My dear readers, I would like to personally welcome you all back to main story progression!
Partially because as much as I enjoyed putting that MASSIVE cliffhanger at the end of chapter 11, I did feel at least slightly guilty. After a rousing round of maniacal laughter.
Anyways, this here is the longest chapter I've written yet, for obvious reasons: there was a lot to cover. Many things coming together at last, and of course the big 'reveal'. You all know who he was, but I hope I made it sufficiently dramatic and/or meaningful.
As for notes, I did realize one thing that many readers may like to know: I have only watched the anime up to just after the Grimmjow fight in canon Bleach, not including the filler (the Bount arc really killed it for me). And even then, it's been quite a while. The point of saying this is because I don't remember most of the Hollow characters English/Japanese voice actors, so I apologize if my descriptions of how exactly certain people talk aren't exactly faithful to the original. I go pretty much solely off of the manga itself and the movies, the only one I've actually gone back to in recent times being the Hell Verse movie. I mean, come on. The entire focus of that was the Hollow stuff, how could I not?
With that, please enjoy, and thanks as always for stopping by
Chapter 13:
Reclining on a white chaise couch, Nelliel of the Espada chewed away at one fingernail after the other, lost in thought.
Ever since Shin had returned – somehow managing to open up a garganta in the middle of her quarters – he'd locked himself in one of the higher rooms and refused to come out for any reason. Nel had only been able to catch the barest glimpse since he'd been moving so fast, but even then she had been able to tell that the young man had been able to evolve into an Arrancar, presumably due to finally recovering his human memories.
Every instinct in her body had wanted to demand answers from the stubborn man, to drag him out of that room and shake some sense into him; but she had stopped herself for several reasons. For one, she was no longer sure she had the strength available.
Running one finger up over her fractured mask, she traced the lingering scar down to where it trailed over the bridge of her nose. Even after being healed to the best of her fellow Espada's abilities, the mark remained, her mask still broken, her power somehow reduced. A Hollow's power did seem to be tied to their mask, and to Szayelaporro's knowledge some of her own strength had escaped with the terrible wound.
With that, and sensing his reiatsu even now, she could tell he was now fully capable of matching her. A feeling of both pride and annoyance swelled, warring with the other reason she couldn't bring herself to interrupt his solitude.
From what she had managed to gather, the boy – as he had appeared to only be in his late teens – hadn't gone through the same evolutionary process as every other Hollow. Instead, to her knowledge, he had violently been thrust into this life immediately after his death, instead of lingering in the mortal world as a spirit. After killing and consuming other sentient beings for months on end in Hueco Mundo, simply to keep a hold on his own dwindling sanity, to have his human memory and conscience returned?
She could only imagine what he was trying to struggle through.
The sound of heavy footsteps broke her concentration, and she looked up to see Dondochakka plodding around the corner. "We's got a visitor, Nel."
She stiffened, eyes darting down the hall where the Shinigami was still being kept. Had the barrier weakened? Nobody else should be aware of her presence…
Before she had a chance to tell the Adjucha to keep whoever it was out, the person in question stepped into sight out from behind the larger Hollow.
Nel stood slowly, the words vanishing in her surprise.
O--O--O
At the very top of Nelliel's tower, a single tiny room capped the enormous structure. Several wide windows broke the seamless white walls, showing both vast expanses of the desert outside and the gently curving dome of Las Noches on the opposite side; from their angle, pale swathes of moonlight lit up the floor, the only illumination in the otherwise shaded room. Several pieces of furniture lay about in various states of disrepair, one looking like it had been thrown against the wall with some force, split in half and splintered across the floor as it was.
Suddenly, a quiet knock came at the sole entrance.
For several moments nothing changed, then the shadows in one dark corner shifted; a dry, scratchy voice calling out, "Go away."
Another long pause followed before whoever it was knocked again. A muttered curse emanated from the corner. "Leave me alone, Nel," It demanded, voice rough and strained from disuse.
A barely audible sigh could be heard from behind the door and it was pushed open, swinging wide, a thin female form barely visible in the faint illumination. "Do I look like the Third Espada to you?"
The woman spent a moment looking around, finally flicking at a switch next to the door – to her exasperation, no lights came on in the room. Sensing a gradual increase in power from the furthest corner, the figure cautiously stayed in the arch of the doorway. "If you would care to look with more than just your eyes, you may realize who I am."
"It doesn't matter, just…just leave me alone."
She let out a dainty sniff. "Oh, so you can keep whiling away the days in self-pity?"
A feral growl emanated from the corner in response and the figure finally rose, a full head's height above the woman, and stalked closer. Resisting the urge to flee, she took one step forwards, arms carefully held to her sides. "Has the return of your memory erased everything prior, Shin? Or were we not friends?"
At that last word the figure halted. Several tense moments passed before a click sounded, a single light in the far corner revealing them both.
The man was clothed only in a ragged pair of white pants common to most humanoid Hollows in Hueco Mundo. His features were dirty, scuffed, a long torrent of bright orange hair streaming down his back in an unkempt mane. Gone were the inky black marks from his skin, now a more normal color instead of bone-white, though the Hollow hole still remained centered on his collarbone. His mask had vanished entirely with the exception of a small curved section at the right temple, sweeping back and over his ear. At it's topmost peak, the base of one of his angular horns was still present, though only the first several inches before it cut off abruptly. Additionally, his eyes no longer glowed with an unearthly light, but instead glinted a bright yellow.
The woman wore a long, simple white dress, very nearly covering a pair of heeled black shoes. Two black belts were fastened at her slender hips, crossing over each other in an 'X'; those and a furred black collar at her throat were the only adornments to the outfit. She had dark olive-green hair flowing down her back, cut neatly just above her brows; two separate tendrils rested along each shoulder. Three arcing shards of bone rested just above the right brow, presumably her mask fragment. Calm lavender eyes regarded the man with curiosity, a column of three sequentially smaller pink dots below the right orb as she raised one hand, sheathed in an overly-long sleeve, to cover the lower portion of her face.
