13Behind The Mask: Chapter 1
Ichigo sat in the throne room in Los Noches. The reason? He had called a meeting. He was still waiting for the last of the arrancar to assemble. He turned towards where many of the arrancar were gathered, he could still remember their hesitation at having another soul reaper leading them. He narrowed his eyes at the thought. He'd never become like him, he could never throw people away like Aizen had. His eyes wandered to Harribel and her fraccion. He could clearly see Apacci and Mila-Rose arguing about something or another, Sung-Sun the ever so helpful was on the side clearly throwing more gas onto the fire if their reactions were anything to go by. Then his eyes locked onto Harribel, it brought him back to she had save his life. He would be forever grateful to her for that.
Harribel on the other hand looked like she was ready to break them up when she felt his gaze linger onto her. She turned around and noticed he was staring straight at her, his face looking at her in deep thought. She raised an eyebrow wondering what he was currently thinking about. Ichigo on the other hand realized he had been staring too long and shook his head in response. They could discuss privately at another time.
Ichigo on the other hand, went back to his previous thoughts. If it wasn't for her he'd be another spirit in soul society. He knew that if he did die and end up going to the soul society that there was no amount of apologizing that they could do to make up for what they've done. Even if it was being kept from the others, it still pissed him off to no end. He couldn't thank Harribel enough for what she did for him that day. She had no reason to help him that day but she did. Ichigo couldn't help the small smile that momentarily replaced the usual annoyed expression on his face.
Flashback
"La Gota." Harribel whispered.
The soul reapers eyes widened as a shark tooth-like projectile came in contact with the head captain separating him and Ichigo. Water started pooling in the area around them. Not letting her moment go unwasted, a buzz of sonido was heard as she reappeared behind Ichigo.
Ichigo turned around to see a blonde haired arrancar behind him. This arrancar had spaulders on her shoulders, which reminded him of shark fins, and two ribbon-like protrusions on her back. She had thin, spine-like structure forms on her stomach, spanning from her waist to the underside of her breasts. Speaking of, what really caught his attention was the dark 3 tattooed on the inner side of her right breast. Deciding that he looked at her breasts long enough he went back to looking at her other features. He noticed that she wore a mini-skirt consisting of bones surrounding a dark undergarment alongside a pair of knee-length boots and elbow-length gloves. Her weapon took the form of a broad pata, which resembled an elongated shark tooth, it had an unusual hilt with a hand guard which completely covered her hand. The sword, Ichigo noticed possessed gill markings along either side of the blade. Her hair was messy, and she had two blue lightning bolt markings on both sides of her face. She also appeared to be heavily wounded just like he was.
Aside from taking in her features, he was still in complete shock at what was going on, was he not just about to die by those he called allies? Who was this arrancar who had just saved him? Why is she helping me? These were just some of the many thoughts rushing into his head. He was snapped out of his thoughts when the female arrancar in front of him opened a garganta. She turned her aqua green gaze towards him on the ground before nodding her head towards the garganta.
"If you value your life, you might want to follow me." She said before she hopped into the garganta.
As he was about to follow suit he felt something hit his leg. He looked down and saw the hogyoku. This was the thing that started all of this. This was the reason he had worked so hard. The reason Aizen became near unstoppable. But why did it feel like it was calling him. Ichigo reached his hand out to pick it up, as he was about to pick it up he saw Shunsui making his way towards him with his swords drawn, clearly not liking that Ichigo was about to pick up the hogyoku. He made the snap decision to pick it and hopped into the garganta. As the garganta was closing he felt the edge of Shunshi's zanpakuto graze his back before it closed completely.
On the other side of the garganta, Harribel was waiting out in the deserts of Hueco Mundo for Ichigo to arrive. She didn't know too much about Ichigo. Aizen had made sure that all the espada knew of his powers and gave a short description of his personality. Given what she overheard from his conversation with the head captain, it all seemed to be accurate. However she couldn't trust him completely, not just yet. He may have killed Aizen, he might even be an enemy of the soul society now, but he needs to prove himself as an ally to hollow kind before any decisions could be made. Her gaze went over to the garganta as Ichigo finally made it through. He looked a lot worse for wear with wounds all over his body. From both his fight with Aizen and the attack from the head captain. It surprised her that he was still able to move given his body's condition. It looked like the adrenaline was wearing off since the moment he came through the garganta he collapsed onto the sand. Ichigo looked up at the arrancar that saved him, her gaze looking over his body, looking at the injuries he had sustained no doubt. His eyes were getting heavy, he was tired both physically and mentally, he just wanted to rest. Feeling the darkness start to take over his sight, he asked one question.
"Who are you?" Asked Ichigo.
"Tier Harribel, Tres Espada." Harribel simply said as she watched his eyelids close.
"Name's... Ichigo, Ichi..go… Ku..ro...sa..." was all he could get out before succumbing to the darkness.
*Flashback End*
Unknowing to Harribel, her thoughts were in the same directions as Ichigo's. She had taken a huge risk bringing him back to Los Noches. It was not only a risk to him, but a risk to herself as well. However she can not blame them for wanting to kill him when he was recovering. They had not heard of the sacrifices he had made to take down their previous ruler. How he had thought he sacrificed his powers willingly for those he cared about. Regardless of whether or not he could get them back, he still did it… and he was betrayed by those he did it for. The thought angered her, sacrifices were always meant to be respected. For the sacrifice made, and for the person who performed it. But it would be just like the soul society to turn its back on someone that wasn't one of theirs wouldn't it.
