"PUT ME DOWN SNAGGLETOOTH!!!" Ichigo shouted to Hiyori who carried him over her head through the air at high speeds.
"Will you shut up?! Man you're giving me a headache!" Hiyori yelled back at him.
"I would recommend it actually." Nel said as she ran up alongside of the Vizard.
"What the-?! Where did you come from?!" Hiyori asked confused. Nel however quickly drew Gamuza from its sheath but just as she was about to attack, she felt something pull her back by the hair unexpectedly.
"NELIEL!!! How've ya been?! Long time no see!!!" a semi-familiar and young voice asked as Nel suddenly whirled around with Gamuza ready to strike down whoever it was. She froze with widened eyes to see it was…
"Lilynette?! What are you doing here?!" Nel asked, dropping into a battle stance. Sure enough it was the scantily clad young Arrancar Fraccion to Stark the Primera Espada.
"Oh come on Neliel we're not here to fight you at all." Lilynette replied.
"We?" Nel asked confused as Lilynette pointed to the empty air on both sides of the former Terceira Espada in time for the Arrancar twins Loly and Menoly to suddenly Sonido in next to her.
"Hey Neliel." Menoly waved before getting elbowed by her sister in the ribs.
"What are you three doing here really?" Nel asked as Lilynette shrugged.
"You'll have to chase us to find out." Lilynette replied as she and the twins used Sonido to escape but Nel was hot on their trail.
She followed them to a seemingly abandoned warehouse on the far side of town and could feel an enormous level of spiritual pressure, but what made her stand in shock outside the doors was how familiar the spiritual pressure was. She finally mustered the courage to enter and as she did she saw Ichigo laying face down on the floor. He was picking himself up as Nel approached to help him.
"Nel? What happened?" Ichigo asked confused as Nel shrugged confused.
"What happened you ask, Ichigo?" Shinji asked as he casually emerged from the shadows along with all of the Visoreds, "Quite simple really. We wanted you to get reacquainted with some old friends of yours."
"What old friends?" Ichigo asked.
"These friends of course." Shinji replied. Without warning a sudden swarm of Arrancar Sonido'd into the room. But they weren't just any ordinary Arrancar, they were the Espada and Fraccion that had turned on Aizen after the Hogyoku was destroyed: Stark, Halibel, Ggio, Loly, Menoly, Lilynette, Apache, Mila-Rose, Sun-Sun, and Tesla. They each stood randomly amongst the Visoreds and with absolutely no indication of wanting to fly in and cut down Ichigo or the Visoreds in a bloody massacre.
"Neliel, it's been a while." Stark said with a lazy smile on his face.
"What's going on? Why are you all here?!" Nel asked worriedly. She was genuinely afraid of what might happen within those next few minutes.
"Neliel there is no reason for you or the young Soul Reaper next to you to be afraid of our presence. We are simply here to talk." Halibel said calmly.
"Talk HELL! I want a crack at the bastard Soul Reaper!!!" An all too familiar voice shouted from the darkness. Ichigo instinctively raised Zangetsu just as a pair of Hierro enhanced fists came flying at him. However nothing hit Ichigo or Zangetsu because of Hiyori, Lilynette, Loly, and Menoly's sudden interference.
"What the hell?! GRIMMJOW?!" Ichigo shouted in disbelief as he saw the former Sexta Espada before him but pinned underneath the respective Zanpakuto of the four young women.
"Get back to where you were Freak face!" Hiyori ordered as Grimmjow leapt to his feet in an outrage.
"I'll Cero you into next week missy!" Grimmjow threatened before Hiyori leapt up and kicked him in the face with both feet.
"Tell it to someone who cares Jabber jaw!" Hiyori growled as Grimmjow growled angrily in frustration.
"It's Jaegerjaquez! GRIMMJOW JAEGERJAQUEZ!!!" Grimmjow yelled before getting hit by a powerful Kido spell that paralyzed him.
"That should hold you for a while." Hachi said calmly as the four young women hauled the belligerent Espada away.
"I am so totally confused." Ichigo whimpered.
"Imagine the shock we got yesterday when they all just suddenly showed up on our doorstep." Shinji said with a shrug.
"Why are you all here? I thought you were all in Los Noches?" Nel asked her fellow Arrancar.
"Los Noches is a complete wreck thanks to you two and those other kids trying to rescue that Inoue girl." Loly grumbled.
"After much discussion we figured that Hueco Mundo was no place for us anymore. We want to learn more about the humans. So we came here and sought out the closest thing to an Arrancar but on the Soul Reaper side of the spectrum. Our search brought us to the Visoreds." Stark explained.
"We also want to eliminate Aizen too." Grimmjow said as he appeared next to Stark and Halibel.
