NOTE:~ Hey people! Well here's the next installment of 'Who Am I To Say?'! Hope you guys enjoy it~!
Who Am I To Say?
Chapter 13: Cold Ice
"Gin..", Toushiro hissed, narrowing his gaze on the silver haired fox, "Where is she...?!".
"Ah, ya a little late. Aizen-sama took'er away bout ten minutes ago, but he told me to stay since we'd be having an extra guest joinin' us", Gin stated, a sinister grin now crossing his features.
He took a step back from Gin, grasping Hyorinmaru now. "Where did Aizen take Meimu?!".
"Now, Now, Shiro-chan", Gin walked towards him, "No need to get all hyped up. Ya wanna see'er? Ya gotta come quietly. After all, think she'd be happy to know her promise wasn't broken before it happens".
"I have no idea what you're going on about, but she is not your toy!", he growled, unsheathing Hyorinmaru and running at Gin. He swung his zanpakuto at him, only to have it clash with the short blade of Shinso.
"Now Shiro-chan, thought I told ya not to get hyped up...", Gin stated, his grin growing wider as he pushed Toushiro back, "Ya should be happy I am willin' to bring ya to'er. All ya gotta do is come quietly, oh and hand ova Hyorinmaru".
"Like hell I will!", Toushiro exclaimed, coming back at Gin once more.
"Ah, ya wanna do it the hard way, and I would happily play with ya, but Aizen isn't a patient man...", Gin suddenly appeared behind Toushiro, "So no time to play. Sorry Shiro-chan". With that, he hit Toushiro in the back of the head with the hilt of Shinso, knocking him unconscious. "Ya shoulda came quietly", chuckled Gin as he sheathed Shinso and picked him up, heading off to catch up with Aizen.
~With Stark~
A groan escaped his lips, his eyes slowly fluttering open. He couldn't sleep, and not only that but he could sense Toushiro once again. He had been discovered. Damn. Their plan had backfired.
Stark sat up, rubbing his temples. He had a head ache from lack of sleep and it was about to get even worse as Lilinette suddenly ran into the room and pounced on him, knocking him back onto his bed of pillows. "STARK! YOU JACK ASS!", Lilinette exclaimed, "YOU DIDN'T REALLY KILL HIM!!".
Stark looked up at her in annoyance. Him plus no sleep equals bad mood. "Shouldn't you be happy?!", he grunted.
"I am...but still! YOU LIED! JACK ASS!", she then punched him in the face. Stark winced, placing a hand over his face and narrowing his blue eyes on his fraccion.
"I only lied to help him...", Stark stated, now sitting up as Lilinette moved to sit next to him.
"You could've at least told ME!", Lilinette exclaimed.
"Too dangerous...", Stark replied with a yawn.
The two suddenly fell silent as a familiar figure appeared in the door way. Tousen. Stark's gaze narrowed on the blind man.
"Aizen-sama is very disappointed in you, Stark. But he is willing to give you another chance. Bring the human girl, Orihime to him", Tousen stated. Lilinette looked back at Stark, wondering what he was going to do, but he didn't say anything. He simply disappeared using sonido. What was he going to do now?
~With Meimu~
Meimu now stood next to Aizen, presumably awaiting the arrival of Gin and Tousen. She couldn't attack Aizen right now. She wanted to take all three of them out at once. She wasn't sure how she would do it either, but something deep inside was telling her she could do it.
"Don't look so depressed", Aizen looked down at her with a smile, "Smile".
She looked up at him and then away. A smile then crept upon her lips. "You're right!", she looked back at him with the most perfect smile ever, "so where is Gin-san and Tousen-san..?".
Aizen's gaze shifted away from her and down the stairs as someone began walking up them. Meimu followed his gaze, her smile fading and her eyes growing wide. Gin was walking up the stairs with her unconscious Captain in his arms.
"TOUSHIRO-KUN!", she exclaimed.
"Sorry, couldn't get'em to come quietly so I had to knock'em out", Gin stated with a fake apology. He tossed Hyorinmaru to Aizen, who caught the zanpakuto with ease. Meimu quickly ran over to Toushiro after Gin had set him down. She didn't think she would ever see him again. After all, she had been told he was dead.
"I...I can't believe you're really here...", she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. She raised a hand, gently running it over his cheek. He was real. He was there in front of her. "Toushiro-kun...", she sniffled, laying her head down on his chest.
