I woke up the next morning happier than I had been in a long time. I quickly got dressed and headed for the dining hall. After grabbing my plate of food I sat next to Grimmjow. " Hey where did you go last night? You were at the bar one minute and gone the next what happened?" Grimmjow asked.
" Oh well I…" I didn't know what to say.
" She was with me," I heard Starrk say.
" Starrk what are you doing here it's morning. Shouldn't you be asleep?" Grimmjow asked.
"I wanted to see Kaori," he said to Grimmjow then turned to me. " Good morning" he said happily.
" G-Good morning," I said nervously. Grimmjow, Nnoitra, and Szayel looked between Starrk and I carefully. Starrk was acting the same as usual but my head was bent over and I was blushing.
" So what uh, what were you two doing last night?" Grimmjow asked looking between Starrk and I.
" Kaori and I went to the southern tower to look out at the night sky," Starrk said matter of factly.
" So what uh, what did ya do while looking at the night sky?" Nnoitra asked.
Starrk took my shaking hand, making me look up at him. He smiled gently at me and I sighed. He was very calming for some reason. " Are you two going out now or something?" Grimmjow asked.
" No. Not yet at least. Maybe soon though." Starrk said smiling at the end. I blushed and looked down. Grimmjow and Nnoitra gave us both a look then smiled.
" You two are pretty similar so I could see it. You better be careful of-" Grimmjow started.
" Hello Kaori," I heard Aizen say. Oh shit. I completely forgot about Aizen! I turned around slowly.
" Hey. What are you doing up so early?" I asked both scared and surprised.
" It's time for our date," he said smirking and holding out his hand. I looked at Starrk and he was glaring at Aizen.
" Fine you win," I said putting my hand in his. Aizen began pulling me up but Starrk still held onto my other hand. It got really quiet for a few moments as I stood between the two.
" Is there a problem Starrk?" Aizen asked with his fake smile. I felt his spiritual pressure rise and I gulped. I looked at Starrk and he was looking intensely at Aizen. He sighed angrily, let go of my hand, and left the table. I'm sorry Starrk. " Ok Kaori we've got a couple of stops to make so let's go," Aizen said happily while dragging me out of the cafeteria. I turned back to the others and waved and they waved back.
" By the way you do realize it's morning right? Is this a day long date or something?" I asked unsure.
" Time moves differently here than in the world of the living," Aizen said matter of factly.
" Oh ok… wait the living!? We're going there?" I said shocked. Aizen turned back and simply smiled, like that was some kind of answer.
" I put some normal clothes on your bed. You're only going to be wearing them for a little while though," Aizen said.
" What the hell does that mean? You think bringing me to the human world is going to make me want to have sex with you?" I said eyebrow twitching.
Aizen laughed loudly, " Oh Kaori you really are one of a kind. Now go get changed," he said outside my room. I sighed and stepped in, finding a normal pair of shorts and shirt on the bed. What the heck were we going to be doing? I quickly changed and stepped back out. Aizen gave me the up down and smiled.
" Hey! Eyes on face you got it?" I said waving my fist in the air.
" Sounds good to me," he said looking deep into my eyes. I looked away angrily, his gaze embarrassing me. " Ok here we go," he said grabbing my hand and opening the senkaimon. We stepped through and quickly arrived at the destination. We were in an alley and thankfully no one saw us. Aizen dragged me down the alley and down a couple of blocks to a store. We stepped inside and I looked around to see it was a kimono shop. " My name is Sosouke Aizen I placed an order here a month ago," he said to the woman at the counter. The woman smiled and went back.
" Wait you ordered whatever it is back there a month ago? How long have you been planning this?" I asked exasperated.
" As soon as you agreed to the bet," he said smiling. Ugh this guy! He knew he was going to win! The woman came back and pulled me to the back room.
" Wait what?" I asked but Aizen smiled and waved then left. After what felt like hours of punishment, I looked in the mirror to see a different person. I had a long, dark blue kimono on with gold waves at the bottom and a black lining. It was the expensive handmade kind. I also had my hair done in a fancy bun with chopsticks. I was pushed back out to a waiting Aizen, who was also changed into new attire. He stared at me eyes wide, not saying anything.
" Well that was fun. I had a great time Aizen thanks for the date," I said jokingly.
" Oh you thought it was over? We still have a lot left to do," he said taking my hand again and going back to the alley from earlier to open another senkaimon. This time the senkaimon opened to a forest right before sunset.
