Within the walls of Las Noches laid a grand palace with blue domes and white spirals fashion to its dark gray menacing walls. As it stood above most of the elegant structures within the living world and even in the soul society itself.
As rather it should be, for the palace itself was the domain of the Quinto. Its size and scope symbolizing the tremendous and overwhelming power of the personally chosen Arrancar within Barragan's army. However, to Grimmjow. Who lived within the palace and inside a grand bedroom with a double bed and exquisite furnishings. Saw it as nothing more than a mark of utter embarrassment. More than anything, he wanted to crush Kurosaki with everything he had. Along with the Quincy bitch who constantly beat him daily and thought that with the power of Segunda Etapa, he finally achieved that desire in annihilating both.
But in the end...nothing changed.
Ichigo Kurosaki continued to look down at him as lesser and, worse yet, made him into a laughing stock of all of Las Noches.
They all mocked him, insulting his dreams, his ambitions and making him feel like worthless trash...as usual.
'Well, aren't you in a salty mood as ever' A snarky voice called out from the entrance of the Espada's room, and Grimmijow grunted in annoyance.
It was a lean-built Espada that wore a black outfit that consisted of a longed selves vested shirt, black pants, and medium-length black hair that came down to his neck—at the same time, sporting a wide and cheeky smile.
'What do you want, Nnoitra Gilga?' Grimmijow growled lowly in impatience.
'Oh, just to see how you were healing up, and I can tell you are doing a lousy job at even that, especially with your still loosely reputation,' Nnoitra rumbled, and Grimmjow's face twisted in rage.
'Shut the hell up! I could have beaten Kurosaki had he not gotten lucky that one time! if only that bone face bastard gave me another chance-'
'And you would have failed just a miserably,' Gilga harshly cut off the whining panther.
'You always failed pathetically against that orange-haired brat. To the point that your one-sided grudge has become half-time entertainment to everyone here in Las Noches ' Nnoritra harshly explained as he then walked past Grimmjow and looked out through the window in his room. 'And of course, even that has ran its course.'
The 5th Espada then growled. 'Oh, and what do you want me to do then, huh!? Just learn to accept my place here and be a bitch to everyone around me like you? Fuck off!'
Nnoitra then narrowed his eyes.
'I don't give two pieces of flying shit of what everyone thinks of me! I will defeat Ichigo Kurosaki, make those smug assholes acknowledge me, and become the king that stands above everyone else!' Grimmjow boasted loudly, but Gilga looked at him in dismay.
'If you didn't care about what people think, you wouldn't waste your time trying to get their acknowledgment...you dame hypocritical pussy' Nnoritra sneered, and Grimmjow could and turn his head away in spite.
The leaner Espada then let out a sigh and turned his head to face the door.
'Jabbjacker...I know you want to be the king that stands high above everyone...but that pride and ego of yours aren't enough to bring you up to the top, especially when you use Nelliel's fate to justify it.'
Grimmjow then growled in the offense. 'And you think I don't have a right to avenge her!?' the fifth Espada snapped, and Nnoitra then shot him a horrific murderous eye budging look.
'...And you think you are the only one who deserves that, right?' he threatened him in a deep dark voice, making the panther Arrancar quickly lose his attuited and sulk further into his bed. Which then caused Gilga to roll his eyes in annoyance.
'You are strong Grimmmjow and have a lot of potential; even Nelliel thought so too when she trained the both of us...'Nnorita then eyed distastefully at the 5th Espada. 'But you act as too much of a self-entitled bastard to realize it thoroughly, and if you continue to work the way you do now...you will never be the king of anything but your own failure!'
Nnoritia scolded again while the latter kept his silence. The other Espada then took that as his cue to leave and walked out of Grimmjow's room.
As Gilga walked down across the blacked hallways, he came upon another Espada. He had short blond hair and freckles and wore a black robe and shirt with a metal chain around his neck. In contrast, a giant purple sheathed longsword hanged on his back.
'What do you want, Wonderweiss Margiela?' Nnoritia demanded in a tired and impatient tone making the blonde Espada smile with a goofy, childish grin.
