Banira strolled down the halls of Los Noches unhappy. "What is there to do around here? I can't find my brother anywhere." She was in the robes that you were supposed to wear around Los Noches. They were like Orihime's when she was there. Oh God, how she hated her. Getting to spend so much time with Ulquiorra, while she had been hiding. She shook her head; dismissing the thought. 'But I need to find someone soon, or I might be tempted to run away.' She thought, bumping into Ulquiorra since she wasn't paying attention.

"Sorry!" She said, looking up at him. She just got a cold look back. She smiled slightly, picking herself up and dusting off her clothes.

"So, do you see anything up there?" A sweet voice called from ground level. The intended target of the query stood on top of a tall grimy building, which looked to have been neglected for years. The man had snow white hair with deep blue, but intent eyes. The eyes scanned the surrounding area, as if he was looking for something... Or someone. The Soul Society. Or was once had been the Soul Society. In the years since Aizen's hostile take over, things have darkened, the whole city was being torn into rubble day by day by the insane man's hunt for the remaining soul reapers. Such hunting has scarred the Soul Society and the scuffles between Arrancar and Reaper never ended peacefully. How things had ended up so badly, he would never understand. He felt... Slightly guilty. As if he felt he could have done something if he had not been off on the Patrol Squad. The deserts were beginning to look favorable to the ruins he witnessed here. The man merely tore his gaze from the destruction and back to the voice below. It's owner and blond haired Soul Reaper.

"No. No arrancar are hunting us... But it's still a damn sad sight," he said, hopping off of the zenith of the ratty building and landing beside the girl. The girl winced in sad pain. She too had witnessed the erosion of the once grand Soul Society. It was nothing like when she had left for the Patrol with the man next to her. Things were almost peaceful, as peaceful as any place could be. but now? Now they were being hunted and their once home was being brought down around their ears. For what? Just to find them and eliminate them! It was a stark contrast than what she had experienced in the Patrol Squad. There, they had been hunters... Here they were the hunted.

"It's just not... Fair. We should have been here Blaze. We should have helped," She said, mirroring Blaze's own thoughts. "It's not fair, Lily. But even if we were here, things wouldn't have changed. Hell, we might have died ourselves," Blaze said, hinting at the uselessness he felt. The girl named Lily hung her head in sadness, "I know... But still," She muttered. Blaze felt a pang of pity and guilt. He approached the girl and embraced her, his Zanpakutou, Ichiryuu, clanging against her own, Sakura. Over the normal robes of a Shinigami, each wore a brown cloak, a staple of the Patrol Corp. A heavy contrast with their bright hair and eyes. It gave them a distinguished look. As if they were wanderers or travelers... And they were. They had only recently returned from the Patrol.

Blaze released the embrace and took a step back. "We are here now, and that is all that matters. We can help now, and with a bit of luck, we might can end Aizen's reign," Blaze said, trying to inspire confidence in his downtrodden companion. He himself fully believed in his own words, that with time and blood, they can win back the soul society. Lily looked up and brushed her goldenrod hair out of her face and smiled. "Of course, it's only a matter of time. Here, let's see if we can't find the others," She said, tugging at his hand gently.

They set off in search of the other surviving Soul Reapers.

Nico sighed deeply, she was hiding in a tree because she had gotten in an argument with her trainer. He had wanted to see her Bankai and she didn't want to show him it, with her knees pulled up to her chin and her dark eyes roaming the floor of the forest she felt at peace and didn't want to leave. Her eyes were slowly falling, and her breathing became more even. Soon she was asleep and at any moment she could be found do to her white robs showing up clearly in the tree.

This was all that remained… such pathetic creatures were Soul Reapers… they couldn’t survive. Not against the hordes of weak worthless trash known as Hollows… not against Bounts… nor Humans… not even against himself did they pose a threat it seemed. He walked idly with a sigh through the rubble, his Reiatsu cut free as it raged in a column of black and red flattening the ground beneath him. “I shouldn’t have expected much… I guess that just means more fun for myself. Pity…” He idly bounced Kuro Kansou still sheathed as a cane against his right shoulder. He let forth more Reiatsu until the ground began to shake violently. “Come out, come out… where ever you are. Little Hollows come out and play.”

