A.N: Damn, I am in a groove right now. I've already got chapter 17 finished up. I hope you all like it!
Chapter 17: Confrontation
Ichigo Kurosaki groaned when he found himself face to face with Tia Halibel, the Queen of Hueco Mundo. No matter how strong he was, there was no way in hell he could fight Halibel after fighting Grimmjow. However, he still needed to put on a tough front for the sake of his pride. So he raised Tensa Zangetsu defensively.
"So," he began, "are you here to avenge Grimmjow or something?"
Halibel seemed surprised by this accusation. "Goodness no, I'm not here to fight, I'm here to talk."
"Talk? Did Benito put you up to this?" Ichigo asked.
Halibel shook her head. "I am hear of my own accord. In fact, I've completely suppressed my spiritual pressure. Nobody, not even Benito, knows that I am here talking to you."
Realizing that he could not detect anything from power to malicious intent from Halibel, Ichigo lowered Tensa Zangetsu. "Talk, huh? What did you want to talk about?" Ichigo inquired carefully.
Benito Muerta sighed disdainfully in the Throne Room when he sensed that Grimmjow was no longer fighting. Once we are done conquering the Soul Society, I'm going to have to punish him for his failure. He thought.
"Three Generals of Los Retazos have been defeated and we haven't even reached the finale yet." Said Benito.
"Indeed, but they were trash compared to the rest of us." Said a male voice.
Benito nodded in agreement at this. "Yes, but regardless of wether Bruto, Cortez, and Grimmjow were trash or not, however, we still have a problem on our hands. We cannot allow them to reach us. Even if they do not reach us in time to stop us from leaving, we cannot let them follow us."
Benito looked off to the side. "That is why I need someone I trust to dispose of the Soul Reapers that are invading us."
A figure walked out of the shadows. "I'm leaving La Torre in your care, Raoul." Said Benito.
Raoul Arcano smiled. "Yes, Your Majesty."
As Raoul walked to the center of the Throne Room, Benito sighed sadly. I'm truly sorry about this, Soul Reapers, Benito thought sympathetically, it really is unfair to have a monster like Raoul at my disposal.
After a long grueling fight, Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa defeated their foe: Stairs. The two panted as they finally reached the entrance to the room just beneath the cannon that Ichigo destroyed earlier.
"Damn them," Ikkaku panted, "why didn't they add an elevator?"
"My guess is that it's somewhere at the top. They didn't want us to use it." Panted Yumichika.
Ikkaku quickly recovered. "Well, whatever the case we've reached the throne room for sure. So lets take it to these guys and save the Soul Society!"
Ikkaku charged towards the entrance with Yumichika following him. The two immediately busted down the entrance, and came face to face with an Arrancar standing between them and the man the immediately assumed was the king.
"Get out of the way unless you want us to kick your ass, pal!" Ikkaku shouted at him.
Raoul Arcano chuckled. "Kick my ass? You presume to much." He said calmly.
Nemu Kurotsuchi and Hiyori Sarugaki covered their eyes as the lights came on in a strange room. "What the hell?" Hiyori muttered. "Who the hell turned on the damn lights?"
"Hello you two, it's been awhile, hasn't it?"
Nemu and Hiyori's eyes widened upon hearing the familiar voice. Their eyes soon recovered from the change from dark to light and managed to get a good view of the man confronting them. Nemu glared at their opponent.
"Mayuri." She growled.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi grinned arrogantly at the two of them. "I've been waiting for this," he said, "I've been wanting to kill you both since I saw that you would be here."
"I'm here to talk about the future." Said Halibel.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow at this. "The future, why would you want to talk about the future? What, are you hear to brag that your boyfriend's plan is going to succeed?"
Halibel shook her head. "So why has the Queen of Hueco Mundo decided to grace me with her presence?" Ichigo asked. "And why would you hide yourself from everyone just to speak with me? Aren't you concerned about what Benito will think of this."
Halibel shook her head once more. "I know longer care about that, my fate has been sealed either way."
"Fate?"
"My fate to lose, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming battle." Explained Halibel.
Ichigo was confused by this. Why would she say that she would lose, even if Los Retazos won the final battle? "What are you talking about?" He asked. "You of all people should be completely loyal to what Benito's trying to do, right? Considering who he is to you, I mean."
Halibel looked away, averting her gaze from Ichigo's. "Benito…is no longer what he used to be."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Halibel nodded sadly. "I'm sure Lady Neliel has already explained this to you. Benito wasn't always this way. He was once a kindhearted man who preached harmony amongst the Arrancar." She explained.
Ichigo nodded. "Nel did say something along those lines when she saved Renji and I from Benito."
