Chapter 23: The Winds of Rebellion

Ishida Estate

Upon hearing Ryuken's explanation of this so-called Quincy illness, Uryu snaps, "Of course! You always try to demonize us Quincies! You only know about this steel heart because you dissected the body of your own wife! Tell me Ryuken, was your research worth it?! Would you have done the same to Masaki's body, knowing how little love you have for your own family?!"

Ryuken grips the arm post of his chair while Yuzu wears a mortified expression in light of the revelation, "The heart only turns to steel for a brief moment after the death of a Quincy, so I only had time with—"

"WOULD YOU HAVE DONE SO WITH MASAKI?!" Uryu roars, causing Yuzu to flinch.

Ryuken shakes his head, causing Uryu to wear an expression of despair, stumbling back a step, "So, it's true… you loved Masaki more than my mother…"

Ryuken snarls at Uryu's words, "That may have been true initially, but your mother grew on me over time. Her devotion to me was admirable and her love for her family was unquestionable. She was my wife, and I understood and loved her more than any other!"

Uryu gasps, "Then why—"

Ryuken elaborates, "She agreed to it… she always agreed to it… at any and all points since the day she met me, Katagiri, no, Kanae was willing to lay down her life. She wanted her death to mean something—to help me and not just send me into despair. So, we agreed that I would dissect her corpse to find what it was that robbed both her and Masaki of their lives."

Uryu and Yuzu are shaken at the man's words, so much so they cannot speak.

Ryuken grabs a white silver arrowhead off the table next to Masaki's picture, "This is forged from the same steel I found, lodged in my wife's heart."

Uryu starts shaking his head in denial, "No… that can't be…"

Ryuken shouts, "But it is, boy! This is the fate that befell the Gemischt Quincy! One day, I have a feeling the Echt Quincy will face a similar fate! This is our destiny!"

Uryu slumps to his knees, "Then you're saying, all this time, your wanting me not to be a Quincy was…"

Ryuken nods, "Indeed, boy, it was to protect you."

Uryu hisses at his father, "Then why didn't you tell me?!"

Ryuken snaps back at his son, "What was I to do?! Tell my 10-year-old son who looked up to his grandfather—a practicing Quincy himself—that his mother died from a Quincy illness that pierced her heart with steel?!"

Uryu looks at Yuzu, "You're telling her this now and she's just 11!"

"That's because I realized the mistake I made with you, boy." Ryuken states.

Uryu calls out his fallacy, "A little late for that, isn't it?! She's already a full-fledged Quincy!"

Ryuken sighs dejectedly, "Indeed. I have once more repeated the mistake of being too complacent in raising a child, failing in preventing their fate… I'm a fool falling victim to my own emotions… I…"

Ryuken pauses before looking at the two children before him, "I apologize deeply for that."

Uryu can see the regret and sorrow in Ryuken's eyes, punching the wall in frustration, "Damn it!"

Yuzu's face is stuck in an expression of horror at the revelation of what awaits her, but a thought crosses her mind, "You said that happened with Gemischt Quincy? What's that mean?"

Ryuken's face turns into its usual passive expression, "Gemischt Quincy are non-pureblooded Quincy. I am an Echt, a pureblood, as was your mother until the hollow attacked her. My wife was Gemischt."

Yuzu and Uryu both seem to become confused at something after this explanation.

"Why are we still alive then?" Uryu demands.

Ryuken sighs once again, "Yuzu hadn't awakened her powers at the time and you, Uryu… frankly I'm not sure. There must be something special about you, which worries me even more than if you had just died."

Yuzu shivers at the man's cold statement about his son.

"Why is that?" Uryu asks, slowly.

Ryuken elaborates, "Because this disease is called Auswählen, a process in which the Quincy emperor carries out his holy selection for the Quincy that will aide him in bringing about a new world order."

Uryu gasps at this, "I thought Yhwach was just a myth? You're telling me he's real?!"

