That same night, Ichigo tried his best to enter his dreams, but it seemed to be an impossible task, despite having a comfortable bed, as well as his beloved Nel sleeping to his right.
He wore his Shihakusho's pants and left his upper part uncovered, while Nel wore a two piece white attire, similar to the Espada clothing. It was originally a long vest, but she cut it to make it more comfortable, leaving just an upper piece that covered from her ribcage to her collar, and a lower one that was like a skirt, similar to the one left when her green clothes were torn off by her transformation.
"Dammit..." He sighed, sitting by the side of the bed, with his head between his hands.
Harribel got them a big room, probably the one Aizen used to have for himself he theorized, though she would not say if that was the case. She seemed to have been the most hurt by Aizen's betrayal out of all the Arrancar, not even wanting to mention his name. Still, Ichigo imagined that anything he used had been probably obliterated by the woman, so the furniture they had in the room was probably new.
He gazed at the moon, looking for answers in that wicked hour. He didn't even consider fighting a woman seriously. Up until that point, the only girls he had faced in battle had been Hiyori and Lisa, and even then, it had only been training, not a serious fight.
He didn't feel comfortable with that idea, but at the same time, it was Harribel the one who said it was the only possible way.
To him, it was a bother having to fight in the first place. He considered all Espada, possibly with the exception of Ulquiorra, to be his friends to some degree.
"What a drag..." He muttered as he let his arms down, looking at his two Zanpakutous.
"Ichi...?" Nel called his name with one eye open. "You can't sleep?"
"I'm just a bit... Overwhelmed by this" He was frank. "Everything has happened so fast, and my mind hasn't really been able to catch up. I try not to worry too much about it all but... There is a limit"
"Ichigo..." She put her arms around his chest and rested her head on one of his shoulders. "I can't imagine how hard it must be for you, but don't let it get to you... You're doing the best you can, with everything" She softly kissed his cheek.
"Thanks Nel... I... I really wish I could be a bit stronger, you know, to simply go through this with the same attitude you guys have" He referred to the Espada.
"You might have become an Arrancar, but your mind is still the one of a human. You never had to go through the traumatic experience of growing up as a Hollow, and I couldn't be happier about that..." She explained. "However, it's to be expected that your mind is weaker in that sense. Life here makes you a lot colder towards the world around you, which is not a problem if you live of killing each other, though it was never something I enjoyed..."
"I know..." He held her hand warmly.
"When I was an Espada... I believe I was a lot colder than when we met. All those years fooling around with Pesche and Dondochakka made me a lot softer, and I wouldn't want it another way" She laughed a bit, remembering all the funny stuff she did as a kid. "Just take your time, and don't try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Even if you are destined to lead us, that doesn't mean you have to become someone different from who you already are"
He nodded, understanding her words.
"And don't wish for one second you were as cold as we were. You are wonderful being as human as you are, Ichigo, and I loved you as a man before being anything else..." She got up from the bed and stood in front of him with a red tone on her face. "...And I'll always love you just the way you are" She pushed him to the bed and snuggled him with kisses.
"Oi, Nel!" He didn't expect that reaction from her, but it was the best support he could've gotten at the moment. "Ahahahaha! I get it! I get it!"
"Really? I'm not sure you truly understand..." She did a mischievous smile that reminded him of Yoruichi.
"Nel...?" He started getting nervous.
She pressed her melons against his chest and proceeded to slowly lick his cheek.
"You're sweating... Ichi" She whispered in his ear, her voice as hipnotizing as some exotic melody.
"Haa..." He panted, feeling as his libido increased exponentially.
"You taste... Sweet. Just like an i-chi-go (苺)" She looked him right in the eye, with a seductive grin.
He simply devoured her mouth as he wildly ravaged her hair and figure. Nel felt accomplished as she proved once again that she knew how to awaken that side of him.
"Don't think about anything else, Ichi" She removed her top clothing. "I love you, and you love me. That's all you have to care about"
"And how right you are..." She embraced her naked body and kissed her until the oxygen ran out, Nel biting his lip 'til she tasted the crimson fluid of her loved one, eagerly inviting him to do the same to her. "Everything will be fine, as long as I have you..."
And so, in ecstasy, close to Heaven, they could feel what they did not understand.
~~~~X~~~~
"Where are you going...? Cifer-kun?" Orihime asked him, just before he jumped off the window of the room where she decided to stay.
She had brought colourful clothes, in contrast with the white Espada attire she was forced to wear before. Her sleeping attire was no exception, having brought her fuchsia t-shirt and a pair of short dark blue leggings.
