Disclaimer: ...Sadly, I don't exactly own Bleach...
Author's Note: ...It's here! ...Umm... I have no beta so if you find errors and such... ehh... Tell please...
Las Noches
Ichigo felt like his insides were burning. He screamed but he had no voice in which to scream with; no breath to scream. He felt his chest rip apart and his head fell forward, body curling in on itself. The pain stopped as abruptly as it began. He undid the front of his coat and vest in fear. Had it worked? Staring at his own hollow hole, he felt despair like no other. It had worked. He was an arrancar. He stood shakily. No… it couldn't be… but he still had Zangetsu. That was his only lifeline now. His head was spinning. Everything didn't seem right…
"Welcome to our ranks, Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo tried to stand; to defend himself against the Espada. "You will be Espada Cero for the time being. Grimmjow, Neliel. Escort our new Espada to his rooms please. Everyone else, dismissed." Ichigo couldn't do a thing as the aforementioned two hooked an arm under his arms and helped him along. He couldn't raise his head. Not to this.
He dimly noticed the woman was talking to him. Cold air blasted his hole as they walked, a constant reminder of what he'd done, of what he'd allowed, of what he never thought would work…
Soul Society, Day of the Rescue Mission, Morning
Zaraki and Yachiru were at Urahara's training grounds early. To their surprise, Renji and Rukia were already there, the former fidgeting and the latter attempting not to. The four locked gazes and all stilled. There were more of them. Ishida and Chad came at the same time Byakuya glided through his own portal.
Mayuri and Nemu were the last to arrive, the former muttering things and holding vials of liquid. He tucked them into his robes hastily and gestured to the impatient group to begin.
Urahara opened the portal without showing his usual smiling face. Renji attempted to talk to him but he refused to bait the freeloader even then. He opened the gate and everyone sprang in without a second thought, intent on the mission. Only after they left did he lift his head. On his face was sadness; grief for what was about to happen.
Las Noches
Nel watched Grimmjow's face carefully. She'd observed for days how he seemed to stick to Ichigo. All the complaints about being a bodyguard for "berryhead" never seemed real. Now his face was etched in a deep frown, his arm tight around the boy's hurt form. Ichigo was barely walking and coughing up blood every few steps. The change wasn't going easy on him that was for sure.
Grimmjow tightened his grip on Ichigo's limp body as the boy coughed again, breathing harshly. Even after their battle, he could've stood. Now every part of him was limp. Was the guy going to be okay? He couldn't challenge a dead guy(1) for a rematch… right? And the carrot-top's reiatsu was dizzying. It had taken on a hollow tint but still seemed too … shinigami…
The three approached Ichigo's rooms carefully. As soon as they entered, Ichigo shook off the helping arms. Nel stepped away carefully but Grimmjow's arm tightened on his body. Ichigo looked up at the taller man with wide brown eyes. A trickle of blood trailed down the left corner of his open mouth as he panted. Grimmjow didn't meet his gaze and practically threw him onto a large couch.
Ichigo groaned as his was thrown, body aching. He opened his eyes tiredly and watched the two in front of him come closer. Grimmjow met his gaze then, intense teal eyes penetrating into his shadowed brown ones. Nel quietly took a seat further away from them; out of sword range.
"You never told me you were going to turn into an Arrancar…" Grimmjow's voice was low, angry… polite. Ichigo flinched and looked away, anger rising.
"Why? Would I? I don't have to tell you anything…" Grimmjow winced but retorted angrily.
"Sure, and that whole fuckin' week wit' Uliquorra was just nothin' huh?" Ichigo's eyes flickered to him suddenly. Grimmjow's breath hitched. The boy's eyes were like dark molten chocolate. He was confused and hurt and… Grimmjow took an involuntary step forward. The boy flinched once more and turned to sit up, avoiding his gaze again.
"You had orders to stay with me anyway." A small whisper crept from his mouth. Grimmjow turned to leave, angry, but was stopped by Nel's voice.
