Alright. I hope everyone had a Happy Holiday. Here's the next chapter. We had to watch episodes 153-155 of Bleach to be able to write this chapter, so we hope you like it! And thank you for the reviews that we 're really happy ^.^ Ps. And to doesnt matter Thanks for sayin' it was "Cool", but you must not have read the summary all that well. It specifically says romance NOT BETWEEN Grimm and Ulqui, but INVOLVING them.
(We also updated our new Fanfiction. Check it out! ^.^ We need more reviews Plz and Thnx)
Disclaimer:
RubyR3d: Feliz Navidad, Midnight!
Midnight:Merry Christmas Ruby!
RubyR3d: So did you get everything you wanted?
Midnight:Oh yeah! What did you get?
RubyR3d: I got a tablet so now I can draw Sayuri with color! That and more.
Midnight:Awesome! I got lots too!
Sayuri: AWWW! I didn't get anything!
RubyR3d: That's not true! I got you a new Espada outfit. (Check out our profile to look at the new pic of Sayuri's outfit. Under : Fanart)
Sayuri:Yay!
Gin: That's not all that you get. *Holds up mistletoe*
Sayuri: *giggles and kisses*
RubyR3d & Midnight: EWWWW! Anyway, enjoy guys!
"Master Sayuri, PLEASE do it again!" Luppi yelled excitedly. Sayuri had been doing impressions of Gin and Loly after she "Took" Luppi. He was really enjoying it. He hadn't seen any arrancar that could shape-shift before.
"Ugh! I'm getting tired and we still haven't found Gin and Lord Aizen yet. So, lets get going." Sayuri said grabbing Luppi's arm again and tugging him in the direction of Aizen's spiritual pressure. Sayuri was learning more and more every minute that she was in Las Noches. She learned how to find the other Espadas and Aizen by following traces of their spiritual pressure. It certainly wasn't hard to follow Aizen's considering how powerful it was.
"Aww, okay." Luppi pouted and followed. They really wished that Las Noches wasn't so big. Even if you live there for months, you would still get lost. Aizen was the only one who knew the building like he knew his own strength.
"There. The both of them are in the second throne room." Luppi said pointing to a tall black and white door. How many throne rooms were there?
"Finally!" Sayuri sighed. Luppi gave her a glare.
"Okay! I know, I know. It's a big building...sorry." She said blushing a little. Luppi then smiled, grabbed her hand, and walked to the entrance. The door was already opened when they reached it and the murmurs in the room made them pause.
"Let me get in front" Sayuri mouthed to Luppi, not wanting Aizen and Gin to know they were eavesdropping. Luppi frowned, he wanted to listen in too, but he nodded and shifted so that Sayuri was closer to the door.
"I have an update, Lord Aizen." An out of breath voice said. It sounded like who ever it was had rushed to get here. "It's not good news. We just received word that Privaron Espada number 103, Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio has been killed by the intruders."
Sayuri's eyes widened and she had to cover her mouth to keep from gasping. 'Dor-Dordoni Alessan-...That was the name of the former Espada that was fighting Ichigo?' She thought. 'I don't remember Ichigo killing him...he just left him there..didn't he?' Sayuri shook her head and continued to listen.
"I see." said a familiar low voice. 'Aizen!' Sayuri thought semi-happily. She didn't realize how much she missed Aizen until she heard his voice and it hadn't even been that long since she last saw him. But she couldn't just walk in there. She would be patient until the arrancar leaves.
"Apparently, it was a lot harder for there boy than I thought it would be." Aizen's voice interrupted her thoughts. " I assume defeating someone of Dordoni's skill level would have been less of a challenge and far easier for him." There was a long quiet pause. Sayuri could hear Luppi's breath coming fast. He sounded scared. Of what? Aizen? Was he afraid for the arrancar speaking to him?
"Regardless." Aizen continued making everyone jump slightly. " There's something you failed to report to me isn't there?" He asked. His voice sounded so dark.
