I don't own Bleach which belongs to Tite Kubo

"Come on!" Alexander yelled to the group behind him, "We're almost there!" Behind him the other members of the Gotei were panting, exhausted, and cold from climbing across an entire mountain range for the past month or so. As of that moment, they were walking over an out cropping of rock that allowed for around two people to be able to stand side-by side. Though, their line didn't hold any real organization outside of Alexander, who was pretty much the defacto leader, in the front and just behind him Ran'Tao, who had pretty much become the defacto second-in-command.

Yhwach was carrying a sleeping Sebastian and all of the luggage Alexander had stuck them with on his back, huffing from all of the weight. Shikeguni looked to the younger boy. "Hey," Shikeguni said, "I can take one or two of your bags if you'd like me to." Yhwach just gave him a side glance and straightened.

"I can take care of all of this just fine," Yhwach told him, "I don't need your help."

Chang looked at Yhwach, "I can't help but wonder- why is it you do not trust anyone Yhwach?"

"That's my- our business," Yhwach answered, "I'm only here because Sebastian would have run off to join with you all the moment I turned my back. So, I'm just sticking around for him."

Yachiru, who looked like she was just taking a stroll or something, spoke up, "You appear to care for your brother very much."

"Of course," Yhwach answered without looking back at her, "He's my brother. I'd go mad if it weren't for him." A bit farther back Oetsu, Ichibei, Senjumaru, and Tenjiro were holding a conversation of their own.

"Now, Mr. Nimaya," Ichibei said, "I would like to know more of these "Zanpaktos" you've mentioned a couple time."

"Hmmmmm, how to explain it," Oetsu said, "Well, you see a Zanpakto is essentially a weapon that contains a representation of a person's soul called a spirit. The weapon can evolve and grow with the person as they, too, grow. I really only have that much figured that as well as most of the construction process. But, with something like this you can only learn some things after it's made."

Ichibei nodded and scratched the stubble that counted his beard, "I see. How intriguing. Perhaps when we have a chance you can show me the plans you currently have to Ran'Tao and me. Ran'Tao is very good with technical designs especially in regards to someone's reiatsu and reiryoku. Which it appears you sword will require."

"Interesting," Nimaya said, thinking on the matter.

Senjumaru glanced back at Ichibei, "And what would have to add to this project?"

Ichibei smirked at her question. "I'm good with names," he replied.

"Eh?" Tenjiro said, "Really, that's it? Dude anyone can give somethin' a name!" Tenjiro reached down and picked up a rock on the ground and held it up for everyone to see. "Fer example, this rock is dubbed "Larry"!" Tenjiro announced before throwing it away.

"Actually, her name is Louise," Ichibei corrected casually, "And you just ripped her from her family who she will never be able to meet again due to a lack of motor functions." Everyone just stared at Ichibei like he was crazy. He glanced back at them and shook his head. "Everything has a name," Ichibei said, "A name is more than just what you call someone or something. It is the essence, the very definition of a being. Within a name, short, long, or otherwise, you can find out everything possible about that thing. If you know where to look. I am probably one of the few people out there with the ability to see these things. I can see something's name and- by extension- everything else about it."

Oetsu snapped his fingers as if he'd just figured something out. "That's how you can help!" Oetsu said, "You can figure out the name of a Zanpakto and anything else that needs to be grasped from it!" Ichibei nodded.

At the very back of the line Wakiza walked side-by-side with each other in silence. Eventually, Ahmad spoke up. "Tell me," the warrior said to the hunter, "How do you know Alexander? You appear to have a certain distaste for the man."

Wakiza gave Ahmad a slight side glance before turning his attention to the path in front of them. After a bit of silence Wakiza spoke up. "I met him when I was young," Wakiza said, "We lived in a village in northern Gallow Forest, that's the forest that surrounds Myrinon, and one day Alexander came in while "passing through" the village. Back then, I was a boy just learning how to hunt. I'd never seen an outsider before, I had doubted they'd even existed. We never received any visitors while I lived in the village. I was fascinated by him. He stayed for three days and every moment where I wasn't hunting or training I'd go up to him and ask him about the outside world. He smiled and answered each question calmly and peacefully. He gave a smile and patted me on the head every time we finished. On the third day an elder came up to me while I was asking questions and said, "Stop bothering this man with questions about something you'll never see. Your mind should be on our village, not someone else's.""

