Chapter 27: Feral Fights
Nel and Harribel panickily opened Garganta after Garganta looking for Grimmjow and Yukiko. Nui was shouting to find the taken woman, as if that would make the search any easier. The pair stopped when a third opening ripped open. They paused hoping to see Grimmjow walk out with his human, pissy but okay. Instead a frenzy of white and black and blue fur crashed out and into the far wall. A figure of ghostly white skin and black fur and hair walked out behind him. "Ulquiorra?" Harribel questioned, sounding confused.
"Grimmjow needs to be restrained and worn out," he said in the same even dispassionate tone that Nel remembered him always having.
She looked back to the beast that stood on its back, bladed, feet but hunched over like it was somewhere between a biped and quadruped. "That's Grimmjow?"
The angry animal slashed out black lines of Reiatsu that looked similar to one of Grimmjow's techniques. Nel got out of the way while Harribel carried Sung Sung, Riverra pulled Achiim and Nui, Fausto yanked Artemissia. Everyone was unharmed but the damage to the building ran through several rooms worth of walls until the open sky behind could be seen.
"We need to get him outside the dome," Harribel instructed.
"Very well," Ulquiorra responded and faster than anyone else in the room he wrapped his tail around Grimmjow's neck and flew through the holes in the walls until they were outside.
Harribel turned to the people still in the room. "Artemissia, Fausto, you two stay here with Nui and Sung Sung. Achiim, you are with us."
Nel raced forward to attempt to catch up before they destroyed the dome trying to get out. She saw Grimmjow rip Ulquiorra's tail off and start to fall to the ground, releasing glass-like bullets from his fur. Ulquiorra shot at Bala that intercepted the projectiles, causing a massive explosion that pushed Nel back, though caught by Riverra who was also holding on to the broken wall.
Ulquiorra regrew his tail while also forming a long spear of Reiatsu in his hands and dove down towards the Grimmjow monster. With another beat of is wing a deep and heavy Sonido boomed out, effectively teleporting the bat Hollow behind his target and impaled him, allowing him to be dragged forward, continuing towards the dome wall.
Harribel and Achiim joined Nel and Riverra so the four of the jumped out into the sand collectively releasing their Resurreccion. Nel used Sonido to close the distance by a large margin and began building up Reiatsu in her lance. Just as she expected, Grimmjow again escaped Ulquiorra's control and cut off his arm. "Lanzador Verde!" she declared as she threw her weapon, the extra power she embedded in it gave it an accelerated velocity and it caught its target before he noticed it. His Hierro warded off much of the piercing damage but the force still succeeded in pushing him the rest of the way to the dome wall.
A thick torrent of water blasted between the Nel and Ulquiorra into Grimmjow, the force of it pushed him through the dome and beyond. It wasn't enough to send him out, they needed to get him at least some distance away so he won't simply destroy it from the outside. Not that they weren't doing a good job themselves; but a small hole can be repaired. "Keep pushing him back!" Nel commanded Ulquiorra as she continued pressing on.
She found her lance caught in the shards of the dome, grabbed it as she passed and pointed it out in front of her. Her Reiatsu built up in the tip until it shot forward in an arrow like Cero blast, "Flecha hendida!" Grimmjow's tail whipped out and released a swipe of the same black Reiatsu as before, it gave Nel a sickening feeling. There was something dark and evil about that energy, like a poison.
While he looked at Nel, Riverra rushed behind Grimmjow, his fist glowing. "Puno de Leopardos!" The strike threw him into Ulquiorra waiting sights, "Lanza del Relampago," he released a glowing green javelin that exploded on Grimmjow's blocking forearm.
Nel rushed over to Ulquiorra and smacked one of the broad areas of her lance on his head. "Are you insane?! You said to tire him out, not kill him!"
"That won't kill him," the man said evenly.
She looked back and watched how as the smoke cleared Grimmjow's furry form was still standing, his arm was flayed into fleshy streamers. It was admittedly gory, even by their standards.
"Is he going to be okay?" Achiim asked.
He tried to approach but Harribel blocked him with her sword arm. "Don't get close. Start detaining him from here."
The boy nodded and pressing his hands all together before spreading them apart with the threading of a cats-cradle. "Lazo!" The knotting of web released from his hands and wrapped around the man. He growled in a deep rumble that vibrated their bones.
Riverra joined them with a Sonido. "He's not done," he warned to Nel's agreement.
Grimmjow's fur stood on its end and he released a roar that made the previous vibrations feel like a purr. The whole ground shook and despite Nel, along with everyone else, covering their ears her vision swam and blurred. She tried to move back, put some distance between her and Grimmjow but even when the roar stopped she couldn't move. It was like all the nerves in her body froze, locking up her muscles. Unable to move. Unable to breath.
Her vision started to clear and she tried to blink, hoping it was a sign that she was getting back to normal but couldn't. It wasn't until a sudden impact of Ulquiorra being tackled into her that her body seemed to reset. She realized that while she, and apparently everyone else, were frozen Grimmjow had broken out of the webbing and pounced on Ulquiorra, his jaws clamped over the back of the man's head, trying to bite through his skull.
