D Gray-man: Shadow of The Sins

New Story: Hey I uploaded another story quite some time ago(6/6/2014). It's a crossover between Harry Potter and Supernatural. No focus on it at moment, it's there just to preserve the idea. Enjoy!

Pending Request: I'm currently need of a Beta Reader, so the chapter is at its Raw Form. More details on Chapter 17 author notes…

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to both Bleach and D Gray-man. They belong to their respective authors.

Following the events of the last chapter…

Allen and his Fellow Exorcists fought a battle against Aizen invading forces on Karakura City. Things finally came to the Heroes favor as slowly but shortly, they ensured victory on their duels. Yet, despite the upper hand, Captain Hitsugaya was the only one who got any clue about the Noah's true actions… the enemy was retreating in the end but what exactly they had in mind? What was the purpose of the invasion itself?

Chapter 18: On the End of the Day…

Flashing straight over the many roofs of Karakura City, Lenalee and Kanda rushed forward, crossing vast distances in meres steps to reach Allen's last trace of Reiatsu. Their victory over the Arrankars made things far more peaceful there. The Air was clear, flowing swiftly without that heavy pressure to make it unbearable. There was no more destruction and no one was fighting anything anymore.

Yet, the damage to the city itself is substantial. The park became unrecognizable again, carved with several craters, full of massive trails of earth drawing lines everywhere. Many poles fell down as well as the multitude of cables. Houses and street were obliterated, leaving many to wonder how Soul Society will possibly fix this. They have done it the first time at the mountain, but how? So it remains the question.

"There!" affirmed Kanda as they arrive.

"Allen-kun!" And as Lenalee calls for her friend. Looking the around, the remains and debris spread around clearly suggest that a vicious battle happened there. A small cloud of dust covered the street whole except for two strange people lying there with curious eyes on them.

"Huh? More of them?" spoke the first one, Hirako, uncaring as usual.

"No… Those badges. They're Substitute Shinigami…" The second one, Ichigo, looking in a far more dare state, gave a stir of surprise after immediately recognizing Soul Society's gifts. Kanda looked in disdain, uneasy of being called a Shinigami for a moment, not that it matters but still, he didn't liked. Since the beginning of the invasion, those two were present among the storm around Allen's area. At first, he thought they're possibly enemies, like he judges everyone else to be. Yet, given the situation, that's no seems to be case anymore.

"Ah- so many wounds. You are okay!?" alarmed Lenalee was pained to see all the blood from Ichigo's wounds. She was surprised to see how he still kept standing even with all that…

"Don't worry, I'm fine… You guys are Allen's friend aren't you? I'm grate… He was a great help here, so I own him a lot" retorted the red head smirking bright.

"Che…" Kanda growled slightly for being worried for nothing. The dust was clearing, revealing that fading silhouette of a person standing by on his back. The white tint of Allen's glowing cloak became visible, along with his messy hair sprouting down to reach the neck. However, something was wrong… his body was flickering in lightning sparks. His large Innocence was held tightly, shaking from weight as it releases in strange presence to turn around.

And for their shock, there he was, the boy himself, marked in features of a known enemy. Dark skin, crossing stigmas, and a pair of vibrant amber eyes glowing slightly as it stared back with guilty while looking for innocence himself. Is him Allen or the Fourteen? Hard to discern. Neither Reaitsu entirely resembled any of them. It was more like a mix, brewing together in some kind of substance or mixture.

"T-this…" And while Lenalee remained startled, Kanda could not even think for a second before unsheathing his Katana against the boy…

"You fucking bastard, I knew something was up to…" He roared with anger on eyes, "What have you done him? What have you done to Allen!?" His intent is clear and his threat… immensely dangerous. Upon hearing the said name, an explanation was necessary… a reason had to told… however, the boy wondered what to say back to him. His answer, when confirmed, it may end his life in ways he fears the most… treason… Yet, how did it happen?

Moments ago…

The two warriors jumped at each other, wielding their large swords in a powerful grinding contest. The impact was swift, realizing sparks everywhere as they exchange strike after the strike in a single instance. One might say they were even, given their shared wounds bound together. However, Allen was having quite some trouble trying to catch up with Toraido's resistance.

The Noah quickly adapted to the pain from Innocence, slowly recovering his pace while breaching Allen's guard. His calculating look remained unfazed, immediately noticing how the Fourteen struggled to maintain his conscience still during their fight. This was an edge he efforts to exploit, keeping the pressure up to a point he forces Allen to his knees with one staggering slash. Overwhelmed, the boy landed on another building, dragging his feet off before falling on ground.