"Did Alexander say anything?" Ahmad asked when Wakiza paused in his story.

"Yes," Wakiza answered, "He answered, "A curious mind is not a bad thing. It is what allows us to learn and grow as people. But that does not mean stagnation is the same thing. Though, remember this: curiosity killed the cat for he did not realize where he did trek."

Wakiza gave a sad smile and small grin. "I should have listened to his word more closely but," Wakiza looked off into the distance, "I didn't. And my village paid the price. I'm sorry I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Ahmad nodded and placed a hand on Wakiza's shoulder. "Everyone!" Alexander called from the front. He was standing at the top of a high-rise that widened out the path. "Come over here, you've got to see this!" Alexander waved to them to come up. Yhwach nudged Sebastian awake and headed up the hill with everyone with them. When they got to the top they saw on the mountain ahead of them there sat a large, grey tower almost as tall as the mountain and connected to it by two straight structures jutting out of it. It lay surrounded by mountains in every direction and mist gathered at the bottom few levels making it hard to see where its bottom floor was. As it rose up it stopped just short of the top of the mountain's tip leaving it around 100 to 150 feet short of the top and possessed a balcony on one of the highest floors that was pointed right out at them. "That," Alexander said, "Will be our home base. Heaven's Keep is what it's called. In Legends it is known by other names as well. Among them are: Ma'at, Elysium, Hanan pacha, Nirvana, the Otherworld, and Seireitei."

Alexander looked at the group and smiled. "But, we can reach there tomorrow. Right now I think it's a good idea for us to rest." Everybody slumped down exhausted except for Alexander and Ran'Tao.

Ran'Tao gently put down her bag and turned to Alexander. "Since you and I are the only ones here not slumped on the ground like a lazy hog I suggest you set up the tents while I get the fire and dinner ready," she told him. Alexander nodded.

"Ah, a woman cooking a heartwarming meal," Alexander said, "A tale as old as time."

Ran'Tao just huffed at Alexander as she searched through a bag for equipment to get the fire started. Without looking up she replied, "You don't have to sound so grateful. Yours is going to be poisoned."

"Good Luck with that!" Alexander cheerily replied as he began setting up the first tent. After everyone else had caught their breath and begun to chip in with the camp set-up they were able to get it done by sunset. Sitting next to the fire they looked across the mountains to see the sunset descend behind the mountains. As the sun descended the light from it spread across the range tinting the mountains orange and illuminating the mist creating swirls, lines, and all other sorts of designs in multicolored ribbons resembling rainbows. They were all around them in the air around them and even a few on the mountains themselves. The ribbons and strands flowed around them as if they were some kind of light show dancing just for them in the sky. They danced in large waves across the mist, they trailed across the rocks in all sizes, and they flowed around them in waving patterns.

"Wow," Sebastian said, "I didn't believe rainbows could do that."

"Yeah," Shikeguni said, "I know what you mean."

"Beauty," Ichibei said, "Is the only word I can to describe this phenomena within our minds' ability to comprehend."

Wakiza reached out and ran his hand through one of the nearby rainbow ribbons. "Never did I think there would ever be such an event on our world."

"Most people believe that the world in which they live cannot possess a beauty that inspires awe," Alexander said, "It never occurs to them that they never looked in the first place."

And with a final gleam the sun faded behind the mountains covering them in darkness with only the solitary light of the fire illuminating them. The moment gone, infinite beauty was no longer made manifest.

At night the groups slept in their tents. Ichibei, Senjumaru, and Tenjiro in one, the next containing Chang, Yachiru, and Ahmad, after that was one containing Oetsu and Wakiza, Shikeguni, Yhwach, and Sebastian in the final one while Ran'Tao and Alexander were on watch. Poking at the flame Alexander stared into the fire. He glanced up and Ran'Tao who was standing up and staring out across the cliff's edge. She turned around and looked at him. "Why me?" she asked him.

