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Bleach: ZX Advent (Commy, Palaios [since he's joined], & me)

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Tentou looked at the new were tiger that stood before her. Smirking she laughed some, "You want to strike me down in one hit? ...hm, let me do something." She smirked as she chipped off an entire piece of her mask as it dissolved and suddenly her pressure exploded as her body began to mutate some with some scales on her body that were shown as well as her face turning draconic. Her eyes were shaped more of a dragon, as well as her pressure adapting something of a flame to it. The flames swirled around her as her scythe grew spike out the backside, while the entire blade was replaced by roaring flames. Her hair flowed more and more now. Her teeth now resembled that of a dragon as she was a step away from her wings from showing. "Hm, a final attack? I guess...though I won't have a chance to show my true form. Whatever, since you want to leave it to one attack, I will make it the most deadly one you have been through. Of course Aizen didn't want me to kill you, so either way I don't care to not be mean toward you or Nel. I just want to hurt you. I don't care about her! She just stands up for you but you are a Shinigami. Like those Shinigami in our area you are like them! You deserve to die!", She said as she smirked again laughing hard as she held her scythe out. The flames shooting outward, though maybe some singed here or there from the flames, but nothing damaging.
 
Daisuke stopped for a moment, hands at his sides, as he looked upon the situation with confusion. What the hell? I was fighting here. And damn that guy had some thick skin. I'll need to ease up on him less. Daisuke smirked to himself at that thought. He'd hoped that by holding back a notch he could extend the fight and make it interesting, but now it looked like he wouldn't have to. "Grimmjow man, deal with her. I think you wanted to anyways, and I'm not done with that Nnoitera guy," before he could let Grimmjow response, he dashed off in the direction Nnoitera was kicked towards.

----------

Jin nodded back to the arrancar, paying respect back to a person who had been decent enough to offer respect of his own. It is good to see that not all these people are battle-hungry monsters with ill-regards for their foe, Jin noted, I should report my assessment of all that I have met with when I manage to get back to the Soul Society. Pulling himself from his thoughts, Jin looked up the path he had been heading and down the path Barragan had just now taken. It's likely he's not involved in this current play, as he surely would've done something if he was. That being said, it's likely he's going somewhere else, so I should stay in this same tunnel. With any luck, I'll come to an intersection where the three paths recombine, and be able to follow one of them back to help the others. I should go after Minna. I felt her reiatsu flare up earlier, but its down now. I can barely sense it, and that's not good. With his focus in mind, Jin started back up, moving as fast as he could down the tunnel.
 
Inwardly, Koichi smiled, seeing a side to Tentou that he had to admit he admired. His eyes carried a sense of true happiness as he settled into a position that was similar, if not identical, to Harribel's fighting stance. He leaned forward as he spoke, holding his pose at an angle that signified his eagerness to strike.

"Well, this is an interesting turn of events. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that this was your Resurrecion form."

He prepared for his strike, having no regrets about this fight, except maybe for having a feminine form in his first Resurreccion state. He closed his eyes, and his reishi levels began to skyrocket as he focused only on his blade and his opponent. When he re-opened his eyes, they seemed to glow intensely, and his reishi flowed freely from him and his weapon, seemingly encasing him in a pillar of midnight blue flames. He took a moment to whisper something to his blade that was indiscernable, then he vanished, a shockwave of sound resonating as he moved in for the final blow.

-----

Grimmjow spat on the ground to his side, not really caring whether or not Daisuke went after Nnoitora. He stabbed his blade into the ground as he gave a rather annoyed glare towards Shana.

"You know, even though I should kill you for ruining my entertainment, you ain't worth killing."

[color=CC99CC]"N-not worth killing? What the fuck kind of nonsense is that? We both know that we've both killed others that were weaker than me for lesser things. Now draw your da-"[/color]

Shana's voice was cut short by one thing. Grimmjow had grown tired of her and had shoved his hand through her chest, piercing her lung, since her Hollow hole had been where her heart should have been.

"I guess you talk too much. Anyways, I think I'll change my mind about you. I'll have my fun, then kill ya. That Shinigami can handle his own." Grimmjow said, running a finger across Shana's cheek.

What he had planned for her, not even he knew. He was just making it up as he went along...

-----

Before Nnoitora could be followed, a young man who appeared in his early twenty's appeared before Daisuke. He wore an eyepatch over his right eye and had a turquoise marking on his right cheek, curving downwards towards the jawline. His mask fragments resembled a headband with the teeth in the center of his forehead hanging downwards. He held up a blade that resembled a rapier with a chakram embedded into the hilt an dsmall spikes protruding from the hand guard. He held the tip of the blade aimed at the Shinigami.

"Shinigami-San, my name is Tesla, and I must ask that you continue no further. Aizen-Sama had sent that woman to interfere because Nnoitora-Sama is needed elsewhere."

-----

Sensing that Jin was behind him still, Barragon snapped his fingers once, and a man who looked like a Native American with red tribal tattoos spread upon his torso. His mask took the form of a hawk-skull helmet with a tooth-covered section circling across half his cheek on either side.

"Barragon-Ou-Sama told me to escort you to your waiting place, Shinigami. Follow me." He said, walking down a side tunnel that would have otherwise gone unseen by outsiders.