'Oh nothing, but listening to that punk Jaegerjaquez getting his just deserts even when it comes from people like you….' Wonderweiss grin, then turns malice. '4th Espada Nnoritia Gilga'
The thin Espada then narrowed his eyes in displeasure before scoffing. 'If you feed on other people's misery, do it yourself or fuck off. I'm not some clown for your entertainment!'
At that, Wonderweiss waved up both of his hands in defense.
'Whoa, now. Don't get your panties in a twist. I am just messing with you,' the blonde Espada joked innocently, yet Nnorita knew better.
'Whatever, do your part on the mission when we invade the world of the living. While I deal with Ichigo Kurosaki myself the 4th Espada said dismissively. In comparison, Wonderweiss gave him a knowing smile.
'Of course, Nnotitia…though I am curious about the new shinigami power Ichigo has. It is different than how he usually fights,' the blonde Esapda commented, and for once, Gilga was given pause.
'It isn't just different,' the 4th Espada thought. 'Going by the visuals I saw from his battle with Grimmjow. It was like that orange-haired punk fought like a completely different person'
Nnoritia then gave a curious look before dismissing it with an uncaring grunt.
'Well, whatever, he spat with disinterest. 'Even if Ichigo was able to defeat Grimmjow with that new power and even if he was holding back…it is nothing compared to the power that I wield...' Nnoritia's eyes then soften for a brief moment before hardening into cold steel.
'And like what he did, Nell…I will humiliate him with my power and drag him down beyond the brink of despair.'
Nnoritia proclaimed as he opened up the front doors of the great palace, and in front of the walkway lay the rest of his Arrancar teammates.
The first was a couple. With one taking the appearance of a brutish thug, with short black hair and wearing a black gentlemen's suit. While the other was a slender woman with nearly bleached white pale skin and hair, red eyes, sharp teeth, and dressed in a gray striped dress.
While next to them stood a large dark skin muscular man dressed up in black robes, while his head and face were covered by a hood.
Upon witnessing his crew, Nnorita smiled with battle lust and anticipation.
Later on, in the world of the living.
Ichigo stood silent as he witnessed the sight before him and could not decide whether he should express disappointment, laughter, confusion, or even a combination of all three.
'Uh, Uryru...what exactly is this?' the orange-haired teen questioned as he then saw that the entire boarding station was filled with over a hundred civilians lined up at several ticket booths and saw another massive group of people sitting on benches that surrounded several silver pads on the ground on the other side. Which from what Kurosaki could see took the shape of an encrusted cross with a red ruby jewel embedded in its center. With carved flams blows out from its sides.
'This Kurosaki is the sun gate station. The main means of transportation between the barrier cities of the world of the living and the soul society' Uryu explained and then further pushed up his glasses. 'Surely you haven't forgotten something so basic, have you?'
Ichigo, realizing he slipped up again, immediately recomposed himself.
'I oh yeah, I remembered I just uh...though it, was a bit more of a fancy teleportation device used only for the elites not...' Ichigo then lowered his eyes in disproval upon seeing the lines and booths. 'Not something that is treated like a subway station'
Ishida gave off a slight chuckle and straightened up his face. 'Oh, please, Kurosaki, if it was going from a location within a single city. That would be one thing. However, ever since the hollowing night, most of the country infrastructure, along with everything else on the planet has been destroyed by roaming hordes of hollows among the wastelands. Which in turn also makes it extremely dangerous to travel to the nearby cities by any other conventional means as well'
Ichigo then gave a sour but understandable grumble. 'Well, I guess that makes sense.'
'More like common sense, actually...' Uryu stealthy insulted Kurosaki, which Ichigo, to his annoyance, caught on to it.
'Urgh, fine, whatever!' he sneered in anger and then stared back to the gate station.
'So, what? Are we just going to the booth, get our tickets, and wait to be called upon to go to the soul society?' Ichigo asked, and Uryu once again looked like he had to strife his laughter.
