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

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Tenntou looked over at Aizen, "Of course...I will train more to achieve my new rank." She said her intentions shadowed by the words she had given to Aizen. Tenntou instinctively moved toward the entrance and headed out to find Shana to train with her. If this was a promotion in a easy training and to increase her power she would love it. ~Shana...I need to find you~ Tenntou thought slowly as she passed through the same chamber even if Aizen didn't fully acknowledge her leaving. She would have her training becoming stronger, that she would be able to topple Aizen someday.
 
Jin stepped out of the garganta, noting the crowd that had gathered around it in. It made sense since they were so close Seireitei. Turning to Daisuke, he motioned towards Koichi. "See to it that he gets proper attention, and then get yourself checked out as well. It looks minor, so you should be ready by tomorrow night."

"Why, Jin?" Daisuke asked, "what are we going to do tomorrow night?"

"The same thing we'll be doing every night for some time to come. Try to take you up a notch."

"Say what?"

"I mean," Jin explained, "you're going to begin a new training regime I've designed based on something of of Urahara's work. It's designed to speed up your progress, without risking your health as much as his original designs."

Daisuke grinned. "Yes, sir," he chuckled.
 
"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."

"Hai... Aizen-sama." responded Ulquiorra quietly. He bowed lightly at the waist, placing one fist over a shoulder, before he rose and walked towards the door where Dietor stood watching nearby. As always, he had spoken with little to no emotion present upon his melancholic features, a trait that often made him seem more akin to a brooding doll than one of the Espada's Top Four.

But beneath that eerily calm exterior lurked a monster who followed Aizen with a nearly single-minded purpse. He cared naught for mercy. And he cared even less for weakness. This was a wellknown fact among the other Espada, as well as the other "trash" Arrancar who did their best to avoid Ulquiorra's gaze.

Dietor, on the other hand, was a bit more pragmatic than that. He held a fair amount of respect for Aizen, but that was far as his admiration for the man extended. Whereas Ulquiorra served Aizen out of a nearly blind devotion to him, Dietor did it simply because it was his job to do so. The personal code of conduct he carried forbid him to do anything less. And Dietor was nothing if not possessing an exceptionally strong work ethic, especially in his rather secretive line of work.

The only response the masked Arrancar gave to Aizen was a small but polite nod before he followed Ulquiorra out the door, keeping a respectful step or two behind from the Cuatro Espada. Their relationship as an Espada and Fracción may have been a fraud, but appearances still needed to be kept for the benefit of the others. As well as for Aizen's own purposes.

The pair had walked a short distance in relative silence before Dietor spoke first. But only when he was sure that the two of them were far enough away from prying ears. "It is rare for Aizen-san to call upon the both of us at any one time. What do you suppose is on his mind?" he inquired, his words carrying a professional tone that painted them as equals. And for all intents and purposes, that was exactly the case.

"You know the answer as well as I." Ulquiorra deadpanned to Dietor. "Either Aizen-sama is planning for something beyond the ordinary to happen... Or one of the Top Four has been branded as a traitor and needs to be executed. Either way, you are to perform your duties without hesitation as you've always had."

Dietor seemed to consider Ulquiorra's words carefully as they walked. If there was one thing to be said about Dietor, despite how the Cuarto Espada thought how he should do his job, it was that he made it a habit to consider all of the angles to any given situation. No matter how improbable they seemed. "Well... Based on the obvious thus far, Barragon seems to be the most likely suspect if the second option holds true. He fancies himself to be King and his Fracción look upon him as though he were God himself. It makes me wonder just how well the wisdom of his old age is able to contain the size of his ego and lust for more power."

Ulquiorra simply kept walking and answered Dietor with no expression lining his face. "And what if you are right in your assumptions, Dietor? Would you take that as an opportunity to seize Barragon's seat for your own?"

Dietor's eyes narrowed at Ulquiorra, but they held a barely disguised mirth in them instead of malice. "You know me better than that." he replied with a hint of a chuckle. "Something like that is far too....public for my tastes. I am not like Nnoitra, Grimmjow, or Tentou who feel the need to brag about their power with a number tattooed somewhere on their body."

"Hmph... That at least puts you slightly above the likes of them. See to it that you remain that way."

That was the end of their conversation as they rounded a corner towards Halibel's quarters. She would be the first to be notified of Aizen's meeting, followed by Barragon and then Starke. The reason behind that went far behind simple numerical ordering. Out of the Top Four of the Espada, Dietor and Ulquiorra found her to be the most reasonable among them. At least the two of them could be sure that she would greet them cordially, if not her own Fracción.

After knocking upon the Tres Espada's door, all that was left was to see who answered it. "I'll leave this task to you. I have other matters that need my attention." Ulquiorra said to Dietor before turning suddenly and leaving in the direction they had come. His choice of words had hinted that he was in a hurry, but the way he walked proved that was hardly the case at all. He probably just wanted to be alone with his thoughts, as Dietor surmised, as well as to prepare himself for the meeting tomorrow.

