The Black Phoenix
Chapter 8: Retaliation
Last Time:
Grimmjow watched her and heard her breathing slow down. She sleeps so easy in my presence. Why? Why did she save me? Damn Ulquiorra I'll kill that bastard yet! And I am not sleeping on the floor! Grimmjow got to his feet and jumped on the foot of the bed turning so that he was facing the door. He stretched out and laid down, he looked at the sleeping woman one last time before falling into a light sleep so that if anyone opened the door he'd be awake instantly.
Now:
Kage woke several hours later her headache finally gone, though the soreness still remained. Grimmjow's eye opened as she rolled over at it had all night. " Oh man what a night.." She mumbled and Grimmjow gave her a cat's grin. "So Shirorei, Do you know where the food is??" Just as she finished her words the door popped open and in walked Ulquiorra. Kage crab-walked backwards until she was next to Shirorei. "Come woman. Master Aizen doesn't want you getting sick from lack of eating before you start training." Grimmjow had started growling when he saw Ulquiorra and it had gotten louder when the human had scrambled next to him. The scent of fear normally exhilarated him but the scent of her fear made him sick. "I will show you the kitchens so you can prepare your own food." As Kage got off the bed she tightened her hand around Mirzam. I am here beloved. Don't worry he can't hurt you.
Kage walked past him into the hall careful to keep one eye on the massive panther that accompanied them. "You surprised Master Aizen, girl." Kage looked up at the hollow her emerald eyes glinting in the dim light above them. "How did I do that hollow?" The pair of eyes so similarly colored to her own met her gaze. "I am Ulquiorra, A Vasto Lorde. And you would do well to remember that girl." She looked the hollow in the eye and snarled like her captain. "I am Tsukakage Ukitake, when you use my name I'll use yours...Hollow!" Grimmjow snorted in amusement at the furious look in Aizen's pets eyes, he couldn't hurt the woman as she was important to his masters plans. "Very well.......Tsukakage."Her eyes lost a small bit of the fire and her hand absently went to the panthers shoulder. "Ulquiorra, What did you mean by my training?" He smirked at her before walking off and hearing her have to jog to match his elongated strides.
"Master Aizen wants to learn the limits of your power. And to learn your limits we must refine and train you." he said as they walked down the while stone hallways. Grimmjow looked at Kage, seeing her torn and bloody clothes, he could smell his own blood soaked into the cloth. Kage followed the hollow, gently keeping one hand on the panther's shoulder. That was the easy part since Shirorei came up to the middle of her upper arm. Ulquiorra was surprised how her spiritual-pressure soothed and boosted his own, Aizen-sama was right she was deadly. As they came around a blind corner Kage saw someone she knew. "Orihime!!!!!!"The lighter red-turned and darted towards her friend arms extended, when they clashed it was so loud that Ulquiorra wondered if either had broken a bone. The two women chatted as the Hollows followed silently,Orihime turned and grabbed a door nearly invisible in the wall. "Here is the kitchen Kage-chan." Orihime opened the door and the two went inside followed by their hollow guardians. As Kage cooked and they ate the two women had no idea what was going on in their home world.
-Soul Society-
The captains had returned to soul society to tell head captain Yamamoto what had happened. Hitsugaya was devastated Kage had called for his help but he wasn't fast enough to get to her in time. The captains gathered with their lieutenants in the captains hall, awaiting the attention of the old man currently buried in paperwork. "Where is young Kage? And you are supposed to be on vacation so why are you here?" It was Jushiro who answered the Head-Captain. "Momo betrayed us and lured Kage to a remote location where she was captured."The old man dropped his quill and the fire behind his eyes burned brightly. "Can you prove this?"Hitsugaya stepped forwards and looked to the head captain. "Kage was helping me train a new ability and she used it to show me what happened. Hyorinmaru Mirror dance!" The dragon appeared and curled into its self until only its head was visible above a glimmering mirror surface. The scene Kage had showed the dragon played again, and the men and women in the room heard their Zanpaktou cry out in rage. Ichigo pointed to the hollow who hit Kage to knock her out. "That's Ulquiorra. One of Aizen's arrancar."
The old man got to his feet and it was then that the captains noticed the thin black fleece robe he was wearing, it had a massive phoenix stitched into it from the sleeves that bore incredibly detailed wings to the back where the head and main body were displayed. In the birds talons a plaque where his squad number was stitched in shining silver thread. Yachiru gasped and chirped. "Wolfy-chan made that I saw her sewing it between her classes." Yamamoto was furious. Aizen had crossed the last line, Kage hadn't even known about the war. But his quest for power had dragged that sweet young woman into it. "Enough is enough. Aizen can not be allowed to do as he pleases, Kage must be returned to her rightful home here in the Soul Society. I hereby declare war on Huceo Mundo!!! Captains follow me into the war room, Lieutenants be ready for your captains return." They could feel the white hot rage coming off the head captain, they knew Kage had made an impression on the captain-commander. But the extent was never known until Aizen made that fatalistic mistake by taking her away.