"That's....Captain...Hitsugaya to you...", he suddenly spoke out, causing Meimu to jolt back up into a sitting position. His eyes slowly opened and he smiled at her. He was ok, but he did have a splitting head ache from when Gin had hit him.
"Toushiro-kun..! I'm so glad you're ok!", she suddenly hugged him as he sat up. He wrapped an arm around her, using the other to support himself in his sitting position.
"I'm just glad you're ok...", he stated, "I don't really care about me".
"As sweet as this reunion may be, there is work to be done...", Aizen stated as Tousen appeared. His gaze shifted down to the bottom of the steps, now smirking as Stark appeared with Orihime. The two pulled away from each other and looked towards Aizen before following his gaze down the steps and seeing Stark and Orihime.
"Stark-kun! Hime-chan!", Meimu called down to them as she rose to her feet, helping Toushiro up as well.
Aizen slowly made his way down the steps towards them now. His gaze at the moment was directed at his Primera Espada. "Everything worked out as planned, Stark...", Aizen stated with a smirk. Aizen had known everything that had been going on. You can't fool him. Stark's blank features faltered slightly as he heard Aizen's words.
Meimu looked at Aizen and then at Stark. "Stark-kun...?", she took a step down one of the steps, "You...told Aizen everything...?".
Stark quickly looked up at the blonde, seeing the sad look upon her features. He had said he would act when the time came. But something inside him, something deep down wouldn't let him act. Wouldn't let him say or do what he wanted. But would he really take the fall? Would he really say this was all part of Aizen's plan and he had told Aizen everything when he really hadn't?
"Arrancar...", Toushiro glared down at Stark now, "You lied...You said you wanted to help Meimu! You lied!".
Stark opened his mouth to say something, but nothing would come. He had the words he wanted to say, but they just wouldn't come out in sound.
"You are dismissed Stark", Aizen stated to his Espada.
Stark just stood there, continuing to stare up at the angry Toushiro and the rather upset looking Meimu. When he heard Aizen say his name again, he snapped out of his trance and looked back towards Aizen. "You may go", Aizen dismissed him once more.
Stark hesitated a moment before lowering his head slightly to Aizen and then turning to leave. "STARK-KUN!", Meimu exclaimed, "You didn't really...right..? We're friends...friends help each other...they don't share their secrets or break their promises...right Stark-kun? Right..?". Stark stood there for a moment, his gaze staring straight ahead of him. He didn't look back at Meimu as he suddenly disappeared. Damn it. He was such a coward. Why couldn't he face Aizen?! Why couldn't he just once stick up to that fake god?! Why couldn't he help Meimu..? She had changed him so much and yet he was too scared to face that man, yet a little girl could stand up to him and smile right in Aizen's face. She could face him. She truly was stronger than he was....
"Stark-kun...", Meimu whispered, her gaze lowering now. Toushiro looked over at her, knowing it hurt her to know Stark was still following Aizen. He wanted to say something to her, to make it ok. But he couldn't find any words to make this situation alright.
He shook his head now, growling softly. Who cares about that arrancar?! If he wants to give up and not face Aizen then that would be his problem. Right now, Toushiro had a bigger focus. Getting himself and Meimu away from there. "Meimu...", he began in a whisper, "When I give the signal, un-sheath Maboroshi and use her power of sound to distract these three so we can make our escape with Orihime...".
Toushiro's gaze was on Aizen as he talked with Orihime. He narrowed his teal eyes on the man. He had his zanpakuto. 'If Meimu uses Maboroshi, I can grab Hyorinmaru and we can get out of here with Orihime. We can get in contact with Urahara some how, get back to the world of the living and then hurry back to Seireitei before anything else goes wrong. It won't be that simple to leave this place, I know...but we could –', his thoughts were suddenly broken as Meimu stepped away from him, her back to him. "Meimu..?", he asked curiously, raising a brow at her.
"I'm sorry Toushiro-kun...but I already told you, right...? I was going to make everything all better...make everything ok. I can't leave now...", Meimu smiled back at him, "Don't worry, it will all be ok".
"Meimu, stop all this foolish talk. You can't do everything on your own!", Toushiro stated, stepping towards her.
"Let's go..", Aizen spoke out after he had made it to the top of the stairs again. A gargantua opened up a few feet away from them, revealing the world of the living.
"Dontcha try anythin' funny now Shiro-chan~!", Gin stated as he got behind the young Captain, pushing him along to follow the others out into the open. He was the only one to seem to protest at following after Aizen, Meimu on the other hand was right behind that man. Why was she doing this, he wondered.
