Chapter Nine:

This is Why I Don't Like Mornings

Seren tossed and turned on her bed in her sleep. She shook her head and her fists clenched.

"NO!" She screamed- and then woke with a start. She sat up in bed, panting. There was cold sweat trickling down her face. Seren moaned, and covered her face with her hands.

That had been a nightmare. All she could remember was that Ulquiorra had not been there, and Nnoitra had gotten to her.

She never wanted to have dreams again.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" BAM, a pillow knocked her over the head.

"Uuuh… wha…" Seren mumbled.

"It's time to get up. Ulquiorra's here to take you to Aizen. Get up!" Apache hit her over the head with the pillow again.

"Mm uwaha, fine!" Seren sat up and blocked another pillow attack by Apache. "I'm up, I'm up…" She mumbled. She stepped out of bed drunkenly, and half blindly searched for her clothes.

She hated daylight.

And mornings.

And Ulquiorra.

And a possible Aizen.

Yep, she hated them all.

A little later, Seren stumbled out from her bedroom.

"Oh, I'm here, Ulquiorra. Let's go…" She rubbed her eyes. After that nightmare, she hadn't been able to get to sleep, and she didn't want to tell anyone else about that Nnoitra thing. In fact, she hoped that if she left it alone, it would all just fade away.

Seren looked disheveled; her hair was coming out of her braid and there were large bags under her eyes. Her shoulders looked like they were slumped over with some invisible burden, and her frame seemed weaker than before.

Then, of course, she took one look at Ulquiorra and straightened up. She furiously sonido'ed away.

Ulquiorra almost chuckled. She didn't want to look weak in front of him, how childish. Besides, she didn't know where Aizen's room was.

He took the lead, and she followed as usual; however, the walk wasn't nearly as long as before, thanks to sonido.

They stopped outside the door, and Ulquiorra announced their arrival.

"Ah!" Aizen was there with his usual tea and smile. "I'm so glad you could come, Seren. Please, sit, sit!" He motioned for her to take a seat by him. Seren sat down cautiously.

"Ah, I see you received the clothes I sent you." He smiled at her, and Seren kind of-well- grimaced in return.

She'd tried to smile.

"Yeah. Sunsun sews well," she said.

"Well, Seren, I'd like to know more about you. What were you doing out in Hueco Mundo?"

"Um.. What?" That caught her off-guard. "I… was just born there, I guess. Or at least, as far as I can remember…"

She could almost feel Aizen's eyes on her. She kept her gaze averted to her knees.

"Tell me something, Seren. Do you have a mask?"

"What?" This was getting weird. "I don't… think so…" She double-checked. "No. Why?"

"You look like an Arrancar, claim you are a Hollow, and have the powers of a shingami. Seren, there is something you are hiding from us."

She knew he was about to do something horrible to her if she didn't cough up an answer. But there wasn't one… She'd always thought she was weird, but not entirely odd.

"Umm… I don't think so. There's nothing I can remember, anyways."

"You're lying." She could feel his reiatsu gathering up. Crap, he was about to put her in submission, like he had for Blue Hair.

"I really don't know!"

"There are obvious flaws in your story. If you think that I am too stupid to realize that, than you are a great fool." He was angry.

"I- I-"

"Tell me." He unleashed his reiatsu on her. She yelped once, before she was slammed on her knees. She grunted and clenched her fists.

It hurt. Bad.

"I honestly can't remember anything!"

More pressure. She could swear she could feel her spine cracking under the pressure.

"I! Don't! Know!" It was like having the force of a three story building sitting on her shoulders. She bit her lip, and she started bleeding.

"Aizen-sama, perhaps she really doesn't know."

"Very well then." The pressure released, and Seren could think again. She panted, catching her breath. She stood up again, but this time backed away from Aizen.

"Why do you say that, Ulquiorra?" Aizen turned his attentions to Ulquiorra.

"Perhaps she was tampered with." Ulquiorra didn't blink or show any emotion.

"Hmm… how?"

"Her memory." Ulquiorra explained, matter-of-factly. "No one is stupid enough to want to be crushed by you just to keep what they are a secret."

Aizen waited a moment, thinking. "Very well. We shall see what Szayel has to say. Please go get him."

"Yes, Aizen-sama." He turned on his heel and flashed away.

That left Seren alone with Aizen.

Again, awkward.

She really wished these weird situations would stop happening to her.

She stayed silent, and Aizen stayed sitting, pondering his cup of tea. There was no sound, except the faint blowing of wind outside against the walls.

