Grimmjow paused once he came to the small grove of dead trees protruding from the white sand. It had seemed like the best place for the bodies of the infected hollows to be buried, since the trees could act like a natural marker. The Espada lifted his hand unzipping his black jacket and shrugging it free from his shoulders, revealing the contoured muscles of his arms.
The corpses were buried down pretty deep and it would be a bit of a messy job unearthing them. Grimmjow turned, about to toss his jacket down on the sand, when he noticed two small hands reach out for the garment. Grimmjow turned and looked at Nelliel. Her expression didn't reveal anything to him and he wasn't sure how to take her kind gestures sometimes, but he wasn't fooling himself-she was still enamored with Kurosaki.
Grimmjow allowed her to take the jacket, accepting her kindness even though it rubbed him a little raw. They were supposed to be Espada, yet, Nelliel didn't have a mean bone in her body, and even though Grimmjow didn't want to admit it, he'd gone through his own changes after the Quincy war.
The Espada stole a quick glance over at the squad 12 captain who stood with his lean white painted arms crossed in front of his chest. The moonlight gleamed off the paint making him look supernatural.
"So what the hell am I supposed to be getting for you anyway?" Grimmjow asked the soul reaper.
"Ah…Yes, I guess I should give you the proper equipment." Mayuri replied as he stepped forward pulling an empty vile from his haori.
"Blood would be preferred, but since it's most likely coagulated by now, a small sample of tissue would suffice." Mayuri explained as he handed over the vile.
"Gotcha. This is probably going to take a minute, we didn't plan on having to dig them back out." Grimmjow explained.
"Then I suggest you get on with it before another wave of hollows decides to descend upon us." Mayuri snapped before turning away from the Espada.
Grimmjow snorted, half tempted to tell the soul reaper to shove his sample up his snooty ass, but he knew it would only escalate into a fight. Even though he hated to admit it, his instincts told him a fight with a man like Mayuri Kurotsuchi wouldn't be the type he was used to- And we need his help.
Grimmjow tucked the small glass vile into the pocket of his pants then leaned down on his knees and using his hands he started to dig into the sand.
"Would you like me to help you dig?" Nelliel offered.
Grimmjow shook his head.
"Don't bother." He snapped.
"Alright." She spoke softly before walking away.
Mayuri kept his eyes peeled taking in the planes of desert around them, he could no longer hear the sounds of laughter coming from Zaraki which led him to believe that the second horde had not been very challenging for the brute either—Ugh! That man better not get himself lost!
Mayuri sighed at the realization that he'd left one of the most directionally challenged men alive, on his own in the middle of a vast desert-I swear, if he makes me have to look for him…
Mayuri's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an oncoming horde of lower level hollows, humming with the desperate need to find sustenance. He glanced over at the female Espada as she sat down the beast's jacket she had been holding onto the sand. Grimmjow lifted his head and cursed under his breath as he witnessed the mass of hollows heading towards them from the opposite direction they had left Zaraki.
"Excellent...another opportunity to collect another specimen." Mayuri grinned as he lifted his own Zanpakuto from its sheath.
Grimmjow braced himself to stand intending to help with the horde that was about to attack but noticed the soul reaper step forward with his zanpakuto in hand.
"Keep digging!" Mayuri demanded him.
"You sure you got this?" Grimmjow asked him as he watched the crazy bastard step out in front of Nelliel who was bracing herself for the attack.
"You just worry about collecting that sample." Mayuri smiled.
"Claw out! Ashisogi Jizo!"
Ayumi paced the space of Mayuri's private lab, thinking about the possibilities…all the information they had was that the virus that infected her old roommates and the men from district 79, was one in the same. Mayuri had included his own notes in the file that he had sent to Akon the night he had corrected her vision, and in those notes he had concluded that the virus had originated at least thirty years ago and, somehow, due to its nature had been able to evolve into something stronger with each occurrence.
As bacteria was concerned it wasn't something out of the normal range of evolution, still Ayumi was left stumped as to what the source of it was, it acted as if viral, yet also had parasitic tendencies. Once the virus breached the spiritual pressure of its host, it then fed off the Reiatsu for an extended period of time until said host perished from the inability to regenerate said Reiatsu- Does the strain die off with the host, or move to another?
Ayumi let out a frustrated sigh as she walked over and took a seat in Mayuri's empty chair.