"The shinigami won't take him back; the vaizards won't take him back…" Ichigo was now sitting, head still bowed. "Las Noches… does Las Noches want him?" The silence after she'd spoken was almost palpable.
"He still owes me a rematch," Grimmjow snarled and left in a flurry of white. Ichigo's head had lifted slightly, hope shining in his eyes. Did he have friends here after all? His look connected with Nel's. She smiled at him sadly.
"Kurosaki-sama. Your Fraccion is here to serve you…" No friends after all. Just enemies and an ex-almost friend turned servant. How grey and painful the world had become.
Grimmjow rested his back against the cool stone of Las Noches. His chest throbbed like someone had driven a knife there; and left it to bleed. The carrot top looked so weak now. Grimmjow understood not being wanted, not being needed. He understood, and how painful it was. The taller man staggered to his own rooms. As for why he cared, it couldn't have just been as an adversary. He knew that now; but then why?
He dimly felt Uliquorra's presence and barely gathered himself in time, half way in his room. The green eyed Espada approached slowly, easily.
"There are shinigami intruders." Grimmjow snorted lightly. Why tell him? "Aizen-sama would like us to personally get rid of them." The teal haired man twitched in annoyance, now Espada had to take care of weakling intruders too? "Noitora and Yami will be meeting us there as well as Szayel." Now Grimmjow was curious. Five Espada for simple intruders? How strong were they?
"Aizen-sama believes they are coming for Kurosaki." Grimmjow froze. A strangled laugh burst from his throat. The irony! Oh, the irony. If only they were here just an hour before!
Uliquorra waited for Grimmjow patiently. It was clearly visible that the other Espada was more than just comerades with the shiniga… no, Cero Espada. The man was obviously falling for him. He wondered briefly what Grimmjow would do to the boy's friends that had come. Surely it would not be beneficial for him to attack them…
After a few moments, Grimmjow buried his head in his palm, and then looked up. "Well? Where's m' prey?" His feral grin was back. Uliquorra turned and led the way.
Ichigo's Rooms
Ichigo awoke, noticing for the first time that he'd actually fallen asleep in exhaustion. Some time during his nap, Nel had wiped the blood off his chest. The woman was now sitting comfortably across from him, a worried expression on her face.
"Wha?" Ichigo mumbled groggily.
"How are you feeling?" Nel asked softly. Ichigo shrugged and flexed his muscles experimentally; no pain. The serious image in front of him disappeared and the next thing he knew, he was being suffocated by her large assets while she bawled somewhere above his head.
"Gahhh! Get off me!" Ichigo shouted, blushing furiously. Nel stepped back, sniffing. Ichigo smiled at her gently. "Hey, I'm fine. So stop crying, okay?" He waited until the sniffing stopped then continued. "I'm going to go change, you can do whatever you want, 'kay?" Nel nodded slightly but didn't move. Ichigo went into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
He his coat was half way on when a familiar blast of reiatsu alerted him. It was a weak blast, but he would know that anywhere. "Rukia." He breathed softly. They were here and they were going to get themselves killed!
Ichigo dashed out and past Nel, who needed no explanation. The two shunpoed quickly, fear spreading in their hearts and on their reiatsu. Ichigo unconsciously pulled his fear tainted reiatsu in, a weeks worth of training catching up to him. They were here. He wouldn't let them get hurt…
Other part of Hueco Mundo
Grimmjow was sitting lazily on a rock outcropping, Uliquorra next to him. Szayel was on the other side of Grimmjow and Noitora even further away. Yami was, as always, behind Uliquorra. The silent group waited, reiatsu pulsing with excitement. Five Espada for the battle; FIVE. It was sure to be an epic one.
The approaching Shinigami slowed. There was no way they'd be able to avoid this group. Their only option was to blast right on through.
And so the five Espada faced the seven Shinigami, one human, and one Quincy. Anticipation simmered in the air. Everyone waited for someone to speak.
