Why has it been so long since you posted a chapter Coryn? Why did you break off in the middle of your posting schedule Coryn? Is it possible you're a hack and a fraud Coryn?
My apologies on all accounts everyone. War Arc has eaten up a lot more of my time than originally anticipated. We should be back to my usual rotations now though. Please enjoy chapter 4 of Memories Unto The Dawn!
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4
Nurul had taken the lead, and the captains followed close behind. At first they followed out of suspicion. There was no doubt in their minds that they were being watched. Unseen eyes followed them. Four captains of the Gotei 13 had infiltrated the world of the hollows, it only made sense that they would attract curious onlookers. The onlooker’s curiosity would only increase from seeing said captains associating with an arrancar. Either because of the captain's company, or because they knew better, the hollows kept clear. This was much to the relief of the captains, as they had no wish to engage until it was absolutely necessary. The shinigami had grown up hearing stories of the Espada. It was a legend of triumph, but it made clear that just because those in the past had succeeded, it did not mean it would always be the case.
The quickest way to get yourself killed was by underestimating a hollow, even one that masqueraded as human.
The closer they got, the quieter it became. Fewer and fewer eyes were felt, and even though those stares belied greater strength, they eventually gave way to emptiness. By the time Los Noches appeared on the horizon, Nurul and the captains found themselves completely alone in that white sand desert.
Nurul took a step back from the captains. “Well, there it is, in all of its ruined glory.”
The captains studied the structure. A half ruined dome still hung over the palace, and the captains could see mighty cracks running along the surface. Most of its structural integrity had been lost, and whoever these new Espada were, they obviously did not see fit to repair it. Perhaps they hadn’t wanted to return it to its former state, perhaps they simply lacked the ability. At the very least, it was clear the captains would have to find their own infiltration point. They would get no help from Nurul to find another. He was already backing away from the captains. Lego turned towards him. “What's the matter? Afraid of an old building?”
Nurul shook his head. “I'm afraid of what's inside. Besides, you don't need me anymore. I know you can feel them, just as I can. The Espada are waiting for you.”
The captains looked back towards the building. Nurul did not lie. Any shinigami could have felt the killing intent long before they had seen Los Noches. There couldn't be any mistaking it. The Espada knew the captains were there, and they were sending out an open invitation, loud and clear.
Noisey said. “We only asked him to show us they way after all. There's no need to press him further.” He turned towards Nurul. “Head back and let your villages know what's happened.”
“And tell them to expect us once we're done!” Coryn chirped. “I'm interested in learning how you arrancar organize yourselves. I promise I will be an entirely peaceful envoy!”
Vacant shook his head. “When you say it like that it makes you sound suspicious. Besides, don't be so optimistic.”
Coryn shrugged. “And you shouldn't be a pessimist.”
“Of course not.” Said Vacant with a wave of his hand.
Nurul, meanwhile, continued to not comprehend the captain’s demeanor. Didn't they realize they had all signed up for what was tantamount to a suicide mission? It was a hollow's nature to think of the shinigami as little more than glorified meals, but the flippant way these captains conducted themselves exceeded even that assumption. They were walking into awaiting jaws, and they didn't even know it.
He stepped back from them one last time. “I hope you aren't overestimating yourselves.” Nurul turned way. “I'll retreat for now. If you do survive, please release Netra. She can lead you back to us, if that's what you desire. Now, good luck.” With the electric buzz of sonído, he disappeared, and left the four shinigami alone in the land of hollows.
Lego formed a rectangle with his fingers, as if mimicking a camera. He sized up Los Noches in the little window. “It's still really far away right? They say it just looks close because it's so big.”
“Yeah…” Said Vacant. “He did show us the way, but I'd say we still have a few hours left to travel.”
Noisey shook his head. “I don't like long trips. All this running is going to tire us out before we even get there.”
Lego dropped to all fours, as if in a starting position. “So you're saying it's a race!”
“No I-!” Protested Noisey, but Lego was long gone. His flash step carried him far beyond the other captain's line of sight, even if they could still feel his presence. It seemed that the Kenpachi was just as amped up by the Espada's 'invitation’ as they had hoped he would be. The other captains gave each other a look of resignation before speeding after him.
He had a name once. But that didn't matter anymore. Now he was just a number. He was Arrancar 36. Just another would be Espada who didn't make the cut. Dragged from his village, made to compete for his life. All of that just to be made a fracción of the Espada. He was alive, and that was better than most of those the Espada abducted, but not by much.
