"What...?" Ichigo was back in the chamber.
"Ichigo, what happened? You suddenly spaced out..." Nel said from a couple meters, holding her blade against Nageki's neck.
"Haha... I told you he was just taking a stroll in his subconscious" Nageki replied, a bit scared of Nel's impulsive behaviour.
"S... Sorry, Qua- I mean, Nageki. I just... I was worried that you had done something to Ichigo" She said embarrassed, putting her sword back in the sheath.
Ichigo walked to her and hugged her tenderly.
"I'm alright, Nel. After all... We promised we would only die together, didn't we?" He whispered in her ear, caressing her hair and kissing her skull.
"Ho...? Don't tell me you...!" Nageki seemed especially amazed about something.
"Huh?" She looked back at him, Ichigo releasing her from his embrace. Nageki had his fuchsia eyes fixated on Ichigo's Hollow Hole.
"You two... You are Wholes!" He said with a grin.
"Nel... Is he the one...?" Ichigo asked her.
"Yeah... He's the one that told me about the legend" She replied.
"Of course... You were Mugetsu's best friend. As expected, you know what a Whole is" Ichigo said.
"I knew I had made the right choice by asking you to come here" Nageki started saying. "Just like with her. I always knew Nelliel would play an important part in finding you"
"What... What do you mean?" Nel seemed to be the most confused one.
"I can imagine more or less how you two knew each other, but I would like to hear it from you, Nageki" Ichigo requested.
"No problem with that. If I recall correctly... I... Saved Nelliel from a group of fierce Adjuchas when she was in that stage as well. She was large for a chamois, being about the size of a gazelle, or a great Kudu, but in the end, she was small for an Adjuchas. It called my attention cause, these tend to be the strongest kind of Hollows, but even so, little could she do against a band of almost twenty powerful enemies"
"Yeah..." She agreed, remembering the feeling of helplessness.
"So I saved and healed her, just like Mugetsu and I did when we were searching for Vasto Lordes and other Hollows destined to become that. I decided to stick up with her for a while, after I realized that she was reluctant about fighting or consuming other Hollows"
She bit her lip in annoyance as she remembered that time.
"Nel..." Ichigo looked at her with a bit of pity and a hint of admiration.
"And, ever since I felt her Reiatsu, I knew... That she would find the one I was waiting through all these millenia" Nageki revealed.
"Really?!" The two asked impressed.
"You see, when I saved you... I noticed your Reiatsu was very similar, not to say equal, to one I had felt before... One I never imagined I would feel again" He replied, remembering such scene. "Ichigo... Mugetsu told you about Yukari, right?"
"Y-Yeah... Why is that...?" He didn't seem to comprehend where he was getting at.
"Because Nelliel has exactly the same aura. In fact, now that she's an Arrancar, I can say with utmost certainty that she is Yukari's reincarnation"
Ichigo became mute.
"Wait... I don't seem to get this... Who is Yukari? And again, who is Mugetsu...?" She asked, not understanding anything.
"Mugetsu is the spirit insideLas Noches, Nel. My Zanpakutou's spirit, as well as Hueco Mundo's first king: Gran Rey Cero" Ichigo replied, still amazed. "And Yukari was... His Whole"
Nel gasped in reply, widening her eyes.
"I gotta say, Yukari had a mark in the shape of an 'X' above her nose instead of that red line, and green hair, not turquoise but... Close enough. Ichigo is far more distant in that, with orange hair, different from Mugetsu's white, but same in style. Your face is the vivid image of him though" Nageki chuckled. "I couldn't be any happier, knowing that Mugetsu's theory was correct. Indeed... There is nothing more powerful than love..."
"So... I was destined to meet Ichigo?" Nel concluded.
"You could say that" Nageki casually replied. "Though, I never really thought that would be the case..."
"Why do you say that?" Ichigo asked.
"Because... Yukari's soul was supposed to be imprisoned in Jigoku" Nageki replied, serious. "I... I imagine Mugetsu must've done something in order to save her from such fate but, I have no clue... Unless-"
"Unless what?" Nel was curious.
"Unless... Of course!"
"What is it?" The two Arrancar demanded an answer.
"The power of their bond! Wholes cannot be removed from the cycle for as long as their partner is alive in some way. This is because the very base of Wholes is the way they share their Reiryoku"
"What do you mean?" Ichigo inquired.
"Oh, you didn't know? Nelliel has complete access to your Reiryoku, as well as you do to hers. Your Reiryoku acts as if it was only one and the same, if you need it to act that way of course. To be honest... I don't know much about this since, Mugetsu and Yukari were the only Wholes I ever met but, thanks to you two, I can fill in the blanks!"
"Blanks? You speak as if you were..." Nel remembered Szayelaporro with disgust.
"...A scientist" Ichigo thought of Mayuri.
