Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Star Wars, they belong to their respective creators and/or copyright owners. I make no money from this story. It is not for sale or rent.
Chapter 7
=DA=
Part 3
=DA=
Aizen's Inner World
All things considered, my potentially mutinous Espada could wait a bit. The newest inhabitant of my Inner World on the other hand, not so much. Thus, I sent Tosen to gather my sorry excuses for generals and keep them from causing too much trouble while I went to take a sorely needed shower on an autopilot and entered my Inner World.
In the short time since my last visit, the place had radically changed. There were just a few patches of desert left, concentrated around a few of the ruined temples, while the rest of it was covered by lush green grass and flowers I could remembers seeing all over a galaxy far, far away. I found Kyoka sitting at the shore of the same glade we first encountered the Hogyoku's new form, holding the spirit of the little girl and braiding her hair of all things.
"Ladies, I hope you find yourselves comfortable in my humble adobe." I approached them with a smile and spoke in my best Core accent, which was like the best British, just turned up to eleven.
"That we are, Master." Kyoka smirked at me and the girl looked up, examining me with large curious eyes.
"Hi!" The Hogyoku chirped happily.
"Hello yourself. You've settled up comfortably?"
"Very much." She peered around. "I like green much better." She added conspiratorially.
"Me too. It usually beats any desert." Unless is a particularly vicious death world, like some parts of Dromund Kaas that made Korriban's treacherous surface away from the Sith Academy look like a children's park.
The Hogyoku merely hummed at that and continued to stare at me. I walked beside them and sat down on the grass, all the while Kyoka looked at me with bemusement.
"I do like the change. Korriban, while fitting as a template for my Inner World, was never a place I particularly liked."
"But it is no longer fitting, is it? Until you begin mastering my Bankai, you should be free from any mental influence like that of the Dark Side." Kyoka pointed out.
"That's true, unless you're holding up on me?"
"Nope. It's actually interesting to experience you while you're in your right mind, Master. You're both similar and very different from the Sith I knew." Kyoka mussed.
"Looking back, even at my best I couldn't escape the influence of the Dark Side. It's just that back then, my frame of reference about what someone truly fallen to the Dark Side looked like was much different." I tried to explain, as much to Kyoka as to myself.
"In your memories, I could see the person you used to be before you ended up on Korriban for the first time. There were brief times when that man shone through, however most of the time, he was buried below the influence of the Dark Side. While you wasn't as bad as some of the worse Sith you knew and encountered, by all sane standards you fell back on Korriban."
"As a Sith, that is a conclusion I would have denied until my dying breath. The Dark Side's greatest gift and betrayal is how it allows us to deceive ourselves. It's just that, while I knew this truth, I could never bring myself to fully face it back then." And wasn't that a mind-fuck of the highest order. Without the Dark Side's influence, looking back it was like a veil lifted from my mind, pun intended.
"Well, I hope for all out sakes that you'll do better this time around. On the other hand, now you're capable enough that you don't need to master my Bankai anytime soon. Take it slowly if at all practical, ten years sounds good, you know?" Kyoka suggested.
"Oh, I'm sure we can do better that that, however you're right, there's no hurry. Even without this little munchkin here," I beamed at the Hogyoku, "we're more than capable enough of handling what might come our way." As soon as I said that, I cursed myself. Taunting fate in such a way is never a good idea.
"I can help!" The little girl pipped up.
"I know, dear. In fact, if you think you're up to it, I believe that we might attempt to do a miracle in the not so distant future."
The Hogyoku stared at me and smiled widely. "I can do that, I think!"
"Excellent. If it works, I think I can introduce you to a couple of girls who might become your friends in the future." And thus further ensure that Ichigo would be at least neutral if not friendly.
"I'll like that, I think."
"Splendid. Now, while I would love to spent more time with you two, I need to go and ensure that my Espada are behaving. I'll be back later. However, first I think you, little one, need a name. Hogyoku, Crumbling Sphere, it simply isn't fitting for someone as adorable as you are."
Said little miracle worker giggled at my words.
"What do you think, Kyoka?"
My Zanpakuto looked at the girl in her arms and smiled fondly.
