Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. All rights belong to the creator Tite Kubo.
This is an AU story with some OOC.
And with nothing else please read, enjoy and review.
Chapter 15: Gathering
-X-
Tier Harribel glared at the Hollow who was trying to talk itself out of getting devoured by her pack. This was by far the strangest Hollow she had seen. The Adjuchas-class Menos appear as a floating white ball with golden yellow amber eyes found everywhere with black lines separating every eyeball. White, shell-like carapace decorated his torso and on top of his weird sphere body she saw spike-like bones placed themselves like a mohawk on top of his head.
"Wait! Please!"
She scowled under her mask as she heard the urgency in his voice. "Why are you stalling? You're starting to irritate me."
The Hollow tries to make itself look vulnerable by shrinking down to the ground. "Please, just hear me out!"
Apacci growled. "Harribel-sama, he's only stalling us while thinking of ways to escape."
Tier heard her pack's words but still didn't go for the killing blow. She spoke through a harsh grating voice. "Why are you acting so pitiful? Most Hollows who find themselves trapped would at least try to fight back."
"I'm sorry if I wander off to your territory but this was the quickest path to reach him!" Answer the Hollow.
The Serpent-Adjuchas, Sung-sun, couldn't help but groan as she heard the Hollow's reason for trying to pass through. She looks to her mistress with the same look of irritation from understanding why the Hollow came through here. "What are we going to do now, Harribel-sama?"
The blonde Vasto Lordes dropped her glare. "Leave my sight."
Taking it as a sign of dismissal, the Hollow ran.
Tier watched as the Hollow's figure was nothing but a spot across the horizon before turning back around, leading her pack back to the small cave they had taken refuge in.
Mila-Rose, the lion Adjuchas, couldn't help herself but raise her voice against their pack leader. "Harribel-sama can we please just eat the next Hollow! You can't just let them go just because they're trying to join Fantasma!"
"Can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually agree with her," Apacci chipped in. "Every Hollow that has passed by your territory has said the same thing! They're all trying to reach Fantasma and you let them pass. Why?"
Sung-sun kept her mouth shut, while deep inside she also wished for some kind of answer from Tier, the Serpent Adjuchas knew better than trying to talk back to her powerful leader. She stops at her tracks when Tier turns around to face them.
"I let them go because I want to see just what kind of future he has in store for us." She turns her head in the direction the Hollow has gone towards, starting her next sentence with Fantasma's name. "Starrk could show us a far different form of a natural order that Hueco Mundo could live in, we might soon live in a future where mindless slaughtering could be nothing but a bad history of our world."
"Then why don't we join him?" Sung-sun asks, slithering closer but not too close to Harribel. "You make it sound like you're hoping for such a future to happen but don't want to take actions to make it happen, why?"
Harribel turns her aqua-color eyes to Sung-sun. "Because I want to wait and see just what kind of king Starrk would be. Would he turn out to be just like Baraggan, boastful and arrogant just because Hollows started calling him King of Hueco Mundo... or will he be a king who would show empathy and integrity? And... ready to sacrifice himself for his followers." Her last words came as a whisper, only loud enough for her own ears to hear. She could still remember the look shared between the redhead and Starrk when he got impelled to the ground by Baraggan's ax. She spotted the way Starrk was silently saying to leave him behind, to save themselves. 'You were ready to throw your life away to protect them, Starrk-san.'Not hearing any disagreements from her pack, she turns back around to continue leading them home.
"How much more do you think we need to walk, Loly?" An Adjuchas-class Hollow said, resting on a tilted pillar. She was standing at an average height, barely passing 5 ft. From her waist down, instead of two feet, there were two pairs of scorpion-like legs. Hollow hole strangely located where her liver should be and while her left arm looks like a normal human hand, her right arm looks like a giant pincer and a scorpion tail between its shoulder blades. Her mask had a unique design. While appearing fairly normal, teeth dotted between the eyes and her real mouth, making her appear as if she had two mouths instead of one. Body decorated by a white exoskeleton.
"Not that much longer, Menoly." Came the reply of another Insect-class Adjuchas. Standing around the same height as her companion. Unlike Menoly, whose waist down appears more bug-like, Loly appears human. Her arms take the form of two long centipede-like creatures; appearing like the body of a centipede without its head. White, stone-like blades set themselves on her shoulders while her hole in the base of her throat and just like Menoly, her Hollow mask looks the same with a white exoskeleton.
Loly turns her glowing pink eyes to her friend. "I can feel Starrk-sama's Reiatsu." She closes her eyes and focuses on sensing more of Fantasma's power. "He's not that far away. We might reach him in another day or so."
The scorpion-like Hollow nervously rubs her giant pincer with her hand. "Do, do you think she'll say yes?"
An audible sigh left Loly's mouth. "I don't know, but we need to at least try to ask if she can."
"But Baraggan said she was weak." Menoly replied.
"Well, she sure showed them how wrong Baraggan was when she easily defeated any Hollow who was trying to kill Starrk. Even Ggio, Baraggan's right-hand man, couldn't even take her out." She glared at her friend, no kind of anger behind her stare. "From what the rumors have said, Lily-hime is actually Starrk's sister, and if someone like Starrk was able to get strong to defeat Baraggan, then there's a possibility that Lily-hime would become just as strong as him." She turns back around towards the direction of Starrk's spiritual energy. "If that's true, then we need to ask her to train us."
Before Menoly could open her mouth, another voice spoke behind the Scorpion-Adjuchas.
"Train you? Is that your reason for trying to reach our new king?"
Both heads snap towards the new voice, spotting a towering Hollow that reaches 30 feet tall and appears as a tree. The Insect-Adjuchas could spot branches wrapped around his waist, where they split off into roots that flared out on either side of the Hollow's side. Eight lightning bolt shaped branches grow out from his regular looking torso, skulls hanging off of each one. Hollow hole located right above his wrap waist and a bull-shaped skull on his head.
The Hollow leans closer to both girls who have gone motionless. Only a few feet away from the green-eye Scorpion Hollow, he repeated back his question. "You're trying to join Fantasma's army so that he may train you?"
"N-n-not quite, we want to ask Lily-hime if she could train us." Menoly spoke, panic coating her voice. The Hollow was just close enough to kill her if he wished to.
He tilted his head to the side. "The princess of Hueco Mundo? Hmmm." He backed away from the girl as he tried to recall the rumors. "From what I heard and saw on that day. She seems to be a strong warrior. There have been rumors flying around that she may end up as powerful as Fantasma. Then there's also the fact that she has become quite a powerful figure to the female Hollows' population."
After swallowing her fright, Loly moved next to Menoly and glared up towards the bull-skull Hollow. "Yeah, we wanna meet Starrk-Sama so that hopefully Lily-hime would train us, something wrong with that!?" She had spat her words towards the Hollow and when she finally realized the attitude she used on him, she cursed herself. "Get ready to run!" She whispers to Menoly, who nodded back as she was preparing her legs for a quick sprint.
Though her words sounded harsh, they didn't affect his calm attitude. "There's nothing wrong with hoping to get help from someone like the princess." He gave them a small bow as he introduced himself. "Rudbornn Chelute."
