Disclaimer – I do not own Bleach, Wheel of Time, or any of the creations from the great minds of Tite Kubo and Robert Jordan. I am merely a humble fan, molding their ideas into creations of my own in hopes of entertaining others. While I do own my OC's and ideas, I'm not making any money off em. So please, enjoy the story, but don't sue me. XD

My apologies for the delay on chapter 26. I went through a brief period of insecurity
on my writing, which kind of killed my drive to finish what little was left of this chapter.
Thanks to Jazzmaster's long awaited review, I got that much needed boost of
confidence and got my ass in gear. ^^

Never fear that I will drop this tale. I have far too
much time (and money) vested in it. It also helps that the story is constantly floating
around my head. XD I hope you all continue to enjoy the story.

Chapter 26 - The Fruit of Dreams

After being sent back to his own dreams, Renji Abarai slept the rest of the night away undisturbed and oblivious. Unlike a dream walker, he wasn't consciously–or subconsciously–aware that he was dreaming while he was dreaming. Waking, however, brought it all back to him in a flood. The moment he sat up in bed, his eyes jerked to where his palm had been cut. Because of the accelerated healing all shinigami possessed, the cut was no longer fresh. It was nearly healed entirely in fact, but it was there. The thin red line of dried blood caked around it was hard to miss.

"I can't believe that was real, all of it. It wasn't just some whacky dream."

Mentally he replayed the events, going over each and every detail of it. When he recalled how he'd been somehow stripped of his clothing for a short time, his face grew so crimson that his cheeks were a near match to his hair. Everyone had dreams of going somewhere and realizing you were naked, but how many people had that actually happen to them? What was worse is that she'd enjoyed it! Or was it? Lips twisting into a cocky grin, Renji stretched broadly, preening under an invisible eye. "Course she liked what she saw, what woman wouldn't?"

Halfway through getting dressed, his smugly hummed tune came to a halt, the recollection of her last words to him sparking alight in his mind. He had an urgent message to relay and here he was taking his sweet time getting ready for the day.

"Ah shit..." he grumbled, hastily cinching the obi at his waist. "I need to get going!"

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Grinning like a loobie, though she would never believe it of herself, Suiren tugged at the outer folds of Byakuya's kendogi to pull it free from the hakama and obi that held it down. Never in her life would she have expected to find herself half clothed and alone with a man, much less this man. What amazed her was that she found herself enjoying being so forward. Her insides quivered with a mixture of giddy nerves and sheer excitement and her head still spun from the bevy of kisses he'd placed on her lips only moments before. Those had left her gasping for air and all but writhing in his arms.

The warm breath brushing against her neck only heightened the sensation in the pit of her belly. Byakuya kept his lips poised just so they hovered just beside her ear. Each slow exhale sent a cluster of goosebumps across her left arm, and all the way down to her ankles. It was a silent taunt, making her crave his touch more and more. So much so, that when he faintly skimmed them across her jawline she let out a quiet whimper. The moment the tiny sound made it out she wished she could snatch it back, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Suiren hated the idea of being or appearing weak but she couldn't find it in her to be angry. There was a strange pleasure in the way he could make her breath catch when barely touching her. 'Come to think of it, he makes my breath catch just by bloody looking at me.'

A series of light nips interspersed with soft kisses at her throat had her panting again, whispering light epithets as he blazed a trail down that pale column. Deftly skipping over the a'dam, Byakuya paused at the base of her neck, biting the tender flesh where it connected to her shoulder before retracing his steps.

While Suiren had been fumbling with the tightly tucked hakamashita, Byakuya's hands had certainly not been idle. Even when he'd tilted her head to the side, his free hand had been caressing her hip, kneading it lightly. Now they wandered to her backside together, cupping her bottom through the dampened towel and pressing her tightly against him. Both groaned in unison as their sexes aligned, partly from the pleasure of it all and partly to curse the clothing that separated them.

Finally succeeding in removing the troublesome garment, Suiren pushed both it and the captains haori he wore back, letting them slide down toned arms to catch just at his elbow. It was at that moment that her eyes caught movement from behind the shoji screen. Drawing a sharp breath, Suiren just barely caught hold of her towel as it was sliding downward and not a moment to soon.

