Hello everyone :)
Guess what? We have Chapter XXVI
Disclaimer, reminder and warnings. Nothing new but… it needs to be written.
Friendly reminder: this story will be slightly AU and some characters might be OOC. For anyone who is not into YAOI, please do not read any further, this is not going to be your cup of tea :) Although, by now, I am sure most of you know what you're getting into x3
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters, they all belong to Tite Kubo-Sensei etc., etc.
WARNINGS: Spoiler alert for anyone who is not up to date with the manga and only watched the anime! Somewhere along the way might contain but is not limited to include dark themes, suicidal thoughts, heavy sexual contest, yaoi (again xD) and some other themes not suitable for under-age reader. Read at your own risk and discretion! :3
Yay! I'm back! Only for today though, as I managed to sneak out in port xD
Please enjoy! Not sure when I'll get the chance to get out again and post more chapters, but I'll do my best. Sheesh, who knew writing onboard would prove to be this difficult? But that is also why it's so cool and challenging x3
A big THANK YOU to Ish (Guest) and Semoni Soturi for the amazing reviews.
Chapter XXVI
Back at the laboratory, one Kaname Tousen, for a change, felt rage pouring from each crevice of his soul. True, at the beginning of their experimentation, they did not expect much from project 'White'. Despite everything, in the ended it had been successful, only to be ruined by a Quincy. A Quincy! Why was a Quincy there in the first place? They were supposed to be all wiped-out two hundred years ago! In an uncharacteristic display of overall frustration, he slammed both hands down on the nearest flat surface. In this case, an unfortunate diary atop the computer desk.
"Impossible! For it to self-destruct…that means it did not just undergo Hollowfication, but it actually achieved its final form. Yet, it was a failure and all because of that Quincy! To induce Hollowfication onto Shinigami was our original plan, but now it's all water under the bridge. What a fiasco."
Tousen tried to calm down, but all his efforts seemed in vain. The more control he attempted to regain, the more it escaped his grasp. Aizen decided to put the blind man at ease, by revealing his own view on the occurred incident.
"I disagree. Tousen, you always see the cup as half empty. We may have strayed from our initial objective. But at the same time, we could say we have exceeded and surpassed our first goal. An 'unexpected happening' means an occurrence 'we weren't able to predict'. The Hollow created from a dead Shinigami chose to target a living Quincy, its polar opposite… Don't you want to see how this story unfolds?"
Gin shivered at Aizen's expression; a combination of drugged, pleased and purely demonic. People normally said Gin's everlasting smirk was creepy, so under which category would Aizen's grin fall? He personally thought it was eerie, scary and most of all disturbing. Oh well, nothing he could do about it, but hope for the best and a chance getting the little gem before more innocent souls perished. Glancing at Tousen, he saw the sightless man actually felt better after hearing Aizen's words. Oh, well, what could he say? Those two deserved each other.
Shirosaki figured the best place to exit the Garganta was in the middle of the hedge maze. It was less conspicuous than in the open areas surrounding the demolished mansion. Ossan should be able to get them out of it and if not, they would Hirenkyaku and Shunpo away. Once out, he looked at Ossan, waiting for a reaction. Ossan merely raised an eyebrow, meaning he expected Shirosaki to lead the way.
Shirosaki internally scoffed, then jumped in the air trying to position himself. Thanks to the cloaks no one was even able to see them, so he was not worried. It was fortunate that they were not invisible to each other. That would have been a major pain in a certain spot. Especially with the cat lady. Although, he had to admit, she has been rather quiet. Well, all considered, she sure knows how to be comfortable. Her front paws laid on his right shoulder, her hind legs on his left, while the main body was on the back of his neck.
He took a deep breath and observed his surroundings. From this high up, even amid the dense darkness, locating the entrance to the forest was a piece of cake. He chose to be nice and inform the werecat what was about to happen.
"Just for your information, I'm about to use Shunpo. So, hold on tight kitty-cat."