They blink twice as the Hollow revealed his name instead of trying to kill them after the rude way Loly spoke to him. Only after being quiet for a couple of seconds, the green-eyed Hollow spoke first. "I'm Menoly Mallia and this is my sister, Loly Aivirrne."
"Are you trying to join Starrk's army?" Asked Loly as she got over her fear of the Hollow. Before she could get her answer, a Hollow with a spherical waist and yellow eyes revealed itself by coming out from behind a pillar.
"I'm sorry, did you say Starrk? Are you perhaps traveling towards our new king?"
"That's right." Casually replied Rudbornn, not surprised by the Hollow appearance. "Though I have another motive to do so."
"That's wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Here I thought I came across some of Baraggan's hunters." Cleaning off some nonexistent sweat from his forehead, the Hollow with a spherical body introduced himself. "The name is Zommari Rureaux." Seeing them ready to open their mouths, Zommari raises a hand. "Oh please, there's no need for any of you to introduce yourself. I heard your names while I was hiding."
The pink-eye centipede Hollow narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by Baraggan's hunters?" Loly felt a little freaked out with the way she could see all the eyes on Zommari's body take a puzzled look in them.
"Have you not heard of what Baraggan has been doing?" Zommari question.
"Are you perhaps talking about the way he's hunting down all those who deserted his army after his defeat by Starrk?" Rudbornn replied. He has been safely traveling through Hueco Mundo underneath the sands. Keeping himself hidden all while keeping his ears open for any kind of news. One interesting gossip that he has heard by some of Baraggan's soldier was the way the defeated king had began hunting and killing every Hollow who had left his army or are trying to reach Starrk for protection.
Zommari nodded to the right answer said by the Tree-like Hollow. "That's right. After I had heard of such news, I started searching for Starrk-sama's Reiatsu, trying to reach him before any of Baraggan's soldiers could find me." A sigh broke through his mouth as he remembered the dangerous path he took. "I'm actually lucky to still be alive. I got cornered by a Vasto Lorde and her pack. Luckily after hearing where I was trying to go, she let me go."
"Okay look," Loly interrupted before any more words could leave Zommari's lips. "I hate to be a total bitch about it but we don't have any time for small talks. We need to move our asses because I don't want to face any of Baraggan's Hunters or Baraggan himself, got it?"
Menoly gasped at her sister. 'What are you doing, Loly? Do you not sense the way these Hollows are more powerful than us?'Closing her mouth, her eyes rush to look at both Hollows' expressions. Hoping she wouldn't spot any bad vines from them. However, they seem to have understood her instead.
"You're right." Rudbornn's root-feet slither past both girls. "If we do not move fast enough, then we may be next in Baraggan's list."
"Indeed." Zommari crosses his arms in front of his chest while floating behind the Tree-like Hollow. "It'll be safer for us to travel together."
Both girls looked at each other before rushing behind them.
A day has gone by, traveling at a haste pace towards Starrk. They have exchanged small talks around the group. Trying to at least create some communication between one another.
Menoly massages her legs, the group taking a break from their non-stop marching. "We're so close now." She said while lifting her head up to the sky. Sensing not just Starrk's Reiatsu but a bunch of Hollows, too. Four powerful and distinguished Reiatsu were also present. One of them was Lily's. Bringing her head back down, she took a moment to look around the little campfire they had made. So far, no sort of conflict has started in the group. 'And that's a good thing.' Her green-eyes set themselves on Rudbornn. "Excuse me, Rudbornn-san, you said you have a motive for joining Starrk, what is it?"
Sensing their eyes on him, the towering Adjuchas says, "A couple of them. One of my motives is to reach Starrk for some protection; I was a part of Baraggan's army before I took my leave."
"I did as well." The multi-eyed Hollow said.
"Same here." Both sisters said in unison.
"Looks like we have something in common then." Reply Rudbornn. "After that, I wish to learn more about the boy."
"The boy?" Loly asked with a frown on her face. "You're talking about the redhead?"
The Bull-skull Adjuchas nodded his head. "That's right."
"Why?" Interrupted the other sister, frowning. "I haven't quite heard any..." She thinks of the right words she wanted to say before opening her mouth again. "... Umm, well, let's just say that there has been no sort of positive rumors flying around with him."
"And why's that?" Rudbornn asks.
Loly rolled her eyes before answering the Hollow. "If you were there and kept your eyes open, then you should have seen the way he did nothing too astonishing against Baraggan."
Menoly brought her normal hand up. "While there's the fact he fought Baraggan with the pale-skinned Hollow, he was the one that tired up too quickly. The only thing anyone saw him use was Ceros."
"The other Hollow was also using Ceros and there's also the fact that they couldn't get close to Baraggan without fearing the effects of his abilities." Counter back Rudbornn on Menoly's statement.
Now it was Loly's turn to bring up some points and rumors. "That still doesn't fix the fact that he couldn't handle Baraggan. He was way out of his league when he tried to fight Baraggan. He should've helped Lily-hime or the pink-haired guy."
Still holding her hand up, Menoly started lifting fingers with each point made. "He may feel strong but it's not really that impressive when he runs out of energy too fast. Lily-hime was able to fight Hollows all while protecting Starrk-sama, the pink guy was able to fight off a pack of Hollows, and the other Hollow looked like he could still fight Baraggan." She shrugged her shoulders, feeling bad the way she ruined Rudbornn's view of the redhead. "Sorry but he's average. Nothing special about him."
Zommari nodded sagely to reinforce their points. "They're right. There's just nothing special about the boy."
Rudbornn looked from Zommari to the sisters. "Is that what you will believe in? Just because he didn't do any amazing feats, you will label him as an average Hollow?'' He shook his head before continuing. "There's more than meets the eye with him. Did none of you notice the way Starrk-sama made sure to only look at him when he was seconds from death? He didn't look at the princess, the pinkette or even the other Hollow who's by far more powerful than the boy. No, he only looks at the redhead. No one else. Whatever they shared between them at the moment was only for them. It could have possibly been a promise of some sort," Rudbornn looks up to the moon above their heads, silently watching them. "A promise to avenge him? To keep everyone safe? Who knows?" He went back to looking at the Hollows, comprehension seen in their eyes. "But still there's more. When they were ready to save Starrk's life, why did they all wait for the boy to decide? The white-skinned Hollow, being the next strongest, should have been the one to call the shot, but it wasn't. The princess herself seemed to look like she asked for his help, not the other Hollow."
She furrows her non-existing brows. Loly doesn't understand why Rudbornn was trying to put the boy in a positive view. She knew what she saw. He couldn't handle Baraggan and that's all she needed to know about him. There was nothing more, the only reason he didn't die against the old Hollow King was with how the other Hollow was keeping him safe. 'But why though?'Shouldn't it have been every Hollow for themselves? If Respira caught the boy, then that was the end for him, yet, she was positive she saw the Hollow save the redhead now and then from any dangerous situation when they faced Baraggan.
Cleaning the look on her face, she looked up at Rudbornn who had been waiting for anyone to say anything. "We'll get our answers in a few hours then. We're not that far from them."
Stories of his victory spread across Hueco Mundo. Even those Hollows who ran away when Starrk and Baraggan's battle reached its climax have heard everything. While not taking the throne away from Baraggan, they all knew who their new King was. The news came as either a blessing or a plague, but for Starrk... it was just bothersome.