"(This bad… I'm starting to lose strength to keep up with him…)" Thought Allen forcing his breath profoundly. His body felt heavier, barely hanging up his muscles to stand while his enemy observes carefully. This was getting harder by the second and the boy knew what is keeping him down. Crown Clown always focused on her job to seize up the evil around him. Either it's intentional or situational; she can completely take over, helping him to remain fighting even in the worst conditions. However, now that Neah has taken host on his soul, things have changed…

Allen started to shake, stumbling upon rising up to his feet while dread presence weighed over his mind… The Fourteen screamed in agony. Allen could hear the hollowing wails echoing on his ears from inside as if fire scorched someone whole with no impunity. It was an internal conflict… Grace and Taint, rejecting each other in a single vessel that was forced to feel the consequences alone. For a moment, Allen felt he was about to split apart when his enemy struck…

"What's wrong? Your moves became slow Fourteen…" Taunted Toraido gaining upper hand, "You are hesitating…" And hearing that, the boy was in fact avoiding to counter back during the flow of battle. The Noah tried to bait him out with some exposed openings but Allen refused to attack for some reason. His was locked in defense, keeping a tight guard while his body sparked in green lightning…

"Then…" Toraido respected his efforts before choosing a specific angle to attack. Allen saw the dark wave flouring at his direction and he knew that absolving the impact wouldn't be possible at his current state. In response, he used his might and forcibly jumped over it, not noticing that the attack was heading to Ichigo's direction before too late.

"Oh shit!" The said one was helpless as he fell to his knees. Hikaro was forced to stand on the way and finally act…

"Yare Yare… Don't involve me into to this Damnit!" he retorted not amused. The Noah's wave was indeed incredibly powerful at sight, but the man simply snorted, placing his head over the head in reaction, drawing forces which made Allen shiver on his spot. Once charging Reiki, fractions of a yellow essence focused on his hand, creating a shard that just started materialize out of nothing.

"This job… I really hate it…" and suddenly, Hikaro rose wearing on his face a grotesque white mask, shaped like a rectangular helmet with 6 ripped stripes on it sides. His voice broke down, amassing a deeper tone in layers. Allen's Cursed Eye reacted like crazy upon sensing the tremendous power that even Toraido took notice and stood on guard. The boy couldn't believe it what he was seeing…

There was like a ghost over Hirako, clad in white while bearing his human face but with its eye sclera black as Hirako's own. Its vicious death brown gaze ascended forth as the man lifted his blade to block the incoming dark wave at his direction. Once it came, there was huge shockwave on the spot where with a single roar, Hirako eventually tears the energy apart, cleaving it half before it crashed down the street in an explosion.

"(H-he stopped it…)" thought Allen in a mix of awe and shock. He never thought that man was this strong. Toraido, unaffected by his failure, already had expected such thing. His battle with Ichigo showed much about how a Shinigami could attain power by tainting themselves, so he took a step back.

"Well then, here I come…" and then, the man lunged forward clashing swords with Toraido in a frightening speed to be seen. Allen was left back, unable follow their pace as they fought over the skies far off distance. The flickering sparks on his body became stronger, weighting more while he tried repressing it in an attempt to relieve his uncle from pain. He couldn't fight in that condition and feared what would happen next…

"(Allen…)" called a voice in his head, "(Allen… what you're doing, Allen!)"

"(Neah?)"

"(Only now that you figured out how to fight him, you decide to chicken off like that!? What the hell you're doing!?)" His uncle retorted angrily but still looking to be in pain given his tone.

"(This won't do it. My blade can hit him without me or anyone getting affected but you… You're inside me! I can tell you're suffering closely!)"

"(Even so… what's with you? To care about me…An Noah! Heh! You're a really strange one my nephew… Don't forget you're talking to someone who's going to take your body someday. So, stop your useless babbling and do something!)" Yet, thinking deeply, Allen remained worried…

"(No can do… You have many things I want to know… I cannot leave you like this,,, I won't let my only uncle in pain!)" It was a complex situation. Despite having a useful asset to ignore innocent beings, Toraido's binding power still remained a problem for Allen. His uncle have indeed have secrets to be told and he worries much about his safety, after all Neah is Mana's only brother so it's expected that Allen would be so stubborn.

