WARNING: Lengthy Author's Note that I think you must read.

The plot development in this chapter was not in the original concept of the story. But yesterday, I was forced to attend mass by my paternal grandmother, whom I'm taking a vacation with right now. As a part of my rant, I'm telling you now – it's hard to be an atheist in a very religious land. I came out a few months earlier and it stunned my entire family. They kept on thinking that I'm the spawn of the devil or something. *sweat drop*

Anyway, moving on. Before entering the church, I was programming/conditioning my mind to wander off to my plot lines for each and every one of my stories. And it worked! During the mass, I had a Eureka moment. The entire plot of Bloody Banquet fell on to my lap. I would say it was providence from a god, but I wouldn't. Because I was already furiously contemplating on the story and it seemed that an hour of being away from my laptop (a change of scenery) actually did wonders to my line of thinking.

The only curse about what happened to me was that I had to wait for another 45 minutes before I could write down the outline. :/

So, BB became a combination of all my favorite vampire stories – Vampire Knight, The Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. Plus a little Harry Potter. And I have many original elements too.

Chapter 11

The Mark of Magic

The ancient magic was fulfilled.

Ichigo could feel it.

Hours ago, when the clock struck 12, he became the most powerful vampire of his generation.

It actually rendered him ill for a while. His usually cold temperature skyrocketed, his body racked with fever. His room actually had a few broken vases, amazing his father that he didn't manage to break the window like the older man did when he came of age. Ichigo always had impeccable control over himself and his magic.

And now, there was a new power that surged through his bones when he bit into Orihime's neck and she did his. It was comforting and warm. It felt as though the void that gripped his heart for more than century was now filled.

A soft squeeze of his hand alerted him to the present. Almost a hundred faces were looking back at him in different states of emotion. Some were shocked, obviously because of the choice of the Bloody Diamond Rose. Some were happy, and these were the people who were optimistic towards the change and unity of the entire vampire community. Some were obviously angered, and that was mostly from the vampires of the Xiao-Yu clan. This was, of course, due to the fact that they had been laying all of their hopes on Jen, who was now crying uncontrollably on her assistant's shoulders. And there were some who were stoic. These beings were from the Kuchiki clan, who obviously don't know how to react to this stunning development.

Ichigo looked at Orihime, who also looked at him in return. His breath hitched once more in those gray depths, wondering how they could get so calm in one instant and so stormy in another.

The two of them then stepped down, moving towards the Lilith of their generation. Ichigo noted amusedly that a grumbling Ishida was handing something to a smug-looking Toushirou. He could only deduce that the two had a bet going on between them. Renji gave him an enormous wink a thumbs up. Hinamori was grinning widely at them.

To their surprise, Jen approached them.

"Congratulations," she said, choking back her sobs. Orihime was shocked. It was true that the greeting seemed insincere, but she let it pass. She couldn't really expect anything more from the Xiao-Yu girl. After all, the girl thought that she would be picked all the years of her life.

"Thank you, Jen," Ichigo said, smiling kindly towards his friend.

"Thanks, Jen-san," Orihime said, following suit.

The young woman nodded and went back to her family.

"I can't believe it! Our Orihime!" Rukia gasped, appearing beside Renji.

Renji chuckled. "I can't tell whether or not you're happy about this."

"Of course I am!" Rukia exclaimed. "I mean, I can't do anything about it and it seems that Orihime is attracted to that arrogant brat."

"That arrogant brat will be your nephew-in-law or something like that," Renji said. "So you're not completely happy?"

"No. I don't like the thought of Orihime having to submit to the Aizen family."

Renji looked at the auburn-haired woman who was now smiling up at Ichigo. "I don't think Orihime is the type of person who'll submit to anything."

"Tsk," Rukia said but was grinning broadly. "I guess you're right."

"How about you? I mean, have you found your mate yet?" Renji asked out of nowhere, effectively surprising the petite Kuchiki.

Rukia grimaced. "I don't think I'd want to have one. I don't fancy being someone's wife for my entire life."

"I can't imagine you being anyone's wife," Renji quipped. Without warning, Rukia elbowed him hard.

"OUCH!" he yelped, earning the stares of his family. "Why you damned midget!"

"Renji!" Knight Shaorin gasped. "That is no way to talk to a woman!"

"But this is not a woman! She's a monster!"

With that statement, Rukia stomped on Renji's foot with her deadly heels causing Renji to jump on one foot and howl in pain.

"Forgive my son, Kuchiki-san," Shaorin said, an odd glint in her eyes. "My name is Knight Shaorin."

