What if…
Chapter 5
A/N: A more serious chapter this time. Of course there is the usual humor in it, but we have a flashback to what happened while Nel was away and her human backstory and of course things have a slighter darker more serious tone. Let us proceeed!
Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, I only own this fanfiction.
Chapter 5: What happened while you were gone
Nel was sitting in her room, waiting to get back into her adult form. Noitora had dropped her there and told her to come find him after she transforms so that they could fight again. She didn't really care about fighting, but she did want to turn back.
Pesche and Dondochaka had been very worried when Noitora had dropped her to her room. Nel sighecd. Yes, Noitora had been an annoyance back in the day, but now that she had understood where she had erred, she could easily handle his moods.
Ichigo had shown her that being honest and kind with others did miracles and she was pleased to see that her change of behavior obviously affected the way Noitora acted towards her. It was obvious that he did miss her and Nel felt heat reach her cheeks whenever that thought crossed her mind. Noitora, despite all his flaws, was fun to be around. He was trying his hardest too and Nel appreciated it.
Noitora was trying his best for her and that made her feel weird. She sighed and shook her head annoyed. She couldn't be attracted to Noitora for doing the bare minimum. Yet again, their relationship had always been weird…
But Noitora had a reputation as a womanizer, she reminded herself. She sighed. She had a distinct memory of passing by his room when she was still the only third Espada and seeing an Arrancar girl she recognized as a servant, getting out of the room while giggling. She had glimpsed inside his room before the door closed behind the girl, out of genuine curiosity (and because she didn't really consider what a random servant girl was doing in Noitora's room of all people) and she had found herself blushing hard at the sight of a shirtless Noitora lying on his bed propped on one elbow, barely covered by his bedsheets and grinning seductively to the girl that had just exited the room. Nel had looked away embarrassed and she remembered scolding herself for even being curious about the whole ordeal.
The present Nel knew that she had been very naïve back in the day and that had cost her the Espada title. Then again, being naïve and trusting the wrong person had been the reason she died as a human…
She shook her head to get rid of the depressing thoughts. Suddenly she was engulfed by pink smoke and she was back in her adult body. She grabbed her pants and put them on and then she did the same with her boots. She needed to something to distract herself from all this. Or she could also tackle the problem. She decided to talk to Noitora. After all she wanted to start getting along with him and the part of her that was still shaken by her thoughts wanted to fight to distract herself.
Pesche and Dodochaka entered her room, probably to check on her since they sensed the change in her spiritual pressure. "Master Nelliel! How are you feeling?", asked Pesche.
Nel forced a smile on her lips for her fraccion. "I feel great." She got up and proceeded to open her door.
"Master Nelliel! Where are you going?", asked Dondochaka.
Nel sighed, preparing herself for the incoming protests. After all it was something she never really did. "I want to fight with Noitora to blow off some steam."
Her fraccion gaped at her and thus she exited the room without allowing them to bother her about her decision.
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Noitora was walking on the long hallways of Las Noches with Tesla by his side. They had decided, or more precisely, he did, that it might be worth checking Aarroniero's castle, but they hadn't found anything worth their time.
On their way back to Noitora's castle, they came across Harribel's fraccion. Noitora scoffed as they glared at him and ignored them. Tesla on the other hand bowed slightly at them to greet them. Apachi and Mila Rose barely nodded at him, but Sung Sun simply stared at him with a small smile hidden slightly by her sleeve. Tesla noticed it and smiled awkwardly at her as well, a small blush making its way on his cheeks. Sung Sun, seeing that, smiled wider at him and slightly giggled.
"Come on, Tesla! Hurry up!", said Noitora with a frown on his face. He had witnessed the whole scene and he couldn't understand what was wrong with his fraccion.
Tesla immediately hurried back to his Master's side, but not without stealing another glance of the Anaconda Arrancar, much to Noitora's confusion. "What's gotten into you?"
Tesla looked away embarrassed. "Nothing, Master Noitora."