"Captain? They said I could find you in here...."

Stepping around the rice paper screen, Renji peered around the room, perplexed. That is, until his eyes landed on Suiren and Byakuya. Spotting them in a half dressed state of disarray, his eyes widened like twin saucers.

"Captain!!"

Rather than stepping behind the screen again or averting his eyes, the red head stared at them both as if poleaxed. Byakuya made no move to conceal himself, though he did made certain Suiren was covered by both the towel and his own body before responding. Turning his head to the side and keeping his voice cool and level, he spoke to the other man as though nothing were amiss, though only a fool would think it to be true. The chill in his voice was enough to have covered the room in ice. Those slate gray eyes could have bored a hole through stone.

"What do you need, Lieutenant Abarai?"

Peeking around Byakuya's arm, Suiren would have wagered that his Lieutenant was in the process of swallowing his tongue. She half expected him to only manage a squeak when he opened his mouth again.

"S-sir...I uh...I have a message for Suiren Sedai..."

Eyes flattening, the look he was giving his subordinate intensified. He did not need to speak the message that look conveyed. With great haste, Renji barreled on ahead, wishing he'd never stepped foot into the room to begin with.

"It's from Alindrah. She said it was important that I tell her immediately."

Now it was Suiren's turn to go wide-eyed. She tried to step out beside Byakuya but the man stretched his arm out to quietly herd her back. Straining to see around him, Suiren could hardly contain her excitement.

"My sister spoke to you?! What did she say? Where is she? Come on then child, don't dawdle! Tell me at once!"

Suiren all but bounced on the balls of her feet, straining to see and eagerly awaiting his reply. Hope filled her to the brim at the prospect of knowing what news he brought. Proprietary could go to the Pit of Doom for all she cared if it meant hearing that report a moment sooner. In front of her, Byakuya angled his head downward, quietly speaking.

"Can it not wait, Suiren?"

Hissing through her teeth, she shot him a pointed look. Opening her mouth to inform him that it would not wait, she squawked when he made the decision for her. Lifting that proud head of his, Byakuya cast one eye back towards the other man, speaking in an authoritative tone that would brook no argument. From either of them.

"You will wait for us with Captain Kyōraku and Captain Ukitake. Once Suiren is properly clothed, she will hear the tidings you bring."

Grateful, Renji made a hasty bow before retreating from the room, not bothering to wait on her opinion. Suiren made certain to listen for the quiet click of the door shutting, one they'd both failed to hear upon Renji's entrance, before jabbing one finger in Byakuya's bare chest. Willing herself to ignore just how exquisitely molded it was and quashing the temptation to scatter a heated array of kisses across it, she glared up at him.

Byakuya was but a few inches taller than her, yet he seemed to use each of those to the fullest. It was daunting, to say the least, to have him towering over her. Even so, wasn't going to stop her from lighting into him.

"How dare you send him away! Did you not hear the boy? It was to be delivered immediately! Clearly that denotes --"

A pair of smooth lips crushed against her own, quelling her words and anger in one swift action. How could she remain angry with him when he was delivering wave after wave of mind numbing kisses? Stumbling back awkwardly, Suiren fell against the wall and he against her. Just when she thought they would end up exactly as they had been before being interrupted, Byakuya pulled back, holding her jaw in a light but firm grip.

"Whatever he has to say, it can wait for you to get dressed. I'll not risk having anyone see what is mine."

Brows rising in surprise, Suiren stared at the raven haired noble in awe. For a moment, at least. Then her lips twisted into a wry smile, much like a pleased cat that had caught itself a mouse. The man had no idea just how appealing he was to her. Even with her scolding, she'd secretly reveled in him taking control at that moment. To have done it again and become so possessive? It was clear to her that Byakuya Kuchiki was meant to have a Saldaean wife. Crystal clear.

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Shunsui Kyōraku took one look at Renji when the redhead walked into the room he was lounging in and laughed. The harried expression on his face suggested he'd had a little taste of the icy Kuchiki's wrath and perhaps a bit more. Casting a sullen glare at him, Renji stalked over to one of the cushions situated on the floor and flopped down.

"You knew, didn't you?" He mumbled.

Chuckling again, Shunsui tugged at the front of his wide straw hat and smiled innocently. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Abarai-kun."