"Aizen-sama requests that you leave Hueco Mundo." Uliquorra finally spoke, calmly and quietly, his voice somehow spreading across the vast distance between the two groups.
"Hell No!" That was Zaraki, grin firmly in place. "I got a battle I'm gonna finish!" Noitora's smile grew wider, if it was possible.
"Oh really? You must have finished your death wish then."
"Hardly, just wanna cut you up an…"
"Why are you still alive?" The strange voice of the twelfth division captain flickered through the space between them. The scientist whom he'd been talking to didn't respond verbally, his smile was enough. He was still alive. Mayuri's victory had just become a shameful retreat. "No matter, I will kill you this time."
"Our mission is to rescue Kurosaki Ichigo, not to fight, fellow Taichou-tachi." Byakuya intoned, eyes moving to the green eyed Espada, the strongest one. It was Grimmjow who responded.
"Ya too fuckin' late." Somehow, his voice lacked the usual wild point. It was still rough, still coarse, but no longer like he was the top of the world.
"What do you mean?!" Rukia panicked, reiatsu flaring in fear. "He's not dead! He can't be dead!"
"Ya left him for seven days ya shit!" Grimmjow loud angry voice carried strongly, biting into their hearts. "What do ya think? Ya can just get him back like nothin' happened?! Let me tell ya somethin' funny ah?! Ya just barely too late! Too late by a fuckin' hour! Mayhaps not even an hour!"
Ichigo's friends staggered back. They'd missed by an hour? Just an hour. Had the mission started earlier in the morning, had they not dawdled, everything would've been fine! But they'd missed by an hour. They'd failed him. The four exchanged guilty looks as the other Shinigami stood in silence.
"If he is dead, then why is his reiatsu approaching us?" Byakuya intoned again. Heads shot up and looked toward the distance. Sure enough, the unmistakable orange head was shunpoing quickly at them.
"You liars!" Rukia shouted. "He's not dead!" Relief filled her voice. To her surprise, Grimmjow looked down, Noitora's and Szayel's smirks widened, and Uliquorra's head bowed slightly. Yami didn't do a thing, still trying to absorb all that had happened.
Ichigo landed on in the middle of the "battle grounds" chest heaving with exhaustion. Nel had tactfully stayed slightly behind the five Espada standing there.
Once there, Ichigo looked around nervously. How to explain everything without a fight now?
"Strawberry!" Ichigo inclined his head toward Renji slightly, not turning. The red head was grinning. "Let's get going already!" Smiles dropped as Ichigo faced them fully, exposing the three red tattoos on his face. There was no mistake on what that represented.
"Can't," He said calmly, like they were still friends. Kurosaki Ichigo had betrayed them; had betrayed his friends and family for Las Noches.
"See? Told all ya t'was too fuckin' late!" Grimmjow called, and they finally understood.
"You turned into an Arrancar an hour ago?" Surprisingly, it was Mayuri who spoke. Ichigo blinked in surprise but nodded.
"Ehh. Yeah…"
"Why?" That was the Quincy, going straight to the point as usual. His voice was accusing.
"I thought I didn't have a choice!" Ichigo yelled. Something in him roared angrily and a tendril of reiatsu escaped his hold. "I thought – I can't go back anyway! And I thought it wouldn't be able to work! Turning a Vaizard into an Arrancar! I..." He clasped a hand over his mouth.
"They know." That was Chad; tall and silent. He radiated no disapproval.
Ichigo blinked calmly. "Oh…"
Rukia was crying now. "I'm sorry! For trading you off like that! I'm sorry!" Her knees gave out and Renji and Byakuya barely caught her in time.
Ichigo looked at her pointedly, sorrowfully. "Hey, it's alright. Soul Society has plenty of fighters like me. They need healers like Inoue. People like her can save lives better than I can." His strong voice rang out as one hand moved to the zipper of his vest down, exposing his hollow hole.
That was the last straw for some of them. Ishida lunged forward, practically snarling as Chad held him back. Mayuri stepped forward, unbuckling his Zanpactou from his waist.
