Chapter 3: Love My Way

Orihime had never heard music on the radio. Everything that normally played was a message from the State. Today, there was music, lovely, joyful music. A woman, with the most beautiful voice she could imagine, sang such tremendous words into her living room. She sang about a man, a lover perhaps, that meant a great deal to her. Orihime knew the word for singing, and knew that it was a skill, but she had never heard someone sing in her life. She liked to sing, in private, of course, sometimes when she was in the shower. She didn't know any songs or lyrics, but tunes sometimes came to her and she would hum them to herself. But it was nothing like this woman.

She had to switch it off or she would never get anything ready for her party. Orihime had already spent half the day watching programs on the television, non-State programs.

All of the stimuli were wearing her brain thin. What was out there? Who was out there? And then the biting, reoccurring thought scraped past her mind again, why were they keeping it from her? Orihime sighed. It was best that she not even get close to that thought. At least the State couldn't read her thoughts…or at least, she thought they couldn't. Now, she bit her lip, could they read that thought too?

Uryu had revealed so much to her in such a short time. She didn't understand any of it. Aizen was going to drug her to make her fanatic to control her until she died? That was absurd. Too absurd. Whatever Aizen wanted for her had to be in the best interest of her because he worked for the State and the State would never let her be harmed. Everything the State did was for her protection.

Don't think, Orihime, you're not a thinker, you're a secretary, she told herself again. She crossed over to her mirror. Her dress was divine, a one of kind, Uryu said. It was black satin and high in the front but low in the back. She wanted tall shoes to go along with it, but wasn't skilled enough to walk in stilettos. She settled on a pair of three inch, strappy heels with little rhinestones around the ankle. The dress was tight around her waist, giving her a wonderful hourglass shape, a shape she didn't even know she possessed. She did her best to style her hair and paint her face with what cosmetic items she possessed, or was allowed, however she looked at it.

When her doorbell called, she didn't know what to do. That bell had never sounded. The only reason she knew what was expected of her was because of books and cultural references. Then again, most of her education was based on these ideas. Orihime opened her door to find Mr. Aizen in a striking suit with a stretched car in the background. "Orihime, I see Uryu has done the job he was paid to. Please," he offered his forearm, "come with me, and let's experience the night."

Orihime noticed it was dark out. Espada came out at night. She silently prayed she was safe with Mr. Aizen because if she was caught with her 'free pass' a second time, she might end up dead.

Needless to say, Orihime had never been in a limousine. The driver was separated from their world by a piece of glass. Aizen explained that they could see out, but the driver wouldn't be able to see them. Who would need that kind of privacy, she wondered. "How are you enjoying the new accesses to your citizenship, Miss Inoue?"

"I'm ashamed to say, Mr. Aizen, but a lot of my time has been spent watching television."

"Don't be ashamed, my dear, you should enjoy entertainment, that's what it's for. Now, shall I pour you what I assume is your first glass of champagne?" Orihime nodded, bravely, but with a trembling fear beneath her wide eyed exterior. There was a crisp, shining bottle of sweet champagne hidden in one of the car's many compartments. Aizen poured the sparkling liquid into a skinny champagne flute and handed it to his guest. Orihime waited for him to acquire a glass too before pressing her own to her lips and taking a small sip. She tried not to make a face but failed. Aizen laughed a little then stared at the spot on her glass where her lipstick left a red stain across the brim. "Now that is one of my favorite sights. You don't see many women wearing make-up within the State, but I do love the looks of a gorgeous girl leaving her mark."

Orihime wanted to wipe at the mark with her finger but didn't want to ruin her gloves. "Where are we going?"

"Just beyond the city, toward the desert."

There was a great and high wall that surrounded the city. No one really tried to escape, and the rare few who did attempt were Investigated and never heard from again. The highway they were on was new to her as well. It seemed to be heading straight for the wall, no turns or curves. There were no other cars on this road and the driver kept a steady, fast pace the entire time.

"I hope you are excited. Rarely do I treat just anyone with a trip beyond the wall."

"Sir," she began, "I am still a little undecided on how I feel. What have I done to deserve such a gift as this?"

Aizen began to explain while Orhime continued to watch their path. The driver was not slowing and the wall was quickly approaching. "You read books, Orihime. You dream and aspire to find happiness. What sort of figurehead would I be if I did not supply impossible dreams once in a while to deserving citizens?" Aizen took great pleasure in watching her squirm in fear over the thought of crashing into the city wall. In just a few moments, their car would be at the wall and they were still speeding well over 70 miles per hour. Her eyes burned with terror and her lip quivered, but she just looked onward, too tense to make a warning or suggestion. Aizen put a steady hand on her thigh. "You see, Orihime, I can give you your dreams, and all you have to do is follow me with the same loyalty you've already provided faithfully all these years."

The wall shattered, like a disconnected satellite station and the car passed through effortlessly before the hologram returned to its original state. Orihime quickly looked behind her to make sure the wall was still intact and as tall as ever. So many people had gone missing for trying to escape that wall, only to discover she could pass through it like air.

"Tomorrow…will I still be a secretary?"

Aizen laughed and Orihime did not mirror his humor. "Is that all you have to ask? Don't you at all wonder what we are going to do tonight?"

"I have to trust you for this evening, Mr. Aizen, you've already made that clear. I just want to know if tomorrow I can go back to trusting the State."

