Author's Note: Hey, guys! I haven't been good to you guys lately and I'm sorry for that! Back at it again with the Isekai-ed nonsense as promised! Shigeru is going crazy in Los Noches with nothing to do and unanswered questions as to why she's there. Let's see if she gets some of them answered, and what Espada will she offer friendship to next? Enjoy!
Chapter 17: Meeting with the Higher Ups
Shigeru was bored out of her mind. Every cell in her body was just screaming for something to do.
From what she could tell it had been shy of two weeks since she and Orihime were abducted to Hueco Mundo, but she hadn't done much of anything while stuck in the uselessly white fortress. Now she was starting to feel both anxious and confused as to why Aizen even bothered to have her abducted in the first place...well, other than to get the Soul Society all angsty.
She snickered to herself as she marked the wall above her bed with another tally mark indicating the number of days that have passed (or she thought had passed. It was hard to tell with the eternal night and all), thinking about the captains of the Gotei panicking over if she'd turned against them.
"You know...only the Head Captain might believe you would ditch the Soul Society," the were-tiger laughed.
Shigeru blew a piece of her wayward curls out of her face before sheathing the tiger's blade.
She smirked herself, "I wouldn't put it past him. I get the feeling that Grandpa Yama does not like me much…"
Shigeru rolled over to lay on her stomach in the soft bed, hugging one of the pillows close to her chest.
"He doesn't like anyone from what I can tell," the were-tiger laughed, before the dragon-woman smacked him.
The dragon-woman sighed tiredly, "You two are being too loud. The Head Captain and the rest of the Gotei 13 will be invading Hueco Mundo soon, and I'm sure Kisuke Urahara is getting everything in order for the Kararkura. All we can do is patiently wait."
"But do we really…," Shigeru and were-tiger questioned in unison not caring for the whole idea of patiently waiting.
She could practically hear the other zanpakuto spirit rolling her eyes from dealing with her master and counterpart. They were being huge headaches since the moment they were all reunited, especially a particularly peeved electric-tiger spirit, who was being the overprotective parent Shigeru never had after finding out the special interest a certain cotton candy haired Espada had in their master.
Shigeru looked up as she heard a knock on the door. Grimmjow entered the room with his usual scowl on his face.
"How goes it, Blueberry," she smirked, waving at the arrancar.
After getting headbutted and consequently knocked out by the brown shinigami, Grimmjow made sure to announce himself before coming in. Shigeru could still feel the aching in her muscles from when they "talked" (more like wrestling) after said incident. Grimmjow said nothing as he made his way over to the bed. He was radiating pure annoyance rather than his usual hostile, feral energy.
He flopped down face first on the bed next to her.
Shigeru poked him in the side, "You dead?"
The blue haired grumbled before pulling the girl close to him, burying his face into her back. The Sexta took a deep breath, taking in her scent.
Shigeru on the other hand rolled her eyes, but didn't push the man away. She'd quickly gotten used to the arrancar's sudden touchy-feely nature deciding to just think of it as merely skinship. Even if she were to complain or slap the man's hands away he would just pull her even closer or run his fingers along her visible scars, smirking the whole time.
"Get used to it. I ain't stopping any time soon. Plus, you know you like it," he'd grin with an intense look in his blue eyes that made her shiver involuntarily.
It was somewhat annoying, but not uncomfortable. Sometimes she found herself thinking it was kind of cute. He was just an overgrown cat after all. Besides, he was surprisingly never inappropriate...when he was conscious anyway. A few days ago while he was sleeping in her room he definitely grabbed a handful of boob, so his face caught a whole lot of elbow as a result. She shifted when his mask fragment started to dig into her back.
"Aizen has been pulling the Espada into a lot of meetings lately. However, outside of basic info of Ichigo, the Gotei 13, and his plan for the Karakura, I have no clue what they've been possibly talking about in there," Shigeru sighed as she scratched her head.
Last time she tried to spy in on them Kaname appeared out of nowhere (scaring the living shit out of her) and brought her back to her room. She decided to not attempt it again, unless she miraculously found an air duct or something like that.
She glanced over her shoulder to look down at her pseudo-mate or lover or whatever he thought they were. She was still thoroughly confused as to why Grimmjow wanted to claim her as his wannabe mate. The two of them had been bonding during her time in the Land of the Hollows, but that was to be expected since she spent most of her time with him. Grimmjow would drag her to daily sparring matches that always ended with a leveled room, Shigeru would make it her mission to talk his ear off or try to get under his skin. In return he would go out of his way to embarrass her, knowing his touches made her get shy (even though she refused to admit to said shyness). She couldn't deny that she didn't hate his company, she actually liked it a lot.
But for the life of her, Shigeru honestly didn't think she had the emotional capacity for the type of intimacy that he wanted from her, especially not with one of her enemies, especially not with one of the enemies with a hate boner for her adoptive little brother. Not to mention he was an entirely different species….but a very hot member of a different species.
She shook her head focusing back to the mystery of the frequent meetings that took hours.
"Maybe he'll let me in on what's going on in those meetings if I ask," she thought hopefully, tapping her finger on the bed.
She fixed her mouth to ask, but then stopped herself. Knowing the ruler of Hueco Mundo, he was without a doubt keeping tabs on them. It would be in her best interest to tread lightly this time around. She'd figure out the mystery on her own, especially since it'll give her something to do.
"Detective Shigeru Kuroi is on the case of the Espada Meetings," she quietly laughed to herself, "But first things first…"
"Get the fuck up, Grimmjow, you lazy bastard. I'm bored, and I wanna see Orihime," she declared, wiggling from the Espada's grasp.
She was instead rewarded with the sounds of his soft snoring. The none stop meetings and sparring must have been draining him, or he was just being plain lazy.
Laziness before the storm as they say.
Shigeru resisted the urge to slap the man or face palming herself.
"I guess I can't get angry at you for being tired," the substitute shinigami grumbled, slightly disappointed.
She slipped out of Grimmjow's arms before flinging the blanket over him. She grabbed her zanpakuto before slipping out of the room.
There was no one in the hallways of Los Noches, as usual. You would think with her and Orihime basically being political hostages they would at least increase the number of arrancars walking around as a means of security especially considering Shigeru's unpredictable nature and whims. Even Orihime isn't really being as complacent as they imagined, working up a fuss to be able to spend time with her spunky friend. Shigeru was actually proud of the sweet girl, but she knew Orihime was nothing to sneeze at. She was a powerhouse in her own rights.
She entwined her fingers behind her head as she cruised the halls. It took a while to walk to Orihime's room since Shigeru was in no rush. She just wanted to use this opportunity as a chance to stretch her legs and think.
"Maybe I'll stop by to see Stark and Lilynette later too. She wanted to play cards with me next time she saw me or maybe I'll stop by Harribel and the girls," she thought happily as she hopped along.
She'd been spending a lot of time with the Primera and his other half. She also recently got acquainted with the only female Espada and her allies. They were fun. Nothing like she imagined, but other than that Shigeru hadn't really encountered any of the other Espada or their fracciones. Not that she was complaining. Actually she was grateful for it, because she didn't want to be a test subject for a certain bubblegum scientist or have an unpleasant encounter with one eye-patched asshole or deal with a condescending king without his throne. Yeah, she was happy with the few connections she'd made so fair. They were more than enough.
