The last chapter came up a bit shorter than I planned. Despite my best efforts, there was only so much I could do before things started to drag. I hated that parts of it felt exactly like what they were: the set-up for the following chapters. Also, despite the obvious joke in the chapter numbers, I swear that it wasn't planned, it just happened as a result of rewrites to earlier chapters... Oh well.

Okay, I want to express my sincere thanks to Ayase Reincarnated, Owlus, ulquihime7980, and my fellow "Prize of Victory 2" fan Kain- with whom I've been involved with in an ongoing discussion/discourse about the morality and ethics of PoV series.

Update: First off, I want to apologize to everyone for the long wait. I put the story on hiatus because I wanted to have a buffer for when I began posting new chapters one again. Right now, I'll probably stick to getting a chapter posted every other week. Ideally, I'd like to have new chapters posted on a weekly basis, but I'm working on a number of other projects at the moment, so I'll just say that weekly updates aren't out of the range of possibility.

WARNING: Sexual Content, including some mild Dom/Sub in the first instance.

TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW

Chapter X:
"The Courtship, Part 1"

Las Noches, Huecco Mundo...

She waited silently in her cell, by the window, her figure bathed in the silver moonlight radiating from the ever-present crescent moon of Huecco Mundo. Las Noches and everything within it was sterile and white, including herself- now clad in the stark white uniform she'd been issued. Only her main of fiery reddish-golden hair stood out amidst the endless sea of lifeless bone-white tones that dominated the oppressively small world she found herself trapped in.

She turned away from the high window, to the door as it slid open- revealing a slender figure, framed in the doorway, silhouetted by the light coming from the corridor. The figure took a single, deliberate step into the room, the door sliding shut behind him. Orihime felt her breath hitch in her throat as he began to move deeper into the room. Like her, he was clad in monochromatic white and black- a high-necked coat with tails, pleated hakama with a black sash around his waist, black tabi and white sandals. Even in the darkness, his predatory green eyes were visible...

Those predatory eyes, with the brilliant green slit pupils- tinged blue along the edges- bore into here with such intensity that she felt her heart race. Orihime felt a potent mix of emotions, equal measures fear and anticipation, her breath becoming shallow as he closed in on her. The powerful Espada stood before her, so dominant, radiating strength and authority. Wordlessly, he extended a pale white hand towards her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he caressed her cheek, his palm ghosting along the soft curve of her jaw and sending a jolt of electricity through her body.

Orihime flushed darkly at the contact, as he tilted her chin slightly, and leaned in, his pale lips brushing gently against hers before capturing her lips in a kiss. It was slow at first, but she felt a pair of hands on her hips as he deepened the kiss, pulling her supple body flush against his. She felt the hard muscles of his body through the fabric of his uniform, just as he surely must have felt the warmth from her human body through the thin white material of hers. She moaned into his mouth when she felt his hands gently squeezed her backside through her dress. She threw her arms around him, her ample breasts pressing against his chest as she frantically embraced him.

The next thing she knew, she felt his tongue brush against hers. And then, just as abruptly, he stepped back from her and pushed her back against the smoothed stone wall, capturing her wrists in a gentle but firm grip and holding her arms above her head. A small confident grin graced his features, like the apex predator he that he was. He wasted no time in recapturing her lips, nudging a knee between her legs and drawing back to savor the small moan she let out and the dark flush of her cheeks.

This wasn't the first time they'd met like this, a secret rendezvous between the two that only they knew about. And yet, it never failed excite her every time. The Arrancar knew her body well, and had become quite skilled at drawing pleasure from her with his touch. He was so very strong- enough to shatter her entire body on a whim- and yet, here he was, gently touching and caressing her!

Somehow- she wasn't really paying attention- her dress was hitched up around her waist and his cool hands were cresting along her thighs, leaving goosebumps as they moved. Orihime soon felt her panties become slick with arousal as his fingers brushed teasingly against her core through the thin material.

