June 8, 2011

Thanks for the reviews, guys. I'm rather amused by how people are feeling really scared for Ichigo. It also makes me happy to see some familiar names amongst my readers. Good to see you guys again! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

By the way, a special note to Nuke, if Szayel ever met Hojo, they would get married in a snap and have tons of bastard children together to further their experiments. Nevermind Jenova being a threat, I would never EVER trust anyone with a PHD again.

-x-

Entre el Corazon y la Espada

"Between Heart and Sword"

Chapter II

-x-

Two weeks was his limit. In two weeks, he had to alter the drug so that it would be receptive to males as well. To say this was an easy task would be a lie. Szayel may have seemed confident before Aizen, but he knew how complicated the drug was. It hadn't been easy simply getting it to this point. To possibly undo all that hard work just so that any sex could take it was a gamble.

Nevertheless, he poured himself into the research and doubled his experiments. His assistants produced a list of all potential hosts for testing out the drug, each one male as necessitated. Over a dozen male Arrancar were killed almost immediately after the drug had been administered into their bodies. Szayel cursed his disappointment, though he wasn't really all that surprised by the outcome. After all, he hadn't really designed it to favor the male body.

While originally the drug had been meant for not specific sex of host, the altercations had made it so. Aizen hadn't really specified that the drug had to be open for all hosts regardless the sex of said host, so Szayel hadn't assumed. But now that he was Szayel found himself in a predicament.

It was much easier to separate the soul in a female than it was a male with the design that he had used. Females, grown women to be more precise, had full functioning reproductive organs. They could give birth to children. Szayel knew the technique well enough; he had certain means of survival by using similar methods.

Though, to call it a separation of soul wasn't quite right. It was more like manifesting a physical representation of an Arrancar's most primal instincts. Their viciousness, their ruthlessness - the pure beast that lay within. It took all the components that made an Arrancar so dangerous, compacted it into a single body devoid of all unnecessary emotions or thoughts, and gave it a physical form. A living, breathing entity that was hungry all the time. The perfect monster fit for their army. All that remained was a means to control it.

Well, that and finding a way to create them from a male body. Male Arrancar, like human men, did not have wombs to carry the manifestation. They did not have the proper body parts to protect the beast as it went through incubation. While it was easy to imitate pregnancy with females, males had no such luxury. Szayel was stumped; he could not figure out a way to hurdle this obstacle.

For two weeks he tried various methods. For two weeks he built a pile of corpses as the drug destroyed one Arrancar after another. It was frustrating, to the point where Szayel often found himself biting at his nails and gritting his teeth. He often yelled at his lab assistants, pissed by their inability to help him where he really needed it.

Eventually, by some miracle or another, he managed to figure it out. What didn't exist could be created. Though there was no guarantee the male host would be alive after incubation was complete, at the very least a beast would be able to form a physical body and grow large enough to survive the outside world. If anything, there were always alternative ways to... give birth, so to speak, when the time was right. If the male host was strong enough to survive.

Perhaps if low level Arrancar could withstand the pain, maybe stronger Arrancar could as well. And if so, the possibility of producing even more ruthless beasts was also likely. Szayel was quite curious to know how it might work out. Though none of the more powerful Arrancar were willing to surrender themselves to his experiments, he had a feeling if he could just get one subject, he would value it immensely. He would carry out so many experiments... Ah, what joy! He tingled with excitement at the mere thought of creating a little beast from someone powerful.

He kept on experimenting, forging fake organs and altering the drug in a manner that would suit the male body. He was reluctant to destroy the one that was specifically for females, so he kept it on the side as a trophy of his hard work.

By the thirteenth day, Szayel finally managed to get a male Arrancar to accept he drug and start incubation. Though there was no time to see how well the Arrancar would withstand the hardships of incubation, at the very least Szayel could confirm that it was possible for males to become hosts.

As he watched the Arrancar in his cell, Szayel wrote up a report of his findings. It was about time he gave these little vicious creatures a name. He decided it would be Esclavo. It was quite appropriate, given the nature of the beasts.