Starrk's right brow twitched dangerously while keeping a strained smile on. He only took a 4-hour nap! 4 HOURS! It hasn't even been a full day since he defeated Baraggan! So why... Why does it look like the number of Hollows who seem to camp outside of the cave he was sleeping in seems to have tripled in size! He moves his head from left to right. Trying to spot his little family. 'So far none of the Hollows have—'
"STARRK-SAMA!"
'Never mind, they saw me already.' He sighs while slowly and lazily waving at the Hollows. Some rushed towards him.
"There's no problem that I came here for protection right, your majesty?"
"Are you looking for a right-hand man? I would happily apply for the job!"
"What is your first ruling going to be?"
"Will you fight Baraggan again if he comes here?"
"Umm... Well..." Starrk sputtered, not knowing where he should start answering their questions. Thankfully, a savior show-up.
"Please be patient," Ulquiorra said, appearing in front of Starrk. "Go now, we will soon make an announcement." Shooing them away, he turns towards Hueco Mundo's King. "I hope you're well rested."
The brunette released a loosen sigh. "Yeah, yea." Starrk looked behind Ulquiorra's shoulder to see all the... Hollows. "Where the hell did they all come from." He groaned while running a hand down his face. "There was like, 200 Hollows only! And now it feels like there's over 1,000!"
"1,326, if we're being precise." Ulquiorra added.
Starrk stares at the pale-skin Arrancar with a vacant stare. "Really? Thanks for the helpful information." He spoke with a layer of wry around his voice. He looks back to the giant gathering of Hollows. "So where's everyone else at?" He raises a brow when Ulquiorra gestures to him to walk. With another sigh leaving his lips, Starrk took the lead, Ulquiorra following right behind him.
"You should try looking serious, you may lose some respect from your subjects."
He heard Ulquiorra's words. "For Kami's sake." he whispers under his breath before standing straight and sharpening his facial feature. He could already see the effects it had on some Hollows; most of them started bowing to him. "Where's everyone at?" He even spoke with a commanding tone.
The green-eyed Arrancar nodded, happy that Starrk had listened to his advice. "Szayel is at the moment looking around the groups of Hollows, trying to find any potential soldiers among them."
Starrk frowned at his words but said nothing.
"Ichigo is most likely still with Gerald and I believe Lily is a bit busy with her... fans."
"Fans?" Starrk blinks a few times, did he hear that right? "You said fans, right? As in, a bunch of people who have a strong admiration for another particular person, those kinds of fans?"
"Look for yourself."
He follows Ulquiorra's finger and his mouth drops at the sight he was seeing. Hollows surrounded Lily, the most interesting thing about them was the way Starrk could easily tell they were women. What with their obvious curvaceous figures, even though their appearance wasn't feminine. He could spot the admiration in their eyes. Just what the hell did Lily do to gain such popularity? He could see the way Lily was enjoying the praising, and he was sure it was praising with the way words such as strong, beautiful and elegant had been yelled from the Hollows.
"What's… what's going on there? What did Lily do to get so many fans?" Can't believe he just said that.
Ulquiorra repeated most of the praising words that Starrk was hearing. "Strong, beautiful, and most of all she's a girl."
"Umm, yeah, she's a girl." Starrk deadpanned.
"Apparently for these Hollows that's a very astonishing feat. Many female Hollows rarely reach any kind of length in their Hollow's life since they get picked off by most of the population. So seeing Lily, a female Hollow, at such a level of strength is short but a miracle to all of them. A miracle that they could hopefully reach one day." Ulquiorra finished just in time as Lily turned towards them and waved happily at them.
"Hey, guys! Where're all your fans!?" Lily boasted.
Starrk couldn't help but send Lily an 'are-you-kidding-me-face', he waves his arms frantically around him. "You do see all the Hollows, right?" His face twitches with the way Lily dismiss his words by telling her part of the story when she faced against Baraggan's right-hand man, adding more details to spice up her tale. "Ugh, where the hell is Szayel." He looks over to Ulquiorra to see the Hollow already pointing towards a direction.
The Arrancar scientist was baffled. Right in front of him stood a Vasto Lorde.
The creature strongly resembles a centaur. Its horse-like waist seems covered in white skeletal armor around its legs and back. Underneath all the armor Szayel could spot green fur. He raises his head to look at the upper body of the Hollow. Its upper half was normal, he could see a breastplate, showing that the Hollow in front of him was a woman. Her Hollow mask had a pair of long and curved horns that extended slightly, framing the sides of her face. Just like Ulquiorra's Vasto Lorde form, the mask lacks a mouth and nose, but he could see a set of hazel colored eyes. He also saw long waving greenish-blue hair, and a lance made from bones replaced her left hand. 'Is it perhaps a feature? A Vasto Lorde is close to the pinnacle of Hollow Evolution and since they no longer need to eat, their masks feature no mouth.'
He gave the Hollow a nervous smile. "You're here for protection, I assume?" It wasn't a far fetched idea that a Vasto Lorde would come to Starrk for protection, what with the way Baraggan could easily overpower any kind of opponent. Szayel waited for the Hollow's answer before figuring out that because her mask didn't have a mouth, she couldn't speak. "Oh, sorry for being rude—"
"I came to see what kind of man Starrk is."
Szayel blinks as he hears her voice. "You can speak?"
"Of course I can, why wouldn't I?"
"Well, umm," Szayel baffled before regaining his composure. "Let's just say I know of a Hollow who couldn't speak because he didn't have a mouth." Watching as the Hollow nodded, he repeated back her first words. "What do you mean to see what kind of man Starrk is?"
"I wish to see what Starrk will do with all these Hollows. Is he going to declare war against Baraggan? Is that why you have been seeking all the strong Hollows?" Her words have gained the attention of nearby Hollows.
Hearing the Hollows mutter between one another, Szayel knew he had to answer back before any negative rumors could spread but before a word could leave his mouth, Starrk appeared with Ulquiorra on his tail.
"I'm not declaring war against Baraggan." Starrk said, calming down some Hollows' anxieties.
"If you have any more questions, then hold on to them. Starrk will make an announcement soon." Ulquiorra chipped in.
The brunette turns around to hiss quietly at Ulquiorra. "Can you please stop saying that?"
"How long must one wait?"
"It'll be shortly." Ulquiorra ignores Starrk's groan.
Watching her disappear into the crowd of Hollows, Starrk turns to Ulquiorra, a bit of frustration coming to his voice. "I don't know what I should even say damn it!"
The green-eyed Arrancar walked past Starrk and quietly said, "Try not to speak too loud. Many Hollows will think they made the wrong choice by coming here."
"I didn't ask for any of them to come here." Starrk whispered back.
Ulquiorra responded with a cold voice. "What did you expect after your victory over Baraggan? A happy ending for just us? Did you not think about the likelihood of Hollows seeing you as King? To come to you for protection?"
Been close to hearing their whispers, Szayel helped Ulquiorra. This was his chance to set Starrk as king. "Was this not something you had been hoping for? To live among other Hollows?"
Starrk glared at him. "Can't believe you're using that against me! Yes, I wanted to be around the company of others! But I wanted them to see me as some friend and not a ruler."
