(Hueco Mundo: 5 years ago)
Time passed seamlessly for him. Trapped in the eternal night of the endless desert of the land of Hollows. It mattered very little to this oddity of his kind. Born bone white among his pitch black companions, born with only his eyes freed from his mask while his brethren had their faces. He was alone in the world and he was content to simply lay in his home of emptiness and thorns, simply existing. Like the single solitary tree of sharp spines he called his home. He forgot how long he laid there in the nothingness, but it didn't matter. Every day was the same. Until he felt a presence show up just outside of his tree. Wanting to determine the presence with his own eyes, the Vasto Lorde slowly freed himself from the sharp spines that surrounded him until he freed himself from the comfort of the empty tree. He only ever trusted what he saw since his sight was his only other sense aside from spirit sensing. He slowly freed himself from his home to find a large cobra Hollow creeping on a sleeping child that radiated Reiatsu like a beacon.
'Interesting.' The white Hollow thought to himself as the serpent came closer and closer. The cobra caught sight of him and froze, looking between the helpless child and the Vasto Lorde. It decided to take a chance and lunged for the boy. In an instant, the snake lost it's head as the empty Hollow decapitated it. He was curious about the young boy, the first interesting thing since he discovered his home, and wanted to learn more about him. The small, orange haired child, sleeping on the desert sands without any knowledge of the danger he was in. The Hollow was patient, so he sat next to the boy, watching and waiting. More Hollows came, the smart ones left while the rest were killed by the Vasto Lorde. Hours passed until the orange haired child started to move. He moaned and squirmed on the desert sands as he slowly woke. The two locked eyes with each other, green gazing into brown as the Hollow waited. Instead of screaming or running or attacking, the child simply sat up and spoke.
"Hi! My name is Ichigo!" The boy said to the human bat Hollow. He waited for a response, but got none from the being. "Can you hear me?" He asked, trying to get a reaction from the bat. He knew he should be afraid, but he felt no danger from the humanoid Hollow. No anger, hunger, nothing, so the child felt no need to be afraid. He spoke to the Hollow again and again, his mouth moving in different ways every time, but the Hollow did not react for he could not hear. Just then, Ichigo saw the tree of sharp spines behind the bat and got an idea. He stood up and took the Hollow by the hand, surprising the lone white being by the lack of fear or distrust in the boy, and pulled him closer to the tree. Once in front of it, the human broke off a needle and began to write in the sand. The symbols looked familiar to the Hollow as he soon began to read the words being written in the sand. 'My name is Ichigo. Can you read this?' The now named Ichigo offered the improvised stylus to the bat. The Hollow took the tool hesitantly and tried to copy what Ichigo did. After a few attempts, the began to come naturally as he wrote a single, neatly written phrase.
'Yes.' He looked back to Ichigo who was smiling up to him. 'Are you not afraid?' The Hollow wrote into the ground, offering the needle back to Ichigo. The boy shook his head before writing a new sentence.
'Why should I be?' He returned the needle to the bat.
'I'm different.' The Hollow wrote. 'I've always been alone because of that.' He returned his gaze to Ichigo who stared right back. Then the boy closed his eyes and released a heavy pulse of his Reiatsu. The Hollow's eyes widened as he felt the mixed energies in that pulse. Dark and light, ordered and chaotic, hollow and full, it was a paradox of itself. He found something amazing, something opposite of himself. He found himself to be one with nothingness, never any desires or cravings. He found something that held substance, fullness, a meaningful existence. Ichigo wrote something down, something the Hollow never once considered.
'What's your name?' A simple question, one that never once crossed his mind in the centuries of his existence. He was without a name, he simply existed. Until he was asked that question and a name came to his mind.
'Ulquiorra Cifer.' Time passed from that meeting. Ichigo worked on accessing his own Hollow powers while Ulquiorra protected the hybrid in his training. Never eating, never stopping his sentinel watch of his lone companion in the world. They talked, they interacted, Ulquiorra flew them through the air while Ichigo told him about the Living World. Ichigo learned to passively sustain himself on the ambient Reishi in the air of Hueco Mundo, but was struggling with the one important ability he needed. He was working on creating a Garganta when Ulquiorra finally asked him. 'What are you trying to do, Ichigo?'
'I'm trying to make a way home to continue my training. There's a really bad guy I'm supposed to fight when I'm strong enough.' Ichigo wrote out in the sands. 'If he's not stopped, everything will be destroyed.' Ulquiorra watched Ichigo's face, watching the continuous shift of focused determination and childish innocence. He took the needle back and wrote out a different question.