Rukia smiled up at the lady, trying to quell the automatic feeling of defensiveness rising with her. "Kuchiki Rukia. A pleasure to meet you."

"Congratulations to your niece and your family," the woman said.

"Er… thanks."

"You seem uncomfortable."

"Aren't we all?" Rukia said in jest.

Shaorin laughed. "I know what you mean and I understand. No one expected this turn of events."

Rukia sighed. "I hope this isn't the only surprising event of the day."

Close to them was Yuriko, who was crying quietly against Byakuya's shoulder. "Our Hime… our hime…" she sobbed.

"I can't believe this either," Byakuya said, soothing his wife.

"Is she going to leave us now?" Yuriko asked, looking up at her husband.

She could see his jaw set in a tight line. "Not yet. I am not going to allow it. At least, not until they are ceremonially married."

They both knew that this might not be the case. Even with them resisting the match, there could be no doubt that the two young ones would find their way to each other. After all, they would still be staying in Azulith Academy for a few months. And they had their Bloodlust to fulfill. No one could truly stay away from their mate after they found them.

"We have to speak with the Aizens later," Yuriko said. "Are you ready, Byakuya?"

"I should be," Byakuya replied. "I was born ready for this moment."

At the very top of the stage, Aizen Sousuke and Aizen Masaki were still processing the events that occurred.

"The first Kuchiki," Sousuke said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I have kept something from you, my dear," Masaki admitted. Sousuke looked at his wife in question. "I had a strong suspicion that Kuchiki Orihime would be the one selected."

"How did you know?"

"Ichigo had a surge of Bloodlust for her a few months ago," Masaki confessed. "He wrote a letter to me asking if it was possible for an Aizen to experience Bloodlust even before the selection. He knows about Bloodlust, Sousuke, and that's why he identified the symptoms correctly."

"And why didn't you inform me?" Sousuke demanded.

"Because I wanted to make sure of everything else first," Masaki explained. "And we can't be sure until the Rose selected. It doesn't really make much of a difference."

Sousuke heaved a sigh. "It would have prepared me for this."

"I apologize," Masaki implored.

"But it is indeed strange," Sousuke thoughtfully said. "That's certainly a first. I would have to look more into it and talk to our son."

Masaki nodded. "We should do everything in our power to protect Kuchiki Orihime. There will be some who will contest the choice, especially since she is the daughter of our rival clan. Especially Shin."

The couple observed an angry Shin who was talking to an amused-looking Soi Fong. It would seem that the Mad Butterfly knew that Jen wasn't going to be chosen and made it clear amongst her clansmen, hence the smug expression.

Orihime's mind was in a daze. Everything was still too much to take. She didn't know if she was ready yet at the same time she knew that her place in life was to be beside this young man. She didn't know if this was love yet, since she still didn't know all there was to know about Aizen Ichigo. But there was something different and deeper in their relationship now. It may be true that their souls have now bonded and found each other after more than a century of waiting.

"What happens now?" Orihime suddenly asked, looking up at Ichigo who was holding her hand.

"I don't really know," Ichigo answered, smiling at her in comfort. It was clear that she was worried. She was the first Kuchiki to be chosen after all.

"You don't know?!" Orihime huffed. "I thought you were supposed to know since you learned all about this when you were born?"

"What I meant was, Orihime," Ichigo said, the mention of her name making Orihime a bit giddy, "I don't know what is going to happen with our relationship."

After a few more minutes of silence, Aizen Sousuke stepped forward. He opened his mouth to speak.

A screech filled the night air.

The vampires present simultaneously covered their ears in alarm, looking around the area to look for the source of the ghastly, otherworldly sound. In a deafening crash, the windows surrounding the hall shattered.

Shield-type Empusa were stationed near the windows. They automatically fortified their invisible walls to prevent the shards from wounding the guests. The women were immediately ushered away from the scene. Some stayed to fight, obviously members of the Lilith and their female assistants. They were always ready for a fight and their powers were formidable at best. The men were ready, each wielding terrible abilities of their own.

"Vampire community of this world," a high, cold voice resonated in the hall, "we the human population of this planet, declare war on your race."

Aizen Sousuke bellowed in his commanding voice, "Show yourself!"

"We have a pact that we will let you live as long as you keep your numbers and ranks under control," the voice continued. "Like every predator and prey, there should be proper balance. But in recent years, the numbers of the Upir Likhyi are steadily rising and there have been more and more human deaths."

