Chapter Five: Cry in Bitter Tragedy

Some years ago

Xandra lied down in the middle of the air, bored as hell. She had been staring at the humans of the world of the living for what seemed like days on end. However, she didn't find watching the humans boring, instead, sad. Perhaps it as because of her experiences as a human in her past life that she found them too innocent and navie. It annoyed her, how they remained in their blissful ignorance.

A bitter expression was painted on her face, as she huffed. "whats idiots", she commented on a group of children picking on a smaller one. Shit like that always pissed her off. Don't they know that Karma is a bitch? that whatever they're doing to that defenseless kid they'll get right back? Obviously not. But what could she do? Scare them off? Killing humans wasn't a habit of hers. Interfering didn't seem like a good idea at all. It never leads to anything positive.

She rolled over onto her back with a sigh, looking up at the pretty blue sky. Now this was something she'd never get bored of watching. The sky to Xandra always calmed her down. Not that dark and gloomy crap sky back in Hueco Mundo, that would get anyone depressed. Not this sky, it was blue and pretty and best of all, it wouldn't try to kill her.

Xandra smirked as she raised her boned hand to grabbed a blade just inches from her face, "My my you got lots of balls attacking me so boldly like that", she taunted her attacker, fully knowing what it might be.

The person hissed under their breath, "What business do you have here Arrancar?", demanded a sweetly stern female voice.

Xandra snickered, this chick was obviously a newbie soul reaper. The older ones know not to bother her since she's not in the slightest interested in humans. "Oh you know, just cloud watching. You should try it sometime". she wasn't far from the truth.

"Cut the crap Arrancar before i send you back from the hell you came from", the voice said threateningly.

That didn't sound too good, she didn't like the idea of having to go back to that hell hole of a home. No way. Xandra released the blade, "Well then guess i'll have to kill you first", she said before flashing in front of her attacker. However, she was greeted with surprise.

Her yellow eyes widen to see a girl with long jet black hair, fair skin, and eyes as red as fire but that's not what got to her. On the neck of the soul reaper lied a red necklace, the one she watched her dying little sister have, the one she gave her little sister on her birthday, the day before she died. Xandra could feel the back of her eyes burning as the girl before her began to shed tears.

Xandra's lips shakily parted, "X-Xaila?". she said breathlessly, as if the name didn't want to come out.

When it was spoken, the soul reaper gasped. "no... Xa...ndra?", the black haired soul reaper asked in shock, her blade dropped from her hand, hitting the roof of the building they were currently floating under. She covered her mouth as Xandra nodded in response.

She found her little sister, Xalia. As a soul reaper.

A few months later

Xalia stopped Before a woman in white with skin like milk chocolate. She smiled, knowing the black haired person who was her 'forever in trouble' big sister.

"Xandra!", she shouted while waving at the Arrancar who scowled back at her.

"The hell you look so bright and happy for?", growled her cranky sister, but that didn't stop the soul reapers from smiling. Nope. in fact, it made it all the bigger.

"because~ because~ good things happened today~" the girl giggled, "I'm so happy i can die~"

Xandra rose a brow, "kinda hard when you're already died dumby", she retorted back slyly as she rolled on her back.

the little sister flicked her hand at the woman, "oh hush hush. No amount of name calling is going to get me down because~"

"today was so awesome?" Xandra finished her sister's sentence, voice mocking the girlish tone of Xalia.

This earned the Arrancar a sigh from the soul reaper. "Xandra you don't understand! un-required love is so lovely yet so tragic!" Xalia said as she posed dramatically with a hand covering her eyes as if the situation was that bad. Which Xandra knew was not the case at all.

If she knew her younger, innocent little sister. This guy or whatever she was crushing on just said one little word to her, or just happened to walk pass her and greet her like any normal person. Yeah, Xalia was one of those girls. Those die hard girls. Though Xandra had to admit, she rather put up with this boy crazed Xalia than a sickly one any day. At least she was happy and smiling, that's all Xandra wanted for her sister. Even she if ended up in misery, it was fine, she was already there.

Xandra had to squint her eyes it was so bright. The thought of love and romance caused a sting in her chest, an old pain that never seemed to go away. "Really Xalia you should cut out this crap", the Arrancar spoke harshly as she watched the clouds go by. "stupid things like that won't get you anywhere but where we are if you haven't forgotten", she said bitterly.

Xalia's breath was caught in her throat, she instantly regretted her words. She bit her lip while looking down at the ground and away from her older sister.

"How can I Xandra?", she asked through a softly hurt voice. It pierced through Xandra to hear that broken sound that was her sister's voice. Xalia was right, how can they forget? Forget the way and reason to their ends as human and beginning in this afterlife. It was an event they both could never move from, it remained in their minds like a bad dream that just kept replaying.

Xalia's guilt built all the more, she always blamed herself for Xandra's end game. She never thought in a million years her enemy would be her own sister. Her sister is an Arrancar. All because of her and her weakness. It killed Xalia inside and Xandra could tell it was eating away at her dear little sister.