'Is that your purpose?' The Hollow asked, never leading a meaningful life and just existing. Shook his head and wrote his simple response.
'It's something I want to do.' They young hybrid wrote. 'I want to protect all I can.' Ulquiorra watched Ichigo as the boy smiled at him. Ulquiorra kept staring at Ichigo for a few more seconds before standing up and tearing open a Garganta. Ichigo stood up in amazement of the portal between dimensions, only to be picked up by the bat and pulled inside the portal. He then created a pathway for them to walk and gestured for Ichigo to lead. Hours of running passed until Ichigo found his way back to the World of the Living. The two were on the streets as Ichigo looked around in amazement. He took Ulquiorra's hand and started to trace out the words on the Hollow's hand. Ulquiorra didn't feel it but he recognized the pattern by sight. 'Thank you Ulquiorra. Come on.' He tried to pull the Vasto Lorde along, but for the first time since meeting, Ulquiorra pulled back.
'No. This is where we part ways.' He told his only companion. 'I'm a Hollow. I do not belong in this world.' Ichigo looked up to the bat with hurt in his eyes, but didn't let the tears flow. He needed to be strong.
'Will we ever see each other again?' The boy asked the white being. His expression never change once since they met.
'Maybe someday.' He told the child Ichigo. 'I'd like to find my own purpose if I have one.' Ichigo reached out to Ulquiorra's face and touched him, past the broken part of his mask he never knew was there. In his shock, Ichigo pulled Ulquiorra into a hug. The stunned Hollow didn't move until Ichigo released him and said something, something Ulquiorra still did not hear, but guess the meaning. "G...g...goo...good...b...bye. I...chi...go." He forced out of the part of his mouth that was exposed before fading back into Hueco Mundo.
(Present Day)
"It's good to finally meet you again." Ulquiorrra said with an almost invisible smile as Ichigo slowly remembered their first encounter. "You did a good job hiding your progress from me and lord Aizen." He scanned over Ichigo again, trying to get a sense of the hybrid's power. "Have you gotten control of your Hollow powers?" Ichigo was about to answer when Isshin spoke up.
"Ichigo, do you know this guy?" The father demanded, wanting to know what secrets his son kept. "Is he the one that kidnapped you as a kid?" Ichigo shook his head, getting control over himself again.
"No. He's the one that protected me when I accidentally ended up in Hueco Mundo." Ichigo replied quickly. "It was when my Hollow powers started fluctuating the first time. I said I was merely teleported outside, I really ended up in Hueco Mundo. And he," he said while pointing to Ulquiorra, "is the Hollow that protected me while I was vulnerable. Ulquiorra Cifer, last time I saw you you said you were looking for your purpose."
"I wandered for a long time until I met with lord Aizen." Ulquiorra responded. "He made me an Arrancar, broke me free from my isolation. My path, is to follow." Yammy pulled himself back up and was about to charge until Ulquiorra threatened him. "Interrupt this Yammy, and I will break you." The giant scoffed, but stayed where he was.
"So, you're my enemy." Ichigo concluded, feeling conflicted about fighting his old friend. "And you're okay with this?" Ulquiorra looked at him with the same, blank, empty expression.
"I told you Ichigo. I'm a Hollow, and you chose to be a Soul Reaper. This is nature." The bat said as he stepped back. "Go ahead Yammy." He told his companion, who smirked and charged at Ichigo.
"Fine then." Ichigo muttered as Yammy brought his fist down creating a dust cloud as his fist connected. He was chuckling at the ease and fun of crushing his smaller opponent as the dust slowly settled, only to reveal Ichigo blocking the attack with ease, his veins pulsing with Reishi. "If Aizen wants to see the power that will crush his army, I'll show him. Limit one, release." The air itself shook with the sudden increase in power, Ulquiorra's eyes widened slightly while Yammy seemed to struggle with breathing for a moment. Isshin sighed and thanked his luck that Ichigo was given free reign to release his first seal, otherwise his mountain of paperwork would keep growing. There was a series of pops as Ichigo clenched his fists, then brought his hands down, forcing open Yammy's guard who took a strong uppercut to his jaw.
"Impressive." Ulquiorra whispered as his companion was launched into the air. "To think this is the same Ichigo." As Yammy was back down, twenty feet away from where he previously stood, Ichigo flashed over to the falling Arrancar. To anyone else, Ichigo simply axe kicked the large Hollow into the ground. Isshin and Ulquiorra saw Ichigo slam his knee into Yammy's back first and then executing said axe kick before the Hollow got too high. After cratering Yammy into the dirt, he turned around and headed back toward his father.
