'He still hasn't told me what he wants from me,' I thought with a slight frown as I walked a step behind Aizen, the man's spiritual pressure pushing against me whenever I tried to walk on either side of him.
I could have just pushed through it and forced myself to walk beside him, but I've already disrespected the man enough times since I arrived. Doing so again may result in him deciding that he has no more need for me, which means that I'm going to have to play it safe…for now.
Still, I don't really know what possessed me to even challenge him like that. I'll admit that I am a bit stubborn and arrogant of myself, but I don't think it was to the point that I thought myself capable of challenging one of the strongest men in this world.
Unless…
'Stagnate as who I am, a man filled with confidence and ambition. This is because of you, huh Mimihagi,' I thought with a smirk, glancing at my arm before looking up as Aizen spoke.
"What compelled you to accept my offer? You do not seem like the man who would do so."
"Simply because you would have targeted my loved ones, forcing me to come along. This way, I can simply spare them the pain."
"What if I decide to attack them to keep you under my command?"
"Then, I can simply kill you or die trying."
"You will die trying."
"Then, I will die in peace."
"I could never understand that about humans. You are such fragile, insignificant beings and yet, when it comes to protecting the ones you love, you would risk life and limb to protect them. Why is that?"
"Have you ever had someone that you can say you would give everything for to ensure that they will live on?"
"No, I cannot."
"Then, you will not understand no matter how much I try to explain it to you," I answered, to which the man simply glanced back at me with a smirk.
"I suppose that is how the weak would see it."
"Also, are you just asking because you're curious or are you asking because you wish to learn more about me from it?"
"What would make you think that?"
"Just a hunch, you know?", I responded as Aizen began to slow down, stopping in front of a set of double doors that opened with a flare of his reiatsu.
"Is that so?", was all he said before entering the room, making me roll my eyes as I followed in after me.
'There it is,' I thought as my gaze instantly locked on the spherical object sat on a pedestal in the centre of the room, the Hogyoku's energy making it hard to breathe as we stopped a few paces away from it.
"So, did you bring me here just to admire it?", I asked as I looked at the man, who just let out a soft chuckle before shaking his head.
"Why would I do such a thing?"
"Considering you went so far as to threaten people I love to get me here, I'd say you've probably been dying to flaunt it to me."
"Well, it will sad for you to hear, but you are not the centre of everyone's worlds."
"Then, are you finally going to tell me why the hell I'm here?"
"There's no need for such foul language," I grimaced as Aizen focused his full spiritual pressure on me, with it feeling far harder to breathe than before when I was walking up to him.
"R-Right, I suppose you're the type to want to look calm even when you're pissed-off."
"I am. Now, then, the reason I had you brought to Hueco Mundo is one I want you to figure out, considering that you were the one who uncovered my plans and all for the Gotei 13."
'In other words, there are numerous reasons and you just want me to be focused on the one reason,' I thought as I looked at the man, who waited patiently with a smirk before I looked forward at the Hogyoku.
"Since you didn't call me here to flaunt the Hogyoku and you most definitiely didn't call me for my healing abilities, especially since you looked more intrigued by my sceptre itself instead of me…I assume you wish to know how I created it?"
"Close, but no. No, my real interest is in how a human such as yourself, someone with no special lineage, rose to the height of a captain in less than a year's time."
"Oh, I wouldn't say captain-level. It's more on the level of a lieutenant."
"Considering you've killed a captain, I'd disagree with that statement."
'If only he knew.'
"So, you do want to learn my secrets, huh? You're just having trouble on how to ask about them."
"You admit that you have secrets, then? Ways on how you grew so strong within such a short period of time."
"No, but I will give you the one secret that you're craving."
"Which is?", He asked, a look of intrigue in his eyes as I looked at him and grinned.
"You have no idea of humanity's endless potential for evolution," I spoke, the words being those of one of my favourite character in anime. Aizen on the other hand just narrowed his eyes ever so slightly at my words before he looked back at the Hogyoku.
"I see. Well, then. I may be able to see how much further your evolution takes you, Don Kanonji. For now, Ulquiorra will show you to your room."
'Where the hell did he even come from?', I thought with a blink of my eyes, staring at the stoic Espada before a thought came to mind as I looked at Aizen.
"Am I allowed to explore?"
"That would not be a privilege prisoner should have, but I suppose you will do so no matter if I say you can or can't."
"Yeah, this is just me being nice," I answered, a bit surprised once again as the man looked amused at my words before nodding.
"If you leave Las Noches, we shall eradicate the entirety of Karakura and everyone who lives in it."