This Fraccion, who identified himself as Avirama Redder, led Jin down a rather short hallway, as opposed to the length of the halls he'd previously exited, then pointed to what a[[eared to be a hotel-style lobby, complete with a five star continental breakfast spread. There was even a fresh pot of coffee for those who drank it.

Sitting on a couch and munching on a giant 'Texas' doughnut, was Neliel. Starrk stood near the coffee pot, calmly sipping the dark liquidated caffeine.

"This is where I'll leave you. Later."
 


Tentou smirked, "Correction this is just a part of it. However due to the final strike agreement I won't release it all, I am afraid I might start collapsing the tower around us." She said as she noticed him disappear she smirked, the smile grew to a larger and more blood thristy one as she started at a walk. Mouthing her move that she was going to use, while she spoke softly she ran faster and suddenly she vanished. She increased pace toward him as her scythe now burned with raging flames, they danced on the ground that flew by her at increadiable speed. Suddenly a second blade shot out from the bottom of her scythe. The second blade just as long as the first as she began to spin them. Knowing her target was closing in, feeling him upon her she began to spin her twin scythe increadiably fast back and forth. It was building up for the final strike with him, her eyes glowing brightly for the white of his eyes.
 
Jin looked at the food, then to Neliel and Starrk. "Am I to just sit here while my teammates fend for their lives. I have felt their reiatsu rise and fall, and know they have found combat. It worries me that I cannot sense one of them anymore. You cannot think that I will be able to maintain myself here, do you?" His lines were directed at Starrk, although he didn't know the name or rank of this man he stared at. All he knew was that between Nel and this other man, it was likely that he help more power than her, as she continued to tread dangerous close to betraying the Arrancars considering her relationship with Koichi.

----------

Daisuke stopped, again, to stare at his opponent, before cocking his head to one side. "Huh, why does everyone get in my way? I wanna fight a guy, he wants to fight me, we start duking it out, and now this! Damn, I hate interruptions. In fact," Daisuke threw out his right fist, "I'm gonna let you know why they call me pierce, and it ain't cause of my shikai." Retracting his blade, Daisuke stepped back and focused for a split second before launching forward, powering himself to massive speeds using shunpo before stopping directly before the fraccion. Planting both feet, Daisuke pivoted, driving his fist in the arrancar with power enough to shatter houses within the Soul Society...in a single hit.
 
Starrk sighed. He hadn't expected Jin to arrive alone.

"I honestly didn't expect you to arrive here alone, Shinigami." Starrk said, pointing down a tunnel to Jin's right. "I at least expected the woman to be with you. As for Nelliiel's lover, he is almost done with his battle, and I believe that the battle-crazed assassin who travels with you is going to be joining us shortly."

Nel simply looked at Jin, eyes wide with interest, since he'd arrived before any of the others. She stood up and bowed, out of courtesy, and spoke gently, since she was truly worried.

"Shinigami-San, would you like anything to drink? Nel can get it for you..." she said.

It was clear from the teasrs that threatened to cascade down her face that she was worried about Jin's companions, but all the more about Koichi, whose reiatsu had just flared up in a fashion similar to a shinigami's Bankai, but darker. Starrk, however, set his now empty cup on the counter near the built-in sink and took a single blackberry scone for himself and sitting on the couch.

"Might as well have a seat, Shinigami. Aizen-Sama is going to arrive here once the boy and the assassin show up and tell ya what to do then."

-----

Tesla was sent careening through the air, crashing through a stone pillar and landing somewhere in the white sands within the (seemingly) sun-lit dome. Nnoitora was nowhere to be seen, though. But before Tesla could respond, a dark skinned woman with a rather revealing outfit arrived before Daisuke. Her arms were crossed under her chest, and the neck of her coat covered up the lower half of her face. The number '3' was tattooed on the inside curvature of her right breast, and she carried a sword much like Cloud's Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7 on her back sideways. When she spoke, her voice was rather calm, but alluring.

"Shinigami-Kun, I must ask you to cease your battle and follow me. Aizen-Sama is going to meet with you and your companions shortly. Will you come, or shall I be needing to use force?" she said, giving him a look that carried a sense of compassion that resembled that of Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division, the Shinigmai's medic team.

-----

Koichi sped forward after Tentou's speech, focusing his all into his weapon, preparing to strike at her weapon arm at the shoulder, thus disarming her hopefully. As he swung his blade, he felt it connect with Tentou's arm, but he also felt a blade take a slice of his left leg. However, since he didn't want her to complain about him and Nel, he refused to use his blade as a cane. Instead, he managed to make reishi threads that were thin enough to be invisible that snaked down his leg from his waist, keeping him upright.

"So...you got me, Tentou-San...but I refuse...I refuse to lose." he said, clenching his teeth as he spoke so as not to bite his tongue.

He hoped his lover was not being detained by anyone, and wondered how Daisuke and the others were. He'd felt Minna's reishi vanish a while back, after flaring up slightly, but he didn't have any immediate concern for anyone but himself and Nel. As he tried to stay on his feet, he thought back to the night before all this trouble started, before he'd been mutated into an Arrancar...

-----

FLASHBACK

"Koichi-Kun, why so blue?" Nel asked, wearing nothing but a simple bath towel.

Koichi sat on the bed they shared, but not shared and faked a smile, even though he'd know she would see through the ruse.

