Tatsuki's Journey
Chapter 1
A.N.: I've decided that, like Yuzu, Tatsuki never really got her chance in the series, barring filler, so I figured this would be a good opportunity to try something new. The pairings in this story are TatsukiXOrihime, TatsukiXAizen, TatsukiXIchigoXOrihime.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Precipice World….
Ulquiorra stared at Orihime as he gave her his demands in his normal stoic attitude, finding this all to be tedious. This all may have been a game to his master, Aizen, but that didn't really matter when you were the pawn. "Understand girl?"
The terrified Orihime nodded, knowing that if she said no, her friends would die from her decision. "Yes…"
"Very well. Rendezvous with me at this location at the appointed time. If you do not show up, the agreement is off and your friends will pay the price."
The Espada turned around and opened another Garganta but he wasn't heading back to Hueco Mundo; not yet anyway. Aizen had given him one other person on his list to take with him back to Hueco Mundo….
Previously….
Las Noches: Aizen's Chambers
Aizen sat in his chair as he watched Ulquiorra's report on his and Yammy's encounter with Ichigo and his friends. He smirked as he watched Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka heal Chad's arm. "That's an interesting power you have, girl…."
But then he noticed something that he'd overlooked and rewound the video back a few minutes to before Orihime and Chad showed up to fight his Espada. He watched as the black-haired girl who'd been present for the Espada's arrival crawled on the ground, the only one to survive Yammy's Gonzui (Soul Suck): Tatsuki Arisawa.
"Hmm…curious, Ichigo, how you surround yourself with so many strong-willed friends. It's not anyone who can survive being so close to the Espada or survive Yammy's Gonzui." A thought occurred to him as he examined her. He knew that she was one of Ichigo's closest friends and, like Orihime, had developed spiritual awareness thanks to her close proximity to Ichigo.
Ichigo may have been one of Aizen's pet projects but he also had the capacity to wreck everything Aizen had been planning. He'd planned to have Orihime brought to him to have Ichigo come to Hueco Mundo, but Aizen was also a master of mind games and manipulation.
And he knew an opportunity when he saw one.
Ulquiorra walked into the room at Aizen's beckoning. "You called, my lord?
"Yes. You are familiar with the assignment I gave you?"
"Yes sir. Has the time come for me to carry it out?"
Sitting with his back to Ulquiorra, Aizen simply shook his head. "Not yet. However, I'm going to amend my original orders. When you apprehend Orihime Inoue, there is someone else I wish for you to take as well."
"Who might that be, Lord Aizen?"
The image of Tatsuki's face popped up on the screen. "Bring Tatsuki Arisawa here. She will be of use to me."
Back to the Present….
Karakura Town
"Hmmm!" Tatsuki grumbled annoyingly. "Ichigo…where are you?!" she called out, getting no answer. She'd been searching for Ichigo all throughout town for the last month with no luck whatsoever. She hated not knowing where her friend was, feeling like they'd drifted further and further apart since they got back from summer break. "Ichigo…where are you…."
She walked across a bridge and leaned over the railing, looking up at the sky. "First that monster attacked me and Orihime, then those weirdos kill all my friends and then you fight that nutjob with the blue hair. Ichigo…just what exactly are you?" She looked down at the river below and sighed. "Don't you trust me anymore to tell me what's happening?"
"I do not believe trust is something you should be worrying about."
Tatsuki spun around to see the white-skinned freak from before standing directly behind her. "You!" She backed up but found she'd nowhere to go. The feeling of Ulquiorra's spiritual pressure hit her right then, making her drop to her knees. "What…what do you want? Who are you?" she gasped, struggling hard to stay conscious.
Ulquiorra's emerald eyes narrowed. "My orders are to bring you to Lord Aizen. Thankfully, unlike your friend, I can use whatever means I wish." Ulquiorra took a step forward and his spiritual pressure came crashing down on her, driving her into the ground.
Tears ran down her eyes as she struggled to breath, losing consciousness. "Ichigo…help me…" she whispered before darkness took her. Walking over to the unconscious girl, Ulquiorra lifted her up and opened a Garganta, carrying Tatsuki with him back to Hueco Mundo, his task complete….