"Well," she mused, scanning over his tired features slowly, "You certainly need a shower, but otherwise turned out rather nicely, didn't you?"
His face went through several stages of confusion and bewilderment. Finally alighting on the familiar markings under her eye, slow comprehension dawned. "…Sung-Sun?"
The slight hint of a smile showed around her sleeve at his disbelieving tone. "Indeed."
"But…how? Last time I saw you…"
She cocked one fair eyebrow at him. "If you haven't already heard, our master has finally returned. And with him, the means for nearly any Hollow to achieve such ascension. Though of course, you did manage that on your own…I believe congratulations are in order."
He gave her a blank look in response, turning away and slumping onto a nearby chair without a word.
"…Are your actions as a Hollow that disturbing to your human self?"
He didn't answer, head lowering as if in shame, but it was enough for the other Arrancar to narrow her eyes at him. "As you know, most Hollows go through much worse in their initial phases." Her voice turned uncharacteristically bitter. "Nelliel kindly saw to inform me that you in fact did not go through the same, yes? What, exactly, do you have to be ashamed of?"
His head shook slowly, murmuring something she couldn't make out.
"What?"
"Because I…I failed," he grit out, teeth clenched. "I couldn't protect my own family, and they…"
"So what?"
With shocking speed he was back on his feet, expression thunderous. Sung-Sun faced him down with impressive calm, her own eyes narrowed dangerously, her next words chilling him to the bone.
"You didn't have to live on as a spirit, chained to the scene of your loved ones deaths, until one day your heart vanished and you became a monster. Think on that."
His mouth opened to reply, only to find he had no words for the profound sorrow tainting her voice. She seemed to realize the fact, turning away with a forlorn look. "With the recovery of our humanity, older memories have become much clearer again, for better or worse," she stated, regaining her usual composed manner.
Sung-Sun stepped towards one window, folding her arms together lightly as she regarded him, a trace of sympathy in her lavender gaze. "Believe me when I say that, unfortunately, that is the bitter truth of our race. We are not creatures born of happiness."
"…Right."
"Besides," She said thoughtfully, "From what I understand, you haven't spoken to the Shinigami woman you brought back yet. She was there, yes? She would know what happened…after."
Sung-Sun smiled slightly at the slight uplifting in his expression, eyes showing a glimmer of hope for once. He stood straighter, seeming to struggle for words. "You…I mean…thanks, Sung-Sun. Really."
"Of course, Shin."
He flinched at the name, causing her to frown, and he quickly waved away her obvious question. "It's not…not who I am. Not anymore, at least."
"Oh?" The female Arrancar squinted his way critically. "As stated previously, I'm not calling you 'lord'."
It took him a moment to remember their old exchanges out in the wastes, but once he did a slow, genuine smile grew. "Right, right. Just…call me Ichigo, then. Ichigo Kurosaki."
Sung-Sun nodded slowly, rolling the name around in her head. "Very well. In any case, come. You have been summoned." At his surprised look she sniffed haughtily. "What, did you think I bothered to come all the way up here just to make you feel better?"
"Well…yeah, kinda."
His plain honesty seemed to throw off her stride for some reason, and high on her cheekbones tiny spots of pink appeared. Ichigo watched her, puzzled, as she coughed lightly to regain her composure. "Ahem. Again, come. There's not much time, and you need to be at least presentable."
"Time for what?" He asked, trotting after the slender woman, who had already began her descent from the tower.
"Our Lord wishes to meet with you."
"…Why?"
She shrugged, but he caught one lavender eye peeking back in open curiosity despite her supposed air of nonchalance.
So I finally get to meet the boss.
A sudden realization struck him like lightning: knowing what he was now, which side of this so-called war was he on?
I don't even know why I'm here…I shouldn't assume anything, not yet.
Shaking the concerning idea away, they touched down at the end of the staircase.
"Wait, what about R...the Soul Reaper?"
"I believe she is still being hidden by Lady Nelliel."
Ichigo examined Sung-Sun at the casual remark; she seemed to sense his suspicion, turning to face him fully.
"To answer your unspoken questions: Yes, we Hollows are not overly fond of any Shinigami, years of being hunted does tend to instill some hostility. No, I do not personally care what happens to her. And finally, no, I will not reveal her to the rest of Hueco Mundo. I imagine she will remain until you decide what to do with her, but that will have to wait. Come."
One orange eyebrow raised at her dismissive tone, to which she simply sighed as if already tired of the subject. "The woman is your business, I don't care to pry where I have none."
Ichigo paused before nodding slowly. "Thank you."
She flicked several stray locks of hair back over one shoulder as if to say 'of course'.
"Oh…wait, hang on." Ichigo turned, backtracking up the stairs in agile bounds. He returned a short time later, carrying something which caused the female Arrancar's eyes to widen considerably.
"What…is that?"
O--O--O
"Nnngrh. The hell, these are too…" A muttered curse echoed in the halls, muffled by the sound of echoing footsteps.
"Stop fidgeting, you look fine."
"No, it's these friggin shoes! I haven't worn anything on my feet in…what month is it?"
Nel resisted the urge to laugh at the sight of Shin – Ichigo – trying to adjust to his new clothes, hopping every few steps and tapping the tip of one snug white shoe against the floor as he kept up with her long strides. Along with the footwear, he was sporting both a clean new set of hakama and a close-fitting and sleeveless white vest, its slim collar rising halfway up his neck. In addition, a thick black belt crossed his torso starting from the right shoulder, carrying one of the most ridiculously oversized weapons the Espada had ever laid eyes on.
