at him, as if trying to reach his soul.
"WHAT THE HELL?! ICHIGO, WHY DID YOU BRING TALL, DARK, AND CREEPY BACK HERE?!"
He was given no response as he was tossed into the plastic bag. Arata didn't know if he could breathe or not, but just to be safe, he ripped a small hole for the little man. Kon struggled as Arata tied the bag up and began spinning it.
"Arata, are you sure about that?" warily asked Ichigo.
Kon cried loudly as the world was rapidly moving around him at a nauseating rate. Arata though remained nonchalant as he responded with, "Do you want him to continue talking?"
"... Good point" Ichigo conceded. Rukia nodded in agreement.
"YOU TRAITORS!"
This went on for another minute until Arata slowed. Kon felt like he was about to throw up his lunch and he didn't even have a stomach. "Unless you wish for your suffering to continue, you will keep quiet unless spoken to. Understood?"
"Yes sir..." Kon weakly groaned.
He sat on Ichigo's desk chair and boredly sat as he listen to Rukia and Ichigo banter about where to sit. If he was being honest, it looked like something out of a sitcom. Ichigo then opened his door finding Yuzu and his day eavesdropping on him. With an annoyed huff, he slammed the door on them.
"I told you he was gonna get mad!" Yuzu complained to her father.
"We're sorry, Ichigo!"
'Hard to believe that man was a captain' Arata thought as he recalled his power and "fight" against that incomplete arrancar. Either he was playing and putting up a façade, or he was actually like that most of time, Arata could not say.
When Rukia started chuckling at his family's hijinks, Ichigo went straight to business. "Enough of that! Just tell me what these arrancars want with me. I already know what they are thanks to Arata, but how in the world do I come into play?"
"Just a second" said a disembodied voice. Arata saw light shaking from the shaking and knew immediate what was about to happen. "If you wanna know about the arrancar, we tell you all about it". And with that, the circular ceiling piece was popped off, showing Renji, Rangiku, Yumichika, and Ikkaku. "Hey Ichigo! Sup Arata! It's been awhile... or maybe not"
"Wha-?! You jerks! What the hell?! Did you forget how to use a damn door!?" Ichigo yelled, looking at the damage to his room. The four soul reapers landed and took their preferred seats.
Arata then felt Kon began to move. He looked to see the plushie ogling the busty lieutenant of squad ten with heart-shaped eyes. "Arata, please let me go! I swear I'll behave. I'll be so quiet, It'll be like I'm not really here-!"
He did finish nor did he get his wish as Arata spun him again.
"Is... he gonna be alright?" sweatdropped Renji as he watched Arata spin Kon into a toy mess. Everyone though waved him off, saying he'll be fine.
The soul reapers began to explain what the arrancars more fully to Ichigo. They explained what they were, repeating pretty much what Arata had said hours ago. As they explained, Rukia took it upon herself to illustrate them with her... drawings.
I'm sure in time, her drawings will look... less fuggily
'Every skill has its infantile state. It's clear she is in that state'
Ichigo wasn't as reserved as Arata, bluntly insulting the drawings resulting in the sketchbook being thrown at his face.
"The Soul Society was willing to sit back and see if anything developed with the arrancars, but that was before Aizen got involved. We also had to deal with three of our captains having gone over to the enemy side. Meanwhile, the fully-developed arrancars were completed much sooner than we expected, and now that they've been sent into this world, we can't sit back any longer" Renji explained.
'Two other captains were in league with Sosuke Aizen, huh?. They must be powerful if Aizen was willing to bring them along' thought Arata.
He then went on about how Head-Captain Yamamoto selected a team to help combat the arrancar threat. Rukia was chosen because of her close connection with Ichigo, to which she protested against. Renji was picked because of his close connection with Rukia. Renji was then tasked to bring someone he trusted to fight along with which was Ikkaku. Yumichika was tagged along because he was interested but when Rangiku heard about it, she wanted to tag along too. Yumichika though did not like that but when Rangiku promised bodily harm towards him and Renji if they left without her, so Toshiro was assigned to the team to keep his lieutenant and Yumichika in line.
