Dawn
Outside Las Noches, in the perpetual darkness everything was quiet across the dunes. Small Hollows emerging and scurrying from their burrows or nests were the only disturbances across the rock littered desert. There were a few monstrous yet squat and cubic communication outposts and radar bases scattered about, used to sense any incoming threats from any intruders that potentially planned to invade Aizen's Fortress, whether they be Shinigami or Hollow.
A tear in the sky brought the sinister quiet to an end. The tear widened eight feet but for only a moment. Before it closed shut three figures leaped out into the sands.
The frames of the three were quickly illuminated by the moonlight. Their breathing was visible in the cold thin air. The Strawberry scowled and looked around, seeing taking in the desolation around him…
…And the enormous castle just beyond the horizon.
"Where should we begin to look?" Chad said while gaping.
Uryu joined in on his friends pretending to be statues. Hollows made this?
Ichigo I think we shouldn't just assume that's where Inoue is. We should look ar-
"Alright let's go." Ichigo ran towards the fortress with Chad following close behind.
"HEY! WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME!"
"Hey Four Eyes we don't have time to search for clues! Every second we wait means Inoue is still in danger!"
Uryu sighed. This was stupid, going in without any knowledge of the Arrancars or even the dimension they decided to invade.
Then again Urahara couldn't have told them anything he had no answers for or prepare them for any powers that Aizen… And the Soul Society had proven they could fight threats they didn't know about.
And Inoue san…
An image of her crossed his brain, she was smiling and happy, her gentle reiastu soothing him and cheering everyone up like only she could…
That's why they were all here. The idea of her suffering because of these monsters was more then he, Chad or Ichigo could abide.
He didn't even want to think about her dying…
Uryu used Hirenyku to catch up with his friends. He didn't care if he was being rash. He would get her home alive no matter what. No Quincy could stand someone Innocent suffering while they could do something about it.
Uryu glanced at Kurosaki and smirked. He no longer cared if his rival was arrogant, or even a Shinigami.
If he truly was willing to go to hell and back to save his friends, then all of that was irrelevant.
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Control Room
Klaxons were going off in the control room. The Fraccion summoned the Blind Swordsman.
Kaname Tosen was one of the overseers of the security of Hueco Mundo. He had gladly taken the spurs when offered to him because all these Arrancar were no different than the wild barbarians of Squad 11. They didn't know anything about justice, and Tosen resented them despite of that they were necessary pawns in the creation of the new world.
Even a blind man could see that.
When he entered the room, despite the deafening and thunderous alarm, he could all the little noises of work. The tapping on keyboards, the beeping coming from computers, the still breathing… The world was not dark and invisible for the enthralled Shinigami.
The truth was it had never been so clear.
There were four main areas of observation, entirely for security purposes. One was the Forest of Menos where masked Adjuchas controlled the rest of the Menos through brute strength and shared fear. The next area of importance was the surface outside Hueco Mundo, controlled by the incomplete experimental Arrancar holed up in either rebuilt ruins of some powerful Hollow Warlord or a base designed by Aizen himself.
The next one was monitored by the Fraccion. It centered in the inside Of Las Noches itself. Cameras were everywhere, even in the Espada's private quarters, but there was admittedly a very minute of amount of blindspots, so Reiatsu sensors were necessary. Though it was much better than getting block by the continent wide stand storms.
The other one was the most important and was only observed by the top four Espada and the exiled Captains. They were Aizen private areas, labs where experiments were carried out. There were no cameras accessible by the Hollows. They were locked away with Special Kido Aizen created so that no one could interrupt or interfere.
The walls weren't soundproof though. Screams, sobs, and gore could be heard daily from that zone, creating a further deterrence for any Arrancar who would dare to rebel.
"What's the problem #31?" With the exception of Wonderweiss and grudgingly the Espada, he refused to give these monsters the respect of referring to them by their names.