"That better be one of your disposable grunts Ulquiorra." Ichigo growled, knowing that Yammy was slowly pulling himself out of the earth.
"Speed and skill was never Yammy's forte." The white bat said, his tone as empty as ever. "Strength and durability, however, is." He said, just as Yammy rose back up.
"You little bastard!" He growled in anger, his hand resting on his Zanpakuto. "Lord Aizen wanted me to test you, but he wouldn't mind if I killed you as well!" He roared before charging a cero blast. "DIE!" He roared as he fired the torrent of energy at the hybrid. Ichigo sighed as he brought his hand up and blocked the blast, the energy spraying off like water. Ichigo focused on the cero's Reishi and began to pull on it like he does with Quincy abilities. Slowly, he took control of Yammy's cero while charging one of his own. Yammy and Ulquiorra watched in shock as Ichigo held the concentrated ball of twisting energies. Not even sparing a glance at his opponent, Ichigo aimed the ball skyward and released the cero.
"Cero doble." Ichigo whispered, launching the blast harmlessly. "I'm not going to kill you yet Yammy. I want to embarrass you." Ichigo said, looking at the large Arrancar like he was an ant. "So next time, Aizen will send someone worth my time." As soon as the shock wore off, he went black to glaring at the hybrid. Ulquiorra recognized what Yammy was going to do next and acted.
"Enrage!" Yammy yelled out, pulling out his sword. "IRA!" He called, only to notice too late that his arm was missing. He looked down to see Ulquiorra in front of him, holding the severed arm. "Ulquiorra! What the he-?!" He was about to ask before the bat punched a hole into the brute's stomach.
"It's clear you cannot beat him right now." Ulquiorra told his companion. "And if I didn't stop you, you would've caused lord Aizen more trouble. He wants Karakura Town in stable condition." He said before opening a Garganta. "We're returning, now." He almost growled, reminding the giant which one of them called the shots. Yammy hesitated out of fear of the smaller Arrancar before walking through the portal.
"Ulquiorra!" Ichigo called out, stopping the white Hollow. "What's your rank?" The hybrid asked, making his old companion face him. Ichigo opened his shihakusho to reveal his squad 1 and reforming squad 15 seals. "I was fighting at 60 percent, just so you know." The two continued to stare at each other before Ulquiorra responded.
"I am ranked 4th and Yammy is 10th." He opened his white robes to reveal his number. "I'll be sure to let lord Aizen know not to send you anymore trash." He said as the barrier closed, leaving the father and son duo.
"So how strong is Ulquiorra?" Isshin asked after a period of silence. "Do you remember?"
"He's the strongest Hollow I know." Ichigo answered his captain. "A vasto lorde. We need to report this."
(Las Noches)
Ulquiorra made his way to the meeting room where his master a fellow Arrancar had been waiting. He dismissed Yammy to get patched up because he wasn't necessary for this part. He had seen everything and his eyes never lie to him. He made his way to Aizen's throne, passing his fellow espada with little regard. Some were interested in what he had to show, others didn't care too much, but only one had his attention. The Shinigami that made them Arrancar, lord Aizen.
"Well Ulquiorra?" The traitor asked his loyal subordinate. "What have you to show us?" The bat wordlessly took out his left eye and crushed it, letting the specialized dust of his Solita Vista touch his allies and replay his memories. "So, 60 percent and he soundly defeated Yammy." Aizen said after analyzing the memories. "And you stopped him before he could use his Resurrecion because that would cause too much damage. Good judgment Ulquiorra." He praised his subordinate.
"But instead of killing him, you ran away." A condescending deep tone echoed throughout the room. "Or is it because you still think of him as a friend?" Ulquiorra turned to see the cocky fool, open jacket with lean muscles and a hole in his stomach, light blue hair, and green lining under his eyes. "If I was there, I would've blasted him to bits." Ulquiorra regarded the lower ranked espada with his ever present stare. "He's in the way so it'd be best to kill him now, right!?" He called out to the rest of the Arrancar.
"I will not fight Ichigo Kurosaki so long as Karakura Town is the arena." The fourth espada said with finality. "If we did, we would destroy the entire city. Or have you forgotten the significance of that place, Grimmjow?"
"Then we assassinate him." Said the man at Grimmjow's side. He had a long face with his hollow fragment resting on his head and extending to a point on the right while it covered the upper left side of his face. "A small, fast team to kill every major member of that squad 15. Kill this Ichigo fast before he becomes too much to handle." Some seemed to be in agreement until Aizen called for order.