Riverra punched the back of Grimmjow's head further down on Ulquiorra, loosening his jaw, just as Achiim stuck string to Grimmjow's back and pulled him off, throwing him away from the group. As he was in the air the blood from his flayed arm followed in an arch; it began to bubble and electrify in the tell-tale sign of a Gran-Rey Cero.
Harribel positioned herself in front of the guys but Nel rushed further ahead of her. "Nelliel!" Harribel called, worry fully displayed on her unobstructed face. Nel loved seeing her beautiful face in its entirety. She should get the woman in a gigai some day so she can enjoy it without the distraction of battle.
Nel turned away from the group and faced forward, bracing herself for the blast to come. The Hollow King understood and didn't stop her. "Barrel," she called, creating a protective barrier of water at Nel's back.
When the giant Gran-Rey Cero fired off Nel inhaled in. She felt the rush of the toxic power and blood, ingesting what felt like an endless blast. Waves and tendrils of power wrapped around her and collided with Harribel's wall. She felt like her whole body was ripping apart by the poised Reiatsu; joints felt collapsed, tears too thick to be tears overflowed from her eyes, her belly full of acid. Just as she was about to surrender to Grimmjow's attack, taking solace in the knowledge that she lessened it enough for everyone else to survive, the Cero came to an end. She was now full but didn't have the strength to mix in her own Reiatsu. She did the only thing left she could at this point and released it away in a safe direction, away from all combatant and Las Noches.
Her body felt ragged. She collapsed, losing not just her Ressurrecion but her adult form too; absolutely depleted.
()
Ulquiorra's head hurt. It had been broken open by Grimmjow's jaws and his brain was nearly bisected. His inner ears damaged too from the roar. He waited patiently for his regeneration to repair the damage. It shouldn't take long, the Hollows around him removed Grimmjow quickly.
He was right, the damage was gone in about 15 seconds. He returned to his feet and examined the current state of the battle. Grimmjow was still standing in his true Hollow form. The woman Nelliel was nowhere to be seen, instead she was now a small child that the other child was tending to. That could complicate the battle, she was a competent fighter and losing her will make it more difficult to control their opponent. At least Harribel and the tiger were still standing.
Grimmjow appeared much weaker now. A single well landed Lanza del Relampago might be able to kill him. His orders were to tire him out in hopes that he will return to his normal form though. Ulquiorra's eyes had a slight twitch to them and he wondered if this was what anger was. Or perhaps it was something weaker… He should question his Master on the thought later. He knew from observing the Arrancar that they have a history; it was likely a poor one.
"Are you okay?" The other adult male Arrancar was speaking to him.
"Yes, I have healed," he answered as he formed a new spear, one of dense Reiatsu so it won't explode on impact.
Grimmjow raised his destroyed arm and strips all reattached to each other, completely healed. From the fight against the Arrancar in the World of the Living it didn't appear that he had regenerative abilities. Perhaps it was a benefit of the transformation? Regardless, the healing was slow, indicating that he was low on Reiatsu. It shouldn't take much more to fully exhaust him.
"It will be more efficient to entice him to attack rather than damage him," Ulquiorra noted.
"Well leave that to me," the man responded and rushed forward with a grin. The tiger man jumped into the air and waved his tail in circular motion leaving glowing orange orbs. With a fluid motion he turned his body with his arms open, sending the orbs at Grimmjow. "Erupcion solar!"
Grimmjow jumped away from one while charging a Cero in his mouth that he released to detonate all the others. The color appeared to be dark blue, indicating most of Yato's Reishi had been expelled. With him distracted Ulquiorra threw his spear, pinning it into the leopard's thigh. He released a roar at the injury but this time it wasn't one that caused his ears to bleed.
The out of control Hollow clenched his hand and grew a set of green stone like claws over his real ones. Ulquiorra charged a Cero and fired it at the same time to intercept the projectiles together with a sharp blast of water, causing another massive explosion. His ears started ringing again.
Clawed paw-hands reached out through the smoke, grabbing Ulquiorra's arm and pulling him into a headbutt. There was a flash of white on the impact but he could still see the open maw coming to his face. Ulquiorra stabbed his tail through Grimmjow's arm to weaken his grip and escaped biting range. The leopard Hollow attempted to follow him but was intercepted by the tiger one striking him upwards from under his chin with a rolling punch followed by a straight punch to push back. Attempting to entice more Reiatsu attacks from Grimmjow, Ulquiorra released four Balas once he landed. As planned it triggered a Cero to clear them away. The animal was slumped, heaving and ready to collapse but unwilling.
"He is officially exhausted but not turning back," the tiger Arrancar observed.
"It was only ever a chance. My master will be disappointed," Ulquiorra stated while conjuring another javelin to finally kill him.
"Maybe if you brought Yukiko back he will calm down. He's pretty obsessed with her."
Grimmjow's ears lifted a little at the words.
"No," Harribel asserted immediately. "With how little control he has over himself even Grimmjow would not approve of bringing her to this battlefield. On the other hand, can you still show images with Descorrer Ulquiorra?"
