Chapter One
Enemy of My Enemy
The Next Day, Negron Household..
Gianna stopped what she was doing in the kitchen as she heard a knock on the front door. Opening the door, she gasped as her eyes fell on the Soul Reaper standing there. "Excuse me, are you Gianna Negron?" The girl asked, adjusting her glasses.
Gianna nodded. "Yes, that's me. What is this about?"
"I was told to give this to you from Elias before going on patrol." Gianna felt tears welling in her eyes as the girl handed her an envelope. "You wouldn't know about any Arrancar in the area, by any chance?"
Gianna knew she was talking about the girl Nick had found the night before and shook her head. "No, I haven't felt any Hollow presence at all lately. Thank you for bringing me this."
"It's no problem. Anything for the former Captain. Have a nice day." With that, the Soul Reaper disappeared leaving Gianna holding the envelope from Elias. Thank God you're alright and not completely dead, you knucklehead. She thought, shaking her head.
Gianna then realized that Nick and Suzanna would probably need to see the letter as well, knowing it was from their father. Closing the door, Gianna put the letter down on the table before hearing her phone chime. She looked at the new text message from Nick.
Be home a bit late. Checking Dominic's first. Gianna shook her head. She knew it would happen, having seen Nick's far-off expression when he had come back home the previous night. Just don't get too ahead of yourself, Nick. A girl like that? That's dangerous business. She thought as she continued her preparation of that night's dinner.
Santos Market, Fifteen Minutes Later..
Nick entered the small market and grimaced as Dominic came out from the back room. "Ah, young Nick! Welcome back. Come to check on our guest, hmm?"
Nick nodded. "Yeah, sorry if it's any inconvenience. Oh, and this one isn't scratching me this time." He said as he felt something rub against his leg, finding the Hollow cat there, purring.
"Yes, he seems to like you now that he knows you were helping his mistress. She's still resting, but her wounds are healed up if you'd like to pop in."
"Please. I was a bit worried about her." Nick laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.
"I bet you were~." Dominic said in a sing-song tone as he lead Nick into the back of the shop, which still surprised Nick that the place was much bigger on the inside.
The shopkeeper brought Nick to a room near the back of the impossibly long hallway, the same room he had brought the Arrancar girl to the night before. Why does she look so damn familiar, though? I feel like I know her, but I can swear I only just met her last night. He thought to himself.
"Yeah, and we both know what else is going on inside this mind of yours." Cackled the almost identical voice to his own.
"Oh, stop antagonizing the boy. Being pure instinct, I would think any emotion related to lust would be up your alley." Said the other voice.
"Jeez, both of you shut up." Nick had had enough of the two somewhat warring voices in his head as they commented on almost every little thing he did.
"Arguing with the parts of your soul, Nick?" Dominic asked knowingly.
"What do you know about that?" Nick asked.
"More than you, obviously. Maybe I'll explain it to you sometime." Dominic opened the door and Nick stepped inside, the feline following him inside as Dominic closed the door.
Nick smiled as the cat jumped onto the bed and nuzzled against the girl's hand. He watched as the Arrancar opened her eyes slowly, noticing the familiar. "Hey, Kyo. Good to see you're okay."
"So that's his name. Cute. He was worried about you, little bastard scratched me until he realized I was trying to get you medical attention." Nick said, the girl noticing him.
"Oh, so you're the 'knight in shining armor' Dominic mentioned. I guess I should thank you.."
"Nick. Nick Negron. Would I be asking too much if I asked your name?"
The girl giggled. "No, you wouldn't. But, you wouldn't be a Soul Reaper, would you?"
"Part, yes. But, I have never been to the Spirit Plane or had any actual training."
"That explains the feeling I get looking at you. My name is Saryna. Saryna Viziri."
Nick's eyes widened as he remembered something from school that morning.
Nick was in homeroom as the morning announcements began. "Attention, students. Today, we remember the passing of two students over the summer. Phoebe Yates and Saryna Viziri were killed in a drunk-driving accident early July.."
And another memory, this one from near the end of the previous school year..