And with that, Dietor was left alone in front of Halibel's doorway. "Capricious as always, I see." he chuckled under his breath as Ulquiorra disappeared behind a corner. "Now let's hope that things are at least civil in here."
 
"Should I stay with Koichi-Kun? I mean, other than Itsygo and Koichi-Kun, there aren't any Shinigami that would let me stay...except maybe for Koichi-Kun's parents." Nel said, rightfully worried for her own safety, since she was basically the enemy of the Shinigami.

Koichi stirred in her arms, his voice whispering random words that made no sense at all. There were a few names of Zanpakutou, but nothing really concrete.

"I hope he'll be alright."

-----

As the door opened, the one to greet Dietor was none other than the Tercero Espada herself. However, she was in her released form, due to her training her Fraccion.

"Dietor-Kun? What brings you to my quarters?" Harribel asked, concern in her voice. She knew of Dietor's reputation.

-----

Shana was fuming in her quarters in the South-West Tower. She'd wanted to fight Grimmjow, but the way he'd defeated her had left her in total confusion.

"What was that damn panther thinking? I'm not some play-toy!"

-----

*FLASHBACK*

Grimmjow had pounced towards Shana after Daisuke had left with Harribel. He released his Zaqnpakutou mid-pounce, and when he pinned Shana down, she turned crimson due to his close proximity to her.

"J-just what do you think you're doing? I don't need your help, Grimmjow."

"I ain't lettin' you interfere anymore. I was watching that fight, and now it's been nixed. I'm still wanting some action, so you'll have to figure out something to do as an apology."

Shana turned her head away for a second, but Grimmjow placed his hand on her jaw and forced her to look at him.

"Any ideas, Kitten?"

*END FLASHBACK*

-----

"I should really kill him for calling me a 'Kitten'. But he was so...so cool..." Shana said.

She began to fantasize about her and Grimmjow. Even though she openly detested him, going so far as to threaten his life every time she saw him, she secretly loved the Sexta Espada beyond a doubt, and was always trying to find a way for him to apparently rape her.

"You can't rape the willing, Grimmy-Kun." she whispered.
 

Tenntou had made her way to the south-west tower where Shana's quarters were and knocked on the door. Opening then without her appreciation she looked at her, "Shana...I was told to train with you. By Aizen himself, so please if you wouldn't mind. I got some excess anger to get rid of." She said smirking as the girl herself looked flustered, angry, and ready to kill something herself. It would be the perfect training for her. She couldn't wait to start this rumble, since they both were angry, fuming and just ready to murder. "What happened Shana? You weren't ever this flustered or angry in a long time.", Tenntou asked out of curiosity as she stood there holding her scythe just causally.
 
Daisuke scratched the back of his head as he looked at Koichi and Nel. "Look, uh, Nel," he mutterd haltingly, "I'm gonna need to take Koichi to get some help. You can tag along with or go with Jin. I wouldn't suggest you go running around on your own though, that's for sure." He continued scratching the back of his head and chuckled, exactly the way person would if they were unsure of what they should do next. He didn't have much experience with kids, and that's what Nel was half the time. And the other half the time, she's a crazy half-naked arrancar chick, but anywho...

Before he continued, Jin interrupted them. "I'm afraid Neliel cannot follow me. I have a report to make, and I'd rather her not be present while I address Captain Kurotsuchi." Before waiting for a response, Jin dissappeared, using shunpo to quicken his way to the Research and Development facilities.

"Uh, looks like you're with me then," Daisuke quipped, "let's get him going then before he loses anymore blood."
 
Dietor seemed to smile politely beneath his mask remnant by way of a greeting. He also took note of the Espada's released form, as well as the three gazes of her Fracción that were likely glaring at him from somewhere behind her. They, along with Halibel, knew of Dietor's true role in Las Noches so it was only understandable that they would all be wary of him.

Still... It did get tiresome at times. And it was happening more often than he would care to admit.

But even so, Dietor was too much of a professional to display the slight exasperation he was feeling. As soon as Halibel asked her question, he replied with "My apologies for disrupting your training, Halibel-san. But I'm afraid this can't wait."

The words seemed to hang in the air for a tense moment before Dietor noticed the expression on the faces of Halibel and her three Fracción. He almost actually rolled his eyes at the situation before continuing with a sigh. "And before you start thinking the worst of me, I didn't come for that..." He let his reputation explain what he meant by his words. "Aizen-san has asked me to deliver a message to you. You and your Fracción are to gather in the North Tower by noon tomorrow for an announcement. Starke and Barragon will be there with their Fracción. And Ulquiorra, too."
 
Nel nodded once, then followed Daisuke, making sure to use Koichi's shihakushou cloak as a full body cover, trying to cover up as best she could.