"Nothing, my ass! You were stalling for no particular reason other than to stare at Harribel's bitches! If you have the hots for them, know that I ain't backing you up if you want to sleep with one of them and Harribel finds out."
Tesla's face turned crimson. "It's nothing like that! I just think that Sung Sun seems kinder than the other two, now that we don't have a war to worry about and I'm merely interested in getting to know another fraccion…"
Noitora stared at him with an expression that said he didn't believe anything Tesla had just said. "Yeah… Right… Look, it's ok to be attracted to a woman, but these three are off limits. Harribel wouldn't allow you near her precious girls.", he said that last part with a mocking tone. "Besides I'm pretty sure they are all lesbians…", he muttered to himself.
"Are you saying that because they don't want to sleep with you?"
Noitora was surprised to hear Nel's voice and even more surprised to see her holding her sword. "So you're back to your adult self, huh Nelliel…"
"Let's go spar.", she simply said and turned her back at him.
Both Noitora and Tesla gaped at her. Nel never instigated a fight, even a spar between them. She turned slightly to look at him. "Are you coming or not?"
He regained his composure and immediately rushed behind her, dismissing Tesla. "What's gotten into you, Nel? It's not like you to instigate fights."
Nel didn't look at him as she answered. "I need to blow off some steam. I also want to ask you about some things."
That really confused Noitora. Before he could ask her what she meant though, they came across Grimmjow. "Oi! Is he still bothering you Nelliel? He can be really annoying with his weird obsession about you."
Noitora was about to yell at him, but Nel interrupted him by speaking first. "Actually, I was the one to ask him for a sparring match."
Grimmjow blinked at her confused. "Really?! Well, I can be a better sparring partner than this idiot if you're interested."
Noitora was about to give him a piece of his mind as to who actually was a better sparring partner, but Nel once again answered for him. "I specifically want to fight with Noitora. There are things that I want to ask him as well…"
Grimmjow was beyond surprised at her statement. "Ok… Whatever you want… I guess…", he replied awkwardly.
Nel passed by him and Noitora couldn't help but wonder what the hell had gotten into Nel. She was acting strange. She had that cold demeanor she used to have back in the day (the one he despised), but somehow it wasn't directed at him and it confused him.
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Nel took him to their usual fighting place and drew out Gamuza. Noitora prepared himself for powerful attacks and he was surprised to see that despite the attacks being indeed strong, Nel wasn't focused. He easily pushed her back a few times and she didn't seem to mind.
The old him would have been delighted to have a chance to defeat her. The person he was now had seen what had happened when he had managed to take her down without killing her. He hadn't liked the result in the end. And thus he knew that there was no way he would kill her, no matter how often he would say that he hated her. So he decided to so something that was completely out of his character; talk to her. "Nel, what's gotten into you? You don't fight like that. What did you want to talk to me about?"
Nel suddenly halted her attacks and looked away. Noitora frowned. He wasn't good with emotional stuff and he didn't trust himself in giving good advice. Nel's question though, was one he knew the answer to. A part of him actually wondered why she hadn't asked sooner. "What happened all this time that I was gone? I mean here, in las Noches. I don't even know how Stark became Primera."
Noitora sighed and sat down in the sand, Santa Teresa on his knees. Nel sat next to him. She was looking down, obviously in thought. "Well… A lot of shit did happen. I'll start with what happened right after I left you in the desert."
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(PAST)
Noitora was beyond happy. He had gotten rid of his greatest rival, his biggest problem. He was heading to Aizen's throne room to announce his victory, knowing that probably their "God" somehow already knew about it. But wouldn't it be more fun to gloat as much as he could?
"I wonder whether lord Aizen will give me a promotion as well. After all I did most of the job."
Noitora flinched and glared at his forgotten companion. Szayelapporo was annoying as ever, reminding him that it wasn't just his victory. "You might become an Espada if you're lucky enough. I am at least worth her seat."
