Wow. 90 chapters. I cant believe we've come so far. I thank you all so much for the support you've given this story over the years, it means a lot. Well, I wont waste any of your time. Onto the chapter!
Thanks once again to Greatkingrat88 (for writing) and jcampbellohten (for being our Beta)
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun!
"Are you serious?"
Ichigo's voice, incredulous, cut through the morning air with an equal mixture of indignation and frustration. Whatever he had expected when Erza had summoned him early in the morning, it had not been this. Kuchiki Byakuya, summoned alongside the incredulous youth, was better composed, but his body language betrayed some surprise- and, given his nature, quite likely just as much indignation as the protesting teenager.
"Of course I'm serious," said Erza. "There's a war coming; I do not make jokes about this city's defense."
"Commander," said Byakuya, "I must object in the strongest possible terms. This would be a criminal waste of my time. As a captain, I am bound by duties far greater than this."
"What, like sitting on your rear end doing paperwork when you aren't patrolling the town waiting for something to happen?" Erza said bluntly.
"Commander-"
"Christ, Erza," said Ichigo, interrupting the nobleman, earning him a venomous glare that he either failed to notice or ignored, "you can't seriously expect this uptight snob to actually teach me kido!"
"…I concur," said Byakuya, sounding mildly revolted at the words coming out of his mouth. "Commander, I urge you to reconsider."
"Listen here, you two," said Erza firmly. "Ichigo, when we fought, what screwed you over was a lack of diversity in your fighting style. Sure, you're really fast and strong, and you have those freakish hollow powers, but it's stupid to limit your potential to that. You need more options. I'm a better fighter than you and so is Byakuya, here-"
Ichigo's scowl intensified at the insult, and although Byakuya was above smug remarks, Erza noticed his lip curl upward for just a second, probably more at the insult Ichigo had taken rather than at the praise of being better.
"-because we're both multifaceted in our approach to combat. You can't just brute force your way through every battle."
"'S worked so far," Ichigo said stubbornly.
Erza gave him a mean stare and scowled right back. "Ichigo, all hell will break loose soon enough. A war is coming to this town. Now, you've chosen to make yourself part of that…"
"It's my home!" said Ichigo angrily. "Of course I'm part of it!"
"…and you're going to be part of it in a way that makes sense, or not at all," said Erza, just as stubborn as her student. "This is non-negotiable. If you're going to fight alongside us, then you will damn well improve your skill set."
"You can't be serious!" Ichigo objected again, throwing his hands up in the air. "I'm already spending ten hours a week training to keep this hollow under wraps, and now you want to throw this at me? How am I supposed to handle school?"
"You found time to hang out with shady types after school, didn't you? If you have time for that, you can make time for this."
"Hey, that's a low blow," said Ichigo, seeming to deflate a little.
"Ichigo, I had to hurt you real bad. Now, that didn't feel good, injuries aside," said Erza fiercely, "but it also gave me an idea of your strength. Believe you me, you need to do better if you're going to take on Aizen's horde side-by-side with the rest of us."
"…As much as it pains me to do so, I concur," said Byakuya, "but I fail to see why the burden of teaching him these skills should fall to me."
"You are particularly skilled with kido, are you not?" said Erza.
"Certainly," said Byakuya, "but-"
"I'll remind you that not long ago, you faced disciplinary action," said Erza, pointing a finger at him. "Speaking of, how is therapy?"
"…I am set for another session this evening," Byakuya said stiffly.
"Really?" said Ichigo. "You're doing therapy now? That sounds hilarious-"
"Ichigo, do shut up," said Erza. "Now, Captain Kuchiki, do you recall that I said I would mete out further punishment for your transgressions?"
"Of course," said Byakuya, "but commander-"
"This will be your punishment. If you are able to successfully teach this hot-headed, thick-skulled maniac some kido, I'll know for certain that you have changed for the better- that you put the team ahead of your own issues."
"Commander-"
"Unless, of course, you object to punishment due," said Erza, steel in her voice, "and reject this disciplinary action. Do you reject it, Captain Kuchiki?"
"…Of course not, commander," said Byakuya after a slight pause. "I will not disobey an order given."
"Wow, you really got him pinned down, huh?" said Ichigo. "How'd that happen?"
"At least he knows how to take a damn order," Erza grunted.
"Commander, I suggest a more traditional form of punishment," Byakuya cut in. "Perhaps a flogging? It would be far simpler to punish me in that manner."
Erza sighed. "You'd rather get whipped bloody than teach him some damn kido?"
Byakuya gave Ichigo a look like Ichigo was something that he'd scraped off the sole of his sandal. His silence spoke volumes.
"Well, suck it up, the both of you," said Erza. "This is an order, and if you have a problem with it… I don't care."
"Technically I'm not part of the shinigami fighting force…" Ichigo protested lamely.
"You know what? You're right," said Erza, her voice deceptively mild. "I'll just go to Masaki and tell her that you're not giving this whole thing your all, and that you should probably stay out of it."
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" Ichigo said quickly. "There's no need for that, okay?"
"Excellent," said Erza. "Then I expect the both of you to spend two hours every evening- after school has ended, of course- learning and teaching kido, respectively. Ichigo, I expect you to apply yourself. Captain Kuchiki, I expect you to do the same. Is this clear?"
"Yes, commander," said Byakuya, defeated.
"Yes, Erza," Ichigo muttered irritably.
"Excellent. Very well, then; dismissed!"
Ichigo and Byakuya exchanged glances as they parted ways, and they were not friendly. Ichigo looked like he had just eaten a lemon, and Erza felt confident Byakuya had the same general sentiment hidden under his stoic expression.
This might backfire. Then again, Ichigo might also pick up a vital skill, and it would serve Byakuya some humble pie, something he was most certainly due.
Aizen took some pleasure in this ritual; there was no denying it. Perched on his throne, high above his subjects, he was the centre of attention. So many powerful beings, all cowering before him, waiting on his every word… yes, this was how it was supposed to be.
He brought himself back to reality. It would not do to lose oneself to self-indulgent reveries. He had summoned his subjects, and, he decided, he had kept them waiting long enough.
"My children," he said, his voice calm and benevolent, "as you may be aware, some regrettable setbacks have left us with a couple of positions vacant in my hierarchy of espadas. After the heinous treason of Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez-"
At the mention of the traitor's name, a set of angry murmurs passed through the room, and Aizen smiled to himself, briefly. He had made his feelings on the subject clear, and it pleased him that his subordinates had picked up on it.
"After this treason, Lanza Valiente assumed his position as septimo. Recently, we also lost Yami Rialgo in combat. A brave, noble, and worthy death, but a death nonetheless."
This elicited no reactions. Yami had been a brute, a simpleton, a gorilla, and his presence was not missed.
"As such, it is time that I introduce you to two new brothers to fill the ranks," said Aizen. He gestured at the door with his hand. "Please, enter."
On his cue, two arrancar walked through the doors. They had waited on his call; both of them knew already what was coming. None of this would come as a surprise to them.
