Orders. Yes, he must always remember it was Aizen-sama whom had given him purpose.

If duty called for it, he would present the woman's head to his Master. Ulquiorra checked his thoughts, discerning the slightest trace of hesitation present. Unconcerned yet curious as to the reasoning behind this seed of disinclination, he probed the thought.

The woman's face came to his mind.

"Orders." The word echoed in his consciousness, taunting, reminding him that she had no place occupying his thoughts thus. "Yes." His own answer, supplied so readily, so graspingly as if to cling onto that one justification.

It was by Aizen-sama's order that he violated her.

It was by no fault or desire of his own that he continuously debased his enemy.

...

The tray came. Rukia had almost anticipated its arrival with the filling of her gaze with her most hated enemy. She had expected him to come. Now, that he had redefined the line between them, she had no fear of receiving him with the utmost hate and despise. And yet...

Another came in whistling a happy tune, another filled her sight, towering over her in white robes and slitted eyes. "'Kyorra-kun couldn't come today, Rukia-chan." Ichimaru cocked his head at her, his ever-present grin widening with the increase of her alarm. "So, I came in his stead. Won't you play with me?"

...

Ulquiorra learned from an Arrancar servant from the kitchens, that the woman's meal had been ordered already. Picked up and served. He left in a much perplexed state. Were not the two women, Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki under his sole care? Agitatedly he crossed the great hall, taking long strides down the corridor he knew would eventually lead him to her cell.

Was it one of his superior's? Aizen-sama surely would've spoken to him if there had been any change in the routine. Ulquiorra's steps slowed. It had slipped his mind to request the Inoue woman's breakfast. He had become preoccupied with the Shinigami...no, orders came first. He had to ascertain Rukia Kuchiki's condition before attending to his other duties.

The door was unlocked. His hand fell from the keypad, seeing the familiar numerical code had already been input by another. His hearing, so much greater than a normal human's could discern the lust-filled grunts permeating outward. The walls and floor of the cell were infused with an ore that broke down spirit pressure so he could not sense the intruder's identity.

Nnoitra, he presumed. Anger rising at the thought of the deviant laying his filthy hands on Rukia.

The door slowly de-pressurized.

Then opened.

Gin Ichimaru glanced unconcernedly over his shoulder, slivers of red looked out from his narrow, pointed face. "Ah, 'Kyorra, fine day we're having, is it not?"

Ulquiorra didn't answer, his gaze fell to the small tear-stained face that was twisted his way. Rukia lay on her stomach, the hem of the plain yukata bunched up against the small of her back. Her slender legs were spread; Ichimaru was buried up to the hilt inside of her.

"It was so stimulating watching you take the little doll, that I just couldn't help myself!" Gin's smile was little more than a triumphant sneer. Ulquiorra kept his expression neutral, indifferent. "You are hurting her."

"Am I?" Gin made no attempt to move.

Rukia's face screamed the pain she could not say aloud.

Ulquiorra recognized this as a Shinigami binding spell. In the pockets of his hakama, his hands clenched. "You will damage her if you continue to use her this way." His voice was emotionless. Simply stating the fact without concern for the woman. That he was sure of. So, why did Ichimaru look at him that way?

"Care for a turn?" Ichimaru said impishly, standing suddenly, tidying his robes.

The woman's passage wept blood and semen.

Ichimaru had taken her dry and torn her apart.

Ulquiorra remained motionless by the door as the Shinigami went past him.

"You know, Rukia-chan is so nice and tight...I just may come for more.." Ichimaru's voice was gloating and his narrow red orbs brimmed with sickening satiation.

Rukia made not a sound, but her shoulders trembled just the slightest.

Ulquiorra dug his nails into his palms, listening to the fox-faced Shinigami's laughter as the door slowly closed behind him.

...

"Don't look at me." Her voice caught on the last word. Ulquiorra stared down at her impassively, then slowly turned and simply walked out. Rukia felt the invisible binds clasping her wrists loosen, her throat felt like sandpaper. It hurt to move. Why..her lips pressed to the padded floor, forming words even though no sound came out.

Why was she being made to suffer this-?

Her eyes closed with burning tears.

The door opened soundlessly. Rukia didn't hear it, didn't sense his approach, until a shadow fell over her. Her cheek scraped the padded surface, her head turning to the side. Ulquiorra knelt at her hip, a bowl of water and a small stack of clean towels lay folded neatly beside it. What was he-?

She flinched. She couldn't help it, as the first moistened cloth grazed the inner curve of her left cheek. "Don't move." His quiet voice warned. Rukia felt the embarrassment of the position she was in, yet it was lessened noticeably by the fact that he was nothing to her.

She didn't think she would've let Ichigo touch her in such an intimate way.

Water trickled, the burning soreness didn't fade.

His strokes were careful, wiping away the stickiness that clung to her skin. Once in a while she would hear the tinkle of water from the bowl as he dipped the towel in. Rukia looked once and saw it stained a brownish red. She didn't look anymore after that.

"You..didn't have to.." Rukia mumbled, forgetting his warning and jolting as he dipped in farther. "..do this." she finished uncomfortably. She wasn't sure if she was disappointed he made no reply or relieved that he said nothing as she couldn't stop the small movements of her body.

At one point his palm slid over her cheeks, gently easing them apart. She tensed, expecting the rough head of an engorged penis pushing eagerly at her, instead, the damp towel rubbed at her passage. She felt foolish then. Of course he knew better than to rape her so soon after...

She tried to stop the tiny whimper from slipping past her lips.

Ulquiorra heard it anyway.

Rukia knew she should've been ashamed, showing weakness to an enemy, but somehow...his touch felt like one given for comfort. Like the kind Ichigo would've given to comfort her.

...

"You want us to what!"

Yoruichi replied evenly, "keep your voice down."

Ichigo scowled, but did it for once. He was sure SoiFong honored her old mentor's request to visit them unaccompanied, which meant as well that there likely weren't many guards standing outside the single level building. If only he could get..

"Don't even think about it." she read his thoughts. "You'd never make it past Byakuya. Let alone there are limits to how much SoiFong trusts me. If you want this to work," her golden green eyes looked from him to Ishida and Chad, "then you're going to have to accept their terms."

"But, Rukia-!"

Yoruichi was only mildly surprised he hadn't mentioned Orihime. "Ms. Kuchiki..." she faltered, sensing Ichigo's intense amber eyes boring into her. "I believe is as you say, still alive, but held also by the enemy. To allay suspicion, you must appear as if you understand their reasons and won't go charging recklessly off to some failed mission the moment you're let go."

Ichigo was the only one who winced.

Ishida dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement. He could see the wisdom of this. Be on their best behavior and the Shinigami would see this and not keep them under such close watch. Sometime there would a chance to slip away, to go back.

Back to Hueco Mundo to rescue the friends they had left behind.

~To be continued~

AN: thanks for reading ^^

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Reviews appreciated! ^^