No One You Can Save That Can't Be saved
"Just a bit of everything we've picked up from our travels over the years," said the woman Kiara. describing the impressive spread of exotic foods, "We've a Rajma from my home country. Antonio's favorite, squid ink pasta in a delightful lemon garlic sauce, Machas a la Parmesana from Chile, fried herring in the Swedish style. There's many more. Please ask us if there are any you're unsure."
The three teens and even Lisa were briefly stunned at the feast they'd been presented. Uryu sat down next to Lisa, whom both started in immediately with the meal. way. Chad followed Uryu and Lisa's example. Ichigo remained reluctant.
"Would you like to join us?" Uryu said, inviting the couple.
"Us?" replied Kiara.
"Yes, thank you, Ishida-san," Antonio replied. Ichigo briefly eyed the Arrancar with uncertainty as the two sat at each end of the table.
"If it eases your mind at all, Kurosaki-san," Antonio suddenly said, noting his apprehension, "I am indeed an Arrancar. I have been one for nearly eighty years. I was made a Hollow in Hueco Mundo after another had eaten whomever I'd been in my previous life. Although I do not remember that time any longer. I am certain that've never eaten any humans."
The others all listened intently. Ichigo did also, but he was clearly still struggling with something.
"Never?" Chad asked.
"Perhaps, to be fair, that was due to chance than truly choice. It is not an unheard of practice though among the weaker classes of Hollows. I admit, that included myself," the maitre d said, "Under the influence of the mask, one's only thoughts are either to survive or to eat. Even Hollows intelligent enough to speak are still slaves to these urges. In regards to how I came to be what I am, maybe the will of the former was greater than the latter. It is not until one is released from the grasp of the mask that it becomes a matter of free will what one does with the life they're given."
Despite his distraction, Ichigo could not help but wonder what that implied to his own mask and the seemingly quieted Hollow within him.
The server continued his tale, "Focused on not becoming food for another, I also never ate other Hollows either. Thus, I was never a Menos as well. To become an Arrancar at that stage is rare. It also means insignificant strength. Therefore, ones like me are of little interest to the ones with power in Hueco Mundo "
"I admit I had the concern of you of consuming humans, Sirvino-san" Uryu added, "Although you make an interesting philosophical case regarding Hollow masks and free will. I never thought about the distinction between Hollows and Arrancars before."
"You're kind to acknowledge that Ishida-san," Antonio thanked him, "Most will never even consider that possibility, or ever consider what makes the Arrancar remove their mask. I credit my dearest Kiara from freeing me from that existence as a beast, and to experience life beyond following those limited desires."
"Oh Antonio," she replied blushing, "That's not a story for these young ones."
"It's true though," he replied, "It is perhaps too presumptuous, too soon to call what bI felt love, but I found myself in awe of the movements, the grace of her. I knew I wanted to stay beside her from that moment for th rest of my life."
"Love came later, in its own time, as it does," Kiara added.
Chad showed only a neutral expression. Lisa was beaming with approval. Ichigo still looked troubled and distracted. Uryu though, wanted more elaboration, "Wait, you said you have been an Arrancar for almost eighty years. How have you two been together that long? How could you have met then?"
"You did not realize what I am?" asked Kiara, "I came to this country in the nineteen twenties. It was shortly after that I died."
The whole group look surprised at this revelation, except Lisa who must have had some prior knowledge of the woman's status. Uryu inquired on behalf of them,"You're de-, I mean, a spirit?"
"Yes, and it's fine to refer to me in that way," she continued, "After I died, I was taken to the Soul Society by the Shinigami, against my protest. I do not know if there is some different cycle of life and death for what were my beliefs. The feeling I was not where I belonged was overpowering, painful even. The Shinigami did not care."
The three youths shared looks of quiet shock over this information. Chad took a turn to ask for more the tale, "What did you do next? How did you get back to Earth?"
"I simply sneaked back," she replied, "in the Rukongai there are people who deal in such things. Most there have no interest as they have no means to protect them from Hollows. I, as you saw, have a bit of spiritual power and know at least a little Kido. I definitely could not waste eternity there. Nor was I ever joining the Shinigami."
This time Uryu could not hide his approval..
"What did you do next?" he asked, "How did you meet Sirvino-san and end up in Karakura?"
"I got a gigai to let interact with this world and well, just went on with my life. I found feeding others was pretty universally appreciated talent," the woman noted. "A few years after I got to Earth, I was fending off some Hollows and at that time my Antonio tore off his mask and battled along side me."
"I had just happened to follow a group going to feed. I saw her and was inspired as I explained. We have been together since," added Antonio.