Ichigo's zanpakuto had quite naturally appeared with him after his transformation into an Arrancar. However, and perhaps due to his unnaturally large amount of reiatsu, it had manifested into a fairly standard single-edged katana; albeit the weapon was nearly six feet long and at least five inches wide along the entire expanse until it sloped down into a point at the tip, but at least it had a standard shape instead of something else strange. It currently hung from his back in an equally enormous wooden scabbard.
I'll have to retrain him to use it properly…I've never even seen a single blade that massive before.
In addition to his clothes, the other female arrancar – whom Nel still wasn't sure what to make of – had been rather adamant about cutting the wild and unkempt mane the man had been toting around before. She'd chopped nearly three feet of it off until Ichigo had begrudgingly accepted his fate.
"It's close now to what I had before all…this. It's fine."
Along with the drastic changes in appearance, hints of what he must have been like in life had begun to show through: evidence enough that his memories had fully returned. Gone was the 'Shin' she had known, the arrogant and impulsive Vasto Lorde. Instead, she was rather pleased to find he had calmed considerably compared to his previous incarnation, though she still caught his eyes darting around at the scenery, clearly still adjusting to the changes.
Otherwise, Ichigo now appeared as a impressively capable and straightforward young man; the several weeks he'd spent in isolation had served as enough of an adjustment period, and to his own admittance he wanted to learn more before deciding anything, a commendable notion. A meeting like the one they were being called to was the perfect chance to learn what exactly he was wrapped up in.
Expression darkening at the thought, her grip tightened on the hilt of her own zanpakuto, her strides lengthening.
"Ichigo," she began, glancing back to make sure she had his attention, "I know you're still unfamiliar to everything here. And I understand if you can't exactly trust me, but-"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Nel stumbled to a stop, lost for words, Ichigo frowning at her surprise. "What, did I say something weird?"
"Er…"
The younger Arrancar rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, you still saved my ass out in the desert, and a few other times besides that. It doesn't really matter if you're a Hollow. Hell, so am I. In the end, you're still you, and that's all that matters to me."
She had continued to stare his way as he spoke, continuing even after he had finished. He shifted under the attention, frowning mulishly. "…What?"
Nel simply twirled back around and kept walking, humming cheerily to herself. They went on for a time without another word until they both approached a discernable slope in the endless white stone floor. Nel held one hand out to stop him cautiously, traces of her earlier levity fading. "Are you ready?"
Ichigo glanced up the incline, seeing a wide flight of stairs leading higher into the structure. He silently nodded his assent, and they climbed onwards.
O--O--O
Several minutes and a lengthy stretch of smooth stone steps later, they approached a single arched doorway at the peak of whatever structure they had entered. Ichigo managed to hear the barely audible hum of several different voices in the room ahead and sent a quick look at Nel. The Espada took that as her cue, taking the lead, her features fixing into a business-like mask.
Following her quietly respectful pace, he took several quiet breaths, trying to calm the sudden sense of foreboding that had washed over him from the instant they had stepped over the threshold.
They arrived onto a sheer black stone floor, an unusual sight in the stark white palace, though the rest of the décor was typically plain. A single tall white throne faced away from them, shielding it's occupant from sight, and faced a wide gap in the walls showing a breathtaking view of the desert far below. To it's immediate right stood a dark-skinned man, clad in fairly standard sleeveless Las Noches garb, black hair ties back into a ponytail of clean dreadlocks. His face was expressionless, emotionless, eyes hidden behind a thin purple visor. On the opposite side, leaning against a wide white couch, rested another man in flowing white robes, wide sleeves held together at his front, hands hidden inside. He kept his unusual silver hair cut short, closely adhering to his scalp with the exception of loose bangs that covered his brow. A persistently-present smile hovered over his thin, snakelike features, and though his eyes appeared to be closed, Ichigo had the sense to realize they were instead fixed on him intently.
With a start, Ichigo also realized neither had any Hollow-like features to be seen; no mask remnants on their heads, and the leftmost man had no hole visible within the thin slit at the front of his robes.
He and Nel stopped a short distance away, the one on the right leaning towards the throne and murmuring something before stepping away, arms held behind his back. An instant later, a male voice spoke from the recesses of the throne.
"Nelliel. Thank you for arriving so quickly."
The Espada inclined her head politely as the voice went on, apparently fully aware of her movements.
"And this must be the aforementioned fracción, yes?"
She sent a quick look his way and Ichigo took a single step closer, remembering her hurried instructions on their trip here. "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki…sir."
The silver-haired man on the left raised on brow at his words, the other opposite tilting his head.
"Interesting…" The voice trailed off thoughtfully, rising a second later and turning to regard him. Ichigo felt a cold sliver of some unrecognizable emotion stab into his core as the mysterious being inspected him.
The tall man wore clean white Arrancar robes, the wide collar of his coat split at the front and framing handsome features. Medium-length brown hair was swept back in a casual yet artful disarray, a single long lock trailing over his left temple. His expression bordered on disinterested, but simultaneously he had a small, barely visible tilt to the corners of his mouth, expressing a hidden sort of disdain for the world around.
It was the man's eyes that chilled him; light brown, they were eerily flat, and regarded him with the kind of look a man would give an insect, a being far below himself. To enforce that sensation, Ichigo could clearly feel the hidden strength beyond the man's simple appearance. If what he was sensing was anywhere near accurate…
He couldn't even imagine anyone in existence matching that power.
The inspection lasted for a brief few moments before the man looked away. "Nelliel, how are your injuries?"
Nel blinked several times at the sudden change of tone. "Fully healed, sir. However, due to the nature of the wound..." She trailed off, sounding nearly shameful. The man simply waved away her apology.
"It matters not. We will investigate further at another time. For now, I would have a word with your fracción."