"Lies!" Sousuke countered. "I have personally managed each and every one of my people and there hasn't been out of control attacks by that foul class!"

The voice continued, not hearing Sousuke's protests. "And it was handed down by the Primary families that we shall exterminate the entire race. There is no more chance of accords or treaties."

At the end of the sentence, a dark object leapt into the hall, penetrating the barriers put up by the Empusa.

"They are imbued by Ancient Magic!" Masaki exclaimed.

In an instant, Ichigo was shielding Orihime with his body. Rukia seemed to have managed to run towards her niece. And now everyone understood why.

The creature which looked like an oversized wolf was bounding towards Ichigo and Orihime.

"Get out of the way!" Kuchiki Byakuya yelled.

"Changelings!" an Empusa warned.

Everyone knew the dangers Changelings posed. Changelings were humans who could shapeshift into an animal at will. They were created to exterminate Upir Likhyi-class vampires and those who are threats to the human population. They had sharp teeth filled with vampire anti-venom. It's because of this that they were feared, even by members of the Lilith. A single bite could kill a vampire. If the Changeling belonged to the Primary family, then it has the ability to kill a Lilith.

Ichigo instantly reacted and closed his hands into fists. In a second, the wolf Changeling recoiled. Its bones cracked with Ichigo crushing his bones and internal organs. In a second, it was dead.

"What's going on?!" Xiao-Yu Shin thundered. "Why are we being attacked?!"

"The Primary family is only making up a reason to attack," Soi Fong declared. "The night of the Bloody Diamond Rose is a time when everyone is gathered in one place. It can also be a moment of vulnerability."

Aizen Sousuke nodded in agreement. "Do not let your guard down. I fear that there is more to come."

Following his words, six creatures appeared before them.

Eyes of the elder generation of Lilith widened. No one could penetrate the barriers of ancient vampiric magic that covered the Aizen grounds. There was only one reason that they could.

They have a powerful witch at their side.

True to their suspicions, a magic ritual circle appeared from the ground below them. Simultaneously, a mark of a crescent moon appeared on their left hands.

Sousuke gritted his teeth. "I guess we have to be honored to be graced by such a mighty presence."

"Indeed," one of the creatures spoke.

It was another wolf, this time much larger than the first one. It was huge and brown. And it could speak.

If a Changeling could speak even in its ultimate form, it was an indication that it was from the Primary family – the original and most powerful members of race. They were the ones who had the power to kill a Lilith.

"So you have come to kill us?" Tunda Ichimaru asked, a smirk on his lethal features.

"If you have been listening, then I shouldn't have to answer such a stupid question," the wolf said again.

"Stark Coyote," Kuchiki Byakuya spoke up. "It's been too long."

"I guess," Stark replied, his enormous wolf head looking towards the Kuchiki head. "Tell me, are you directly involved with the Upir Likhyi increase?"

"Not that I know of. My family just recently arrived," Byakuya said.

"All the more reason to suspect you."

"Tell us the real reason why you suddenly decided break the pact and come here," Ichigo growled, his patience wearing thin as he clutched Orihime behind him.

"Keep a leash on your boy," Stark said. "Such an impatient little brat."

With that, Ichigo hurled a black energy wave at the Changeling, who barely dodged the attack. In that moment, all hell broke loose.

The other five in the group attacked.

Orihime watched in horror as a very familiar-looking young woman with flowing green hair leapt forward, charging towards the Knight family. Her body was that of an enormous goat and she also had horns protruding from her head. She carried an enormous lance, ready to strike at the family that stood in her way. True to the legends, her teeth were pointed and ready to bite at any second.

She knew who this person was and she knew that she was supposed to be studying at Azulith Academy. But it was true that Orihime never saw her in the campus, despite the vampire population not being that sizeable. And she would have spotted that unique countenance anywhere. It was their Empusa-class assistant, Neliel.

How did she become a Changeling?!

"Neliel?!" Kuchiki Rukia gasped, voicing out Orihime's thoughts. "H-how…?!"

"Neliel huh?!" Knight Shuuhei said gleefully, sending superheated fireballs towards the running Changeling. "A fitting name for such a beautiful woman!"

Shaorin, his wife, stared pointedly at him as she easily dodged the thrown lance. She then disappeared and reappeared on Neliel's back, gripping her head.

Renji then flew from the side, thrusting his fist out and landing it on Neliel's head, effectively snapping her neck.