"A word with you? Privately please…" He handed his sword to Nemu who clutched it like it was her life; more than her life. Ichigo blinked as Mayuri approached and stepped forward as well. Mayuri held up a hand. "Please. At least leave your Zanpactou behind. I have no wish to be stabbed."
Ichigo flushed angrily at the insult but unbuckled the belt holding Zangetsu. He turned toward the Espada, debating on whether to leave Zangetsu there or leave him with the Espada. He threw Zangetsu to them, still wrapped in its cloth. Quick as a flash, Grimmjow stood and caught the wide blade by the hilt. The rest of the Espada watched carefully as the two in the center leaned their heads together.
"You are an Arrancar now, yes?" Mayuri murmured in a low voice. Ichigo shrugged carelessly, clothes still unzipped. "Yes, yes. Of course, you have a hole. Of course, Vaizard no more…" Ichigo frowned at his ramblings. Something was off. The scientist wasn't saying much. A sharp pain burst on his upper arm and he stumbled back with a cry. Mayuri now had a syringe in his hand and a crazed grin on his face. There was no more liquid in the syringe.
Ichigo stumbled as he knelt, a wave of dizziness caused him to groan and clutch his head. Dimly, he saw Mayuri shunpo back quickly as a pair of white cloth covered legs appeared in front of him. No, there were two pairs of legs. Someone grabbed him by the scuff of his neck and lifted him roughly. He stared into Grimmjow's eyes; dazed brown ones boring into sharp teal ones. He was shaken; once, twice. Someone was yelling.
The clamor increased his headache and his whole body shuddered in muted pain. The grip on the scuff of his neck released and, in an attempt to stand, he landed on his feet. His body pitched forward and he barely distinguished that he'd collapsed on Grimmjow's chest. It took him almost a minute realize that Grimmjow had stiffened in surprise and that he probably didn't like people leaning on him. Lacking the strength to stand, Ichigo slipped off his chest sideways, eyes closing.
He never hit the ground.
Grimmjow barely restrained himself as Ichigo stumbled back from the Shinigami captain. He couldn't restrain himself when the boy fell with a soft cry. Uliquorra was faster, he noted, as the two stood in front of the downed boy. Grimmjow turned to grab the scuff of Ichigo's robes and pulled him up. The body in his hand was almost dead weight. Dizzying reiatsu surrounded him and he met the chocolate brown eyes of the boy determinedly. The boy gave no indication that he was seeing anything, pained eyes staring straight through him. Grimmjow dropped the kid was a small 'che' already turning to face the blubbering Shinigami masses.
Before he could fully turn around, Ichigo's body toppled over and his face smacked into the Espada's bare chest. He froze in shock. The boy's spiky orange hair tickled his chin and his warm body leaned on the Espada's in a careful balance. After a long awkward moment, the boy shifted sideways, falling. Grimmjow caught the body without meaning to, one strong arm looping around the thin torso to shift the boy, face up.
The head bumped his chest as he lowered the boy carefully. Ichigo's eyes were closed, frown still deeply etched in the sharp planes of his face. His vest fell open, revealing the lightly tanned chest, the rippling muscles underneath, and that small hole that was going to start this battle.
"If you are done? ..." Uliquorra's inquiring voice snapped him out of his revere.
"Of course," Grimmjow snapped, dropping Ichigo's Zanpactou next to the boy's prone form.
"Good. Pick your opponent." Grimmjow blinked, before reverting his gaze back to the battlefield. Zaraki and Noitora were battling, now a little ways off. Szayel and the other scientist guy were facing off, shooting insults at each other.
Grimmjow looked at his choices. The Quincy, human, red head, and black haired girl were weak; he knew that already. The other black haired Shinigami who'd been holding the scientist's Zanpactou was following her captain mindlessly. That left the angsty looking captain. Oh how he hated that expressionless smile, mirrored on Uliquorra's face. Without another word, he launched himself at the man.
