Yylfordt wasn't going to cry.
No.
It was what he wanted.
"No. Not this time…" Yylfordt glanced out the open window where two guards were standing watch. "I'm not going to stand by anymore!"
"Yylfordt-san!" Nelliel reached a hand out, but it was too late. He was already on the other side of the the window, heading for the main meeting house with the two guards in pursuit. "Damn it!" She vaulted out the window and raced after the distressed Arrancar."Don't be such a…"
But how can I blame him?
I can't.
I just can't let him get killed, either!
Nelliel used soindo to catch up with Yylfordt who was numb to the world around him."Del Toro, I know what you are feeling! Please-"
"You have no idea…" He muttered, wishing to wake up once again. So many times in his life he wanted to find himself somewhere else. Somewhere safe and warm.
The reality of it all was so cold.
Akin steel knife. Stabbing him over and over.
"Please stop!" Nelliel cried, reaching out to grab Yylfordt's arm. "I can help you figure this out! I don't want-"
She stopped a blade with her other glanced over her shoulder at the guard who frozen with shock. "Don't touch him. That's an order."
"We don't take orders from other officers." The second guard replied, swinging his blade down to connect with Yylfordt's shoulder."…What?!" He cried, seeing his attack had no effect on the prisoner. "What is this?!"
"Hierro." Nelliel replied, thankful that no one was hurt. "Now, please let me deal with him."
"We have orders to-"
"You…" Yylfordt moved out of the way of a pair of hands that attempted to capture him. "You are taking me nowhere! Not until I see her!"
"We have direc-"
"I said! I am not going anywhere until I see her!" Yylfordt wanted his sword back so he could slice through these fools. But it had been taken from him before he was shown to his room. "No where! Do you hear me?!"
The two guards paused, swords raised.
What was this?
Hollows… cried?
It wasn't like these creatures.
Nelliel glanced from Yylfordt to the guards. She had to do something, so she jumped into the air and in one swift move, knocked the two guards out.
Yylfordt stared down at the guards until Nelliel made him walk away from the scene. He had no clue where he was walking or where he should be heading. It all looked the same to him…
"Ciricci…Ciricci was the only…. One person left in my life. The only person… and… now… she's gone. He…he killed her. Just like he has destroyed everything and everyone else I have held dear. I… I can't take it anymore… Nelliel… Not at all…Nelliel… She… She was in pain…She…Ciricci…" His voice trailed off as he found himself where he wanted to be.
Alone in a garden.
Sitting on a stone bench.
The small wooden fountain keeping a rhythm to the tiny sound of koi fish searching for food on the surface of the water in their tiny pond.
"I… I don't know what to do…So lost… please… please help me."
"Always." Her sweet voice said, a small hand placing itself on his shoulder. "I will always be here in times of need."
"…Thank you…Lady Nelliel."
"It is okay to mourn your loss." The former Espada continued, crawling up to sit down on the bench next to him. She was so small that her feet could not touch the ground below. "Ciricci was a wonderful Pravion. I only met her a few times and I have to say, she did have a heart. To others she may have seemed cold and cruel, but… I knew there was more to her."
"Your…words are kind." Yylfordt whispered, thankful to have someone's company. "I…I don't want to go back to…."
"I will work it out. You won't have to go back to your room." Nelliel said, glancing around for any signs of the guards she tied up a few minutes ago. "I can con Ichigo into anything."
"Thank you." If there was anything he needed, it was fresh air and time alone. "I… I don't know what to do…I really don't. I… Nelliel. I want to see her."
"I do not think that is a wise idea." Nelliel replied, knowing where his heart was. But she had been there in meeting hall when Ciricci's head arrived in a wrapped up box. Ichigo was so foolish to think it was a kind of present with the Christmas tree wrapping. The Pravion Espada's head was far from the beauty that was once Ciricci's. It was all blacked and the skin was beginning to peel off the face. Yylfordt did not need to see his loved one in such a condition. "But I can make sure that Ciricci's head gets properly buried if it makes you feel better."
"You said…" Yylfordt began, realizing something. "Just her head came… Didn't you?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Where is the rest of her?"
"I…" Nelliel hated to say it, "I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know!" Yylfordt cried, tears coming back to his haunted eyes. "Where is the rest of her?! Where is the rest of Circci's beautiful body?! Tell me! Nelliel, tell me!"
"I do not know, Del Toro. The head was all that was sent."
"N….no…no! Its… destroyed….He… he hated her… I… I know what… what he did with the rest of her… no.. My Ciricci all… mangled and…" Yylfordt opened his eyes, not wanting to see the images his mind created. "I…hate him. I… want to kill him. That's all I have to do, isn't it? I… just have to kill him."
"I…" Nelliel wanted to say that killing was wrong… but… she couldn't bring herself to say it. She knew Szayelaporro too well. The only way Yylfordt would win, would be to kill him. "Suppose I could… I could train you."
"Lady Nelliel. I can't. I don't evolve anymore." Yylfordt hung his head. "I am ashamed of it, sir. I…" He went on to detail how Grimmjow did him a favor by keeping him from evolving backwards. "I didn't want to become a Menos again."
"I understand. And so…I suppose you are right." She sighed, "It would be no-"
"But I just… I just want to lay a hand on him. Nelliel… I just want blood. That's…what I want. I want him at my feet, bleeding to death… apologizing and begging for his life." Yylfordt glanced up at Nelliel who closed her eyes. "…Please…I-"
"We can see what we can do." She replied, not wanting to dash his hopes with the statistics. Szayel was much more powerful than he was and what Yylfordt was asking for was…
Then again, Nnoitra must have thought that killing her would be impossible. And if there was one thing that the Granzes were good at, it was making the impossible, possible.
The End of The New Order of Espada
To be Continued in The Royal Court of Harribel
Coming in January 2014!
Thank you all for following along and I promise the next piece will have a lot more humor and disasters. Onward to the Bonus Chapter you really don't want to miss.