Stabbing his pen into the paper, he dotted the end of his sentence. He set the pen aside to stare at the Arrancar, eyes narrowed as he watched his test subject cradle his abdomen, a pained look on his face. He hoped the pathetic bastard lived throughout the incubation process or he would be sorely pissed. No matter how painful it was to harvest the Esclavo inside him, he had to live at least until the incubation period was over. He could die afterward for all Szayel cared, but before then... no way. He wouldn't allow it.

-x-

Aizen stood before what looked to be a paper mache in the shape of a humanoid creature, with spine-like structures protruding from its back. While Szayel was busy experimenting with the Esclavo, there were other tasks that Aizen had to take care of in the meantime.

Now, he was in the process of creating what would be the newest addition to their army. It was a peculiar technique, one that wasn't generally applied when creating Espada. If anything, there was a part of him that simply couldn't stay still; while Szayel was off having fun, Aizen had yet to do a bit of playing of his own.

There was much to do and he had yet to utilize the Hogyoku in a manner that befitted its powers. The sphere was still far from perfect, but that was enough to do what he wished.

Carefully crafting the creature before him, he wrapped the bandages around the figure, shaping it as he went, adding layers upon necessity. When he tied off the last bandage, he stepped back and studied it. When he felt satisfactory about the outcome, he moved on to the next step.

It was while he was prepping that the door to the room was opened. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Szayel standing there, barely containing his smug smirk. Smiling back, Aizen returned to his task. "So?" he prompted.

Szayel stepped further into the room and stood a small distance away from him. "Success. Though I can't guarantee the male body will survive past incubation stage. There's no easy way to extract the Esclavo, not without cutting the host open at the very least. I can't really alter the body without administering a second drug on top of the current one. That alone is strenuous to kill."

Szayel sighed in disgusted disappointment. "They're so fragile... They don't really have the mechanics to survive such torture." His expression shifted into a twisted grin. "The percentage of agonizing death is multiplied tenfold."

"It won't be necessary to alter the body of the host. If the... Esclavo," Aizen said slowly, tasting the word; Szayel had used a rather interesting and surprisingly appropriate title, "is strong enough to survive, that is good enough. What happens to the host after that is none of my concern, but he must survive until then." Though it would be interesting to see if the host could survive the harvesting of the Esclavo when the time came, Aizen wasn't going to bet on that happening.

Szayel lifted a hand and made a vague gesture, shrugging. "Oh he'll survive. If these low levels can survive, I imagine if you try putting it in someone stronger it'll work too."

He reached into the pocket of his hakama and produced a small sphere encased in a small clear tube. He held it up between his fingers and looked at it in the light. "I wouldn't recommend putting it in anyone weak. The outcome would be pathetic. But someone strong..." He smirked before holding out the tube to Aizen. "This is the finished product. I can't say it's perfect, but it'll do."

Aizen paused in what he was doing to look at the tube in the Espada's hand. He held out his hand, and Szayel gave it to him. He turned the tube over in his palm, observing the little ball that was settled at the bottom. "Interesting," he murmured.

"It needs to be taken orally."

Aizen's brows arched slightly. "Anything else I might need to know?"

Szayel shrugged. "Not really. But I haven't taken the current host to full term so I don't know if there might be any complications along the way. It would be best to keep a close eye on whoever you have that planned for." He was more than happy to volunteer himself as caretaker of whoever Aizen had in mind for such a dangerous drug.

"Perhaps," Aizen mused before pocketing the tube. "I will consider it." He turned his attention back to the bandaged one before him. "Continue watching the one you have now. Report to me anything you might find significant."

"Yes, Aizen-sama."

Aizen waited for the other man to leave before returning to his work. For a time he was left on his own to contemplate and complete the first steps of the ritual. Molding and shaping, pouring all the required parts and pieces into one container.

