Chapter 20: Bleach Arc - 19
Khan and Kukaku arrived at Aaroniero's tower, they entered and found Aaroniero disguised as Kaien again. Kukaku was annoyed she yelled, "today you die, and my brother can rest in peace!" Aaroniero simply pulled his Zanpakuto and shouted, "Devour! Glotoneria!" Kukaku also drawing her own and shouted, "be seen by all! Sora No Hana!"
Since Kukaku finished her time in the Soul Modification Chamber, she had no sign other then the restoration of her arm, that she even been in there. Now Kukaku after releasing her Zanpakuto, had gone through a metamorphosis, she had bone armor covering her body. Khan thought other than the fact the armor was white, with a rainbow aura, it was very similar to the armor worn by a Dark Seducer.
Aaroniero in his bloated form charged at Kukaku, she countered, her ability allowed her to shoot multi-colored fire at Aaroniero. For Kukaku's part her half of the fight could be compared to a proper fireworks show, and Aaroniero clearly didn't like it. Every bright fire attack even when it missed caused him pain. Kukaku had complete control over the fight, even using her fire to propel herself around like a hummingbird.
Kukaku attacks had completely destroyed Aaroniero disguise and when Kukaku saw the opening she plunged her sword through one of Aaroniero's skulls. The deep sounding skull was content with what happened, while the high-pitched skull was screaming that Aizen lied, promising that he wouldn't ever suffer. Then Aaroniero died, Kukaku powered down and then she looked at Khan. After a moment she said, "thank you for keeping your promise, and for not interfering, when we get some free time I'll show you how grateful I truly am." They both returned to Khan's palace, Kukaku left to clean up, while Khan checked on everyone else's progress.
Ichigo and Ulquiorra were fighting, with Ichigo just now activating his mask. While Renji and Uryu were fighting Szayelaporro. Szayelaporro was struggling against Uryu, because Khan had prevented Cirucci from being killed, Szayelaporro did get to preform an autopsy and analyze Uryu's power, and his expression showed how much that pissed him off. Szayelaporro kept monologuing that how once he killed Renji and Uryu he would make Khan pay.
Khan then decided to check on the captains who were coming there and found they would arrive within the next hour or so. Khan turned his attention back to Ichigo and Ulquiorra, just in time to see Ulquiorra reveal himself as only the fourth Espada. Then Ulquiorra proceeded to thrust his hand through Ichigo's chest.
After Ulquiorra left, Grimmjow showed up and started going through Ichigo's pockets. Eventually Grimmjow found what he was looking for, Grimmjow pulled out one of the health items that Yoruichi had given Ichigo earlier. Ichigo quickly regained consciousness and when he saw Grimmjow he was very confused and asked, "why did you help me?" Grimmjow answered, "if anyone is going to kill you it's going to be me." Grimmjow then pulled out an object from his pocket, and said, "this here is something Aizen gave the Espada to punish members of their Fraccion, it was never meant to be used on the Espada, but it can hold Ulquiorra for at least an hour, if you beat its yours." Ichigo thought, 'that will be very useful, looks like I got no choice.' Ichigo agreed, Grimmjow put the item back in his pocket, and they both started fighting.
Khan stopped observing, without Orihime silently watching in horror of Ichigo in his Hollow Mask, he should win easily enough. Khan knew that Ulquiorra would be changing his clothes, so Khan decided to get ready for the captains imminent arrival. Before he left Khan remembered that Loly and Menoly were still in his shadow, after a quick stop in the dorm area, he made sure Loly and Menoly were fast asleep. Khan then called everyone he would use. Khan announced, "alright everyone we have four captains and their lieutenants on there way here as we speak." Rukia, Yoruichi, and Kukaku looked at each other, then Rukia asked, "which captains are coming?"