Renji snorted in disbelief and let his head fall back to rest on the wall behind him. "Like hell you don't. You're the one who told me that Captain Kuchiki was in there with Suiren Sedai. Only you left out a very important part!"

Giving the hat another tug, Kyōraku shielded his eyes from the other man, continuing to watch him from just under the brim. "And what was that?"

Tossing his hands in the air, Renji growled irritably. "Oh I don't know, maybe the whole 'they're both half naked' part? You could have at least warned me! I'm lucky I walked out of their with my head still attached!"

From his position sprawled across the floor, Shunsui let out a low whistle. That was a bit more than he'd expected. A good bit more. It seemed Byakuya was much more interested in the Aes Sedai than he let on. Of course, Shunsui had seen straight through his pretense earlier. After all these years, reading the staid Kuchiki heir had become a bit of game to him. Always interesting to get a rise out of the other man by figuring him out and being one step ahead. It wasn't too hard to determine that he had a bit of a soft spot for the aristocratic woman but this new development truly did shock him. Byakuya was making this little match too easy.

"Is that so? My my, I really had no idea. My apologies, Abarai-kun."

"You're a terrible liar, Captain Kyōraku." Renji replied with a doleful expression. He really was lucky to have made it out of the room in one piece.

"You wound me. Why would I lie to you?" Shunsui replied, holding one hand dramatically to his chest. He always had a flair for theatrics.

For the life of him, Renji could not come up with an answer to that question. He was certain the older man had done it to play a prank on him, and those two as well. There was no way for him to prove it though, all he had was speculation. And that knowing grin the flamboyant Captain had shot him when directing him to the room. Oh yes, Kyōraku knew something alright. Switching subjects, he decided to let it go. There wasn't anything he could do about it anyway.

"Where is Captain Ukitake today? Is he not feeling well?"

Kyōraku hummed a few bars of a nameless tune before pushing his hat back up with one finger. "It's the strangest thing. He was feeling better than usual this morning..." Letting his voice trail, he waited for the other man to speak before continuing.

"And how is that strange?" Renji finally asked, shifting his position to drape one arm over the top of his bent knee.

Pretending as though his mind had wandered, Shunsui gave a little jerk, cutting off the tune he'd begun humming again. "Hmm? Oh, that. As I said, he was fine this morning but around ten minutes ago he suddenly became very flushed. Said he needed to go lay down for a little while."

"Huh. Well, hopefully he'll feel better soon then."

"Oh, I'm sure he's feeling better already, Abarai-kun."

"How can you be so certain?"

Letting his eyes slide shut, Shunsui used his elbow to prop his head up comfortably. "Call it a hunch." He replied before allowing the rest of his body to relax so that he could enjoy a nice little cat nap.

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Suiren somehow extracted herself to return to the shower, hastily finishing what she'd started. While she would have loved to remain entangled in the smoothly muscled arms of the typically reserved Captain, news of her sister had her moving faster than she thought possible. Once she'd gotten over her shock at his last statement, she'd scurried back into the wide stall and scrubbed almost viciously at her hair and body. Part of her expected him to follow her in, though she knew he would not. It was shaming to realize that she honestly held a faint hope that he would, despite knowing how it would delay hearing her sisters urgent message. It was for that reason she scoured her skin, quietly cursing herself for such thoughts.

By the time she was finished and had a yukata safely wrapped around her, Byakuya was neatly dressed once more. Every hair was in place and his clothing looked as though it had been freshly pressed. There was no hint of their earlier passion in his appearance. Even his eyes had returned to that blank stare she'd become so accustomed to seeing. They said nothing and gave away nothing.

It was just as well, for Suiren had already willed herself to do the same. She couldn't very well go about acting like some love-struck ninny, falling over herself for a man. The Light knows she wasn't the type for that sort of nonsense. Still, she couldn't help but feel a slight shiver of delight on the way back to the room, knowing just how firmly his eyes were locked on her. She didn't need to see that to know it for true.

It took a great deal of restraint to keep from running or skipping down the long wooden corridor – the rouka as Ukitake named it – but she did manage. Not an easy task with her all but overflowing with a myriad of powerful emotions running rampant. The high Byakuya had left her running on kept creating a broad smile, making her continuously thin her lips to smooth them back out. News of her first-sister had her feet itching to move faster than she already was. As it were, she was quickly covering the ground between the bathing room and the bedroom.