"Why? I thought you would want to help the guy who created you?" Ichigo asked as Grimmjow mumbled obscenities under his breath towards the young Deputy Soul Reaper.
"That was our first inclination but after much thought we realized that it would be more detrimental towards us if we helped him." Halibel said from behind her tall collar.
"Why?" Ichigo asked confused but Nel caught on quickly.
"You realized what I did. That if Aizen succeeded in his plans that he would inevitably turn on us and destroy us. You realized he would also render the world devoid of all human souls and no human souls means two things to us. No additional hollows and nothing to eat either. We would never recover; we would be a declining race." Nel explained as the other three Espada nodded in agreement.
"You always were a smart one Neliel." Halibel complemented.
"We also decided that trying to fight the Soul Society and the Soul Reapers would be completely pointless. We've no reason to fight as you would say. We have nothing to gain and everything to lose by trying to attack the Soul Reapers, which is why we agreed to the peace pact. Part of that agreement is that we never consume a human soul. We've had our share of the lesser Hollows however." Stark added.
"So you're seriously here to learn more about humans?" Ichigo asked as the Arrancar all nodded.
"Then why drag me here?" Ichigo asked.
"You and Neliel share a unique bond…a bond of friendship that cannot be denied. We are fully aware of Neliel's oath to protect you. To bring such an oath from an Arrancar towards a Soul Reaper is most definitely unique. We wanted to see it for ourselves." Stark replied.
"Neliel is among the last remaining Espada. There are now only four Espada but we each knew her before Nnoitra committed what we have decided to be a despicable crime that resulted in Neliel's removal from the Espada. Ripping the masks off of her two Fraccion and using such a sneaky method to reduce her to such a weak state is a tasteless and cowardly tactic." Halibel added.
"And so we give you the benefit of the doubt. We aren't exactly the vengeance driven type." Grimmjow said before getting annoyed glares from practically every one of the Arrancar.
"What?" he asked confused.
"You're forgetting what you did to Luppi when you got your arm reattached." Lilynette grumbled.
"Oh that's right. Heh my bad." Grimmjow chuckled.
"So what's your plan exactly?" Ichigo asked.
"Simple. The Visoreds have offered to help us learn to live peacefully among humans in exchange that we not eat a single living soul with the exception of Hollows." Grimmjow said as Ichigo turned to glare at Shinji.
"And why are you guys helping them?" Ichigo asked as Shinji chuckled and walked out in midair down to Ichigo's level on the ground floor.
"Why not? You and I, and all the Visoreds in general are Soul Reapers who gained Hollow abilities, while the Arrancar are just the opposite. They're hollows with Soul Reaper abilities. It's a simple case of opposites attract. Besides we have something in common with each other. We both were betrayed by Sosuke Aizen and essentially abandoned by our once allies. The Arrancar fought a bloody civil war between each other after the Hogyoku was destroyed and Aizen escaped. Two of the Espada refused to side with them so they were killed. Barragan Luisenbarn and Yammy Rialgo along with all but one of Barragan's Fraccion were the most notable ones killed." Shinji explained.
"Yeah now Ggio and Tesla are my Fraccion now. Ever since you and your other Soul Reaper friends wiped out my original Fraccion, I've had no one to push around." Grimmjow said with a satisfied grin.
"He doesn't push us around as much as he'd want to. He knows we can still kick his-." "SHUT UP!" Ggio attempted to explain but was interrupted.
"By the way Neliel. We wanted to try and rescue your former Fraccion but Barragan killed them both personally. We're sorry we couldn't rescue them." Stark said with a solemn face as Nel looked crushed by the news.
"Pesche…Dondochakka." Nel said breathlessly as tears built up in her eyes.
"I know it won't help but…do you want Loly and Menoly? They're pretty helpful at times." Halibel asked caringly. Loly looked like she was about to protest but Menoly silenced her by holding her Zanpakuto to her sister's throat with a look that dared her to argue with one of the Espada.
Nel however recovered for a moment to shake her head before breaking down again and dropping onto her knees in anguish. Ichigo instinctively knelt down next to her and placed a hand on her back to comfort her.
"Can we have a minute alone here?" Ichigo asked as Shinji, Stark, and Halibel nodded in agreement. The Visoreds and Arrancar proceeded to disappear into the shadows, leaving only Ichigo and Nel visible within the warehouse.
Later…
Nel and Ichigo were still in the front half of the warehouse and the Arrancar and Vizard hosts were each relaxing with their own method of entertainment.
Stark was asleep on a pile of pillows, Halibel and Sun-Sun were flipping through some of Lisa's magazines with intrigue as Lisa did the same, Hachi was meditating peacefully, Tesla and Kensei were playing a game of chess, Grimmjow, Lilynette, Loly, Menoly, Hiyori, Apache, Mila-Rose, Ggio, Love, Mashiro, Rose, and Shinji were crowded around the television as they watched a soccer match with great interest.
