Authors Note: So I had a couple questions from a reader at a different site. 1) they asked me if Tousen was ever going to be in this story… and sorry to say… probably not at all. He's never been one of my favorites… Soooo… sorry for the ppl who like him and all, but he won't be in this story. =( And 2) they asked if they people in the story were real life people, and yes. They are. The girl Amanda in the story is actually me… and my name really is Amanda. Then the girl Meghan is one of my friends in real life, but she didn't want her name in the story so I had to change it. But it's still her. So yea…anyways! Enjoy!
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Previously: "Aizen would like to have a word with you." That voice. I shot my glance over toward the door as my eyes widened as I realized who it was. It was him.
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The long tails of the coat. The raven black hair. Those green eyes. Realizing I was staring at the man in the doorway, I quickly removed my eyes from him and sent my eyes right back to the floor. The words he had spoken didn't quite register in my mind until a few seconds later when I finally stood up. I didn't dare ask why Aizen wanted to see me, and just walked toward the door.
Passing through the doorway, I let it shut behind me, and followed my visitor. I watched as he walked in front of me. I was happy that it had been Ulquiorra to come to my door, but I was also unsure about it at the same time. I so wanted to just jump up and hug him like I had always told Meghan I would do if I ever met him, but that wouldn't be the best thing. I would either get an extremely odd looking expression and then have a cero in my face, or just be hit with a cero right there and then without warning. So in order to keep my life, I wouldn't let myself do anything stupid. At least… not yet.
The walk down the long hallway was all in silence. The tension in the air was strong and building. Although I wanted to speak to him, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't even think of anything to say for that matter. Every-so-often, the quarto espada would glance back at me as if to see if I was still there. But why would be need to do that? Couldn't he just sense that I was there in the first place? There was also something strange about the way he looked back at me. Each time he did, I would automatically make eye-contact with him when I noticed him look. Then he would quickly look away as if he didn't wish for me to know he was looking. Like he was shy or something. But the quarto espada? Shy? Psh. There was no way that could be it.
He led me through the long hallway I was brought down in order to get to my room and in no time we were back at those doors I had already been at. He placed a hand on it; ready to open it. I paused behind him for a second, not sure what to expect once I was inside. Maybe Grimmjow had talked Aizen into executing me since I was just a human in their way.
Ulquiorra sensed that I had stopped, removed his hand from the door, and glanced over his shoulder at me. The next words that came out of his mouth weren't anything I expected to hear from him. They almost shocked me. No, they did shock me.
"Don't worry. It's not an execution."
How did he know that's what I was thinking? And…why would he be "worried" about it anyways?
I slowly nodded my head and looked back at the ground while he opened the door and I followed. He closed the doors and stood by them, letting me step forward a bit. Once inside, my eyes did not leave that floor. I didn't not dare look at anyone in the room. But then I realized something. It didn't seem like there was a lot of noise in the room like there had been when I was last in here. I looked up; the table was completely empty. Only Aizen and Gin were still sitting at the table, talking among themselves. Aizen was of course at the front of the table, with Gin in a seat to his right; in Grimmjow's spot actually.
I looked behind me at Ulquiorra, not sure what to do, and he motioned with his hand to walk forward. So I did.
"Oh," Gin smiled at me as I came around to the table.
I gave a quick smile at him and then let it disappear. "You… wanted to talk to me?" I asked Aizen.
"Please," he looked at the seat to his left. "Take a seat."
I instantly knew whose seat this was, and gladly took the spot. I smiled to myself on the inside, but kept a solid straight face on the outside.
He turned his head to speak to the one still standing by the doors. "You may be excused, Ulquiorra."
"Yes, my Lord." He bowed and left; to my disappointment.
I watched as he left in silence, quietly sighing to myself. What I didn't notice was that Aizen and Gin noticed me watching him leave. When I turned my attention back to them, the two of them just smiled at me.
"What?" I asked innocently.
Gin used his eyes to quickly glance at the door and then back at me to say 'over there'. He just continued to smile. That's when I realized what they were meaning. I instantly looked down at the table and bit my bottom lip, not wanting to look at their expressions now. They had figured it out.
It surprised me when they didn't speak about it next. All I heard from them was a quick laugh between them and then the subject was changed. Thank God.