"Since it seems to attract a lot of spiritual beings, Karakura town has just been most recent place we've settled, but we've been all over this world," the woman continued, "Everywhere we've been has given us so much, though it always feels like there is so much more to see. It has been a good life."
The couple smiled at each from across the table. Uryu turned to his meal, looking pleased with conclusion of their story.
Ichigo remained silent, still looking uncomfortable. Chad and Lisa glanced at each other, both sensing his distress. With a nod from the Vizard, Chad asked, "Is that not what was bothering, Ichigo?"
"Eh, I well, I apologize if I seemed suspicious of you two," the orange-haired boy did say towards the server and his wife, "You both seem like good people, but I thought we came here to get to Hueco Mundo and save Inoue."
There were further glances of concern between Lisa and Chad, and now they were joined by Uryu. Kiara let out a worried, "Oh." Antonio's face turned serious, but not furious.
"Yadomaru-san, may we speak privately a moment?" he said, both him and Kiara rising..
"Yes of course," she said with a similar seriousness, and followed them out the dining area.
As the three left, Uryu commented to Ichigo about his rudeness and blamed it on his ignorance of foreign food. Despite his grimness a moment ago, Ichigo was unable to resist the bait the dark-haired boy laid out. Chad rose, in part because he was not really in the mood for his friends' bickering, but he had also decided on another course of action. Though he was not really comfortable doing so, he followed just behind Lisa and the two restaurant employees. He stopped at the doorway to the kitchen, where he was able to eavesdrop on them.
"You're here to get to that place?' he heard the Arrancar asking.
"Yes," Lisa admitted.
"Someone had contacted us and told us to send three high school students to Hueco Mundo," said Kiara, "In fact, they made it a rather vague threat that we do so."
"I am truly sorry for that. It was unacceptable of him to do that," Chad could hear regret and anger in her confession. He wondered who this other party could be, though he already had a suspect. Lisa told them more, "A friend of those three, the fourth member of thet group of humans that broke into the Soul Society, was taken by the Captains that betrayed the Gotei Thirteen."
"You Shinigami..." said the female staff member, "Well, I appreciate you at least have the decency to apologize for this cohort of yours."
"He's just the worst," Lisa added.
"Wait, you are saying there is already a human in Hueco Mundo?" asked Antonio.
There was a short silence. Chad heard them stirring and quickly returned to the table. Lisa and the couple entered. Antonio leaned over the table and gave each of the three youths probing looks.
"I can't really express how much danger there is in just one human being in Hueco Mundo," he spoke slowly, his words foreboding, "sending more may be utter madness. Sending children seems fully despicable."
Uryu put on a stoic front. Chad could tell Ichigo was tensing up. He was even clutching the table cloth. Being denied again may be more than his friend could take.
"Leaving her there though solves nothing," the Arrancar continued, "You three are clearly much stronger than Kiara and I. I think this beyond reckless, but I will create the portal to the Hollows' world for you."
Uryu maintained his unfazed demeanor. Chad was glad to see Ichigo was calming.
"You, you will?" the orange-haired boy asked, sounding like he could not believe he finally succeeded.
"Finish your meal Kurosaki-san,"the waiter said, "Then meet us in the back alley outside. We will make the preparations."
Ichigo murmured a "Thank you" and turned to the dishes Kiara had made. Uryu was concerned Ichigo had not yet considered beyond just getting to Hueco Mundo. Chad had thought this also, but had also seen all that his friend went through emotionally just to get to this point. Ichigo needed this moment of brief release of the things he was carrying. Chad and Uryu communicated this to one another without a single word.
"I suppose you didn't know that one you're eating is popular in the Mediterranean, Kurosaki,'" commented Uryu about the falafels Ichigo was currently reaching for.
"I'm not completely ignorant of the rest of the world," he shot back, "At least I didn't drown my herring in the wrong sauce."
"Perhaps you need me to explain to you the complexity of various food combinations," the Quincy replied in a scholarly manner.
"No, please stop!" Ichigo snapped. Chad sat back and smiled, this time allowing himself to enjoy his friends' banter.
Lisa stopped the Arrancar as he headed to the back, "I know you have objections about this-"
"Please do not thank me, Yadomaru-san," he cut her off. His voice was again stern, but Lisa could still pick up on the fear in it, "I understand you're just doing what you think is best. I think you still have no concept of the gravity of what you ask and what it means. Not to just for them, or the Soul Society, but to everyone, to whole world."
"I…" she tried to reply.
He turned away from her. Lisa could tell he would offer no reassurance about her choices.