The redhead wasn't sure how much time passed, with her trapped between her captor and the wall, but the next thing she knew she was on the bed and he was hovering over her- the strands of her sunset hair spilling out around her on the white sheet. He gazed down at her intently, his dark black locks shifting slightly while the moonlight coming through the window set the white Hollow mask that covered the left side of his head aglow with a faint white light.

He undid the piece of her uniform that covered her shoulders and arms- leaving her lying on the cape of her outfit, with the skirting of her long gown bunched up around her waist. She felt vulnerable, but also excited as the Arrancar looked down at her with a... hungry gaze. His hands moved to her sides, and she felt her body flush red with heat- her face, ears, even shoulders- as his long fingers gently caressed her ribs through the fabric. Without further instruction, Orihime reflexively arched her back, as one of his hands slipped underneath her and pulled down the zip, freeing her upper body.

Orihime held up her hips to allow him to remove her gown in flourish of white, leaving the blushing redhead clad in nothing more than her pink and white striped panties and the black and white footwear of her uniform. She felt exposed as she lay on her back- her gaze averted, legs spread apart- while the Espada knelt before her, between her thighs. It also didn't help that the look in his eyes reminded her very much of a wolf (at least as she imagined) and that she suddenly felt like a lamb...

He leisurely traced the tip of his single finger up and down her panties, causing the fabric to slowly dampen and cling to her, forming a crease. He gave a pleased expression (bordering on smug) when a small gasp escaped her lips, prompting him to add a second finger as he increased the miniscule pressure of his fingertips ever so slightly- the faint darkening of the material showing the line of his motions. After a few agonizing moments of this, Orihime gasped once again as she felt his fingers start to dig into her, then a sense of dismay(?) when he withdrew his hand.

She looked up at him, struck by the stoic expression on his face that gave nothing away. She realized that she must have been giving him pleading look, but he seemed unfazed by her discomfort. Orihime finely relented and gave voice to her need, begging for his touch. He appeared to consider her request for a moment, before eventually delivering his terms: Get onto all fours.

Orihime was mortified by the prospect of assuming such a humiliating pose, but her body was on fire with need, and the ache between her legs was now unbearable. With no other choice, she relented, the sheets rustling as she got onto her hands and knees and "presented" herself to him- for she knew full well that this was what she was doing. She was sideways on the bed, with her backside facing the Espada, as he stood at the side. Her entire body was flush, her senses overcome with a mixture of shame and arousal as she maintained the embarrassing pose for him...

This was the level that she had allowed herself to fall to, and all in the desperate desire to 'feel' him. She hated the way her flesh betrayed her will, the way it responded to his touch, as if her body was some instrument- crafted just for him.

She felt his hands on her as he hooked his fingers into the hem of her panties. The already-blushing girl turned a darker shade of red as he slowly pulled down the sullied garment, revealing the part of herself that she was most ashamed of at the moment. The moment he removed the sullied garment, she felt her arousal dripping from her mound, her juices turning the white sheets a light gray.

She was so wet for him at that moment... Embarrassed, she frantically buried her face in the bedsheets, but this only served to provide a better view of her exposed sex to her tormentor- the pink outer lips now slick with anticipation- parted just enough to hint at the soft folds within- framed by a dense cover of soft reddish-gold curls, the same color as her long sunset main. She let out a muffled cry as he brushed two fingers probingly along her slit a few times. He pulled his hand back, regarding the glistening digits with a thoughtful look, before slowly inserting them into her tight passage.

Giving the human woman only a moment to adjust, he began to slowly thrust his long fingers into her heat, and her hips bucked against his hand- deeper against the intruding digits- desperate for relief. He began to gradually increase the speed of his motions, while his second hand moved toward the delicate bundle of nerves situated at the peek of her slit. Orihime unleashed a rasping cry of pleasure when she felt his fingers rubbing against her sensitive bud, digging her fingers into the bedsheets as he thrust into her while teasing her aching clit- callused fingers rolling against it. The stimulation was becoming too much for her, to the point that her eyes watered as she climaxed, soaking his hand with her juices.