"NELIEL!" Rukia yelled, unable to contain herself. Despite Neliel becoming a Changeling for strange reasons, she was still their friend. But it was clear that there was no sign of recognition from the woman. She ran towards her fallen body. Shaorin was walking towards the Kuchiki, placing her hand on her shoulder.

"Who was she?" she asked Rukia.

"She was our assistant," Rukia replied, tears streaming down her face. "She was our friend."

"You mean she was a vampire before?" Renji said, confusion written all over his face. "But how did she become a part of the Primary?!"

"I don't know!" Rukia said in frustration.

At that instant, Neliel's limp body suddenly disappeared. "An illusion?!" Shuuhei said. And in that instant, they all heard a whizzing sound fly past them. It was Neliel's lance.

"YAY!"

In a pink blur, the lance was knocked out of its path. Shuuhei and Shaorin gasped in shock and mortification as Yachiru landed on top of the fallen lance. "I dropped the mean lady's weapon, daddy!" the child exclaimed gleefully.

Rukia almost laughed at the expression on Renji's face.

On the other side of the room, the Xiao Yu clan was fighting off a man sporting an eyepatch. He looked like a bull covered in very thick armor plates. Xiao-Yu Jen was bleeding freely from her left arm in trying to stop the barrage of attacks that the creature was giving them.

"Nnoitra Jiruga!" Shin bellowed. In that instant, daggers flew out of nowhere, touching the armor and suddenly exploding, making the hall shake.

Soi Fong grinned, landing on the ground beside her husband. "That will not just make the armor crack, but it can melt anything."

Amidst the smoke and the burnt smell, the bull was laughing maniacally, showing signs of life. "As if you can stop me with such an underhanded trick! Quite a low blow from the likes of you!"

Soi Fong could barely conceal her anger. In a yell, she lunged forward.

"Why don't you stop laughing and actually start fighting, Nnoitra?!" another creature called out. It was the one fighting the Kuchiki family.

"Shut up, Grimmjow!"

The panther was trying to take a bite out of Byakuya's neck. The pureblood immediately emitted a powerful aura and was preventing the creature from coming closer by a spectacular array of sakura blossoms that could cut anything that would come to its path.

Battling the Highgate clan was an odd-looking young man with tentacles springing out of his sleeves. His voice was high-pitched and he moved about in a feminine way. Each of his tentacles had spikes protruding from them and it was obvious by the way one of the Highgates' Empusa assistants was writhing in agony that the weapons were riddled with vampire anti-venom.

"Stop playing and start hurling the needles, Luppi!" Grimmjow growled. However, the tentacled creature was not paying attention to him and was instead having too much fan making Toushirou dodge him.

What Ichigo couldn't see was the sixth Changeling. He didn't have a chance to take a look at what he looked like before he seemed to have melded in the shadows.

Stark Coyote, who was having a one-on-one match with Aizen Sousuke, howled, and in an instant, thirty smaller wolves appeared out of nowhere, startling the Lilith.

"Get the children out of here!" Adze Isane yelled as she fought three wolves that rushed her way.

"Orihime!" Yuriko said, rushing to her daughter's side. "You must leave!"

"Why?!" Orihime retorted. "I have to fight! You know my power!"

"And that's precisely why they would target you!" her mother exclaimed.

"What are you two saying?!" Ichigo asked, looking at Kuchiki Yuriko in suspicion.

In a split second, a huge, winged figure appeared before them.

"The sixth!" Yuriko screamed.

The man was a huge bat. His fangs were already bared, angling towards Ichigo's neck. The pureblood had no time to react. Everything was happening so fast.

"Santen Kesshun! I reject!"

A magic circle suddenly appeared from underneath Ichigo's feet. A triangular shield appeared in between the Changeling and Ichigo, effectively shielding her mate from the attack.

"Interesting," the creature said in a deep voice. "A mere female vampire cannot do something like that."

Ichigo was also stunned. He wasn't mistaken. He saw a magic circle appear from underneath him. He knew the patterns. It was a feat that only a witch can do. Vampire magic does not leave traces or patterns when cast. And only a witch's shield can protect a vampire against a member of the Primary family.

He looked at Orihime with questioning eyes. She wasn't looking at him but was instead staring at the Changeling, ready for battle. Yuriko was clearly disturbed and it slowly dawned on Ichigo why her mother wanted her to stay out of battle.

Then he recalled an incident where Orihime healed herself without drinking blood.

"You're - ?"

Before he could finish his sentence, he gasped in pain.

Orihime screamed as she saw a tail spring from the ground and stab Ichigo with its venomed tip. At that moment, she raised her hand and blasted the statue of the Bloody Diamond Rose, revealing the beating crimson heart.