They took their time, as instructed. It was quite dramatic, bordering on excessive, but Aizen knew the value of a good sense of formality and ritual. A ceremonial affair such as this lent a sense of credibility to their appointment beyond the rule of violence.
"My children," he said, as the two approached the throne, falling to one knee and bowing deeply, "rise, and let your fellow arrancar know the names you bear."
"Luppi Antenor, sire," said the first arrancar, standing up. He was not tall, and his handsome face coupled with his smooth, half-long black hair and flowing robes lent him an androgynous appearance. His light, soft voice further confused the matter. Only a small hollow fragment adorned the side of his skull, looking more like a stylish comb in the shape of a thin jaw fragment than a bony mask.
It was strange, and a lazier observer might have mistaken his mannerisms and appearance for weakness, but Aizen knew better. Under the handsome, articulate shell there lay the heart of a vicious killer.
"Zancrow, sire," said the other arrancar. His voice was noticeably deeper, but the contrast to his effeminate companion did not end there. Most of his muscular chest was exposed, wild, blond locks cascaded from his shoulders, and a cruel sneer seemed permanently etched to his face. Two bony ridges ran along the side of his face, halfway covered by his hair, little spikes jutting out. He carried a blade by his side, a long and thick weapon.
"Luppi Antenor, Zancrow," said Aizen benevolently, "you have proven to me your strength in the fighting pits. You emerged the victors, strongest in the championship games."
The games were a hollow tradition. In place of the relentless violence that the wastes offered, Barragan had, as king, instituted regular fighting games that more often than not ended in death. Personally, Aizen would rather not have engaged in such barbarism, but hollows were as hollows were. Besides, it had determined beyond doubt who the strongest candidates were.
"Your strength is well known, as is your cunning, your might, your deviousness, and your iron will, all aspects any hollow must master to climb the ladder and gain the strength they need to live. As such," he continued, "I bestow unto you, Luppi Antenor, the rank of octavo, and you, Zancrow, the rank of noveno."
"You honour me, sire," said Luppi, with a wry smile. "I will not disappoint you."
"Just point me at the closest shinigami, and there'll be carnage," said Zancrow.
"Save your eagerness for war, noveno," Aizen said reservedly, "but rest assured that you will slake your thirst sooner rather than later."
"That's all I ask… sire," said Zancrow, giving Aizen a sly look. Aizen was unimpressed. This one was a simpleton as much as Yami, too ruthless to even hide his ambitions.
After the ceremony had concluded, the arrancar mingled together throughout the vast throne room. Even in their human shapes, they followed the same patterns as they always had, forming little packs, always looking over their shoulders. Like animals, all of them, thought Aizen, as he descended from his throne. They would make workable tools, but with a few notable exceptions, the arrancar were all worthless as anything but fodder for the fields of war. He approached the smallest pack of all; Halibel, Neliel and Lanza, all surrounded by their fracciones, each one keeping a respectful distance from their masters as the three espada spoke amongst themselves.
Even they were, on some level, thralls to the same compulsive behaviours that every other hollow displayed.
"Lord," said Halibel, bowing respectfully. Her companions quickly followed suit, the fracciones around them dropping to one knee. Aizen was pleased, but willed away the temptation to indulge in their submission.
"Lanza," he said, "a word, if I may?"
"Certainly, lord," said Lanza, eagerly walking up to his master. Aizen led him away from the group, along the wall, where it was darker and some distance away from anyone who might hear. Great pillars cast their shadows, and in the shade Aizen clasped his hands behind his back and put on a serious expression, less dignified and more matter-of-fact.
"Lanza," said Aizen, as they walked slowly together, "the mission. Have you familiarized yourself with the layout of Karakura, as I instructed you?"
"As well as I have been able in the time since, lord," said Lanza. "I have taken time aside to study it. I believe I would find my way there well enough. I know also what places to avoid… and the target you wish for me to investigate."
Aizen nodded. "I knew my trust in you was not misplaced, my septimo," he said, and felt content when he saw the pride in the arrancar's face. Oh, how easy he was to manipulate.
"When do I leave, sire?" asked Lanza.
"Within the hour. You must employ stealth, tact, and caution. Your very life will be on the line. I will cast an enchantment on you to conceal your spiritual pressure, but even so you must be very careful. The shinigami patrol the city on a regular basis. If you are spotted…"
"I will not be, lord," Lanza assured him, "but if I understand it correctly… this is not about the shinigami at all."
"No," said Aizen, his voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, "it is the quincies that matter. War is almost upon us, and I want no loose ends. You have your instructions. Find them, and find out what they're doing."
"I swear it will be done, sire," said Lanza enthusiastically.
"Meet me in my office in half an hour," said Aizen. "I will cast the enchantment then, and provide you with a location to start, outside their monitoring patterns."
"Your will be done, lord," said Lanza enthusiastically.
Aizen smiled and nodded, before fading away, taking his time walking to his office. Meanwhile, Lanza headed back a few paces, and leaned his back against a pillar. He had no hesitations about what he was going to do, but he did feel… fear. A healthy dose of it. Last time he had gone, he had nearly been killed. Worse, his fracciones- his friends- had nearly paid the price.
"It's time, isn't it?"
It was Loly, her expression severe, none of her usual childishness present.
"You didn't listen in, did you?" said Lanza sharply.
"Do you think the great and powerful Lord Aizen would have let me?"
Lanza eased up. True enough; his lord would never have missed that.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"You're leaving now, aren't you?" said Loly quietly.
"I'll come back."
"It'll be dangerous, won't it?"
"…Yeah," Lanza muttered, "but I'll be fine."
Loly took a sudden couple of steps forward, taking his hands in hers.
"Please be okay," she said pleadingly. "I don't think I could go on if you- if you-"
"I won't," he said firmly.
"I just thought I'd say…" She trailed off and took a breath. "Well, I feel… I mean, you know."
"I know," he said, nodding and giving her hands a squeeze. "I've got to get going now, alright?" he said, letting go. "Give Menoly and the others my best."
"You'll come back, won't you?"
"You worry too much," he said evasively, and turned around. "See you later, Loly. I will see you later."
Although, truth be told, Lanza knew he couldn't be too sure.
Training usually entailed some pretty considerable strain on Uryu's part, but at the moment he was strangely relaxed. His muscles were, at least; his mind was being strained something terrible.
"And, if you are being cornered by an opponent with superior movement speed?" the paladin insisted.
"Paladin Lamperd, you have asked me a variation of that question a dozen times already," Uryu said, fidgeting in his seat. They had met out in the park, and although Paladin Lamperd was as impeccably dressed as any of her fellow knights, she seemed entirely comfortable on the mossy log the both of them were seated on.