"Well, Mother and Father suggested I take the test to become Vice-Captain of my Division, but Yachiru-Chan wouldn't like me if I tried to compete with her." he said laying on his back and staring at the reversed sky that hung above Hueco Mundo.

Nel opened her towel and laid beside him, draping the fabric over his bare chest as well as hers.

"If you're so worried, let me help you relax, Koichi-Kun." she said, her voice soft as a whisper.

She slid her hand down his torso, trailing her fingers along his toned muscles, stopping at the waist line of his pants, giving a soft, innocent giggle as she did.

"Alright, my love."

Koichi kissed her lips and slid a hand around her hips, pulling her closer. He had planned on making love to her that night, since it signified the three year anniversary of their love.

END FLASHBACK

-----

Koichi smiled as he remembered that night.

-----

Aizen watched the viewscreens from the comfort of his recliner. He took a sip of chardonnay as he kept a relatively high interest in Tentou's fight with Yoruichi's child. Aizen had been surprised at the cat-boy's first Ressureccion form, finding the female appearance quite cute and having saved the image for blackmail later, and now he was surprised further at the boy's second form, as well as his bet with Tentou and his usage of a Quincy technique, Ransotengai, in a desperate attempt to win his bet.

'That was a rather cute form he had earlier, wouldn't you say, Ririnette?" Aizen asked of Starrk's Fraccion, who'd been ordered to stay with Aizen.

The small-framed blonde Fraccion scoffed at Aizen's words. Although the very scantily clad girl didn't want to admit it, she'd ended up infatuated by that feminine form that the neko had taken. She blushed as Aizen gave her a look that meant he'd figured it out. Something that not even Starrk had learned was that Ririnette was lesbian, and Koichi's Ressureccion had made her see the neko in a different light.

Aizen ignored her silence and continued to watch the monitors. When he caught sight of Grimmjow fighting with the Privaron Espada, Shana Oestrenburg - Number 102 by the way - he smiled. He'd sent her there himself to distract the Jaguar King and pull Daisuke towards the waiting room, where he saw Starrk, Nel, and Jin already waiting.

"Well, I suppose it's time to start walking towards my meeting. Ulquiorra, please come along. And Ririnette, please keep a close eye on Miss Inoue. I don't want that girl getting too close to the Hougyoku, understand? When I return, you may visit Nelliel and Koichi in their quarters. I believe you expressed interest in joining them this evening?"

Ulquiorra followed Aizen out of the room and down the hall as Ririnette stared at the monitor with Koichi pictured on it.
 

Teentou felt a strike on her arm which made her drop her scythe for a second as she struggled to get it. When she had it in her hands she shifted her eyes toward Koichi which had said she had got him. "You won't lose? Well, in that case..", She readied up for another strike but felt her arm give a little since she had been hit there she didn't know what he had done. Flinching some she kept her weapon at the ready. "Why...aren't you trying to kill me? I am an arrencar! You are a shinigami! I know you conspire with them and I know why you are here now!", She yelled out as a growl formed deep in her throat. "You want to see the destruction of Aizen's army and to the end to us as a threat! Why are you not trying to KILL ME!", She let on more yelling into the shinigami's direction. Her pressure was flowing as she hadn't used her other arm to carry her scythe. Her eyes scanned it for a moment when a thought popped into her head. What if she used her other arm to use it against him and finally win? Though Koichi said that he got hit but then said he wouldn't lose...Then Aizen's orders hadn't been furfilled yet. She needed to make him beg and be on the ground to please Aizen and then possibly be the 5th Espada. She was going to make it to the top possibly knocking off Starrk.
 
Jin sighed, looking at Nel as tears threatened to rise up. Oy, I should settle down. I'm still ready for combat, even though its obviously not necessary anymore. Calm down, Jin. Now is the time to return to not caring. Scratching the back of his head, Jin turned so that he stopped staring. "I guess," he mumbled, "I am to ready to fight. I'll blame it managing Daisuke." Moving towards the nearest seat, Jin seemed ready to sit down when a thought occurred to him. "Say, Arrancar, I'm curious. Why didn't you mention my female subordinate?"

---------

Daisuke sighed an seemed ready to comment, when something occurred to him. "Wait a minute, companions? As is both of em are gonna be waiting. Guess I better hurry up before Minna gets it in her head to hit me over the head again or something."
 
"I failed to mention her because I can no longer sense her. I know not of her fate, regrettably." Starrk said, as Nel handed Jin a cup of coffee.

Nel sat next to Jin, seeming to keep herself composed, but as soon as Starrk left the room, she buried her face into Jin's shoulder, throwing her arms around his neck and cried openly, as if she'd been trying to not cry since being forcibly separated from the one she lo ed but could no longer hide her sadness.

"Nelliel ochikomu desu. Watashi yoku watashi no saiai Koichi-Kun!!" she sobbed, almost mincing her words as she spoke. it was obvious how worried she was, but Starrk had paused just out of sight behind the doorway. Even he knew how clingy Nel had become, but he couldn't figure out a way to comfort her.

'Nelliel Tu Oderschvank, you must learn that a small separation such as this is sometimes required. The boy is fighting for your honor, and for your heart. I only pray you realize this quickly,' Starrk thought. Then he left silently

-----

Harribel held out her right hand, as if offering to be a crutch.