Her entire body shuddered from the orgasm, and she had to struggle for breath. Yet she knew that this wasn't the end of the encounter... After what felt like an eternity to her, she rolled over, her entire body pink and glistening with sweat, her inner thighs slick with her own juices. Her chest heaved with every breath she took, her nipples stiff. There was the sound of clothes rustling, then she felt his hands under her knees, hitching her legs across his shoulders, and something hard pressing into her. She met his piercing gaze in that moment, before she felt him finally thrust into her.

The woman's insides were hot and wet, and he had no problem sliding his length into the welcoming tightness of her passage. He pressed his powerful body against hers in an effort to plunge deeper inside of her, and Orihime let out a cry and threw her arms around him- the hard lines and muscles melding seamlessly against the soft curves of her stomach and full breasts. She let out another cry as he rocked her entire body with his, but he quickly silenced her with a searing kiss.

He continued thrusting into her, and she soon felt herself nearing her limit, and knew that he was likely close to his was well. There were a half-dozen more devastating thrusts into her, then she felt her inner walls clamping down on his shaft as she came again, followed by the sensation of his seed spilling into her as he came inside her. She looked up into his eyes and breathlessly whispered his name...

...Ulquiorra!

The name slipped past Orihime's lips, just before she sat bolt-upright. She was stark still, in a state of near-panic, her breath fast and shallow. It took a moment before she registered where she was. She was in bed, in her bedroom, in the familiar apartment that was her home in the world of the living...

Beyond this, a quick glance at herself revealed that the long night-shirt she'd gone to bed in was not as she remembered... The oversized garment felt cold and damp against her now clammy flesh, clinging to her sweat-slicked body. Her hair felt limp and heavy, sticking to the nape of her neck and her face.

Orihime sighed in annoyance, before she reached down and pulled back the bed sheets and comforter to look at her lower body... She frowned. Her panties were damp, sticking uncomfortably against her in a rather intimate and unflattering way, and would need to be changed promptly. She further noted, with dismay, that there was a small but telling damp spot visible on the bedspread- situated between her inner thighs. Her shoulders slumped at the sight of her arousal-slicked flesh, frustration creeping into her thoughts, while noting that it was still the middle of the night.

Turning on the lamp on the nightstand beside her bed, Orihime retrieved a fresh night-shirt and a clean pair of panties from her dresser, before tossing the dirty clothes into the linen basket. She grabbed her bathrobe and slipped it on as she made her way to the bathroom in the hallway- careful not to wake up Ulquiorra, who was sleeping on the couch, in the living room. She shook her head, recalling how it had been three months since she'd spoken to Ichigo that day in the park- meaning that it had been almost half a year since they'd last seen any of their friends from Soul Society.

The teen silently wondered just where the hell that dream had come from, and what part of her mind could have conjured it up. Orihime knew that she was attracted to Ulquiorra, and was quick to remind herself that there was nothing wrong with having those type of feelings. She wasn't nearly as oblivious to such matters as Tatsuki often insisted she was. Between Tatsuki's and her male friends, the redhead was starting to feel a little too... protected for her own liking.

Everyone worried about her so much, and had tried to keep her out of conflicts as much as possible, as if her life and virtue were constantly at risk. She couldn't really blame Tatsuki for still thinking of her as the timid child she'd been when they first met. Old habits were hard to shake off, and thought they meant well, everyone seemed to assume that she was totally naïve... 'Orihime-chan isn't interested in those sort of things, she's just not that kind of girl.' Orihime thought derisively, reflecting on how others seemed to see her.

But as she stepped into the western-style shower/bath combo, she thought to herself, noting the way the encounter had played out was most certainly not to her tastes...