The sky became spotted with black dots… hundreds of Cavities opening thousands of hollows pouring out as he crushed Hollow bait between his thumb and index finger, taken from a Quincy he had slain several years back. Now the weak creature actually was serving a purpose for his time wasted in killing the fool. He calmly drew the deadly but breath taking blade. It was time to fight… fight with out thought… kill with out meaning… kill to kill… kill to survive… survive to kill… a brutal cycle that would never end. “Kuro Kansou… Recall, these dark memories of dread.” He let forth a horrid screech as he felt the dark spirit force merge with his mind. A massive spike of power rippled from him leveling the ruins until a good twenty yards around him was completely flat and enveloped in a mass column of withering energy. Darkness had formed a silhouette of a mask over the right half of his face as his katana blade straightened, its pure blade becoming jagged. Thought was gone.. Now that he had recoiled into his Zanpakuto… his blade moved like wild fire as it cut through Hollow after Hollow. They were all to weak… none of these Hollows could satiate his hunger… his thirst for blood.

Sol Solis and Luna calmly walked down a hallway, Luna dragging a Teddy bear with a Hollow mask by the arm while Sol Solis was trying to figure out where exactly they were. Which was the worst part of working here… it was so giant the two were always getting lost. “Oh… Solis where are we! Its all dingy here… you know I think were going the wrong way…”

“Shush Luna… you said that when we were going the other way… clearly I was right… but were going to keep going this way seeing it has to lead somewhere! And I bet it leads somewhere faster then the somewhere the other way takes us. Besides… its not like we have much else to do… the Soul Reapers are no more… all they could do is be a thorn in our sides… and that’s giving them the benefit of the doubt that they’re not all weak… and that means…”

“…We can explore, Yay!” Luna said clapping brightly as they pressed forward blindly winding their way through Los Noches eventually spotting Banira and Ulquiorra. The two stood idle not wanting to disturb the two if they were conversing.

Toshiro looked around the area he was walking on. It had been a while since he was captured by Ulquiorra. The fight had left a scar on his arm but it didn't matter his arm was still of use. He carefully walked past a hall way and saw Ulquiorra ahead of him with Banira. He silently walked past the two and saw Luna and Sol Solis standing idle away from Ulquiorra and Banira. Toshiro was in a good mood or what he called one and slowed his pace to chat with the two girls. He hoped that they wouldn't confront him, it wasn't every day that you saw a soul reaper but Azien though he was of use to him at the moment.

Toshiro gracefully glanced over his shoulder and saw that Ulquiorra had noticed him. Thoughts swirled in Toshiro's head of why he didn't use Bankai or why he didn't even use his Shikai power. Any one of the two could have saved him but he kept it from them. That still left unanswered questions in his head like why Azien keeps him around is he just a toy or does he have use. He let out a low sigh, he could feel his zanpakutou weigh him down when he had problems. Why me why is my life filled with such pain but his face and eyes were controlled he would be a weakling if the Arrancar's ever saw him reveal his feelings.

As Toshiro was walking he felt the feelings quickly disappear as if they were never there. He didn't know much about himself but he knew he was powerful and diffrent in Bankai. His Bankai ,he actually never used it ,he could've tried to help the soul reapers but it would've been pointless they just would've been killed another time. He looked in front of him and into Luna and Sol Solis ",so where you headen," he cautiously asked them.

(If you don't like the post I'll change it but it tells you how he got there so I think it's fine)

Imura was picking his way thru the forest, one of the few safe places at the time But the hoard will probably make its way this way again and the survivors there will be forced underground. It was peacefully but he wasn't there for the sight seeing he was looking for someone. Around this time he should be searching and gathering supplies, That's the only thing most people see him basically good for.The problem was that there was very few things to gather in the area, so he had a idea but it was a bad one.

He had to make his way thru a bush and was know picking burs from his hair when he heard the clothes flapping in the wind, He looking up and say her. It was just past noon But there she was sleeping the day away in a tree. "Nico," He stared at her still trying to figure out how to get here to go with him. if she didn't he was still going to go but only trusted her with this. Not like they really had and type of friendship, new each other, or was anything to each other. She probably don't even now his name, "Hey Nico!"