Much Later….
Las Noches
Orihime followed Ulquiorra in her new arrancar outfit. She'd been introduced to Aizen and had demonstrated her powers, vowing hard to prove herself useful so that she could find a way to help Ichigo from behind the scenes. She'd only been given a little time alone in her room when Ulquiorra came to fetch her, telling her that Lord Aizen requested her presence for something important. Ulquiorra didn't say what but Orihime had the feeling that it wasn't going to be good….
Orihime reached Aizen's chambers and saw that the other Espada, Gin and Tosen were already gathered. The human had to admit, the Espada were a motley bunch even when compared to the captains of the Soul Society. Sitting in his chair was Aizen, a small pillar beside him. Ropes of kido connected the walls to something behind Aizen's chair but she couldn't tell what it was.
"Good evening, Orihime. I trust your stay with us has been pleasant?"
"Yes." Orihime nodded as she walked into the room with Ulquiorra, not liking the smirking faces of most of the Espada. "What is it you need of me?"
Aizen shook his head. "Oh, I've no need for your assistance, Orihime. I merely wanted you here for this presentation. I'm about to add a new member to our forces and I believed you would like to see for yourself." Orihime gulped, knowing that Aizen was about to create a new soldier to throw at Ichigo and her friends. Aizen made a gesture to the pillar which opened up, revealing a small glowing object the size of a marble. "You recognize it, don't you?"
"That's-"
"The Hogyoku," Aizen finished standing up. "It has the power to break down the barriers between hollows and Soul Reapers. I thought you would enjoy a demonstration of its ability." Aizen stood up and picked up the Hogyoku. To Orihime's surprise, the chair disintegrated behind Aizen…
…Revealing a bound Tatsuki!
"NO!" Orihime screamed. Tatsuki was on her knees, naked as the day she was born, bound in black kido ropes. The black-haired girl was struggling to breath with the powerful spiritual pressures of the Espada and Aizen bearing down on her. "PLEASE!" Orihime pleaded as Aizen stalked towards the girl, smirking his evil smirk. "PLEASE DON'T! I'LL DO ANYTHING! ANYTHING!"
Ulquiorra clamped a hand across her mouth, silencing her. When Orihime struggled he grabbed both wrists and held them behind her back. "Lord Aizen has already made his decision. You will do nothing but observe, woman." He continued to hold Orihime as she squirmed in his grasp. When her hairpins glowed to summon her spirits, the Espada Tier Halibel stepped forward and removed them from her hair, leaving her powerless to save her friend.
Tatsuki looked up wearily at the man before her, not knowing of her impending fate. Silently, Aizen reached forward and pressed the Hogyoku to Tatsuki's bare chest. Orihime could hear her heart thumping madly, praying that nothing would befall her friend. Sadly, that prayer went unanswered….
As the Hogyoku pulsed, Tatsuki's eyes widened and she threw her head back, screaming in pain. "GAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" To Orihime's horror, a large hole opened up in her chest, signaling Tatsuki's hollowfication. A thick mask soon appeared on Tatsuki's face, looking like that of a strange mythical beast. The Espada stepped back as flames shot out of her hands as she struggled against her restraints. Soon she'd hollowfied completely, becoming a surprisingly small, yet fearsome looking hollow, her body covered in white scales and two wings on her back."AHHHHHH! IT HURTS! MAKE IT STOP! IT HURTS!" Orihime couldn't look away, no matter how hard she tried, tears running down her face as the mask on Tatsuki's face started to crack and break away.
A huge explosion of spirit energy broke the girl's bindings, flame-like spirit energy nipping at Aizen's feet as he simply stood there impressed at his new creation. Soon the fragments of Tatsuki's hollow mask hit the floor, with only a small white fragments on the sides of her head, like parts of a helmet. Tatsuki looked down at her nude body and saw a hole in her chest before looking up at the man who'd transformed her into a monster. Aizen simply smiled down at Tatsuki and put the Hogyoku away.
"Welcome, Tatsuki Arisawa. Welcome to Hueco Mundo, our new comrade."
To Be Continued