"While this does raise some concerns of your loyalty, it also explains why you always volunteered to spy on him." He said, gazing down on one of his best. "I leave the matter of Ichigo Kurosaki to you, Ulquiorra. Do not disappoint me." He commanded as Ulquiorra bowed his head, purposefully ignoring Grimmjow's glare. "Everyone else, tread lightly. Ichigo Kurosaki is not to be taken lightly."
(Urahara Shoten/Squad 15 Base)
"From what we can conclude from Ulquiorra, there's at least four Vasto Lorde Arrancar in Aizen's army." Isshin reported to the Head Captain and his colleagues. Until further notice, unless forced otherwise, Isshin was to attend via video conference to the captains meetings. The appearance of the Arrancar put everything on high alert and squad 15 was the frontlines for the Shinigami. "It's very likely that each Arrancar has a special ability not unlike our own Zanpakuto's so caution is still advised sir." Yamamoto and the more inquisitive captains pondered on these revelations.
"You should have had Ichigo kill that Yammy Hollow." Yamamoto grumbled, worried about his student's judgment. "And that Ulquiorra, are you sure Ichigo will fight him?" All eyes turned to Isshin as he thought for a moment.
"These Arrancar seem different from regular Hollows." He finally said after a second. "But to what extent, I don't know. Aizen probably figures that no less than a Vasto Lorde Arrancar will be needed to fight Ichigo, which is something that could level the city. Either way, Aizen won't plan another attack for a while. Ichigo will probably try to turn a few to our side, and he might very well succeed." Isshin then met every single gaze from the other captains. "But my son will not waver. He will do what is necessary." Yamamoto seemed to regard Isshin for another few moments before nodding.
"Very well. Stay on guard for the next attack captain Isshin." He warned, about to call an end to the meeting before Urahara said one last piece.
"And if you could, please send me some specimens!" The eccentric inventor spoke excitedly. "Mayuri and I are eager to see what we can find." A small shiver went through everyone as the feed was cut. Isshin let out a relieved sigh.
"One thing I didn't miss about being a captain is how tense things can get." He whined while Hiyori came back in, eating a bag of chips.
"Oh boo hoo." She said through her snack. "That cow Rangiku told me about how you barely did that job before." Isshin looked back at her, surprised by the contact between his former lieutenant and his Comms Officer. "She calls twice a week to try to get a date with Ichigo. Says he's being a poor boyfriend." She shrugged as she took over her seat again. "Now leave, Baldy, we've got stuff to do!" She yelled, throwing her empty bag at Isshin's face. He pouted and left, grumbling about paperwork, leaving Hiyori alone. She began typing a few things on her keyboard, accessing a file called 'I.C.O.A.' Soon, the monitor camera activated and she began recording. "Video log #6, Hiyori Sarugaki..."
(The next day: Tatsuki and Isshin)
The school day came and went with no incident. A small hollow here and there, but nothing major, nothing important. The officers of squad 15 were all heading home for the night, except for one fireball. Tatsuki missed her captain's order to head home, her mind preoccupied with other matters. Isshin saw this and decided to step in.
"Tatsuki!" He said, making her jump in surprise. "It's late, you should head home. Unlike most of the squad, you guys still have school to worry about." She let her head drop and let out a sigh. Just as she was about to speak, Isshin interrupted her. "You're worried about yesterday aren't you?" He asked, making her look at him in shock. "I'm a father of three and I've been around for a long time Tatsuki. I've picked up a few things in life." He said with a fatherly smile. "Go ahead and tell me." She stared at him for a while before looking down.
"I froze." She said, uncertain and worried. "I'm supposed to be one of the leaders, one of the people that can stand by her friends, and I froze in the face of the enemy." She turned up her gaze to her captain, looking like a scared child for the first time in her life. "How do you do it?" She pleaded. "How does Ichigo, Uryu, or even Chad? How can you stay so calm in the face of stuff like that?" She asked, tears coming to her eyes. Isshin sat down next to her and looked the martial artist straight in the eyes.
"Listen Tatsuki," he started in his dad voice, "I'll be honest. Your only life or death experience was when that Hollow swarm attacked. And even then, you were so focused on other matters that you didn't focus on it. But you've had time to calm down, and you've learned that while you're powerful for a human, you are still human." He told her, keeping her gaze locked. "You've learned to charge your Reishi into fire attacks and you're a capable martial artist, but there are things out there that are stronger than you. Stronger than Ichigo right now. But they've faced that kind of danger often while you've only done so one time. By all accounts, you shouldn't even be a seated officer." She looked at him with betrayal and hurt in her eyes, but he held fast. "But you're still here. Because Ichgio believes in you. Orihime believes in you. Yoruichi and Soi-Fon both think you have what it takes. Just like me." Slowly the hurt melted away from her eyes. "We have the faith, you just need to have some in yourself and prove you are capable." He said before the alarms started going off. "Preferably later, but sometimes the enemy are jackasses." He said as he went out the door, Tatsuki just following automatically. Once outside, they saw a tall, thin man with a long face and an odd Hollow mask with a large, fat man whose face was half covered by a skull mask.