" So we got all dressed up for a forest?" I said sarcastically. He turned back and gave me a look. Ha-ha I'm finally getting to him! He pulled me out of the forest to a road that led to a small town that was lit up brightly.
" This," he said motioning towards the town, " is where the real date starts." We walked down, arm in arm, towards the small town. As we got closer I heard the noises get louder and the lights become more colorful. There were lanterns of every shape and size filling all the streets corners.
" Do these guys have a lighting issue?" I asked smugly trying to bother him.
" Today is their annual lantern festival. It's a big event for this town; people from all over Japan come. They say it's very romantic," Aizen said equally as smug to me. Touché Aizen. When we got to town finally the streets were filled with people of every shape and size just like all the lanterns. I looked over at Aizen and he was smiling happily at the sight. I slowly took my arm out of his but instead took his hand; acting like it was completely normal. He gave me a shocked look but I kept a normal face, looking at anything other than him. He smiled and chuckled lightly then pulled me through the streets.
We slowly wandered through the town, stopping at various stands to look around or play games. There was a mask stand where Aizen and I tried on various masks laughing at each other. We stopped and had some food. It was… fun. I was having fun with an evil genius trying to take over the world. I mentally sighed, something was definitely wrong with me. I looked around some more but my eyes caught sight of a little game stand that had the giant stuffed animal prizes. It had a giant panda and a smaller red panda, my two favorite animals. I smiled at them, something that didn't take long for Aizen to notice. " So you actually have a normal side to you," he said happily.
" Normal side? I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a completely crazy, outrageous girl that no real man would ever like," I said looking away from the panda duo. Aizen leaned in closer to me, making me blush, and smiled his smug little smile.
" Looks like you've been caught," he said evilly. I felt the blush growing worse so I looked away.
" So what? I can like normal stuff too," I mumbled angrily. Aizen smirked, a look that said, 'I win', and pulled me towards the stand. He effortlessly won the two prizes and smiled when he handed them to me. I looked up at his genuine smile and it made me feel so light and warm on the inside. " Th-thanks" I said looking away. Aizen chuckled and put his arm around my shoulder, then led me towards the edge of town. He stopped at 2 different stands and picked up some things then led me to the edge of yet another forest. We walked until we got to a large, open field.
" Here we are Kaori. Where do you want to sit?" Aizen asked me.
" I guess in the middle?" I said so we moved to the center of the field. Aizen opened the first package to reveal a large picnic basket. He pulled out a blanket and then set the food down. " Ok seriously how long have you been planning this?" I asked laughing.
" I told you as soon as you agreed to the bet. It was fun because it distracted me from thinking about other women. I put all my energy into you," he said smiling. I watched as he focused on setting the plates and such up ever so carefully. Why is he doing all this? Did he really… like me? It wasn't some sort of 'one night stand'? Why else would he do all of this if he didn't like me? He doesn't treat anyone else the way he treats me. I awoke from my trance when I felt my hair falling down my back. I turned and saw Aizen holding the hairpins and chopsticks, a devious smirk on his face.
" That bun took forever! I thought they were going rip my hair out," I said angrily.
Aizen chuckled and nodded. " I was trying to get your attention. Besides I like your hair down better. I was asking if you were ready for dinner?" he asked smugly, " Unless you just want to keep staring at me?"
No, he really was the devil. " Of course I'm hungry, when am I not hungry?" I said turning away from him. We munched on the food while sharing some simple conversation with each other. " So what's up with your hair?" I asked.
" What do you mean?" he asked confused.
" This thing right here," I said grabbing that one stray strand of hair that always went over his face, " Why do you just let it hang there? Doesn't it bother the crap out of you?" I said while trying to move it back.
" I uh I don't know I uh…" he said. I sighed, giving up, the hair had a will of it's own. I looked down and realized how close I was to him. Aizen was looking up at me, shocked and red in the face. I was still touching his hair and my hand was gently cupping his cheek.
" Oh sorry! I shouldn't just touch people like that, sorry," I said while backing away.
" It's fine, more than fine," he said smiling to himself and blushing. I looked at him and then turned away laughing. " What's so funny?"
" You broke character! You always try to act so calm and collected, acting like you're hot shit. You should just try to act like yourself and maybe more people will like you," I said then turned back to him. He was right behind me, our faces almost touching.
" So you're saying I should act more like myself and then you'll like me?" he said staring at me intensely. Without looking away he took my hand, making it so I couldn't pull away. Shit what was going on? When Starrk was this close to me I didn't feel like this. My heart was beating crazily, my breath was held up in my chest, and I couldn't look away from his captivating, hazel orbs. Something in me wanted to close the gap between us, hug him close to me and not let go.