Akon sat in his own chair, leaning back seeming to be stuck in his own thoughts. Neither of them had had much luck in trying to find the source of the problem. If the virus was over three decades old, the source was most likely invalid at this point.
"Akon, I think we may be looking at this the wrong way. We've all been trying to figure out the origin of the virus verses concentrating on a way to destroy its current stage. There has to be a weakness of some sort. If healing Kido fails to help rejuvenate the victims Reiatsu, is there something else that could help sustain what is left, or possibly amplify it?" Ayumi rambled.
Akon blinked seeming to take a few minutes to register her question.
"I also wondered about that myself. From what I understand if healing Kido does not work on someone after, say, an injury, the only thing that can be done to help the souls Reiatsu to heal, is time. With enough exposure to Reishi over a span of time, the wound will eventually heal on its own." Akon replied.
"Reishi!" Ayumi exclaimed as she sprung up from the chair and walked to the back of the lab to the medicine cabinet.
Akon seemed to understand her sudden burst of realization as he followed her closely.
Ayumi pulled the door of the medicine cabinet open and searched for the glass beaker. Spotting it on the bottom shelf she reached in and grabbed the condensed Reishi serum Mayuri had created for her.
"Is there a way for us to make more of this?" Ayumi asked.
Akon paused, his mouth ajar as he thought about it.
"Yes, but, the formula is on the Captain's personal computer. I'm afraid nobody has the code, not that anyone would even be able to read it if they did." Akon answered.
Ayumi grinned.
"This is condensed right? Like a super formula made to repair the damage in my eyes. Can you take this batch and try and convert it into something that can be given intravenously?" Ayumi continued.
Akon smiled down at her as he understood her intention. The massive dosage of condensed Reishi would force the regeneration of new cells within the sick, hence weakening the hold the virus had on their immune systems.
"While this is a good theory, it may not get rid of the virus altogether." Akon pointed out.
Ayumi nodded.
"I realize this, but, it would at least prevent them from dying." Ayumi countered.
Akon nodded.
"I can mix this with some other components that will make it safe for intravenous use, but with this little bit it's only going to make a couple bags. We would have to keep administering this for as long as it took to find an actual cure." Akon stated.
"I'll get the formula we need to make more, just give me an hour." Ayumi replied.
Akon's brow raised at her statement.
"If you're thinking about hacking into the captain's system it won't work. He has his own code written." Akon countered.
"Yes, and I have an hour to learn as much of that code as I can." She blurted before racing out of the room.
Akon followed her to the entrance of the hallway and he noticed the direction she was heading, only one room was in that direction, his captains.
Moonlight gleamed on the white sands of Hueco Mundo as Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck watched the Sqaud 12 captain allow himself to be swarmed by the horde that had descended upon them.
"What the fuck is he doing?" Grimmjow growled as he peeked up from the massive hole in the ground he'd managed to dig. He still hadn't reached one of the bodies yet, but he could smell that he was getting closer.
Nelliel didn't take her eyes from the soul reaper as she heard him yell out another command.
"Bankai! Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!"
Nelliel backed up a few steps, her eyes widening as a giant infant like creature appeared above the captain of squad 12 seeming to exude a thick light purple cloud from its mouth that surrounded the horde of hollows. Mayuri used his blade to slash at the hollows who came too close to him as his Bankai hovered above him releasing the mysterious cloud.
"Shit!" Grimmjow spat as he dived back down into the hole he had created.
Shoving his fist into the sand below him, he finally made contact with an arm of one of the deceased. Working quickly Grimmjow used his nail to slice back a portion of flesh before digging his hand inside his pants pocket retrieving the vile he'd been given by the soul reaper. Using his teeth he uncapped the vile and stuffed the piece of flesh inside the glass, then spit the cap down on the sand, using his free hand he picked it up and secured the yellow cap to the vile.
"Grimmjow, we should move away from here. Whatever this cloud is seems to be poisonous!" Nelliel warned as she turned and started to run in the opposite direction.
"What!?" He spat as he peeked his head out from the hole he was currently standing in.
A cloud of light purple mist was beginning to cover the planes of desert that surrounded them and one by one, each attacking hollow within its vicinity fell to the ground, its skin darkening to a deep purple.
"Crazy son of a bitch!" Grimmjow spat as he shoved the vile back into his pocket and hoisted himself up out of the pit he'd dug himself into. He scrambled to stay upright, before taking off in a full force sprint in the opposite direction.
