Fragments of the Past Ch.5

The Demon's Lair

No matter how much Grimmjow detested hearing it, Ichigo had a point with the things he said as the Espada was finally back inside Orihime's place after leaving his substitute soul possessed gigai orders on keeping an eye on the area along with Kein's gigai. He stood silently in the dark in the room where Kein now slept more peacefully. He didn't make a sound as he looked down upon Kein who was laying on her side and her back turned to himself as he reflected on all the moments he had ever had with her, but most of all the moments previously in the day, two specific accounts of her calling out his name when she was in need. He couldn't ignore the fact that she could have just as easily called out Ichigo's name, but instead it was his own that she summoned. Going over those thoughts helped him to ease down a bit as he laid down on the bed and put his arms up behind his head while crossing his legs and stretching out his body. It felt good to lay down after the day's wild events let alone to be outside of his gigai that was so much more restricting.

The movement in the bed had jerked Kein out of the first stage of sleep she had recently entered as she looked over her shoulder to see the blue haired devil laid down next to her. She didn't feel a tension from him, but she didn't want to say or bother him with anything either. However, she felt safe when he was around as she smiled a bit, gently turning her body on her other side as she nuzzled up against him. Grimmjow opened one eye to peer at Kein as he saw the gentle smile upon her face, feeling her warmth mingle with his own and her scent soothing. Closing his eye once more he let out a deep exhale mixed with what seemed like a grumbled sigh as he placed one arm around her, attempting to finally try to fall asleep. Feeling his strong warm arm laid across her shoulder and bicep, she smiled more deeply as she nuzzled even closer while the two fell into slumber land.

However, despite this peaceful sleep, not even the sandman could keep away the nightmares. Ichigo, Orihime and Grimmjow had escaped their illusions, but Kein had not escaped hers; just merely postponed it as her sleep was disturbed and she awoke to find herself surrounded by dark shadows. She quickly sat up in bed and looked around. It was like all the colors around her were drained and replaced with monotone crimson. It was silent like all the lively sounds of the world were hollowed out. She immediately turned to Grimmjow and tried to wake him, but as she placed a hand on him it was like she was touching a cold statue, all the warmth of flesh and blood escaped, leaving him encased by this crimson darkness. She couldn't even feel the texture of his clothes or skin. She could see him certainly enough, but it was like he wasn't even there and no matter how much she cried out to him there was no movement or response.

"What's wrong Kein? Did you really think this was over?"

A discomforting familiar voice called out to her as she bolted up from the bed and tried to leave the bedroom, but the doorknob wouldn't turn. However, the window on the other side of the room suddenly opened by itself.

"You want to run? Well go ahead. It'll make the chase more fun."

Feeling a panic build up inside her she tried to grab her Zanpakutou, but that too could not be touched. Seeing as there wasn't any other option she leapt outside the window. Reaching ground level she got a quick glimpse around as it seemed Karakura was untouched, but it too was encased in crimson shadow. If she could not get to Grimmjow or Orihime then her only other path was to get to Ichigo's place as she leapt into the air to try to fly as fast as she could towards the Shinigami's home, but it seemed her ability to fly was also out of commission as she quickly crashed to the ground. Not one to so easily give up, she quickly got herself back to her feet as she began to run as if her life depended on it. Luckily Orihime's place wasn't too far away from Ichigo's as she approached the boy's house, but upon getting to the entrance, all windows and doors were shut as she was unable to even twist or budge the front door open. With no other choice she started yelling Ichigo's name as her lungs cried out at their highest frequency, but still she got no response.

"Don't you understand? No matter how much you cry, no matter how much you pound on that door, no one can save you now."

Interrupted once again, she quickly turned as she cast her gaze upon the street side and saw a man standing in front of the Kurosaki's home. A tear of shock went down Kein's face as she instantly recognized who the man was as her stomach sank, automatically making her feel sick inside as she clutched her hand to her chest.

"Ma...M-Masaki--"

"--why Kein, I'm flattered. After all these years you still remember my name. I must have left quite an impression on you."

Fear twisted around Kein's heart as different scenarios raced through her mind of what could happen at this moment as she faced the man who raped and killed her so many years ago. She felt since her living days that she could face anything, but this is the one thing she couldn't face again, not in this way, not like this. It felt as if history was repeating itself with that same feeling of being watched, that same feeling of dread when going home alone, that same feeling of terror when the house was broken into and a stranger suddenly on top of her, that same familiar scent and that same sensation of being violated. It was all coming back to her now as she was frozen in place and couldn't get her body to move.