Finally, Aizen broke the quiet.

"I see you received my necklace," he said, pointing to Seren's necklace. "I hope you like it." He smiled in his false, lying way.

Seren decided he was the most evil creature she had ever encountered.

A minute later, Ulquiorra returned with Szayel. "We're here," he said simply, walking in the room.

"Aah, yes, I remember her," Szayel said, looking at Seren. "She's the little time traveller, right?"

"Yes," Aizen replied. "Ulquiorra believes her memory has been tampered with. Is there anyway to tell?"

"Hmm… let me see." Szayel walked over to where Seren stood, and cupped her chin in his hand and looked in her eyes. Seren's eyes flickered to the ground quickly. The last thing she wanted to do was look at anyone in the eyes after what had just happened. Of course her memory hadn't been tampered with. She would know, right?

No, of course not.

"Seren-chan, could you do something for me?" Szayel asked.

She only nodded.

"I need you to look at me. What's your oldest memory?"

"Umm… I think when I was very young. My parents were there, and-"

"And before that?"

"Um…" She searched. She tried and tried. She didn't want to be hurt anymore, she just wanted an answer so she could go back home and live happily ever after. But nothing came, and she could tell that was never going to happen.

"Yes. Ulquiorra was right, Aizen-sama. Someone has tampered with her mind." Szayel released Seren and straightened up.

"How can you tell?"

"I think there was a seal placed on her memories. Her eyes blanked when she tried to remember past the instated memory."

Seren blinked. She'd what?

"I see," Aizen said. "Well then, is there any way to lift it off?"

"I don't know. Perhaps if I could test on her-" Seren tensed, and her heart stopped. Testing?

"No. I'm afraid we can't do that." She sighed with relief on the inside. At least Aizen wouldn't let her be tested on. "You may go, Ulquiorra, Seren." Seren scampered up, glad to be rid of both the mad scientist and the mad ringleader.

"And, Seren-chan." She turned around, to face Aizen. He smiled at her. "Sorry about that."

She merely nodded numbly, then rushed out the door after Ulquiorra.

"Do you want me to carry you again?" Ulquiorra said once they were outside.

"No. I'm not that weak where that would wipe me out." Seren grumbled. Her back ached, and she felt tired. Seriously, not a day passed here where she didn't get hurt in some way. And she was sick of feeling weak. Really.

Not for the first time she wished she could trade her time and space bending into some powerful offensive attacks. Because then she wouldn't be here in the first place, happily on her own off in Hueco Mundo. Plus she'd be able to defend herself. But no. Peace was too much to ask for.

And she was also sick of Mr. High and Mighty here. Maybe he would be added to her list of people who need Fuerda shoved up their-

No. Breathe, Seren, breathe. There's no need to kill anyone yet.

She decided to sonido ahead. She could handle it.

Seren rushed ahead of Ulquiorra. She didn't feel like waiting for him. She wanted to find her way back, go to her room, and stay there forever. Before that Szayel guy got his way and tested on her.

"You're going to wrong way." Ulquiorra stood in her path.

"Oh." She didn't even bother to sound sorry.

She avoided his glance, staring at the ground, turning around, and went the other way. Weak trash?

No. And she would show all of them.

Seren was in her room, practicing her powers. As long as she didn't try to reach sh'chi her necklace wouldn't shock her. She directed lightning furiously at the walls; she created fire; she lifted earth and practiced manipulating water with a cup of tea.

The girl was furious. She hated how she was weak; it made her despise herself. But what angered her most of all was the way that Ulquiorra had regarded her. So Aizen had duffed her up a bit- now she needed to be carried? Like a baby?

Like hell she was.

Thinking about it, she rubbed her hands and blew on them, creating fire. It flared violently, before dying down to a faint simmer. She would show them!

Seren practiced relentlessly, fiercely, and without mercy. She worked herself up to roku twenty times, practicing each of her offensive attacks. Obviously, what had worked outside, wasn't going to work in here. With Nnoitra out to get her, Szayel wanting to test on her, Aizen wanting to use her as a tool and order her around like his obedient guard dog, she couldn't afford mistakes. And Ulquiorra regarded her as trash, and her own roommates could sabotage her at any minute. And her so called guardian, Halibel, wasn't doing such a good job. Well, fat lot of good that would do. She would have to depend on herself.

She would make her attacks perfect, so that even Ulquiorra would think twice before insulting her.

If Seren was to be a caged bird, she would be a caged hawk.