She was very, very strange. Perhaps not on her own; in a vacuum, a youthful, enthusiastic girl with energy to spare would not have been difficult to wrap one's mind around. But, if one added the fact that she was probably much older than Uryu, and more powerful, and a leading member of its military leadership, and intensely knowledgeable about strategy…
When added all together, it made for a very strange mixture. She had insisted on taking the time today to not train at all, despite Meninas' objections, opting instead to test Uryu's knowledge on military matters- which, of course, was best described as 'limited' if one felt charitable. It was a little bizarre to run through one potential scenario after another, no matter how grisly or gruesome, by somebody this bright and cheery. Such matters he might have expected of a grim and grizzled veteran. Uryu realized he still had much to learn about the Wandenritter, and that false appearances of age was just one of them.
"One more time. Cornered, outnumbered, with no way out."
"Paladin," Uryu objected, "I do not possess even basic knowledge on the subject. The closest I have ever gotten to commanding forces is playing Age of Empires II."
"An excellent game," said Liltotto. "Aged really well. But, that's beside the point."
"It is not, Lil," said Meninas, pouting. She had stayed in the background, scowling fiercely. "He has no idea about these… silly theoreticals of yours. You learn to walk before you run, and he hasn't even learned how to crawl yet!"
"Firstly," said Liltotto, turning to look at Meninas, "that's Sir Lamperd, if you please. Secondly, they are not silly. The Lord Commander has designed them himself."
"Paladin, I am not quite sure I understand the purpose," said Uryu, his tone conciliatory. "What use is tactics and strategy beyond use on a personal level, to a man with no soldiers to command?"
"A knight," said Liltotto, looking back at Uryu, "must be skilled at more than just the art of a blade. Surely you learned this much?"
"Of course," said Uryu. "Chivalry, honour, ethics, good manners, artistry: all areas a good knight should have some degree of mastery in. A knight is set apart from a mere warrior because he- or she- is a multifaceted individual with an appreciation for life outside the martial."
"Somebody did pay attention," said Liltotto brightly. "Now, artistry, ethics, all of that- it's all well and good, but we learn also more practical skills. Understanding the basics of tactics is required for any member of our order. As you are trained as if you were to be one of us, you will learn this, too. It will be to your benefit."
"I am not sure how, paladin," Uryu objected, careful to not sound disrespectful.
Liltotto spoke slowly, as if taking some time to think of how best to put what she was about to say. "Children normally object to learning mathematics in school, do they not?"
"Not me," said Uryu, "but yes, I know what you mean. They find it… boring. Too complicated."
"Too complicated, and with no apparent use. And most people do not have use for more than rudimentary mathematics. But, all the same, the knowledge enriches them. It forces them to flex their muscles. Not here," she said, gesturing to one of her rather thin arms, "but up here." This time she pointed at her forehead.
"The mind, too, is a muscle. If not properly exercised, it will grow limp and weak. If not stretched and challenged from every angle, it cannot reach its full potential. That, young Uryu, is why we learn, aside from just practical necessity."
"I… see," Uryu said, not quite sure how to refute it. Truth be told, he'd much rather push himself further on the field, training the accuracy of his bow and of his movements.
"As much as I agree with the paladin," said Haschwalth politely, having stood in the background in silence until then, "perhaps it is worth reconsidering the approach?"
"What is the issue, grand master?" said Liltotto, sounding a little concerned. "I was selected for particular tactical skill, was I not?"
"Be at ease," Haschwalth said with a smile, making a conciliatory gesture with his hand. "Nobody doubts your qualifications in that field, Sir Lamperd. But, perhaps you are not as well versed in the skill of tutoring? To be good at one thing does not make one skilled at teaching it. I mean no offense, but perhaps running through one tactical after another may not be effective? The boy is, after all, quite inexperienced. You are used to discussing these things at a high level- but perhaps you ought to try to talk to him as if he is not quite there?"
Liltotto looked at Haschwalth cautiously.
"I'll listen if you take the time to make it understandable," said Uryu reassuringly.
Liltotto took a second to think, then nodded. "Alright," she said, "like you are a first year. Clueless. No offense intended."
"None taken," said Uryu.
"Very well," said Liltotto. "Let's establish a baseline. What do you know about strategy?"
"Not a lot," admitted Uryu. "I haven't exactly memorized The Art of War."
"It's overrated," Liltotto murmured, "but that's beside the point. Alright. So, the first thing to keep in mind is: what do I want to accomplish, and how can I accomplish it? The heart of it is actually quite simple, no matter how complex the surrounding framework may be…"
Uryu made an effort to listen. It took some help from Haschwalth, but with time, something more sensible began to emerge. There was no real training that day, but in the end, it did not feel like time wasted.
In the afternoon, with most of her duties covered, Erza had decided to check in on Grimmjow. He had, surprisingly, come back before his deadline had ended, albeit by a very narrow margin. What his gigai had recorded, though, was worth discussing. She was surprised to find Yoruichi waiting for her in the spacious cellar, a grin on her face.
"What are you doing here?" asked Erza, walking briskly toward Grimmjow's usual space.
"No reason," said Yoruichi coyly, "except I saw what he was up to last night, and I did not want to miss this."
Erza made a face. "Spying on that sort of thing? Don't you have anything better to do?"
"As a trusted ally and confidant," said Yoruichi with a chortle, "I am well within my rights to observe surveillance that you ordered to be set up in the first place."
Erza rolled her eyes. "Have it your way, then."
"I usually do," said Yoruichi, a little smug.
They found Grimmjow, loitering with his back leaned against a rock, a confident grin on his face. He had his heads clasped behind his head, and looked the very picture of false innocence. Worse, of course, was the fact that strictly speaking, he was innocent, as much as a being of his calibre could be.
"Grimmjow," said Erza, nodding curtly as the two of them approached, halting a few yards away.
"Something the matter, Red?" said Grimmjow, not even bothering to look her way.
"We, er," said Erza, clearing her throat. "We, uh, reviewed the footage from last night…"
"I got back in time, I did," said Grimmjow quickly. "Two whole minutes to spare; that's what that skinny bitch told me when she hauled me back down here."
"…Yes," said Erza. "That's not the issue."
"Then what is?"
"We have to discuss some… human rules," said Erza, shifting uncomfortably. Grimmjow seemed to sense the awkwardness, because his grin widened.
"Such as?" he said innocently.
"Look, last night, we didn't expect… I mean, I figured you might go out for a drink, or something," said Erza, "maybe socialize a little. Actually, I had no idea what I expected… just not that."
"What's that?" Grimmjow said.
"You know…"
"The one with the naked lady," said Yoruichi, grinning.
"Oh, that part," said Grimmjow, as if he only just remembered. He suddenly stood up with the swiftness of an animal, staring Erza in the face. "Yeah, that was pretty fun."
"Looks like it was," said Yoruichi.
"See, I figured humans were boring as fuck," said Grimmjow, taking a few steps closer, "but me, I'd totally forgotten they could do that. So, yeah. When's my next outing?"
"About that," said Erza, forcing herself to focus and push through the awkwardness, "there are some… ground rules. A lot of them, actually. About… sex."
"That's what it's called?"
