"So, Aizen wants to meet me? May I ask what for?", I asked, holding my sceptre steady while staring down Ulquiorra. Orihime herself also looked ready for a fight as her pixies floated around us, but the Espada was not interested in her whatsoever.
"You may ask. I will not answer."
"Then I see no need to continue this discussion. Out of the way or I'll remove you myself."
"You are not strong enough to do so," Ulquiorra answered bluntly and I smirked at that, catching Orihime's surprised look as I nodded.
"I am not, yes, but you won't take me without a battle and I assume you don't want the Soul Society to find out about this."
"You are most definitely far too strong to lose without a harsh battle, one which will attract the attention of the Shinigami. Can you say the same for her?", he asked as he glanced at Orihime, who stiffened at his glance while I glanced at her and back at him.
"You are strong, but you cannot fight me and protect her at the same time."
"No need. She can take care of herself."
"Is that so?", he asked before he vanished, a Reishukaku barrier forming around the two of us with Orihime making her own barrier on top of mine before I stacked another barrier on top of hers.
The first barrier was torn away the second his punch landed, Tsubaki slicing through the air and hitting him in the side of the head. Yet, it did nothing as Ulquiorra simply glanced at the pixie that flew away before turning his gaze back to us.
"Ready, Orihime?"
"Ready!"
"Hado #63: Raikoho!", Orihime and I dismissed our barriers in unison, Ulquiorra raising a hand right as my sceptre sparked before unleashing a potent blast of energy at him.
It did send him flying back, but it was not enough to knock him down when I saw Ulquiorra catching himself. I could see his palm being singed black as well as some red blood under it, but other than that, there was no lasting damage as the Espada lowered his hand.
"Hmm, it appears you are stronger than I expected. Perhaps, I will take you seriously," The Hollow spoke and my eyes widened as he shot forward, creating a barrier in front of us only for him to crack it slightly with his first punch.
Orihime was quick to form her own barrier in front and behind us, reforming my own barrier as well before I saw the Hollow narrowing his eyes and pushing against the barrier once again.
This time, the barrier cracked all over before it shattered, Ulquiorra following with another punch that cracked Orihime's barrier as well.
Unfortunately for him, hers repaired itself as soon as it got cracked before Tsubaki attacked again, but I quickly created a barrier around him as Ulquiorra swung a backhand and sent Tsubaki flying.
Quickly stopping the barrier before it could hit the Dangai's walls, I pulled Tsubaki to us and Orihime dropped the side of her barrier to let him in. I winced when I saw the bruise forming on his side, narrowing my eyes at the Espada who looked as stoic as ever.
"It appears you now understand the futility of this resistance. Unfortunately, it appears the trash from earlier has brought help so I will leave. Remember, you cannot be in two places at once, Don Kanonji," I kept my guard up even as he opened a Garganta and walked through, only relaxing when it snapped shut and I heard footsteps and familiar presences approaching from the back.
"Kanonji!", I heard Ukitake's voice, turning my head to see him along with Byakuya and Shunsui walking up to us with frowns on their faces.
"Where is the enemy?"
"Just left," I answered, lowering my sceptre while dropping my barriers as the three of them narrowed their eyes at the scorched area around us.
"It does not look like it was a hard-fought battle."
"No, he was mostly playing around with us."
"Why, though?", Shunsui muttered and I glanced at Orihime who stood up while Tsubaki floated up with a grimace and a grunt.
"Because he needs me alive or at least, Aizen wants me alive for some reason."
"You? What would Aizen want with a human?", Byakuya asked with a raised eyebrow and I smirked before shrugging.
"A human that is able to use Kido like a Shinigami, can absorb spiritual energy like a Hollow and control the reishi in the air like a Quincy. Other than those, I can't see why he would want to kidnap me."
"You just love sounding sarcastic, don't you?", The noble spoke with narrowed eyes and I snickered before looking to Shunsui who was busy humming while looking around.
"We'll accompany you to the Human World. Afterwards, we shall report back to the Captain Commander and figure out a plan from there."
"Got it."
'And once we get to the Human World, I'm sure Ulquiorra's going to visit again with some more friends,' I like the fact that the Gotei 13 are actually trying to help, but they will most definitely use me as bait to try and get Aizen even if it means I die in the process.
Not that I had anything against that plan, but I'd rather not lose my life right now while I'm in the prime of my youth!
"You good, Orihime?", I asked as I looked at her, following after Byakuya, Shunsui and Ukitake who were on guard while the girl blinked at my question before nodding with a shaky smile.
"Y-Yeah, I just didn't expect it to be that hard."
"Eh, don't worry about it. That guy was on the same level as these guys so I don't blame you for it being hard."
"Are you saying that one Espada was on our level?", Shunsui asked with an intrigued look and I looked at him before nodding with a smirk.