"Do...do you think that the Shinigami here will....understand about him?" she asked. She truly didn't care about her own safety anymore, but more about Koichi's well-being.

-----

Shana flinched slightly at the sound of Tentou's voice, but quickly recovered. She turned around to look at the dragoness Espada, smirking slightly.

"Oh? And why would Aizen-Sama send you to train with me? You're already more powerful than I am."

-----

"Understood. Dietor-Kun, my girls and I will be along shortly." Harribel said.

What she did next caught her Fraccion by surprise. Harribel kissed Dietor's cheek, but she did it almost purely as a parting. The smallest part of the furthest recesses of her mind told her that she liked him. Harribel bowed, then closed the door about half-way, re-sealing her Zanpakutou as she did. She told her Fraccion to do the same and prepare for a meeting.

-----

From high above the streets in the Seireitei, a black-cloaked figure watched as a Shinigami and an Arrancar carried the unconscious body of a boy towards the Infirmary. An emotionless voice that would put Ulquiorra's emotionlessness to shame spoke from under the hood, altered to sound raspy and deep by a mechanical respirator that covered its jaws, much like Harribel's mask fragments.

"So, it has happened. Five hundred centuries I have waited for this. Now, I shall have some fun." the voice said. The figure turned towards the direction of the Division Four Barracks and smirked under the respirator. "It seems to me that that young green-haired woman is key to my plan. Time to go..."

With that, the figure was gone, leaving Nel to look over her shoulder at the spot the figure had just been.

"Was that....but how?"
 

Tenntou looked at her, "well, at least you would be a warm up...despite that Aizen said to train with you." Tenntou said as she smirked, "Unless despite me being more powerful then you stops you from trying to take out your frustrations." She said softly standing there defiantly. The thing was she was supposed to train with this girl and if this girl was weaker why bother with it? She was born for better things and this girl stood before her along with the tag of being weaker? This was a joke, a hoax! There was no way that Aizen expected her to be strong enough to take on the Shinigami along with the rest of his enemies if she wasn't strong enough! Despite that this could put her at a glass ceiling for now. Maybe she would train with Harribel or something, that was better then trying to take on Shana. However with the fact that Aizen was watching she stood there smirking, "so do you want to take me on? I am not going to stand here all day." She announced as her scythe as well as her were getting impatient.
 
Daisuke looked down at Nel and shrugged. "I uh...don't really know," he chocked, then laughed a bit before continuing, "I mean, there's that guy uh...Ichigo, and he's been going to bat for breaking the mold. He's gotta be the weirdest shinigami I've heard of, that's for sure. Well, present company excluded," he commented, shifting Koichi a bit to make sure he was dragging too much.

He let the silence go for a second before continuing. "Nah, what you should really worry about is yourself there. We've got Koichi. He started here, he'll be accepted here I'm sure. But you? Heh, just play nice and I'm sure things will go okay. But try not to tick anyone off, okay?"

You are so talking to the wrong chump, Daisuke thought to himself, I took a job as a tracker to avoid this crap. I get to go off, chase after some idiot who broke the rules, and drag him back. It means I don't have to deal with the bureaucratic morons as much.

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

Jin stepped into the Squad 12 headquarters, which was also the headquarters of the R&D Department. Taking a moment to enjoy being back on familiar grounds, Jin moved on to find his captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Reporting that something he was personally working on was lost is not going to end pretty, Jin thought dryly to himself. Jin sagged a moment as he thought of how vicious his captain was. While he was a brilliant genius, it seemed that genius had gone to his head. If the guy wasn't so arrogant, I'm sure he'd figure out it might be better for getting what you want if you showed a little courtesy once in a while.
 
In the end, Dietor was left standing outside Halibel's door with a hand pressed to his cheek and with a blank look on his face. And his both of his eyes were pretty wide. "Well... that was certainly unexpected." the assassin said quietly before he turned away from her door and continued on his errand. Dietor never remembered the Tres Espada being that, well, direct before. He knew that the kiss had only been given as a parting gesture, but he couldn't help chuckling over the gaggle of questions her three Fracción were likely already stirring up.

Women. Sometimes they amused and mystified him to no end.

Dietor's hands vanished into the deep pockets of his jacket as he walked on, another smile of the eyes lighting what could be seen of his face. However, it was only there for a moment before he remembered the other two Arrancar he had yet to visit. Namely... Starke and Barragon. Dietor had never had any problems with Starke in the past, and he doubted that there would be any in the future, but Barragon was another story. The self-proclaimed "King" never failed to get on Dietor's nerves, although he was always too disciplined let such a thing show on the surface. Nevertheless, that didn't make his next visit any easier to deal with.

Barragon's quarters were the closest to Halibels. And therefore, they were Dietor's next destination.

