A/N: Nothing of the previous chapter was un-eluded to. Cordelia's true intentions were stated somewhat vaguely in chapter six.
I have a policy. If someone reviews one of my stories, I do my best return the favor if possible. Now, if someone like Sariniste or Spunky0ne for some reason decided to review one of my stories, I'd turn into a puddle of primordial goop so I'd be unable to use the keyboard. Also, I've reviewed a lot of their stories so… yeah. I just find that that's the best way to thank someone.
Now… some fun. Now… the most important plot point that I have been building up to since… chapter four.
Since entire story is one huge experiment for me. I wanted to see if something was within my ability to do. If the revelation at the end of this comes as a surprise to you, then… I have succeeded.
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PreludeToSadness: Aozora's Story
Chapter Twelve: Return
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+Chikafuki Youta+
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I sat at my desk – well, Yumekanau-fukutaichou's desk – and scribbled my signature on sheet after sheet of paperwork. Yumekanau hadn't exactly been on top of things when she had disappeared, and catching up on her work just to get started on the new stuff had taken a few days.
Smiling, I thought back on the days after she first joined the squad. A brilliant actress, she'd managed to weasel her way out of almost every single chore presented to her. She wasn't quite as lazy as Matsumoto-fukutaichou and she didn't get away with her schemes as often.
A breeze entered through the open window, rustling a few sheets of paper but otherwise not moving them. A Hell Butterfly followed the wind, ringing quietly by my ear. I frowned and lifted a finger to let it land.
"Fourth Seat Chikafuki Youta," it sounded like Soifon-taichou's voice, "Our scanners have detected a foreign Arrancar reiatsu signature in the vicinity of the fifty-sixth district of west Rukongai. In addition, we are picking up a signature that has a ninety-four percent match to Yumekanau Aozora-fukutaichou's reiatsu. Report to the Second Division's main offices immediately. You are hereby given permission to bring your Zanpakuto."
I sat there for a moment. It had been nearly three months since Yumekanau had gone missing, and finally…
As I ran to my quarters, I stumbled into various comrades that gave out varying forms of protest. When I reached my room, I jumped over the back of the sofa and reached for the rack on the opposite wall. The moment my hands grasped around my Zanpakuto, I flash stepped out the window and towards the Second division. It was early in the morning and I doubted that many people would be awake to see my departure.
When I entered Soifon-taichou's office, I was greeted by a vaguely startled look on her Lieutenant's face.
Before Omaeda could say anything, Soifon sauntered in, tying one of the gold rings on the end of her braid. "Chikafuji-san," she nodded. She obviously had recently waked.
"It's 'Chikafuki', Soifon-taichou," I corrected respectfully.
She waved a hand dismissively. "Did you bring Ichimaru, as well?"
"No, ma'am."
"Good. I don't like him. Besides, I don't trust him not to interfere with my orders," she elaborated with a scowl.
I tilted my head in confusion. "Your orders, taichou?" I looked around, seeing that she hadn't asked for Kira-taichou to come, either, nor had she commanded for Harada-san.
Soifon sent me a glare. "I only called for you because you're level-headed and you follow orders well. Otherwise I wouldn't have ordered you to come at all," she strapped Suzumebachi in its place at the small of her back. "Due to the nature of Yumekanau Aozora-fukutaichou's disappearance, we must proceed with caution. Yumekanau is an acquaintance of mine, so I am giving her the benefit of the doubt, but if we receive any resistance from her," Soifon paused and looked at me with a level gaze, "Any at all, she is to be treated as a traitor."
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Cordelia Tucker
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I paced the clearing as I tried to concoct a believable scenario. Arturo leaned patiently against a nearby tree.
"They will be here soon," he stated, "If I were you, I'd start thinking fast."
I sighed and rubbed my temples. "Okay. I've got an idea. You just need to act exactly as you did when I first showed up at the waterfall. In fact, forget the past three months and be the person you were at the waterfall." We needed to act convincing about this.
He eyed me curiously. "You are implying that I've changed since then."
"Then this should be easy for you," I deadpanned. I shook my head, cleared my thoughts, and focused. They were near. I kneeled and scooped up some mud on my fingers, rubbing it on my arms, face, and a bit in my hair. I needed to look like I hadn't bathed well this entire time. I took a deep breath and turned to Arturo, looking down at my feet. "I hope you are as sneaky and manipulative as I am." I could feel his eyes on me. "I've never actually gone for a lie this big before. It's always been petty things due to my forgetfulness…" I shook my head again. "I don't know how long it will be until I see you again."