Ryuken nods, "He is and trust me when I say he has no interest in the well-being of his subjects. Surely you can tell that based on his subjects you've met already, my niece?"

Yuzu scrunches her brow confused, before her eyes widen realizing who he is referring to, "You mean Ms. Bambietta and Candice?"

Ryuken confirms this, "Indeed, the Sternritter are his subjects, and unfortunately it seems they want you among them. I doubt based on how you reacted to this information, that either of them had let you in on their true reasons for training you."

Yuzu does nothing in response, still maintaining an expression of dread.

Ryuken glances at his son, "And as for you, Uryu, I'm worried that Yhwach has taken a personal interest in you, due to your surviving Auswählen. I must urge you to continue avoiding the Sterntitter—"

Uryu spits at his father, "I refuse to hear you out anymore! That man killed my mother! Of course, I'd want to get close to him—if only so I can stab him in the back! I'm confused why you don't want that!"

Ryuken growls at his son, "Don't you dare underestimate the father of all Quincies—he will kill you without hesitation! Don't give him a reason, boy!"

Uryu looks to the floor, before screaming in frustration.

Once Uryu is done, Yuzu decides to ask Ryuken another question, shaken from her trance, "If that's the truth—why would Quincies like Ms. Bambietta and Candice follow him? They are quite powerful. I don't understand why they'd need to bow to anyone…"

Ryuken gives a look of pity at his niece, "It's as I told you, my niece, most people are cowards and fear death. The Sternritter are entirely run off that fear."

Uryu eyes Ryuken curiously at this, "How do you know that?"

Ryuken gives his son a pitiable stare, "Because my father used to be one of them."

Uryu gasps, his previous world view shattering completely.

Ryuken explains, "Soken started to think of leaving the Wandenreich after witnessing how his many comrades were mistreated, or straight up murdered, by the emperor. Furthermore, he was very outspoken about his desire to make peace rather than war with the Shinigami, which the Reich took issue with. Eventually, he was forced to flee to this town in Japan and settled down with a family that he hoped would be free from the Wandenreich."

Uryu is completely silent at these revelations, unable to come to terms with what he has learned.

Ryuken then regards Yuzu, who looks shaken up in her own right, "Knowing what I have shared today, are you still intent on treading down the path those Sternritter have set you on?"

Yuzu has a great amount of fear in her eyes, contemplating what she should do. She then catches sight of the picture of her mother on the table, wearing a friendly smile.

Yuzu's eyes then fill with resolve that quite honestly has no place to be in the eyes of a girl so young, before she states, "I will."

Uryu's eyes widen in shock, looking back at the girl with an urgent expression. Ryuken sighs, adjusting his glasses.

"Why? Why on this forsaken rock that we call out planet—would you ever knowingly want to associate with such an organization when you don't have to?!" Ryuken shouts, having become upset with the girl.

Yuzu's resolve doesn't waver, however, "That's simple. If I do not, then Candice, and potentially Ms. Bambietta, will die."

Ryuken snorts, "Why should you be doing them any favors? They are using you!"

Yuzu's expression softens at this, "I know… despite this, Candice has been nice to me ever since I met her. I'm proud to count her among my friends. And while Ms. Bambietta may be terrifying at times, I still don't think she should die because of me. It would feel wrong of me to leave them like that…"

Ryuken's eyes widen, as he feels like he is looking at Masaki's legacy.

Uryu decides to voice his disapproval, "Are you insane?! They'll kill you without remorse to save their own skin! And you're telling us you'd give up your life to save them?!"

Yuzu flinches, "Well… yeah."

Yuzu's simple, resolute responses to things cause the boy to start laughing dejectedly. Yuzu gives the boy a concerned look, not understanding why he is laughing.

Uryu adjusts his glasses, choosing not to elaborate, "Fine. You give me no choice. I'll just have to continue my own Quincy training so that I can join this Wandenreich when you do."

Both Yuzu and Ryuken wear urgent expressions at this, Ryuken looking like he will protest.