-Back in Huceo Mundo-
Orihime were sitting at a small round table as she watched Kage move around the kitchen gathering and preparing ingredients. "How did they get you Kage? I told you what happened to me after that fight with the arrancar Grimmjow Jaggerjack." She heard a rather nasty growl that even made the panther's head snap up to stair at the redhead. "I was betrayed." Kage took a deep breath and the growling stopped. "Momo said she wanted a walk and lead me to a shrine..."As Kage talked the knife in her hand chopped the meat exceptionally fine. Orihime couldn't believe it. It was exactly as Rukia predicted, that Momo would do anything to return to Aizen's side. Orihime heard Kage set the knife down and use the cutting board to transfer it to the pot on the stove. " I..." She heard the suppressed tears in Kage's voice. Orihime could see the fine tremors that racked Kage's body, it was her sheer force of will that she was using to try and suppress her emotions. "I miss my brothers. I want to doze off on Kenny-chan or talk about points of view with Sajin. I want to listen to Mayuri talking about the chemicals I got him for Christmas. Or brushing Yumichika's hair while he does paperwork. I miss pestering Ru-chan into doing her paperwork. I miss eating ice-cream with Hitsugaya or swordsmanship with Captain Kuchiki. I miss Ichigo and Renji's fights. Chad's gentle strength. Kisuke..Tessai." Kage was shaking so fiercely that Orihime got up and wrapped her friend in her arms. "I miss them too."
Grimmjow felt her spiritual-pressure rise tremendously in just a few seconds, he panted softly at how it rolled over, through and strengthened him. He heard Ulquiorra gasp as his fellow Arrancar's hand clutched his Zanpaktou's hilt. "So this is what Soul Society was protecting." Both women whirled around to see the door way was full of hollows and three men. "Who the hell are you!" Kage growled settling into a defensive position sliding Orihime behind her. "I am your master now, you will serve me." The blind man was silent as he reached for Shirorei, a collar in hand. Kage noticed that the panther was trying to move, but the brown haired man had drawn his Zanpaktou. She saw every one's eyes dim and charged the man recklessly.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!!" She screamed as the Mirzam's tip went through the blind man's hand, as her body collided with his. Kaname screamed as liquid fire ran through his veins, the woman's impact causing the blade to be shifted at an angle and driven deeper into his hand. One of the other Arrancar dragged Kage off of him even though she was still swinging her sword. "Stop. If you don't I'll kill the cat." Kage stopped swinging and just dangled from the hands that held her. Grimmjow was astonished she valued his life over her own freedom. Why? His mind asked again and again. "What is your name girl?" Kage's head came up and her eyes locked on the woman standing at the man's side. "For your betrayal Momo I will kill you."Her eyes had never held such a savage look and it frightened Momo for a moment, until she felt Aizen next to her. She was safe the stupid girl could never get her because Captain Aizen was here. Kage turned her eyes to the brown haired man."I am Tsukakage." Was all she said, the arrancar holding her was careful as he held her around the waist.
" I am Aizen,I promise if you obey me and no harm will come to you, the cat or your friend." The man smirked. "He has a name you pompous bastard."Kage hissed at him. One of the men next to him stepped forwards and backhanded Kage across the face, Kage fell into blissful darkness. Aizen looked at his fellow former captain who had back-handed the woman-child for her disrespect, and probably for her controlling his Zanpaktou. "Gin you made me break a promise....." he trailed off with a look. Gin lost his smile as his eyes widened slightly in fear. "You will report to me tonight for punishment." Gin nodded before speaking. "Yes master Aizen." He looked at the arrancar who held the knocked out woman.
"Take her to her room Stark, remain until she awakens to inform her of her training schedule." The arrancar nodded before departing the room. He turned to Orihime who was ladling soup into a thick porcelain bowl. "Ah good woman Orihime-chan, your friend hasn't eaten in the three days she has been here." Orihime covered the bowl with a lid before setting it on a rolling cart, followed by a carafe of tea and a pair of glasses. The last thing she set on the cart was a set of napkin wrapped utensils. Grimmjow followed and easily kept ahead of Orihime leading her towards Kage's room.
-Kage's Room-
Stark had gently set the young human on her bed, she seemed so frail to him. Her crimson hair glinted in the moonlight. Her black jeans and simple silvery-blue silk top seemed slightly elegant on the woman. Stark had never seen such a woman before the female arrancar were very cold and self-absorbed. He had seen her give up her chance at freedom to save that idiot Grimmjow, he heard the door opening and turned his head to see the other human. She was pushing a cart with food and drink loaded atop it, following her was Grimmjow. "Stark-san, How is she?" The second human's voice was quiet as she posed her question to him. "She is still unconscious. Though she will have a large bruise from Gin's hand." Orihime nodded and was about to speak again when a keening sound rose from Kage's throat and the woman in question moved. "Owwy, that hurt." Kage's brilliant emerald eyes found Stark's deep blue. "Who are you?" The Arrancar was astounded by the kindness he found in her eyes. "I am Stark."She nodded before looking around slightly panicked. "Where is Shirorei?" Stark's eyebrow raised as Grimmjow walked over to the bedside and allowed the woman to wrap her arms around his neck. "I thought that blind idiot was going to kill you." A tear dripped onto Grimmjow's armor and he was shocked yet again by this human woman, She cared what happened to him and had injured Kaname on his behalf.