Just as she wasn't the shrinking violet that others seemed to view her as, she most certainly wasn't like the 'heroins' in those trash romance books- the ones sold in the drugstore- read by women that secretly wanted to be the dreamy-eyed damsels that were always on the covers... 'Bodice-rippers', that was the term she'd overheard someone laughingly use once when she was at the drugstore.

When she knew him well enough to be comfortable with him- once she felt confident enough to bare herself and have sex with him, Orihime knew that whatever happened between them was not going to involve... what was is called, tease-play? She wasn't interested in being 'dominated' or whatever it was that happened in the dream. Though, she couldn't help but wonder if the dream had meant something- was her subconscious mind trying to tell her something? Was she sexually frustrated?

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Soul Society, Division Ten HQ...

Captain Hitsugaya sat his desk in his office, diligently pouring over the stack of division paperwork he had been tasked with handling. He'd been at it for well over an hour, when he grunted, setting down his pen and pausing to rub spot between his shoulder blades and the base of his neck, eyes shut.

The white-haired youth exhaled, attempting to lessen the ache he felt. He'd been hunkered over those reports for so long, and now his back and neck were killing him- to such an extent that he was far too preoccupied with the nagging ache in his upper body to register the sound of the door to his office sliding open and then being shut with a soft 'clack', nor the sound of footsteps nearing his desk.

Hitsugaya suddenly felt a pair of hands on his shoulders, gently massaging them, while the pads of the thumbs worked at the base of his neck. After a moment, the tightness he felt began to ebb, causing him ease back into his chair, letting out a small sigh of relief as the hands skillfully worked away the crick that he'd been suffering from only moments earlier.

"Feeling better now, Captain?" A sultry voice asked him sweetly.

He smiled reflexively. "Muuuch better." The young man practically purred. "Thanks, I really needed-" Hitsugaya stopped mid-sentence, his eyes opening. "Matsumoto?!" The young Captain exclaimed, his face turning red as it instantly dawned on him that he was starring up her cleavage.

Were he less disciplined, he might have reacted by frosting the office with icicles. As it was, he leapt from his chair, landing in front of his desk. He turned to glare at the buxom blond, his face bright red as he regarded the woman. Despite the accusing glare he was sending her way, she just smiled sweetly at him, and he could swear that he actually felt his brow twitch in reaction.

"Really, Captain, I thought we were past such reactions." Rangiku began in a mock-accusing tone as she fixed him with a coy smile. "After all these years, and everything that's happened recently, I had hoped that you might have grown more comfortable around me." She paused. "I mean, there's been so few men that I can truly depend on." She continued. "And with Gin gone, you're the only man that I can turn to now..." Her cheerful expression started to falter. "But, maybe I'm just being unfair in placing such a burden upon you... Especially if you don't really feel the same way."

Hitsugaya was taken aback by this. He had always known that his Lieutenant was 'high-maintenance' when it came to her emotional needs. Though, he'd also come to realize that there was more to her then what she often let on- that her usual antics were, at least in part, a defense mechanism she'd created in reaction to the hardships she'd endured in her past, not to mention the emotional baggage that she still carried with her- almost like chains. The 'armor' that she'd built up wasn't perfect, and it was prone to slipping- usually suddenly and unexpectedly. Sometimes, there were moments when the adult woman before him would fall back into her childhood fears- of ending up alone and unwanted.

He brushed a hand through his snow-white hair and leapt onto the top of his desk, hunched down on one knee before her, as he took her hands in his. "As much as I might sometimes complain, I promise you that no matter what else happens, I will never leave you or cast you from my side."

His expression was serious, and his gaze penetrating, such that Rangiku felt her cheeks become warm as he held her hands firmly in his and looked into her eyes. "C-Captain...?"