"I have... Something I have to do" He replied, not looking back at her. "For that... I must become stronger and get to control my new powers"
He had not even tried to sleep, he was just waiting for the night to be at its peak to take a flight.
"And why at this time of the night? You could do it tomorrow... Or is it that you want to do it in secret?" She inquired. "You are planning something again... Aren't you?"
"Inoue..." He decided to look at her. "Last time, my actions made my king miserable. I want to do something to pay him back. That's all"
She looked at him with a sad smile.
"I'm sure you are unable to see how pure you truly are" She said.
"That's not true. I'm despicable. Everyone other than you thinks so at least, and I think they're right. They have no reason to think differently" He looked at the floor in misery.
"If you keep thinking that way about yourself... I doubt you'll ever change" She seemed saddened by his attitude.
"But it's not about what I want to think, Inoue. It's about what I am. It's not something I can change so easily"
"Cifer-kun..." She gave him a sad look.
"Don't worry. Thanks to this, I can carry out my next scheme without a single doubt in my heart" He replied, stoic and determined.
"I don't know what you want to do, but if you're gonna protect Ichigo thanks to that... I'll support you!" She gave him a serious look as well.
He chuckled a bit. "Thanks... Inoue. Now, go back to sleep, you are human, you need it more than I..."
"Human..." She thought for a moment. "Hey, Cifer-kun... There's something I've been dying to ask you for a while"
"Really? And what would that be?" He asked back, curious.
"I think I've been able to get an idea after spending so much time with you and Nel, but, how does it feel...? You know... Being a Hollow?"
"That... That's difficult to describe" He admitted. "And then, there's also the fact that I am especially hollow for a Hollow, you know what I mean?" It sounded like a pun, but he didn't find a better choice of words.
"I kinda expected you to say something like that" She smiled awkwardly.
"I can't find a way to put it simple, but... At least for me it is... Being so empty that everyone else seem to be souvenirs. Souvenirs of flesh and bone, that are only there for our consumption or enjoyment. In my own case... I never had to feed when I entered the stage of Vasto Lorde, not even having a mouth. Although, even then... I found pleasure in destroying others, so I was even worse than those who killed to stay in that stage. There was nothing else in my mind. Kill for pleasure, endless pleasure. Satisfaction was my reality... A careful pleasure, that ended up becoming a guilty pleasure, one in which I can only find shame and guilt in the present"
"So what used to be enjoyment, turned out to be a form of suffering... Because of me" Orihime concluded sadly. "You feel miserable because I taught you about the heart..." She had an urge to cry.
"Stop. It's not something negative. I can finally understand the pain and suffering I inflicted upon others and continue to deal up to this day... But such a discovery has allowed me to grow even further" He smiled.
"Huh?" She looked at him, widening her eyes.
"Back there in the dark desert... When I fought Ichigo-sama and Nelliel-sama... I was almost defeated"
"Yeah... But then you unlocked Etapa Final" She remembered.
"Exactly" He nodded. "Such a thing, was only possible because of the things you taught me. Because for the first time in all my Hollow existence... I found something that had value in this empty world" He caressed her cheek.
"Cifer-kun..." She blushed a bit, surprised that he decided to touch her.
"For the first time in my life, I was truly living. Deciding to stay alive because of something much more important than my own self" He gently played with her long hair. "I finally understand... That I returned to his world, because of you, Inoue" He softly passed his hand through the length of her arm, stopping at her hand to entangle his fingers with hers.
Orihime felt as her heart started beating faster, rapidly increasing her blood pressure as she looked into his eyes.
"Hey, Ulquiorra..." Her tone was shy, but the fact that she used his name called his attention immediately.
"What is it?"
"Kurosaki-kun said that... He and Nel-san... Had become Wholes. What...? What does that mean?"
"To tell the truth, I didn't know about such a thing until he mentioned it. However... I did hear what Nel-sama told Harribel. It seems that, two Arrancar can establish a bond that allows them to share their Reiryoku. This only seems possible if they truly love each other, or at least that's how she described it"
"I see... And, what do you think of it?" She asked, as her hand started sweating a bit.
"I... I imagine it has to be the most beautiful experience a Hollow can have in its lifetime" He confessed. "Love... If only I could understand such a thing"
"But... Are you sure you have never felt it at least?"
"Feel...?" He asked back, obliviously.
Orihime slowly passed her fingers around his Hollow Hole, making him blush a bit.
"Here. This is where your heart should be, right?"
"I guess so... Though I wouldn't say for sure"
"Then... What do you feel... When you think about... Me, for example?" She was really anxious, but tried her best to keep her cool.