"Don't worry, I won't. Now, Ulquiorra, my brother! Show me to my room!"
"I am not your brother."
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'You know, I'm more of a lover for purple, gold and black, but I can appreciate an all-white outfit with hints of black that looks good,' I thought as I put on the white dress shirt, admiring the black rose on the left breast and the black trim on its edges before doing all but the top two buttons.
Combined with the flowing white hakama pants, the black Arrancar boots with white lining and the white overcoat that was black on the inside, I almost looked exactly like an Arrancar if not for the fact that I didn't have a Hollow hole or a mask fragment on me.
'Huh, it's almost like I replaced Orihime…Oh, please save me, Ichigo~', I thought with a soft chuckle, looking out the barred window before glancing back as the door opened.
Ulquiorra's presence was one that I have grown accustomed to as I turned, watching the Espada enter with his usual stoic expression.\
"So? Do I make this look good or what?", I asked, shifting from side to side before grumbling as he just continued to stare.
"I do not care. Lord Aizen asked me to come see if you are comfortable."
"I would like for there to be no bars on the window, but that's out of the question. Other than that, I am a-okay."
"…You are far too calm for someone that was taken from your home," he said after a moment's pause and I raised an eyebrow at that before shrugging.
"What will panicking get me? In times like this, it's best for one to stay calm for if you are calm, your mind is allowed to focus on a way to survive whatever is wanting to make you panic."
"And do you believe you will survive at the end?", I was a bit confused and intrigued at why the Hollow was continuing to ask me questions, looking at him with a hum before nodding.
"I am. After all, those that are under my command and those I love will most definitely find out what had happened and they will be coming to get me back."
"You believe that something as abstract as love will be enough for them to come rescue you? Even if it means that they die?", he continued and I smiled before shaking my head.
"Ulquiorra, what do you think love is?"
"How would that help you answer my question?"
"It's more about me wanting to learn more about you for humour purposes. Will you answer?", I asked, watching as the Espada continued to stare at me before he answered.
"Love is nothing more than a concept created by you humans to help you be more discriminate towards each other. Love is a fixation created by humans in order to help you be more than the savages you are. You say that you feel great love towards each other and yet, wars and murder are what you are the best at as a species. So, why should I believe there is such a thing as love when I cannot see it with you all? If I tear your chest open, will I see this love in your heart? If I rip your skull open, will it be visible in your brain?", He asked, a curious look in his eyes as he stared at me. I was silent as I continued to stare at him before a soft smile spread across my face as I shook my head.
"You will not and you are correct in the fact that humans are savages at heart no matter how much we try to hide it with our intelligence."
"Then-"
"And that is also why I believe that love is something that was created not by humanity's need to hide their destruction, but as a way to help them embrace it," I continued, cutting him off as he narrowed his eyes.
"A man that has not felt love in the first place will never understand what love truly is just as much as a man that has felt all of his life and has not gone without it. Both will think that feeling love all the time or not once is something that is to be a constant in their life, but the very moment that love is taken away or given to them respectively, they will begin to question their very existence.
Why does someone care so much for me? Why is there no one to care for me? Why? Why? Many questions pop up in their heads as they begin to decipher what love truly is and it is when you get to the end that you realize one thing.
Love…love provides the worth of everything in our realms. Without a love for wealth, gold and money mean nothing. Without a love for the opposite sex, lust means nothing. Without a love to show off to others, pride means nothing. Everything that happens in this world is because someone has a love for it. That love forces them to do things, whether that is stealing from others to provide for their families or even just stealing because they love the rush it gives them," I murmured, turning my head to Ulquiorra who stood silent before looking back out at Las Noches' blue sky.
"I cannot force you to understand what love is, but what I can tell you is this. The greatest happiness in a human's life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves or in spite of ourselves. So, yes. I do believe that my friends and loved ones will come rescue me for love loves to love love," I finished with a smile, watching as Ulquiorra continued to look at me before he turned and left the room.
'Well, that just sets him on the path of finding out what love truly is.'
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"Really? I'd rather just stay."
"Would you?", Gin asked with a smirk and I stared at him before simply closing the door behind me and continuing onwards to explore the place that is Las Noches.
I had decided to do the adult thing and announce to Aizen that I was going for a walk, but it appears he's either sent the guy in front of me to follow me around or Gin had just decided to just come along for the ride.
'Whether it's one or the other or neither, he's going to be annoying.'
"So, this chick you decided to leave behind because we would have killed her had you not come along. She must have been a pretty woman, huh?"
'Yep, very annoying.'
"She is."