"Tousen sama three intruders have invaded Hueco Mundo. One of them has been identified as Ichigo Kurosaki." His toned was forcibly respectful, knowing that he was expendable and that one hint of disrespect, disobedience, or even disagreement with the dark skinned soul reaper was more than enough to lose his head or worst...
"Are you sure #31? I never thought the boy was foolish enough to attack head on."
"Yes, Tosen sama, we checked the database and his face matched the software Aizen sama installed." He didn't try to say that #31 was to the left of him and he should know it by the fact they never change spots.
"Very well I'll tell Ai-"
"There is no need Kaname." A sonorous voice spoke behind Tosen. "I already know who has arrived." There was a hint of a pleased tone in his voice.
Despite having his sight stolen, Kaname could almost see the Hollows tense up and freeze. He even thought he heard some them suck in their breath. It always brought a smile to Tosens face when he felt one of these insects squirm. That was the dominance Sosuke Aizen naturally had over both death gods and mortals.
"Very well, are you going to call the Espada for a meeting?"
"Yes."
The screens started to flash brightly, and a shout rang out behind Tosen.
"Aizen sama! Tosen sama! Inoue Orihime has appeared to have escaped! "
Tosen sprang into action "Where is she? If you are lying hollow you won't see the dawn."
"She is near the palaces."
That foolish girl! Tosen was furious. Aizen had given her treatment underserving of a human, and yet she sought to be killed? Aizen put too much trust in Ulquiorra. Tosen pulled Suzumushi out of its sheath, but before he could leave Aizen put his hand on his shoulder stopping him.
"No Kaname."
"But Aize-
"Don't worry Tosen san. That is indeed part of my plans."
Tosen looked perplexed. That was irritating but the Lord of Hueco Mundo hid it with a smile. Unlike Gin, Tosen could barely understand his true nature, or his plans. He was just an angry sheep following him blindly.
His strength though… Maybe even sheep deserved to be rewarded even when they were more than happy to be led off a cliff. And his lust for revenge and power could not be
" Come with me Tosen san. We need to have a talk. Privately"
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Espada Meeting Room:
Ulquiorra always was the first to arrive. He followed Aizen dutifully, almost like a dog would. Though, He didn't really care about anything, whether it be his life, or his comrades lives. His heart and soul was as empty as it could be. Even his body with its lifeless, almost reptilian green gaze, His short yet slightly unkempt dark hair, and his bloodless alabaster skin gave him the airs of a man who ultimately just couldn't understand or try to make the effort of feeling… Anything.
And yet while he walking to the meeting room, he pondered if this truly the case. He may not be able to feel joy or sadness, but he could feel anger, irritation, and annoyance.
Anger at Grimmjow for his lack of loyalty.
Irritation at Orihime Inoue for her... "Admiration" for Lord Aizen.
And annoyance at Nnoitira for his sick, sexual hatred for women.
Does this mean he was starting to become as weak as the woman was?
No, it probably meant that Aizen needed a change in Espada. He wouldn't say it to either his face or behind his back though. He would follow Aizen sama orders to the end, even if it entailed killing himself or even "other things".
When he finally made to a dark hallway that led to an even darker door to his surprise he saw Grimmjow there. This was quite out of form for him. Maybe he had changed.
"Hey, Ulquiorra, do you why Aizen called us here? It better not be for another fucking review."
His hopes were dashed the second he opened his mouth. "No, I am not privy to his innermost workings. And it's Aizen sama."
"Heh. I'm not going to say it unless I have to."
"Let me remind you that your life and position is on a swords edge. It wouldn't be wise to take advantage of Aizen sama's good will."
Grimmjow smiled. "What you mean is that you want to be the one who does it. Go on try me right now, I'll kill the shit out of you!"
Ulquiorra's eyebrow twitched. "I don't need to waste time on trash like you."
Grimmjow's brow furrowed and he reached for sword. But before Grimmjow could respond, they both saw the pink haired scientist standing between them, smiling.
"Now, let's not be hasty! You wouldn't want to attack each other without Aizen sama's consent. One or both of you may be demoted. Or even better, one of you fight to the death and I get the corpse."
He didn't even try to hide his delight at the potential opportunity. While Ulquiorra just looked at him with indifference, Grimmjow was all but frothing at the mouth.
Though I wish you all would except my invitation to see what's in my lab while you're alive."
"Shut it Szayel, you fucking weirdo! I'd cero my own ass off myself before I go anywhere near your lab!"
Szayel made a faux face of hurt. "Now, why wouldn't anybody want to spend an afternoon with Moi?"
"I wouldn't want to hang out with jarhead either." Both the number nine and number eight made Grimmjow uncomfortable. It would be easy to kill them considering his rank, but Aizen had forbidden any infighting.
That was fucking annoying due to the fact he could sense the bastard was standing right behind him.
"You call?" Aaronerro finally said.
If the top three Espada and Zommuri hadn't shown up at that exact moment, they probably would have started a fight.
Starrk looked tired and bored, while Harribel looked irritated, but it was Barragon who was truly furious.
"Enough!" Barragon roared, his reiatsu drifting through the room to silence the arguing peanut gallery of men and Aaroniero. "All of you get in the room and wait for the boss!"
They all went in but neither of them had noticed that they were one member short.
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Ichigo was starting to really hate his luck.
As soon as he and his friends had set off to Las Noches, a apparently endless horde of Arrancar had swarmed them. Many of them seemed like they weren't full Arrancar, many of them being deformed, almost like they hadn't completed their transformation into something purely humanoid and were in between a Hollow and Arrancar. If they weren't a barrier to Inoue, he may have felt bad for them.
To his surprise, Chad and Uryu had asked to take them on all by themselves.
The horde was running towards the dune Uryu had used as snipers nest. Ichigo could see that many of them still had most of their masks. Surely Uryu and Chad couldn't have gotten that good right? They can't possibly take on that many Arrancar by themselves? They were was crazy, they were only human
Ichigo was going to intervene but then he saw the proof of his friends power.
He saw the horizon in front of Uryu being completely blocked out by a maelstrom of blue arrows. They were fast, reaching the end of the horde in little more than two seconds. After the rain had stopped nothing remained but dust and craters.
As for Chad… Well he was surrounded by half a hundred bloody, broken, and bruised man sized bodies. He was fighting a human like hollow as tall as a giraffe. The half hollow looked tired and angry while Chad wasn't even breaking a sweat. When the hollow put his fists together and brought them down, Ichigo heard and could almost feel both the giants arms break.
All chad had done was blocked it.
Ichigo couldn't believe it. Chad's gotten this strong!
He saw Chad fire an energy blast that tore of it's right shoulder and most of it's upper chest. It fell back and didn't rise.
Afterword Chad and Uryu had met back with Ichigo and smirked at the dumbfounded look on his face.
"What Kurosaki? You think you're the only one who has gotten stronger?" Uryu bragged.
"I… I honestly don't know what to say but… Wait is that a kid?"
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So, how'd you all think of this chapter? I don't think it's my best but I think it's pretty good!
I'm sorry inoue was absent this chapter, she'll definitely be in the next chapter I promise!
Hopefully we don't get a repeat of the KT Incident. Ugh…
Now, I think I should give you all a insight into my writing processes. I often have the entire story planned with the beginning and the broad strokes of the ending planned out in detail. I usually just make a bunch of plotpoints that I think are cool or interesting and then into the middle in a way that flows. As a result I feel completely free and can change anything at my leisure.
But what about chapters you may ask? Well I usually have the next two or three chapter made into a rough draft. But you see, I'm really not that comfortable writing really long chapters because I feel the more I write the more it feels rushed or sloppy. So I just pick a convenient stopping and add what I planned for the chapter I'm writing to the next chapter.
I just wanted to tell you all how my chapters work and part of the reason why they take so long. This is Revolver Otacon, signing out.
P.S. Thank you WarZoneN7, PandyPie8020, and Melany C Adams for joining this madness.