Nick and Suzanna were walking out of the school when a voice called to them from behind. "Nick! Zanna!" Turning, Nick saw their friend Saryna running up to them, pushing her blood red hair behind her ear. "You guys have a great summer! I'm having a party at my place next weekend and I'd love for you to come if you can."
Focusing back on the present, Nick looked at Saryna. "You don't remember me? Saryna, you my sister Suzanna and I were friends before you.. Well, you were killed over the summer."
Saryna's eyes widened. "Wh.. What..? Nick.." Saryna put her hands on her head as memories of her former life came flooding back to her, a feat incredibly rare for any variation of Hollow.
It seemed like much longer, but only lasted a few seconds before her hands fell, the girl sobbing as she looked at Nick. "I.. I remember. The crash, being turned into an Arrancar by that Soul Reaper fucktard.. And I remember you. You and Zanna.. My best friends other than Phoebe.. Oh, God."
"Calm down, Ryna. It's alright. Now that you remember, maybe there's something we can do.. I don't know what, but if anything is possible, we'll figure it out. I gotta go, but here's my number if you want to talk. I won't lie, it's a miracle having you back."
Saryna nodded. "Thank you, Nick. If you hadn't found me, helped me.. I would probably have been killed by now."
Nick smiled. "Of course. If the situation was reversed, you would have done the same for me. Or Zanna. Kyo, look after her." The Hollow cat meowed in agreement as Nick left the room to find Dominic.
He found the shopkeeper in the front of the shop. "Dom, give her a few minutes then go talk to her. Maybe you can figure some way to help her more than I already have." Dominic nodded before Nick made his way out of the shop, heading back home.
Negron House..
When Nick walked in the door, he made his way into the dining room and sat down, a million thoughts running through his head. Gianna and Suzanna, whom he hadn't noticed sitting at the table as well, saw the dazed look in his eyes. "Nick? Everything go alright at Dominic's?" Gianna asked.
Nick picked his head up and his mother and sister saw the tears threatening to fall. "Yeah, everything is alright. Better than alright. Zanna, the Arrancar.. She's-" He was interrupted by his phone ringing. He answered it. "Hello?"
"It's me." Came Saryna's voice. "Can I talk to Zanna?" Her voice pleaded.
"Yeah, of course. Zanna, someone wants to talk to you." He said, smiling and handing her the cell phone.
"Hello? Oh my God, Saryna?! You were the Arrancar? I know, we missed you too. It's so good to hear your voice again. Yeah, I can come around tomorrow, Nick and I have something to take care of tonight. Yeah, you too. Bye." She hung the phone up and handed it back to her brother. "She's alive? Saryna is really back?" Nick nodded as happy tears fell from Suzanna's eyes.
"You both know that Arrancar?" Gianna asked to both twins nodding. "Wait, Saryna.. Your friend that died over the summer?" Another nod. "Truly miraculous. But.."
"We know, mom. Technically, she's our enemy. But you told us that Hollows do not remember their former lives, and Saryna does. Maybe the old saying is right. 'The enemy of my enemy'. She doesn't want anything to do with being an Arrancar as far as I could tell. Maybe Dominic knows something to help her. Maybe make her a Visored." Nick said, remembering all the different things Gianna had told him and Suzanna the night before. "I want to be trained. The Spirit Knuckles could never be enough to compete with an Arrancar, not like you were able to when you met dad."
"That's right!" Suzanna said, handing Nick the letter on the table. "You have to read this. Now!"
Taking the paper in his hands, Nick's eyes widened as he began reading what was written.
To my family,
I hope you're all doing well. I miss you three so much, and I hate that I have missed so much of you twins growing up. Nick, I know you've been fighting, and about being able to use your mother's abilities. Just know that you are on the S.P.A's radar now, so try to keep yourself in check. There is unrest here in the Spirit Plane. People going missing, more and more Hollows and Arrancars attacking. There are whispers someone here is responsible. You and Suzanna must train yourselves, just in case this fight crosses over to home. I would train you myself, but I am benched to the Spirit Plane for a while yet. Go to Dominic. He may seem somewhat insane, but he knows much more about everything going on then he will even admit. I have spoken to several old friends here, and they are keeping your existence quiet until I deem it necessary you get involved, which I hope doesn't happen. Watch yourselves, and each other. I love you all.
