Haruto and Naruko arrived at the Soukyuko Hill after a few minutes of Yoruichi's departure since Haruto insisted on moving slowly and dramatically. The sight upon the Hill was interesting to say the least. A dog like creature was bleeding on the ground, wearing the cloak of a Captain; Aizen was restrained by Yoruichi and Soifon with a sword near his neck.
Gin was restrained by Rangiku while Tosen was surrounded by Shuhei Hisagi. The various Captains and Lieutenants were standing here and there, surrounding the three traitor Captains.
His arrival caught the attention of all the people when Haruto dropped to the ground with the grace of a speeding meteor, creating a loud boom and a large crater, blasting the ground with his landing with Naruko sitting on his left shoulder. Yamamoto, Shunsui, Jushiro, Soifon, Yoruichi and Nanao had their eyes widen in surprise, having seen the destructive power Haruto possessed in the first place.
Just what was his purpose for coming here?
The others couldn't believe the nerve of the Ryoka to suddenly intrude upon their fight while Aizen eyed the red haired boy with an analytical look. His appearance suggested that he was a brute, if the bulging muscles and physical perfection of his body were any indication. However, the hidden wisdom, piercing quality of his gaze, the analytical way he seemed to glance at them betrayed the true meaning of his wide grin
As soon as he saw Rangiku, he jumped around like a kid in a candy shop. "Hey Naru, look there's my little Ran-chan, told ya I wasn't lying!"
Rangiku palmed her face in embarrassment when all the Shinigami turned towards her with wide and blinking eyes. Just why did that old coot call her 'his little Ran-chan' in front of the others? It was not her fault that he was an ancient old geezer.
"Come on Naru, let's meet her." Haruto exclaimed and raced towards Rangiku with Naruko still on his shoulders. Gin suddenly didn't like this Haruto character one bit, he seemed way too familiar with Rangiku for his taste.
Rangiku kept her eyes down with a hard blush when Haruto and Naruko suddenly enveloped her in a tight, bone crushing hug. She may not accept it, but it felt amazing to once again be in their arms.
Gin looked on with owlish expression on his face, his eyes blinking repeatedly as he eyed the strange sight. He was forgotten as soon as that brute showed up. I mean come on, he was a traitor, he should be restrained to not attack someone, yet here he was standing in the middle of the hill with no one to apprehend him.
Yeah way to show some caution in front of a traitor!
He was really starting to hate that blonde.
"I didn't quite believe Haruto when he said you were here, but it seems he was right. It's good to see you again, Rangiku." Naruko said fondly and stroked the strawberry blonde's hair with affection.
"It's great to see you as well, big sister," she whispered softly.
"Hey hey, you didn't greet me with that kind of attitude, you little brat!" Haruto interjected indignantly with his eyes twitching madly. He had been attacked as soon as she had seen him? Where was all the fairness?
"That's because you forgot about me, you old geezer!" she snapped rudely.
"She is in the same boat as me, you little fiend!"
"Why you… I outta kick your wrinkly old ass, you old coot!"
"Come and try it, you old hag!"
"Who are you calling old hag!?"
The Shinigami present couldn't keep their jaws from dropping to the ground, especially those who knew the strawberry blonde well. These two were bickering like they had known each other for years, but that was impossible.
Naruko sighed in irritation when the two glared at each other, visible lightening flashing between their eyes. "Enough you two!"
Rangiku gave Haruto a look that clearly said 'you're whipped' while Haruto glared even harder.
Yamamoto cleared his throat loudly to catch the attention of the two bickering Haruto and Rangiku. If it wasn't for his unsurpassable power, he would have incinerated the loud blonde already.
"Sorry, we're discussing a little strategy." Haruto offered sheepishly while Rangiku snickered.
Everyone developed a massive sweatdrop at the back of their heads at his lame excuse. Even Aizen sweatdropped. It seemed his analysis about the blonde being strong were inaccurate, he looked like a weakling.
"Hey there hunk, glad you could make it!" Kukaku announced from atop Jidanbo's shoulder and waved at Haruto.
Yoruichi's eye brow twitched at the hunk comment. What the hell was she thinking, calling Haruto that all the time?
"Hey look, it's my busty and spicy drinking partner," he grinned and waved back followed by a meaningful wink which she returned with a grin.
Haruto turned towards Aizen and gave him a friendly wave followed by a 'thumbs up.' "Hey there four eyes, I totally agree with your plan to escape from this place, I mean this place is a piece of junk. I can't even find a bowl of Ramen in this godforsaken place, can you believe it?"
He conveniently ignored the glares from all the Shinigami except Rangiku and Naruko who snickered
"Anyway when you get to whatever place it is you're going, could you please invite me? I mean I came here looking for some parties, but these guys are all prudes." Haruto snickered inwardly when the glares intensified.