"(*sigh*Leave it be… I can handle this on my own just fine… you know very well I won't just disappear like that… the more I struggle in your mind, stronger I become… So… Keep walking you fool… I'm just one step behind before you're mine…)" And thus, have told these words, Allen reflected for a second his actions. Was that a threat? Or just some kind of encouragement? Even now, Neah remains mysterious as always with that love for his brother clear genuine. Allen could tell he was concerned in a way which is again, an unusual trait for a mere Noah memory.

"What you're going to do Allen? Fight or Retreat? Make your choice" spoke Crown Clown's silent voice. In opposition, she on other side is far more serious and straight compared to Neah. Her expectations are high to comply but still she is fiercely loyal to him at some point… Upon the choices he was given, Allen knew what had must be done. Neah pointed out himself, so there nothing to worry about...

"I'll fight… I've been always fighting…" he affirmed with a clear tone. The power he was given became fortified as he stood firm, no longer shaking or weighting down anymoe. The lighting sparks remained though, signaling how Neah is fighting from inside. Allen gave a smile at his efforts before dragging his blade out to where Hikaro and Toraido fought each other…

Still, in there nothing much happened between them. The sky was like a silent desert with the two men facing each other in single stares but no movement. Slowly, Hirako kept pushing forward, giving a few steps until dashing his way toward Toraido in Shunpo. The Noah saw him coming and merely dodge the edge before distancing himself in a huge jump instead to retaliating.

"What wrong? Are you afraid now?" taunted Hirako in mockery. Toraido kept silence no making a single expression while watching his movements closely and that was a problem, "(As I thought, this guy is no shit… Avoiding facing me with my mask… he's waiting for the timeout and probably won't do a thing until it's gone… this is gonna to be tough…)" And as he thought, his mask in fact also has an limited time before it dissipates, just like Ichigo. However, despite being considerably longer than the said one, if that continued with his enemy avoiding him, Hirako won't be able to stand for much longer…

In his pragmatic thought and rational thinking, Toraido wondered the exact extent of Hirako's limit. 11 seconds have passed and that Shinigami still got that power in his hand, showing how expert he actually is compared to the human. Even so, with that mask on his way, Toraido was too wounded to engage the unbound man directly…

"(Alright… in this case, I'll-)" But then, before Hikaro could act, a huge broadsword stood on his path. The white boy from before just landed on his right side, further intervening his plan of action there with a renovated determination imprinted on his face.

"Back off, I'll take it from here…" spoke Allen sternly. Hirako could tell his anger when meeting that strange bloody left eye looking at him. He didn't know that Allen doesn't approve someone relying on such tainted power to face an enemy. It reminded him of the Third Exorcist Program, which involved using Akuma's DNA to generate a new breed of humans at Black Order's disposal. Allen still feels bad of what happened back there with the Third Exorcists. He knew it was their choice but even so…

"You… Now you want to fight yourself huh? Heh… Alright, I don't know what you're thinking but I'm not the one to complain" retorted Hirako dissipating his mask, "Just don't expect my help next time…" And in moment he vanished back to Ichigo's spot in one Shunpo, no longer concerned with anything. Allen took a big breath and returned to focus on Toraido who closed his eyes in disappointment.

"How naïve… That was a terrible decision you made there, Fourteen. Do you really think you can face me alone?" asked the Noah piercing his own feet, causing both Allen and Ichigo to feel the pain together. The boy struggled at first but resisted as the glowing cloth covered the wound in no time.

"Yeah… and this time, there won't be any hesitation…" Allen's Reiatsu surfaced shaking the sky as gazed Toraido with a righteous anger. The boy really wasn't kidding and quickly threw himself towards the Noah in a single jump to attack. Surprised, Toraido blocked the first blow but the massive weight his opponent pushed him back quite some distance.

Suddenly, Allen was the one dominating the fight, unleashing several slashes at once, carefully manipulating his balance while Toraido struggled to defend. The situation reversed… this boy achieved something the Noah didn't expect, recklessly going straight to offense with no planning or back up plan of sort. Allen was really holding that much? He thought…

Even when ignoring some his attacks, the best Toraido could do was lock swords with the Exorcist, grinding the edges together until the shockwave splits them apart. More white crosses marked his body and Allen began to feel the effects as the spark grow stronger but even so, he didn't hesitate drawing forth the power he mastered over these months.

Lifting his blade high, a large surge of Reiki channeled from the Innocence, circling in spirals which creates a shining white orb on the tip, growing in such concentrated Reiatsu. Toraido saw what was coming and felt shocked to sense Neah's presence merging with the boy's power when he attacked…

"Life Sphere!" and then, thrusting forward, Allen released the orb, resulting in a large searing white beam that engulfed Toraido whole, leaving no chance to even escape in time. The glowing explosion blinded the few around watched and Allen eventually saw the trail of smoke falling down on the street just near Hirako and Ichigo.