Yoruichi was pleasantly surprised the Hollow deigned to alert her, not that she needed it, mind you, but it was gratifying all the same. Shirosaki did not need to tell Ossan, he could sense the older man was already behind him and ready to proceed. Thus, without further ado, he went ahead, leading the way.
Shirosaki landed easily at the forest's entry. They could continue with their fast movements, but that would only attract unwanted attention, especially if Soren was meeting with one or more individuals. That did not mean they were reduced to walking. Oh no sir, they went the old-fashioned way of speed walking and running. The dimness became only deeper the more they ventured forward. It was unsettling, to say the least, and it was difficult to navigate without hitting bushes or trees every two steps of their way. Thankfully, Shirosaki has remarkable photographic memory, so they avoided the majority of obstacles.
Though, it seemed that the closer they came to the hearth of the woodland, the area became brighter instead of darker. Having reached the opening, they saw stones circling a bush. It was obvious why it was lighter here, the bush in the middle of the opening, was emitting a frost blue light, but it did not feel cold. On the contrary, it was warm and welcoming. They were the first to arrive, which was perfect for the uninvited trio.
Shirosaki was confused. Last time he checked, bushes couldn't glow. Not to mention, when he was here, that bush was definitely not on fire nor was it radiating heat. Ossan could tell something was bothering his companion.
"What's the matter Shirosaki?"
Shirosaki re-composed himself and unsuccessfully tried to explain.
"Not… Well, it's just… A couple of days ago everything was different. Starting from the bush, it most certainly was not alight. Then the reiatsu on the stones was much older, it did not have this fresh feeling. Yet, it doesn't seem like this place has been used recently either. Back then, it felt as though not a single soul had come in the past decade or two. But here we are, and now I get the sensation that there had been a meeting roughly five or even less days ago. It's simply weird and unnatural."
Ossan smiled, aware the uplifting of his lips was concealed by the night. After all, his partner was rightfully confused.
"I am not surprised. This place is normally made for only Quincy meetings. The bush in the middle of the 'room' serves as an absorbent and liberator of sorts. During summits, it draws reiatsu in like a sponge. In doing so, it hides most traces of what goes on at the time. Prior to a new assembly, it starts pouring out the accumulated reiatsu giving light and warmth. By returning the absorbed reiatsu, we can get a feel of what was discussed during the last assembly."
Shirosaki had a puzzled expression, a rare sight to behold.
'Why in hell would anyone go through all the trouble?'
It seemed like Ossan easily read his unspoken question as he graced Shirosaki with a decent answer.
"Back then, you were not privy to our meetings, therefore I know this is all new to you. You see, we did this and much more against conspirators and spies. If one cannot figure out when the get-together started or ended, they would end up with little to no information. It was also useful to have a quick reminder of previous activities and discussions."
Shirosaki rolled his eyes. 'Quincy and their secrecy. Everything they do is inevitably shrouded in mystery or something alike.' He wondered when he would learn not to get shocked by these situations.
Shirosaki opened his mouth, ready to cuss at Quincies in general and their idiotic customs, but suddenly kept quiet. His sensitive ears caught the sound of light rustling. Somebody was coming. Thankfully, there was no need to enlighten either Ossan or Yoruichi. Yoruichi herself had heard the same noise, while Ossan merely took Shirosaki's abrupt silence as an obvious sign.
A tall figure clad in a long black satin cloak with long sleeves and a hood seems to be their first visitor. The raven black mantle is large and wobbly, perfectly concealing any distinguishable features. The persons' hands are covered by black leather gloves and, if you pay close attention, you can catch a glimpse of black shoes and tight trousers underneath the swaying material.
Any hopes of seeing the person's face are prevented by a dark wine-colored mask. There are no lips or nose, just a bulge ascertaining that the unknown one possesses said organs. The eye openings are enclosed by a black fabric. The fabric is probably made in such a fashion that hides the wearer's eyes from outsider's views, but allows the user to see where he or she is going. The only decoration is the pearly-white trim on the mask's sides. A most bizarre and unusual guise.