Nel's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, to which he smiled gently – if such a casual expression of disdain could be seen as gentle. She then inclined her head once again, throwing Ichigo a worried look, before striding back the way they had come.
Ichigo, for his part, stayed stock-still as she left. The two others to the sides traded glances before following suit, leaving them alone in stifling quiet. The man, who could only be the leader of Las Noches, touched the rounded throne with one finger until it swiveled to face him, assuming a casual seat, one hand resting against the side of his face as he gazed towards the nervous Arrancar.
"You must have questions," the man said after a long moment, lapsing into a comfortable silence afterwards.
"I, uh…I mean, I do. Sir."
"There is no reason for formality, and no reason to fear. I understand your situation, and I know you are no normal Hollow. Be at ease."
Well, okay then.
Ichigo let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, fists unclenching at his sides. Steeling his resolve, he straightened. "You…aren't a Hollow. Neither were the other two. Right?"
"Correct. We are Shinigami."
The immediate and relaxed answer sent a flash of confusion through him. "Then why are you in charge of Hueco Mundo? Of Hollows?"
The man blinked calmly, fully expecting the query. "To fully explain, you must understand my intentions here, both for myself and for the Hollows within Las Noches." He paused, a flicker of amusement crossing his smooth features. "But how rude of me. My name is Sousuke Aizen. I was, until recently, a captain of the Gotei 13."
And yet he leads the opposing army?
Aizen seemed to sense his question, smoothly answering before he could voice it. "I assumed a role within their ranks to infiltrate and recover something of great importance for our cause here."
"Our cause?"
This time, a genuine smile seemed to appear. "Yes…before that, tell me something: I was under the impression you were referred to as 'Shin'. What brought about the change?"
Ichigo frowned, expression darkening. "That was my name before I got my memories back. It's the name of what I was then, not now."
"Were you not happy with your actions?"
"I…" He struggled for words, trying to marshal his mixed emotions on the subject. "I wasn't, for a while. But now, as I am, I'm not that...beast."
"I see." Aizen seemed satisfied with his response, returning to the topic at hand. "Ichigo, then. I would like to know what you think of the world, with the knowledge that you now possess."
"Huh?"
The seated Soul Reaper remained ever patient. "Humans, Hollows, Shinigami. The balance between the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. I want to know what you think about the current state of the world."
Ichigo's brow furrowed as he considered the question. Even if he had theoretically only died within the last year, he had found the revelations of the true state of the afterlife fairly easy to understand; after all, he was living it, whether he liked it or not. However, several details had bothered him in the time since recovering his humanity. Simple things that to him stood out, which he corralled into words as quickly as he could.
"With the Soul Society being...'Heaven', I guess, that leaves Hell as the exact opposite. I get that, but what does that make Hueco Mundo? And what about Hollows?" He asked slowly, seeing Aizen's expression take on a pleased cast.
"An excellent question."
The man straightened in his throne, arms resting on the sides as he went on. "Souls from the mortal world are sent to either the Soul Society or Hell, depending on whether they were good or evil in life. But Hollows…Hollows are different. I have seen Hollows arise from both pure and vile intentions alike. And yet, regardless of that fact, the Shinigami hunt you down. Like animals."
Ichigo knew that well enough. Even if he himself hadn't had to go through that experience, the countless other souls within him certainly had.
But at the same time, he knew that didn't absolve the horrific actions of some after their loss of humanity. The only reason Hollows could even remain alive was a testament to how they survived; consuming other human souls in an effort to fill a bottomless hunger. A slavering thirst for completion that Ichigo knew personally could drive even the most sane of those to horrific acts; no matter their actions when they were alive, those that lived on as Hollows invariably had fed on humankind at some point. Even he was no true exception.
How many did I feed on? They may have been Hollows, but…they were human once. Just people fighting to survive.
His hands clenched, anger clearly showing through, Aizen calmly letting him think.
"If Hollows…if we were evil…why wouldn't we be in Hell instead?" Ichigo bit out, struggling to see some sense of all this. Aizen closed his own eyes, leaning back thoughtfully.
"Some would say because it is the duty of the Seireitei to cleanse Hollows. Others, that having Hollows exist holds the universe itself in balance. The flow of life, death, and rebirth."
Ichigo shook his head vehemently. "That doesn't…none of that adds up. When a Soul Reaper kills a Hollow, it's sent to either the Soul Society or Hell anyways. Right? There's no need for souls to go through that in the first place! And if that's true, then what the HELL IS THE POINT?!" He roared out the question, fingernails biting deep into his palm, drops of hot blood dripping down to the floor as he shook with barely controlled rage.
Aizen's cold eyes opened again, gazing into his own. "That, Ichigo, is why."
The deathly calm statement served to snap Ichigo out of his anger, staring at the Shinigami in confusion as he continued to speak slowly, confidently. "The Hollows of Hueco Mundo follow me for many reasons. Some seek refuge in my strength, seeking leadership. Some simply want to oppose the Seireitei. Some for more selfish reasons, of course; every Hollow wants something, that is the reason they exist at all."
"They all trust you."
"Of course not." The seated man let out a dry laugh, no trace of mirth reaching his eyes. "I have never once asked anyone here to trust me. Simply to follow."
"Why?"
Aizen's amused expression faded, his next words coming out icy. "To overthrow the Soul King."
The what?
Aizen stood abruptly, crossing over to stand at the window, facing away from Ichigo as he spoke. "The Soul King is responsible for one thing. Regulating the flow of souls to and from the Soul Society."
"He…it? Is God?"
"He is a god. One of few truly divine beings in this universe."
"Okay, so it…he…controls every soul?"
"And much more. He exists as the linchpin of existence itself. He commands the world order, a secluded pocket of the Seireitei as his home. Without him the universe itself would collapse, and every plane of existence would be destroyed."