Both saw the crater that was just formed and as the dust cleared, Toraido was there, bleeding severely with rough breath as he tried to get up. Ichigo twitched in pain from the fall damage, once again falling on his knees but thankfully, he wasn't directly affected by the attack. Allen on other side, felt much worse, reaching his limits to a breaking point before landing nearby…

"Oh?... To use that wave to damp the impact. That black guy is really smart" Commented Hirako knowing exactly what he saw happening. Toraido gazed back, not denying his effort while slowing standing up on his feet, still alive to tell the tale. In fact, when Allen's attack came, he did try to unleash his Dark Matter wave to counter it but he couldn't reunite enough Reiki in time to defend efficiently.

"That power… How come… Have you really allied yourself with Innocence, Fourteen!?" muttered Toraido in dismay of watching Allen's current state wielding his blade while in full Noah form. The boy didn't say a word, showing some strange mixed expression of disbelief and joy at same time. This was a strange sight… two supposedly incompatible beings united together… Allen, or in that case Neah perhaps, stepped forward, intending to finish the job once and for all.

Toraido then, reached for his blade when suddenly, a white veil of energy burned his skin, bringing that excruciating pain back to melt away his Noah conscience from his mind. The strain from Allen's Innocence took effect and he left defenseless until the sky literally cracked above them in a sudden show that alerted all in the area. A negation portal had materialized, encasing Toraido as a signal of his retreat. Before he knew, a new presence came by, hanging his should as they levitate up to safety.

"Mission is completed. We're retreating…" spoke Ulquiorra, the tall pale skinned Arrankar curiously taking a peek over Ichigo, whose it's new power sparked his attention. Curious gazed met here and there in silence until a voice crossed their ears upon the arrival of new presences…

"Allen-kun!" And thus, It didn't took too long before Allen realized the state he was to face his friends. Crown Clown's reaction to Neah had transformed him into a Noah himself, merging their Reiatsu in a single entity. The boy finally understood what is to be a Noah on skin as his blade became considerably heavy to hold and the sparks viciously brought forth the pain from within…

"(What I do Neah?... In this state…)" thought Allen for help while coughing blood…

"(How should I know? You brought this to yourself…)" Yet, Neah wasn't giving a damn about what's to come…

"(But! My friends… if they see me…)" Not knowing how to react, there was no choice but to reveal himself. Those many eyes faced him with shock and the first to react, obviously, was Kanda who quickly pointed his Katana against him. Allen barely had the time to defend himself, struggling a lot just to hold the ground alone with body shaking.

"You fucking bastard, I knew something was up to…" Roared Kanda with anger on eyes, "What have you done him? What have you done to Allen!?"

"(Wait Kanda! I-)" Allen tried to communicate but no voice came out from his mouth. His control over the body became limited, revealing a mischievous grin on his face instead of daring concern for some reason. As expected, Kanda scowl grew and he answered in response by pushing his target away, causing the large Innocence sword to stagger Allen and pin him down on the ground with the flat side heavily pressing his chest.

"Kukukukuku… (Damn… my body…)" Such strange moment… Kanda saw the boy laugh silently but in a rather maniacal way despite all those wounds and the blood flowing. Allen was fighting in his mind while Neah stood up, tacking the Crown Clown away before coming to his feet, still laughing at the situation presented at him. Remaining on his guard, Kanda expected some answers but not a single word was heard as Neah simply taunted him to attack.

"Oi oi… Isn't that bad? What's happening here?" commented Hirako both concerned and curious to see that unfold.

"(That appearance… could it be?)" Ichigo on other side was worried about his little friend there. Neither of them had a clue about what's going on and they could only watch as the boy who helped them, had become like their enemy in appearance. Ichigo suspected something and wondered what the others would do, already fearing Kanda's next step.

"No answer huh? Then I shall cut your head at this moment…" The threat was imminent and soon the blade swiftly made his away to reach Neah's neck when suddenly, it came to rough stop under the heel of a glowing dark boot. Lenalee had intercepted Kanda's attack just in time to save Allen from death.

"Stop!" She yelled with a betrayed look on her face, "You can't do this… Allen-kun is… Not yet…" Disrupted, Kanda was thrown in a short distance while Neah didn't react, observing with care.