And yet, Shirosaki was fighting hard not to jump at the individual. The man may be able to cover his appearances, but he sucked at disguising his reiatsu.
'There can be no mistakes, that is Soren! If there were any doubts, they're all washed away now. I wonder who he works with. This should be interesting, even though I wish I could just end him right here, right now. But then, we wouldn't know who his followers are nor his plans. There is a chance he may have saved some of his memories or powers around. If that is the case, we should spy on him and destroy anything that could be used in his next reincarnation. Not that I see him being reincarnated again. Oh, no. This time, when he dies, it will be permanent. I'll make sure of that.'
Those thoughts along with the promise to behave, kept Shirosaki's temper at bay. Undoubtedly, there would be other occasions and opportunities to dismember the accursed bloke. Just the mere prospect was enough to make Shirosaki smile.
To his left, Ossan kept a close eye on the Hollow. He was certain, Shirosaki would control himself. However, he did learn the hard way that it was better to be safe rather than sorry whenever the younger man was involved. He also realized they were a bit too close for comfort to the 'seats'. In case that someone came, they could end up bumping into one another and raise suspicions. Hence, he tapped twice on Shirosaki's shoulder to gain his attention. Once the Hollow looked his way, he motioned for the other to walk behind him. The central area was their best choice. It would allow them to hear and see everything. Shirosaki nodded and the two moved as silently as possible to their new designed spot.
Soren arrived at the gravels, mentally still debating if it had been smart to arrange two meetings in one night. He was to have a quick assembly with his Quincy associates, succeeded by a reunion with the Shinigami. Yet, even now, he was wondering if it was a good call. Not that there was time for second guessing, as the first group was about to arrive. He frowned at the seven stone pieces from his previous assemblies with the Quincy. He had six Quincies on his side, but eight Shinigami. I he was to include himself, the seven gravels were precisely the number he required, however for the following meeting he was missing two more.
Nevertheless, he had anticipated the minor inconvenience. From his left inner pocket, he took out a small black cube which he promptly threw to the ground. The moment the little item touched the ground it erupted and was replaced by two more rocks. Though, he saw them as mini-pedestals. Using his reiatsu, he placed them around the bush along with the previous seven. He knew by experience that there would be no hearing issues during the gathering. The center-piece was useful and tactfully made, allowing everyone to hear what was being talked about, no matter the distance, as long as the seats were synchronized by the same reiatsu. In this case, he used his own. After the meeting, his signature would disappear as it would be absorbed by the ever-useful glowing bush.
He loathed to admit it out loud, but Quincies sure had some interesting and extremely useful artifacts. The fact that the Emperor himself had created and designed most relics, spoke volumes on its own. Every now and then, a genius was born among the Quincy. That person was always especially chosen and selected by the King who assigned him or her as the Head Scientist. Still, most ideas came directly from the Quincy Sovereign, the little virtuosos were tasked to make his projects reality. Even nowadays, Soren could get stupefied by the technologically advancement of the peculiar race.
'Amazing what you can do with a touch of reiatsu. Shinigami do have Kido, but nothing really compares to the technology the Quincy possess.'
His musing was disrupted by low-pitched swooshing sounds.
'Ah, I guess everyone is about to arrive. This should be interesting. I'll consider it a great success if the meeting ends with no casualties. How did I end up with this peculiar group again?'
He barely finished that thought when he noticed the first group approached and right right on time. Unsurprisingly, Quincies were uptight and particularly keen on punctuality. The odd group of six consisted of: Hubert, Driscoll Berci, PePe Waccabrada, Giselle Gewelle, Berenice Gabrielli and Jerome Guizbatt.
For whichever reason, Hubert did not have a last name. Soren never cared to know how come or why. Among the six, Hubert was also the only Sternritter without a Schrift*. Still, the youngster was indispensable and irreplaceable. Hubert was and continues to be the Vice-captain of the Sternritter, right under Haschwalth.