"Hmm..." He thought for a moment. "I feel... Like a warmth inside me. Like my soul is... At peace"
"Really?"
"Yeah... Your kind being... Your beautiful face... Your pure soul... There's no way something could make me feel better"
"If that's so..." She held his hand more tightly. "Don't leave me tonight. Just like you... I feel so much better when you're with me"
Ulquiorra looked at her with a clueless expression.
"How...? What...?" He asked in shock.
"I don't know..."
"Even after I..."
"I don't know"
"Why would you...?"
"I don't know!" She forcibly pulled him into the bed, opening his white jacket in the process. "I don't know... Why I need you, Ulquiorra" She was breathing heavily, and sweating a bit. "I don't understand... But ever since you returned, I can't help but feel sorrow when I see you do all this stuff alone. I decided that I would come here because I wanted to be with you more than anything else!" She finally said it. "I don't know why... But, I feel like I'm gonna die if I see you go back to the miserable being you once were!"
"I...noue" He felt paralyzed by her. Her words, tone, expression... Everything together was the perfect recipe to immobilize him. Not even bringing tape and tying him up to her body would've been as effective.
"So please... Stay" She was crying with her face buried in his white chest. "You keep me safe... Make me believe in case... You ever leave... I'll keep you here with me..."
"What are you doing...?" Was the only thing he could think. "...Woman?"
Orihime escalated his abdomen and reached his face. She deeply stared into his jade eyes as she concluded her tantalizing ritual, pressing her lips against Ulquiorra's.
The Espada's eyes got widened as he realized that such an event was not an illusion. Inoue Orihime was kissing him. Ulquiorra Cifer, the nihilist Espada, the one who saw no value in anything, couldn't even think as a human woman bewitched his stone-cold heart.
He lousily replied to her kiss, moved purely by instinct and, unknown to him, passion. As the seconds passed though, he slowly improved and was able to reciprocate her affection.
When Inoue opened her eyed again, she realized that she had just stolen that kiss from the especially shy Arrancar.
"I-I'm so sorry!" She pulled away from him. "I... I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable! I just...!"
"It's... Okay, Inoue" He slowly replied, still not really believing that was real. "I... I don't know what this is... But, I'm happy. I can't remember a single moment I've felt truly happy, but this... This exceeds any expectation I had of that emotion"
"So you... You liked it...?"
"I never even dreamed of kissing. It's something I only saw recently between, well... You can imagine"
"Yeah..." Orihime understood who he was talking about.
"Although I've heard of Hollows experiencing sexual intercourse out of lust or merely by caprice... Love is still out of reach in that sense, so we don't know about these things" Ulquiorra explained. "But it seems... Humans do"
"Well... I... I had never really kissed anybody before... It's something that, even though we are used to seeing in fiction and Dorama... Is not so simple to experience yourself"
"Does it hold... A special meaning?"
"Very special. There are various kinds of kisses, but this one... Was a kiss of..."
Ulquiorra took her by the wrist and locked her in a kiss by himself. Not even he understood how he was able to do such thing but he was glad he did.
Orihime gently pulled his black hair as she continued tasting his mouth. She moaned as the last portion of oxygen was consumed inside her to enjoy that moment to the fullest.
"I...Inoue" He smiled as he panted her name.
"So... It was not... Misplaced after all..." She cried as she confirmed it. "It was... A kiss of love"
"So... This is... Love...?" He repeated in amusement.
"Yes..." She cutely kissed his cheek. "I love you, Ulquiorra... My dear Cifer-kun"
"Love..." He said once more, sweating nervously but, feeling more complete than ever before.
"I love you, so you don't have to leave... I'll keep you here with me" She hugged him, in a warm way she had never done before.
"I... I won't" He decided, corresponding to her embrace. "I love you, Orihime. Even though I don't understand anything... I just know I love you"
"Thank you..." She rested her head right on top of his Hollow Hole, making him feel like it was filled for the first time.
Ulquiorra closed his eyes and wished that it was not all just a dream, falling asleep with that request he made to wichever God looked after their race.
"Good night, Ulqui-kun" She cutely said, once he fell asleep. "Thanks, Nel-san. I promise this time... I will love, without fear of anything. Ulquiorra is a Hollow, and I am a human... But that's irrelevant. He loves me and I love him. That's all that matters, right?" She fell asleep as well with that vow, holding the pale hand of her loved one, happy that she was able to make him feel happy, loved, and over all...
A L I V E
~~~~X~~~~
Ichigo woke up, tightly embraced by Nel.
"Heh... I'd never get tired of this" He thought as he softly caressed her cheek, patiently waiting for her to wake up.