Sayuri and Luppi could now hear the arrancar's heavy breathing. He obviously didn't know what Aizen was talking about and was afraid of what Aizen was going to do. 'He wouldn't punish that arrancar would he? Not someone who didn't do anything.' Sayuri thought. She was feeling nervous for the arrancar now.
"Tell me." Aizen murmured. "Who specifically sent the Exequias to eliminate the boy?"
Sayuri could then feel Aizen's reiatsu rise rapidly. It made her feel a little light headed, but wasn't enough to knock her down. Luppi, however fell over on Sayuri. Sayuri turned quickly and wrapped her arms around his waist trying to hold him up. She heard a very weak moan escape his lips. Luppi closed his eyes, he didn't have the strength to keep them open any more.
"What's the problem? Didn't we make the question clear enough for you?" Aizen said with the same calmness. You could almost hear the smile in his voice.
"Luppi!" Sayuri whispered worriedly. She didn't know what to do. Why was Aizen doing this? Was he trying to force the answer out of the arrancar? Sayuri was sure that the arrancar would tell him if he only knew.
Sayuri turned her head quickly when she heard footsteps behind her. When she saw who it was, she was confused. The familiar pink haired Espada stopped for a quick second to look at her holding the weakened Luppi. 'What's he doing here? That's...Szayel Aporro right? Yeah that's his name.' Sayuri thought looking into his eyes. Szayel put a finger to his lips in a gesture to say "Stay quiet" He didn't look harsh like a lot of the other Espadas did, his expression was completely gentle. Sayuri was still confused, but nodded and did what he wanted. Szayel gave her a small smile before walking into the room. 'Does this guy have a death wish?' Sayuri mentally yelled. She wanted to stop him, but she had to stay with Luppi. Luppi was gripping Sayuri's arms and had the side of his head on her chest. Amazing that Aizen just increasing his reiatsu this little could do this much.
"It was me, Lord Aizen." Sayuri heard Szayel say. Then the uncomfortable pressure from Aizen's reiatsu was gone. Luppi exhaled loudly and continued to pant. He was shaking in Sayuri's arms, like it was below zero in the hallway.
"Shh..shh..shh." Sayuri whispered gently. She stroked Luppi's hair and rocked him back and forth trying to comfort him. "It's okay. You're okay." She put her chin on the top of his head and and tightened her grip around him protectively, like a mother did her child. Luppi slowed his breathing a bit and let his eye lids close. Aizen had drained him of his energy and he needed to rest.
" It was you, Szayel Aporro." Aizen said in that dark tone again. There was another small pause. Sayuri turned her attention back to the people in the room, without letting go of Luppi. 'Szayel' she thought. Was he actually turning himself in to Lord Aizen? Yeah, he did have a death wish.
"My humblest apologizes sir. I wanted to make sure we eliminated him while he was injured." She heard him say. Sayuri leaned over so that she could see in the room just a little bit. She could see that Szayel was on one knee with his head down speaking to Aizen. She couldn't see Aizen or Gin though. If she looked any further she would get caught eavesdropping.
"I-I thought it was a rare opportunity." Szayel continued. " So, I ordered them to go at my own discretion my Lord. I realized now Lord Aizen that even though I did it for you, I was wrong not to ask permission. I will accept any form of punishment you wish to administer." Sayuri heard his voice crack slightly at the end. Once again it was silent.
'What's with all these constant pauses?' Sayuri thought annoyed. 'And Szayel sure is brave. I-I don't think I would be able to do that.' She tried listen as the silence continued.
"That won't be necessary." Aizen finally said. Szayel grunted in surprise. Sayuri was also surprised. 'Is he serious?' she thought. She couldn't imagine Aizen letting someone go that easily.
"Just as long as you had a good reason, there's no need to punish you." 'Oh I see.' Sayuri thought. 'If he had no reason...What would his punishment have been?'