Nico's eyes fluttered open and saw Imura on the ground and smiled and smiled out of the tree gracefully. "Hello Imura, Why are you in the forest?" she asked slightly guarded but it was filled with her happiness of seeing someone else. She smoothed out the thigh length robs she was wearing and checked her wrist cuffs that also held her Zanpakutou. "I don't want to go back to camp" she said softly, the way she said it was almost an invitation to stay there with her. She pulled her fingers through her hair so she could see him better with out her thick black hair in her face, she looked up when she heard something, "Hollows?" she questioned because what she was hearing was on the edge of her hearing.

Ulquiorra stared down at the girl in front of him. A part of him wondered how Azien's daughter turned out like this. She wasn't anything like him, she seemed to have emotions. Those which humans experience. "If your looking for your brother, he's outside." Ulquiorra replied in an emotionless tone, he walked past her and noticed Sol Solis and Luna, he didn't say anything to them, only looked at them for a few seconds before continuing off. There was also a soul reaper with them, Toshiro, he was like a prisoner here at Los Noches. Ulquiorra had defeated him in battle, since Aizen wanted him for something. He only looked at the Soul Reaper for a few seconds as he walked away, what he did was no bother to Ulquiorra. It's not like he could just leave either.

"Come on!" Kuroki yelled, swinging his Zanpakutou at a few Arrancar. He stopped and took up a defensive stance. "Tremble and die." he said with a grin as his sword broke into a thousand tiny pieces. Granted, they looked a lot like black petals. Kuroki moved his hand to the left and the petals sliced the Arrancar from the left hand side, it ultimately killed them. Kuroki then held his hand up and the pieces came together one again, forming the black bladed katana, which he sheathed. "How boring." he sighed, turning and facing Los Noches. "It almost makes me wish that them Soul Reapers were still alive."

A hollow's roar echoed throughout the dying Seireitei. And another, followed by another. A medley of roars ripped through the air as the Hollows congregated on whatever target they had been hunting. They had found their prey, two vulnerable Shinigami by themselves. Strange however, is that they wore dark cloaks... And seemed to be bickering.

"I thought you said you didn't see anything," Lily called over her shoulder as she stood back to back with Blaze. Blaze's head went limp for a moment, then responded, "I told you, I didn't see them! This isn't like the desert, they could have been hiding behind the buildings!" "Behind the buildings!? Blaze, there are at least twenty of them! How could they all fit behind a building?!" Lily chewed at Blaze. Blaze then tossed his hands in the air clutching his twin Zanpakutou in annoyance, "Hell if I know! I just know they weren't there when I checked!"

The Hollows surrounding the pair merely looked at each other as the two Soul Reapers bickered amongst themselves... They weren't acting like normal cornered Shinigami, they weren't begging for their lives, they didn't even seem to be afraid... Merely agitated at each other for some reason or another... "Check better next time!" Lily griped at Blaze, who of course responded in like, "How about you check next time? You seem to think you could do better," Blaze challenged. Lily scoffed and elbowed the man gently in the back, "Of course I can do better, a blind monkey could do better!" Blaze tapped the top of the girls head with a hand, "Hey! Now is not the time-" He was cut off by the medley of roars from the hollows around them.

"Right, I think that's-" Blaze began before Lily finished the sentence for him, "Enough of that. Shall we dance love?" Lily asked Blaze in a more amiable tone, to which Blaze replied, "Of course dear, lets." And with that, they both disappeared in a Flash Step. Blaze was the first to materialize again, in the middle of the congregation of Hollows that had been situated in front of him. As it was, the first strike rang true down a snake hollow's mask, and the second strike from his other blade ripped through a gargoyle looking beast. In moments, they dissolved and left the other Hollows stunned... Things were not looking bright for them. "Come on then, it's not going to be challenging if you just-" Blaze paused for a moment as he pierced a bear-like hollows mask, "Watch me."

Lily on the other hand had appeared on the other side of the group, the one she was facing. Instead of brash strength Blaze used, she had more... Finesse. As soon as she appeared, she spun on a heel, raking her own Zanpakutou through a hollows mask. She began to spin on her toes, her blade stretched out, and caught another Hollow. Then she dropped down to a knee, at the same time cutting another beast in half. "Dancing by myself is so boring..." She admitted as she stood up, cutting another hollow diagonally.