"Shinigami-Kun, let me aide you. It seems your attack on Nnoitora's Fraccion injured your side. I'm surprised you're still standing with a gash like that." she said, referring to the large spot of blood she saw on Daisuke's shihakushou that seemed to be getting larger. The air also carried the scent of fresh blood.

-----

A young Chinese-looking female entered the room that Gin was in. She had a shirt that had sleeves so long that although she constantly covered her mouth with her right hand, there was still at least a foot of fabric hanging down. She also had three or four red dots trailing down from her right eye. When she spoke, her voice seemed like that of an upperclass woman.

"Ichimaru-Dono, why do you have a Shinigami woman laying there?" Sun-Sun asked. "That is something I'd expect from Tosen-San or Grimmjow-Kun, but not from you..."

Sun-Sun had come to Gin's lab on a whim, and Harribel's orders. Sun-Sun was one of Harribel's three Fraccion, plus she was curious.

-----

Koichi smiled softly.

"I refuse to take your life because you are a worthy rival and a great fighter. Plus, there aren't any girls in my Division besides our Vice-Captain, and she doesn't really fight anyways. You see, I like to fight strong opponents, and I don't care if my foe is a guy or a girl, Shinigami, Human, or Arrancar. If they can fight, and they want to spar with me, then I'll have fun. I only kill in battle when I am left with no other option, or when the life of someone precious to me is in danger of being lost." he said, obviously straining to stay on his feet.

He was suddenly surrounded by black flames, and when they died down again, he'd reverted to his form from before releasing his sword, although his hair was let down, since the ribbon that had held it up had been destroyed by his foe's scythe. With his hair down, and since he'd also acquired the same tribal tattoos of his father upon his face and back, he now seemed a replica of his father, Renji.

"And I always abhor the idea of harming a woman, even if said woman wants to kill me. And I must say, off the record, you look very pretty right now, Tentou-Chan. Koichi said, using 'chan' with her name for the first time, signifying that he'd come to recognize her as a true warrior.
 

Tentou looked incensed she looked him in the eye, "I am an Arrencar...though you have transformed into something that I have had fought to achieve it is something I will never accept you as." She shot back at him as she tried to look at the hand she now held her weapon in. She couldn't figure out why she didn't try to make her weapon ambidextrous or so she could use it with both hands. Her eyes moved about the room as she looked at the target but her eyes narrowed as he had taken out most of her offensive ability besides her ceros if she tried. However he didn't seemed to have a lot left to attack with.

Her eyes spotted that she was whobbling some as she smirked, "So I did hit you....Aizen...this isn't going anywhere..." She said softly outloud as if he stood there right behind her and she let her anger go as her power flowed out of her. Her arm was disabled and Koichi was wounded and for some reason her wound had disabled him. Her scythe reverted back and suddenly the features disappeared from her face and body. Her body reverted and so did her emotions, they revereted back to basically a calm. "Now....Mr. Shinigami...I wonder what we are going to do now...I could continue this fight. I could try to fight you...but with my other hand I might end up killing myself since I don't know it that well.", She said as she smirked. ~I need more power to beat Koichi but I know now I have enough to cripple him. All I need now is more to kill him.~ She thought as she looked around and she could feel presence of somebody watching.
 
"Oh, it's you," Gin noted. "quit judging me. I am...testing something. Little Koichi's trick to survive has interested me, and I need to find out something. But you don't need to know, so good-bye."

-----------

Daisuke looked down, then said something that was sure to make several people blush. Crap, I probably actually got that when I dove into the fold of that bug guy's blade. I suppose straining myself like that probably ripped it open more. "Awww crap," he mumbled, settling himself down to the ground with a hand at his side, "gimme a moment...uh, whoever you are. I'll be good in a second." Taking off his overshirt, he wrapped it around his body tight, covering the wound and doing his best to keep it from bleeding anymore. It should work, for the time being. I ought to get that fixed up as soon as I can. Don't need to go around making a mess. "Alright, uh...Espada chick, let's go."

-----------

Jin tilted his head, looking down at the person buried in his shoulder. Several moments passed as she babbled on, and he considered how to respond. "Nelliel," he finally spoke, pushing her away to stare her in the eye, "you need to calm down. I know you are worried about Koichi, but trust me when I saw that he can handle himself. In fact, if my limited view of this matter is any indicator, you should be the first to believe that. For you see, if you lose faith, he will lose faith. You two seem quite very much together, and when people achieve that connection, it is best for them to support each other, regardless of the odds. It is that belief in one another that will help them change those odds, and beat them."
 
Sun-Sun frowned as Gin closed the door in her face, but she simply walked off, wondering what he meant by Koichi's 'trick'.

-----

Harribel took Daisuke and walked him towards the lobby, which took a lot less time than getting to his fight. When she and Daisuke entered the room, Nel glanced over from where she was holding onto Jin, blushing crimson.

"Ha-Harribel-Sama...i-it's n-not what it looks like...I swear!" Nel said, trying to hid behind Jin, as if the Shinigami would be enough of a wall to hide her embarrassment from the woman who shared the same position as Nel, Tercero Espada.

Harribel only closed her eyes and sighed.