After a short while of walking, Dietor finally arrived outside the door of the Dos Espada. And from the sounds of worshiping adoration of Fracción coming from behind the door, the assassin could safely assume that Barragon's arrogance was at its height today. How lovely.

But even so, Dietor still had a job to do. Lifting a fist to the door, he rapped against its polished metallic surface with the back of his knuckles and waited patiently. It was likely going to be a little while before either Barragon or his Fracción noticed that someone was at their door. Or show any desire in opening it if they did know it. After all, Dietor was only a lowly outsider. But a lowly outsider who could also kill them within the blink of an eye.
 
Shana flinched internally, and she gave Tenntou a glaring grin.

"When you put it like that, I'll fight. Grimmy-Kun is starting to play hard-to-get, and I'm getting a bit pissed that he only toys with me." Shana said, drawing her dagger from its sheath on her thigh. "Aciberar, Revolcarse del Estrellado!"

The dagger in Shana's hands became a pair of morning star flails that had poisoned tines. Her mask fragment, which had been a simple set of earrings on her ears changed into a pair of gauntlets that extended from fingerless gloves on her hands to a single spike that protruded from her shoulders. A single plate of the same bony material that made the masks stretched from ear to ear, hiding her eyes. She also sprouted dragonfly-like wings, which bummed as she took flight.

"Let's go..."

-----

A dark haired woman in a miniskirt variant of the shinigami shihakushou tapped Jin on the shoulder.

"Jin-San. Kurotsuchi-Taicho is waiting for you in Laboratory Seven." Nemu said, bowing politely.

In said lab, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Captain of the Twelfth Division, tapped a finger impatiently on teh side of his head.

"What in the world is taking that boy so long? He should have been back hours ago!" Kurotsuchi said.

-----

A man with bright red hair tied back in ponytail that made his head look like a pineapple approached Daisuke, Nel, and the unconscious Koichi. Standing not too far behind him was a woman with raven hair braided in front of her chest, and they both had a look of concern.

"Alright, Pierce! What the hell happened to my son!" Abarai Renji said, his voice carrying the threat of injury if he didn't like the answer.

"Abarai-Fukutaicho, now is not the time to be pointing fingers." the woman said. "Daisuke-San, please bring Koichi into Room Nine. I will examine him there."

"Is...is Koichi-Kun going to be alright, Ma'am?" Nell asked.

Renji and Fourth Division Captain Unohana Retsu both looked at Nell in stupefied silence. What was a woman dressed like that doing inside the walls of the Seireitei, and why did she have a Hollow mask on her head?

"And just who the heck are you?" Renji asked. Unohana and Renji were unprepared for her answer, and it showed.

"I am Nelliel Tu Oderschvank. I'm an Arrancar, and a former Espada. However, I am also deeply in love with Koichi-Kun, and he with me." Nell said, bowing with the utmost respect, yet never taking her eyes off of the Shinigami. "My only reason for being here, in the place that Shinigami call 'home', is..."

"Dad...Unohana-Taicho..." Koichi had apparently awoken sometime recently, but his voice was weak and sounded strained. "Please let Nell-Chan stay. I...I will talk to Grandpa about her being here but...please...don't hurt her."

-----

The door opened slightly, and a blonde man with a mask that was like a full version of the one worn by the 'Phantom of the Opera' looked at Dietor.

"Dietor-San? Barragon-Ou-Sama is not in a mood to deal with one such as yourself right now." Findor Carias said, a slight note of irritation in his voice.

Findor had never once liked Dietor, and he sure as hell wasn't about to start to show any form of acceptance now. A deep voice echoed from the back of the room, sending an involuntary shiver down Findor's spine.

"Findor! Who has come to interrupt our meeting?"

"It's Dietor, Barragon-Ou-Sama."

"Let him in. If he is here, it is no small matter."

Findor opened the door completely, even if he hated to do so, and motioned for Dietor to enter.

-----

Starrk had sensed something amiss when he'd felt Dietor's reishi approach first Harribel's room, and now Barragon's. Yawning lazily, he prodded Lilinette, who'd fallen asleep with her head in his lap.

"Lilinette, get up." he said. "We're going to go see what the commotion is. The reason, before you ask, is because Dietor is involved somehow."

"If...If Dietor-San's involved, Starrk, I don't wanna go! He's so much like that bat-freak its scary!"

Starrk shook his head and sighed. After only two minutes, he managed to talk his Fraccion into going to intercept Harribel with him, feeling she was approaching his direction. Oddly enough, Starrk and Lilinette hadn't been in the Primera's room, but in a small room a few doors down from the meeting place that Aizen had chosen.

-----

"This could prove to be...difficult." the cloaked man said. "If that cat-boy is the son of a Vice Captain...and that woman is Nelliel Tu Oderschvank...this will prove to be very troublesome indeed."