"Well... In my time, my work was known as alchemy, but yeah, today I would be what you call a scientist. Mugetsu was always helping me with my experiments and inventions. I created this very labyrinth not only to protect the Heart of Tsukoyomi, but to serve as an aqueduct for the palace of Las Noches. Thanks to that, we had an outstanding quality of life"
"Right, your inventions! That's how you became immortal!" Nel realized.
"Though, I still can't imagine how..." Ichigo commented.
"Well, that's more like, yes and no. While I did create something that gives me eternal life, such a thing is only possible thanks to my Zanpakutou's ability..." He said, drawing it out. "Transform... Alquimista"
The two were expecting his body to go through a metamorphosis, but the only thing that happened was that his blade disappeared.
"Wait... Did you really release your sword?" Nel couldn't believe it.
"Yep, I did. Amazing isn't it?"
"I mean... It is amazing that you didn't change one bit" Ichigo pointed out.
"Are you sure about that?" Nageki smirked, and his whole body started glowing.
"What the...?" The two beheld as the Arrancar made his demonstration.
"Or better, try to hit me, Ichigo"
"Okay..." Ichigo decided to punch him, just not so hard.
As soon as his fist came in contact with Nageki's chest, his whole body became harder than steel. It was not Hierro, his body had become something else.
"What is this?!" Ichigo asked impressed.
"Heheh! That's my Zanpakutou's ability! I gain total control over the atomical composition of my body. I can become anything and turn anything I touch into something else, as long as it's made of atoms, of course. I cannot manipulate waves, but there's no limits with particles, though it's not easy. Gases and liquids give a lot more trouble than solids, but I've been alive for such a long time that it's not hard anymore, though Plasma is still complicated... In my first release of course"
"Wow... That sure is a handful ability" Ichigo commented.
"And my powers allow me to create all kinds of things. For example, the Philosopher's Stone" He got a crimson red crystal out of his pocket. "With this, I make the elixir of eternal life... God, it was a real pain to create"
"Yeah, I believe it must be" Nel agreed, not even imagining the amount of calculations Nageki had to do before being able to create such a mythical object.
"But, it has served its purpose well..." Nageki said, encircling the rock with blue flames that came from his hand.
"Wait, what are you...?" Ichigo didn't see it coming.
"I'm destroying it of course! Man, if you had an idea of what it is to live through eras in solitude... I'm more than bored of this life! I just wanna die" He admitted, just as the rock was melting down. "My only purpose was confirming that Mugetsu's reincarnation had showed up. With you here, my job is done"
"So... You're just gonna die now?" Nel asked, still not believing the way in which he simply ended it all.
"Don't worry, I'll be alive for about a month, or so. I'll be able to explain anything you need about the Heart of Tsukoyomi and the lost history of Hueco Mundo, if you're interested, of course, all while I finish my studies about the Wholes"
"I... Don't know what to say" Ichigo said awkwardly.
"Then don't say anything... It's not like I'm your friend or someone close you'd cry over when his time's come..." He carelessly replied.
"Maybe not... But you did save my life. It's not like we're complete strangers either" Nel made clear.
"Believe me, Nelliel. You don't know anything about me, and it's better that way. I was just a guardian, and with my role fulfilled, I can finally leave this world. Hollows have long lives, but not eternal. I'll probably be reborn as a Shinigami or human anyway, as dying of old age also counts as soul cleansing..." He digressed.
"If you say so..." Ichigo wouldn't argue. "Well, Nel and I should go back to the palace and tell everyone what we found out. Are you coming?"
"You will be taking the Heart of Tsukoyomi, so yes" He accepted. "Although, Mugetsu knows all about it. I could just die right now and it would be the same honestly"
"In any case, we'd like you to tell us all you know about... Well... Us" Nel referred to their species. "After all this time, I imagine there's no one better in the field"
"That is true..." He lazily yawned. "So I guess I still have something in my 'To do' list"
"Also... Now that I think about it, why didn't Yama come for this thing in person? I bet he's powerful enough" Ichigo asked.
"Because no God can enter this place. It has a spell on it, casted by Tsukoyomi himself" Nageki answered. "That's why he decided to send someone after it, and he'll try to do it again for sure"
"Yeah... Mugetsu said so as well" Ichigo replied.
"But don't worry. I'll teach you how to use the artifact correctly, so that you can reform the Espada in no time" Nageki started exiting the room on his own. "As long as you have it, I'm sure it will be well protected"
"Thank you, Nageki" Ichigo replied.
"Wait, Ichigo... That means you'll...!" Nel knew where everything was going.
"Yes, Nel. I've decided to become king of Hueco Mundo" He replied. "I don't think Harribel will like it, but it is what Mugetsu asked me to do"
"Ah, you mean that blonde Arrancar. Yeah, she demanded answers from me, saying she was the current leader or something, but I didn't care. My only ruler is Mugetsu, that won't ever change" Nageki replied determined.