Love, Elias.
Nick put the paper down. "So dad isn't truly dead either? Today just made life so much more difficult to handle. I'm going to go to Dominic and ask him to train me tomorrow. Suzanna should come, too. Whatever dad is warning us about, we both need to be prepared for it."
"I agree," Gianna said. "Your father knows you are both powerful, having both Soul Reaper and Hollow powers lying dormant inside you. Dominic can help with the Soul Reaper powers, but the Hollow powers are something else entirely. You're going to have to find the Visoreds hiding out somewhere in the city."
Nick nodded. "It's settled then. Tomorrow, after school, Suzanna and I begin training. And then on Friday, Elliot and Suzanna can go see the movie."
"What? Zanna, did Elliot ask you out?"
Suzanna laughed. "Yeah, he did. I forgot to mention it to you because of everything last night."
"Well, I think it's sweet he finally grew a pair and asked. I've seen how you both look at each other. Now, off to bed. You two have a big day tomorrow, and it'll only get harder after that."
"Yes, mom. Goodnight." Said both twins before they made their way up to their bedrooms.
Gianna sighed as she was left alone in the dining room. "I hope you're right, Eli. Our kids may be powerful, but how far will they have to go?"
The Next Afternoon, Santos Market..
The Negron twins entered the shop only to be bombarded by the possibly insane shopkeeper. "There you both are! Your mother told me everything I needed to know. So please, just follow me. Oh, and we will have a guest joining your training, if you both don't mind." Shaking their heads, Nick and Suzanna followed Dominic to the far back of the store, where the shop owner stopped in the middle of the hallway. "Down here, follow me~" He said, descending down a ladder he had revealed in the floor.
Following the overly-eccentric man down, both twins' eyes widened comically as they descended down into what looked like an enormous canyon. "What the fuck?!" Nick said, more surprised than shocked.
Dominic chuckled. "Who knew this canyon was here underneath my shop?"
"Obviously you, dumbass. We weren't born yesterday." Suzanna deadpanned, making Dominic feign hurt at her words.
"You wound me, Suzanna!"
The trio reached the bottom and, after looking at their immediate surroundings, Suzanna squealed in delight as she spotted Saryna, who stood awkwardly rubbing one arm with her opposite hand, Kyo perched on her shoulder poking his head out from her hair. "Saryna! It really is you! You look great!" Suzanna stopped herself, knowing the Arrancar girl remembered what had happened to her. "I mean, for someone we thought was dead, of course. But still." She ran up to Saryna and gave her a big hug, surprising Kyo enough to hiss as Nick walked up as well.
"Kyo, hush. She's a friend." Saryna said, petting the small white cat.
Suzanna tilted her head in thought. "Kyo? Didn't you have a cat named.. No! He was in the car with you and Phoebe?!"
Saryna nodded somberly. "Yeah. We were taking him to the vet for his annual shots. When I woke up as.. This.. Kyo was right there with me."
"Something has been bugging me," Nick said, causing the girls to look at him. "If you were reborn, remade as an Arrancar.. Then what about Phoebe?"
Saryna looked away, remembering her time back in the Demon Plane with the rest of the Arrancar, and one in particular. "Don't, Nick. Please. Even if it was possible.. Not everyone wants to turn from the power being an Arrancar gives you.."
Deciding not to push the issue, Nick put her hand on Saryna's shoulder, Kyo's tail brushing against it. "It's alright, Ryna."
Dominic chose then to speak. "Well, you three have a lot to do today if we even hope to get you all up to speed."
"Three? Saryna is training too?" Suzanna asked.
"Yes and no. As an Arrancar, Saryna here has dormant Soul Reaper abilities which are naturally suppressed by the dominant nature of her Hollow side. However, that also means she can use both sides of her power, like the Visoreds and even you both due to your mother's brief affliction twenty-five years ago. Now, I have a method to bring out her Soul Reaper abilities, but the sudden change in Saryna's inner balance can cause her Hollow side to clash with the Soul Reaper half, making her unstable.