"We're wasting time." Ulquiorra started walking towards Ichigo's Reiatsu while making one last point to Starrk. "You need to stop thinking selfish, Starrk, how long do you think these Hollows have been living under Baraggan's cruel rule? How long do you think they must have endured hiding from him? The only thing these Hollows want is to live a normal life, but Hueco Mundo can't provide such ways for them. These Hollows see you much more than a king; they see you as a savior. So save them."
The brunette looks down to the ground. Was he sounding selfish right now? He means, after Baraggan's defeat he had hoped to find a quiet place to settle down and perhaps wait for Ichigo to master back Capa Cero before going back to the Human World and forgetting all about Hueco Mundo. He didn't want to stay any much longer. Aizen could catch them off-guard or perhaps Baraggan would rebuild his army again and attack him with a full force.
Becoming king wasn't what he wanted; this was just something he never thought could have happened after defeating Baraggan. What was he expecting to happen after all this? What's his next goal? All this time was wasted in training to fight Baraggan and not once did he stop to think what's supposed to happen afterward. Is there no happy ending for him?
'Stop thinking like that.'
'Huh?' Starrk looked around him. He felt like someone had just whispered over his ears and the voice he heard sounded a lot like Annabelles.
'For goodness' sake, that's because it's me, idiot!' The Lily-lookalike yelled, making Starrk grab his head.
Starrk was about to speak out loud to Annabelles when he remembers exactly where she was at—in his mindscape and if he remembers the way Ichigo used to talk to Zangetsu, then all he has to do is say the words inside his head. 'Could you please not scream so loud?' Why is it that he could 'see' the way she was glaring at him? 'What are you so mad about?'
'Oh, I'm not mad. I'm pissed! That stupid bushy brow is right! You're been selfish!'
He couldn't stop the groan. What is it that made him look selfish right now! He's not thinking about himself only; he's also thinking about everyone else.
'And who's everyone else? Is it every Hollow here or just your little family?'
The tone of her voice made it sound like he should answer her question wisely or else she will finish the job that Baraggan couldn't do. He rolled his eyes. 'What do you think? I'm talking about my family.'
'IDIOT! See what Ulquiorra's saying!? You're only thinking about yourself! I can't believe ULQUIORRA is showing more compassion towards these Hollows than you! How do you think your little family feels right now?' Annabelles exclaimed.
'I'm sure they don't want to deal with any of this.' Starrk replied with another answer that the woman didn't seem to like. He held his head as Annabelles yells at him.
'THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THIS! THIS WHOLE PLAN WITH GOING BACK TO THE HUMAN WORLD TO RUNAWAY FROM BARAGGAN AND AIZEN IS YOUR IDEA! YOUR SELFISH IDEA!'Annabelles glared and crossed her arms in front of her chest.'Do you really think Ichigo would want to go back to the Human World?'
'He would.' Starrk replied without missing a beat.
'WRONG!'She crosses her arms above her head, forming an 'X'. 'Did you really forget who Ichigo is? He's the boy who wants to be a guardian to help anyone in need, and there's also the fact that he wishes to learn more about Hueco Mundo.'
'But he also wants to see his family again.' Starrk added, making Annabelles huffed.
'Okay then, how about you ask him what he wants?'
'Fine by me.' Ending their conversation there, Starrk follows Szayel.
"You should have been there, Gerald! I mean, Lily makes it sound like it was no big deal but I think otherwise." Ichigo clutches his hand as he looks up to Hueco Mundo's moon. "This only means that I'm getting stronger. It won't be long before I'm able to protect everyone from everything."
The Giant Hollow has been silently hearing Ichigo's tale. From the catastrophe that happened at the park and so on. He really couldn't believe how much had happened to the boy during the 8 months staying in the Human World. Besides the fact that he was able to become stronger and complete his evolution, something that he needs to ask about later, it's actually the fact that Ichigo was able to reunite with his family again that made him happy. While being happy for the redhead, he couldn't help but feel envy towards him. He wishes he could have the chance to see his loved ones again. "I'm happy for you, Ichigo-sama." He truly was, and he would not allow something so petty like jealousy to cloud his mind.
"Thanks, Gerald." Ichigo smiled at the Hollow and took a moment to look around him. It was only just him and the Guardian; no other Hollows were near them. He saw some Hollows flood Lily, wanting to meet the princess of Hueco Mundo. While he meant it to be a joke, every other Hollow thought otherwise. He turns to Gerald with a puzzled look. "Hey, why does it seem like every Hollow has been staying away from me."
"Don't worry about them Ichigo-sama, just ignore them." Gerald was doing a good job at hiding his anger towards the other Hollows. Ichigo was the one who made all this possible. If Ichigo had never come to their lives, then every single Hollow in Hueco Mundo would live under Baraggan's rule.
Ichigo frowned. He wants to know why they don't come and talk to him like they do with everyone else. "Do they not like me?"
"That's not it; they just don't know who you are or what you have done for them."
The redhead sighed. "I guess."
"Ichigo."
Hearing his name called, he turned around to see men of his group coming towards him. "What's up?"
"Come now, we must prepare Starrk for his speech."
With the dull tone coming out from Ulquiorra's mouth, Ichigo couldn't help but sweatdrop. "And, um, what sort of speech is he supposed to declare?"
"He will announce just what he's trying to achieve as King; hopes and dreams for every Hollow here." The pale-skinned Arrancar turned towards Starrk to make sure he had heard his proposal.
While hearing his words, Starrk decided to just ignore them right now while he makes sure to only focus on Ichigo. "Do you want to return to the Human World?"
His question caught him off-guard, and it made him feel like a lot of weight had set on his shoulders. "What are you talking about? We can't go back to the Human World. Shinigami will patrol all over Karakura Town now."
"But if you're able to learn Capa Cero and hide your presence, you can easily get past them. You can live a normal life and see your family again."
"But I'm already living with my family."
"Your real family." Starrk put heavy emphasis on the very important keyword. The redhead may see them as a family, but can he truly replace his real family over this make-believe one?
"This is my real family!" Ichigo yelled back. What was Starrk trying to do?
"What about Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin then? What are they now?"
Ichigo was feeling frustrated. "They're still my family!"
"And you don't want to return to them?" Starrk was feeling hurt now. Why does it feel like he's trying to push away the boy now? 'That's because I'm forcing him to say it. To say he prefers living in the Human World rather than here. So I can use that excuse to go back.' He could understand now why Annabelles and Ulquiorra are calling him selfish.
"I don't belong there anymore." Ichigo quietly replies, looking down to his feet. "It's called the Living World for a reason ya know? It's only meant for the living. I'm way past that. Besides…" He brought his eyes back up. "I still have to solve the mysteries surrounding Hueco Mundo and now that we have saved all the Hollows from Baraggan, we need to protect them too. You can't forget that I pride myself on my name."
Yeah, guess he can't forget something like that. Starrk sighed as a small smile mold on his lips. Ichigo would rather always protect those in need. 'I hope you never lose that kid.' "Well," He dragged a hand across his hair. "Looks like that settles my decisions then. C'mon, let's go grab Lily. I got a speech to give."
The small group of Hollows finally reach Starrk and the assembled Hollows.
"Finally!" Menoly cried, falling on her knees. She looks back up when she hears a nearby Hollow talk about Starrk giving an announcement. "Looks like we made it just in time." She got pulled up to her feet by her sister's appendages.
