Chapter Nine- Devices

When they got into the gate, Aira held Nova's hand tightly as she concentrated on gathering the reishi under her feet. She pulled Nova onto a slate with her and they flew ahead of Rukia and Renji as the two of them ran by making thier own path.

Nova tried to concentrate on staying with her and forget about how far he would fall if his hand accidentally slipped from hers and he fell backwards...

"I'm not going to let you fall." Aira assured him with a smile over her shoulder as they approached the other side of the gate.

They burst through the gate before the other two and nearly fell down a huge hole in the floor before Nova caught Aira's arm and pulled her back up. Renji stepped out just as Rukia did and looked around.

"You can definatly tell Chad's been here." He commented.

The place was all smashed up. The floor was partially gone and the cieling was pretty much collapsed. They walked over rocks to get to the edge of the wreckage.

"Wow." Nova said as he looked around.

It was dark. There were dunes beyond dunes of sand with random quartz trees everywhere. The sky was white with menacingly dark clouds.

"This place is depressing." Renji commented.

There was a huge explosion off in the distance and they all saw a huge sand-looking Hollow come out of the ground towards a couple dot-looking creatures.

"That'll be Ichigo." Renji said.

"He always finds some way to draw the monsters out." Rukia mumbled before they ran in the direction of them.

Nova was close behind Aira as Rukia and Renji ran side by side. It felt like forever to him, but Nova was especially happy when they stood on the dune closest to the monster.

"Rukia." Aira touched her arm. "Water is the only thing that can deflect sand, right?"

"Right." She nodded with a smile. "Dance. Sode No Shirayuki."

Aira smiled as Ichigo, Chad, Ishida and the other three that were with them looked shocked as the sand Hollow fell to peices.

"Rukia?" Ichigo said, astonished. "Renji?"
"What? No Aira?" Aira scoffed playfully. "I'm insulted."

"I'm sorry-I didn't mean-" Ichigo babbled.

"Calm down." Aira laughed. "Joke, strawberry, joke."

"I thought Soul Society wasn't going to help us." Ishida commented.

"Who says we're here on thier orders?" Aira crossed her arms.

"Well then why are you here?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah, aren't Captains supposed to be rule-followers?" Ishida questioned.

"Hey, I gotta bad side to!" Aira threw a peace sign and winked at them.

"I really don't feel too assured." Ishida sighed.

"Well, that's cause you're a Quincy." Aira stuck her tounge out at him. "Silly. You never feel assured around Soul Reapers."

"True..." Ishida said.

"Ichygo..."

There was a small girl behind Ichigo with light blue hair and the cutest face.

"Aw, who's this?" Aira asked, jumping off the dune and down to them.

"This is Nel." Ichigo said. "She's an Arrancar."

"Oh, you are too cute." Aira smiled at her. "Hi, Nel. I'm Aira. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you..." Nel peeked up at Ichigo and he nodded towards Aira.

She stepped out from behind him and ran up to give Aira a hug.

"Aw!" Aira squeezed her tight.

"Aira! These are my brothers!" Nel tugged her arm and Aira followed. "Dondochakka and Peshe!"

"Hi there!" She waved to the purple Hollow and the polka-dotted one.

"Hello." Peche swooped up next to her. "You're a quite attractive one."

Nova was suddenly behind him, glaring him down.

"Ah, thank you." Aira smiled with a nod before reaching back to grab Nova's hand. "But I'm afraid I am taken."

"Aw, darn." Peche crossed his arms and glared back at Nova, who returned the favor.

"Wait..." Chad looked back and forth between the pre-occupied Nova and Aira. "You two...?"

"Ooo!" Nel ran up and tugged on Nova's shirt. "You're lucky! She's pwetty."

"Oh, thank you." Aira smiled down at Nel.

Nova looked down at her as well, his eyes warm.

"We should get going." Aira said. "We don't want to linger in one place too long."

"Right." Rukia nodded.

