So, chapter 2 is finally finished! Hope you liked the last one; I would like to thank all those who reviewed my story: Kero-mero, darkmachines, and especially Yemi Hikari.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment on this! It means so much to me!
Sorry for not updating earlier; for some reason my comp. wouldn't let me log in or access my files, so I was late in writing. Stupid technical difficulties…
Well, on to the next chapter! Sit back and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach
Chapter 2 – The Gathering
The island was ovular shaped, with two beaches at opposite sides down the length of the island. Stark and Lilynette had woken up on the North Beach, and Harribel had been in the water on the south side. Dotted along the North Beach were palm trees with coconuts. On the east lay a gargantuan rock, riddled with nooks and caves. There are seemingly bats in the caves, as Ulquiorra was "conversing" with them there. To the west lay a "beach," or rather, a black, rough, rocky ground that extended into the ocean. No Espada has been seen there so far.
And in the middle lay a giant (not really all that big, but it took up most of the island; it was a relatively small island) forest, with thick foliage, "regular" trees (that look like Oaks or Maples, or at least something similar), and man-eating plants. At the moment, Stark is running through the trees in the forest.
"Meeting," Stark said to Grimmjow as he passed, charging with Sonido through the forest.
The blue-haired Espada nodded, and leapt off to spread the word.
He found Nnoitra wrenching the last plant off of him. Grimmjow noted with amusement that the Quinta Espada was covered in cuts and marks.
"Whaddaya want?" Nnoitra snarled.
"Just telling you there's a meeting in ten minutes," Grimmjow answered mildly. "And you're cut up."
Nnoitra glared murder at him, and said "I don't suppose you'd be brave enough to have a little fight, eh?"
Grimmjow winced involuntarily. He knew that he was no match for the fifth Espada.
Nnoitra saw this and laughed nastily.
"Ha ha! Is little Grimmy too scawed to fight? Widdew Kitty need his mommy?" Nnoitra laughed abrasively.
"I told you, I AM NOT A FRICKIN CAT!"
Nnoitra just sneered.
"Then prove it."
He got ready his stance.
But before either one could make a single move, a shape barreled into Nnoitra from his side.
"What the Fuck – !"
Lilynette stood up, brushed off her clothes, and grinned.
Grimmjow just gaped at her in amazement.
"Wow, y – you're really something."
Grimmjow was surprised that she'd be so bold as to attack the Quinta Espada, especially when he was gearing up for a fight. But then again, she was the Primera Espada's fraccion. She could do what she liked, and Nnoitra couldn't do anything, or Stark would have his head. And as lazy as Stark was, nobody wanted to get on his bad side.
"Oh yeah, and Stark called a meeting. It's at the heart of the forest, in that clearing with the log," Grimmjow said, and made his way towards the meeting place.
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"Hey, Harribel, we've got a meeting," Stark stated.
Harribel nodded and set off towards the meeting spot. Stark had already told them where they would be meeting, and it seemed he planned on doing it more frequently from then on.
When she got there, she saw that Grimmjow and Stark – sitting on a log slouched over – were there. She walked into the clearing with a brief "hello" and sat down on a log, crossing her legs.
They all saw Lilynette approaching, dragging Nnoitra behind her by his ear.
Stark grunted and stood up.
"I'm going to find the fourth."
Harribel nodded, and glanced at the sky. The sun had begun to set on the small island, casting pink and orange rays across the sky.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Szayel groaned as he heard the call for a meeting. He had found a very interesting specimen amidst the trees. Now he had to go to a stupid meeting. And things were just starting to get interesting.
He got up, albeit reluctantly, scraped some fertile soil and the specimens into a small glass jar which he pocketed, and made his way to the meeting spot.
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Stark appeared outside of a rocky outcropping where Ulquiorra had decided to relax.
"Meeting."
Ulquiorra nodded soundlessly and made his way to the meeting spot.