"Among other things," Yoruichi chimed in.
"Balls to that, don't tell me there's a million of those dumb rules," Grimmjow muttered.
"There are," said Erza firmly, "and the most important one is that you cannot, under any circumstances, force, manipulate, or coerce anyone into doing something against their will-"
"Against their will?" Grimmjow laughed. "Shit, I could barely get her off me!"
"…Still, that is the most important rule," said Erza, "and about the other rules…"
"Which she doesn't know, because she's not actually good at this," said Yoruichi, "but, well… you'll figure it out. Come to think of it, you probably don't need to worry about these rules as much."
"Huh?" said Grimmjow.
"By human standards, you're attractive," Yoruichi explained, sizing him up. "Quite attractive, actually. And, well, being attractive usually means you get a pass on a lot of things in human society."
"…So, you're telling me," said Grimmjow, as if he'd just had an epiphany, "there's a set of asshole rules I don't gotta bother with because humans find this," he said, gesturing to his chiselled torso, "attractive? Really?"
"Yup," said Yoruichi.
"Gee, thanks," Erza said sarcastically.
"You're welcome," said Yoruichi smugly.
"Now that I think about it, I told her I was a killer, and she seemed even more into me after that…" Grimmjow muttered.
"Listen, you," said Erza, the authority in her tone undermined by a faint blush that had worked its way onto her face. "You still have to play nice, or there will be no more outings, and you will have to earn them by working hard, and-"
"Yeah, yeah. I gotcha," said Grimmjow dismissively. "No forcing anyone to do nothing they don't want, be a good boy. That about it?"
"That's oversimplifying it-"
"What, I do something wrong?" said Grimmjow, cocking his head. "Betting I didn't. Betting if I did, I'd be eating dirt right now. That haunt you, Red? That you can't punish me?"
"I can still make you eat dirt, you little bastard," Erza said heatedly.
"Alright, alright, don't push it," said Yoruichi, chuckling. "Quit while you're ahead, arrancar."
"Fine by me," said Grimmjow, sitting down again, shooting Erza another grin. The smugness he exuded made Erza wish her morals didn't stop her from abusing her power.
"Well… you think about that," said Erza, knowing her dignity had officially been lost, "or else. If you take even a single step out of line…"
"I won't. Bein' good finally means somethin'," said Grimmjow, leaning back again. "Carrot and stick, am I right?"
"…Yeah," said Erza, turning around. "Alright, well… Yoruichi, let's go."
"See ya," said Yoruichi, giving the arrancar a casual wave good-bye.
Erza grit her teeth as they walked away. "Thanks for having my back," she grumbled at Yoruichi once they were out of earshot. Yoruichi laughed.
"Come on, it's a little funny," she said. "Really, you needed me there. You handled that pretty badly on your own."
"You weren't helping!"
"Look," said Yoruichi, "he went out, he had a good time, nobody got hurt, and now he's more compliant than ever. Isn't that a win?"
"Well, if you put it that way…" Erza said grudgingly.
"I do put it that way."
"You don't have to be so damn proud of it," Erza muttered. "Not all of us are that… experienced."
"You know," said Yoruichi soberly, "there's really nothing stopping you from gaining some experience of your own."
Erza's blush, which had mostly faded, returned. Yoruichi had to have noticed, because there was that chuckle again. Eager to change the subject, Erza said, "Anyway, how are things with you and Soifon? I would have thought she'd be spending some time with you after all that. She was almost unraveling when… well, you know."
The mirth in Yoruichi's face faded at the mention of her former protégé. "I… haven't spoken to her since," Yoruichi murmured. "I uh, I think she wants some space. So, that's what I'm giving her."
"Not to meddle- actually, why shouldn't I, when you do it all the time? So, yes, to meddle, that sounds a bit weird. Everyone else can't seem to get enough of each other right now. Isane and Nemu spent most of yesterday night in each other's arms. Byakuya and Rukia are still going on patrols together. Even Momo and I…"
"Well, we're all different," said Yoruichi evasively.
"Yoruichi, what's going on?" said Erza, honestly concerned.
"Look," said Yoruichi, stopping the walk, "I don't think she wants to be around me right now."
She sounded nervous, and she had folded her arms across her chest.
"I mean, you know our past, right? Right now… I'm sure she doesn't feel too happy with me."
Erza blinked. "That makes no sense. It wasn't your fault any more than it was anyone else's."
"Yeah, well… we'll deal with it, okay?" said Yoruichi. "I don't want to talk about it. Let's keep moving, yeah?"
"…Sure," said Erza. "If you say so."
"I do say so."
The spell had been cast, and Jellal, dressed in bland fatigues with an indistinct beige colour- Lord Aizen had said all white would attract too much attention, something Lanza could not disagree with- had slipped into the world of the living. He had spent a good four hours making his way toward his destination on foot; he had entered well outside Karakura, well outside the sentries set in place by the shinigami. His reiatsu working at a bare minimum, he had walked, jogged, and occasionally run toward the coordinates Lord Aizen had marked out for investigation.
The enchantment cast seemed to have done the trick. Most humans paid him no mind, as expected, but more importantly, neither had any shinigami. It came at a cost, though- the extreme suppression of his reiatsu was quite uncomfortable, and it made Lanza feel like his skin was a suit wrapped too tightly around too much flesh, like he'd burst into pieces at any second. It had made him weaker, slower, but he knew it was necessary. He could barely handle a single captain for any amount of time, and three of them were already stationed here. Detection would mean death if he could not escape in time. Death- or worse, imprisonment. To be robbed of Lord Aizen's great purpose.
He shook his head, forcing such thoughts away. He had a mission to focus on, one that did not involve shinigami.
In time, he approached the area where Lord Aizen had spied these anomalous spiritual signatures. There had been several sites, such as Karakura Park, but this run-down area with half-ruined buildings awaiting demolition was the most prominent, and thus the place to start. It was certainly as good a place to hide as one might ask for, at least in a human city such as this. There was the odd pedestrian walking by, but by and large it seemed deserted.
Slowly, meticulously, Lanza made his way through the first building, taking his time to sense. Even with his power suppressed, he retained the ability to sense for other sources; such was the genius nature of the spell his lord had cast. To his frustration, though, the first building he went through yielded nothing but faint traces. Neither did the second. The third, however…
Just as Lanza slipped through the cellar level, working his way upward, he felt it. A number of powerful signatures, fairly well hidden and at rest, but unmistakable at this close a distance. He tensed, crouched low, and kept absolutely still, fearful they might have sensed him. He sat there in the quiet, in the dark, just waiting to be found, the beats of his heart pounding like a jackhammer. Minutes passed, though, and the signatures remained at rest. Lanza stayed still all the same, just to be sure.