"Therefore, she will have to battle the Hollow side for dominance over her soul, which if successful will allow her to use both sides in combat without the need for a mask as with Visoreds. You all following me so far?" Even Kyo seemed to nod. "Good. Now, the other issue with this method is that in her inner struggle, her body will most likely go into a berserker mode, meaning you two would have to fend her off until the struggle has concluded. That is why I recommend we hold off on that course of action until the twins have at least grasped their own strength in training.
"Which brings me to the twins. Now, since you both have little to no experience using your own spiritual powers, the next step can be a bit tricky. In order to at least unlock these abilities, I need to separate your spiritual bodies from your physical ones. You ready?"
Nick narrowed his eyes. "Wait, wha-" He was cut off by Dominic rushing towards him and Suzanna faster than he could see, thrusting his hands, both with strange gloves on, at their faces.
Saryna gasped in shock as both twins' bodies fell to the ground while the two still stood, now in their apparent spiritual bodies. Nick released a breath he hadn't realized he had held in as he turned and saw his body lying there. "Am I dead?" He asked.
"No, you have just been separated from your living body. The change in appearance should have been indication enough."
Nick then looked down to see that his clothes had indeed changed. Instead of the graphic tee and jean shorts he had been wearing, he was now in a simple black tee with a small flame motif where a pocket might have been and thin black pants with similar flames climbing up from the bottom seam up to the knees. Over the t-shirt he wore a windbreaker with a large white dragon's head stretching across the back, snout pointing down.
"Damn. I definitely like this outfit. Can't find this kind of style at the mall, surprisingly." Then he looked towards his sister. "Wow, Zanna. Looking good."
Suzanna had on a black sundress, something she ordinarily hated to wear. The bottom half of the skirt was adorned with a crystal design, what looked like sequins sparkling unnaturally throughout. She also wore windbreaker, but hers had a snowflake on the back. Looking at herself, Suzanna groaned. "It had to be a dress."
"Don't be like that, Z," Giggled Saryna. "You look beautiful, even though I know you've always been more of a tomboy."
Nick shook his head. "So, Dominic, what's next? And also, how do you know so much about all of this? Were you S.P.A?"
Dominic grinned like the cheshire cat, making Nick feel somewhat frightened. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I was. A Captain, like your old man used to be. I lead Squad Twelve many, many years ago until an incident occurred and I was forced out of the S.P.A along with several others. Squad Twelve was the research and development headquarters, hence my extensive knowledge about all of this.
"As for the next part of your training. It's quite simple, really. I need the two of you to meditate, or more focus your energy into yourself, allowing you both to access the inner manifestations of your souls. There, you shall begin the next phase of your training."
"Meditation? What are we, Jedi?"
"Just go with it. Seriously, how does being so inquisitive get you anywhere?" Dominic stated, his tone annoyed.
"Fine, fine. Have it your way." Nick grumbled as he sat on the ground indian-style, Suzanna following suit.
Even knowing how to center himself, Nick was surprised as he felt himself shift from the outside world to another place. Opening his eyes, Nick was surprised more by what he saw. Instead of the canyon in the basement of the Santos market, Nick stood in a large meadow dotted with sakura trees and a lake in the center. Ringing the meadow, however, was a wall of fire that Nick could discern gave off no heat. "As cool as this place is, I didn't think my soul would appear like this."
"What did you think it would look like? A fucking rainbow?" Nick froze as he heard his own voice sound out from his left, but it wasn't his voice. It sounded like some kind of echo, almost like it was.. Hollow.
Looking over, he saw a literal double of himself, only dressed in reversed colors. "Okay.. I guess that makes you my inner Hollow."
"Haha! And the guy wins a prize!" Laughed the Hollow version of himself, who then appeared right in front of him with Spirit Knuckles already encasing his hands. "Me beating his ass!"
The doppelganger threw a punch, only for Nick to dodge out of the way at the last second, activating his own Spirit Knuckles. "Being a part of me, I already know our tricks as well as you. Guess I'm going to have to think on my feet for this. Take this." Nick kicked the Hollow version of himself with his knee, connecting with the other's own knee and causing him to stumble as Nick took a step back and got into his fighting stance. "Let's see how good of a spar I can give myself." He smirked as the Hollow version of him mirrored his stance.
