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Chapter 11
Gold/black eyes scanned the library shelves almost lazily, or at least that's how it seemed. Carefully she picked out the books she would have her familiars read later, now she had to be the picture of obedience, it was what they expected of her and it was the only thing that let her freely roam the halls of Heuco Mundo. It gave her time to think, and it let her familiarize herself with her surroundings, from what she had heard, Ichigo was on his way, merely hours before he had made his arrival, and he would be the one to help Orihime escape.
Her goal was the Hougyoku, she would make it so that Orihime could erase its existence and after that was done Sakura would be sure to put a forbidden seal on Urahara's brain and the things that he wrote on. After escaping she would take refuge with the vizards where she would…ask politely, for their assistance in teaching her how to handle her powers. While that was happening she would be able to come up with a sound plan to take down Aizen and his rouge faction. She of course didn't plan on killing them, there were more painful things than death after all and they all deserved it. She could seal away their powers, or restrict their minds, but she wanted to make their lives hell, dying was a luxury, not a punishment.
She of course planned on leaving as much Vaste lorde alive as she could as well, after all what was the point in killing them, when they would only be replaced? Hollows would never disappear as long as there were souls out there. Thus prolonged the shinigami's never ending war, it was the balance of this world and she understood its inner workings. Slowly she was beginning to feel that this world was becoming truly her own, while her previous life faded into the category of 'precious memories'. She pulled out a 'harmless enough' looking book with some generic title on the reign of one of the more previous kings of Hueco Mundo and sat at the window sill, opening it to the front page. She let her eyes seemingly scan the page, as she patted down the details of her plan. She planned on using chakra strings, she had after all left a bit of her chakra on the Hougyoku, and being a jewel facet, it soaked up her chakra easily.
By merely extending and connecting one chakra string, to the jewel, it would be hers, now all she needed to do was full proof her escape route… she would need to be alone with Aizen, but knowing Tousen, Aizen wouldn't be left alone for a moment. Did that mean that she needed to seduce him after all? The darker side of her pulsed in disgust, it clawed almost painfully on the inside of her mind, begging her to rip and rend Aizen apart. While Sakura was almost used to her inner's more violent tendencies, the hollow within her was almost too animalistic for Sakura to handle, dropping the book she clutched her head.
The hollow begged to be let out, screaming in her head for release, using every ounce of her will she pushed it to the far reaches of her mind, locking it away. A temporary fix, but she couldn't afford to lose her cool now. Falling apart was a luxury she couldn't afford in the least. Seduction was out, it seemed that her other side would rather tear the man limb from limb, something she knew she wouldn't be able to accomplish without losing something detrimental to her personality. She would need a distraction big enough for Tousen and Gin to move while it left her behind.
The question was what? Recovering she pushed a stray hair from her face to place it behind her ear, gently and tenderly she picked up the book, settling herself back on the window sill. Follow a hollow to the real world? Would they even be allowed to out without Aizens consent seeing as the final battle was almost near? She sighed, she needed more information on Gargantua, that way she could open her own portal, she would have her familiars look into it. She was tempted to use a genjutsu to cover herself, but decided against it, she wasn't sure how the atmosphere would do to the delicate illusions, and she needed that last element of surprise.
If she was to ever assist in the battle and be of any use, she needed any and every advantage she had. It would also mean perfecting the use of her two swords; comfortingly they pulsed, perfectly aware of who was in control of her mind. From them she felt the cage she had trapped the hollow in solidify, and it helped mute its screeching voice. She wondered if it was the atmosphere or the darkness in her heart that sped up the process of the hollows growth within her; according to Ichigo he hadn't noticed it for a while. Was it because, she had lived in a stained and dark path for so long, that the hollow could grow strong off her darker memories? If she had more time to ponder it she would, but she knew she didn't have the time to sort things out.
She would have to discreetly take the hougyoku, possibly she hoped to do it through a clone, the last thing she wanted to be was within Aizens grasp. Despite his rather effeminate looks sometimes she knew his monstrous strength, and he never ceased to remind her, every time he touched her, it was a little harder than intended, as if reminding an animal discreetly who the master was. In a way though she supposed he saw her as a pet of some sort, she was neither his comrade nor under his complete control, only bid to sit there and look pretty at his feet, like a beloved pet cat.