"C'mon, let's get a move on! We can't miss something so important like this! Who knows what Starrk-sama's speech could be about!" Loly turns around to wave at Rudbornn and Zommari. "You two better come as well!"
"Does she think we would miss something like this?" Zommari said, slowly floating a few meters behind the girls, Rudbornn by his side.
Loly frowned as she found herself at the end of the rally. She couldn't get through some big Hollows because of her small frame. "Damn it! We won't be able to hear anything from all the way back here!" She turns around to see the towering body of Rudbornn slowly passing through the crowd, Hollows moving out of their way for him. "H-hey! Wait for us!"
Getting close to Starrk was an easy task thanks to Rudbornn. "Looks like you're actually useful for something buddy." Loly patted the branch that she and Menoly were sitting on.
Ignoring her teasing, Rudbornn turns to shush the girls. "It's starting."
Both girls shook, excited to see not just Starrk, but Lily standing on top of a cave.
"She's pretty." Menoly quietly whispers to her sister.
Loly nodded. "I know."
"Shhh!" Zommari hushed louder, floating from the opposite side of the girls.
Starrk looked down to all the Hollows from the platform he was on the top of. He waited for the crowd of Hollows to quiet down before opening his mouth.
"King of Hueco Mundo. That's what most of you have declared me as. This world's ruler. And I know that's not how most of you see me as. Most, if not all of you, only see me as a shelter. A safeguard against Baraggan." Starrk spotted Hollows who flinched from his words.
"And what will you do if that's the case?"
Starrk turned his eyes to the direction of the Vasto Lorde that easily moved to the front of the crowd, mostly with the way every Hollow allowed her to move forward. "Nothing. I won't throw them away to Baraggan. Every single one of you had endured Baraggan for too long. I welcome you with open arms if protection is what you seek."
His words made the crowd of Hollow cheer.
"You heard that Menoly! We're safe!" Loly couldn't help but wrap one of her arms around her sister's frame.
"HOWEVER!" Starrk yelled, silencing the Hollows again. "Some of you need to understand something very important. I won't always be there to protect all of you. Baraggan's forces are greater than ours. If he so wishes, he could lead his army here."
"But you will protect us! Right!?" Zommari yelled, making other Hollows cry out.
Starrk raises a hand, hushing the Hollows. "I will protect you against Baraggan. I'll fight him off, but I can't be everywhere to protect every single one of you from his men. Not even my companions can be there to protect everyone. Yes, we're strong, but that won't do any good if we're easily outnumbered." He could already hear Hollows muttering with one another and speaking about the wrong choice they have made.
"What are you planning then?"
He went back to looking at the Vasto Lorde— by this point the main voice of the Hollows. "That's simple. We're going to train you." Starrk said, calming down some Hollows.
"You're going to train every single one of us?" Menoly couldn't help but ask, there was no way for 5 people to train so many Hollows, that's impossible!
"Not quite." Starrk gestures at Szayel. "This man has been searching across every Hollow here for a good reason. We're searching for strong Hollows whom we can train, which in hopes after their training is complete, they could pick a group of Hollows and train them. Not only would we make progress but we can cut down the time to prepare everyone here for when Baraggan shows up."
"How will all 5 of you train us?" Rudbornn asked.
"5?" Starrk smirked, glad that someone had brought numbers up. "It won't be just 5 of us."
Szayel moves forward to speak. "We have some... associates that can help us train you all." More whispers started spreading.
Starrk looks across the crowd and he gives himself a nod. So far everything seems to go smoothly. He went back to looking at the Vasto Lorde, already guessing she had more to say and he was right once her voice reached his ears.
"Why are you doing so much for us? You don't need our power to fight Baraggan. You can all just go back to hiding and never worry about him again."
"That's because we're Guardians." Ichigo spoke, finally making himself aware to the other Hollows, tired of feeling as they had thrown him to the shadows of his friends. "Why must the weak die so that the strong can live! Why must that be our law of nature? This world of endless battle can end by helping one another! Protecting the weak will give us the strength to get stronger! You all saw the strength it gave Starrk to protect us, and every single one of you can achieve the same level of power too!"
The brunette smile. Happy to hear those words come out from Ichigo. Protecting the weak is what gave him strength. "If you fight by my side then you're not fighting as my subordinates, but as my friends and family!" Starrk almost jumped as the Hollows let out an even bigger cheer.
Once done with his speech, Starrk was holding a meeting inside the cave. He intertwined his fingers as he listened to Szayel's idea. "And you're positive this will work?"
"I'm positive it will work." Szayel didn't even feel the benefits of the doubt.
"Before believing in the Visoreds helping to train these Hollows, how about we first think of a way to contact them?" Ulquiorra casually added. "Shinigami are still patrolling Karakura Town so we can't just appear out of the blue. We need to contact them first and set a meeting place."
Szayel smirks as he pulls out a device from inside his shirt. "That's why Urahara-san and I made this!"
"A flip phone?" Lily said, taking the device from Szayel's hand. "When the hell did geta-bōshi give you this?"
Taking back his phone, Szayel said, "This 'Phone' is actually the first device that we work on together." He cleared his throat before continuing, finally able to use his 'teacher-mode' again. "Let's keep this simple. Now, a cell phone is essentially a two-way radio, comprising a radio transmitter and a radio receiver. When you chat with someone on your phone, your phone converts your voice into an electrical signal, which then transmits via radio waves to the nearest cell tower. Urahara-san believes that if some events were to happen to us, then there should be a way for us to contact him. After some time and with some experiments we finally found a 'cell tower' here in Hueco Mundo by using this world's radio wave to attune both phones to work in Hueco Mundo and the Living World."
"Wait," Ichigo interrupted. "Both phones? Then the other person who has the other one is Urahara-san?"
Szayel nodded. "Indeed." He turned on the phone and searched through his contacts, which wasn't a lot, and found Urahara. "Shall we?"
The ringing was the first sign that told the group that the phone work in Hueco Mundo but hearing the way Urahara picked up the phone put a smile across their faces, there was even a tiny smile on Ulquiorra's face.
"Hello~! Thank you for calling Urahara's Warehouse! How can I help you!"
"Urahara's Warehouse? What happened with the corner store? Finally, learn you made no business there?" Starrk laughed, glad to hear the man's voice again.
"Why is that you Starrk-san!? Why... a week has passed by since you guys left! Everything is fine though, right? Nothing too serious had happened?"
Just before Starrk could reply, Ichigo led in closer and said, "Starrk is King of Hueco Mundo now!"
"King, you say? Must I address him as Starrk-sama now?"
Starrk rolled his eyes in the way he could hear the man's teasing. Before words could leave his mouth, this time someone from Urahara's end interrupted him.
"Oi! Did you say Starrk!?"
"Is that you Shinji?" Starrk said, recognizing the blonde Visored's voice.
"Yep! Man, am I glad ya still alive!" Shinji responds.
"I didn't know you would miss us so much, blondie." Lily said.
"Lily-hime." Shinji replies, trying to annoy Lily with the only way he can.
The limenette couldn't help but smirk as she replied. "You're damn right about that!" She laughs as she hears Shinji reply with a lost 'Huh?'.