Ichigo's head was starting to ache. "I still don't get what that has to do with anything."
"Indeed. Did you know that the Soul Reapers were chosen as his vassals? Not ordained as, but chosen to be his representatives in the world?"
"But that would mean…" the implied meaning alone had his jaw clenching painfully, the taste of bile rising. "That would mean that however many millions of people are just meant to go through all that pain for nothing? For what, some sort of cosmic balance?" Ichigo had a difficult time keeping the venom out of his voice at the mere thought.
The leader of Las Noches nodded at this, still facing out towards the moonlit desert. "And such has been the world order for many thousands of years."
Ichigo suddenly felt he understood why, deep in his core as a Hollow, he instinctively despised the Soul Reapers; unknowingly or not, they were contributing to that horrible cycle. All the while holding themselves up as the 'righteous'.
It made him feel violently sick.
Aizen finally turned back around as if in response to his unspoken thoughts, voice hard. "And that, Ichigo, is why I chose the Hollows to be my allies in this. When I take the throne from the Soul King, I will be able to reshape the fundamental laws of this universe. Including, of course, the Hollows and their innate nature. No longer will humanity suffer under their so called 'peace'. The Soul King and every other god has languished as well, neglecting their responsibilities. No one has ever been at the top of the world, no one has ever asserted true order. That unbearable vacancy at the throne will be filled. I will be the one who sits on it."
It wasn't the promise of change that caught Ichigo's attention; it was the absolute certainty in his tone. In his mind, there was no doubt of victory. That unshakeable conviction had to be what had gathered so many volatile beings under his command. Not simply a reason to fight, but a true goal at the end. With the sheer force of Sousuke Aizen at their head, it was no wonder they all kept themselves under control.
The Shinigami stepped closer as Ichigo mulled this all over, still somewhat overwhelmed. "There will be conflict, of course. Every great cause has always required upheaval. Required sacrifice. For that, I do believe your power would be greatly beneficial, Ichigo Kurosaki. For the sake of the world, what do you say?"
Ichigo realized with a start that he suddenly stood at the precipice of something much larger than himself. The chance to accomplish something so much greater than temporary satisfaction, whether from a battle or anything else he had ever been a part of, human or not.
He let out a soft snort, shaking his head.
Even if I was still alive, could I have ever turned away from something like this?
Reaching out, he grasped the other man's outstretched hand in his own.
O--O--O
Stirring from her fitful rest, Rukia squinted up at the light streaming in, a tiny window high above showing a sliver of the moon against a starless sky.
Sighing, she had to resist reaching for her left hip automatically, searching for her zanpakuto; that had been a hard habit to break within the first week of her captivity. She sat up, brushing stray hair out of her eyes, and leaned over to the closest wall next to her small bed, scratching yet another tiny line into the stone wall alongside the cluster already there. It took some time, but she wasn't exactly in a hurry.
I can't even tell when a day ends or begins, what with the endless night outside.
Finally done, she slouched back on the bed. After a minute, she realized the empty food tray from the previous day was still on the tiny table nearer to the handle-less door of her cell, so she couldn't have been asleep all that long.
Rukia had been in this room for what felt like several weeks, but even with being more accustomed to the realm time was impossible to judge. And with her unusual jailer's advice, she hadn't been keen to make an escape attempt. Not when she was in the middle of enemy territory.
Upon her arrival through the garganta, she'd been barely able to react before being thrown in here by…Shin or Ichigo, she wasn't sure what the case was. Not a minute later the interior of the room had shimmered an odd color, fading away just as the door had swing outwards, and she had been confronted by a rather beautiful woman with a long mane of unusually green hair and a startlingly pale man.
Apparently, her confusion at seeing the bone-like adornments on their heads had been clear enough, and they had quickly informed her of two facts: first, that she was in Hueco Mundo. And second, that she was now in the stronghold of Las Noches. The heart of the enemy, filled with more Hollows of incredible power than she had ever dreamt of in her worst nightmares. Armed with that information, Rukia had assumed that she would be dead within moments. Instead, the woman had given her a quick once-over and left. The man, who's name she still had trouble remembering, had rather cordially told her that this room was now her only safe haven in the entire dimension; as long as she remained inside, nobody outside would be able to sense her presence. If she chose to try and break out, her reiatsu would be like blood in the water for every Hollow within the palace.
Reaching back, she tapped one wall at the thought. As far as she could tell, it wasn't even Sekkisekki, special stone that naturally resisted spiritual essence. Taking down a wall and escaping into the night would be simple…
And hunting her down would be just as easy.
Resigned to her fate, she had been forced to remain, the only interruptions into her solitude being the same Hollow bringing her a simple tray of food each 'morning' – she was honestly surprised she got even that at first. As time passed and her daily meals arrived, she spotted the female again only twice, and others she had seen a large tribal-looking Hollow peering in at her for a moment before stomping away heavily. Otherwise she was left alone, with no sign of her original captor.
At the thought, Rukia shifted uncomfortably, vividly recalling the sensation of the man's reiatsu before she had been flung in here; absurdly powerful, heavy, thick enough to weigh her down, and…confused.
"Ichigo…what happened to you?" Rukia said softly, closing her eyes, unwillingly remembering that terrible night again.
The sudden clatter of locks and bolts being undone startled Rukia out of her thoughts. She sat up straighter on the bed, watching as the door to her prison swung wide, revealing a tall silhouette clothed in white.
"I-Ichigo…?" She breathed, seeing the familiar young man's face clearly for the first time as he stepped in. She hesitated on seeing the mask fragment at his right temple, hurriedly correcting herself. "Ah, I mean-"
"Ichigo is fine…Rukia."
It IS him!