"So... I'll become... Queen?" Nel seemed a bit unsure, troubled even, as if that thought wasn't a positive thing.
"Well, in practical terms... You are his wife" Nageki replied instead of Ichigo.
"Wife..." Ichigo felt so strange but so happy at the same time. He still thought that he was young, for such an important milestone to take place, but he understood that he wasn't a human anymore. In the end, as a Hollow, becoming a Whole was equal, if not more compromising, than being married.
"Hm... I don't know if I'm ready for this... Cause... I'm not the leading type you know?" Nel seemed flustered about the whole deal.
"Don't worry, Nel. You don't have to do anything if you don't feel prepared. All I'm gonna ask you is to help me look for Vasto Lordes. And don't think for one second that I'll force anyone to become part of my army. I would be just like Aizen, and I'd rather die than be like him"
"I know you wouldn't do such thing" She sweetly replied, feeling secure once more.
"So, let's go. There's a lot we have to do" Ichigo concluded.
~~~~X~~~~
"So... What did you want to discuss with me?" Harribel asked Ulquiorra, sitting on the head of the Espada table, in front of him and Orihime.
"I know you must've been a great leader these past weeks..." He started saying. "But mark my words, you will never be able to unify Hueco Mundo, because you're not destined to the throne"
"Hm? So it's about that" She calmly replied. "To tell the truth, I don't care about being a Queen or ruling over our world, but I can't simply hand it over to Ichigo because you believe he is Gran Rey Cero's second coming"
"I imagined you'd say something like that, even after I explained the single reason I did all of this" Ulquiorra sighed.
"I never proclaimed to be the Queen of Hueco Mundo, it just so happened that the remaining Arrancar followed me as I was the strongest that remained. I did my best because of that, and no one questions my position or has been against any of my actions, with the exception of Yammy, of course, but even Grimmjow ended up supporting me in his own way because he knows that I'm capable of making the right decisions"
"And I couldn't agree more" Ulquiorra said coldly. "However... This is not a peaceful time where we can just sit idly and slowly reconstruct Las Noches. We're at war, Harribel, and the only measure that can ensure a brighter future for our kind is the restoration of the Espada"
"Oh really? And where are we gonna find more Arrancar with such ability? I have no clue and I'm pretty sure Ichigo has even less" Harribel dismissed his idea.
"You don't understand what Ichigo's capable of now. In fact, not even he does. But right now, he must be getting an idea of the bigger picture. He's destined for this"
"And we go back to this thing of destiny..." Harribel rolled her eyes. "Look, if I have a single proof of such thing, I won't have any problem handing the throne to him, and I'll become an Espada once again. But in this moment, without any significant proof... I'm sorry, but what you're saying is just nonsense, Ulquiorra"
"Don't worry. Everything will be clear, once he returns" Ulquiorra stood up. "Inoue, let's go find a room where you can stay"
"Right. Though, could it be in the opposite tower from the one I was last time?" She requested. "I don't... I don't have good memories of that place..." She said with a hint of sadness.
"I understand. Though the palace looks very similar overall, but I'll see what I can do. Bye, Harribel"
"Bye..." She didn't expect him to be so polite, but was even more impressed that he was so worried about Orihime. "He sure has changed... Is it because of that girl?" She thought as the two left the room.
~~~~X~~~~
"So this is just like the Hogyoku in that sense..." Ichigo said, looking at the tesseract. "I can turn Adjuchas and Vasto Lordes into Arrancar by making this thing react with my Reiatsu"
"I don't know what that is, but by your description I can confirm it is similar" Nageki replied. "Though it has many other functions, some of a colossal magnitude. You have to think that this artifact is meant to define the very life of Hollows"
"Yeah... Mugetsu said that he changed the type of names Hollows were born with after the massacre... That's no minimal change" Ichigo remembered.
"I had no idea such an event had occurred. Poor Mugetsu..." Nel remembered the part where he lost his wife. "*snif* I can't imagine losing Ichigo like that" She was about to cry.
"Don't think about that, Nel. I won't allow such a thing to ever happen again... Though I would like to question Arikado about it when I have the chance" Ichigo replied.
"Look, Ichigo, that's Rukia and the others!" Nel said as they got to the entrance of Las Noches. "Renji is carrying someone though... Is someone wounded?"
"Let's see for ourselves" He sprinted towards his friends and appeared in a flash. "Rukia, Renji!"
"Ichigo!" The two said.
"Hey, they said you knew about this, you must help him!" Apacci spouted.
"Huh? About what? What's going on?" He didn't understand. "Is that... Ashido?!" He noticed that the man Renji was carrying had a white mass covering his face, slowly shaping into a horned skull.