'If we were just ordinary civilians, sure...but royalty has its advantages' Uryu pridefully said as he walked to a nearby Soldat security guard who immediately stood himself up and quickly allowed Ishida and Ichigo to come in and allowed them to sit on a nearby bench near the sun gate.
'Okay...so what now?' Kurosaki said blankly, and Uryu then adjusted his vest.
'We wait for one and half hours until our names are called out just like everyone else.'
'Huh...WAIT WHAT!' Ichigo shouted in disbelief. 'You said that royalty came with special privileges!'
Uryu once again pushes his glasses unashamedly. 'It does...with us not having to wait in line for five minutes and paying 320 yen (2.33 US dollars)'
But this only made Kurosaki twitch his eyes in unbridled outrage.
'That barely cuts down any time, and all that saved us was literal pocket change!' Ichigo yelled while Uryu just kept up an air of indifference.
'You should be grateful for the privileges given to you, Kurosaki. After all, many people would be grateful for being able to save over 320 yen,' The white prince said tenderly, making Ichigo almost reconsider his opinion.
'So, 320 yen is a lot of money these days?' he asked, and Uryu then remained silent for a few moments before answering.
'...Not really, and that goes for even among the lower economic classes. After all, it is just pocket change,' the prince said bluntly, and Kurosaki soon regretted even thinking of taking back anything of what he said at all.
Eventually, after over an hour of waiting, Ichigo and Uryu's names were called out. Allowing them to step on the sun gate and be transported to their location in a flash of light. Then as it died down and Ichigo allowed his vision to readjust. The youth widens his eyes in amazement at what he saw before him.
He was in a central station room with several large windows surrounding it—revealing an overlook of the massive landscape before his eyes, including all the city-wards of Tokyo and aside from a few European architectures here and there. It looked exactly same as the city he once visited occasionally in his world. The only significant difference was that the Tokyo tower looked much more extensive than he could imagine as it stood above the rest of the buildings like a mountain among trees.
Yet as Ichigo walked closer to the window, he began to notice some more differences. As the capital city was not quit as large. Looking tiny in comparison to the one in his own world. With only a handful of its wards kept up in good condition, while the rest of them were outside its barrier shield and left to rot. Even Mount Fuji which usually was covered in snow this time of the year was like the rest of the countryside, barren, and lifeless.
'Is there something wrong, Ichigo?' Ishida asked as he walked next to sadden teen.
'It's...nothing,' Kurosaki lied dejectedly and then stared back at his friend.
'So, since we are in Minato Tokyo, we go to that central Sun Gate station and head to soul society? The soul reaper asked, and Ishida nodded his head in confirmation.
'Indeed...however, due to the massive booking of transports. We won't be able to use it until tomorrow' Uryu explained. Upon hearing that explanation, Ichigo wanted to outburst again...until another reason came into his mind when he noticed the gigantic hundred-mile creator created from his battle yesterday in the distance…and still saw smoke coming out of it.
'Does the loaded booking...have anything to do with my fight with Grimmjow?' Ichigo questioned slowly, and Uryu took out a deep breath and nodded.
'There are many people who no longer feel safe in Kakaura town or anywhere else in the living world. When news spread that Bambettia The Explosion was defeated in battle by the 5th Espada. Many of the people's faith in the Sternritters was shaken and broken and unfortunately, this usually happens when any of them suffers a death or defeat from the Arrancar army' The White Prince explained sourly, and Ichigo's then felt his heartache in sorrow.
'Are Sternritter deaths common?' Ichigo asked again, and Uryu gave his friend a sour look.
'I wouldn't say that, but it happens every once a decade or so. Especially when the fighting the Espada, the Privaron, Numeros …and at times even overwhelmed by a massive hoard of hollows numbered in the millions' Ishida said sadly. While Kurosaki's fists then tighten.
'But...aren't the Sternritter supposes to be like the elite Quincy, the best of the best? That was what I always told about them,' Ichigo questioned in shock and anger while still saying his words carefully. But Uryu mealy sighed dejectedly.
