Disclaimer- I don't own Bleach, still, after all this time, unbelievable, isn't it? Then again, I'm not as talented as our beloved Tite Kubo who does own Bleach, so I suppose it's ok.

Chapter 37

Beginning of the End

She sat stiffly upon the sofa in Aizen's personal sitting room, her shoulders squared and her hands primly folded in her lap. Her blue eyes were unfocused and she stared blankly at the white table in front of her, trying desperately to feel something, anything, outside of the violent rage she hadn't known she was capable of possessing. It was no use though, the harder she tried to calm herself down and convince herself that it was all a trick, the more she believed in the reality of it all and the more she believed that she could trust no one but Aizen.

Jolting slightly when a gleaming silver tray was set on the table, the tea pot and cups on it rattling softly, Sayomi blinked and looked up to see a young arrancar girl no more than fifteen years old in appearance with wild, cropped black hair and a mouse like mask covering most of her face, pouring steaming hot green tea into two cups. Once the liquid was poured, she bowed and retreated from the room without a sound.

Still somewhat lost to her thoughts and the numbness that had accompanied the rage that was building up intensely the longer she was left to herself to think over the events of the last several hours, Sayomi just stared at the tea cups for several moments until Aizen reentered the room, alone and came up behind the couch she sat upon. She smiled up at him despite the conflicting emotions she felt fighting for dominance inside of her, the most noticeable of which was a loathing so intense she almost succumbed to it, until he brushed a hand against her cheek and she forget entirely about the hate she had harbored for the man that was walking around the couch to take a seat beside her, picking up the two tea cups and handing one to her.

"Are you alright, Sayomi, it's been a very upsetting few hours for you," he asked, sounding concerned as she took the tea cup from his hand and absently sipped at the beverage it contained.

Lowering the glass from her lips, she once again found herself smiling at Aizen. It was a smile meant to be reassuring and warm, a smile she had never before thought she would give to the manipulative man beside her. Yet, the fact that she was giving him that smile didn't seem out of place to her, it seemed right as if the hate she had felt for this man for nearly a century had never existed. And the longer she smiled up at him, the further away that hate grew until she couldn't even remember ever hating him at all.

"Sayomi, are you alright?"

"Hm?" She looked at him in confusion until she realized she hadn't answered his question and had no idea why. "I'm still a little...lost, I think, but I'll be fine."

"That's good to know," Aizen replied, a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips that he covered by taking a drink from his own tea.

Despite the smiles she was giving to Aizen, she couldn't ignore the turbulence of the anger that was thrashing around inside of her. "When will the attack take place?"

This time, he didn't bother to hide the smirk that tweaked his lips upwards as he looked at Sayomi whose smile had disappeared and had been replaced by a determined coldness. "Not much longer, Gin and Tousen are finalizing a few things and then we will be attacking the fake Karakura Town that is replacing the real thing as we speak."

"Good, I've never been very patient," Sayomi remarked with a devious chuckle. "I wanted ask something of you though."

"Anything."

"I want to be sure that I will be able to fight. I have this feeling that you don't intend to do much yourself, not that I blame you, after all the Espada should be enough to deal with those who will gather. It's also likely that you will be kept from interfering by the head captain and I don't want to get caught up in that."

"I see. If that's the case than perhaps you would like to remain here with Wonderweiss for a little while, at least until I call for him, at which point the battle will be reaching its climax. Then you'll be able to see the looks on all of their faces when they realize that they have lost and there is no hope left for them."

"Sounds...amusing," Sayomi replied with a pleased grin.

Pleased with the changes Sayomi was displaying, Aizen set his cup down and then wasted no time in swooping into place a hungry kiss upon her lips that parted in surprise and unwittingly allowed him even more access to her mouth. At first, she wanted to pull away in revulsion, but the feeling evaporated quickly and she found herself greedily kissing him back as she was pushed back on to the couch.

The beautiful, playful and happy girl who had only ever wanted to make her adoptive parents proud while living her life as nobly as she could and protecting those who couldn't protect themselves from the unseen horrors that stalked them, was no longer worried about what her parents might think of her. They weren't even on her mind as she stripped out of the clothes she had been wearing and walked into her rooms, carelessly dropping the items on the floor as she walked to the grand bathroom to clean the sweat from her recent activities from her body.