"Shinigami-San, please tend to your comrade's wound. Nnoitora's blade is not known for clean cuts." the dark-skinned Espada said, totally ignoring the aqua-green haired girl. With that, Harribel helped Daisuke over to the couch, then left with a sonic boom as the sonido sounded her departure.

Nel, once Harribel had left, peeked out from behind Jin at Daisuke, suddenly looking twice as embarrassed than before.

"Um...Dai-Kun...i-it may sound disturbing, but....my um....my vomit has healing abilities..." she said. "It's clear, at least, so...."

-----

Koichi couldn't maintain the Ransotengai any longer, and he instinctively plunged the tip of his katana into the ground for stability, even though he knew it meant he'd lost his bet.

"Well, since it looks like neither of us can continue, what's say we call it a draw and move on? I know Nel-Chama's probably worried herself to tears about me having to fight you, and I want to let her know I'm fine..." he said, smiling despite the pain in his leg.

He tried to recall a fight as thrilling as this, and the only fights he could think of where his battles with Kurosaki Ichigo, his own Captain, Zaraki Kenpachi, and fighting his father Abarai Renji. When he compared the look in Tenntou's eyes with those of his favorite rivals, he fell to his back, his innocent laughter echoing through the chamber.

"That was too much fun! We gotta spar again sometime, just for the hell of it. Whaddaya say, huh?" he asked. He never admitted it until now, but he'd wanted to spar with her as much as he wanted to spar with Starrk, and that fiery and passionate determination of midnight coursed through him, manifesting as a lilac-violet glow in his golden eyes.
 

Tenntou stood there and frowned, "Koichi...when I face you again...you will die...or I will...if we are to fight. ...I...need more power and I need to control myself. Aizen was right...I have figured it out. Now, excuse me...I need to ..." She turned and then turned back around looking at him again, "...I sense a large amount of pressure from the main lobby. I wonder if there is a meeting. Don't you feel it Koichi?" The fist time that Tenntou hadn't used his name in anger. But unknown to him she still hated him and would love to see his broken dead body. Her voice was lax and it was laid back as almost as if she had gotten high or just was in a euphoria. "I think Aizen has something planned...", She said softly as she headed toward the entrance she came in.

Her eyes again drifted back to him, "Come...I have a feeling something is going to happen." She said with a apathetic voice. Her pink eyes drifted over his, as they were just rock hard and cold. She didn't have a lot of emotions except anger, hate, and sadness. Though who knew what else she would experience. It was her trying to make herself unreadable as well as discover herself which she was still in the process of doing.
 
Daisuke sat down, trying not to flinch as pain flared up in his side. Dammit, I really did hurt myself. Gotta be a little careful next time. Well, maybe a little... Nel's comment about her vomit caught his attention, causing him to drop that line of thought. "Healing...vomit? That like...the sickest thing I have ever heard." Daisuke sat there for several moments, simply staring at her. Whether he was having trouble processing what she said or how to react was anyone's guess, but eventually he suddenly broke into big grin and shouted, "Cool! Hit me with it!"

Jin turned away in disgust, shaking his head at Daisuke's comment. Distracting himself from the idea of Neliel vomitting on his subordinate, Jin's thoughts turned to the current situation. I can sense several powers converging on this point. Aizen, Koichi, his opponent, and more. It seems something important shall happen soon. I can only hope that it will bring about a chance for us to leave this place. Still, I need to find Minna before that can happen. Why is it that I cannot sense her anywhere? Is it possible that she died? Shaking his head, Jin resolved himself. No, I will not accept that yet.
 
Koichi nodded and followed Tenntou, even though he was aware that something was going on. He matched his stride with hers for a moment, then seemingly vanished. That is, until there was a midnight blue cat sitting on Tenntou's shoulder, as a parrot would be for a pirate.

"This should make us get there faster, right, Tenntou-Channya?" he said, mewing at the end.

-----

Nel was so stunned at Daisuke's reaction that she reflexively changed into her child form.

"You sure about dat? Nell-Chan ain't respondable if her vomit stains your clothes or skin, ya know." she said, pulling Daisuke's shirt up to reveal the wound, which was a short, but deep, gash.

As she put her hand in her mouth to force the gag reflex to make her puke, a reishi that was all too familiar to them started coming closer, and just as Nel's vomit touched Daisuke's wound, Aizen walked in the room, Ulquiorra at his coattails. Aside from them, there was also a giant of a man who had a tan just as dark as Koichi's, but the top of his head had several bumps, and a skeletal jaw was covering the lower portion of his jaw. The number '10' was clearly tattooed on his left shoulder and visible as the man had no shirt on. However, there were also stitches circling his right bicep, which to the untrained eye would be simple decoration.

It was the giant who spoke first, effectively announcing the group's arrival.

"The runt ain't here, and that lizard bitch ain't here either! Now what?"

"Calm yourself, Yammi. All it means is that we must wait here until Tenntou and Yoruichi's little hellspawn of a child arrive. Why not have some coffee while we wait?" Aizen said, pouring himself a cup of the bitter black liquid and taking a seat on the empty couch next to Jin, who the traitor instantly recognized. "So, Hinseihito-San, how have you been? Not hiding a Vice-Captain title behind that shinai of a shikai, are you?" he asked in sport.

Ulquiorra simply ignored the coffee and took a single bagel instead. He stayed quiet, content with watching things unfurl.