Szayel giggled. "I doubt that he will promote you that much. You'll be lucky if you become number 6."
Noitora growled at him. "Shut it!" He continued his way, trying to summon the image of a defeated Nel in his mind to make himself feel better, but to no avail. Somehow Szayel's words made him feel useless for asking for his help. Even worse, a thought he didn't want to have yet couldn't stop from emerging from his mind made its appearance. What would he do without Nel? The other Espada ranking higher than him weren't like her. Zommari, who he was certain that he would surpass now with Nel's defeat, was a psycho, Cirucci and him had a different kind of relationship and he preferred having her as a fuckbuddy than an opponent, Dordoni was too weird, Ulquiorra was too quiet, Harribel wouldn't really battle him and she would just kill him before he even asked and he knew that he still had a long way to go before he could fight Barrangan. He thought about Espada number nine, that annoying guy, Grimmjow, he could play with him for a little while, but it wouldn't be the same. Espada number ten, Yammy was too stupid for his liking to even be considered as a potential opponent.
Noitora would definitely punch a new hole in his wall today. He was starting to realize that he would miss Nel despite everything.
They entered Aizen's throne room and to his surprise every other Espada was there. Apparently Aizen had been watching what he did. He bowed and he felt Szayel doing the same behind him.
Aizen was smiling at them in his usual manner. "Well, well Noitora. You got rid of one of my precious Espada."
That did not sound good in Noitora's ears and he started thinking that Szayel maybe had been right. "With all due respect, lord Aizen, I took her down in a battle. She was also fighting me. She could have done the same."
"She wouldn't though.", said Aizen with the humor in his voice completely gone. "Besides it was mostly Szayel's work that took her down, not your skills."
Noitora really wanted to punch Aizen right now. No, the smug scientist behind him sounded like a better option. And to his annoyance, he knew that probably only his wall would get punched today.
Aizen smirked. "Well, despite everything, I think that you deserve a small upgrade since you have actually started obeying some of my orders nowadays. I'll have to fix the positions of the Espada again, anyway. Since you were smart enough to actually ask for help, I will give you a small reward. But there is going to be some punishment for your disobedience at some point. As for Szayel… I've been thinking he should have been an Espada for a while now."
Immense pain from his tongue got Noitora on his knees. He felt tears in his lone eye and he tried to see who else was in a similar state. Szayel was panting hard behind him and he could see Grimmjow, Zommari, Cirucci and Dordoni falling down to their knees as well. Their tattoos were changing numbers.
"Well.", said Aizen, ignoring the pained arrancar. "The Espada are now ranked as; number ten; Yammy, number nine; Szayel, number eight; Grimmjow, number seven; Noitora, number six; Zommari, number five; Cirucci, number four; Ulquiorra, number three; Dordonni, number two; Harribel and number one; Barrangan."
"Why did Dordoni jump a number?", asked Cirucci. "Why aren't Ulquiorra number three and Dordoni number four?"
Aizen's spiritual pressure got her back on her knees. "Because Ulquiorra is mostly suited to be a number four."
Noitora was certain he heard Harribel mumble "What was that supposed to mean?", but she didn't dare say anything against Aizen's word out loud. He really didn't care at the moment. His tongue throbbed like hell. After Aizen left them, Cirucci approached him carefully not to be seen by the others. She was smirking at him. "Congratulations. It was about time, you got rid of that bitch."
Noitora pushed himself to grin at her and to ignore the pain he felt. "I finally did it. It's a shame I only got myself just one rank higher while this bastard Szayel got two."
"Don't worry about it. You will soon be higher than she had ever been." Cirucci kissed him.
For a moment he kissed back. Then his throbbing tongue made him pull away. "Damn that asshole! I'd rather have my tongue tattooed with a needle than his spiritual pressure!"
Cirucci sighed. "Fine, no kissing from your part then. But I still want to celebrate… Your room or mine?"
"Mine. I had Tesla prepare the bed before I came here.", he said grinning despite his discomfort.