What they didn't tell Ichigo was that they were also sent in to monitor Arata. With all the arrancar activity happening weeks after that spirit energy explosion, Head-Captain Yamamoto did not want to test fate and gave the side objective of monitoring Arata. This actually played a part in Rukia's talk with Arata, but not entirely. That was purely out of her interest.
"In any case, we're not sure why, but Aizen has his eye on you Ichigo Kurosaki. And that's not good" said Toshiro as he appeared at the window.
"You do realize how suspicious you're looking, right? People might assume you're a child burglar" Arata comments.
"Shut up!"
Toshiro added to Renji's explanation by saying normal hollows weren't enough to become arrancar. That the hollows had to be menos level or above. When Arata and Ichigo questioned him about those level, he explained that were three types of menos: the gillians, the adjuchas, and the vasto lordes. The gillians were the foot soldier of the menos, slow and of low intelligent. Adjuchas were the second level, smaller than gillians, but more smarter and more individualistic. The last level was the most powerful, the vasto lordes. They were human-sized and eclipses other hollows in power, but they were few in numbers. However, it was rumored that these vasto lordes were more powerful than the captains.
Anticipation flourished within Arata at the prospect of facing all these unique types of hollow. To find threats more powerful than your run-of-the-mill hollow, beings Arata was starting to get bored of, was a thrilling prospect.
His powers then came to mind. If his powers were hollow based, then learning more about these hollows may realize something to his powers not even the Visoreds could show.
"Exactly how much power the menos have gained from turning into arrancars is still unknown. But now that three of our captains have defected to lead the menos, there is one thing we can be sure of: if Aizen now has more than ten of those vasto lordes under his control, then the Soul Society... is doomed"
Fear widened Ichigo's eyes while anticipation filled Arata's. The battle had just gotten harder.
In Hueco Mundo...
Sakura, Nnoitra, and the rest of the espada with their fraccion waited patiently for the return of their cero and cuarto Esapada.
"How long do they expect us to wait? We have training to get to" the new diez, Nnoitra, growled. "I bet Yammy is slowing down the mission. If it had been only Ulquiorra, we would've left this place in half the time"
"My dear otouto, what did I say every warrior needed?" Sakura lightly admonished. On right side of her neck laid her new Espada tattoo.
It bothered Nnoitra for a short time after she got his position, but he quickly got over it. Even if she could give a rat's ass about ranking, he knew she deserved that number five on her neck.
On second thought, no - she deserved the first rank, she was just that great.
He sighed. "...Patience?"
"Good boy!" she praised as she patted his back. "Now, this shouldn't take too long. I sense their reiatsu not far from here"
Nnoitra straightened and looked at the entrance to see two individuals walking down. As they got closer, Sakura and Nnoitra grinned when they saw Yammy's severed arm, cut up stomach, and empty eye socket. Whoever did that was sure to be a fun opponent, they thought like twins.
"We have returned, Lord Aizen" Ulquiorra announced as Yammy took a knee.
The otherwise dark room brightened, showing the traitorous captain upon his throne of chiseled stone. "Welcome, Ulquiorra and Yammy. So tell me what you have accomplished here in front of your siblings"
Sakura was on the edge of her seat. When she had heard Ulquiorra was going to the world of the living, she suspected it was for surveillance or recon, but when she asked the stoic Espada, he said he was looking for a certain individual by the name of Ichigo Kurosaki. Intrigue now filled the hitokiri's veins. What kind of person was this Ichigo Kurosaki that Aizen wanted Ulquiorra to check on? He must be incredibly powerful to warrant such attention.
"Oh?" Sakura chuckled amusingly as Ulquiorra plucked one of his eyes out.
"That's his Solita Vista" Nnoitra said. "It allows him replay past events by crushing his eye"
"Interesting, but how does he grow back the eye?"
"His high-speed regeneration. Out of any of the arrancars, he has the fastest healing factor out of any of us" explained Nnoita. It was then he thought if Sakua developed somewhat of fast healing factor as well. Not one as great as cuarto's but second best for sure. After Grimmjow's beating, she took just a day to fully recover, and she was like that of a newborn at the time.