Alexander looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. "Why what about you? Why invite you into my little adventure party?" he asked her. Nodding in the affirmative she walked slowly to the other side of the fire and sat down.

"Yes," she answered, "There is no one in this world who wants you dead more than I and I assure you if I could kill you I would."

Alexander smirked and gazed off into the distance. "Are you sure?" he said turning his head back to her, "Last I checked you never even tri-" at that moment an energy blast hit him right on the forehead knocking him back. Getting up, Alexander rubbed the spot with his hand.

Lowering her pistol Ran'Tao said, "That blast would be capable of blowing a 10 ton boulder into dust. Yet you were barely even burned by it. And now, if you could look at the wound you would see that it isn't even there."

Alexander nodded and smirked. "See, now was that so hard?" he asked sarcastically.

Ran'Tao just let out a huff. "I'm turning in, who do you want to replace me out here?" she asked him.

"No one," he said, "I got this."

"Ok," Ran'Tao said, entering a tent.

Meanwhile, in one of the tents Sebastian was nudging Yhwach trying to wake him. "Brother," Sebastian whispered, "Psst, brother!"

"Hm?" Yhwach muttered, barely awake. He didn't move in his sleeping mat nor did he open his but did reply, "What is it, Sebastian?"

"I need to go poddy," Sebastian replied while doing a chicken dance.

"Then go," Yhwach muttered.

"But-," Sebastian tried to argue. Sadly, he was silenced by Yhwach snoring. Letting out a huff and carefully climbed over Shikeguni, trying not to wake the sleeping teenager, and exiting out the back of the tent and walking away from the camp, escaping Alexander's notice. Sebastian trotted until he was out of view of the camp, hoping no one will see him. After he did his business and pulled his pants back up. He looked around for something to wash his hands with. After all, he couldn't go back without washing his hands. His brother always told him to wash his hands after poddying. Sebastian didn't want to make his brother upset for not washing his hands. So, he walked a bit to find some water. As long as he didn't go too far from the camp he should be ok. Now, if one were a usual 8 (83) year old then they would be freaking terrified of being lost in the middle of the night on a mountain you've never been to then one would be peeing their freaking pants. Unless you were Sebastian deQuincy. In which case one didn't really notice and were more concerned with finding something to wipe one's hands with. And eventually, Sebastian found it in the form of a river. Running forward in glee he placed his hands into it and began rubbing his hands together, washing them. When he finished he waved his hands in front of him in order to get some of the water off before wiping the rest off on his clothes. As Sebastian got up he heard the sound of a stick breaking behind him. Turning around he saw a pack of wolves beginning to surround him.

The next morning

"SEBASTIAN!" Yhwach yelled, rushing out of his tent, "Where's Sebastian!?" The entire camp awoke to the sudden yelling and clamored outside their tents to see what was going on.

"Hm?" Oetsu asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's Sebastian, he's not in the tent!" Yhwach yelled, running around the campsite, trying to find his brother. "Who-who was on watch last night!?" Yhwach yelled.

Ran'Tao set her glasses in place and half mindedly was using her hand to brush back some of the bedhead. "Well," she said, "I was on watch for the first bit last night. But I turned in early and the one on watch was- Alexander." The entire camp's attention turned to Alexander, who was "busy" checking to make sure the fire had gone completely out.

"You!" Yhwach said, storming towards Alexander who turned towards him, "Why weren't you paying attention!? You should have seen Sebastian walk off!"

"I didn't see him walk off," Alexander calmly answered, "I did sense him walk off though. It's not hard to recognize any of your reiatsus."

Yhwach grew extremely angered after hearing this. Clenching his right fist, he grabbed Alexander by his shirt, pulled the Nephilhim down to Yhwach's level and socked him right in the face. The bruise disappeared from Alexander's face within a moment and he sighed.

"If you knew he left camp," Shikeguni said, "Then why didn't you stop him."

"Because he was never in any danger," Alexander answered, "In fact, here he is right now. Completely unharmed as you can see." The camp turned their heads to find Sebastian riding into camp, on a wolf three times his size. Trailed by three other, bigger wolves and a group of pups.