"Yeah... Ashido-san's Zanpakutou had the ability to absorb other souls' Reishi and... He absorbed a lot of Ayon's" Sung-Sun explained.
"Ayon is a Hollow we can summon, kinda like an Adjuchas, but strong as an Espada" Mila Rose explained.
"I see... So he's suffering the symptoms of Hollowfication" Ichigo realized.
"We thought of taking him to Urahara to-" Renji said.
"Urahara won't be able to save him. The only reason he was able to help the Vizards was because he had the Hogyoku, and that is not an option anymore" Ichigo retorted.
"So what do we do?!" Rukia asked, freaking out.
Nageki and Nel arrived, which reminded him of the single possibility he had.
"Hey, Rukia... Do you think Ashido would prefer dying rather than becoming what he swore to destroy?"
"Eh...? What kind of question is that? What's going on, Ichigo?!" She became even more upset.
"You see... I can do something, but Ashido won't go back to being a Shinigami..." He tried to explain.
"...He'll become an Arrancar" Nel finished the sentence, as Ichigo seemed troubled by it.
"And who cares?! Just save him!" The Tres Bestias shouted.
"Geez! What's with these girls?" Renji muttered to himself as he left Ashido's shivering body in the sand.
"Well, let's see if this thing works like Nageki says..." Ichigo thought, pointing the tesseract at Ashido and releasing his Reiatsu.
"Grraaahhh..." Ashido growled.
The Heart of Tsukoyomi shined as it reflected Ichigo's will on Ashido's being, accelerating the process of Hollowfication at a rate that he surpassed the stage of Vasto Lorde in a matter of seconds.
Ashido had grown a gazelle like skull, identical to the one he used to carry as memento of his last deceased friend. His skin, remained peach coloured. Overall, he didn't change much, but his mask hadn't been shattered yet.
"C'mon..." Ichigo thought, worried that he might have made a mistake.
To his relief, the long skull was finally torn away.
"Ichigo... You did it!" Rukia cheered for him. "But, didn't you say he would become an Arrancar?" She asked, as there was no apparent change, until she noticed his lower chest. Right in his stomach's mouth, the black void was staring right into her Soul. "Oh... But, he... He's alive" She said, trying to make him feel better.
"I guess... Though I still wonder if I made the right choice. In his eyes, he might become unhappy because of this" He replied, pensive.
"It was this or entirely losing himself. He could have died" Rukia assured, remembering a much more tragic story.
"That's true. Well, I hope he can take it" He sighed.
"You did the right thing, Ichigo. Don't be so hard on yourself" Nel sweetly said as she smiled at him.
"For now, let's take Ashido-san to a room in Las Noches. I... I guess he'll feel more at ease" Sung-Sun proposed.
"Yeah, we can take care of him. That way he'll get used to us and... Well, himself" Apacci added.
"Then we can help him train his Hollow abilities! I'm sure that will help!" Mila Rose grabbed his body bridal style, as he was a bit shorter than her.
"Just make sure you don't do anything rash or that might shock him. He hunted Hollows his whole life. Realizing he's become one out of the blue might be... Devastating" Rukia told them worried. "So... Do your best to make him see that his new life can be just as enjoyable, if not more than the one he had before"
"Yes!" The three replied in unison, as determined as they could be, and then entered the palace.
"Hmph... I guess you DID discover something by going there" Renji told Ichigo.
"Yes. A lot, in fact" He replied, still catching up with all the things he'd learned. "I must speak to Harribel about this"
"Yeah. There are many things that will interest her" Nel agreed.
"And... I have to tell her about my decision" Ichigo added.
"What do you mean?" Rukia looked at her.
"Come with me. There is something I must tell you all, but I'd rather explain it to everyone in one go. For that, I need you to go search for Inoue and... Ulquiorra" Ichigo told them.
"And don't forget Pesche and Dondochakka. They said that they would stay at the palace while we did our business" Nel reminded him. "I'd do it myself, but I wanted to have a little talk with Tier while everyone is busy..."
"Okay, I'll go look for those two. Rukia can you...?" Renji accepted.
"Yeah. I'll search for Inoue and... Her friend" She was still distrustful of him.
"Thank you. We'll meet at the Throne Room" Ichigo concluded. "I'll go look for Grimmjow. He might be a pain, but he's still part of the group"
They nodded accordingly.
Ichigo concentrated for a moment, in order to feel the Sexta's Reiatsu. As soon as he had a glimpse of it, not so far from them, he rushed through the desert.
Sitting in a rock, the Espada was looking at the horizon with a bothered expression.
"Hey, Grimmjow" Ichigo called his attention, much to his surprise, as he didn't sense him coming.
"What?" He asked in reply, keeping his composure.
"I went to the ruins. I discovered many things that-"
"I don't care" Grimmjow muttered in reply, annoyed as he spat on the sand.
