Orihime stared out the slim window of her sleeping quarters at the eternally pitch black sky, with only the faintest glimmer of light from the moon illuminating the scene. She was so used to the still life outside that she didn't really need to look. A mental visualization wouldn't have made any difference. It wasn't like the updated image would be any different. Not that there was much to see. At least if there was, Orihime couldn't. The dim light of the moon barely set the boundary line for her between the desert it overlooked and a window painted black.
What had once been an interconnected series of several beautifully furnished chambers had now been reduced to a single room containing a suspended wooden cot, and an inlet that barely contained the chamber pot within. Upon entering this room, one could see their reflection peering down at them from an incredibly narrow sliver of a window pane several meters up high, embedded in the opposing wall. In order to be able to obtain the proper viewing experience from it, you would have no choice but to stand as far behind as you could and tilt your neck back until you felt it would snap off your shoulders. Orihime was used to this sensation. She had experienced it so much for the past two years, the tendons in her neck had developed quite a flexibility. It wasn't like there was anything else to do besides stare out the window. Orihime could always leave the room and go exploring the castle. But it would be impossible to do so without encountering a servant who would quickly usher her back to her room, reminding her of Lord Aizen's orders. Around the time her brother vanished, his trusted chief-adviser had diagnosed her with incredibly poor health, blaming it on her depression after her brother's disappearance and the living conditions of her bedroom suite. Despite her feeble protests, he quickly assigned her a new bedroom "which was sturdier" and urged her to lie in bed until her illness passed. He hadn't exactly forbidden her from leaving it, but if he ever crossed paths with her when she sneaked out, or if she asked permission to walk on the grounds of Las Noches or visit one of the villages, he would calmly yet firmly say that doing so was an unwise idea, lest she jeopardize her well-being. If she ever insisted that she was starting to feel better, he would sadly shake his head and express his despair over the fact that her fever had affected her mental condition so much to the point where she really believed that she was better despite her ghastly appearance. Orihime would then feel so apprehensive that she would zoom back to bed. Aizen insisted that her meals be brought to her and her ladies in waiting were ordered to come and bathe her every morning. As a result, she never really left the room very much.
"But today is going to be different" Orihime said to herself, confidently.
"I really truly feel better now! And today I'm finally going to do it! I'm going to ask Lord Aizen! Now that it's my sixteenth birthday, he'll have to say yes! I'm sure of it! I can feel it in my bones!"
With a reassuring smile at her reflection, she assertively nodded and swiveled around to the door. Firmly grasping the handle, she zoomed out like a speeding cero, drunk on the rush of adrenaline she felt at the mock sensation of doing something forsaken.
"I hope one of the fracciones don't catch me!" thought Orihime.
"Or even worse, Ulquiorra"
Lord Ulquiorra was one of the espada nobles. Holding the fourth rank for power and prestige, he was one of Aizen's favorite ministers. Yet despite the ownership of this coveted favor that many had (supposedly) died in a (fruitless) attempt to attain, he was one of the most melancholy people Orihime had ever met. The white part of his overlarge, green eyes seemed to be dyed scarlet from (presumably) crying and his clammy, grayish skin gave off the impression that he was a reanimated cadaver. His voice was etched with the resonance of a thousand eternally tormented sinners and every time he spoke, Orihime felt like all the warmth in her body was being drained at an alarming rate. On one occasion he caught her trying to play outside her room. When, he obstinately insisted that she go back, she was foolish enough to try to run past him. He was standing right outside the doorway of the room she tried to hide in. Almost like he had been waiting for her to run in. He did not give off the slightest impression that he was short of breath or sweaty. It was as though he had disappeared into thin air and materialized right outside.
"Lord Aizen would prefer it if you remained within your chambers" He had said with a sharp but subtle malicious edge in his monotonous voice.
"I will not say this again"
Orihime was so shaken by the unnerving ordeal that she refused to leave her chamber for three months.
"Even Sora hated him" She thought to herself as she raced along the corridors
"The only reason he was even made an espada was because Lord Aizen insisted. He must have called in every single favor my family ever owed him in order to get my brother to agree"
"I really hope I don't run into him. Or worse; I hope he hasn't seen me without me knowing!"
The thought of the possibility of Ulquiorra following her was enough to slow Orihime's running down to a power walk and she could feel her knees going limp. Perhaps it would be a better idea to just go back to her room... what she wanted wasn't really that important...
"NO!" She thought fiercely, summoning every last ounce of willpower she had as she walked towards the council chambers.
"I've waited two years for this. And I'm going to turn sixteen now. I'm-I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm going to be a lady. And Ulquiorra can't tell a lady what to do-right? Oh, what am I thinking? He'll be in the meeting room with the other Espada. I don't have anything to worry about yet"
Upon that thought, Orihime came to the realization that she was in front of the entrance to the council chamber. Every single fear that she was harboring in her mind about her future actions came lurching up her throat. She instinctively placed a hand over her mouth in a desperate urge not to vomit. As she leaned against the surrounding wall, she steadied herself, harvesting every last ounce of courage in her heart. Even the smallest amount could mean the difference.