In the end she was just a reminder to the Hollow what he was capable of, and in a way she had unconsciously hardened their loyalty to the un-fearing clearly psychopathic leader. Bringing fingers to her chin as she thought, while walking through the halls, it was then she remembered…hadn't she left a transportation scroll in the other world? Correctly speaking, she had left it with the orphans as a way to contact her in case there was anything they needed… But, when she thought about it, they wouldn't know to summon her, so that wasn't a plan option. It meant that she had to rely on Aizen to bring her tot the real world when he went to sacrifice Karakura town for his twisted and evil plans.
Though she had never really met the illustrious Urahara, she knew from what information she had gathered that he had an intelligence on par with Shikamaru, which meant he would make a couple of counter measures in order to keep the town safe. Finally the last piece of the puzzle clicked, "Hey! It's that bitch that's always with Aizen!"
Turning, she looked to see who dared address her in such a manner. Though she was above those sorts of taunts, as a hollow and therefore a temperamental being she had decided to portray herself as, she wouldn't stand for it. She turned to see two women, no surprise, Aizen was popular among females in general, just as Sasuke had been, it wasn't unusual that some would get jealous.
"Looks like someone's jealous that they don't have any attention, but that's what you get for being unintelligent and ugly." She said it in a polite tone, as if they were discussing the weather. She giggled softly as they started growling, she was Aizens cat, and she would have to remind them of that. Mischief afoot, an idea popped into her mind, the throne room was on the other side of the wall, it was a good way to demonstrate her still remaining power, and show a more cattish side of her. A sort of devotion and care only to Aizen, if it was obedience was what he wanted to see, obedience was what she would show him.
'Sometimes it's good to display your power; it can intimidate and make people fear you. In other cases, if you use that power for someone else over and over you can show your loyalty, especially when you portray yourself as a whimsical creature.' It was times like this when she was glad she had listened to Kakashi, well when she wasn't too mad at him for being so late all the time.
"You bitch!" said the one with twin tails, and a missing eye. "Let's get her Melony!" Smiling Sakura took a small step to the right, dodging their conjoined attack completely. As far as she was concerned, they were no better than Genin the way they fought, so uncultured, without an ounce of experience. She knew that these were probably the failed experiments when Aizen was trying to create his army. Pitiful, but she knew that she should gauge their strength.
As they attacked again, she used one hand chakra strengthened hand, to bat them through the wall straight into the other wall of the throne room's ground floor. It was all too easy. Looking at her hand Sakura had come to realize the true strength that her hollow had put in her. She had never stopped long enough to look at her chakra reserves, but now that she did she could feel almost a bottomless well within her. It was a novel experience for her as a mednin to overlook such a crucial change to her body. She had so much power now; she was beginning to understand the mental instability Sasuke and Itachi had begun to show throughout their lives.
'Power can corrupt, so you must be careful with your use of it.' It had been Itachi who had said those words to her. Though she didn't quite fully understand at the time, as he looked down at her with his onyx eyes, she understood now. Had Itachi seen the potential for her to cause this much damage, she wasn't so sure.
Stepping through the large hole in the wall she had created, she walked gingerly into the throne room, as if the hole was a natural entrance. Smiling broadly like an amused cat, she donned the mask of powerful but loyal and whimsical pet. "How boring, and I thought that since you had the gall to ask me to play, that you would be powerful in some aspect." As they picked themselves up from the rubble, mortified that their 'beloved Aizen' would see them in such a state, they shot death glares at her.
From his seat he watched them along with the rest of the espada court. Sakura yawned which provoked a deeper blush from the two. This sent them into a fury, and both tried to attack her relentlessly. Easily, all too easily she dodged each blow, bored she even began to braid a small part of her hair. Even when they came at her with swords she didn't stop what she was doing. Compared to the more powerful counterparts, they were slow, like genin and ANBU their difference was light years apart.
It wasn't before long that they tried out, and Sakura was daintily walking up the steps as if she had woken from a glorious nap. She had left the two at the bottom of the steps, piled over each other panting, and tired. "Did you have fun?" asked the overlord, as she took a seat on the stool seated beside him laden with pillows, the white coat she had been given sprawled behind her. He put a hand on her head as if to praise her, "They were so slow, hardly worth a challenge."