"While catching up sounds like a nice thing to do, we call you for a different reason." Ulquiorra interrupted.
"And that would be?"
Starrk walks through the large crowd of Hollows, trying to find the Vasto Lorde. Szayel had gone out to search for more potential soldiers when the powerful Hollow approached Szayel and told him how she wished to speak to him about a very important matter. So here he was now. He looks from left to right. 'How is it that I can finally walk among them? To not have my Reiatsu accidentally kill some of them.'
'You can thank me for that.' Annabelle said, making herself known again. 'Usually you couldn't control your large Reiatsu but after I stop blocking most of your powers, your body instinctively was able to seal your powers properly.'
'Really? Thanks for that Annabelles.'
'Just call me Anna.'
Starrk nodded. 'Hey, I'm sorry I haven't found the time to visit you. Been busy planning a lot of this.'
She waves his apology away. 'That's fine, don't worry about it.'
Spotting the Vasto Lorde, Starrk said his farewells to Anna before clearing his throat, gaining the Hollow's attention. "You wanted to speak to me? Umm.."
"Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck or you can just call me Nel for short."
"Right, so what was it that you wanted to talk about, Nel?"
"We need to move." Nel said, a grim look on her face. "With so many Hollows here. We're sitting ducks for Baraggan."
The brunette frowned, he actually never thought about that. "So where can we go? Where could we possibly find a place to hide so many Hollows?" He raises a brow when he spots a smile behind Nel's eyes. "You know a place, don't you?"
They have been walking for days; everyone, including the other Hollows, had been following Nel to the perfect hiding spot.
"How much further?" Starrk asks while following Nel up a dune.
"We're here."
Finally reaching the top of the dune and seeing Nel's ideal hideout, Starrk felt a thrill go through him. "I didn't know Hueco Mundo had anything like this! I mean, I have seen them around, but I never thought they would reach this kind of magnitude!" He turns to Nel and says, "How did you find this place?"
"By complete accident." Nel turns to Starrk and smiles upon seeing the excited look on his face. "Does this place look fit enough for you, Starrk-Sama?"
Done gasping, the brunette nodded. "I'll say." He smiles towards the massive mountain range that seems to spread for miles.
Captain Suì-Fēng scowled as she took a moment to look around Karakura Town. Three weeks had passed since the last patch of Captains contacted the humanoid-Hollows and with how things had ended up, Captain-Commander Yamamoto was not happy.
3 Shinigami Captains couldn't kill even one of those Hollows. From what their reports had said, the area where they located them seemed to have taken damage way before they even got there. Making them all believe they've been training there for the past 8 months. But how was it that no one picked up the abnormal Reiatsu usage? Well, that was because from what all 3 Captains have reported, Urahara Kisuke, the former 12th Division Captain, has been the one keeping the Hollows hidden from their radar. However, that's not what has been eating her lately.
Shihōin Yoruichi. The former 22nd Head of the Shihōin Clan, Captain of the 2nd Division, Onmitsukidō Commander-in-Chief, the one person she had looked up to as a kid and the only reason she finally took her turn around Karakura Town.
She was her idol, a dream she wished to reach one day. She was close to borderline obsessed with Yoruichi. So when the day came where she learned of Yoruichi's betrayal to help her exiled friend, it left her feeling shocked and betrayed. The one person she had seen as an icon left her. As the years went by in the 2nd Division without a Captain, she took matters into her own hands. As a result, she trained herself to surpass Yoruichi and took the titles she abandoned. Before the year when she became the captain of the 2nd Division would reach her, she did a bit of digging around Urahara's case. It wasn't an easy task but being a member of the Onmitsukidō has its perks.
Blackmail.
The Onmitsukidō have dirt on many members of the Central 46, the ones who hold most of the important cases that happen through Soul Society. So finding the right people and using her threats carefully, she was able to learn what had happened. Sure it was risky to use such powerful material on some powerful figures but to her, it was worth it because she just wanted to know the truth.
She didn't want to believe that Yoruichi would have helped a criminal like Urahara escape. The small little hope she has kept in her heart was telling her that maybe Yoruichi was framed. She didn't want to believe that her Yoruichi would have helped a madman like Urahara. She means the only reason Yoruichi helped Urahara escape was because they were friends. Is not like she helped the shaggy blonde Hollowfied so many captains and lieutenants. Her former Captain was not that kind of person!
She kept that small little hope in her heart secure. Making sure nothing could reach and break it.
But because of Captain Ukitake's report, that hope was starting to break. The long white-haired man reported how they weren't the only Shinigami there. Urahara Kisuke and Shihōin Yoruichi were there and that's how the report ended. There was nothing more. Zangetsu unleashes an attack that causes the roof of the cave to collapse, forcing them to flee. Even after the Captains' meeting was over, she went up to Jūshirō and asked him if she saw Yoruichi or Urahara fight the Hollows.
"They came to our aid."
Those were the words she wanted to hear so desperately, to have some evidence that her former captain and her friend were innocent. That sadly wasn't the case. Captain Ukitake kindly stated how they never engaged the Hollows and it looked like they ordered them to return to Hueco Mundo.
Things didn't get any better either. Once again in Captain Ukitake's report, the man stated how he saw a 3rd party. That 3rd party was two victims of Urahara's Hollowfication experiment.
Victim was an implausible word to label them now. If they were the 'victims' then they shouldn't be with the man that turned them into monsters and made them fugitives in Soul Society.
Suì-Fēng's scowl deepens as she remembers more important details of Urahara's trial.
Central 46 planned the Captains' and Lieutenants' executions. All because their intense and selfish desire has set them down on a path for power. Was it possible that they were planning on turning traitorous? Did they reach for Urahara because the man could give them what they wanted?
But that couldn't be the case.
She looked deeper and found their files. They were proud members of the Gotei 13. There weren't any tragic events in their past that lead them to turn traitorous. So what happened 100 years ago?
The small hope in her heart kept breaking. Fearing that the person she knew was never there. That the Yoruichi she has always looked up to was nothing but a fake persona.
'Don't think that way!' The petite captain shook her head. It'll be better if she could find Lady Yoruichi and hear the truth from her own mouth. Disappearing with a Shunpo, she headed to the only place in Karakura Town that could find some clues to where her ex-captain may have gone.
Appearing on top of the ruins of URAHARA SHOP's roof, the 2nd Division Captain narrows her eyes and tries to spot any clues among all the debris but all the wreckage seems to have buried everything.
"DAMN IT!"
Turning her head towards the direction Captain Hitsugaya's voice came from, she easily felt a troubled frown making its way on her face. The young Captain seems above the borderline obsessed with finding Zangetsu. As a Captain she understands that having a Hollow slip through her hands would be a stab to one's capacities as Captain but it is not like she knew how that felt, she always kills her target, but Captain Hitsugaya was different. He was the most recently appointed Captain of the Gotei 13; she at least understood the level of responsibilities it falls on to someone when they fail such a mission. She had a couple of shared experiences with failed missions through her younger years as a Shinigami.
What can she possibly say about his obsession with Zangetsu?