When she opened her eyes, a smile appeared on her lips as she realized that she was still holding him, feeling the warmth of Ichigo on her own nude body.
"Good morning, Ichi" She kissed him.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Well falls short. I'd say it was amazing... Though that's not surprising after a night like that one" She blushed a bit.
"Gotta agree with that... You were wondefful, and... Thanks, I was able to wash away my problems and sleep well"
"I just saw you more worried than usual, so I figured that would be the best way to make you forget about everything"
"Yeah... Though it's only a matter of time before we have to face reality" He smiled sadly. "To be honest, I... I don't wanna fight anybody. They are our friends"
"I know... But Harri decided that herself, and knowing her, she won't change her mind"
"That's true... I guess the only way to sort this out is to do as she says. I want to try to not to hurt her or Grimmjow. If possible, I'd like to raise my Reiatsu to a point where no one can even stand, but considering she and Grimmjow can go into Segunda Etapa, I doubt that'll be enough"
"Whatever happens... I won't love you any less, Ichigo. You have to understand that this might be the only way to protect Hueco Mundo in the long run. If anything... Just, try not to kill anybody, please"
"I don't plan to do such a horrible thing, don't worry" He gently held her hand and rested his head on her chest, enjoying the softness of her natural pillows.
"You really like them, don't you?" She giggled. "I didn't want to believe Yoruichi-san, but it seems you are a bit of a pervert"
"Hey, it's not like that...!" He raised his head with a red tone on his face.
"I'm just kidding" She laughed and sinked his head into her chest herself, stroking his hair gently. "Any man would love to enjoy his woman to the fullest, wouldn't he?"
"I... Guess..." He shyly replied.
"You don't have to be so shy..." She whispered. "...I'm all yours, Ichi"
"My... Nel..." He chuckled and reached her lips one more time.
The two got up about an hour later, wearing their respective Espada uniforms, heading to the Throne Room to discuss the details of the battle.
As expected, Harribel was already on the grand table discussing something important with two of her Fracción.
"...He seems disoriented, but it's not like he's sad or angry" Sung-Sun explained.
"But did he realize he's not a Shinigami anymore?" Harribel asked seriiously.
"Yes..." Mila Rose sighed. "It was one of the first things that happened, actually. He touched his own chest and then... Realized that something was missing"
"Well, as long as he's not trying to harm you or himself... I think it's a good start, or at least considering his backstory" The Queen concluded.
"Good morning, Harri! And to you two as well!" Nel cheerfully saluted.
"Good morning, Nel-sama" The three said in unison.
"For what I heard, Ashido is awake" Ichigo deduced.
"Yeah... Apacci and Rukia-san taking care of him" Sung-Sun replied.
"I see. Well, let's just hope that he can adapt soon to this new life" Ichigo concluded, the rest agreeing with a nod. "Changing the topic... Just, when exactly are we supposed to fight?"
"Oh, that..." Harribel remembered. "Earlier in the morning, I asked Rudbornn to inform about the duel to the inhabitants of Las Noches. It will be held today, in the late afternoon. I'm sorry that everything is so quick, but we don't have time. The Oni could attack at any moment"
"I know. I only wanted to have an idea of when it was. Will Grimmjow fight as well?"
"You know him. He's been training since last night in hope to defeat you and become king of Hueco Mundo..." She sighed. "He knows it's useless, but he will try nonetheless. But don't worry, he won't interrupt our fight"
"I understand" Ichigo nodded. "I hope we can all be friends even after..."
"Friends, huh?" Harribel seemed to smile behind her jacket. "I never imagined that friendship was ever a possibility for us. But, you taught me of it, Kurosaki Ichigo, and Nel-sama as well. I don't have a problem leaving the throne to you if you can teach everyone about those wonderful things"
"Harribel-sama...!" Her Fracción were surprised by her declaration.
"So for now... Try to relax and get to know the palace. It has grown a lot, so it might be good for you as well, Nel-sama"
"Thank you, Harri. Let's go, Ichigo!" Nel grabbed him by the arm.
"Y-Yeah... Oh, one more thing. Have any of you seen, Nageki?" He asked the three.
"I believe he went to the Desert Towers" Harribel replied.
Ichigo remembered that place. It was where he fought Grimmjow, as well as Nnoitra. The place where Nel turned back into an adult for the first time only to protect him.
"Thank you, we're gonna go check on him" Ichigo bowed a bit and headed for the mentioned area.
Once they were out in the open, they gave a look to the place.
It seemed Rudbornn was working to his fullest, along with other inhabitants of the palace. They were all doing reparations, having to reconstruct a large number of structures and, more importantly, the whole ceiling, which had been completely destroyed.