"He was. It felt like I was fighting someone as strong as Mayuri, but a lot more calm and focused on power instead of intelligence. That isn't to say that the spirit wasn't intelligent, but this was more like someone who had the power to kill me in one blow."
"Well, Espada means ten which means that we have ten of them to worry about and if each one is on the level of a captain, then this might be a bit more troublesome than we expected."
"I'd say this one was an exception with how he fought. He did not hesitate with powerful blows, but most of them were aimed for the barrier to break it down and he didn't release his Resurreccion nor did he draw his blade."
"Hmm, then it appears that Aizen has his exceptional warriors just like us. You believe you could last against him for longer had we not shown up?"
"…I'd like to think so, but battles aren't just about who can last the longest. If you had taken longer, I would have then focused on figuring out a way to defeat him in one blow. Catch him off-guard, perhaps?"
"You believe that would be possible for you?"
"Everyone tends to underestimate me until they're dead and I'm still alive. It's just a matter of how long," I answered with a smirk, to which Ukitake chuckled while I ruffled a surprised Orihime's hair.
"Stop looking so stressed. You did good in the fight. Your barriers were a lot better than mine and while he did hurt Tsubaki, you helped me figure out a lot of things."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. Stand proud, Orihime. You are strong," I spoke with a smile, to which she looked pleased as we continued walking before my smile dropped slightly as soon as everyone's gaze was from me.
'With that said, he's most definitely going to target Karin, Yuzu, Ikumi, Kaoru or Nakamura the very second I'm stuck in a battle. Hah, I guess there's no helping it.'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I was not surprised when I felt two presences appearing behind me later that night as I sat on my rooftop, simply turning my head to stare at the two figures landing behind me.
The sight of Ulquiorra's stoic look did not surprise me, but I did raise an eyebrow at the second figure, his blue hair all but familiar along with the missing left arm as Grimmjow stared at me with a frown.
"This is who Lord Aizen sends us to get? A human?"
"This human is of more importance than you are to him. Now, be quiet," Ulquiorra responded and I stood up as Grimmjow just scoffed, but didn't say anything in response.
"I assume you will accept Lord Aizen's offer?"
"If he promises to not hurt the ones I love as well as those under my command?"
"He does."
"I'd rather hear it from him," I answered, watching as Grimmjow raised an eyebrow at my words while watching Ulquiorra's eyes narrow ever-so-slightly for a split second before he returned to his usual stoic expression.
"You do not seem to understand your current situation."
"Oh, I understand perfectly. I'm just asking whether or not your Lord Aizen will be pleased when I kill myself and you fail this mission," I interrupted him with a frown, watching as he stared at me before I froze as a presence appeared behind me.
"My, my~ You are becoming quite the enigma, eh Kanonji?"
"Great. It just had to be you," I muttered as I turned around, staring at the smiling figure of Gin who chuckled and waved with a smirk.
"I'm guessing you know now that he will keep his promise if you keep yours?"
"If he decided to send you instead of Tosen, then I suppose they are telling the truth."
'Hopefully, they got that,' I thought with a frown as I called my sceptre to my hand, discreetly destroying the wiretap I had on my person while following Gin and the others through the Garganta Ulquiorra had created.
"You know that-"
"I know, Gin," I answered as I created a platform below my feet, to which the man's smile just widened as the Garganta closed and the four of us began to walk through the void that was the space between the three realms.
"Hmm, you are quite skilled and knowledgeable for someone who has only been fighting with us for the past couple of months."
"I am."
"What's your secret?"
"You stabbed me through the stomach. You honestly think I'll tell you?", I asked, shaking my head as Gin just shrugged before I turned as Ulquiorra opened another Garganta and led us through.
Instead of the sandy plains of Hueco Mundo, though, I was surprised when we walked into a well-lit area, nearly taken aback by the abundance of spiritual energy in the air.
The Soul Society was also rich in spiritual energy, but the energy there was a lot more pure and controlled. Here in this area, I nearly choked at how potent it felt, taking a few deep breaths and relishing in the afterburn it gave.
'If the reishi on Earth is like a flat beer and the reishi in the Soul Society is like a rich wine, this reishi here is like a high-proof whiskey that burns with every breath I take. Holy shit, I can see why Hollows love the air here.'
"Enjoying yourself, are we?", I heard Gin ask and stared at his amused smile before rolling my eyes as I looked to Ulquiorra with a frown.
"Where do we go now so I can be rid of this idiot?"
"Oof~ Right in the feels there, Kanonji."
"Follow," was all Ulquiorra said and I nodded, noting Grimmjow and Gin doing the same as we made our way through the hallways. It felt never-ending as I was sure we had turned right nearly eight times before we turned left, which made sense as Ichigo and the others had gotten lost in the building when they had broken into it to save Orihime in the canon timeline.
