I'm frightened by what I see,
But somehow I know that there's much more to come
Immobilized by my fear,
And soon to be blinded by tears
I can stop the pain if I will it all away
If I will it all away...
Cold. Dark. Quiet. Pain. The world was spinning sharply, no, moving. She was being carried, but why? Thoughts came flooding back quickly. The mission, the others...Orihime! Ichigo! Eyes flashed open only to be met with more darkness. Gagged and bound, she thrashed wildly in an attempt to free herself. Her friends needed her!
"Keep still girl!" A rough voice boomed, a fist connecting with her skull as she continued to struggle. She bit her tongue and waited for the pounding in her head to subside. How had she gotten here? She was perfectly fine and preparing to destroy the blue-haired Espada one minute, then the next she had no idea where she was, or whose possession she was in. Finally the movement came to a halt and there was a resounding knock before what sounded like a heavy door creaking open. She didn't have time to think much longer before being dumped harshly onto the floor. She hissed beneath her bindings, vowing vengeance against whoever the lumbering oaf may have been.
"Yammy do be careful with our guest, please. She isn't a sack of meat." A voice rang out, velvety smooth and cold. Her ears instantly perked up in recognition, she knew that voice.
"Sorry Lord Aizen." The deep voice boomed, confirming her suspicion. She growled low in her throat. Hands gripped her once more before pulling the blindfold from her eyes and gag from her mouth.
"Aizen." She seethed, looking up at the traitor with disgust and wishing her hands were free to ring his neck. He descended the steps slowly, predatory and stalking, smiling all the while.
"Yoshida-sama, it's a pleasure to see you again." He grinned, offering a hand to help her up. Her eyes narrowed onto the flesh, glaring as if it had offended her.
"Sorry, I'm afraid I can't say the same." She growled, turning her head in refusal.
"You wound me Lieutenant. I had hoped you'd be delighted to see me." He held a hand to his chest, mocking disappointment.
"I tend not to fret over the loss of loathsome traitors." She snapped hopping up to her feet. "Now what is it that you want?" Her eyes tracked his every move, preparing to fight or flee should the time call for it.
"Must I have an ulterior motive for inviting an alluring woman to my quarters?" He grinned again, walking towards a small side table. There was a soft clinking as he fiddled with intricate glasses and a bottle of sloshing red liquid. He spilled the drink into two of the glasses before holding one out to her.
"Abducting and inviting are two entirely different acts." She glared at the glass he offered, holding her bound wrists up.
"Oh of course. How inconsiderate of me." He walked towards her slowly, breaking her bindings before clasping something around her wrist. Immediately she felt powerless, as if her reiatsu had been sapped.
"What's this?" She asked under her breath, already knowing the answer.
"I'm terribly sorry dear, but I'm afraid I can't have you waltzing through Los Noches with enough power to send it to the ground. You understand, ne?" He smiled once more, before offering her the same glass.
"No thank you." She spat, turning her head away. He sighed before setting the glass back down, and reaching to grip her chin.
"You know, I always admired you. You're lovely of course, but mostly for your spirit." He held her face in his hand, appraising her like merchandise. "Strong, driven, and quite dark." He released her and circled her slowly, eyes roaming her form. "Calculating and brilliant, all hidden behind such a pretty face." He said serenely, smile laced with venom. Just like the snake he was.
"Really? That's funny because I never did like you much at all." She hissed defiantly, feeling a new burning hatred for this man.
"Well that truly is a shame. I had such high hopes and such great plans for you." He said sitting back in his seat, looking genuinely disappointed.
"If my freedom isn't included in those plans then I want nothing to do with them." She snapped. His eyes looked amused and he smiled that hidden evil smile once more.
"Oh but freedom was a part of those plans." He started, holding up a hand when she opened her mouth to interrupt him. "No not your freedom from Los Noches. But a freedom within it."
"And how exactly would that be? I can't imagine that you'd just let me roam around freely and do as I wish." She asked skeptically, forcing herself to not get too optimistic.
"That is exactly what I would allow you to do. But there is a condition you see." He said causing her to laugh bitterly.
"Of course there is. And what would that condition be?"
"I would like you to agree to be my bride." His smile widening further as she gaped at him. "You agree to marry me, and you shall rule this land with me. You are free to do as you like within the castle and I have someone to spend my time with. It would be a great benefit to the both of us."
She tried not to gag at the thought of marrying Aizen...having to kiss Aizen...sleeping every night with Aizen. She wanted to scream. Wanted to immediately tell him no, kick his sorry ass and then get the hell out of there. But her brain was processing faster than her mouth, logically thinking things through. Marrying Aizen would give her security. It would ensure part of her freedom, keep her safe, allow her to have time and the means to plot a way out. She needed this freedom to save them all.
"So I guess you see the benefits of my proposal?" He asked taking a sip from his glass.
"I do, but I must ask. Why me?" She said, an honest question.
"Because even from here I can see that you are very much like me." He said as he peered at her over his glass.
"I am nothing like you." She said slowly, forcing down the anger his comment provoked, fist clenching and releasing.
"Come now, I know everything there is to know about you my dear. If there's anyone who can see the similarities it's myself." He said with a wicked grin. "Besides, you've been lonely for so long now. Allow someone else to care for you, I'm sure he would have wanted that for you. Ne?"
"Please don't..." She whispered, pushing the memories away. She couldn't fall apart right now. "What he would have wanted is none of your concern."
"Poor Yoshida-sama. How unfair of the Captain to leave you." He said softly, fake sympathy flickering in his smile.