Man, it sure was fun teasing the crap out of these stuck up idiots.
Aizen blinked in surprise. He had been expecting a show of anger for hurting his fellow Ryoka friends, not approval. That blonde seemed a rather odd fellow.
"I'm not sure I understand the implication of your words, though I understand this much that where I'm going is not a place to 'party,' but I'll be sure to take your offer into consideration," he said, not really meaning what he had said, but it was true nonetheless. Hueco Mundo was no place for 'parties' as the blonde had put it.
"Thanks, though when you do decide to invite me over, can you call a day before, so I at least have time to prepare important things like Ramen, stuff, Ramen and Ramen," he listed wisely.
The sweat drops intensified and increased in volume at the ranting blonde.
"Is that guy an idiot?" Tetsuzaemon asked with a sweatdrop while the rest nodded.
"You said Ramen three times, Love." Naruko said in mock irritation.
Can't he just start killing that arrogant Captain standing there like he was a God or something, especially that creepy smiling one, since he reminded her too much of a certain pedophile. Besides, smiling like that should be against the rules!
"That's because you can never have too much ramen," he retorted sagely.
Aizen smiled his usual mocking and calm smile. "Well, this has been entertaining, but I'm afraid it's time for us to go."
Yoruichi's eyes widened in surprise and realization. "Soifon, get away from him!"
The Captain of squad 2 jumped away from the smiling Aizen just as an enormous square shape beam of light struck the ground and surrounded all three of the Captains in its glowing confines.
Haruto raised his crimson eyes to the source of the light to see the sky being torn apart by a horde of Menos Grande and a slit at the back of the strange distortion. The ground around Aizen and the other two Captains split in half and large boulders raised the three Captains to the sky.
Jushiro gave the traitor Captain a small frowning look. "You have joined up with the Menos! Why would you want to do that?"
"I need to keep reaching higher." Aizen didn't expect them to understand the true extent of his ambition, simply because it was beyond their feeble comprehension.
"You have become that corrupt, have you?"
"You're blinded by your self-righteousness. From the beginning, no one has ever stood at the top, not you, not me, nor the Kami's," Aizen removed his scholarly glasses and swept his hand over his messy hair—completely shocking the Shinigami below with his sudden change in appearance—and opened his menacingly narrow eyes, "but soon, that unbearable vacancy at the top will be filled. From now on, I will be sitting on it."
Haruto's grin faltered a little when he heard that incredibly egotistical claim, but killing him now would be too soon. He had all the time in the world to see what he could do, to see what the arrogant Shinigami really had in mind. He would be keeping a close eye on him, for sure.
But for now, he had to make an impression.
Just as Aizen and the other two Captains reached the opening of the Garganta, an enormous dragon of blazing fire rushed at them with a loud roar, taking the Captains below and above by surprise at the unexpected attack. Aizen and the two Captains jumped into the Garganta to escape the attack, leaving the horde of Menos to howl and scream as they were reduced to nothing but dust.
Before his retreat, Aizen looked back to see the bold attacker, only for his eyes to widen in a rare moment of surprise, to see the outstretched hand of the person he had declared an idiot a moment ago, with his eyes as cold as the dark and chilly nights of the dessert of Hueco Mundo.
It would seem his evaluations of the blonde giant were proven wrong once again. That dragon made of fire was not a Kido attack, nor a Cero, seeing as he had studied both the Hollow and Shinigami method of fighting and combat.
A Technique capable of reducing at least a dozen of Menos Grande to nothing but dust in an instant was nothing short of astonishing, even to someone like him. He now truly realized who his mysterious ally 'Phantom', was talking about. He would have to keep a close watch over this one.
With that thought in mind, he walked through the Garganta and disappeared to the other side, deep in thought.
"I warned you before, you foolish Mortal, that one of them would prove quite troublesome to you and your plans." Aizen stiffened when he heard his aforementioned ally's voice in his head. "No need to be so startled. Like I mentioned before, nothing is impossible to me. Keeping a telepathic link is child's play for someone of my power and might."
"I have to say I'm surprised, I never realized someone with this kind of ability existed." Aizen replied, not truly wanting to show how much this revelation had scared him.
He had thought of many tactics and ideas to somehow bring Phantom under his control, now that he had the Hogyoku in his possession, but his ability to read minds and keep a telepathic link was a game changer. He would have to keep his thoughts and emotion under control lest he enrage the mysterious entity into killing him without him even knowing the limit of his power.
"Your feeble mind simply cannot comprehend the complexity of my vast being, I'm beyond you." The mocking and taunting was getting on his nerves, though he couldn't take any action, he would have to wait for an opportunity to strike, no one defied Aizen, No one!