Halibel could not help but smile slightly. "Benito was so kind, so idealistic. When we fell in love he was such a passionate person. The days we spent together were so wonderful. When he left with his subordinates, I was so devastated, but when I was told why he left and that he would return, I was happy once again." She continued.
"So what went wrong?" Ichigo asked curiously.
"When he returned, I at first thought that everything had gone back to normal. He was still idealistic, still had so much passion in our relationship."
Halibel took a deep breath before continuing. "However, something in him had changed. I didn't notice it at first. But then I soon noticed something…terrible. He was no longer the kindhearted man I fell in love with. He was cold and aloof around nearly everyone else. Just recently, I watched him speak of his subordinates as expendable assets." She said sadly.
A tear fell down her cheek. "That wasn't the Benito I fell in love with."
"Why are you telling me this?" Ichigo asked. "And what does this have to do with you losing either way?"
"If he wins, my future is with a man who has changed for the worse. If he loses, I lose the man I love."
"But you said that Benito is…"
"I know what I said," Halibel interrupted, "and it's true. But I still love him more than anything, you should understand that, Ichigo."
Ichigo thought it over and nodded. If Rukia ever changed into something he did not approve of, something that was different from the girl he loved, could he do anything about it? No, he would still love her. He could never bring himself to feel otherwise, not with Rukia.
"How did this all happen to him?" Ichigo asked.
"Did Lady Neliel also tell you about his sister?"
Ichigo remembered Benito seething in anger when Neliel brought up his sister. "That time outside of La Torre was the first time I heard of her." Ichigo admitted.
Halibel smiled sadly. "Alondra Muerta was an amazing woman," she said, "everything she preached to Benito was the core base of his values early on. She raised him herself, believed in him, told him he was destined for greatness."
Halibel's gaze darkened. "Then that day came."
"What day?"
"I don't know all the details," Halibel admitted, "but one day, a detachment of Soul Reapers came to Hueco Mundo…and murdered Lady Alondra in cold blood. Since then, it's been Benito's sole purpose in life to annihilate the Soul Reapers. He says it's for the sake of peace, and to him it is. But I know that it is not just for peace, it is for revenge."
At this point, Ichigo knew more about Benito than he ever thought he did. To think that all this happened because of one death in cold blood. The thought of it was mind-numbing to Ichigo. Especially when his mind immediately flashed to the death of his mother.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Ichigo asked quietly.
"Because I came here to warn you," said Halibel, "you have become even stronger than the last time you both fought. I must acknowledge that. That growth rate that Aizen told us about is truly amazing."
"However?" Ichigo knew what was coming next.
"However, the way you are now you'll never defeat Benito. Regardless of how much he's changed, personality-wise, he still retains the vast power he's always had. He'd destroy you, and this time he'll kill you for sure." Continued Halibel.
Ichigo glared at Halibel. "We'll see." He said.
"I'm trying to help you, Ichigo," Halibel said to him pleadingly, "if you face Benito as you are now, you'll die. His power…he's surpassed Aizen himself. In fact, after witnessing Benito's power, Aizen used his power as a measuring stick in his bid to surpass his limits."
"So what do you want me do?" Ichigo asked.
"Go into hiding, train, become stronger." Pleaded Halibel.
"And let everyone else die?" Ichigo asked angrily.
"I know it sounds hard for you, but you have no choie," said Halibel, "they must be sacrificed if you are to ever become strong enough to defeat Benito."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "You want me to…"
Halibel nodded and shamelessly bowed down to her enemy. "I'm begging you Ichigo Kurosaki. I'm swallowing my pride as Queen and begging you. Stop Benito, stop this madness. I ca no longer bear to watch him fall further into darkness."
"Than join me," Ichigo said hopefully, "I might not be able to defeat him alone, but together we could for sure."
Halibel shook her head as tears started to fall. "I could never raise my sword against Benito, no matter how much he's changed. I told you, even after everything, I still love him."
"In the end," Halibel continued, "all this is my fault. I loved him too much to see what he was becoming."
Ichigo shook his head. "Shouldering the blame yourself is foolish, Halibel," Ichigo said, "I don't know why the Soul Reapers entered Hueco Mundo and killed Alondra, but I swear I'll find out once this is over."
"Than take my advice and hide. Train! Stop Benito before he commits genocide." Halibel went back to pleading.
Ichigo shook his head again. "I can't do that, Halibel. I just can't."
"You'll die if you face him as you are now." Halibel insisted.
"I'm not gonna die, I still have people I have to protect." Said Ichigo.
Halibel was surprised by Ichigo's response. "I swear to you, Halibel. I'm gonna stop Benito and save everyone else at the same time."
Halibel was stunned by Ichigo's words. Especially because she made it clear that there was no way he could do both. After several moments of silence, she smiled underneath her jacket.
"Than…I wish you luck in your endeavor, Ichigo Kurosaki." She said.