When she finally reached her destination, Byakuya close at her heels, she breathed a tiny sigh of relief that his servants had brought her some fresh clothing. Selecting a simple dress made of the purest green and gold silk, Suiren stepped behind an extravagantly painted shoji screen to slip it over her head, neatly folding and setting aside her yukata. Just because she'd been pampered most of her life didn't mean she was sloppy, leaving such things for the servants to tend to.

Since there was a slight chill in the early morning air, she made certain to pull on a thin coat with a fur-lined collar over her dress. Being Aes Sedai meant that neither cold nor heat truly touched her but she was not entirely immune to it. It was much simpler to just don the garment than answer any questions as to why the cold seemed to have no effect, in any case. She would not tell them any more than necessary and she was quite certain they were doing the same.

Mulling over all the events that had occurred in such a short span of time, Suiren felt a chill that was not a result of a draft. In everything that had been going on, she'd let several crucial thoughts fall to the back of her mind. The ache left by Roarke's severing was still there, throbbing painfully no matter how hard she shoved it back. When left to her own devices, it was difficult to ignore. There was also the man Moghedien worked for, who she knew painfully little about. Perhaps she would use her time with Ukitake today to gather what information she could on the man she only knew as Aizen.

That wasn't what troubled her now though. It was the dream she'd been having. Assuming it was a dream at all. Byakuya had been forced to strike her and none too gently to get her to rouse from that deep slumber. From what she saw in his eyes, as well as Jūshirō's, they feared they would not succeed. To her, it felt as though she'd been trapped inside the dream of another, for surely that dream could not have been hers.

The man was unfamiliar, one she'd never seen before. It seemed highly unlikely that such a life would come to pass, yet it had felt so real. Was it his dream she'd stumbled into, unawares? That wasn't much of an explanation either. She could recall being in the Tel'aran'rhiod, on her way to the private gardens with the faint hope of finding her sister there. It was the place they'd first begun her training in walking the Dream World. It would have been a logical place for them to meet again. 'Fah! Logical...now I sound like a White! Such a fools notion it was anyway. If Alindrah could get to the garden, why has she not come to me in my own dreams by now?'

That was equally as troubling to her but she could not let her mind wander. Not now. She needed to figure out why that man, Sōsuke, had appeared. She was certain that he had been just as firmly in the World of Dreams as she but that was impossible. No man walked the Dream World, none had the gift. It wasn't a part of the One Power, but an ability that could be learned through very hard training under the watchful eye of a Wise One.

The appearance of a stranger had thrown her off course, perhaps weakening her mind and making her susceptible to the pull of his dreams. That didn't sound right either. 'Nothing sounds right about it. One moment I was in the Tel'aran'rhiod, and the next I'm pulled into the dreams of another. What if those dreams are a glimpse of my future? No. I cannot believe that. Light. I don't want to believe it but what if it is true? Could that man really be my...my husband? What about Byakuya? They say that no eye can see the Pattern until it is woven, but surely it will not weave him out of my life.'

It was enough to give her a headache, for none of it made one lick of sense to her. No more than her handsome shadow suddenly being able to speak and understand the Old Tongue. That was another issue that needed to be dealt with. He'd taken her mind off of it earlier, distracting her to no end. It wasn't something she would soon forget, despite his rather skilled sidestep. He would answer her question, one way or another. 'Men! They never fail to be troublesome. As my mother used to say, the best of men aren't much better than housebroken. But then, the best of them were worth the trouble of house-breaking.'

Pulling back a portion of her ebony locks, Suiren used one of the simple hair ties that a servant had provided her to hold it in place rather than one of her usual golden pins and ornaments. Those took time and today time was of the essence. Giving herself a once over in the mirror, Suiren nodded at the reflection in approval before stepping out of the dressing area. A flutter of black wings caught her eye just as it descended on Byakuya.

Sitting with his legs folded underneath him atop a thick pillow, he looked to be the very definition of serenity. Lifting one finger slowly, he studied the butterfly as it approached, landing on his fingertip without hesitation. Keeping his attention focused on the insect, he paid no mind to her approach, turning to her only after it took flight once more.