"He is a Hollow. A true Hollow. He has no mind or ego. An emotional appeal will be meaningless," Ulquiorra stated what was surely obvious.
"You don't know that. Look at him, he can barely stand anyways. What's to lose with one last idea?" the other man insisted.
His tail twitched and he felt his face frown as he released his Reiatsu weapon. "Very well." He opened a Garganta just in front of Grimmjow so that it would broadcast the human woman without fully connecting the two dimensions. She was crying and on her knees among the flowers.
Grimmjow's eyes were fixated, ears pointed forward, fully focused on the images in front of him. He reached out and touch the image. "Mine…" he uttered his first word since the transformation. "Back… GIVE HER BACK!" he roared but also seemed to collapse to his knees, losing his animal form as well as his Resurreccion. "Give my Yuki back…"
Ulquiorra closed the broadcast and opened a true Garganta. "Wait here," he ordered. After stepping into the in between he closed his portal and opened a new one into his Master's garden.
"He has been returned?" his master questioned.
"Yes."
"Good. Return Yukiko to him. Speak to the Arrancar. Answer any of their questions and then come back. I will have a new task for you."
Ulquiorra bowed and stepped aside so the human can enter through the opening. "Go ahead," the master told her.
The woman stood and offered a bow of her own. "Thank you."
She raced through the flowers and into the dark corridor, Ulquiorra followed behind. With the connection to the master's garden closed an opening to Hueco Mundo was created and let them directly back to where he previously exited.
The moment she touched the sand Yukiko dashed forward, perhaps as fast as her meager human legs could take her, and tackled into the barely conscious Grimmjow. He slowly wrapped his arms around her and Ulquiorra could hear him speak in a quiet and low voice. "You fucking danger magnet. You had me worried."
Grimmjow slowly ran his hand up and down Yukiko's head the tiger Hollow walked next to Ulquiorra. "Sweet, isn't it?"
"Is it?" Ulquiorra asked, uncertain what it meant to be sweet.
"Yuki! You came back!" the child came running with a shriek and hugged the woman tightly.
Grimmjow growled out a complaint but the woman hugged the child back. Harribel joined the onlookers, holding a small sleeping Nelliel. "Let's return to Las Noches. Nui is likely feeling rabid not knowing if Yukiko is safe."
"Yes," the tiger nodded the shouted out to the others. "Sweethearts! We are going home now!"
Yukiko stood first and tried to pull Grimmjow to his feet but he collapsed forward on her and nearly pushed her and the child to the ground.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" the tiger yelled and rushed to help him to his feet. "I got ya."
"Could this too be 'sweet'?" Ulquiorra wondered silently as he watched on.
For the trip back Harribel continued to carry Nelliel, the child carried Yukiko and the tiger basically carried Grimmjow. They all moved much slower than before so Ulquiorra slowed himself down to ensure he did not lose sight of the group. They returned through the hole Grimmjow created in the building.
"Yukiko-sama!" the other human yelled as she ran to her, inspecting the younger woman for injuries. Then she looked to Grimmjow with a clenched jaw and bared teeth. "You vile monster!" She raised a hand with some beads in it but Yukiko hugged her again, stopping her attack.
"Yeah, fuck you too. No help or protection for her whatsoever," the Arrancar retorted.
Ulquiorra watched with curiosity as the woman's anger flared again and she was once again stopped by Yukiko, as well as Riverra and two of the Arrancar that stayed behind. Grimmjow ignored the threat, or perhaps non-threat, of the human and shuffled towards his bed, pulling Yukiko with him. He basically dropped his zanpakuto on the floor and collapsed on the blanket. "Hey, dead asshole," he called sounding out of breath.
Ulquiorra stood silent, waiting to see who was going to respond.
"Ulquiorra!" he yelled with more strength. Apparently he was 'dead asshole'.
"What?" he responded but felt his tail curl and flick at the end.
"What the fuck happened to me? Where did you take Yuki?"
"You were exposed to Master Yato's spirit energy. It corrupted you and forced you into a primordial Hollow form. It happened due to you attempting to stop me from taking Yukiko to his garden."
"Why are you okay?" Harribel asked.
"I only exist in my primordial form. Master Yato told me that I achieved it on my own. That it allowed him to form me again as such when he found my remnants. Similarly he told me that Yukiko is another exception. Humans exposed to him instantly die and turn into a Hollow. He said her divine soul protects her from such effects and she instead absorbs his strength."
Yukiko's brows deepened and fist clenched at his last statement. Perhaps, angry?
The human Nui stood in front of him. "What did he want from her?"
"To talk. He wished to speak to her. He told me it was a mistake when I took her. That I was only supposed to invite her."
"What kind of fuckin idiot kidnaps someone by 'mistake'?!" Grimmjow growled but it lacked any hint of tangible threat.
"Maybe we should temporarily move that to the side for now," the tiger interfered. "Going off what I saw, we aren't in condition to have to fight Ulquiorra now."
"I would not start a fight. My master would be unhappy with me."