"(Lenalee…)" and watching all that, there was little Allen could do to stop it. Lenalee did try keeping a cold posture against Kanda but she couldn't face him directly given the circumstances. The white boy could be anyone at moment and she was at the worst spot by having her back against a possible enemy.

"Out of the way! You saw it yourself… The Fourteen still lives inside him!" Anything could happen so Kanda tightened his stance with his eyes closely watching Neah who stopped moving for some reason. The sparks from before weakened, becoming less frequent and the boy strangely froze on spot with his volatile Reiatsu changing on its own. Allen felt his conscience surfacing through along with the crippling pain amplifying after being freed from Toraido's biding power.

"(Well then, better treat yourself from here my nephew. That way you think… it might get you killed later…)" warned Neah smoothly. The moment Allen became to his senses, blood suddenly gushed out from the wounds as the white boy eventually fell down, splattering on ground unconscious. His limit finally caught up and Crown Clown's power started to dissipate, causing Allen to somewhat melt apart as well, with all that darkened skin running down like water under his chest.

"Allen-kun!?" Now that both minds retreated together inside, the Blade of Salvation had started to levitate, shattering itself in million pieces that scattered over the body. Allen's left arm began to re-shape back into that vicious black claw form and soon everything went to normal, leaving those around rather startled with such sight.

"(This is… Moyashi's Innocence acted on its own to prevent his transformation, just like before… it has struggling from inside?)" Thought Kanda lowering his sword in wonder. Now that the threat was gone, Lenalee didn't even think twice before nursing Allen there on ground. He was in a pretty bad shape compared to the others… That fight really pushed them a lot and Ichigo did last longer than all of them on the field before finally wielding down to faint.

"Oto… this is bad. With these wounds, Hacchi has a lot to patch you up…" Hirako quickly caught up on his bloody falling body, carrying in the shoulders and soon, he proceeded to leave without another word. The guy didn't speak too much with the Exorcists but even so, judging from what he saw, certainly there was interest involving those new people. Many things showed up and it seems that Aizen has forged new allies to his side…

Once she was done, Kanda pressed Lenalee to carry Allen and thus, they eventually left the place for good…

Moments Later, on Urahara's Store…

Such long day it was as the sunset marked the horizon in hours after the invasion ended. Everyone reunited back at the underground desert to recover their injuries which was a fun job that Tessai and the two kids, who were used at.

Roufa and the science team gave assistance of their own, sharply worried to see Allen in that terrible condition he presented. Ever since they stepped into that Dimension, battles became far more deadly than they thought. There's no wonder… Noah Family, Arrankars, Neah… Allen couldn't just rest having to deal with many threats at once.

Both Lenalee and Kanda stood by feeling guilty in their ways for being unable to assist the boy who needs the most. It was even worse for the samurai since he became the most troubled despite his rough attitude. He knew the boy's Reiatsu was unstable during their training… Yet, the only glimpses Allen had shown is his sword being rather heavy instead of that weightless feather grace he demonstrated back on the Black Order. Kanda growled on that thought… Perhaps, If they just haven't left him alone on the spilt, maybe all of this could have been avoided…

"Alright, this must do it for now…" mentioned Tessai wrapping the bandages, "Normally, it should take a week before he stands up of to his again. However, I have to say, his wounds are closing in fast for that kind of damage… As if there was some second presence healing from inside but can't help knowing what else beside the Zanpakutou could do such thing…"

"No, you have done enough. Thanks Tessai-kun" said Roufa in gratitude. The man then left with a single nod, immediately grabbing Junta by his face since he rudely peeked his eyes over in no shame.

"So, it still in there, that Noah…" muttered Rikei looking angry, "Why!? I thought this ended when he recovered his Innocence!" He grinned his teeth, wanting a answer he already knew but the feeling wouldn't stop…

"Maybe this wasn't as easy as we thought… We barely know anything about Noah, even less about how the reincarnate inside a person…" retorted Shifu equally tense. With Roufa unable to say anything else and the Exorcists quiet, Johnny was the only one who tried to face this reality with a new perspective…

"This isn't just any Noah. This is the Fourteen. Allen is struggling against the one who betrayed the Noah Family and nearly killed the Earl himself. Yet even with that, he is here with us… he's still the same Allen we know… he's fighting for us… " he spoke seriously, under the shadows of his glasses. After whole deal of Allen being targeted as an traitor, Johnny couldn't help but feel more determined to learn more in favor of his friend. The words he used were different in sense, trying to remind them of how their friendship is part of Allen's strength…

"Che… And he's messing up as usual…" The many eyes stared at the samurai with annoyance and Kanda didn't bat an eye. Upon leaving their drama alone, he went at Captain Hitsugaya wanting some answers about the next move. The sharp ice boy seemed busy as his lieutenants arrives bringing together another Shinigami with them…

"What is this? I just received the alert about Espada invading the city. I came to help!" spoke a short, black haired woman properly armed and ready for battle. Kuchiki Rukia, lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division. Renji once spoke about her, pointing out how she got involved in the mess with Aizen. Kanda didn't have much attention to it but he did find interesting to hear that she is sister of that Petal Man Shinigami…

"Erm… As I said… they're already gone you know" answered Urahara slightly nervous after learning the situation.