"Sorry, but I need to tell everyone about it, and that includes you. After all, you ARE one of the remaining Espada, and as expected, quite strong. I don't doubt that"
"As if. That shit stopped existing the moment Aizen left this place" He retorted. "And besides... Not nearly as powerful as Ulquiorra, you said so yourself" He was clearly pissed.
"I just... I had to speak your language, ok?" Ichigo admitted. "Trust me, I know how you feel... But at this point, the one thing we don't need is to get more enemies"
"The problem is, that guy is already our enemy. He always has been!" Grimmjow spat. "Ever since I was an Espada, I was sick of his expression. It wasn't like he believed himself to be superior or somethin', his eyes just seemed to find everything he saw inherently worthless, probably with the exception of Aizen... But that only proves we can't possibly trust him... There must be something behind those eyes!"
"*sigh* That's the thing. I've given it a lot of thought, Grimmjow, really... But, I can't seem to grasp a reason we shouldn't believe his word. Ulquiorra had the chance to kill us all and yet... He didn't even try. As strange as it is, I could feel how he was indeed worried about me when I fell unconscious. He even took Nel in his arms... I didn't tell him but, yeah, I noticed that, and I'm really grateful"
"Tch... All you care about is that girl... If I was strong like you I would-"
"...Be king of Hueco Mundo. I know..." Ichigo sighed. "And that's exactly what I'm getting at here. For some reason, it was my destiny all along"
"What do you mean?"
"I will never be THE Gran Rey Cero, as I will never truly be Mugetsu. I am Kurosaki Ichigo, and as such, I'll keep doing things my way, and use this power to protect those I love. But, the power I've been given also comes with a price, something I must give in return" He looked at the white moon above it all. "I'm sorry, Grimmjow, but I must become King of Hueco Mundo. And not just any king. At the very least, I must live up to the name of Gran Rey Cero. I will unite Hueco Mundo, once and for all"
Grimmjow was astonished at first, but once he regained his composure, he grinned.
"Hmph, whatever happened in those ruins... It has changed you completely"
"I've told you enough. If you wanna hear the reason behind my resolve, come with me" He started walking back to Las Noches.
"*sigh* Guess I don't have much of a choice" Grimmjow decided to follow him as he put his hands in his pockets.
About thirty minutes later, everyone was present in the appointed location, where Nel and Harribel were concluding their conversation.
"I... See..." Harribel muttered, blushing.
"So, if you have anyone special in mind..." Nel already suspected of Grimmjow after all the time they had spent together. "...I assure you, Harri" She giggled, blushing a little as well. "There's nothing greater in this world, than this feeling..." She put her hand the center of her chest, feeling how her and Ichigo's heart were beating as one.
Ichigo looked at her and chuckled, as he understood what they had been talking about. Right after, he took a deep breath and decided to explain everything.
The only ones missing were the Tres Bestias, as they were waiting for Ashido to wake up. The rest were sitting in the Espada's table.
"It seems everyone's here, so I'll begin" He said with a serious tone. "Nageki is in fact an immortal Arrancar, who has guarded this artifact" He put the tesseract on the table. "The Heart of Tsukoyomi, for all this millenia, or maybe more. This dubious object has many uses, which I have yet to learn, but its most basic use is just like the Hogyoku's.
It can turn Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde level Hollows into Arrancar, and... Apparently, it can change Hollowfied Shinigami into Arrancar as well. Did your Fracciones tell you, Harribel?"
"I overheard them freaking out about something, but I didn't really pay attention. Now that I hear your testimony, I must admit that I am perplexed by such information" She replied.
"We have yet to see how Ashido will take this, but we must do our best for him to accept his condition under good terms. He was some kind of lonely hermit, a Hollow Hunter in the Forest of Menos, and after a couple hundreds of years, it might be tremendously difficult for him to see what he has become"
"I understand" Harribel nodded.
"Continuing with the main topic, I was also able to communicate with my Hollow Zanpakutou's spirit. Don't worry, Inoue, Rukia... He's not like he used to be" He smiled.
"So he is..." Rukia muttered.
"Yes, the Hollow inside me. Now that I've become a Hollow myself, it seems he changed into his true self or something of sorts. He's still ironic, as that's just his personality, but I can assure you, he's not evil at all" He explained.
"That's great news..." Orihime said with relief.
"More importantly... What's your Zanpakutou's name?" Grimmjow asked him.
As soon as that question was formulated, Ulquiorra seemed to smile a bit, while Nel became a bit tense, not knowing how her fellow Arrancar would react.
"Heh, I knew it would come to this eventually..." He closed his eyes. "My blade's name is none other than..." He opened them again. "Las Noches"
Everyone that didn't know looked at him in shock.
"Las... Noches..." Harribel repeated, unable to process it.
"What in the world...?" Grimmjow expressed his disbelief as well.