"I've had a lot of fun today, but I think it's time we end this little game and continue where we left off......shall we?"

Kein's body began to tremble at the thought.

"Oh and by the way, I don't go by Masaki anymore. That name was discarded a long time ago. Instead you can call me Epifanio Guereque."

And without another word spoken, his form shaped into a dark silhouetted nightmare and rushed at Kein as she was enveloped, her lungs crying out Ichigo's name as her plea for help faded into the darkness.

Ichigo suddenly woke up as he sat up abruptly in bed and looked around. It was dark in the room but only because it was still nighttime, however everything seemed in place and nothing out of the ordinary or unusual, but something didn't feel right. Something felt misplaced as he could have sworn he heard Kein's voice calling out to him in his sleep. Not wanting to risk or take a chance considering the events earlier in the day, he placed his badge against his chest as he separated himself into his Shinigami form as he quickly leapt out his bedroom window only to find a couple of familiar faces waiting for him on the ground level below.

"G-Grimmjow...O...Orihime. What are you two doing here? I was just about to head over to your place."

Even though his eyes had a hint of concern in them, Grimmjow had his usual nonchalant expression on his face, but Orihime looked obviously worried.

"Kein's gone. I can't sense her presence," she informed Ichigo as Grimmjow added, "It's not just that. It's like her spiritual pressure was completely wiped away like she doesn't even exist."

Almost in disbelief, Ichigo closed his eyes as he tried to search out her signal, but was quickly coming to a blank as his eyes shot back open in anger.

"Damn it! You've got to be kidding me."

"She left this behind," as Orihime held in her hands Kein's Zanpakutou.

"What? But why would she leave this?" Ichigo asked as he took it from Orihime's hands, looking down upon it sadly.

"When we were attacked before, each of us seemed to be in our own illusion, but we managed to escape from them. It's possible that Kein was in an illusion of some kind, but never had the chance to escape it as the enemy merely postponed its affects on her somehow. In any case if we can't sense her then the only other option is to split up and try to look for her with our eyes, but something tells me this Arrancar isn't going to show themselves."

Ichigo sighed as he then stated, "I've got a better idea."

It wasn't long before the trio was at the front end of the candy shop as Urahara slowly came out the front door to greet them after Grimmjow pounded heavily upon the entrance. The shop keeper yawned heavily as he jested, "Heh, an Espada, Shinigami and a Human. What an odd group in the middle of the night."

"No time for jokes shop keeper. We need some answers," Grimmjow barked, not exactly in the mood for jesting. Urahara just simply smiled as he replied, "Lacking in manners as usual I see Mr. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. And what type of answers do you need?"  

"We can't find Kein. Neither can we sense her out," Ichigo answered as he handed Urahara Kein's sword as the shop keeper looked upon the Zanpakutou more seriously.

"It's like she's disappeared from existence."

"I see. Well come inside. No use standing out here."

Soon enough the group sat down for tea as they all explained about the odd events during the day and then the eventual attack with an illusion. Urahara pondered upon their explanations as he finally stated in addition to their information, "No gates have been opened and neither have any garganta as I know that's one of her abilities. Or, if one did open, then it might have been opened far away from here so that it couldn't be detected by beings like us."

"Is there anything we can do?" Ichigo asked earnestly, but all Urahara could answer was, "No. There's nothing you can do."

The group gasped as Ichigo further barked out, "So we're just supposed to sit around and wait for something to happen?!"

Urahara folded his arms as he replied in a cool toned manner, "Calm down Ichigo. I said there was nothing you can do. I didn't say there were no options. Whoever this Arrancar is, whether its Masaki Ichiron or some other Arrancar, I get the feeling that he's a very weak one and refuses to show himself out of fear of being defeated, but at this point he has no reason to show himself since they have exactly what they've been targeting. However..." as he placed a hand upon Kein's Zanpakutou that was laying silently on the table "...if we don't know how to reach her then maybe this can tell us instead."

The group was silent for a moment as Orihime chirped, "By talking to her Zanpakutou?"

"Exactly," Urahara smiled. "Just like an Arrancar, a Shinigami is born with their Zanpakutou. They are connected physically and spiritually. By forcing out the spirit of her Zanpakutou, we should be able to get the answers we seek."