Cirucci smiled seductively at him
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(NOW)
"You were sleeping with Cirucci?!", shouted Nel in shock.
Noitora blinked at her. "Yeah… I didn't really keep it a secret… Not that we announced that we were shagging publicly, but I thought it was obvious…"
Nel gaped at him. He really didn't understand why it surprised her that much. "I don't understand why you're making such a big deal out of this…", he said genuinely confused. He then smirked at her. "Are you jealous Nelliel?"
To his annoyance Nel barely registered what he asked. "I only thought you were sleeping with servants and Loly and Menoly…"
He frowned. "Don't judge me about these two. They were the only ones to volunteer for a threesome-"
"Too much information!", shouted Nel covering her ears.
He sweatdropped at her reaction. "It's not such a big deal…"
She stared at him with a look that reminded him of her child form. "You of all people managed to sleep with a higher ranking Espada?!"
Noitora blinked at her and after her words registered, he glared at her. "What the hell was that supposed to mean?!"
Nel realized that she was actually treating him in a derogatory manner and sighed. "I'm sorry. You can do whatever you want and you can sleep with whoever you want. It's just that I never expected that you two actually were together… It came as a shock."
Noitora raised his eyebrow. "We weren't really together. It was just sex…"
Nel didn't seem to hear him though. "I mean, what's next? You sleeping with Harribel?" She suddenly turned serious. "Don't tell me you also slept with Harribel."
Noitora's expression also turned serious. "Nel, I was horny, not suicidal. Besides, why do you care? Weren't you shagging Aizen or something?"
Nel's eyes widened. "What the hell?! Where on earth did you get that idea?! Nothing happened between me and Aizen!"
Noitora smirked. "Oh, come on. I remember hearing you moaning and screaming while I was passing from the throne room. What else would you two be doing?"
Nel turned serious again. "Was that after I saved you from those adjuchas?"
"I didn't need saving. It would have been better had I been killed by them.", he said annoyed. "But, yeah, it was after that."
Nel sighed. "I see. Actually I was being punished for disobeying lord Aizen's orders to leave you alone, even if you got killed. He was suffocating me with his spiritual pressure. That's the noise you heard."
Noitora's eye widened. "You being punished by Aizen?! But you were his favorite! And for me?!"
Nel looked down. "As a god he needed to be just. It wouldn't be fair if I was left unpunished"
Noitora didn't know what to say. He had no idea that she of all people had been punished for something like that. Nel smiled at him. "Could you please continue?" He simply nodded.
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(PAST)
A week had passed since he got rid of Nel. He felt terrible and there was no way he would ever admit it. Fighting Grimmjow had been good in the beginning, but the Panther Espada was no challenge for him. He had gone out in the desert of Hueco Mundo to clear his head from all these thoughts about Nel and the annoying things she used to say to him. He was pissed off with himself. He got rid of her so that she wouldn't annoy him, so why did her absence frustrate him that much.
He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't realize he was being stalked by some adjuchas. The moment he turned his back on them, they decided to attack. Noitora realized what was going on not because they hurt him, but because he heard Tesla's distinct cry of pain. He turned around to see his fraccion getting tossed away by the adjuchas and blood running from his face. Noitora's lone eye widened. Tesla didn't try to get back up. He curled up to himself and Noitora was certain he heard him sobbing. Noitora grabbed Santa Teresa with hands that were shaking from his rage. "What the hell did you do you assholes?!"
The five adjuchas glared at him. One of them spoke up and got his attention. "He isn't the arrancar they have been talking about. They say that he is accompanied by a little girl, not by another man…"
Noitora growled at them. He was furious. They had dared to hurt Tesla and he had been unable to do anything because he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. And all of that because of Nelliel. "PRAY! SANTA TERESA!"
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Noitora arrived in Las Noches with Tesla in his arms. He immediately rushed to their infirmary. Their doctor was there with one of Harribel's fraccion, Sung Sun. The doctor stared in shock at Tesla and flinched as Noitora pointed Santa Teresa at her. "I don't care what she's here for!", he said glancing at Sung Sun. "Focus on him!"