As they stepped out into the sky of the living world, they could immediately see it. The remainder of the Gotei 13 Squad Captains and Vice-Captains stood below.
"Captain! Meimu!", a voice suddenly exclaimed and the two immediately found who that voice belonged to.
"RAN-CHAN!", Meimu exclaimed in a rather cheerful manner, "It's been so long! I missed you so much! I would come and hug you but I don't think Aizen-san will approve". With this, she giggled. How could she be so cheerful at a time like this?!
"Looks like we arrived just in time...", Yamamoto stated aloud.
"Made it in time..?", Aizen questioned, narrowing his gaze on the old man, "Exactly what are you referring to? I am well aware that this isn't Karakura Town. But that means nothing to me. Stark, Barragan, Halibel, come".
Meimu looked over as three gargantua's opened up, spotting Stark with Lilinette coming from one of them. Stark didn't look at her, but she did receive a sympathetic look from Lilinette.
"Stark-kun!", Meimu called down to Stark. He seemed to ignore her. "I know you can hear me!", she giggled, "But you don't have to look at me. Remember my promise? I'm still keeping it! You're still my friends, Lilinette, Stark. Even if you decide to help Aizen". Lilinette looked up at Meimu once more before looking at Stark, who simply stared ahead blankly. She stayed silent, but shot Stark a hard glare before looking away from him. He was abandoning their friend. Damn it.
'How can she still care for that Espada?! He's betraying her...yet she's ok with it...she's smiling...', Toushiro thought to himself, his gaze shifting down to Stark, 'And that bastard won't even look at her! He can't even face her! Coward!'.
"Everyone stand back", Yamamoto instructed, raising his can and about to release his zanpakuto.
"Ah, Yama-kun", Meimu interrupted, "Please don't do that. You'll just complicate things". Everyone stared at her in disbelief. Was she really going with Aizen now? Asking Yamamoto not to do anything like that?! What on earth was going through her head?
"Meimu!", Ukitake called up to her.
"OHH!! Ukitake-kun!! I missed having tea with you! It's nice to see you again!", she waved down at the Captain as if this was just some sort of casual meeting.
"MEIMU!", Toushiro suddenly growled, lowering his gaze from her. Meimu blinked, turning towards her Captain.
"What is it Toushiro-kun...?", she asked in confusion.
"What the hell...Why are you acting so cheerful? Even for you, this is pushing it too far!", he looked up at her, a rather stern look now on his features, "Stop acting so cheerful when this is a very serious situation". Even with his stern words, his stern features, Meimu didn't falter. She still smiled at him. That sweet and innocent smile of hers.
"Oh Toushiro-kun, I told you I was going to make everything ok, right? So don't worry about it. You should be happy, not serious!", her gaze shifted as a hand was placed on her shoulder to see it belonged to Aizen.
"You will not be making everything ok today Meimu", he stated with a smirk, lifting up the Hogyoku that he had brought with him before he went to retrieve Meimu, "You will not be able to resist once I place this inside of you".
"What is he talking about...?", Rangiku questioned.
"He's going to place the Hogyoku inside Meimu, fused with his reitsu he will be able to control her..!", Yamamoto didn't hesitate this time, lifting up his cane it transformed into his zanpakuto, "Stand back!". Flames began to surround the blade.
"Don't worry. This was what you were created for...", Aizen stated with a soft smile as he pulled out another device that he would use to place the hogyoku inside of her, "Your purpose was to be used as a weapon. Nothing more".
"W-what...?", Meimu murmured.
"You're just a creation, my dear girl", Aizen stated, watching as Meimu backed away. Tousen suddenly grabbed her, holding her in place.
"Let her go!", Toushiro exclaimed, about to go at Tousen when Gin grabbed him, holding him right where he was. "Now, now Snowy-chan, everything's going to be alrigh'. Look on the bright side, ya girlfriends livin' out her purpose", Gin chuckled into Toushiro's ear. Toushiro couldn't do anything but watch, even as the flames of Yamamoto's zanpakuto surrounded them, his eyes were fixed on Meimu and that fearful look on her face. That unfamiliar look. She never had that look before. She was actually scared. Damn it! "MEIMU!", Toushiro exclaimed, now trying to struggle away from Gin once more.
"Snowy-kun, ya should really calm down..", Gin stated, "Ya just gunna hurt yarself".