It was much like making stew or soup. Each ingredient was to be finely prepared before he could even begin to flavor the broth. The meat was to be sectioned into sizable pieces - equal, if possible. The vegetables had to be of similar, equal proportions complimenting the meal and filled with nutrients. It had to be at the right temperature. Each ingredient had a certain cooking time and method with which it was cooked. Done improperly and the whole thing tasted awful.

Aizen had hopes for using this new Espada as part of his plans. Each of his army had a specific role to be played and he knew this one would be a wonderful addition to the lot. As he finished the preparations, the door to the room was opened. Glancing, he spotted his various Espada gathering around to watch. He had invited them earlier to bear witness to the birth of their comrade. Though it was clear that not all were interested, a handful had decided to show up nevertheless.

Presenting the Hogyoku as the time came to spark life in that bound puppet, once more the doors opened and drew his attention. As he suspected, the last of the party had come to join them. Ulquiorra Cifer and Yami Llargo. Aizen slowly smiled as they stepped inside. "So you came, Ulquiorra. Yami. We were just finishing here."

The other Espada present in the room glanced at the pair with various looks of disinterest before returning their attention to Aizen and the puppet at his feet. Ulquiorra took the necessary steps to enter the room and stand at a reasonable distance away from the stage which the other Espada had made for Aizen. "How is the current status of the Hogyoku's awakening?" Ulquiorra dared to ask.

Aizen's gaze was settled on the sphere itself. "Approximately fifty percent. As to be expected. But of course there's no way to no for certain if unless you are in direct contact with it. Since it was sealed soon after its birth, and never released after that, it's quite possible no one else knows. Not even Kisuke Urahara," he mused, almost to himself.

He reached forward into the small container which held the Hogyoku and let the tip of his finger come into contact with the orb. The very moment the two touched, the orb seemed to swirl with life and grab onto his finger. The corner of Aizen's mouth curled. "Now if it were to come into contact with someone surpassing ordinary Captain-level strength..."

He turned his gaze to the puppet he had so carefully crafted and directed a stream of power from the Hogyoku to it. A flash of light, almost blinding, surrounded the craft and shattered the cradle which he had made for it. "Yes, it would almost be like it was fully awakened..." he murmured and smiled as the wrapping crumbled away from what would be the new Espada.

Right away, he recognized that the Espada lacked a few key qualities that were evident in the ones that surrounded him. This Espada was incomplete, in ways, but that was the price of forcing its birth as opposed to searching for an Arrancar that might naturally have the skill and power to obtain such a rank. Well, he supposed he would just have to live with the results and tweak his research for the future.

"So... do you think you can tell us your name, comrade?" he requested of the newly made Espada as he drew his hand away from the Hogyoku, separating the connection between them.

The frail looking blond crouched on the floor, slowly turning dazed eyes toward Aizen. "Wonderweiss... Margela..."

Aizen quietly mused to himself as he studied Wonderweiss' form. After a moment, he tilted his head to regard Ulquiorra. "Do you remember the orders I gave to you a month ago?"

Ulquiorra lifted his gaze. "Yes."

Aizen slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the gift Szayel had given him. He held it out toward the green-eyed Espada. "Take this. And go." As Ulquiorra stepped forward to accept the small case Aizen was offering him, Aizen smiled. "I'll give you the power to take command on this mission. Take whomever you wish."

He paused briefly before adding, "Ah yes, would you like to join them?" His gaze slid up to one of the various tall spires that decorated the room. Hidden in the shadows, almost like a cat that lurked in the trees, separating itself from the rabble below, was Grimmjow Jaegerjaques. He had recently been demoted from his spot as punishment from Tozen who saw it as justice for his disobedience to Aizen's order.

Aizen was humored by how the interaction between the two. He let them squabble without stopping them. He especially enjoyed seeing Grimmjow sulk, since it was such a rare emotion for him. He was very much like the animal of his released form. Feisty like a cat, graceful despite all his rough edges and dirty fur, seeking and rejecting attention in the same stroke. He was always quick to sink his claws into whoever came near, even if that person offered nothing but good things for him. And he always seemed to enjoy playing with prey that could potentially bite him. His interest in a certain young Shinigami was to be expected, and as master of such a restless cat, he thought it only fair to let the kitten play with its toy.

