"C'mon guys, this is gonna be so good!" Ikkaku yelled, waving his weapon – a spear named Hozukimaru – above his head wildly. Confidence was slowly creeping back into the more manly of the group, refusing to let a little thing like death make them look un-badass.
Ikkaku's big head spread around a little, making everyone feel better again. Excitement was twinkling at the back of Rukia's eyes again, and a small smile was teasing Rangiku's lips. Orihime was wiping tears out of her eyes and beaming, once again showing her tendency to completely flip her moods around.
"Let's go, then. The Head Office is in the centre right?" Ichigo wasn't feeling so great, but he sure wasn't going to show it.
"That's what Ggio said. Off we go," cried Rukia, now grinning widely, "I can't wait to see Onii-chan's face when he sees me!"
Her and Rangiku began to skip ahead, laughing. Ichigo watched, feeling faintly queasy, the strange mood swings that his friends experienced. It did make him wonder if they were slightly bi-polar.
The group began to walk forward, weapons slung on shoulders. The walk soon became a swagger, as it felt like they owned these streets already. Hard not to, with big flashy swords and distinctly stealthy clothing.
The city's condition actually managed to deteriorate as they got closer to the centre. Blood practically coated the street and there wasn't a single door or window that hadn't been battered into the ground. They started seeing people, normally in pairs or small groups. Every single one of the looked at Ichigo and his friends with a flash of curiosity-turned-fear, only adding to group's confidence levels.
After a long walk through the crumbling city, they reached what seemed to be the central area. It was large, with the remnants of benches and flower patches dotted around. A lot of people were here, sat in their smaller groups, lots were asleep, some were injured. Everyone looked ill, worried and… awful. No one had a cool or determined expression; they just looked fear-ridden. Heads turned to stare at the new group; large, strong-looking, attractive and clean.
"Oi," yelled Ikkaku at a nearby boy who was slumped against a bench. He jumped at being addressed, struggling into a sitting position. "Where's Head Office?"
"Uh… Over there," the boy pointed to a large black gate, "You have to walk a bit, up the drive."
"Thanks," smiled Ichigo as the rest of the group headed off towards the gates. Suddenly he was grabbed from behind, hands clamped over his mouth. His brown eyes widened as his attacker lifted his face up to his. It was a man with blue hair and just as blue eyes. He was grinning maniacally.
"Who're the new kiddies?" he yelled. The whole square leapt into life at the sound, heads snapping around and eyes widening at the man's appearance. He threw the whole place into turmoil, with everyone scrambling around to stand up and back away subtly. Ichigo's friends turned to see him in the arms of the big blue haired man and sprang into action.
"HEY!" screamed Rukia, jumping forward, "Let him go!"
The man laughed loudly, throwing his head back.
"So you haven't even been to Head Office yet, huh?" he pushed Ichigo into Rukia's arms, almost throwing him to the ground with the power of his gentle-looking shove, "Shame, I can't kill any of you for a few days then. See ya orangey!" The bluenette strolled away, a cat-like swagger in his walk.
"Bastard," muttered Ichigo angrily. Looking up, he noticed that almost everyone had cleared out of the area. "He must be powerful."
"Yeah, or just a nutter," Renji said spitefully, "You alright mate?"
"Fine. Let's go sign up."
The group set off towards the black gates. They were tall and very strong looking. Ugly – probably to fit in with their surroundings. There was a battered and dirty looking intercom which Uryuu approached with disdain, pressing the one big button with a look of disgust, hitching up his glasses with the other hand.
"'Ello?" came a slightly distorted voice from the intercom.
"Hello… We want to register?"
A creepy laugh was returned. "Alrigh'. C'min."
The gates creaked open slowly, creaking and jolting. They stopped at about halfway open, seemingly jamming. The group passed through the run down gates, amused, to find a very different place on the other side. The grass was green and beautifully kept, blossom trees dotted the lawn, a clear bubbling stream ran merrily past them, flowers danced in the gentle breeze. A large manor house with a domed white roof stood in plain view, quite a long walk away.
"This place is amazing!" chirped Orihime as they strolled up the winding path towards Head Office.
Ichigo agreed, smiling widely. He felt calm and relaxed for the first time in days! He didn't realise how tense he'd been about this whole thing. Even big Zangetsu on his back was feeling lighter. Then, his mood was ruined by a man. He was standing outside the large doors, waving elegantly and smiling with the most unsettling smile Ichigo had ever seen. His eyes were closed into slits, and the smile reached his ears. Silver hair fell gracefully around his face, although it didn't make the smile any nicer to see.
"'Iya! I'm Gin Ichimaru. We're 'appy to have ya. Follow me an' I'll take ya to Aizen."
The group followed, watching Gin's face with anticipation, waiting to see his elusive eyes, but the smile stayed fixed in place.
"This is Las Noches. Its where me, Aizen, an' some o' the Espada live."
"Espada?" asked Yumichika curiously.
A light chuckle passed from the fox-like man, "The top ten playas."