"Ulquiorra is here to see you, Seren," drawled Mila Rose the next morning. "Um, hey, Seren?"

"I'm here." Seren strode out of her rooms, fully dressed, and ready to go. She looked at Ulquiorra. "Aizen-sama, right? Well, let's go." She strode out ahead of him, and sonido'ed away. At least by then she knew how to get there.

She left Ulquiorra in her dust.

Ulquiorra was, needless to say, shocked by Seren's transformation. He had just left her last night, and now- she was someone else.

It was a poor comparison to the sad, disheveled creature Seren had been the night before. Now she stood straighter, taller, neat, and assured. Her aura crackled with electricity.

He wasn't quite sure which Seren he disliked more.

"Aizen-sama, I am here." Seren announced simply. She strode in, Ulquiorra still behind her.

Aizen looked mildly surprised. "Ah, Seren-chan. "I didn't expect you to be here so soon."

Seren smiled. "I was ready this time." Her lavendar eyes gazed into his.

Aizen raised his eyebrows. "I see. Well, you can imagine why you're here."

"Szayel found something, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"I'm ready."

Aizen smiled. "That's good. I thought we were going to have to force you. You tend to have a bit of a rebellious nature."

"Yeah."

Seren didn't notice Ulquiorra walking in the door, or standing over by her side. But she did notice Szayel come in.

"Szayel-san." She nodded at him.

"Aha!" He said. "Seren-chan even remembered me! I feel special." He fixed his glasses. "Well, it's quite simple, really. Most common charms can be released with a simple counterattack."

"So you're going to hit me?"

"Pretty much." Inside, Seren winced, but on the outside, she simply steadied herself.

"I won't fight."

"Good girl." Aizen grinned.

"You see, Seren, I think there must an illusion of some type around you. A very bad one, mind you, but it is actually pretty sturdy. Perhaps you were trying to hide from something…?" "Of course. Hollow's don't have parents, and they don't look like humans." Wow. Whoever it was, they had really done a crap job with her. She wondered why she hadn't noticed how phony it really was.

Well, she did have her memory blocked.

"Seren-chan, I'd like for you to just stand over here." He led to a spot under a lamp-looking thing. Seren almost asked why there was a lamp in Las Noches, then decided not to bother.

She wanted to know who she really was.

"All right. This could hurt. But first, let's get some light…" He hit the light switch.

In one moment, the light flicked on, and all of Seren was suddenly doused in searing pain. She screamed and sank to her knees. She grabbed at her throat and panted.

She saw Ulquiorra's face, and his look surprised her. He looked shocked, emotion showing. She could have sworn she almost saw a flash of pain- but of course not. She was seeing things. Then the pain intensified, and she screeched loudly.

"What… the… hell?" She gasped. "Szayel, you bastard!"

"Just a little longer, Seren-chan." He smiled wickedly at her. Of course. He was probably enjoying this. Her pain. As soon as she got out of here, she was going to shove Fuerda up his-

And Aizen too. He had officially earned himself an extra large can full of whoop ass. And maybe Ulquiorra too. He probably knew about this, too. They were all out to get her, she was sure. It made her furious.

She was going to destroy them with her bare hands.

Instinctively, she knew what to do. She tried to draw her power out of her center, her chest. She found it, whirling violently and devilishly. It was just as furious as she was. She tried to draw it out, but there was a block.

Idiots. Did they think their little lamp would block her? Seren didn't care if she was killed. She was going to destroy them first.

She probed the block, looking for a weak spot.

She found it.

Her power exploded from her chest furiously, smashing the block. It disintegrated like rock before a burst dam.

There was a flash of light. A low roar exploded, and then a force of air shoved Szayel, Ulquiorra, and Aizen back. Szayel was shoved into a wall, Ulquiorra stood his ground, and Aizen looked like he was merely enjoying a pleasant breeze.

The light fluttered out, and the wind blew out. The lamp cracked, shattered, and fell over, hitting the ground with a harsh clang.

Seren was laying on the ground, unconscious, hair loose, scattered on the ground. She had two ivory horns curving out of the sides of her head. There was a distinctive burn hole over her solar plexus on her uniform. It was burned right through, and the edges of the clothing were singed, smoking. And there, was her hole.

"Ah, I see. So she was a Hollow after all." Szayel pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, like observing an interesting specimen. "But I think she'll be out for a while, though. That block didn't want to release nicely."

"I see. Ulquiorra, you should take her back to her rooms." Aizen motioned to Ulquiorra, who only nodded, picked Seren up in his arms, and flashed away.