Uliquorra watched as his fellow Espada fought their opponents before turning to the remaining group. The small black haired girl was in no condition to fight. The red head, human, and Quincy faced him. Briefly, he felt Yami shifting behind him. Battles raged and the tenth Espada had been left out.
"Yami; the human." This would be muscle against muscle. If Yami didn't win this, he would be kicked out of the Espada. Losing to a human was definitely unacceptable. The two hulking masses moved a little ways off and Uliquorra faced his own opponents. He'd been left with the weakest trash; how revolting.
The battles continued, neither side dealing the finishing blow just yet. The body left in the middle of the battles stirred slowly. Fights halted momentarily as the orange haired boy groaned and stirred. His reiatsu blasted out strongly, causing several Espada and Shinigami to freeze. Some Shinigami even collapsed, gasping for air.
A dark garganta opened under Ichigo's body, resembling a sort of crevice in the ground. Tendrils of red shot out and into the air quickly. They fell gracefully and wrapped around his limbs. Other tendrils shot up and curled around the air, slashing marks through the visible waves of reiatsu in the air. Ichigo screamed before tendrils wrapped around his mouth, effectively silencing him. His eyes darted frantically as his body didn't respond. The body was slowly pulled down. Renji leapt at the boy but was forced to his knees a few meters away from him. There was silence as the garganta closed.
"So, did your experiment work?" Szayel's voice rang out slyly. Mayuri grimaced.
"The liquid should have turned the Arrancar back into a Vizard… then why…" He muttered organizing his thoughts and answering the question. Szayel flung back his head and cackled.
"Arrancar! You think such a boy would become a normal arrancar?! He's a hybrid; apure hybrid!" Mayuri's head shot up, eyes wide.
"A hybrid?! How?!" Szayel smirked but didn't reply. Research was personal and never without costs. The Shinigami and other Espada stared.
"Wha's a fuckin' hybrid?" Grimmjow panted in his released form. One of Byakuya's arms hung at his side, useless and his Bankai was solidified into one sword; its final form.
"Hybrids are a mix of Vaizard and Arrancar; A perfect mix of two polar opposites. But now my test subject is gone… such a rare test subject…" The two scientists pondered for a quick moment.
"Leave." Uliquorra stated. His two opponents were bleeding heavily and he didn't even have a drop of blood on his pristine white clothes. "You came for Kurosaki. He is gone. Leave." The Shinigami prepared to continue fighting. Uliquorra sighed inwardly.
"Yami." The injured Espada staggered over, his opponent sprawled in the dust. "Throw them in." Even the dull headed Espada knew what that meant as Uliquorra opened a wide garganta. He hoisted Chad on his shoulder and threw the man into the portal. He continued with all the downed Shinigami and, with no choice, the less injured Shinigami stepped through as well. The garganta snapped shut.
The Espada that were released returned to their sealed forms. Weaker healing Arrancar approached quickly. Szayel's Fraccion offered themselves up for his digestion and Yami's healed him cautiously, not wanting to anger the man. Noitora was huffing and refused healing services, opting instead to complain about how he hadn't finished the fight. Nel approached Grimmjow carefully and silently and began to heal the numerous incisions on his body. Uliquorra looked at the sorry sight.
"Tell Aizen-sama I'll be back soon." Grimmjow swatted away Nel's hand irritably as he stood, breathing hard. His garganta was already half way open when Uliquorra spoke up.
"You are weak." Grimmjow turned, snarling in fury at Uliquorra's comment. "I will go." This mollified the temperamental Espada instantly.
"Eh… so…" Grimmjow stuttered hesitantly.
"I will be back soon."
Author's Note: A slightly longer chappie… with a few more hints of what's to come… Cause I'm a reader of fan fics myself and I know I despise short chapters… So yeah…
If you'd like to request anything in the story that sounds mildly plausible, please go right on ahead. I can't guarantee that I'll include it but… hey…
(1) Technically they're already dead but… you know what I mean…