"The reason behind this, is that the Hollow that used to exist within my body is none other than Mugetsu, the first Hollow to ever exist, as well as... The one known as Gran Rey Cero"
Harribel realized that Ulquiorra's words did not come out of the blue or some nonsensical dream. His vision was correct. Ichigo was the successor of Gran Rey Cero.
"So, what does this mean, Ichigo?" Rukia asked, although she already had a glimpse of what the answer would be.
"I... I spoke with him, and I've decided that... I want to become king of Hueco Mundo. I want to make this world a better place, as well as protect all those I care for"
"I understand" Harribel replied, much to everyone's surprise, including Ichigo. "However... I would like to know what your plans would be, before leaving you in charge"
"Mugetsu, my Zanpakutou's spirit, has informed me that there is yet another group of Oni dangerous enough to us all. The 'Four Horsemen' as he said, are even stronger than the Dukes, so I believe the right course of action would be reforming the Espada in order to protect both Hueco Mundo, and the other realms as well. The Oni's objectives are clearly a threat to us all"
"Okay... Then, how are we supposed to find more Espada?" The Queen asked.
"Hueco Mundo... Is much larger than any of us can picture. With that in mind, I'm pretty sure that there must be Vasto Lordes with enough potential somewhere. That aside, we already have at least five Espada"
"Five?" Harribel asked, interested in his reply.
"Espada Cuatro is clearly Grimmjow. You would be Tercera, since I can feel you're still stronger than him"
Grimmjow frowned a bit when he heard that, but didn't say anything.
"Dos Espada is, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. Just like you, she's now able to go into Segunda Etapa, but there's more... As we became Wholes, Nel's Reiryoku and mine can act like one and the same..."
"I have no doubt about how strong that makes her..." Harribel replied comprehensively.
"To tell the truth, I know that you're not all going to be happy with this decission, but to me, it's impossible to think of anyone else in this position" Ichigo started saying. "Primera Espada is... Ulquiorra, the only one able to go into Etapa Final"
"Tch..." Grimmjow did not ommit his reaction this time.
"Thank you, Ichigo-sama"
"Finally... I, will be Cero Espada, though I don't want any formalities. I am your friend, so treat me as such. Becoming king doesn't mean that I want you all kneeling before me in the throne while you do all the work... On the contrary, I'll go search for Vasto Lordes just like you, and fight in the frontline if it's ever necessary" Ichigo left clear.
"I would expect no less..." Harribel commented.
"To conclude, I know that I've just become an Arrancar, and of course, I don't know the people here as well as you do, but I want to meet them all and do my best as both a ruler and a friend of you all. If possible, I would like to create a more amicable relationship with Soul Society, even if that seems impossible in this current moment. What do you say, Harribel? I... I don't mean to overthrow you or anything. I just... I just wanna do what I think is right"
Everyone was anxious to hear the current Queen's verdict.
"To be honest, I've always been a believer of the idea that only those chosen by fate become Vasto Lorde. In the same way, after seeing how all these signs converge... I can't deny that destiny is involved in all the events that lead to you becoming all you are today" She replied, stoic. "I would like to communicate the change in administration to all the Arrancar in Las Noches, as it would be a transparent measure and it would help in making your image more familiar to them... However" She closed her eyes in some kind of painful way. "The only way they will truly understand... Is if you give a demonstration of your absolute power. We need to fight, Ichigo"
"But, Harri, is that really necessary?" Nel asked worried.
"It is, Nel-sama. I know my people. It's the only way"
"Then I'll join you" Grimmjow said. "I want to see for myself what kind of monster Ichigo has become"
"Grimmjow, that wouldn't be precisely a fair fight" She retorted, denying his idea. "While it is true that Ichigo must surpass both of us, it wouldn't seem right for it to be two on one"
"I don't care. I'll just join in after you are defeated, if that's what bothers you" He said.
"Fine... I know you will do whatever you want either way, so I won't try to change your mind" Harribel sighed.
"Very well then... I'm not really comfortable with the idea, but you are the one that knows better" Ichigo finished. "I'll show all of Las Noches, the power of Gran Rey Cero"
~~~~X~~~~
Reviews:
Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: Awesome chapter! Loved the ending of this chapter! I KNEW you'd have plans for Ichigo's other ZanpakutÅ: Quincy! Zangetsu. Speaking of, I was able to get that Zangetsu thanks to completing Senkaimon Quests! Whoop!
But I digress. This was a good read. I liked how Neliel gave Ichigo a literal horseback ride and also how Ashido might become a Vizard due to absorbing so much Hollow Reishi... Let's just hope he doesn't become a casualty like Kaien ended up as. I doubt Rukia could handle that.
Also, the Tres Bestias have a crush it seems! Lol.