" I…" Aizen looked past me and smiled, then pulled away.
" Sorry you can answer that later," he said while reaching into the other bag. He pulled out 2 lanterns, handing me one, and some matches. He lit his then mine and stood up, holding a hand out for me. " Ready?"
" For what?" I asked getting up. I turned around and gasped. Hundreds of the lanterns were floating through the sky, each a different color and shape. Aizen let go of his and I watched it float towards the others.
" Make a wish."
" What?"
" Make a wish. That's the reason for this festival. The lanterns are wishes the people toss up, hoping someone will find their lantern and answer their prayer. So make a wish and let go." I looked down at the lantern and closed my eyes. What did I want to wish for? I couldn't ask for anything in the world right now. I had a family who cared about me, a home, what more could anyone need? I think I know what I want. I sighed and tossed the lantern up, wish made. " What did you wish for?" he asked.
" I thought you weren't supposed to tell your wishes," I said slyly. Aizen muttered something grumpily making me chuckle a little. We sat down again and laid back while watching the lanterns multiply quickly. After a while we made a game of it, playing I spy.
" Ok where's the green one?" he asked looking at the sky. I looked up and around. I then used my eyes to zoom in on the lanterns and after a moment I found it.
" There" I said pointing and turning to him but he was looking at me.
" You're eyes, the irises, change to different colors when you use them. They're dark blue, almost black, right now," he said looking at my eyes closely.
" That's what I hear. My eyes are green when I use night vision and gold when I look for you for example," I said looking back up at the sky.
" What was your eye color originally?" he asked. I paused and thought back. What was my original eye color? It seems so long ago now I just don't know. I turned my eyes back to normal and closed my eyes in thought. What color eyes did mom and dad have? I could barely remember what my parents looked like actually, just the back of their heads looking away from me. I honestly don't remember what my eyes used to be.
" I actually can't-" I said while opening my eyes but when I opened them, Aizen was hovering right over me. I tried to move but Aizen put a bit of his body weight down on me. I got the same feeling in my chest as earlier when I looked up at him. Why am I feeling this? He slowly began moving towards me and with every centimeter he moved closer the faster my heart began to beat. At the last second I turned my head, making him kiss my cheek instead.
He pulled only an inch away then whispered, "Why?"
" You're evil. You're trying to take over the world. You will kill all the people we saw happily strolling downtown today. I can't side with that, with you," I said clenching my fists. My heart said yes to him but my mind and body said no, and they were winning.
" I'm sorry about that but it doesn't change my feelings for you. You drive me crazy because I can't figure you out. And that's what I love about you. I see through everyone else but you and the funny thing is you can't see through anyone else but me. I want to be with you for the rest of my life because hopefully by the end I'll be able to read you the way you read me. It took me much too long to realize it but I love you Kaori. I simply can't let anyone else have you. Please be mine," he whispered. I could barely concentrate given my racing heart but I just barely heard what he said. He loved me? Really? But… I can't. No matter what he is the enemy.
I unclenched my fists and gently put them against his chest." I can't," I said simply while still looking away. We stayed like this for a few more moments until Aizen chuckled and pulled away.
" Like I said I can't figure you out. You're siding with people that tortured and arrested you over your real friends and people who actually care about you. You're crazy," he said smiling. I sat up, looking forward emotionlessly again.
" And you're trying to take the seat of God. Welcome to the club," I said dully. Aizen laughed then slicked his hair back again and sighed.
" I think you should know I'm just going to try harder after tonight. I'm not giving up on you no matter what you say," he said looking back at the night sky.
" You really are a dumbass aren't you?" I said with a slightly angry tone. I saw his hand and I looked up to see him smiling down on me. I took his hand, letting him help me up.
He held my hand and looked at me deeply saying, " I already told you, you're tactics don't work on me."
" Let's just go home," I said pulling my hand away. He sighed and opened the senkaimon. We walked back in silence, nothing left to say for now. When we got back it felt like late night here. It was quiet and our footsteps were the only sounds in the never-ending hallways. We stopped outside my room and stood there silently.
" I can't change my plans for taking over the world, it's what I'm destined to do. But I also can't change my feelings for you. Will you reconsider?" he asked smiling. I sighed and shook my head no. He smiled evilly, " If you thought me harassing you before was bad get ready for this," he said then turned away, walking back to his room. Like the time I made the bet I immediately regretted my decision. What does he have in store for me?