Chapter 3: Hidden Alliances
"Oh Naoto Kun!! Sano Kun!!"
Both Naoto and Sano groaned involuntarily. They knew the source of that sickly sweet voice anywhere and whenever it called them, it usually meant trouble for them. And as hard as they may try to avoid her like the plague, she still manages to find them.
But then again, they ARE pretty well known around Hueco Mundo for the past few decades or so being the only non-Espada ranked arrancars who recieves their missions (mostly scouting missions) directly from Aizen Sosuke himself.
All have wondered what made these arrancars so special that Aizen has personally selected them for missions. A number had even attempted to kill them off to take whatever influence they had for themselves. But all who tried to do so simply disappeared.
Right now though, it was Sano and Naoto who wished that it was THEM who disappeared. That was preferable over dealing with the little spitfire of an arrancar who was currently harrassing them.
"Hello Lilinette. Nice to see you again." Naoto said as he turns around. Behind them stood a young female arrancar wearing a skimpy white bikini as a uniform with a horned helmet like mask fragment which also covered her left eye.
In the course of their service under Aizen, both Sano and Naoto had the opportunity to work with the Espadas. Lilinette was the sole fraccion of the lazy-as-hell Primera Espada, Stark. But as they later discovered, she was all the motivation which Stark needed.
They had met Stark and his fraccion during a mission to the real world and were shocked by Lilinette's random acts of abuse against her own superior. But even more surprising was Stark's general lack of concern of what his own fraccion was doing to him which included straddling him and pounding away or shoving her fist down the Primera's throat just to wake him up.
Sano and Naoto would've found it funny if they weren't so damned scared for her welfare.
Much to their chargrin, Lilinette took a shine to the duo and started to hang out with them with or without their consent or asking for a spar which was more like target practice for Linette since neither Sano or Naoto wanted to hurt the Primera's fraccion.
Stark on his part, saw this as an opportunity to get away from his occasionally abusive subordinate and often asked Sano and Naoto to take care of her while he was away on a mission or was simply dozing off. And as fond as Naoto and Sano were of Lilinette, time spent with the little spitfire can sometimes get quite tiresome.
"Don't 'Hi Lilinette' me blondie! You two promised that you'd come over and play with me." Linette said crossly, tapping her foot impatiently. Naoto and Sano glances at one another as if prompting each other to answer her. After a long silence, Naoto sighs and faces Lilinette.
"Sorry about that Lilinette. We were kinda busy with our work so we didn't really have any time to visit you." Naoto said with an embarrassed grin.
"But you two promised to help me out with my Cero!" She whined.
"We did. But that was until you tried to fry US with a Cero as 'practice'." Sano stated bluntly. "And frankly speaking, I'd rather NOT be anyone's target practice."
"Aww c'mon. I already told you that it was an accident didn't I?" Lilinette griped.
"Accident my foot." Sano mutters under his breath. "You'd probably kill someone for practice if you thought you could get away with murder." Naoto elbows his friend's rib lightly and was rewarded with a glare before the blonde looks at Lilinette again.
"Ahh, no worries Lilinette. I'm sure you didn't mean it. But we really have been pretty busy lately so we can't really help you with training. But maybe you can convince Stark-Sama to teach you. He isn't an Espada for nothing you know and I bet he'd be a way better teacher." Naoto said.
"C'mon guys. How can I get any training from him when that lazyass is busy studying the insides of his eyelids right?" Lilinette complained.
"Hey now. Is that any way to talk about the guy you're supposed to serve?" A tired sounding voice grumbles.
The three arrancar looks towards the source and sees a longhaired arrancar with what seemed like a bony necklace as his mask fragment walk towards them. Stark's demeanor and habits reminded the two ex Konoha nins so much of their former comrade Shikamaru that it was scary.
"Greetings Stark-Sama." Sano and Naoto greets with a bow which the Primera Espada simply waves off.
