Yay! New chapter! I'm excited too because I'll get some more reviews. Not gonna lie; I get excited if I see the review number go up by even just one. So review, and bash, and grammar check, and...yeah...that's about it
Review Replies (not necessarily for the last chapter, just for the ones that I got since I posted the last chapter :D)
GeneralCuster: Yeah, the name change felt kind of weird when I was reading it back to myself too, but I decided to stick with it because it does have its purposes both for in the story itself, as well as outside the story (mainly symbolism). I think I'm actually going to be answering your question in a few chaps though, so just wait a bit. :)
InactiveAcct: TWO reviews! You made me very happy. :)
Ginbara: Thank you. That's what I was going for; I don't like writing about stuff that people have already written about. :)
wutai flea: It gets better. :)
I apologize in advance for the fillerishness of this chapter. I had the idea and wanted to write about it, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity given the circumstances of the story. It still has its subtle purposes, but it doesn't really advance the plot or anything. It's mainly just for enjoyment. If you cry, that was NOT the intention. :D So, enjoy, and, don't worry; I do not plan on filling my story with fillers. I just wanted to get this in at the beginning of the story because this is where it fits in the best. :D
I do not own Bleach.
Take It All Away
Chapter 3: Eat Now, or Forever Hold Your Peace
The espada had a major dilemma on their hands. "I'm not eating this crap! I don't want to die yet," Yammy stated, banging his fist on the table and causing it to crack.
"Well, we can't make her feel bad either," Nnoitra replied from across the table.
"How'd we get dragged into this in the first place?" Grimmjow basically summed up what was on all ten of their minds. Long story short, all the espada had gathered for a meeting, Hanako had offered to cook them something, they felt bad and liked the girl too much to refuse, and now they were all going to die. Or so it seemed as they stared down at the conglomerate mess of…something...in front of them. "Why doesn't one of us try it first? Then we'll know if we can eat it or not," Stark suggested with a yawn.
"Great! So, any volunteers?" Nnoitra looked around the table. Everyone stood stock still afraid that the least little movement might be mistaken for a sign of cooperation. "Well, don't all put your hand up at once," he grumbled.
"I can't eat it anyway," stated Aaroniera which provoked a series of envious glares in his direction.
"I volunteer Szayel! If anything bad happens to him, he can find a way to change himself back again!" This was Grimmjow's brilliant suggestion. Szayel wasn't all that enthusiastic about Grimmjow's brilliant suggestion. In fact he was quite apposed to said brilliant suggestion. "No thanks; I highly value my perfection, thank you very much."
"Well ONE of us has to try it!" Nnoitra shouted before Szayel and Grimmjow could start a tirade of arguments as to who should eat it.
"Well, why don't YOU since you're so enthusiastic about the idea?" Grimmjow retorted.
"Because, I'm too important of an espada to risk my life for something as trivial as this… number SIX." He couldn't resist adding the last part under his breath. Said Espada Six was just thinking of throwing a cero at his face when someone else spoke up.
"Fine," everyone stared in shock at the brave arrancar. It was none other than Ulquiorra Schiffer.
"Figures," Grimmjow snickered. He was promptly silenced by a sharp glance from Ulquiorra. He didn't like the youngest espada very much, but he still valued his life. As things were turning out, Ulquiorra probably wouldn't be around much longer anyway.
"This whole thing is ridiculous anyway. Espada, afraid of a bowl of stew," Ulquiorra said condescendingly before dipping his spoon in the glop, which apparently was stew, and placing it in his mouth. Everyone looked in silence, a mixture of horror and curiosity on their faces. They waited for what seemed like hours. Ulquiorra put the spoon back down. "It's good," he stated. Everyone groaned.
"Well, that's a GREAT help! If we wanted an opinion on something, we should have known better than to have Ulquiorra, of all people, try it first," Grimmjow shouted in frustration. Back to square one.
"Why don't we just tell her we can't eat it?" Yammy suggested.
"NO!!" half the table shouted back. Just then, they heard the door open. It was Hanako.
"Are you all enjoying it?" The espada just sat there in an awkward silence thinking of something to say about the obviously untouched food. Ulquiorra spoke up first.
"We were just waiting for it to cool down."
"Oh, ok. Well, let me know when you're finished," she smiled happily as she left the room. Cue more awkward silence from the espada.
"Alright THAT'S IT!!" All…well, almost all…of the espada jumped at Grimmjow's outburst. "I don't CARE if I die or turn into a frog or whatever!!! I'm not too chicken to eat food, and I'm not going to be outdone by some little runt of an espada!" With that he grabbed the bowl, completely ignoring the spoon, and shoved the contents down his throat in one gulp. He set the bowl down. Silence encased the room as everyone waited to see what would happen. "It…It's really good!" Grimmjow stated in surprise. The espada looked skeptical. "Honestly! Better than it looks, anyway."
"I told you," Ulquiorra stated. With that, one by one, the espada dipped their spoons into the stew and tentatively tried the interesting dish. And, one by one, a look of astonishment crossed their faces as they realized that it was indeed, as Grimmjow had said. They had never tasted anything so delicious in their entire lives, and Hanako became the official meeting cook of Las Noches.