"Here you are. See for yourselves". With the eyeball in hand, Ulquiorra crushed it, but turned into dust rather than a bloody pulp. The dust wandered throughout the room, making everyone present relive Ulquiorra's memory of the encounter and his thoughts.
They then all saw Arata.
Nnoitra's eyes snap open and he looks at his nee-chan. She stood almost rigid, as if she entered a catatonic state. Her face underneath the mask was smiling though. It was the happiest smile had ever donned in a long while.
When was the last time she saw her fist otouto? A full decade ago? What a crazy world she lived in that her first otouto would appear in the same world she randomly entered. Did she appear after or before him, she wondered. And then there was his power. Just from the memory, she could see how strong he has become. He still had much room to grow but god damn has he made his nee-chan proud.
And then there was the target, Ichigo Kurosaki. Just like Arata, he too was powerful. And what's more, just like Arata, he was still growing! His easy dispatch of Yammy in the first half was evidence of that. How old did Ulquiorra say this kid was? Fifteen? So much potential in someone so young. Arata must have seen it too, she knows it; she taught him how to look at people more closely in the first place.
She looks up at Nnoitra and though he could not see it, she was grinning madly in happiness. "Nnoitra, you're going to meet your nii-chan real soon"
Aizen chuckled ominously in response to Sakura's comment. "What an interesting development...". It appears his first testing was actually a near perfect success, only Arata did not teleport to Hueco Mundo. From what he saw, this Arata Takahashi has a growth rate similar or perhaps slightly higher than Ichigo's. "His powers are hollow-based too. I wonder why?...". In actuality, he did know, or at least had a working theory.
Grimmjow though growled at the sight of the masked man. He didn't need any confirmation that Sakura knew him or not. He reminded her of him which was enough to put him on his hate list.
"Sakura," Aizen called. "Do you know this Arata Takahashi"
Sakura couldn't hold her glee anymore and laughed. "That I do! He's actually my first student. I trained him and taught him everything he knows about fighting. But it appears he has learned some new tricks since we parted. Kido, the flash step, balas, Gran Rey Ceros, and much more I'm sure I'm unaware of". She then thought of something. "Did you bring my otouto here, Lord Aizen?"
"Yes, but not intentionally" he admitted. "My first test of the teleporter that brought you here ended with an explosion so I was under the assumption it was a fruitless, failed test. Oh, how wrong I was" Aizen smirked as he leaned on one of the arm rest. "I will plan accordingly to this new soul reaper, but for now, let us return to back to the main subject at hand. I see you deemed Ichigo Kurosaki not worth killing, Ulquiorra"
"Yes. The orders were to kill anyone who might be an obstacle. And we learned that there was no one" the cuarto responded curtly.
"You're soft!"
Everyone's attention lands on Grimmjow. "If it had been me, I would've killed all of them no sweat!" the sexta smirked
The new diez scoffed while the new quinto chuckled in response. The blue-haired arrancar scowled. "What's so damn funny?"
"Oh please don't take this as an insult, Grimmjow. You're a strong and capable warrior, but I suggest you keep a calm and open mind" Sakura advised. The way she was speaking to him set him off. It was like she was the teacher and he was numb-skull idiot student.
"If I was able to beat you down, your 'little brother' ain't jack shit to me!" he spat. "I swear to you, when I face him, I'll kill him and throw his severed head at your feet, and we'll see if you're still laughing then!"
His threat was nothing; they simply bounced off her skin like rain drops. "I'm sure you will, but let me warn you: I taught Arata how to be a merciless and brutal fighter. You see Yammy, right? He will do the exact same thing, maybe even worse. Take my words however you wish, but if you lose a hand or two," she then leaned in, and Grimmjow's anger was stoked as he felt her smile. "Don't come bitching at me"
At the moment, all he saw was red as he looked at Sakura. This woman continued to look down on him like, he was the peasant. Just because she had that five on her neck meant jack shit. He was the king, and he will force her to see that. If it meant killing her to do so, he will gladly take the invitation.