"Thank you very much my Lord." Szayel said bowing again. " I should return to my duties." He said standing up and starting to walk away.
"However." Aizen said stopping him. "In the future, Szayel Aporro, I want your reports to be more detailed and accurate. The data that you collected from Dordoni, regarding the intruder, will it be of any help with you research?" He asked in a tone that would make you shiver. Szayel swallowed loudly and took a deep breath.
"Yes, it will." He said calmly.
"That's splendid. Keep up the good work." Aizen said. Then quickly, Szayel exited the room. He stopped in front of Sayuri again before walking down the hall.
"Are you okay?" Sayuri mouthed to him. Szayel gave a weak smile, ran his fingers through his rosada hair, and nodded. He looked more than relieved to be out of that room. He waved to her before walking away.
"Wow, he seems so much friendlier than the other Espadas." Sayuri whispered to the resting Luppi. She leaned down to get a good look at his face. He looked so peaceful. She couldn't help but plant a kiss on his forehead before listening to the voices in the throne room again.
"Interesting, you seem to be having quite a lot of fun even though one of your subordinates was just killed." said a familiar voice. 'Gin!' Sayuri mentally yelled. She really missed Gin. She had to talk to him still. But again, she couldn't just barge in right now. They would know that she was ease dropping. Sayuri then blushed at the thought of seeing Gin again, remembering that the last time she saw him, he had kissed her.
"Do I look happy?" Aizen's voice interrupted her thoughts again.
"You seem to be amused. I think maybe 'energized' is the right word, excited that those kids are winning fight after fight, overcoming your defences and making their way into your inner sanctum." Gin said in his usual cheery-like tone. 'Woah, interesting choice of words Gin.' Sayuri thought.
"Amused you say?...Maybe so. I suppose I do feel something similar to that emotion...Do you find that odd, Gin?" He asked gently. Aizen's voice didn't seem dark anymore. Come to think of it, he seemed a lot calmer and 'friendlier' when he was talking to or when he was with Gin. 'Is Gin..his best friend?' Sayuri thought. There was a good chance that he could be.
"Not at all my Lord. Oddly enough, I feel somewhat the same myself-"
"AHHHCHOO!" Sayuri sneezed and the room went silent again. 'CRAP! Of all the times to sneeze! Why do arrancars sneeze anyway! I mean WHAT THE HELL? I didn't even feel it coming!' Sayuri was freaking out. She had definitely been caught. She just wasn't sure if she should walk in the room or just walk away.
"You can come in now, Sayuri Yamura." She heard Aizen say from in the room. Well there was her answer. She got a knot in her stomach when he used her last name. If she tried running, he would probably catch up to her, especially if she had to carry Luppi. She has to go and face him, but she was afraid. If he did what he did to the arrancar that didn't do anything, what would he do to eavesdroppers? Sayuri took a deep breath and stood. Luckily, Luppi woke up when she did.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked for the second time.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Maybe I should go." Luppi said weakly. " Since Lord Aizen wants you to get in there."
"What the-..how'd you know that? Y-you were sleep." Sayuri nearly yelled, confused.
"I was resting. There's a difference Master Sayuri." Sayuri glared at him out of annoyance and let him go. Her glove covered hands still hovered over him as if to be ready in case he fell over. Luppi waved his hand at her trying to let her know he was okay.
"You're just stalling aren't you?" Luppi said smirking at her. Sayuri it her lip and nodded. Suddenly Luppi wrapped his arms around her.
"You'll be fine. I think you're the only one who doesn't sense how strong you are...that's a shame." Luppi said teasingly. Sayuri grumbled in his shoulder and nodded. She felt slightly better, but still a little nervous.
"I'll meet you when you're done talking." he said walking away. Where in the world did that come from? He was just panting on the floor a few moments ago, now he's walking away like nothing happened. Sayuri grabbed him before he got too far.