"You are infinitely full of surprises. I'm glad it was you I chose for my companion this evening." It wasn't until this moment that Orihime realized his hand was still on her thigh. Aizen gave her a little squeeze then put his hand back at his own side. "People, such as myself and acquaintances, partake in a little fun called Zanpakto. It's just a little pill that you swallow, and then you all share a wonderful dream. It's like a virtual reality game that everyone is playing." Orihime frowned. "Sorry, you don't know what that is. Think of it as a masquerade ball, but instead of having to learn lines and rehearse, you just close your eyes."

"Sir, with all due respect, I don't know if this is really for me."

"Nonsense, tonight's theme is a wonderful fairytale. That's part of the reason I chose you for this. I am offering you a non-restricted citizenship as a sign of good faith that you will join me for this evening."

Orihime remembered Uryu's words, how could she not? Someone was supposed to rescue her from this dream. Dream. The word had been used so lightly that evening. Aizen was to take her to a dream world, and he was offering her access to all of her heart's dreams. Somehow, those two things held completely different meanings. But she was in the car, and they were almost to the party, and Aizen was a State head, where could she possibly run? "I suppose…if it is only for one evening, and I can go back to my lively hood in the morning…"

Aizen grinned and took a final sip of his champagne. "That's the spirit, Orihime. Enjoy yourself. I know I will."

The car pulled into an extremely lavished home. Orihime had never seen a house with columns, or hedges, or multiple stories. Her house looked like every other home on the block. What a choice home for their theme, a fairy tale, and they would be inside of a real castle. Aizen offered his arm again to escort his date into the home. He didn't present an invitation like the other guests. Aizen waltzed in as easily as a breeze. A gentleman beside the door offered to set aside Orihime's purse for her and another man presented her with her second glass of champagne for the evening. Aizen instructed her not to drink any of it until signaled to do so later in the evening.

The guest list followed an interesting pattern: heads of the State with special guests. Aizen introduced Orihime to a man named Grimmjow, a head of public security, tasked with keeping the Espada in line, and his personal guest for the evening, Nel. She was wide eyed with excitement for the evening. She wanted Orihime to match her joy over the elegance and intrigue of the night. At first, Orihime brushed every meeting off without a pause. The State's power had shifted over the course of the day. It was still just as powerful and threatening, but the thought of public security was just a façade, she knew that now. Public security had done nothing to protect her from the Espada so long ago, nor had it helped those people who were sent to Investigation for trying to escape the wall.

Then, from her spot across the room, she saw a striking and handsome man. Orihime knew him from a photograph, the photograph Uryu lent her to prepare her for the evening. She politely excused herself from her date to meet him at the refreshment table. Uryu was with him, and they didn't appear to be deep in conversation, so Orihime didn't feel as though she were intruding.

"Uryu!" Orihime called.

Uryu smiled, forced, and whispered to his guest, "Remember…discreet. I'll keep things quiet with Aizen." He looked back to Orihime, "Orihime, I hope you find this evening…educational. If you'll excuse me."

Orihime stared at the gentleman before her with sparkling eyes. He was just like his picture. He wore a dapper tuxedo for the night and his eyes were intense, and full of decisiveness. This was the man who was going to be a part of her life from this point on, according to Uryu. He was supposed to help her. Orihime had so many questions but could only voice one, "Am I going to be okay?"

The man appeared to be taken back by her comment; his eyes softened, concerned for her well being, she assumed. The man wanted to reach out to her, physically, and embrace her. There were so many things he wanted to say to make her feel secure in the final moments before they were separated by her subconscious. "I'm going to save you…Orihime…you just have to trust me."

"Ah, Orihime, I see you've met Uryu's guest for the evening. Mr…I'm afraid I haven't caught your name," Aizen said from behind Orihime. He towered above her now, both in nature and stature.

"You must be Mr. Aizen. Glad to meet you." Orihime didn't remind him to introduce himself. From that moment on, she trusted that stranger with his severe expression. Her loyalty had passed from Aizen the second she was in his presence.

"Uryu tells me you are quite the writer. It's that kind of imagination that gets you in parties like this."

"I am just grateful to know there are like minded people within the State." The stranger nodded at Orihime, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Inoue. I trust we all have quite the evening in store. Thank you again, Mr. Ishida, for this wonderful invitation. If you'll excuse me, I seem to be out of this drink they gave me when I got in. I think I'll hunt down some more."

Orihime watched him turn and leave. Aizen's expression grew dark and fierce. He turned his anger toward Uryu, "How did you meet this one, Uryu?"

"He runs a local poet group. You remember his kind, you brought in a friend of his last month, Chad, I believe his name was." Uryu fiddled with his glass' frames, pushing them up his noise nervously.

"Ah…yes…I wasn't aware there were any members left. It's nice to know the creators of this city are still alive."

"What stops them from being Investigated?" Orihime asked bravely.

"I stop them from being Investigated, Miss Inoue. As a collector of the arts, it is my duty to preserve the artists and creative minds, such as yourself."

"Do you mean…that I was in danger of being Investigated?" she asked shocked.

"Sneezing gets you Investigated in this city. Luckily, for you, my dear, I happen to have handkerchief."

There's emptiness behind their eyes

There's dust in all their hearts

They just want to steal us all

And take us all apart

-Psychedelic Furs