"They are doing a great job" Nel pointed out. "Many of the buildings have been restored already. It is truly fascinating seeing so many Arrancar working together"
"I can tell how happy this makes you. My Hollow Hole seems to react to the way you feel as well. I probably didn't notice earlier because we were in situations that stimulated the two of us"
"Now that you mention it, I think I also felt a bit down yesterday when you were worried. Probably, that was what woke me up" She remembered.
"I'm sure Nageki will be interested in hearing this... If he didn't know already, of course"
"Oh, Ichigo... I'm so happy to be a Whole with you!" She hugged him strongly.
"I know. And I couldn't be happier to make you feel that way..." He pat her head. "I'm sure Mugetsu is also glad to know that Hueco Mundo is slowly heading towards the marvelous past it used to have"
In a large red tower, they found the immortal Arrancar, who seemed to have built a laboratory inside it.
"Wow, look at all this stuff!" Nel was surprised at the amount of scientific instruments he had in the lab.
Essay tubes, boiling flasks, strange materials, liquids and machines... Everything seemed to come out of a science fiction movie.
"Oh, I figured you two would come by sooner or later. I improvised this little lab to conduct a couple more experiments before I leave this world behind" He cheerfully said as he came down a spiral staircase.
"So cool!" Nel seemed to be amazed.
"Where did you get all of this stuff?" Ichigo asked curious.
"I made it. In my Segunda Etapa, I can alter the composition of external matter and, as a result, I can turn all that sand you see outside into something completely different and useful for my various experiments"
"You are amazing, Nageki..." Ichigo was astonished.
"It's not that big of a deal... I might have this ability, but I was never a proficient fighter. It's true, I could fight, but it's not my forte. What made me perfect to guard the Heart of Tsukoyomi was my ability to create all kinds of barriers, traps and devices to protect it"
"But... Pesche and Dondochakka entered with no further problem" Nel pointed out.
"That's because they are Arrancar. I didn't create any barrier from Arrancar cause, they have no reason to do anything to the Heart of Tsukoyomi. The only one able to use it is Ichigo, so as soon as they took it realized that it's useless in their hands, they would've probably tossed it around or left it back where it belongs"
"Actually..." Ichigo got the tesseract from his pocket. "Is it safe that I just carry it around?"
"Don't worry, you are more than capable to defend it from any Oni below Prince level, unless they attacked together of course" He referred to the Four Horsemen. "But that was exactly what I was doing right now. I'm creating a device that can both emulate this signal and amplify its action around Las Noches"
"What does it do?"
"It's designed to protect this place from the opening of a Kimon"
"Like a force field?"
"Kinda, though it will not act as a physical barrier. I can't do that much, or at least not with this little time"
"But...!" Nel was about to protest that he could just live for a while longer, but Ichigo stopped her.
"I understand" He put his hand in Nel's shoulder, indicating that he understood what she tried to say, but dismissed it for some reason.
"I should finish this work between today and tomorrow, so don't worry. After that, I'll try to create a safe for you to put the Heart and keep it protected without the need to carry it everywhere. Actually... Mugetsu used to wear a necklace with the Heart of Tsuloyomi, so it was easier to move with it, give me a second"
"Oh... Thanks" Ichigo muttered, as Nageki had already taken the tesseract from his hand and was doing a lot of stuff to a speed at which they couldn't make out what the hell was he doing.
"There you go!" Nageki passed him the Tesseract through the air, now tied to a dark metal necklace that looked like a chain.
"Wow... It's... Practical..." He said while putting it on. He picked that word as the design seemed a bit dark-themed for his taste. "I feel like a sadist wearing this thing... Though Nel wouldn't have a problem if that was the case" He thought.
"Glad that you liked it. Also, Nelliel, take this with you" He passed her a small notebook (of paper).
"What's this for?" She asked.
"I believe females are more perceptive of feelings and more... Abstract stuff. Because of that, I wanted you to write anything new you discover about Wholes"
"Oh... That. We actually did discover something" She remembered.
"Really? It must be fascinating! But, I gotta go back to work right now, so please write it down in the notebook I gave you"
"Okay" She nodded.
"See you later, you two. Good luck in your fight, Ichigo" Nageki wished as he indirectly requested them to leave.
"Oh, thanks. I'll do my best"
"And thank you for accepting my request, Nelliel. Thanks to you, I'll be able to complete my research before turning into dust"
"You're welcome... I guess" She felt uneasy about the last part.
"Let's go, Nel. We have to continue our tour" Ichigo held her by the hand.