36 sat in the control room of Los Noches. Many of the screens showed nothing. The places they monitored long having been destroyed. But most remained intact, and on them he could see four approaching figures.
Shinigami.
Enemies of the Espada.
He had been told they were coming. Somehow the Espada had picked up on it long before any of the fracción had. That was just the difference between them, he told himself. It was why despite his willingness, he would never join their ranks.
That ambition had been beaten out of him. His number proved it.
36 calmly set things into motion. The Espada had left very specific instructions. They had chosen their places upon the stage, and it was up to 36 to make sure the guests also found their marks.
Arrancar 36 was loyal. Arrancar 36 would ensure the Espada were ascendant.
Netra was no longer chained or gagged, but she was not free. She sat behind a set of bars. It was a holding cell that she was sure was never meant to contain an arrancar. Even if there were unseen spells meant to keep her in place, Netra guessed that she would be able to break through.
What she was unsure of, was getting past the woman who stood on the other side of the gate.
Netra recognized her as the captain named ‘Corycaly’. The woman who had read Sken's letter. She had been among those who voted to believe Netra's tale, and had then been assigned guard duty. Corycaly had remained at her post ever since.
Netra didn't feel any malice from the captain, but the longer she studied her, the more convinced she became that Corycaly was not to be trifled with. And furthermore, that if Netra had tried hunting Corycaly on the previous night, that she would have never made it back to Hueco Mundo alive.
“So…” Said Netra. “Do you just intend to leave me here until I begin to rot?”
Corycaly gave Netra a kind smile, which unnerved Netra even more so. “Only until our erstwhile captains return to verify your story.”
Netra shook her head at the sentiment. “How can you be so sure they're even coming back? These are Espada we're talking about. You may have defeated them in the past, but this is now. Times change.”
She turned towards the window to sulk. Sunlight streamed in from the midday sun. It was a far cry from Hueco Mundo, but it didn't make her long for the sunshine. Home was home, after all.
“They'll be back.” Offered Corycaly from behind her. “I trained them myself, after all. No, my only worry is that they will destroy their hoari in the process. I took great pains to sew theirs.”
Netra cast a glance back at the smiling captain. “I wish I could be so cavalier.”
The captains took a rest at the foot of Los Noches. What had started as a foot race had quickly fallen into a steady pattern after all. Los Noches was truly huge, and even a captain couldn't waste effort in the arrival.
“Next time…” Said Coryn as he took in a breath. “We plan to arrive a little closer to the building.”
Noisey shook his head at the blonde captain. “I hope you're not planning on there being a next time.”
Lego said. “Oh don't worry, after I'm done in there, there won't be a need for a second round.”
“Sure, sure.” Said Vacant. “After you then.” He gestured towards a massive crack in the structure. It was deep and black. Easily wide enough to allow a fully grown man to pass through. And from the air they could feel flowing out of it, there was little doubt in the captains’ minds that they had found their entrance.
Lego straightened himself out and stepped forward. “Don't fall behind now.” The Kenpachi climbed into the darkness, and disappeared. Shortly thereafter, the other three captains followed behind, with Noisey taking up the rear guard.
Noisey followed the dark path. He could sense his fellow captains ahead of him, but they felt distant, like they were miles away. It was an odd sensation that permeated him as he walked. It was said that Los Noches possessed strange properties. But this disruption of his senses he had not expected. Perhaps it was because they were in the wall itself and not a proper entrance?
Noisey sighted what seemed to be daylight from the far end of the passage. The jagged stone of Los Noches was highlighted in relief, but Noisey couldn't see his companions. They must have already exited the pass, he thought to himself.
When Noisey stepped out into the light, he was totally alone.
Noisey stood atop a dune, and was met only with a vast expanse of bright desert. Cuboidal structures lay scattered in all directions, but there was no indication of where Noisey's companions had disappeared to. The captain turned around, so see if he had somehow managed to pass them in the darkness. When he did, he found that the cave, and the wall itself had disappeared. Noisey found nothing but quiet, empty sand.
That peace would soon be disturbed.
“You confused yet Cap’?!” Shouted a voice from behind Noisey.
Noisey turned to see a figure sitting atop one of the structures. His skin was deeply tan, and a messy green mohawk ran down his head. A white jacket, its sleeves rolled up past the elbows, displayed the man's bare chest. His trousers were also rolled up to just below the knee, and below them were a pair of short boots.