Hubert is a young man with a somewhat feminine face. He has short black hair, parted to the left side, thin eyebrows and prominent lower eyelashes. He wears a white military cap with three 3-branched star emblems, a white military uniform with a black tie, a waist-length ashen-gray cape pinned to his shoulders by two silver pins that were connected with a silver string across his chest, white pants held up by a thick black belt, and black dress shoes with white heels and toes.
Driscoll Berci on the other hand is a broad, towering individual, standing at almost twice the height of an average person. He has black hair which extends downwards to form a chinstrap beard, dark charcoal gray eyes with no eyebrows. As most Sternritters, he wears a long-sleeved shirt, with the addition of a white cravat and the usual white pants. Completing his looks are the black shoes and tekkō*-like bands worn on his hands, which encircle his knuckles and feature the Wandenreich insignia at either end.
Next is the shortest member of the group, PePe Waccabrada, a large, obese, brown-skinned man with dark fingernails and a long, white beard that forms an upside-down V shape. He is bald and is never seen without his pair of dark sunglasses. His black and white shoes are pointed at their tips. He wears a white sleeveless shirt, golden armbands, a long white cape with the Wandenreich emblem on the back and white pants. In Soren's opinion, PePe was one of the most disturbing Sternritter he had ever encountered in both his current and previous life. What with his appearances and 'love' obsession. Oh, not to forget the floating dome-shaped beige basket that is his mode of transportation and the creepy staff. The staff also known as 'Beshanul' or even as the 'Love Staff' is a coiled, caduceus-like staff. The top is adorned with a large, wide-open eye with long eyelashes and small, spread wings on either side of the eye.
Yet another sinister individual was close behind PePe. Giselle Gewelle. The girl has blue eyes and long, black hair extending down to her lower back, with two strands sticking up like antennae in the middle of her scalp. Her attire is once again white. 'The hell was wrong with Quincy and white?' Anyway, she wears a knee-long trench coat with long sleeves, white shoes, and black leggings. On the right side of her head stood a small white cap, which features a black peak and the Wandenreich insignia emblazoned on its front and a blue heart buckle on her waist. Her attire, attitude and mannerism were more than enough to give him chills. Well, along with the fact that he was still debating whether the girl was truly female or a male in disguise. Yep, just looking at him/her was sufficient to give him nightmares for the next couple of days.
At last, following behind Giselle, came the most normal looking person of the entire crowd. Berenice Gabrielli is a relatively slender female. Her hair is mostly short and pink, but the right side of her bangs are longer and, of all colors, purple. Her fingernails are painted and each bears a dark diagonal line. She also wears dark eye shadow. She wears a long hooded-cloak, a trench coat both items opened at the front revealing the shirt underneath, long loose trousers held by a belt, low heel shoes and a bolo tie encircling her neck. Everything on her is white at the exception of the belt and the tie which were both midnight blue.
Last, but not least was an enormous male going by the name of Jerome Guizbatt. Jerome is larger and much more muscular than regular humans. He has brown skin, black hair arranged into cornrows, pronounced upper-canines, sharpened fingernails, and patches of dark hair along his forearms and fingers. Just looking at him made you wonder if the man was a man or a beast. His numerous ape-like characteristics and antics could really blow your mind away. If it was not because of his characteristics or physique, his Quincy Schrift would certainly make you think again. Not anyone was granted with the Schrift 'R' for 'The Roar'.
The unruly group sat in their usual spots with Huber at the center and the others just sitting around him in a semi-circle. Soren was about to take his place at the opposite end, when Hubert made his first comment.
"Soren-sama, if I may, how come there are two additional…ahem… seats?"
Beneath his mask, Soren had a small smirk in place. Figures that Hubert would be the only one to notice additional rocks. None of the others saw the minor discrepancy, judging by their surprised expressions. Not being bothered in the least, Soren leisurely sat and made himself as comfortable as possible before deigning the other with an answer.
"It is quite simple, Hubert. I was hoping by now there would be a few additions to our numbers. Alas, I see the recruiting within our ranks is not going as smoothly as you anticipated."