"What the hell? Meet me where?" She said gripping onto his shoulder with impressive force.
"First off, OW" he said sarcastically and eyeing his shoulder. Sayuri realized what he meant and let go immediately.
"And second, just follow my spiritual pressure." 'Oh, yeah forgot I could do that.' Sayuri took a deep breath and nodded again. She felt Luppi put his hands on either side of her face and he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. Sayuri blushed when he walked away. 'See you soon then...brother' she thought smiling and walking into the room with courage.
It was so dark in the room. She could barely see Aizen and Gin standing in the shadows.
"It's nice to see you again, Sayuri." She heard Aizen say. Sayuri bowed her head a little, feeling as though it was necessary. 'What do I do now?'
"It's nice to see you also. Umm...Please forgive me." Sayuri said her voice breaking. 'There goes my courage.' " I deeply apologize for eavesdropping. It wasn't my plan to, I really wanted to talk to you and Gin, and when I heard voices...I just..decided to wait. I guess I ended up listening to the whole conversation." Sayuri fiddled with her fingers while she watched Aizen with cautious eyes.
"Hmm" was the only answer she received. Aizen then opened his arms to her and had a gentle smile on his lips. Sayuri was beyond shocked. What should she do? Should she just go up to him?
Her feet answered for her. It was like they had a mind of their own. She slowly walked over to Aizen's waiting arms. When she reached him, he held her in a warm embrace. The whole time, she was tensed. She kept feeling like Aizen was going to kill her in his arms...that all of this was just a distraction. Sayuri's eyes wandered to Gin's direction. He was looking only at her. Suddenly he started motioning for her to relax. Sayuri did her best to do so. Looking at Gin helped her with that.
"Don't be so afraid Sayuri. If you really heard the whole conversation, then you should know that you won't be punished if you have a good reason for doing something." Aizen murmured in her ear. Sayuri looked at him from the corner of her eye nervously. "Have I hurt you since you've been here?" asked gently pushing her away from him so that he could look at her. Sayuri stared into his brown eyes. JEEZE it was so hard to speak when you stared into them.
"N-no. You haven't." Sayuri stuttered. Aizen's smile grew and he nodded.
"Alright then. I suppose you're right to be afraid of me, but just know this." He said leaning down to her again. "I have no intension of hurting you." Sayuri let out a small gasp.
"With that aside" he said letting her go and taking a step back. "I sure that you came here to tell about your little encounter with the intruders. I see everything that occurs in Las Noches" Sayuri's eyes widened. She felt like they were going to pop out of her head if she opened them any wider.
"I- um..." She struggled for the right words. Aizen put a hand up to stop her.
"It's alright. That girl who you met now has your trust. That will be of great advantage." he said smiling. 'Was he planning on killing Nel? No way...he couldn't.'
"Sayuri, promise me to use that trust against them. With them thinking you are on their side, it will make it easier to eliminate them. Understood?" Sayuri took a deep breath and closed her eyes. 'Forgive me...Nel.'
"Yes...understood." She said. There was no point of her telling Gin about what she learned. They already knew. EVERYTHING. Sayuri really was the 'bad guy' now. It made her feel sick. Why wasn't Gin saying anything? Sayuri glanced at him and she saw that his smile was gone. She wondered if he was upset with her about becoming friends with one of the intruders.
"Gin. I think that Sayuri wants to talk to you." Aizen said making her jump. 'Oh yeah, he can read expressions' Sayuri thought exhaling loudly. Gin's smile returned.
"Of course." he said walking down the steps to her. 'Well, I guess he's not mad.' she thought. She actually had nothing to say to Gin, but maybe a conversation will come up somehow.
"Shall we?" He gestured for the door. Sayuri started walking in that direction. Why was Aizen ?letting Gin talk to her? There were so many weird things happening that she couldn't think straight. When they were out of the throne room, Gin continued to walk and Sayuri stayed close to his side.