"Finally, a real fight!" The Hollow Nick cackled as he rushed Nick, sweeping at his legs.
Nick blocked the incoming kick with his leg before jabbing the Hollow in the right side, the enemy wincing as he felt the shot of pain in his kidney. "I got plenty more where that came from." Nick said as the Hollow jabbed at him several times, two punches connecting with Nick's chest and sending the teen to his knees several feet back.
"So do I. I am you, remember? Maybe when I beat you and unleash myself we can have our way with that pretty little Arran-" Nick's inner Hollow was cut short as Nick rushed up and sent a powerful right hook upward into his jaw, uppercutting his dark self.
"Leave Saryna out of this! She didn't deserve what happened to her."
The Hollow chuckled as he got up, wiping away the small trail of black blood coming from his lip. "Good. There's the soft spot in your focus. But, if you can't defeat me in here, I'll have all the control, boy."
Nick straightened and cracked his neck. "Then it's a good thing I don't intend to let that happen. Try this on for size." Nick focused his energy into his Spirit Knuckles, reforming them to now have three claws protruding from each knuckle.
The Hollow's eyes widened. "You really are powerful, to figure out how to focus your energy so well. I guess this fight really will be fun." He laughed maniacally as he rushed Nick again, sending a flurry of blows toward him.
Nick felt each connection as he blocked, each stinging more than the last. Through his pain, Nick didn't, wouldn't lose his resolve knowing he had to win this fight before he could even think about protecting the people he cared about. He kicked high, connecting with his Hollow's chest before slashing out with his now bladed gauntlets.
The Hollow stumbled back as blood trickled out from the several long cuts now present across his chest, still laughing which unnerved Nick somewhat. "Fine. I see it, now. You've won this time, boy, but next time you won't be so lucky." The dark version of Nick began to fade away.
"No, you will lose every fight with me because I know what I have to do to protect my loved ones, even if it comes to using your powers."
The Hollow's laugh echoed as if he was far away. "Trust me, the battle for you to use my power is still far away." The voice faded entirely, leaving Nick seemingly alone in the meadow once again.
Nick was startled by another voice from behind him. "Maybe now he'll stop complaining about how weak you are."
Turning, Nick was surprised to see what appeared to be a man aged maybe in their late twenties or so, but this man had patches of what looked like scales running down his arms and face, at least from what Nick could see underneath the dark green hooded robe. "Alright. That guy was my inner Hollow. According to what Dominic explained, that would make you my Zanpaku-to spirit? At least the manifestation within my mind."
The man nodded. "That is correct. My name is-" The man's mouth kept moving, but Nick heard nothing. At the confused look on the boy's face, the spirit grunted. "It seems you are not yet ready to call forth my power. No matter, draw your blade, which neither of you hotheads even realized were there."
Nick looked down and saw that he indeed had a sword sheathed at his waist. Unsheathing the weapon, Nick found the katana to be plain, but there seemed to be a mark emblazoned on the blade from end to end. He felt the spirit come forward, instinctively reaching out with the sword to block a strike from the Zanpaku-to manifestation's own blade. "I've always been a more hand-to-hand kind of guy." Nick admitted, surprised his unnamed sword could still block a strike from the larger greatsword the unknown man wielded.
"As myself and your Hollow have noticed. However, to fully realize your potential, you must be able to fight with a sword as well as your hands." The Zanpaku-to said, bringing his arm up for another downward slash.
Thinking fast, Nick ducked and rolled out of the way, striking with his katana at the opening the spirit had created. "I've watched a lot of action movies. I can emulate almost anything seen." To demonstrate this fact, Nick sidestepped out of the path of the greatsword once again and spun himself around, now holding the katana in one hand and the sheath in the other. His first retaliatory strike was with the sheath, distracting the more experienced swordsman by blocking his defensive strike as he slashed around to make contact with the upper part of the Zanpaku-to's sword arm.
Unfortunately, the marks Nick had created on his new opponent had little effect, as the spirit continued to assault Nick with his greatsword. Nick could only block whatever attacks he could, but was caught off-guard when his opponent thrust the pommel of the greatsword into Nick's stomach, the teen wheezing slightly as he was forced back several feet.