She stopped in front of Orihime's door and knocked obnoxiously.
"Orihime~ I've come to play," she chirped as she entered the room.
Orihime perked up as Shigeru wasted no time hopping over to the couch, plopping her head down on the other girls lap.
Orihime giggled, "Hello, Shigeru! How have you been today?"
"Bored out of my mind," she groaned as her friend started braiding her hair.
Shigeru glanced up at her friend's face. She seemed a little melancholy, but was covering up with her usually cheeriness.
"You feeling okay, Hime," she asked, her brows pinching together as she placed her hand on the girl's cheek.
Orihime leaned into Shigeru's touch giving her a convincing smile, "I'm fine! Seriously, it's just been a long day!"
"Hime…."
"I'm...anxious. We've been here for weeks now, and there's been no word from the Seireitei. And Aizen...I'm not sure what he wants to do with us. Why are we even here," Orihime admitted as she continued to braid Shigeru's hair.
Shigeru stared at the plain ceiling above them, crossing her arms, "As bait really…"
"Orihime, you shouldn't worry too much. I'm sure Ichigo and the others are finding a way to get here as we speak. I'm sure he has a certain pretty girl with long, orange, beautiful hair in mind," she smirked at the girl.
Orihime's face blossomed into bright red.
"Shigeru! I-I-Ichigo wouldn't ― I'm not―!"
"You're just too cute," Shigeru laughed so hard she had to clutch her aching sides.
She rolled off of the couch dropping to the floor below, still laughing, as Orihime fanned her blazing face.
Shigeru gasped for air, "Aw, you two are just so cute! I wish you'd just get together already!"
"Shigeru, stop it! I-I'm just not ready to tell Ichigo my feelings! No need to rush," Orihime stammered frantically, eyes spinning from embarrassment.
Shigeru got on her knees, gasping between laughs. She patted Orihime on the knee, "Okay, okay, I'll stop teasing, but seriously Ichigo really cares about you! No doubt he made a huge fuss about getting you back. Our friends won't just let us rot in this sandy prison."
Orihime fiddled with her pants thinking over what the other girl had said, but noticed something odd in her speech.
"You know…"
Shigeru perked up.
"Ichigo cares a lot about you as well, Shigeru," Orihime smiled gently at her hyperactive friend.
Shigeru scratched her head and shrugged dismissively, "Yeah, I know."
"It's just that it seems like you think he's only concern is to save me and not the both of us," Orihime explained, patting her on the head.
Shigeru scoffed, rolling her eyes as she grinned, "Oh, we all know I can handle myself. Scratch that actually! We both can! We don't need a knight in black armor to save us. Maybe we should just break ourselves out, ya know!"
She playfully punched Orihime in the shoulder. They both burst into laughter. As the two were busy laughing, they didn't notice the door open. Ulquiorra walked into the room but stopped once he heard the laughter from the girls.
He placed his hands in the pockets of his white hakama, "What is this?"
The two stopped laughing and glanced up to the pale man. Shigeru waved awkwardly.
"Hi, Ulquiorra…"
Shigeru finally got off the floor, returning to her seat next to her friend. Ulquiorra continued to watch the girls, waiting for an answer to his previous question. Shigeru quickly learned that in person Ulquiorra wasn't utterly nihilist. He just didn't understand the concept of emotions, or as he says just "doesn't believe in them."
"Ulquiorra, you're kind of, how do I put this, odd. And that's coming from me," Shigeru chuckled aloud absently while patting Orihime on the head affectionately.
The emerald-eyed Espada tilted his head to the side as he stared blankly at the chirpy girls. He didn't understand the loving way that Shigeru treated Orihime. They both should have been more fearful of him. Orihime was fearful of him at first, but after the day that Shigeru barged into the room demanding to spend time with Orihime the orange-haired girl was less on edge.
"I do not understand. How am I odd," he asked walking closer to the girls.
Orihime still wasn't completely comfortable with Ulquiorra being in close proximity to her, he still slightly intimidates her. Shigeru took notice of that and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. She grinned up to the imposing arrancar before patting the empty spot next to her on the sofa.
"Sit, sit, and I'll explain my emerald eyed companion," the shinigami all but ordered the Espada.
When he didn't make a move to sit, Shigeru grabbed the Espada by the wrist and dragged him down to the couch. His facial expression was as stagnant as ever, but Shigeru could tell that the man did not like being manhandled. She grinned, deciding to lightly push more buttons.
"How does this make you feel," Shigeru asked, gesturing to the hand on his wrist as she dangled it between them.
Orihime looked off to the side nervously, "Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that Shigeru is about to do what she does best?"
Ulquiorra stared at the brown shinigami and replied, "Why would I feel anything from this?"
"You don't feel, like, annoyed by me touching you? Pulling you around," the girl listed off, still swinging his arm back and forth.
The hollow pulled his arm away from her, "That's nonsense."
Orihime sweat-dropped in confusion, "What is she trying to prove?"
"Mmm, we're going to have to work on you expressing yourself," Shigeru hummed to herself as she took notes on her imaginary notepad seemingly deep in thought.
"I'm speaking to you, aren't I? Is that not expressing myself," he questioned, seemingly taking an interest in the conversation.
Shigeru chuckled, "Not exactly, but you showing some curiosity is a good start."
Ulquiorra tilted his head to the side. Shigeru brought a hand up to cover a smile, enjoying the arrancar's confusion. Orihime coughed, grabbing both of their attention.
"Why don't we play a game," she suggested, trying to stop Shigeru from doing whatever it is that she was doing to the Espada.
Ulquiorra stood up smoothly pocketing his hands.
"I am not here for your entertainment, girl. I will be leaving," he announced with no particular emotion as he headed for the door.
"Awwww, come on! Relax for a moment! You're so rigid," Shigeru whined, tailing him.
He ignored her.
Shigeru pouted, but was suddenly struck with an idea. She flashed in front of him beaming.
"Chess! You seem like a chess kind of guy!"
Ulquiorra paused and thought for a moment, "...."
The Espada wasn't usually one for games, but he wasn't above a game of chess. His dull emerald eyes clashed with twinkling brown. Such expecting eyes.
Ulquiorra slowly nodded his head.
Shigeru fist pumped as she hopped back to Orihime, who just looked on in disbelief.
"How does she do this? Every time she somehow ropes people into doing things," Orihime shook her head, "I'll get the chess set."
"I'll help! And by the way...," Shigeru grinned at Ulquiorra.
"I really suck at chess!"
The two played for a couple of hours. Shigeru kept getting frustrated, demanding to play "just one more game!" after each loss. Orihime chuckled to herself when she noticed Ulquiorra going easy on her due to her growing frustration. Ulquiorra started to purposely leave some openings, but true to her word Shigeru really sucked at chess. Orihime could tell that the arrancar was enjoying himself, even if he didn't realize it himself.