Where there had once been softness and tenderness, there was nothing but silent, brooding rage that made her features appear cold and hard as stone. Her eyes no longer showed pride or even the tiniest hint of her usual arrogance, they were just empty pools of blue that seemed to see through everything, when they actually took in every single detail of her surroundings. Her posture was more rigid than usual, her chin never left its place high in the air and her shoulders remained stiff and perfectly aligned as she stalked with all the grace of a lioness on the hunt through her room.

Blue eyes that had once been full of hope, life and emotion were now empty pools of nothingness that registered everything they saw despite the way they seemed to see through everything. It was hard to see the girl that had once looked up at the night sky over Karakura Town as it exploded into a vibrant display of colors with a look of sheer happiness and hope for the future in the same girl that now stood beneath the steaming hot water of her shower. This girl looked as if she had given up on everything except for the rage that had built up inside of her and had blinded her to all else.

She had felt hatred before, she had felt rage before, but this time it was different. This time the rational side of her that knew she should remain calm and collected couldn't be heard over the snarling beast that wanted to avenge her dead friends and show the Soul Society that they couldn't control everything. If she had thought about it, she would have realized that she couldn't even hear Fuyukaze and the worry that he felt for her. It was as if he had been completely cut of from her, but she had yet to notice.

Sayomi Himura no longer existed. In her place was a woman identical to her, but this woman was not in control of herself, she was merely a shell that was being used for goals that weren't her own. And she had no idea because in her head, her goals and Aizen's were exactly the same and always had been.

Wanting to wear something that she would be free to move around in since she knew that she was likely to be doing some intense fighting very soon, Sayomi dressed plainly in a pair of unaltered white hakama and a simple white kimono top that fitted snugly and was lower cut than most kimono. The obi that was tied around her waist was a deep blue and matched the ribbon that she had used to tie her hair up into a ponytail. Her bangs had been left free and hid her eyes from view as she slipped her feet back into her black boots before grabbing a white haori that was also lined in the same blue as her obi and ribbon. It was strange to be in clothing similar to what she had worn during her time as a captain of the Gotei 13, but oddly comforting at the same time. It made a part of her think back to her time spent in the Gotei and begin to think that destroying the Soul Society might not be worth it in the end.

"Are you sure about this, Sayomi?"

Jolting, she blinked at Gin who had made himself comfortable on her couch and when she opened her mouth to reply, she found herself being unable to recall ever feeling anything but hate towards the Soul Society and those who ran it. "Yes, I'm sure, Gin," she answered haughtily, shooting the man an annoyed look.

"But you loved the Soul Society," he pointed out.

She snorted and tossed her head stubbornly to the side. "Loved, Gin. I no longer have the same sentiments."

"Ya sure, 'cause there won't be any going back."

Something in her subconscious was screaming at her to step down and forget her anger, but it was pushed down by unseen hands before she really had time to register her own thoughts. Shaking off the strange sensation she was left with, she glanced at Gin as she walked past him. "I'm aware of that and I'm also aware that I won't want to go back. The ones responsible for the deaths of innocent children and the ones who would rather kill a teenage human girl who is different, than help her, are not people I will regret killing."

"If you say so," he sighed, standing from his perch to follow after her.

There was something in her that wanted to turn around and snap at him, to yell that she was certain and that he had no right to be asking her the questions he was when he was the right hand man to the person who would make the Soul Society crumble, but she quelled that desire and continued to walk through the halls.

When she reached the large double doors that would lead into the grand hall that was Aizen's favorite and the one she had destroyed in a fit of rage after Gin's fake death, she paused, her outstretched hand hovering inches from the door. There had been a disturbance in the spiritual energy, or at least she had thought so and it reminded her of the feeling she would get whenever the binding spell, tenteikuura, was used to communicate with many people at once.

"Sayomi," Gin questioned. "You alright?"

"I'm fine," she replied curtly, pushing the doors open and stepping into the grand hall to see that it had been completely and flawlessly repaired since the last time she had been in it.

Aizen stood atop the high platform at the opposite end of the room, Tousen stood a few yards away to the right, he was lowering his right arm to his side slowly and Sayomi could have sworn she saw the fading black markings that would indicate that he had used tenteikuura. Ignoring her curiosity about why Tousen would have been using tenteikuura, she let her gaze roam over to a distressed Orihime that stood behind the two men, looking as if she were about to collapse.