~^.^~

They had been riding on the back of Bawabawa, the appearant pet of Nel and her brothers, for what seemed like forever and never did they get any closer to the distant object by the name of Las Noches. Aira was sitting, leaned back against Nova as he had his arms around her with Nel at her side and Ichigo on the other side of her.

Aira felt Nova lean into her hair and she turned her head a little. He nudged her ear and she turned completely around.

"What is it?" She asked him.

He nodded towards Los Noches with a worried look in his eyes.

"Nova, you're going to have to speak if you want me to know what you're saying." She grimaced.

He sighed. "How are we supposed to get in?"

"How the hell was I supposed to interpret that?" She laughed and bit her lip when he gave her a look. "I'm not sure yet."

His grip tightened on her waist and she laid her head back on his shoulder.

"It'll be okay." She promised. "No matter what, I'll get you outta there."

"That means you'll have to come back with me." Nova informed her.

"So you think." She mumbled.

Then, there was a huge rumble and the sand Hollow sprouted up from the ground.

"Lunuganga-sama's back!" Nel cried.

"Great." Aira said sarcastically.

She removed Nova's arms from around her and stood up. She jumped off the back of Bawabawa.

"Stay there!" She demanded to everyone.

Of course, they all stood, and Renji and Ichigo weren't anywhere near obeying that order. Nova was about to jump after them but Rukia caught his arm.

"She can handle this." She promised him.

Aira kicked Ichigo in the chest when he tried to follow her and he fell down to the sand as she hit Renji on the back of the head before pointing back to where the others were. He frowned before going back.

Ichigo was yelling at her from below but she didn't have time to listen to his whining.

"Hidoi Shi, Denkihime!" She called.

She dodged the Hollow's attempts to smack her out of the air as Denkihime glowed blue.

"Bankai." She whispered. "Jouchaku soushite Denka, Denkihime!"

Denkihime scattered into thousands of little electrified blades.

"Swallow him whole, Denkihime!" She called as she thrust her hand towards the Hollow.

The electrified blades circled the Hollow, even under him so he couldn't escape into the sand. When he was completely surrounded, Aira snapped her fingers and the sphere collapsed, swallowing the screaming Hollow whole, just like Aira had commanded.

"You see, I think we should've just opted for that last time." Peche said with crossed arms.

"I really use my Bankai too much." Aira sighed as she landed beside Nova and Nel again.

"It's pretty." Nel commented.

"Thanks." Aira smiled down at her. "Now, lets get this show on the road. Los Noches most certainly ain't gettin' any closer."

~^.^~

"Should we just cut through it?" Ichigo asked them.

"Sure." Aira shrugged. "Let's just announce to the whole entire country this place is that we have arrived."

"Quit being a smartass!" Ichigo demanded.

"Who's higher rank here? Yes, I do believe that is me!" Aira yelled back.

"Last time I checked, I don't give a damn what rank you are!" Ichigo retorted.

"Is you're favorite word damn or something?" Aira giggled. "Funny."

She turned and with one movement of her arm, drew her sword and looked over her shoulder at Renji.

"Renji? Wanna help?" She smiled at him.

He shrugged before drawing Zabimaru.

The both pulled thier katana's over thier head and then put all thier reiatsu into slamming them into the wall.

The force created a big dust cloud suddenly. Renji was thrown back by the blast as Aira held her ground against it. She smiled down at him.

"Have a nice trip?" She asked.

He just glared at her.

"I'm just jokin', Renji." She reached down and helped him up.

Aira coughed and covered her mouth before turning back to the large hole in the wall.

"Wee-hoo, mission acomplished." She smiled.

Nova stood next her, that same worried look in his eyes.

"It'll be okay, Nova." She promised him, squeezing his hand.

~^.^~

"Well, damn." Aira cried as she looked into the large room.

There were six, (yeah, count it! SIX!) paths ahead instead of one.

"Alright, this is freaky." Ichigo commented. "We're going to have to split up."