Reply: Of course I had plans for him. I hate leaving stuff unfinished, and even more, plot holes... So I am thinking of a way for all the Quincy stuff to make sense in this plot.
Ashido survived, so kudos for him, haha, although it won't be easy for him to incorporate into the Hollow world, that's for sure. I always thought he looked a bit like Ayon with his mask and fur, so I thought, 'why not make the Tres Bestias like him in a more... Special way?'
Before ending this Chapter, I can't simply ommit the fact that it's 31st of October! (Or at least while I'm writing this) So...
~~~~X~~~~
Hell-O-Ween Fest
A week before Halloween night.
"I would like to communicate the change in administration to all the Arrancar in Las Noches, as it would be a transparent measure and it would help in making your image more familiar to them... However" She closed her eyes in some kind of painful way. "The only way they will truly understand... Is if you give a demonstration of your absolute power. You must..."
"Yeah, I will have to fight you-"
"What? Of course not. You must hold a concert for all of Las Noches!" Harribel replied. "I play bass, and... I can sing, though it is a bit embarrassing"
"Wait a minute, so I must... Give them a good show ro something?" Ichigo asked in shock.
"Not just good, Ichigo. You must rock the crowd!" Nel corrected him.
"But... How am I supposed to...?"
"What are you saying? You are a amazing! You beat Aizen in a guitar duel, don't you remember?" Rukia 'reminded' him.
"Ah, yeah... Wait, WHAT?"
"Yes, Ichigo! You and your seven strings of wonder never fail..." Renji added.
"Guys, I honestly don't know how to play!"
"Yeah, right... And that guitar you got hanging on your back is just for show isn't it?" Grimmjow told him. "I'll never forget when we duelled in that desert venue. I thought my drumming would make you lose tempo but... Well, it was not enough"
"Huh?" He grabbed the object he was carrying on his back. It was true, it was a guitar case.
"That's true, Ichigo, and Grimmjow is known as the 'Drum Demon' for a reason" Nel added. "And... You taught me how to play guitar so I know about your abilities better than anyone" She blushed.
"*sigh* So... We'll play as a band or...?" He decided to go with the flow. "I'm already in these weird dreams I have from time to time, so I'll just go with the flow and see where it gets me" He thought
"Yeah, I think it would be the best way to show Hueco Mundo what you're made of" Harribel replied. "Hell-O-Ween Fest is coming up, so it's your moment to shine"
"Ichigo-sama, please allow me to participate" Ulquiorra requested. "Aside from the guitar, I can also play the piano and the violin and... Well, I actually wrote a song as well"
"Do as you wish, Ulquiorra" He shortly answered. "And... Then we have the other thing. What are we going to play?" Ichigo asked.
"I have a selection of songs that are popular in Hueco Mundo. I wrote a pair of them myself, actually" Harribel gave a list to Ichigo.
It read: "Ichirin no Hana", "D-TecnoLife", "Change", "Ranbu no Melo..."
"WHAT THE?! Hey... I feel like know these songs for some reason (and I'm pretty sure none of these are yours). Actually, won't we get in trouble for copyright infringement or...?" Ichigo said.
"Copyright? Don't be ridiculous, Ichigo. These were all written by a member of the band, with one exception" Rukia replied. "Nel and you wrote 'Ichirin no Hana', Harribel-san wrote 'Change' and 'Ranbu no Melody', though Gin used to sing in that one..."
"Guess Ichigo will have to sing there..."
"Finally, 'D-TecnoLife' was written by Hisagi-san, but I'm sure he won't have a problem with you using it" Rukia concluded.
"I would like you to add another song by yourself though" Harribel told him. "If the palace's Arrancar like it, I will give the throne to you"
"A song...? Made by me?!" He was more astonished with every second that passed.
"Yeah! It's a great idea!" Nel cheered. "Ichigo, you HAVE to play Gianizm Hachi!"
"Eh...?"
"That way they'll especially hear your clean singing, as I sing most of'Ichirin no Hana'..."She explained, as if it was the most natural thing to do.
"So... Will we play my song as well?" Ulquiorra muttered, but was ignored.
"We shall start practicing tomorrow" Harribel said. "There is an auditorium in the palace, perfect for that task. I'll tell Rudbornn to show you the way"
"Yay! I can't wait to see the show!" Orihime clapped her hands.
"Oh gosh... I wish I wake up before I have to play anything" Ichigo thought worried.
Such thing did not happen, but the next day, he was amused to discover a really interesting thing.
"Let's start with 'Ichirin no Hana'!" Nel proposed.
"Okay... I gave it a couple listens yesterday so it won't be a problem" Harribel replied.
"So did I. Let's do this!" Grimmjow said as well.
"Let's go, Ichigo!" Nel got hold of a beautiful headless green guitar with 24 frets.