"A Hollow's a Hollow. Get one mad enough and even the most polite of us might lash out."
Was Ulquiorra angry? Why does this man think so?
"As cruel as it may sound of me, it was a mistake and he did bring her back."
"Master Yato has instructed me to answer any questions before returning to him for another task."
"Who is Yato?" Harribel asked.
"He is the origin of all Hollows. The first created by the god Chouko."
"Who is Chouko and why would anyone create Hollows?" one of the unknown Arrancars asked.
"Chouko was a god of souls. Soul sorting to be more exact. She was responsible for sending the dead to Hell or reincarnation," Nui answered.
Unexpectedly, it was the tiger Arrancar that continued the explanation. "She fell in love and mated a human man but when he died his soul was slated for Hell. She couldn't allow that and in preventing its natural destination, she disrupted the cycle, creating this limbo for the damned. That man was Yato. Correct?"
"Your knowledge is accurate to what was recounted to me," Ulquiorra confirmed.
"Yukiko created a very lovely history book," he responded with a smile. "Frankly it started out as a beautiful love story; until all the murder. Personally I'm in agreement with Yato's actions, and not just because I wouldn't exist if he didn't start the creation of Hollows."
"Riverra, please remain focused," Harribel said. So this man was called Riverra…
"How do I get to Yato? I wanna ripe him to pieces for what he did you me," Grimmjow grumbled in his weakened state.
"Impossible. You lost yourself in his passive release of Reiatsu. Should he actively try to engage with you, you will die instantly."
"Fine, don't tell me. I'll figure it out after I take your head for a trophy."
Why Grimmjow continued attempting to make threats when he was unable to stand unassisted was lost on Ulquiorra. Though much of his behavior was lost on Ulquiorra during his observations. What was it about physical affection that made Grimmjow engage in it so much? Not to mention sexual activity, though his master explicitly told him to never observe in such moments. He called it inappropriate. That was fine by him; he didn't want to watch. What little he had seen made him turn away, feeling similar to if he made a fool of himself.
"You will fail in that too. Are there any more questions that need answered?"
"Why has Yato chosen now to become active?" Harribel asked.
"Simply because I had arrived. Master cannot leave his garden world without causing great calamity, so he does not. My service to him allows him to see the condition of the different worlds. He has no plans. Just curiosity."
"How did he find you? Kurosaki killed you, did he not?"
"I have no memory of my life or death; as either human or Hollow. As I said, I had achieved this primordial form through my own power and it allowed him to find me. Now, do you have anymore relevant questions?"
"I suppose not. Will you return again?"
"If my master wishes it," he answered as he opened a new Garganta.
"I have a question," Riverra announced, giving Ulquiorra pause. "Would you like to come back?"
Ulquiorroa turned to give the man his full and direct attention. The question was odd. Would he like to come back? "Perhaps," he eventually decided.
()
After Ulquiorra left Sung Sung started healing Nelliel. Yukiko sat beside Grimmjow, who was fighting to stay conscious in his extreme exhaustion. She kept looking between him and Nui, uncertain who was going to try and incite another fight. From the way her old caretaker was tapping a finger on her crossed arms, Yukiko would assume her.
She tried to get up to go to her, calm her down, but when she shifted to stand Grimmjow tightened his arm around her waist. She didn't want to upset him so she stayed put. Yukiko almost opened her mouth to say something but knew it was pointless. She already tried talking to Grimmjow out in the sand; apparently her voice was left behind in that dead garden.
The woman looked down at her feet, the were covered in sand, some of which was dark with blood. She tried not to wonder whose blood it was. Hopefully it was Ulquiorra's.
Trying to distract Nui from her anger, Yukiko motioned for her attention.
"Yes?"
She then pointed to the duffle bag Grimmjow packed for her when they initially ran to Las Noches, wanting her sketch book. Nui handed the bag to her, not skipping her chance to give Grimmjow a glare; though the man had fallen asleep at this point. Yukiko dug her desired items out and flipped the book at an empty page where she started drawing Yato; maybe she'll go back and make a painting of the man to get better color. They should know what he looked like.
"Yukiko-sama," Nui called her attention from where she knelt in front of her. "Are you sure you are okay?"
The woman paused and thought about what happened. Everything that happened. It made her squirm and the arm around her curled a little more despite its owner being asleep. She couldn't help the small smile that came on her face. The woman searched some of the older pages for one with a blank side and wrote on it. "I think I will be. I have you worrying about me, and Grimmjow won't leave me alone. I think things will be okay."
Nui cradled her face and rubbed her cheek with a thumb. "If you truly believe that, I will believe you."
Yukiko nodded and when Nui removed her hand she also added a new note to her paper. "Yato didn't seem like an evil man. He misses Chouko."
Her reassurance disappeared. "His intentions don't change anything. If he wants you there is only so much we can do to stop him. We have already failed once."
Yukiko shook her head no and waved her hand in refusal at her suspicion; then quickly wrote her thought. "I made it clear that I am not Chouko. He cares much more about Grimmjow than Yukiko. He said he will help calm things down."