"You said it yourself, that I was the only man you could turn to," he recounted. "And this 'burden' that you spoke of... It is one that will gladly bare." Hitsuga added, the corners of his lips curving as a gentle smile appeared on his face. "I may still be young, but thanks in part to you, I know what it means to be a man... I will never hurt you or make you cry, so trust in me, Rangiku."

She looked away for an instant, before meeting his gaze once more. "Toshiro... You promise?"

He brought a hand up to caress her cheek, then gave a nod. "I swear."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Division Twelve HQ...

Nemu's back was against the wall of Szayel's office. She was presently "trapped" between the wall and the Espada who's hands were pressed firmly against it, on either side of her. The pink-haired Arrancar leaned in close, to the point that their nosed were almost touching. He had an uncharacteristic wild look in his golden eyes, though the purple-haired Shinigami remained mostly impassive the situation.

"Nemu... My dear, sweet, darling Nemu." He intoned in a silky voice. "Do you have any idea what it's been like for me these last few months?" Szayel's voice was low and menacing, and would have easily scared anyone else, save for Nemu. "Always sauntering about the Twelfth, flaunting those long legs and batting your pretty eyes my way, all while dressed in this diabolical outfit that taunts me with thoughts of what's hidden beneath it." He recounted languidly.

He leaned in, inhaling her scent, his cheek brushing lightly against hers as he lingered. The whole time, her mask never slipped. "I am sorry Szayel-sama, I didn't realize that I was causing you such distress." Nemu replied in a tone that anyone else would have dismissed as being almost brusk, but the Octavio Espada knew her well enough to detect the faint hint of mischief, both in her tone and the way her eyes flickered.- as her jade pools met him gold. "If I have offended you, then am I to be disciplined?"

The question came from her supple lips, spoken like the pretty little doll that she was to everyone else, struck at something deep within him. "It's as I've said before, Nemu... You are a temptress, you've been toying with me, tempting me with your body." Szayel whispered. "But I'm not like everyone else, and I've seen through your clever ploy, my dear." The Espada warned, running a hand through her dark hair as he leaned forward to deeply breath in her scent.

"Szayel-sama?" Came her typical bland response. It was a tease, concealed within a veil of confusion. Nemu was playing the role of the automaton, while knowing full well that he saw through it. Her words hid an unspoken challenge within them, meant to silently goad him on... And the Espada had never felt as turned on as he presently did in that moment.

He smiled dangerously. "You've clearly forgotten that I am an Arrancar, a predator that- in spite of my good looks and charming disposition- you would do well to fear." Szayel cautioned, his hands coming to rest on her slender waist, above her hips. "Tell me, Nemu... Whatever am I to do with you?"

"Szayel-sama, I am your Lieutenant," She began in her usual detached tone. "If I have somehow failed to show you the regard you feel is due," Nemu continued. "Then as the Head of this Division, it is your duty to see to it that I am suitably reprimanded." A pause. "In this matter, the most logical conclusion would be to do so in a way that will ensure that I am unable to forget that you are an Arrancar."

"An interesting proposal." He quipped with a smile. "Lieutenant Kurotsuchi, I believe it's high time I reminded you of just what I am." Szayel remarked slyly, lifting her up- her feet hovering just above the floor- and rotated them both away from the wall. With that, he placed one hand firmly at the nape of her neck, and the other on the small of her back. He then slid his leg between hers, locking his right heel with her left, drew his foot back and swept her off her feat.

Shifting their weight, he leaned her back- one hand supporting her back and the other on the thigh of her left leg, now bent at the knee across his right hip. Szayel leaned in close, looming over her and he held her aloft over his desk. Her hands low on his back."I have you at my mercy," he observed as he looked down at the female Shinigami. "Tell me, Nemu, are you frightened?"

"Is there reason to be frightened, Szayel-sama?" Nemu asked calmly, the end of her dark purple braid partially resting on the smooth surface beneath her.