Her attention turned towards the door as it started to open. When the door was fully opened, came the Segunda Espada and her predecessor Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. Nelliel (Or Nel was how she liked to be referred to by those she considered friends) came in with her fraccion trailing behind her. Both of them had two noticeable bumps that decorated the top of their head.
"My Apologizes for being late." Nelliel said as she and her fraccion bowed their heads towards Ichigo. Nelliel knew that Ichigo didn't really care about her being late or about formalities in general, however if she let that show then the other arrancar would follow suit and that was something that she could not allow. Ichigo had deserved their respect and he fully had hers when they had first met.
Catching her train of thought, he motioned for her and her fraccion to stand back up.
"Now that everyone's here..." His eyes lingered on Nelliel. She playfully stuck her tongue out in response as she joined the other arrancar around her. Ichigo had resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her response. "I have news from some of my friends in the world of the living." He looked around for any response, when he heard none he took that as his que to keep going. "The soul society is preparing something. From what I've heard they have sent soul reaper's to karakura town. Not only that but they may be preparing to send someone here as well." Ichigo announced.
At this point the arrancars started to let their voices be known, clearly not happy with the news Ichigo had just dropped on them. He was about to quiet everyone down when he felt Harribel and Nelliel raise their spiritual pressures. He waited until they dropped their spiritual pressure back down before continuing. "Thank you, both of you." Ichigo gave them a smile which they both returned in kind. "As I was saying, as your leader it would be wrong to not do anything about this. Right now they pose little threat to us at the moment. I am currently working on preparations should they decide to pull anything." Ichigo explained.
This seemed to calm the arrancars down a bit. Which was really good in Ichigo's opinion. At first he wasn't sure if he was capable of being a leader, but after the talk Harribel gave him about how the strongest always ruled in Hueco Mundo and said that since he was now the strongest being in Hueco Mundo he couldn't afford to show weakness. After all, hollows take advantage of whatever they could get.
"Any questions before you're dismissed?" Ichigo asked. He looked over at Harribel's fraccion. "What is it Apache?"
"When are we going to get the rest of the Espada? With the soul society recovering their strength we need to do something about our side as well don't we?" Everyone nodded in agreement to that, they were a bit short handed in Los Noches when it came to manpower. Ichigo had a few ideas on that one, but he wasn't sure about the best decision to make. He'll have to talk with his other Espada on that one.
"I have a few ideas on what we could do. But I have decided that the current espada will choose between the options I give them. When a decision is made I will let it be known during our next meeting. If that is all then youre all dismissed. He made eye contact with Tier, she gave a slight nod and proceeded to do the same with Nel who responded in kind.
After everyone else had left, he looked at his Primera and Segunda as they both approached him. When they both reached him he let out a sigh and a small chuckle. They both had a small smile on their faces as a response. Well… he could more or less guess Tier's expression behind her collar.
"Being the leader of Hueco Mundo is hard, why did you not take it again Tier? The arrancar would have accepted you much quicker then they did me." Ichigo said as he leaned against the armrest of his throne, giving her his full attention.
"We've already been over this. The strong get to rule. That is law in Hueco Mundo. Not only do the strong devour the weak, but they're also capable to protect them. You are the kind of person that we need leading us."
"Yeah, Ichigo." Nelliel agreed. "From what i've seen of you, you put your all in protecting those that need to be protected. When I was a child you took me with you while you made your way through Los Noches. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do the same when you really needed it." She frowned as she remembered how close she was to taking out Nnoitra before she revered back to a child once more. Watching Ichigo get the life sucked out of him before help came to save him. It was one of the moments in her life she always regretted. The feeling of powerlessness as she watched someone she cared for get crushed in front of her eyes. After he left to go towards another battle, she vowed never to let it happen again.
Ichigo reached out and grabbed her hand and looked directly into her in the eyes.
"Nel." He said softly. "It's okay, you did everything you could. I can't blame you for doing your best. The best thing we can do is get stronger and move forward so it doesn't happen again."
He reached his other hand out and grabbed Harribel's hand as well. He turned his attention back towards her.
"Also thank you for saving me Tier. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be where I am right now. I'll do my best to make sure your trust in me isn't misplaced. I will do everything in my power to keep us moving forward. To make us strong enough to protect those we cherish. I promise you, both of you." Ichigo said as he squeezed both of their hands. A look of determination dominating his features.
Both female arrancars looked down and smiled at him. They knew he would keep his word. They both silently vowed to do everything in their power to make it come true.
Behind the doors of the throne room, a figure was leaning beside the doors of the throne room, listening in on their conversation.
"Tch, look at those fools. Wrapped around his little finger." The figure said annoyed as he walked away.
Hello everyone. I wanted to release this chapter earlier but I got myself a new job, so this chapter got a bit delayed. My upload schedule will probably be random, but i will try for a chapter weekly. If it takes longer then that sorry in advance. I do plan on adding romance to this fic, most likely a Ichigo x Nelliel x Harribel. I do hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Again If there's any mistakes make sure to let me know. Please let me know if you enjoyed it and give me a follow/favourite if you did :) I'll see ya next time.