"Shit. That one actually hurt a bit." He commented, rubbing the now sore spot on his chest.
"I told you you had to fight better than that, Nicholas. Otherwise, how are you going to protect those you care for when the enemy will have the upper hand?" Replied the Zanpaku-to spirit.
"I'll protect them how I always have: with my iron will and dedication to defending those I hold dear." Standing straight, Nick smirked as he vanished from his opponent's sight, reappearing less than three feet in front of the hooded man, his katana and sheath both arcing towards the manifestation.
The spirit managed to block Nick's sheath, but again missed the blade as Nick's katana made a long thin gash across the hooded man's chest, a burst of blood spraying outwards. The man in the dark green hood knelt down, his hand clenching at his chest. "Very.. Good.. You learn quick, young man. Now, awaken and call my name! I am.."
Several Minutes Earlier..
Suzanna awoke feeling warm despite the frigid look of her new surroundings. She stood in the center of a frozen lake, the border a lightly frosted beach. Past the beach, there were several patches of flowers, some frozen, some not. "Wow. It's beautiful here. But, why is my soul a mostly frozen landscape?"
"Because, child, you have not yet grown into your powers." Suzanna turned around to see a woman with pale, almost white skin and long mint-green hair dressed in a gown that looked to Suzanna like more of a wedding dress. In her hand was a long staff that looked like it could have been made from crystal, but judging from her surroundings Suzanna figured it was actually made of ice.
"That's one voice matched to a face, but what about.."
"I'm right here, honey." Having to turn back the way she had first been facing, Suzanna saw herself with pure white skin and yellow eyes, dressed in the same clothes as Suzanna with reversed colors. "And it's about fucking time you showed up."
Suzanna narrowed her eyes at her doppelganger. "So you're the bitchy voice I hear mocking me day and night. That would most likely make you the inner Hollow mom mentioned and you," She turned to the woman in white. "Would then be the manifestation of my Zanpaku-to."
"Correct, on both accounts. Your skills are much less untrained than your brother's, but it's nice to see you both have such intelligence." Said the Zanpaku-to spirit.
"And with no training in how to use any of your abilities, that should make it easy for me to defeat you and take full control." Said the Hollow form of herself. "Then we'll see how brother dear can fight when he has a sword thrust through his heart."
Suzanna felt her anger rise, pushing out a wave of what she didn't yet know was her own spiritual pressure. "If that's what you intend to do, I will never allow you to take control."
"Then fight, young one. Hear me and know my name!"
Suzanna heard the spirit of her weapon and unsheathed the katana she had strapped to her hip. "Freeze the lands and bring new beginnings! Flurry, Yukihime!" Suzanna's Hollow self put her arms up, covering her face from the icy blast of wind that blew outward from the teen.
When the wind and ice had cleared up, Suzanna was holding a staff identical to the one held by her Zanpaku-to spirit, the apparent Yukihime. She looked at the Hollow with a look of determination. "So, are we going to fight? Or was that all just talk?"
The Hollow doppelganger growled. "Don't you fucking antagonize me, boo. I'll show you real quick who the stronger of the two of us is!"
Suzanna laughed. "Then stop talking and fight!" As Suzanna took a step forward, her double pulled out the katana she herself had on her hip.
"Bring it!" She shouted as Suzanna rushed the Hollow, the staff in her hands arcing back and forth as she sent blow after blow toward the dark version of herself.
The Hollow Suzanna groaned as she endured the flurry of attacks, blocking what she could while feeling the sting of the frozen staff as it made contact with her skin. As Suzanna let up in her attack, the Hollow noticed the places the teen's staff struck froze over. "That's a pretty neat trick you have there. But it won't be enough to stop me." She declared, rushing Suzanna.
The Hollow sent blow after blow at the teen, who blocked every strike that came her way. Breathing hard by the time her enemy let up, Suzanna narrowed her eyes. "I'm not done showing you the power I can wield. Storm One: Tundrafall!" Spinning her staff in front of her, Suzanna unleashed a storm of hail that flew towards her enemy in a funnel of cold wind.