He vanished from his spot above the Fourth Division Barracks, reappearing shortly afterwards sitting atop the execution stand atop Sogyoku Hill. He looked towards another figure, wearing a chocolate brown cloak that hid the body. The black-cloaked figure glowed black for a moment, then transformed into a sword, which the chocolate-cloaked figure sheathed, revealing a white outfit with black trim underneath her cloak.

"So, Nelliel-San has fallen in love with a fellow Shinigami-turned-Arrancar. Interesting. I wonder how this will affect my mission."
 

Tenntou looked at her as some of her spiritual energy released inside of the room. Her mask fragment which covered half of her face shaved off some. Her smirk appeared, "Heh, playing hard to get? well, whatever." She held her scythe in an offensive stance as she saw her weapon. ~Interesting I cannot wait to fight you Shana!~ she cocked a wide grin on her face. Suddenly a sharp pain pierced her fun. ~Fuck, I forgot bout the wound I suffered from Koichi, I need to be careful about this.~ Thinking she looked at her arm which she had gained some movement with though with this wound she assumed that Shana should be able to handle herself against her. Even might pose a threat to Tenntou herself if she allowed it.
 
Palaios used my profile to post. Hope that doesn't mess you guys up!

-Shisarakage-

-----

Jin turned to the vice-captain and pondered for a moment. "He's pissed I'm late, isn't he?" Jin commented, settling back in a less formal stance since he'd realized he wasn't in Mayuri's presence...yet. "I know the guy isn't much for excuses, but he's gonna love this one." Before Nemu could comment or respond, he threw up a hand. "Yeah yeah, don't worry, I'm on my way." Jin shrugged past her as he headed off for the lab.

-----

Daisuke looked from Renji to Unohana to Nel and finally to Koichi. I'm just gonna keep my big trap shut, he thought as he watched Unohana and Renji ponder Koichi's words.
 
The only response that Dietor gave to Findor was a small crinkle around his eyes that hinted that he might've been smiling at him. Of course, whether or not that was true was a mystery because of his mask fragment that covered all of his lower face. Needless to say, he had become rather used to the cold treatment that Barragon's number of Fracción felt so inclined to give him whenever they met. It was as normal to him now as the desert of white sands that coated Hueco Mundo. But at the same, he couldn't help feeling a malicious little urge to suddenly reach out and grab Findor by face and then squeeze it until his head popped like a rotten melon. If anything, it would certainly teach other Fracción to not look down upon him anymore.

But then again.... It was also a waste of energy. And Dietor hated to be wasteful.

So as he came to pass through the open door of the Segundo Espada, the assassin paid not the least bit of attention to Findor or the other Fracción that crowded around Barragon like sheep to a shepherd. His business was not with him, anyway. And he wasn't the least bit surprised to find that Barragon was likely lounging around in his throne of bones and skull. It was, after all, quite typical for an old blowhard like him.

"I'll make this quick, Barragon-san." Dietor began with a note of distaste in his voice. Who that distaste was for should've been perfectly obvious. "Aizen-sama has asked me to deliver a message to the Top Three of the Espada. You are all to report at the North Tower by noon tomorrow for a meeting. What that meeting is about is something that I do not know. But Aizen-sama has made it clear that what he has to say ought to be extremely important. That is all."
 
"HYA!" Shana swung the flail in her left hand, sending the morning star speeding towards Tenntou, using the momentum of her flight to increase her weapon's crushing force.

At the moment, Shana didn't really care how the session went. She just wanted to vent off some steam, and since she'd always been jealous of Tenntou's position as an Espada, she thought it a bonus being able to vent by using the Octava Espada as a punch-bag.

-----

Nemu followed Jin, but the instant they entered the room that Division 12 Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri was in, a golden-yellow weapon with three crooked blades was pointed directly at Jin's throat. The man holding the weapon was none other than the Captain himself.

"You are lucky I'm in a relatively good mood today, boy! What in the world took you so long to return? And where is Subject X-42?"

-----

Unohana said nothing, believing that now was not the appropriate time, but Renji sighed as he saw the look in the eyes of both Nell and his son. He crossed his arms as he spoke.

"Alright. We won't do anything to her. However," he added with a half-glare at Nell. "Nell, was it? You are to remain at Pierce's side until we send for you. In the meantime, I'm gonna go see if I can't get an audience with Yamamoto-Sotaicho, explain why there's an Arrancar inside the Seireitei." Renji vanished after he was done speaking, and Koichi leaned against the Fourth Division's Captain.

As Koichi and Unohana walked towards the room where she was going to treat his wounds, Nell turned to Daisuke and gave him a shy smile.

"Um, Daisuke-San," She said, trying to indicate a spot about fifty feet behind him. "Who is that? His reishi is ungodly! But that pink-haired girl is so cute!!"

-----

Barragon made no indication that he had heard a single word that Dietor said, but he stood and spoke with that same stern, yet somehow commanding, voice of his.