'Now, I don't think they'll come rescue me, which is both good and bad. It's good because I've grown to like the kids and I don't want them to risk their lives for me, but at the same time, this was the point where they all grew and they need that strength if they want to fight Aizen and his higher-ranking officers. Actually, now that I'm here…'
"Ulquiorra, question. Are you the strongest out of the Espada?", I asked, waiting patiently before rolling my eyes as Ulquiorra simply kept on walking without answering me.
"He isn't, though I can't say what number. That would be giving information away for free~", Gin spoke with a teasing smirk and I narrowed my eyes at him before turning my gaze back to Ulquiorra.
"You sure? I know you Espada have a Resurreccion or something like that since it's like your Bankai, but something tells me that you have something up your sleeve."
"What makes you say that?"
"Just a hunch."
"Is that the same hunch that made you figure out Lord Aizen's plans?"
"Why are you here? I know he's here because he's escorting me and he's here…because of the arm? Maybe a punishment or something, but that doesn't explain why you're here," I said with a frown and Gin just snickered as we approached a pair of large double doors, the two girls in front of it looking surprised and immediately opened the doors.
"Like I said, I'm here to show you that Lord Aizen means to keep his promise."
"You're just here to enjoy the show, aren't you?"
"That's only a secondary reason," Gin spoke with a smirk and I just sighed before looking forward as I saw Ulquiorra stopping.
"Lord Aizen, I have brought the target."
'And there's the Aizen I used to idolize in my past life,' I thought with a smirk as I looked up at the man sitting on his throne that sat at the top of what was either a very tall pillar or a very long flight of steps, resting his head on his right hand while looking down at me with a soft smile.
There was no hiding the amusement dancing in his eyes though and I matched his smirk as I let my sceptre hover beside me.
"Welcome…to my Las Noches," The man spoke and I nodded before looking to Grimmjow who was busy standing with a disgruntled look.
"What's up with him?"
"He's just mad about something," Gin answered and I raised an eyebrow before looking at the figure. The next moment, they all paid attention to me as I raised my right arm to Grimmjow, who narrowed his eyes as the shadow tendrils of my arm stretched out and began to touch him.
"What are you-"
"Just be quiet."
'Hopefully, this is going to work,' I thought with a frown as I felt my energy touch Grimmjow's soul, immediately channelling the Hollow energy from my sceptre to his soul.
We simply stood there for a minute or so and I felt my disappointment at the thought of this being a failure before I grinned as I felt his soul beginning to heal itself, Grimmjow looking surprised as the shadow tendrils took the form of his left arm.
The next moment, as the shadows began to pull back to me, fresh skin and flesh were left behind as his left arm began to reveal itself, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly as I pulled my energy back to me.
However, I was not done as I called my sceptre to me, smiling in satisfaction when I saw it passively absorbing the reishi of Hueco Mundo and refilling the spiritual energy it had just spent.
And just like that, I found a new training hack.
'The luck of the protagonist strikes again. Oh, how I do love being me.'
"What did you just…do?", Gin asked with a raised eyebrow, but I simply smiled and shrugged.
"Who knows? Anyway, Aizen? No, I feel like that's not right. Do I call you Aizen or Lord Aizen?"
"I do not care," Aizen answered with the same smile on his face even as his eyes were more focused on my sceptre, to which I raised an eyebrow before nodding.
"Fine, Aizen it is. No one could tell me what you want from me. Can you give me an answer?", I asked as I began to create barrier after barrier in front of me, making Gin hum in surprise as I ascended the staircase and began to make my way up to the man.
"You are quite the confident man, aren't you Don Kanonji?"
"I have been told a bit too confident."
"Indeed, but I'd rather not be seen as an equal to you," he answered and I grunted as I felt his spiritual pressure surging. However, I surprised both him and myself as I felt my arm reacting and my own spiritual energy surging.
It was not even close to being a match for his, but it did help me breathe easier and I looked up at him before speaking.
"Stop that," In that same moment, as the world stopped and his energy stopped pressuring me, I leapt up the stairs. Landing in front of him, I stood up right as the world resumed.
The pressure hit me like a smack in the face as I was just a meter or so away from him, but I kept my cool smile even as Aizen slowly looked up to meet my gaze.
"Now, why did you decide to have me kidnapped, Aizen?", I asked again, watching as the man continued to look at me before he smirked and stood up from his throne.
"Follow," was all he said as he turned and began walking to the back of his throne, to which I waved cheekily at Gin and Ulquiorra still looking at me before I began following after the man.
Time to figure out what he wants from me.
A/N: And we end it off here~! Aizen tries to stunt on Kanonji, but the man strikes back with his own cockiness.
What happens next? Find out next time~!
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Ba-Bye~!