"Skip it you two. You know I don't care much for formalites." Stark said then looks at his fraccion. "Harassing these two again Lilinette?"
"I wouldn't have had to if you paid more attention to me." Linette answers with a pout.
"That's because you ask for TOO much attention." Stark comments dryly. "And what's with this sudden interest of yours in training?"
"What's wrong with wanting to get stronger?" Lilinette shot back. "If anything else, you're supposed to be the one training me since I AM your fraccion."
"Would you leave me alone if I did?" Stark asks to which Lilinette responds with a swift kick to his shin making the Primera hop around comically in pain. Stark then looks at Sano and Naoto who was watching the entire scene with a mixture of horror and fascination. "See what I have to put up with? I swear I get no respect."
"She wouldn't be Lilinette if she started now." Naruto stated cheekily earning him a mild glare from Stark which effectively shuts him up.
"In any case, can you go back to our room Lilinette? I need to have a talk with these two alone." Stark said, his expression suddenly turning serious.
However mischievous Lilinette may be, she knew and recognized the look Stark was giving her. It usually meant that there was something serious going on that he couldn't discuss in front of her or that someone was about to die at his hands.
She hoped it wasn't the latter since she was rather fond of Naoto and Sano.
The fraccion doesn't press the issue and simply nods before walking off to their quarters, leaving the Primera Espada with Naoto and Sano who were wondering what Stark wanted to talk to them about.
"Naoto, Sano. Walk with me please." Stark said. Naoto and Sano looks at each other and shrugs their shoulders then follows Stark as he takes a stroll. The trio walked in silence for a while and stops in a remote balcony looking out into the deserts of Hueco Mundo.
After a moment of studying the scenery in front of him, Stark finally spoke. "Do you two know the reason why I joined Aizen-Sama and became an Espada?"
When neither Naoto or Sano answered, Stark took it as his cue to speak further. "I was a Vasto Lord and as such, was at the very top of the food chain in Hueco Mundo. But that also meant that a lot of others wanted to bring me down and take the spot for themselves. I was one of the strongest not because I wanted to but simply because I had to in order to survive, no more no less. And honestly speaking, I was getting tired of fighting for my life on a regular basis."
"Then Aizen-Sama came and brought a semblance of order in Hueco Mundo. I joined him and became one of the Espada because I agreed with his ideals and beliefs. And as as an added bonus, no right minded arrancar would dare attack me because apart from the fact that they already know I can blow them away easily, I'm also one of the elite chosen by Aizen-Sama himself." Stark continues before falling silent. The Primera seemed to be thinking deeply.
"With all due respect Stark-Sama, but I think that's not the real reason why you brought is here to talk, isn't it?" Naoto said. "Nor is it the reason why you asked Lilinette to leave."
Stark looks back and gives the two an even look before leaning back on the railing and looking up at Hueco Mundo's sky. "You two don't really miss much don't you?"
"We were taught before to look underneath the underneath and had a lot of practice with it." Sano said. "But we didn't even need that to see something's bothering you."
"I see." Stark thought for a moment before sighing in resignation. "You're both right. That's NOT what I wanted to speak to you about and the reason why I sent Lilinette away is because I don't want to involve her so in case something goes wrong, she'll be blameless. Truth be told, I'm no longer confident that Aizen-Sama's plan will prove beneficial to us as a race." Stark said. "As a matter of fact, I think that his methods might do more harm then good."
Sano and Naoto's reactions were hidden by their mask. But Stark could sense a sudden tension around them.
"What I'm saying is, what he's planning to do may affect the delicate balance between the worlds. So if there is really proof that what he's doing may be detrimental to all our survival, then as a ranking member of this army and as a rational being, I may have to take him down myself."
"Why are you telling US this? You know full well that we serve directly under Aizen-Sama and what you're even thinking is a treasonous act in by itself. What makes you so sure that we won't rat you out to Aizen-Sama?" Sano asks tersely.
