Bleached: Ep. 21

Disclaimer: We don't own Bleach, just Airi and Zezuri.

Note: Well... I really don't have much to say this time... Other than Zezuri gets most of the glory for awhile. Haha... -Airi

Airi slowly came to, waking up to realize that she was on a wooden floor, a really clean floor, so clean she could see her reflection in it. Her reflection scared her, Airi's face was covered in scratches and bruises while dirt along with blood were smeared across her face, stuck in her hair and on her mask. She attempted to sit up, but pain shot through her. Something was defiantly broken. What had happened and where she was, Airi knew not. Being as her condition was quite bad, she assumed Zezuri was M.I.A. (missing in action) or worse. She went back to staring at the floor and the cold stone wall in front of her face. Was she in Las Noches? No, they didn't have wooden floors as far as she knew.

"Airi?" came a familiar voice.

"Gimmjow?"

"Yeah," he sounded upset.

"Where are we?"

"In soul society's prison, or one of many," Grimmjow was in the cell across from Airi's but she couldn't tell that.

"Is Zezuri here too?"

"No," Grimmjow's response made him sound more depressed than Ulquiorra ever managed. Grimmjow was sulking, Airi was sure of it even though all she could see was the wall in front of her face.

--

Renji came back with a new change of clothing for Zezuri. It was a plain, lightweight, pink kimono with a navy blue wrap. Zezuri, surprised, took the kimono with a bow. These soul reapers seemed nicer than the arrancar so far. "Ummm…. I'll let you change…" he quickly shut the door.

As Zezuri began to change, many thoughts went through her mind. Where was Airi? Is she okay? What about Grimmjow? Where was Ulquiorra? Why didn't Aizen do something? Overwhelmed with questions, she sank to the floor and sobbed.

Renji over heard her and open the door. He really didn't know what to do. "Hey, wanna get some fresh air?" he asked and led her outside. There were dozen of cherry blossoms in bloom.

Zezuri was in awe of the beautiful scenery. The sky had never bee so blue to her, perhaps because her eyes had adjusted to Hueco Mundo's night sky. She only wished Airi could see this, she wanted Airi to see the sky again and she wanted to make Grimmjow see it too.

"Hey, did something happen? You have puncture marks on your neck…" Renji noticed. Zezuri quickly moved her hand to cover it.

"I-it's nothing… it was from an explosion that's all…" She had almost forgotten about what Syazel had done to her and was surprised that the marks where still there. "Ummm… Renji, was it? What happened to the others?" she asked.

"Well, we captured two of 'em, the others got away…"

"Who did you kidnap?"

"Uhh… I don't know," Renji wasn't sure because the only one he had 'kidnapped' was Zezuri.

"Can I go see them?" she asked.

"I don't know, you'd have to get permission from the head captain."

"Can I ask a favor?"

"Ummm… I guess?"

"Take me to the head captain," she said bluntly.

"W-what?! I can't do that, I'm only a lieutenant!" the soul reaper found himself totally off guard at that request. "I'm sorry…" he said, bowing his head.

Zezuri understood, "Can't we ask your captain?"

"Uh…" Renji didn't like to ask any favors of his captain. "Well… I guess we could… try." Renji found himself speaking the words before he had engaged his brain.

--

"Taicho… uh… Miss Zezuri requests to see the two arrancar we captured, w-would that be possible?" Renji asked his captain, half expecting to be killed on the spot.

"I'm afraid that's not something I can grant permission for, Zezuri. The special forces, second division are holding them in their prison," Byakuya continued writing his report. "May I ask why you wish to see them?" The captain looked Zezuri directly in the eyes.

"I… I wanted to know what ones you got…" Zezuri wasn't sure she should tell this new "captor" of sorts the truth.

Byakuya, however, could sense that Zezuri wasn't telling all of her reasons. "I'll see if I can get you permission to see them," Byakuya said after a moment.

"Renji,"

"Yes, sir?"