The doctor barely nodded and started cleaning Tesla's face with exceptional care despite being threatened before. Harribel's fraccion to his surprise helped the doctor with the process. After his face had been cleaned, they had to force his damaged eye open to observe the damage. Noitora was staring from afar, not wanting to get in the way of the two women. He heard Tesla whimpering and he clenched his weapon harder. Suddenly Sung Sun approached him, not in the least intimated by him. As per usual, she was covering her mouth with her sleeve. "I'm no doctor, but I can tell you that he didn't lose his eye. He is probably blinded, but I don't think there is a reason to remove the eye. Leave him here for a couple of days and I'm sure Arianida will fix him. You should go report to lord Aizen."
Noitora felt relief that Tesla was ok, but glared at Sung Sun. "Take care of him or else…", he said while looking at Sung Sun, though the threat was for the doctor.
Sung Sun remained unbothered much to his annoyance and he left the room feeling terrible. She reminded him of Nell in a way and that got him even angrier. It was Nel's fault that Tesla got hurt. It was his fault for not managing to get her out of his head no matter what. He needed to focus. He needed to become strong enough so that he can defeat her on his own. He needed to be more than just a useless number 7.
He arrived at Aizen's throne room (of course the bastard knew of the assault) and he told him everything that happened, mentioning what he heard them say.
Aizen seemed to think about everything Noitora told him. "There are rumors in the desert about a Hollow that managed to become an arrancar. They say that he is so powerful that everyone around him dies."
Noitora blinked at him. There was such a strong Hollow out there? What if Nel came across it and died…No he shouldn't be thinking about Nel!
Aizen smirked. "I will try to find that Hollow. He could become the new Primera Espada."
Noitora was brought back to reality by Aizen's words. "What if Barrangan proves to be stronger?"
Aizen chuckled. "I really don't care. I just want to annoy Barrangan at this point. By the way, for bringing up this information to me, I won't punish you for getting rid of Nelliel." Noitora flinched when Aizen said her name, much to Aizen's amusement.
Noitora thought that he was already punished though. His fraccion lost sight from one eye and no matter what he couldn't stop thinking about Nel.
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(NOW)
"So, you're telling me that Aizen wanted Stark because he wanted to annoy Barrangan?", asked Nel.
"That's what he said. I'm pretty sure that there is a similar reason for not changing Ulquiorra's rank over the years, despite the changes in other Espada's ranks close to him."
Nel frowned. "He had a weird sense of humor."
Noitora hadn't really told her the reason he was distracted in Tesla's accident and he didn't tell her how often he thought about her and how Aizen seemed to be teasing him about it. "He sure did."
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(PAST)
Noitora had made it his goal to surpass Zommari. It took him around three months, but in the end he managed to win by using his resurrection much later than Zommari had and by managing to evolve Santa Teresa.
It was around that time that Aizen brought Stark and Lillynette in Las Noches and thus they would all change ranks again. Noitora, whose hair had started growing past his shoulders at that point, was excited, because he knew that he would definitely become the Sexta Espada. Aizen smirked as he presented Stark. "He is the strongest hollow to ever exist. He is worthy of the title of the Primera Espada. I'm going to make some changes in the ranks."
Pain in his tongue got Noitora on his knees once again. He wished he could go without that part. He heard the pained gasps from the other Espada. He didn't pay attention to them. He knew that one of them would lose the Espada rank and he was betting on Yammy. After a while the pain subsided and he noticed that everyone seemed ok. Ulquiorra seemed as if nothing had occurred. Aizen smiled. "So, Espada number 10 is Yammy, Espada number 9 is Szayel, Espada number 8 is Grimmjow, Espada number 7 is Zommari, Espada number 6 is Noitora, Espada number 5 is Cirucci, Espada number 4 is Ulquiorra, Espada number 3 is Harribel, Espada number 2 is Barrangan and Espada number 1 is Stark. As for Dordoni…"
Noitora stared the man in surprise. He didn't expect Aizen to get rid of his number 3 like that. His tattoo wrote 103 and that meant that he became a Privaron. "But… But why?!", shouted Dordoni exasperated. Cirucci, the last one of the original Espada seemed terrified. Noitora understood why. It was obvious that Aizen was getting rid of the old Espada. Dordoni and Cirucci were the last two remaining and Noitora knew that in terms of strength they weren't really much, but they were still kept around because there were no stronger arrancar so far.
