Well, holy freakin' hell. It has been a LONG. TIME. I am SO, SO SORRY for being so lazy and not putting in time to actually WRITE this next chapter for those of you who may have been really eager to see how the story goes. I've just had so many distractions, it's been a nightmare. Hopefully, this chapter won't bore you too terribly, but I promise you: Better stuff will come, and much, MUCH sooner than this terribly late atrocity! PHEW! Now... No more delays. Enjoy the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, I make fan fiction out of it!
With a resounding crack, the winged demi-Hollow that Ulquiorra had become wrenched its hand from Ichigo's chest, and with a swipe of its flattened hand, sprayed Ichigo's blood across the gray sands of Hueco Mundo. Grimmjow rushed forward, hoping to catch Ulquiorra off-guard. Damn it! If that punk Shinigami is dead, then I have a real problem on my hands! But even as Ichigo toppled and fell face-first into the ground, Ulquiorra bent forward as he began to glow with light, and jade-tinted spirit energy blasted forth from his body, repelling Grimmjow and flinging him meters away from the pierced Shinigami. Ulquiorra, clutching his mask with his left hand, clenching the hilt of his zanpaktou with his right hand, screamed as his wings once again burst into glowing ash and his mask fell to pieces. Ulquiorra — the person, as opposed to the beast — regained consciousness, looking out at the Hollow World around him. His eyes fell on the dead eyes of another being, one he had unintentionally slain. He nearly choked on the spot. He staggered backwards, angered with what he had done, knowingly or not. He fell, landing on his knees, zanpaktou dropped and forgotten as he pounded the ground with his fists. Grimmjow walked calmly, his long hair flowing behind him as he spoke,
"So, Ulquiorra. . . You gonna be anymore trouble? Or am I gonna have to kill ya?" The Sexta Espada relinquished his Resurrección and brought his blade to rest on Ulquiorra's neck. "Well?" The former Cuarto didn't even seem to register the presence of Grimmjow's blade on his throat. He simply uttered, indignation evident in his voice.
"I killed him. . . Didn't I?" Ulquiorra lifted his head, his gaze falling on Ichigo's body. Grimmjow sighed as he slowly relinquished Pantera, replacing it in its scabbard.
"Yeah. . ." As if to confirm Grimmjow's answer, Ichigo suddenly burst into wisps of red and black that seeped upwards from his body, replacing his Bankai clothing with the regular Shinigami outfit. Turning behind him, Ulquiorra saw Tensa Zangetsu revert to its Shikai form in the same manner as Ichigo. Looking back to the fallen Shinigami, Ulquiorra buried his face in his left hand,
"She'll. . . Never forgive me. . ." Grimmjow scoffed, letting his arms swing momentarily at his side in utter annoyance of Ulquiorra's current attitude before bringing them to rest, hands-in-pockets.
"What's done is done, you idiot," reminded Jaguarjaques, "You killed the kid. Deal with it." Schiffer, however, remained silent, reminiscing angrily over his involuntary actions. "Oh, for the love of —" Grimmjow grabbed Ulquiorra by the arm, lifting him, and before the Cuarto knew it, the Sexta had backhanded him straight across the face, and none too softly, either. "Wake up, Ulquiorra! Stop acting like the world's ended and face the damn facts! You killed him, whether you like it or not. You can't change that now." Grimmjow shoved Ulquiorra away, leaving the darker-haired man to stand aside in contemplation. Sticking his hands back in his pockets, Grimmjow spat straight down. He was almost sickened. He just couldn't freakin' believe he was giving advice to Ulquiorra of all people. The thought alone practically made him sick.
"Though I certainly didn't need you to tell me that. . . I admit you're right. . . " Grimmjow turned to Ulquiorra and chuckled,
"You're damned right I'm right." Grimmjow looked to Ichigo, who yet lay there, still as a stone. Damn. . . And here I was, ready to kick that runt's ass. . . What a turn of events. Come to think of it —
"Hey, Ulquiorra. Kurosaki's friends are probably gonna come back for 'im, right?"
"Yes. . . "
"The girl will probably be with 'em. She can probably heal him." Ulquiorra looked at the blue-haired man, mild surprise in his expression,
"That may be the case, but. . . Nevertheless, I hardly think they'd react well to this. . . But why would you even want that? I'd have thought you'd want Kurosaki dead."