-----

The door to Gin's little 'lab' swung open with a slight creak, and a very obviously upset Ririnette poked her head in.

"Ichimaru-San? Starrk told me to help you, but I can leave if ya don't want any help. Personally, though, I think I could have some fun helping ya." she said, catching the scent of a knock-out potion. She didn't see what was behind him clearly, but she saw a Zanpakutou laying on the table next to him, unsheathed, as if someone had been tinkering with it.
 

Tenntou looked at him and then ahead as she felt a similar presence. "Aizen is waiting for us ...", She said softly as she stepped into the main lobby finally noticing everybody was there and knew that Koichi would be tackled by Nel. Her eyes focused on the man having coffee right now with a couple of her other comrades standing next to him. Her eyes searched for a reason or something to define this meeting of enemy and friend. To define why they were here and why Aizen did this but she couldn't find anything all she could do was wait for the man to speak as she stepped in more she just watched them all not caring if she stood or sat. Her eyes scanned over the Shinigami that had been taken 'prisoner' she thought it was ruse.

Tenntou looked at Koichi, "You better get off of my shoulder...your ...lover will be tackling me along with you to get at you. So please flutter down to being your...self." She said reluctantly as she went over to Ulquiorra though not uber close but close enough. Her eyes looked over at him and then back at the rest of the occupants in the room.
 
Jin stared at Aizen for a moment, contemplating whether he really should converse with the traitor. Finally sensing that it'd be more troublesome to not converse, Jin crossed him arms and grudgingly conversed. "No, I am not a vice-captain. The role is too...troublesome for me at the moment. And anything else, I do not deserve it anyways."

Daisuke, who had been using the shirt he'd bandaged himself with to now wipe off the vomit, didn't spare the same tack that Jin offered. "Oy, prick. What the hell's going on here?"

---------------

"Oh, it's you," Gin mused, "I have no need for your assistance. And quit eyeing her sword. I'm detailing an analysis of it for study later on. It'll be interesting...afterwards."
 
The giant grabbed Daisuke by the neck and pinned him to teh wall.

"Watch your tongue around Aizen-Sama, you Shinigami wretch!!"

"Yammi, please release him." Aizen said, his voice carrying the threat of unishment for disobedience.

Yammi reluctantly let go of his captive, then stood off to the side, as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Koichi had returned to his usual form and was currently grabbing himself a doughnut. Nel went to stand by her lover, and since she was in her child form, she had merely clung to the fabric of his shihakushou leggings instead of glomping him.

Aizen turned to look at the rest of the little gathering, then took a sip of his coffee. When he set his cup on the table, he smirked.

"Now that everyone is here, I'll start. Gin and I were testing you, mainly to see who could prove to be useful to us sometime down the road." he said, clasping his hands together. "As you Shinigami may or may not have guessed, it was I who brought you here.It is by my will alone that you all arrived here unharmed. I'm also quite impressed with the battles I saw, as was Gin."

"Then where the hell is Minna-Chan?!" Koichi asked. Aizen answered the boy with a disdainful frown.

"That is none of your concern, Cat-Spawn." Aizen said, obviously having severe conflict with the boy.

Before Aizen could continue, or Koichi could respond to Aizen's hate-filled name, Grimmjow burst into the room, smelling slightly of burnt fur.

"Hey, Aizen! What the hell did you do to that German chick? I liked her!"

"Gin has her, Grimmjow. And unless you wish to join the body count, I suggest you silence your tongue and have a seat."
 

Tenntou looked about the room as Aizen spoke. ~Hm, I wonder what he has in mind for us all...testing us? Must be the reason why he set my fight up with the cat spawn~ She thought as she loved the new nickname for Koichi. Tenntou looked over at the others and then sighed softly as she held her scythe there quietly. She acted nothing like she did before and just stood there before as if Koichi was just somebody she met and didn't even know he was a shinigami.
 
Daisuke rubbed his neck, grinning with a fierce look in his eye at Yammy. "Heh, nice grip. What'dya say we take this discussion out back and let the grown-ups talk?"

"Daisuke," Jin muttered sternly, "silence." Turning his attention back to Aizen, Jin stood up and crossed his arms. "So you've been...testing...us? While I'm certain that the idea has not only crossed your mind, but also been discarded, but what should occur if we decide we don't want to prove useful to you? I would actually rather you return my subordinate and send us on our way. Perhaps then I won't do something stupid and render myself completely useless to you." As if to emphasize his last point, Jin's hand came down to a rest upon the hilt. This is a complete mess, Jin thought to himself, but I cannot allow my uncertainty to show now. I have to find a way out of this situation with everyone intact. Dammit, I could really use some deus ex machina now.
 
Aizen gave Daisuke a simple glance that meant nobody was to fight within the 'lobby', then turned towards Jin again.

"I'm sorry, Hinseihito-San, but I can't release her. Gin wants to play 'mad doctor' for a change."

Koichi gnashed his teeth at that comment. He'd expected something strange, but Gin acting like Kurotsuchi?! It was just too much.

"You BASTARD!!!" he said, his eyes turning pure black with golden irises. His mask suddenly formed on his face, and his voice began to warble as he spoke, with a certain bloodlust that made Nel cling to Daisuke in fear, burying her face into his gut. "Abrazar mi corazón..."