"Koten Zanshun, I reject!" she yelled. The diamond split into two. Orihime held back her hand in a pulling motion, taking what seemed like a spirit of something out of the object. The mysterious thing then flew towards Ichigo's gasping mouth, effectively ending the gasps of pain and agony.

And at that very moment, the fighting ceased. The Lilith were staring at one another in surprise as their opponents disappeared, leaving no trace of their presence. The hall was back to the way it was, as if they were merely under an illusion.

The only indication that they were attacked was that there were several dead Empusa and a blacked out Ichigo.

And also there was the fact that the Bloody Diamond Rose's statue was cracked open. Fortunately, the diamond was intact.

Yuriko stared at her daughter, who was still as the statue itself. She used Souten Kisshun to repair the damage.

The question was, did anybody else see?


A few hours later, the guests left. In a flurry of fear, they started fortifying their residences, knowing that with the declaration of war, they could be exterminated at any time. Never did such a threat cause so much chaos in the vampire community and it seemed that Aizen Sousuke was, for the first time, at a loss.

But there was something else confusing the patriarch, and it was because of this that he held a gathering between the Kuchiki clan and his family. No other members of the Lilith were present, as they were told that a conference between the heads of family will be done the next night. This urgency was also because he witnessed what Kuchiki Orihime did during the attack.

He invited the Kuchikis in under the pretense that they still had to discuss the arrangements between Ichigo and Orihime. They were now formally betrothed, but the conditions and responsibilities still had to be laid out properly.

Once they were all inside the Ichigo's room, Kuchiki Byakuya spoke up.

"I'm afraid that now may not be the proper time to discuss such things," he said. It was because they were just under attack that he didn't want this to push through. It was also partly because he wanted to spend time with his family. They needed to talk about the fact that the Primary family was accusing them of the increasing number of Upir Likhyi creations and attacks. They also had to fortify their defenses for impending battles. He also had no wish to give Orihime over to the Aizens any time soon, especially since their daughter had foolishly used her powers to save Aizen Ichigo.

Ichigo was now lying in his bed, still unconscious. Masaki was by his side, eyeing her son with concern. Sousuke was observing Orihime who seemed distraught and not the least bothered by what she just did. Rukia and Yuriko were whispering urgently to one another, no doubt trying to figure out a way that everything would be quickly resolved.

"How can we even discuss anything when your son is still unwell?" Byakuya added.

"We are not here to talk about the engagement," Sousuke said, looking Byakuya squarely in the eye. "You and your family are hiding something and I intend to know what that is."

With that, Byakuya's face retracted to its normal stoic state. "And what do you intend to know?"

"Kuchiki Orihime," Sousuke said, looking at Orihime. "You have extraordinary abilities. I have never seen a vampire produce that kind of shield – a protective barrier against the Primary family. Did you know that only witches can produce shields that can protect against those kinds of fighters? Also for creatures imbued with magic that can penetrate Lilith-class protection."

"What my daughter has is none of your concern," Byakuya retorted. "This is not the will of our family that she has a gift."

"This is more than a gift, Byakuya," Masaki spoke up. "A witch's power cannot be given as a gift. Unless it was given by a Grand Red Witch to a vampire and that is impossible since we all know that the last one died with the creation of our kind."

This was the story of the vampires. It wasn't really by the Lilith alone that they were created. They had to seek help from a being with magic – the most powerful in the world.

"We all know that the legend of the Original Creator is a ruse," Orihime finally interrupted the adults. "The Original Creator is not similar to that omnipotent being or what humans called God. Our Original Creator is the Grand Red Witch."

"How did you know all of this?!" Sousuke asked angrily. "That secret is in the sole keeping of the Aizen family."

"That is because I am a Grand Red Witch," Orihime replied.

"Orihime!" Yuriko scolded. "We talked about this! You aren't supposed to – "

"But they have to know, mother," the auburn-haired lady retorted. "They have to. After all, I am going to be the bride of their son. They are my future family."

Sousuke and Yuriko were stunned. "How can you be a Grand Red Witch?" Masaki inquired. "A vampire cannot be anything else. Are you saying that you are a hybrid?"

"Hybrids have been discussed in our books, but the occurrence is impossible and attempting to be one is fatal," Sousuke said. "Mixing races is so dangerous because not one race is compatible with the other. To be able to achieve such a feat, one must be of extraordinary prowess."

"Or if it was willingly given to them," Rukia supplied.