"Really, I just wanted to talk to you." Gin suddenly said. "I get really bored when it's just me and Aizen." he said leaning a little closer to her. Sayuri noticed, smiled, and leaned closer to him also.
"You know, I really thought that Aizen was going to kill me right then and there. He could have crushed me in his arms or stabbed me in the heart with hiszanpakutō." she said fiddling with her fingers again. That seemed to be her thing. Gin's smile twitched downwards at that statement. It reminded him of what Aizen did to Momo before they left the soul society.
When he saw Aizen put his arms around Sayuri, for a second, he also thought he was going to repeat his actions from that day. Gin didn't know what he would do if Aizen had killed Sayuri right then and there. He was developing strong feelings for her and it was weird because they barely talked. It was just that...Sayuri reminded him of a certain...someone that he was fond of in the soul society.
"That reminds me of the second part of the story that I was planning on telling you." he finally said. Sayuri looked at him sideways confused.
"Remember? When I told you about the intruders and us being traitors."
"Oooh. Yeah I remember now. Sorry." Sayuri giggled slightly. She was so cute. Gin smiled wider.
"Do you want me to tell you the rest of the story?" he asked wrapping his hand around hers. Sayuri blushed and nodded while looking at their hands.
"Alright then, now lets see..." And Gin then picked up from where he had left off in the story.
(Luppi & Grimmjow POV)
"Was it right of me to just leave Master Sayuri alone there?" Luppi said to himself feeling guilty. He had decided to go to the lounging room to wait for her. There were a lot of rooms in Las Noches, and each one had it's own name. The Espada's rooms were easy to find because they all had their rank number on the doors. Even the other arrancars had their own rooms, and every once in a while they came down here to relax. But when Luppi entered the room, the person he least expected to see was sitting on the first white couch that he saw.
"Grimmjow? What the hell are you doing here?" He said closing the door behind him.
'Oh great.' Grimmjow grumbled mentally. He didn't expect to see him either. "If you touch me or try to flirt with me again, I swear I'll shoot a cero so strong at you, it will shoot you to the moon." he warned standing up and moving to the other side of the room. Luppi chuckled at that and put a hand on his hip.
"Man, you really are a homophobe aren't ya? It's not like I'll bite you...unless you want me to." He winked. Grimmjow scrunched his nose. He really hated Luppi.
"You must want me to beat the hell out of you don't you?" Grimmjow said lifting his hand in Luppi's direction like he was going to fire a cero. Luppi rolled his eyes and started picking at his finger nails. He knew Grimmjow wasn't going to do it.
"No, but I just want to make it clear to you that I'll do what ever it takes to keep Master Sayuri safe." he sighed. Grimmjow lifted an eyebrow.
"Is that so? Well, let me tell you...I'm Espada number six! I could kill you in an instant."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take. I don't believe I'm strong enough to defeat you, but I think that I'm strong enough to injure you a little. By the way, who cares that you're Espada number six. In my book anyone under five...sucks! Except for Master Sayuri of course." Luppi said teasingly. That did it. Grimmjow was fuming. It really didn't take that much to set him off. He was the definition of "Hothead".
Grimmjow quickly powered up a cero and shot it Luppi, but Luppi dodged it and flashed behind Grimmjow. Then before Grimmjow could react, Luppi kicked him in the back with enough force to crash him into the wall, but not enough to made him fly through it.
"I don't want to fight Grimmjow. I was just warning you to leave Master Sayuri alone." Luppi said patting his hair down. Grimmjow stood up holding his shoulder and glaring harshly at Luppi. He wasn't going to let Luppi get away after what he just did.
"I'm leaving now. And like I said, I'll protect her no matter what." he said turning around and heading for the door. Before Luppi walked out of the room, Grimmjow flashed over to him. Luppi didn't have enough time to block his attack, and Grimmjow's hand ended up going straight through Luppi's chest. Luppi's eyes widened and he began to see spots. He was too shocked to feel the pain yet. Above him, he could hear Grimmjow chuckling.
