Chapter 7:
With Gin
Gin was just lying on the pile of sand waiting for the twins to return. He kind of hoped they didn't take too long because if Grimmjow and Ulquiorra came back and he didn't know where they were they might get a little mad. Everyone knew the sixth and fourth espada had grown quite attached to the new editions.
Gin sighed for what seemed like the millionth time in just a few hours. He looked around where he spotted two cleaver-like-swords in the sand just a little bit away from him. Both were wrapped in cloth that was black on one and white on the other.
"Oops, I guess they dropped them when I threw them. This could be bad…" he muttered to himself.
With Shiro
Shiro had once again managed to lose his pursuer and was being quieter this time as he walked through the forest, now thoroughly lost. He felt a sudden jolt of Ichigo trying to contact him telepathically.
"Ichi?"
"Shi? You heard me this time, good, I was worried about you."
"What about you are you ok? What about Zangetsu? You don't have it do you?"
"I'm fine for now and no I don't have Zangetsu and I'm assuming you don't either the way you said that."
"No, when I get a hold of that asshole leaving us defenseless and alone in a place we have never even been!"
"Well we have to find a way out of here first. I met someone who may be able to help us. Follow my spiritual pressure, we'll wait here for you."
"Ok I'm on my way, don't do anything stupid until I get there."
"Right back at you Shiro and be careful, see you soon."
And with that Ichigo's voice faded away but Shiro could still feel his twin's spiritual pressure. Shiro took off in the direction he was sure Ichigo would be.
With Ichigo
Ichigo told his new companion about his brother and that they would help him find a way out so he can go back to his soul society to see his friends and the people who were sure to have missed him all this time. After much convincing he agreed.
They never told each other their names; they never thought it was important. So they waited for Shiro to come.
"What's it like? The soul society I mean," Ichigo suddenly asked.
"Well I haven't been there in over a hundred years so some things might have changed, but it's a nice place. Not the best if you are in one of the lower districts but I had it pretty good, I was a seated officer of the 13 Court Guard Squads," the soul reaper smiled a bit.
"13 Court Guard Squads?"
"Yeah their kind of like the police in the human world," the soul reaper tried to explain.
"Oh that makes sense," Ichigo commented.
They lapsed into a thoughtful silence before the soul reaper broke it, "you aren't a natural born arrancar are you?"
"No I'm not, Aizen turned me. But I kind of like it better this way, I only ended up hurting my family back in the human world. I would like to just check on them someday to make sure they are doing ok," Ichigo said.
"Are you sure?"
"Even if I didn't like it I don't have a choice, it's done. I am an Arrancar and there is no going back now. Hueco Mundo is my home now," Ichigo stated.
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Yes, I have a new family here and they look out for me, and I'll look out for them," Ichigo smiled slightly.
The soul reaper smiled slightly in response, "I didn't know an arrancar could have a family of other arrancars."
"I do," Ichigo assured.
They sat in silence once again with a new understanding of one another. The soul reaper's dark red hair hung down in his eyes and his hollow mask sitting next to him.
Shiro chose that moment to come running in to the small clearing they had peacefully been sitting in… with about thirty hollows chasing him.
"Shiro! What have you done!?" Ichigo yelled at his twin.
"They found me again!" Shiro cried to his orange-haired-twin.
"They? Who have you pissed off now?"
"I don't even know this time, I swear!"
The soul reaper and Ichigo jumped to their feet and started to run. Shiro soon caught up with them and they all ran to safety together. They ended up jumping up a tree to get away and they all ran right past them all hiding in the tree.
"They never look up," Ichigo commented.
Shiro sighed of relief at being alive and finally finding Ichigo to make sure he was safe.
"So who are you?" Shiro asked the soul reaper.
"My name is Ashido Kano; I was a soul reaper of the 13 Court Guard Squads," the soul reaper replied.
"A soul reaper? What are you doing down here?"
"We can talk about that later, I'm Ichigo and this is Shiro my twin, right now we should focus on a way out of here before those hollows come back."
"I agree lets go," Ashido nodded.
They all took off in the opposite direction as the hollows went, thinking it would give them at least a little more time before they came looking for them again. As they were jumping from branch to branch they were very quiet, not knowing how many hollows Shiro had made angry in his… adventures.
They were traveling for a while before Ashido suggested that they take a break. They all rested for a bit in silence before Shiro couldn't take it anymore.
"So how do you tell night from day down here?" he asked trying to make conversation.
"Not sure it there is a way, I just sleep when I feel the need."
"So there's no way of telling how long we have been down here? I wonder if Grimm and Ulqi are back yet," Ichigo commented.
"Well if they are back they are going to come down here for us, they know Gin won't care if we actually die down here. I'd be surprised if Gin is even still down here waiting for us," Shiro said.
"Yeah I still can't believe Aizen trusted him to watch us for two or three days while Grimm and Ulqi were busy," Ichigo pouted.
"Yeah it was probably another one of his stupid tests, I really hate Aizen sometimes," Shiro stated crossing his arms.
"So Aizen as in this lord Aizen every hollow I come across is talking about?" Ashido asked.
"Yup, he was the captain of squad five in the soul society before he took over here from what I understand," Ichigo explained.
"He can be a real a-hole sometimes," Shiro added.
"And these Grimm and Ulqi?"
"They are the sixth and fourth espada and kind of like our guardians/babysitters," Ichigo answered again.
"They also train us to become espada ourselves too," Shiro grinned.
"Really? And what number are you two going for?" Ashido asked curiously.
The twins looked at each other for a moment before a gin spread across both their faces and said at the same time, "zero."
"Zero?"
"Yeah there is ten espada, and to get a rank when you have none, like us, you battle the rank you want and the winner gets the rank. The fights are usually to the death so you have to choose wisely because you won't get a second chance. If an espada wants a higher rank and wins the espada just switch places… if they don't die that is."
"It's always fun to watch, and it gives us an idea what we are up against," Shiro said.
"So how are you both going for zero?" Ashido asked.
"Were twins and since we used to be one soul Aizen said he would make an exception for us when we are ready to face the zero espada," Shiro explained.
"By the way, all the arrancars I have seen have swords, where are yours?" Ashido asked.
Both boys sighed and looked down at the dirt.
"Gin kind of threw us out here and somewhere along the time that we got here, Gin told us what we had to do, and he literally throwing us out and away from each other, we lost our swords…" Ichigo explained not looking up.
"So how did he expect you to fight without your swords?"
"No idea, he just doesn't make since," Shiro sighed and leaned back on a tree.
Before anymore words could be exchanged there was a loud howl of a hollow nearby. They all jumped up and looked around to see a whole horde of menos with thousands of smaller hollows around them that were starting to surround the small group.
"I really hate Gin," Shiro muttered as Ashido drew his sword.
AN: im really sorry i havent updated in a while but i have been punished so i couldnt use my computer or any of my tech but im back now and i already have another full chapter ready to go so hope you enjoyed and review if you want the next chapter! hope everyone has a great week ;)