Ichigo was surprised. "That's it? You're not gonna try to stop me anymore?"
Halibel shook her head. "No." She said simply.
"Why?" Ichigo asked, watching her turn away.
The smile remained on Halibel's face as she started to walk away. "Because I finally realize the true reason why you interest me so much." She replied. "It's because you remind me so much of how Benito used to be."
Ichigo could not believe that he was being compared to Benito. "Perhaps I was wrong in my earlier statement," Halibel admitted, "maybe, just maybe, you can save everyone and stop Benito."
Halibel chuckled a bit. "Well, regardless of what happens, like I said, I lose either way. Goodbye Ichigo, maybe when this is over we can talk on better terms."
Ichigo smiled slightly. "Yeah," he said, "I'd like that."
After Halibel left, Ichigo raised Tensa Zangetsu once more. "Well, if I'm gonna make good on my promise, I have to stop Benito right here and right now."
No sooner had Ichigo said that, a familiar voice rang out in his ear. "Hold it Ichigo, initiate Jinzen and enter your Inner World. There's something I must speak to you about."
Ichigo immediately realized that it was Zangetsu, but it was not Zangetsu at the same time. "Tensa Zangetsu, haven't spoken to you in awhile." Ichigo noted.
"Indeed," said Tensa Zangetsu, "now enter your Inner World. We need to talk."
"Can it wait?"
"No," Tensa Zangetsu insisted, "this is a matter of wether you will stand a chance against that man or not. You need to do this, Ichigo."
Ichigo sighed. "All right, Tensa Zangetsu, I'll take your word for it."
With that, Ichigo sat down and crossed his legs in a meditating position. Clearing his mind, Ichigo began to initiate Jinzin. In a few short moments, Ichigo found himself in the familiar place that is known as his Inner World. What he immediately noticed was that there was heavy rainfall pelting the skyscrapers. Nowhere near the floods that occurred during that time against Aizen, but this was bad weather for sure. Ichigo than found himself staring at the youthful form of Tensa Zangetsu, along with his detestable Inner Hollow, who was grinning maniacally as usual.
"Lovely weather we're having, eh Ichigo?" The Hollow asked sarcastically.
Ichigo glared at him. "Why'd you summon me here, Tensa Zangetsu? And more importantly, why the hell is that bastard here?"
"He is here Ichigo because he is crucial to what will happen next," said Tensa Zangetsu, "you are here because of the weather."
"You brought me here to complain about the weather?" Ichigo sweat-dropped.
"Your torn up inside, Ichigo. Even though you believe with all your heart that you can defeat Benito Muerta, you are still in deep turmoil because of how strong he is. I understand that. War worries everyone." Said Tensa Zangetsu.
Ichigo patiently waited for his Zanpakutō spirit to continue. "You are especially in turmoil after your conversation with the Queen of Hueco Mundo. You feel a connection with him because of the loss of your mother, am I right?"
Ichigo couldn't refute that, so he nodded in agreement. "You both have lost someone important to you," said Tensa Zangetsu, "but if you don't become stronger right now, you're going to lose many more people who are important to you. When that happens, the rain inside your heart will never stop."
"Than why are you wasting my time?" Ichigo asked. "As far as I know, Benito is close by, so let me stop him. I'm strong enough to do so."
"No, you are not." Tensa Zangetsu said sternly. "You grow stronger every minute, Ichigo but it is still not enough. You can't hope to defeat him as you are now."
Ichigo glared at Tensa Zangetsu. "However, I have a solution. One that will grant you the power to stop him."
Ichigo was now interested. "What is it than?" He asked anxiously.
"You are not going to like what I am about to say," Tensa Zangetsu said grimly, "so let me ask this: Are you prepared to accept the risks?"
Ichigo nodded. "Anything to protect the people I care about." He said firmly.
Tensa Zangetsu sighed, knowing that he himself was not going to like what he was about to suggest. "If you are to defeat Benito Muerta, than you must reach the final stage of your Hollowfication, your Resurreción."
A.N: Yeah, this chapter was mostly focused on three things: The battle between Nemu, Hiyori, and Mayuri, Halibel's character development, and the way Ichigo is going to truly challenge Benito as a warrior.
Now, Halibel may seem a bit OOC and believe me, I think she is too. But watching the man she loves descend into darkness while being unable to bring herself to stop him herself is something that can really tear someone up from the inside. Also, as a character overall, Halibel never once struck me as 'evil' like some other Bleach characters. She joined Aizen solely out of loyalty. It was similar with Coyote Starrk, he joined because he felt like Aizen gave him a purpose. So you'll see a lot of sympathy for Halibel as a character, but that's just how I feel. Halibel never once seemed evil to me.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. This is ND2014 signing off.