Field Trip 2: Hong Kong to Portugal

Field Trip part 2: Hong Kong to Portugal

     After having left Gin behind in the Phillipines, Aizen was frantic with worry. But the Espada assured him Gin could take care of himself, and there was no point in worrying. With this in mind, they went on a 2-week nature voyage in the wilds of Australia. It went by quickly and painfully, with Aaroniero getting severe burns trying to roast a can of beans, Halibel almost drowning them trying to put a bush fire out, Grimmjow breaking an arm after getting kicked by a kangaroo (what in Aizen's Left Eye are these things?!?!), and Ilforte nearly being decapitated and eaten by a pack of wild dingoes.
     As Aizen tried to figure out where to go next, all the females begged to go to Hong Kong. "Things to buy! Things to look at!! Great learning experience for crowded city-places!!!" It was the last one that swayed Aizen. They boarded a plane to Hong Kong. When they arrived, everyone stared around with googly eyes, soaking in the sights. Grimmjow wanted to get a tattoo, but Halibel wanted to shop for some more clothing. The males (including Aizen) went off to search for a tattoo parlor while the girls visited all the malls, agreeing to meet back at the airport in 2 day's time. They had a fun time shopping. However, there was a more interesting thing in store for the males...
     They'd finally found a suitable tattoo parlor. The sign said Newly Opened, the name was the Silver Knight Tattoo Parlor, and everything looked neat and clean. Imagine their surprise when, in going in, they found none other than Ichimaru Gin sitting behind the counter polishing needles, the exact same Gin they'd left in the Phillipines!! After a warm reunion, Gin used one of Szayel's clones, let the clone to continue running the tattoo parlor, and rejoined the Espada. In two days time, they met up back at the airport (Halibel, Apacci, Mila Rose and Sung-Sun with several bags on clothes, Grimmjow and others with new tattoos), and decided to skip Russia and Japan and go immediately to Italy to eat their famous pasta.
     When they disembarked, there was a strange young man standing on a street corner who called himself Italy and sold the most delicious pasta the Espada had ever tasted. To top it off, "Italy" also sold chocolate cake, yum! They then visited France after a night spent in one of the richer hotels. As they took off to meet the bladder needs of several of the Espada, there was a strange man wearing fancy clothes who was called "France" sitting in an alleyway and playing a violin, accompanied by an "Austria" who played piano.
     "Aizen-sama, do all the people in this "Europe" name the selves after one of the countries?" Ulquiorra asked. Aizen just shrugged. Ulquiorra shook his head, pondering the possibilities.
     After one too many bon-bons eaten, the Espada began arguing about where to go next. After a multitude of arm wrestling and some fistfights, it was decided that next up was Portugal. After traveling a bit by train (new experience!), they arrived at Lisbon, the capital. Again there was one of those people called after their country. This one had brown hair in a short ponytail, writing poems and occasionally strumming on something that looked like a ukelele. Ulquiorra shook his head in bewilderment; why these people were named after their country and seemed to represent its most stereotyped attributes, he had no explanation. He would just have to accept it and move on...