Szayel flashed her an almost maniacal smile, wasting no time as he leaned in to capture her soft pink lips in a devastating kiss. Nemu whimpered faintly into his mouth, which only further provoked him as he slipped his tongue between her lips. She arched her body against him at the sudden intrusion, as she felt his tongue delve inside her mouth- mingling with hers. After a moment, the Soul Reaper returned the Espada's kiss, snaking her slender fingers into his pink locks.

When he finally pulled back from her, he smiled as he savored the image of Nemu- the faint pink flush of her cheeks and the faintest hint of frustration in her expression- rather pleased in the knowledge that he was the only one who saw this side of her. Satisfied for the moment, Szayel effortlessly scooped her small form up into his arms and turned toward the door that linked his office to his personal quarters.

"And now, my dear Nemu," he began, carrying her in his arms. "Given that my hands are rather full with you at the moment, would you be so kind as to see to the door?"

"Of course, Szayel-sama." Nemu replied, her tone polite and professional, extending a delicate hand to press the touch panel, the sleek metallic door sliding open.

The bespectacled Arrancar stepped inside, the door closing behind them, and moved to deposit Nemu neatly on the edge of the large bed, the demur Shinigami letting out a dainty gasp as she touched down amidst a slight rustle of fabric. Hanging up his captain's coat, Szayel then knelt before her at the side of the bed, her legs dangling over the edge of the mattress, either side of him. He smiled warmly at the female Shinigami, resting his gloved hands on her hips, just above her knees.

At last, here- in the privacy of his room- the Espada could take his time, able to fully appreciate every last intricate detail of the woman before him. "I hope you are prepared, my darling Nemu, for I intend to be very thorough with you, as I conduct my research tonight." Szayel purred, looking into her eyes as he slid his hands up her hips, until they met the hem of her black kimono.

Nemu made no attempt to resist as he started to undo the white obi of her uniform, the silken fabric falling away once he finished with the knot in the back. Szayel paused, giving Nemu a meaningful gaze as he looked into her eyes. She nodded, prompting the Arrancar to continue- drawing open the folds of her black Shinigami robes just enough to free up her legs for examination. She leaned back, shifting her weight onto her hands, watching him as he held up her leg. The purple-haired woman suddenly became ware that she was blushing under the scrutiny of his appreciative gaze.

The gentleness that he showed when he touched her, the softness of his voice when he spoke to her, the way he looked at her- a mix of desire and the genuine curiosity of a scientist- was unlike anything she'd experienced before he came into her life. Nemu understood that the outward aspect of her construction was done so as to be aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. As Mayuri's construct, she had no sense of self or any ego, and her looks hadn't meant anything to her- until now. When she was with Szayel, she was able see herself as more than just a work art to be looked at... Szayel made her feel... attractive, even desirable, but most of all, she could feel that she was wanted.

Szayel eventually stood up, resting a knee on the mattress, then brushed a hand up her neck and against the soft curve of her cheek, then leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips. Nemu was quick to reciprocate the gesture, bringing a hand up to stroke the locks of his pink hair. She felt his tongue brushing against hers teasingly, causing her to moan into his mouth. The Espada broke the kiss, leaving her flush as he slowly ran his lips down along her neck, pausing to kiss her pulse. He put his hands on her shoulders, pulling her robes further down to expose her collarbone to him- eagerly moving to brush his tongue across the dip of her collarbone, eliciting small gasp from her as he bit down ever so slightly.

Her layers of robes finally slipped off her body, leaving Nemu clad in only her white tabi, a pair of lacy black panties, and her ever-present red choker. Szayel stepped back, smiling approvingly at the sight of the woman before him... She was gorgeous, all pale wan skin and soft curves: from her delicate ankles, to her full hips and ample bottom- the silky black fabric of her panties cutting across her gently tapered waist, just bellow her navel. She had full round breasts, perfectly shaped, capped off with delicate rosy pink nipples. As ever, her dark green eyes and long lashes stood out, with the dark violet locks of her hair framing her soft features, her pearlescent skin now flushed pink.