Shigeru frowned at the board, but her eyes lit up suddenly. She slammed her piece on the board.
"Oh! Oh my Soul King! Checkmate," she cheered happily, "Final-fucking-ly!"
Orihime patted Shigeru on the head, "Good job, Shigeru!"
"Yeah, next time I vote we play checkers. I'm not cut out for chess, but it was fun," the girl chuckled.
Orihime laughed, "I never knew you were such a sore loser!"
Shigeru's cheek warmed up from slight embarrassment. She scratched her chin, "Yeah, I blame my si―"
Shigeru stopped herself as something donned on her. The reason she was so adamant of continuing the ever losing game. It reminded her of home. Her sister would never let her win games when they were children, but she never hated her for it, it made her competitive, it made her think, it was always fun.
She smiled to herself, but noticed the two giving her strange looks. Orihime looked so worried and confused while Ulquiorra had the same blank look, but with a curious energy. Shigeru awkwardly pulled her hair up into a bun.
She quickly laughed off the awkward mood, "A friend. She was like a sister to me. She never let me win games."
"I see," Orihime smiled, however she knew there was more to it than that, but she wasn't going to probe Shigeru for answers.
Ulquiorra calmly arose from his seat, heading for the door. He was done with the humans for now as his primary objective was to merely check in on the woman under his care. Shigeru hopped up from her seat to follow after the pale skinned arrancar, grabbing his shoulder. Ulquiorra stopped his smooth strides giving the girl a side ward glance.
Shigeru beamed as bright as ever, "Let's play again some time even though I know you can wipe the floor with me and I'm kinda trash…"
The Espada turned to face her, his lifeless eyes staring into her bright eyes brimming with so much energy. He removed a hand from his pocket and pointed to Shigeru. She blinked curiously but inwardly panicked.
"Oh shit, is he going to Cero me in the face," she shivered comically, taking a half step back.
Ulquiorra took a step forward, his finger mere centimeters from her nose.
"You...are not trash. Trash is trash, but you are not," he stated a matter-of-factly.
Shigeru blinked as she took into what he was saying. She couldn't stop herself from grinning to herself a little.
"I'm not complete trash in his eyes. Aw, he sees me as an actual challenge. Well at least he hasn't marked me as one of his prey…," the girl laughed inwardly as she folded her hands behind her head turning away from the man.
As she was thinking about how not cool it would be to be impaled in the chest by the Cuatro Espada, he noticed the bite mark on the back of her neck. He had very little interest in what the other Espada and arrancar in Hueco Mundo do in their spare time as long as it doesn't interfere with Aizen's plans, but he could neither comprehend why Grimmjow did what he did to the human girl nor would he try. He reached out to touch the scarred skin. Shigeru jumped at the sudden touch.
"What?!"
She quickly slapped a hand over the nape of her neck while simultaneously slapping his hand away. Shigeru frowned as she peered at the paler man behind her while he stared down at his hand before glancing back to the girl's pouty face.
"Don't do that! What with you guys and my damn neck? At least ask if you want to see it," she sighed to the other.
One of his thick eyebrows twitched. He thinks for a moment before gesturing to her and her neck, asking silently. Shigeru rolled her eyes and sighed.
"I honestly don't get the sudden interest, but whatever…"
Shigeru moved closer to the Espada before turning her back to him, giving him a perfect view of her bite mark. Ulquiorra leaned in to analyze the wound.
The door burst open revealing the last person Shigeru would want to see her in such a compromising position.
Grimmjow stayed motionless as his eyes flickered about.
Shigeru. Neck on full display. Vulnerable.
Ulquiorra. Fingers brushing his claim. Too close, too disrespectful.
A cold chill went down Shigeru's spine when she sensed the change in the atmosphere. The look in his eyes. She didn't know how to explain it, but it was something to be feared.
It was unnerving.
"Uh―this is―what I mean to say―," Shigeru babbled nervously as Ulquiorra slowly lowered his hand.
One sharp look form the Espada and she immediately stopped her attempt to placate the situation. Grimmjow strides forward, making short work of the distance between them with his long legs. He said nothing as he stared down the shorter Espada, his lips pulled back in a snarl.
As clearly and calmly as he could manage he said, "Don't you ever touch her again, or I will kill you."
Shigeru and Orihime could practically feel the venom from his worlds singe their skin while Ulquiorra looked on unimpressed.
"Grimmjow, it really wasn't that― ," the substitute shinigami was cut off when the imposing hollow tightly grabbed her by the arm.
He dragged her along, "Let's go."
Orihime took a step forward in an attempt to help, but Shigeru shot her a cautious look, stopping her.
"It's okay. I'll be fine," Shigeru mouthed before giving her a small smile as she was dragged away, leaving the other human girl and Cuartro Espada alone.
As Grimmjow stomped through the halls with Shigeru struggling to get out his grip all he could feel was homicidal rage aimed at Ulquiorra for daring to touch what was his, and also Shigeru who let her guard down enough to allow the punk to even get that close.
"Let go…"
He just continued to move forward not even hearing the winded girl. She flinched as his already tight grip started to make her bones creak.
"I said Let. Me. Go," Shigeru yelled as she snatched her arm away from the bruising grip of the hand cutting off her circulation.
She stumbled back cradling her arm to her chest, a hand shaped bruise already forming.
"What...the hell is your problem," she all but hissed as she kept her distance from the man about to meet her wrath depending on his answer to her question.
Grimmjow snarled as he punched the wall in the hall. As it crumbled Shigeru tried to calm her beating heart, her glare unwavering. She couldn't tell if it was from anger or from the urge to run far from the temperamental arrancar in front of her. Not because of fear of him, but from fear of what her zanpakuto spirits might do to him. She could already feel her electric reiatsu tingling under her skin, wanting to be released. She could hear the dual zanpakuto trying to take control of her, but Shigeru was suppressing them. They needed to calm down. She needed to calm down.
Grimmjow closed in on her, "Why?!"
He slammed his hands against the wall on either side of her head. Shigeru didn't even flinch as she looked up into wild cyan eyes.
"Why don't you understand that I don't want to share you? First, Stark and now Ulquiorra! I don't like them showing interest in what's mine," he growled down at her.
Shigeru's eyes widened, taken aback, "Jealous. He's jealous and doesn't even know how to deal with the feeling, but…"
As calmly as possible she voiced her opinion, "Listen… you need to calm down―"
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down," he growled as he lower his face inches from hers.
The curls in her face were brushed aside by his warm breath. She didn't so much as flinch.
Shigeru could only sigh, utterly exasperated, "These hollow's and their emotional constipation…"
"No one is trying to take me from you, or whatever it is that you're so antsy about so relax―"
Grimmjow harshly grabbed Shigeru by her shoulders, his eyes darkening, crazed, "Those bastards don't know their place! They know I've claimed you―"
"Well, I haven't claimed you!"
Grimmjow snapped out of his crazed jealous haze as she glared up at him. Shigeru just couldn't take anymore of this "claiming" talk. She just couldn't.
"I'm not going to claim you! I'm tired of this shit! Now…," her eyes glowed blue, electric reiatsu sparking from them, the smell of ozone wafting the hall.