Xandra sighed out her bitterness, forcing it down as her hand reached out to rub Xalia's head gently. "Sorry, I didn't mean to take it out on you... i just".

The younger one smiled in sympathy, "I know... but Xandra... Can i tell you something?", she asked carefully.

"sure?", Xandra said with shrug of her shoulders. Her yellow orbs locked on her sister's red ones. How bad can whatever she had to say be?

Xalia parted her lips, "What happened with us... was bad i know but Xandra, love and affection is something everyone needs. Even an Arrancar like you who shows me affection every day. I'm sure all it'll take for your stubbornness to died off is the right person". she said thoughtfully to her older sister.

Xandra knew she was right, but the bitter feelings were too heavy to even think about allowing someone to put their hands on her in a romance way. For her sister though, the older woman swallowed the stubbornness and agreed.

She snickered, "Like that will ever happen. I'm a one woman show and i like that", Xandra said to her sister with a playful smirk, making the girl giggle.

Xalia hugged her sister lightly, "oh of course you are~ the strongest eva!"

One year later

Xandra kept looking to her side, waiting or her sister to arrive. It was strange and worrisome, Xalia is hardly ever late. The Arrancar let out a restless sigh, this girl was minutes late. Maybe she has too much work? or maybe she got caught? or is she in some sort of trouble? A weird feeling began to settle in Xandra, feeling that something was off, that it wasn't right.

With this, she decided to get up and look around for her dear little sister herself. However, instantly she felt the presence of two spiritual pressures that was familiar to her. The cold female was soon surrounded by the two soul reapers she had met before.

Her eyes narrowed at the two, "The hell is my sister?". She asked bluntly, cutting to the chase.

The one named 'Kiskae', remained silent with his trade mark hat covering his face.

The female one's face was filled with worry, "Xandra you need to follow us now! no complaints or arguing! Xalia's in serious trouble".

Xandra's eyes widened like Yorochi had ever seen in an Arrancar, "Lead the way", the older sister said.

Without another word, the three made their way to the same place Xandra was taken when Xalia was brutally wounded. A dark feeling rushed into Xandra, the same feeling she felt on that day their human lives had ended. It scared her, what was she about to see? She had just recently found her long lost sister, there was no way they were about to be apart again. not ever.

They lead her into the basement through a hidden floor door. Dropping down into what seemed to be a secret training grounds, there before Xandra was what she feared the most.

There lied her sister, panting in agony as some sort of white thing was obviously consuming her body. Xandra's rage was overwhelmed by defeat and loss.

Xandra coddled her sister in her arms, allowing them to look into each other's eyes one last time. Through her panting, Xalia let out a small giggle, "You came".

Her older sister began to tremble with rage and anger, her jaw tightened "who do i need to kill!?". she growled, but her weaker counter part only smiled.

"Aizen... he did this... "

Xalia mustered up every single bit of energy to keep hold of her Zonpackto. She pulled her body up and wrap her arms around her sister as her last chain of action. She smiled, never thinking she could die in a better way, in her sisters' embrace and not the enemy's. She could feel Xandra's body tremble under her, hear the sobs of her sister. Xalia only wished they had more time together but it was better than no time at all.

"Xandra... take care of her for me?...". she asked in a sweetly weak voice.

her words struck her sister where it hurt, "Of course i would you idiot! You're my sister!"

Xalia smiled at her big sister for the last and final time as her grip on the handle tightened, "Althea...Cry in Bitter Tragedy" She commanded the blade

"Xalia...". Xandra tightened her hold around the small decaying body as the blade names Althea glowed from a red light before it faded into gentle spiral of red dust that danced around them.

the girl parted her lips to say her final words. "I'll... Always be with you... Xandra... Let's fight...together". The Arrancar's eyes widened with tears, knowing what as about to come next.

The girls' weak lips moved for one last order, "Banki ".

the two soul reapers watched in both terror and amazement. Watched as the girl they trained and taught vanished into that same dust. Xandra's cheeks were dam with tears she never shed before as her dear baby sister faded from her hold. Watched as the woman howled in screams as the dust turned violent and ripped through her clothes. Watched as the bone fragments on her arm cracked and slid off her skin. Watched as Xandra's hollow hole was filled with her colour. Watched an arrancar mourning the death of her sister.

her screams stopped when the dust did. All they heard was the panting coming from Xandra. The two were shocked, unable to move or say a single word. What had just happened? It was simple. They just witnessed the transformation of this woman who was no longer just a normal Arrancar anymore.

Xandra took in a deep breath, her sad eyes looked down at where Xalia was just lying. Her eyes widened, realizing that Xalia didn't just leave her zonpackto. The red tear drop stoned necklace Xalia treasured so much laid on the dirt. Xandra bent down to pick up the jewelry, staring at it in her hand. Anger began to surge through her body, remembering the true enemy. The person responsible for Xalia sacrificing her life and for taking a long lost sister away from Xandra.

Her fingers closed tightly around the gem. "i'll make that bitch pay"