Khan answered, "Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi Zaraki, Restu Unohana, Mayuri Kurotsuchi." Khan continued by saying, "here plan if they escape let them, if they stay and fight incapacitate them, I'll decide later what to do." Apacci asked, "why do you want them alive, why don't we just kill them?" Khan responded saying, "Haste Makes Waste, I don't want them being killed before hand incase they might prove useful later." Khan checked Fate's Plan and found that the battle for Fake Karakura Town would have minor alterations to it, he didn't know what they were goimg to be, but he'll make due.
Khan turned his attention back to the fight between Ichigo and Grimmjow, Ulquiorra showed up, ready to put Ichigo down again, when Grimmjow with his last bit of strength used the promised item and sealed Ulquiorra away temporarily. Grimmjow promptly passed out, Khan decided Ichigo would need to struggle a little bit more, or at least have some doubt everything that's happening, maybe both.
Before Ichigo could leave and look for Orihime, Khan appeared and said, "Ichigo Kurosaki it's been awhile." Ichigo had a confused looked and instinctively grabbed his Zanpakuto, then Ichigo said, "I don't know you, and while I think I've seen you before, you and I have never met." Khan belt a quick laugh then said, "oh, you are wrong there we have met before, while I didn't look like this we met in the Soul Society, you trusted me to get Rukia out of the Seireitei."
Ichigo's eyes got wide, then he yelled, "what did you do to Rukia! You must have done something to make her turn traitor!" Khan again laughed, then said, "I did nothing more then what I promised, it was you her so called friends, that treated her like a spy, no one ever apologized for her wrongful sentence, is it any wonder that she ran into my arms, when the life she knew rejected her." Ichigo stood there a pang of guilt, could be seen in his eyes. Khan then said, "once again the Soul Society is repeating their mistakes, as we speak four captains are on their way here, and if they can't rescue Orihime, then they will make sure Aizen can't use her." Ichigo flinched as he thought about Yamamoto's actions in declaring Orihime a traitor and found it very plausible.
Khan with a smile under his mask said, "how about another wager?" Ichigo looked around Khan conflicted, Khan continued, "I will protect Orihime during her time here, that part is a given, if you can actually beat Aizen, I will make sure that Orihime will be safely returned to the world of the living, whenever she desires, if you can't, well then you wouldn't have been in any position to do anything anyway." Ichigo had a sullen look as he thought over Khan's proposition, he didn't want to take it, but the Soul Society's recent actions have cause him to doubt their integrity.
With much reluctance, Ichigo agreed to Khan's wager. Khan then said, "alright, as a handicap I'll tell you Aizen is preparing to leave with four of his Espada and their Fraccion, I don't know were Aizen is but he is currently fusing with the Hogyoku, which will make him practically immortal." Ichigo had a face that screamed, "tell me something good!" Khan continued, "that being said it doesn't make him unbeatable, as long as you can still sense his power you have a chance." Ichigo was about to say something, when four Gargantas opened up. Khan looked at the Gargantas then back at Ichigo and said, "looks like are time is up, good luck Ichigo, I hope you don't disappoint me, oh before I forget here is a special item, it will heal your physical injuries, under certain conditions." Khan tossed the item to Ichigo and left. Ichigo was left standing there unsure whether or not to trust Khan.
Khan, once back his palace, took a look at how Szayelaporro was doing, it was going badly for him, Szayelaporro had eaten his entire Fraccion and was still struggling against Uryu. Szayelaporro was about to preform his Resurreccion when Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi came bursting in, literally. Khan stopped watching because he knew the outcome already, he decided to take advantage of this and move Orihime.
At Orihime tower Khan approached Orihime, who had a hopeful look in her eyes. Khan said, "Ichigo has defeated Grimmjow, but has lost some confidence fighting Ulquiorra, and asked me to keep you safe, so I'm moving to my palace, you'll be safe there." Orihime had a conflicted expression, then said, "alright lead the way." Khan took her by the hand and they left, once Orihime was secured Khan, decided to deal with Mayuri, and get a hold of Nemu while he was at it.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone