Disclaimer: Kubo Tite-sensei owns Bleach. Ohba Tsugumi-sensei owns Death Note. I receive no monetary benefit from this work.
Sakura held her tea with a skeptical look. What was with this guy and his tea, anyway? Still, she sipped happily- who was she to refuse a good cup of tea?
"Sakura-chan."
"Yes?" Her reply was near instant. He smiled, wondering if she had always been this obedient.
"Sakura-chan, come here."
Her eyebrows shot up, but still she put down the cup and stood. Slowly, she walked over to him, her heart beating faster as he stood as well. She leaned her head back to meet his eyes- he was nearly a foot taller than her, even though she wore high-heeled boots.
He took a step closer to her, placing one hand on her neck and the other on her hip. Her green eyes widened as a hint of pink crept in to her cheeks.
"Sakura-chan," he whispered huskily, and closed the distance between their lips as he voice sent a chill up her spine.
She froze, shocked, and then wedged her arms between them, attempting to push him back. Surprised by her body language, he pulled away and looked down at her.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"Ai-aizen-sama?!" she cried out, still trying to get away from him.
"Yes?" he answered smoothly.
"What the hell was that?!" she half-yelled.
"I was trying to kiss you. Is something wrong with that?" He smirked.
"Yes, there is!" she snapped, her voice rising.
Faster than she could've imagined, she was pinned to the wall behind her with nowhere else to look but his dark eyes.
"Sakura-chan," he said, still smirking, "this is my castle, in my realm. And I always get what I want."
She glared back at him, brilliant green clashing with deep chocolate until he finally released her. Blushing, she threw open the door, desparate to close the distance between her and her room.
He smirked at her disappearing form. What a strange woman. But either way, he knew that he would break her, and he would make her love him, whether she liked it or not.
Mizuki suddenly stopped walking as Ulquiorra tried to lead her back to that stupid cell.
"Why did you stop?" he asked, not bothering to turn around.
"I want to see Sakura-chan." she said firmly.
"What?"
"You heard me. I want to see my friend. Right now."
As they turned around and headed in the direction of Sakura's room, they ran into Aizen, who stood in the doorway to the meeting hall.
"Aizen-sama." Ulquiorra said, bowing. When Mizuki didn't follow suit, he placed a hand on her back and shoved her into a bowing position.
"Mizuki-san." Aizen addressed her.
"Yeah?" she asked as Ulquiorra allowed her to stand.
"Would you like a decent room, Mizuki-san? Have you finally learned to hold your tongue?"
She glared at him, but she wanted a warm bed more than her pride. Besides, they'd be staying here a while- she may as well take him up on it.
"Yeah, that'd be great." she said.
Aizen smiled. "Ulquiorra. See to it that Mizuki-san gets a decent room- as close to Sakura-chan as possible."
Ulquiorra stood. "Aizen-sama, the room closest to Sakura-sama is the one that Akemi-san is placed in."
Mizuki stared at Ulquiorra, wondering why he'd added a "-sama" to the end of Sakura's name, but figured it could wait.
"Mizuki-san, do you mind sharing quarters with Akemi-san?"
She shook her head. "Not at all." she said, grateful for some place warm to sleep tonight.
"Ulquiorra, please prepare that room to be shared instead of single, would you?"
Ulquiorra bowed. "Hai, Aizen-sama." He turned to Mizuki. "Woman. You will follow to your friend's quarters."
Her stare was blank as she followed.
"Ichimaru-sama?"
"Ya?" The fox-faced man sure had revealed an awful lot about himself in the past few minutes. He'd grown up in the ghetto of Soul Society with a woman who most likely now hated him; he'd been Aizen's subordinate upon entry to the Gotei 13; he didn't always enjoy how cruel they were to some. She seemed to like him- he was fairly interesting to talk to.
"Could I... could I go and visit Sakura? Just for a bit?"
His grin softened. "You're awful close ta yer friend, arencha?"
"Yes." she said, smiling sadly. "She's not really a friend anymore, though. She's more like a sister."
Gin understood the bond pretty well. After all, he'd always viewed Rangiku as sort of a sister, or at least a much of a sister as he would ever know.
"Alright. I'll walk ya ta Sakura-sama's quarters, 'kay?"
She stood, cocking her head slightly. "Ichimaru-sama?"
"Yup?"