"And how the hell are you going to do that?" Grimmjow asked in an irritated manner, finding the idea rather ridiculous since he knows a Shinigami can only communicate with their Zanpakutou upon meditation as Urahara merely uttered one name, "Tenshintai."

"Wait, you mean that doll I used to get my Bankai?" Ichigo asked out of familiarity of the word.

"That's correct, and it's also a favorite of Kein so she can communicate with her Zanpakutou in the physical world. Come, we shall release Bankaguna where there is no concern for hazards."

The shop keeper soon led them into the urban underground chamber beneath the store, taking the doll with him and placing it a good distance away from the chamber's entrance. Grimmjow looked upon it curiously as he had never seen such a thing before and without a moment too soon, Urahara stabbed the Zanpakutou, Bankaguna, into the doll as it quickly disappeared. Debris picked up as a small wind carried from the release of the doll. Soon enough a figure stood before them as it slowly rose to its feet. When the dust had cleared Ichigo audibly gasped as he looked upon the being that now stood before them.

"No way its…its you!" He pointed in surprise as the being cackled in response, "Long time no see...Ichigo."

Grimmjow and Orihime also gasped as they looked upon this being, noticing how strikingly similar its clothing was to an Espada's outfit.

"What the hell?! Her Zanpakutou's spirit really is…an Arrancar?!" Grimmjow barked rhetorically.

"To be more precise, more like a combined one, but I know Kein explained it to you before. I guess you didn't quite believe her until now. How else would she and the boy have Hollow powers?" Ernesto explained mockingly as Grimmjow gritted his teeth.

Orihime looked more bewildered at Ernesto as a pinch of fear gripped her heart, thinking to herself, "This? This is what is inside Kein and...Ichigo?!" Ichigo wasn't amused however as he retorted in question, "I thought Kein defeated you when she gained control over her Hollow mask."

Ernesto merely sneered at him in a snide reply, "She did, but she continues to let me be the center of her spirit energy therefore allowing me to have control. Unlike you however, she doesn't selfishly take my powers for her own use. She uses it to please me, not to knock me down."

Ichigo gasped slightly, feeling insulted and yet strangely understanding of Ernesto's words as he thought about his own inner Hollow for a moment.

Urahara turned towards Ernesto as he simply asked in interruption, "Are you already aware of the situation at hand?"

Ernesto's usual cheeky grin faded to a dull irritation as he replied, "Yes. And it's quite aggravating as I have no way to directly connect with her since her mind is in fragments. If I had it my way I'd rip the head off Epifanio and smash his body into a million pieces and paint the town red with his blood!"
"So you've seen this new enemy?" Urahara further asked as Ernesto answered rather disgusted at the thought, "Not formerly, but yes I've seen him. And he is so weak I could snap him like a toothpick."

The group gasped slightly to hear the news, feeling a little relieved that the enemy wasn't too major of a threat.

"However, his abilities are what make him deadly. He is an Arrancar, but his released resureccion takes the shape of fear incarnate."

"Fear incarnate?" Ichigo wondered out loud.

"Yes. His Zanpakutou feeds off the emotional sensation of fear and while in an illusion state of mind, his opponent's fear is sucked from them dry making them eventually enter a state of mental breakdowns, turning them into a vegetable and weakened enough for him to kill them without any effort whatsoever. The illusions created for his opponents are based upon what is reflected from the victim's mind. The intensity and strength of the illusion is matched by the intensity and strength of the fear that is hidden within them. Kein may not show it on the outside, but on the inside she has many fears that she has yet to understand or even realize. He cannot control the fear itself, but he is allowed access inside to physically be there or in some form or manifestation to see what his opponent is seeing. And because his true physical form has no actual form, the only way to destroy him is to find him within the illusion and kill him inside it."

The group got a chill up their spine as they each pondered individually upon the illusion they were stuck in when Epifanio first attacked.

"How do we find her?" Ichigo asked, hoping Ernesto could shed a light of hope on the situation.  

"The little shit took her back to Hueco Mundo since once he's done with her he plans on staying there so there's no reason for him to be in the living world."

"Like hell he is," Grimmjow gruffly commented.

"Someone will have to open a garganta here, but once there I can direct you to her location. I don't know how much longer she can sustain herself, but I suggest making this quick. She's already been with him for too long."

Grimmjow then stepped forward as he walked past the others a few feet away, "Let's get this over with," as he opened up his own garganta.

