Well, I have a feeling some crazy stuff is gonna happen.
Minako had the intention to return to Urahara's shop; she really had. But on her way, she had seen Orihime and Rukia, and their eyes had locked on hers. Orihime smiled in a way that seemed cheerful, but Minako could sense something was amiss inside. "Minako-chan, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I was going to see Urahara," Minako answered softly, walking toward Orihime and Rukia. "Are you okay, Orihime?"
"I'm fine," replied Orihime before she looked at Rukia. "Rukia-chan is about to help me train by taking me to the Soul Society."
Soul Society. Minako remembered Ichigo mentioning the place, but she figured only the spirits of the dead could go. Even as Orihime said it, Minako felt the weight of unease knotting her insides, darker than the unease she felt hours before.
"Can I come with you?" she asked, surprising herself by getting the words out.
"Kazuya-san, with all due respect, you just found out about the truth about your abilities. You should talk to Urahara," Rukia said, trying to speak calmly after witnessing how upset Minako had been. Minako met Rukia's eyes and felt determination rise above the unease. "Kuchiki-san, thank you for your concern, but I'm asking to come with you," she said. "There could be someone in this Soul Society who may know more about my abilities."
The words had burned in her mouth like a lie, but she wasn't going to waver. Rukia looked as though she was debating on allowing it before sighing. "All right."
Orihime beamed at Minako. "You'll like the Soul Society. We have plenty of friends there who can help you too!" she exclaimed. Minako smiled as Rukia opened the Senkaimon and lead the way into the Soul Society.
The onslaught occurred then. The Arrancars appeared on a mission to annihilate the Soul Reapers right after the group had taken care of the Hollows that had appeared. Grimmjow broke from the ranks, moving on his own agenda. He owed the Soul Reaper who put the scar on his chest a great deal of pain. Let the others handle all the other Soul Reapers.
He grinned maliciously. He was going to have fun with this.
The Soul Society wasn't like anything Minako had ever imagined. It was like being sent back into a time warp—like Feudal Japan. She had sat on the sidelines, watching Orihime and Rukia training as she sat beside Rukia's superior, Ukitake.
"Rukia had mentioned you have abilities of your own," he said to her. Minako nodded. "Yes. But I'm not sure how much use it'll be in battle."
"You wanted to know more about it?"
"I want to know where it originated from. Anything else about it, I'll try and figure out."
"You're a brave girl," Ukitake commented.
"I'm not brave," she said. "But I wanted to come here with Orihime and Kuchiki-san because I felt something…" she trailed off.
"Something how?" asked Ukitake.
"Something bad," Minako whispered. "I don't know much about what's going on, but I don't want anything bad to happen to them…"
That's when Ukitake's expression melted into shock before he called down to Rukia.
"Yes, sir! I just received the report on the Espada's recent activity!" Rukia replied.
"The Kido Corps are working on a gate to the world of the living! Use the Senkaimon in front of the barracks!"
"Yes, sir!"
Minako stood up as Orihime cried, "Wait Rukia, I'll go with you!"
"No, Orihime. You and Minako don't have a Hell Butterfly. If you both come with me, you'll be stuck in the Dangai," Rukia told her. Ukitake took Minako's hand and flash-stepped into the barrack. "I've requested the Outer Wall be stabilized so you can pass into the world of the living. It'll take some time for the both of you to go into the world of the living," he said.
"Yes, sir," Orihime murmured and Minako nodded. Rukia smiled at them both. "I'll be waiting for you two on the other side."
Watching Rukia leave, Minako felt the unease weighing heavily on her heart. I hope everyone else is all right…she thought.
No more than a few moments later, the Dangai was prepared for both of them to go through. "Thanks for everything!" Orihime told Ukitake and Minako waved at him as she and Orihime ran into the gate. No sooner had they gone in, two Soul Reapers followed them. "It is custom for two Soul Reapers without Hell Butterflies to escort guest between the two worlds. Sorry for the inconvenience, but you understand," one of them explained.