"There you are Sayomi, Gin, why don't the both of you join us. We were just about to open the garganta," Aizen informed them, turning to look over his shoulder at them.

"Up you go," Gin sang, grabbing her as if she were a sack of potatoes and tapping his ankles against the perfect marble and disappearing.

When he reappeared on the top of the platform and nonchalantly dropped Sayomi to her feet, he was forced to grab her fist that was shooting towards his face and grin at her.

"Now that's not very nice," he said.

"Neither is picking me up like a bag of groceries," she snapped angrily.

"Sorry, lil sis," he replied with a shrug and smirk and quick ruffle to her hair.

She sighed in aggravation and shook her head, turning her back to him to see that Aizen was watching them with an amused look in his eyes and a curiously quirked brow.

"Are you ready, Sayomi, to destroy Karakura Town and Soul Society alongside me," Aizen asked.

Orihime gasped behind her, but she ignored the girl and nodded. "Yes, I'm ready," she replied, stepping forward so that she stood beside him self-assuredly.

"S-Sayomi, you...but...why..."

Glancing over her shoulder at Orihime, Sayomi's cold, unfeeling eyes locked on the young girl's tear filled orbs and without a hint of emotion, she replied, "Why shouldn't I? They've brought this upon themselves with their constant need to destroy things that don't adhere to their standards and to make the lives of those who follow them miserable and meaningless unless you do exactly as you're told."

The young red head's eyes filled with tears as she stared uncomprehendingly at Sayomi, pleading silently for the safety of her home.

"It's time, Sayomi," Aizen said.

Turning away from Orihime, Sayomi walked to Aizen's side. Gin and Tousen stood just a few feet behind them, prepared to walk through the garganta that was opening before them. As the black hole opened to reveal a large portion of blue sky and part of Karakura Town several miles below it, Sayomi couldn't help but to let a small smile form on her lips as several of the Gotei 13 captains and their lieutenants appeared looking grim and reserved as she took the arm that Aizen was holding out to her.

Head captain Yamamoto stood at the head of the group that stood guard above the town, his lieutenant, Choujiro Sasakibe behind him. Spread out around them were the captain and lieutenant of the tenth squad, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto. Second division's captain Soi Fon, and lieutenant whose name Sayomi didn't know. Seventh division's captain Komomura and his lieutenant Tetsuzaimon as well as captains Ukitake and Kyoraku.

When Aizen walked forward and stepped into the opening, Sayomi followed without hesitation into the black void they had to cross before stepping into the sky above Karakura.

Aizen looked over his shoulder as they walked, but didn't pause. "I leave Los Noches to you until we return, Ulquiorra."

Confused, Sayomi glanced behind them to see that a hand was forcing its way through a strange gap in the air. It looked as if someone was stepping through a shattered piece of glass as Ulquiorra appeared from nowhere and nodded in their direction.

"Of course, Aizen-sama."

"Sayomi," a surprised male voice stated, drawing Sayomi's attention back to the ten people in front of her.

"Captain Ukitake, you look well today," she replied, a mocking lilt to her casual tone.

"Have you really joined Aizen, Sayomi?"

"I would think the answer to that is fairly obvious."

"I don't believe you," Ukitake countered with a small smile. "And I don't think you do either."

She jolted and blinked at the white haired captain, her thoughts spinning uncontrollably for a moment until the head captain decided to speak up.

"Enough idle chatter, it seems we made it here just in time."

Beside her, Aizen chuckled darkly. "In time? What makes you think you can say something like that? I'm well aware that this isn't the real Karakura Town, but it's no threat to me. I'll just have to destroy you all here and make the King's Key in Soul Society, either way, I will have what I want. I always get what I want."

With Gin being several feet behind her, she didn't see the frown that momentarily crossed his face nor did she notice the way that Aizen had ever so slightly inclined his head towards her. Several others did notice though, Ukitake and Kyoraku for instance and the two exchanged a brief look that accomplished more in a second than a conversation ever could. Even the head captain's squinty eyes narrowed further almost imperceptibly.

"Stark, Barragan, and Halibel, come here," Aizen commanded after the brief pause. It was obvious in his stance, his eyes and the untouchable arrogance he was exuding that he had no intention of losing, in fact it would be safe to assume that the thought had never even crossed his mind.

