INIQUITOUS AFFAIRS
Chapter II: Shark Awakenings
It was dark. Cold and so very, very dark. The atmosphere was different and something she had never quite experienced before. Her senses were only somewhat present. She could feel the cold, murky air around her, making the hair on her arms and neck stand on end. She could taste the bitter and stale saliva on her tongue, could smell the scent of a castle's dungeon air. She couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't think.
After what seemed like an eternity, a better sense of consciousness started drifting back into her. Suddenly, sound filled her ears and she could somewhat register her surroundings and her situation. The quieted shuffling in the distance could be heard, muffled voices that spoke incoherently as if drowned under water. A nauseating wave rushed over her body, sickening and constricting. Her stomach recoiled and her throat became dry, like a fish out of water. Sea-green eyes peeled open finally, a somewhat dull and loathsome natural stare instantaneously present on her dark face.
Tia Halibel lifted her head, her back now erect as she further took in her environment. There was nothing but reiatsu-enchanted stone walls surrounding her. The floor was equally cold, dusty, and the room was humid. She could feel a steel chair under her, hair hands cuffed behind the back of said chair. Halibel felt the cold metal clamped around her wrists, and she felt utterly powerless. Deducing that the handcuffs were the cause, on top of her extreme exhaustion and injuries, of her lack of energy and strength. She glanced down and found that she was still in her Arrancar uniform pants, the blood stains faded and the rips sewn back together. She was without a top however, and several gauge bandages were wrapped completely all around her back and busty chest. The once pure white bandages had small spots where her wounds' blood leaked through, seeping to the outermost layer. The Espada's hollow mask remnants were mostly hidden under wrappings, but they showed the boned jaws and teeth. Her stomach was uncovered, and she was covered the same amount as she was with her entire uniform adorned. Her breasts, much to many-a-disappoint, were fully covered, even on the bottom.
She sat there for long minutes on end, staring at the blank stone wall in front of her. She was quiet and motionless, a beautiful, badgered zombie stuck in a cell. She was in Soul Society; she knew that much. Perhaps she had figured it out the moment she awoke from her anesthetic-induced continuous sleep, or maybe when she finally could zero in on the sounds of Shinigami yells in the distance. Wherever she was, in this cell, it was quite away from any Shinigami activity. Of course they would have taken extra precautions with one of Aizen's former Espada, but it only rose the lingering question in Halibel's mind: why wasn't she killed or left for dead? Bringing an Espada into the Seireitei was a risky and dangerous maneuver, even with these constraints she was under. And there was no guard in her cell?
As if on that select note, she heard a rustling of locks and metal outside her door. The sound of two male voices complying to a superior's command could be heard. Within one split moment, the door opened, light from the connecting hall rushing into the dark room and attacking Halibel's eyes. Though, she did not squint or wince from its sting. Her dull gaze remained, her expression both hidden by her hollow mask and her simple lack of emotional display. When her eyes could focus, a small figure was made out. The figure was petite, cloaked in a Captain's haori with long twin braids extending all the way to her waist. The small silhouette shut the door, and Halibel made out her entire appearance. She was small but far from frail, her face radiating and aura of stern and disciplined natures. A permanent scowl rested on her face, and the woman stepped forward.
"What is your name, Espada."
Halibel stared forward, a steady glare going both ways between the women. Halibel said nothing, making Soifon take another step forward. Her hands hung limply by her sides, and she gave off a sense of intimidation that failed to work on Halibel. Even though Soifon was standing, she only slightly towered over Halibel. A meager three feet remained between them.
"If you fail to cooperate with our questions, you'll be executed without trial." Soifon wasn't planning on playing any games with this beast.
"You speak as if execution is a fear I possess."
Soifon's gaze turned from a stern anger to a mixture of apathy and skepticism. Her eyebrows raised ever-so-slightly as she stared down at the blonde, dark-skinned Arrancar. "The only reason you wouldn't want to speak is if you were still under Aizen's command." The question hidden beneath the statement was fairly evident.
"Do not speak his name."
"Then tell me yours."
Halibel's eyes blinked slowly once, still fixed on Soifon's dark ones. "Tia Halibel."
"And that three on your chest our medical team reported to us, that makes you the Tercera Espada." Halibel's silence was enough of an affirmative answer for Soifon. "Who was the individual that issued you such injuries."
Halibel's eyes averted to the side, but not out of shyness or vacillation. It was more of a disinclination to think of the subject willingly.
"I see." Soifon supposed she would need to attempt a different approach at extracting information from the Arrancar. "Those cuffs around your wrist are specially designed by our Department of Research and Development. You have the stamina of a mere human right now. You're stuck here either until you give us information or we decide to kill you."
Halibel's eyes turned back to Soifon steadily. "Are you calling me incompetent."
"What was that?" Soifon's eyes narrowed bitterly and curiously.
"The fact you seem to think I believe telling you anything will prevent my inevitable death. You must think my intelligence to be low."
"..." Soifon wasn't sure how to respond, which was a first for her. This was no ordinary Arrancar she was dealing with. She wasn't angry or rebellious, and above all else...she seemed as if this was no big deal. The dark-toned Espada was calm and collected, an ideal replica of the ideal Shinigami. It was a shame she was a lowly Arrancar. Soifon shook the thought from her head, almost in disgust. She would need to formulate a better tactic at getting this Arrancar to tell her things. She had to build up to the happenings of Aizen's disappearance. It was obvious she wouldn't be able to force information out of the woman. Soifon knew when someone possessed a hard exterior able to withstand any verbal or physical threats.
"I see, then. I'll be back tomorrow. Think about your priorities in the meantime." Soifon turned around and exited the door, the two guards stationed outside locking it instantly and resuming post.
Halibel sat in her chair and closed her eyes, pondering the tiny woman's last statement. Priorities? She had absolutely none.
"How did interrogating the Espada you found go?" Omaeda spoke through a mouth full of junk food. He followed behind her as she walked through the halls, and when they stepped in her office she swiftly turned around and drove a fist into his large stomach.
"Idiot, don't go around blurting our that information out loud like that," she seethed in anger, her eyebrows furrowed. "Only Captains and select people under me know about her being here. It would cause an uproar if this got around, you fat dunce."
The Vice Captain placed a hand on the tender area of his stomach and nodded, swallowing the lumpy mush in his mouth and stuffing more food inside. "Yeah, well how'd it go, huh?"
Soifon walked over to behind her desk and sat, staring down at the papers for a short moment. "I'm going to have to keep going there for a long time. It doesn't seem like she plans on giving out any information."
Omaeda could see no visible expression on his Captain's dull countenance, but he knew, after the past few years of working under her, when something stuck out in her mind. His Captain was adamant about finding out whatever she wanted to find out from this Arrancar. He didn't know why she wanted to so badly. Aizen was dead, everyone was in celebration...but her nature would have it that she wouldn't be. No. Of course the cold and heartless Taicho of Nibantai wouldn't.
Author's Note: You know... this pairing MAY be growing on me a LITTLE. Just the extreme crack-ness of it all...it's so wrong it's right. And just so you know, it's really hard keeping them in character in a situation like this. Forgive if this chapter landed in the 'epic fail' zone.
Much love! ─PB