"I don't mind that. Do you, Orihime?" asked Minako, looking at her. Orihime shook her head. "Not at all. Lead the way," she told the Soul Reapers and they took the lead. Once they were out of earshot, Orihime asked, "Minako-chan, what was the real reason you came with Rukia and I?"
Minako opened her mouth to respond until a voice echoed through the Dangai. "Only two guards. How negligent."
The group stopped, as something seem to split open before their eyes. The unease inside Minako evolved into pure dread as a figure stepped out from the opening within the Dangai. Pale skin, black hair, cold green eyes, donning white, and a piece of something on his head. The energy this figure exuded…It's just like that monster that attacked me, but stronger...stronger than White's even…she thought. "It is convenient for me that the irritating Outer Wall was disabled. I don't like to be rushed when I'm talking to someone," the figure added.
"You're an Arrancar!" One of the Soul Reapers advanced and Minako stepped closer to Orihime. The figure raised a hand and she could hear Orihime cry out, "Wait! You want to talk to me, right? Let's talk!"
Instantaneously, the Soul Reaper seemed to explode in front of their eyes, the blood flying everywhere. "Soten Kishun!" Orihime cried and her hair pins seemed to fly to the remains of what was the Soul Reaper. "Run!" she told the other Soul Reaper, who was going to protest, but soon he met the same fate as his comrade. Minako had let out a gasp as Orihime cried, "Ayame!" and made the shield widen.
"One more nuisance," the figure murmured, ready to move his hand to aim at Minako. Minako met his unmerciful green eyes and felt the familiar tug she'd feel with White. She let herself fall in, probing, to find some crack inside his soul before she felt herself being pushed out. "Minako-chan!" Orihime cried, her hands on Minako's shoulder.
"Seems you have a strange ability like the girl," the figure whispered. "But I want a word with the girl." He looked to Orihime. "Come with me."
"Wha-" Orihime began, but he interrupted, "Don't say anything except yes. If you say anything else, I'll kill. But not you; I'll kill your friends."
Minako could feel Orihime trembling from fear and could feel it radiating into her own body, deep into her bones. He could kill everyone; she had no doubt about it. He could even kill…
"Aizen-sama desires your power. Understand? Only your immediate compliance will save your friends. You have no rights. This is not a negotiation. It's an order."
When Orihime didn't respond, he spoke in a colder voice that sent shivers down Minako's spine. "I'll say it just one more time. Come with me, little girl."
Before Orihime could make a move, Minako slowly moved her hand to take Orihime's gently. "You said Orihime has no rights. But I do," she said, her voice strong when inside she was shaking. When those green eyes landed on her, she continued. "Your…Aizen-sama needs Orihime, right? You didn't expect me to be with her. So as far as I'm concerned, I have every right to negotiate."
"Minako-chan…" Orihime whispered, but stopped when she felt Minako squeeze her hand reassuringly. The Arrancar regarded Minako stoically. "For a lower being," he mused, "you are correct. You are not necessary, therefore you can negotiate to pass through the Dangai and have your life spared."
"I'm not negotiating for my life."
"Then what do you wish to negotiate?"
Minako kept her eyes on him, her choice absolute.
During the fight with Grimmjow, Ichigo felt it, even in his weakened state. It was sharp, ripping sensation that nearly crippled him again. Whatever had happened, whatever ripped away from him, it wasn't there anymore. He had become dimly aware of the fact, as Rukia was recovering from Grimmjow's attempt to blast her head off and Shinji was fighting him now. He heard Grimmjow begin to yell, "Grind-" until a hand stopped the former Sexta Espada. Grimmjow ground his teeth together. "Ulquiorra…"
"Mission accomplished," Ulquiorra said stonily. "We're going back."
Negacíon shot from the sky upon the Arrancar, having them return to Hueco Mundo. Ulquiorra observed Ichigo from above. You seem to have gained a new power, but it's so insignificant. The sun has set. This day was ours.
In the Dangai, Orihime had her face in her hands.