The Unknown Abilities Chapter 4

    Ayuma looked at Mamoru and Benitenchio as they made themselves comfortable in her apartment top room. Szyael was pacing on the table while Grimmjow and Nnoitora slept on a pillow. “When is your friend with Ulquiorra coming?” Szyael asked for the fifth time.

    “She’ll be here as soon as she can. She had school so she might have to run home to grab Ulquiorra first.”

    “Hmp.” Szyael frowned and went back to his pacing.

    “Just ignore him.” Mamoru chuckled. “That’s what I do. He is very uptight.”

    “I guess.” Ayuma sighed. “But I will admit that I’m a little nervous to see what will happen and what is going on.” Ayuma had to stop herself from starting to pace as well.

    “Why don’t you sit and relax?” Mamoru smiled.

    For a big guy Ayuma had to admit he was very gentle and very kind. It was a bit surprising. “I will sit once Miuri gets here.”

    Mamoru sighed. “Why don’t you let me make some tea then? Tea always relaxes me.”

    “Alright.” Ayuma smiled. “Top shelf on the left.” Ayuma pointed to the cabinet where he would find all the supplies.

    “Oh! Can I have some?” Benitenchio grinned from where she was hanging on the back of the couch. She flipped herself right side up and grinned. “Hey Szyael want any tea?”

    “No thank you.” He frowned.

    Ayuma smiled. This whole situation was so odd and a couple days ago she never would have guessed this would be happening. Ayuma was pulled out of her thoughts as she heard the front door open.

    “Ayuma?!”

    “Up here.”

    A moment later Miuri was walking in, dropping her backpack at the door. She stopped seeing the two guests. “Who are these guys?”

    “Ah finally.” Szyael said before Ayuma could say anything.

    “Wow little guy!” Miuri blinked. “Just like my Mr. Bat.” Miuri pulled her Ulquiorra out of her pocket. He was still fast asleep but as Miuri held him his tail twitched slightly.

    “Ah finally Ulquiorra has arrived.” Szyael said, looking a little annoyed.

    “Why don’t we all sit down?” Ayuma waved her arms. “I’ll introduce everyone.” She smiled. Once the other three were sitting Ayuma sat down as well. “Um… So… This is my good friend Miuri and these two are Benitenchio and Mamoru.” She pointed to the other two. “We all have something in common.” She pointed to Szyael.

    “Yes well.” He said stepping forward. “Set Ulquiorra down girl.”

    “Ulquiorra?” Miuri blinked. “You mean this guy?” She held the small bat man up.

    “Yes.” Szyael frowned. “The four of us all knew each other before we became Zanpakutos and we all have names.”

    “Okay.” Miuri set Ulquiorra down on the pillow next to Grimmjow and Nnoitora. Szyael jumped up onto the pillow and within seconds all three of the unconscious little men began shifting.

    The first to wake up was Ulquiorra. He sat up slowly and blinked a couple times while looking around. The second to wake up was Nnoitora who jumped up and glared at Szyael. Grimmjow was the last to wake up, and once he was up he instantly went to punch Nnoitora.

    “YOU!” Grimmjow yelled.

    “Think you can take me?!” Nnoitora growled avoiding Grimmjow’s attack. “You’re just a weakling.”

    “I’m going to kill you this time.” Grimmjow growled.

    “Stop it!” Ayuma jumped up and grabbed Grimmjow.

    “What the?!” Grimmjow started struggling in her grip. “Let go of me woman!”

    “Will you shut up idiot.” Szyael shook his head. All eyes turned to him. “That woman holding you Grimmjow happens to be your partner so I would be a bit more kind towards her… Unless you want to be squished or stuck in some corner unfeed.”

    Grimmjow humphed. “What are you talking about?”

    Szyael shook his head. “All four of us are no longer espada, or even arrancars.” He frowned as he glared at the other small guys. “Do you remember what happened to us?”

    “I remember that jerk Nnoitora killing me.” Grimmjow glared at Nnoitora.

    “We meet in that strange dark nothingness.” Ulquiorra said calmly.

    “Oh yeah.” Grimmjow frowned. “And that weird voice talked to us.”

    “What did it say?” Miuri asked leaning in a little closer.

    Grimmjow glared at her. “Back off human! This is almost as bad as coming back as a human.” He humped. “Why’d we have to be zanpakutos?”

    “I’m not sure.” Szyael frowned. “I tired to figure out what was going on but we began to fade after our masks were destroyed. He flicked his hair and frowned. “After you three passed out I tried to stay awake but couldn’t. The last thing I saw was a shadow wrapping around each of you.”