"Yeah, but I'm gonna be the one to finish him, not you, Ulquiorra. Why do you think I was here in the first place? I was gonna kick the crap out of the kid, but then look what you did." Grimmjow sighed, and Ulquiorra closed his eyes as he spoke,
"Then all we can do now is wait. . ."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Good news, everyone! I believe I can open a Garganta for you!" Urahara Kisuke yelled with an excited fervor from behind his fan, walking towards the group of teenagers who had recently arrived from Hueco Mundo. Everyone's attention was suddenly fixed on the meek little shop keeper, and Ishida was the first to question,
"I thought you weren't going to be able to open the Garganta until you'd modified them for the Captains — have you managed that already?" Sheepishly, Urahara replied, "No." Everyone in the room, excluding the Captains, who stood there with blank stares, fell flat on their faces, and Renji groaned, "Then how the hell are you supposed to open a Garganta??" Kisuke grinned, closing his fan with a snap as he approached the teens,
"Well, I've just discovered that I can open one of the Gargantas meant for the captains while I prepare the other three. So, you can go through while I put some finishing touches up for the captains' Gargantas. Their reiatsu is considerably greater than yours, mind you."
"So when can we go, then?" Orihime asked eagerly, anxious to help Ichigo. Urahara pointed his fan towards two boulders with wooden supports jutting out of them,
"Right now." A Garganta promptly tore open to reveal the netherworld dividing Hueco Mundo and the real world. Orihime, Rukia, Renji and the rest all approached the Garganta, with Nel and her companions close behind. "Remember, don't fall off the path you make. Now, this Garganta should lead straight to Las Noches. Be on your guard." Orihime considered Urahara's warning, and worried of the dangers yet to come. "Go."
Rukia, Orihime, Renji, Ishida, Chad, Nel, Pesche and Dondochakka all leapt forward and hit Rukia's spirit particle path running.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Las Noches. . .
"Nnoitora." The word was spoken crisply, yet soothingly, as only Aizen Sosuke could speak it. The enigmatic leader of the Espada rose from the lone throne that overlooked Hueco Mundo in all its bleakness. The Quinto Espada bowed on one knee, a fist supporting him as he brought his head low. Having just been released from the infirmary and given a new set of clothing, Nnoitora was quickly summoned to this balcony of Aizen's. The dual-crescent cleaver on Nnoitora's back gleamed in the moonlight which was shining into the moderately sized hall, the light reflecting in Aizen's eyes as Nnoitora looked up to meet the ex-Shinigami's gaze.
"You failed, Nnoitora. Both you and Grimmjow were given the tool that should have guaranteed your victory over Ulquiorra — the Esfera Negación — yet you were still defeated within an inch of your life." Though Nnoitora heard no anger or hostility in Aizen's voice — no emotion at all — Nnoitora could tell that Aizen was obviously vexed. "Explain to me, Nnoitora, why we have lost not only two of the Espada, but Inoue Orihime as well." As he finished this last sentence, Aizen let loose his reiatsu, crushing Nnoitora down as he crouched, still bowed down on one fist. "You know that I cannot waste the top three Espada's strength, they are to eliminate the Shinigami captains. So explain. Why have you failed?" The air itself almost seemed toxic as Aizen intimidated Nnoitora, who was having great trouble breathing. Nnoitora was choking on his next few words,
"H-. . . He transformed. . . into a — kheh! — human!" The absolutely crushing reiatsu that Aizen was pooling straight onto Nnoitora relented, letting Nnoitora breathe, but still maintained its hold so as to keep Nnoitora bowing.
"A human?" Sosuke questioned, sounding genuinely interested — as interested as the man could sound, anyway — and further commented, "Most interesting. How'd this come about?" Aizen now completely released his hold on Nnoitora, freeing him from the spiritual pressure. Nnoitora took a short moment to get his breath back before explaining the sealing of Ulquiorra's zanpaktou with the Esfera, his profession of love for Orihime (which Nnoitora was truly disgusted to even mention), and subsequent summoning of a full Hollow mask.
"So," Aizen began, "Ulquiorra Schiffer has not only become human, but can summon a Hollow's mask. . . Hm." A small smirk appeared on Aizen's face as he looked down to Nnoitora to dismiss him, "Head down to the meeting room. The rest of the Espada are gathered." Nnoitora noticed Aizen hadn't said a word about Ulquiorra's. . . connection to Orihime, but kept quiet. As Nnoitora exited the room, a certain smiling man stepped forward from one of the corners of the room, voice ever-joyful,
"Ya never quit toyin' with 'em poor souls, do ya, Aizen-sama?" Aizen smirked as he turned back to the empty expanse before the two conniving ex-Shinigami.