The Espada's hands went to her narrow shoulders and Nemu allowed him to push her down onto the plush sheets, Szayel looming over her with a predatory look in his eyes. He descended, capturing her right nipple in his lips, while he kneaded the other breast with his hand. The Arrancar smiled inwardly as he felt her begin to squirm against him- tweaking one nipple, gently sucking on the other. Once he bit down lightly on the right nipple and pulled, she let out another gasp of pleasure- music to his ear!

After a while, the pink-haired Arrancar moved down her torso, brushing his teeth gently against the swell of her hip bone, before dropping between her spread legs to plant a quick kiss on her right inner thigh. Szayel paused briefly, noting the obvious signs of arousal marring the dark fabric of her panties, mirroring the hardness he felt in the crotch of his white trousers. Another soft gasp escaped her sweet lips as he lapped at her slit through the fabric. A second, more deliberate motion of his tongue against her covered sex- digging into the damp silk- and she locked her legs behind his shoulders.

He smiled in the knowledge that he was the only one who could make the stoic Lieutenant's usual mask of cold indifference dissolve amidst a series of needy cries of pleasure. He circled her hard clit with the tip of his tongue, before sinking his lips down around it and increasing the pleasure. This was the final blow for the writhing woman, as she climaxed- soaking the lacy undergarment with her orgasm and letting out a glorious cry that made Szayel painfully hard.

Nemu shivered in the wake of her orgasm, unaccustomed to pleasurable feelings, given her countless years having served under Mayuri. Szayel appeared above her, gently cupping her cheeks- mindful of her hazy state of mind- to share another kiss. "Nemu..." He paused. "I won't continue unless you ask me to, I have to hear you say it... Tell me, Nemu, what do you want of me?"

"You, Szayel-sama," Nemu replied breathilly. "I want you."

He smiled and nodded. "Of course." Szayel replied, standing up and removing his white gloves, before reaching up to draw down the zipper of his tight, high-necked top. The Arrancar discarded the garment, revealing the lean muscles of his slender body. Unlike most other Hollows, he lacked a Hole- similar to Halibell or Nelliel- or a Number Tattoo (that she could see). He knelt back down between her legs and hooked his fingers in the sides of her panties, Nemu lifting her hips so as to allow him to draw the lacy black garment down her legs- tossing it onto the floor, into the growing pile of clothes.

She felt uncharacteristically exposed as he paused to look at her... A layer of soft, neatly-trimmed dark violet hair covered her mound, while the delicate outer lips of Nemu's slit glistened with arousal- slick in the wake of her orgasm only moments earlier. He repositioned her so that she lay length-wise in the center of the bed, with him kneeling over her. Without breaking eye-contact, Szayel reached down and undid the black sash around his waist, freeing up his white hakama. With a little effort, he was able to slip out of his trousers and kick them away. Nemu noted the black 8 on the side of his left hip.

She'd have to remember ask him about the Hollow Hole later...

He reached down and gripped her hips, adjusting slightly as he positioned the head of his dick against her slick folds. The two exchanged quick nods, just before Szayel thrust into her. Nemu let out a cry at the new sensation of him insider her, while the pink-haired Espada grit his teeth as he allowed himself to get accustomed to the incredible tightness within her. After a few moments, he drew himself back from inside her, then plunged back into her. His thrusts were slow and experimental at first, while he found a nice rhythm, then began to slowly increase the speed and depth of his thrusts.

Nemu's entire body rocked with each thrust, breasts bouncing slightly, as the Espada's moved slickly within her tight passage. After a while, he arched his back, thrusting deeper into the warm softness of her insides, Nemu let out a yelp of surprise/unfamiliar pleasure- convinced that she'd felt the head of the Arrancar's shaft hitting her womb. Desperate to feel more of him, she snaked her legs around his hips, with her arms overlapping across his shoulder blades. She clung tightly to him, her breasts rubbing against his chest as he moved inside her. Locked in the embrace, Szayel sought out the pale woman's soft lips, hungrily kissing her as he thrust into her warmth.