She pressed her back against the wall and strained her hearing. Lord Aizen and the espada were in a meeting. They always were at this time. All she had to do was wait until it ended. Aizen would b the first to exit. And then she would have her chance.
"You can do this Orihime" She whispered comfortingly
"...you can do this Orihime...you can do it. You just have to wait for your chance..."
"Aaahhhh"
Orihime felt her skin go limp as she opened her eyes. Peering up at her was a scrawny, adolescent boy with straw colored hair, a scattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose, and buck teeth.
"Oh no" Moaned Orihime, silently.
"Not you, Wonderweiss"
Wonderweiss was Director-General Tosen's page boy. He was an orphaned hollow who had been pitied and turned into an arrrancar. This was highly unusual, as only the hollows chosen during the Festival of Masks were legible. To give a poor, single-souled hollow the honor was unheard of. Perhaps it was this reason that the Hogyaku had malfunctioned halfway through the process and left the boy mentally impaired and incapable of comprehensive speech. Despite this, he was permitted to remain within Las Noches as a servant. He had ended up taking a shine to Tosen and the regent had taken him under his wing. Wonderweiss trailed after the dark-skinned Director-General wherever he went and it was for this reason that he was allowed to be in the Meeting Room.
"Aaaaaaaaaah" cooed the arrancar again.
"Please be quiet, Wonderweiss" pleaded Orihime as silently as she could.
"I don't want Lord Aizen to know I'm here yet"
If Wonderweiss understood what Orihime was saying, he gave no sign of it. Instead, he simply crouched down and began chewing on the hem of her dress.
"Wonderweiss, please stop that!" Begged the Princess, trying to yank her clothing out of reach. Unfortunately, he efforts were in vain and it was as if she was trying to yank her apparel out of quicksand.
"Please!"
"What is this?" came a cool voice .
The princess immediately forgot about her attempts to free her clothing and straightened her back like it was automatic.
"L-Lord Aizen!" She squeaked!
"I'm sorry to disturb you. I was waiting outside for you to finish your meeting because I wanted to talk to you and I didn't want to be rude and interrupt so I waited for you to go out because I knew you would be the first to leave the waiting room and then I tried to-"
"You have already interrupted me. Tell me what it it you want" Aizen cut through her prattle like a knife of sugar.
"Umm.. sorry-again. But um...you see. I't's my sixteenth birthday"
"I am already aware"
"So...I guess this means that I'm of age..."
"You have not guessed incorrectly. What does this inference make you think it's safe to assume?"
"Well...I was wondering...if maybe I could attend the Festival of Masks this year? I haven't seen it for two years...and I really want to go... I miss the bright colors and the singing and the dancing...it's so beautiful and fun. Now that I'm sixteen..." the Princess trailed off, hoping that her previous points would be enough to support her argument
"Orihime" Said Aizen in a voice that sounded kind, but was highlighted with a metalic edge.
"Yes...Lord Aizen?"
"Do you recall what my orders were regarding you?"
"Umm.. stay in the castle until my health improves?"
"And which physician inserted the lie that states aging results in recovery into your head?"
"Ummm...I just assumed that now-"
"What makes you think that your well-being would not be compromised in a crowded street full of common hollows?"
"Well..."
"In conclusion, my dear, I see no reason for you to risk your precious life simply because it is a holiday. I don't care if it is your thousandth birthday. I will not allow my pride and joy to leave this castle. I promised your brother that I would look after you. And that is what I intend to do until my last breath. I surely hope for your brother's sake that you want me to break a promise I made to the dead?" Aizen raised an eyebrow in a single, fluid motion.
Orihime felt as though her entire body were crumbling to dust. All of a sudden she was hit with a tsunami of guilt and shame that nearly issued a reappearance for her breakfast. She hung her head, well aware of the Espadas's condescending stares boring through her. She would not have been surprised if she found a series of hollow holes throughout her body when she was changing her clothes.
"Ok" She whispered, trying to hold back the tears with every fiber of her being. She couldn't bare to remain in the meeting room for a second longer. If she did, the Espada would see her cry.
She whirled around and marched away from the room at full speed, desperately trying to keep her composure. In the midst of all her shame and despair, she heard an amused voice say "Way to put a damper on the girl's spirit's Aizen. You really can be a stone heart sometimes." She recognized it as native to Director-General Gin.