After several moments of the ice funnel surrounding Suzanna's Hollow self, the air cleared and the Hollow was shown, now encased in ice. Suzanna smirked. "Looks like I've won." And with a snap of her fingers, the frozen enemy shattered, spirit particles flying off.
"You've won this battle, honey, but I'll only get stronger, just as much as you will. You can't keep me beaten down forever." Came the Hollow's voice as it faded away.
"And I'll keep on beating you if it keeps my family and friends safe." Suzanna vowed to the empty air.
"Very impressive, Suzanna." Said Yukihime, now standing next to the teen. "It looks like you've grasped your abilities better than your brother, and he's had more experience." The spirit laughed, a sound that sounded more like a frozen windchime.
"Thank you, Yukihime. It's not often I can say I bested my brother over something. Is there anything more for us to do while I'm still here?"
The snow princess shook her head. "No, young one. For the moment, your training here is complete. It's time to wake up." And before Suzanna could say anything else, her inner world dissolved into darkness.
Opening her eyes to the outside world once again, Suzanna saw her brother lying on the ground a few feet away, Saryna kneeling next to him with a look Suzanna recognized all too well. "It's nice to see that some things don't change even when you've technically been dead for almost a year." She said, smiling softly as Saryna looked at her wide-eyed.
"I.. I don't know what you're talking about, Zanna." The Arrancar turned away, a noticeable blush tinging her face.
"You don't have to worry about me knowing you've had the worst but most adorable crush on my brother for years. He may not show it, being Nick and all, but he was devastated when we heard about the crash. When he walked back into the house last night, I saw a lot going through his head, but there was a spark of happiness there as well, and until he handed me his phone, I had no idea why. Right now just may not be the best time."
Saryna nodded, understanding where her friend was coming from. "I know. There's too much going on with him, with all three of us. Telling him would only cause him to worry more."
Dominic, having heard the exchange, spoke up. "Saryna? Do you mind if I ask you a couple of quick questions?" Saryna nodded her head as Kyo tilted his head.
"You seem very pacifistic compared to the norm for Arrancar. How in tune with your Hollow powers are you?"
Saryna had to think about that for a moment. "Well, I can speak with my Hollow self pretty much at will. Come to think of it, she isn't much of a fighter either. At least, not in the perpetually hungry way. She once mentioned she was more of a protector."
Dominic nodded. "Alright. Now then, if you were faced with no other option but to fight, even against your former comrades to protect those you cared about, would you fight?"
Saryna looked down at the still unconscious Nick before looking back at the former Captain, a look of pure determination etched on her face, she nodded. "For those I care about? I would die for them." For him.. She thought.
"Hmm. Then maybe it wouldn't be such a danger to begin your conversion now. If you and your Hollow have such an understanding, then there's an extremely good chance you can have your darker abilities in check right off the bat."
"Really? And I would be more like Nick and Suzanna?"
Dominic nodded. "Yes, but they both still have a ways to go before they can properly use their Hollow abilities."
"If she can be more human than Hollow again, she would then be able to come back to school and live life, right?" Dominic nodded. "But then, what about the fact the entire county knows she's been dead since last July?"
"I can fix that. Just gotta give me a day or two once Saryna is once again whole. That part, however, is up to Saryna." He looked back at the Arrancar girl. "You up for the possible risk?"
It was then that Nick's eyes opened and he shot up from the ground, scaring Kyo to hide himself full in Saryna's hair. "Nick?!" Saryna half-shouted, pouting.
"Sorry! Surprised me waking up so suddenly." Nick replied laughing nervously.
"Since you both are awake now, how did you both do? Obviously you both succeeded over your Hollows but otherwise?"
One Hour Later, Negron House..
Nick and Suzanna walked in the door, sighing that their adventures in training were over for the day. "Nick? Zanna? That you, kids?" Called Gianna from the kitchen.
"Yeah, mom. Is dinner done? It smells good." Nick replied.
"Come and eat before it gets cold." Laughed the twins' mother.
Entering the dining room, the trio all sat down at the table. Gianna smiled at her children. "How did everything go?"