"Screw you!", Toushiro growled, trying even harder now to break free of Gin's grasp as Aizen activated the device, his arm turning an odd purple color as he plunged the Hogyoku into Meimu's chest. Tousen released her and stepped away. Toushiro stopped struggling as Meimu's head suddenly fell limp but she stayed standing. He could feel his heart racing as he wondered if she was ok. The flames now crackled around them.
"Meimu Jitsuzai", Aizen called to her, "Stand up straight". Meimu slowly began to stand up straight, her eyes no longer the beautiful blue but pure white now. She stared straight ahead. "I want you to get rid of these flames for us", Aizen instructed.
"Meimu!", Toushiro called to her, "Snap out of it!". But she didn't even look at him. It was like she couldn't hear him. The only voice she could hear was Aizen's. She unsheathed her zanpakuto and stepped towards the flames. She held up her zanpakuto and placed one hand on the back of the blade while the other gripped the hilt and then a sudden burst of reitsu began to part the flames where she was standing, slowly spreading out until the flames were suddenly gone.
"Good girl", Aizen complimented, looking down towards Yamamoto now as the group stared up at them in shock, "You should have known better, Captain-Commander".
"Meimu!", he called to her, finally slipping out of Gin's grasp. He quickly ran over to her, getting in front of her and placing his hands on her shoulders. He leaned forward to her level, after all Meimu was the only person shorter than him. He shook her slightly. Her features were blank, her skin felt oddly cold, and her eyes were completely white. They looked so cold, even for him, someone who was used to ice due to his zanpakuto, her eyes were much colder than any snow or ice he had ever dealt with.
"Meimu...", he called to her, "Please say something....Meimu...".
"It's useless", Aizen told him, "She can't hear you. She only hears my voice and will only follow my orders". Toushiro shot Aizen a glare before looking back at Meimu.
"Don't listen to him...You're stronger than this, Meimu! You don't have to listen to Aizen! You're your own person! Meimu...Please...", Toushiro's grip on her shoulders tightened slightly, "Meimu...I love you...Please snap out of it". Meimu didn't flinch, she did not falter, she stayed exactly the same. She stared blankly at him, or more like through him. "Please...", he could feel tears building up behind his eyes. He had just admitted his love and it was like it meant nothing.
"Meimu, why don't you show your old Captain that you don't care about him anymore?", Aizen's smirk increased by the glare Toushiro shot at him with tears in his eyes. How dare he! But before he could say or do anything, Meimu suddenly grasped his arm and kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him flying down into the buildings of fake Karakura town. Meimu had no control. She was completely lost. She had no say in what she did. She was Aizen's little toy at the moment. One he could control and she would always obey him.
"Meimu, please show the Captain-Commander and the rest of the Captains and Vice-Captains, a lesson. Show them what happens when they try and change things...", Aizen's gaze now shifted to the group of Shinigami. Meimu turned and faced them, now holding her zanpakuto tightly. She suddenly took off towards the group at an amazing speed.
"She's a good toy, ya?", Gin commented with a smirk as he stepped next to Aizen.
"Indeed. Quite the loyal one at that", Aizen replied before releasing a chuckle.
Toushiro slowly sat up from the rubble, placing a hand to his throbbing head. How could this be happening? This wasn't supposed to turn out like this! Meimu was supposed to help them not fight against them. "Damn it...", he cursed, punching the ground as he looked up towards the sky. From where he was he couldn't see much, but he did see Stark, and for a moment their eyes met. Toushiro cursed the man. Hated the man. Somehow he wanted to blame it on him for not taking any sort of action. That man was not Meimu's friend, no matter what he said, or what Meimu believed. That man was a bastard and he needed to die like the rest of them.
Stark stared down at Toushiro for a moment, understanding his hate for him just by the look on his face. But his gaze quickly shifted to Meimu as she headed for the other shinigami.
-"What's so funny?", Stark and Lilinette asked in unison. "I'm sorry..", Meimu giggled, "But you two are funny. Thank you for making me laugh. I doubt I'll have much laughter in the times coming up"
-"Hey, wake up", he called to her. She merely groaned and rolled over on her side. Stark sighed and shook the girl once more. "Get up. We have to go...", he yawned. "Hmm...a few more minutes...", Meimu murmured in a tired manner and rolled onto her stomach.