Grimmjow's eyes narrowed in contempt before pointedly looking away. Had he a tail, Aizen wondered if it would be flicking back and forth in agitation. Lips curling into a smile, Aizen nodded to Ulquiorra and dismissed him so that he might carry out his plans.

-x-

Orihime Inoue stood firm, her hands extended before her, fingers cut into the shape of a diamond. With a quick draw of breath, she readied herself for Rukia Kuchiki's attack when a sudden shout from the cliff above brought them both to a halt. She looked up to see Rukia's squad captain, Jushirou Ukitake, shouting down at them. "Kuchiki!"

Rukia, who was currently working as her sparring partner, abruptly looked up to the man who overlooked their training. "Yes?"

"We just received a report! Those with kido should be opening the door now!" It wasn't a mystery what he was talking about. Since the start of the war, all of Seireitei had been keeping an eye on the activities of the human world. Should there be an invasion from their enemies, Shinigami of substantial rank and strength were to be deployed to the front lines to defend the living. "Hurry to the Senkaimon!"

Without hesitation, Rukia sheathed her zanpakuto and darted towards their squad's headquarters to jump through the gate. "Got it!"

Orihime, startled, stood there in the middle of their training field. She too knew what the signal meant. She came here to Soul Society to train for this very reason. With her home now in danger, she planned to join them at the front lines and do what only she was capable of doing. "Wait, Kuchiki-san! I'll come too!"

Hearing Orihime call after her, Rukia stopped. She didn't mean to forget about the young girl, but now simply wasn't the time to be worrying about her. Half turning to look back at her, Rukia shook her head. "You can't, Inoue." At the shocked look, Rukia shook her head. "Without a Hell Butterfly, you'll just be taken to the Dangai."

The Dangai was the path that Orihime had taken when she first traveled to Soul Society with Ichigo and the others. It was a long, dangerous path. Without assistance, one could easily get swallowed up by the tunnel itself and fung into who knew where. Rukia had taken her along the path when they arrived here for training, but right now she couldn't do that. There wasn't enough time to spare. As much as she hated leaving her behind, she simply had no choice.

Orihime's gaze lowered as she recognized that she couldn't just jump into action. Rukia gave a small smile. "Don't look like that. Just because I'm going first... Don't worry. I'll wait for you."

A bit surprised, but certainly relieved that Rukia wasn't abandoning her, Orihime met the other girl's gaze and nodded. "Alright." She watched as Rukia fled their training grounds. She knew that while she was at a time disadvantage, she would try her best to meet up with Rukia and join her on the battlegrounds.

Turning to Ukitake, she gave him a determined look and nodded, signalling she was ready to go. The man met her gaze and nodded back before leading the way. They joined up with a pair of Shinigami and with courteous thank you, Orihime followed them through Senkaimon. On their lead, she began to run through the Dangai, making her way towards the living world.

Yet as they came halfway through the tunnel, something seemed to shift in the atmosphere around them. Orihime felt it, a ripping in the natural fabric that made up the Dangai. But where it was coming from, she couldn't quite tell. Looking about her, she wasn't the least bit suspecting that the source would actually be behind her.

"Oh? Only two people for protection?"

Skidding to a halt, she whipped around just as a fissure appeared and yawned open to reveal the gate of Garganta. And beyond it's doors... Ulquiorra. "Contrary to my expectations, Soul Society is no longer competent. It seems they are not aware that the danger is highest during times of travel."

Eyes widening at the creeping darkness that shrouded him, and the power that was so carefully contained yet still so visible, seething and writhing like a shadow come to life, Orihime froze in both shock and horror at the enemy before her. She could not even dare to look away from those pure green eyes that pierced her very soul.