Chapter 5, guys! Thank you, thank you, thank youuuuu~ so much to the reviewers and subscribers! I'm always happy to see these notifications pop-up on my inbox! :D

I know I haven't uploaded in God knows how many weeks, but you'll be happy to know that more chapters will be uploaded for my two month holiday has finally begun! So please keep reading and please keep reviewing, as this all pleases me, :)

Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, in all my wishful-thinking-ness, ever, own Bleach.


"Stay here. Someone will soon come by to escort you later into my Lab for the examination." Szayel announced by the doorway.

We both nodded in reply as Szayel pulls the door to a close. So we were stuck in a cell, again, but only this time we're not going to over think of a plan on getting out. The cell didn't really look any different than the one we were in before; there's still the blue couch on the left accompanied with a large red rug underneath. Though the high barred-window in the middle didn't show the bright crescent moon and the only door of the room was positioned to the left compared to the other cell that had the door in the middle. Still, it carried the gloomy and indistinct feeling, just as a cell should be.

"Pfft. I don't know what you see in Mr. Pinky-Four-Eyes. He's such a party pooper!" Kaye sighed and made her way to the blue couch. She dropped the front of her body down, taking up the whole couch, and yawned loudly.

"You suck! He's hot as! I've been like holding in the chance to just jump him but then it'd be way too weird, y'know?"

"Hah! I was so expecting you'd latch onto the guy the second we walked outta that room! I'm surprised you held it in - good on you!"

I rolled my eyes and smirked; even I'm not that stupid to just run up and tackle a stranger, even though I knew the said stranger. I walked up and sat on the rug while my head leaned back against the couch's seat.

"'Ey, Rie, what was that... uh... 'parallel world', you were on about?"

"Hm? That? I dunno, just an idea that made sense... or, maybe I got that idea from another anime...? Meh, either way."

"... The idea made senseee..."

"Yeah... but you know... since we got here, everything's... been happening all too smoothly... it's just hard to believe that-"

I immediately shut my mouth. 'Dammit! I said to myself I wouldn't let Kaye worry about the reality of our situation! Her optimism would waver!' I turned my head and noticed that Kaye had already fallen asleep. I breathed out a sigh. 'Thank god'. I checked on her for a few seconds if she was really asleep before staring up at the ceiling.

Things have been going rather lucky for us; and to me, that makes it hard to believe. I recapped back to what had happened with Aizen and his offer. What if I had chosen the other option and died then; what were the chances we'd wound up back at the park? I thought back to the seemingly-truthful explanation and how they bought it so well. Heck, if I were them, I would have called the bluff and stabbed us. But, I guess I am thankful that they're keeping us alive and we get to live out our dream of being Arrancars... serving under Lord Aizen... '('We're forever yours, faithfully, Lord Aizen Souske')... oh. Holy shit. I just quoted 'Journey' didn't I?'

And with that final thought, I drifted off to sleep.

...

"Um? W-What?

Who are-Wait-!

...

Quit yelling! I don't understand you...

...

C-Calm down, you're talk-

...

N-Nno...

...

S-Stop it! Stop! Let me go!

NO NO!

SHUT UP!"

...

"GUAAAAHH...!" My eyes shot open as I desperately grabbed the shirt of my heavy chest, taking in deep breaths. 'Wha-What was that?'. I stared numbingly into the ruby rug and calmed myself down while recollecting my puzzling dream. The harder I tried to remember the more it faded away from my mind. 'Voices... Damn loud ones... And something about... this world... and, what?' I exhaled once more and leaned my head back to the couch's seat in submission. That was definitely the weirdest dream I've ever had; well, except for the dream in which I undoubtedly think I am still currently under in...?

I turned to Kaye who was restlessly asleep on the blue couch. I was about to yell at her to wake up until the creak of the door opening made me stop and turn. Ulquiorra had walked in with his emerald orbs piercing right at me. Damn, those eyes could glisten~!

"Get up. Szayel Aporro wishes to see you."

I smiled politely at him, getting the message, and started shaking Kaye. It took a good six mighty shakes on the arm to get her to open her eyes and one smack on the head for her to fully be awake.

"Kaye, wake up. Ulquiorra's here. And Szayel's calling us." I pulled Kaye to her feet as she smacks her cheeks to show that she's wide awake. We walked out of the cell and followed Ulquiorra to where the Octava's Lab would be.