I didn't even know if I would see him again at all, in fact. If this failed… well, then so be it. I win either way. I sighed. "Suppress your reiatsu a bit. Soifon is strong but you're immensely stronger. We need her to think otherwise if we're going to pull this off."
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Chikafuki Youta
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Keeping up with Soifon was not an easy task. The only people who could match her speed were Shihoin Yoruichi and Kuchiki Byakuya. I wasn't exactly known for speed. Heck, Aozora-fukutaichou was faster than I was.
As we flash-stepped towards the last place Yumekanau's reiatsu had been sensed, I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that washed over me. Something was wrong. I didn't what, but something… this was weird. I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, though. If Aozora-san was back, I should be happy.
The closer we got to our destination, the more I began to feel her Reiatsu. It was distressed, panicked. Soifon and I broke through into the small clearing. At the center, a single Arrancar stood, a familiar Zanpakuto in his hand pointed down at the Soul Reaper at his feet. Yumekanau was on the ground, covered in dirt and grime. Her eyes shot to look me in the eye the moment Soifon and I entered the clearing. The Arrancar turned, not paying much attention to me at all, but rather he was eying Soifon warily.
"Soifon!" she exclaimed, obviously hopeful. Her omission of an honorary was odd.
He took a step away from Yumekanau, his gaze still locked on Soifon. "A captain," he said. I noted the particular accent. "How interesting…" I also noted that while he was considerably stronger than Yumekanau, Soifon's reiatsu was more than a match.
Soifon didn't hesitate in releasing Suzumebachi. She shot forward and before I could register what was going on, two Homonka crests had appeared on the Arrancar's chest. "I'm impressed that you could dodge that," Soifon snipped.
The Arrancar Sonido'd back to the far side of the clearing, a Garganta opening behind him. The portal closed moments before Soifon reached him, leaving Yumekanau's Zanpakuto behind him as if it were trash. "Coward!" she snarled.
I ran over to the collapsed Lieutenant. "Yumekanau-fukutaichou!" I shouted.
She pushed herself up on her elbows. "Chikafuki-san?" she asked. I held out a hand to help her up. She grasped it and I pulled her too her feet.
Soifon trotted towards us. "Yumekanau Aozora-fukutaichou," she greeted, "Your conduct has been unsatisfactory. I expected much better of you," she said stiffly.
Aozora laughed lightly. "Should I expect some sort of punishment, captain?" she said um, suggestively? … Was that supposed to be a joke?
The captain raised an eyebrow. "You're still thinking about that? In your condition?" she asked bewildered.
"Would you expect anything less?"
Soifon huffed. "I suppose not." Her eyes ran over Yumekanau's body, presumably looking for any injuries. "Are you injured?" she inquired forcibly.
She shook her head. "Nah. My reiatsu is in pretty bad condition, though."
I had to blink several times when Soifon ducked down and hefted the Lieutenant over one shoulder. "Chirafuki-san," Soifon said as Aozora blushed a bit. "You better keep up this time."
"It's Chikafuji- ugh! Chikafuki," I stuttered as I Flash Stepped after them.
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Cordelia Tucker
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After a tear-filled reunion with my division and a shower, I rested in my room. It felt so foreign. I'd spent so much time in this room just two and a half months ago, but it felt like I'd been away for a lifetime.
I made a cup of green onion miso and curled up on the couch with a blanket. I loved miso. I hadn't been a big fan of the seaweed in it in the past, but now the familiar taste was divine, especially when combined with the simply delicious green onion. Delicious and nutritious.
A knock came at the door, and I yelled for whoever it was to come in.
"Hello, Aozora-chan," Gin said as he sat down in the chair opposite the couch.
I smiled. "Ichimaru-kun. Hello. It's been a while."
He nodded. "Indeed, it has," he paused thoughtfully. "Would you like to talk about it?"
Frowning, I traced the rim of the cup with one finger. "No. Nothing happened. I was just taken to Hueco Mundo. I ended up getting away and I hid out in the forest for an eternity. I didn't have my Zanpakuto so I had to rely on my other skills." The lies slipped past my lips like silk. I was getting good at this. I allowed myself to smile internally. This was going to be so easy-
Ichimaru's eyes snapped opened just barely, revealing their light blue color. "Lair," he observed incredulously. "You're lying."