He had never sensed quincy reiatsu before. It was a completely new experience, and it felt… bizarre. Their energies were odd. Neatly structured, well contained, everything appearing to flow in predictable patterns, with almost nothing going to waste. An arrancar's signature, by comparison, would seem messy and chaotic, thrumming with excessive force. Even the more controlled, precise energies of a shinigami seemed disorderly by comparison. Only in Lord Aizen had Lanza ever sensed such meticulous control over one's own energies. It was so distinctly human, too; a great wealth of spiritual energy shackled to the physical form of a mortal still very much alive. It was bizarre, but also very impressive.
Slowly, after Lanza was sure nothing seemed awry, he began making his way up. He felt their energies a few floors above, and decided to cautiously advance on them. Information was the key here. Lord Aizen would want to know how many, and how powerful they were. He would want to know their business here, which would mean being close enough to listen in on them.
After getting out of the cellar, Lanza found a window, and looked out. There was an old bit of piping, a little rusted but still looking sturdy enough. Carefully, Lanza began to scale the side of the building, until he had reached one level above the signatures. Without making a noise, he slipped back inside the building, and found an open window just above the quincies. Quietly, he sat down there.
He was in luck. The quincies, too, had kept a window open. It was warm outside, and so they had decided to let some air in. Lanza, quiet as a mouse, focused and began to listen in.
"It's just not fair, okay?" came a petulant voice, indignant. "I came here to get outta that old place, so why do I have to stay cooped up here?"
"Why don't you go to your room and entertain yourself?" came another voice, sarcastic. "That porn you bought has got to be good for something, right?"
"Whatever, Liltotto," came the first voice. "Those things get old real fast. Now, if I could go out on the town, maybe hit a bar, find someone who's willing to show a gal a good time…"
"I told you, paladin," came a third voice, calm, confident, and with a tone whose maturity starkly contrasted the first, "for the time being, we are to stay inside. It would not do to endanger the mission."
"You suck!" said the first voice.
"Please don't talk to him that way," said a fourth voice, gentle and feminine.
Lanza, listening intently, felt a little disappointed. There was little to gauge from this. Their conversation seemed mostly trivial. What would he return to Lord Aizen with if he left right now? Four quincies, powerful to… some extent? One of which had a penchant for erotica? The only interesting thing he had yet gleamed was the fact that there was actually a mission there. He furrowed his brows. Patience. He could not expect to find good information easily or quickly.
"How about this," said the mature voice, whom Lanza assumed was the one in charge. "I'll allow a quick excursion, assuming of course that you keep a very low profile, on one condition."
"Yeah?" came the petulant voice, eager.
"Pest control."
"Ooh," said the petulant voice, and Lanza could feel her reiatsu flare a little with excitement. "I'm always up for squishing a rat."
"Alive," clarified the mature voice.
"Spoilsport," muttered the immature voice.
Rats? It made enough sense that a building like this would have them, but it was anything but interesting-
The next moment, the section of floor Lanza was stood on collapsed, and he was sent hurtling down in a cloud of debris and dust. Lanza coughed, rolling across the floor, and realized that they hadn't been talking about actual rats. As he made to get to his feet, he felt a boot planted on his chest, and the thrum of power from a weapon. He blinked, and saw a black-haired woman with a confident grin aiming a bow and arrow at his skull.
"Put 'em up, or I'll turn your head to paste," she said with gleeful cheer, and Lanza recognized her as the immature one. Slowly, he put his hands over his head.
As the dust settled, he saw them. Two more women, as he'd deduced from listening in, both of them standing nearby, looked intently at him. Lastly, there was the man who had spoken with such confidence, sitting in a ragged armchair of sorts. Unlike his companions, who wore what looked like conventional attire, he was dressed in fine plate mail.
"I believe introductions are in order," he said.
"Yeah, shithead. Give us your name, and if you try anything I'll be happy to kill ya," said the woman with her boot on Lanza's chest. "Make my day, punk. Do ya feel lucky?"
"He doesn't get that reference, stupid," said one of the girls, the sarcastic voice from before.
"Bambietta, Liltotto," said the man, "you are knights- and on duty, at that. Do act accordingly."
"Yes, sir," said the two of them in unison, although the one with the boot rolled her eyes a little.
"Now," said the man, standing up, "introductions. I am Sir Jugram Haschwalth. These are my companions, Sir Liltotto Lamperd, Sir Bambietta Basterbine, and Sir Meninas McAllon. And you, sir?"
"L-Lanza," said Lanza, coughing a little at the settling dust. "Lanza Valiente."
"I must congratulate you, Valiente," said the man- Jugram- gently. "You managed to come fairly close before we sensed you. It took some twenty yards before we knew you were here."
"Too bad we saw you coming from a mile away," snorted Bambietta.
"How?" asked Lanza.
"Security cameras, dummy," said Bambietta, rolling her eyes. "We saw you coming out of the other building. Just waited for you to find us."
"Security… cameras?" said Lanza, suddenly feeling very stupid.
"One of the best parts of being human," said Jugram, a small smile on his face, "is the advantages that technological progress brings with it. Such as cameras, for instance. Now, with the pleasantries settled… Bambietta, please take your boot off our guest. Do allow the man the dignity to at least stand."
Grudgingly, Bambietta obeyed, and Lanza stood up, warily eyeing the four of them. Casting off the concealment spell would restore his powers, but it would take some time for them to return properly- and more importantly, it would set every shinigami in the town on his position. Besides, he doubted these people could be overcome even if he had his strength. For now, his best bet was to play along.
"For the record," said Bambietta, "you're not really our guest, because we don't shoot guests in the face if they misbehave."
"I… I get it," Lanza muttered.
"Now, tell me," said Jugram, eyeing Lanza carefully, "what does Aizen Sousuke want with us, that he sends his lackeys to spy on us?
"I'd never betray my lord!" Lanza said fiercely, his face twisting into an angry frown.
"Wanna put that to the test?" said Bambietta with a malicious grin. "It's easy to talk big, but lots of tough-talking big boys crumble the moment you put a knife to their skin."
"Try me!" Lanza snarled. "I was raised in the wastes of Hueco Mundo. There is no pain you can inflict on me that I haven't already felt!"
"Bullshit, there ain't!"
"Bambietta, please," said Jugram, making a conciliatory gesture. "Please, forgive my junior knight. She has a… colourful personality. Rest assured we have no intention to torture you. We're not animals. It would be abysmal for a knight to resort to such underhanded, barbaric methods."
"Knights, huh?" said Lanza, glaring at him. "Must be nice to have all those morals guiding you. Nothing says 'honour' like terrorizing a prisoner."
"To put it simply, and without overcomplicating the principle, good does not mean nice," said Jugram, placing a hand on the hilt of a sword by his side. "This is a cruel world, and to be just, we must be prepared to be ruthless when needs must. You, Valiente, are our captive, and potentially an enemy; I shall not pretend anything else. But, for now, all I want is a conversation. I am not asking you to betray your liege lord. On the contrary, that is an insult to whatever honour a hollow might have."
"Hollows don't have honour," Bambietta said bluntly. "They're lowlife scum that couldn't hack it in life and turned into butchers when they died."
