As promised, here is another chapter to go with the first. Again, not much is really happening.
Disclaimer, if it's vaguely famous, I most likely don't own it.
Nessiah and Yggdra were both sent by Roder to assist with taking care of felt like the young girl might be a little overwhelmed by everything, and Nessiah had missed out on Grimmjow's arm being restored and was curious of her power. As they approached the door to her room, Yggdra saw Ulquiorra walking out.
"Ah, greetings, Ulquiorra-sama. How is our charge?"
"She is good enough," Ulquiorra said, never changing his tone or expression.
"Ah, but something is the matter?" Nessiah asked. Yggdra would never understand how he could sense the slightest amount of emotion. He could even tell what Ulquiorra was feeling at times.
"There is one problem," the Cuatro Espada admitted. "Convince her to eat for me. She is human, therefore needs nutrients."
"Of course, milord," Nessiah said with a bow. The Espada left, but Yggdra could see Nnoitra Gilga approaching. She really didn't want to be in the halls with him.
"Let's see to her."
The two walked in and saw the somber-looking human girl. Ygddra remembered when she was that young, sometimes imagining being a glorious Valkyrie, or when she would become queen. But that was four and a half wars and one eon ago. She was no longer 'that' Yggdra Artwaltz.
She walked towards the girl, whose attention turned towards her.
"Greetings, Orihime Inoue. I am Yggdra Artwalz. This is my companion, Nessiah Aries."
Orihime looked at the man standing next to the pretty girl. His attire seemed to be several billowing robes with a single hooded robe above them. His mask fragment completely covered his eyes and reached back behind his ears. Under his left arm was a book thicker than any other she had ever seen before, even on TV.
"Uh, h- hello," Orihime said nervously.
"Well, isn't she just a jabber-mouth," Nessiah said as he made his way over to her. "I'm afraid I wasn't present when you restored Grimmjow's arm. Perhaps you could demonstrate your powers to me. After all, no one appreciates arcanery and magic as much as I do."
Orihime's tension loosened up a little. Yggdra could tell it would be a while before she trusted them, but she would trust them soon enough.
Roder looked out across the seemingly endless expanse of sand. There would be battle soon. Aizen's plans were starting to unfold just the way he wanted, and now intruders had entered Hueco Mundo. Roder himself was not commanded to come with them to the attack on Karakura Town, but the three Shinigami made it clear that they would not at all mind his help. That was just fine. After all, it would only help Roder's own plan.
He heard footsteps and looked to see the Tercera Espada and her three Fracciones trailing behind. There was no doubt in his mind now. The heterochromatic one all but concluded it for him.
"Greetings, Tia Harribel."
They stopped. For a moment, the Tercera stared directly at him. "Have we met?"
"Once, long ago. I doubt I was worth much remembering when we came across each other. Although," he looked over at the tomboyish girl, "if she's that same Adjuchas from before, then perhaps you remember me a bit?"
Her bi-colored eyes went wide. "You're that dinosaur looking Adjuchas!" she accused. "The one that tripped up and then ate that guy who wanted to eat me."
"Yeah, that was me."
"I knew," Haribel said, actually surprising Roder for a moment. "When Aizen-sama announced your name, it was only obvious. I did not believe you had remembered me though. Tell me, has your voracious appetite gone?"
"It's gone now. Has been for quite a while. Also, I must thank you Harribel."
"Thank me?"
"Before I came across you, I was a being with seemingly no purpose. But when I saw you, heard you speak your name, and felt your power, I knew that there was something more. That's when I decided to no longer call myself what the Shinigami called me, but to have my own name. And I made a goal. I would grow my power until I could reach your level. I had evolved; I knew I would evolve again. It was only a matter of time before I reached that level I felt you on; the level of a Vasto Lorde." Roder turned his entire frame towards them. He was a head taller than Harribel, but the look they gave each other was a look between two that considered themselves equals. "It seems we have both surpassed that level."