"Well, according to the information I heard, she also has a kid and he's a bit older than a toddler. You really still think that you'll be able to date her?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Curiosity, mostly. You humans are always so fascinating."
"…I have spoken to her husband and I helped him pass on since he no longer had any worries about them."
"Huh, that's pretty generous of you, but I'm more focused on the woman. You sure you wouldn't want a woman that's more…pure?"
"Hahahahaha~!", I couldn't help but burst out into laughter as Gin spoke, shaking my head at the statement while looking at the confused look in his eyes.
"Did I say something amusing?"
"Yes, that. You honestly believe that I pursue a woman for her purity?"
"Isn't that what all of you humans like? To corrupt that which is pure?"
"That…is somewhat true, I suppose, but I don't pursue love for the simple reason of corrupting it. I pursue someone because I truly want to care more for them. I want to be the one that she comes to when she's feeling saddened or angered. I want to be there when she feels joy and excitement. I want to be the shelter to her worries and the solution to her problems.
Pursuing someone because you lust for them is one thing, but pursuing someone because you truly love them for all their strengths and faults is what truly separates those who love from those who yearn for a fleeting moment of lust. Then again, I don't have to say that to you, do I Gin Ichimaru?", I spoke with a smirk, watching as Gin raised an eyebrow before speaking.
"Whatever could you mean?"
"You think I haven't seen your body mannerisms whenever you are in the vicinity of Rangiku? I admit that it did take me a while to figure out where I had seen those same mannerisms, but it is when I took a step back that I remembered. The way you act with her is the same way that I act around Ikumi-", I stopped talking as a wakizashi was placed against my throat, Gin's eyes fully open with a cold look in them as I smirked.
"Ah, no one knows, do they?"
"And no one will know."
"Of course, but I must ask. Do you honestly believe that you will be able to keep it a secret from Aizen?"
"The same way that you knew the secret of Aizen's Zanpakuto activation?'
"Exactly. I know some secrets and you know some. We can fight right now and try to kill each other, but that would mean that numerous people will find out about our secrets. Therefore, let's be friendly with each other. You don't tell anyone about my secrets and I don't tell anyone about yours."
"…You are quite the sneaky man, Don Kanonji," Gin spoke with a teasing smile and his eyes closed once more as he sheathed his weapon, to which I smirked and shrugged as the two of us started walking to the exit of the building once again.
"It's through that sneakiness that I am still alive today. Now, let's go and say hello to the other occupants of this castle."
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"Why are you here?", Aizen asked with a raised eyebrow even as he didn't turn his head, the other figures seated around the table looking at Gin and I as the man smirked while I shrugged.
"I got bored of being in the cell. Why? Did something happen?"
"Why is there a human in our presence?", The pink-haired Sakura-looking dude three seats down on the right of Aizen asked with a frown and I raised an eyebrow before looking at Aizen.
"Who's the one with the bubblegum-pink hair? Also, hey, Grimmjow. Like the new arm?", I asked, grinning as the blue-haired man just looked forward with a glare.
"Do not glare at him."
"Make me."
"I see your team is not as well-organized as I was expecting."
"That is due to you having come here and causing a disturbance."
"Ah, sorry about that. I was just expecting you all to be a bit more disci-Hey, you! You're the bastard who stole my energy, right?", I said with a frown, everyone gazing at the person I was talking to who looked at me and scoffed.
"Any energy that is Hollow-like in nature belongs to the king of Hueco Mundo."
"…So, Aizen? You're sitting all the way down there while he's at the head of the table. Wait, don't you usually keep the strongest ones at your side and then leave the weaklings near the other end, right Gin?"
"That is usually not how it goes, but I can see why you would think that."
"Do not enable him, Gin and please stop provoking my subordinates, Kanonji."
"Hehe~ It's fun to do so."
"Don't worry, I just want to make his blood pressure rise a bit. Anyway, what are we having a meeting about?"
"This is a meeting for the fighting force of Hueco Mundo only," Aizen answered, to which I sighed and began walking back to my room. Yet, as soon as I exited the room, a smirk spread across my face as I began to plan my next move.
'He may have hidden it fast, but I caught a quick enough glimpse to know,' My eyes may just have been deceiving me, but I'm fairly sure I saw the entirety of the guerilla unit on the feed before it snapped away.
I guess I was telling the truth to Ulquiorra. They may not love me, but their love for duty may just be what is needed to help me survive.
'Now, I suppose it's time I speedrun my training, then.'
A/N: And we hit off the next arc. Next chapter, we're cutting away from Kanonji to do the fights.
Next chapter: A pervert, an angry blonde and a hyperactive girl against three former Espada.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!