Finally, the Hollows sat upon the Shinigami in earnest. They tried to tear at them, tried to bite them, tried to rake them, just... Tried. None of the attempts hit the Shinigami as they faded from view and back right behind the them and ended it. Lily was always in motion, dancing around the hollows, cutting every chance she got, never stabbing. never piercing, always slashing. Blaze was a force of reckoning, using savage slashes and pierces, utterly decimating those he had in target. The twin blades were everywhere at once. One may be cutting a Hollow in twain, while the other my be piercing the face of another. Blazes movements were random, savage, and deadly.

Within moments, the Hollows were gone, and the pair of Soul Reapers walked towards each other. They stopped and stared at each other, first a hint of annoyance playing across their faces... However, the facade dropped and they both smiled warmly and laughed, "Right, lets go before they send some more. I really would hate to completely raze this place to the ground so soon," Blaze said with a confident gleam. Lily laughed and nodded, "Let's go then... Just remember I get to check the area next," She said spinning on a heel and walking off, leaving Blaze with his head in his hands. "Not again," He muttered as he followed the spritely girl.

His heart skipped a beat when she said his name, Well at least I didn't have a bet on that. He scratched his neck nervously, "No no, I here to take you back. You see..." his throat went dry as he started to Say his suicidal idea. But then He went on guard. "Hollow...?" He chocked his head in a attempted to hear what she did, "I don't...It could be the wind but the hoard has been reported to be heading into this regain." He realized that was a bad thing to say right away, "But that was just the other day so we should have time." He swallowed hard, "You see I was planning to make a run for the Seireitei and was wondering if your willing to come." Again he realized how suicidal that sounded

The fact was the Seireitei was a ruin but by luck or design a good number of warehouse bunkers full of supplys and meds but these were a trap for any soul reaper that was brave enough or stupid enough to go for them.

Nico smiled, She wanted a challenge, "Lets go! Wait I should change... Give me a sec!" she said and climbed into the tree again. When ever she got in a fight with a fellow Soul Reaper she came here, which sadly was allot. When she got to the top and knew he couldn't see her well, she pulled on tight black leggings and a thigh length Vest/dress and shoulder length fingerless gloves. She quickly dropped to the ground and looked at him. "Lets go, before we get caught. Maybe we can fight some Hollows!" she said with a smile, she needed a good fight and not many could give that to her.

Banira walked away once Ulquiorra left. "Thanks!" She called over her shoulder as she wound through the many halls; eventually getting to the exit to get to the outside of Los Noches. "Big brother?" She asked waling around it te sand. It was slowly seeping into her shoes, but it was nearing tea time; surely her brother wasn't paying attention to the time. Their father would get mad if they were not there on time. "Kuroki?" She asked, slapping a small Hollow out of her way. Pesky little things; also trying to get near her. Banira spotted her brother, Kuroki, a few yards away. "Kuroki!" She ran a tackled him over and smiled. "It's almost time for tea!" She stood up, before hauling him up and dragging him back to Los Noches.

"Oi!" Kuroki growled, not like being dragged, even by his sister. "I was having fun." he crossed his arms and gave a childish angry look, like what you would find a child doing if they were about to throw a tantrum. "Sister, don't you find it boring here?" Kuroki found himself asking. "Since father took over the Soul Society, things have been too quiet, sometimes I wish we were still fighting the soul reapers, although, father never let me. It's so boring here." Kuroki said louder in a moan, yawning as he did so. "None of the hollows put up a fight and none of the Arrancar would play with me. I wonder if father will let me play with that little soul reaper he keeps as a pet...Toshiro right? I'm sure father won't mind if I play with him for a bit....So how are you and Ulquiorra getting along?" Kuroki grinned. "I see the way you look at him sis, you do realize father would never approve of it. He's just an Arrcancar, a servant to us."

"I know father would never approve of it and he is just a servant to us, but still..." They were inside Los Noches now and on their way to Aizen's throne room. "And I think Toshiro will be there." She broke away from Kuroki and went to her seat. Her father wasn't there yet, which surprised her. He was never late, anywhere. "Kuroki, do you know where father is?" She manage to say before Ulquiorra walked in with Toshiro. "Hi Ulquiorra!" She called smiling.

Sol Solis shook her head idly when Toshiro asked where they were headed. “No where… were exploring seeing as their isn’t any real threats anymore… we can find out all the secret places we don’t know about yet.”