Nui looked confused and glanced at the sleeping Arrancar. "Grimmjow? Who would care about a Hollow like Grimmjow?"
"I care," Yukiko thought with a frown.
"Miss, do you remember where you are?" Riverra asked from the other side of the room, where he stood with six other Hollows.
Nui cleared her throat and looked away uncomfortable. "My apologies."
Riverra waved her words away. "Why don't we move to my room? It wouldn't have been damaged in that messy business."
Yukiko stuck out her soiled feet and pointed to them, hoping he would understand that she didn't want to dirty his room.
Riverra walked up to her with the easy smile she had noticed him wearing more often than not. "Don't worry about it. We are all filthy. I can always just clean the room when you two are moved back out."
Yukiko could see why Grimmjow made a point of introducing this man to her; he had a friendliness to him that made him comfortable. Grimmjow even called him too friendly, to the point of being shitty as a Hollow.
"Since Riverra is offering you four go ahead and relocate there. We will rest up ourselves," Harribel said and motioned for the remaining Arrancar to follow her out.
Riverra shook Grimmjow's shoulder to stir him awake. "Alrighty you tired bag of bones. Wake up so we can move rooms."
Grimmjow grumbled but he did open his eyes. Yukiko stood and pulled him along, trying to get him to stand while Nui collected their things. Just as before, the Arrancar leaned too heavily on her, like a dead weight, and Riverra had to do most of the supporting. Yukiko felt a little bad, the closer he got to her the more tightly she huddled into Grimmjow. She knew he was someone she could trust but her body wasn't quite ready to accept it. If he noticed he didn't comment on it at least.
Riverra's room was fairly close, still in what she was told is Grimmjow's wing, and apparently just a few doors away from Achiim. Inside it was bare. Just a bed and damaged rug on the floor. "Sorry it's so empty. Apparently most of the furniture that was available throughout the palace was destroyed in the recent war."
"Doesn't matter," Grimmjow grumbled before being unceremoniously dumped onto a large mattress. He looked annoyed but just exhaled and leaned back into the cushion. Yukiko felt terrible seeing him so tired. He had been running himself into the ground for a couple of days now to keep her safe. She undid his belt and removed his shoes to make him more comfortable.
"You don't need to do that," Nui said, sounding frustrated. Yukiko tried to remember that from Nui's perspective Grimmjow was probably more of a problem than anything.
"I'm sure she knows what she wants to do," Riverra defended. "Speaking of wants," he started and leaned in closer to Yukiko, "Are you hungry? From what I heard humans usually eat multiple times a day and quiet a lot has happened." He then turned to face Nui directly. "How about you? Would you like to go find something to eat?"
"No! I'm not leaving Yukiko-sama like this?" she answered indignantly but her stomach betrayed her and whined at the mention of food.
"Well you need me to return to the World of the Living and I need you to tell me what would be a suitable meal. Let's go." He made the decision and opened a Garganta, not allowing Nui to refuse.
The woman looked nervously to Yukiko but hesitantly took Riverra's offered arm as he guided her into the darkness.
"Tricky bastard," Grimmjow quietly grumbled, making Yukiko look over at him so fast she was a little dizzy. He started to sit up.
{"You don't need to get up!"} Yukiko reflexively spoke despite him not looking at her, unable to see what she was saying.
The Arrancar pulled off his jacket and dropped it over the side of the bed before laying back down. "It's finally quiet." He then looked over at Yukiko. "What happened after Ulquiorra took you?"
She flipped the sketch book open to her barely started picture of Yato.
"What the fuck is that supposed to be?"
She flipped over to the previous page and wrote just off from the sketch she had done of the sigil. "Yato. He was there in a dead garden."
"The original Hollow is into flowers? And he sucks at it. What a fucking disappointment." Yukiko leaned back until she was laying on his shoulder. "We are taking a vacation after this."
The suddenness of it made Yukiko laugh but she couldn't help agreeing. She wasn't going to work for a month. If Grimmjow was able to get out of his obligations than a vacation was the best thing that could happen to them right now. Where would they go though? It was still chilled when they were in the World of the Living. Maybe a trip to a hotspring? She also kind of wanted to go to the sea but it was the wrong time of year for it. Or would that make it a better time to go? Less people will be there. Nui took her once but she didn't know how to enjoy her life then. She still barely did, but was improving.
She stole a kiss from the corner of Grimmjow's jaw and buried herself deeper in his chest.
"If we want to get back to normal I will need to deal with your brother."
Yukiko shot up in a panic. {"Please don't! Don't hurt him! He's-"}
Grimmjow interrupted her by flipping their positions. "Just because you care about him doesn't mean he cares about. He broke your ribs, punched you in the face and tried to kidnap you. He doesn't care about you." He heavily emphasized his last sentence with slow drawn out words.
{"It's not his fault,"} she weakly responded. Grimmjow didn't acknowledge her words though; his eyes were locked on to hers, uncaring of her lips.
He sighed and rolled back over beside her. "If I kill him the Shinigami are basically guaranteed to invade Las Noches. So I punch the shit outta him and you can talk to him all you want when his legs are busted and he can't take you anywhere. Deal?"
