Several towering pillars rose up along the sides in the room. In the distinctly dimmed lighting, shapes, some reclining others standing all had their eyes on the man down below. The Espada and their Master Sosuke Aizen. "Ulquiorra, entering," announced a curt voice at the doors. A thin black-haired Arrancar and the giant dwarfing him walked in.

"How's the state of the Hogyoku?"

The brown-haired man half-turned, his faint smile at his creations faltering, "at fifty percent. It'll awaken exactly when Soul society expects it to…however contact between it and Kuchiki Rukia are required for our plans to progress any faster. Ulquiorra, do you remember the order I gave you a month ago?"

"Yes," he answered solemnly.

"Carry it out. Take whomever you like," Aizen locked gazes with the stoic Arrancar a little longer silently conveying the true message.

'Capture Kuchiki Rukia.'

********************

Her back hit a hard tiled floor, she groaned softly. Footsteps paced in a circle around her while others approached, the reiatsu laden air saturated her lungs making it difficult to breathe.

"Oh, my. A woman," said one, his tones dulcet.

"She is not for eating, Aporro-Grantz." The same deep voice of her captor informed the one who'd spoken. The sound of teeth being sucked reached her ears. "I didn't want to eat her, Ulquiorra. I was merely curious if I may experiment on her?"

"I'm afraid not, Szayel," a new voice joined in.

Rukia flinched, recognizing the caressing baritone, fatherly in its gentle chiding. Sure steps, slow but measured drew near and seemingly respectful now the gathering hoard of Arrancar backed away…all except for one.

"Ulquiorra. You did well." Aizen praised; smiling, she was sure, at the unmoved form standing over her. "Woman," he responded tonelessly, something nudged her side. A sandaled foot she assumed. She kept still, refusing to open her eyes at command.

A sharp intake of breath and then Aizen knelt down, "don't, Ulquiorra. Not like that. Ms. Kuchiki, I know you can hear me...please stop feigning unconsciousness." Despite her desire to ignore one and all she found her eyes fluttering open and looking up into the face of fifth Division's ex Captain.

"Aizen Sosuke," she hissed.

Relief broke out on his face, "how are you feeling? You made me worry for a second there…I thought possibly Ulquiorra had struck you too hard." His concern sounded genuine enough even extending his hand for her to take as balance when they both got to their feet. Warily she eyed the many broken-masked Hollows filling in around them, the one whom Aizen addressed as Ulquiorra had his back to these other deviants, his green eyes focused blankly ahead.

"Come, I wish to show you something," Aizen interrupted her mental counting of the assembled enemies, his grip on her hand unremitting. They went into the adjoining room leaving the muttering hoard behind. Ulquiorra followed silently, closing the door effectively locking them in silence. Rukia's eyes swept the room nervously alighting on the center half-column coming up waist high. On it nestled on a pillow of black silk, shimmering malevolently in the light was the Hogyoku.

Aizen approached it, indicating she should do the same. Hesitantly she got near, afraid to disobey for who knew what punishment he'd deal upon her. Maybe feed her to the Hollows. Or let the Arrancar, Apporo-Grantz conduct experiments on her. She shivered and stepped up beside him on the narrow dais.

"Now…what do you see?"

She blinked and then took a breath in, "noth—wait. I…"

Tiny waves seemed to pulsate off of the sphere's polished side; mesmerized she couldn't take her eyes off it. The black depths called, pulling her in. At first she resisted, attempting to keep some sense of self. Her knees grew weak, threatening to buckle, hands, palms flat and hard pressed against her hips steadying her.

She breathed in nosily through her nostrils, her mind going blank. Aizen laid two fingers to her temple; distantly she felt them but didn't care. As her chest moved steadily another throbbing moved in time with her. She reached out to it, her hands seeking until they curved around something warm and round. The blackness lifted and visions rushed past her.

Humans and their life spans flew beneath her lids. In utero, birth, children growing up, their bodies maturing aging finally dying as they entered the last step, the final phase in evolution. Rukia held her breath something swelled inside, darkness leaked in tainting the lives of those children she'd watched grow up.

Cries, anguished and bitter screamed shrilly. Involuntarily she recoiled, her soul repulsed by the evil of those left behind. The Hollows. "Enough!" her voice broke the connection. Her body drained, crumpled backward into someone's hold. Light flared, her eyes opened dimly registering the brilliant flashes fading from the Hogyoku. Its aura seemed to have tripled in size, overflowing from its pedestal base.

"Ah," Aizen smiled, feeling the energy pulse in the air, "thank you, my dear. Your assistance is most welcome as my assumptions were correct. You have a bond with the Hogyoku born of the many months it was dormant inside of you. Periodically you will come and reenergize it as it were. That is your purpose for being here. Ulquiorra take her to her room."

The stoic Arrancar wrapped his hands around her upper arms pulling her up. His pointed nails dug into her skin arousing a sharp cry from her at this rough treatment. "I can stand…" she muttered, proving her point by placing her hands on his shoulders, her vision wobbled making it seem as though his baleful glare were magnified by two.

Unsteadily her legs finally gave way and she pitched into him; Aizen muffled his chuckle behind his hand. Ulquiorra had to back up to regain his footing; his eyes disgustedly traced the Shinigami's face and going lax form against his. He knew then what had to be done. He scooped her up and carried her to the door only pausing when his Master called him back, "be gentle with her. Our win is assured with her help."

"Yes, Master Aizen," Ulquiorra said respectfully.

************To be continued************

A/N: how was it so far? Let me know!