"Discipline must always be maintained, dear Gin, else only chaos would ensue in our ranks," Aizen commented. Gin frowned, somehow playfully, and questioned his master,
"Ya never had to force me to kneel to follow yer orders."
"Hmm," chuckled the master hypnotizer, "quite so. You've never been one to disappoint, Gin." Aizen turned behind him to smirk, almost darkly, at his subordinate. Ichimaru walked forward to stand at his master's right side. Tousen suddenly entered the small chamber and flanked Aizen opposite Ichimaru.
"Schiffer and Jaguarjaques are intact; the ryoka from Karakura is with them," reported the blind underling. When Aizen said nothing, Tousen was somewhat caught off balance. "Is there a problem, Aizen-sama?" Aizen merely turned around to leave, speaking placidly as was his custom,
"Come. We must inform our Espadas of the situation to come." The two followers fell into step with their master, their devious machinations about to truly take place.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Garganta tore open the realms, just above the gray sands of Hueco Mundo, revealing an odd group rushing out of the chaotic rumblings of the dimension that divided the Human and Hollow worlds. Rukia was the first of the group to jump out onto the dunes, "We finally made it," she wheezed, "That was a much longer run than I was expecting." Renji, in the meantime, dropped beside her, followed by Chad, Ishida, Orihime, Nel, Pesche and Dondochakka. The Garganta whined shut behind them, and they took a few minutes to take a breath, all except Ishida, Orihime, and Nel, who had used Ishida's Hirenkyaku platform to speed through the Garganta realm.
"Y'know, it would've been nice if you could've used that little surfboard of yours to carry all of us. . ." Renji panted out, clearly just a little bit tired after his dash. Ishida merely pushed up his glasses, a somewhat devious look in his eye as he innocently replied,
"I couldn't do that. . . Any more than 3 people could've destabilized it. Besides, I'm not so generous as to let someone like you just hitch a ride." Renji seemed to pop a vein as he replied,
"Whaddaya mean, someone like me?" Renji cracked his knuckles menacingly as he began to approach the smug Quincy, but was bashed over the head by Rukia,
"Cool it, you hot-headed fool. We need to find Ichigo."
"AAAH! I jutht realithed!!! Where'th Bawa-Bawa!?!" Nel panicked, remembering just now that their big worm-like friend was nowhere to be found. Pesche was quick to salvage the situation, though, as he quickly explained,
"Don't worry, Nel! Dondochakka's got him in his stomach, he's all right!" But this only created a bigger problem:
"You ates Bawa-Bawa!?!!? Why would you do dat!??!" Dondochakka just spat the worm out, though, before Nel bawled her eyes out. Bawa-Bawa landed on the sand with an over-enthusiastic "BAWAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!" and Nel gave the largest member of her original gang a big hug. Ishida, of course, only shook his head, mumbling, "They're really strange ones. . ." to which Renji replied flatly, "You're not one to talk, wearing that outfit." "Enough," Rukia sighed, exasperated. She looked around them, and saw Las Noches off in the distance. "Good thing Urahara didn't send us any closer over there," she nodded towards the massive fortress, "Now let's concentrate, everybody. We have to find Ichigo." Everyone except the Hollows in the group closed their eyes to search for Ichigo's spiritual pressure. The amount of Hollow reiatsu around was almost stifling, now that they noticed it. Rukia grimaced, focusing herself more on finding her friend. She finally had to ask, "Can anyone else sense him? I can't seem to find him. . ." Chad was the first to respond,
"No, I can't sense him either. . . It's like he's just. . . Gone." Orihime was shocked out of her concentration and shot her eyes open, almost stuttering,
"Kuchiki-san, you don't think that means — !"
"No. I don't think Ichigo's stupid enough to get himself killed. Don't worry, Inoue." Rukia smiled at her young friend, but underneath that veil, she was truly concerned for Ichigo. Could he have really been. . . Killed? She couldn't accept it. Orihime suddenly realized, "There's another way to find him." Everyone turned their attention to her now, eager to hear her idea. "We have to go that way," she stated matter-of-factly, confusing everyone.