"Amanda," Aizen started with my name, causing me to look at him without question. I did not dare ignore him. "After a long time of discussing the situation and with many, many, arguments from a few of the espada, we have finally come to a decision with you."
I was scared. I know that Ulquiorra had said that this wasn't an execution, so I wasn't going to lose my life. But I still didn't know what was to happen to me in any way. I waited for his answer as he looked at Gin like he was making sure with him that this was a good idea or not. I didn't have to wait long.
"We would like you to stay here for a while."
I froze.
Did I hear him correctly?
Could this really be happening?
I couldn't believe the words that I had just heard but that didn't matter. He had said it and that was that. I wanted to just jump up and scream with joy right then and there, but I had to restrain myself from doing so. It was then I saw that they were looking for a reply from me. I had been too caught up in what he just said to even think of a reply.
"W-what?" Was that the best I could say back to that?! Come on!
Aizen laughed to himself from seeing the look on my face. I must have looked pretty surprised.
"You heard correctly. We would like for you to stay here for a while. Most of us, would like to learn a little more about you. You seem… different for some reason."
"And plus," Gin spoke up. "You apparently watch some… show that has us in it?" It was more of a question than a statement. "It would be cool if ya could tell us about that sometime."
I nodded my head and smiled. "Yes. But it doesn't just have you guys. It has everyone including Ichigo and the others."
"Hm," Aizen closed his eyes, sensing someone else now in the room.
It was strange. Even I could sense it as well. I looked around a bit, but could not see anyone. They must be hiding in the shadows.
Without turning around to see who it was, Aizen spoke the persons name.
"What is it, Grimmjow?"
I heard a heavy sigh as the man in the shadows slowly began his way over to the table. He had his hands in his pockets, and as he approached, he didn't look at any of us. Especially not me, and I could probably guess why.
"I have news from Szayel."
"Proceed."
He gave another sigh, but one less strongly. "He say's that he should be able to find a way to get that girl home." he said girl with a hard annoyed tone. "But he would need a skin sample first."
My eyes widened a bit. Why would he need that? How much would he need? How would that even help?
I couldn't help myself but ask. "Why?" I looked right at Grimmjow, but he still didn't look at me. I could see that he was annoyed that I was still here and still very well alive at that.
Knowing I wasn't going to get an answer out of him, Aizen explained.
"I'm sure you already know, by watching the show, that Szayel is one of our best researchers."
I nodded and listened.
"We spoke together after the meeting and he agreed that he would be willing to experiment on finding a way to get you back where you came from."
"B-but how is that even possible?" I was utterly shocked. Was that even possible to do something like that? Take just a skin sample and somehow find a way to send a person into another dimension?
"It's what he does." Aizen smiled. "We don't really ask how he does it. We just accept it."
I sighed. "Ok, then."
Aizen looked up at Grimmjow, who finally looked back at him. "Grimmjow."
All he did was say his name and Grimmjow instantly knew what he was being told to do. He squinted his eyes and clenched his teeth together while shooting a cold glare at me. "Fine." He said sternly, glancing back at Aizen. "You," his eyes were on mine again. "Come." And with that, he turned on his heal and began to walk away rather fast.
"Better get going." Gin grinned.
Realizing I was falling behind too much, I shot up from my seat and started my way behind the sexta. He was already out the doors by the time I had gotten up from my spot, but I soon caught up to him. I walked behind him instead of next to him though. He still gave off the energy of 'stay away' and I didn't really want to push his buttons while I was alone with him. He might feel that if no one is looking, he can just get rid of me by himself. But I couldn't help but say one thing to him while following him.
I stared at him with a confused, and slightly annoyed, look while I walked. He still had his hands in his pockets, but I could clearly see that they were in fists. I could also see that his muscles were very tense and ready to snap. I shook my head and sighed to myself.
"What's with you?" I said behind him, annoyed.
He stopped. I stopped. Silence. Did I go too far in just saying one thing?
"What do you mean?" He was speaking through his clenched teeth; still facing away from me.
I stepped in front of him rather quickly. "Your attitude. That's what I mean." I folded my arms and looked him right in the eye. He actually didn't look away like I thought he would, but that didn't last long.
"Ch." He rolled his eyes and walked past me, pushing me aside with his arm.
That pissed me off. Not only was he ignoring me, but he was being a big baby about it and having a hissy fit as well. I ran back up to him and moved in front of him again. He stopped and glared harder at me.