Grimmjow's eyes widened as Shigeru's curly hair started to flutter from the static in the air, her pupils slitting.
"LET ME GO!"
She didn't know how many volts of electricity she released from her body, she didn't know how much would actually harm an Espada with their thick heirro, all she did know was that she was too frustrated to care. Grimmjow stood there too stunned from the electrical shocks to move. Shigeru lifted her foot, kicking him in the stomach sending him flying into the opposite wall. She peered at his smoking form.
His hands were especially singed. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the scent of burning flesh. His body was still trembling from the shock. Grimmjow looked at the shinigami and opened his mouth to say something, but Shigeru had already shunpo-ed away leaving him in a crumpled heap on the ground.
Harribel's Domain
"...And that's why I'm here," Shigeru grumbled as she hugged a cushion to her chest while she sat amongst the woman.
Apache sucked her teeth, "What an asshole…"
Shigeru quickly came to the domain of the only female Espada in the hopes of thinking and relaxing. She didn't want to go back to Orihime's room, because she didn't want her friend to worry about the darkening bruise on her arm. She didn't want to see that worried and saddened expression on her sweet friends face.
"I have a question…," she announced to the women, who in turn gazed at her curiously.
"What is up with all this claiming stuff? I don't really get it, or why Grimmjow acts like such a psychopath whenever anything related to the subject comes up," Shigeru mused as she chewed on her thumbnail absently.
Horrible habit that she thought she'd kicked.
Mila-Rose flopped closer to Shigeru shrugging her broad shoulders, "Well, for starters Grimmjow has always been a destructive psycho, so you don't have to take credit for that."
Shigeru couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped her mouth.
"Yeah, he's got a few screws loose up there, but this, the claiming I mean, isn't rare. It's just a little uncommon, and he's one of the last people I'd think of that would act on instinct," Apache voiced offhandedly from her spot across the room.
Shigeru leaned back in her seat sighing rather obnoxiously, "What does that even mean?"
It was Sung-Sun's turn to offer an explanation, "Hollows are usually solitary beings here in Hueco Mundo. It's true that we sometimes travel in small packs, but they are always small unless the leader of the pack is truly one with worthwhile strength. Then we follow in mass. There have been cases where a hollow feels this pull, if you will, to another. We don't really know what to call it. Fate. Coincidence. We do know that it results in the two hollows becoming paired, mated."
Shigeru took in the information, drumming her fingers on the cushion in her hands. She wouldn't deny that she would occasionally feel a tugging within her when she was with Grimmjow. It was similar to the pull she'd feel when Hiryu Raitora would call to her while they were separated. It just wasn't as powerful, but the sensation was there.
"So why is it so uncommon," she asked the snake arrancar.
Mila-Rose huffed, "Because we choose to ignore it. If we act as if we never felt it, like it never happened to begin with."
Shigeru perked up at the bit of information, leaning forward as her brows pinched together.
"Why…"
A clear voice cut through from the other side of the room, "Weakness."
The group turned their attention to Harribel, who was lounging about. Her arms crossed under her large bust, legs crossed, and teal eyes closed. Shigeru flashed to her side, occupying the space beside her.
The woman continued, "Our home, The Land of the Hollows, is ruled by one doctrine. Survival of the fittest. Only the strong survive, no room for weakness. A companion of that nature, a mate, is nothing more than a compromise. It can make you weak. Weakness leads to death."
"But...one can argue that such a bond can make you stronger…," Shigeru thought to herself as she deflated a little.
The blonde opened her eyes to meet Shigeru's brown acknowledging ones, "Though human-like in appearance, human we are not. Those urges may be instinctive but they are not necessarily useful to us. Those human emotions are mostly unknown to us...or perhaps they are merely forgotten"
The Espada trailed off toward the end almost as if she herself was trying to get a grasp on the emotions that a mate ignited in their kind before continuing.
"We have a choice. The choices are simple. Do we wish to entrust ourselves to another knowing that they can be used against us, knowing they will always be used as our weakness, knowing that after filling this inherent emptiness within us with their presence that once they are taken that emptiness will come back tenfold? Would you be willing to risk that as a being focused driven to stand at the very top, no matter the cost? Do you understand?"
Shigeru drank in all the information that was just dumped on her. The pieces to this emotional, erratic, jigsaw puzzle were slowly coming together. She now understood that it was more than just unwarranted jealousy that was driving Grimmjow's unusual behavior. It was a need to protect her from potential threats, who wouldn't hesitate to kill her just to spite him. He reacted more aggressively to Ulquiorra compared to Stark because Grimmjow knew Ulquiorra to be a difficult and deadly threat. Stark and Grimmjow were on more friendly (if you want to call it that) terms. All the other males were enemies to kill if they dared to even think about touching the woman he'd chosen to claim. However, something Harribel said lingered in her thoughts.
"Those human emotions are mostly unknown to us...or perhaps they are merely forgotten…"
When Shigeru thought about the hollows, particularly the Espada, in the Bleach-verse she always had her own interpretation of their motives. She always thought that some of them wanted something that would make them seem more than just monsters. Something opposite to their Aspect of Death that they were supposed to represent. For Stark and Lilynette it's companionship, for Ulquiorra emotions, and for Harribel... maybe she wanted salvation. Maybe most of them don't even realize that they secretly desired these things to feel whole.
If she thought about Grimmjow's Aspect of Death it was Destruction… so there was the possibility that he wanted to create. To create a bond that wasn't out of blind admiration or servitude like with his fracciones. That could be the reason why he was so hung up on Shigeru being his mate. It could just be curiosity, or he wholeheartedly believed that he was strong. The one true King powerful enough to always protect the one he deemed worthy enough to be his Queen and slaughter those foolish enough to bring her harm...
Shigeru understood though she had more questions, but the women around her weren't ones that could answer them. Only a certain hot head could.
"The fact remains that it's my choice. It has to be mutual or it doesn't work..," she thought to herself.
"Harribel…"
The seemingly stoic but gentle arrancar shifted her cool gaze to the shorter girl.
"Mmm?"
Shigeru hugged the woman around her waist, burying her face into the exposed part of her chest. The three trusty subordinates couldn't stop their jaws from dropping at the audacity of the human before them.
"You're a fucking goddess! Please take me away from the dumbass men in this place," the brown shinigami whined with crocodile tears in her eyes, lifting the serious atmosphere.
Let's just say the blonde was stunned into confusion as her teal eyes widened. Harribel wasn't exactly sure on how to react, so she awkwardly patted the smaller girl on the back, until her companions tackled the girl from her person.
"How dare you!"
"So unladylike!"
"No one touches Lady Harribel like that! You cheeky human!"
Shigeru tried not to laugh as the woman tried to throttle her, pulling at her slightly chubby cheeks, and poking or elbowing her in her sides.
"I gotta bring Hime with me next time I come here! These guys are great," she laughed.
After some much needed girl talk and relaxation she returned to her room. She stopped in front of her door. Grimmjow's reiatsu was right in the room. He was waiting for her. For how long, she could care less because she was a little upset with him.