She couldn't tell if it was a joke or serious statement. Yukiko wasn't ready for either version. She didn't need to respond at least since there was a knock on the door and the sound of someone speaking.
"Yeah," Grimmjow called out. Riverra reentered the room with Nui, far too quickly for them to have done any shopping. Nui's wallet should still be in Yukiko's bag but they suspiciously were carrying convenience store food without bags.
"Good to see you awake and okay Grimm. You are okay, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. You two are on baby sitting duty; don't take her out of the room. I'm going back sleep."
Nui settled on the floor and waved her to come over as she laid out a pile of food. Yukiko joined her but didn't feel hungry. She ate the random foods she was handed but continuously glanced back to Grimmjow the entire time.
()
Rin reclined on her daybed, staring at the mirror that showed her shikigami's sight. Mashiro has yet accomplished anything. Yukiko and Nui disappeared with the Hollow. She suspected they were hiding in Hueco Mundo but should they attempt to follow they would nearly be guaranteed to be faced with the full force of the evolved Hollows.
She was not yet ready to risk her primary forces. Not with the Shinigami aware that the Ametsuchi was active; she needed them ready should the Gotei send warriors.
She slowly stroked the Soul Bead at the center of her string of seven as she considered how they should proceed. Should she wait out the pair of traitors or back off to encourage their return to the open? Mashiro could not detect the stolen Soul Bead on Nui but Rin was unwilling to accept that it wasn't with her until she saw the woman and her belonging with her own eyes. If she didn't than they would get the location.
"You there," she called to the attendant stationed outside her door.
It slid open and a woman immediately bowed low into the floor. "Yes madame?"
"Bring me my pipe."
The attendant rose to her feet but kept her head bowed, never looking up from the floor. It was like this that she walked to the bourdier a mere two meters from Rin, collected her smoking case and approached the woman. The attendant returned to her knees and held the case up above her head.
Rin opened the case to remove her deep rich red pipe. She filled the bowel with her specialty blend of tobacco and herbs, not liking others touching her instrument, and lit it with the provided match. The box was closed and the attendant scurried away until she was far enough to stand while Rin inhaled the burning clippings, allowing the smoke to swirl in her lungs then exhale slowly. The slow relaxing effect of the smoke spread through her body, giving her a sense of euphoria as she stared at the ceiling. "Bring me my husband," she ordered the attendant before she reached the door.
The young woman bowed lower. "Yes madame."
After another long drag from her pipe Rin circled her finger over the surface of the mirror, connecting it further with the shikigami. She directed it to approach closer to her son who was looking through a store window. He noticed the owl and ran to somewhere more private.
"Mashiro."
"Yes Mother?"
"Recall your crows and wait quietly for their return. They are skittish mice, fearing you. Do not make yourself known."
"But then I can't follow them as closely," he attempted to reason.
"How closely are you following them in the Eternal Desert?"
He frowned and turned his head down in shame. She did not care.
"Do as you are told," she commanded and disconnected her mirror from her shikigami.
Rin reclined further into her day bed and enjoyed her pipe in silence. She would exhale smoke slowly and watch the way it circled in swirls until spreading too thin to see.
The sound of her door opening interrupted her.
She looked over and saw that her husband entered unannounced. Her eyes fell to the attendant who was bowed low again. She will have to reprimand her for not announcing the entrance beforehand. Her view of the woman was cut off by the closing of the door. "What do you want Rin?" Ibuki asked.
"Such abrasiveness. Did I do something to upset you husband?"
He took a deep breath. "Am I not supposed to be training the guard?"
"I am sure you are doing a wonderful job; as you do with all your tasks. Which is why I called you here." She turned to sit upright and face him; then extended out her bare foot. "I am in the mood to be serviced."
"Then call one of your boys. I am busy." When he tried to turn and walk away.
"Horin." Rin entrapped him with a rope of gold energy and pulled him to the floor before her. She lifted his chin with her previously offered foot. "What did I do to make my husband say such an awful thing?"
"Why is our son still away?"
"He has not completed his assignment. Like his father, he is committed to his goals. Is there something about such a mindset that displeases you?" She tapped out smoldering ash from her pipe on his shoulder.
"You know I don't like Mashiro out alone. It has been several days since he left. Order him back."
"I thought you wanted your daughter back immediately too. Both those things cannot happen. Mashiro stays until his task is complete or Yukiko does not return with him. Which do you prefer?" She narrowed her eyes, awaiting his response.
"Bring our son home."
Rin drew a glyph on her mirror in Reishi and reactivated its connection to her shikigami. It showed rapid movement as the owl returned to her son who was hunched over some random looking electronics. "Mashiro, I will be sending a replacement to your position. Standby until then."
"What? Mother, please let me finish what I started!" he sounded distraught.
"I'm sorry my son. Your father insists on it."
"Who cares?!" he was angry now.
"Your replacement will be there tomorrow. I will check in on you again shortly."
"Damn it," he continued to grumble while Rin ended the connection, smirking at Ibuki who glared back.
"Release my hands."
