This felt just as awkward as Kana figured it would. Sung-Sun helped the most by pouring Orihime a tea and sitting with her quietly on the couch, Harribel silent on Orihime's other side. The three of them were a picture of elegance, all prim and proper and straight backed with pinkies out and legs crossed at the ankle and all that bullshit. Across the coffee table, herself, Mila Rose and Apacci looked like they were raised by dogs. Apacci was perched on the back of the couch with her feet on the arm, scowl in place and looking borderline like a feral dog, Mila Rose was on the other side with one leg up and her arm hooked around it, the other resting on the coffee table as she pouted, having been scolded by Harribel for demanding Orihime leave when they got here. Kana was in the middle across from Orihime, legs folded and arms crossed over her chest as she stared coolly at Orihime's hands wrapped around her tea cup.
"This bitch I get being here. She can at least fight. But why do we gotta hang out with the damsel in distress?" Apacci growled. Orihime's hands twitched slightly, the only sign of her being worried about being here.
"I'll kick your ass and I'll fuckin' do it again, ya little rat-faced-"
"It was Orihime-san's decision to join us. The only company she has had has been Ulquiorra when he delivers her meals. Time with other women would do her good." Harribel cut Kana's rant off, her tone echoing with finality and causing both Apacci and Kana to join Mila Rose in pouting to themselves.
"Actually...I had a reason about asking to join Kana today." Orihime's voice was barely above a whisper, but felt like it was as loud as a gunshot in the silence of the room. The girls turned their gaze to Kana and she worked to hold a neutral expression as she met Orihime's eyes. She could tell nothing from the shorter girl's gaze, which was surprising considering how open a person Orihime was.
"Kana-chan...What are you going to do when Kurosaki-kun comes?"
The couch skidded back and Apacci tumbled from her perch with the force of Kana leaping up from her spot. The air around them felt thicker as her reiatsu rumbled closer to the surface of her skin, a tendril unwillingly slipping away to coil with the constant comfort of Aizen's. It took a great deal of effort to keep her face in a cold, blank mask. She hadn't wanted to see Orihime again. She wanted to just focus on what she needed to do, beat the others down when they got here to save her, help Aizen take over, kill the smug bastard and then she could finally relax. Kana was going to die alone. She knew this, she always assumed this. People didn't want her around unless she was of use, and when she wasn't useless enough they scorned and rejected her.
"That's not something you want to know the answer to, Hime."
She expected the girl to cry maybe, or run from the room, maybe even just hang her head and sigh. She wasn't expecting Orihime to slam her hands to the table in front of her, standing and coming close to Kana's face with a fire in her eyes.
"Tell me! Kana-chan! What's going to happen to our friends!?"
They held eye contact for a few moments before Kana grinned, Orihime's eyes widening in something Kana could only identify as fear. Her hand darted forwards, grabbing hold of Orihime's chin in a bruising grip and squeezing until she could see her friend's eyes flash in pain.
"You already know, Hime. If Ichigo comes to save you, he's not making it out alive. And chances are..."
"No..."
"I'm going to be the one to kill your precious Kurosaki-kun."
Kana threw the girl down to her ass with a harsh laugh, Harribel's steadying hand the only reason Orihime didn't end up crumpled on the floor or thrown over the back of the furniture. Striding towards the door Kana whipped around to meet Orihime's horrified gaze.
"Things are different here, Hime! Nobody is going to protect you, nobody is going save you, and everyone is out to kill everyone! If you don't have enough power you will die."
The door slid peacefully shut behind her as Kana took off at what felt like her fastest flashstep. She had no location in mind, just away. She started to slow down the farther away she got, until a voice sliding across her ears made her stop fully.
"Maa, maa, for someone in love ya sure don't look very happy."
"What do you want, Gin?"