"But…," she took a deep breath, "That argument earlier was kind of stupid. On both our parts."
She looked off to the side feeling slightly nervous. She felt embarrassed for losing her temper, but she was in no mood for another pointless fight. They were running in circles. Grimmjow was convinced that they were connected. He may be right… However, the way he thought he had free reign to claim her with his extreme possessiveness was off putting. He barely knew her. Shigeru was attracted to the Espada and living most fan-girls greatest fantasy, but still just didn't know how to feel. After the explanation from the female arrancars she'd come to an understanding, but a couple of facts remained.
She didn't trust her feelings.
She didn't want to get hurt.
Shigeru sighed, "Here goes nothing…"
She straightened her back and lifted her chin as she entered the room confidently. It was dark, only the moonlight from the caged window flooding into the room. She quietly closed the door behind her.
Grimmjow sat on the edge of the bed, his piercing blue eyes almost seemed to glow as they stared her down completely unreadable.
"...Well now I just feel like a teenager being caught by their mom after sneaking out the house after curfew. This is just too awkward," Shigeru thought dryly as she slowly stepped forward.
"Hey…"
He remained silent not taking his eyes off her.
"The silent treatment is very childish of you. It's more my thing, you know," she tried to give her signature grin, but dropped it once it was clear that she wasn't charming her way out of this.
She stopped in front of him, a frown taking up her features as she placed a hand on her bruise. After what seemed like forever, she finally spoke again.
"You could at least apologize…," she whispered softly, suddenly finding her boots to be the most fascinating thing in the world, especially how they blended in with the unyielding darkness of the room.
Shigeru flinched unconsciously when she felt calloused fingers brush against her arm. She lifted her chin up, peeking through her curtain of curls as Grimmjow examined her arm, gently pulling it into the natural moonlight pooling in to get a better look at the damage he'd done. Shigeru raised a questioning brow.
He frowned to himself as he finished examining the bruise shaped like his hand. The next thing he did was completely unexpected.
Grimmjow gently kissed the already healing bruise.
Shigeru's eyes widened a fraction as her lips curled up into a small grin.
"I suppose that's as close to an apology that I'm going to get," she lightly chuckled.
Grimmjow suddenly yanked her into the bed. She landed with an oomph!
"Way to ruin a moment! And to think I thought you could be a little sweet," she grumbled at the man glaring half-heartedly.
Grimmjow snorted, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest, "Would you just go to sleep already?"
"Hmph… What if I'm not tired," Shigeru laughed, enjoying his warmth.
The Next Day
The morning had been uneventful, but the two were back to their more playful side of their relationship, bantering throughout the time the afternoon rolled around a lower level arrancar entered the room bowing to both Grimmjow and Shigeru. The shinigami raised an amused brow as she let go of her uncooperative hair she was in the middle of braiding.
She smirked as she let her hair fall from the loose braids, "Well that's new. Not that I'm complaining."
"Lord Aizen requests for your presence Miss Shigeru," they announced to the two from his crouched position.
Shigeru frowned, rolling her eyes, "Ugh…"
Grimmjow rose from his spot on the couch stretching his lazy bones. His companion cringed at the pops and cracks that his body produced.
"Well, let's get this over with―," the panther started.
The arrancar cut him off, "Only Miss Shigeru, as per Lord Aizen's orders, and he asks that you leave your zanpakuto behind."
The couple froze at the request. Shigeru and Grimmjow glanced at each other then back to the arrancar. Shigeru sighed before hopping off the couch heading over to the arrancar.
She motioned to the door, "Lead the way…"
"Very well, Miss Shigeru," they bowed again before returning to their full height, turning for the door.
Before Shigeru could follow she felt a tug on her arm. She turned around to see Grimmjow's slightly anxious face.
"What's this? Still being clingy?"
"Be... just be careful," he said sternly, tugging her close.
Shigeru smirked, punching him playfully in the chest, "Aren't I always?"
"No," Grimmjow said bluntly, dropping her wrist.
She pouted, punching him harder than before, "Oh, shut up!"
Shigeru turned back to the door, stepping forward.
"I'll be fine. I always am," she declared triumphantly, giving him her signature toothy grin.
The woman left the room, closing the door behind as her grin slowly dropped because despite her bravado Aizen was someone she didn't want to be in the same room with if she could help it. What if this was all a ploy to get her under Kyoka Suigetsu's influence?
Shigeru hated to admit it, but she was extremely nervous.
She stayed a distance from the arrancar leading her to her doom. She was deep in thought as she tried to come up with possible hypothetical scenarios of how the meeting will go, and how she could get away if need be. She frowned as her back scar suddenly felt tight from all the worrying, and the memory of what happened the first time she confronted the former captain.
She was so focused on her own thoughts that she didn't notice the appearance of another in the hall. She collided into a firm chest.
"Ow! My nose," she whined, before looking up at the person she'd rammed into.
Shigeru frowned deeply, her blood pressure rising as she glared at the perpetrator.
"Why is it always you," she yelled, rubbing her abused nose.
Gin Ichimaru's signature grin widened a fraction as he glanced down at the feisty shinigami.
"My, my, if it isn't the funny little substitute shinigami we're all so enamored with," the snake-like man practically purred.
Shigeru growled, "What's with you? Do you have a personal vendetta against my face or something?"
Gin shrugged as his grin widened, "Not particularly. It's quite the adorable little thing."
Goosebumps erupted on her arm before she comically rubbed them away, "Oh Soul King. Don't ever say that about me again. It just sounds wrong coming from you."
She walked past him continuing in the arrancar's footsteps. Gin decided to fall into step with her.
Shigeru could feel her mental clock ticking and finally cracked, "Gin, what do you have to say to me?"
"That...remains to be seen, Shigeru-chan," he grinned as his robes rustled as he folded his arms.
She gave the man a side ward glance. Shigeru couldn't get a reading on Gin Ichimaru. Luckily for her she already knew his true motives due to her otherworldly circumstances, but now she could see how no one in this world knew what side he was really on.
They traveled in silence until the arrancar stopped in front of a giant set of doors. They bowed to the two shinigami.
"Lord Aizen wishes for you to wait for him inside. He will be with you momentarily," the arrancar relayed before opening the door for her.
Shigeru glanced into the room before glancing at Gin. His grin widened the slightest as he noticed her piercing gaze.
"Hmm?"
She looked him dead in his slitted eyes, "She misses you, you know."
His grin slowly fell from his face.
Shigeru entered the room, the door closing behind her. It looked very familiar. The room itself was massive with pristine blue tiled floor. There was a podium, at least the equivalent of one. Then it clicked, she knew what room she was in.
"That's...the hogyoku should be in there," she mused to herself as she stepped closer to the podium.
Once she was directly in front of it the podium swiveling opened up to reveal the all powerful orb all on its own. Shigeru's eyes widened with wonder as she watched the colors dance within the orb. It was so mesmerizing. Tantalizing. She just had to touch it, to hear what it had to offer her.
Shigeru's eyes glazed over as she slowly reached for the orb entering a trance as her pupils slowly expanded, making her playful brown eyes turn black.