"Inoue-san," Ishida began somewhat nervously, "How are you so sure that that's where Kurosaki is?" Orihime turned to him and said,
"Because that's the direction I'm sensing Ulquiorra's reiatsu."
"All right then," Rukia declared, eager to be on the move already, "Let's go." Bawa-Bawa slithered forward and everyone climbed on, heading towards Ulquiorra and, they hoped, Ichigo as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some twenty-five minutes later. . .
"AGH! There's absolutely NOTHIN' to do! I can't stand this! Ulquiorra, just fight me already, at least to give me something to DO!" The Sexta Espada kicked the sands in front of him, frantic with boredom. Ulquiorra, sitting with his knees folded Indian-style beneath him, merely closed his eyes, and enunciated,
"For the last time, Grimmjow, no. We don't want any sort of uninvited guests simply showing up to attack us, do we?" Grimmjow finally dropped down on the sands in exasperation, arms flung straight out as he lay on the ground.
"At least killing some other Hollow would change it up a little. . ." Grimmjow sighed. The Sexta took a few moments to think and take a few breaths before addressing the former Cuarto,
"Hey, Ulquiorra. . . What's it like?" Ulquiorra was shocked out of his momentary meditation, his eyes flung open upon hearing Grimmjow's comment. Jaguarjaques just stared upwards at the dark night sky, watching the thin wisps of cloud slowly shift past.
"You mean. . ." Ulquiorra started, a little uneasy about the whole subject.
"You know what I mean," chided Grimmjow, sitting up to listen to the Arrancar to his right, "Don't force me to make a fool of myself having to even say it, just answer the damn question." Ulquiorra sat still for a moment, taking a moment to think of the most 'correct' answer, whatever that may be.
"The word 'strange'. . . Is decidedly insufficient. 'Comforting' seems to serve more effectively. . . But I think most of all. . . Just being around her makes me feel. . . Warm." The ex-Espada gazed forward across the sands, feeling somewhat exposed, having laid bare his feelings towards Inoue Orihime for Grimmjow to hear. Quite honestly, he was expecting some sort of snarky criticism from the Sexta, but when Ulquiorra looked to Grimmjow, all he saw was a face skewed in frustration. Fact of the matter was that Grimmjow was seriously contemplating Ulquiorra's words. If one were observant, he or she may have guessed the Sexta Espada to even be jealous. . . Grimmjow stuck his arms in his pockets, simply getting himself into a more relaxed when he noticed a small cube sitting snugly in his pocket. That could come in handy later. . . The pair of Hollows rested, one sitting, one lying down, for a few moments more before Ulquiorra stood and turned, facing the horseshoe-shaped quartz structure where he and Ichigo had originally hidden themselves from Tousen. Ulquiorra turned to Grimmjow, who had also gotten up and stood next to Ulquiorra to scan the same landscape,
"Do you hear that?" Grimmjow nodded, replying with a slightly annoyed "Yeah." The two of them knew what that sound of shuffling sand was.
Kurosaki's friends were here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're here," Inoue declared, sitting with Rukia on top of Bawa-Bawa as they shuffled along, coming around this fairly large abandoned Hollow nest. The group was a bit anxious about meeting up with Ulquiorra again (and from what they were able to tell before arriving, a second, unknown, but definitively Hollow entity). Rukia and Renji stood, their free hands holding their zanpaktous by the scabbards, sword hands placed around their swords' hilts. A shorter, black-haired Arrancar, and a slightly taller, blue-haired Arrancar came into view as they rounded the curve of the horseshoe nest. Ishida, Chad, Rukia and Renji all tensed as they got closer. They were going to be extra wary with these Arrancar. As Bawa-Bawa came almost right up to the Arrancar, the black-haired one, Ulquiorra, stepped forward, hands extended outwards, in a we-have-nothing-to-hide gesture. Whatever words he may have spoken were lost open them, however, as their eyes collectively fell upon the body of Kurosaki Ichigo with a hole in his chest and dead eyes.
Well, I hope that wasn't too terrible.
Any criticism of any kind is much appreciated. One thing that I'm constantly worrying about is proper characterization, and criticism related to that would be VERY helpful. I promise you, though, for those of you disappointed with this chapter, the next chapter will start of with action and just go from there, so don't worry about that. Still, hope you enjoyed it so far, and I hope to keep taking it to the next level as the story moves along! Thanks!