"I don't think so, Kit." Aizen said. He placed his hand on the blade of Koichi's weapon, and the blade split into two blades, the hilt and tsuba splitting down the middle as well.

At this, Ulquiorra grabbed the boy by the tail and threw him against the wall so hard that Koichi spat blood, a rib having pierced his right lung. He placed a finger at the boy's throat, pressing just enough to draw blood.

"You dare raise your hand against Aizen-Sama? He did not come to fight you, bastard child, but to send you back."

"That's quite enough, Ulquiorra." Aizen said. He continued as Ulquiorra let the boy down and Nel ran to his side. "Now, as Ulquiorra said, I have indeed come to send the rest of you back to the Seireitei. Now, if you would kindly step into the Garganta, it'll transport you to the Rukongai, about three blocks from the South Gate and Jidanbo."

Aizen held out his left hand, and a section of the air next to him tore open, as if a mouth had bitten down, then opened up, revealing a black tunnel to what seemed like nowhere. Koichi slowly limped towards the garganta, glad for an excuse to return home, and not once glancing back at the traitorous Ex-Captain. However, he did pause before entering the Garganta to cough up some more blood. Nel hesitated before the black maw in the air, but before she could turn away, Koichi grabbed her wrist, his eyes begging her to stay with him.

Grimmjow, on the other hand, grabbed Daisuke and Jin by their collars and started to carry them towards the injured cat-boy.

"You know, the Kit need some serious doctoring." he said. Then, he lowered his voice and added to Jin, "I'll keep an eye and ear out for the Chick. I have to stay here, anyways."

-----

"Well, if you say so. But before I go, can I ask you something, Ichimaru-San? About the kitten-boy?" Ririnette asked, wondering why the room suddenly felt so deathly empty.

-----

Meanwhile, in Karakura (wow, somewhere other than Hueco Mundo and Las Noches!)...

A dark-skinned woman felt a sudden twinge of fear. She looked up at the blonde shopkeep who sat across from her. Her golden eyes betrayed the worry in her heart.

"Kisuke, my boy's in trouble. I can feel it in my heart."

"I can sense a Garganta within the Rukongai, too. Should we go see what's happening, Yoruichi-San?"

Without another word, Urahara Kisuke and Shihouin Yoruichi stepped into a small gate that Urahara had built, taking them to the Rukongai, where surprisingly enough, they met a familiar face.

"Hat'n'Clogs? Yoruichi-San? What brings you here?"

"If you must know, Ichigo, there's a Garganta starting to open nearby. I think my son's hurt pretty badly, too."

As Yoruichi explained what she'd felt, the sky right next to them tore itself open, but any reishi that had been leaking was suddenly camouflaged to the point of non-existence.

-----

"Oh, and by the way, before you go, Hinseihito-San, why don't you look out the window? I'm sure you might see something you recognize." Aizen said as he pointed to a small gurney being carried out of teh building by two low-ranked arrancar.

Koichi glanced over his shoulder and saw a woman's arm, clothed in a shinigami's shihakushou. however, instead of reacting, he dropped to the ground, coughing up more blood.

"KOICHI-KUN!!!" she cried, trying to catch him before he fell face first into the floor.

His mask fell off, shattering upon contact with the hard stone floor, leaving the jaw fragment behind. Koichi glanced up towards Daisuke, as if to ask his friend and former Division teammate to help him walk. Then, without warning, Koichi passed out from the combined pain of his rib and the wound he'd recieved from Tenntou earlier.

Nel tried to catch him, but her child form wasn't anywhere near strong enough to hold him up, and when she switched to her adult form, she held Koichi as if he was her child.

"If you guys are going back, then I'm going too! I am NOT going to leave Koitsy-Kun in this condition!"

With those words, Nel picked up her lover and started walking into the Garganta, not taking another second to look back and see if anybody was following her. The slight breeze within the dark causeway made her emerald green hair sway slightly, revealing a large '3' tattooed on her back, not to mention making the 'skirt' portion of her torn cloak rise enough to show of her jet black panties, but only for a split second.
 

Tenntou looked at this whole situation laughing somewhat when Koichi was hurt. She didn't have the lust to kill him at the moment but pain was good enough to satisfy her. "Well, ...I wonder why is Aizen letting them go?", She asked as she looked at Ulquiorra her mouth agape as she turned her head to watch them leave. "This, ...I wasn't expsecting this.", She said softly as she bit her lip looking up at Aizen though she respected him due to rank she felt his methods rather distasteful. Tenntou also noticed that there was a body on the gurney and blinked, "...is that?..." She eyed the body for a moment and sighed. ~This isn't making sense at all...what the hell are they doing? Aizen...did you go insane last time you enlisted me into the Espada?~ She thought as she looked at him then allowing her eyes to wonder.
 
Jin looked to the gurney, then threw a hand on Daisuke's shoulder before he could react. "No," Jin murmured, "not yet. Help Koichi now. We'll help her later on. Or avenge her."

