Blue Skies And Black Hearts

Chapter 3 – Las Noches

My eyes fluttered open and I found myself flopping around like a fish on Yammy's very uncomfortable shoulder.

"Hey! Asshole! What the hell!" I snapped.

"At last you're up. And watch your mouth!" Yammy growled.

"Fuck off!" My words were laced in ice.

Before Yammy could say or do anything Ulquiorra spoke. "Enough, both of you. We are here."

"Where? Put me down so I can see," I commanded. My spark had returned along with my strength.

"Don't Yammy," Ulquiorra ordered. At first, I thought he told the brute not to listen to me until Yammy groaned. "Put her down."

"What if she runs?" Yammy questioned.

I turned and saw Ulquiorra shoot him a dangerous look. "Do as you're told."

Yammy complied, struck with slight fear. I landed on my feet and looked at the huge structure before me. It stood out like a dome, surrounded by other cylinder-shaped buildings. It looked like a sand castle made on the beach. The dome's top hosted five other towers. The entire fortress, including its much smaller neighbors, was white. A white palace that, I had a feeling, held some pretty dark things.

Ulquiorra began walking forward and we followed. "Los Noches," he said.

As we got closer, I noticed the outside walls were wiped smooth from the sand. We entered the building and I noticed the ceiling first. It was tall and wide, it stimulated the blue sky that was known in my world. Or, at least, the Human World, the place I never belonged to. Awestruck, I ran my hand along the nearest column and repeated said gesture as we moved through the large room. I had to admit, I liked this place.

Then I remembered why I was here.

I dropped my hand and followed Ulquiorra up a set of stairs that I didn't even realize was there. I wondered idly if Ichigo and the others were looking for me. I wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for Ichigo's recklessness with Ulquiorra. Then again, I wouldn't be in this mess if I didn't fight with Rukia. I, foolishly, let my temper get the best of me. And, still, I lost. I would beat her next time, if there will be a next time, I thought depressedly.

I was taken from my thoughts when a large set of doors opened. The next room was large, but smaller than the first. The walls were the same white and, in the center, was an extremely long table with five chairs positioned on each side and one on each end. I counted seven, who were dressed like my bitter companions, who sat in the side chairs and one occupied the far seat with two others on both sides. It looked like there was a meeting going on. All those who were there went silent upon our entrance and twenty eyes were on us. It felt as though their eyes fell on me in particular and, for pride's sake, I kept my head held high.

My eyes followed the left side up. The first chair was occupied by a man. He had wavy, shoulder-length dark brown hair that was unkempt and parted down the center. On his chin was a faded ghost of a goatee. His creepy skull remnant was a fanged bottom jaw that lies along his neck as though it was a necklace. He had a lazy, unenthused look on his face, like he wanted to go back to bed.

After him was a really old guy, and I mean old. To prove this, his moustache and hair were as white as fresh snow. His wrinkled face was lined by scars in the left side of his chin and across hi right eye. Despite his aged looks, he was quite stocky and muscular, like Yammy next to me. I noticed he wore a regal white coat with fur lining and his overall appearance gave him the look of a Viking Lord. He had a five pointed crown just above his forehead and his expression held arrogance and frustration to our sudden interruption.

Well, suck it up old man.

Next to him was, surprisingly, a woman. She had dark skin and messy blond hair. She also had three locks, which were tied at the bottom, hanging in her face. Her jacket covered the lower half of her face downward and stopped just below her breasts. I figured her remnants were somewhere around there. Her expression was clam and she kept her eyes on me the entire time.

The chair after her was empty, but after was a really freaky looking guy. Even sitting he was my height, perhaps taller, and I could only imagine how tall he truly was. He was very thin and lanky. His face was set in a huge smile, that openly revealed hi upper teeth. His black hair hung past his shoulders, concealing the left side of his face. I noticed he had a white eye patch that disappeared under that hair. His open eye reminded me of a snake's and I felt that eye go over my body with lust. I felt a shiver run down my spine and I shuddered.

On the other side, in the first chair, was another guy. He held my attention the most. I have to admit he was the least creepy one here, along with the best looking. He had light blue spiky hair and eyes. Below them were blue markings like that of a cat. Even he had a weird skull piece on his face, but it just seemed to fit him. It looked like a right jawbone. He looked laid back and irreverent, but I saw a fire in his eyes that told me his looks were deceiving.

I tore my eyes away from him to the next guy. He was bigger in both size and brawn, but smaller than Yammy, with slightly larger lips than the rest. He was bald, but had a row of bony spikes along the crest of his head, resembling a Mohawk. He wore a pair of skull shaped earrings and a thick bony necklace that made him look like some kind of witch doctor. His chin supported three triangle shaped tattoos and had four lines running down from his forehead directly above his eyes that end with sots like exclamation points. These were on both sides of his head resulting in eight lines. His expression was calm and completive.

Next to him was a man with shoulder-length pink hair. He wore rectangular framed glasses that gave him a scholarly appearance. His face was the only part of him that was exposed in his uniform. He had a knowing glint in his eyes with a hint of narcissism and he looked at me like I was a lowly lab rat.

The last guy on the right side really freaked me out. His head was a large, glass cylindrical capsule that, I noticed, was filled with some kind of red liquid. To cover whatever was inside was an elongated white mask covered with eight holes. He wore a dress garb with a frilly noble's coat and a single white gentleman's glove.

The man sitting on the end was obviously the leader. He was handsome with swept back hair and a strand hanging in his face, His hair was brown and his eyes were oddly compelling, yet chilling at the same time. His attire was like those around him and he regarded us with mild curiosity.