The three Espada members that had been summoned, appeared through three different rips in the sky. Stark with his single Fraccion, Lilinette, looking as if he'd just awoken from a nap as he slouched of the garganta, Lilinette following behind him with a sour look on her childish face. The rotund Barragan stepped out of another, four of his own Fraccion accompanying him. The only female Espada, Halibel, tall and intimidating as she and her three female Fraccion stepped into the sky.

"Their soul power is monstrous," the second division's lieutenant mumbled nervously, sweating and fidgeting as he tried to not meet the eyes of any of their enemies.

"Who do you think is the strongest amongst those Espada, Ukitake," Kyoraku inquired of his long time friend and fellow captain.

"I suppose we would have to ask Aizen that, though I don't think he'd answer us," Ukitake answered, rubbing thoughtfully at his chin.

"And how do we know that Aizen won't get involved in the fighting once it's started," the short, but serious looking captain Hitsugaya asked grumpily.

"Everyone, stand back," Yamamoto declared roughly. Removing one hand from the top of his knobby staff, the wood melted away to reveal an old, but beautiful katana. "Destroy all creation, Ryujin Jakka."

There was a fiery explosion of reiatsu as the head captain's zanpakuto materialized in his hand. It cleared to show the old man pulling a gleaming blade from it's sheath, bright flames licking at the blade as it went. Sayomi's eyes widened and she unconsciously gripped tighter to Aizen's arm in response to the heaviness of the reiatsu that assaulted everyone there.

"Sayomi, my dear, now would be a good time for you to go back inside and keep Wonderweiss company as we discussed earlier," Aizen told her, placing a hand atop hers and smiling knowingly down at her.

She nodded and turned to flash step away just as a wall of crackling, red hot flames shot towards the three men she was leaving. She winced as she reached the opening of the garganta that had opened for her behind them, feeling the intense heat that was swallowing her brother, Aizen and Tousen nipping at her heels as she retreated.

Stepping through the garganta, she frowned, while in Los Noches she was still unable to sense or use her own reiatsu and it angered her to no end. Her anger was soon forgotten when she was tackled by the young blond boy she had come to watch over until they were needed and she fell to the cold marble floor with a squeak of surprise as the air was knocked from her lungs.

Hearing the strange sounds that Wonderweiss made in place of speaking, Sayomi sighed and looked up at the happy boy, ruffling his hair with a sigh as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. It wasn't until she sat up that she realized the shadows in the room were much too long and the lighting was almost nonexistent. Her cool blue eyes widened and she gasped in shock as she set eyes upon the thing that was blocking out the light and making the shadows appear so hungry.

It was a gigantic, gluttonous creature that towered so high above her she felt disoriented by the fact that it was impossible to fit the entire thing into her field of vision. One large eye was peering at her and it made the hair on her arms and neck stand on end and a fear fill her gut that she couldn't understand. Beads of sweat appeared on her brow and she swallowed as she tried to push herself further away from the immense creature.

Sensing Sayomi's distress, Wonderweiss made a series of noises that seemed incomprehensible to her, but that made the creature retreat into the darkness of the hall they were in. He then turned back to Sayomi and grinned a toothy, innocent grin at her, giggling childishly as he once again flung himself at her and wrapped his arms around her neck.

It was odd, she knew that Wonderweiss was trying to reassure her in his own way that everything was alright and that he wouldn't let anything harm her. Confused, but grateful for the fact the fear she had felt was now gone, Sayomi patted Wonderweiss' back before tickling his sides and filling the dark room with uncontrollable giggles that helped to make the darkness less imposing.

Sayomi paused in her tickling of the young blond that was happily rolling around on the ground, trying to get away from her probing hands. He made a confused grunting noise when she blankly looked towards the wall that faced East, her hands hovering in the air and her head cocking to the side as her eyes narrowed in thought.

"I-Ichigo...but that's not possible, he's-"

She didn't have time to further contemplate the reiatsu she felt when she felt a slight pull and noticed that Wonderweiss was tugging at her sleeve and gesturing behind her where a rip was beginning to form.

"So it's time, is it," she said. "For everything to end."

Dundundun. Only a few more chapters and this story will be all over. It should be interesting, after all I have yet to fully decide who Sayomi should end up with in the end, Byakuya or Kensei. I'm even thinking of writing an alternate ending and posting it seperately, but I'm not sure yet.

Well thank you to everyone who has reviewed, alerted and faved, please keep them coming since I live off reviews and such. Plus, they're very greatly appreciated.

Please review!