Written in Blood

As was normal in Las Noches, the moon shone brightly through the windows of the fortress of the Espada. Yet, here in the Espada's meeting room, there were no windows; the light in the room coming from some unnatural sources. Despite how empty it may seem at the moment, only a few days ago had there been a gathering in these halls, one of great importance. That, however, was in the past, and there was nothing much to do about it. However, there was one being in the desolate room, awaiting the arrival of the Cero Espada; the leader of the Arrancar. Normalyy, it would be the leader who called meetings in this room, but today, someone else had asked for the presence of the Cero Espada; the person being Diablo Cortar, the Segunda Espada.

Normally, Diablo preferred to keep to himself, disliking most of the other Arrancar. Compared to them, Diablo was much more sophisticated, and had a personality that often conflicted with that of a standard Arrancar. Despite this, he was strong enough to have become the Segunda Espada, meaning that he could now get away from these "simpletons." Of course, Diablo never showed any emotions, either in his tone or his facial features; making him impossible to read. As he was waiting for Ashlei, the Cero Espada, to arrive, he had torn off the middle finger of his left hand, and began to use it to draw his "art", using his blood as the ink and the bone as his stylus.

"Let go, the doors this way!" Ashlei was in a bit of a scrap with her good friend and bodyguard Rihiku. She told him she needed to go see somebody in the meeting room and was sure the next right was where the front door was. Rihiku however, claimed the next left would get her there faster. So, this little argument in the corridors turned a bit ugly. Ashlei loved to get into fights with Rihiku because she knew he wouldn't hurt her. She tackled him around the waist and sent him flying backwards into a wall.

This wall then gave way and made a rather large hole that the two fell through. This place just so happened to now be the Espada Meeting room. Both the two sat up and looked around dumbfounded. they were both wrong. however, Ashlei wasn't going to accept that and shoved Rihiku a bit. "told you i was right" He then stood up and brushed himself over before holding his hand out to his superior. "Dont worry. I knew it was here anyway" He smiled but that quickly dropped into his serious tone once more. "I shall leave you here with Diablo then. Come and get me if you are in need of assistance"

He then walked off leaving Ashlei alone with Diablos and a hole in the wall. She clapped her hands and two smaller Arrancar girls ran up to the hole and looked through. "Girls, fix this hole please" Both of them bowed before running off again to get supplies. Ashlei turned around happily to see Diablo doing his normal thing. Drawing with his own body, weird but cool. "Hey there Diablo!"

Of course, even through the thick walls of the fortress, Diablo could hear the Cero Espada arguing with her Shinigami bodyguard well before they "entered" the room. However, he was not expecting them to burst through the wall. Then again, since he still showed no emotions in his facial features, one would not be able to guess this. As Ashlei dismissed her bodyguard, Diablo stood up and tossed the finger he had torn off to draw with away. Before the finger even hit the ground, however, it turned to dust, and in the next moment, Diablo's left middle finger regrew. "Gracias por reunirse conmigo, señorita Mischevang" he said, bowing slightly. Of course, there was still no emotion to his face or tone, so it was imposable to tell if this was sincere or not. "Now, if you would please follow me... I do not wish for anyone else to overhear."

With that said, he turned around, motioning for Ashlei to follow him, and began to walk deeper into the room. Now, he wasn't trying to be arrogant or anything, he simply didn't ant others to overhear, just as he had said. When he decided that they were far enough, he stopped and turned around to face Ashlei, still no emotions to give away what he might be thinking. "Señorita Mischevang, I wish to talk to you about the current negotiations that have been going on between you and the recent...visitantes to these halls" he said, looking at his leader without emotions. Although he had not been present for the meetings, he was easily able to sense the different presences, and knew that something was going on.