"Oh now this is quite an interesting sport. Watching grown men beating the crap out of each other…now this is entertainment you couldn't buy in Hueco Mundo." Mila-Rose commented with an excited grin.
"I'm trying to decide which is better. This or watching Charlotte Cuuhlhourne get vaporized by Halibel's Cero during the uprising. Ha that I could watch time and time again." Grimmjow said with a sinister grin.
"That was pretty good actually. The freaking perv always made me want to retch." Apache replied.
"I wish I had seen it, but noooooooo. Stark over there decided that he needed to use his Resurreccion and that means I become a gun…A GUN!!!" Lilynette grumbled.
"You become a gun?" Rose asked curiously.
"Ugh long story." Lilynette replied.
"Now how does one play this game? It looks fun actually." Loly asked.
"I'm sure we could find out once we learn how to blend in with the humans." Menoly replied.
"I think that Kisuke Urahara can make Gigai's for you. I remember seeing Nel in a Gigai just yesterday." Shinji said as the three young Arrancar girls looked at each other curiously.
"Sounds intriguing. Perhaps we should go see if he would make us Gigais?" Menoly suggested.
"I don't think he'd agree to that unless we could prove we're on his team now." Love said as Hiyori groaned.
"I'll talk him into it." She mumbled.
"I wonder. Does this game appear only inside this magic box?" Ggio asked curiously.
"You mean the TV? Not always. Sometimes you can find a field where there's a game going on." Shinji replied. The three young Arrancar girls looked at each other excitedly.
"We've got to get our Gigai's." Lilynette said with a grin.
"Hey maybe that friend of Neliel's can show us where this Urahara guy is." Menoly suggested.
"Oh that's not hard; just follow the stench of decaying brain cells and atrophied muscles." Hiyori replied.
"Don't listen to her. Urahara was her Captain before we became Visoreds." Shinji said. Unaware that Ichigo and a more recovered Nel was approaching.
"Are you alright Neliel?" Sun-Sun asked out of concern. Her question had caught the attention of all those present.
"I'm fine thank you." Nel replied quietly.
"I wasn't finished earlier. I have more questions." Ichigo said as half of the Arrancar on the couch groaned.
"Can it wait till after the game's over?" Grimmjow asked annoyed. His question was answered by Stark preparing a Cero blast aimed at the TV.
"I think not." Stark said with one opened eye as the TV was quickly turned off and the Cero dissipated.
"What are your questions Soul Reaper?" Halibel asked.
"Hang on. What's your name again?" Grimmjow asked as he got up from the couch and stormed over to Ichigo.
"Ichigo Kurosaki and don't you forget it, Grimmjow." Ichigo replied as he pointed at the Sexta Espada.
"Then what are your questions Ichigo Kurosaki?" Halibel asked again.
"Basically my last question is "what am I going to tell the other Soul Reapers that are here?" They're going to be very suspicious about this." Ichigo asked as the three Espada looked at each other and nodded.
"That's why we had you brought here. We know that they give both you and Neliel a degree of trust and that's why we want you to inform the others." Halibel replied.
"Great." Ichigo said despondently.
"If you'd like I can come along and convince them." Grimmjow asked with a grin which Nel quickly thwarted by a simple death glare.
"Thanks but that's something I can do myself." Ichigo said as Nel instinctively whipped out her notepad, flipped to a blank page and started writing down the names of all the defected Arrancar.
"Don't worry about them. If they want they can come here and we'll behave as cordial as we are now." Stark reassured with his eyes closed.
"Okay then. I guess that means we'll be heading back now." Ichigo said as he and Nel turned to leave.
"Hey Neliel! Ya sure you don't want a pair of new Fraccion? Or even one?" Menoly asked as Nel paused, turned towards the twin and shook her head.
"I'm sure. I'll be fine on my own." Nel replied as she followed after Ichigo.
"Now that he's gone, can we go get our Gigai's now?" Lilynette asked impatiently.
"(Sigh) You're not going to stop till you get Gigai's aren't you?" Shinji asked as Stark's Fraccion crossed her arms with an impatient glare.
"Oh Stark!" she said in a singsong voice.
"Lilynette, be patient you'll get a Gigai eventually." Stark replied as he rolled over, facing away from his whining Fraccion.
"Actually I wouldn't mind getting my Gigai about now anyway." Grimmjow commented.
"Then let's get down to Urahara shop as fast as we can so the Soul Reapers don't see us." Kensei said as he stood up from his and Tesla's chess game (which was stalemated at the moment) and headed for the door with the Arrancar close after him.
Back at the Kurosaki Clinic…
"And you say she was wearing red gym clothes?" Toshiro asked curiously as Karin nodded. He and the other Soul Reapers, along with Chad, Orihime, Tatsuki, and Uryu, had hurried over to the Clinic when Rukia alerted them to the sudden break in by Hiyori earlier.