"A lovely creature, that. I've never seen one with such unusual coloring before. It must be unique to your world." Suiren commented, waiting for him to rise.

Pushing himself gracefully off the floor, the Kuchiki heir inclined his head towards her. "They are the jigokuchō, Hell Butterflies. We use them to relay missives to one another. That one just informed me that I have some business to attend to, unfortunately."

For a moment, Suiren just stared at him, dumbstruck. Butterflies relaying messages? A pigeon was one thing, but an insect? And where was its message? He had not removed anything from its body, nor did he seem to have anything in his hands that would reveal the news it brought. The man must have read her like an open book, lifting his hand again to tap the side of his head lightly.

"Only the person who is to receive its message may hear it. You were expecting something more tangible, were you not?"

Sniffing skeptically, she said decided to accept his word on it. There was no reason for him to lie to her but it truly did seem to be an impossibility. Then again, much she had seen since arriving in this world was out of the ordinary. Unrealistic and unbelievable; had she not seen it with her own eyes she would not have believed any of it. Even bearing witness to it she still doubted.

"Are you leaving?" She asked instead, changing the subject.

There was a slight crease that appeared beside his eyes for a moment, telling her that the business he must see to was not entirely pleasant. Or perhaps it was just that he had no desire to leave. He had promised to remain by her side, redoubling his efforts to protect her, as he'd put it.

"For a time, I must. I will make certain that Lieutenant Abarai remains here with you in my stead. With luck, I will be back in time for lunch."

Turning her head to the side, Suiren stared absently at one of the simple calligraphy scrolls on the wall to avoid his gaze. It pained her to admit to herself that she did not want him to leave. Not because she feared Kyōraku's advances or mistrusted Byakuya's adjutant. Shunsui she could handle and Renji had certainly proved himself to her. For all her internal grumblings about a lack of privacy, she'd become accustomed to Byakuya's constant presence. It was reassuring. Comforting, even.

In her short time here, he'd acted as her Warder in nearly every sense. All but the last and most important one. Though her dream had been troublesome and her soul still ached from Roarke's death, her mind was made. She would take that last step, bind their souls and be complete at last. There was no doubt in her mind that bonding him would do just that. The Wheel weaves as it will and it had not spun her out and into his life for no reason. The man was everything she could possibly seek in a Warder and as a husband, though the latter was not something she intended to think on for some time.

"Byakuya," Suiren began, her voice suffused with a confidence she wished she felt. "I must ask something of you."

Pausing before replying to her, he guided her chin back around so that she was facing him again. Satisfied that he could now look her straight in the eye, he spoke. "What is your wish, Aes Sedai?"

Quirking a brow, Suiren studied him a moment. While that regal face of his gave no hint of his thoughts, his voice had sounded light. Humorous. Was he mocking her? Brushing his hand away from her cheek, Suiren's eyes hardened to resemble two exquisitely cut emeralds. The light reflected off those gems, making them flash with the irritation she felt.

"My wish," she replied in a cool, clipped tone "is to bond you as my Warder, Byakuya Kuchiki. You already act as a Gaidin, save for this one thing."

"Your Warder?" Byakuya repeated her words, any prior traces of humor leaving his voice entirely. "I thought you said that you had no desire to bond another, after being betrayed by the last."

Twisting her head away once more, Suiren tried to conceal a wince at such a casual mention of Roarke's duplicity but was thwarted when he took hold of her jaw once again. That made it quite difficult for her to avoid such a piercing gaze, though it did not stop her from trying. The man lacked a true grasp on just what it was she was asking. There was no amusement in his tone but it was still light, as if he were not taking her seriously.

Suiren had her reasons for deciding to bond him, having firmed her resolve to shortly before that incident in the shower. He did not need to know what they were, not all of them at least. Somehow she did not expect he would be best pleased if he heard her say that bonding a new Warder would help ease the pain of losing the last. It wasn't the most attractive rationale but it was a valid reason. One of many.

