"Chapter Two;
Value"
- Ulquiorra's POV
Twelve hours I spent studying the criminals that have raped, vandalized, assaulted, and murdered many humans, but found no purpose for them, whatsoever. They were trash, just like the rest of the pathetic humans around me. If I had the option, I would have done the humans a favor, and killed them, but since my assignment clearly stated not to, I just kept my hands in my pockets, and continued on, hoping to find out something interesting (which was impossible with these humans).
We all returned to the throne room, all the others seeming rather annoyed about they're assignment; the Quinto, especially, since, by the sounds of things, had to appear in a high school as a transfer student of some sort. I was almost tempted to ask him, but by the rage he was clearly venting, I let him be, quickly reminding myself it wouldn't be useful, anyways.
We stood there for another hour before Lord Aizen returned to his thrown, silently, and calmly. "Welcome back, dear Espada. Before I explain my intentions, do tell me about how your missions went!" He ordered, sounding intrigued. We all went from ten to one, each report with details, but nothing truly special or specific about them. I could only question, why. "Very good!" Our leader stated, standing up.
Tousen and Gin then entered, both hands on their zanpaktos. I raised an eyebrow as to only inquire the purpose. "I left Hueco Mundo shortly after all of you did, and the reason for your missions weren't to grow stronger, but merely to test each and every one of you." He stated. Neutrality returned to my face; it made sense. "Now, I have three new orders that are to be carried out, immediately, due to the results of this test!" He proclaimed.
We all stared. This meant that there was some form of change either in our plans, or with our ranks. It didn't matter much, though. "Luppi, you are hereby promoted to Quinto Espada." He stated. The idiot was beginning to gloat, a little, before cutting himself off, short. "Nnoitora, you are now promoted to Cuatro Espada." He told the mantis. He was smirking, receiving some congratulations from the ranks beneath him, however, I had to question what was to happen next.
I regretted the answer, assuredly. "And Ulquiorra!" He called. I looked up at him, waiting silently while my subordinates stared at me. We were all wondering about the first two announcements, questioning why the promotions were necessary, and, if there was one thing I knew, his regards to me were far different. "I truly regret saying this," he began with the same, casual smile, "but, unfortunately, you have outlived your usefulness." He stated.
"What?" This was the only word going through my mind as some stared in confusion, while others smirked, knowing violence came next. I didn't understand it, though. How? How in the universe had I outlived what I had firmly grasped. I was more loyal than the other swines, and certainly stronger, and willing to do as ordered of me, so why has this come to be? It didn't make sense, at the time...
"And now, Ulquiorra, you must be exterminated, immediately!" He finished. That was it! Everyone was on guard, waiting when to be told when to strike; when to kill; when to begin my execution. "Kill him!" He told the rest, leaving the room with them. Once the door closed, all hell broke loose.
With the sound of it shutting, Nnoitora was quick to lunge forward, and striked. I evaded, easily, but Szayel came from behind, and attacked with a swift, and quick swing of his blade. I dodged, but there was still a shallow wound across my right shoulder blade. Halibel attacked with Stark, and I was barely able to draw my zanpakto in time to block the both of them. Yami and Gin came next, frequently moving alongside the rest of them.
I had moved quickly, but the surrounding forces had ensured many cuts and gashes that I couldn't keep track of, my mind too focused on survival. I blocked what I could, but that proved harder once Ichimaru released his shikai. I was barely able to dodge the death blows he threw my way, but that only in turn lead to another striking, either making something break, or adding to the blood loss.
It lasted for a short while, until Tousen sunido-d over, and lunged his blade up through the center of my chest. I was beginning to feel light headed as the pain surged throughout my limbs, my brain and spine releasing an immense amount of shock. However, I wasn't going to succumb to death; I refused to allow them to execute me.
"En...close," I started, hesitantly, my breath just barely gasping out of my damaged lungs, "Murciélago !" I called. When the energy was released, I could feel the cold metal exiting my body, but what I felt more was the unbearable pain that ached throughout my whole being. I knew at an instant that I had to get away; there was no way of defeating them all.