He wanted to attack her, but in the presence of Aizen, he couldn't. To substitute, he growled at her before turning back to Ulquiorra, his ire still burning. "What the hell were you thinking?! If 'kill him' was part of the orders, then obviously you and that oaf should've killed him and that masked runt too, right? Right?!"
"And I agree," said one of Grimmjow's fraccion, Shawlong Koufang. Dressed in a standard arrancar uniform, his hollow mask fragment took the shape of a helmet that covered the upper-left side of his face with a long spike pointed to the right. "The boy and Sakura's disciple stood up to you. I say you should've killed them, be they worthy or not"
"Oh Grimmjow, were you not paying attention?" Sakura asked aloud. "His mission was not to kill, but to observe the teen. And in Ulquiorra's eyes, Arata was not even a match for him, which I'm sure you saw"
"Don't talk down on me, bitch!" snapped the sexta. Nnoitra was about ready to slice his head off, but Sakura's hand on his arm stopped him. "And look at you Yammy!" Grimmjow then laughed at the supposed 'strongest Espada'. "You're a mess! Then you come back and tell us they weren't worth killing? Looks to me you guys couldn't kill them!"
Yammy defended himself by saying he would've killed them if it wasn't for a guy wearing wooden clogs and a dark-skinned girl beating him up.
"That's so pathetic. A guy wearing wooden shoes and a female beat you!" Grimmjow retorts.
'Wow... did I used to sound like that?' Nnoitra pondered before he smirked. "Funny you say that when it was a female wearing sandals that nearly bested you and forced you to go into your released state"
"Nnoitra, you better watch yourself" growled the sexta as he stared at Nnoitra with eyes intent on murder.
"Grimmjow, I don't think you understand," Ulquiorra stated as he held back Yammy. "That boy and Arata Takahashi are no danger to us... yet"
"Huh?"
"Lord Aizen isn't worried what his current abilities are. It is his growth rate that is the problem. As we learned, the boy has tremendous potential. Right now, his powers are extremely unstable, but I sense that if he doesn't self destruct, he might prove useful to us in the future. That is why I let him live"
"I still maintain that you're soft!" Grimmjow retorts. "And what about Arata Takahashi?! From the looks of it, he did just as much damage to Yammy as that orange-haired runt! He even fired a Gran Rey Cero for fuck's sake!"
"My view stands with Arata Takahashi as well. His power and growth rate are just as high as the boy's, perhaps slightly higher. His powers though are evidently still fresh and his hollow powers reveal he lacks control to the point of hurting himself. He could prove useful to us should he not kill himself from his own power"
"How can you be sure that they could become stronger than you predicted and turn against us? What about your plan then?!" countered Grimmjow.
"Should that occur, I will get rid of them both" Ulquiorra said to Grimmjow's surprise. "You can't complain about that, can you?"
"Nee-chan..." Nnoitra muttered.
"Worry not, Nnoitra. I'm confident this Ichigo Kurosaki and my Arata will blow expectations" Sakura assured.
As Aizen assigned Ulquiorra responsibility over Ichigo and Arata, Grimmjow growled in frustration at his fellow arrancar. He especially was angered by Sakura for her continued pity.
Later...
"Like hell he'll deal with them..." Grimmjow angrily grumbled. He was still livid that Sakura and Ulquiorra talked down to him, and further stoked with the fact he couldn't do anything.
At least, officially.
An idea crossed his mind and he grinned with sadistic intent.
He gathered his fraccione, telling them his plan of hitting Karakura town and killing anyone with any spiritual pressure, to which they agreed full-heartedly. They agreed to go separately to avoid suspicion, Grimmjow going first with his subordinates following after. Everything was set and clean, and everyone was jittering in excitement. Until...
"What a naughty boy you're being, Grimmjow. Sneaking out to hit the town, probably gonna meet some whores to stick your dick into. How scandalous!" Sakura commented when she exited the corner she was hiding behind. Nnoitra wasn't there with her, nursing the new wounds she gave him after training.