"Move."
"No."
He closed his eyes hard; trying to keep his cool. "Out of my way bitch."
Oh no he didn't.
Without even thinking first, I unfolded my arms and smacked him across the face. Before my hand made contact, everything seemed to go into slow motion as I realized what I was doing. But there wasn't time to stop my actions. My hand made contact with his face; myself totally regretting it. I wanted to quickly say that I was sorry, but that would be worthless. I just folded my arms again and waited for what would come next.
"What the fuck is your problem!?" He screamed at me. I flinched a little, but held tight.
"My problem!?" I yelled back. "Look who's talking! Mr. I'm so tough!"
"You little shit!" He suddenly reached out his left hand and grabbed the thought of my shirt, pulling me up into the air. With his free hand, he raised it; ready to either cero me, or punch the hell out of me.
Whichever it was going to be, he never proceeded to finish.
The door to the left of me opened and a curious bystander looked out. 'Thank God.' It was Szayel.
Grimmjow dropped me, placed his hands right back into his pockets, and quickly took off. He job was done. Although he almost had some fun in it, that didn't happen.
I sat on the floor, leaning up on my arms behind me. I watched with annoyance and shock as the sexta disappeared. "Coward!" I yelled at him, but he was already too far away.
"Uhh," the voice to the side of me caught my attention. "I wouldn't be saying that to him with the scene that I just walked into with you guys."
"Psh, I don't care." I still sat still on the floor, glancing at Szayel quickly, and then back at the now empty hallway. "He's pissing me off with his freaking attitude he keeps giving me."
Szayel was leaning up against his doorframe, listening as I spoke. He had his arms folded across his chest as he looked down at me, and actually smiled. "You really are different than we expected."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I was still irritated from the previous scenario.
The octa just laughed quietly to himself. "Nevermind. I'm assuming you know why you're here, correct?"
"Yes."I began to calm myself down a bit, trying to focus on the new subject.
"Then let's get you inside here." He nodded toward his room. He left his spot from leaning, and moved toward me. I was at first unsure what he was going to do, but then was a bit shocked. He let out a hand and waited for me to grab it.
'He's helping me up?" I thought. 'Why would he be being nice to me?'
I was a little hesitant at first, but placed my hand in his and he helped lift me up. Once I was up, I took my hand back and he laughed and turned around; walking into the room. I took a moment outside the door and looked back down the hall. I squinted my eyes in anger, remembering him, but then let it go and continued into the room; shutting the door behind me.
His room was nothing like I expected it to be. I would have thought there would be lots of "scientific" things inside, but there wasn't. It was just a basic room, kinda like the one I had been placed in. Only this one was a bit more lit up than what I was in. It also had more items in it; a bed, a few desks, a dresser, and a door that probably led off to a bathroom. The only things I found "scientific" like in the room were a few test tubes on one of the desks, and a few things that were actually hanging from the ceiling over that same desk. I didn't even bother asking what they were because I probably wouldn't understand even once explained to about it.
I heard a quiet snicker as I looked around; walking over to the man standing by a table. Once there, he motioned for me to get up onto it. I was only told to just sit there and nothing else.
"This won't take long. But I will need to do a few things' more than just a skin sample, if that is alright."
"Sure. I guess." I shrugged. "Whatever you think you might need in order to figure this out. Which I still don't understand how in the world anyone could figure something out like this."
Szayel had moved over to the end of the table where there were multiple items placed out. He was messing around with some papers on a clip board and writing stuff down on them. "Well," he spoke while he wrote. "I could try explaining it to you, but I can almost promise you that it will go in one ear and out the other with your brain capacity, no offence." He smiled and looked up at me over his glasses.
I smiled back and then looked down at my feet; swinging them back and forth while I sat on the table. "No offence taken because that's just what would happen. You'd tell me, and I'd never understand it." I looked back at him and smiled again. Why was it easy to talk to this guy? Was it because he wasn't actually trying to kill me, but rather help me… in a way? I couldn't tell. I just felt calm around him. I wasn't going to let me guard down too much though. He was still one of the espada and could easily kill me with one shot. But there was something about him that just didn't bother me.
"Ok, now." He began while he walked back over my way, his clipboard still in hand. "I'll need to get some basic information from you; age, height, weight. Then I'll not only need to take a small skin sample, but a blood sample as well."