I came at Halibel, Barragan, and Stark first, making sure that they wouldn't be able to interfere. I striked Gin's and Tousen's tendon and muscles within both legs, to ensure them moving was impossible. I dealt with the others as quickly as possible. I slashed through Zommari then Aranniero, nearly splitting them in half. I fatally stabbed Szayel, then cut Nnoitora down. Yami was easy, only giving him a blow to the stomach, then a jab in his neck.
Luppi was the last one, but he had already caught onto what I was doing. "Strangle, Trepadora!" He commanded. I was grabbed just as I turned, feeling the tight tentacles squeeze my chest until I felt my ribs beginning to break. The lack of oxygen was bad enough due to my damaged lungs, but this was much worse, and I could already feel my body beginning to fail me due to the poor air supply that was continuously depleting by the second.
I pointed out a finger, praying I still had enough power and focus to get him to release me. "Cero...Oscuras." I could feel the energy being released from my fingertip, and the tentacle loosen as we were sent crashing to the floor. What I felt more was the light-headed-ness caused by the blood loss, and severe exhaustion.
However, I got out while I could, gliding a short distance away from them before reaching out a hand, and opening a Garganta. I quickly ran through it, closing it behind me before racing ahead to some form of safety.
- Forest Estate
Here stood a traditional Japanese estate which stood next to a mountain; the river from the lake bed-waterfall area ran through a watermill that powered the house with a steady flow of electricity for the evening. Although the traditional manor had a large vast of rooms, and space, and was surrounded by a plenty of land, there weren't many people living in it; a total of nine, to be precise.
All nine were within a lounge, four pairs of two set off in different areas, while one stayed outside in the cool breeze of one of the waining crescent moon nights. The girl was no more than fifteen years old, a bit taller than average, and had good curves to show off, if she wanted to. Her skin was slightly tan, and her hair was long, flowing, and white; so white that it easily reflected the moon's light, even though it wasn't full. She wore a bright violet top with a pair of black leggings, along with navy blue skirt, with a belt around it, a sword strapped to said belt, and a pair of black ankle boots upon her feet. Her eyes shined like piercing rubies, more fine than any lord could dream of. Yes, she was unique!
The girl stared out into the the trees to the forestation, trying to see as far out as she could, before the blackened night covered it. She was fidgety, at the moment, her right leg thumping on the wooden floorboards as she leaned against the wooden balcony, and murmuring complete babble as she desperately wanted to leave from the boredom, but was ordered to stay put.
"Hey, Akuma-chan!" One called. The albino turned and met face-to-face with a male. His eyes were pearl white, and his hair was a very odd shade of brown, with a wild and messy style. His skin was like cream, and was pure and smooth. He wore white tennis shoes, blue skinny jeans, a red tunic, a silver wristband on his left wrist, and a sword strapped to his back. "Ya wanna fly, you can take off!" He taunted.
The girl addressed as Akume glared at the male. "Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you, Takumi?" She asked, sheer sarcasm evidently standing out in her voice, that was easily pitched with venom out of the annoyance of being grounded.
The older male chuckle, standing next to her, and staring up at the moon. "I understand why; the crescent moon is almost as good as a full moon, and just as mysterious while it's reaching towards it, or toward the beloved new moon; how sweet that blindness is to my eyes!" Takumi commented. "Trust me when I say it, I'd rather be taunting you in the sky, than sticking it here on the ground through a counsel that only, one again, beckons you to find a number ten. I wish that out deuxième understood that!" He added as a matter of faculty.
She sighed. "It's not just him, though; Première is getting impatient with me, too!" She complained, staring done at the ground with a look of defeat.
Takumi looked at her with eyes that mixed of sympathy and confusion. "Well, she has a right to be; you started searching five years ago, and you're still searching; what the hell is making it so hard?" He questioned. With how long it's been, one would expect some results for their new dixième, but that had clearly gotten nowhere.
The girl sighed again, looking up at the about-twenty-year-old male, looking lost. "Well, ya know that weird feeling you're supposed to get when the time comes closer?" She questioned. He nodded at her. "I haven't been able to feel it, and if I did, it's been unrecognizable. So, it's really made it hard to know when it'd happen." She explained, ashamed of the fact.