The effeminate man could not hide his irritation from his superior. In all honesty, Hubert did not foresee so many complications. Really, he had high hopes everyone in Wandenreich would have jumped at the opportunity to serve under Soren-sama seeing as he was the reincarnation of Lady Masaki's beloved husband and the Denka's father. It upset him to no end that they could have been free a long time ago had they simply appointed the Regent as the man in charge.
To Hubert's left, Driscoll along with PePe and Berenice smirked at their Vice-captain's predicament. The male may be their Vice-captain on a regular basis, but here with Soren-sama, titles meant nothing. Power was the only scale of measurement and in this case among the six, Driscoll was by far the strongest, if one did not count Soren-sama.
Soren had, indeed proven his strength to each and every one of the individually prior to enlisting them as his personal elite forces. While most Quincies were loyal to the King, he found minor faults and a healthy dose of greed within the hearts of those present before him.
Driscoll had been the easiest to get under his wing. Soren merely defeated the larger male in a one-on-one battle and promised more bloodshed in the future. Yes, the overgrown man had shown a high desire to overpower and annihilate his opponents, which was contributed to his unique Schrift 'The Overkill'. By destroying his 'prey' he gained power, each new kill only further heightened his might.
He acquired Jerome in a similar fashion. The gorilla was not a man of many words, complimented by a nearly non-existent brain. Thanks to his animalistic drives, he was easily won over. By triumphing over the beast, Soren gained the position of 'Alpha Pack Leader'.
Berenice had displayed her skills as 'The Question' to the maximum. She had not been an easy target. Her constant babbling and infliction of 'doubts' had given him quite the challenge. Yet, her ability was canceled if the auditor could not hear. Placing a customized mask, he was able to clearly listen to anything the girl said, but without being affected by the 'self-doubt' reishi infused in her speech. The mask provided protection against the ill intention and showed the female he had no doubts regarding his cause which instantly brought her to his ranks.
Giselle had been the weirdest one. The runt somehow got wind of his intentions and made his…her intentions clear from the beginning. She desired the other female Sternritter within Wandenreich all to herself. The deal, naturally, was still in progress. Giselle would dedicate herself to any and all his whims until he became the new Sovereign. Once he became the new Quincy King, it was Soren's job to put the girls under his…her supervision. A simple, yet annoying task in Soren's opinion. Oh well, sometimes you just had to take what you could get without making too much of a fuss. The agreement was a better decision than to let him…her run to Haschwalth or others to tell-tale on his plans.
PePe on the other hand, had been the most revolting of all. The guy was so in love with himself that it was disgusting. Had it not been for the stupid one-eye stick, he would have never considered to make an effort at acquiring the fatty male. If Soren could get the staff and assure it would work even without PePe, he would have probably killed the overbearing man a long time ago. Regrettably that was not the case. Soren ended up striking a bargain with the shady character. PePe would be his mole and spy on all the happenings within Silbern and Wandenreich and in turn, once elected as the Monarch, Soren would make him into a Lord, provide PePe with a large estate filled to the brim with females and males alike who would worship the group PePe walked. Thankfully, Soren was to just provide with the unfortunate victims and not worry about the adoration factor as PePe would see to that part himself.
Just reminiscing about those episodes at attaining dependable troops made him slightly sick to the stomach. And then, there was Hubert, the crown jewel of his current crew. Hubert had a bone to pick with Bazzard Black from the time the hot-headed male was but a child along with Haschwalth. Surprisingly, Hubert only desired vengeance against Bazzard and had absolutely no animosity against the blonde child who overtook his position. Honestly, Soren presumed someone like Hubert would have been outraged to have his status degraded by a little kid. Yet, Hubert had not been too affronted at having been degraded in hierarchy. But, could not let Bazzard off the hook for insulting him in front of the Emperor centuries ago. That had been an interesting revelation. Soren assured he would give him Bazzard on a silver plate, if Hubert was to work for him. Even then, Hubert had been hesitant. In the end, Soren had to make a blood oath that he would bring Bazzard to his knees, hand him over to Hubert to do whatever he wished to the unruly male and that no harm would befall Haschwalth at any point prior, during or after he fully took over the Quincy race. Hubert in turn, vowed to get more subordinates and assist Soren in his quest.