I panicked, setting down the miso and looking around the room frantically. No one could know. No one. Ichimaru knowing was one situation, but anyone else… I stared at him in horror. Of course, along with Aizen, Ichimaru Gin was a master at deception. I was so fucking screwed. "I… Gin…" I struggled for a response.
He continued. "There's only a few reasons you'd be lying about somethin' like that."
I remained silent, a nervous wreck inside. My muscles tensed up and I began to feel sick to my stomach. The stress was almost painful. No. No way would I let myself fail this soon.
Ichimaru's eyes closed, but the smile was wiped from his face. "Traitor."
That one word did it. It echoed through my mind, each time coming from someone else's mouth. Youta… 'Traitor'… Izuru… 'traitor'… Soifon… 'traitor'… everyone. I gagged, beginning to dry heave. Ignoring Gin, I ran into the bathroom and promptly emptied my stomach. Dammit. I thought Szayel was supposed to have stopped this crap.
Curled up on the floor, I heard Ichimaru approach. "Zora-chan?" he asked.
I coughed. "Get out."
"Hm?"
"Leave, god dammit!" I shouted, the trace amounts of Hollow reiatsu in my system flaring up with my own as I shut the bathroom door. "Tell anyone and…" I paused. "Could Soifon tell?" I asked quietly through the door, my mood swinging once more from anger into panic.
"Eh… not likely. Maybe if she were looking for and expecting it," he shrugged. "The Hollow reiatsu is intriguing, though."
"I don't have to tell you anything," I snapped.
He was quiet for a moment. "Just one question."
"What?"
"That Arrancar you were found with…?" he began, the question speaking for itself.
I tugged on my hair. "Arturo Plateado. And yes. Fraternization is the nature of my treason." The word 'treason' made me want to throw up again. It was true, at least. Now I wasn't lying, only giving half of the truth.
"Really? The Arrancar who killed Sachirou?"
Tracing little patterns on the tile, I replied, "That was a long time ago."
"Oh?"
I was tired, and I was hungry. I wanted more miso, and then I wanted to sleep. "Gin. I want to be alone right now," I said.
After a moment, he said, "Fine. Good night, Yumekanau-fukutaichou."
"Good night, Ichimaru," I replied, and he left.
I remained right there in the bathroom for several minutes. Eventually, the discomfort of the position gave me the motivation to get up. I did so, pulling myself up with the assistance of the counter, only to be hit with a wave of vertigo. Catching myself, I silently analyzed the evening's events. My panic had been excusable, but that one weird swing had been just that: weird. The indigestion, no matter how stressed I had become, also should've been prevented by Szayel's serum. Before that, even, I despised seaweed, and yet here I wanted to drink an entire cup of miso without taking out the big pieces.
… Oh. Oh.
Turning sideways and looking in the mirror, I literally contemplated my navel. I turned different directions and looked at it from multiple angles. Not trusting the mirror, I dropped to my knees and pulled up my shirt. I gave the obvious bump a gentle touch, just to be sure it wasn't fat or, like, sudden marvelous abs. It wasn't.
Oh.
Suddenly, the status quo shifted once more. I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. One of my three greatest aspirations was suddenly proven possible. I wanted it.
Without a doubt… death was no longer an option. My mouth was wide with a smile as tears ran down my face.
I stood and gripped the edge of the counter, looking at my face in the mirror, a new determination in my eyes.
I wanted to live.
You pretentious bitch.
I gasped, clamping my head with my hands.
Selfish!
What...
You'd abandon us again, you bitch!
You promised!
Pretentious, self-righteous bitch.
As the nightmares came back, I didn't get much sleep at all that night.
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A/N: If you only caught on a few paragraphs prior, I still succeed.
There is this thing called "Chekov's Gun." It a TV Trope. It's a basic concept. If something is not important, it will not be mentioned. Szayel said that the serum wouldn't help with morning sickness. Her digestive problems were my way of disguising the initial sickness, there. I really have made little, tiny allusions to the possibility throughout this story. Heck, the two and a half month time skip was a hint.
My experiment was this: Have a character become pregnant without anyone realizing that it's going to happen, without it being an ass pull, and with sufficient foreshadowing.
Now my question to you: Did I succeed?