Both Espada came to a skidding halt as the squad 11 captain appeared in front of them, his blood stained Zanpakuto still in hand, ready for attack.
"Tch. Guess I'll give him this round…" Kenpachi growled as he stepped forward.
"Hey! That shit is poisonous!" Grimmjow yelled after the squad 11 captain.
Kenpachi chuckled.
"You think I don't know that? Besides, it's gonna take more than a little of Kurotsuchi's poison to take me out." Kenpachi boasted as he kept walking, the blade of his zanpakuto now resting on his wide shoulder.
Nelliel glanced over at Grimmjow seeming to have caught her breath. Grimmjow met her gaze and shook his head.
"This is the last fucking time I work with soul reapers!" He growled.
Nelliel smiled softly.
Ayumi pushed open the door to Mayuri's sleeping quarters and stepped inside the room, flipping on the light before walking over to his desk. She had left the book sitting on top of the hardwood before her and Mayuri had left the room together. Ayumi snatched the book and walked over to Mayuri's futon and sat down on the soft black comforter as she flipped the book open to the first page.
Written in surprisingly decent and legible handwriting was the passcode into his computer system, from there she flipped over to the next page taking in the detailed symbol that was drawn, underneath it was the equivalent of what word and or words the symbol was used for. Ayumi let out an anxious sigh as she carefully studied each symbol from the page-She wouldn't break Mayuri's trust in her by taking the book outside of the room, she would just have to memorize as much as she could in the hour she allotted herself.
Focusing on the task in front of her was made more difficult by the overwhelming sense of foreboding that seemed to be overtaking her again, she couldn't seem to shake the feeling that something was wrong-something is happening but I don't know what!?
Ayumi closed her eyes and decided to try and take in the advice she had gotten from Linake the night before. She still hadn't had any time to look up the phenomena the substitute had been talking about, but, if relaxing would actually help her sense something more accurately there was no harm in trying.
She sat the book down on the bed and laid back allowing herself a couple minutes to just breathe. Linake had said it was clearer when in a meditative state for most people who had the ability. "Deep Listening" seemed so far-fetched to Ayumi, almost on the brink of superstition. How was it even possible for someone to sense upcoming events?
Just as Ayumi was about to give up on the silly notion and open her eyes she saw the number four spread across her vision as if someone were holding up a flashcard in front of her, yet, her eyes were still closed. Ayumi willed her breathing to slow as she reached out the best she knew how and the image of the Squad 4 medical unit came into view.
Ayumi sat up abruptly on the bed as she realized what the power she had was trying to tell her, the change she felt was coming from the squad 4 medical unit, and she feared she already understood what that change was-don't die on me, I'm almost there!
Ayumi reached out for the book laying on the bed once more and flipped back to the page she had been on, now that she had calmed down enough to sense a general idea of what had been plaguing her, she had more focus. Ayumi rolled her shoulders a couple times and shoved her face into the book forcing all other thought from her mind, she willed herself to slip into a void of consciousness where the only thing that mattered was the information she needed to absorb.
Mayuri stepped forward stomping his foot down on the closest hollow in front of him, his Bankai still floated above him administering it's poison vapor. The beast would regret trying to claw at him from its position on the sand. Mayuri shook his head at the pathetic creature before hunching down to get a decent look.
It seemed that the lower level hollows attacking were not ill, yet, their behavior was peculiar. It wasn't unheard of to see, say, four or five hollows working in unison to take down a large group of souls or even humans, but for this kind of number, it was almost as if something was preventing them from finding enough sustenance, making them desperate enough to die for it-could it be the virus? Are these creatures evolved enough to recognize the dangers of consuming another hollow who is contaminated?
Mayuri stabbed his Zanpakuto down into the sand next to him before reaching into the inner pocke t of his haori, retrieving another empty vile. This one was different in the aspect that a needle was connected to its tip, made for taking blood samples. Mayuri gripped the creature by the arm and inserted the needle into the dying beast, the poison from his Ashisogi Jizo was taking affect.
"You can cut out the theatrics, Kurotsuchi! Everything around us is either dead or dying." Kenpachi stated as he walked up.
Mayuri didn't bother to look up from his position as he watched the glass vile fill the rest of the way. Once finished, he pulled the needle from the beast and placed the purple cap back to the vile.
