The Nueva Espada

Chapter 22:Black or White

"Orihime...Inoue?" Ukitake spoke with a raised eyebrow

"Orihime-chan..." Nel spoke quietly

All eyes were glued to the Orange haired girl that no one noticed the barrier dissolving around Ulquiorra

"Don't misunderstand" Orihime said to the bat arrancar as he slowly descended down "I'm didn't save you for myself, I saved you because it would be bad for Kurosaki-Kun's army if you died"

Ulquiorra faced the woman with a mostly blank expression

"Of course...I highly doubt you would do anything for me out of the good of your heart" Ulquiorra said in a mocking tone as he walked past Orihime, making his way to Ukitake "Shall we resume, Jushiro Ukitake?"

The Captain's response was to raise his swords

"Protect me with that shield or not, it does not matter" Ulquiorra said to Orihime "Just stay out of the way, woman"

"Their relationship is strained" Ukitake spoke subconsciously "It's clear that they don't consider themselves comrades, perhaps I can take advantage of that..."

"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to end this" Ukitake stated

"Very well, I was just thinking the same" Ulquiorra declared as he raised his lance

"Koko Gonryu Rikyu is the only Bankai with lightning based powers" Chojiro stated to the smoking crater "Its power is absolute, so absolute that it can damage even those much more powerful than I, even your leader would fall before it's pow-"

He was cut off as he jumped to avoid a cero

"Do...you ever shut up?"

Chojiro looked in awe as he watched the figure emerge from the smoke

The entire top half of his attire has been shredded, his body covered in cuts, bruises and burns

"Incredible..." Arturo panted "I've never been struck by a Banaki before"

Once Arturo had fully emerged from the smoking crater, he stood and gazed directly into Sasakibe's eyes

"Sadly, I cannot continue this fight, two fights with two different lieutenants spells suicide, I should of realized this at the start

So I'll be taking my leave"

"What did you say?" Chojiro asked, taken aback

"My reiatsu is gone" He said as he turned to leave "I can't fight in this condition, I want to fight you at full strength"

...

"And you seriously think I'll just let you leave?" Chojiro asked as he reverted his blade back into Shikai

"Of course you won't" Arturo said as he began to walk away and clicked his fingers and opened a Garganta "But that won't stop me"

Chojiro held his sword forward and a bolt of lightning extended from the blade

"Heal your wounds and wait, for one day, I will return"

And with that, the garganta closed with Arturo inside, Sasakibe's bolt missing it by a mere second

"So...you're doing nothing?"

"Yes"

Cirucci sighed as she sat down next to Uryu

"So...do you agree with Kurosaki?"

"No" Uryu said as he and Cirucci sat on one of the roofs of the Gotei 13 barracks