Like a snake, the former Shinigami slid from the shadows with his usual grin locked in place, head tilted to the side as he watched the tiny arcs of lightning spark from Kana's tightened fists. The only sign of how out of control of her emotions she was. The sparks stopped altogether as her fists relaxed, her shoulders dropping in surprise as Gin's smile fell.
"Are ya sure you can handle what's coming?"
Kana was silent for a beat before sighing.
"I don't really have a choice. I've already betrayed my friends. All I can do is keep moving forwards to get to my goal."
Another pause until the purest blue Kana had ever seen locked with a greyish purple.
"I understand." His words were heavy enough that Kana knew that he really did understand, and she found herself wondering for the first time why Gin followed Aizen. She said nothing though, and the two simply nodded at each other, slipped their masks in place, and left to prepare in their own ways for the incoming shitstorm.
This was the first time Kana had seen the table this full. She had her own seat, for once, although it was only because Aizen himself was seated at the head of the table, Gin and Tosen framing him a step behind as though he was royalty. Arrogant swot. To her right was Grimmjow, followed by a dark skinned Espada with a stoic look and strong frame, the Pepto abysmal nightmare, an old man, some big cranky looking brute who looked like he's prefer to be eating glue than sipping tea, some weird fucker with a tube on his head. Like, what the fuck? Harribel was between him and some hella tall lanky cunt with a giant ass spoon as part of his outfit. Seriously whoever invented these deserved an ass kicking, she couldn't get pants but this guy gets his own sonar dish? Finally there was a sleepy looking brown haired guy, easily the most normal looking of the group, and then two blank chairs. Everyone was keeping to themselves, leaning back or slouching forwards and eyes in their own spaces until the door on the far end slid open and the last of Aizen's minions finally joined them, face as blank as always and a familiar head of auburn hair trailing along behind him, hands clasped in front of her and head bowed.
Ulquiorra took his seat across from Gimmjow and Orihime hesitated a brief moment beside the spare seat until Aizen gestured for her to sit. Still, she kept her head bowed and eyes locked on the table.
"Good morning, my Espada. We have an enemy attack." A few of the Espada showed a bit more life at that, sitting up slightly as everyone watched Aizen.
"Shall we have some tea first?" What a fucking-ugh. Whatever. Nobody wanted tea. They wanted blood. Even so, everyone sat silent as two low level Arrancar went around with two trays, giving everyone a cup and filling it with however much sugar or cream they wanted. It was pointless, and mindless, and it was exactly the type of thing Aizen enjoyed, watching everyone be forced under his control to wait quietly for him to give them information. Finally, everyone had their fucking tea and everyone's eyes were turned back to Aizen. Out of the corner of her eye Kana frowned as she watched Orihime's fingers tremble around her cup, her hair framing her face to hide it from Aizen's heavy gaze.
"Has everyone been served? Now then...have a drink and listen to what I have to say. Kaname...the images."
"Yes, Aizen-sama."
The dark skinned man pulled a lever within the wall, and the table opened up and flickered and flared a bluish white before an image came to clarity of the deserts just outside of Las Noches.
"There are three intruders. Uryu Ishida, Yasutora Sado, Ichigo Kurosaki." Grimmjow sat straight up with a slight growl, eyes locked angrily on the bobbing orange head. Orihime also had her gaze on the orange haired shinigami, eyes tearful and wide.
"Are these...our enemies?"
"What's this? You said the enemy was attacking, so I wondered what they were like, but they're still just kids."
"That's not very exciting at all."
Kana herself just snorted and smirked. Ishida was a poncy little git and would get a beat down by any one of the Espada. Chad was too softhearted to kill and would likely die for it. Ichigo would be the only one to put up a fight, but from the energy thrumming around Grimmjow, he has pissed off the cat and as soon as Grimmjow was let off his leash he was absolutely going for him.
"Don't underestimate them. They're humans who were once called Ryoka. The five of them charged into Soul Society by themselves, and battled the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
"Five? Two are missing, then. Where are they?" Ooh, very smart, big guy. Aizen's reiatsu poked at her as she rolled her eyes and she sent him a quick glare in return.