"Has the Espada succeeded in getting me my sample?" Mayuri asked.
"Fuck if I know, he looked like he was too busy running from that Bankai of yours." Kenpachi replied.
Mayuri snorted.
"The beast better not have wasted such an opportunity." Mayuri snapped as he stood to his full height, taking his Zanpakuto in hand.
Mayuri willed his Bankai to pull back into the blade and in the blink of an eye the giant infant like creation disappeared leaving nothing but a trail of light purple poison. Mayuri ran his thumb over the hilt of his Zanpakuto calling his Shikai back as well before dropping the blade back into its sheath.
"Let's go see shall we? I think I've had enough of this desert." Mayuri continued as he placed his new sample into his pocket and stepped away from the mass of purple skinned corpses.
"Tch. It was just starting to get fun." Kenpachi countered as he turned and followed Mayuri over to the two Espada.
Mayuri walked up to Grimmjow and held out his hand.
"My sample!?" Mayuri asked expectantly.
"Tch. Next time you want to release that monster of yours, a little warning would be nice!" Grimmjow chided.
"Ugh! Spare me the commentary, I would think you would be grateful, considering you didn't have to slay the beasts yourselves, perhaps I should have just let them swarm the two of you?" Mayuri countered.
Grimmjow met the soul reapers gaze and stepped forward.
"I've almost had enough of you, soul reaper!" Grimmjow growled.
"My my, is that a stance of challenge I see coming from you, Espada? Might I allow you a moment to think about your actions before you come to regret them dearly?" Mayuri grinned.
"Get the fuck back! You came to us, remember that, or I'll cleave you in half myself!" Kenpachi growled, stepping forward shoving Grimmjow in the shoulder making the Espada stagger backwards.
"Alright, this has gone far enough! Grimmjow, give them the sample!" Nelliel ordered, stepping in-between the men.
Grimmjow's jaw clinched as he stared the 11th division captain down, his nostrils flaring.
"It would be wise for you to listen to the female, Espada, unless you actually do have a death wish." Mayuri stated, his golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Grimmjow dug his hand into the pocket of his pants and tossed the sample down in the sand.
"Here's your fucking sample!" Grimmjow spat.
Nelliel sighed as she took it upon herself to keep the peace between the men and bent down in the sand lifting the vile.
"The sample, Captain." Nelliel stated as she held out her hand to Mayuri.
Mayuri accepted the vile form the woman's hand, placing it into his overflowing pocket.
"Grimmjow, head back to Las Noches. I will escort the soul reapers back through the Garganta myself." Nelliel ordered.
"What!?" he spat.
Nelliel lifted her gaze to the sixth Espada.
"Tier Halibel's instructions were clear, we are to seek out help from the soul reapers, and your behavior is not helping this situation." Nelliel scolded, her voice still soft.
"That mother fucker almost poisoned us to death, Nelliel!" Grimmjow spat.
"Enough!" Nelliel snapped.
"Oh I see, is that what is bothering you? I'll have you know that I am not included to let those who assist me succumb to my poison, I would have cured the both of you out of the goodness of my heart." Mayuri grinned.
Grimmjow snorted.
"Like I'm supposed to believe that."
"Frankly speaking, I don't give a damn what you do or do not believe, if this is the gratitude you show us for our assistance, then I'm half inclined to wash my hands of you." Mayuri warned.
"You have my gratitude, Captain, and that of our Queen." Nelliel replied, hoping to ease the animosity.
"Very well, I will accept the gratitude you speak of, Espada." Mayuri stated.
A knock at the door pulled Ayumi from her studies and back into reality, leaning forward on the bed she watched the door open and saw Nemuri step into the room.
"Miss Otsuka, Akon sent me to collect you, it's been over an hour." Nemuri spoke softly.
Ayumi glanced over at the digital clock on Mayuri's bedside table.
"Shit!" She cursed under her breath as she hopped up from the futon.
"Thank you, Nemuri! I lost track of the time." Ayumi explained, leaving the leather bound journal lying on the bed as she walked over to the girl.
"You're welcome." Nemuri replied, a soft smile forming on her lips.
"Come on, you can assist us now that the slides have been destroyed." Ayumi stated as she placed her hand on the girl's shoulder for a brief moment before passing by.
Nemuri smiled fully at the thought of being included before she turned to follow the woman out of her father figure's sleeping quarters, remembering to pull the door closed behind her.