"You can't protect her if you're dead." He said ripping his hand from Luppi's chest. His hand was covered in blood, but he didn't bother to wipe it off. He just watched smiling as Luppi fell to the floor and died slowly. He was starting to feel the pain more every passing second.
"Gr-Grimmjow...you bitch." He said quietly. He was now starting to lose his voice. But there was one more thing he wanted to say before...he was gone.
"F-f-forgive me...Sayuri." Then Luppi's eyes closed slowly, and he was still.
(Sayuri & Gin POV)
Gin had finished telling her the story, and he summed it all up in pretty good time. Sayuri knew about the shinigami girl named Momo who trusted Aizen with all her heart, but he turned on her despite her loyalty to him. Without having to say the exact words, Gin had told her never to trust Aizen..EVER. But if that was the case, then why was he with him?
Gin had also told her about that certain someone that he was fond of in the soul society that reminded him of her. Rangiku Matsumoto. He had told her how they were childhood friends and then their relationship started to grow into something more, but he never told her how he felt.
"Well then, why didn't you just tell he- AHH!" Sayuri started, but she felt a strong pain in her chest that made her fall to her knees.
"Sayuri! Are you okay?" Gin said placing a hand on her back. Sayuri placed her hand over where her heart should have been and her eyes widened.
"L-Luppi?" She panted. She didn't know how, but she knew that Luppi needed her help right now. Sayuri burst into a sprint following Luppi's decreasing spiritual pressure. 'Why is it decreasing? How did I feel him? Was it...from 'taking' him?' Sayuri said mentally as she ran. Gin stayed close by her side. He didn't ask any questions, it was just that he was being his usual nosy self. Sayuri reached the room before she lost track of Luppi's spiritual pressure, but when saw what was waiting for her in the room, she couldn't find the words to speak.
"Luppi! NO!" she screamed and was at his side in a second. She supported his head in her arms like he was a child. Her stomach started to ache when she noticed that she was kneeling in a puddle of his blood. She shook his shoulders trying to make him wake up.
"Luppi please wake up! Please! You can't leave me! Wake up! Luppi! Please!" Her voice broke at the end and she was breathing fast. Gin walked slowly over to her. He didn't really know what to say, so he put his arm around her for comfort, his smile gone. But there was no way she was going to be comforted just by that.
"Aww. Well, this is sad. I didn't expect you to find out so soon, Sayuri." said a familiar unfriendly voice. Sayuri didn't need to look up to know who it was.
"Grimmjow." She said through clenched teeth. She officially hated Grimmjow. No, she loathed him. She kept her head down and just stared into Luppi's lifeless face. She began to shake and could feel Gin tightening his hold around her. Grimmjow let out an evil chuckle.
"What's wrong Master Sayuri?" He teased. "Are you gonna cry like the child you are?" Grimmjow walked a little closer to her and once again, Gin tightened his hold on her, but this time, protectively. Sayuri shrugged his arm of and gave him a sidewards glance. The look in her eyes...they were filled with so many different emotions. To Gin's surprise, he saw Sayuri give him a slight smile. Sayuri then lifted her head to look into Grimmjows eyes. He gave a small step back at the multi-emotional glare she was giving him, but he was glad he succeeded in making her feel this way.
Sayuri took one more glance at Luppi before lying him on the floor. She stood and walked until she was about three feet away from Grimmjow.
"No, Grimmjow. I'm not going to cry." She said actually smiling. "I'm gonna do what I promised myself to do when I came here."
"And what is that?" he asked indifferently.
"I'm gonna KICK YOUR ASS!"
Well that was it. Sorry it took so long, but we hope you liked the chapter. Hey, does anyone have any tips on writing a fight scene? lol
Anyways please review! You guys are awesome! Oh, and don't forget to check out our new story. "Erase My Heart" ^.^