"You don't need them," she responded, further extending her leg along his face. Ibuki frowned displeased but gave in after a moment and kissed her ankle three times before slowly moving forward on his knees, towards her thighs.
They both stopped at the sudden appearance of a new, powerful Reiatsu. There was sprinting through the hallway and shouts of an intruder. Rin stood and released her Bakudo from her husband. He raced out of the room while the woman calmly walked, taking the time to leisurely put on her socks and sandals. She would allow the guards to handle the intruder but she still needed to see what it was. When she stepped through the manor entrance and stood beside her husband she was shocked to see a demon. It was a white skinned creature with black fur, wings and tail. There appeared to be a Hollow hole but no mask. It was also succeeding in avoiding and deflecting all arrows fired at it.
"Kido guard; Hado Form 38!" Ibuki commanded.
A row of fifteen priests stood at attention, focused their energy into their staffs before yelling. "Okasen!"
The numerous golden blasts twisted into each other like a dragon roaring after its prey. The demon raised its arm and at the last moment before contact released a blast of black-green energy, causing an intense explosion. When the smoke cleared the demon was freshly scuffed, bloodied and missing an arm. An arm that regrew as they watched.
The demon's eyes met Rin's and he held her stare. "Are you Rin?"
"I am." As she answered she motioned for all forces to stand down. "What do you want from me creature?"
It slowly drifted towards her, limbs completely lax at its sides. "My master wishes to speak to you."
After he spoke his tail lifted and snapped in the air, opening a Hollow's portal revealing a man in ratted, patchy clothes and an ugly display of coloring on his face. "Hello Amestuchi clan. I am Yato; the progenitor Hollow."
Rin's breath caught in her throat. She was unprepared for such an occurrence. How could the first Hollow even know her? She began focusing the power from her collection of Soul Beads, using their power to activate a barrier around the manor. Some of the guardsmen outside the barrier glanced back nervously.
"Your activities as of late have been causing disruption to my Hollows during a very significant time in our existence. I am requesting you remove your forces from Karakura and never enter my domain again. This will be the only time I ask."
"If I refuse? Just as you feel this is a significant time for you, it is for us too."
Yato sighed a deep breath, looking disappointed. "Consider this your final warning." At the end of his words the portal's jaw expanded and the view through it warped forward, as if the air was about to vomit. A deep boom of pressure released on her barrier and was followed by a chorus of screams morphing into roars. All of the men outside her protection had their bodies ripped apart as they morphed into monstrous looking Hollows.
Rin looked around, taking in the chaos before looking up at the source. The demon-Hollow had joined Yato within the other world. The original Hollow looked down at her with hard eyes and a deep frown. "If your warrior currently in Karakura is not removed by tonight, I will pay him a visit too."
Rin threw a paper doll, morphed into a white owl to chase through opening after the intruders. She felt it transcend the dimensions before mostly disappearing. The faint trace of energy was still there.
They were left to deal with the numerous Hollows attempting to break through her barrier. Rin looked to her husband. "Take the remaining guards and secure the followers. I will deal with these."
Ibuki nodded for the monks to follow him as they raced the long way around the creatures while Rin shucked off her heavy decorative haori and stepped down the first few stairs. There was an abandoned katana fallen on the stone. She kicked it into the face of one of the Hollows then swiftly followed it with a Shunpo, taking hold of the hilt and slicing through flesh until it was free. With simple dance-like steps, extended by a Shunpo at every movement, Rin passed through the crowd of roaring monsters, cutting away limbs and throats.
She again threw the katana, this time into the eye of a lunging Hollow. The group was completely fixated on her, shambling forward towards her. Rin focused her energy towards her arm, drawing on the additional power of the Soul Beads. "Hyoga Seiran," she declared with a swipe of her arm. Raging rushes of pure white ice formed from her hand, flooding the courtyard with volatile ice. The Hollows were completely engulfed and kept in frozen stasis. The Reishi generated ice will take several days to melt, the Hollows should die once it does. She will leave it.
The woman returned up the stairs, stepping on her now dirty haori, uninterested in it. Returned to her room, she found her pipe, still barely lit, and took another drag from it. Rin eased back into her daybed taking in the last of her tobacco and herbs. When it was done she returned to her mirror, activating the connection one last time.
()
As soon as he was told of the attack on Mayu-en, Mashiro packed up his new items and rushed to the first train that would return him north. The trip that felt all too short when he left now felt far too drawn out. He fidgeted, bounced his leg and picked at his thumb until it bled as the train moved. There was a groundskeeper from the temple waiting at the train station with a truck. Kaori, one of the few people at the compound allowed to get a drivers license.
"Take me home immediately," Mashiro ordered knowing full well that's why she was there.
"I can only drive the speed limit. I apologize."
Mashiro growled out a noise of aggravation and huffed back into his seat, arms crossed. He couldn't drive so there was nothing he could do about it. Once they left the paved road of the small town that the station was in, Kaori was able to drive a bit faster but the rough, rocky and grassy trail that served as the only road to the temple and surrounding compound limited how fast they could safely travel.