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The seven of them sat around the blazing fire in the middle of the clearing. It was nighttime now and the stars shone brightly without any type of obstructions. There was almost no breeze, and it was a quiet night; the only sound that could be heard was the crackling from the fire.
Stark stood up.
"Ladies…gentlemen…comrades… I have called you here to discuss the matters of extreme importance that concern our survival, lives, and choices."
The firelight cast long shadows across their faces and through the trees as the six others leaned forward, as if to better catch what Stark was about to say.
"We…are most likely purported to be dead."
Although they all knew that, it still affected them to hear it so explicitly.
"So, we must decide what we should do now. The best course of action is unclear, and our lives may depend on our decision right now.
"As you know, Harribel found an island a short distance away, where we should be able to stock up on supplies."
"That is, if it's not deserted," muttered Nnoitra.
The others shifted anxiously.
"If so, what should we do?" queried Harribel.
Lilynette responded: "Well, we better just check before making assumptions. I mean, it couldn't hurt."
"Lilynette's right," Stark continued. "We have no choice but to investigate this island. Try not to be so conspicuous. I'll choose who to go."
The others nodded in agreement and gazed around at one another.
"Fine, I'll let you know at moon-high. Give me till then to think."
Stark left the clearing, and the others were left to do what they wanted.
"Everyone be back here by moon-high," Grimmjow commanded.
Harribel lay down on the log to sleep, and some of the others broke off into chattering whispers.
"Harribel?"
"Hm?" Harribel said, looking up.
Lilynette blinked down at her.
"Do you…what do you think will happen?"
"We'll see. Don't worry about it; your partner has it all under control."
Lilynette snorted.
"Yeah, right; if what you call sleeping is a form of control."
"Yeah, you're right; knowing Stark, he'll probably be sleeping when we find him hours after the meet time."
They both chuckled softly and Harribel put her head down while Lilynette sat on the ground near her.
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The moon shone brightly from the middle of the sky. There was a light scent of salt on the light breeze. The trees rustled softly in the wind.
Four of the six Espadas plus Lilynette were ready around the fire. Nnoitra was off somewhere, and Stark had not yet returned.
Suddenly they heard a rustling from the bushes, and Stark emerged from the shadows, his white clothing glowing in the moonlight. They all turned towards him, waiting to hear his decision. He walked over to a log, raising on foot on it and leaving one foot on the ground.
His gaze swept the clearing, his sharp eyes missing nothing.
"I have decided," he began, "to send myself, Tia, and Szayel."
"And me," supplied Lilynette.
"No."
"What?" Lilynette's head jerked up in surprise.
"You're not coming along. You'll remain on this island with the others 'till we get back."
"—don't argue" he interrupted as Lilynette opened her mouth to speak.
"Listen. You need to stay here, because if anything happens, we'll be in each other."
Confusion was evident on Grimmjow's face at his words. Szayel merely looked intrigued, Ulquiorra was as stoic as ever, and Harribel looked calm, without a trace of surprise on her features. A look of deep understanding passed across Lilynette's face. If anything should happen to him…
"I understand," she whispered.
Stark hesitated briefly, then nodded.
"All right; Ulquiorra, you're in charge while we're gone. Grimmjow, just don't get into a fight. Lilynette, behave," he said, giving her a stern look. "Ulquiorra, you're in charge of her. You don't have to make her eat though; she can do that herself. We'll leave in the morning. Harribel, Szayel, stay back a moment. The rest of you can go."
Szayel inwardly groaned. He wanted to get back to studying that specimen; it was eating him up inside. Whenever he found something new to study, he couldn't go to sleep until he had made some serious headway on examining and testing it. Research gave him insomnia.
Well, he might as well listen up. He didn't want to miss important instructions and potentially be left wandering confusedly around the streets.
The three Espada gathered together in a close circle – well, triangle. Stark began outlining what they would be doing.
"And here," he said, "are some maps."
He handed the two of them rolls of paper, which they opened to find a map of the other island, a list of instructions, and a litany of what they had to accomplish or acquire. Some of them had times written by them. Their names were scrawled at the top of their papers. Glancing at each other's lists, Szayel and Harribel noticed that they had been assigned to different tasks.