What Noisey was concentrated on however, was the black hole just below the man's naval, and the massive amount of killing intent he was projecting.
“So then…” said the man. He raised his left hand, and displayed his palm. There, in black ink, Noisey could read the number ‘4’. “How do you feel about seeing an Espada for the first time Cap’?”
“Hrm?” Mused Noisey. “Number four is it? What's your name?”
The Espada did not look please at having his question be ignored. But he answered anyway. “Parviz Aristizabal! Espada Cuatro! Now answer the damn question!”
Noisey gave a shallow bow before answering. “My name is Joshua Noisey, Captain of Squad 10 of the Gotei 13. Before I answer, may I ask you one more question?”
Parviz spit onto the sand, and stood up. “Just one.”
Noisey nodded. “Thank you. I just wanted to know, how many Espada you have gathered so far?”
The Espada studied the captain, attempting to figure out what he was trying to achieve. But seeing no harm in it, he responded. “Five. There's five fully fledged Espada.”
Noisey breathed out a sigh of relief. “That's good. I'm glad I got the weakest one.”
“The hell did you just say?!”
“I said…” elaborated Noisey. “That I'm glad I got the weakest one of you. You still count your numbers from zero to nine correct? So I'm glad that you are the least powerful. I want to spend as little time fussing about with this as possible. Getting into a protracted fight with you will just slow me down. It just means…” Noisey placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. “That the sooner I kill you, the sooner I can get back to my duties.”
Parviz shouted, “Screw you!” and rushed Noisey. The Espada had drawn his sword, and was on top of the captain in a blink of an eye. Parviz was up against Noisey, his zanpakuto having been brought down, but Noisey had drawn his own blade. The two locked in a standoff of clashing steel and sparks.
“You shinigami really piss me off you know that?! I'm going to rip your head right off your body Cap’!”
Noisey said. “I invite you to try.”
Parviz broke off their clash, and kicked Noisey in the chest. The captain was sent hurtling back across the dunes, and only came to a stop after he stabbed his sword deep into the sand. When Noisey looked up, he found Parviz high in the air above him, a bead of red light at the tip of his fingers. “Cero!”
The beam was fast, but Noisey was quicker. When the cero began to decimate the desert, the captain had long repositioned himself to the crest of a nearby dune. When it was over, Parviz dropped down next to the crater of freshly molten glass.
“What are yah running around for Cap’? I thought you were going to finish this quickly. Why not show me that fancy shinigami sword of yours? I know it's not just for decoration!”
Noisey contemplated the espada, and sighed. “I was hoping I wouldn't have to become too animated, but I suppose a member of the Espada deserves my full attention.” The captain pulled up his arm, so that his zanpakuto was pointed back over his left shoulder. “Scream into the night, Shinchona Risuna!”
Noisey swung the blade across his chest and out to his right side. As it traveled, blue reishi encased it. When Noisey's arm came to a rest, the weapon transformed all at once. The hilt elongated in both directions from Noisey's hand. The blade curved and split into two, forming a 'U’ shape. At last the resihi dispersed in a shower of flakes, and Noisey was left holding a long spear, which strongly resembled a tuning fork.
Parviz eyed the zanpakuto's three foot blades. Even without the long spear handle, the captain would have the distance advantage. He would have to get in close, but once he had, the shinigami wouldn't stand a chance. In the meantime, he would have to test its powers. “Fancy spear you got there Cap’! What's it do?”
Noisey looked at his zanpakuto. It was not highly adorned, but there was a small flourish from the relief which held the ‘U’ shaped blade to the shaft. He did not hate the fanciful design, but he did not love it either. It was a distraction from the true purpose of the weapon. An item of flair that belied the usefulness of his tool. The captain let the weight of the spear sink his arm, until the blade rested just above the surface of the dune. “Allow me to show you, Parviz Aristizabal” Noisey tapped his blades against the sand, and let Shinchona Risuna go to work.
Parviz watched intently as Noisey hit his blade against the ground. He didn’t recognize it at first, but the intent soon became clear. Something was coming for him, and it was coming quick.
The espada shot backwards as the sand in front of him erupted with a high pitched squeal. He threw up his off arm to keep the sand out of his eyes, but instead he received an unanticipated sensation.
Pain.
Parviz’s eyes widened as he saw a gash open up on his forearm, apparently brought on by nothing at. He knew that Noisey must somehow be responsible, but seeing how the captain had not moved from atop his dune, Parviz was unsure how it was possible. When Parviz landed several yards back, he yelled at Noisey. “What the hell was that?!”