The unusual experience she'd had in the Tel'aran'rhiod irked her still but not enough to alter her path. She could not schedule her life around the possibility of finding truth or reality in that...dream. If it even was a dream. At this moment, she was more certain than ever and that certainty would not waver. Byakuya Kuchiki would be her Gaidin, her brother to battles, one way or another. It was possible to force a bond on another; it had once been a common practice in the Age of Legends. However, it was now viewed as a despicable act, akin to rape. If an Aes Sedai wanted to bond a man, he could offer up no more resistance than a child. She suspected Byakuya would accept the offer eventually and she had no intention of taking that particular route. But she would if she must. 'The Light willing, it will never come to that.'

"I spoke in haste. My thoughts on the matter have been altered since that day, significantly."

Byakuya arched one fine brow in response, closely scrutinizing her face in search of additional information. There was something she was not telling him, but what? Without the a'dam, he had no idea of what emotions might be hidden behind that sharp gaze. Aside from her wish to look away, nothing else indicated her state of mind. No matter what her mood or motive, the question bore serious thought. What he knew of a Warder and their relationship to Aes Sedai was little.

Their souls would be bound and that was more than enough to unsettle him, but what else? If he died, she would suffer physically and mentally, more so than any other would at a loved ones death. What more could such a thing entail? Keeping her safe was something he was already quite accustomed to worrying over. His inability to protect her and to have so easily fallen prey to the enemy still chafed at him, chipping methodically away at his pride. After that failure, why would she still consider such a request?

Even now, he was concerned with leaving her to attend to his own business. He'd pushed aside quite a bit of work in order to remain by her side and he was loathe to return to it, no matter how pressing. While he may not know many of the responsibilities of a Warder, he assumed that in guarding their Aes Sedai, they rarely left their side.

"I imagine a man of your stature would be concerned about your many duties and how it might interfere with them."

Suiren's intuitive question cut through the silence that had begun to hang. It was uncanny just how accurate her assumption was. When had she learned to read him so well?

"Among many things, yes. I would be a fool to not take that into consideration."

Folding her arms beneath her bosom, Suiren lifted her chin stubbornly, self possession returned. "You must understand the benefits it grants before you place too much emphasis of what it may or may not alter in your life. I assure you, they will outweigh your concerns by far."

Byakuya let his hand fall from her face, sliding it down to her shoulder and taking the other in hand. Keeping a light hold on her, he stared down at her curiously. "And what might those be?"

Affecting not to notice the tender grip he had on her, Suiren began to systematically describe to him the gifts, she called them, that only a Warder had. Heightened senses and reflexes, increased strength and endurance and the ability to sense creatures of the Dark. What she mentioned last though, truly caught his attention.

"Both Aes Sedai and Gaidin gain the ability to locate one another, no matter what the distance. The bond creates a firm tie between the two, making it almost impossible to be unable to find one another. There is also another side to it, which can be considered a bit intrusive to some but it serves a very good purpose."

For a moment she seemed uncertain, as if suddenly becoming too bashful to explain the last part. Rather than speaking, Byakuya gave her shoulders a squeeze of encouragement. Running her tongue across her lips, Suiren straightened her neck and looked him squarely in the eye, all traces of her prior uncertainty gone.

"The bond creates an awareness between both parties of one another, making health and mental state well known to the other. Even to the extent of emotional wellbeing. It's not as though I would be able to read your mind or you mine, but we would both be...conscious of each others feelings."

He could have laughed at the irony. Something which he had indeed first thought of as intrusive was now something he desired. It could be granted so easily now, a'dam or no. There was a drawback though, as she would be aware of him on the opposite side of that bond. The woman picked him apart enough as is, he wasn't sure he could handle giving her the same advantage it would give him. Lips pursed, they slowly drew down in a frown.

"I will require some time to think this over, Aes Sedai." He finally stated in a detached and decidedly chilly tone.

Though he still held her, the embrace no longer held the same warmth it had before. Suiren could understand the effect. Save for those men trained in the White Tower specifically to become Gaidin, it was a difficult task for a man to easily accept all of the aspects of the Warder bond. For a man with as tight a rein on his emotions as Byakuya, it was no surprise for her to see him react so. Still, he had not outright rejected the offer.

"I expected as much, Dai Shan." Suiren kept her tone just as crisp as his, referring to him just as formally as he had to her. "However, do keep in mind that time is not exactly something either of us is gifted with."