"Anything else we should know?" he asked Ernesto impatiently. Ernesto simply smiled as he replied, "If there is I'll let you know."

Before the group entered the garganta, Ichigo turned to Orihime with a solemn expression as Orihime knew what he was going to say with that look on his face.

"Orihime—"

"—I'm going with you, Ichigo." The Shinigami gasped slightly as she continued, "I appreciate your concern, but Kein is my friend too. I will not back down without a fight to get her back. So please...don't ask me to stay...because I won't."

Even Grimmjow was a bit surprised by the girl's determination, but then Ichigo just sighed and smiled as he replied, "Then I guess there's no helping it, but I actually wasn't going to ask you to stay. I was just going to say...be careful."

Orihime then smiled brightly, finally being recognized for the value in her powers. The group soon gathered as they began to enter into the Espada's garganta along with Ernesto who lead the way.

"Good luck," Urahara bid farewell as Ichigo turned at the last second before the entrance to the portal closed, "Don't worry, I'll bring her back."

Urahara then smiled as he replied, "I know you will."

"Come on you damn carrot top! I'm not going to open this thing again just to come get your ass!" Grimmjow barked from inside the portal as the entrance to it finally closed with a bantering Ichigo, "Whatever you say your highness! I'll leave when I'm damned well ready to!"

It didn't take long before the group reached the other side of the garganta as they entered into the oh-so familiar monotone colored sandy wasteland. Grimmjow was used it to, but it left Ichigo and Orihime already missing the lush greenery of the living world.

"Ernesto let me ask you something," the orange haired Shinigami approached the Inner Hollow as Ernesto turned to face the boy with a jeering expression.

"Is it not possible for you to overtake her body and make it your own?"

"You don't catch on that quickly do you?" Ernesto asked him back condescendingly as Ichigo frowned.

"When things started to get hazy inside of her soul that was the first thing I tried, but that didn't go over too well. The minute I tried to take over her body it set the entire inner world into shattered pieces like some broken mirror and I was lost in some dark dimensional hold that is until that shop keeper was kind enough to bring me out here into the physical world. But whether I'm here or inside of Kein, I haven't been able to communicate with her nor reach her in any way. The only thing I can do is bring you to her location."

Ichigo sighed and nodded. "Alright then. I guess that's our only option."

"Anymore brilliant interruptions?"

"Hey! I was asking a legitimate question!"

Grimmjow couldn't help but be amused by this strange being who seemed to easily get under Ichigo's skin. Having nothing further to stop them, the group decided the fastest way to get to Kein would be to fly as Ichigo swiftly picked up Orihime and held her in his arms since she was the only one that couldn't levitate. She blushed slightly as she clutched onto Ichigo's robes that were filled with his soothing warmth as she could smell his scent. It reminded her of his room back home and found his warmth welcoming against the harsh and silent undertone of Hueco Mundo. Neither she nor Ichigo could ever imagine they'd be back in Hueco Mundo again and so soon after not too long ago fighting for their lives against Aizen and his Espada not to mention the fact that Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez was now for the most part on their side thanks to Kein's persuasion. Life is indeed strange.

"Ichigo," Orihime stated his name lightly as the young Shinigami looked down at her.

"Do you think Kein will make it through this?"

Normally Ichigo would say yes, but this type of situation was very different than any other. This situation is the battle of the mind, not the body. And if there was anyone in the group that was most familiar of battling it out with your soul and mind, it was him.

Hesitant to reply he answered, "To be quite honest, I'm not so sure if—"

"—she can handle this?" Grimmjow interrupted the boy as the two looked over at him. He was flying in front of them alongside Ernesto as he refused to turn his head towards the two.

"She's too damn stubborn to just throw in the towel. Besides she didn't stay with me all this time just for a vacation. We've trained too many endless hours here for something like this to come along and screw it up."

The two were a bit speechless by his words, the first time ever hearing the Espada speaking in the absence of another.

"What's this? The kitty has a soft spot?" Ernesto teased as Grimmjow instantly barked back, "What the HELL did you just say?!"

"Aww, what's wrong? Did Kein take your nine lives already?"

"WHAT?!"

Ichigo and Orihime chuckled as Ernesto was quickly starting to get under Grimmjow's skin as well, using cat jokes in the obvious reference to Grimmjow's resurreccion form and original adjuchas form.