Noisey seemed unmoved. “My apologies. I meant to cleave you cleanly in half, but I didn’t compensate enough for the sand. It won’t happen again.”
Alarm shot through Parviz’s frame, but he forced himself to remain calm. “That’s sure as hell not what I mean! Explain yourself shinigami!”
Noisey said. “Was it not clear to you? This is Shinchona Risuna, my ‘careful listener’. It’s a sound based zanpakuto. Sound is a wave you see, and needs some medium to travel through. This sand isn’t very dense, so my attack lost a lot of its power. If you would be so kind to travel to one of these buildings, I would be able to kill you much more efficiently.”
“Like hell I’d allow that!” Screamed Parviz. He pointed a finger at Noisey. “Cero!”
Noisey flash-stepped out of the way yet again. This time however, he appeared right next to Parviz. The captain slashed up with his spear, and while it did not connect, a vertical wound split open on Parviz’s cheek as the compressed sound waves traveled through the air to the espada’s face.
Both Parviz and Noisey shot back, but not far enough to be out of each other’s range. Noisey lunged forward with a flurry of strikes, leaving Parviz only capable of bashing them away.
Noisey said. “Stand down espada! This isn’t a battle you can win. It will be easier if we both agree to end it.”
“Screw you!” Shouted Parviz. He made another leap back, and readied his hand for another cero. Before he could even summon the pulsing ball of red energy however, it was too late.
Noisey rushed forward, and caught Parviz’s neck in the apex of his ‘U’ shaped blades. The espada grabbed the spear handle with his free hand. It was all Parviz could do to keep his neck from being caught by the blade. The two sailed across the sand, until they hit on of the nearby buildings. Noisey’s blades sunk deeply into the wall, carrying Parviz with him. Much to the espada’s surprise however, the shinigami did not continue all the way through. It was deep enough that he was trapped, true. But the espada could still see a way of escape. All Parviz had to do was wait for his moment.
“Why not finish the job Cap’?! Or are you just afraid your best won’t be good enough?”
Noisey shook his head. “I was just considering giving you a second chance. I’m sure you already know, but we were lead here by arrancar who are trying to prevent your oppression. You’re no weakling. Someone like you could help them. It’s not necessary for the shinigami and the arrancar to war.”
Shinchona Risuna’s blade sunk a little deeper into the wall. Parviz’s pulled his head back as far as he could. Noisey was still out of striking distance of his sword, but at this distance, it wouldn’t matter. “You don’t know the arrancar very well then Cap’! And you sure don’t know the Espada! We’re going to bring all of Hueco Mundo under our control, and after that, Soul Society will feel our wrath!”
Parviz glanced down at the spear, and gleaned a detail he had missed. The arrancar hadn’t noticed it before, but the blades were only sharp on the outside. On the inward facing side, they were as dull as could be. Slowly, the espada began to laugh. “Oh, you are a fool aren’t you?! How do intend to finish me with a dull blade huh?!”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Parviz realized something. His hand was shaking. While the inside of the blades were dull, they were vibrating. However slightly, there was definitely movement there. Movement, that was building in intensity with each passing second. Parviz’s hand shot off of the weapon as the realization took hold. Rage gave way to worry. “Pull back shinigami! Let’s finish this like men!”
“Ah…” replied Noisey. “Now that is a sentiment that has killed many.”
The spear sank a little deeper, and Parviz could now audibly pick up the vibrations of the weapon They were reaching a fever pitch, and Parviz did not contemplate what would happen once the ‘U’ shaped blade, however dull, reach his neck. In desperation, the espada went for his own sword. “Gnash-!”
Noisey shouted. “It’s too late! Shinchona Risuna, sing for me!”
The zanpakuto moved forward.
Contact was made.
An explosion of blood painted the dull wall of the cuboidal building.
The headless body of Parviz Aristizabal crumpled to the white sands.
Noisey regarded the red splatter on his white hoari. It would stain, but that was the problem for a future man. Another Noisey would make that report. Another Noisey would apologize to Corycaly. Another Noisey would don a freshly sown robe. But all of that would have to wait for another day. Until then, he needed to progress further into Los Noches. He could still sense his fellow captains, however distant they had become. But more importantly, he could sense a presence ahead. A presence, that he could only assume, was their real target that day.
The captain regarded Parviz’s corpse on last time. “It was a good fight, Espada Number 4. May you find peace in the next life.”