Aizen smiled. "I'm sorry Dordoni, but you're not strong enough to be in the Espada. I've kept you around because I couldn't really replace you yet. But now with Stark in the team, there is no need for you to remain." At least he was honest. Noitora gave him that. "Besides,", added Aizen while barely glancing at Noitora. "Rank number 3 is better suited to a woman, don't you agree?"
Noitora felt his anger boil. He clenched his teeth, not wanting to say anything against their god. He glanced at Barrangan and he was pleased to see an equally furious look in the old man's face. After all, he had just been dethroned and another one of the Espada he had picked himself for his kingdom was kicked out. Only Cirucci remained and it was obvious that Aizen soon would replace her as well.
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Cirucci was obviously on edge the last few months she remained an Espada. She wouldn't want to do much with Noitora and he really couldn't care. If Cirucci left, he would possibly take her position without having to fight her. Yes, the two of them had a weird relationship, but Noitora didn't really mind living without her. He had other women he usually slept with and in his opinion Cirucci wasn't strong enough to be in the current Espada. And she knew it too. She always looked him with distrust because she feared he might challenge her. But he didn't really see the point.
Grimmjow had managed to become Espada number 7 and Noitora had him as his fighting partner again.
In the end, itdidn't take long for Aizen to kick Cirucci out. And with a terrible replacement in almost everyone's opinion. Aaronierro was no arrancar. He was a freaking Gillian and that bothered everyone, but most of all Barrangan. He became Espada number 9, Cirucci was kicked out and everyone behind her got an upgrade in rank. Szayel became number 8, Zommari number 7, Grimmjow number 6 and Noitora number 5. He decided to celebrate by getting himself a better Espada outfit and he was extremely pleased with what he got.
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(NOW)
"You were pleased about looking like a spoon?"
"Shut it!" He was really tired with people commenting on his outfit. "Anyway, that's pretty much it. I guess that the only other thing worth mentioning was Ulquiorra finally finding a purpose to guard the Pet-"
"Orihime"
"Whatever!"
They both remained silent for a little while. "You missed me…", said Nel suddenly.
Noitora glared at her. "Where on earth did you get that idea?! Did you hear anything I said?! Like hell I missed you and your fucking pity!"
"It's not pity.", she said.
"Then what is it?! You keep saying that it isn't pity, but what else could it be?!"
Nel looked down. "Back when I was still in the Espada, the lower ranks wouldn't know about the higher ranks' aspects of death. And you didn't know mine…"
"Let me guess, it was stupidity or something. You are definitely the person that would die from doing something stupid."
Despite herself, Nel chuckled. "Wouldn't that be fun, now? No, my aspect of death is lamentation."
Noitora's eye widened. She died because of mourning. Because of the pain she felt for another loss. Nel glanced at him. "Do you remember when we first met? I was a Vasto Lorde back then and you were an adjuchas. I refused to fight you and I would have allowed you to kill me. You said you wouldn't find satisfaction in that. The truth is I wanted to die. Because then I believed that I could meet the soul of the person I lost if I did. Of course Aizen found us before either of us would do anything and afterwards explained that things aren't that simple when it comes to souls."
Noitora was starting to realize that Nel didn't save him because she pitied him, but because she didn't want to lose someone again. Even him. Instead of asking her about that though, he had another question that he wanted to ask her. "Who was that person you lost? Do you remember?"