    “And then he woke up when I fought a hollow.” Benitenchio interrupted.

    “Yes.” Szyael frowned glaring at her. “Because of my superior intelligence I’m sure I was able to wake up. The rest of you needed to be near each other.”

    “So what exactly does this mean?” Ayuma asked.

    “This doesn’t involve you.” Grimmjow yelled at her. “This is for us to deal with.”

    “You’re yelling at your master.” Ulquiorra said calmly.

    “Shut up! She’s not my master! I don’t have a master, especially not a weak one like her!”

    “That is the odd point.” Szyael frowned. “I thought each of us would be paired up with a soul reaper at first, but instead we ended up with these humans… But at least it seemed like we should have been paired up with a human who matched us.”

    “What makes you say that?! You think I match this girl?!” Grimmjow jabbed his finger towards Ayuma.

    “Wait I-.”

    “Nnoitora ended up with a muscle head it seems, someone who is physically strong. I’ll admit that Benitenchio and I are similar.”

    “Yes you are both insane.” Grimmjow humped.

    “Hey.” Benitenchio glared at him. “I like to call myself free spirited.”

    “Anyways.” Szyael coughed. “Even Ulquiorra seems to be paired up with someone who matches him. She seems like she is calm, at least enough not to freak out over this whole conversation.”

    Ayuma glanced at Miuri as she looked down. She had known Miuri for a while now and knew quite a bit about the girl. She could be guite energetic at times but at other points she could be calm and a bit aloof. It really depended on the situation. Like now when she sat and tried to figure out what was going on. In truth she did seem to match the small Ulquiorra. But what did that say about her and Grimmjow?

    “We each seem to be paired up with someone who is at least similar enough to work well together besides you, Grimmjow.”

    “Shut up four eyes.” Grimmjow growled. “No way this girl is my master!”

    “Hey shut up and be nicer. Ayuma is your master isn’t she? You should be nicer to her.” He grabbed Grimmjow’s tail and held him upside down. “I don’t know what you are used to but you shouldn’t be so rude to her.”

    “Mamoru please stop!” Ayuma gasped and snatched Grimmjow away from him. “Ouch.” She flinched as Grimmjow bit into her arm, letting him drop.

    “Hey!” Mamoru frowned as Grimmjow fell to the ground.

    Szyael sighed. “I truly do not understand why those two got paired up… But I’m sure there is a reason, which brings me to why we are all here.” He glared at Grimmjow. “Will you listen?”

    “What?” Grimmjow growled.

    “We have been turned into zanpakutos for some reason, not sure why myself but we must be prepared for whatever it is.”

    “And how do we manage fighting anything like this?” Nnoitora grumbled.

    “Simple, you turn back into your zanpakuto form.” Benitenchio chuckled. “Why don’t we show them Szyael?” She reached down and picked him up.

    “You don’t need to pick me up like that.” Szyael grumbled. “Fine. Once you and your partner are in contact you just have to concentrate on your zanpakuto form.” He was silent for a moment and then shifted into a sword.

    “See.” Benitenchio smirked and waved the sword through the air. “Easy.”

    A moment later Szyael turned back into his little form. “And turning back is as simple.”

    “But if I don’t want him to change back then it is my decision.” Benitenchio smirked. “I had the other day I made him stay in his Zanpakuto form for a full three hours and used him to chop up some veggies.” She laughed.

    Szyael grumbled. “Unfortunately the human has the ability to trap us in either form.. Remember that Grimmjow.”

    Grimmjow grumbled angrily.

    “So what does all this mean?” Ayuma asked.

    “It means we need to work together to figure out what the plan for us is… and we should start training.”

    “And how should we do that?” Mamoru frowned.

    “I’ve got an idea.” Benitenchio smirked. “Let’s all meet at the park tomorrow night and I’ll whip you all into shape.” She laughed. “I can’t wait.”

    “Um… What?” Miuri blinked.

    “We need to train so we can be prepared if a hollow or something else shows up.” Ulquiorra said calmly. “Miuri we will need to do our best with that.”

    “Right.” Miuri smiled. “Well then let’s head home.” Miuri picked Ulquiorra up. “Come on.” She headed down the stairs.

    “You be careful walking home.” Ayuma stood up.

    “I’ll walk her home.” Mamoru followed after Miuri. “Come on Nnoitora.”

    “Yeah sure.” Nnoitora shrugged.

    “Let’s get going.” Benitenchio placed Szyael on her shoulder. “See you all later.”

    Ayuma sighed and looked at Grimmjow. “So um…”

    “Whatever.” He jumped off the table and grumbled to himself.