"You...!" Grimmjow growled. "What the hell do you want?!" he demanded
"Oh nothing. I just happened to past by when I heard you all talking about disobeying Lord Aizen's orders. I wonder how he'll take it near-act of insubordination" she chuckled.
"Like you're gonna get the chance, bitch!" said one of Grimmjow's fraccione, Di Roy. He attempted to punched the lights out, but in his idiocy forgot he was dealing the fifth ranked Espada.
Sakura did not bat a sweat as before the punch could land, Sakura shot her hand through Di Roy's mouth, stabbing him completely through the head. "Oh. I assumed he more durable than that. Eh. Whatever" and she threw the dead arrancar off her bloodied hand.
His fellow arrancars felt no pity for their arrogant colleague, but it did reduce their numbers which Grimmjow was more than willing to react on. He punched her, but the punch landing on her palm. Her hand didn't even recoil. "There are two ways on how this situation will end, Grimmjow: 1. I tell Lord Aizen and have him or one of the other former captains put a stop to your party, or 2. I come along with your party"
"And what makes you think you'll live to do any of those-!"
A single punch silenced him. It was stronger than when Sakura turned and immediately broke his nose. The blow sent his back many feet on his back. Sakura descended on the sexta and places a foot on his throat. His fraccione were stunned that their leader was so easily taken out and it halted them from helping immediately. The blue-haired arrancar futilely tried to push her off, but her foot did not budge, like it was anchored to his throat.
"I just thought of a third option! 3. I kill your entire party and break your spine. That way you'll never be a bother again. So which do you choose, Grimmjow?"
A chubby arrancar by the name of Nakeem tried to strike Sakura, only for his large gut to be pierced by the blade that was Sakura's hand. "GAH!". She dug her hand deeper until she pulled hard and took one of his intestines out until a large portion peaked out his gut. "Judging from your crew, they're more in line with option three. But still Grimmjow. Pick"
He was stuck between a rock and hard place. What's more, he couldn't do anything to stop her again. He outclassed her when it came to experience and years, yet this monster of a woman was able to reach heights greater than himself. The only advantage he held over her was that he knew his zanpakuto's name, but even that was short-term victory. With her growth rate, he wouldn't be surprised if she already did find out her special powers and outclassed him.
And that angered him to no end.
Unlike Nnoitra, he knows he will surpass her, and when he does, he will make her submit to him. He will make her grovel at his knees, serve him like the weakling she was until he was satisfied. And finally, snuff her out. He will because he. Was. King.
...But as Sakura continued to wait for his answer, as she stared down with impassive eyes and blocked his esophagus with just a foot, he wasn't quite sure.
He hated that most of all, how she made him feel so small, so cubbish. Like he wasn't an alpha, but a beta. And the worse part about it was that she wasn't even trying to belittle him.
"Which is it Grimmjow?" Sakura asked. She saw the glimmering pride the man once had in his eyes crumble and just like Nnoitra once did, he steamed in anger because of it.
In the end though, Pantera's owner relented. "Fine! Just get your fat foot off me already!" he choked out.
"Yay! I can't wait to reconnect with Arata! I wonder what stories he's complied through out the years" pondered Sakura before she began healing Grimmjow and Nakeem. After she was done, Grimmjow stood up and refused to even look at her.
"I'm going first to avoid suspicion"
"No. We're going first to avoid suspicion" Sakura cut in as she walked by Grimmjow's side.
His hands clench but he did not say anything back as he opened up a garganta.
Later, in the world of the living...
"I can't believe this..." Arata muttered as he made his way back home from the grocery store and manga store. He just bought the second volumes of the series he had and was itching to reading more. "Out of all the places, she chose Orihime's. Can her small apartment even fit all three of us?"
He was referring to Rangiku who opted to asked Orihime she could bunk with her and Arata while she was stationed here. She asked Arata if she could, but he told her it wasn't his call to make. He left, but before that, Kon pleaded with him to switch places, to which he spun him and threw him at a stray dog. Last he saw, he was caught between the jaws of canine before Ichigo pried him off.
He saw the apartment door jarred open a tiny bit and Arata quietly let himself inside. He took a few steps until he heard Orihime speak to Rangiku he was guessing. From the sounds of it, she was near the kitchen beside the bathroom door. Judging from her uninterrupted talk, she did not notice the door opening and closing, and Arata's footsteps. He hid behind a nearby wall, listening to their conversation with curiosity.
"I feel fine!" Orihime argued.
"C'mon, tell me all about it. I'm a pretty good listener" Rangiku offered behind the bathroom door.
"Oh... I'm fine! Really" the teen continued to insist.
'Don't tell me she has another personal problem. Will I need to move out again for her to sort it out?' Arata inwardly groaned. Deep down though, he was bothered by the fact she was bothered. It was just like when she was afraid of his eyes. It was an unexplainable aversion for Arata as he never gave a damn about anyone and their problems. 'Perhaps after all this time living with her, I developed the same sense of care for her as she had for me; the host cares about her hosted and vice versa. Makes total sense. Entirely plausible' he reasoned.
Orihime was in her head as she recalled the memory of Ichigo's vow and hand how Rukia and Arata played a hand in it. She was happy of course that Ichigo was no longer feeling down, but it displayed her adequacies and how much of a burden she felt she was. "Rukia is... really something, isn't she? And believe or not, Arata is a great man, kicking others to be their absolute best. With just a few kicks in the right direction, they were able to snap Ichigo right out of his funk". Her toes crunched at the feeling of uselessness in her stomach. "I was feeling down for awhile, but they got him going again. I... I guess I'm pretty terrible, aren't I?"
'No, you aren't. Quit feeling like this' admonished Arata within his mind.
"I really wanted Ichigo to cheer up. It's all I wanted. And I thought that was all I really wanted at the time, but when Rukia came back and Arata decided to step in, and they cheer up Ichigo, I should've been happy but yet... I couldn't do it. But it was great and yet...". She then started to tear up. "And yet... and yet... in truth, I feel jealous. I wish I didn't! Rukia's kind and gentle, strong and beautiful! And Arata's unshakable and confident, powerful and ready! They raised Ichigo's spirits and share a special chemistry with him! I like them a lot, but I shouldn't... feel this... way..." she cried as she wallowed in her own self pity and despair.
It was then that Arata had enough. He quietly walked in front of the despair-absorbed teen. "Orihime," he spoke firmly, startling her and Rangiku from his sudden appearance. "Quit your self-deprecation. Right. Now"
"But-... But Arata, I-"
"Stop comparing yourselves to others and finding faults to despair over. So you're not Rukia Kuchiki and you're not me, but why should that matter? You're you. If you desire to help Ichigo, you shouldn't aspire to help him as a knock-off Rukia or a wannabe me, but as you. As Orihime Inoue. With your own talents, and quirks"
"Arata..." Orihime stared teary-eyed.
"If you desire to help Ichigo, then you must become stronger like how he plans to be. So that he could protect you and everyone he loves. Do you wish to do the same?"
"O-Of course!" she confessed without hesitation.
"Then improve yourself, woman. And you'll see the fruits of your labor with pride"
The bathroom door opened. "My, my, Arata. Who would've thought you were quite the motivational speaker" Rangiku then cut in.
"Rangiku... you're..." Orihime gaped as she realized she was naked.
"Umm... I think you might want to-" Arata started, but wasn't able to finish as he silenced in deadpanned disbelief when the lieutenant suddenly hugged Orihime, iliciting a surprised jumble of noises to come from the girl.
"You're such a silly girl" Rangiku lightly admonished. Orihime silenced, but turned into a laughing mess when the wet and nude Rangiku started ticking the teen.
Arata was at a loss of words. He didn't know if he should walk away or intervene, but... 'Seeing as she isn't being harmed, there is no reason to intervene' and with that, he pulled out one of his new manga volumes and started reading, multi-tasking between reading and listening to the girls.
Her "attack" lasted for half a minute until she stopped as she laid atop Orihime. 'I bet Kon would kill for this' thought Arata.
"You're such a fool. But Arata's right you know. It's essential to be who you are. That means you along with Arata and Rukia. Ichigo is still a kid who hasn't learned how to stand up by himself. That's why he needs all the support he could get"
True to her words, she was a good listener. Arata respected that. 'He'll need to learn soon however. A storm is brewing and he will need to learn how to stand on his own'. As a runaway and before he met Sakura, Arata couldn't trust no one but himself lest he wanted to find himself killed or worse. At the end of the day, it was him against the world. And knowing he had the ability to face the world equally made him strong.
"What's wrong with being jealous? You're tying your best to come to terms with some very serious emotions, aren't you? We both know that it's easier to run away from these emotions and protect your heart. But look at you Orihime. Standing firm and trying to deal with them, because you're good"
Orihime let her heart run itself, and the tears were the result. Arata paused as he was about to flip a page.
Why... did her words... connect?
No, he denied. The heart was a poison, as was the emotions that bleed from it. He was hitokiri, an executioner, and fighter. A bringer of death. People like him had no use of hearts. They would only get in the way. He was stronger since he threw away that useless thing which human valued so much. 'What an overrated ideal' he internally scoffed.
"Poor girl! My bosom is your pillow. Let it all pour out!" Rangiku soothed as Orihime hugged her. She rubbed her head and looked over at Arata, who was looking down at Orihime. 'For a killer, he isn't so bad' she praised. "Come here, Arata! Show Orihime your love and support!"
"I'll pass..." he said. Hugging wasn't his forte but unfortunately for him, Rangiku had other plans. His unoccupied hand was free and the strawberry blonde grabbed it and pulled him towards them. He groaned as he unwillingly engaged in this weird group hug. Funny enough though, when he did and wrapped his arms arounds the crying girl, his annoyance was slightly quelled. "You do realize you're still naked, right?" Arat pointed out as he patted Rangiku's uncovered back, illustrating his point.
The woman didn't seem too bothered however as she said, "Don't sweat the small stuff. Just keep showing your love!
1.) Omake: Honored Warriors Illustrated Picture Book
After that whole emotional episode, Rangiku finally decided to clothe herself.
Thanks to Arata and the the lieutenant, she was feeling really good and decided to cook for tonight to welcome Rangiku's stay. Arata insisted to help, but Orihime insisted back she could handle it herself
Food finally arrived, and it was so bizarre Arata didn't know how to describe it. Out of respect for its cook, he ate it, but not without feeling a myriad of flavors that somehow contradicted and worked with each other. He forced his body to swallow. Hi mind and stomach were so confused, he didn't know whether it was edible or not. It was in an uncomfortable middle ground.
"This is so good!" Rangiku exclaimed. Arata turned to her, but did not find her green in sickness, but glowing in happiness. "Arata, I can't believe you get to dine like this almost eveyrday. I'm so jealous! Can we switch places?"
Orihime took the praise in stride. "If you like that, just wait until I bring out deserts!"
Rangiku squealed like a kid in a candy store while Arata gaped at the two of them. 'Either my stomach is just weak theirs are just outrageously strong, I have no clue. Wait. Did she just say deserts?"
2.) Omake: Honored Warriors Illustrated Picture Book
Nnoitra laid in bed bruised and resting. Tesra walked in with a cup of water and some chicken noodle soup.
"Where's Sakura?" Nnoitra groaned.
His fraccione shrugged in response as he placed the food on the bedside table. "I don't know. When I asked if she was going to visit you, she said she would later, saying 'she and a cat were gonna go on adventure', or something like that"
When Tesra turned to look at Nnoitra, he flinch when he saw his master looking at him with shocked, envy-filled eyes. "M-Master Nnoitra, is everything all right-?"
"NEE-CHAN, WAIT FOR ME!" the Espada yelled as he clamored out of bed. However, due to his wounds and the bedding around his feet, he didn't go so far and fell flat on his face. "Nee-chan, why do you gotta hog the fun yourself?!" his muffled voice cried in outrage.