For one, it wasn't a healthy obsession, something that someone could help him overcome. For starters, there's the fact that the young-prodigy has been in every single rotation around Karakura Town. Captains like Kurotsuchi, Unohana, Ukitake (when his disease isn't a problem) and herself included have always taken a pass over their turn around Karakura Town and they have allowed the white-haired captain to take their turn. Usually, Captain-Commander Yamamoto wouldn't be happy to hear that, but most of them have solid excuses.
If Captain Unohana, being the best healer in Soul Society, would lose her life, then the Gotei 13 would run itself in chaos. Kurotsuchi no longer has a reason for going back to the Living World, what with the poor soul he had captured. Ukitake's health. She herself didn't want to bother on a goose chase with a bunch of Hollows who probably were no longer in the Living World but back at Hueco Mundo, but after finding out about Yoruichi, that all changed.
If none of them had a turn around Karakura Town, then Tōshirō would try to bribe some Captains for their turn. Sadly, this means that Captain Hitsugaya had to bribe a madman like Zaraki, and she has heard of the man's request; spars that leave Captain Hitsugaya drench in his own blood and leave his body with many cuts and scars, thankfully hidden underneath his clothes. It still didn't help to think how low the young prodigy had fallen. To think he would look for Kenpachi in his free time to spar was just not right. The boy had basically mentally imprinted his spar sections with Kenpachi on his head. The 11th Division Captain doesn't even care how he leaves Hitsugaya afterward. He was just happy he could fight someone.
It also didn't help with the fact that the Captain-Commander would praise him, calling it a deep dedication that seems to be lacking in today's Captains.
She doesn't understand. She doesn't. How can he say something like that? Why doesn't he open his eyes and see that the dedication that Captain Hitsugaya is showing is nothing but an obsession? Why hasn't the Captain-Commander told Tōshirō to take things easier? He wasn't an idiot! She knew damn well how the ancient Shinigami heard the rumors from members of the 4th Division on how heavily wounded Captain Zaraki leaves Tōshirō.
She has never gone against his orders, not like the Captain-Commander ordering them not to do so, but she talked with Captain Unohana. She had requested if it was possible for the healer to give Captain Hitsugaya some mandatory vacations to hopefully de-stress him and have him return to normal if that was even possible but to her complete shock Captain Unohana couldn't do it. Why? Well, it was because Captain-Commander Yamamoto ordered her to heal Captain Hitsugaya, and that was it. No mandatory vacations, no days off, no excuses, nothing. He wants to see Captain Hitsugaya work his ass-off. Was this Yamamoto way of punishing Tōshirō for failing? No, that couldn't be it. Captain Kuchiki and Zaraki have had no sort of punishment befall on them. So why only Captain Hitsugaya?
Then there was the matter of his division.
Everyone outside the 10th Division could tell you how much effort and dedication Captain Hitsugaya was putting into finding Zangetsu, but inside the 10th Division people said different things. Many of its members feel like their captain has distanced himself from them. It doesn't help the fact that all his captain's duty got thrown to his Lieutenant. When the busty blonde once appeared to their Shinigami Women's Association meeting, the usual cheerful Rangiku was anything but that. Her hair was a mess, and she had bags under her eyes and she even brought paperwork to their meeting once! They use a Kidō spell on her so that she could finally get some rest.
Suì-Fēng sighed as she made her way towards Tōshirō, who was turning over a huge boulder. "Did you find anything, Captain Hitsugaya?"
He said nothing at first; he was glaring down at the body of a young teen that showed a strong resemblance to Zangetsu. He bent down to examine the body. "A Gigai. Seems to be the work of Urahara. If they work the same way as Captain Kurotsuchi's Gigai, then they may have some of Zangetsu's Reiatsu still in it."
Taking a quick breath, the 2nd Division Captain prepared herself and said, "Don't you think it's about time to stop your obsession with Zangetsu?" She felt like a hypocrite saying that but at least her obsession wasn't as bad as his.
"It's not an obsession." Tōshirō sent the petite Captain an icy glare. "It's OUR duty to get rid of dangerous Hollows like Zangetsu."
"But you're taking things too far." The 2nd Division Captain replied, sending the prodigy-Captain a glare of her own. "You're forcing your duties as a Captain down to your Lieutenant and all because you want to find some Hollow. Matsumoto has been driving herself dry."
"She's always slacking off and drinking on the job! I drive myself dry when I always have to finish HER work!"
Before she could even yell anything back, the voice of Captain Kuchiki interrupted their argument.
"That's enough you two. There's no time for your petty quarrel." Byakuya casually said, moving past Suì-Fēng to see Captain Hitsugaya's findings. "What do we have here?"
"A Gigai." Tōshirō replies, eyes going back to looking at the faux body. "While some features seemed alternative, his appearance is complete to that of Zangetsu. If possible, Captain Kurotsuchi could trace some of Zangetsu's Reiatsu in it."
Byakuya's gray eyes look around the debris. This has been the 3rd Gigai they have discovered. However, the other two weren't recognizable to the Kuchiki Clan head. Who could the other two be? "Is there nothing more? Have Gigais been the only thing to recover?"
"Members of the 12th Division who the Captain-Commander deployed here have recovered what appeared to be Urahara's computer." The petite 2nd Division captain said. "If the computer works, then they could transfer data to Kurotsuchi's own computer. Helping us figure what Urahara may have done to help these Hollows."
Before they could exchange any words, the captains scattered from their spot. Dodging a barrage of blue arrows.
"Great, him again." The turquoise-eyed captain groans while unsheathing his Zanpakutō. "For how much longer will you keep annoying us, Quincy."
Ryūken appeared by using Hirenkyaku, the Quincy equivalent to the Shinigami's Shunpo and the Arrancar's Sonído. "UNTIL YOU GIVE ME BACK MY SON!" He fires a multitude of one-handed arrows in rapid succession towards Captain Hitsugaya, causing the young captain to dodge.
Silently as all members of the Onmitsukidō should be, Captain Suì-Fēng appears quietly behind the enraged Quincy. An arm raises for a quick chop on Ryūken's neck to knock the man out. She winces when her arm contacts the man's neck, feeling as if she tried punching a steel wall.
Thanks to his Blut Vene, Captain Suì-Fēng's intentions fail and the man turns around to aim his white Heilig Bogen at the petite Captain. "Klavier!" The Hospital Director yelled, firing another barrage of arrows.
Dodging the dangerous projectiles, the 2nd Division Captain appears by Tōshirō's side. "Would you mind giving us a bit of intel on this man?"
Also appearing by his side, Captain Kuchiki said, "I believe this is the man that has been giving our men a lot of trouble lately?"
The 10th Division Captain nodded. "Around two months ago, this man started injuring and almost killing some of our members who have been patrolling around Karakura Town." Captain Hitsugaya grimaces. "This man is the father of the boy that Captain Kurotsuchi captured."
"I see." Byakuya quietly replies. What can they do now? The man won't leave them alone, not when they took away his son. "We should retreat."
"Like Hell, I'm going to let any of you leave! I have been generous enough to not kill any of the Shinigami here because I wanted at least one of you to send my message to that baster to give me back my son!" He yelled, pulling back the strings on his bows and creating a blue arrow he says, "Must I kill a Captain so that you people can finally understand I will do anything to get my boy back!"
"Killing us won't do you any good besides putting your son and yourself in risk." Suì-Fēng scowled. "If you're worried about any risks to your son, then know that he's under protection. Captain-Commander has made it clear to Kurotsuchi to not kill your boy."