Ayumi's mind raced with the new information she had just crammed inside her subconscious. She'd spent the last hour and twenty minutes studying each symbol and its meaning repeatedly, reading the whole journal at least ten times and even memorized Mayuri's passcode. She was humming with a sense of accomplishment, but didn't dare count herself lucky yet-I still have to put this knowledge to use!
Nemuri followed Ayumi close behind as she dashed down the hallway, intent on getting to Mayuri's computer station while the information was still fresh enough in her mind. She hoped the time spent in repetition would suffice. Ayumi turned the corner into the main lab and walked straight to the computer station.
"Have you figured out how to get the formula we need then?" Akon asked as he walked over to the computer station.
"I hope so." Ayumi replied as she placed her fingers over the keys pressing in the symbols to Mayuri's passcode.
A giant red screen popped up and a recording of Mayuri's voice emerged from a hidden speaker.
"You're wrong!"
Even all the way form Hueco Mundo the man was taunting her.
Ayumi took in a deep breath before looking back down at the keyboard, she knew the code that was in the book-I hope he didn't change it!
"Try again!" Nemuri encouraged her as the girl watched.
Ayumi nodded as she watched her fingers carefully enter the passcode one more time. She had the feeling if she continued to get it wrong the system would lock down on her as a failsafe against someone being able to breach the files.
"I'll be damned." Akon stated as he watched the main screen pop up.
Ayumi stepped closer trying to decipher what the row of symbols spelled out.
"This might take me a minute, but, I think I'll be able to get to Mayuri's medication log." Ayumi explained.
"You call Master Mayuri by his first name?" Nemuri asked.
Ayumi paused, realizing that the girl probably didn't understand what was going on between her and Mayuri.
"I…Uh…Yes, I have his permission." Ayumi replied, hoping it would placate her for now.
Nemuri didn't comment any further, but when Ayumi stole a quick glance at the pre-teen's face, she was smiling.
"Nemuri, grab a notebook and a pencil and write down what I call out to you, even if it doesn't make sense." Ayumi instructed.
"Yes, Ma'am." Nemuri replied as she hurried to the back of the lab to her personal station to grab a notebook.
Ayumi stared up at the screen, mumbling under her breath looking over each symbol. As she looked at the screen her memory recalled each page from the journal and she was able to decipher the basic meaning of each icon as she scanned over them, when she noticed the bottom icon she understood that the symbols spelled out "search files."
Ayumi sighed as she looked back down at the keyboard trying to figure out how to select the bottom icon. Mayuri had set up his system to where he didn't use a mouse for navigation like others, and everything was in code, even the ability to move to a selected file.
Deciding, Ayumi went out on a limb and typed in the symbols that matched the icon's name and hit enter. She smiled as she watched the screen change and a drop down menu appeared along with a bar she could type into.
Ayumi closed her eyes willing herself to remember each symbol that would spell out "Medication Log", hoping it would at least bring up files close enough to what she was searching for.
"The captain must have given you a manual of some sort?" Akon asked.
Ayumi opened her eyes and met the Lieutenant's gaze, expecting to see jealousy or resentment, but instead she found what looked like warm amusement.
"He did." She replied.
Akon allowed himself to smile as he turned his gaze back to the screen in front of them.
"Have you already completed the conversion on the amount we had left?" Ayumi asked.
"I have, it allotted enough for three bags." He answered.
"That's good, but I have a feeling we will be needing a lot more than that." She stated.
"Another feeling?" Akon pressed as he glanced back at her.
Ayumi paused, her brows raising.
"Rin mentioned it, that you were having strange feelings, he seemed to be a bit concerned." Akon revealed.
Ayumi smiled, taking a mental note to get her friend some candy to add to his stash later on.
"It's nothing to be concerned about, really." Ayumi replied as she turned her attention back to the screen.
Nemuri appeared once again, holding a notebook against her arm, pencil ready to take dictation for Ayumi, which turned Ayumi's attention back to the screen and the task at hand. Ayumi looked down at the keys in front of her and using the diagram inside her mind she attempted to enter the right code that would take her to anything that related to medications.
Akon and Nemuri both watched the screen intently as Ayumi hit enter and the screen changed, multiple files loading at once, creating another list of icons written in Mayuri's personal language.