Seastian smiled and waved at the camp. "Hey, everyone! Look, I made some new friends!" Most of the collective group's jaws dropped. Except for Ichibei and Alexander. Both of which let out a small smile. Ichibei got up and approached the group, kneeling down.

"And what are you names?" he politely asked the group. The pups hid behind the bigger wolves, who began growling at Ichibei. His face showed a bit of surprise but he smiled and sighed. "I see," he said, "Well, I can't really say it's too shocking though. Those of my order have never been shunned by those who know of us." He walked back to the group and Yhwach, finally recovered from his stupor, rushed towards Sebastian simultaneously hugging him and lifting him off the wolf.

"Sebastian don't ever run off like that again!" Yhwach yelled at him, "And- and get away from those wolves! They could seriously hurt you!"

Tenjiro stepped forward and placed a hand on Yhwach shoulder, "Kid, if those things-" He was cut off by some intimidating growling coming from all members of the pack.

"They don't like being called "thing"," Sebastian explained.

Tenjiro chuckled nervously and held his hand up, "Of course, terribly sorry about that," he apologized to the pack, "But, back to the matter at hand. Yhwach- if those wolves wanted to hurt your little brother then he wouldn't have come in riding on one of them like a horse."

Yhwach looked between Sebastian and the wolf pack for a bit, considering this. Then, he let out a sigh. "Alright, you have a point Tenjiro-san," Yhwach said.

"Well, now that that's settled," Alexander said, "Let's get going!" So, the group continued the last leg of its journey to Heaven's Keep. This time accompanied by a pack of wolves which Sebastian rode with, followed closely by Yhwach. Nearby as well, Shikeguni, Yachiru, and Chang took up conversation. As did Ichibei, Ran'Tao, and Oetsu.

"We're here!" Alexander yelled to the group. They all looked up in awe at the sheer scale of the tower. Alexander headed towards the door and opened up the fairly large gates. The door creaked open and the Gotei were greeted with a large foyer and a grand stair case on the other side of the room.

The group heard the sound of a set of feet approaching them. Down the stairs came a small group of people. "Master!" they yelled. Alexander clapped his hands together and motioned towards the group that approached them.

"Ah! Good!" Alexander said, "Everyone, these are the staff here! Yukiko Shihouin, Saki Kuchiki, Isamu Kira, and the Shiba Twins, Kiyoshi and Osamu." Yukiko was a short girl with dark skin and purple hair with green eyes and wore a green top with black pants. Saki was a significantly taller girl with long black hair and pink eyes and wore a white coat on top of a blue kimono. Meanwhile, Isamu was a man with dark brown hair and an eyepatch covering one eye and scars all over his body donned in a dark gray suit. As for the Shiba twins, they were two boys that looked exactly the same. Slicked back black hair, orange eyes and black kimonos. You really couldn't tell either apart from the other.

"Boss!" the twins said simultaneously, "We got a problem!"

"Hm?" Alexander asked, "What-?"

(cue Bleach OST B07a extended)

Then, a dark presence began to cover the room. A reiatsu capable of sending shivers up the entire Gotei 13's spines and fill them with a sense of utter dread. They looked up to find a figure descending the stare cast. Its body was black as pitch. So much so it looked like whatever it stood in front of had been wiped from existence. It had long arms with claw-like fingers at its ends with skinny legs baring three hook-like claws for toes in the front and one in the back. Its chest was armor plated in appearance and on its back were a pair of folded up wings that appeared to be longer than the creature was tall separately if stretched out. Then, they saw its mask. Shaped like an upside-down tear drop it had red markings covering an entire half of it and bull-like horns protruding out from its head. Finally, their eyes were drawn to the hole in its chest, surrounded by a white #0.

"Everyone, may I introduce the King of the Hollows," Alexander said, nervously holding his shaking hand out, "Cielo Noir Roi."

"Hello there," the Hollow asked them, its two blood-red, black eyes scanning them, "The very continuation of you existence depends entirely on what Alexander has to say concerning his new…. recruitment drive. Well then, Horse, shall we talk?"

Author's Notes:Ladies and Gentlemen, the King has arrived.