"Yeah!" She happily walked with him while humming a cute melody.
As they went to check some other area, Nel couldn't help but ask Ichigo about Nageki.
"Hey, Ichi. Why are you so calm when Nageki-san talks about his own planned death?"
"Well... I think there is no point in living if you have no reason anymore. Nageki is someone who has been alive for an unconceivable amount of time, and during that time, he didn't make friends, or at least... Not that they lasted..." Ichigo shared his point of view as they went through the desert.
"Oh... It makes sense when you put it like that" She sadly complied.
"That's why... I won't deny him his wish to end his own existence. I don't really want him to die but, if that's what he wants, I won't get in his way"
"You're right" She sighed. "It's so weird. It had been so long since I met him for the first time. For me... He was a friend, and probably, the first I ever had since I am a Hollow. However..." Her eyes darkened a bit. "Like he said, in reality, I don't know anything about him. It's like, I thought I knew or at least understood him but... That was just an illusion"
"Nel..." He pulled her closer to support her, knowing that this would probably lead to a trial of tears.
"I didn't know his name. I didn't know what he wanted. I never really saw him" She endured the pain, trying not to bother Ichigo with her grief. "It's like... I was betrayed... By the very first person I put my trust in"
"C'mon, it's not like that..."
"In the end... Betrayal is always chasing after me. Since I refrain from betraying others, my own aspect of death haunts me" She couldn't hold her tears any longer, crying on Ichigo's chest, making his Hollow Hole feel a sorrowful cold. "Who knows... What awful vision will I see in my nightmares this time...?"
"You won't see any of that. I won't allow it" Ichigo said determined.
She stopped her tears to look at the expression on his face. It was no farce, no bluff. He meant what he said and he would do as he declared.
"Nel... Your heart and my heart, are one and the same. Your dreams, are my dreams... I won't allow any darkness to enter"
"Ichigo..." She said with a hint of admiration.
"And don't forget, Nel. Ever since we've slept together there have been no nightmares, right?"
"Well, at least after that night in the Dangai..."
"Exactly. Cause that was the moment you decided to not betray your own feelings anymore" Ichigo seemed to understand the nature of her aspect of death at this point. "I don't know what Gamuza has told you, but I know how acid the words can be of a Hollow spirit who only wants to take control over your body" He remembered Mugetsu in the past, when he did all he could to try to possess him. "Don't let her get to you, Nel. Don't be fooled. Mugetsu told me the secret to Etapa Final, and it's not embracing your nature like in Segunda Etapa, but instead... Fighting against that dark seal until you become what you wanna be"
"Is that? How Ulquiorra did it...?" She asked astonished.
"Yeah. And that's exactly the reason I know I can trust him" He looked at the horizon. "He's no longer an empty carcass waiting to fill a void with death and destruction. He has found a meaning in life, and was reborn again"
"I see!" She finally understood.
"So... You don't need any doubt in your heart. You're just about to unlock your true potential, I'm sure, so keep believing in others the same way you've been doing it all this time" He kissed her skull.
Her face and eyes seemed to recover their color as she radiantly smiled at him.
"You're right, Ichigo. Thank you!" She snuggled him a bit. "I don't know... What I would do without you"
"Neither do I. But this is the Life I was destined to have, and I couldn't be any happier, just because you're part of it"
~~~~X~~~~
The late afternoon arrived sooner than any of them could've expected.
All the Arrancar from Las Noches had reunited outside of the palace to watch the confrontation that was about to take place.
A large WatchTower had been built only for that matter in fact, as the distance they had to take from the actual fighters was too great in order to not get caught in the crossfire.
Renji and Grimmjow were standing on the side of the arena. They had been training all day, but that was because of the Espada, who wanted to hone his abilities to the very limit in order to face Ichigo.
"Thanks... Shinigami" He muttered at Renji.
"Oi, call me Renji. It's not like we're strangers after all this time" He replied, a tad bothered.
Grimmjow chuckled.
"Hmphm... Fine, Renji. I gotta admit you're right about that"
Nel and Orihime were at the top of the tower along with the Tres Bestias and their new friend, while Rukia and the others were a level below.
"This atmosphere... Amazing" Rukia commented as she only grasped in that moment what Ichigo's decision had caused in the short run.
"It's not strange..." Pesche replied. "Ichigo-sama is about to make history"
"Although I'm pretty sure this isn't what he wanted the most" Renji said in reply.
"In any case... It is what Tier wanted" Grimmjow grinned. "And it is what I desire as well" He said, getting ready for his moment.