"We managed to fend them off with the help from the Exorcists. I was planning to report to Soul Society, so you didn't have to come here…" added Toushiro indifferently.

"Eh? But still, how come is that possible…" Something was wrong, she was sure the alert came at the exact moment of the attack. Karakura was supposed to be under siege when the Espada came. Yet, crossing the whole white Dangai section, built solely for Shinigami to pass, never before the time difference became so extensive to point the action would be missed.

"(This… there's no doubt, a second Resonance Cascade… Did that man made his move?)" Thought Urahara, quickly figuring out the cause. That Shadowed figure from years ago must have done something again. And that, coupled with Aizen's motives behind the Invasion, Mr's Hat and Clogs could only wonder the real consequence behind these events.

"Either way, they were planning something undercover. Did you find anything Matsumoto?" demand Hitsugaya straightly.

"No… Following traces left from that Woman's Reiatsu led to nothing relevant. Whatever she has done, we have no idea of what is it for now…" reported the red head sadly. The white captain sighed on the situation but remained his posture.

"I see…Contact the Soutaichou and relay all the details to him. We need new orders…"

"Hai!" And thus, she left quickly, already typing the phone to make a call elsewhere.

"Then, what's the plan now?" Kanda asked stepping in.

"We stay down and recover as soon as possible before searching tomorrow. You Exorcists have done enough though, so leave it to us…" That answer sounded favorable to hear, knowing they suffered the most. Kanda leaves satisfied in a single nod, not noticing the certain gaze directed to Allen on the way. Hitsugaya had eyes observing closely at the little boy, recalling all he learnt so far about them and the Noah Incident. Maashima words left him uneasy as he wondered Allen's mysterious state.

"(So many problems at once… What a bother…)" Though the Captain in wonder. Now that the Noah have joined the Arrankars, they got an edge by having extra numbers at their side. In fact, speaking of which, considering the number of Espadas that invaded earlier, it was a damn luck now one seriously died in result. Hitsugaya knew it was careless to think Aizen isn't so prepared when the time comes. If they want to succeed in the war, they have to catch up, getting stronger and fast before it is too late…

"Strange. I can't contact Soul Society or Inoue…" muttered Rukia with her phone up, "Has this temporal collapse anything to do with this?"

"Most likely, it is. I can't say for sure how long it will take but let's not worry about that…" assured Urahara slightly nervous with that straight face looking dead serious. Rukia didn't have much choice… she was indeed worried about her friend wellbeing and little could do to help. The resonance cascade remained a mystery for her and Urahara quickly figured out she didn't knew nothing useful.

With that, Rukia had left shortly, claiming too see how Ichigo was handling aside his wounds after catching his Reiatsu signature on the City. The silence continued ominous that night and no one knew how the events would go from here. A cat alone meowed over the moon, slowing stretching itself before disappearing to elsewhere, jumping over the many roofs on the way…

And thus, back at the Las Noches…

There over the large hall, Aizen sat on his throne to watch his fellow subordinates making a row at his presence. Both Tousen and The Earl stood by his side preparing to conclude what came off from the recent invasion. All five members, Yammy; Ulquiorra; Wonderweiss; Toraido and Maashima held their faces high, waiting for answers.

"Oh, look what we have here… I thought we sent six guys out there. Did we face any losses?~" played the mad Earl in a teasing voice, only the face the deep silence shutting him down. The fact that, both Luppi and Lulubell were missing wasn't so appealing as Aizen thought, given by the lack of his smile.

"You all took long time invading the city. I didn't expect that any of you would be defeated… is there anything you have to say Ulquiorra?" he asked facing the man in question.

"No. I just followed the plan as you requested, Aizen-sama. Nothing went wrong" Their eyes didn't meet as the Arrankar gave his answer in head down. Unlike the others, Ulquiorra wasn't on the field when executing his part of the mission. His job was to watch the Dangai Road, using a Garganta while the others distracted the enemy. Therefore, once unaware of the time dilation, the invasion had cost a little more in the end.