SHe knew that she was supposed to return to her sleeping quarters but for some reason, she found herself instinctively walking past them. Ifshe returned, she knew she would find her ladies-in-waiting there, with an arsenal of cutting remarks about her sneaking out. And she just wasn't ready for that yet. If she was going to be able to face Loly and Menoly, then she was going to need a place to gather her courage. And that place was the kitchen. Ever since her brother's disappearance, it had been her one refuge in the castle. The only place where she could escape Aizen, Gin, Tosen, the Espada, and their fracciones. None of them would enter it because they refused to be in the same room with the ordinary servants. But Orihime didn't care about that.
She walked through the doors and was overwhelmed by the familiar scent of pastries and kindness. She closed her eyes as she exhaled the aura of comfort.
"Hello Dear. What brings you to this part of Las Noches?" Came a motherly voice.
Orihime opened her eyes to find a plump, friendly looking froglike hollow named Mary. She was one of the cooks and the closest thing Orihime ever had to a mother. She had also been her nanny when she was a baby. She had also been Sora's nanny, and her parents. In fact, nobody could ever remember a time when she hadn't looked after the royal family. Legend had it that the three advisors were nowhere near as old as she was. For the past couple of years, she was the only constant in Orihime's life and the only one she could ever find solace in.
At the sight of her beloved ex-nurse, Orihime felt her emotional barriers shatter like ice and the tears came flooding out before she had time to take a breath. She felt so overwhelmed that she really did fall to her knees.
"There, there" muttered Mary softly.
"Tell your old Mary what's the matter. She's here to listen"
Orihime was crying so hard that she couldn't even form any words out of her mouth. She tried to speak but every time she opened her mouth, her throat would get clogged up with emotion and she would just end up letting out more sobs.
Mary understood Orihime's grief and simply wrapped her arms around her.
"Whenever you're ready to talk, my dear. "
After what seemed like an eternity, the princess finally managed to form coherent words with her mouth again. Finally, with the help of willpower and deep inhalations, she managed to spit out the story of what happened in the Meeting Room.
"That bastard, Aizen" Snapped Mary irritably.
"He's got the whole of Hueco Mundo under the impression that your a sickly little waif who drops by Death's home every day for a game of cards. He's so good with deceit that he's got you believing it as well"
Orihime looked up puzzled.
"I'm sorry Orihime but it's high time that you grew out of all this "poor health" nonsense that Aizen's spooning down your throat. Don't you think that if you were ill then you would have felt a symptom or two by now?"
"Lord Aizen says that my problems are in my soul. I have a low spiritual pressure. He can sense it. He says that the only way that I can restore it is by getting lots of rest-"
"Tish-Tosh!" Exclaimed Mary.
"I can sense your spiritual pressure right now, and let me assure you it's at a level that is perfectly normal for a girl your age! Aizen's just telling you that so that you can be confined to your chamber while he's free to rule Hueco Mundo however he pleases!"
"Mary, you mustn't say that about Lord Aizen!" Cried Orihime. Everybody knew that every inch of Las Noches was equipped with security cameras. If Mary was heard talking about Lord Aizen like that, she could receive a serious penalty.
"Oh, let the slippery old pike come after me! I'm dieing to give him a sample of my cero. Just let him try to take me out. I'm actually looking forward to it!" Sputtered Mary.
"Orihime, do you know why I continue to work for that conniving scoundrel year after year? What in the world is stopping me from going to the world of the living and putting in a request for a Zanpakuto?"
Orihime blushed, stupidly.
"I-I don't know"
"It's because one of these days, you are going to take back your kingdom and I want a front row seat when you do!"
Orihime blushed, too stunned by her nursemaid's change of discourse to say anything.
"Let me tell you something, young lady. It's time you saw what Aizen is doing to your people. You've been living in a sheltered bubble for these past years, oblivious to his effects on the kingdom. You need to get out there and see for yourself. No, I'm not talking about the city where all the high-status arancar snobs live-oh they're doing just fine! I'm talking about the nearby villages. In fact, you owe it to your subjects to witness their lives first hand. Nobody in Las Noches is going to tell you the truth so it's up to you!"
"But-but how would I get there? Lord Aizen wouldn't allow it"
"Aizen wouldn't like it if you did so. But there's really nothing he could do about it! You are the princess of Hueco Mundo. It is your duty to be up-to-date with your subject's living conditions! He can't bloody tell you not to do your royal duties. And no matter what half brained excuse he has about your spirit energy, he doesn't have the power to forbid you to do anything! For the love of Mike, YOU'RE THE PRINCESS! HE'S JUST A REGENT LEFT IN CHARGE OF GOVERNING UNTIL YOU ARE OF AGE! HE HAS NO FRINKING AUTHORITY OVER YOU WHATSOEVER! WHY IS THAT SUCH A DIFFICULT CONCEPT?"
Orihime was so startled by this random change in her usually, soft spoken nurse's behavior that she could do nothing but numbly nod.
"I'll go get ready"