Hollow suppression.

A nap and a bath later I was guided into another one of the Urahara Trademarked ‘Huge-ass-cavities.’ One day I need to ask how they got the building licenses for these things. Or do they function on some kind of pocket dimension? Well, the scientists can figure that one out.

Whatever may be the case once I set foot on the barren ground of the cavity Hirako stepped in front of me. Although I hadn’t witnessed what had transpired down here I was well aware what would happen next. I **** myself to relax, calm breaths as Hirako’s spread out fingers blocked my view from everything beside his sly smile.

“I hope you get this done, Nize.” Three months. He finally got it. I was so happy for him as my consciousness drifted away from my body.

The castle with its towers was the next thing I saw. I was happy to see it whole again but there was something that irked me. Something rather obvious. I didn’t know if Merc redecorated or whatever happened but somebody thought it was a good idea to give the castle a ‘evil fortress’ kind of look.

Seeing Iron spikes and red banners on the house of my king was angering me. You imagine somebody just took the greatest, most holy of monuments in your country and painted a clownface on it or something. I hear the modern people are much less patriotic but maybe a few of you will get my anger.

With hard steps I marched through the open gate, doing my hardest to ignore the hammer and sickle on the door. Great, communism as well. Now all that was missing was an **** damaged Habsburg duke and I could contemplate suicide to end the existence of this blasphemous realm.

Or I could find whoever the fuck was responsible for this. “MERC?!” I screamed over the plaza. No answer. With a click of my tongue I continued walking. Something drew me towards the throne room. Be it intuition or fate, I don’t know but I was sure that I would find my answers there.

It took a bit but eventually I pushed open the door into the throne room. The banners that hung from the sides of the giant hall depicted scenes from my memories, both great and shameful ones. I ignored them, or to be more accurate, I couldn’t pay much attention to them. A vain popped on my forehead when I looked at the throne and saw somebody sitting on it.

A lady of pure white. White, long, straight hair, porcelain white skin, a white dress. Only her eyes with the yellow iris on the black of her eyeball changed the monotony of her exterior. Nonchalantly and with a smile on her lips she sat on the throne, throwing a helmet into the air.

“Stop it already, you wrench!” Merc said as he was rotating upwards, then down, landing safe in her stretched out hand only to be thrown up again. “But it doesn’t get boring.” The lady said with a mischievous voice. “You are just so easy to tease.”

“This is making me so sick.” Merc lamented. “Two months…two months of constant rotating…I am going to need a beer after this.” I stepped closer. “What the fuck are you doing on the throne?” I asked, my voice quivering with anger. “Partner, is that you? Thank god you are here you see…” The lady stopped in her constant throwing motion and laid a finger on the helmet. “SSsshh, the grownups are talking now.” She said and put him on the ground.

I was waiting with the bit of patience I had for the situation. “So, finally got here, Nize?” She asked. I wasn’t about to humour that. “Get off the throne.” I demanded. “Why? You want to sit on it?” She asked, “No. A throne is for a monarch.” “Well, then I am well seated. After all, I will be queen of this realm soon.”

My eye twitched the audacity of this woman made me want to **** myself. I grabbed her by the collar of her dress and pulled her up. “So energetic.” She mused. “I like it. Say, Nize, you know what I am right?” It was rather obvious so I just nodded. “Then how do you think this will go from here? Do you assume I will just swear fealty to you?”

She freed herself of my grip with ease and walked off. I wasn’t exactly sure how it happened, my hands just seemed to let her go. She walked around me. “What do I call you anyway?” I asked. Now that she was of the throne I was a bit more accepting about talking this out. “Mhm, I wonder how to answer that.” She said while tipping her chin with her index finger.

“I guess you could say that I am mercennarium militium but that is such an ugly name.” She finished her lap around me and picked up Merc’s helmet. I was prepared to punch the shit out of her in case she attempted to sit down again. Yes, this triggers me beyond belief.

“If you call him Merc, I would be Marceline.” She decided. “Happy to meet you, master.” She said and gave me a wink. I blinked. “Wait, that’s it?” “Yeah I actually will just swear fealty to you.” Both me and Merc made a confused noise and she chuckled.

“As a hollow I am a being driven by instinct. On one hand I want to consume your soul and then use your body to eat up everything until I have become the most powerful being in existence.” She made a hungry expression. “Oh, I would love to do that. The whole world a buffet of souls. Sadly…” She pointed at me. “I am stuck with you instead.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, still a bit angry. “That you are too disciplined to give in so easily. Chances are that you would impale yourself before I can take over.” She shook her head. “What a good little soldier. Pisses me off. So, I will just wait until you see things my way and until then I will leech of you.” The mischievous smile returned. “In return you can get that power you want. Although even with me, you won’t be a much for even a high rank Arrancar.”

I sighed, “Yeah, I expected as much…” I said. “If you are going to work with me can you put Merc back together? Much more pressing though get the castle returned to normal. It looks awful.” She pouted a bit before giving in. “Fine, I only wanted to trigger you anyway.” Well, she succeeded in that.

The banners were restored to the eagle on white ground as pieces of Mercs armour flew from all over to room towards the helmet. “Oh, thank god.” Merc said, finally one piece again. “I am going to have beer now.” He said and walked off. In hindsight, that was just an excuse of him. After all he knew what would come next.

“I will be on my way then.” I said and turned around. A hand grabbed my wrist. I turned my head slightly to be met with eyes devoid of all morals. “Not so fast there, master.” Marceline said. “There is a little something I want from you before you leave…”