Aizen's smirk grew as he gestured to either side of him. Orihime flinched back, turning her eyes away from the weighted gazes of Aizen's most powerful. Kana herself grinned and winked at the spoony fuck as he grinned back.
"Orihime Inoue and Kana Takahashi. The Ryoka's pure hearted healer, and their strongest fighter."
Strongest? Ichigo was the one who did most of the work. Ichigo was the 'main character'. Even so, her grin grew at the idea that someone considered her the strongest of the group.
"Hmm. So they've come to save their friends, huh?"
"Who cares? They seem weak."
"Weren't you listening? Aizen-sama just told us not to underestimate them."
It was the first time Harribel spoke up, and the spoony fuck with one beady eye showing seemed to take offense at that.
"Huh? I didn't mean it like that...Are ya scared!?"
"What did you say!?" Ooh, spicy Harribel. Oh Kana really hoped she'd fight spoon guy right here. It would be better than sitting here sipping this fucking tea for any longer.
"Ulquiorra. Dismissed." With a nod, the stoic Espada stood, waited only briefly for Orihime to get up from her seat before grasping her by the wrist and vanishing in a burst of sonido. The chair beside Kana scraped in an ugly sound against the marbled floor as Grimmjow leapt to his feet, starting towards the door.
"Oi, where are you going, Grimm?" Kana asked, lips twitching as the blue haired fucker scowled at the nickname.
"I'm going to kill them. Shouldn't we squash pests that come in sooner rather than later?"
"Aizen-sama still hasn't given any orders. Return to your seat." Grimmjow's eyes darted from Kana to the blind man beside him, scowling deepening.
"I'm going to go and crush them for Aizen-sama!"
Well fuck. He must really have it out for Ichigo if he was willing to call Aizen by his proper title. Bullshit. It was all bullshit. All Grimmjow wanted was a good fight, maybe some revenge.
"Grimmjow." Everyone's attention turned back to Aizen, including Grimmjow who turned back to face the table.
"I'm glad you're taking action for me, but I'm still talking. Could you return to your seat for now?" How polite. Still, Grimmjow didn't move and Kana giggled a bit as she kicked her feet up onto the table. Spoon guy followed suit, lanky arms clasping behind his head as he grinned at her. This guy. This guy she vibed with. Much better than tube head or the old man.
"What's wrong? I don't hear a response, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques!"
Aizen's voice didn't raise, but the room thrummed heavy with the weight of Aizen's reiatsu. The Espada all grit their teeth as, even though the weight of the pressure was aimed on Grimmjow, who was quickly brought to his knees, the sheer density was impossible not to feel. As it were, Kana was distracted from much else as her own reiatsu rose to thrum and dance against Aizen's, her face flushing slightly and grin mad. The spoon cackled at her lustful reaction, but she just laughed back and wiggled her fingers at him, sparks leaping from her finger tips to jab at his feet. With a yelp he pulled them from the table, scowling at her.
"I see. It seems you understand." Oh yeah, Aizen and Grimmjow. That shitshow.
"As you can see, we have three enemies. You mustn't underestimate them, but there's no need to make a fuss about them. All of you are to return to your own palaces and do as you always do. Don't be arrogant or impatient. Just sit and wait for the enemy. Don't be afraid. No matter what happens, as long as you're with me, they're no match for us."
Everyone left in smaller groups, eventually dispersing alone to go do as they were told. Grimmjow kicked at the table leg as he was the last to leave, legs still struggling with his weight from Aizen's effortless attack.
"Kana."
"Hmm?"
"Watch Grimmjow. When the time comes, I know he will disobey me. I'm leaving him under your orders."
Kana laughed slightly and leaned over the side of Aizen's chair to press a kiss to his cheek.
"I'll watch the kitty. Whatever he does next is up to me."
"Of course."