"Yeah she just busted in here, sending Nel into the wall and dragging Ichigo with her. Ichigo acted like he knew her." Karin replied.
"Curious. It matches the description of one of the Visoreds that assisted us at the Spirit Hunter taping." Toshiro said as he scratched his chin.
"Well either way, Jinta, Uluru, you, Miss Yoruichi, and I need to show Yuzu how to play soccer so that we don't get clobbered by those fools from yesterday." Karin said as Toshiro sighed.
"I'm afraid that will have to wait. This sudden development requires my immediate attention. But don't let me stop you and the others from teaching her. You might also consider asking Kisuke Urahara to see if you could borrow the Tenshintai so that perhaps Hekireki Megami can provide some assistance as well. Her primary teaching method for your Bankai is in the form of a soccer match so perhaps you can try and achieve Bankai as Yuzu learns to play." Toshiro suggested.
"Not a bad idea Toshiro. Thanks." Karin said as she and Yuzu headed for the door.
"Hey, mind if I go with you. I know a thing or two about soccer so I may be of some help. Besides I may be able to help refine my skills with my fire moves." Tatsuki said as Yuzu smiled and nodded.
"Sure." Yuzu replied.
"We better head to Urahara shop to get some stuff to help." Karin said as they headed out the door.
A few seconds later, Ichigo and Nel arrived via flash step and Sonido respectively.
"We're back." Ichigo said casually.
"YOU'RE LATE!!!" Isshin shouted as he flew in with a kick aimed at Ichigo's jaw but Nel blocked the blow with only her Hierro enhanced hand.
"Thanks." Ichigo said before getting a mean left hook from Rukia of all people.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Rukia asked angrily.
"DAMN IT WILL PEOPLE STOP TRYING TO KILL ME ALREADY?! SHEESH!" Ichigo asked.
"QUIET!!!" Uryu shouted in frustration. Everyone complied instantly and turned to Uryu with a surprised expression.
"I have a headache this morning and the last thing I need is a migraine." Uryu grumbled.
"Ichigo if you would please explain what happened to you earlier. Was that one of the Visoreds that took you?" Toshiro interrogated as Ichigo sighed and nodded.
"Yeah that was Hiyori. She's one of the Visoreds. But what she wanted is something that you're not going to believe when we tell you." Ichigo said as the group gathered around.
"Well?" Rukia asked as Ichigo and Nel began their explanation.
End Chapter 31.
For the sake of continuity I'm not going to use the newer names of the Espada (e.g. Starrk, and Harribel) but I will add Halibel's new first name, Tia.
Author's request:If anyone of you knows how to translate and properly write in Japanese then please contact me (PM is preferred). I am having difficulty with writing the name of Karin's Bankai in the correct syntax and I like to be accurate in my translations. So if you know of a website that can translate English phrases to Japanese (without the Kanji translation) or can translate it yourself then please contact me. Proper credit will be given at the end of the chapter where the translated phrase appears. Thank you.
Soul Reaper Illustrated Guide…Golden!
In the Soul Society, Kaichou was filling out paperwork in her office at the Squad Five Barracks. Just then Jushiro stuck his head inside with an uncharacteristic smile.
"Kaichou, I was wondering if I might have a word." Jushiro said as he entered with his hands behind his back.
"I always have time for more than just one word with you Jushiro. What do you need?" Kaichou asked as she immediately devoted her attention to the thirteenth division captain.
"Well I was wondering if well…uh…oh how do I put this?" Jushiro stuttered as he pulled a small white box out from behind him. Kaichou fell silent instantly.
"Jushiro? Is that what I think it is?!" Kaichou asked shakily with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Uh…yes?" Jushiro replied, totally clueless.
"Oh JUSHIRO!!!" Kaichou squealed as she threw her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Uh…" Jushiro said, now totally stunned.
"Oh Jushiro! I do! I DO! (Sigh) It's a dream come true." Kaichou said with a dreamy expression as she snatched the box from his hand and opened it. She then froze in confusion as she saw the contents. It was a chocolate candy shaped like Byakuya Kuchiki's Seaweed Ambassador.
"Byakuya's having trouble selling them and I agreed to help him sell them and I think you might have gotten the wrong idea." Jushiro said as Kaichou sweat dropped but quickly regained her composure.
"(Ahem) Thank you Jushiro I'll be getting back to work now, and I will be sure to ask the people in my squad if they're interested. Thanks for dropping by." Kaichou said casually. Jushiro just smiled innocently as he closed the door. As soon as the door closed however, a strange sound that sounded eerily like someone smacking their face with a thick book repeatedly was heard coming from inside Kaichou's office.
End
