Cloud Nine

It felt like I'd woken up, but I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or not. There was an almost endless veil of darkness covering my sight, with white clouds plastered across it like a painting.

"...Beats me. Found the dude walkin' around Las Noches like he owned the place!"

Voices were lingering in one ear and ringing in the next. Each of them sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"My, my… Wouldn't that be a problem…"

One of the voices was sarcastic, his tone coming across nonchalantly, yet seemingly interested.

"Ugh, cut that out, would'ya? Your voice is pissin' me off!"

The second voice was angry, his voice trailing off into the distance, carried by a degree of anger and hate that I couldn't quite understand.

"What an odd Zanpakutō, though… I've never seen one with a guard like that before… Have you, Mr. Urahara?"

Mr. Urahara? This name was familiar. Had I heard it before? Where had I heard these voices before? Was I dreaming, or was this all an illusion?

"Hmmm~ Well, an Arrancar's Zanpakutō does not have a spirit within it… Instead, their weapon is an embodiment of their own power! I suppose it might appear slightly differently than your average one."

"What did you say?! Don't go talkin' bout my power like you know anythin' about it, Kisuke!"

"Ah! I'm so sorry, Grimmjow!"

Another name had been spoken. Did I recognize it, or was I just dreaming?

Still staring off into the darkness, a blurry light appeared in the distance, although dim, it was distracting enough to grab my attention.

'What is… What is all this? Those voices… Don't tell me...'

I felt my body suddenly launch itself forward, my limbs shaking uncontrollably as I tried getting a grasp on the situation.

My vision was still blurry, but I could still feel and make use of some of my senses. While my nose wasn't picking anything to note up, I could feel something held within my hand, being grasped tightly.

I could also feel an overwhelming amount of reiatsu around me, reminding me of when I'd seen Tier Harribel and Yhwach battling in the distance.

'Don't tell me…'

Paranoia began coursing through my thoughts again, my instincts suddenly taking control of my body as rational thoughts vanished. It felt like I'd launched myself up, but it was all a blur. Was I really standing up, or was I still lying down flat on my back, staring up at the blank sky of Hueco Mundo.

"Sit down would'ya, Lance!"

I heard Grimmjow shout something, but I couldn't see anything. As I tried adjusting to my surroundings, I felt a firm hand suddenly grab my shoulder, pushing me down with more force than I could withstand, squishing me down into the soft surface below.

"C- Cut it out!" I shouted.

"Grimmjow… Be a little more gentle with our guest, would you?"

"Huh?! Shut up, woman!"

As I was forced into an uncomfortable position, forced to listen to the ramblings of whatever was going on around me, my vision slowly began returning, revealing a set of odd appliances.

There were rows of modern-looking technology, followed by a set of curtains obstructing most of the room, though the lower-half was visible, revealing a set of familiar sandals.

'Kisuke Urahara?!'

"Just be a little kinder, Grimmjow…" A gentle voice spoke out.

Finally returned, my vision began to clear out, revealing an odd sight. Grimmjow was hunched over in the corner, his clenched fist held above his head as if he was ready to strike someone.

My eyes soon lowered down to the dark corner, where I noticed long, bright-orange hair in a mess behind a transcluecent orange-barrier.

'Is that Orihime?' I asked myself, my thoughts soon completely cast out.

"Take it back, woman!"

"W- What the fuck is all this…." I said under my breath as I watched an enormous hand suddenly appear from my right, Yasutora Sado appearing out of the blue, throwing a right hook straight at Grimmjow.

"El directo!"

Sado shouted as he struck the back of Grimmjow's head, all his might swung into one swift punch, reiatsu blasting off as the collision blew part of the tent-like area away, revealing Kisuke Urahara minding his own business behind the makeshift door.

"What's going on here?"

The confrontation hadn't destroyed the entire settlement, though it had cleared the area we were standing in completely, leaving only what I assumed were Kisuke's contraptions standing.

Sado was kneeling on the floor clutching his chest tightly, while Grimmjow stood over him like a tyrant, the back of his steaming slightly from the impact.

"That hurt, you bastard!"

Grimmjow noticed by presence shortly after, a smile creeping up his face as he walked over.

"Yo, Lance… How're you feelin'?"

'Is he… Smiling?'

This wasn't a situation I'd ever imagined myself in. How had I managed to seemingly befriend the one of the least-friendly guys in the entire series?

"Hey… What happened? What did you do?" I asked, running my hands along my face.

The visor that once obstructed my eyes was nowhere to be seen, replaced by the crown-like horns that previously wrapped around my head, only now were they slightly larger.

Peering down, I was dressed in an Arrancar-like outfit, the same as the one Grimmjow wore, the spikes that ran down my arms nowhere to be seen.

"I'm an… Arrancar now?"

"You are! I must say… It was quite reckless what Grimmjow-san did… You're quite lucky to be alive… Mr…"

"Lance," I replied, standing up as Kisuke stretched his hand out.

Matching his handshake, I took his hand in firmly. While I was pleased to have finally met him, this handshake wasn't a formality. He was gauging both my strength and confidence.

I could tell, even with this nonchalant and cheerful attitude, he was being dead serious. His reiatsu was being confined to a small space around him, but I could feel its strength nonetheless.

That said, I stood strong and firm, confident darting around my body like a boosted surge of adrenaline.

'This power… It feels so different… I feel so much lighter…'

"Ah! You must be wondering about your Zanpakutō." Kisuke said, reaching down to the floor.

He raised a lilac scabbard from the floor, "here."

Taking the sheathed blade into my hand, I could feel a part of me stored inside. As I drew the blade, a sudden flash of light blocked my vision, unknown memories soon flooding my mind.

My eyes shut, a vision began playing out in my mind as if reality, a perfect display of my own abilities stored within the blade.

'This is… This is my Resurrección?'