They stood there for a while, neither moving nor speaking. Finally, Haribel went around him and continued walking to whatever business she was going to attend. Her Fracciones were frozen in place for a moment, before they too stepped around Roder and followed their mistress. He watched them leave, then turned his attention back out towards the sands. His focus was not on the desert though. Rather, he was focusing on a tiny reiatsu. Another face from before came to mind.
"I wonder how they're doing out there."
Roder rubbed his covered chin in silent contemplation. 'Will anyone notice if I go missing for just a moment?'
Ichigo and company had been on their way when they saw what looked like a tiny child running from three hollows. They had gone to try and rescue it, when they felt a huge reiatsu coming. A figure suddenly appeared in front of the child, and all four of the running figures stopped. The group also paused, only a couple of meters away from the Hollows and the tiny cloaked child.
"R- Roder-tan?"
"Nel-chan, it has been a while. Last time you saw me I had a lot more armor, right?" He pat the child, a girl going by her voice, on the head, before looking up at the group.
"Humans and a Shinigami? All the way out here? I heard you had broken in, but my, you're far from home. Hoping to somehow free the two young guests we have?"
Ichigo gripped his sword tightly and prepared to fight the Arrancar, but Chad gripped his shoulder.
"Ichigo, that Arrancar fits the description of the one that fought the group of Shinigami single-handedly. We can't fight him head-on without taking serious damage."
"Ah, so my reputation precedes me. Well, if it makes you feel any better, I didn't come out here to fight you, and I've received no orders to do anything about intruders." He scooped the little girl, Nel, into his arms and looked at the three Hollows."
"I'll take her away from here. Can you three manage?"
"Uh," the tiki-faced one went.
"Well, I know you can run." And then he was gone.
The group of rescuers let loose the breath they had been holding, while the Hollows let the panic set in.
"Ah! Roder has taken Nel-chan!" the big one screamed.
"He's taken her to Los Noches! It far too dangerous there!" the thin one yelled.
"UWAH!" the wormy one bellowed in despair.
"Wait, weren't you guys just chasing her?!" Ichigo yelled at them over their cries.
"Of course," the thin one remarked, suddenly no longer worried sick. "Chasing is an integral part of Eternal Tag," he said, putting a fist his palm.
"Eternal Tag?"
Roder walked slowly with Nel in his arms. She had fallen asleep not long after he promised to take her back to Pesche and Dondachaka once everything was safe. He didn't trust her well-being to those goofballs with her safety while there were Shinigami and Hollow-hunting humans about. Sure, they were safe most of the time, but that had more to do with the oppressive feeling of the Arrancar's power keeping most Adjuchas away.
"Ah, Tyranus-sama," Kagome said as she saw him enter the main chamber of their new palace. He eyes refocused on the green-gray bundle in his arms. "Is that…?"
"Have Inu report that the intruders are approaching and are almost upon us. Also, take Nel and find her someplace comfortable. Get her some new clothes while you're at it."
Kagome took the little one and bowed her head. "Of course. I'll only be a moment."
She took off and skit by Gulcasa, who was walking in.
"Finish your goal?" Roder asked.
"Yes sir," Gulcasa said smugly. "What was with the child there? You aren't planning to make her a Fraccion I hope."
"If I do, it will only be as a formality. I simply pulled her out of harm's way. Inu is already getting the message to Aizen that we'll be under attack by some low-leveled Shingami and humans soon."
"Think they came for the Princesses in the tower?"
"Yes. The humans with him I assume are Miss Orihime's friends."
"Should we do anything about them?"
"No. I think Aizen has already planned ahead for them. If anything, there presence will garner all attention and everyone won't be so focused on each other."
"Meaning no one will bother looking at us."
"Yes, precisely. Has Nessiah visited our little guest?"
"Yeah, he and Yggdra went and befriended her as well. If there is any one person who can gain her trust, it'll be Yggdra."
"Good. And how are the masses?"
"Flocking."