Kindly he smiled to her, "Then I'll ask someone to play with you when court is over." Taking his hand she kissed it, "Thank you Aizen, you honor me." It was easier to think that she was play acting when she kissed his hand. The only reason why she didn't recoil from such intimate acts were the years of ANBU training and undercover missions. That didn't stop her inner from clawing the inside of her mind. She had to bear it. Just a little more, just a little longer and she could go to a semblance of familiarity and go back to the Soul Society. Take care of her orphans, and her town, maybe do a little shinigami work.
She knew though deep inside that it wouldn't be that easy. She was no longer a full shinigami, neither espada or human. She could dream though. Dreaming was what was getting her through this whole ordeal. She glanced at the large mirror like surface that had formed before them; it was a close up of Ichigo, and his group. From her position she could only hope them luck. She had full confidence though that they would succeed. Anyone with that determination and power could overcome anything with the help of friends. It was something she had learned from examples like Naruto. Ichigo was definitely akin to Naruto, it was as if they were the same person. Only, Ichigo didn't have an obsession with ramen and he was a tad more pure than Naruto. Sakura could still remember the blush the orange headed boy gave her when she said something suggestive in a teasing manner.
In the shinobi world that sort of innocence disappeared fast. Children grew fast, and people died young. It was a hard existence but most wouldn't change it for the world. She wouldn't have changed it for the world. Letting go of Aizens hand, she draped herself over one of his knees, a bored expression on her face. There had been a time when she had done this with Itachi, even now she remembered with a clarity his smell and touch. She loathed to think that his memory was being replaced by the hand that was currently running its fingers through her hair.
Though she didn't like it, she didn't show it. Closing her eyes as if she were asleep she let out a sigh. She was a kunoichi, and the best way of survival was this, she didn't have a choice. It brought her on a whole other avenue of thought. Why? Why did she remember her previous life with clarity? Most didn't, so why only her? It was times like this that she wished she had Tsunade or Ino to help her through the mess that was herself, to work out. Perhaps it was because she was a nin? But, that didn't explain, this was a world of souls, she couldn't help but feel that she was missing something.
Something to this puzzle was missing, and she wanted to know why. From the floor of the grand hall the panting girls got up. "Melony, Lolly, you are dismissed." Said the kind words of the brown headed overlord. "Aizen-sama! You shouldn't keep that woman beside you!" said the twin tail; she seemed to be the more active one. Sakura opened an, as if dismissing the girls caterwauling as nothing, well she really did think it was nothing she reclosed the eye, repositioning herself to a more comfortable position.
After all she wasn't concerned with their fate. She was just a pet. "That woman is evil Aizen-sama! She'll be your downfall!" To that Sakura inwardly smirked. They had no idea in the least. "Are you suggentin' that Aizen migh' fail?" asked the cryptic Gin to her left. The two girls, she could see in her mind's eye sputtered. It made her want to laugh, when before she would have looked at them pitifully; it was of course another side effect on her personality when she received the Hollow.
"Of course not! I was merely saying that, that woman might hinder Aizen-sama's plans!" Cutting in smoothly the overlord replied. "Sakura wouldn't hinder my plans, would you?" Opening her eyes, she turned her hollofied gaze onto her so-called master, smiling prettily up at him she said in the most honest voice she could, "Of course not, Aizen's victory is my victory, and it isn't fun to lose." Offering his hand to her, she took it automatically nuzzling it, as if she were a dragon admiring one of her most precious treasures.
Turning her gaze onto the duo who still stood slightly ruffled at the bottom of the grand step, she looked at them with utter boredom and disinterest. "You were still here?" she asked. The two fumed, "Melony, Lolly, you are dismissed." Came the kind words of the man they worshipped. Like schoolgirls they flushed a happy spark appeared in their eyes, all trace of anger erased. Stuttering their goodbyes they nearly tripped over themselves to get out. It reflected how much Aizen was loved and or feared in this court. She knew for a fact that some of the espada court disapproved of him. She knew for a fact that Grimmjow wasn't too fond of him, which led her to believe that many others weren't too happy to have a shinigami running their court.
In fact, she was beginning to suspect the man with the crown as well as Nnoitra didn't like him all too well. Haribell she knew followed after Aizen; women in all realms seem to have fallen for his looks. Sakura wouldn't be surprised that the aloof espada were dedicated to him. Sakura knew though that trust in such a man could destroy a woman one way or another. Haribell would soon know that price, but the only way for Sakura to get her on her side would have to be something drastic to get that loyalty off of Aizen. If she didn't, the strong woman would most likely end up like Hinamori. Though Sakura doubted that, Sakura saw a piece of herself in Haribell, the type that was independent and Sakura was relying on that to flip the tables.