Byakuya's face hardened, though she was not certain as to which of her words caused it. Either way, she was not done prodding him. Once she had set her mind to something, she did not give over. Certainly not on this. Normally she would have not objected to allowing him the time to truly mull it over but she had a feeling that with this man, the more time allowed the less the chance of him accepting. Best to strike while it was fresh on his mind, before too much thought had been applied.

"You did mention that you would be departing a moment ago, leaving me here with the others to guard me. Does it not bother you that it will not be you here, assuring my safety? I believe you said your efforts to protect me from Aizen and the Forsaken would be redoubled, did you not?"

There was a brief pause, intentionally placed to allow him enough time to digest the words but not enough to formulate a reply. "Consider this if you will, Dai Shan. Were you bonded to me, you would know at all times both my location and my wellbeing. No matter how far from me you go, that knowledge would not waver, though the detail of it would wane. That is, if you travelled too far outside the city. Would it not set your mind at ease? You move like the wind, I've no doubt that you would come flying to my aid the moment any distress was even hinted at in the bond."

As much as he'd like to think otherwise, she had the right of it. It would comfort him, in many ways, to have that knowledge of her in the back of his mind at all times. It irked him that she'd targeted his pride, calling his duty to her into question. A shrewd move. Plucking his hands free of her shoulders, he moved around her and towards the door.

"You will have your answer, soon enough."

Suiren opened her mouth to say more but closed it again with a snap. With him clearly ending the conversation, it would only make her seem desperate if she continued to press him. While she did feel it was a rather urgent matter, desperate was not something she wished to appear. She was not some empty-headed little bint, relying strictly on the protection a man could offer her to make it through life. No Aes Sedai would dare be placed in that category.

However, the a'dam certainly changed matters and not for the better. Being unable to touch Saidar at will made her incredibly vulnerable to attack. That did not sit well with her, not one bit. As it were, she could do little more than flail helplessly should a man decide to toss her over his shoulder and cart her off. Accepting her own weakness stung. She needed his help and he was going to give it, burn him.

Lifting her skirts, she followed after him, making a conscious effort to remove her face of all traces of emotion. There were other matters that needed to be seen to.

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After a night of fitful dreams and a morning of being the sexual plaything of her captor, Alindrah felt bone tired. Gin had been rather energetic this morning and strangely generous. As generous as a man can be who is bedding a woman who has no desire to lie with him, that is.

The stubborn Aiel had given up trying to fight him on that long ago, preferring to retain control over her mind than to act out the throes of passion like some mindless doll. She had also decided that there was an advantage to be had there. A man's guard was down, quite obviously, while in bed. Perhaps she would find something, some weakness in him that would be of use. In her current situation, every little bit counted. It wasn't the same as what Renji had suggested, she wasn't going to spy, but she would take advantage of whatever she could when she could. Perhaps seeming a willing bed partner would reveal that opening she longed to find.

It helped that she'd envisioned the raven haired man with the scars as the one who's hands gripped her hips so tightly. It was his breathy moans that filled her ears, and his well timed thrusts that had her nails gouging his back. There was nothing forced about the frantic cries that passed her lips as a prelude to that pleasurable peak. The guilt and shame that usually arose afterwards was significantly lessened by simply imagining the handsome man from her dreams as the one tangling the sheets with her instead of Ichimaru Gin.

If only it erased it entirely. If only she could be free of this wretched collar. Her blade would find Gin's heart with astounding speed. Or perhaps his throat. He would suffer more that way. Alindrah's gray eyes bored a hole in the man's back while she watched him dress, plotting out just how she would end his miserable existence. So intent in her thoughts, she actually jumped when a sharp pain in her thumb alerted her to her teeth clamping down on it.

Gin merely angled his head towards her and smiled. That same, enigmatic smile he always wore. The one that fueled her anger all the more. It was followed by a soft chuckle this time, the mirthful sound reminding her that he could actually feel her hatred towards him. Or something like it. Though she didn't know just how accurate it was, she was certain the a'dam was allowing him some knowledge of her thoughts and emotions. As if the man was not violating her enough.

"Smile, Kicho-han. Ya don' want yer face to stick like that, do ya?"

The light jest made her scowl deepen for a moment before she bared her teeth in a forced grin. Likely it made her expression seem more murderous than it had been but he seemed to find it acceptable.