"Enough!" She shouted before she could stop herself. Aizen's brows rose in shock before he smirked. "I will agree to your terms if you agree to mine. I need some time to come to terms with things. Use this time to court me, or woo me if you wish. But know deep down I only will be doing this for the sake of my friends. My heart will never belong to another ever again. And you will not speak of my past or of him. He is dead, and that is that." She hated the man, she truly did. But she knew she had to do whatever she could to survive.
"I'm thrilled we could come to an agreement my dear Nezumi. I gladly accept your conditions." He said, standing and grabbing hold of her hand. She tried not to flinch as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to the back of it. "I will have Gin take you to your new quarters." He said with a smile, finally releasing her hand. Nodding she quickly turned to the door, nearly sprinting out of the room.
"She's a catch Lord Aizen. You're sure to have your hands full." Yammy smirked as the girl fled. "Will you be making her into a hollow?
"No, I wish to keep this one as is. Although she would make quite the lovely hollow wouldn't she?" He smirked in return. "Yammy, go and send for Grimmjow please. I have important matters to discuss with him."
...
The door closed behind her and she leaned back against it heavily. She closed her eyes tight and let out a shakey breath. Kami, what was she getting herself into?
"Nezi-chan! How wonderful to see you." Another familiar voice rang out. She groaned and opened her eyes, gaze falling upon yet another traitor.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Gin?" She glared up at his stupid smirk.
"Just here on Lord Aizen's orders. Time to take you to your new room." He smiled as he held out an arm for her.
"I may not have my powers but I can still break your bones." She snapped, smirking in satisfaction as he retracted the limb.
"Of course. I would be disappointed in you otherwise." He smiled and turned to walk away. She followed obediently but didn't make an attempt to speak anymore. "What's wrong Nezi-chan? Cat gotchur tongue?" She snorted but the silence continued and he sighed. Well this was boring. Although he could easily rile her up, that was always entertaining.
"I must say I would never have expected you of all people to fall for Aizen's charm so quickly! I mean, marriage? That's quite a large commitment. If I didn't know any better I would think that you were up to something." Gin said with a unnerving grin as he led her through the winding corridors.
"I will do what I must to survive, that's all." She said plainly as she followed, glaring holes in the back of his head all the while.
"Oh come now, Nezi...don't look at me that way. Just think, we can spend time together just like in the old days! Only Rangiku isn't here...so I guess it isn't quite like the old days afterall." He said contemplatively, tapping a finger against his chin.
"Stop talking to me, Gin." She snapped, folding her arms across her chest.
"Oh but we used to be such good friends! Do you really want to cut me out like that?" He said with a pout, watching her eyes burn with anger.
"We stopped being friends, as soon as you betrayed the Soul Society. You brought this on yourself." She sneered, stabbing a finger at his chest.
"Ah so that's what this is all about, because I left ya?" He grinned again watching her scowl.
"I'm done talking to you now." She snapped before growing quiet once more. Who was this girl? She was nothing like the Nezumi he once knew.
"Wouldn't you like your own robes? I'm sure your doting fiance would be glad to have some specially made for you." Gin snickered as he glanced back at the tattered remains of her shinigami uniform. She sighed down at the torn fabric, knowing she could only wear it for so long before it was shreds.
"Yes I suppose that would be necessary." She said quietly, hating that she had to look like them now too.
"Wonderful. I'll be sure to let him know." He grinned again as they stopped in front of a set of large doors. "Well here we are, this will be your room." She paused before pushing open the door and stepping inside.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you all had this planned." She said as she looked around at the already prepared room.
"Of course not! That would just be absurd." He said with a sarcastic smirk as he turned to leave.
"Gin-kun...what happened to the others?" She said quietly, voice hardly above a whisper. He couldn't help but chuckle at how easily she reverted to the familiar honorific.
"Oh don't worry Nezi-chan, they're all still alive. Although some of them are in worse states than others. Kurosaki for instance...well I'm afraid he hasn't quite woken up just yet." He shrugged, her face falling.
"No...Is he okay?" She whimpered as her eyes swam with tears.
"Just a coma is all. He should be fine. If he wakes up that is." He shrugged again, frowning at how her lip trembled.
"This is all my fault. I didn't get there in time. I should have gotten to him sooner! I failed them all. Orihime, Sado, Ishida, even Rukia, and Ichigo. Especially Ichigo." She sunk down to her knees, the weight crashing down on her and a tiny pitiful noise leaving her throat. He looked down at her and chewed his cheek as something in his chest clenched. He sighed heavily before leaning down in front of her.
"You always were too kind." Gin he said softly, wrapping his arms around the smaller girl and resting his chin on her head. "Why couldn't you just save yourself for once?" He didn't want to worry about her, they were supposed to be enemies now. But he couldn't imagine the girl he once thought of like a sister forever in Aizen's clutches.
"You wouldn't understand. You only care about yourself." She sniffled into his chest.
"Nezi you know that's not true. I always cared about you. Rangiku too." He sighed, hoping no one would catch him consoling the girl.
"Then why did you do this?" She asked in a whisper. "Why did you do this to us? To the Soul Society, to me, to Ran-chan. We trusted you."
"I don't expect you to understand, and I can't explain this to you. But I have to go now." He said standing back up and heading towards the door. "Listen Nezi...from now on we are not friends. I cannot be there for you and I cannot help you. You are nothing to me, and if you seek me out I will have to hurt you. Understand?"
"Yes." She whispered, hanging her head
"Good." He said sharply, hand on the door. "And be careful Nezumi. I don't know what you're planning but I can assure you it will only lead to more suffering." With that he was gone, and she couldn't help but feel even more alone.
Well finally got chapter 2 out! Sorry if it's a tad on the boring side, but it's more of a bridge chapter to the storyline.
Don't forget to review and let me know what you think!
-S