"Yuriko. No matter what you were before, you're now pure like a lily flower." Kyoka proclaimed
"I like it!" The now dubbed Yuriko chirped.
It was fitting, especially depending on how Yuriko could be written in Kanji and its meanings.
"I'll see you soon, Yuriko, Kyoka."
One thing was sure, I was in for some very interesting times in the future. I opened my eyes in the real world with a content sigh, feeling hot water splash over my head and soothe my tired muscles. I few hours of plotting and actual sleep before facing the music later today sounded even better and better. The Espada first however.
=DA=
Espada Meeting Hall
Las Noches
Hueco Mundo
I found my Espada sitting around the long table in the meeting hall, bickering. They were all in attendance, which was good – it meant that they weren't personally molesting my Shinigami, or worse, getting on Retsu's nerves, something which would end up in blood and tears.
When I entered, all conversations ground to a hall and ten pairs of eyes stared straight at me. More than a few looked at me with undisguised fury, while a couple were either bored, terrified or indifferent.
Cifer sat to my left, and he was one the most unsettled of the mall, almost skittish really. Perhaps I should be having a talk with him sooner rather than later. To Ulquiorra's left sat Stark, who as usual appeared bored out of his mind. Next came one of the problem children – Nnoitra Gilga, the Fifth Espada, who my previous self should have disciplined strictly if not outright executed for attacking Nelliel. The worst of the Sith's way of promoting people wasn't a thing that should be encouraged, ever. Well, unless he did something to provoke me during this meeting, his days were likely numbered. Either he was going to run afoul of Retsu or Nelliel would deal with him once Tier retrieved her and we got her healed.
Speaking of my Third Espada, Tier sat in her chair with her arms crossed right below her very generous bust and she stared coyly at me over the edge of her jacket. What exactly went through her head right now, I was almost afraid to contemplate. The last thing I needed was for Harribel to see Retsu as a competition, or the other way around. That way laid excessive amount of property damage, a lot of bloodshed and the likely loss of a competent general in the making, so it was to be avoided at all costs.
At the far end of the table, right beside each other sat Yamy, who believed himself to be the Zero Espada in his Resurrected form, a brute who usually followed orders, though now glared at me as if I've beaten him and stole his lunch money and more interestingly, the Ninth Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie, the brains in the jar in other words. If he was particularly lucky, he might survive what I had planned for him, which would be good considering his particular talents; and if he perished, as long as my plan worked, who cared? The potential benefit hugely outweighed the usefulness of that particular Arrancar.
The Second Espada, Barraggan Louisenbairn came next and the former King of the Hollows stared me down with undisguised hatred. Still, he didn't dare act against me yet, which was good. For all his issues, his abilities made him potentially incredibly useful… if I could trust him to follow orders and not fuck around. If not, he would be a liablity to be disposed of.
Next came my pet mad scientist, Szayelaporro Granz. The pink haired Arrancar was the second one who looked as if he didn't care about what I've been up to in Soul Society or the true reasons behind my actions. As long as I enabled his experiments, he was going to be on my side, he didn't care at all about the conflict between Hollows and Shinigami… unless his one sided rivalry with Kurotsuchi counted…
Zommari Rureaux, the Seventh Espada was one arrogant ill tempered cunt, though when he kept his cheerful personality in check he was a reasonably competent subordinate. In his case it was a coin-toss to see if he would fall in line or volunteer to become an object lesson. Just like the last Espada, the blue haired Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, our resident Kenpachi expy.
"Lady and gentlemen, and in some cases, I'm using the term very loosely," I put my trademarked evil Aizen smile in place on a Kyoka sourced illusion I sent to sit on my throne-like chair. I haven't bothered to check it for all kinds of unpleasant surprises so until that happened, no planting my behind on the potentially booby-trapped seat. ", there is some dissent in the ranks, I hear."
=DA=
Part 4
=DA=
Espada Meeting Hall
Las Noches
Hueco Mundo
Silence reigned for one long moment while my Espada stared at my illusion, only to be interrupted by people loudly drawing breath and rearing themselves for a good rant.