Let's just say that Hubert had been the first one he got and it was thanks to him that he had five more people within small division. Therefore, it was only fair to alleviate the burden from his shoulders.
"Nonetheless, you provided great insight and your prowess from past and present times make you a valuable and indispensable member."
Raising his head to look at the complete set, Soren spoke up even louder.
"I have called forth this meeting to discuss recent events. As you are all fully aware, we have failed in capturing the reincarnation of Lady Masaki. Driscoll, Jerome and Berenice I confess, I am disappointed. How did you manage to obliterate each and every soul within the mansion and still failed to apprehend a mere child?"
Soren was pleased to see Berenice and Driscoll fidget in their seats. He had no delusions about getting a rouse from Jerome. The brute had been ordered to terminate everyone in his path at the exception of females and had performed wonderfully. The girl had been entrusted to the other two, therefore it was their fiasco and they were full aware of it. Satisfied, Soren continued.
"However, you did an exceptional job in eviscerating the entire manor along with any and all witnesses, thus I shall overlook this minor inconvenience. We have spent a lot of time trying to capture her on our own, now we are reduced to chasing her along with the entire Wandenreich. It was not in our agreement, though we may have more success this way. Onto the next topic. Since the moment Haschwalth distributed you all over the globe, have you noticed any sings of the girl or her whereabouts?"
He received a unison negative answer to his question to which he let out a loud sigh.
"Then, has any one of you felt anything suspicious or unnatural in the past few days?"
Everyone, besides Jerome, immediately immersed in their own minds, trying to remember anything that may have been weird. After roughly seven minutes, most seemed indifferent. Only Hubert and PePe had brought up their own ideas with Hubert taking the lead.
"There have been strange activities around Bazzard Black. Ever since he was sent to investigate an unusual reading in a city in the Living World, there have been irregularities around the same area. There have been reports about Hollows and Shinigami obliterating each other in fights, a powerful Hollow who came out of nowhere, but strong enough to bring two Shinigami down in seconds and then disappearing without a trace. Next, the same unknown Hollow has been reported to have returned just a little while ago. The latest news stating that a Shinigami-Taichou finally defeated the out of control monstrosity. I find it alarming that all these occurrences have been resurfacing within the same perimeters. Basically in between two cities."
Soren nodded his head and proceeded to share his information with the rest.
"I am glad you brought this subject up. As a matter of fact, I have personally investigated the situation. There will be no need to concern ourselves with this particular zone. I am sure we can expect even more irregularities due to the simple fact that the jureichi is being established as we speak. It is a fairly common and natural change which occurs every now and then, bringing forth a lot of reiatsu and reishi commotion in the World of the Living. Therefore, please disregard any uncommon circumstances pertaining to the towns of Karakura and Narukishi in Japan."
In Soren's books, this particular discussion was over, as he was eager to hear what PePe had in mind. But Hubert was not fully sated and continued the same conversation.
"Soren-sama, pardon me, but why are we not to pay extra attention to these sites? A remarkable Hollow coming and going should not be left to roam freely. Well, not that it still lives, but I am concerned since a Taichou level Shinigami was sent to the Human World. Is it wise to disregard such an even so easily?"
Soren was getting peeved. He had no intentions of explaining what the jureichi was or why it was affecting the Living World the way it did. Yet another reason why he so desired Haschwalth and his intelligence. Besides, if he said to ignore something, he expected the rest to blindly obey.
"Hubert, I agree that none of the aforementioned are common situations. Still, I do not wish to repeat myself. I have conducted a thorough investigation. We can expect even more startling readings within the mentioned area. As far as for the Hollow's presence, you could say it was a failed experiment. The Sōtaichō must have felt the need to remove the threat immediately, which explains the presence of a Taichou. These incidents would have happened no matter who we might have sent to check them up and will re-occur every so often. I can assure you, they have nothing to do with Bazzard's involvement. Do you have any more inquiries?"