"Tha's better," he said, sliding into his white overcoat and tucking his sword into place. "Try ta work on touchin' yer zanpakutō while I'm gone t'day. Jes' remember what I told ya. You'll get th' hang of it soon 'nough."

Snapping open the clasp of the bracelet half of the a'dam, he tossed it casually in the air a few times before setting it down on a table near the door. Whenever he didn't want to drag her along behind him, he often left the bracelet, and Alindrah, in his room. She couldn't pick it up without experiencing a violent jolt and stomach churning nausea, but it did not hinder her from roaming the rooms in his spacious apartment freely. Without someone wearing it, she was limited on just how far she could go from the bracelet, to which she learned the hard way.

At least the other inhabitants of Las Noches had learned to leave her be after a few examples were made. Gin's little pet was off limits to them. Alindrah had to admit that she was grudgingly appreciative of the protection he'd given her. Very grudging.

When the door shut behind him, she let out a tiny sigh. It wasn't quite relief but neither was it in dismay. Being alone was one of the few things she had to keep her sane. Her thoughts were her own and her body was blessedly free from mistreatment of any sort. However, there was always the underlying fear that despite the 'examples', one of Aizen's twisted men would try to have a little fun. The fear was sickening, she despised the fact that she felt it at all. Not for the first time, she cursed the silvery band that lay snugly around her throat. Moghedien's name was cursed just as soundly, and perhaps with a bit more vehemence.

Alindrah was still muttering epithets when the door opened again. Dressing in the bedroom as she was, it took her a moment to stalk back out to the foyer, expecting to see Gin. It wouldn't be the first time that he'd left, only to return in less than half an hour. She suspected that he was hoping to catch her doing something she should not, looking for a reason to distribute another round of abuse.

"Shadowfox, do not tell me you forgot something. I refuse to believe that--"

The lecturing she'd been about to dole out shriveled on her tongue, along with all the air in her lungs. Her eyes locked onto the bit of shine being lifted from the table and the hands that caressed it, tracing the patternless design at a deliberate pace. Her body gave an unconscious jerk when the bracelet snapped open, visible only as an abrupt blink. As it closed around their wrist, she instinctively braced herself, preparing for the inevitable. Her dreams had warned her of this but she had not expected it to come so soon. A smug, malevolent smile wreathed her new sul'dam's face. That smile promised nothing but pain. Endless pain.

"I'm sorry, were you expecting someone else?"

The saccharine tones made her lips twist in disgust. She would not allow herself to feel one ounce of fear, though she likely should have. If her dreams had told her anything, it was that the next appearance of the spider would not augur well for her. Rather than fear what would come, she made herself accept it. She would embrace whatever may come. They would not break her!

"Actually, I'd expected to see you sooner, little spider. I suppose you had to wait until you knew I was alone. That too, I expect from you."

It surprised her that the woman allowed her to finish speaking before lashing out, striking her with a fist of air that bloodied her lip. Really, the woman made it child's play to push her buttons. It was small comfort but it made taking what was to come a little easier. The woman was afraid of her. A Shadowsouled, one of Sightblinder's strongest soldiers, feared her.

Spitting blood at the woman's feet, Alindrah stood a little taller and grinned back. "The a'dam may keep you safe from the Power, but it will not protect you fr--"

"From who?" Moghedien cut in, "Ichimaru isn't here to shield his little whore."

An invisible hand took a fistful of Alindrah's hair, wrenching her head back at an awkward angle. Another twisted her arms behind her back, legs lifting and bending to meet them. Certain of her safety from a physical assault, Moghedien confidently moved in closer, savoring the spike of anger that arose from her words and pain from her actions.

"I should probably mention that the great Aizen knows I'm here too, so don't think of crying to him for help. No, I'm afraid there will be no aid for you, savage. Today will be just the two of us, and we have so much to catch up on. Wouldn't you say?"

A/N: How did you like that switch towards the end? I know I don't normally tie in their chapters like this, but I wanted to flash over to what was happening in HM at the same time. Hope ya'll didn't mind that sudden change of pace.

As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and opinions via review or PM. I'm always open to critiques and suggestions. Thanks for reading and thank you so much for your support.