"Right..." Ichigo was nervously holding his seven string axe. It was also a 24 fretted piece, its finish being a white paint base with a black circle in the middle, resembling his Hollow Hole.
Grimmjow marked the time with his drumsticks, each one sounding slower to Ichigo, who didn't have any idea of what he was supposed to do.
As soon as the final beat sounded, Ichigo moved his hands, hoping for the best.
His hands seemed to move by themselves as they started the iconic tapping of the intro to 'his' song.
"What the-?!" He thought, unable to comprehend how such a miracle ocurred.
And not only did he play the song, he also sang his parts with complete ease, like he had always done so.
He was also surprised that Nel sang such a dark themed song, but for some reason, it suited her incredibly well.
"I have nothing to say, Ichigo. That was great" Harribel complimented, putting her blue bass back in its bag after the whole session of practice. "The show will be a complete success"
"Yeah, it sounded amazing!" He still couldn't believe it.
"Of course, you were playing after all" Nel complimented.
"And you are amazing as well, Nel" He replied.
"I learned from the best" She kissed him.
"Maybe, we can do this after all" He thought happily.
Ulquiorra only did promotion in the end, as none of the songs featured any of the instruments he played, and even though he was also able to play guitar, Nel and Ichigo already took care of that.
Orihime, Renji and Rukia were in charge of planning and decoration for the event. Rudbornn and the other Arrancar that served the Espadas directly, helped in that matter and did a pretty good job.
A week later, the venue was ready.
Pumpkins, bats and ghosts were all over the place, and Arrancar and even many Adjuchas were in the crowd, ready for the show that was about to take place.
Out of a cloud of bats, Harribel appeared in the stage, received by screams of euphoria.
She walked to her microphone, held by a mic stand.
"Great eternal night, Las Noches! Today, I will play along Kurosaki Ichigo to decide the future of the throne, so mark my words, this will be a show you won't ever forget"
The cheers were even greater as she finished with such a strong declaration.
Next thing, lights illuminated the other three as they appeared on the stage, all close to a mic stand for their respective songs.
The songs were played in the same order as the list Harribel had given them.
As a result, they were only in the first track and, as Ichigo screamed his part and played his Solo, the Arrancar had no problem creating a brutal mosh pit. It was immediate success.
The next songs were also interesting for different reasons. The crowd sang along with 'D-TecnoLife', showing how popular was Shuhei in Hueco Mundo. Ichigo sang the lyrics. On 'Change', Nel and Harribel did a vocal duo that left the crowd in ecstasy, just like Ichigo did with his cover of Gin's singing.
In the end, it all came to Gianizm Hachi.
"Let's do it, Ichi!" Nel told him eager to play his song.
"Yeah!"
Despite the crowd not knowing the song, everyone was moving relentless, and even by the final chorus, everyone was singing along and bats were flying all over the place, content with the show.
However, the hype was so high that by the end of the song, everyone was asking for more.
"ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!" They shouted.
"What are we gonna do?" Ichigo asked his friends.
"I... Don't know" Harribel admitted. "Unless..."
"Ichigo-sama, I brought my keyboard and violin" Ulquiorra appeared on stage out of nowhere.
"Ulquiorra! I didn't think you'd come to our aid after putting you aside"
"I know it wasn't intentional, so I don't have anything against you or the others. And... You all learned my song after all"
"What? You too?" Ichigo asked the others.
"Yeah..." Grimmjow said pissed.
"He kinda forced me to" Nel replied with a bothered expression.
"He made me listen to it and I thought it was really good so... Yes, I learned it" Harribel answered more positively.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go"
A new spot of light appeared on stage for Ulquiorra, who would play the keyboard and violin in his own creation.
The crowd was surprised at first, but a large shout was sign that everyone was ready for more.
The band started playing. It was an ominous melody, followed by powerful chords, all while the new Primera Espada played the four strings of his violin.
With the intro finished, Ulquiorra grabbed his microphone, and said the words that started the song once and for all:
"Kokoro wo korose...!"
Ichigo woke up from the dream in a king size bed along Nel, the song of Ulquiorra still resonating in his head.
"So it was a dream after all... Well, nothing made sense anyway, but, all in all it was a nice dream I guess... Hell-O-Ween Fest..." He chuckled. "Maybe, once this is all over I could ask Rose to teach me a bit of guitar..." He smiled as he looked at the moon.
Now, it has truly finished. With this Chapter, the opening song changes from Gianizm Hachi to... Tentei by Asaki. I recommend you give it a listen, in case you wonder what it sounds like... It's more dark themed and even has a 2 min. version, so I thought it fits perfectly.
Happy Halloween to every and each one of you! You don't know how happy it makes me that you read my fic, and I'll continue to do my best to continue this story!
Evhron out... With pumpkins, bats and skulls.
PD: "Kokoro wo korose" means literally "Kill your heart". Edgy, but cool.