"All this trouble for such a little gem…"
Her fingertips were so close to brushing the gem. The hogyoku reached out to Shigeru's finger, slivers of its form wiggling forth as it blackened. Suddenly a larger hand appeared under her outstretched hand, slowly entwining fingers with her own to stop her from touching the orb.
"Shigeru Kuroi. I'd greatly appreciate it if you didn't go poking around in my things," a smooth voice spoke directly into her ear.
Shigeru snapped back to reality, flinching at the sound of the familiar voice. Her head whipped over her shoulder only to be greeted by the bemused face of Aizen. Her attention snapped down to their interlocked hands. She immediately snatched her hand away, distancing herself far from the former captain.
Bringing her hand up to her cloudy head as she blinked away her disorientation. Her eyes back to their natural brown, "W-What was I doing?"
Aizen slowly approached the girl, but she stayed on the defensive, "Now, now, there's no need for that. I invited you here today to have a polite conversation."
He gestured to his right where a table and set of chairs stood untouched. Tea kettle and cups set in front of each seat. She eyed the whole set up suspiciously, until a hand was extended toward her. She looked up to the Aizen, his cold smile warming up, but the warmth didn't reach his eyes.
"Shall we," he asked, waiting for her to make a move.
Shigeru sighed before grasping his hand firmly. Aizen seemed very pleased as he helped her off of the floor. Once on her feet she immediately retracted her hand.
"I can walk on my own…," she brushed by him making her way to the small table.
Shigeru plopped down in the uncomfortable seat closest to the exit while she eyed the man gracefully planting himself in his seat.
"So...what do you want to 'talk' about," she asked holding onto the teacup, letting it warm her hands, her leg bouncing nervously.
One of Aizen's perfectly arched eyebrows lifted in amusement at her nervousness. Shigeru was extremely uncomfortable being alone with the man. Last time she seriously encountered Aizen she was nearly chopped in half, and she only survived because of her natural durability partnered with her near indestructible Bankai form. Her scar was starting to ache.
"Shigeru, there's no need to be so nervous. I truly only wish to only talk, so please relax yourself. Drink," he smiled, gesturing to the cup in her hands.
She wasn't going to drink from her prepared cup. Shigeru looked him dead in his eyes as she emptied the cup onto the floor. She grabbed the kettle set between them to pour a new cup. Shigeru brought the cup closer to her face, sniffing it, before taking a small sip.
"Just being cautious. You understand," Shigeru grinned, resisting the urge to glare at the stronger man.
Aizen chuckled, "Of course. Wait a moment, I'll have someone take care of the mess."
Aizen snapped his finger and the door opened revealing two annoyingly familiar faces.
"Oh, it's just those bitches," she scoffed as her eyes clashed with teal and pink.
Loly and Menoly briskly walked into the room, towels in hand. The two crouched to the floor to clean the mess that Shigeru created.
Shigeru stared them down blankly, "Hmph...fitting…"
She knew she shouldn't take the things they did to Orihime so personally, but then she thinks of how fragile and gentle her sweet that girl is, and how they brutalized her for stupid, petty reasons her blood would just boil. Shigeru didn't miss the glare that Loly shot at her, so she grinned down to her sweetly, sure to let a little of her bloodlust slip into the air. The two arrancars froze before their bodies suddenly trembled uncontrollably, a cold sweats glistening on them as that bloodlust crashed down on them.
"Loly, Menoly, that will be all," Aizen said dismissing them nonchalantly.
The two hurried out of the room, but not before a certain pink eyed arrancar shot one last venomous glare at the human sitting as if she were an equal of her master. However, she couldn't deny that in a matter of mere seconds Shigeru inflicted a sense of fear that both arrancars hadn't felt in a very long time. They had met Orihime before, and thought her pitiful, an easy target, but Shigeru…
They knew she could and would kill them.
Loly felt her blood run cold as she tried to shake the mental image that flashed across her mind when the human girl smiled at image of Shigeru standing over her and Menoly's corpses. A wicked smile spread across her face covered in their blood. The door slammed behind them, leaving Shigeru and Aizen completely alone.
Aizen tapped a finger on the table mirth finally reflecting in his normally cold eyes, "Why the sudden need to antagonize my arrancars?"
"It was just a simple lesson for the two of them," she declared, bringing the cup to her lips to take a sip.
"In?"
Shigeru placed the cup down on the table and grinned toothily, "Humility."
Aizen couldn't resist the urge to genuinely chuckle at that. He leaned back in his seat, tucking a closed fist under his chin.
"How are you enjoying your stay in Los Noches," he asked.
Shigeru rested her chin in her right hand as her left index finger slowly circled the rim on the teacup absently.
"Are you asking because you genuinely curious or are you aiming to boast of its magnificence because I can tell you don't actually care about my opinion. Now I ask again, what do you really want Aizen," she asked, dropping her hand from the cup.
There was a pregnant pause.
Aizen smirked as he leaned forward, "I want you to join me."
"I figured as much. Otherwise you wouldn't have gone through the trouble to collect me while I was sick and unconscious," Shigeru rolled her eyes before folding her eyes, "What? You're gonna threaten to kill my friends and family back at home if I don't?"
He lowered his arm to rest on the arm of the chair as he crossed one leg over the other.
"I highly doubt such a method would work on you, my dear. However, I need someone of your nature amongst my ranks, and for that I could offer you whatever you want."
Shigeru tilted her head to the side curiously at what he said, "Your nature? What does he mean by that?"
"Oh yeah? Like," she asked humoring the idea of joining his cause.
Aizen's cold smirk never left his face during the entire exchange. He was measuring her for something, and since it could be a multitude of things Shigeru had no idea what reaction he was trying to rouse out of her.
"Power."
"Ha! I already have that. Next," Shigeru shrugged off the notion immediately.
Aizen's smirk widened, "A community where you would no longer be an outcast."
"But it's so fun being the odd man out. Why give that up? People love me for my oddness. It's a part of my charm," she grinned at the man across from her, "You can do better than that."
Aizen suddenly reached over, and Shigeru resisted the urge to flinch away or slap his hand away as he twirled one of the curls framing her face.
"How does true freedom sound then," suggested the former captain as he lifted the curl to his lips.
Shigeru frowned as she tugged her hair free from his fingers.
"What makes you think I'm not already free?"
Aizen shrugged his shoulders elegantly, taking hold of his own cooling cup of tea, "You, much like Ichigo Kurosaki, are on call by the Gotei 13. Nothing more than a corporate slave."
"Debatable."
"Is it," Aizen countered as one of his eyebrows quirked up, while she returned his fake curiosity with a completely neutral expression, "Whenever something seems to go awry is it not you and the Kurosaki boy they seek assistance from? Aren't you being chained down for the use of your extraordinary power?"
Shigeru hummed in amusement as she crossed her arms over her chest, "A couple of things. One, I'm not so much a corporate slave as much as I'm a volunteer per se. Two, they go to Ichigo and get me by association. You obviously don't have anything worthwhile to offer me, not that I was even remotely considering joining you."
Aizen's eyes narrowed in mock amusement.
