July 4th 09
Having woken up on the hard unforgiving floor naked and slightly disoriented was definitely not the most pleasant of experiences for Suzu. Even more so humiliating was having to get dressed with a sly fox lurking just beyond the door, which she had noted was a jar, just enough that someone passing close by could see all she had to offer if they were so inclined to do so.
As horrifying as that all was however, it could not compare to what had transpired between her and Grimmjow, whom she had truthfully confessed everything to only to have the espada explode with rage, yelling obscenities, calling her the most filthy and deplorable of names before storming off in a blind rage down the hallways, scaring the ever living out of any and all who crossed paths. After that she slumped against the wall in one of the many halls of Hueco Mundo, wrenching heartfelt sobs like her insides had been torn from her and destroyed and yet she continued breathing, simply because she didn't know how to stop.
This was how Gin found her, walking towards the pitiful sight with one of his furtive smiles seeming to gain satisfaction much like Aizen did; through other people's pain.
"Aww, what'cha upset about? Somethin' bad happen?" It would have almost been believable but the way he said it sounded fake. That and he had yet to relieve the continuous smirk on his fox like face.
Unable to respond coherently, Suzu mumbled something unintelligible while not meeting his gaze, if you'd call it such. Regardless he forged on as if he understood her clearly.
"Ah, that's too bad. I thought ya made a good couple too."To this she flinched slightly and his smirk grew just a bit.
"Well ya never know, some people jus' don't like to share, y' know?"He waited expectantly, content enough watching the salt slide along her cheekbones.
Still nothing changed.
"Maybe I should warn Menoly and Loly, what with the competition an' all."
Raising her head Suzu's expression hardened. There he thought triumphant.
Not stopping he added "Though that don' bother me."
'Looking' directly at the inflamed girl he smiled his toothy smile while stating "Could be fun."
Immediately after, Suzu rose and sending the snake like being a poisonous look that could turn wood to ash, she headed straight back to her room, fists clenched against her sides and violent thoughts about how she could sadistically remove a certain part of the ex Shinigami's anatomy and enjoy it immensely.
Watching her go, Gin cocked his head quizzically to one side and shouted "That a no then?" Hearing her door slam loudly enough he could hear it even from where he was standing, he smiled and walked away, a job well done.
As if Gin tormenting her wasn't enough, the next day, (though one never really could tell), she was summoned to the dining hall for tea and talk of where they stood as far as the Soul Society and the upcoming war which was to ensue.
The first thing she noticed, apart from being seated specifically next to Aizen where he sat at the head of the table, was that Grimmjow was nowhere to be found. All the other espada were present and accounted for and Gin as well as Tousen were nearby.
Where was Grimmjow?
"It seems Grimmjow is not here." Giving voice to her thoughts, Ulquiorra spoke suddenly, startling her a bit in the process. Regaining her semblance of normalcy, she tried not to seem too interested in what the others would say.
"So he isn't." The way Aizen said it so casually, it was like he had not noticed until now. Or maybe he just didn't care. Either way it unnerved Suzu in a way she couldn't fully understand.
"Shall I go and get him, Aizen-sama?"
Glancing at his follower Tousen he responded "No, that won't be necessary." When Tousen was about to argue his side, Aizen rebuffed him stating "I'm sure Grimmjow has his reasons."
Even though he did not look at her when he said this, it felt as though that comment was directed towards Suzu and it stung like a barb under the skin. He probably knew what had transpired between herself and the Sexta and to her this was Aizen's way of mocking her.
It hurt.
"Now then…" While Aizen spoke of the situation in Soul Society, Suzu's thoughts were more precariously occupied.
She could not stop thinking about Grimmjow. On the one hand she was bothered by his lack of presence but she could also understand his reasoning for not being there. Obviously it would have taken a great deal of willpower on his behalf not to confront Aizen and if he did that, Suzu worried for his safety. As much as she loved Grimmjow she knew deep down that in a fight between the two of them, he would lose.
Maybe it was better that he hadn't showed. Though Aizen dismissing him was a tad odd, she contributed that to Aizen being Aizen and more likely than not he would have a "chat" with the panther at a later time.
For now there was little she could do. She would simply have to focus on something else and get her emotions under control, for she could feel Ulquiorra on her left watching her out of the corner of his eye every few minutes. However she could also feel another presence, this one more disturbing and treacherous.
