A/N: To those of you who went and read "The Death of Nazo Sakane," I changed her thought processes a bit to fit the flashback. Her expressions are all the same, though.

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Creatures of Myth: Hidden Enemies

Chapter Twenty-One: Unspoken Confessions

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"Would you mind if I killed you?

Would you mind if I tried to?

'Cause you have

Turned into my worst enemy.

.

I, I've been waiting for someone

Like you

But now you are slipping away

Why? Why does fate make us suffer?

There's a curse between us

Between me and you."

-What Have You Done, Within Temptation

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Blood spewed from the her chest as the greenish glowing blade of Shinsou pierced her from behind. For a split second, Sakane had no idea what to think. After what seemed like an eternity of agonizing blankness, she swiveled her head to face him, her shock and anger apparent on her face.

No…

His smile was subdued, a sad expression for him, she knew.

Oh, gods, no…

"Bye-bye, Sakane-chan," he said.

Not him too…

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She lay in bed, staring contentedly up at the ceiling, the thin sheets covering her prone form.

Never before had Nazo Sakane found someone just as mischievous as her. It was hard to believe that Ichimaru Gin had evaded her interests all this time. She would never admit, but she'd much enjoyed her years as a captain of the Gotei Thirteen. Everyone was so nice and trusting, so much unlike her own kind. Youkai, by nature, were devious, cruel creatures. Even those Tengu and Kitsune were just as cruel as the rest of them. They simply hid behind illusions of honor and love. Her father had been like that. Weak. That was why she had usurped him and taken his place as the god of the wind. Of course, she had split the power between her and her sisters, unevenly, but all split all the same.

Once Ichimaru had showed up in her life, she had briefly, briefly, considered calling off her plans. Let the Senka be. Live a long, happy, semi-normal life with her sisters and Gin. But no, she'd put too much effort into planning this. Too much time.

Sakane rolled over, running a soft, womanly hand down the side of Gin's sleeping face, her lips curling up in a content smile. She felt a strange feeling in her chest, like a gentle squeezing. She lifted a hand to her lips and allowed the smile to grow. Perhaps he had lent her his heart, after all.

"I don't have a heart, Ichimaru," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Ya can borrow mine if ya want. I don't use it much."

She rested her head on his chest, listening close to his steady heartbeat, closing her eyes and concentrating on the steady beat.

An errant thought drifted through her mind.

'I think I love you.'

No. She sat up and shook her head, before getting out of bed and shrugging on the top of her Shihakusho and tying on her Hakama. No, no, no, no, no. She blinked as she grabbed her haori, taking one more look at the Gin. Shaking her head once, more, she pulled on her haori and continued on into the other room to prepare some tea.

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'Gin…' she thought. Her eyes narrowed. 'You damned traitor.'

Ichimaru retracted Shinsou, causing Sakane's body to jerk and blood to splatter grotesquely. Surprisingly, she still stood, blood pouring from the gaping wound in her chest. 'I guess this is it for me…' After what seemed like an eternity, her pissed expression faded, giving way to a content, satisfied smirk. 'Oh well…'

She collapsed, blood pooling around her as she looked helplessly at Gin, blood filling her mouth as she tried to speak. "Gin…" she stuttered out weakly, "L – l – lo - lov…" Her eyes went opaque as her last breath slipped from her.

Gin stared in what seemed like horror as he realized what her last words had almost been.

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Gin had never thought such an evil person could be so beautiful. She didn't even put much effort into it. All she had to do was be, with her hair down and her concealing make-up off to show her ethereal red markings… it didn't matter what she wearing, or if she was being innocent, seductive, or scheming. She was beautiful. It was a terrifying beauty at times, yes, especially after she had killed Hinamori, with blood running down her dripping from her lips, further blood-staining her top.

Nazo Sakane was, for all intents and purposes, a goddess. And he, Ichimaru Gin, could worship her in ways no one else was allowed to. She was a resplendently dark deity, and at times like these, when she was still glowing from the aftermath of their activities, smiling at him with wide, bright eyes, he began, just a little, to question his plans. How could such a beautiful woman be evil?

All he had to do was remember Hinamori, and his doubts were expelled.

But it changed nothing. Sakane was more than Aizen ever could have been to him.

Ichimaru Gin hated to admit it, but as much as he wanted it to be otherwise, he was falling in love… with the enemy.

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Everyone in the cave watched in complete silence as Gin walked over to the Fujin's dead body, kneeling down next to her. He just stared at her face for a moment before setting his hand over her eyes, closing them. He stood.

Suddenly, Grimmjow called out. "Hey, guys, I think this one is still alive."

Ichigo looked to where he was indicating, the green one, it seemed, was still breathing. Her eyes opened, and she noticed the new development with terror. "You can finish her off, Grimmjow," Ichigo said nonchalantly.

"NO!" Both Hakyu and Tatsuki exclaimed at the same time.

The Vizard gave them both questioning glances. "Why not?"

Tatsuki went first. "She was kind. She made sure I was comfortable and she didn't torment Orihime like the others did. Fujiwa wasn't voluntarily with them," she explained.

Ichigo nodded, then looked to Hakyu, who sighed before saying, "You can't kill her. It'd cause complete chaos, perhaps even Armageddon, if Susanoo was lazy enough. Together, the Nazo sisters were Fujin, the wind god. There needs to be a Fujin, or the winds will remind unbound."

Sighing, Ichigo looked at the Fujiwa. "As soon as she recovers, she should go to the World of the Living, away from the Gotei Thirteen."

Fujiwa's eyes softened, "Thank… you," she managed.

He nodded.

Hakyu hefted the dead body of Shiramae Mira onto his back just as Soma Chinatsu dropped in, holding a struggling, injured Ichidou Tamashi by the ear. She pushed him down in front of the two Shimizu Tengu. "Now, Ichidou, SAY YOU'RE SORRY!"

"Ow! Gosh… crazy Kitsune obaasan…" He shifted into a bowing position. "Miss Shimizu-hime, Shimizu-sama, my deepest, sincerest apologies for not assisting you!" he shouted.

She placed a foot on his back, "And…?"

"Grr… It won't… happen again."

"Good boy," Chinatsu said, removing her foot.

Ichigo felt Tatsuki's hand grasp his gently. "I guess it's another somewhat happy ending, eh Ichigo?" she asked.

"Yeah. I suppose it is."

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A/N: Short, I know. BUT THE EXTREMELY LONG EPILOUGUE COMES NEXT! And two updates in one day… That warrants a review. :D Please?