Ashido was looking at his surroundings in confusion. Arrancar seemed to be... Calm. And not calm like an assassin waiting for its moment, but like a civilized audience expecting to see a duel.
Even the more enthusiastic Arrancar appeared to be so because of the adrenaline generated by the idea of witnessing such an event.
"I'll finally see Harribel-sama in all her might!" A female Arrancar said in the lower levels.
"I heard that the challenger is none other than Kurosaki Ichigo. The same man who defeated Aizen-sama" A male Arrancar said from the ground, where the mass of spectators that couldn't fit in the tower were.
Ashido sighed.
"Are these the same beasts I swore to destroy back then?" He asked himself.
"Is something the matter, Ashido-san?" Sung-Sun asked worried, trying to get as close to him as she could.
"N-No... I was only... Lost in thought for a second"
"Hey, look! It seems Harribel-sama will give a speech!" Apacci called their attention.
Any mumble or casual talk that was heard at the moment became completely silent.
"Inhabitants of Las Noches, as well as allies in this fight with the Demons..." Harribel introduced. "Today I requested your presence to withold a duel. A duel that will decide wether I still hold the title of ruler of Hueco Mundo. I am sure that many of you have already heard about the challenger, and I doubt there is any need for introductions... So I'll go straight to the point. Kurosaki Ichigo, the man who defeated the traitor, Sousuke Aizen, has become an Arrancar, just like everyone present. As a fellow Hollow, he has the right to challenge me for the throne, and I have complied. Now, it's time to see who has the power to reign over Las Noches!"
Shouts and screams of euphoria were heard as she concluded her speech.
Harribel did not look back as she walked towards the center of a large area that was chosen as the arena.
Grimmjow on his part, jumped from the tower to get closer, waiting for the right moment to jump in.
Once the Queen was in the chosen spot, a shadow emerged from the distance.
Ichigo, now wearing his black Shinigami clothes, slowly entered the arena. On his left side, he carried Las Noches, while on the right, he still had Zangetsu.
Harribel looked at him with defiant emerald eyes as she decided not to hold back.
"Hunt, Tiburón... Resurrección: Segunda Etapa" She skipped her first Resurrección to go straight into her strongest form.
Everyone beheld the form of their current Queen in all her might and beauty.
"~Harribel-sama!~" Her Fracciones squealed in adoration.
"Are you gonna fight like that, Ichigo? Or do you have something up your sleeve?" She asked him.
"No. Mugetsu hasn't told me the command, so I guess I'm not ready to go any further yet" He replied politely.
"I see... But don't think I'll hold back just because of that. Get ready"
"Sure" He took a defensive pose, though he did not draw any of his blades.
Mila Rose was holding a long horn, waiting for the crowd to calm a bit before doing the signal.
Once the moment came, she put the tip in her mouth and made the sound that commenced the awaited encounter.
Ichigo made a long sigh as he removed the band on his toe that was limiting his power.
"Sorry, Harribel" He muttered, thinking of how humiliating it would be for her to lose in such a way, overwhelmed merely by the pressure released by him.
As soon as the artifact stopped its functions, a slamming dark Reiatsu made her lose balance.
"What the...?" She thought.
"You gotta be kidding me...!" Grimmjow was equally astonished from the distance.
"This is the end" Ichigo declared as he saw Harribel trying her best not to fall on her knees.
"Oh... Really?!" Harribel replied with difficulty. "Cause I... Have only... Just... Began...!"
"Huh?" Ichigo looked surprised at her resolve.
Harribel charged her Reiatsu as well, managing to restore her balance as she kept her ground, panting.
"Haaaaaaa!"
A powerful yellow aura appeared around her, showing that she could stand up to Ichigo's power.
"Wow... Is that... A boost?" Ichigo asked her.
"It's something I recently discovered I could do... It's not perfect, but... It will be enough to be able to fight with honor"
"I see... In that case, I have no other choice but to give you a battle worthy of a Queen" He put his hand on Zangetsu's handle.
Harribel smirked, ready to attack first, when another pressure joined the field.
"What is this... Feeling?" Ichigo remembered that power for some reason.
In less than a second, Harribel was sent flying towards the crowd with a kick that sounded just like an explosion, Grimmjow catching her a couple meters away from the mass in the sand.
"Tier!"
"Harribel-sama!" The Tres Bestias shouted.
"What the Hell?! That wasn't Ichigo!" Rukia noticed, as the Reiatsu only got stronger and thicker.
"That is..." Nel recognized the individual.
Orihime looked worried but stood silent. She knew what was going on.
As Grimmjow checked on her, he noticed that she had been instantly knocked out.