"Why... did you add a "-sama" to the end of Sakura's name?"
He turned to her. "'Cause. Aizen just claimed her as his, tho' I dun think she knows it yet. Anyway, she'll be the queen of Hueco Mundo soon, whether she likes it or not. Aizen-sama always gets what he wants 'round here."
Akemi was taken aback by this news. Aizen had 'claimed' Sakura? What did that even mean? She'd have to ask Sakura, soon.
All three girls were convened in Sakura's room, sitting in a circle on the bed. Sakura held her plushie close to her body, with her left leg curled under her body, shoes removed to reveal grey-black socks; Mizuki sat crossed legged with her arms crossed, while Akemi put her head in Sakura's lap.
"Is it true, what Ichimaru-sama said?" the older girl asked as Sakura put the plushie on her side, so that it leaned against her body.
"If he means Aizen's trying to claim me sexually, he's already made a pass." Sakura spat.
"What?!" the other two cried at once.
"Yeah, after you guys left, he tried to kiss me. Well, scratch that, he did, but-"
"He did what to you?!" Akemi cried out in rage, lifting her head.
"Easy, Akemi." Sakura said gently, stroking her friend's hair and leaning her head back into her lap. "Let me finish. He kissed me, but I pulled away before it got too heated. Then he told me he always gets what he wants, and let me go."
"I was right." Mizuki said, smirking. "He totally wants you 'cause of your boobs."
"Would you stop?!" Sakura yelled, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at her friend.
"Nope." Mizuki lifted the pillow away from her face, still smirking. She tossed it back at her friend. "Let's face it, you and Sayuri will always have pervy old men running after you."
Sakura smiled sadly at the memory. Yes, she and Sayuri had always gotten whistled or stared at wherever they went; it had gotten worse for Sakura as she got older and filled out more. "Yup."
"Ne, I'll bet Takahashi-sensei'd be pretty damn jealous of Aizen if he knew what you guys were up to." Mizuki winked.
Sakura's face reddened. "God, Taiyou-chan, cut it out!"
Her friend continued to smirk. "Never."
Akemi patted Sakura's muscular leg. "I betcha that skirt's so short because Aizen wanted to get a look at your legs. They're so pretty, after all." she said.
"Same reason the chest is missing." Mizuki snorted.
"Fan service!" the all said together before bursting into a fit of laughter. Sakura sighed. Where had the time when life had always been this hyper gone?
Ulquiorra entered the door. "Sakura-sama, I've been instructed to inform that Aizen-sama requests your presence this evening for dinner."
Sakura heaved a sigh. "Tell him I'll be there." she said reluctantly. Ulquiorra left, and Akemi and Mizuki stared at her.
"What?!" she said defensively. "If I didn't comply anyway, he'd probly come in here and rape me later or something." she said matter-of-factly.
"True." Akemi said with a nod.
"So." Sakura said, raising her eyebrows and desparate to change the subject. "How goes it with Ichimaru-sama?"
"Huh?!"
"Don't lie to me, Akemi." the younger girl purred. "I saw you two together. You might as well tell me now, I'll find out anyway."
Akemi blushed and stared into space. "We talked, nothing more." she said quickly.
"What'd ya talk about?" Sakura asked in a singsong voice.
"Uhm, just his life and why he's always smiling. Stuff like that." Sakura didn't miss the look in Akemi's eyes. That girl was most definately love-struck, whether she knew it yet or not.
"And what did you tell him about you?"
"That you're basically my sister and I just want to protect you from everything."
"Aw." Sakura grinned, and patted her friend's head. "You couldn't have summed us up better."
Mizuki merely stared, wondering just how such a strong bond had formed between these two. It was plain to see they regarded one another as family rather than best friends; after all, Akemi was the closest thing Sakura, as an only child, would ever have to a real sister. Mizuki knew that Sakura regarded her in the same respect, but Sakura was one of those people that if you gave her tea once, she was your friend for life- she kept everyone close, and wore her heart on her sleeve. Mizuki clearly understood that Sakura's mind had always been easy for others to read, and she hated that.
As Sakura's now green eyes stared back at her, Mizuki realized that she had never clearly understood the depth of Sakura's love for her friends. How she was very clearly willing to give away her own life so that she could protect those she loved. She'd do anything for those she kept close to her heart.
