A Thorn by Any Other Name
-will be as sharp-
…
Orihime ignored the presence nearby, even when that presence began speaking.
"Woman," he called. Then louder, "Woman."
Footsteps came closer. His lithe form moved until it was in front of her. Green eyes bore down, most likely to see if she was suffering from some silly human illness. She went to great lengths to keep her expression as flat as his.
"Woman, do not ignore me," he insisted.
"Were you talking to me?" she asked.
"Who else would I be speaking to?" he questioned. There was no rise or fall in his tone. No way to see if she was bothering him.
"I don't know," she answered. "I'm not the only woman around."
There. His eye twitched minutely. Enough to bring her a small sense of pride.
"Why do you call me woman?" she asked. "You know my name."
"I call you so because that is what you are, woman."
If she didn't know any better, she'd say that now it was him trying to get under her skin. She refused to back down.
"Then I will call you man," she retorted.
"Woman, you are being—"
"I'm only imitating you," she interrupted. "Man."
The downward slant to his lips. The ever so slight narrowing of his eyes. She was winning.
"I will not participate in your antics," he responded. "Doing so is below me."
"Then why are you still here, man?" She was mocking his voice now, keeping hers flat.
He turned sharply and began to walk off. "Enjoy your time alone, woman."
The Cuatro Espada was losing his cool. She smiled to herself.
He lost.