"Shinigami," Predictably, the infuriated hiss came from Barraggan. ", explain thyself." The dethroned King glared malevolently at me.
That was one excellent glare, he could give pointers to many a Sith I used to know. The old man shifted his bulk and looked my illusion in the eyes. His weathered face twisted into an expression of such a loathing that it left no doubt whatsoever what he felt about me at that moment.
"Explain myself?" I asked slowly and deliberately. My illusion smirked at Barraggan with an expression of calm bemusement reshaping its features. "Do you really think that any of my actions in Soul Society, past, present or future, change the relationship between us, Espada?"
Dealing with Hollows, from the lowest soul which had just been corrupted, to the mightiest Arrancar and Vasto Lorde, had on thing in common. Ironically enough, it wasn't dissimilar to dealing with the average Sith. It was all about raw power and confidence. My past self didn't merely command the Espada and all other Arrancar in the kingdom he forged within the heart of Hueco Mundo just because for all intents and purposes he created their current iterations. He commanded them because he was the most powerful, the scarier monster.
Still, luckily for me, he hadn't shown his true colors yet, and some of them did follow out gratitude and respect that went beyond his power. I could play this conversation in multiple ways and get it to work in the short term. The tricky part would be crafting a narrative that would work both for my Hollows and Shinigami, because those two groups valued rather different things and had very different agenda.
"As a scientist, I could only approve our creation, no matter the reason behind it." That was no surprise coming from my own one man R&D department. "However," the boredom vanished from his voice and Granz focused me with his eyes, "I do find myself compelled to ask, what are you intentions towards us now?"
"Well, on the bright side, I'm no longer feeling myself compelled to follow my former government's orders. As far as you all are concerned, that is a very good thing." I answered and put a bright, cheerful smile on the face of my illusion. "Which means that if, or should I say, when we clash with Gotei 13's forces, you'll be all properly trained to not only survive but win such an encounter."
"We were expendable weapons, weren't we? Give me one reason why I shouldn't erase you from existence, Shinigami?!" Barraggan somehow put more loathing and contempt in his voice than I've heard ever used before. In itself, that was an impressive achievement.
"Oh, if I'm to be totally honest with you, it was actually worse. You were all supposed to be mind-fucked into obeying both mine and Soul Society's orders. If I had bothered to install that such a fail-safe, then you would have been truly nothing more than expendable weapons." All levity left my voice. "Instead, I let you all retain your free will. Your choices are your own. You could continue to be my comrades and generals, or you could decide that I've betrayed you all and do your best to strike me down. If you choose the later, I'll understand it and give you the respect you all deserve as the most powerful beings Hueco Mundo has ever seen… I'll face you with everything I have."
"I'll pass on the dying horribly part." Aaroniero raised a hand. "As always, I'm your humble servant, sir!"
"For once I find myself sharing the sentiment." Ulquiorra hurried to add.
"Fighting Aizen will be too troublesome, count me out." Stark drawled.
"Me too. I'm not feeling particularly suicidal today, thank you very much." Tier added.
"What do you expect from these cowards and the fucking broad?" Nnoitra sneered and pointed a finger at my illusion. "What about you, Grimmjow? Do you feel like feasting on Shinigami tonight? The bastard brought us a whole feast!"
"I'm all in for a proper fight…" Grimmjow's right hand fell upon the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
"Some of us have seen what the Shinigami Captains are capable of even when not going all out. They're either equal to us or outclass us as we are right now, tonight Aizen tore Gotei 13 apart with ease. If he wanted the Shinigami to fall, he would have summoned us all, used us as a distraction while doing the job himself." Ulquiorra spoke in his usual emotionless voice.
My best guess? Barraggan's posturing along with this cute attempt at mutiny forced him to get his head straight for the time being and he didn't want to see me going all out. In hindsight, what Aria and Yuriko did was a god-sent favor I owed them for. If I was still wiped out, I might have not survived my delicious show down with Retsu, but had much tougher time right now.
No, that's incorrect. If my reserves were practically empty, I would have avoided meeting my Espada until I would be recovered enough to face them if it came down to it, which in turn might have led to even more trouble. Right now? Making an example should be enough to re-asses my authority.