"Yep." Aira sighed. "There's six, so...Renji take on, Ichigo take one, Ishida take one, Chad take one and Nova and Rukia take one."

"What?" Nova demanded. "I'm going with you."

"Rukia doesn't bite." Aira smiled at him. "Promise. Besides, it would be unfair for the Captain to have the back-up when Rukia needs it more than me."

"He should go with you." Rukia told her. "He would most likely only get in my way."

"Yeah! What she said!" Nova agreed. "Hey...wait..."

Aira laughed. "Are you sure, Rukia?"
Rukia nodded with a smile.

"Alright, then, Super Nova." She patted him on the back. "You're with me."

"Super Nova?" He questioned.

"Don't question me!" She giggled. "That 'tis your name!"

"Who gave her the alcohol?" Renji asked.

"Who other than Shunsui?" She giggled again before stopping. "Kidding. Totally kidding. I'm sober. Now, let's get this show on the road."

~^.^~

They ran through the hall, Nova close behind her again when Nova caught her arm without warning and pushed her back against the wall.

"Nova!" She cried out. "What's wrong?"

He breathed heavily.

"Are you tired? Do you want to stop for a minute?" She asked.

He rolled his eyes. His hand reached up and pulled his mask off. His face was damp with sweat.

Aira giggled and messed with his hair. "Ew, your hair's all sweaty. You sure you don't wanna stop?"

He shook his head. "I need to...tell you something."

"Don't have a heart attack." She placed her hand over his heart softly. "Calm down."

He shook his head again. "I just wanted to tell you..."

"What, Nova?" She asked when he paused.

He groaned before crushing his lips to hers. She gasped when he forced his tounge into her mouth.

That's right. She thought as she wrapped her arms around him. He hasn't kissed me since the last time we saw each other. It feels like forever...

Nova worked his hands between them and pulled his lips away from hers as he pulled the shoulder of her kimono down. He placed his lips there and she arched her body into him as his teeth and tounge played on her skin.

Did they really have time for this? She thought to herself. Orihime...

Her thoughts were put to a sudden stop when Nova bit at her ear before licking her neck all the way back down to her shoulder. She moaned and tangled her fingers in his hair.

This is too selfish... Aira thought desperately.

She wished she could find the strength in her to gently push Nova away and tell him that they had to save Orihime. But she couldn't...

He brought his lips back up to her mouth before kissing her deeply again. She nibbled at his bottom lip softly.

"Aw, how sweet." The voice snapped from the shadows, making Nova jump back and Aira pull up her kimono and pull out Denkihime in the same second.

She glared at the pretty female Arrancar as she licked her lips at Nova.

She had long blond hair and a seductive face with a heart-shaped mask covering her right eye. She was all-around the perfect woman with barely any cloths on.

"Who are you?" Aira demanded.

"I'm Garren Aurora, Arrancar number 102." She smiled. "And you, sweetie?"

"Captain Airashii Shikyo of the 9th Division." Aira flashstepped so the Arrancar would stop staring at Nova. "Get back, Nova."

He stumbled back before putting back on his mask.

"Aw, you looked so cute with your little mask off." Garren pouted. "And instead of going over there, why don't you come to me?"

Nova shook his head, walking backwards. She giggled and his body suddenly froze before advancing forward towards Garren.

He was shocked. He was telling his body to go back, but it wouldn't.

"Nova?" Aira looked at him, confused. "What are you doing?"

"I-I can't control my body." He whispered.

Aira's head whipped back to Garren. "You bitch!"

She leaped up towards her.

"Hidoi Shi, Denkihime!" She cried.

Comments:

six? : yes, I know there was originally 5 but we added two rescuers so it's natural we add more of those halls!

Garren: I totally made up this name...I really don't think there's a Privaron Espada named that. I think you only see 103, 105 and 107 in the show, ne?

GOMEN IT TOOK SO LONG!!!! :)