Ayumi chewed her bottom lip as she scanned the list of files, seeking something of benefit, but it seemed Mayuri had created many different forms of medications over the years. The list of files had to be well over five thousand, but the good news was, Ayumi had made it into Mayuri's medication log.
Going out on another whim, Ayumi typed in another series of symbols searching for anything that required Reishi in its formula.
"I think I may have found what we're looking for!" Ayumi smiled as she looked up at the screen.
While still a little muddled, Ayumi was able to recognize the majority of the formula in front of her. She could list the ingredients, but the mathematical terms written out in code would take her a minute to figure out. Ayumi's smile widened when she noticed the symbols that lined up spelling out her name within the title of the file.
"This is it! I'm sure of it…are you ready Nemuri?" Ayumi asked as she turned her head and smiled down at the girl.
Nemuri met her gaze and smiled back, nodding her head.
"Alright…here goes nothing…" Ayumi stated.
Grimmjow kicked at the sand as he stomped his way back over to the massive hole he'd dug into the sand. He was fuming inside from the gull of those two soul reapers-Assholes! Not to mention the way Nelliel had thrown him under the bus, demanding that she take over his mission. Grimmjow bent down grabbing his jacket from the ground, shaking the sand free from the black material.
His gaze moved forward to the mass of bodies that lay lifeless on the white sand and he paused. After thinking about it for a couple minutes, he tossed his jacket back down and with a heavy sigh he went to start collecting the bodies. He'd shove them all down in the hole he made and then cover it back up.
Nelliel took the lead as she guided the two soul reaper captains back to an area she felt comfortable opening another Garganta. While she could open one pretty much anywhere inside Hueco Mundo, she felt the need to separate the men from her comrade before things escalated to the point she would be forced to fight needlessly.
"Is there a reason you're leading us so far away?" Mayuri asked her.
Nelliel paused and turned to face the captain.
"I guess you can say I've never been one for unnecessary conflict. I wanted to put space between you and Grimmjow before I opened my own Garganta." She answered honestly.
"I see, well, before you do, would you object to me taking a sample from you as well?" Mayuri asked, his lips lifting in a smile.
Nelliel smiled softly, meeting the man's golden gaze. She didn't see the point in denying the captain of his request, she understood that he was only trying to gather as much information that was available to him.
"I would not object. You may." Nelliel agreed.
"Excellent. It's a shame your comrade is not as easy to work with, I would have liked to collect a sample from him as well." Mayuri continued as he reached into his haori, pulling another empty vile from his inner pocket.
Nelliel stepped forward as the captain pulled the pink cap from the vile revealing a needle.
"I shall try and make this as painless as possible for you." Mayuri commented as he reached out for her arm.
Nelliel allowed his painted fingers to take hold of her bicep, she could feel the pressure as he squeezed her, using his hand like he would a tourniquet.
"Make a fist so that I may find your vein easier." Mayuri demanded.
Nelliel complied.
Mayuri leaned to the side allowing the light from the full moon above to guide him as he carefully inserted the needle into the Espada's arm. She didn't seem to feel any pain, and Mayuri suspected she wouldn't complain if she had. Once satisfied with the amount of blood, Mayuri pulled the needled free from the female's vein and let go of her.
Nelliel lifted her opposite hand and placed her fingers against the pinprick as her gaze fell to the sand at her feet.
"Do you suspect that a hollow is the cause of this virus?" She asked.
Mayuri paused at the woman's question.
"It would be a lie if I told you that the thought had not crossed my mind, this virus had to originate from somewhere, and the notion that it may have originated here in Hueco Mundo would only make sense, considering it's almost parasitic nature." Mayuri offered.
"Yes, I see. Do you plan to share your findings of a possible cure with your enemy Captain?" Nelliel asked, her moss green eyes lifting to meet his gaze.
Mayuri sighed.
"It would seem that if we want to keep the balance between the worlds intact, I have no other alternative." Mayuri answered.
Nelliel nodded.
"How long should we wait before someone is sent to collect the cure from you?" She continued.
"While I am confident in my ability to eventually find a treatment, I'm afraid I cannot give you an exact time-frame. Allow me forty-eight hours to thoroughly study each component, then, if you so choose, you may enter the soul society to seek an update on any information I am able to gather." Mayuri answered, feeling that it was the best option for the situation.
"Thank you, Captain. I will be sure to come myself next time." Nelliel stated.
"Very well." Mayuri replied.