Orihime nodded. "I was not a witch by birth. The right was given to me. It was a gift."

"A gift?!" Sousuke exclaimed. "Pray tell us how you came across such an extraordinary gift when there is no Grand Red Witch in existence."

"Wait!" Rukia halted all of them. Sousuke raised his eyebrows at the impertinence of the petite vampire. She ignored the look the Aizen head gave her and continued. "What's this Original Creator stuff? I mean, I know about Grand Red Witches but Orihime… how did you know so much?"

"Aunt Rukia," Orihime started to say, feeling suddenly weary, "it was told to me when I was bestowed powers. That the Aizen family acquired the services of a Grand Red Witch to turn them into vampires."

Sousuke nodded. "In exchange of such powers and near-immortality, we have to give up our souls to the witch. We were no longer human. If we die, we become nothing. Unlike humans who travel to other dimensions by their own Creator, we are turned to nothing. Rosalind was the last Grand Red Witch – she was the only one of her kind."

"After turning the last human to the last member of the Lilith, Rosalind's soul was rendered unstable. It broke into pieces and only her heart remained," Sousuke continued.

"And she became the Bloody Diamond Rose, didn't she?" Orihime asked.

This earned them looks of surprise from the Kuchiki family, who knew nothing about this. "That is why every soul of every living vampire is said to have been trapped inside the Rose. That is why it's the only thing that can tell who the Aizen bride is."

"Because the Aizen family paid the ultimate price in instigating the creation of vampires," Masaki explained. "Their male heirs cannot find their mate without the aide of the Rose. It's because all of our souls belong to the witch. Even before a vampire can find out who their mate is, the Rose already knows, since she owns each and every soul."

"But that still does not explain how you managed to obtain the powers of a Grand Red Witch," Sousuke told Orihime, who frowned in return.

"Orihime was a sickly girl when she was born," Yuriko said, her voice breaking with emotion. "We couldn't do anything about it and it seemed like she was going to be the first member of the Lilith to die of natural causes. The medics said that she has so much latent magical ability for her small body to contain."

"And that is when we brought out our trump card," Byakuya added, moving to his wife and holding her shoulders. "Another Grand Red Witch has sworn her everlasting allegiance towards the Kuchiki clan in exchange of everlasting life."

"What?!" Masaki and Sousuke said in unison.

"The second head of the Kuchiki clan found Rosalind's twin sister," Byakuya detailed. "He used her power to exterminate the Upir Likhyi that the first head created. In exchange, she asked the Kuchiki to turn her into an immortal being by making her drink their blood. She has been under our care and protection ever since. And years after Orihime was born, we called upon her because she was the only one who could counteract the illness."

"Why would she want to be an immortal being?" Masaki asked. "I thought witches were against such a curse."

"We do not know," Yuriko answered. "All we know is that she lived with us until the time she cared for Orihime."

"And then she died?" Sousuke suspiciously inquired.

"Rosemarie cared for me," Orihime said, glaring at Sousuke's implications that they might have anything to do with the death of the witch. "We grew to love each other but all of her spells could only hold the magic inside of me for only three years. On the third year, I became sick again and my parents thought I wouldn't be able to make it this time. That was when she turned me into a witch."

"How exactly can a vampire be a witch?" Sousuke asked, doubt still in his eyes.

"Rosemarie made me eat her heart," Orihime said, her throat nearly constricting as memories of that painful night washed over her.

"By eating a heart of a witch can you transfer powers to another," Yuriko elaborated. "Rosemarie fed her heart to Orihime so that she would be able to control the power within her body and so that she could survive. Her life force prevails in Orihime."

"So that's why you were able to break the statue of the Rose," Sousuke said in awe.

"And that is why I could summon powers that can counteract the abilities of the Changelings," Orihime declared. "I am also the only one with the ability to remove and bestow vampirism without ever losing my life."

With that, everyone was silenced. "Rosemarie told me so," Orihime said. "I can reject any form of physical and spiritual event of my choosing using my powers. She told me that because I am both a vampire and a witch that came from the bloodline that bestowed our race its powers, I am the only one with the capability to do such a feat."

"Remember that Rosalind, the Original Creator, did not manage to survive the creation of vampires because her soul was rendered unstable. Orihime has no soul, therefore, she has nothing to lose with creating and destroying vampires," Yuriko added.

"Such a powerful gift," Aizen Sousuke uttered. "And you did not use it to create your armies, Byakuya? You could have turned humans to beings as powerful as the Lilith."