Hubert swallowed his pride and just shook his head in the negative. He was not convinced, but had no intentions of arguing further. He would keep a close eye on Bazzard out of his own free will.
PePe was next and the chubby male grinned widely before bringing forth his staff. The eye at the top sparkled a few times before finally keeping steadily bright. PePe pointed the light at the nearest tree, creating a make-shift screen. Soon a disheveled Haschwalth with a dirty uniform was shown and Soren felt disenchanted. He had hoped for any juicy details, but he was already familiar with this case. Haschwalth had gone training and had been called to the throne room. True to his memory, the unkempt Haschwalth disappeared behind the heavy doors.
"If I am not mistaken, this was taken a few days ago."
PePe eagerly nodded his head and Soren spent several minutes accounting for Haschwalth's state of dress at that particular time which earned him a round of loud laughter from the bigger males and a few giggles from Berenice and Giselle the wannabe female. Honestly, how could he rise to his destined position, if most of his followers were idiots and gossipers? He exhaled loudly once again.
"Anything else?"
Receiving no further comments, he proceeded to give assignments to his affiliates.
"Right. Jerome, keep up the good work and act as natural as possible. Berenice and Driscoll, I want you two to redeem yourselves by finding Lady Masaki before anyone else. No excuses and you better not fail this time around. Hubert and Giselle, I want you two to continue prodding other Sternritters. Try and see who would be willing to join us. You all know what is all at stake: freedom, glory and power. Hubert, as per our previous conversation a couple of days ago, please do try and see what can be done in regards to Haschwalth. You are all dismissed. All, except you PePe. There is something I want to discuss with you."
The dismissed ones were extremely content the assembly ended this soon. Usually, Soren would drive them all up a wall and torment them with prolonged requests and stories which accompanied his demands. It was refreshing to see him getting straight to the point. Though they all had their own agenda and reasons to follow him, it was better than doing nearly nothing and waiting for a King who might or might not return.
The stagnant, stationary air in Wandenreich made Driscoll's and Jerome's blood boil. They were brutes who enjoyed fights to the death. In their opinion, spars were for children. Berenice was avoided by most people due to her talkative nature and her power to induce self-doubt in anything and anyone who came within hearing distance. She really enjoyed making other's miserable, never regretting her choices. The fact that Soren-sama was able to listen to her and be immune was another beneficial factor. Hubert, Giselle and PePe had something to gain and therefore put the most effort.
Once everyone had gone. Soren, who never once moved from his spot, motioned for PePe to come closer. The male nearly jumped out of his basket in joy. He was thrilled whenever he was specially selected out of the group, it made him feel important and loved. Ever since the Emperor had been sealed, there had been no action and no chances to get those tingly sensations he yearned for, no enemy to capture or conquer which in turn meant not possibility to be adored. Haschwalth kept them all under control and strictly forbade arguments between Sternritters. Emperor Bach had been the same. Any inner-fights were severely punished.
The obese man floated next to Soren, eagerly awaiting instructions. He hoped he would be granted the use of his powers on an unsuspecting soul or maybe two or maybe more. He was brought back from his vivid imagination, by Soren's hushed voice.
"PePe, I do have a special task for you. I praise you for your keen eyes and the way you have been monitoring Haschwalth without being seen. I am more than confident your special ability will be the key to our success."
Soren took a quick pause, letting the male bask in the glow of his words. At times he forgot how easy it was to manipulate the repulsive creature. An approval here and a few compliments there and PePe turned to mush. It was all about dosing the other man just right, not too much but enough to make him want o do anything for his next fix.
"Now, I am well aware you spied on my conversation with Hubert a while ago. Though, I did ask for privacy, I feel… no, PePe… I know I could not possibly keep anything secret from you for long."
Oh, yes. PePe was relishing and savoring each syllable Soren uttered. To the one bestowed with the Schrift 'The Love', Soren's words were smooth and sweet like honey. He proceeded with the same silken voice.