"What if I offered you a chance to visit your home?"
Shigeru slammed a hand onto the table laughing, "I'm sure I can find my way back to Karakura without your help or permission."
"I don't think you're hearing me, Shigeru. I said your home," Aizen reiterated.
Shigeru opened her mouth to respond only for her eyes to widen as she froze in place. Aizen's grin widened as he watched the girl stunned into silence. Her muscles tensed, her eyes shifted colors as her reiatsu crackled and burned to the surface.
Shigeru hopped up slamming her fist on the table. Her chair flew off behind her.
"How much do you know, and don't know dare try to bullshit me," she growled, glaring ferociously.
It was the first time that her home, her universe, had been mentioned so casually by someone other than herself. Urahara rarely mentioned it knowing that if she would warn him of events to come when she deemed it necessary. Ichigo only brought it up in conversations out of curiosity. Shigeru had told herself that if given the opportunity she probably wouldn't return, but for Aizen to just rattle off the idea of her returning home like a bargaining chip...it didn't sit right with her. He had to have an ulterior motive, a reason for going to her universe. He had to be plotting something outside the scope of her and the rest of the Bleach-verse's comprehension.
"I need to calm myself. Of course he knows. He knows damn near everything with the spy surveillance he's placed in the Word of the Living. Calm down...breathe," she told herself as she attempted to calm her rapidly beating heart, her eyes changing back to their warm brown coloring.
Aizen said nothing remaining absolutely still despite her outburst, grinning mockingly.
"Join me. Become my partner and I'll tell you what I know," declared Aizen as he stood from his seat.
Shigeru pressed her lips in a thin line, her heart thumping out of her chest, head feeling a little light from the sudden excitement. She turned to the exit, "Enough of this shit for today!"
"This oh so "polite" conversation is over. I'm done with this non-nonsen―"
The room suddenly started to spin.
She stumbled back, grasping on to the table behind her accidentally knocking the half full cup of tea. Shigeru turned to glare at the smug man before her as the china crashed to the pristine floor as her vision blurred.
"Aizen...y-you dick..," she slurred, fighting to stay conscious, "he spiked the entire kettle of tea!"
Aizen glided over to the young woman as she snarled at him. Once in front of her, he reached up to run a hand down her face. She slapped his hand away with her, almost toppling over in the process.
He merely chuckled, "Worry not, Shigeru. No harm will come to you. Just a few minor tests to be done, so I have to sedate you. I was afraid that if I didn't you'd just kick up a fuss."
"This bastard…," she growled internally, losing the war to stay awake.
She felt herself slipping as darkness dotted her vision. Shigeru felt herself falling, instinctively grabbing onto the closest thing to her which happened to be Aizen. She used what little strength she had to fist the front of his pristine robes.
Her blurry brown eyes slowly blinked shut, "...You…"
Shigeru went slack against the former Captain of the Gotei. He wrapped an arm around her to support her weight. Aizen coolly eyed the woman in his grasp, brushing the hair from her sleeping face.
"Keep entertaining me, Shigeru Kuroi," he smirked to himself.
He lifted her into his arms before making his way to the exit.
In Szyaelapporo's Lab
Aizen gently placed the young woman on the examination table. Szyael placed some wires around her temples, wrist, collar bone, and over her heart. He also placed them over her Hakusui and Saketsu. The two waited patiently as some readings appeared on the many screens of the lab.
The pink haired Espada adjusted his hollow fragment shaped glasses as the screens beeped to life, "Fascinating…"
They stared at the readings that appeared on the screens earnestly. Shigeru groaned softly as Szyael turned the dial of one of the many gauges the young shinigami was hooked up to.
"Her reiatsu readings are very...peculiar. Not only is her reiatsu density unusual but...," the pink-haired scientist announced aloud, voice teeming with curiosity, "Look here, Lord Aizen."
He pointed to the screen as it showed several colors: blue, purple, and black. The blue and purple readings were intermingled, but the black was hovering around the blue and purple. It was like oil and water, something was keeping the blackness from becoming one with the rest.
"As we know everyone has a particular color when releasing reiatsu. There's no special meaning behind it in particular, just a quirk we all have regardless of species. It can change from one color to another in some cases, but she's...different. It's as if she has separate reiatsu signatures equivalent to three different beings, no, she is three different beings combined from what her reiryoku and reiatsu signatures are telling us," he continued examining the reading further as they were printing out.
Aizen hummed in contemplation as he watched the reading on the screen, "As I expected…"
He placed a hand on the woman's forehead as she continued to slumber, before glancing back to the reiatsu signatures. The purple reiatsu was, from what he could see, the dominant force behind her spirit energy. There was a lot less of the blue as it intertwined with the purple, and it seemed to be on par with a normal human with regular levels. One with no real special abilities. Then there was the black reiatsu...it was something else entirely. It was like an ancient force he was familiar with.
"I'd like to run a couple more tests, Szyael," he announced as he unveiled the hogyoku from his robes.
Later in Shigeru's Room
It had been hours since Shigeru was summoned by Aizen. Grimmjow was starting to feel nervous as his face twitched, scowl ever present.
Grimmjow hopped up from his seat when a lower level arrancar entered the room carrying an unconscious Shigeru. He immediately snatched her from the nameless arrancar's grasp.
"She will be unconscious for some time, but be assured she is fine," the arrancar explained, bowing, and promptly leaving the room.
The panther wasn't even listening to what the other hollow had said as he gave Shigeru's body a once over, making sure real harm had come to her body. Besides an increase in her temperature, she seemed to be completely fine. His nose wrinkled in disgust when he caught a whiff of Aizen and Szayel's scent on her person.
"Oh, she's showering when she wakes up," he frowned as he carried her to her bed gently placing her bed.
He watched her as she slept on peacefully, running the back of his hand along her cheek and neck. Grimmjow's brows furrowed because a few things weren't adding up, like why did Aizen take Shigeru to Szayel's lab because that's got to be the only reason she had his scent clinging to her clothes.
"What did they do to you," he asked while she twitched in her sleep as he worked on removing her boots.
Shigeru groaned in discomfort as a thin layer of sweat gleamed on her skin. Grimmjow stripped her of her jacket and gloves hoping it would help cool her. He used his hand to wipe the sweat from her brow.
Grimmjow was confused as he felt her reiatsu fluctuating. It was just like when they first encountered each other. One moment she was strong, giving him hell in the most thrilling fight he'd had in a while. Then the next moment her energy began to waver, giving him a chance to trap and corner her.
"Now I really need answers...," he muttered to himself as he stroked her head in an attempt to relax her. He'd noticed how it would relax and lull her when she was awake.
The tension in her face relaxed as she continued her dreamless slumber.
The Next Day
When Shigeru awakened late the next day her head was pounding. She was fuming over being drugged and Soul King knows what else while she was unconscious.
"If that bastard didn't have the upperhand I would have done his ass in by now," she grumbled to herself angrily as she scrubbed her soap lathered arms.
Grimmjow was true to his word, practically tossing her into the conjoining bathroom. Luckily for him she didn't complain, feeling sweaty and gross. She rinsed her body off. Shigeru stared at the drain as it swirled with foamy white sods.