"Paladin…" Jugram said.
"No, she's right," said Lanza.
Bambietta whistled. "See? Even the lowlife agrees with me. Wanna just kill him and get it over with?"
"That is true for most hollows," continued Lanza, "but not all of us. The older and stronger we get, the less bestial we get. There are many hollows who have some honour. Some of my best friends do. Many more would be honourable if they had the chance. To be monstrous is not our choice, knight. It is thrust upon us all by a vicious circle of violence. Lord Aizen has promised to break that circle. That is why I would die for him."
"A hollow who believes in something greater than himself," said Jugram curiously. "Now, that is a first, I must say. I believe you. But, all the same… I cannot let you go without knowing some practicalities. Without violating your duty to your liege lord, Valiente, can you still tell us what brought you here?"
"Use your imagination," said Lanza sullenly.
"All that lets us deduce," said Liltotto, "is that Aizen is aware of our presence here, and desires to know more. Speculating, all I would assume is that he is curious. Possibly hostile, possibly not."
Lanza thought back to what his lord had told him before he left.
"What if they capture me? I will never betray you, Lord Aizen, but if they question me… what am I to tell them?"
"The truth," Aizen had said, quite simply, "that I am concerned about their presence and their intent."
"My lord," Lanza said cautiously, "wishes to know more about you and your kind. I get the sense you represent a bigger organization- and you are all powerful to boot. My lord is… making plans for the future. Plans that are delicate in nature."
"His impending war with the Gotei," said Jugram dismissively. "We know all of it. How he betrayed his vows to his liege lord to usurp him. Disloyal and insidious, but then again, we have no love lost for the Gotei Thirteen."
Lanza nodded. "If you know that much," he said, making a mental note to try to find out how they knew this, "then I can speak frankly. Our lord wishes victory against the Gotei. He has a vision, one that can only be fulfilled with the Gotei's defeat."
Lanza spoke carefully, very carefully, measuring every word. Not a single thing he said could give these people more information than they already knew, or could logically infer themselves with the facts known to them. To betray hidden knowledge even by mistake would be deeply shameful, not to mention potentially disastrous.
"Obviously," said Jugram, nodding along.
"In the complex equation of war," continued Lanza, "your group is an anomaly. The quincies, as you say, have no reason to side with the Gotei- but that does not mean you would not be hostile to us. My lord would know where you stand, knights. Have you come here to undo his design, or simply to watch as your enemies of old unravel? Or, perhaps to wait for the right moment to strike, when our guard is down?"
"You cannot seriously expect a full answer to that," said Liltotto, scoffing. "If we were planning to attack, would we reveal that to you?"
"Our design," said Jugram, "is, as my paladin points out, not knowledge you ought to be privy to. I answer to somebody greater, much as you do, and it would be improper to reveal what his designs are. I feel confident in saying this much, though- we have no interest in this upcoming conflict. We are here in Karakura to train a… prospect. A fellow quincy. That is all I am willing to reveal to you, Valiente."
Lanza nodded. "My lord might not be satisfied with this information."
"Then your lord may choose to communicate more directly than through deceitful spies intent on stealing information like a thief in the night," said Jugram haughtily. "If he should choose to speak with an envoy in true diplomacy… well, who knows what fruit that would bear?"
Lanza nodded. "I believe that is as far as we'll come, then," he said. "I thank you for your courteousness, sir knight."
"Right, right," Bambietta said eagerly, having seemed bored until now. "Now that we know he's just a rat, can we purge him? I'm itching to kill something nasty."
"Paladin, really," said Jugram, sounding a little exasperated, "if I meant to kill him, would I have spent all this time in dialogue?"
"Spoilsport," said Bambietta sullenly.
"Is it wise, though?" said Liltotto. "He knows more now than he ever did before. Keeping this in secret would be beneficial to the mission, I think. His Ma- our lord would prefer that, I think."
"Our lord would not see us murder a helpless prisoner," said Jugram firmly. "Besides, if Aizen Sousuke already knew enough to find us, he was bound to find out. Lanza Valiente, you are free to go. Tell your lord to stop skulking around in the shadows like a coward if he wishes to approach the Wandenritter."
Lanza composed himself, but shot Jugram a steely glare at the insult. "I will tell him as much, knight."
"Good," said Jugram. "Then, make haste away from this place. Liltotto, Meninas, Bambietta, I believe we have spent enough time in one place."
Lanza all but ran out of the room, half-expecting the boisterous paladin to put a bolt in his back as he exited. His heart was pounding, and as he walked out of the room he began to run for real, run until his muscles ached, and he didn't stop until he was several blocks away.
They had been frighteningly powerful. The more he had felt them, the more he was sure of it. They concealed it well, but Lanza was confident. There was a third player in this conflict, one with at least four combatants that matched the power of an espada.
"How are we looking?"
Soifon looked up from her desk. She was a little surprised to realize that she didn't even feel annoyed at being interrupted in her duties; she normally resented interruptions to her workflow, but for some reason, her mind seemed to make an exception for Erza Scarlet. When exactly that had changed, she wasn't sure.
"Caught up on paperwork, commander. I am currently reviewing recent security reports and intelligence briefings from my stealth corps."
"I'm not bothering you, am I?"
To Soifon, she might as well have asked if the sky was pink. Erza was her commanding officer, and one was never too busy to talk to a commanding officer when they wanted to talk. But, it wasn't just that; she didn't even mind it.
"I have some time," she said, slowly putting down the sheets of paper in her hands. "I am ahead of schedule, anyhow."
"Good," said Erza, stepping fully inside Soifon's temporary office, closing the door behind her. "For formality's sake, let's call this a break. You've earned one."
Soifon nodded, a little stiffly. Free time was not something that came naturally to her, although it was growing on her just a little.
"What do you want, then?" she said, hoping she didn't sound rude.
"Oh, nothing," said Erza, shrugging. "Just, um, checking in on a friend."
"Don't try to seem innocuous," said Soifon firmly. "There is something you want to talk to me about. So, talk."
"Alright, alright," Erza said, shrugging, smiling slightly. "I was just wondering how you and Yoruichi are doing."
Soifon froze. "Why do you ask?"
"She told me you hadn't spoken since… the incident. I was just wondering…"
"It's been a busy time for us, and it was what, a couple days ago?" said Soifon, realizing how sharp her tone sounded. "What I mean to say," she continued, forcing her voice to sound calmer, more passive, "is that there's nothing strange going on. I've just been… busy. That's all."
"Right," said Erza, scepticism written across her face.
"If that was all? I don't see what my personal issues have to do with anything. My business is mine to handle."
Erza sighed. "Soifon, I won't push it. I was just a bit… concerned."
"Why?"
"Because group cohesion is vital to a mission like this, and as commander I am responsible for all team members working well, but more importantly, because you're my friend and I worried that you might be having some issues. If I can't help, if you don't want any… fine."