"Very well. If it so inclines you, let Aizen-Sama know I and my Fraccion will be there."

Once that had been said, Ggio Vega, one of the six Fraccion, stepped up to Dietor, gave a bow of mock respect even though he knew Dietor was more than capable of slaying all six of tehm at once, and spoke with a hint of eagerness in his voice.

"It's been a pleasure having you here, Dietor-San, but unfortunately, Barragon-Ou-Sama has hinted that you've overstayed your welcome. Right this way, please."
 

Tenntou hadn't used her other arm; her good one while she fended up Shana. "Heh good! Come at me.", She swung her scythe around but it almost hit her a couple times due to her lack of training with her other arm. Though due to her ability and combat training she was able to keep it under control. Seeing Shana open up to battle to her she lunged at the girl. "Come at me!", She threw her scythe down diagnal from the girl's right shoulder to her left hip was her planned hit. She might be a little weak but she wouldn't let this lowly win over her.
 
Daisuke looked to Nel, unsure of how to respond. Finally deciding its best to not, he shrugged with a slightly nervous smile. "Heh, ya know, why don't you save that one for Koichi. I'll let him explain that to you. In the meantime, it looks like you're stuck with me," he chuckled. Not that I have a frickin' idea what I'm supposed to be doing here. She's frickin' arrancar, and now I've gotta keep an eye on her. If this goes south and she gets herself in some kinda trouble...

It wasn't that he thought she'd actively try to do something bad, but from his limited experience with her she seemed kinda...trouble prone. Then again, maybe that's Koichi's fault. Copycat's always had a knack for trouble, maybe it's contagious. Chuckling at his own thought, he turned his attention back outward and returned his gaze to Nel. "Uh, I was gonna actually go and get cleaned up. All that dust in Hueco Mundo gets in some mighty annoying places. I guess I'll show you my quarters if you mind waiting there a moment. I'm not really sure where else to let you sit while we wait for their reply. I'm betting it's gonna be quick though." He chuckled at the end in acknowledgment of the oddity of the situation.

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

Jin thought of returning a glare to his captain, but decided it better to just ignore the man's discomforting disposition. "I'm afraid your item was misplaced. It seems the device interfered with our travel back to the Soul Society, and instead transported us to Hueco Mundo instead. The man assigned to carry the device was eaten by a hollow that attacked us. There was nothing we could do, and said hollow was subsequently destroyed to ensure no possibility of the device falling into the wrong hands. In the ensuing chaos that sprung from our unexpected visit to Hueco Mundo, we lost a second team member as well." The thoughts of the losses of two team members made the usually calm shinigami simmer slightly with anger. Things shouldn't have gone that way. It was merely a recovery mission and he we are stumbling back in, two dead from the original team and an additional person recovered but severely wounded.

Returning to his report, Jin sighed slightly as he continued. "In the end, I was lucky to make it out with the few I could. All and all, the device was lost the moment we arrived in Hueco Mundo...sir." The formality at the end was merely that...just a formality. While he respected the man's genius, his attitude was quickly reminding Jin of why he avoided Division 12 Headquarters. This man should be glad I made it back, otherwise he'd surely be losing another team trying to figure out what happen to us.
 
Dietor almost seemed to regard Ggio Vega with an almost quizzical arch of his eyebrow. Whatever could make any self-respecting person, much less an Arrancar, bow down and worship an annoying blowhard like Barragon was a mystery him. But it was also one that the assassin didn't care to waste his time pondering over right now. Nor anytime soon, for that matter. "Very well." Dietor replied to Ggio with a slight nod to the Fracción. "But I'll see myself out. I know the way." he finished before turning on his heel towards the door.

Was it disrespectul? Probably. Did Dietor actually give a damn? Not one bit.

With the door to Barragon's quarters now firmly shut behind him, Dietor simply continued on his merry way down the corridor. His next visit would lead him to the rooms of the Primera Espada, Starke. And unlike the Segundo Espada, Dietor could tolerate his presence a great deal more. While Barragon appeared as nothing but an old blowhard to Dietor, Starke seemed to be more like a charismatic bum in the best sense of the word. And with the most annoying part of his task now behind him the easiest still ahead of him, Dietor figured that he would be free of his chores just in time for the evening meal.

Maybe he would go to the human world and snack on some vagrants or other people who wouldn't be missed.
 
First, let me apologize for taking so long with this post. Second, I have an announcement. After this next round of posting, there will be a time-jump forward of exactly one year, so be prepared!

-----

Shana could tell that Tenntou was weakened after her fight with the 'Outsider', as she liked to call Koichi, and she planned to take full advantage. She wrenched her arm back as she prepared to launch her signature barrage of strikes, 'Meteora Ballista', aiming for the Octava's injured leg.

"Come at you? Fine! Have a taste of my Meteora Ballista!!" she cried, raining a flurry of blows against her opponent.