"We both unlocked our Soul Reaper abilities. But I was the one to achieve my Shikai release." Bragged Suzanna.
"You only learned yours quicker. I'll have my Bankai or my mask quicker." Nick said, taking a bite of mashed potatoes, swallowing before he stuck his tongue out at his sister.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. Dominic says he has a way to help Saryna cross over to have her dormant Soul Reaper powers be dominant over her Hollow ones."
"Really? He thinks she's stable enough to go through the procedure?" Gianna asked, curious about her children's formerly deceased friend.
Suzanna nodded. "He said there was less than a five percent chance her Hollow will take over and try to kill us all."
Gianna raised her eyebrow. "Only five percent, huh? Well, if she wants to go through with it, then at least the S.P.A won't be hunting for her. If it works out that way."
"Yeah. Dominic said tomorrow we'll probably spar against each other, see how well the other twin fights." Nick chuckled.
Suzanna eyed her brother, unsure of what he was thinking, although it was obvious Nick's mind was elsewhere. Most likely stuck on Saryna. He really has been happier since he found her. She smiled as Nick laughed at something their mother had said, glad her brother finally had a reason to feel happiness when he had made it always seem like there was something holding him back from it.
Later that night, Suzanna was laying in bed, a book in front of her and her own stereo playing the local radio station softly when there was a knock on her bedroom door. "Yeah?" She called.
"It's me," Came Nick's voice. "Got a minute?"
Suzanna closed her book, placing it on the bedside table. "Yeah, come on in." Moments later, Nick entered the room, running a towel through his still-wet hair. "Something bothering you, brother dear?"
Nick sighed. "And there's the good twin connection I know and love. It's-"
"Saryna. Yeah, I figured you'd still be hung up on it." The look of surprise was evident on her brother's face. "Come on. I've known about your little crush on our best friend for ages. Now, what seems to be the issue with dear Saryna now back in our lives?" Of course, Suzanna wasn't going to let her brother know about the mutual crush the current Arrancar had towards him. That was their business.
"It might sound screwed up, but it's the fact that she is back. After being gone for almost a year, I feel I was finally finding my routine where those feelings would go away." Nick said, sitting on the edge of Suzanna's bed and looking up at the ceiling.
"And when you realized the pretty little Arrancar you saved was the focus of your crush, those feelings came back." Suzanna finished.
Nick chuckled. "Yeah, they did. Bad. When she told me her name, I thought my life had become some sick, twisted nightmare whose purpose was to make me go insane. And if I'm honest, it's working."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Suzanna asked, Nick's words starting to not make as much sense as they usually would.
"My Hollow, he.. He threatened Saryna, and it made me snap while I was fighting him. He said she was the weak spot in my focus. And he was right."
Suzanna's face softened. "You really are the sweetest thing sometimes. You don't have to worry about Saryna getting hurt, even by your inner Hollow. When Dominic goes through with making her a Soul Reaper, Visored, whatever, she'll be a force to be reckoned with, even against you or me. So what really has you so worried? I've never seen you like this and quite frankly it frightens me."
"I'm worried Saryna has changed.. I know she's still the same on the outside, but she's now primarily an ever-hungry soul-eating entity, and that seriously scares me because of how close the three of us used to be."
Suzanna rolled her eyes. "Stop, Nick. You can't think like that. Saryna is still Saryna, and I know deep down she still cares about you. Maybe now more than she did back then. Maybe you should talk to her about this, hmm?"
Nick was silent for a while before he let out a sigh. "You're right, sis. Like always. I'm gonna get to bed. Thanks for listening." He smiled as he got up and walked over to the door.
"That's what family's for. Night, Nick." Nick waved as he closed her door, going towards his room.
Santos Market..
Saryna sat on the bed in the room Dominic let her stay in, petting Kyo as the Hollow cat purred at her touch. There was a knock at the door as Dominic poked his head in. "Saryna? Oh, you're still up. Good. I just came around to ask you if you had made a decision about what we spoke about earlier?"
It took Saryna a moment to remember what he was talking about. When she did remember, she nodded, the same determined look in her eyes he had seen while Suzanna and Nick had been inside their souls. "I'll do it. When can we start?"