(Orihime)
"So, can you explain something?" The barrier maiden was making her way home, conversing with her spirits about her powers. "Why did you say you're my powers if you're my brother's contracted spirits? Was anything I did really me?" She asked nervously, concerned about whether she was a help or a burden to her friends. Oddly enough, it was Tsubaki who explained things to her.
"Of course it was Orihime." He said in a calm tone, surprising the other sprites and their mistress. "Your brother contracted us, but ordered us to be your Shikigami until you were ready to begin your training. Doing so put us in a mutual relationship where you supplied the power, we supply the action. In short, yes, you do have the power Orihime. Now it's time to get the training."
"Let's make that later and surviving is today." Shun'o said, just as Orihime sensed something coming at her. "Santen Kesshun!" She yelled, just as a man with a bulky helmet shaped like a hammer-head shark's head and bandages on the right side tried to stab her with his hand. The shield held him off, making him jump back and smile, showing of a disturbing row of square teeth.
"Looks like I'll be having some fun!" He said before laughing.
(Chad)
"So, Arrancar I take it?" Chad asked, on his way home when he appeared. He was larger than Chad, long red hair on one side and shaved black on the other. His Hollow mask looked like a pair of sunglasses resting on his nose.
"Yep, and I'm here to kill you." He said, smirking confidently at the Fullbringer. Sado rolled his shoulders and stretched a little.
"You can try." He said before flaring his Reiatsu.
(Uryu)
Uryu was making his way back home himself, contemplating a letter he found in his locker.
'We are not your enemies. We are kin. When you're ready to speak with us, go to the Funft Feld.'
It was obviously left to him by one of the Quincy that came to his school, but what is their aim? If they wanted to recruit them, why did they attack Ichigo twice? He needed to get answers but he couldn't go in there blind. He would wait until this matter with the Arrancar has settled down before informing Isshin and Ichigo. In the meantime, he'd crush this blonde, lean hybrid that got in his way.
"Hello brother," the Arrancar said in a sarcastic tone, "I'm here to kill ya." Uryu looked over his opponent, long blonde hair, Hollow mask that seemed like a broken helmet, and he already annoyed the Quincy.
"I'm positive that was meant to be threatening," He said while adjusting his glasses, "but it only works if you're actually threatening."
(Ichigo)
Ichigo was the only one that still patrolled the area. He was sitting on the edge of one of the higher buildings when he felt the six Arrancar enter the city, watched as they all went to his allies, and waited for the strongest of them to come to him. His patience was rewarded when a blue haired lean looking punk with a Hollow mask covering the right half of his jaw.
"So you're Ichigo Kurosaki?" He asked, condescendingly at the hybrid. "The one that made Ulquiorra run off?" Ichigo sighed as he got up.
"This better be worth my time." He grumbled under his breath. "And who are you?"
"Name's Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Espada number 6." Ichigo cracked his neck as he prepared to fight.
"Adorable." He said, making Grimmjow glare at him.
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers!)
Plans for the SMA
After the legitimate change of the Shinigami Men's Association's hierarchy, i.e. hostile takover, Uryu got to planning some big changes for the association. First order was removing the dress code of sunglasses and open jackets. This met some resistance, which met Uryu's fist, which killed the protests rather quickly. Next order was to restore their budget, Uryu planned on doing so by investigating what the Women's association did to get their current budget. He was less than happy when he finished his research.
"Nanao!" The Quincy growled in fury. "You've made yourself a terrible enemy in me!" The rest of the Association cowered in fear of their treasurer and real leader. "Time to fight fire with fire." He said, just as his phone rang. "Yes Ichigo? … It's for the club, do it. … No I don't think they'll mind. … I don't care if you don't want to do it! We're in the red because Iba is a spineless idiot! … JUST DO IT YOU WHORE!" He roared before hanging up. The rest of the men were looking at him in confusion.
"Uryu, did you just pimp out my son?" Isshin said, turning serious and burning with anger. Anger, that did not affect the Quincy.
"Modeling for an advertising firm." He said, brushing off the aggression. "Chocolate covered strawberries." Everyone just stared in confusion as he filed more reports. They decided to never speak of it again.