"My father.", she looked at him with a very serious expression. "I remember my whole life as a human. And I came to terms with my death pretty early. That's why I don't have a Hollow hole."
His eye widened. "You don't?!" He knew that he hadn't seen it, but she could have one in a place she covered with clothes. There were two cases of Hollows not having Hollow holes; if they had accepted their death and realized their mistakes in life and how they died (you needed to cling to your previous life in order to do that) and by being a natural born Hollow, something that almost never happened.
He stared at her expectantly and Nel sighed. "I'll tell you how I died. I was thinking about it today and that's why I was a little down. I lived in the era the first witch hunts started. Do you know what witch-"
"I do.", he replied in a serious tone. "I don't remember much from my life as a human, but I know that I lived a century or so after the beginning of the European witch hunts."
Nel nodded. "My father was a doctor and since my mother died young, he had no other children. He had no sons. So he taught me everything he knew. He warned me not to tell anyone about what I learned." Nel looked down. "I was so naïve. My father got me engaged to the most popular bachelor in the village we lived. I would spend time with him, to get to know my future husband and I made the mistake of trusting him." Nel took a deep breath. "He got injured one day while hunting wild boars and I took him in my house. My father helped me, but it was obvious that I had knowledge that I supposedly shouldn't have. I knew how to read for example. He gave me away to the church. I told them I was innocent, but of course they didn't believe. In order for me to confess being a witch, they tortured and killed my father in front of me."
Nel paused and Noitora could tell that she was holding back tears. "I took my own life the night before my execution. I was in so much pain and I could only hope that I would find my father's soul. That is why my aspect of death is lamentation. I swore that I wouldn't let anyone else die due to my inability to save them…"
Not even me…, thought Noitora. For a while they stayed silent. Then Noitora spoke. "Your fiancé was a dick."
Nel froze and looked at him surprised. "Huh?"
"You heard me. Your fiancé was an asshole. It's all his fault. I hope you didn't sleep with him before you died."
Nel gaped at Noitora. "I-I didn't sleep with him! Though I learned after I died that he was sleeping with other women… But that's beside the point! It's my fault for being so trusting that my father died!"
"No, it's not.", said Noitora with a bored expression. "You did what anyone in that situation would and instead of getting a thank you for saving that prick's ass, you lost your life. It's not your fault, Nel. You just had a very shitty person as your fiancé."
"Wouldn't you have done the same thing as him though…?"
Noitora glared at her. "I would never do such a shitty thing. I'm a terrible person, yes, but even I have standards. If I had an issue with you being a witch or whatever, I would have dealt with it on my own."
Nel stared at him with wide eyes. She knew that he was speaking the truth, because he hated people meddling with his business. Nel smiled a little. Noitora had made her feel a little better. "Thank you, Noitora."
He tsked and looked away. "Don't thank me, you fool. I just told you the truth." He then smirked at her. "Besides you made me understand why you found so disturbing the fact that I was sleeping with so many women; you're a virgin, aren't you?"
Nel's face turned as red as her birthmark. She looked away and pouted. "It's not such a big deal…"
Noitora chuckled and rose up. "Of course it's not. I just wanted to tease ya. Anyway, we should be heading back. The others will start thinking we've killed each other or something."
Nel got up as well and followed behind him with a smile on her lips.
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Harribel stared in surprise as both Noitora and Nel entered Las Noches while laughing about something. Grimmjow, who was with her, openly gaped at the two of them. "What the hell?!"
Harribel overcame her shock quickly. She turned around and headed back to the throne room. She was smiling under her collar. "Come, Grimmjow. We still have to demolish some walls."
Grimmjow frowned, but in the end did as he was told. He really hated renovating.
End of Chapter 5
A/N: And I finally finished this huge chapter! Sorry for taking so long. This chapter came out to be too big, but I didn't want to make it two parts. Anyway, I hope you guys will enjoy it. Next time we will mainly focus on Ulquihime considering this time we focused on Noinel. Till next time!