-"You snore, ya know Mei-chan? Just like Stark!", Lilinette asked with a giggle. "No I don't!", Meimu protested. "Yes ya do!", Lilinette waved a finger at the girl, "Just like Stark too! It's funny". "I don't snore like Stark-kun!!", Meimu whined. "Hehe, ya don't gotta believe me but ya do!!", Lilinette stated, placing her hands behind her head. "I don't!!", Meimu whined again, waving her arms in the air, "You're mean for saying that, Lili-chan!". "Aww, I'm not mean!!", Lilinette protested, "I just stated the truth!". "B-But that truth is mean!", Meimu replied. "Aha! So you admit you snore!", Lilinette stated. "No!! I-I...Y-you...AHHH!!", Meimu messed up her blonde hair as she lost the argument with the arrancar next to her. "Hehe, see!!", Lilinette giggled, "But that's ok!".
-"Just calm down", he told her, "I won't lie and say everything's going to be ok because I know not everything will be alright. But if you just cry like this, it isn't solving your problems, it's just making you feel worse. So calm down". "I can't help it...", he heard her mumble. Stark let out a sigh and reached out his arms, pulling the young female into his lap. He still didn't look at her. His gaze still stared ahead. "You should be strong. Los Noches isn't a place for the weak, and I know you're stronger than what you are showing", Stark began, "I can't promise your friends safety through all this, but I can tell you that they are probably worried about you. Isn't that what you shinigami do? Care for one another? I may not understand this whole caring thing, but you don't have to cry over being here. If you don't like what's going on, try changing it and if you can't find a way to change it then try anyway. In the end, it won't be Aizen-sama who decides what happens with you, it will be you...". Stark wasn't entirely sure if what he was saying was ok to even say, but he didn't want to have Meimu crying the entire time she was here. He heard Meimu sniffle and felt her arms move so she could wipe away her tears on the sleeve of her shinigami outfit. "Thank you, Stark-kun...", Meimu replied after a moment of silence, "You're nice. Even though you didn't have to, you tried your best to comfort me just now...so thank you very much".
-"It's...my fault..", she stated, "It's all my fault". "What are you talking about?", Stark questioned. "If I broke the ties with Toushiro-kun when we fought in the Living World, then he wouldn't have come here to save me and he....He wouldn't be in danger. Right now he's beaten up really bad and...", the tears came harder, "and I don't know if he's going to be ok or not...and it's all my fault". Stark shook his head and placed a hand on hers, kneeling down to be eye level with her. "It isn't your fault so don't beat yourself up over this. You didn't know what was going to happen so there's no reason for you to go around and blame yourself for something that isn't your fault. And didn't I tell you no more crying before...? Stop this...", Stark raised his other hand and wiped away the tears that streaked her face.
The memories continued flooding back in his head. Something inside of him suddenly snapped. Something inside of him changed him. Something inside made him make his next action. He suddenly got in front of the group of shinigami, raising his blade and blocking Meimu from going any further. This came to a surprise to everyone, especially Toushiro after he had managed to climb out of the rubble.
"What are you doing Stark?!", Halibel questioned, narrowing her gaze on the man.
"What I should've done before this happened...", Stark replied to the women, pushing Meimu back slightly, "This isn't you. Where is that smile? Where is that cheerful laugh? Where has the real Meimu gone?!".
"No, no. We simply can't have this", Gin stated, unsheathing Shinso and aiming it at Stark. Lilinette suddenly appeared in front of Gin, sticking her tongue out at the man before kicking him in the face and then heading down towards Stark and Meimu.
"It's about time you started acting!", she stated to Stark, "I thought I was going to have to kick your ass!". Her gaze went to Meimu now. She wasn't herself and it was all Aizen's fault. But if they had acted before they could have prevented this. Oh well, too late to be thinking that.
"Meimu. Where is that innocent shinigami?!", Stark growled, ignoring Lilinette. Meimu simply stared at him blankly, no emotion showing on her features.
"Everyone, attack now", Yamamoto instructed, "But do not kill Meimu. We will find a way to stop her without killing!". With this, the shinigami began to go after Barragan, Halibel, and their fraccion, as well as Gin and Tousen. Aizen on the other hand was giving Meimu her instructions through their minds.
Meimu's eyes suddenly returned to normal and she looked at Stark and then around. "Stark-kun...what happened...?", she asked in confusion. Stark narrowed his gaze on her. Something wasn't right. Something was off. "Where's Toushiro-kun...? What happened...?", Meimu repeated in confusion. Yep, something definitely was off.
END:~ End of this chappy! Hope you enjoyed! See ya next one =D