She stood, shaking her head in a mixture of confusion and relief. "So it really is you. I didn't think it could be possible, not so soon after you…"
The young Hollow's expression darkened ever so slightly, and she flinched at the spike in his reiatsu; at this close range she could feel the barest change, so strong was his presence. A second later he visibly exhaled, slowly, and the sensation faded as he spoke. "I need to know what happened that night, Rukia. What happened…after."
She had almost been expecting an interrogation, but the honest and pleading tone in his voice made her smile with relief. Apparently, the young man from back then was still in there somewhere.
"They're alive, Ichigo. Both your father and sisters," she said calmly, "Myself and another ensured they were fully healed. We altered their memories as well, so as far as they know a vehicle simply crashed into the home while they slept. I've actually been making trips to Karakura Town when I can to make sure. They…they miss you. But they're together."
Ichigo stared at her for several long moments before he sagged heavily against one wall. "Good, good…thank you."
"Of course. I am only alive because of you, after all. It was the least I could do."
"Yeah…about that." He abruptly stood straighter, tossing a quick glance back through the door. "You need to get out of here."
He strode past her, gesturing oddly at the opposite wall several times, frowning and trying different motions, before finally a tiny, door-wide garganta split the air. Rukia blinked at it owlishly as Ichigo pushed her impatiently forwards.
"Wait, wait," she yelped in surprise, "Where are you sending me now?!"
"Anywhere but here. This entire world isn't safe for Shinigami."
"Obviously! Aren't I your prisoner or something, why are you just trying to release me?" she demanded, not realizing she was protesting her own freedom. At this, Ichigo shot her an odd look.
"What do you mean, 'prisoner'? I just wanted to know about my family. Seriously though, just head towards the light or whatever, it always works for me. Go, now!"
"Wha-?!"
With one last shove and an indignant squawk, she shot through the portal like a bullet, barely managing to form a platform of reishi beneath her feet before she fell into the unknown abyss. She twisted to look back up after the ungainly landing. "Wait, Ichigo! What about your family?!"
He stared back down, struggling with himself for several seconds. "I…I can't do anything for them, not like this. But they're safe. Make sure they stay that way, Rukia. Please."
A second after his final words the portal snapped shut, and after a quick look around she started making her way towards the lightest visible section in the swirling darkness..
That idiot…always trying to do the right thing, huh?
The corners of her mouth turned up into an amused expression as she ran.
Hollow or not, he certainly still knows just how to surprise me. I wonder what will happen to him now…I hope he stays safe as well, and out of trouble.
With her thoughts firmly back to business, she increased her pace.
Regardless, the Seireitei needs to know about the other Hollows…this is far beyond what we had ever anticipated.
O--O--O
Nelliel watched the young Arrancar step back out of tiny room , tensing on seeing her resting against the wall nearby. She gave him a cool once-over for several moments. "All done?"
"Er…yeah."
"Good." She smiled and saw him relax. "We've been summoned again, though it appears to be more of a larger gathering this time."
"What for?"
"Well, considering that all Arrancar are now fully united under Lord Aizen," she said pointedly, pinning him with a look that he squirmed under, "It's most likely to give us new orders."
He opened his mouth to respond just as Pesche and Dondochakka turned a nearby corner, the former standing to attention smartly, sheathed zanpakuto an unusual sight at his hip. "Ready to depart, milady."
Nel hummed her acknowledgement, eyeing Ichigo in an unspoken question.
"Yeah…let's go."
O--O--O
After a lengthy trip following the internal curvature of the outer walls of Las Noches, the four headed directly inward, traversing the sunlit inner expanse to a massive tiered, circular structure that very nearly reached the top of the dome at it's utmost peak. Upon entering they were received by several Arrancar aides and guided into a cavernous chamber, wide pillars along each side, a solitary throne sitting atop a high wall at it's furthest end, as if to survey at the assembled Arrancar milling about over a dozen feet below.
The company of three halted at the large crowds furthest edge, Ichigo in particular receiving more than a few wary looks. He assumed an expression of careful indifference as he himself glanced around curiously; many in the crowd were unfamiliar, though the existing Espada stood out due to the wide berth their own reputations tended to create. He received a gruff and evaluating stare from Baraggan in particular on the opposite side of the room, sitting in his usual bony throne, who then proceeded to nod to himself in satisfaction before continuing to ignore the rest of those assembled.
A movement to Ichigo's right had him catching a familiar lavender eye among the rest; Sung-Sun inclined her head after meeting his gaze as she stepped alongside three other unfamiliar forms. The first couple he skimmed over, passively realizing they must be the other two of her group. The third…
His face heated up rapidly, and immediately he forced his eyes away – but not before he caught a sly smile peeking out from behind one of the snake Arrancar's sleeves.
Must be her work. There's no way Harribel chose those clothes…right?
He managed to shake away the image still seared in his mind just in time to hear the faint murmuring from the crowd fade, and he followed their motions, looking to the throne high above.
Aizen, still clothed in the same white robes as many in the Arrancar ranks, calmly seated himself. The two other Shinigami joined him as well, standing to the sides just like before.
"Welcome, all of you," he said smoothly, regarding the room as if it held nothing out of the ordinary. "I believe that this is the first time we have gathered since my return. As you have all had time to adjust to your newfound prowess, there is one matter I must address before our plans may proceed: the ranks of the Espada."
Some among the crowd shifted at his announcement, though whether it was from surprise or excitement was hard to tell.After a moment to allow their reactions, Aizen continued. "As you know, the artifact I retrieved from the Seireitei allowed most of you here to ascend instantly; and with that, of course, means that the balance of power has shifted quite significantly. Some will remain among the Espada, others will not. Please accept these adjustments with grace; remember, you are among comrades here." His voice took on the slightest edge at the end, clearly implying his imminent displeasure for any who disrupted the peace in his presence.
