Her fists clenched at her sides as she took a fighting stance, her eyes roaming over the form of her opponent. Slender and tall, just a bit muscular, not bulky with muscle. Didn't seem particularly strong, but Tatsuki could bet he was fast. His everlasting smirk of superiority was irritating her, like he was overconfident, sure that she would never leave this place. The mere idea was smothering her. Her muscles were strained, ready to attack as soon as he made a little move, but he stood there like a statue, with an amused glint in his tangerine eyes.
"I gave you the chance to do as you please," he stated, pushing his glasses up on his nose with his middle finger in a lewd gesture, "and you just sit there unmoving." He burst out into a little laugh in a silky tone which made the hair on Tatsuki's arms stand straight up. "Charming." His foot moved into a step and she tensed once again. Everything happened in a matter of seconds. Her body practically shot forward and she jammed her back into him and grabbed the front of his shirt over her shoulder in an attempt to throw him onto the floor. But as soon as her body hit his, Tatsuki felt like she slammed herself into a solid brick wall. Despite his slim appearance, he was quite heavy and her arms gave in in the middle of the throw, resulting into him crashing on top of her, bringing the two bodies to the ground. Air had been knocked out of her lungs when the whole brick wall collapsed on her, crushing her underneath. When the weight had been removed, she clumsily scrambled back on her feet and threw a spiteful punch to the smirking face in front of her. She was met with the same hard wall. The skin of her knuckled cracked and blood trickled down her fingers.
Szayel just shook his head, pink locks flowing gently and caressing the skin of his cheeks and the milky white frames of his glasses. He took her wounded hand and kissed it gently, politely, like a gentleman would do with a lady. Then he brought his head closer to her ear, licking voluptously the smear of blood on his lips. "Looks like you did your best." He whispered with his hand placed on the back of her neck. A frustrated groan left Tatsuki's lips as she brought her knee up with all of her force, followed by a gasp of pain when it was met with the same impenetrable barrier. Pain shattered her kneecap, an ugly bruise forming under her very eyes.
"You can't defeat me. I am the perfect being."
For the first time in her life, Tatsuki felt the true taste of fear and desperation. Since she was little no bully, no bad man had touched her with getting beat up. She was strong and fearless, able to take care of herself and protect the others. But now, facing this kind of unhuman power she couldn't defeat, couldn't even touch, she felt scared, defenseless, no longer able to protect herself and the others; her thoughts flew to Orihime again. She was feeling useless.
She gave in as two hands wrapped softly around her wrists like two precious bracelets.
"Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime's scream drilled into Ulquiorra's ears and the girl turned to throw the Cuatro Espada a pleading look which didn't move a single muscle on the Arrancar's emotionless mask. After Aizen had seen her, Ulquiorra has been asigned to escort her to her "room" and Orihime was desperate. She saw no sign of Tatsuki since she arrived in the palace of Las Noches and none of the Espada or Aizen mentioned a thing about her. A striking fear took over her soul, trapping her like a rat in an iron cage. It was her entire fault if something happened to Tatsuki; she kept repeating to herself. She looked at the back of the Espada walking in front of her.
"Ummm," she began with a faint voice, afraid not to anger him, even though, judging by the way he reacted to things, it seemed like he was losing his temper very hard. "Do you know where Tatsuki-chan is?"
The Espada didn't give any sign that he night have heard her and Orhime already gave up waiting for an answer when he spoke calmly.
"Aizen-sama put her in a cell. Szayel Aporro Granz will take her over soon." An instinct would tell her not to trust the enemy, but there was something in his voice which told her he was speaking the truth.
"Is she…going to be fine?" she asked shyly.
"Che! Fine?" the strange voice made Orihime startle softly. A deep, masculine voice, very different from Ulquiorra's polite, but quite monotone voice resounded from the darkness. The voice itself betrayed the personality of the possessor: rude, brash, violent. The figure stepped from the shadows and she saw a blue-haired Arrancar, who was also present when Aizen asked to see her.
"Fine?" he repeated, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "With that creep Szayel? I don't think so, lady." He said with mock respect. Behind Orihime, Ulquiorra had stopped walking and turned to face Grimmjow.
"She'd be really lucky if tomorrow will find her in one piece." His maniac grin grew wider, as well as Orihime's eyes. What was he trying to say? Was he mocking her or was he telling the truth? The fear tightened its trap, clenching her almost painfully.
"Grimmjow," the voice of Ulquiorra behind her scared her, sending a cold shock through her whole body. "I don't think Aizen-sama will appreciate if you harass his guest."
Grimmjow looked at him like he had just suddenly burst out laughing and started giving them candy. But the grinning mask returned and his impressive figure retreated in the shadows.
"Let's go, woman."
Grimmjow's words did nothing but water the seeds of fear buried deep inside her and now they bloomed, smothering her. "Tatsuki-chan!"