"Ulquiorra, Yammy," he said in a calm manner. "I was beginning to wonder if you two would ever return."

Ulquiorra said nothing, as did Yammy.

"What is this now?" the leader asked.

Yammy shoved me forward and I staggered. When I regained myself I shot him a dangerous look. "Touch me again and I'll kick your ass!" I snapped.

Yammy raised his hand to backhand me when the leader spoke again. "Now, now Yammy. Is that any way to treat a guest?"

The brute lowered his hand. "No," he said.

"We found her with a group of intruders after I felt the power of a Soul Reaper and an unknown power of neither Hollow nor Soul Reaper. We searched it out and I felt the same power coming from her. Her friends tried to save her," Ulquiorra explained.

"They weren't my friends," I hissed.

The leader chuckled. "Even from here I feel her power, for she has the potential to be as strong as an Espada."

The really big, old guy slammed his fist down on the table, making me flinch. "You can't be serious, Aizen!" She's human, there's no reason she could be as strong as one of us!"

The leader, Aizen, didn't move. "Why don't you see for yourself, Baraggan," he suggested.

Baraggan stood with the slouch of an elderly man, but still was tall. He came toward me and stopped only a few feet from me. He raised his hand out to me.

"Watch it old man," I warned, "I told Yammy not to touch me, and same goes for you."

"Silence, girl! You have no right in talking to me that way. I could easily break your neck," he said proudly.

I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to provoke him any further. He may have been an old man but I had the feeling he was just as strong as Yammy or Ulquiorra. He huffed after a moment and skulked back to his seat.

"Tell me, child, what is your name?" Aizen asked.

"Jaylen. Jaylen Strife," I replied.

"Pleasure, Jaylen. I am Sosuke Aizen, King of Las Noches and leader of the Espada before you. You may call me Aizen. You've already met Yammy Llargo and Ulquiorra Cifer."

I nodded, surprised at his politeness.

He began gesturing to the people at the table. He went in the exact order my eyes did when I entered the room. "Coyote Starrk, Baraggan Luisenbarn, Tia Harribel, Nnoitra Gilga, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Zommari Rureaux, Szayel Aporro Granz, and Aaroniero Arruruerie."

My eyes rested upon Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez – what a mouthful – for a moment, taking in his handsome and muscular form again. I noticed his blue eyes were aflame with a form of passion I couldn't quite place. Those eyes were all that showed any emotion. I looked back at Aizen.

I decided to ask the million dollar question. "What are you going to do with me?"

The guy with the pink hair, whatever his face was, chuckled. "I can think of a few things," he said.

"So can I," said the creeper with the horrid smile seductively.

"Granz, Nnoitra. Enough," Aizen said.

"Hmph," Granz huffed with arrogance.

Nnoitra remained unfazed.

Aizen smiled warmly at me. "To be honest, my dear, I'm not quite sure. However," he began. He stood from his seat – although it looked more like a throne to me – and started toward me. "I believe that if what Ulquiorra, here, said about you is true – and I do believe him –, then you will be kept here until I… figure out something." He smirked and turned toward Grimmjow. "Grimmjow?"

Grimmjow's eyes went from me to Aizen in response.

"Could you kindly take this girl to one of the guest rooms?" It didn't sound like a request.

Grimmjow stood obediently and began striding towards me with cat-like grace. He had the usual white hakama with the black sash, his hands stuffed in his pockets boredly. His sash held up a blue-handled katana with a blue sheath on his left side, indicating he was right handed. His white jacket was ragged with an upturned collar. The inner lining was black, with the sleeves rolled up. He also wore it open, revealing his nicely chiseled and muscular chest and torso. Grimmjow also supported a large scar running down his torso and a hole, much like Ulquiorra and Yammy's, on his abdomen.

He nodded to Aizen respectively and openly glared at Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra glared back and I immediately knew that Grimmjow wanted to start something. The blue-eyed predator returned his gaze to me. "C'mon," he said and moved past me. I followed eager to get away from all of those eyes. We moved silently together, only our footsteps making tapping noises against the marble floors.

In no time, we were standing before yet another white door. Grimmjow opened it and I followed him in.

"Here is where you stay," he told me.

"Thanks, I guess," I said.

He eyed me wearily. "You're a prisoner here and you're thanking me? That's stupid."

"Not stupid," I disagreed, looking around my new room. "Polite, that's all."

"Hmph." He turned to leave.

"Wait!" I called.

"What?"

"What is exactly going on? Who are you guys?" I asked with pure curiosity.

"I am an Espada, like the others, except Aizen and his two lackeys, Gin and Tosen. Why do you care?" he wondered.

"I want to know what the hell I've been dragged into. Me being kidnapped isn't exactly an everyday thing," I explained sarcastically. "I've heard the term before, Espada. What is it?"

He groaned irritably. "Why don't you ask someone else, girl?"

"Don't call me 'girl', my name is Jaylen," I snapped.

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He left without another word.

I glared at where he stood and went to go lay down on the bed. After thinking for sometime about what was happening to me, my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note

I apologize for the wait, I was hoping to have this up sooner but my break has been full of running around and around. I only could get done what I could, when I could.

So I give you Grimmy at last. It's been quite the wait, even for me lol. He's being an ass, I know, but don't worry he'll warm up to Jaylen. He'll have to *hint* *hint*. XD hahahahahahaha! I also know I haven't brought Gin and Tosen in yet, they are coming up. I hope I did well because I have only seen a few episodes and have only been able to research what info I could bring together for me to understand.

Please review, it's much appreciated and helps motivate me. Until next time….X3