Lifting her eyes slightly to scan the rest of the table, she noted varying degrees of disinterest, boredom, and weariness. Diagonal from her, however, was the Quinta espada Nnoitra whose eyes locked on hers as he swiped his tongue across his lips revealing his rank, in what was probably the most disgusting display ever witnessed.
Not only was she repulsed by him and his sordid act but she was also finding herself a little more than freaked out, not sure why he seemed so intent on her.
Needless to say she did not want to find out.
Once Aizen wrapped up, Suzu stood and quickly made her way to the doors, intent on leaving at soon as possible in the hopes of avoiding the Quinta altogether. She made it out the door and was down the hall in a flash, almost to her chambers before she was stopped dead in her tracks.
"You left rather quickly….Why is that?"
She didn't need to turn around to know who it was, so instead she stood there and replied "Ye-ah, I wanted to get back to m-my room, y'know?" Damn it she thought.
"Yah, what you got in there that's so important?" He began slowly walking towards her.
"I-uh, I need something, for Aizen-sama." She tried to emphasize his name, like that would shield her from the creepy espada. She still couldn't get the quiver out of her voice though and she hated it.
"Huh. Aizen-sama eh?" He continued his slow pace, like he had all the time in the world. "Don't you mean Grimmjow?" Back still to him, she twitched and her hands shook lightly.
Standing a mere couple feet from her he grinned. "Or are you doing them both now?"
Whipping around she slapped him, but was caught before her palm hit. Staring her down he said "Why would you do that?"
Wrist in his grasp, he wrenched her right arm behind her sharply and pushed her face first into the wall, making her nose crunch slightly with the sheer force. Crying out she tried kicking him, but he fixed that by pressing his body to hers smashing her further into the wall.
"You are awfully feisty. Do you think that's why they like you?" Placing his face into her hair, he inhaled. "Hmm? Do you think that's why they fuck you? Come on, tell me. I'm interested" he stated forebodingly.
Now sobbing, she hadn't the power left to fight back and did not respond.
"I guess I'll just find out." Though before he could, a sudden cero blast had him sonido out of the way promptly, releasing the girl and looking to its owner.
"Ah, speak of the devil."
"What the fuck did you do?" Grimmjow had appeared and he was definitely pissed.
"Heh, nothing just yet, give me a minute."
"The Fuck I Will!" he snarled, shooting another cero, missing his target altogether and leaving a charred mark on the wall. Using sonido he came up behind the mantis, fist flying, aimed at his head but dodged in time, unfortunately. Back and forth, delivering blows but nothing severe.
"Hahaha, You can't do anything to me, you're a hundred years too early." mocked Nnoitra, landing a blow to Grimmjow's chest, though he seemed unfazed by it.
"SHUDDAP!"
Grimmjow kicked and this time it connected as he swung his leg fully around, knocking the Quinta off balance. Seeing his opportune moment he fired a final shot dead on the espada.
Panting heavily he waited, intent on seeing the lifeless body of his foe, but when the smoke cleared, Nnoitra was still standing, breathing heavily but untouched.
"That was dangerous. You were serious." stated as though he seemed surprised by this endeavor.
Standing up more straight backed, the fifth glanced in the temporarily forgotten girl's direction, now slumped to the floor and staring wildly about. Smirking, he said "Fine then, have it your way --for now."
Taking a few steps forward, he looked to the girl again then the Sexta "I'll just wait for the leftovers." And in a flash he was gone.
A couple minutes of stunned silence followed his departure wherein, Grimmjow still fuming stared ahead at the spot where the mantis was last seen, and Suzu stared anywhere but in his direction.
Cursing the panther stalked over and hauled up the frozen girl, dragging her the short distance it took to get to her room and unfeelingly flung her in slamming the door behind him once he was inside.
There was silence as he stood there wearing a permanent scowl. The tension was filling the room with a near palpable quality. Meanwhile Suzu was trying her best to become one with the wall, not meeting his stare while focusing on an invisible spot on her top. Finally he broke the stillness.
"The Fuck do you think you're doing." He said. Broke the stillness with a mallet…
"I…" she began.
"HAH?" he interrupted. "What was that?" obviously still upset from before.
"I-I don't…know" she ended up more pathetic than she had hoped.
"Don't know." He repeated, then exploding suddenly "Well That Ain't Good Enough!"
He was in front of her "WHY!" he shouted. "I already…" "SHUDDAP!"
Grimmjow began pacing back and forth, streams of obscenities pouring from him and it occurred to Suzu what he meant. Why he so upset, and it had nothing to do with the other espada.