"Wonderful. Everything is proceeding rather well. Better than expected, in fact."
"You think it has to do with the extra kidnapping?"
"Perhaps, but I have a feeling those humans would've charged in with or without the Shinigami. They have just enough power to challenge a few of the Numeros, maybe even a Priveron Espada or two, but even Aaroniero could easily defeat them. The Shingami may find a way to defeat one or two Espada, but they have neither the power nor the numbers to fight us all. I have a feeling they might just go straight for Miss Orihime rather than take everyone they come across down."
"So, what should we do?"
"Nothing. Only fight to defend yourselves unless ordered otherwise. We'll just be watching them and taking up the injured. I'd rather not lose too many Arrancar to them."
"Sure thing, boss." He had said 'boss' almost sarcastically. Officially, he was Gulcasa's leader, but he and Yggdra always saw him as more or less an equal who simple served as the focal point for their own leaderships. Gulcasa easily held all sway with his sister and former subordinate, while Yggdra had no doubt gained Kagome's trust over the years and, in turn, Inu's as well. In the end though, they all readily answered Roder's call. They saw within him power, and that power could easily hold sway over how the world would be shaped. Better yet, Roder had ambitions. Once their plans came to fruition, everything would be much better for everyone.
"I'll go check on Nel and Kagome. Ask Nessiah to begin the next step. I need to go check with my fellow Espada soon."
"Later then."
Nel woke up and yawned. It took her a minute to remember everything that had transpired. She was a little downcast, but didn't feel too bad. Then another familiar face came into view.
"Hello, Nel-chan. You're just as cute and adorable as I remember."
"Eh, you're one of Roder-tan's fwiends. Um, Kagimi?"
"It's Kagome." She looked over to see the dogish Inu. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and eyes closed. "Why are we even watching over this runt? She can take care of herself, can't she?"
"Because Tyranus-sama asked me to watch over her."
"Since when have you called him 'Tyranus-sama'?"
"Well," she frowned a bit. "We're his subordinates now. Others might get angry at us if they hear us refer to him by his given name."
"There are no rules or stipulation concerning whatever name you use." Now Roder had entered their room. "Call me whatever you wish. Especially in these walls. The other Espada cannot enter without my knowing, and Aizen would not bother with something so trivial. Not even Szayel can spy on us with the wards Nessiah placed."
"See? Even he drops the 'sama' here. And Aizen's the big boss."
"By the way, aren't you supposed to be giving Aizen the message?"
"I passed it on through that cat Priveron Espada 106. What's his name? Grimmjow, yeah. Told him and some other Priveron chick. The one that dresses kinda like Emelia."
"That would be Cirucci Sanderwicci, Priveron 105. I guess they'll get the message to him. Also, the style is known as 'Gothic Lolita'. Though I will admit, Emelia pulls it off far better. Cirucci's is far too minimalistic."
Inu raised an eyebrow. "What, I can't have an eye for aesthetics?"
"No, but I don't think Gulcasa would like you finding his sister attractive."
"I never said that. I simply said her outfit is done much better."
"I disagree with you there, Inu Yasha. If there's anyone Gulcasa doesn't mind going after his sister, it'll be Nessiah and to a lesser degree, Roder."
Nel didn't understand what they meant by all that, but it was comforting to be around such a friendly atmosphere. Pesche and Dondachaka always warned her that Los Noches was full of powerful, greedy people who were ready and willing to kill just to get a bit further, but she didn't see that here. These guys were powerful, but they were kind, even if Inu was trying to seem cold and indifferent.
"All Espada, there will be a meeting held within the hour. Attendance is required."
"Well, seems like Aizen got wind of the situation. You kids behave while daddy goes to attend some business."
Yeah, I took Nel out of the Ichigo equation. For what purpose, because it's what Roder would do. In his mind Shinigami = Hollow killer, Nel = Hollow, Shinigami near Nel = Dead Nel. You can't blame him though. He's never met any of these living people.