"So, you know Hubert is to get Haschwalth to our side, yes?"
Having received several nods in the positive, Soren continued.
"Then you know we need him for his influence and reputation. If we can coax Haschwalth into our group, everything you have dreamt of will become true. I can already see it now, a castle in the distance, full of beauties ready to serve you, overwhelmed by the love only you can provide them with. Won't you do us all a favor? Keep your eyes on Hubert and Haschwalth. If you see Hubert will fail, use the greatest and most unique power to have ever been given to a Sternritter. Use your 'Love' on Haschwalth and make him submit to us. What do you say? Won't you do it for all of us? For the future? For Love?"
The perverted man nodded in agreement and joy at being given such a wonderful task. He had longed to test his skills on the most powerful Sternritter for a long time and this was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to all that Love can overcome any obstacles in the pursuit of a goal. And what better way to prove his beliefs than to have the Grandmaster head-over-heals madly in love with his pure body?
By the starry-eyed expression on the others face, Soren knew PePe was hooked. He dismissed the overexcited man to his devices, while preparing for his upcoming meeting with the Shinigami. Never again would he have two gatherings on the same night, it was too nerve-wracking.
Shirosaki, Ossan and Yoruichi overheard the entire conversation, along with Urahara and Tessai. Ossan made a mental note to up-date Haschwalth with all the details and names. It took a lot of effort for him not to step out of the concealing cloak. Never had he anticipated for Hubert to switch sides. Perhaps the youngster persistently held onto his grudge against Bazzard and Haschwalth? He would have to get to the bottom of this mystery.
He somehow could see the other five joining Soren. From all he saw, it took little to no effort to employ Berenice, Driscoll and Jerome. Most likely, the three challenged Soren with their abilities, lost and therefore pledged loyalty to the stronger being. Giselle had been a surprise as well as PePe. Though, he had the inkling those two must have been bought one way or another. Considering the quiet chat between PePe and Soren, he had nearly no doubts that was the case.
At the very least, they now knew for sure that Karakura and Narukishi would be left alone and unperturbed for a while. That was a huge relief to both Shirosaki and Ossan. It meant Masaki could live a somewhat normal life. Ossan was certain Soken would properly heal Masaki's wound. Although, she could not be seen as a pure-blood anymore, she was still a Kurosaki descendant, which kept her status high enough to warrant protection.
The trio remained silent and unmoving, waiting patiently for the moment when Soren would be gone. For some reason, it appeared Soren had no desire to leave anytime soon. Shortly, they found out why.
Looking forward to any and all criticism.
Wow, it took me forever to write this one down. Sorry everyone. I know it's shorter than my previous chapters, but it really is a big challenge to work and write on-board. There is always something going on xD
My poor Muse has been all over me, making me change the story so many times… teasing me and demanding deviations on every occasion. So, to prevent any more variations, I just had to post at least this part. There is more coming up (hopefully) soon.
*Schrift* = German for script, scripture, writing. The Sternritter were created when the members drank a bit of Juhabach's blood, which enables the Emperor to carve a part of his soul into the Sternritter. The incision takes on the form of a letter, which is used as the designation of the Sternritter. This also grants their unique powers. Upon the character's death, the part of Juhabach's soul they received is returned to the King, who gains his strength back as well as additional power from the deceased disciple.
*Tekkō* = in Japanese it literally means 'iron' and/or 'armor'. They originated in Okinawa, Japan and fall into the category of a "fist-load weapon". By definition, a fist-load weapon increases the mass of the hand so that, given the physical proportionality between the fist's momentum and its mass, it increases the force the bearer can deliver. Some fist-load weapons may also serve, in the same manner, as the guard on a sword, to protect the structure of the bearer's hand.
Reminders: English is still not my mother language. So, if I made any mistakes or any errors, please let me know. I am the writer and the spellcheck person all in one, not an easy job. I know this is getting old. But better safe than sorry xD
Wishing everyone an amazing day/night :D