Soifon paused, and stared Erza in the eye. This kind of concern was… outside her usual expertise. Put her in a cell with a criminal, and she'd be in control of the situation. That made sense. But just having somebody caring about her general wellbeing? It felt odd. She didn't know how to handle it, or how to feel about it.
"It's not your problem," she muttered. "It's not something for me to push onto anyone else."
"You're not the one pushing." Erza reminded her gently.
Soifon shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Underneath, a whole host of emotions were making themselves reminded: complicated, hurtful emotions that she had spent most of her life learning to suppress. Venting them… now that she could?
Why not?
"It's… complicated," she said, sighing.
"Alright," said Erza, nodding understandingly.
"When- when I saw her like that, you know?" muttered Soifon, staring out into the distance, fidgeting with a pen, her hands restless. "Yoruichi. My Lady Yoruichi, who I just… only just reconnected with after a lifetime of hating her, to suddenly see her not even know who I was…"
"It hurt you."
"Damned well it did," Soifon snapped. "I doubt the sadistic bastard knew what he was doing, but he cut right where it hurt the most. And later, when I saw her with him, that bastard posing as her protégé? I just…" She balled her fists. "I know how you feel about killing, Erza, but I felt right when I skewered him. He deserved it!"
"Easy, easy," said Erza. "This is not about how that went down. I made the order, and I'll stand by it."
Soifon looked down on her desk, and realized she had shattered the pencil in her hand. She took a deep breath, and continued.
"She came up to me after, you know. She looked… so sad. I just told her this wasn't the time."
"And, you haven't spoken since."
"I just…" Soifon muttered. "It felt like it was back then, all over again. For a lifetime I was abandoned and on my own, and it just hit me again. I felt… betrayed."
"It wasn't her fault."
"I know it wasn't! I'm not stupid," Soifon said angrily. "But…"
That 'but' was where it stopped. There was no real logic beyond this. She knew there wasn't. She'd buried herself in work because of it, because it would hurt to confront it.
"But?" Erza said gently.
"…Well, it's not like she has tried to talk to me, or anything!" Soifon snapped. "How am I supposed to know what she thinks if she doesn't even try? I'm busy! She's not!"
She took in a couple of deep breaths. She knew she was acting like a child, and felt ashamed for having spoken the words.
"Maybe she's thinking the same exact thing?" Erza suggested. "Maybe she's thinking you need your space, and that you'll come to her when you're ready. Someone should take the first step, and it might as well be you."
Soifon glared at her, angry at her lack of a refutation, angry at her own irrationality. "Since when are you a relationship expert?" she grumbled.
"I'm not," said Erza. Then she chuckled. "Well, compared to you…"
Soifon shook her head. "You're being smug, aren't you?"
"I've spent too much time with the wrong kind of crowd," Erza said with a smirk. "Bad influences, and all that."
Soifon grumbled. "I… I know it's not her fault," she said quietly, "but, um… I mean, I'm being stupid. She probably thinks I'm blaming her. That I'm unfair."
"Just talk to her?"
"That's the hard part."
"Look, you're going to have to do it eventually," said Erza, shaking her head. "You can't go through the rest of your life ignoring her. I know you don't want that."
Soifon took another deep breath, then let out an annoyed grunt. "Fine. I'll talk to her."
Erza nodded. "If you think that's what you need to do."
"Of course that's what I need to do," said Soifon. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course I will. I should have already."
Erza nodded again, smiling. She made to leave, when Soifon spoke up again.
"Um… just one thing?"
"Yes?"
"Um. Thanks…" Soifon said, the word feeling unwieldy and odd in her mouth. "It's, um. Well. I mean…"
"I get it," Erza said, smiling brightly. "You're welcome."
"…Good," Soifon said, nodding. As Erza exited, she rapped her fingers against the desk. When the hell had Erza Scarlet, wretched anarchist, ended up becoming her friend?
She saw the bizarre landscape again, sometimes night, sometimes day. It was Tobiume's garden, always shifting, never constant, a monument to change. An outsider would have perceived it as chaos, but Momo knew better. It was a harmonious, complex, and orderly change, intricate patterns and sequences run by her zanpakutou as a means of entertainment. She was complex, and she liked to show it off. Tobiume, herself, levitated in front of Momo, her blue dress floating around as if following the currents of a gentle underwater stream. She was beautiful, but somehow, it was impossible to get a detailed view of her face. It had driven Momo crazy when she had first gained entrance to her blade's garden, but she had learned to deal with it since.
"Welcome, master," said Tobiume, bowing deeply.
"Tobiume," Momo said, nodding courteously.
"I have sensed much turmoil within you of late, my master," Tobiume said.
Now, wasn't that the understatement of the century? Momo did not give voice to the sarcasm, though.
"It's true," she said.
"You are fortunate to have such a strong foundation to rest your sanity on," said Tobiume, and Momo knew she meant Erza; the mental image came to her unbidden. Beautiful, armoured, strong…
"My sanity is doing just fine, thank you very much," said Momo, a little testily. "Guilt, shame, anger… that's just normal emotion."
"A little defensive, aren't we?" teased Tobiume.
"Enough," said Momo firmly. "I have not come here to play games, Tobiume."
"Shame, shame," said Tobiume. "I do so enjoy them. Where would you be if I had not made you play?"
"I'm not here to be teased or mocked. I need to talk to you, for more than verbal spars."
"My master is a killjoy today," said Tobiume, a smile flickering across her indistinguishable features.
"I have paid my dues," said Momo, standing tall. "I have worked hard, advanced myself, and I have been in communion with you as often as time permits. I have taken my quest seriously. Tell me, Tobiume, is it within my reach?"
"Is what within your reach?"
"…Bankai," said Momo hesitantly. "The one thing I have worked so hard for. I will not presume to think I am owed it, or demand it be given, but I must know. Tobiume, am I on the right path?"
"The right path is often clouded and uncertain. Only time will tell right from wrong."
"How typically cryptic." Momo sighed. "Very well; I understand. I will not press you further. I apologize for disturbing your rest. Feel free to return to your gardening, then."
Momo turned around, and prepared to exit her meditative state, when she felt Tobiume tug her back in, rooting her in this mental reality.
"Come now, master. Do not be so prickly," she said, sounding a little irritated. "I haven't even had the chance to be evasive yet. If you give in the moment you hit a little resistance, how can you expect to gain bankai?"
"I would not insult the pace you have set for me."
"This civility of yours is a ruin on your progress," Tobiume muttered. "You are too kind for your own good. Learn to put your foot down."
"I believe I just did," Momo said, smiling. "Didn't I just say, 'Talk to me, or I'm leaving'?"
"Killjoy indeed," Tobiume said, shaking her head. "Of course I noticed. You are supposed to argue a little first. I should have that much pleasure from our interaction, at least."
Momo shook her head. "As aloof as you are, you can be quite childish sometimes. Come on. If you want me to remain, then talk to me."