Grinding his teeth and creating more arrows but not firing them, the white-haired Quincy said, "And why would that make it any better? Why would you need my son, anyway!"
Before she could open her mouth and tell him how his son is 'helping' Kurotsuchi with killing Zangetsu, the petite Shinigami was able to sense a Garganta opening. Her eyes dilated with horror. 'Could it be them?' She turned her head to Tōshirō and as soon she saw the look on his face, it answered her question. "Is that him?" She still asked him, trying to be sure.
"Zangetsu." He spat out the Hollow's name as if he could taste the bitterness it would bring him when remembering the redhead. "He's at the park." Did Zangetsu really appear at the park where they fought 9 months ago?
While Captain Hitsugaya focused solely on Zangetsu, Captain Kuchiki sensed the other individual that was with the Hollow. "That can't be."
"Something wrong, Captain Kuchiki?" The petite Shinigami asked.
"It seems Zangetsu isn't the most powerful Hollow at all." Byakuya replied, making Suì-Fēng's eyes widen.
"What are you talking about?!" She turned her head towards the location of the park, she could feel how one of the Hollow's Reiatsu overshadowed the other one, she hoped that the stronger Spiritual power was Zangetsu. "The stronger Reiatsu is Zangetsu, right?"
Byakuya shook his head. "It may have been a while but I could never forget Zangetsu's Reiatsu signature. The weaker one is definitely Zangetsu... but the other one... I have never sense it before."
Once again, before she could open her mouth, Captain Hitsugaya interrupted her.
"ZANGETSU!"
She turns her head in time to see Captain Hitsugaya vanish from his spot with a Shunpo. "For Kami's sake!" Following the enraged Captain so he wouldn't get himself killed, Suì-Fēng pursues him.
Watching as the last of Shinigami Captains headed to the park, Ryūken yelled. "Where do you think you're going!"
As the Garganta close behind them, Ulquiorra turns towards Ichigo. "Do not forget your mission."
The redhead scowled. "I know, no need to remind me." His scowled deepened as he senses Captain Hitsugaya approaching. "Kami that brat is always here." Ichigo is vexed as he looks down at the ground. "Don't you have any other better things to do, Captain?" Just as he finishes, Captain Hitsugaya with the company of his fellow Captains appears.
"And you have nothing better to do than coming back here, Zangetsu." Tōshirō retorted, glaring at the redhead.
With the same look sent at him, Ichigo said, "My name isn't Zangetsu." His hands went for his blades, sheathed on his back. "My name is Kurosaki Ichigo."
The young-prodigy raises his blade and finally introduces himself to his nemesis. "Captain Hitsugaya of the 10th Division."
"Kurosaki Ichigo?" Ryūken said, appearing on a branch. "You're Isshin's son?"
"Eh, you know my old man?" Ichigo asked, stopping from reaching his duo-colored blades.
Ryūken nodded and said, "I'm a... close friend to your father for some time now. He married Masaki, your mother who was basically my adopted cousin."
Suì-Fēng felt a shiver run down her spine. This would explain how Zangetsu, or Ichigo, was part Quincy. Now that she thought about it. Things got even worse. If the boy they capture was the son of this Quincy and this man is basically the cousin of Ichigo's mother then the boy Captain Kurotsuchi captured is Ichigo's cousin. Meaning they're family. 'If this Hollow learns that we capture one of his family members then he'll bring hell to Soul Society!' She felt her stomach twist when the man appeared by Ichigo's side. Both sides have a party of 3 now. "This isn't good." She whispers to the rest of the Captains.
Ulquiorra kept his eyes on the white-haired Quincy for a while before looking forward again. "Ichigo, go now. I will hold them off. That is if your uncle here would help me."
Ryūken pulls his bow back, creating a blue arrow. "Strange that a Quincy would fight alongside a Hollow." Why did it feel like he was spitting at his deceased father's face right now? Maybe it had to do with how his father wanted to help Shinigami with their duties. He looks at Ulquiorra and says, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Confirming that his brother won't fight alone, Ichigo left the Captains to them, even though he wishes to fight Captain Hitsugaya, he has a mission to do.
"You're not going anywhere, Kurosaki!" Tōshirō yelled, ready to pursue Ichigo.
Ulquiorra's mission is to distract the Shinigami Captains long enough for Ichigo to meet Urahara but Captain Hitsugaya looked like he was ignoring them and going straight for the redhead. He won't allow that.
"Enclose, Murciélago."
Ichigo stopped as black and green bursts of spiritual energy fell around him as green rain hit his skin. "Is this Ulquiorra's Resurrección?! When did he learn to do this?!" His attention then snatched from the green rain to the four Shinigami that appeared in front of him. He was already familiar with three of them. The busty blonde, the redhead with tattoos and the petite girl but the 4th Shinigami was the first time seeing him. He was a large man with black hair, wearing the standard Shinigami robes with a large purple collar and wearing expensive, personalized jewelry. He sighs while finally unsheathing one of his blades.
"Things are never easy for us."
-X-
And done. So not a long chapter but still a chapter none the less.
So how much do I have to talk about this chapter? Hmm well, let's see.
I basically introduce which Hollows from canon have join Starrk. We got Loly, Menoly, Zommari, Rudbornn, and Nel. While there would be a couple more of them joining Starrk, these 5 would mostly get more screen time. Tier, while most of you would have probably wanted her to join Starrk, will mostly be kept at a Neutral ground right now. Yes, she will join Starrk but that won't happen until much, much, much later. Also, I'm sure a lot of people would have hope for Grimmjow to join Starrk's side but that won't do. After all, both sides have to be kept at an 'equal' level.
Drop more information on poor Tōshirō. I have been planning a Chapter for Tōshirō actually. Lol
Ryūken has been attacking every Shinigami in Karakura Town. Sooo I had to look everywhere for this next part. So Masaki was supposed to basically marry him but I think it mentions how they were basically cousins so I just decided to not include them as blood-relative but adopted instead. Idk, if anyone can find proof that they're cousins by blood I'll gladly edit the chapter.
So next chapter will include Ulquiorra and Ryūken Vs the Shinigami Captains. Ichigo will be dealing with Renji, Rukia, Rangiku, and Ōmaeda.
Now before I work on the next chapter I need to say something really important.3 Chapters from now this story will finally set itself as the same timeline that we have seen in the anime. Meaning that a 2 years time skip will occur, however before any of that can happen I been meaning to basically add 3 extra more chapters before setting everything in track. The reason why is because I planned to set a war in Hueco Mundo. After his victory over Baraggan, Starrk had open many Hollows' eyes and some wish to live a normal (as normal as you can get in Hueco Mundo) life. However, because of that the Hollows who would kill and absorb the weak have become more vicious, basically joining Baraggan's army. This causes a huge drift in Hueco Mundo, basically destroying the natural order of their world. This is also why Tier is staying neutral since she doesn't want to end up choosing the wrong side of a war. After all, she still cares for her pack. Now, this is completely Y'all choice. I could add 3 more chapters or I can skip them and briefly talk about them through the rest of the story. You're my readers so tell me what y'all wanna read lol. This is why I'm holding back the next chapter release, wanna first see what y'all want.
Ten - Out