"I always knew you were a coward, Ulquiorra!" Yamy yammered. "Scared by a few little squishy Shinigami? Bah!"
That was quite enough. I was a Shinigami you know, and if there was one thing I took pride in among my previous self's deeds it was that he had mastered all Shinigami arts. I Flash Stepped in front of the Zero Espada while still cloaked in illusions and suppressing my Reiatsu. In a split second, I sharpened my Spiritual Power until it was as keen as any blade and let the charade go. Then I struck. To those around us, it looked like that one instant I was sitting in my chair and in the next, I was passing by Yamy, after my Zanpakuto severed his left arm at the shoulder. With one fluid motion I threw the Espada's blood off Kyoka's blade and sheathed her, then whirled around and pointed at the severed appendage while it was slowly flying through the air.
"Hado 45, Haien." I uttered aloud and unleashed a spell at the arm. A purple energy pulse flew from my palm and hit the appendage, evaporating it in a blinding conflagration that set Yamy's clothes on fire. Only then did the pain register and he stared dumbly at his bleeding shoulder.
"My patience is a bit thin tonight. Do I need to make a proper example of someone worth my time?" I inquired politely and flashed the Espada Aizen's patented smile. Naturally, the me they saw was another illusion, while I prudently moved away from the table so I could have space to maneuver in case I misread the situation.
"I rest my case. If someone wishes to commit suicide tonight, be my guests." Ulquiorra sneered at Yamy and stood up. "Sir, I'll be at my quarters if you need me." He bowed respectfully and headed for the nearest exit.
"Me too, I'm felling like taking a nap." Stark left the table with an air that made it obvious that even those lethargic motions were too much of a bother.
"Don't mind me, if you boys want to be cut to pieces, I'll gladly watch the show." I was sure Tier actually smiled behind her mask.
"Bitch!" Nnoitra hissed in hot contempt.
I Flash Stepped behind Harribel and pointed an index finger at the mouthy bastard. "Byakurai." I dumped a noticeable amount of Reiatsu in the spell, almost overloading it with my shaky control. Fortunately, I managed to avoid embarrassing myself and a thin stream of pale lighting pierced his eye-patch and exited from the back of his skull. Luckily for him, my aim was true and I managed to shoot him through his Hollow hole, otherwise we might be down one Espada, because I certainly dumped more than enough energy into the spell to burn through his Hierro. The multiple walls the Hado blasted through could attest to that fact. Not to mention for a second time tonight it appeared that I could move faster than any of my Espada could follow.
Nnoitra stared dumbly at me as I placed a hand on Tier's shoulder.
"Gilga, this is no way to speak to your betters, which include almost everyone in this room. Do apologize to the lady."
We stared at each other for one endless moment and I was almost sure that I would have to make a proper example tonight, when Nnoitra gulped and muttered an apology so quietly that I barely heard it.
"Speak clearly or suffer the consequences." My voice was colder than the best chill Toshiro's Bankai could manage.
"I'm sorry, Harribel." Nnoitra spat.
"I love you too." Tier sneered back.
And that ladies and gentlemen were my elite generals, behaving like unruly children. It was a near thing, my struggle with an epic facepalm.
Nearby, Grimmjow slowly and carefully took his hand off his Zanpakuto, demonstrating that he had at least two working brain cells to rub together. And Barraggan? His glare was pure murder and if it could kill, there would be nothing more left from me but ash scattering across the room. However, he kept his mouth shut and refused to antagonize me even further right now.
"Let me make something crystal clear." I spoke in my best commanding voice. "You will act as the generals you're supposed to be or you will suffer the consequences. Such displays," I pointed a thumb at Yamy, who was holding his shoulder and frowning in pain, then suddenly slammed my sheathed Zanpakuto into Nnoitra's head not only fast enough that he couldn't react but hard enough to plant his face through the table, ",are unacceptable."
Tier preened at my words and actions. She also stood straighter in her chair. The rest of the Espada hurried to nod at my words. One crisis averted, not it remained to see what stunt Barraggan was going to try and pull off next.