I furrowed my brow, unsure why he would need all that. I started to open my mouth to ask, but he answered before I could speak.
"Don't worry. I'm not taking this stuff for other uses. It's strictly just for finding a way to get you home." He gave me a reassuring smile.
I gave a quick nod and told him to continue. He took his clipboard in hand and listed off a few questions; my age, weight, height, anything I might be allergic to. Once he was finished writing that down, and a couple of small little notes on the sides of the paper, he set that down and went back to the end of the table to grab something else.
I couldn't see what he was grabbing, but I didn't have to wait long. He turned back around and held a rather large needle in his hand. I had done a blood draw before in my life, so I knew I'd be ok with this. But it was just something about seeing a needle like those that send a shiver down my spine. I rolled up my left sleeve and twisted my arm so that he could get to the vein.
"Do I need to tell you not to look?" He joked.
"What? For this?" I shook my head and smiled. "No way. I'm not a wimp."
He laughed to himself and proceeded to work. With one hand, he took my arm and held it still. With the other, he took the needle and gently slid it into my vein. A piece of tape was placed over the needle to keep it there, and that was it. I watched as the blood from my body began to flow through the tiny tube connected from the needle. It was a very strange feeling. I would never get used to it.
Szayel then walked away to get something else from this stash. While he was shuffled through some things, there was a knock at the door. I shot my glance over that way.
"Come in." The octa exhaled.
I'm smiled to myself as I watched who entered the room. It was Ulquiorra. He stepped inside, closed the door, and just stood there. That blank expression on his face the same as always. He did not move one inch, and just watched from afar. He looked right at me; right into my eyes. I looked away from him and back to my arm; trying to find something else to look at. But I could feel his emerald eyes casting over at me, and I could not get away from it.
"Lord Aizen would like an update."
His voice. I loved it so much. I could listen to him speak all day if that was possible, but unfortunately, he didn't speak a whole lot. He was a bit of a quiet one.
"Ah, he were are." Szayel said as he apparently found the object he was looking for. He grabbed it and came back to me. Without letting his eyes leave his work, he spoke over his shoulder to the one in the shadows. "Everything is going fine. I should be done here in just a few minutes."
The Quarto just stood there in silence. He never took his eyes off me, and that was starting to make me feel uncomfortable. He seemed like he was studying me from afar with his eyes. But why? It was strange that he would take any interest in my being here. Without lifting my head up from what I was currently looking at, I only shifted my eyes upward to look at him. When our eyes met each others, he seemed to suddenly snap out of his current state and let his eyes fall shut; he had been caught looking at me again. "I see." Without another word, he left.
I quietly sighed as the door closed and I heard it click shut.
Szayel looked at me, back at the door, and then at me again. He smirked at me as he figured out just what Aizen and Gin had earlier.
"You like him, don't you?" He spoke to me.
I still looked at the door when he said that, then brought my eyes to his and just smiled for my answer. But that went away quickly as I realized something and a more uneasy look appeared on my face. "You're not gunna let him, are you? Please don't." I sounded worried.
Szayel laughed out loud. "Hah. No I'll keep quiet." He winked at me.
"You better." I still looked a tad worried, like I didn't fully trust him; because I didn't. But as of now, that's all I could do.
The blood sample he had started was soon over and he then took some sort of object and took one of my hands. I flinched my hand back a little because I wasn't sure what the hell that object was. But he took a firmer grip on my hand and smiled and shook his head telling me not to move.
"Don't worry. You shouldn't feel a thing."
Shouldn't. Yeah. That was comforting.
The object he held in his hand was rather odd looking and sharp. But I felt that I could trust him. I mean, what else could I do? Run away? Hah. Yeah right. He placed the sharp edge onto the top of my hand and gently slid it across my skin. And he was right. I didn't feel much at all. Nothing but a tiny little pinch and that was it. I was surprised by that because something that sharp should have sliced my skin right open.
I was asked a couple more questions and then was told everything was finished. I was allowed to hop off the table, but Szayel held up a finger telling me to wait there. He cleared up the table and put the items away; each had its own little spot. He then walked over to me.
"Do I seriously need you to escort me to my room?" I asked as we began to talk toward the door.
"Aizens orders." He shrugged. "Plus, with how new you are here, and how much some of the others dislike you, I think its best you are with someone while roaming around. At least until Lord Aizen tells us otherwise."