"Firstly, those whose titles are unchanged. Coyote Starrk retains the title of Primera."
The attention in the room visibly shifted to focus on a single shadowed figure far in the back of the room, separated from the rest and slouched back lazily on a chair. They heard an audible grunt as the figure rolled upright at the mention of the name, and it raised one casual hand as if in acknowledgement. Appearing to be sufficient, their leader went on.
"Baraggan Louisenbairn remains the Segunda."
The bearded old man made a rather annoyed 'harrumph', but only folded his burly arms in response. Aizen showed no outer reaction at this but the barest hint of an amused cast on his lips.
"Next, there will be a new rank added to the Espada, for…unique circumstances. Yammy Llargo, come forth."
A huge bulk of a man rose from the side, parting the crowd carelessly as he stomped up. Standing easily over seven feet, his darker skin tone shone in the dim light from the front of his jacket, brazenly left open. The top of his head was bare and defined by four bony ridges leading to the back of his skull, where the base of a short black ponytail hung to his back. The remains of his mask appeared as a wide lower jawbone, complete with eight jagged teeth, still affixed to his chin. Two red marks curved under his eyes, accentuating his heavy features, cocky in his arrogance as the man made it to the front. Ichigo examined him with some amount of distaste; the memory of their first encounter hadn't left a positive impression.
"You shall now receive the title of Diez, the Tenth Espada," Aizen announced, tracing in the air with one finger.
The man suddenly hissed in surprise, one hand pulling the left side of his jacket away, revealing an inky black '10' appearing in jaggedly stylized lettering on his shoulder with an audible sizzling sound. Once it had fully formed, Yammy inclined his huge head in what must have amounted to a bow, backing away to stand at the front of the crowd closest to the throne.
"Continuing on. Aaroniero Arruruerie."
If the strange name was any indication, the man who it belonged to certainly fit the same description. The arrancar stepped out from the crowd wearing uniquely frilled formal robes over his otherwise standard white garb and clean gentleman's gloves on his hands. That was the extent of anything normal about 'him'.
Where the being's neck should have been, there was instead a clear glossy tube full of some sort of liquid; within were suspended two baseball-shaped heads, each with their own distorted Hollow-like features. Each bobbed about independently as they strode forwards, bowing respectfully once they stood before their master.
"You are the only Gillian among us, Aaroniero. Be honored, and stand tall as the Ninth Espada," Aizen declared solemnly. Once again a faint sound of searing flesh was heard, and each tiny head twitched uncomfortably as the symbols of their new station appeared on each.
"Szayelaporro Grantz."
The intellectual Arrancar passed Aaroniero on his way forward, inclining his spectacled head.
"You will now assume the title of the Eighth Espada."
"Of course, my Lord."
Aizen seemed unsurprised at his casual acceptance of the demotion, simply gesturing once more. The faint hiss was once again heard, though Szayelaporro neither flinched or even reacted in the slightest, and no marks were apparent. Once he had stepped back in line with his fellow Espada, Aizen took a long moment to regard them before continuing.
"…Nelliel tu Odelschwanck."
Whispering and murmurs erupted in the hall as she strode past Ichigo quickly, head held high. Many present had sent her questioning looks when the first and second Espada had retained their previous ranks while she had not, eyes lingering on her broken mask curiously. The same happened now as she assumed a rigid stance at the front of the crowd, hands clasped behind her back.
"Nelliel," Aizen greeted, far more warmly than any before. "How are you?"
"I am well, my Lord."
Ichigo smirked at the formalities, fully realizing every action Aizen took was for the rest assembled, no matter what had transpired in private.
"Very good. Would you agree, Nelliel, that your strength has diminished?"
She took no visible offense at the direct question, though Ichigo saw the barest tightening in her expression. "I would, yes."
"Yes…regardless of that fact, you will remain in the Espada as the Séptima, the Seventh. The skill that you have demonstrated in the past speaks for your ability, and I believe that in time you will overcome any previous loss. Is that satisfactory?"
"I would be honored for the opportunity," she replied smoothly, and she hardly flinched as Aizen gestured again, the altered mark hidden under her clothes burning bright for a brief instant. She bowed low and joined the others after it was complete.
"Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."
A single silhouette rose from one secluded corner, the group he was surrounded by parting as the man stalked forwards, stride almost predatory as he entered the light.
He was revealed to be a tall man, over six feet, with sky blue hair in carelessly spiked disarray, mostly swept back over his forehead. His potentially handsome features were somewhat marred by the seemingly permanent furrowing of his brows and annoyed scowl, partially hidden on the right side by his mask fragment, the entire upper and lower jawbone remaining affixed there. Piercing eyes the same shade as his hair were underlined with thick lines of green extending past the outside corners, and Ichigo was simultaneously reminded of wildcats from the mortal world and the man's similar Adjucha form. Otherwise, the man wore the standard uniform with the exception of a short-cut and unbuttoned jacket, no shirt underneath to hide his muscular frame, hollow hole set firmly in the center of his stomach.
He stopped at the front of the crowd, hands in his pockets as he stared up, scowl still present.
"Grimmjow, you showed the greatest increase in power from your Adjucha state as opposed to anyone else. In light of that, I give you the title of Sexta, the Sixth Espada."
Grimmjow's upper lip curled in a snarl as the lower right section of his back, just next to his Hollow hole, seared black a second later, forming the trademark '6'. The man ran one hand along the spot before nodding and stepping away. Aizen disregarded his gruff demeanor with a small smile.
"Now, for the next…hmm." He paused again, eyes drifting around the room for a long minute before he spoke again. "Ulquiorra Cifer, step forwards if you please."
The Arrancar in question seemed to coalesce out of the gloom at the call, making his way to the front methodically. He appeared exactly as Ichigo remembered from their previous meeting; cold, dispassionate, his green gaze passing over most others in the room without a care as he arrived in front of Aizen.