Utter silence. The march was filled with an awkward silence and well, it didn't really bother me but Kaye just couldn't handle the quietness. So she started talking.

"Hey hey, Ulquiorra~ how come you always had that green streak on your face? Does it come off? And whadda 'bout your helmet? It must be hard sleeping with it. I wouldn't like it if I couldn't sleep on my sides, that's the most comfy position, y'know! Oh! One time..."

"Jeez, Kaye... shh." I patted her shoulders to get her attention and pointed to the person in front. Ulquiorra had been slightly dragging his feet ever since Kaye started mention his attributes. His perfect posture lowered a tiny bit and it seemed like he was scrunching up a fist inside his pockets. Ulquiorra was in fact, getting irritated. 'Heh, so this guy does have some emotion in him...' Kaye quietly giggled at the sight and soon his perfect steps and posture were back as we kept silent for the duration of the march.

Finally we'd arrived at the door of Szayel's Lab. A click echoed on the knob and it automatically slipped open. Ulquiorra lead the way inside and since there wasn't much lighting in the room, I couldn't help not sticking somehow close to the Cuatro. My beloved Szayel's lab was... beyond scaaaaary! The place was below room temperature, dim, reeked of pure foulness and I swear those blobs inside those cylinder tubes were moving. 'Why is my Szayel so sexy yet so freaky?' I was too conscious of my surroundings that the loud shattering behind made me yelp out loud. Me and Ulquiorra twisted around to the source of the wreck.

"O-Oops!" Kaye sheepishly said and distancing away from the indigo splatter on the floor.

"Kaye!" I cried. 'Don't be stupid at a time like this!' My chest marched on a thousand miles and my mind ran wild imaginations as I shuddered at the thought of an arm snaking its way up my leg from the pavement and dragging me down with it.

"Hey you, don't mindlessly go around touching my experiments." Szayel stepped in from the door frame up ahead with a clipboard under one arm. 'My hero! My prince!' is what I would have said, had I not known he was the one who owns this creepy horror house.

"Szayel Aporro, I have brought what you've ordered. If you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave." The pale-skinned Cuatro nodded slightly before using sonido to escape.

"Then, follow me to the other room. And don't touch anything." Szayel stared down at my chestnut-haired friend, directing the final order to her. Szayel then clicked his heels and pivot to march back in to the door frame with us following behind.

We passed a room that had more lighting (thank heavens) and had a large technical machinery surrounding the edges of the room and attached to it were multiple screens, keyboards, buttons and wires. There was also a vacant stainless table spaced well in the middle of the room. Szayel turns to the right and leads us into another part of the room full of neglected machinery. He takes us to a clear table bench where two folded fabrics were neatly laid out.

"Strip off all your current vile attires and wear the garments on the bench." he points to our clothes and trailed over to the bench. "I will be preparing the equipments in the other room, so hurry up with your change and meet me back." Szayel then walks out and left us with our privacy.

I held open the garment out in front of me. 'A freaking nightgown?' It was a long t-shirt and went down just above the knees. I couldn't help but look at it with mild disgust: it was pink. Pink with purple polka dots as its pattern. 'Why, Szayel, why?'. He's the only weirdo in Hueco Mundo that would use these colors on practically anything, and I sure wish someone would stop him from time-to-time. Kaye stared at it blandly and had agreed this type of gown was a fashion disaster.

"It can't be helped," I sighed. "We have to get this over and done with." I took the gown and started getting changed into it. I loosened down my hair and stroked out a few twining strands on my midnight blue hair. I slipped out of my clothes (keeping my undergarments on) and folded each article, despite its stained and tattered state, and put on the night gown. True, the fabric was soft and it felt breezy but the design was just not my taste. I stared down at our old clothes we had neatly stacked on the bench. My sleeveless peach shirt had been ripped from one side and my black denim shorts were covered in dust. Kaye's dress had lost its bright teal color and both our footwear were tearing from the sole. To think that the clothes we had chosen that morning would end up thrashed in a place like this. Man, If I'd known we'd ended up in Bleach that day, I would have dressed more suitably. I tapped the stack gently before leaving the room with my best friend.

'Definitely. Definitely. We're definitely returning back home in one piece; even the clothes we had on.'