Gracias por reunirse conmigo, señorita Mischevang=Thank you for meeting with me, Miss Mischevang
visitantes=visitors

Ashlei looked rather confused at what Diablo was saying. She was used to being confused as it was her second most popular kind of expression, that or sleepy. However, Ashlei did know this may be important so she didn't shake off what he was saying. Quickly, she skipped over to where Diablo was walking and hummed a happy tune as she did. She was actually thinking about the powers Diablo had. When she saw that finger turn to dust and regrow, she was curious to see if his entire body would do the same like from vampire films the humans watch. Then again, it may kill him if she ever tried it so she began to contemplate whether this entire idea was wise or not.

When Diablo turned around and asked about the visitors she recently had, Ashlei was again somewhat confused. She hadn't forgotten who they were but she did kinda forget why they were actually there. So, she quickly said something to keep herself from looking stupid. "Er... yeah those guys were... friends of mine from some place" She grinned happily but somewhat slapped herself on the inside for being stupid to her Espada. He would probably read her expression like a book seeing as she always reached behind her head whenever she was thinking or uncertain of what she was saying.

Diablo easily registered the confusion in Ashlei's facial features and tone, and deducted that she was keeping something from him. Of course, knowing the Cero Espada, this might not be on purpose, but simply because she had forgotten about it. To be honest, even though Ashlei's personality was still quite different than his own, Diablo was glad that it wasn't just another arrogant and ignorant Arrancar. She may have had her flaws, but Diablo could at least stand to be around her without being annoyed too much. Of course, her personality also meant that she was usually in need of protection, something Diablo really didn't care for. Just as he shows no emotions, Diablo does not really have any feelings for others, and would much rather sit a battle out that fight and die in it. Although this may be seen as cowardice, it was merely because he was not the same as the others; he was not restrained by fear. Although most hollows are born and live in fear, Diablo has never had a reason to fear; he could not feel the pain that teaches the meaning of pain.

Looking at Ashlei, Diablo was considering what she had said along side her actions. He wanted to find the right way to say what was on his mind without it being confused with insubordination, although the lack of emotions on his face kept his thoughts a secret from all. "I won't force you to tell me who those...extraños were, but I am not sure we should be associating with them" he said, his emotionless tone misleading about the gravity of what he was actually saying. Diablo knew that something big was in the works, but he did not trust those...demons or their intentions; there was just something off about them.

extraños=strangers

Ashlei thought it would be best if she stop acting like a fool. After all, she only recently got her Espada back to life again and really didn't want to see them leave her. "Im sorry Diablo. I should be a bit more truthful about what i do around here. After all, this will eventually involve the entire Espada" Ashlei had put her arm back to her side and looked more serious than she did before. Diablo obviously wasn't here to listen to her lies nor her stupidity.

"The other day, We were met by some very powerful people that wanted to ask me something. The Demon army and Hollow army were to merge together for a large scale fight later on in the month. Something to do with releasing some powerful entity" Ashlei talked without stopping or barely pausing to make up for her lack in honesty. Now though, she was trying to be as straight forwards as possible to Diablo. However, she did feel as though she was giving away a bit too easily and a bit too much. "Do not be surprised if we raise arms against the Shinigami soon"

Diablo was actually a bit surprised as Ashlei too a more serious tone, although he did not show it. This, of course, meant that this must be a serious matter for her to actually be serious for once. This also meant that Diablo was right to have his reservations about the recent visitors to Las Nochas. "You do not need to apologize to me, señorita Mischevang, you are our leader" he said in his emotionless tone, making it hard to tell if this was truly sincere or not. Still, Diablo really did not expect his leader to be apologizing to him; another difference between Ashlei and other Arrancar. Of course, there was still the matter at hand; why were these strangers in Las Nochas. As he listened to her, Diablo really didn't like the sound of things.

"I know we may not be at full power señorita Mischevang, but are we really going to rely pn the aid of these extraños?" he asked, no actual concern in his tone. Of course, it was more than just accepting help; as Diablo was not too arrogant to accept help. No, he was still bothered by the reviving a powerful entity part. Although Diablo had no problems with accepting help from his fellow Arrancar/Espada, he was slightly wary about anyone of another race, even Rihiku. "Señorita Mischevang, I do not think that reviving some powerful entity is really the best thing to do" he said, still nothing in his tone to hint at his true feelings on the matter "However, I suppose I have no other option than to follow your orders."

