Las Noches (2)

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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"Oi, Ichigo, do you want us to look at the Hollows feast upon a child?" Renji quirked his lips in distaste.

"That child might have eaten people before taking off her mask. I thought killing Hollows was a Shinigami's job," Ichigo retorted in amusement.

"It doesn't mean we have to take pleasure in torturing them."

Renji's scowl would have made the original Ichigo proud. Agreeing with Renji, the other Shinigami turned to Ichigo. They lost any interest in saving the child the moment they realized she was an Arrancar, but that didn't mean they would want to see the child getting ripped apart. Ichigo could have let go of the child and Hollows, then let fate decide.

"The Hollows won't eat the child," Tier remarked when the silence got unbearable. "I know that child. The former Tres Espada, Nelliel Tu Odelschwank. Rumor has it she was killed in battle. It seems there is more to her disappearance."

"A child is an Espada…" Retsu wondered. "I don't see how she can be useful to Aizen."

"She wasn't like that before," Tier informed, glancing at the broken mask on the child's head. "Her injury must have affected her Reiryoku."

Ichigo ignored the talk and walked to the quartet of misfits. Nel's crying visage was endearing, but the other two made Ichigo want to end them. Bawabawa the gigantic sandworm sounded terrifying but was quite funny in Ichigo's opinion. He could tolerate the worm. He honestly found the worm adorable but didn't want to admit it as it was his Hollow side speaking.

"B- Big baddie! What are you going to do with Nel and her fwens?" Nel shouted when Ichigo stopped before the Reishi cage.

"I thought these guys were going to eat you," Ichigo returned in amusement.

"That is not the case!" Pesche rebuked. "We and Nel-sama were merely playing infinite tag until you ruined it."

"Hm…" Ichigo looked at the group up and down. Pesche and Dondonchakka immediately lost their playful façade and stood before Nel, confusing the child Espada. "What do I do now with the four of you."

"We will give you anything you want as long as you promise to let go of Nel-sama," Pesche stated heavily.

"What if I want her?" Ichigo smirked.

"Eh, you want Nel? Why would a Shinigami want Nel?"

Pesche and Dondonchakka tensed as Nel tilted her head cluelessly. They quickly made a decision. They would lay their life for the safety of their mistress. They would make sure Nel wouldn't be hurt again. Ichigo disintegrated the cage when Dondonchakka was about to order Bawabawa to swallow Nel and escape the cage via the sand.

"Eh?" was Pesche and Dondonchakka's intelligent response to the bizarre development.

"We need a ride to Las Noches," Ichigo jabbed his thumb at the group of Shinigami and Arrancars behind him. "I think this big worm will be able to carry us to Las Noches."

The estranged Espada and her Fracción looked at the group and balked. They just noticed Tier, an Espada, was among the group. Pesche and Dondonchakka were naturally worried. Nel might not have made anyone in Las Noches an enemy—that lanky hater Nnoitra was an exception—but that didn't mean everyone would see her amiably.

Weakness was abhorred in Las Noches. The Exequias were dispatched whenever an Arrancar failed to do his job. Some Espada had even fallen victim to the execution. Pesche and Dondonchakka didn't know Tier's character, but if they reflected on their experience with the Espada so far, Tier shouldn't have any remorse for killing Nel due to her weakness.

"Bawabawa sure is capable. But why do we have to listen to you?" and so Pesche exclaimed defiantly.

"A ride for your lives is a good trade, though," Ichigo smiled amiably, causing a chill to go down their spine. "No one will hurt you or this little child. I guarantee your safety."

"I might not have the sharpest horn in Hueco Mundo, but I know a Shinigami's words can never be held accountable," Pesche spat.

Ichigo mulled for a moment over what he should do next. Then, he decided to claw on his face. His Hollow Mask covered his head. His Reiatsu intensified and became more domineering, amazing the trio and terrifying them. Ichigo tilted his head, looked at them with his golden eyes, and spoke in his distorted heavy voice.

"Can you trust my words now?"

"Wow, you became more trustworthy out of a sudden," Pesche laughed nervously, sweating under his mask.

Oblivious to the tension, Nel's eyes sparkled as she said, "Woah! This guy is cool. Let's follow him around." She extended her hand and grinned. "I am Nel. Who are you?"

"Ichigo." He dematerialized his mask, calming his Reiatsu. "Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Well, nice to meet you, Itsyugo!"

Nel grabbed Ichigo's hand, shook it, and then crawled up his arm like a spider before settling on his shoulders. Pesche and Dondonchakka almost had a heart attack. They were relieved when Ichigo chuckled as Nel laughed merrily.

