The morning after the awkward dinner I wake up to a loud knock on the door. Easing up from the warm confines of my bed, I yawn in exhaustion and answer it, meeting the cyan eyes of the pale man who escorted me back to my room the previous day.
He stares at me in silence as I attempt to remember his name.
"Ulquiorra? Good morning. Is there something you wanted?"
He hums. "Lord Aizen has requested your presence in the sun room for breakfast."
"There's a sun room here?"
I am in shock.
Yama told me the sun never shines upon Las Noches because of the strange environment it resides in. He was obviously mistaken.
"Get dressed," Ulquiorra orders, ignoring my question. "I will be in the hall. Do not keep Lord Aizen waiting."
Strange. He has an interesting way of addressing the man. I wonder if all the wayward souls – as Rudbornn dubbed them – address him as such. No matter. It's not my concern.
I force a smile. "Yes, of course. I should not keep Sōsuke waiting. Give me a few minutes to freshen up."
Closing the door with ease, I rush into the bathroom to change into something more fitting of the meeting. A proper bath is out of the question; I fear keeping Aizen in wait any longer will warrant unwanted annoyance from his cyan eyed puppet, if he is capable of such emotion. I change into a white sundress with a vibrant caerulean floral pattern along the side, and rush to meet with Ulquiorra.
He barely casts his eyes at me and shoves his hands into the front pockets of his casual dress pants, leading me down the hall. I pace in order to keep up with his long and quick strides, and once we arrive at the doorway to the room, he leads me inside.
I stare in complete awe at what I see.
The walls are made of frosted glass – I assume for privacy reasons – but natural illumination uncommon in Hueco Mundo spills in from the ivy-covered roof and warms up the small but welcoming space.
"Do you like it?"
I hum and look at Aizen, who rests on a posh chair, dressed in navy button down.
"It's gorgeous … and convivial."
The warm rays of the sun shine down on me from above.
"How is this possible? I heard the sun never rises here."
Aizen grins and motions for me to sit. "Join me and I will be more than happy to explain."
I comply, eager to learn, taking the chair across from him; a round eating table rests between us.
Aizen sends Ulquiorra away and in comes the help with plates of delicious smelling food. They set them in front of us, then depart, leaving us.
I wait tolerantly for him to enlighten me, drinking a mimosa from a champagne flute.
"The sun neither rises nor sets over Hueco Mundo," he starts.
I pucker a brow.
"All you see – he pauses to motion with his slender fingers – is an illusion to a less than inspiring idea. The heat you feel is a series of electric lights hidden behind the frosted glass."
An illusion?
I hum and glance around in awe. "How interesting."
Aizen grins. "I'm happy you think so. I had it designed for you."
"For me?"
He nods. "The palace can be … tedious to some. Your comfort is important to me."
"That is generous of you."
I feel my face heat up. His words are saccharine to my ears. I cannot read this man.
"May I ask … why me? Is it because of my family name?"
The Omura are a noble clan; one of four, but not as famous as the Shihoin or Kuchiki clans. My families one purpose is to guard the blueprints used to forge ancient weapons and artifacts passed down from the ruler of our land. I doubt Aizen has an interest in old, decaying papers; not when the King is holder of the true weapons. Courting me will not get him closer to these weapons, or the Realm of the King.
So then why?
Aizen reaches forward and touches me on the hand. His warm eyes stare deep into mine.
"Because I like you, and I have ever since I laid eyes on you."
My face burns in embarrassment. How do I reply to this? My vocal cords struggle to make a noise.
Aizen stands and hovers over me, leaning down to kiss the crown of my head. "I hope in the time you spend here; you can learn to like me too."
I can barely breathe.
He lifts my head and leans in.
Is he going to kiss me? Oh dear.
"Sōsuke I––
The door suddenly opens and interrupts me. Gin hums, grinning at us.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Kaname is ready."
Ready for what? I breathe easy.
Aizen clears his voice and stands. "Of course."
He rests his hand on my bare shoulder. I shiver at his icy touch.
"I apologize for cutting this short, but I have urgent business to attend to. Another time, Yuina."
Gin waves at me. "Bye-bye!"
He and Aizen leave. A woman comes in moments later; a dark-haired woman with heated rosy eyes. She stands against the door and stares at me in awkward silence. Perhaps she is my escort; she isn't dressed like the help, but she is in all white.
I sip at my mimosa.
"Do you want a drink? There is plenty."
I motion towards the pitcher, more than somewhat full.
She snorts and trudges towards me, taking a seat. Picking up the flute, she takes a drink.
"This is nice," she mentions with a grin. "Though you must think you're something unique to get treatment like this."
I raise a brow. That was unwarranted.
"Pardon me?"
She gives me a heated look.
"Lord Aizen is too good for you," she states. "You deserve none of this."
I frown. "I do not disagree that I do not deserve this, but your opinion is unwanted."
"You're unwanted," she retorts like a scorned child.
Standing, she slams her clenched hands down on the table, breaking a plate that covers the dining cloth in scrambled eggs and bacon. Her strength and rage are nothing to joke about. I sit down the flute and grit my teeth. This could turn bad.
What has her so riled?
"You are nothing to him," the woman screams.
This is sad.
"Stop this," I demand.
She widens her wild eyes. "You don't get to order me around, worm. Menoly! Come here."
The door jerks open and a familiar man comes in. I mirror the woman's scared and shocked expression.
"Grimmjow!? Where is Menoly?"
He grins. "Who knows, worm. Now get."
"The hell I will," she sneers. "I have business with her."
Grimmjow walks closer, back hunched. His electric eyes stare heatedly at her. "I won't tell you again."
Her shoulders sink in fear, but she growls at him, then shoots me a look. "We're not done yet."
Storming passed him with her nose in the air, she leaves us in a rush. I watch in suspicion as Grimmjow takes her seat, drinking down the mimosa from the pitcher.
He wipes his mouth and glances at me. "I'd say ya owe me. That worm is weak, but to someone like you, she would have busted your skull."
"And? I never asked for you to save me. I am not a damsel."
Grimmjow laughs. "A badass are you. Were ya gonna sick your guard dog on her?"
I have not seen or spoken to Shigeru since I arrived, but I assume he is fine, resting in the guard house with the porters. In spite of this, I take offense to his words.
"I do not need a hero to save me, and even if I did, I would undoubtedly not call on you," I snap.
He grins. "I'm no hero."
No joke.
I remember the moment I initially met him inside the banquet hall, blood under his nose and marks on his face; marks he no longer has. He is a problem child, someone who acts out for attention.
Standing, I frown. "I pity you."
I turn to leave, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back to face him. His wild eyes are electric.
"I told you not to give me that damn look, woman."
Heat burns my face. Being so close to him, I can smell the mimosa on his breath. My hand rests against his bare chest. His tan skin feels so warm and welcoming.
"I am not scared of you," I say under my breath.
Grimmjow grins. "You're trembling."
Am I? Fear is far from my mind.
Biting my bottom lip, I yank back my hand. "Leave me be."
"Not a chance," he retorts.
Did I offend him? I certainly did not mean to.
"Forgive me," I utter.
He snorts and leans in. "That worm better get in line, because I'm not done with you either."
Letting me go, he treks passed me, bumping against me as he does, then leaves.
I take an uneasy breath. What does he want with me?
Asking never crossed my mind.
But excitement did.
The imagine of his warm skin beneath my tongue devours me.