At this, Stark smiles and answers. "C'mon. I didn't become Primera Espada just because I'm the strongest one around. And contrary to popular beliefs, I'm actually a pretty observant guy and know a thing or two about looking underneath the underneath."
Stark looks down at them, all traces of humor or laziness gone from his face. "First off, I don't believe that the both of you are who you say you are. For whatever reason it is, you're hiding something from the rest of us and for that reason alone, I'm well within my rights as an Espada to execute you on the spot as potential threats."
This statement immediately puts Naoto and Sano on their guard. In their current level, they knew that they had little or no chance of beating arguably the strongest arrancar in excistence right now. But that didn't mean that they wouldn't try if it came to that.
Seeing that Sano and Naoto had suddenly tensed up, Stark raises a hand to reassure them. "Relax guys. I'm simply speaking figuratively. You two don't look like megalomaniacs to me and I don't believe that your intentions and goals are that much different from mine. Don't tell me you're satisfied with the way things are going here in Hueco Mundo now. Sure Aizen-Sama brought a bit of order to this world but some of the things he has implemented simply makes things here more difficult then it should be."
Sano and Naoto knew what Stark was referring to. While Aizen DID bring order to the otherwise chaotic world of Hueco Mundo, he was also the cause of many disputes amongst the hollows because of his background as a shinigami which he supresses with ruthless efficiency. And despite the man's claims that he was doing everything for the benefit of the hollow race, he was obviously doing it for his own selfish ambitions.
"Ok. Supposing that what you say is true, why come to us about this? Wouldn't it be better to join forces with another Espada?" Naoto asks.
Stark shook his head. "It's not a very good idea to get allies from my peers at this time. I think you should know that there are only two Espadas whom I can probably count on. One being Halibel and the other is Nelial."
The latter name causes Sano and Naoto to frown. The former Trecera Espada had reportedly deserted their ranks a while back along with her two fraccions. But they also knew that she had many enemies which included the current Quince Espada, Nnoitra Jiruga who hated her somewhat pacifistic ways and wouldn't think twice eliminating her.
"Halibel and Nelial are the only ones reasonable enough to even consider my plans. But Nelial's gone now so that leaves me with a shortage of allies because the rest of the Espadas aside from Halibel are either very loyal to Aizen-Sama or are simply too much of a wildcard to even consider. I've got some ssupport from the Privarons but even they won't be enough." Stark continues then stares at Naoto and Sano.
"That's where you two come in. I told you before that I'm a pretty observant guy and I'm neither blind nor foolish enough not to see that you're obviously hiding your true strength. Apart from the fact that you operate under Aizen-Sama's orders, I need strong allies who can back me up and I KNOW you two are strong. But more importantly, you two have your own opinions and insights and don't seem to be the type of guys who would blindingly follow orders or take any crap from anybody without good reason."
Naoto and Sano exchanges a look and nods at each other before turning their attention back to Stark.
"If you're serious about all this, then we'll cooperate with you." Sano said then adds in a serious tone of voice. "But understand that this is only a means to an end and Espada or not, we won't hesitate to take you out if you betray us."
"You were right when you said that we were hiding our true strength. But you have no idea just how much we're holding back and we plan to keep it that way for now." Naoto stated. "And for the record, we're not doing this because we believe you. We're doing this to protect Lilinette when the time comes. She deserves better then this kind of life."
"You're right. It's better if Lilinette's not involved in whatever it is we are planning." Stark said. "So I take it you two are willing to cooperate with me?"
Both Sano and Naoto nods their heads at the Primera Espada.
Both knew that the step they were about to take was a dangerous one. But then again, it wasn't their way to just sit back and watch as another madman tried to destroy innocent lives for their own amusement.
Never again.
Author's Notes: Ok. Not one of my better chapters. But I wanted to establish a rapport between Sano/Naoto and an Espada in this chapter for what I'm planning in this story. In any case, R&R pls.