"Take this message to Soi-Fon and tell her I would like a quick response."

Renji took the piece of paper from his captain and left with a flash-step, leaving Zezuri and Byakuya in the office. Zezuri stood there silently, staring at the floor.

"You have other reasons to see them, which make me have less trust in you than I originally did…" Byakuya stated.

"I-I…" before she could speak again, Renji returned with a response.

"Taicho, Captain Soi-Fon responded," he announced handing Byakuya the letter.

He remained silent while reading. Renji wanted to know what it said, as well as Zezuri. Byakuya finished and handed it to them. Zezuri took it and her and Renji read it. Zezuri almost dropped the letter.

"They didn't give you much time but you get to see them," Renji stated. Zezuri looked up at Byakuya as if asking to leave right away.

"Take Renji with you…" Byakuya sighed.

Zezuri rushed out of the room, but as she opened the door, being the clumsy person she was, slipped out the door, falling on her face.

Renji sighed and pulled the clumsy girl to her feet gently. "Here, I'll carry you, since it's far enough for me to flash-step."

Zezuri nodded and let Renji pick her up.

--

Zezuri watched the scenery flash by as Renji carried her from 6th division to 2nd division. Buildings of ancient Japan-style flew by beneath them, trees were in full bloom in courtyards; clearly it was summer. Suddenly, she felt more homesick than ever and started to sob on Renji.

"Why do all the girls cry on me?" He wondered.

--

When they arrived at second division headquarters, Renji put Zezuri down. She wiped away the rest of her tears as she apologized to the shinigami for crying on him. He slid open the door to the main office.

"You're quite slow," was their greeting from a short ninja-clad woman.

"Sorry, Soi-Fon taicho," Renji apologized, but Soi-Fon was already walking off. Zezuri and Renji followed.

"I don't understand why it is you want to see these two, but I don't see the harm in your request. However, I can't take you to see them for… certain issues," stated the ninja-leader, knowing full well of the kido Zezuri could use. She wasn't about to risk a jailbreak, especially since one of the prisoners was an espada. Soi-Fon led Zezuri to a computer-like screen that monitored the prison cells. Pressing a few buttons, the second taicho made the screen split into two parts.

"Grimmjow!" gasped Zezuri almost unable to believe the mighty blue-haired espada could have been defeated. He had his back to the camera, but Zezuri could tell he was injured quite badly. The way he was sitting suggested he was sulking; something Grimmjow never did. Zezuri held back her tears to the best of her ability. She felt so useless; some one needed to heal Grimmjow, but she knew Soi-Fon wouldn't let her.

The ninja-captain pressed a few more buttons to change the screens again. Zezuri gasped at the image on the screen. It was Airi this time. The wounds on her made Grimmjow's look like minor scratches.

"I-is she alive?" Zezuri asked Soi-Fon.

She nodded her response.

Airi wasn't moving, but then it didn't look like she could; large cuts covered her from head to toe, most of which were still bleeding, thought lightly now. Airi's right arm lay at an odd angle, soaked in her own blood. The overall sight was gruesome, and Zezuri found herself unable to withhold her tears anymore.

"Renji… why don't you take her away from here," ordered Soi-Fon, getting annoyed; she was puzzled as to why this girl cared so much for these monsters that had kidnapped and tortured her.

Renji followed his orders; in a swift motion he scooped Zezuri up and had flash-stepped outside before she knew what had happened. "Uh, cheer up, think on the bright side, they're alive," the sixth fuku-taicho had never been good with words and he knew this wasn't helping, nonetheless h felt as if he had to say something to the sobbing girl.

Zezuri's only response was more sobs into his shirt.

Knowing that he wouldn't be able to console her, Renji took Zezuri back to her room, opened a few windows to display the now setting sun and left with a soft "Sorry."

Zezuri didn't respond; she collapsed on the bed from emotional overload and fell asleep.

Thanks for reading! Would it kill you people to review or something? Please?