-----

Kurotsuchi pressed his fingers against his temples in frustration.

"Losing Subject X-42 is a serious damper on my experiment." he said. "However, since you did make it back alive, I suppose I should be a bit grateful. You may take the rest of the week off to do as you please, but come hell or high water, your report had better be on time!"

-----

Nell said nothing as she followed Daisuke to his quarters. When they arrived, though, they were stopped short by a woman a bit shorter than Daisuke whose hair was cut short, except for two long trains in back that ended in a pair of brass circlets. Standing next to this woman was a rather large man who could easily have competed with Yammi Rialga, one of the Espada. A single glare at Nell was all the communication that Soi Fon, Captian of Division Two, gave to the long-time friend of Yoruichi Shihouin's son. Vice-Captain Omaeda Marechiyo, however, voiced what his Captain had not.

"Hey, Pierce! What's a guy like you doing bringing an Arrancar here?"

-----

Before Starrk and Lillinette could continue on their leisurely walk, the spunky girl spotted Dietor and promptly stood behind Starrk, using the man as a shield.

"Judging from what Harribel said, and your presence near my room, Aizen-Sama is holding a meeting tomorrow, I assume?" Starrk said, ignoring his Fraccion's antics for the moment.

-----

The woman in the chocolate-brown cloak had appeared in front of an abandoned storehouse in the Human World, giving a ruby-cloaked woman a single gesture of acknowledgment before entering the building. When she entered, there were two others already inside. One was a man in his mid-twenties cloaked in an emerald green garment, and the other was a younger girl who looked like she belonged in a grade school skipping rope and not amidst older people while she hacked away at a wooden dummy with a tachi (shorter than a katana, but longer than a dagger).

"What's the status of the mission, Selune?" the man asked.

"Oderschvank has fallen for one of your kin, Master Khordel." Selune said.

"Well, he is cute!" the little girl said, putting her sword away and dusting her skirt off. "I'd like to play with him too!"

"Ayame, we're not here to play with him. We're here to-"

"I know, I know! We're here to 'take the 'Chosen of Destiny' and unite the Seireitei and Hueco Mundo'." Ayame said, rolling her eyes as she quoted their mission in a bored monotone. "You don't have to remind me, Izanami! And another thing! I didn't call for you, so why are you here?"

"...I felt like taking in some fresh air. I've had my fill, though, so I'll go back." Izanami said, vanishing back into Ayame's Zanpakutou.

"Enough. Our mission is simple. The target is in sight, albeit with a new twist in the form of love with an Arrancar woman, and our goal is clear. However, our resources are inadequate at this time. We must wait one year to restock all necessities." Khordel said. "Assuming there are no further questions at this time, we shall begin our mission. Selune, continue to watch the target as he moves about the Seireitei and Hueco Mundo. Ayame, Contact the Vaizards and inform them of our plan. After that, return here."
 

Tenntou looked at her attack as she winced blocking though even that she backed up some. "Ahhhack...", She let out a gasp as she got to knee then getting up wincing hard standing up struggling as she looked at Shana, "You bitch!" She yelled out as she glared at the woman for taking advantage of her injury. Tenntou winced instead of talking just raised her scythe then charged Shana as she quickly reacted to the attack even after stumbling. "Burdening Wounds!", She screamed out as she quickly swung her scythe in an intercate pattern cutting about Shana's body. It was like several slashes about ever second as she attacked for a about 5 seconds.
 
"Yes, sir," Jin nodded without much enthusiasm before turning on his heel and heading out the door.

I'll never understand that man's fierce need to belittle others... Then again, Jin didn't feel the particular need to understand the man either. Great minds do not think alike, and if he had but the one credit, it was that Captain Kurotsuchi had an incredibly great mind. Then again, there had to be some reason why people would put up with having him in leadership.

But none of that now, Jin thought. I've gotta go figure out what to do with our little arrancar friend. I'm sure by now Pierce must have had enough of her...

-----

"Uh," Daisuke chuckled weakly, scratching the back of his head as he addressed the captain, "you see, I'm in charge of keeping her out of trouble, and if figured it best to keep her with me rather than stick her somewhere."

Not that I wouldn't mind, I'm sure this is going to end badly. If there was one thing his captain was known for, it was her temper.
 
"Judging from what Harribel said, and your presence near my room, Aizen-Sama is holding a meeting tomorrow, I assume?"

"................."

Well... That had certainly been a short walk. It seemed that news regarding Dietor and his appointed task was already starting to spread throughout Los Noches. He had been expecting to spend at least twenty more minutes of walking before coming across Starke and his cute little (timid) Fracción. The fact that Starke had actually mustered up the motivation to come find Dietor instead of waiting for him in his own room struck the assassin as being a little... significant in some ways. Perhaps Aizen was planning something even larger than Dietor had originally surmised. It was a thought that was both provoking and a little intimidating in his own mind.