"You...!" Grimmjow got consumed by rage as he saw the figure that had beaten Harribel like it was nothing. "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU! ULQUIORRA!"
The new fourth Espada immediately transformed into his Segunda Etapa, charging towards the Primera Espada, who had attacked Harribel out of nowhere.
"Hmph" Ulquiorra mocked him, waiting with Chauve-Souris in his hands.
As soon as Grimmjow tried to slash him to pieces, leaving a trail of lightblue electricity behind, Ulquiorra flew towards him while rubbing his Final Weapon on the sand, at a speed so monstrous that his spear caught fire.
"Ulquiorra-sama..." Many Arrancar muttered in disbelief.
"Weak" He said as he hit Grimmjow with a burning uppercut of Chauve-Souris.
"Nghh...! Bastard!" He spat a lot of blood, but kept his ground. He couldn't be defeated, not like that. He had trained all day with Renji to fight Ichigo, and yet he was losing miserably to Ulquiorra, possibly the being he hated the most in this world. "But I... I won't give in!"
"You're a nuisance. Definitely not a worthy rival for Ichigo-sama. Disappear" He charged a Cero from his finger. "Cero Luna"
A giant white and green beam was blasted in the blink of an eye, dealing massive damage to Grimmjow and defeating him with no further trouble.
"Someday... I'll... Kill you..." He muttered as he fell unconscious.
"Ulquiorra... What...?" Ichigo didn't understand.
"People of Las Noches. Is this your leader? A weak woman that's unable to withstand a single attack from the one who used to be a step below her? Or even worse... A savage beast with no real ambition who just wants the throne because of the meaning that has? I don't think so. On the other hand, I have both the power and intelligence to lead you all into a new future. We will not only destroy the Oni that attacked us, but obliterate the Seireitei afterwards"
Many Arrancar cheered with that idea.
"What? This must be some kind of joke..." Rukia said, realizing the danger of that situation.
Ulquiorra chuckled. "We will devastate this world of pain and grief for the Hollows and recreate a new reality in which we are the ones who control it all. Humans will be cattle, Shinigami will be erased and all the others will fall to their knees in our presence. Hueco Mundo shall rise above all the other realms of existence!" Ulquiorra claimed at the crowd, with an energy that was never seen.
"No" Ichigo replied. "Nel! Inoue!" He called the two women.
"Yes?" They said in unison.
"Heal those two. I'll take care of Ulquiorra"
"Okay!" Nel did as he ordered.
"Alright..." Orihime seemed more worried than his girl, but it was obvious that it was due to Ulquiorra.
"I don't know what suddenly got into you, but I don't like where this is going... So I'll just put you in your place and show them what a real leader is like..." He drew Las Noches out of its sheath. "I... Will be the king of Hueco Mundo"
~~~~X~~~~
Sorry for the wait, but I had two weeks of tests and stuff. I think I did fairly well though. Once again, this is a mixed chapter with a lot of things going on, but don't worry, I'll do my best to conclude and answer any doubts that might have risen over the course of this part.
Reviews:
Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: Awesome chapter! So interesting! Ashido ain't become a Vizard like I thought, but instead an Arrancar? Fascinating. And yea. I doubt he'll adjust quickly to life as a Hollow, but hopefully he'll realize that even though he's now a Hollow, his friends would still want him to live on right? Plus, maybe even find love? Hint hint.
In any case, I enjoyed this chapter a lot! Lemme know if you may need Arrancar OCs for the coming chapters or not. I doubt it though seeing as you DO have a lot planned out. I'm also looking forward to the duel between Harribel/Grimmjow and Ichigo! The power of Gran Rey Cero shall soon be shown to all of Hueco Mundo! WHOOO!See ya next update!
P.S. Also liked the Harry Potter reference you made there with the Philosopher's Stone. Lol.
Reply: I thought it'd be more interesting that way, as well as a means to exploit the relationship between him and the Tres Bestias.
About OCs, I won't deny it completely, but just like with Demons and as you might have deduced, I've got most of it planned out. However, if you want, I could add an OC as an easter egg or something, but nothing plot related, sorry.
I know I built up tension for a duel with Harribel and Grimmjow, but let's not fool ourselves, Ichigo is really above that level right now, so it's time to see the conclusion of the decissive battle between him and Ulquiorra in their prime!
PD: Actually, the Philosopher's Stone is a pretty ancient legend in alchemy that goes back to 300 AD, so it's not really a Harry Potter reference, haha. Don't get me wrong, I like Harry Potter and read all the books (Although their fandom is quite cringy) but it's definitely not something I'd relate to Bleach in any way lol.
See you next Chapter. Evhron out.