"I understand what you are saying Diablo" Ashlei didn't exactly look to certain while she was talking. As if she was about to tell a massive secret and she trusted her friends to keep it for her. "I honestly don't see anything worth fighting for in this war either. All those Demons just make me feel sick which I really don't like to feel" Ashlei put her hands on her hip and stroked her sides a few times before smiling with a little giggle. Her hands were making a grasping kind of movement before she let them flop again.

"It looks like I've left my sword in my bedroom. Do you mind sticking around while i go get it" She turned around and slowly began to stroll off. Then she looked kind of embarrassed when she got about a meter away from where she was a minute ago. "Oh wait... I don't have a sword. I must sound really stupid and rude right now" She then scratched the back of her head with her right arm and laughed like any confused girl would. It appeared as though she was as unsure as anybody else in this entire fortress even when trying to talk simply.

"I'll let you in on a little plan while im at it." Ashlei's tone turned into a whisper as she got very close to Diablo to talk into his ear. "I think we may have more enemies than friends. Don't expect our little friendship with the Demons to last long"

To be honest, Diablo was actually slightly relieved to see that the Cero Espada shared some of the same concerns that he had; of course, his emotionless features and tone still didn't change at all, making this hard to believe. Still, it was nice to know that even though Ashlei seemed rather childish and immature at times that she actually was serious about her role. "It is reassuring to see that you are a competent leader after all Señorita Mischevang" he said, no emotion to reveal his true feelings. To be honest, Diablo actually found it slightly comforting to have Ashlei as his leader; a feeling that he had never felt before. It was nice to see that she was both competent and different from the stereotypical Arrancar. Still, she was more of a child, than a leader at sometimes; something Diablo could deal with.

Hearing Ashlei's hushed tone only confirmed that they both saw a problem with these demons; actually strengthening Diablo's relationship with the Cero Espada. Now, Diablo would probably be more likely to protect or look after her; another feeling that was new to Diablo. Of course, he had never found another Arrancar that shared some of his own personal beliefs, a major factor contributing to this. "With your permission Señorita Mischevang, I would like to look into what these demons actually want, so as to protect us later" he said, still lacking the emotion in his tone that would reveal how he regarded this matter. Of course, this in itself was actually something unexpected of Diablo. Normally, he would only care about preserving himself, and would prefer to keep a distance between himself and those he didn't trust, but he knew that if he had the support of his leader, this course of action might actually end up benefiting him more in the long run.

Ashlei looked at Diablo in a much more concerned way than she had shown a moment ago. She rushed up to him and hugged him round the gut mainly because she wasn't tall enough to get her arms round his shoulders. She closed her eyes and looked to the left with her right cheek on Diablo in some kind of embrace. "I don't want you to do anything like that. I don't want anything to happen to you nor any of my beloved Espada." Ashlei was indeed a very childish girl which made her easily manipulated. Her love for everyone in the Espada was too strong for her to try and get them into dangerous situations alone. Every day, she would worry that her Espada were even going to be waking up or if they had left her. She could quickly become very traumatic in the mornings by running about looking through peoples windows to see if they were still alive. Rihiku had to often tell her that nothing happened during the night where Ultimos also seemed to be told to keep an eye out for invaders during the night.

She soon backed off from her awkward hug and rubbed her left eye a few times before talking straight once more. She appeared to have shed about 3 tears but made no sounds to show that she did. Her body was just as confusing as her mind was. "I know you want to help but we don't need any suspicions or casualties at the moment. Our time will come and the Demons will see exactly who rules the world" Ashlei held her fist up and stared at it. Her fingernails were painted pink and her palm was emitting some of her reitsu to show she was not joking. Every kind of personality existed within this girl and she was not afraid to show anyone what she was capable of.