Szayel continued moving inside her, each powerful thrust eliciting a poorly muffled cry of pleasure from her lips, in between their heated kisses. As Mayuri's construct, Nemu's scientifically forged body was still largely unfamiliar to the experience of positive contact, and so she found herself particularly vulnerable to the waves of pleasure cresting upon her body. Even with all the unknowns involved, she knew that she wanted this- them, this intangible thing between them- to deepen.

The Espada felt himself reaching his limit, and based on the vice-grip that Nemu had on him, she was close to the edge as well. Szayel gave a few more powerful thrusts, before his body went rigid, burying himself deep inside of her... The tight, inner walls of her passage clamped down around his shaft as she climaxed around him, milking him as he came- pouring his seed into her. Spent, the pink-haired man collapsed onto the woman beneath him, holding her in his arms as he took deep breaths.

After a moment, Szayel rolled off of Nemu, one arm keeping her close at his side as the other fumbled for the sheets and drew them over their heated bodies. The Octavio smiled, his Hollow nature glowing with pride as the woman nestled against him smiled and draped an arm across his chest.

"Szayel-sama," Nemu murmured softly, gaining his attention. "Thank you, for everything." She offered in a soft voice as she looked into his eyes. "For everything you've done for me." She finished, her dark green eyed looking surprisingly human in that moment.

The Espada felt a swell of pride as she tangled a leg around his, pressing her warm body closer against his, and smiled down at her. "Not at all, Nemu, my lovely butterfly." Szayel replied. "The pleasure was all mine, both yourself and your company." He finished suavely, brushing aside her damp purple locks to place an affectionate kiss on her forehead- causing her to blush in surprise.

She gave a small smile, moving to rest her head in the crux of his neck. "Szayel-sama," she began as she rested against him. "As a Hollow, I expected to see a Hole somewhere on your body... I am curious as to why I cannot see yours anywhere." Nemu observed.

"Yeees," he replied leisurely. "Well, it's funny you should mention that." Szayel remarked, rubbing her shoulder affectionately. "There's an interesting story behind that," he coolly explained, pausing briefly to let out a yawn. "Remind me to tell you about it sometime."

(- End of Chapter X -)

Wow, longest chapter yet!

Oh man, did I debate whether or not if I should include the first 'sex scene'. I was worried that it might come across as misogynistic on my part. Though, I tried to make it clear, in Orihime's musings, that she wasn't into the idea. Orihime is not submissive, and I will never portray her as such. My intent was that the way the dream played was a byproduct of her own subconscious issues... Which I promise will be addressed in the following chapters, so please stick with me.

When it came to writing the second scene, with Szayel and Nemu, it ended up veering into the realm of body worship on Szayel's part. Not that I can really blame him, as Nemu certainly is very attractive and there's quite a bit to appreciate about her (lol). Though, I like to think that the intensity of his focus was partly to do with Szayel's meticulous, scientific nature. He's no saint, but he is intelligent and he knows an opportunity when he sees it. And as a scientist, if his skills can keep him in good graces and allows him to continue doing what interests him, then he's happy to change sides. Ironically, it's Nemu who's been the humanizing influence on him, leading to a real change within him.

As for the scene with Hitsugaya and Rangiku. I've previously admitted the past to being a HitsuMatsu shipper, though I know not everyone likes the idea of them as couple. I have nothing against Hinamori as a person, but I personally find the sharp contrast between Toshiro and Rangiku to be more complex and compelling, not to mention also a lot funnier! Plus, there's something rather moving in the idea that this 'boy' has the fortitude to be the one constant in this woman's life, and that she genuinely sees him as the 'man' she can finally intrust her feelings to.

-Bojack727