Ulqiourra was a different story, he believed that the strong ruled the weak, and it was that emptiness that had her reluctant to put her confidence in him. Stark and Lilinette, shared a strange bond with Aizen that wish to never be alone was their main factor. She could understand them; they were the espada that dealt with death by loneliness. The others she knew she didn't have a chance of turning. Sakura had hoped to change Gin, but she knew it would be hard, and it required time she didn't have. While she would try she could guarantee nothing. She knew that if she couldn't Rangiku would understand.
There was no such thing as a happily ever after, after all. As court ended and issues were decided, Sakura stopped listening to the sounds around her. She had pretended to fall asleep on Aizens knee, and she was determined to stay there until he roused her. Though she doubted it he might say or do something prominent that might help her with her plans.
Her breathe still steady she feigned slumber. "How long will she sleep like that?" asked Tousen. "However long it takes for her hollow to completely seal away her shinigami conscious." Replied Aizen with what she knew to be a smile. He twirled her hair with his fingers. Interesting, she didn't know that was the reason why he continued to let her sleep like that. "Only then can I begin using her in my plans."
"Fer' what though?" asked the ever smiling Gin. For what indeed, thought the young pinkette. When Aizen didn't reply, from what she could tell he only smiled. "Ah, you're plannin' somethin' mean again aren't ya?" Again his words came to nothing finding this to be an opportune moment to interrupt; she changed the pace to her breathing. The room was quiet; tiredly she opened her eyes, stretching Sakura sat up to rub on eye with her hand like a cat would. "Good morning sleepy head."Deceivingly kind fingers pet her head; she smiled up childishly at the enigma of death.
"Morning." She told the overlord rather softly as a person only just awaking would.
"Have a nice nap?"
"Yes."
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes." Standing the overlord took her hand to pull her up. As if she were royalty he led her away, glancing at the corner of her eye one last time, she saw the mirror. Ichigo had passed the Menos Forest, from what she could determine he was at the wall. It meant that Aizen would move soon. Just a couple more days, everything was ready, she just had to wait.
(A/N was planning to end it there, but since you guys have been good, and I haven't I'll write another chapter or so's worth.)
As she sat on the white ledge looking out toward the endless sandy white dessert of Hueco Mundo, her hair pooled out behind her shining in the moonlight, Sakura waited. By now Ichigo and his group were within the giant castles walls, in a place of which she knew to be the ones with three digits, of those who had fallen from their ranks unable to evolve any longer.
From behind her she felt a presence approach, choosing not to comment she let the being come up, he wasn't going to harm her, that much she knew, plus it would be better for him to be on her side if worse came to worse, that and he seemed easy to familiarize with, he seemed to be almost the same as Sora was, except maybe a bit more mature. "What's Aizens favorite pet cat doing out here?" Ever since her transformation the cat-like man treated her differently, of course it may have been a response to her different personality.
She turned her full gaze at him, a solemn look on her face, an expression she often held before Aizen happened. What she wanted from the man beside her was trust and friendship, someone who could understand her and take her side when the time came. "Thinking." The sober response caught his attention he looked at her with rapt attention he could feel the change inside of her as if her 'old self' were speaking thorough. Of course she would never tell him that it really was her.
"About what?" She looked away from him, an almost wistful look on her face, "Before I became a shinigami, before I died, when I was still alive." The blue haired man looked at her incredulously.
"I thought that souls weren't supposed to remember their lives, after they were inducted into the soul society." Looking out to the never changing scenery she paused, a smile appeared on her lips, "That's the thing, I do, which makes it weird. I remember every detail, and everything I've done, who I killed and who I had befriended, when I fell in love, and when I died. But, the really strange thing is, I was never escorted to the other side by a shinigami, I just woke up on the outskirts of the Seireitei."
He watched her large eyed, like a child wrapped in a good story. Then again she knew his type, honest, kind, hiding under a pained exterior. Just trying to survive in his cruel world it wasn't hard to grasp his interest. She was sure too that Aizen could hear every word she said. With the possibility of conquering another world he would need her more, which would keep him hesitant to kill her. He would need her, and the more he needed her, the more effective her plan became.