'That is indeed the case, Kurosaki...however, not every Sternritter is equal in power as over half of them are only at the level of a low tier Espada...and many are not lucky enough to just face those of the lower tier...' Uryu explained grimily, and Ichigo looked on sadly at the rest of the people in the lobby.
Many carrying large groups of luggage, holding on to children and some of them or talking about personal plans on their phones, and as Ichigo listened carefully. To his dismay he realized that many of the conversations were about moving out of Kakaura and other small cities...and some to the soul society itself.
'As you can see, Kurosaki, the people's faith in the holy kingdom and its knights has always been fragile. Which has only worsened as the war with Barragan dragged on for over the past fifty years. With many of the civilians of the living world wishing to move out of the world of the living altogether than live a life or even raise a family in an environment plagued by constant raids of hollows,' the white prince explained with somber. Having also listened in on the conversation with the civilians.
'But unfortunately for them. Too many people migrating to the soul society would only threaten the balance of souls, So access to the after-life is heavily regulated and restricted. In fact, most civilians from the world of the living were residents of the soul society. Who were given bodies of Kishi to live out their days here. With Tokyo being one of the major cities in the world of the living that are sent to live in.'
Ichigo then lowered his face. 'I guess there have been a lot of riots among the people who were drafted away from their home...The youth mused, and Uryu Ishida let out a deep breath.
'More than you can realize, Kurosaki...which is why you can already guess. I didn't just bring you here for a causal tour...' Uryu said sternly, and Ichigo just rolled his eyes.
'Figures,' he said lowery as he looked up at the Tokyo Tower. 'So, I guess we are staying in a hotel for the time being?
Uryu then nodded. 'Of course, but I should also mention that it won't just be us staying there.'
Ichigo then widens his eyes. 'Really, anyone else we know?
Ishida then smiled. 'Well, Keigo, Tatsuki, and Mizuiro, who also have business in the soul society, booked the same trip tomorrow morning with us. More pleasantly, your fiancee will also be joining them.'
'Oh, so Kiego and the rest ar-….' Ichigo's face then frozen upon realizing what Uryu just said to him.
'MY WHAT!" Ichigo screamed in his head, and then slowly, his face turned to red hot pink, hoping that this version of Uryu was merely joking.
'Now come on, Ichigo. You two have been a loving couple for years now, and just last month, you asked her hand in marriage, and of course, she accepted...don't tell me you have already forgotten about it?' Uryu said with dry snark in his voice. At the same time, the orange-haired youth began sweating in a panic.
'Fiancee! When Keigo said I had a girlfriend, I thought it was a woman I would frequently hang out with! Not be engaged too! I never even went out with a date before in my world!' he screamed out in his head.
'Just how the fucking hell I am supposed to keep up my cover now!' Ichigo continued to think in terror. While Uryu merely gave Ichigo a knowing glance.
Meanwhile, in the Shibuya shopping center.
A busty woman with long orange hair, blue star hairpins, and brown eyes walked down the shopping district carrying various bags over her shoulder. Her attire consisted of a black straight paint suit with a white shirt underneath, black dress pants and shoes, and a golden X emblem attached to the right side. All the while, following in front of her was a red-haired woman with twin pigtails who wore a gray fur coat and a matching cap that shared the same golden X emblem on top of it.
'Come on, Orihime, you don't want to miss your finance leave after his booking?' the redhead shouted impatiently. Which made the other women blush in embarrassment.
'S-sorry, Riruka, it's just that I rarely visit the human world anymore, and I just wanted to get as much stuff as I can before returning to the HQ,' she said sheepishly, but this only made the other women pissed.
'Most of the stuff you spent a fortune on could have easily been repurchased in the soul society!' Riruka busted out, and the girl continued to look away in guilt.
'I'm sorry, she said pitifully. But the red-head just shrugged and shook her head before walking on.
'Come on, the hotel shouldn't be that far away from here,' The fullbringer tiredly said while Orihime followed her.
However, it went unnoticed by any of them. The Arrancar couple, disguised as humans, looked at two shopping girls and smiled sadistically as a dark, vile aura steadily rose from both, along with many of the other people next to them.