Uryu cuts him off, "Someone is going to have to look after her when she is there, and you're too much of a coward to do it yourself, Ryuken!"

Ryuken leans back, neither confirming nor denying the claim.

Uryu sets his gaze on Yuzu next to him, "You're insane, Kurosaki… but I can't deny that you must've rubbed off on me…"

Yuzu gives the boy a friendly smile, "Thanks, I get the insane part from my dad!"

Uryu sweardrops, "Right… so, do you have a plan when we do join this Wandenreich?"

Yuzu looks contemplative at this before nodding, "Yeah. Let's save the Quincy race!"

Uryu deadpans, "That's it? Really?"

Yuzu looks up, seeming to contemplate something before nodding, again with a smile, "Yep that's it."

The girl then offers Uryu a hand, which he shakes hesitantly.

"But, for real though, we're going to have to come up with a better plan." Uryu states with a serious face after letting go of the girl's hand.

Ryuken scoffs, "If you two are really intent on this course of action, you truly are lost causes. I have nothing more to discuss. You can leave."

Uryu glares at his father, "As if you need to tell us twice. C'mon, Yuzu!"

Uryu turns to leave while Yuzu hesitates, giving her uncle an apologetic look before following after her older cousin.

Ryuken sighs as can't help but see himself and Masaki in them as he watches the duo leave.

The man mentally scoffs at himself, "Ridiculous… I was far too cowardly to ever possess such lofty goals… I only pray that Isshin is ready to stand by me when the day comes to protect these children from their foolish decision…"

The man eyes the silver arrowhead intently, "It's still far too soon…"

Hueco Mundo

White has just finished devouring yet another group of Barragan's Adjucha minions. Despite this, his wound still aches, forcing him to drop to his knees.

"Why?! I've devoured more than enough Adjuchas by now! Why won't it heal?!" the hollow calls out desperately.

"You poor thing… you've been dealing with his Respira all this time, I can't imagine how you must feel…" a soft voice calls out from behind White.

The dragon flips around to face the source of the voice to find a human with a Capricorn shaped mask, long turquoise hair, and wearing black and white clothes with a sword strapped to their side.

White's aura turns to one of utter hostility, "SHINIGAMI!"

He can see the figure wave their hands in front of them, as if wanting to talk their way out of this, but the time for words is over. Only bloodlust remains.

However, as White charges at the figure, his wound becomes too much to bear, forcing him to completely tumble over on the ground. The figure, a woman he can make out after taking a better look at them, rushes to his side.

"Get away!" he calls out, although unable to move as he spasms in pain.

The woman's eyes widen upon getting a better look at the hollow's underbelly, "It's even worse than I thought! It's a miracle you're still alive! Hold on."

The hollow roars at the sight of the woman spitting on him.

"How DARE you look down on me like this, you damned Shinigami! Pompous! Just like the rest! –I'll rend your body to pieces!", the dragon roars in a fit of rage.

White pauses his flailing as he can feel his spiritual reserves returning to him, as well as the pain quickly subsiding. The hollow groans almost questioningly at the woman, wondering why he feels his power returning.

The woman gives him a friendly smile before back away, "My saliva has healing properties, young Adjucha. You don't have to worry about the Barragan's nasty wound anymore."

At that, White gets back on all fours, glaring down at the woman dubiously, "Why did you heal my wounds, Shinigami?"

The woman sighs at the Adjucha's inquisition, "I tried telling you earlier that I am an Arrancar—not a Shinigami!"

White tilts his head at this, "Arrancar… yeah, I recall one of Barragan's men using that word…"

White still seems to not get the full picture, so the woman elaborates, "An Arrancar is a hollow who has removed a part of their mask in the pursuit to become more whole. It is undoubtedly the final step of hollow evolution and—where are you going?"

The dragon, who had lost all interest once finding out that the woman wasn't a Shinigami, decided to take his leave, "I'm leaving. I won't become a Vasto Lorde by listening to you lecture."

The woman huffs, "You can't leave yet."