Tobiume sighed. "Your path? As you desire, master. You do walk it. I would say you are closing on your goal. Closing," she said, raising a cautioning finger, "but that is a relative term. It could be a day from now or a year from now, or several. You understand me better than before. Having freed yourself from Aizen's manipulations helped you greatly. Your progress has advanced considerably since then… but tell me, Momo, are you not chaining yourself elsewhere?"
"What do you mean?"
"Erza," said Tobiume. "A fine woman, of course. A worthy mate. But, you depend too much on her. Before you can become one with me… you must learn how to live without her."
"Are you asking me to break up with her?" Momo said sharply.
"In your anger, you immediately reach for the most literal interpretation," Tobiume said, shaking her head in disappointment. "You know better. If you stop and think about it, you will know better. You are close, master, so close- but I cannot give mastery of myself to somebody who does not have full mastery of herself."
"What do you want?" Momo demanded.
"Be who you are. Be Hinamori Momo. Be that, without restraint or dependence. When you can learn that… then and only then will you be worthy of my power."
Momo sighed frustratedly as the zanpakutou released her from the dream-like landscape that was its realm. She was back in her office again, feeling angered, irritated. She knew better? What was she supposed to know, exactly?
Canonical omake time!
"This is fuckin' boring."
"Don't say that before you've even tried it, Grimmjow!"
In the evening, Momo had volunteered to take Grimmjow out for some free time. He had perked up at the idea, but when he realized they were heading someplace that wasn't the seedy bar he'd gone to last, his mood had turned sullen. Momo, in a perhaps naïve attempt to culture the brute, had taken him to a spacious book store. Grimmjow had come along, because stretching his legs was still better than being cooped up in that basement, but that didn't stop him from complaining at least once every minute. They were both in their gigai.
"The fuck's this?" he said, picking up a cook book.
"People use it to learn how to cook new food dishes," Momo explained.
"Humans gotta learn how to do that from books?" Grimmjow snorted. "Man, they really are pathetic. What's up with that, anyway? Like, what's the big idea with throwing your food in a metal pot and heating it, when you could just find something juicy and gobble it down right away?"
"That would make them sick," said Momo. "In most cases, anyway."
"They would be that weak, wouldn't they?" Grimmjow said derisively, flicking the cookbook aside. Momo barely caught the book before it hit the floor, only to see Grimmjow walking away from her.
"Hey, wait!" she demanded. "Don't make me use the power word, Mr. Jaegerjaquez!"
"Whatever, man," said Grimmjow, but he slowed down.
"Really, Mr. Jaegerjaquez," Momo huffed. "I am responsible for keeping track of you."
"Why? Y'all got tracking devices all up my ass," Grimmjow snarled.
"I'm trying to help you learn about human culture!"
"Why? Fuck human culture. Humans are weak and shitty."
The smug grin on his face was infuriating. He was winding her up, and he knew it.
"You know what?" said Momo, tugging at the sleeve of his jacket. "Follow me!"
She pulled him along, the tall arrancar tugged behind the hand-and-a-half-tall Momo.
"Hey, hey, hey, take it easy!" Grimmjow cried. "Sheesh, woman, was it that sore for ya?"
Momo didn't respond, only stopping as they came upon a section of the store labelled "MANGA".
"What the fuck's this?" Grimmjow asked.
"Here," Momo said, angrily pushing a book into his hand. "It's got pictures in it. It'll be easier for your stupid little head to digest!"
"I ain't illiterate, woman!" Grimmjow clapped back. "I just don't see the damn point!"
"Open it," Momo demanded. "Just try it."
"Come on, man…"
"Try it or we're going back home."
"Alright, alright…" Grimmjow muttered, holding the book up. Tentatively, he examined the book cover. "Fuck's this?" he muttered. "Ber… serk?"
"It's a foreign word that basically means getting really, really angry and going on a murderous rampage," explained Momo.
"See, that I can get behind," said Grimmjow, opening up the manga book. He paused, his eyes narrowing as he started reading.
"So… this is chapter one," he said, staring down at the volume, turning a page, "and we got… some guy fucking a demon, then killing it?"
"It's horrible, dark, brutal and awful, and it only gets worse." Momo said.
"Pfft. How brutal could it get?"
Grimmjow flipped another page, and then another.
"Shit," he muttered, sounding mildly impressed. He flipped another page, a grin spreading on his face. "Shit. Are you seeing what he did to that guy's face? He knifed him right in the eye."
"…It's disgusting," said Momo. "This Guts person is a brutal, horrible, antisocial person. A murderer and a bastard."
"Sounds like my kinda guy," said Grimmjow, nodding with appreciation, quickly flipping through the volume. "I mean… this ain't that bad. For a shitty human book."
"There's more like them."
"How many?" said Grimmjow, trying to sound nonchalant.
"About thirty."
"About thirty, you say… and they're all this brutal?"
"Mostly, yes. Stuff of nightmares, really."
"Man, humans have some imagination…" Grimmjow said, staring down at the pages. "Huh. Huh. So, uh… do we have enough of those paper slips to, uh, get some of these? In the name of, ya know, learning human culture and all."
"We could get some," said Momo reservedly, "if you behave."
"…Yeah, whatever," said Grimmjow. "I don't give a fuck. Who cares about these, anyway?"
Five minutes later, Momo walked out of the store, arrancar in tow, carrying a very large stack of books, all of which had the same title up front.
"You know," said Grimmjow, "if they got more of this shit, maybe I'll get used to this whole human culture thing."
And so ends another chapter. Ichigo has begun to learn kido, a skill I think he should have always had. Not to the level of Rukia or the like, but a few spells here and there could make things more interesting to read.
Ive brought in another Fairy tail character to replace Yami, and its none other than the former member of grimoire hear, God Slayer and member of the 7 kin of purgatory, Zancrow! Ive been meaning to bring in more FT characters and he's perfect for what I have in mind.
But why him and not one of the more popular characters from fairy tail you may be wondering? Trust me when I say I have my reasons, and the role I have planned for him wouldn't work out for some of the other characters. You will be seeing more fairy tail down the line I promise you, but for now, just consider this a bonus.
If there is one thing Im really enjoying about the story so far, its the unlikely friendship of Erza and Soifon. The two are so different, but in all honesty, Soifon needs someone like Erza if you ask me. Having Yoruichi is nice and all but...having only one person you can really be more relaxed around, to really enjoy the company of is extremely unhealthy. Should anything happen to Yoruichi, Soifon would be crushed. But...Having someone else, a friend...I think she's needed that.
Contact has been made with the arrancar and quincy, something ive been planning on doing for a while. Will this be the last time these two forces meet? We'll have to wait and see.
Momo is on the path to achieving bankai on the meanwhile, having come much farther than her cannon counterpart has. There is but one obstacle….But what is that obstacle? What is preventing her from achieving her full potential? Naturally this is something im more than well aware of, but I want to see how many of you guys can figure it out.
Also yes, far as im concerned the omake is cannon.
Well that's all I have for now. Please let me know how much you enjoyed this chapter in a review. Till next time!