Grey Garden Concerto

"Oh? Gin Ichimaru, you've brought your girlfriend home?"

Upon hearing Stark's greeting, Gin Ichimaru broke out in a cold sweat. His relationship with Rangiku was still unspoken, remaining in a state of secret ambiguity. If he brought the topic out into the open, Rangiku would use anger to mask her shyness.

"Gintoki! Is this frivolous guy the friend you made in Hueco Mundo?!" Rangiku asked, putting her arm around Gin Ichimaru's shoulder like a boss.

"Rangiku, you've got it wrong. First, he's not my friend. Second, he was brought back by Aizen; he has little to do with me." Gin Ichimaru said decisively.

"Gin Ichimaru! I used to think you were alright, but you've turned your back on me after just a few days?" Lilynette's temper was easily ignited; if Stark hadn't held back, she would have already gone up to fight Gin Ichimaru.

"Calm down Lilynette, Gin Ichimaru. I remember you left Las Noches. What brings you back this time?" Stark asked.

Gin Ichimaru put aside his playful mood and made no attempt to hide his purpose. "To reclaim Las Noches and manage Hueco Mundo."

"And what about us?"

"Serve or die!"

Gin Ichimaru opened his eyes a crack, his chilling killing intent piercing Stark. It was his presence that made Tsuna feel at ease letting these people deal with the Espada.

As the 10th Espada, Stark is not Barragan who can be dealt with simply by relying on mechanics. Without strength, one doesn't even have the right to stand in front of Stark.

At that moment, spiritual pressure erupted from all parts of Las Noches. Stark immediately stood up. "Are they really going to go this far?"

Even though Aizen didn't return and Barragan took control of Las Noches, the reason Stark didn't leave was because he considered it his only safe haven in Hueco Mundo.

Having experienced the warmth of the pack, this lone wolf could no longer return to the lonely, cold wind alone.

Even though, under Barragan's guidance, most of the Arrancar in Las Noches were not on good terms with him, Stark never complained. He was content to stay in Las Noches and among the people.

Now that Gin Ichimaru's arrival has announced that the wonderful communal life at Las Noches is about to become a thing of the past, Stark is unusually furious. He cannot let the Bleach destroy his guys and kill those Arrancar he considered friends.

"Chase them down, Wolf Pack!" Without needing to exchange words, Lilynette understood Stark's intention, and her Dual Pistols automatically materialized in Stark's hands.

Having completed his Resurrección, Stark fired a shot at Gin Ichimaru, then shattered his own palace, heading towards the direction of the most intense spiritual pressure.

He'll definitely make it in time; he's the 10th Espada!

"Shoot him, Shinsō!"

Stark's journey to become the savior of Las Noches was interrupted by Gin Ichimaru's sword before it even began. He turned around and saw Gin Ichimaru hiding behind a gray shield, thrusting his Shinsō at him.

That shield was clearly not Gin Ichimaru's power. Only now did Stark take Rangiku seriously. Although it was a casual strike, that Hollow Bala was not something just anyone could withstand. Gin Ichimaru could bring to him was definitely not weak.

The shield crumbled into gray sand, accompanied by Rangiku's complaint, "Seriously, Gin, I didn't even realize what was happening!"

"It's okay, I believe in you."

[I feel inexplicably annoyed.] Lilynette complained in her mind as she listened to the conversation between the man and woman opposite Stark. Even though she had become a gun, she could still smell the strange sour stench in the air.

"Gin Ichimaru, your girlfriend is quite strong too." Stark abandoned his idea of providing support. He understood that he wouldn't have a chance to leave until he dealt with Gin Ichimaru and his companion.

"Please don't keep calling me 'silver,' my name is Rangiku Matsumoto!" Rangiku pointed her thumb at herself, displaying a boss-like demeanor.

"Alright, Ms. Rangiku Matsumoto, I wonder how many blows your little shield can withstand!"

Stark raised his hand, Bala bloomed around the gun like flowers, endlessly filling the gun with Cero!

Gin Ichimaru maintained his smiling demeanor, making no attempt to block Stark's attack. Just as Tsuna had said, this was a trial for the Vice-Captain; if he intervened the entire time, what would be the point of Rangiku's training?

"Bankai!"

In an instant, a misty fog filled the entire palace, and dust filled the air. Stark immediately lost his target and fired several shots, but did not seem to hit the enemy.

[Stark, we're surrounded.]

Even without Lilynette's reminder, Stark knew that the current situation was unfavorable to him. After Rangiku used Bankai, the concentration of ash and sand in the air had reached a level that could be detected by the naked eye.

Stark's vision was completely obscured, as if he were in a smog.

[Something's wrong. These little things are trying to invade my body, Stark, protect yourself!]

Lilynette noticed that the dust in the air was being squeezed into the gun barrel, so she quickly released her spiritual pressure to protect herself. Stark followed suit to prevent the dust from entering his body.