She explained to Grimmjow her world, the pains of it, the brightness of it. The pure survival of the fittest of it all, she purposely left out things about genjutsu, chakra strings and bloodline limits, but even them there was more than enough of the world of the nin for him to listen to her for hours on end. With every question he asked she answered like a teacher teaching the most active student. She couldn't blame him, there wasn't much to do in Hueco Mundo, and stories often served as escapes in themselves, it was the reason why more than anything she liked to curl up on a couch and read for hours on end without pause.
"Tell, me what were you like, when you were alive that is. What was your life like?" Sakura smiled fondly at the memory, "At first, I was a useless kunoichi with nothing on her mind but pretty things, that changed when the lives of my teammates were threatened in the Chunnin exams. After that I wanted to become stronger after almost losing them, a little later though, I did. It was inevitable, though, I know that now; he wanted to carry out his revenge, a heavy burden of someone who was only 12. Then again, children like us never grew up right; all of us had a little screw loose. Anyway, I worked so that I could see him again, and that's all.
"I don't think I've ever amounted to much in his eyes though, no matter how much I tried to reach his level. In the end I was killed by that person and the person I loved so that they wouldn't kill each other and I find myself wondering if I'll ever see them again. To be honest, with the amount of lives I've taken I'm surprised that I came to live within the Walls of the Soul Society let alone the Seireitei."
He gave her a considering look, in his gaze she saw compassion. For a moment, she was her old self, before she died, before her love had made her face reality. For a moment she found herself thanking once again that she could have a friend. No, that wasn't right; she had plenty of friends in the soul society. What she was thankful for was a confidant to confide in and know that he would betray none of her secrets. Even if she betrayed her own. She knew he would tell no one, it just wasn't his style. She knew that he could accept her. Then again she wasn't taking a huge risk in telling him, but even so that small kindness made her happy, even if she didn't show that insurmountable gratitude.
"You're a good person Sakura, even if you try to hide it, even if you try to bury it, any shinigami, hollow and person can see your worth." Words that often worked against her, characteristics she sometimes hated having, warmed her heart in the cold desolate place that was Hueco Mundo. Gently and slowly she laid a deliberate hand on the shoulder of the blue haired man, his eyes widened slightly at the gesture, for she had touched no other person aside from Aizen. If only he knew her true motive. "I could say the same thing about you Grimmjow." Looking away from her she scanned the horizon, "You have my gratitude." Confused by her unexpected thanks, for something she never clarified, along with the proclamation that he wasn't evil had the Vaste Lorde stunned, and he didn't move when she got up to walk away.
Immediately her defenses snapped into place, and she had returned to what life had made her. Once again she buried her soul into the mold of what she had made for herself. She was a nin, a kunoichi, and ANBU, and loyal, and she would become anything to serve her purpose. It was her way of the ninja. The conversation she had was not because she had wanted a friend, but someone to tip the balance in her favor. It helped that he was too shocked to notice that her movements was to place a small device upon his person. It would inform him of his movement, and it had enough chakra in it to transport him to her in her time of need. While she had a nice conversation with him, she could afford no friends in this lawless place. She had found out Aizen's plans, he would mobilize in what would be in a matter of hours, and she had no time to linger here, the long awaited battle was upon them, and she refused to take a passive stance.
Not only that but she knew that Aizen wouldn't kill her, if his conversation with Gin had any ounce of truth, Aizen would need her. For what, she had yet to know or see, she knew though that it had something to do with the Kings Key and his city. The Kings City… Why did it ring a bell? Pausing mid-step she stopped to think, what was the Kings city really? What royalty, lie behind that door? It seemed curiosity had finally caught up with her, but that still didn't condone the many lives that would be destroyed in order to recreate the key. It made her wonder though, if this king had anything to do with her world.
After all, hadn't Sora's father mentioned something to that effect? That he would eliminate the King? That there could only be one? Though she doubted the theory quickly forming in her head, she couldn't fully reject it. Hope was lodged deeply into her skull. What if it had some connection with Konoha? It was an impossible hope, and incredulous, but she hoped anyway. Once again that deep and sleeping ache sprang to life, the hope to see all that she had loved, it ached as if she had only lost them yesterday instead of an approaching of three years.