Byakuya glared at Sousuke in distaste. "Despite what you think of us Kuchikis, we do not use our powers for personal gain. Though right now, I would very much like to kill you for speaking to my family that way."

"You cannot easily remove years of bad blood between our families," Sousuke countered. "It is natural for me to be suspicious so that I could get every facet of the truth."

"Please stop fighting," Orihime said. "I will not hide anything from you, Sousuke-sama. In exchange, you could give my family the respect and trust that they deserve."

Masaki was amused to see her husband hesitate. This young lady was truly a constant surprise for all of them.

"In the end, Rosemarie-sama died," Rukia said in a hushed tone. "I remember her. She saved our Orihime."

"She did," Orihime agreed. "She talks to me often."

"She does?" Yuriko asked, shocked. She didn't know this and Orihime never told her.

"I'm sorry mother," Orihime said. "She asked me to keep it a secret unless it was absolutely necessary for me to speak about it. She talks to me in my dreams and sometimes in moments when I ask for her help. She was the one who taught me how to use my powers. She said that we were one and that's why she could speak to me."

"About removing vampirism…" Masaki started to say, but was stopped by Orihime.

"Yes, I can return a vampire to being a human," Orihime said. "Since only the powers of a Grand Red Witch can restore the soul of a vampire."

"Is that also why you were chosen by the Rose?" Sousuke asked.

"That I do not know," Orihime said. "I still have my individual soul trapped within Rosemarie-sama's sister. So, I think you should accept the fact that a Kuchiki will be your daughter-in-law."

At that, Aizen Sousuke laughed. "I like your sass, girl. In fact, I think we are lucky that you are married into our family. If not, then I guess some other family will have your power. You would have to tell them about it eventually, right?"

"I would have," Orihime agreed, amused.

"You're all about acquiring power, aren't you, Aizen?" Byakuya said in distaste.

"No," Sousuke said, frowning at the dark-haired man. "I'm only concerned that if her power falls in less than capable hands, she would be targeted and used. The Aizen family is the most powerful vampire clan in the world. We have the power to protect her secret more than anyone else in this world. And we do not care for her power so long as she uses it for the greater good."

"Can your power be passed to an offspring?" Masaki suddenly questioned Orihime.

Orihime sighed. "I don't know, Masaki-sama. Rosemarie-sama hasn't told me anything about that yet."

"And Aizens only ever have male children," Sousuke supplied. "Only women can acquire the power of a witch."

"What did you do to Ichigo, my dear?" Masaki then asked. "I haven't thanked you yet for it. I mean, I only saw a fraction of what you did."

"She defiled the Rose to save Ichigo, as far as I saw," Sousuke said, chuckling slightly. "You will make a fine wife for him."

But Orihime did not share their amusement. "I only did what I could. He would have died if I hadn't thought of it."

Masaki saw the anxiety on her face. "What did you do?"

"He was stung by a Changeling," she replied. "He has the anti-venom."

At that, Masaki dropped to her knees. Her eyes were wide and tears started streaming down her face. Sousuke was aghast, "What?! Why didn't you tell us sooner?!"

A Primary's blood could kill a Lilith – that they all knew. "He won't die. Don't worry," Orihime assure them. "I managed to break the Rose just in time to summon his soul back to him."

"Y-you… you removed Ichigo's vampirism?" Masaki gasped.

"Only for a while," Orihime said. "Only for that moment when the anti-venom is at its most potent. Then I returned his soul. A Changeling's venom cannot kill a human and that's why I thought of turning him back to a human for a while, at least until his system has finished diluting the poison to a tolerable level."

"Then what are you worried about?" Rukia asked Orihime.

"After taking away his soul again, there's no guaranteeing what he'll become when he wakes up," Orihime explained. "He could also become a hybrid."

"A hybrid?!" Sousuke thundered. "You mean to say that Ichigo will become a vampire and a Changeling?"

"Yes," Orihime said. "He has already absorbed the poison in his system and his body has accepted it as part of its own. I could see it. It is possible that he will also become a being similar to me."


"What the fuck just happened?!"

Grimmjow Jaggerjacques was fuming. No one stopped him at the middle of a fight and an excellent one at that. After being born, all that he wanted was to test his mettle against a vampire. And of course not just any vampire, but the members of that damned Lilith. He already turned back to his human form but he was still very much unsatisfied.

There were plenty of things that Grimmjow was unsatisfied about. Like the fact that he was the descendant of the first Changeling and yet he wasn't the head of the Primary family. By right and by succession, he was supposed to be the king. Unfortunately, the position was usurped by Stark Coyote's grandfather from his own.