[We can't fight here, let's charge out.]

Stark signaled to Lilynette that it was time for Lilynette to fire. Following his memory, Stark charged into the sky while continuously unleashing Cero.

In a daze, Stark seemed to hear a slow, deep sound. He gradually slowed down the speed at which he pulled the trigger, his body gradually relaxed, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and his senses became duller and duller, as if he were about to fall asleep.

[Idiot! Let me do it!]

Seeing this, Lilynette immediately seized control of the body, Stark instantly transformed into a blonde bombshell, wielding a shotgun and firing it into the sky as if it were free.

After a series of scattered yet closely spaced explosions, Lilynette finally soared into the sky, leaving the gray, misty area beneath her feet.

Stark, now a weapon, finally regained his senses, still shaken. [I almost got hit! What kind of Bankai was that?]

"Only a lazy idiot like you would fall for that kind of stupid move!" Lilynette cursed. She had heard the voice too, but didn't sense anything wrong with it.

At this moment, the gray expanse beneath their feet opened up, revealing Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku inside. Gin Ichimaru remained unchanged, while Rangiku's demeanor became even more elegant, her bold and unrestrained spirit now concealed.

Rangiku didn't change much after Bankai. Bankai increased the amount of ash sand she used in her Shikai, which is why she can use such a large-scale smog.

Another thing is that Rangiku's fingers have turned into alternating black and white keys, just like the black and white keys of a piano. The sound that Stark heard earlier was played by Rangiku dancing with her fingertips.

"The Grey Garden Concerto, Overture: The Lullaby of Gray Desolation!" Rangiku slowly recited the Bankai and the techniques used.

Haiba is Rangiku's general name for the gray sand area she controls, and the concerto is the sound played from her fingertips. The first part is the original power of the Haineko, and the second part is Gin Ichimaru's guess that it comes from the Soul King's Fingertip.

Rangiku can control Haiba's area and form by emitting different sounds, much like manipulating music. The previous lullaby was a technique Rangiku used to screen opponents.

Those who are lazy and lack determination will fall right at the beginning and never see the true power of Rangiku's Bankai. Stark, unfortunately, fell into this trap because of his laziness and lack of will to fight.

[Lilynette, this opponent isn't right for you, switch!]

Stark knew Lilynette's impulsive personality, and usually only sent her into battle when she encountered an equally volatile opponent; otherwise, Lilynette would be too easily toyed with and killed.

Rangiku's Bankai incredibly versatile; it's not something a brute like Lilynette could handle.

Fortunately, Lilynette was clear-headed enough not to be stubborn, saying, "Then be careful, don't fall for it again."

"With you here, I won't fall for it again." He said firmly as he switched back to Stark form.

Without a word, Stark fired a shot directly at Rangiku. The gray sand condensed into a shield in front of Rangiku, blocking Stark's attack.

"That seems to be a relatively fixed area. As long as I don't enter it, you can't do anything to me, right?" Stark analyzed as he held his guns in both hands, a true infinitely replenished Cero.

"You don't think I can only defend, do you?!"

Rangiku's fingertips danced, and a stirring, high-pitched melody followed. The gray sand around her surged madly toward Stark, rapidly transforming as it flew—pointed cones, blades, spears—becoming any weapon capable of launching an attack.

Middle Chapter: A Thousand Layers of Ash Echoes

This is Rangiku's true Bankai ability. Through different kinds of music, Rangiku can control Haiba to manifest different forms. This rousing music is undoubtedly Rangiku's battle song.

She had merely concealed her unrestrained nature; she had never lost it. When the Stark wanted war, Rangiku would respond with the toughest measures.

The sound of explosions echoed across the sky Las Noches; whenever such sounds occurred, it was invariably a battle between the Stark.

Rangiku's fighting style is truly audacious; she stubbornly endured Stark's endless Cero, despite the depletion of her spiritual pressure.

After realizing that Cero alone couldn't solve Rangiku, Stark changed his tactics. A deeper light gathered on Stark's wall—this was the Gran Rey Cero.

Point-and-shoot: Gran Rey Cero.

The more powerful Cero, Rangiku's ash sand, was indeed unable to withstand it, and Stark confidently continued to fire at Rangiku's supposed location.

One shot after another, Stark finally began to wake up; it seemed that even Cero hadn't hit the enemy.

A subtle fluctuation of spiritual pressure emanated from him, Stark fired a volley of bullets. After the explosion Rangiku and Gin Ichimaru were revealed.

At this moment, Gin Ichimaru is holding Rangiku in his arms, who is pouting. Rangiku Gin Ichimaru is interfering with her battle, while Gin Ichimaru patiently explains to her the power of the King's Cero and promises to be obedient from now on.

[Ah!!! This is Hueco Mundo, not their room. Those damned sluts should go back to Soul Society if they're going to be in a relationship!!!]

Stark only found it noisy, for he heard Lilynette's frantic battle cries.