It was on this rough path that they circled the shallow mountain that protected their home and when the gate entrance was in view Mashiro clutched his heavy pack of clothes and new items. The truck was parked just within the gate, at the end of the road and he kicked the door open and ran out towards the manor; even using Shunpo to get there faster, despite his father always reminding him to be conservative with his spiritual energy.
It was there in the courtyard that he saw a glacial monument full of Hollows and his parents standing in front of it. "Mother! What happened?" he asked as he ran to her.
She took him in her arms with the undisguised love that he always strove to earn. "My sweet boy! I'm so happy you made it back safely. A monster, sent by Yukiko came. He turned our protectors into Hollows."
Mashiro pulled away from her slightly. "Sister? But that doesn't make any sense. How could she-"
"That wretch Nui. She has been corrupting her from the moment she took on her care. Nui didn't just take Yukiko away from us. She turned her wholly against us."
There was a quiet snort from his father that his mother quickly shut down with a glare. Mashiro walked away slowly, trying to process the idea Yukiko would want to hurt them. Leave them behind? Obviously. But kill them?
He looked up at the Hollowfied guardsmen. "How long until you can turn them back?"
"I cannot. The people were killed. Their dreams and mind; all of it was destroyed when they were transformed. These people. Our people will never recover from this attack." The boy stared up at what remains of so many people then looked around for an outlet. A rage boiled within him but was lidded by his mother. She wrapped her arms around him and a hand held his chin up to continue looking at the monstrous corpses. "Do not look away. Take in the extent of your sister's corruption, and further resolve to bring her home where she can be cleansed."
"You are NOT sending him back there! Not with Yato on the lookout for him!" his father finally felt like speaking. Mashiro hated it when his father fought his mother; he just could never seem to understand that his mother knew what was best.
"Of course not. Not directly. We will have to return to being indirect with Yukiko. For now; we must put all our efforts into finding where Nui is hiding. It is only a matter of time until she returns to the hole she is using. When she does, that is when we will make our next move." She removed her arms from him, and stroked the back of Mashiro's head. "For now, go along inside and rest. I am sure you are tired from all your work."
"Yes Mother," Mashiro nodded and started walking the long way around the ice. His father joined him though didn't say anything. The pair was completely silent until they reached the boy's room.
"Are you well?" Ibuki asked.
"Of course I am. I just ran into a Shinigami. It was nothing I couldn't handle; no matter what you think," he snapped back.
"Mashiro, please understand. It isn't a lack of faith in you. I worry that you will get hurt because I am your father. You shouldn't be thrown into our problems and battles. If your mother-" he stopped himself before he could said something that Mashiro suspected he would punch him for. "I wish your mother thought more of your safety than how she can use you."
"I will do my duty for our home. Our people. We aren't all cowards like you!"
Ibuki shook his head slightly but didn't retaliate. That was one admirable thing about his father, he didn't give much reaction to harsh words. "Did you get to see your sister?"
Mashiro grabbed the door but didn't close it, just picked at it with his nail, still weighed down by the way he acted towards her. "Yes."
"How did she seem?"
"I don't know. I only saw her after that Hollow finished his job," he defended from an accusation that didn't exist.
"Okay. It's okay. I was just wondering if she seemed… I was just wondering." Ibuki said as he turned away. "Get some rest. And bandage your hand so it doesn't become irritated; you've been picking at it again."
Mashiro hid his hands behind his back now, ashamed that his nervous habit was noticed, but once again reminded that this parent cared more for their emotions than duty. "Father. Sister seemed cozy; with that Hollow that Mother mentioned being in Karakura all the time. She seemed close to him."
He didn't turn back to face his son, but did speak again. "Maybe she was happy then."
Mashiro fully closed his door now and began pulling off the travel clothes he was wearing. He probably should bathe before getting changed but didn't want to take the effort. His head hurt and he was sleepy. Before he went to sleep though there was one thing he needed to do.
He opened the backpack and pulled out the magazine he picked up in Karakura, tucking it a loose panel in the way for safety. He could never be sure when someone was going to enter his room to clean. He also spread out the little cameras he picked up, hoping to use to place them in Yukiko's apartment for information. He tucked them into the wall hole with the magazine. It was a long tradition of minimal technology at Mayu-en. The elders were certain that moving away from traditional living dulls spiritual awareness. After seeing how few people outside his home had any viable power, Mashiro believed it. But sometimes technology could be helpful, so the cameras stayed.
He started picking at his palm again. Who was Yato? How could he invade Mayu-en? Even if he ignored today's events he still had to deal with the fact that Nui has been successfully evading them for years. They nearly had all the pieces in their hand but at the end of the day they were back to square one and it was frustrating.
"Maybe she was happy then." Mashiro considered his father's last words. What if Yukiko was indeed happy? Happy away from her home. Happy away from him. He wanted his sister back. But with how hard she fought him, how hard he hit her in his frustration, he could believe she was happier away from him. That hurt far more than any punishment from his mother.
A/N: no worries people. This is the last of the sad stuff for a while. Next chapter is going to be a return to the more wholesome life stuff.