"Huh," Szayel remarked profoundly.
"Those are your explicit duties. If you think something else is important, make sure it doesn't conflict with your schedule. Some of the missions will be solo."
"So we'll be together on others." Harribel stated for confirmation.
"Yes. However, make sure you don't stray off your schedule. I wrote times because some things are better done at separate times, and some are coordinated. Also, I don't want you getting distracted," he said slowly and with emphasis, leaning a little towards Szayel.
*Gulp* Szayel leaned backwards. "H-hey, don't look at me!" he blanched.
Harribel looked amused.
"He's talking about your inventions."
"And your research," Stark grunted. "Don't think I didn't notice you itching to get back to studying whatever it is. You were practically bouncing in your seat."
"I…I was?" Szayel said in dismay.
Harribel snorted, unable to hold in her laughter any more.
Szayel gave her a disgruntled look, and the corners of her eyes crinkled in laughter.
"You should see your face," she informed him.
Szayel blushed to the tips of his hair.
"Yeah, whatever," he muttered, letting his hair fall over his face.
A smile tugged at the corners of Stark's mouth.
"Ok, enough chatter. Get to bed. We get up early to prepare. Don't wake the others."
"Right," Szayel and Harribel nodded.
"Let's pack some creatures with us, and maybe some useful supplies," Szayel added.
"Like what?" Harribel half-asked, half-stated.
"Yeah, it's not like there are any supplies on this G-d-forsaken island," mumbled Nnoitra, walking over to them.
He was tugging at something in his long hair, and didn't seem to be so successful in getting it out. Throwing up his hands in disgust, he left it alone, leaving a much worse-looking, knotty mess in the middle of his long lock.
Harribel raised her eyebrows at him.
"I don't recall inviting you."
"Shut up, you're just a bitch. You don't have the right to speak, unless you're spoken too, you ungrateful whore," Nnoitra spat. "You women are all the same. You just don't accept that men are superior in every clear way. It's quite obvious to someone with a bit of brain that men are superior."
"Every clear way to you. And you're right; only someone with a very small bit of brain would think that men are superior," she responded calmly.
"And we're so glad you confirmed it verbally. It seems like that itsy bit of brain of yours is capable of even fleeting moments of the real thought analysis of a horsefly," Szayel put in condescendingly, a sneering smirk pasted on his features.
Nnoitra growled in warning, and Stark looked at him. Nnoitra backed down, whimpering.
"Go back to your den, and take your crude comments with you, please," Stark grunted. "I'm sick of hearing you."
"You were late to the meeting," Harribel said in a monotone.
"Shut up," he snarled in return, and stalked off, passing Ulquiorra, who watched him with emerald orbs.
"You missed the meeting." Ulquiorra said it plainly, with his usual detached air.
Nnoitra stormed past him into the woods.
"Fu***** suck up, he just doesn't know when to quit. I'll show him one day. I'm gonna teach that butt-kissing bastard a lesson." Nnoitra kept rambling about "showing" Ulquiorra. Of course, he just couldn't accept the fact that the Cuarta Espada was way out of his league.
The three Espada in the group sighed, looking at each other tiredly.
"OK, time to go to bed," Stark decided.
The other two agreed, and each headed off: Stark plopped down on the log and immediately started snoring, Harribel set off towards North Beach, and Szayel went a few feet into the trees and started tinkering with his tools and experiment.
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The next morning, the Primera, Tercera, and Octava Espada convened on the North Beach. They had woken up a couple hours before, and they were almost ready. The weather was as temperate as it had been for the past two days. It was warm but not too hot, with almost no breeze.
"We all set?" Stark checked.
"Stark…" Lilynette stood near the group.
They all turned to her. Harribel saw a brief flash of longing and grief in Stark's eyes, but then it was gone.
"Yeah? We're leaving after breakfast. Why are you up, anyway?"