Luna had jumped caught off guard she clung to her Hollow Bear sniffling before she realized it was just one of Aizen’s pets. Her tears seemed to vanish instantly as she stood back up. “You shouldn’t startle us like that! Its very mean…”

“You mean startle you…”

“Nu uh… you just hide it better, yesh that’s it!” She turned her gaze towards Toshiro which narrowed slightly. “Where are you going anyways meanie.”



Gysake descended in front of Lilly and Blaze, a irritated glare on his half covered face. “Those were mine to kill… Name one reason why I shouldn’t make up for the lose of my targets by replacing them with you…” He flicked his wrist as he raised his deadly straight blade, the black and red Reistu raged around him “Actually… I haven’t killed a Soul Reaper in a while… it should be fun… if you fight well enough when I kill you I’ll keep your sword’s tassels… an honor…” He said drawing his free hand over the assortment of strung battle trophies… tassels, mask shards, crosses, and miniture vials of dusts. “Take the first move…”

Toshiro said nothing as he watched thea two girls ask him questions. "You shouldn't care where I'm going and I am needed else where for Azien will want to see me when he has his tea," he said calmly keeping his eyes trained on Luna. He then turned around and disappeared but not before winking at Luna. He was a few feet from Aziens throne room when he felt a familar presence. He knew already who it was Ulquiorra he was wondering why he was there when they were walking to Azien's room. He saw that it was open and that Azien's brats were already there. He looked around the room looking for Azien all while not moving his head.

Ulquiorra just stayed quiet as Banira called out to him. Kuroki just rolled his eyes, snickering slightly. "Thanks for bringing him Ulquiorra." a grin ran across his face as he walked to Toshira, he was standing up straight in an attempt to look rather threating, well for a child at least. His Zanpakutou hanging at his side, and hitting against his leg gently as he walked. He stopped in front of Toshiro and stared at him with an evil smile. "Toshiro right? Good! You can play with me. The hollows are so boring, I hope you'll put up a good fight, and maybe last longer than the hollows." his eyes closed, but he kept the same evil smile on his face. Ulquiorra watched both Kuroki and Toshiro, not wanting to interrupt the boy, it wasn't his place too, even though Azien was still yet to get answers out of him, the locations of the last remaining Soul Reapers.

In the heart of the cold castle, in the throne room, a twisted Soul Reaper walked in. He sat upon his throne beside his daughter, Banira. His elbow then sat upon the arm of his throne holding up his bored looking face. However, a smile, a cold and deathly smile stuck to his lips. The smile was... disarming. It held no humor, no cheer, nor mirth. It only bespoke of the man's wickedness and twisted soul. Aizen, the ruler of Los Noches and all the arrancar who inhabited it sat upon the cold throne.

He ventured a glance to his side where his daughter was sitting, now revealing his eyes... Dark and hollow orbs that just screamed the wickedness of the man's soul. It showed no love, no pride, nothing. They just sat upon his daughter. "Hello Banira," He said. The words were stiff and heavy like stone. He then laid eyes upon his son, Kuroki. He received the same cold and dark stare. His lips still set in the deathly smile that held no charm. "And you too Kuroki. Done anything... Exciting today?" He asked. He didn't expect and answer and wouldn't care even if he received one. It was almost as if he did not care for his children, and truth be told... He might not.

The cold greeting of his children was interrupted by Ulquiorra. Aizen had gotten word that the arrancar had caught himself a... Pet. His daughter greeted the Arrancar rather... Enthusiastically. However, Aizen paid it no mind. She was just a foolish girl with delusions, and not worth his time. Ulquiorra's pet seemed to be a Soul Reaper. The thought evoked a laugh from Aizen, a cool dead chuckle. "Where did you find your mite, Ulquiorra? I do hope you intend to care for him yourself. You know I do not like to associate myself with such filth," all the while he talked, his smile never left his face and his eyes were still cold as steel. "He wouldn't know where the others of his kind are, does he?" Aizen pried, not expecting an answer in the slightest. Soul Reapers were always an... Indignant bunch, so full of themselves. Aizen refused to speak to Toshiro directly.