"You have it right, Starke-san." Dietor replied with a slight nod of his head towards the Primera. "You've probably already heard as much, but you and the rest of the Top Three are being summoned to the Central Tower by noon tomorrow. Your Fracción is also invited to come, as well." With that, he cast a brief glance at the diminutive Arrancar that was hiding behind Starke's clothing. He found it a little strange that a little girl like Lillinete could think nothing of clobbering own Espada upside the head whenever his laziness annoyed her, the Primera Espada no less, but yet she seemed more than a little afraid of little ol' Dietor. Was he really so frightening a figure around these parts? He certainly didn't think so.

But regardless of that, he couldn't help but let a silent chuckle escape through his lips that were covered by his mask fragment. Sometimes he found his job so very humorous. Just because it was his job to watch over and execute rogue Espada and lower Arrancar, that didn't exactly mean that he was a bad guy, did it? He certainly didn't seem to think so.

At any rate, his chore was done now. He had notified each of the Top Three and now the rest of day was his to spend as he pleased. Now what was there to do around here at this time of day?
 
This post will explain how everyone shall be sitting through the timeskip, as well as be my first post after said time skip. Rejoice, for fun times are here!

-----

One year has passed since the mishap arrival in Hueco Mundo. During that time, Aizen had announced to his top three Espada that there would be replacements in their numbers. Due to his attitude towards the Shinigami boy Koichi, Grimmjow had been exiled from Las Noches and sent out into the sands of Hueco Mundo to live with Nell. Tenntou had been promoted to Quinta (5) Espada, and Shana had been made the woman's only Fraccion, although neither Tenntou nor Shana had wanted that.

As for the Primera, Segunda, and Tercera Espada, there was nothing new with them. Lillinette, though, had begun to open up bit by bit around Dietor, and if Starrk didn't know better, he'd have said she was falling in love with the Arrancar equivalent of an assassin-type ninja.

As for Nell, she had returned to Hueco Mundo a week after Koichi had recovered. The Soul Society has not seen from her since, even if Koichi has traveled to see her.

On the Shinigami side of things, once Yamamoto had heard of Minna's plight, he had ordered Jin and Daisuke to begin training immediately. Koichi was also supposed to train, but he would sneak off to see Nell many times. Daisuke's training was to be with Yoruichi Shihouin. Jin's training was on his own time.

As for Minna, well, Gin Ichimaru was having fun with his new play toy...

In the world of the living, Khordel, Selune, and Ayame had fully prepared to speak with the nekomata shinigami, but at the request of Hiyori, they had waited.

Today is the day that Daisuke's training reaches its final lesson.

-----

"Alright, Daisuke. Are you ready for your final lesson?" Yoruichi asked, holding up a rather odd-looking doll.

Koichi had been sitting on a rock a few feet away, but now he leapt up onto Daisuke's shoulder in his cat form, which was no longer only midnight blue, but had a single crimson stripe starting at his nose and running the entire length of his spine to the tip of his tail.

"Mama, are you sure that Kisuke-Taichou's doll is really needed? I bet Daisuke could do it without the doll!"

"It's not for him, Koichi. It's for you."

-----

In Hueco Mundo, Lillinette had wandered away from Starrk for the first time in ages, and her path had taken her to a door with Ulquiorra's name on it. She could sense Dietor was on the other side, and she had just raised her hand to knock when she froze. She took a breath and then knocked four times.

"D-Dietor? Can I speak with you for a moment?" she asked nervously.

-----

Khordel sat in the Vaizard compound with Shinji giving him a nonchalant 'I'm bored' look while Hiyori tapped her forehead in annoyance.

"Tell me again why you want us to essentially kidnap the Kid?" Hiyori said.

Khordel smirked, then gave a single glance to Selune, who cleared her throat before speaking.

"Ahem, well the thing is...he appears to be the one spoken of in our records. The primary reason for this assumption is his use of both a Shinigami Zanpakutou and an Arrancar Zanpakutou."

"Well, if that's the case, then you should also consider the fact that he's still a pure soul, and his mother would never let us get away with something like this." Shinji said.

Khordel began to explain their standing, and why they trusted the Vaizards again, thinking the Masked Army had forgotten their place.
 

Tenntou looked out of the window then toward the door sitting in her room at the moment thinking about the moments from year past as she played with her scythe as it had spoke to her occasionally Shana, the girl that she had fought that one day now had become her Fraccion. Tenntou annoyingly sighed as she looked about her quarters now realizing that she had stepped up to level 5. "I am glad...only 3 more levels to go...though Aizen was a little slow...", She murmured to herself wondering where her Fraccion was at. Tenntou stood up bringing her baby along walking out of her room down the stairs outside of the tower looking out at the bleak wasteland that was her home. Using one of the pillars still there she sat down on it looking out like she did when Nel was still in Hueco Mundo.
 
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