Daisuke nodded, mumbled something about Aizen's heritage, then lifted Kochi and headed through the garganta. Jin stood there for a moment longer, his hand still resting on the hilt of Shizuka Hayashi. I wonder if I should loose my restraints. I wouldn't be able to take out Aizen, but I'm certain I could handle several of these subordinates. That big one seems all muscle, no brains. The quiet one doesn't fool me; he'd be tough to deal with. It's obvious the lady who fought Koichi is no pushover. Jin turned to look out the garganta, watching as Daisuke and Neliel hefted Koichi away. No, not yet. We must be stronger. "I would be warned, Aizen-sama," Jin commented, a smirk coming to his lips as he reflected upon a time when he respected Aizen, "that Daisuke does not take well to threats, and I do not like seeing my subordinates hurt."

Jin turned and started towards the garganta, but stopped before actually stepping through it. "And one last thought. I said I was not worthy of vice-captain," Jin reminisced, closing his eyes as he released his restraints. "I was only telling half the truth," he muttered as his reishi exploded, revealing the true depths of his power. He'd held it down this whole time, and for good reason. He did not like revealing his power, as it drew unnecessary attention. It was the same reason he chose a fourth seat position. It was open, and taking it didn't make a big deal of anything.

But at that instant, Jin didn't care about whether he would attract annoying amounts of attention or not. All he cared was to get a message across to Aizen, and his subordinates as well. Jin was not going to let this lie. He would see them pay.

A smirk on his lips as he turned away, Jin couldn't help but wave as he left, knowing his message would be at least felt among Aizen's subordinates. In the last second before he stepped through the garganta, Jin restrained his power, still firmly holding to the idea of not letting his allies know about the extents of his powers. Only Captain Kurotsuchi and Lieutenant Kurotsuchi knew that much, and he liked it that way.
 
Unbeknownst to the departing Shinigami and even to most of the Arrancar in the room, there was another who had been watching the meeting unfold with no small amount of interest. An Arrancar known by few and trusted by even fewer. He stood silently with his back to a wall away from the gathering, his arms crossed sternly over his chest and shadows partially hiding him from obvious sight. He also kept the presence of his reishi mostly hidden, although more out of an act of polite courtesy rather than for spying.

His name was Dietor Ziesel. And he was the deadliest and most skilled assassin Hueco Mundo had ever seen.

If the Ten Espada were seen as Aizen's ten swords, then Dietor Ziesel was the cloaked dagger. The invisible blade that killed from behind rather than fought from the front. He was the executioner of treasonous Arrancar, the silent enforcer of the laws governing Las Noches, and Aizen's secret weapon against those who would dare to usurp him.

But in the eyes of the Espada, Dietor was simply nothing more than Ulquiorra Schiffer's rarely seen Fracción. Only Ulquiorra himself knew of Dietor's true role in Las Noches.

A narrowing of green eyes was the only sign he gave as the Shinigami vanished into the Garganta. He was clad in the attire of the Arrancar that consisted of white shihakushou leggings, a matching long jacket hanging just below his hips with the collar upturned, black gloves with the fingers missing, and black boots typical to almost every Arrancar. A black longsleeved shirt that fit snugly beneath the jacket completed the ensemble. His tousled hair was short and black and the remnant of a Hollow Mask completely covered the lower half of his face. It was little more than a plain facemask similar to a shinobi's in shape, but with a simple pattern of embossed fangs designed to make it resemble the open mouth of a snarling beast.

As the Garganta finally closed and sealed the void between Seireitei and Las Noches, Dietor flickered his gaze between Aizen and Kaname Tousen. He knew better than to try and fathom the minds of those two men, but the idea of simply releasing the Shinigami like that had even stirred his curiosity. And Dietor was almost never motivated enough to feel that particular emotion, being the cerebral and content soldier that he was.

But even so, Dietor guessed that the reason why Aizen had specifically requested Ulquiorra to bring his "unofficial Fracción" along to this meeting had something to do with this moment right here. And until either Aizen or Ulquiorra saw reason to acknowledge his presence here in front of the others, Dietor would remain silent and unseen as he had always done. It was simply his way. It was better to let others wonder if you're a fool rather than to open your mouth and prove them right.
 
Once the Garganta closed, Aizen glanced towards the shadows to his right.

"Dietor, Ulquiorra, I want you two to locate Harribel, Barragon and Starrk, then gather in the North Tower by Noon tomorrow. I have something that I must announce to my top four Espada, and their Fraccion. In the meantime, however," he added, turning to look at Tenntou. "Tenntou, I want you to find Shana and train with her. I saw some potential for a position within the top five from you earlier, and I want you to push yourself until you leave me in awe. Have I made myself clear?" he said.

His eyes seemed to glow as he spoke.

-----

Inside the Garganta, Koichi had passed out due to a combination of loss of blood and the pain.Nel, though, held him close, as if holding an injured child. Keeping her eyes forward and maintaining the walkway by herself, Nel's voice came soft at first, being almost completely swallowed up in the darkness.

"Why...why is Koichi-Kun liked by noone in Hueco Mundo except me and Grimmjow-Kun...Why does Tenntou-Sama hate him so much...It wasn't his choice to be born like this, nor was it his choice to be....be attacked like that by Shana-Sama's Fraccion...so why?"

At the sound of her voice, Koichi unconsciously shifted in her arms, his tail falling limp along her leg as he lay there unconscious.

-----

After Yoruichi and Urahara explained their thoughts, Ichigo had ran towards the Seireitei, heading straight for Division 4's barracks, knowing that if they were returning from Hueco Mundo, at least one person was going to need medical assistance. He only prayed that nobody had been killed or left behind.
 
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