"Lessgo!"

Pesche and Dondonchakka's breath hitched when Nel pulled Ichigo's hair like a rein while pointing toward Bawabawa. Their chance to beat Ichigo was nonexistent. They could tell by his sheer Reiatsu. They, most importantly, Nel, wouldn't survive if Ichigo decided to end them. Luckily, Ichigo only smiled at the insolence.

Ichigo beckoned his group to come. They looked at him and Nel's Fracción alternatingly before coming over. Ichigo jumped at Bawabawa's head, prompting the others to follow suit. Pesche and Dondonchakka stayed close to Nell, sitting behind Ichigo. Tier and her Fracción were behind them, followed by the Shinigami group.

Bawabawa took off, carrying the group on its back. It slithered across the sand unimpeded. The journey to Las Noches was a fairly quiet one. Ichigo sank into his Inner World while the others quietly observed the surroundings. Kenpachi would occasionally cause a commotion by getting off Bawabawa to slaughter some Hollows. Yachiru would giggle all the while.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed in Hueco Mundo unless you counted every second, but they eventually arrived at Las Noches. The group got off Bawabawa's back. Nel remained on Ichigo's shoulders, laughing merrily as he jumped down. The entrance provided them with five ways to choose.

"The first and last one will take us to the Throne Room unimpeded," Tier informed. "The three in the middle will take us to Tres Cifras where Priveron Espadas reside."

"What is that?" Renji blurted.

"The fallen Espadas. Those marked 100 and below," Ichigo answered, beating Tier to it. "We should split up since our goal is a clean sweep. I will be with Tier and Chad. You can choose your partners."

Mayuri scoffed as the others partnered up, "Let's go, Nemu. We don't have to waste time here."

Everyone watched as the mad scientist walked into the right-most way without a care. Retsu frowned at the insubordination, but Ichigo couldn't care less. He wasn't interested in the clown's safety. Ichigo looked at the group instead. Byakuya partnered up with Renji; Kenpachi with Yachiru; and Retsu with Shūhei, Ikkaku, and Yumichika.

"Emilou, Mila, Sung-Sun, choose the group you want to accompany," Ichigo ordered.

"Huh? Now you are ordering me—hey, what are you guys doing?"

Emilou's rant was cut short when Mila and Sung-sun stood beside Byakuya and Retsu respectively. That left her with Kenpachi who was grinning madly at her. She shouldn't have run her mouth. She wouldn't have been paired up with the person who set her alarm bells off had she shut her mouth and moved on.

"Then, I will be going with Itsyugo!" Nel exclaimed.

"Oh, you want to come along?" Ichigo quirked an eyebrow.

"No!"

"Yes!"

Pesche and Nel gave a different answer, but Ichigo only registered what Nel said, confirming her joining the journey.

"Let's get into it, then."

"Wait! We want to join too," Pesche exclaimed.

Ichigo quirked an eyebrow and shrugged, "Pick your group, then."

"Yeah, pick it up, quick! Don't slow us down, Pest!" Nel merrily shouted.

"I- It's Pesche, Nel-sama," Pesche corrected weakly.

"Everyone, let's meet in the Throne Room. If you encounter a difficulty, don't hesitate to communicate through Tenteikūra."

"Understood."

As Dondonchakka swallowed Bawabawa under some Shinigami's baffled eyes, Pesche looked at the group leaders. Ichigo was out of the question since he had entered the center path with his group. Kenpachi looked like he would eat them. Retsu was smiling, but something in her eyes told Pesche they would regret choosing her. Byakuya might treat them like air, but he was a better option than the rest. Pesche made a choice.

"Excuse me, Mr. Model, may we join you on your journey?"

Byakuya didn't react until he realized Pesche was regarding him. He gave Pesche a once-over before snorting softly.

"Do whatever you want."

"That is what we will do," Pesche agreed merrily.

"Don't slow us down. I won't hesitate to cut you if you do," Renji growled.

"Geez. Don't get your panties in a twist, Pineapple-head," Pesche waved dismissively.

"This bastard…"

"Renji."

"Y- Yes, Captain."

The groups made their way into the path. Retsu's group entered the left-most path, Byakuya's group the second one from the left-most, and Kenpachi's group the second one from the right-most. Everyone remained vigilant. Only Ichigo's group could converse amiably, but that was because of Nel. Even Pesche and Dondonchakka lost their facades as they walked the path.

Before long, they encountered their first obstacle.