"Stop complaining, Grimmjow," their only female companion scolded him.

Neliel tu Oderschvank – the newest member of their group. The truth behind this young woman was that she was actually a Changeling. She was a double agent placed by the Primary family with the Kuchikis so that they could guard their movements. She was cloaked by witchcraft so that the Kuchikis could be hoodwinked into thinking that she was actually a vampire. Of course, such powerful magic could only be achieved by their secret weapon – a witch that was on the side of the Changelings.

"You get to complain," Nnoitra Jiruga grumbled, "when I was the one who nearly managed to gut Xiao-Yu Shin. I even made that daughter of theirs bleed."

"Good one," Luppi said, ignoring Grimmjow's protests that he should have unleashed the poisoned needles so that they could bring down more members of the Lilith.

"We were careless," Stark Coyote said. "We didn't know that they have a witch on their side. But Ulquiorra succeeded in injecting anti-venom on the Aizen heir."

Grimmjow clucked his tongue in annoyance. It irked him to no end that Ulquiorra Schiffer always managed to one-up him.

"He should be dead by now," the stoic and pale Changeling said. "But his bride, that Kuchiki Orihime – "

"Is a Grand Red Witch."

The six suddenly bowed as a presence came upon them. It was their true leader – the one who controlled the Primary family from the shadows.

A woman with pale skin and jet black hair appeared, engulfed in stylish and traditional gray kimono with silver accents. Her sharp onyx eyes pierced each and every one of them. Numerous mechanical hands were attached to her back, moving menacingly and clicking its claws together as she walked from the shadows towards them. A startlingly beautiful woman, with an intelligent and intimidating face, she was known by the humans as the Great Weaver Goddess who wove the most gorgeous protective cloths against vampire attacks. To wear her work was to have a sure way to protect oneself against the bloodsuckers.

She was their secret weapon and the woman who will bring the future back to the human race.

A Grand Gray Witch – Senjumaru Shutara.

"Shutara-sama," Stark said in reverence. "You said… a Grand Red Witch? But I thought the last one was dead."

"Apparently not," Shutara replied in a low voice, caressing their ears like silk. "We have to find out more about her. For a Grand Red Witch is the only magical being capable of holding its own against my magic."

"But how? Kuchiki Orihime is a Lilith!" Neliel exclaimed. "How can she be a witch at the same time?"

"The union of bloodlines," Shutara said. "The one which I told you, Stark. The prophecy regarding a being containing the power of more than one bloodline. Kuchiki Orihime is the being pertained to in that prophecy."

"What are we going to do about it?" Stark asked. "Any attack we can have will be impossible if she is there."

"Not impossible, Stark. We just have to catch them off-guard."

"How would we do that?" Grimmjow asked. "You already pulled us out when we had a chance."

"I pulled you out?" Shutara said menacingly. "If it were left up to me, Grimmjow, I would have let you die."

The blue-haired man stared mutinously at their leader.

"Dear ones," Shutara continued, "I was not the one who removed you from that place. It was that Kuchiki girl who did so. She rejected your presence."

"Rejected?" Luppi asked.

"Yes. It is one of the most formidable powers of a Grand Red Witch – the ability to reject events that occurred. She managed to reject your presence and remove you from the site. That is why the physical surroundings of the Aizen house are now back to the way they were," Shutara explained. "The only things that she did not manage to remove are the dead and the wounded."

"But she could cure them?" Nnoitra inquired.

"Maybe. That is, if she has not learned all the other powers of her craft. Let us hope that the woman who gave her the powers did not teach her how to use the ultimate gift."

"That woman," Ulquiorra cut in, "she opened the statue of the Bloody Diamond Rose. But I did not see what she did because at that moment, she rejected us."

Shutara eyed him critically. "She couldn't have…"

"What?" Neliel asked. "What is it, Shutara-sama?"

"There is a possibility that she turned Aizen Ichigo to a human at that last moment so that he would not be killed," Shutara said after a moment, her eyes wide and fearful. "If that is the case, then he is going to be a hybrid."


Done for now! :D Hope you enjoyed it! 15 pages of ideas and stuff…

Fun fact: I really like Senjumaru Shutara's character design. I kinda hoped that she would be Orihime's mother or something, being the weaver guardian. It's sort of associated to Orihime's name, so… you know how far-fetched I always think. :D But I'm sure Kubo Tite won't think of creative twists since he's being such a… UGH, I can't even say it!