Takumi felt bad for her, but in all retrospect, he wasn't really surprised by her answer. Akuma was naturally known for acting weird, and describing many weird feelings and dreams, so the strange feeling that would normally come would just feel natural, to her. To actually be able to register the feeling as unnatural would be a shock, should he ever see her admit it, so it only made more sense.
He patted the teenagers back, giving her a reassuring smile. She stared at him, her face still making it plain obvious that she was at a loss. "Don't worry about it, you'll know when; just listen to your instincts!" He told her, poking her stomach. The girl giggled, smiling at the fact that she wasn't completely helpless, after all.
A whistle came their way from an older, black eyed woman, standing at the doorway. She motioned the both of them to come inside, immediately, which Takumi did so, slowly, waiting for the teen. He listened to a short path of uneven footsteps, before hearing Akuma begin to stagger backwards, groaning inwardly.
He turned back at her, only to end up racing to her as to stop her from falling. "Akuma-chan?" He questioned, concerned. She didn't answer him. All she did was keep her hands on her stomach as she bent forward on her knees, pain written all over her features, and tears building up in her eyes. "Akuma, what's wrong?" He asked her. Again, he received no answer.
The seven inside looked outside, staring at the two. They slowly approached, murmuring about what was happening, and questioning what had gotten into the girl.
~ Ulquiorra
The Garganta quickly closed as the ex-Espada raced outside of it. He tumbled over the first step he took, his energy almost completely gone. He grabbed the root to some tree within the forested area, and began to move himself out of the cockeyed position he was in when he landed, using most of the remainder of his strength so that he could sit up against the tree bark.
He gasped for some much needed air, not caring about the low reiatsu levels that would surely not help his injuries heal any, and not caring that the energy around him that was protecting him was disappearing as his released form began to disappear. All he cared about right now was breathing, it already being hard enough with his crushed ribs, punctured lungs, and not to mention the fact that he had been running for Kami knows how long.
Ulquiorra was completely drained of his energy, and he was well out of pride, for running away. But it was either that, or die, he reminded himself, knowing that he wouldn't have lasted a full battle with all of them. He didn't have the strength to confront the facts, but he did have enough to tell him that he still wasn't safe. Aizen would begin looking for him, the minute he knew that the old Cuatro was still alive.
With this in mind, he reached into his pocket, and got out a metal gauntlet, with four prongs that glistened with lights, telling the arrancar that it was still functioning. Quite thankfully, he never told the eighth espada that he took one from his lab, and was very thankful that no one had seen him take it.
He placed it on his left wrist, and clicked it shut. He heard a few noises from the machine, which registered to him that it was on, and operating so that it hid his spiritual pressure (even though it was still weak from the very recent assault to claim his life). Once done, he rested his head against the tree bark, and closed his eyes, deciding that he'd take care of the wounds when he woke.
~ Akuma
The teen was leaning up against the wall as Takumi continued to drench her face with cold water, asking her now and then what was wrong, but she remained silent due to the pain that grasped her, and the sheer fact that she didn't have a clue. The feeling made the usually-happy female be filled with void pain with her being that could only continue to confuse her; what she believed was called despair.
But she felt relieved of the stress she had on her shoulders after talking to the male in front of her, so why was she feeling this way? She didn't feel like this, and if she ever did, it was never so intense that she wanted to kill herself. Why was it there? What was the reason? She stewed it over for a little, taking in deep breaths in hopes for the pain to subside.
"Akuma?" He questioned, noticing the change. This caught the attention of the seven others within the room.
The girl closed her eyes, sending down another trail of tears down her face. However, the blackness soon changed when she saw a bloodied-up figure up against a large oak. She thought it might have been wildlife, but getting a better look at it, she realized it was a person. She opened her eyes, abruptly, shocked from the vision.
She forced herself to stand, quickly. Takumi was telling her to stop, but she only ignored him, racing outside. One step on the balcony, and a blink of the eye brought the same vision back, and her ears were ringing with moans and grunts of very distinct, and treacherous agony. This made her steps speed up as red light began to surround her. She jumped onto the banister before leaping into the sky, gliding over the forest, searching for the figure she knew was within the forestation.
i never thought id hav this much in 1 day, but tht was it. i hope youll stay around for the nxt one!
thx
~ K. Fang-sama