He was back again; face more crumpled up than before. In rage and disgust and something else she didn't know yet. "WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT!?" at this point he was so close and enraged she truly thought he would hit her.
Breathing more rapidly with short shallow intakes of air, Suzu tried to calm herself, forcing herself not to cry. "I told you…" she glanced up briefly then looked back down. "I thought that…I didn't want you…to die…" she said.
This was not what the Sexta wanted to hear but before he could yell at her again "Hit me!" she said carelessly. This made him pause.
"What?"
"Just do it. It'll be the only way…" she said looking at him "It's the only way I know, the only thing I can think of to repay what I did to you." Eyes downcast "It's the only way to make it stop hurting…so I no longer feel like a piece of shit." She finished bluntly.
There was quiet for a time, the only sounds being the wind which had suddenly picked up outside and the near hyperventilation from the Wall.
"Please…"
"No."
Straightening up, shocked by his firm no, she could only stare and question "why?"
"I ain't fuckin' hitting you."
"But…" closing what little distance remained the Sexta captured her lips, silencing any further protests. Seeming to take great pleasure in this, he did not let her go till she was almost out of breath and lightly hitting his chest before he released her.
"Shut up." He said, as if replying to her last comment. Before they could go any further however a monotone voice at the door stopped them.
"Aizen wishes to speak to you, Grimmjow."
Turning around, temper already rising "Ulquiorra." He spat.
Glancing back at Suzu, who wore a worried look, he feigned disinterest.
"Che, alright lap dog, let's go." Walking past him, Grimmjow was out the door. The Cuarta stared at the girl for a moment before he left as well.
After a hatefully awkward jaunt the espada arrived at the grand hall, one of Aizen's many sitting rooms (AKA his throne room). So said Aizen was perched high atop said throne, looking the king that Grimmjow hated him for.
Coming to stand in front of him was like being judged by God himself. Naturally enough they were not alone, for if he looked around he was sure to spot Aizen's generals, or as Grimmjow liked to refer to them, his elite ass servants. The smug look on their faces nearly drove him to the edge.
Oh how he hated this.
"Grimmjow" Aizen spoke "How great of you to join me." said as if he had had a choice in the matter.
"I hope you are faring well."
"Cut the crap." The Sexta was not in the mood to play his games and even less for his fake pleasantries.
"So be it." He said. "You and I need to have a little understanding with one another."
Grimmjow stared.
"It has come to my attention that you are not wholly pleased with how things have turned out recently. I want you to know that there should be no reason why we cannot cooperate on this."
"HA!" the Sexta scoffed. "What the hell're you talking about?"
"Why the girl of course. She told you, did she not?"
Grimmjow's reiatsu flared.
"That's what I thought."
"So," he began again, "There should be no reason why we cannot make a…compromise of sorts."
"Compromise my ASS! There was no compromise! You forced her into it!" he shouted.
"Hm," like this was something unexpected or unforeseen.
"Don't act like you give a SHIT about her and don't pretend that this was something she wanted. You just used her to get to me and that's not gonna happen!"
"I see, well then" he said "How about this. You cooperate with me, follow and obey me without question and I won't have to kill her." Staring at the espada he gauged his response.
"What?" Grimmjow's eyes widened a bit.
"It's simple. Follow me loyally, like you should and I will not kill the girl, Suzu. How is that?" he said like he was making a deal with a child who wants something that's just a bit too much.
The Sexta could only stare while the anger inside boiled and wanted to be released.
"You bastard" he said.
"Decide now, this offer won't last." Internally he already knew what choice the panther would make, but it was so much fun watching him squirm.
Growling, fists clenched and shaking with the effort he screamed "FUCK!!" and Aizen knew.
"You may leave now" dismissive. Grimmjow glared Damn it!
He had already won. Turning sharply on his heel, he stormed out but before he left completely Aizen called.
"Don't forget Grimmjow. And if you change your mind, so will I."
Huffing he left.
"My, my, that was mean."
Glancing over, Gin was standing next to him. Smile as always in place.
"Would ya actually kill her?"
Quiet for a moment he responded "I guess we won't know, now will we?"
Gin laughed but Aizen thought about it. He was certain what path Grimmjow would pick so there was no thought to really kill the girl. However, what would he have done, had he not been so certain? Would he do it?
For that oddly he found he had no answer.
Strange he thought, though a small smile appeared.