"I'm beginning to feel kind of anxious… Ichigo, Rukia...when will you guys come? I miss the trio," she thought as she turned off the hot running water.
She stood in the steaming bathroom a few moments more before releasing a heavy sigh.
"Maybe it's time to take a trip to my inner world…"
Shigeru took her time drying and redressing herself. When she exited the bathroom her favorite Espada was nowhere in sight. She thought that he would be all clingy especially after the events of yesterday, but it would be easier to concentrate without him around. She sat on the edge of her bed as she grabbed her zanpakuto from their resting place.
"Alright guys, let's do some mental training or some—"
Shigeru froze when she felt an all too familiar reiatsu invade her senses. Her head snapped into the direction that her friends had arrived in the land of eternal night.
She beamed as she lowered her blades, "Ichigo, Uryuu, Chad! About time!"
Shigeru quickly strapped Hiryu Raitora to her belt before bolting for the door. She ran through the halls radiating excitement. As usual the halls were as empty as ever, only the sound of her hastened steps bouncing off the walls.
"If I time this right I can get to Rukia or Chad. Or I can meet up with Ichigo. Oh my goodness, then I'll meet Nel! The little cutie! Okay, focus Shigeru! Who's closer to my location," she thought frantically.
She closed her eyes in concentration, imagining the layout of the maze that is Los Noches. There was no time to summon soul ribbons, not that she needed them anyway. In her mind a map was forming, every reiatsu signature located. The largest ones being the Espada, two wayward former captains of the Gotei 13, and the mastermind behind everyone's headache were all gathered in one location, but were beginning to go their separate ways. Orihime's gentle energy flickering nervously but safe in her room. Then there were five reiatsu signatures scattering into the different sectors of the enormous palace. The towers of the Espada were scattered around the perimeter of Los Noches in no particular chronological order. It seemed more like a first-come-first-served kind thing from what she gathered and they were widely spread. From what she could tell the frosty reiatsu of Rukia was the furthest from her location, Ichigo heading to Orihime's location, Chad in the opposite direction, but Renji and Uryuu seemed to be moving in her direction.
"Ugh, I'll have to encounter Szayel, won't I," she shuddered with a frown, goosebumps spreading across her arms.
A hand clamped itself over her mouth from behind, snapping her from her thoughts. Her eyes opened in a panic as she was taken away from the hall she was in and into a dimly lit room. She bit down hard enough to draw blood from the hand covering her mouth. As she prepared to strike her unwanted distraction a chuckle filled the room.
"My, my~ You certainly are a violent one, Shigeru-chan!"
Shigeru relaxed somewhat as Gin removed his bleeding hand from her face. She turned to glare at the silver haired snake. He raised his arms in mock surrender.
"Shouldn't you be off somewhere with Tosen and Aizen," she snapped in a whisper, her eyes quickly shifting around the room.
It seemed to be a bedroom more grand than the ones that she and Orihime were given. The king sized bed neat with fresh crisp sheets. A table and lounging chair by the window and other pieces of furniture scattered about. Gin noticed her caution, his grin ever present.
Gin lowered his arms, "You can speak freely here. He doesn't look have any surveillance in Tosen's room or mine."
Shigeru's brows almost vanished into her hairline from the shock. She wasn't expecting him to take her to his room.
"Which means…"
"I have four questions I want to ask. Are you willing to humor me, Shigeru-chan?"
The young woman expected as much. Shigeru's body lost most of its tension, "Sure. Ask away."
"How do you know the things you do, Shigeru," Gin asked the snake-like smile he always had plastered on his face gone.
She replied carefully, "I...can't tell you that."
"Does it have to do with where you're actually from," Gin pressed, stepping closer to the girl opening his arctic blue eyes to stare her down.
Shigeru only nodded. Her gaze wandered to the side as she sensed the flaring of her friend's reiatsu already in the midst of battling the Privaron Espada, and Rukia seemed to have already gotten to Aaroneiro's domain. Shigeru could tell from the sudden spike in her reiatsu that her battle both internal and physically was beginning.
"It's all happening so fast. Man anime really does drag things on to show several battles," she thought as she tried to predict what Gin might ask her next.
He rubbed his chin in contemplation, humming to himself. He then asked, "Do you know what my true goals are in all this?"
"I―," her eyes widened as she sensed the Quinto Espada's reiatsu on top of Chad's.
She grit her teeth, hating that he had gotten hurt, but knowing in the end he would be saved. It was only a matter of time before the Gotei captains arrived. She would just have to have faith in her friends in what they can currently do and bide her time.
She turned her attention to Gin once again, nodding to confirm his suspicions.
"Will I succeed," he asked finally. The one and only question that he truly cared about.
Silence filled the room.
Shigeru's voice seemed to echo, "No."
Despite having been informed of his future failure Gin's spirit didn't waver though that didn't shock her in the slightest. It was who Gin was. All of this was just one huge gamble in the hopes of avenging the harm that Aizen inflicted on Rangiku when the two were children in the Rukon District. All because he loved his friend. Shigeru could do nothing but respect that.
She turned her back to him, placing a hand on the door as she clenched the other into a tight fist as she felt Rukia's reiatsu almost vanish.
Shigeru declared, "Your plan won't work, however… maybe things will be different with my presence here. When the time comes I will be there to help you, Gin Ichimaru. I promise."
With that said she shunpo-ed out of the room in the direction of the person who needed her support the most right now. Shigeru knew they would be fine, but she wouldn't.
The substitute shinigami slid to a halt in front of her friend's door. She wasted no time at all bursting in.
"Orihime," she gasped at the sight of her on her knees in the middle of the room.
Shigeru didn't think twice as she hurried over to embrace her trembling form as she held back her sobs.
Shigeru shushed Orihime, whispering, "It's not your fault, Hime."
"B-But Shigeru…!"
The darker of the two placed her hands on the crying girl's shoulders and gently demanded, "Look at me, Orihime."
Grey watering eyes looked up to warm brown.
"We are all warriors who know the risk of going into battle. Isn't that the reason you went to train with Rukia before this shit show started? Now believe me when I say everyone will be okay. Just like when we went to rescue Rukia from execution all those months ago," Shigeru smiled gently, fixing her friend's orange bangs.
Orihime wiped any moisture from her face and nodded confidently, but then they felt it.
"Fast…"
Orihime and Shigeru's eyes widened. The busty orange-haired girl began to tremble all over again as remnants of Ichigo's blackened reiatsu evaporated into the air around them.
"This is all happening too fast…"
Shigeru slowly stood to her feet, trembling slightly.
"Ichigo…" she whispered.
Author's Note: So yeah… first update of the year and the 19th of this month will mark 1 year since I started I've Been Isekai-ed! Isn't that amazing, though with that long hiatus I told I don't feel as accomplished. I'm leaving you with a kind of cliffhanger haha. Again I know it's been a while! Please don't be mad at me *laughing nervously/crying internally*. I'm glad to see how much you guys still look forward to more of this fic! I'll try not to disappoint! Review if you feel like it!