"We kinda screwed up a little in there. That guy, Luppi… He fought blindly and got killed for his mistakes. There was nothing we could do…" Spoke Maashima a little unsecure.

"That isn't an excuse… we have failed in defeating our enemies and securing the objective in time" retorted Toraido stepping up with the truth. Being the one most wounded, there was no satisfaction in hanging on pride to hide the trouble, especially when his master was present.

"Heh! Speak for youself! I was about to crush that damn bitch with my hands…" Ranted Yammy tightening his grip. His words were about to get aggressive but the cold presence of Aizen was more than enough to quiet him down. Thus, upon that silence echoing again, Tousen took a breath uneasy before turning to speak.

"Aizen-sama, I just confirmed there's another Temporal Distortion affecting the Dangai and it has been going on unnoticed during the attack… Forgive me, this invasion is my failure…" And confessing the late news, Aizen saw how the blind warrior was prepared for any punishment. However, seeing how Ulquiorra seemed so sure about his part, Luppi's death isn't much of a concern to his plan.

The only problem now is perhaps about the Earl current motives behind the scenes. That female subordinate from his fled the battlefield, probably preparing something which would be a threat in the future. What kind of threat however, it remains unknown but Aizen always knew for sure that something like this would come the moment this fat gentleman stepped on this place.

"No, rest assure, this is nothing" he affirmed concluding his decision, "We still have one step ahead. Everything is going as planned…"

"Heh! Alright! There's no doubt left then. Come my little brothers, time to fix you up~" spoke the Earl gliding down with Lero to join Toraido and Maashima inside a gate. Once submerging on the ground, the Noah group vanished without a trace putting a short end for meeting. No more words have been spoken and soon, everyone dispersed aside into the darkness of the hall. Aizen retreated silently over the long stairs stretching down behind the throne, where a permanent breeze in there left a cold feeling to scratch his skin.

"What a surprise, that fat guy is pulling some trick again isn't?" spoke a familiar voice, leaning nearby. Aizen sensed another of his closest subordinates, standing nearby with a vicious grin on face. Ichimaru Gin, another puzzle on his deck with a mind completely hard to describe as he shares the same vibe as the Earl, except by the fact he was in Aizen's plan since the beginning.

"So it seems. He's not trying to hide it, leaving the pieces for me to figure out myself. Such wonderful game…"

"And you still trust him that easily huh? Like mutual friends to the heart. You even offered an Espada as present just to see his troops on battle, so… Is that a threat I'm sensing?"

"Hmph… The Earl an interesting piece of a bigger picture you can imagine. Grimmjow may not like it but he's already on a path that goes on our favor in the end"

"I see… And if doesn't?" Hearing that question, Aizen merely smirked.

"Like I said… it will be nothing. Everything is going as planned…" The boast become his answer as he looks through a window, gazing the moon outside in a unfettered confidence. Gin didn't bother much, knowing the way the mastermind think. Even when fitting the pieces together, he still couldn't grasp the whole concept of the plan, which involved the Noah family in mid of it. The creation of an Vasto Lorde Arrankar was the key… How does the Earl is part of it? Who knows…

And so, somewhere else in darkness…

Several screams raged over inside a isolated space, full of blue eggs floating around. Powered by purple energy circuit, many mystical and foreign machines surrounded some kind of sigil, where a certain person was trapped with his body completely restricted in a thigh fashion. It has been an entire month in that place and he couldn't do much to escape from that strange magic barrier chaining his limbs to null his strength.

This man, tall and muscular as he is, bears a spiky light blue hair along with a massive broken jawbone on his face that resembled something beyond a mere human. His attire, worn in white cloth and a ragged jacket, held a sheathed Katana on his left side which was wrapped just by a black sash. That was Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, former Sexta Espada, locked up in a state where he couldn't feel more humiliated.

"GRR… you… you son of a b-! ARRGH!" All the curses he yelled in rage did nothing but to force some kind of electrical pulse charging through his body until he stopped resisting under the sheer pressure of a massive burning pain inside his nerves.

"Silence. Procedure Starts Now…" A straight but monotonic voice warned and his perpetrator, another inhuman being, just was there, fully covered in an odd, striped suit with three tassels on the head along with a single eye visor from where he stared the Arrankar coldly. Grimmjow only knew him as Maitora, The Noah of Ability, or as he prefers to called humanly, Saru, who represents the 13th Apostle in the family under the Earl order.