Kenpachi sighed roughly, his patience wearing thin, now that no more hollows were attacking, he felt down right bored with the situation. He wanted to get it over with and head back to the Soul Society.
"You done?" Kenpachi snapped.
Mayuri rolled his eyes as he looked up at the brute.
"Now that the barbarian has nothing left to cut up he's in a hurry to get home to the little woman?" Mayuri teased.
Kenpachi chuckled at the dickhead's taunt.
"Yeah…about as much as you are, Kurotsuchi!" Kenpachi retorted.
Mayuri let out a soft sigh at the reminder of his own woman. The situation with Ayumi still felt surreal and he was afraid he had not come any farther then before he had left regarding his own feelings. He cared for her, he wanted her, but if what Zaraki said was true and the woman was in fact, in love with him, would he be able to give the woman enough? The concept of love baffled him, he didn't even know what emotions would classify to labeled as love.
Nelliel turned away from the two soul reaper captains and lifted her left hand in the air.
"I am not sure what part of the Soul Society this will open to, I am afraid I am not that familiar with your world." Nelliel explained, snapping Mayuri out of his internal debate.
"Doesn't matter." Kenpachi answered as he stepped forward.
Nelliel nodded and held up her palm, using her own personal ability to open another black rift that would lead the two captains back to the Soul Society. The two captains waited for the void to grow, and once it widened enough for them to step into, they moved forward.
"See you in Forty-eight hours, Captain." Nelliel stated before allowing the rift to close on her end, sealing the two captains inside the Garganta.
"Well, let's see where this leads us to, shall we?" Mayuri stated as he began to walk forward.
Kenpachi walked by his size, both captains creating a path for themselves as they walked. Mayuri's mind wandered back to Ayumi, even though Zaraki had decided not to bring up the topic of women in conversation.-I'm probably going to regret this!
"How do you know you love Linake?' Mayuri asked the brute.
Kenpachi's brow rose and his lips lifted into a smile.
"That's easy, I'd kill anyone who ever tried to hurt her. Linake's also the only woman I've ever wanted, she opened up things in me I'd never thought about before. My chest got tight when I looked at her, my stomach felt fucking weird all the time, too." Kenpachi answered.
"I see." Mayuri answered, surprisingly, the conversation hadn't felt nearly as awkward as Mayuri had expected.
"You'll know when you start doing things to make them happy or thinking about stuff you normally wouldn't have. I never gave a fuck about half of the shit I notice now, every time I look up at the damn stars I think of Linake. Hell, she would have a field day charting the sky back there in Hueco Mundo, an endless night would make her smile for days." Kenpachi continued, referring to his wife's love of Astronomy.
"Yes, I think I'm beginning to see the picture." Mayuri replied.
"Tch. I'm gonna give you some advice that was given to me, admitting you love her does not make you weak, Kurotsuchi." Kenpachi stated.
Mayuri stayed silent as he pondered the squad 11 captains last remark- advice that had been given to him? Who would have given such advice to the barbarian?
"And who gave you these words of wisdom, exactly?" Mayuri asked.
Kenpachi half-laughed.
"Renji." He answered.
"Ah, well, I guess taking into consideration the fact Lieutenant Abarai has been married longer then you have, would give his statement some merit." Mayuri replied as the end of the Garganta came into view.
Both men stepped out of the darkness, shutting their eyes as the rays of mid-afternoon sunlight assaulted their eyes.
"Fuck, it's bright out here! Guess I got used to being in the dark." Kenpachi stated as the portal closed behind them.
Mayuri brought his hand up over his brow shielding his sensitive eyes from the sunlight, pausing to take a look at his surroundings.
"It seems like the Garganta has lead us to the outskirts of your old stomping grounds." Mayuri commented.
Kenpachi squinted as he looked around.
"Yeah…This is Zaraki District." He replied.
"It seems we have some walking to do, let's get a move on, I'm eager to get back to my lab and start my research." Mayuri stated.
Kenpachi chuckled.
"Yeah, I'm sure I know just what kind of research." Kenpachi grinned.
Mayuri ignored the brutes taunt, not wanting to be goaded in revealing anything about his and Ayumi's personal affairs what-so-ever, but the brute did have a point. Mayuri had only been gone for a short span of time, but he found himself looking forward to seeing the woman again. He guessed if Zaraki's explanation of love was in fact accurate, he was quite close.