"Ulquiorra, I was planning to have you simply resume your post as the Fifth Espada, but…" The Shinigami trailed off, cold eyes sharpening intently as he looked the Arrancar over. "Instead, I believe congratulations are in order, yes?"
Ulquiorra kept up his stony demeanor, to which Aizen only smiled wider. "From now on, you shall be the Fourth Espada."
The familiar sizzle sounded amid surprised whispers from the crowd, the newly promoted man not shifting an inch until the process was complete, finally bowing slightly and retreating to stand with the rest.
Aizen watched the Arrancar go, and Ichigo thought he saw a tiny glimmer of curiosity in his typically emotionless eyes before their leader returned to the business at hand, calling out the next name casually: "Tier Harribel."
Immediately to his right the crowd parted, letting the woman through and into the light to stand at the front.
With her ascension, his sparring partner had shed her previous garments of blue and white plates of bone, the hints of caramel-colored skin that had only been visible before around her eyes before now shown to be her true skin color; and as a matter of fact, quite a lot of it was now on display. Whether or not she herself had chosen the garments or not was up for debate, but her Arrancar uniform was partially standard…from the waist down. Upwards, her shapely hips were barely concealed by the top of the hakama and the black sash holding them there, the next hint of clothing beginning – finally – just at the middle half of her rather large bust, leaving the entirety of her toned midsection open to the air and only just preserving her modesty.
Ichigo, very carefully, did not let his eyes wander.
Not at all.
From there, Tier wore a tight-fitted and long-sleeved jacket, the sleeves themselves extending into black-fingered gloves. At the collar, the garment also extended into an unusually high collar with two beige air vents where her mouth would be, covering half of her face from the bridge of her nose down, much like her mask from the previous form; and in fact, symmetrical pieces of bone were still visible just under her calm, aqua-blue eyes on each side, but from there the rest was also hidden. Her golden-blonde hair remained as before, mostly just hanging where it would, with the new addition of three simple braids keeping the longer locks out of her way.
Aizen shifted to one side in his throne as she arrived below, the fingers of one hand resting at his temple in a now-familiar pose.
"Tier…I must say, I am quite impressed. I had not expected this level of improvement. Well done."
She blinked once at the praise, remaining silent.
"With such achievements, you shall now take the seat of the Third Espada." Aizen stated, his free hand twisting in the air. The mark didn't appear anywhere visible on Harribel, but the fingers on one hand clenched tight during the process.
As she did, some in the room openly showed some consternation, whispering ensuing in the silence as Harribel stepped back in line with her fellow Espada. Aizen let it continue for a minute, finally raising his hand to restore order.
"Obviously, one seat still remains. This is not an oversight, as I wished to introduce the final member myself."
Ichigo had a sudden sense of foreboding come over him at the words, and realized that Aizen's cool gaze had settled on him, even as far back as he was from the front.
"Ichigo Kurosaki…please, join us."
More than a few Arrancar in the crowd looked around in confusion at the unfamiliar name, parting only as he began his advance. The looks he received were a mix of curiosity and disdain; most didn't seem to recognize him now that he was missing the horns. Ichigo tried to ignore them, but a knot of what he recognized was stage fright still formed in his throat, and he had to resist laughing at how out of place the sensation felt here.
Finally he stepped through the last of the crowd, passing between Grimmjow and Ulquiorra, and raised his head to meet Aizen's calm gaze.
"You, Ichigo, are the last natural Arrancar to come into existence before my return," he declared, sounding thoughtful. "I will admit, I had heard tales of your…escapades even before recovering your true identity. Is it true that Nnoitra Gilga fell to your strength when you were a mere Vasto Lorde?"
The revelation to the rest of the unfamiliar occupants of the room as to who he was sent a rush of surprise through them, inciting a storm of whispers and hissed words. Ichigo held back another laugh as he realized that was exactly what Aizen had wanted to accomplish.
He went to respond, but paused awkwardly, realizing now how that action would appear to their so-called leader. He had, in essence, reduced their fighting strength by no insignificant margin. However, it seemed that the Shinigami had no intention of holding him guilty for the deed, laughing softly. "I consider that to be more than a sufficient price to have you with us now. The cost of progress, think nothing of it."
Something about the way he says that doesn't feel right.
He frowned slightly at the thought, but let it fade as the man went on.
"I would have you assume Nnoitra's rank in return, Ichigo, as the Fifth Espada. Along with your latent strength, I sense that there may be much more to you than meets the eye. I look forward to witnessing it," Aizen said confidently, raising one finger just like before.
Ichigo was expecting it, but even still a large patch of skin just below the hole in his chest searing white-hot wasn't exactly comfortable, and he resisted the urge to scratch at the spot until it was complete.
Aizen finally stood, and all in the room except their new leaders knelt in eerie synchronicity.
"With this, the Espada are complete. Assume your new ranks as you will, assemble any fracción you wish. In time, we will act against the Soul Society; for now, rest. Your time will come soon."
With that final declaration, he and the other two Shinigami turned as one and vanished, the assembled Hollows beginning to leave at the dismissal.
Ichigo turned to face Nel, the rest of the Espada already striding away. The emerald-haired Arrancar let out a long breath, a thin smile at last breaking the tension in her stance. He returned it absentmindedly, casting one last look at the now empty throne high above. Nel joined him after a moment, looking surprisingly melancholy.
"And now the war truly begins," she murmured, not seeming to realize she had even spoken aloud.
To Ichigo, a great weight seemed to settle on his shoulders, and he squared them as best he could, staring up and past the room, to where the tiniest sliver of the moon could be seen high above.
I'll fight. Until this world is fixed, I'll fight.
His thoughts turned to his family, still alive and well.
That's all I can do now.