= Las Noches =
Harribel, Apacci, Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, Dondochakka and Pesche were walking through Las Noches' myriad hallways under Hisashi's lead. Over their time here they had slowly adjusted to Las Noches' confusing nature. Even if a lot of Las Noches looked exactly like most other parts of it giving everything an uncanny feel and making it easy to get lost eventually you would start remembering the entire complex and stop getting lost. At least for most. Some of the dumber Hollow and Arrancar might struggle for much longer.
Finally they left the outer structure arriving at Las Noches' large inner space under the giant dome that imitated a normal sky as if they were on Earth or Soul Society instead of Hueco Mundo. It was a marvel, one that actually brought some relief to Hisashi. Unlike the other Hollow and Arrancar he could still clearly remember his life as a human. It wasn't even that long ago for him.
Spread out in the large space were the Espada palaces and today one of them was their destination. Gantenbainne Mosqueda's palace to be precise. He was the current Número Diez Espada(Number 10). In the original timeline he would have at some point been replaced by Yammy Llargo. At least by the time Yammy joined Ulquiorra to attack Karakura Town.
They arrived to find Nelliel already there, facing Gantenbainne. They weren't alone though. Quite a few Arrancar were watching what was going on some from nearby. Others keeping their distance. However this was the most high ranking Arrancar they had seen at the same time since their first arrival and meeting with Aizen and the Espada.
Cirucci waved at them to come over with a large forced smile. "Finally you guys are here!" she exclaimed.
Having no other plans they ended up joining her watching spot.
Apacci snorted. "Aren't you just early?" she said.
Sung-Sun smiled. "Come on Apacci. Don't be like that," she said.
Mila Rose was probably the most excited among them. "We wouldn't be late. How could we miss such an exciting battle?" she said with a wide smile staring between Nelliel and Gantenbainne.
Cirucci just shook her head in exasperation at their antics. "Well I saved you a spot," she said.
Hisashi smiled at her. "Why thanks," he said politely.
She looked at him in disgust. "I wasn't talking to you," she said with a sneer.
Hisashi rolled his eyes. He was already getting used to her bitchy antics. She thought he was weak and didn't get the benefit of her wanting more female Arrancar as part of her Fracción so unlike the girls he got the full brunt of her bitchy-ness.
Harribel simply ignored Cirucci.
Sung-Sun smirked seductively. "Come sit with us Jack," she said teasingly, ignoring Cirucci's behaviour.
He smiled sitting down next to her. "Always a pleasure," he said causing her smile to widen.
It didn't take long before Harribel actually sat down next to him and leaned against his shoulder with hers without saying anything.
He smirked slightly. "Comfortable?" he asked her playfully.
She simply humphed not agreeing nor disagreeing. She didn't move away though her eyes fixed on Nelliel.
Dondochakka and Pesche sat together a little further behind them. They didn't have the courage to sit too close to Cirucci lest they get caught up in one of her outburst.
Hisashi surveyed the surroundings. On a pillar not too far in the distance he could see Nnoitra and another male Arrancar with short sandy blonde hair and a black eyepatch covering his right eye with a turquoise marking on his cheek just below it.
Nnoitra still seemed frustrated and was watching closely. Hisashi suspected he was mostly there to see what Nelliel's power was like after her return so he could decide how to deal with her and them.
There were small groups of Arrancar all over the place spectating, ready for what was to come.
He couldn't see Aizen anywhere, but he was sure he was watching from somewhere somehow.
Gantenbainne was standing atop his palace looking down on Nelliel. "Are you sure you want to do this Nelliel?" he yelled.
Despite their positions with him looking down at her and yelling at her upon closer inspection it was clear who was holding the upper hand. From the look in Gantenbainne's eyes and the barely perceptible shake of his hand when contrasted with Nelliel's completely relaxed demeanour it was clear he was worried about the outcome of today.
It had only been just over a month since they joined, but Nelliel had already come to challenge him for his spot in the Espada. He had hoped, even expected for her to challenge one of the higher ranking Espada. She was originally the Número Tres Espada(3). Why would she go for his much lower rank?
Unfortunately for him Nelliel's goals were not the same as they had been before her temporary exile. Now their only goal for the moment was for one of them to get an uncontested spot on the Espada so they could all be the Fracción below that Espada and avoid as much conflict as they could while they figured out things in Las Noches and took the time to grow.
Nelliel simply nodded. She wasn't worried. Gantenbainne was not her match. He hadn't been before and she doubted much had changed since then.
Gantenbainne shook his head and sighed. Unfortunately an Espada couldn't reject a challenge for their position so despite knowing the futility of what was going on he had no choice. He jumped down from his palace and grasped his zanpakuto. Surprisingly unlike most it wasn't a sword and was instead a pair of red two-pronged punch daggers attached to bracelets on his wrists.
Nelliel placed her hand on the handle of her zanpakuto. Hers was in the shape of a katana with a green wrap on the hilt matching the green sheath and a tsuba(guard) shaped like two silver crescent moons joined back to back. She slowly unsheathed it revealing the blade.
All the spectators quieted down as they watched the two of them.
Gantenbainne got into a combat ready position while Nelliel maintained a relaxed pose.
They both stood still for a while as the pressure mounted trying to find an opening to attack.
-X-X-X-
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Writing Soundtrack: The Neighbourhood - Various Tracks