Even if it did though, even if it led her back to Konoha, she wouldn't sacrifice the lives of that many souls, they wouldn't forgive her if she did, and neither would she forgive herself. This was her life now, and she could do nothing about it but keep disaster from befalling them all just as she had in the time she had been alive. With both hands she held the hilts of her swords, compliantly they hummed to her. She walked to the throne room, knowing that she wouldn't be hindered. She knew that Aizen would bring her to the battle field if only to concrete the fact that she had betrayed the Soul Society just as Gin and Tousen had. She knew what her people would see, her hanging on him as if her were a pillow looking at them with disinterest. She knew that she had no choice but to play the part, she had to wait for Ichigo to come back to the human world, and she would slip back into Hueco Mundo to give Orihime the Hougyoku.
It didn't matter if Sakura lived, it didn't matter if she died. All of it was for the sake of the greater good, of course it didn't mean she wouldn't try with all of her might to live. Here she had many things to live for, the young orphans, the friends she had made. And maybe wait for the people she hoped would someday come to her when they too died. She wished to create a world where they would be welcome, after all she couldn't just die here without making a difference, she couldn't just give up before she saw their faces again, if they ever made it to the Soul Society that was.
Walking toward Aizen she took his hand, and he pulled her into an affectionate embrace. Here the Espada were gathered, and nearby she could feel the chakra of Ichigo, not too far from the door. He was facing Grimmjow right now. The crashes echoed throughout the great hall despite the fight being so far away. She wanted to help him fight but she knew that she couldn't. The minutes ticked by, and Haribell the last of who would go with them to the human world arrived her Fraccion close behind her as they always were.
Nnoitra, smiling left the room, he would be the next to fight when Grimmjow fell. Though it was wrong she prayed that he at least would get out of this. Grimmjow wasn't evil; he was just trying to live in this cruel society. All he knew was to climb to the top. Pulling her to the chair the overlord propped her on his knee as they watched the mirror-like object, they watched as the two fought, and Sakura took this chance to observe Ichigo and his newly grown powers. Though she knew she wouldn't be able to copy his ways perfectly, she knew that the Hollow mask would make her immeasurably stronger.
If only she could try it at least once, but she knew that it would cause the suspicion that Aizen may already of her to fester and grow into something unhealthy for the sake of her mission. She couldn't, like many other things, afford that sort of risk. She knew that Aizen, as powerful as she was, couldn't fully handle him. She might have a chance at beating him, but she knew that she would die shortly after, the only way she could defeat him, was use that seal both the third and fourth Hokage's had used, both she and him would be bound forever in hell. Not the best prospect in her eyes, as she had always been encouraged to live, but if it came down to it, she had no doubt in her mind that she would use it.
Even if she were no longer in Konoha, she owed a loyalty to her friends and the things she had come to love in this strange world. Gentle hands around her waist pulled her into him, his very touch repulsed her, but her superior training made it seem as if she encouraged his touch. Soon, very soon she would get him off of her. With grim amusement she entertained the thought of crushing his hands in her own, the satisfying crunch she knew she would feel warmed her heart. Inside her hollow chuckled with a dark laugh.
Distracted by her own thoughts, she hadn't noticed the hand that held her all the more securely. Only when a soft kiss landed on the base of her neck, did she snap out of her reverie. "What are you thinking?" The temptation to smack him as hard as she could for his high handedness was tempting but, she suppressed it. She was no longer the hotheaded child that she had once been.
From her left the Espada by the name of Ulqiuorra stepped up. It seemed that he had orders to receive from Aizen. Not a moment late, Sakura was distracted as Stark appeared in the room, Orihime tucked safely in his strong arms. Like a gentleman he let her down and then was standing in his assigned seat. Sakura was slightly shocked, but she had prepared for this situation. In a way it made her happier to know that what she had prepared wouldn't go to waste. A good nin after all, always contingency plans, and back up plans for if those failed. While Sakura was no Shikamaru, she knew that her strategy planning hadn't gone to waste. Brushing away Aizens advances she stood up, not even giving him a back glance, she had the feeling that he was one of those males who tended to like being cold shouldered.
Skipping down the stairs, her coat flowing behind her like a veil she smiled, and she touched down in her hand the item she had prepared waiting to be given to its owner. "Oh, so this is the human girl everyone has been talking about." Big dark blue eyes froze and widened, the recognition and realization in her face turned to horror, just how Sakura wanted, "S-" Holding a finger up to her lips the kunoichi shushed the girl, an evil grin on her face.
