A/N: A bit of context - this bit takes place right after Yhwah's defeat.
Perhaps his remaining bonds are stronger than expected, or perhaps she is blinded by her love for Ichigo, for when Orihime arrives in Soul Society, she does not immediately recognize Aiezn's presence. He wagers it's a bit of both, though the second option seems to weigh heavier in the grand scheme of things. He watches as Orihime crouches by Ichigo, insisting she heal his cuts and scrapes. He sees how relieved she is to see Ichigo alive and well after yet another battle. How she smiles.
"It is good to see the sun shining again," says Aizen, from behind her, "Orihime."
Quick as a whip, she turns to face him, her smile gone and her eyes wide with fear. "Aizen-sama," she says. The minute the words are out, she clamps her hands over her pretty little mouth, shocked at the treachery of her own subconscious.
Aizen smiles smugly. It's been so long since someone's addressed him with respect.
"I was wondering when you might show up," he continues, approaching her slowly. Around them, there is chaos as the whole of Soul Society sets about healing the wounded and clearing the rubble. Aizen isn't naïve enough to think that the new Captain Commander has given him enough leeway to escape –he can feel Kyoraku's eye on him even now – but the frenetic pace of the work and the sheer magnitude of what must be done will at least give him a little time to settle certain things. "You've certainly been busy since we've last met," he says. "Haven't you, Orihime?"
She doesn't respond, but her terrorized scare is enough to let him know that his suspicions are correct.
Behind her, Ichigo stirs. Orihime nearly jumps out of her skin turning to look to him. "Don't move," she whispers, "please." When she turns to face Aizen again, she places herself directly in front of him, shielding him with her body. Aizen wonders if she has a plan, or if she is acting on instinct. Is she so love-struck that she plans to front the force of the blasts he might throw at Ichigo?
How very touching.
"You didn't answer my question, Orihime," says Aizen, "and yet I know you heard me. I can see it on your face." She pales. "You've been quite a pest, haven't you?"
From behind, Ichigo stirs, "what's he talking about, Inoue?"
Aizen raises an eyebrow, "you haven't told him?" he asks, smiling.
Bravely, Orihime raises her chin and retorts, "told him what?"
"The obvious, of course," says Aizen, dropping his smile, "that you destroyed the Hōgyoku."
Orihime gasps, her eyes filled with dread, her body trembling. Good, thinks Aizen. She should be scared. His wrath was immense when he realised that the gem he had spent decades pursuing had ceased to exist – it still is, and now that he has found the culprit, he means to see that she pays.
Behind her, Ichigo stands up slowly, his eyes fixed on Orihime, his face expressing both bewilderment and newfound respect.
"When," he asks, "when did you…"
"While you were fighting," she says, her eyes fixed on Aizen, "In Karakura town."
How interesting, thinks Aizen.
"H-how," sputters Orihime, her focus now completely on him, "how did you know?"
Aizen shakes his head, "really, Orihime," he says, grabbing her chin, "did you think I wouldn't find out?" He tightens his grip, allowing his hold to become painful, bruising her pretty face. "I thought your time in Las Noches would have taught you better than that," he says, letting go.
She stumbles backwards, to where Ichigo was a few seconds ago. Startled not to fall on him, she turns her head to find him standing shakily, preparing his attack.
Unflappable, Aizen moves towards her. "One lesson I'm sure you learnt," he says, pointing his finger towards her as he prepares a kido spell, "is that subordinates who displease me will be severely punished." Just then, he points his attack at Ichigo. "Kido 90," he says, "Kurohitsugi."
With a speed perhaps even she didn't know she could muster, Orihime jumps to block the blast.
"I reject," she cries, calling upon her peculiar powers to block the blast. A glowing shield, larger and stronger than the ones she summoned in the past, keeps his attack at bay. No matter, he should be able to shatter it soon enough, when suddenly –
Orihime's shield morphs. It becomes a sphere, containing within it his weakening kido. With considerable effort, she is reducing it, –no, she is rejecting its very existence.
"Clever girl," says Aizen, momentarily astounded by her display, "so that's how you did it," he mutters, thinking back to the trap he had set to guard the Hōgyoku. She barely notices, keeping her focus on the rapidly diminishing blast, not letting up until it is completely wiped away, replaced with the blinding light of Orihime's power.
She's barely finished this display, when Aizen feels his binds return tenfold.
"Playtime is over," says the new Captain Commander, tightening the binds with one hand as several over Shinigami pitch in and tipping his hat respectfully to Orihime with the other. Seeing him and the others, Orihime relaxes slightly.
It eventually takes the entire kido corps to re-apply the bindings to full capacity and to return Aizen to his cell. Throughout it all, Orihime keeps her eyes focused on Aizen. Her limbs tremble; her whole body begs her to collapse. She fights it, and forces herself to stand up straight. She will no longer be weak in front of him.
Ichigo joins her in her watch. Deftly, Orihime returns to healing his smaller wounds, barely taking her eyes off Aizen as she does so. Ichigo stays with her after she's done, watching over her as she watches over Aizen. Spotting this, he can see their shared future long before it happens. He can see the family they will be, long before a child is born.
He casts a glance at the girl who has just defeated him. Her expression is wary, insecure. From it, Aizen wagers that this is not the last he will see of Orihime Inoue.
A quick thank you to everyone who's left a review/favorited/followed this fic. You're all exceedingly lovely.