"Did he ever say anything about you and the rest not harming me or anything?"
He nodded while opening the door for me, and we stepped through. "Indeed. But don't think that just because he said so, that everyone will comply with that."
"True. I bet I can guess the first one to break that rule." I narrowed my eyes while looking at the ground.
I soon looked up again at the sound of more footsteps. It was Aizen and Gin.
"Ah, Szayel." Aizen looked at me, smiled, and then looked back at the espada. "I see everything is finished?" His eyes were back on me again; that sly smile still there. It made me shiver. There was something about him that didn't feel good right now. But I couldn't understand what it was.
Szayel folded his hands together in front of himself. "Yes, and I will get to work on it right away."
"Do you have an estimate of how long this might take?"
My eyes switched to looking at each person talking.
"Well," Szayel thought for a second. "It all depends. But I would assume 2 to 3 days at the least."
'Yes!' I thought. I'd get to stay more than just a day! How cool! Now… I only had to keep myself out of trouble and stay alive.
I must have lost my train of thought right then because before I knew it, Aizen and Gin had left and I was being told to follow along.
We walked in silence for a little while, and before long, we were back at my room. I went inside and he started to leave. But he stopped. He had placed a hand on the door, ready to open it, when he sighed and turned around to face me.
"Yeah?"
He sighed again. "Be careful."
I gave him a confused look. "Of…?"
"The others. And I'm not meaning just Grimmjow. Nnoitra as well. The two of them can be a bit of a handful at times, and with a new girl in the palace, and one who has no defense, things might get interesting with them. So far you already have one that wants to slaughter you. And as for the other, Nnoitra can be a bit of a pervert." He then paused and laughed a little.
"What?" I smiled.
"Well, we can all be a little bit like that." He rolled his eyes and smiled, but then turned back to being serious. "But that's not my point. I'd watch them very carefully if I were you. I wouldn't go wondering the halls without knowing where they are or if someone is with you."
"I'll take those words into high consideration." I smiled to him.
He gave a quick nod of the head and then turned to walk out. "One more thing," he paused, talking over his shoulder. "Watch Aizen as well…"
"Why him?" I wondered.
"I can see and notice things that you don't, and…" he paused. "I see the way he looks at you. It's not good."
My body went stiff.
"Umm…" I didn't know what to say.
"Just… be careful and keep an eye out for those three."
With those words, I assured him that I would keep my eyes wide for them, and we parted ways. I turned away from the door and walked over toward the couch. I thought to myself as I moved closer and closer to it. 'Why is he being so nice? And why is he actually warning me about them?' I know he was more of just the researcher than a fighter, but he still was an espada. Wouldn't he be acting more like the others in wanting to get rid of me? Maybe he was different. But that didn't matter now. I had to take his words into consideration because he was right. I already had one who wanted to destroy me and one who could probably sneak up on me and do some pretty unpleasant things to me. And that's not what I want.
I lay my head down on the arm of the couch again and looked up at the ceiling. 'Aizen?' Why would he be interested in me in any way at all? And what exactly did Szayel mean by "watch out for him"? Was he lying about this whole thing and ready to just ambush me? Is that why he had Szayel take samples, so the octa could have some fun while this all lasted? Was Szayel playing it cool just to seem like everything was normal? All these questions and thoughts rushed into my head causing me to moan in annoyance for once more that day. I had to stop thinking.
I was really tired still. I hadn't gotten much sleep the night I came here and I didn't get the chance to really catch up on any of it either. My mind slowly began to shut off from thinking, letting the sleep settle in eventually. I curled up in the corner of the couch, my arms folded across my chest, and my knees up to my chin. It was rather cold in this room, but there wasn't anything I could do about that. I just had to deal with it.
My eyes closed shut, and sleep came quickly. I was tired from lack of sleep, blood loss from Szayel's needs, and all the excitement today. Tomorrow would be another day, with more adventures. And hopefully they would be good.
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Authors Note: Yay! Chapter 3! Sorry it took a little longer to get up. I was going through some writers block. And I think that might be getting a little bit bigger too… I know certain scenes I want to have happen, but I first have to think of things to write in order to GET to them. I also don't want to just rush right into things. I hate stories like that…
But anyways! Let me know what you think of this one! Reply and more will come! ^_^ Thankies!