"I never said you could talk human." Immediately the busty red-head stared at Sakura with fear, Sakura knew that it was the eyes that scared her. But the others couldn't know that Orihime knew of her. As far as Sakura had told them she had been merely assigned to snoop around for the Hougyoku by Urahara. For all they knew she wasn't a shinigami, just another gigai with those special abilities. It was a tale full of half truths, but like every nin, Sakura was an experienced liar.
The fact that they didn't know that she could suppress her physical reactions made it all the more easier for her to deceive them. Even those who were trained to listen to the voice only like Tousen. As if appraising her Sakura reached out to touch the girl's glossy red locks, it was a relief that Orihime was harmed in anyway. Sakura was sure that, that nut job Szyael Apporo would try to hurt her. "Well, aren't you cute." Walking around the younger woman, Sakura did a full body inventory of the girl, her chakra was low, and her new skin told her that she had done some recent healing of herself. When Sakura probed a bit deeper with chakra filled eyes she realized that the chakras of those two idiots she had encountered before were in her system. Sakura would deal with them later, where no one could help them.
Turning to Aizen with a sugary smile she asked, "Can I keep her when we get back?" his head propped on one hand he smiled, "Of course you can my dear." Smiling Sakura turned back toward the shaken girl, and took her by the hand. It would hurt but it was necessary. With a flash of one of her senbon Sakura drew blood from the girl, Orihime only watched with big eyes, and Sakura could almost hug her for her bravery. Gently Sakura pushed the small scroll she had been holding into the girl's hand. On the small strip of paper Sakura wrote the girl's full name on, and with a small bit of blood of her own, Sakura sealed the contract.
It was temporary, but it would suit her needs just fine. Rolling the small scroll away Sakura tucked it into her sleeve, turning away, Sakura smiled, "I'll see you later little-miss-human." Skipping up the stairs she left Orihime alone in the middle of the large room, as Aizen was turned away trying to open Gargantua. Assembled with him, were five other espada, and his two former-shinigami cronies. "What was that?" asked Gin. For a moment she paused, cocking her head to one side, smiling, she patted his head, despite the fact that he was so much taller than her, "Never you mind, and if you do I'll tell you when we get back."
Hooking her arms into Aizens she leaned her head against her shoulder. Gin and Tousen stepped up behind her, just in time as a crash resonated through the hall. Ichigo had arrived. She didn't listen to the words the Overlord and Ichigo tossed; she knew that Ichigo would say something passionate, while Aizen would say something to irk the young adolescent further. Not only that but Sakura knew that if he saw her, he would instantly recognize her, and her plan would be in shambles. Leading her away Aizen took her into the gaping portal into the real world. She looked down at the town, amazed, she knew that it was fake, after all there were no chakra signatures there but they paid a great amount to detail.
Well, there were chakras, but they were the captains chakras, all of them released to full capacity. Her eyes indifferent Sakura kept her arms around Aizens neck, her face half hidden by his white coat, even then she saw the looks of surprise. The observations, they made of her new chakra and the conclusion, to end her life. It almost hurt, to know that they would turn on her so soon, but she knew that she was now a threat, and threats had to be eliminated. She didn't listen to Aizen as he spoke to the elder, she knew what he would say. And that cockiness would be her key. Immediately a flame from the first captain came, encaging them, yet they could easily see what was happening. It was almost time, letting go of Aizen she slid a hand down to his chest, making no move to get to the Hougyoku that was just underneath, she couldn't do a thing until the fire barrier lifted.
All of it was falling into place, subtly her neck pulsed, she had been collecting stray chakra, and there had been plenty in Hueco Mundo, though she was once again straining to keep the reserves a secret. A seal just as her masters had been was hidden by her pink hair, and she knew that to compensate, for all of the chakra, the seal was growing. The slight burn told her as much. She knew if she didn't hurry, it was quite possible that her capillaries would burst. Quite the unsightly death for a med nin. Dragging her thoughts back to the battle she watched through new eyes, Sakura wasn't new to the concept of war. In fact she had fought them alongside comrades, in the Akatsuki one. Like the calm before the storm, she felt numbness come over her, even as she kept a casual stance.
Like lightning that strikes, in a moment their standstill became a blood bath.
Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've updated hasn't it? Sorry about that, between martial arts, school, work, and college supplications to fill out…time for an amusing but time consuming hobby just doesn't have that much space. Thanks all for reading! Please review!