Gin pushed open more big doors, leading into a large room where a handsome brown haired man was waiting for them.
"Hello," He smiled, with a slightly sarcastic look on his face, "I am Aizen Sosuke. Aizen-sama will do. I must go and fetch my Espadas for you to meet, meanwhile I'll let Gin here teach you the rules." He wasn't elegant like Gin, but he had an effortless sophistication which was almost… enchanting. Waving a long fingered hand, Aizen swept from the room.
"Please, si' down," smiled the overgrown fox, motioning to a long table. The group took their places, taking up all but the table head and the two seats either side of it. Gin sat in the head chair, still grinning at them all unnervingly. "So… the rules! To star', no automatic or lon' range weapons allowed, buh ya know tha'. Ya can kill your opponent if ya want, but ya've officially won once they're knock'd ou'. No thievery, ya gotta win yer medals fair an' square,"
"Medals?" asked Rukia curiously.
"Oh, sorry! Righ', medals. Ya will each be given ten bronze medals in a min'. These medals are what cha tryin' a get! Wiv five gol' medals you can challenge an Espada. Twent' bronze medals equal a silva medal, an' ten silva equals a gol'. Got tha'? Or ya can just spend yer bronzes on food, water, services from otha playas an' such. There're shops dotted aroun', ya'll see 'em I'm sure. Alrigh'. That big square outside, thas the Centre. Ya can't fight in there, ya'll be punish'd if ya do. Now, back ta challengin' the Espadas. Whicheva Espada ya beat, ya take their place. Ya can then try an' move ya way up the Espada ladda if ya want. The Espada's are menna live 'ere in Las Noches. They're not really meant ta leave, but some of 'em can't be kept in, so ya'll wanna watch out for 'em. 'Spect ya'll meet some o' 'em - few of 'em run some o' the Division bases. For the firs' 3 days, no fights. Its ta let ya get used to it all an' stuff. Anyways, thas about it. Now, c'mon les grab ya yer medals, an' then the Espada'll be here I 'spect."
They followed Gin over to a large chest, which he unlocked with a similarly large key. Inside were hundreds of bronze medals, the disks about the size of when you put your index finger and thumb together. Each of them was attached to its own individual chain. Gin handed ten to each person.
"I suggest that ya put 'em in different places aroun' ya, that way if yer beaten' they migh' still leave ya with a few that they couldn' find, y'know?" He grinned at them with his never-ending smile, eyes creasing even further together. Though he was was indeed creepy, the silvery man was pretty helpful. Ichigo uncertainly returned Gin's smile, causing the man to release another one of his unpleasant chuckles.
"Grimmjow, you're getting the floors wet," Aizen's voice said dangerously as he swept back through the door he left through, immediately turning his annoyed expression into a pleasant, if not slightly amused, face.
"You shouldn't have made me come, then," the blue haired man from earlier led a line of eight more people into the room. The bluenette was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, hair and body still soaking as though Aizen had pulled him out the shower.
Ichigo blushed slightly as he looked at the blue-eyed man's body. He was extremely toned, the perfect amount of muscle; super manly but not bulging. Pulling his gaze away, he began to examine the other Espadas with a light heat still in his face.
"Introductions! You need to know who you're challenging, after all. Kenpachi Zaraki," Aizen motioned to a huge man with spikey, black hair adorned with bells and a big scar.
"They're weak," commented the man, eyeing up the group.
"Yes, thank you, Kenpachi. Coyote Starrk." A pleasant looking man nodded at the group, with wavy brown hair and a lazy expression.
"Where's Byakuya?" asked Renji, drawing a light chuckle from Aizen's lips, and spreading more of his degrading amusement into his eyes.
"You've done your homework? Byakuya is busy. I'll ask him to come and find you once he's available. Well, our number 4 is Tier Harribel." A blonde woman with big breasts stared at the group, making no attempt to introduce herself at all. Ichigo could practically hear Renji's mind screaming how hot she was.
"Ulquiorra Cifer," Aizen motioned to a sad looking, black haired emo with green tear-track tattoos down his face. His eyes were bright green, piercing, and somewhat disturbing.
"Grimmjow Jaequerjaquez."
The blue haired man grinned and raised a hand in acknowledgement, "Hey orange."
"Our number 7, Shunsui Kyoraku isn't around today, unfortunately."
"Nnoitra Gilga." A giant, lanky man with a piano-tooth smile sneered at them, flat black hair swinging around his face.
"Szayel Apporo Granz." A pink haired, bespectacled man gave a creepy grin to the group, pointedly leering at Ichigo, which caused him to blush even more.
"And Soi Fong." A short yet terrifying woman stared them down. She reminded Ichigo very much of Rukia, yet he wished with all his might that Ruki never turn out that scary.
"Well. Now you know everything. Spend your 3 days wisely! I hope to see you back here challenging some Espadas soon. I think you are going to do very well, all of you. Of you go, then."
The group followed Gin back out of Las Noches and set off back towards the Centre. As they searched for places to hide their medals a knew rush of excitement filled them up. This would be fun for sure.