Lilynette gave him a look that said 'Really?'
"Come on, when am I not up five hours before you?"
Stark chuckled.
"I hope that's not literal."
"It usually is."
The other two Arrancars chuckled. Stark swept his gaze over them.
"Is everything in order, guys? Guy and gal?"
"Of course; and I even brought along a little test subject," Szayel grinned, displaying a large jar encapsulating one of the man-eating, sharp-toothed plants indigenous to the island.
"Huh." Harribel stated articulately.
"Fine, just don't get too caught up in it. Follow the schedule."
"Will do." Szayel looked pleased.
"All right, lets wake 'em up."
They strode through the forest to the clearing. Grimmjow was crashed in the middle of the clearing where they had their meeting.
Szayel approached him. He breathed in deeply, inhaling the fresh fragrances of the island. Suddenly a green plant lunged out at him, digging its jaws into his ankle. He yelped in pain and fell on top of Grimmjow.
Grimmjow's eyes snapped open, and he took a moment to register where he was, and the situation he was in.
"WHAT THE HELL?"
Grimmjow shot upward, causing Szayel to roll off of him.
"Hey, watch it," he complained.
"My apologies," Szayel responded sarcastically. "Sorry the fanged plant bit me."
"You should be," grumbled Grimmjow. Despite his complaints, he leaned forward and pulled the plant's jaws open so that Szayel could get his leg out.
"Whatever," moaned Stark. "Quit arguing already. I'm going to get Ulquiorra."
He used sonido and disappeared from the clearing.
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"BREAKFAST!" Lilynette yelled loudly.
"Ouch," mumbled Stark as he came down the "stairs."
They were in a dip in the island, like a small, shallow, bowl-shaped pit, where they had set up a fire and were cooking birds on a spit. The dip was just large enough to fit them and the food comfortably and there was more room around the rim, where people could sit (it wasn't that deep of a dip – it was just sandy and soft inside, and grassy around it). The ground was a mixture of soft dust and sand. There were a series of small, smooth stone ledges that looked like small steps. It was quite unnatural, because while on one hand the island seemed like it had never been habituated by people, on the other hand there was no way that these stones could have gotten there naturally.
The scent of roasting birds filled the air, and clouds of steam rose up from the shallow fire pit they had dug in the dip. Stark's stomach rumbled deeply just from smelling it.
Lilynette and Grimmjow had found a group of hen-sized blue birds and decided to hunt them and cook them for breakfast. They were quite delicious. Nnoitra was pigging out on them until Lilynette glared at him and Harribel stated flatly "Pig," to which Lilynette smirked and replied wittily "cow!"
Ulquiorra held a small bird tentatively in his hands and took a small bite. Even though it was the smallest bird in the pile, it still covered half his face. He chewed tentatively, and, discovering that it was good, dug in.
As they were eating, Szayel scooted over to Stark. Stark glanced up.
"So, how did you make those maps when you couldn't even see the island?"
"…Well…uh, I um, kind of headed in that direction a bit… to get the outline of the island. Didn't want to go in there blind."
"Smart."
"Yeah, look who's talking."
Szayel chuckled.
"True."
They finished up their food, and Stark got up, licking his fingers.
"Delicious, Lilynette."
Her eyes glowed with pride and then narrowed challengingly.
"Did you expect anything different?" she demanded belligerently.
Stark only sighed.
"I could do with a nap," he called out with a huge yawn.
"Well, too bad Primera," Harribel retorted lightly, grabbing him by the ear and dragging him off to their baggage – which wasn't that much. They were only supposed to be gone for a week at most, in Szayel's case.
They convened near the northern edge of the forest after retrieving their bags from North Beach. A coconut dropped down, and Harribel caught it in her hands. She deftly spun it up in the air and caught it with one hand easily. They turned, facing the southern side where the other island was.
"Let's go."
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A:N:
And that's the end of chapter 2! Hope you enjoyed it! R&R – comments much appreciated!
-Darkbandit01