"Shit… Shit… SHIT! Listen here you piece o' shit. I'll kill you… I kill you where you stand! Do you hear me!? Don't go thinking I'll be trapped here forever… I will- ARGHHHH!" The lighting soared and once again Grimmjow shuts his mouth, not saying another word in silence. It couldn't be helped, there was a reason and more anger grew in his mind when the thoughts crossed his head…

Once caught, he didn't expect to be sold like a thing after Tousen vaporized his arm. The night incident a month ago did cost a lot and Aizen didn't even think twice when the Earl offered mutual assistance for an adequate price. Before he knew, Grimmjow was trapped in that strange room, going through countless magical experiments of unknown nature. All having his Hollow soul being torn aside from the inside day after day since then…

"On, Abata, Ura, Masarakato, On… Reinozoku…(System Conversion… Spiritual Detachment…)" Upon chanting the incantation, Saru formed a handseal and materialized a glowing purple kanji with the word Extract over the Arrankar's chest. The light started to spread, covering most of the body until it reached a hole located near the stomach. Then, it happened again…

"… Pain… It hurts… It burns… Someone Help… Help god help… Help me…" Voices… Screams… Pleas… coming from what appears to be a mass of white faces merged together pouring down like blood that twisted itself endlessly. And like all the last days, Saru begins inspecting the strange substance which he describes being made from pure Reiki but in a far more magnificent scale. It behaves like a fuel, made from those that once passed away, those Grimmjow ate his whole life as Hollow. Souls…

The entire room became infested with it. A common sight when dealing with Akuma but the process inside an Arrankar is different…

Why? What do they want? Why does it matter? Grimmjow wondered, but never understood the meaning of it. The whole event contorted, shattered and even broken his conscience further by each second it passes. The Noah was searching for something… something deeper… personal… unique… a soul… a single human soul inside a storm of many…

"This is…" and once finding it, a black spot in mid of light, all those days digging through that sea of faces finally came to a sense, "Target Acquired. Sexta Espada Human Soul Detected. Status, Corrupted. Primary Core Functions, Unstable. Severe Amount of Reiki Necessary. Breakdown Immanent..." Saru reached a conclusion that the Earl always wanted to find out. One of the secrets in that new Dimension… the cycle of a soul that goes beyond just living and dying. A constant reincarnation, which when interrupted, the soul tries to find other means to preserve itself…

"Kill… kill… I'll… kill!" And as result, Grimmjow started to lose his senses. He growled violently with an expression looking far more feral than before. Instead of anger, there was hunger and the Arrankar futitely urged to slaughter those souls floating around to sustain his starvation.

"Cognitive Mental Functions Lost. Primitive Urges Detected. Regression of Self Conscience is in progress…" However, thanks to the barrier restricting the power, Saru could safely study the mysteries behind Hollow and Arrankars as he saw fit. The Earl had plans for Grimmjow and it's not just another expendable piece to be thrown away no. There was something better for him, a prototype of an Akuma… a new level, a new strength… that once its completed, they would be one step closer to bring Darkness into this World…

TO BE CONTINNUED

Hmm… Short chapter this time. Can't think much right now, after all… I just lost a freaking leg! =/ (temporally for now…) Damn, I got caught in an accident and broke my feet's bones, leaving me immobilized for quite some time… it will take a month to heal up…

Now about the story, this is just a transition to end the action and give hook to next plots. It's a large branch I got here and I still have to figure out sorting them to put on paper. My only concern perhaps it's the ending that feels… unusual. Can't say if have a good impression on what's going on there so tell me guys your opinion.

Also, I have to comment, D gray man have many loose ends when talking about lore. Sorcery, Magic, the Characters, the organizations remain too limited to interact. Things like Cross Marian Magic, The CROW abilities and other stuff need to be filled out if want to proceed with the story but that point of fanfic right? Imagination. How to create new stuff. Speak your mind readers, suggestions are open.

And at least, the most enigmatic characters showed his face. Saru(Noah name: Maitora), the Noah of Talent, that shaman looking guy Wisely introduced. He's damn weird in appearance, looking more like a mummy to me. His Noah Memory looks easy to point it out. The only thing we know is that he represents the creation of most Noah's "equipment" to say. In other words, freaking magic… I gave him a human name just for background but what may confuse you guys is how he speaks like a true computer when really focused. Not much of a speech but things will be explained later so keep reading in meantime…

Anyway that's all. If you have any comments, critics, ideas or options, please don't forget to review if possible, your help is greatly appreciated.

Till the next chapter^^