The dragon tilts his head, asking himself "Why not?" in his head before a figurative light bulb goes off, "Oh, right! Thanks for healing me Ms… uh…"

"Nelliel, although you can call me Nel. And you're very welcome!", the woman states, once more wearing a friendly smile.

The dragon grunts, "Right then, I'll see you around Nel."

The woman suddenly appears via Sonido before the dragon's face mid-flight, "Wait!"

"Ah!", the dragon calls out, startled by the woman's sudden actions, falling off course and landing face first in a nearby sand dune.

The dragon's head pokes out of the sand, "What the hell was that about?! Can't you see I was trying to fly?!"

Nel lands in front of the dragon before bowing, "My deepest apologies, but I have to talk to you about Barragan."

White snorts, "What's there to say? He's a right cunt, innit' he?"

Nel's jaw drops at this, "Aren't you worried he'll get mad and come to kill you if you talk like that? –Or could it be? Are you a masochist like me?!"

Nel states that last part semi-ironically, which is lost on the hollow.

"Maso-? NO!" the hollow then snorts before continuing, "To answer your first question, no. Not really. If he felt that strongly about killing me, he would stop sending these minions after me and fucking do it himself."

Nel's eyes widen at this, before shaking her head, wearing a serious expression that gets White's attention, "Well, I didn't come here to throw around insults—I came here to offer you a proposal, oh Great White Dragon of the forest."

White flaps his wings, sending up a dust storm, "All right then, Nelliel, let's hear it. I have things to do—namely becoming a Vasto Lorde."

Nel nods, "First of all, I am currently aligned with Barragan as one of the Espada in Las Noches. Normally, that would mean I would be obliged to kill you, but I have a distaste for violence, which is only surpassed for my distaste of Barragan and his ilk."

White listens intently, saying nothing as the woman pauses, her taking it as a sign to continue, "There are a few other Arrancars in the upper rankings of Las Noches like me who feel the same, but there's really nothing we can do about it as Barragan has not only the majority of Las Noches under his command, but the strongest Arrancar too. The two of them are nothing but violent brutes who I wouldn't mind taking out of the picture, but alas I do not possess the type of power necessary for such a feat."

White nods, beginning to understand where she is going with this, as she continues, "That is where you, a hollow who managed to wound Barragan as only an Adjucha, comes into the picture. All of Hueco Mundo not aligned with Las Noches have been causing us more trouble than usual, especially the rogue Vasto Lordes who have been mostly inactive until recently. You must feel it, White. You've caused a wind of rebellion—of hope—to sweep across these lonely dunes. We need not live in fear anymore…"

Nel outstretches her hand towards the Adjucha towering above her, "I'd like for you to become the beacon of light that guides those rebellious winds to salvation—to create a Hueco Mundo where we need not suffer additional hardships from the likes of savages like Barragan and his goons."

White stares wordlessly at Nel's outstretched hand.

The woman offers him a final question, "Will you become that light we need, White?"

White thinks back to his earliest days as a Gillian, heck, even before that, where the strong compulsion of the word 'Protect' overwhelmed his entire being. Without any further delay, White's claw lands in Nel's hand, causing her to squeeze lightly on it.

Nel gives a light bow, "I thank you for this, young hollow. I will do what I can to delay any of my peers from pursuing you before you become a Vasto Lorde. Before that promised day, I wish you the best of luck on these dunes. Find allies if you can, you'll need the strength they give you to carry on."

With that, Nel drops her hand as the dragon spreads his wings and takes off once more. Nel stares off into the distance, watching the dragon disappear into the moonlit horizon, with a faint smile and look of hope in her eyes.

Author's Note:

The first major arc of the story is officially over! The fic will now shift focus back to its namesake—White! Disclaimer, the next three chapters won't actually have White in them though… yeah… it's just that I'd like to develop the other various Hollows of Hueco Mundo before I fully hand off the focus to him.

With that, I must say the reviews have mostly either been supportive and/or helpful. I appreciate any and all feedback you all can give me.