Chapter 4

Rukia Kuchiki woke up in the middle of a large comfortable bed. Quickly, she sat upright and her head spun with newly acquired dizziness. She clamped a hand to her forehead and groaned. Her violet eyes strained against the white bright light. Carefully, she sat up on the bed and stared at her surroundings.

Unfamiliar as they were, she had to admit it was classy. Two large bureaus, a small round table with matching chairs. A beautiful bay window with what looked like a balcony. An adjacent room, which she suspected was a bathroom. The colours were so deep, so full of passion and desire. And so very clean, she noticed.

"Where am I?" she murmured to herself, running a hand through her tousled raven hair.

A sharp knock came at the door and she jumped.

"Hello?" she called nervously, her voice shaking.

The door swung open and a dark shadowy figure stood there. Rukia's expression must have been one of utter bewilderment, because the shadowy figure moved into the light of the room.

She gasped. He was... that Espada from the fight! She'd recognise him anywhere. He was tall, pale, with the most intense green eyes. Fear welled inside her, her heart beating as fast as if she had run a mile.

"Come," he said, in a harsh voice.

"What?" she asked, eyes starting to narrow.

"Come with me," he extended.

"No," she said defiantly. She had been brought to... well, wherever she was, with no understanding of why and she would not co-operate at all. She reached for the hilt of her sword, but all she grasped was air. What the-? Where was Sode no Shirayuki?

She stared at the Espada, expecting some sarcastic remark about her lack of weaponry, but instead-

"Come with me, or I will make you," he growled.

"No," she repeated, a slight smirk on her face and turned her palm to face him.

He laughed. "Your Kido has been disabled. You're powerless".

And without warning, the Espada had crossed the room, and Rukia was being lifted into the air and taken from the room.

"Let me go!" she screamed. She hit his back with her small fists and kicked at his stomach, but he didn't show any sign of being hurt, or indeed of letting her go. He carried her along a winding staircase, until he turned abruptly into a dark corridor.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me?" she screamed.

"Why should I answer to trash like you?" he sneered at her.

Rukia gave a jolt and realised they had stopped. He dropped her onto the cold, stone floor and she crumpled in a heap.

"Get up," he commanded. She resisted and turned her body away from him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly to her feet.

"Get off me!" she screamed, but his hand remained on her arm.

The creak of doors surrounded them, and Rukia turned to see a majestic white hall.

"Walk," he commanded and pushed her inside.

With a stumble or two, she walked slowly into the hall, followed closely by this jerk of an Espada. She gasped at the amount of arrancar concealed within. At the furthest end of the hall, was a small raised platform with the throne like chairs placed upon it. Her jaw dropped as she recognized all three of them: ex-captain of squad 9, Kaname Tosen; ex-captain of squad 3, Gin Ichimaru and the ex-captain of squad 5, Sosuke Aizen!

"Ah, Rukia dear! How simply wonderful to see you!" Gin exclaimed in his usual manner, eyes like slits.

She remained silent. She would not rise to anything they said. Especially Gin. She shuddered in her mind.

"Rukia Kuchiki. That's a face I haven't seen in a while. As Gin said, it is wonderful to see you," Sosuke said calmly. He gave her that old warm smile and she felt uneasy, as if spiders were crawling across her back.

"You're probably wondering why you're here, yes?" Sosuke asked.

Rukia gave a simple nod of her head.

"I will tell you in due time, but how about a little supper tonight. That would be the perfect opportunity, yes?" Sosuke carried on.

"What?" Rukia blurted out.

"She talks!" laughed an Espada with light-blue spiky hair and eyes marked like cats. She gave him a scornful look and returned her attention to the ex-captain before her.

"You will attend dinner with us tonight," Sosuke smiled and indicated Tosen and Gin. He gestured to Rukia's guard and said, "Ulquiorra, please escort our dear Rukia back to her chambers".

The Espada (now named Ulquiorra) took her arm, roughly, and swept her from the hall.

"So, you're Ulquiorra," she stated.

"Yes, trash," he answered.

"And where am I?" she asked, almost stumbling as he began to pull her up the spiralling staircase.

"Las Noches, trash," he said simply.

"Why are you calling me that? 'Trash?' Is that the only word you know?" she questioned him.

"It's what you're called. Trash," he said, as they stood before the door to her chamber. "You will be collected for supper. Do not attempt to escape because my comrades will find you, and they will not hesitate to hurt you".

He opened the door and pushed her inside, with such force that she stumbled and fell, her shihaksho exposing her petite legs.

"Trash," he muttered as he shut the door with a bang.