As it stood, Aizen returned an arm to his seat and leaned his head on it, looking bored once more. "Come now Kuroki. No need to rough him up yet, is there? I still need answers from him remember? If this goes well, you may very well get to fight more Soul Reapers," Probably a lie. Aizen would probably not uphold his end of the deal to allow Kuroki to actually fight Soul Reapers... He was after his son and heir. Not that Aizen cared enough for him to get hurt and injured, but that he were to die, Aizen would lose such a valuable... Tool in Kuroki.

Toshiro looked into Kuroki's eyes and sighed. "Sure but seeing that you need to stay alive I won't use my Bankai or Shikai powers," he had been studying Kuroki the whole time. He already would have his Zanpakutou out if he needed to. His Zanpakutou was longer then he was which gave a large advantage in the reach department. He looked at Banira and asked ",how much of life do you want me to leave your brother with." He had already took his Zanpukatou with it's sheath and held it infront of his face.

Kuroki turned around to see his father, just watching them, with that cold-smile ever present on his face. He looked a little bored, due to him leaning his head on his hand. "But..." Kuroki whined, turning back to Toshiro who was more than willing to fight and being rather cocky about winning too, this enraged Kuroki deeply and he took a step bad, putting his hand on the hilt of his sword and taking a defensive stance.

"Lord Aizen-" Ulquiorra started, to give his report to Aizen, however he was interrupted by Kuroki.

"You'll need much more than a Bankai if you want to defeat me!" Kuroki growled, almost yelling at the anger rising inside of him.

"I advise you child," he said the word coldly to emphasize it",not to get cocky with your own skills I have seen a few people who have done so."
Toshiro then unsheathed his sword reavealing the scar he got from Ulquiorra when they fought. His blade gleaming black as he released it. He looked at Ulquiorra and Banira and said ",in the case of my Shikai power being activated then I would advise you to move toward Azien for it affects a large range." He then to face Kuroki and his personality switched to the evil one. "Well well well look at what my other half has done he got us captured , and now I find myself looking at a eager brat who wished to die," he said each word coldly as he scanned the Kuroki face for any signs of anger.

Kaji found himself drained of strength near a camp of soul reapers he had trained for two weeks straight his arms felt like they were made of lead and his a legs as if he was wading through waist high mud. "Well I over did it I think." He sighed. Each step he took the bells in his hair rang it was the only symbol that he had that showed he was in squad 11 along side the legendary Kenpachi a man of suh strength his name made others tremble with fear even his own man well except Kaji who looked up to him. Kaji decided to rest against a tree for a little while until his arms and legs stopped throbbing. "I should have fought that day maybe I could have done something or at the very least died so I wouldn't have to hide of like a coward now He would have most likely kicked my ass for doing this." A leaf gently fell from the tree and landed on his for head. "Oh well no point i brooding over the past might as well protect as many as I can now."

"No." Aizen said with a finality. To punctuate this, an immense sense of pressure heavily pushed down upon everyone in the room, a mere fraction of the man's Spirit energy. The fact that Aizen hadn't broken the heartless smile or even moved at all only made him seem more fearsome. The spirit pressure still pressed upon everyone in the room. "Now put away your toothpick Shinigami. There will be no fighting in my throne room. Understand?" He said, eyes hardened and fierce towards Toshiro. "Ulquiorra. "Is he really foolish enough to threaten my own son in front of me? Tsk tsk, Ulquiorra, I'd imagine you would choose your pets more carefully. If he keeps this attitude then he will not last long." Aizen said, eyes flowing from the shinigami to the Arrancar.

"Kuriko," He called his son's name, his voice steely calm and devoid of any emotion, "Come over here and take your seat beside me. It is not seemly for you to spat with the rabble." He ordered, in a warning tone. While he still held the smile and hardened stare, Aizen was not amused. He would not stand for such insolence in his throne room. "Now, Soul Reaper. Put your weapon up, before I myself personally, end you." He said the threat menacingly, his eternal smile only enhancing the effect.

Aizen then removed his hand from his face and stood, a pulse of spirit energy rushing out to greet everyone. Another warning. He strode down the steps leading to the throne and stood across the room from the Shinigami, "We have uses for you, and one of them does not include you laying on my floor bleeding, understand?" He asked, menacing, "Now where are your filthy friends, hmm?" He said, referring to the other soul reapers.