There was a knock on the door, bringing all three out of their thoughts. "Uhm, Sakura-sama?" a frail girl's voice called through the door.
"Who's there?" Sakura commanded, trying to keep her voice gentle. The door creaked open, and an orange-red-haired girl stuck her head in.
"Uhm, my name's Inoue Orihime... and I just... well, everyone's talking about you, and I kind of... wanted to meet you for myself...?"
Sakura smiled, her big eyes radiating sunshine. "Please, come in, Orihime-chan."
The other girl bowed slightly, closed the door, and sat on the edge of the bed. "So... how are you? Are you adjusting well here?"
"Yes, I think so."
"...Does it hurt...?"
"Does what hurt?" Sakura was taken aback by the question.
"... Becoming a Hollow... is it painful?"
Sakura chuckled. "Painful doesn't even begin to cover it."
"Was it worth it?" Akemi asked quietly.
Sakura patted her head again, then began to stroke her hair. "Knowing that now I'm storng to be able to protect my friends is making it totally worth it." she said.
Ulquiorra entered. "Sakura-sama. Come with me."
"Geez, why don't we just invite the rest of you to our little pow-wow, huh?" she said sarcastically as Akemi lifted her head so Sakura could get off the bed.
Sakura turned to her friends.
"I'll be back later. Wait up for me, okay?"
Mizuki and Akemi nodded as Sakura left the room.
"Sakura-chan." Aizen purred as she entered the room.
"That's my name, don't wear it out." she said with contempt, plopping down in this nearest chair. Aizen smirked.
"In case you were wondering," the girl added, "that means you're starting to wear it out."
"You don't want to be here, do you, Sakura-chan." It was a statement rather than a question.
"If you mean Las Noches or Hueco Mundo in itself, that's okay. But if you meant here, in this room, alone, with you, then yes, I honest to God don't want to be here." she said bluntly.
He was taken aback by her willingness to be so direct. Maybe it was time to remind her of her place.
Aizen stood, and walked to were she was lounging nonchalantly in the chair. "Sakura-chan." he said, his voice dripping with honey.
"Yeah?" she snapped, tilting her head back to glare at him.
"Why have you become so cold, Sakura-chan?" he asked, leaning down to meet her eyes.
"... I don't want to talk about it." she said sharply, turning her face away.
"Do I remind you of someone you knew before...?" he asked, continuing to lean his face down to hers.
"As a matter of fact, you do." she snapped, meeting his eyes again.
"Someone you're not quite fond of."
"Behind every untrusting woman is a man who made her that way." Sakura said darkly. She didn't break eye contact; she didn't want to seem weak.
He finally stepped back and allowed her to begin breathing again. "Shall we eat, then?" he asked.
"Sure." she grumbled, crossing her arms beneath her chest. What an interesting ride this was turning out to be.
"So how does it go again, Akemi-chan?" Ichimaru asked, unsure.
"'Hey, Asian Boy, can I DayDeeDay!'" she said, demonstrating the proper dance moves.
"What is this called again?"
Akemi sighed. "It's a parody so a song by rapper. It's called, 'So Damn Stupid!'." she informed him for the third time.
"So... wanna start again?"
Akemi smiled. "Yup. From the top." she said, standing beside him.
"Man, sometimes I don't know what the hell he's saying, so I'm gonna write somethin' new for y'all." Ichimaru began.
"The songs are just, so damn stupid, like, 'DayDeeDay'! Hey Asian Boy, can I..."
"DayDeeDay! Hey, Akemi-chan, I really like your..."
"DayDeeDay! I made a fart..."
"Deebedee Day Deebedee Day!"
Mizuki burst into a fit of laughter, flopping back on her bed. "What the hell?"
"I showed it to you that one time we were on Sakura's computer, remember, Mizuki-chan?" Akemi said.
Ichimaru chuckled. This girl who thought her life was a musical was incredibly entertaining.
He wondered fleetingly how Aizen-sama was doing with the busty one before his attnetion was turned back to Akemi's dance instruction.
"Did you enjoy the meal, Sakura-chan?" Aizen asked.
She glared back at him, chopsticks in her mouth, which was too full of food to respond with coherent speech.
"I'll take that as a yes." he said with a drop-dead gorgeous smile. She swallowed her food and pushed some of the rice around on her plate.
"It was alright." she said begrudginly, although that was not the full praise it deserved. Sakura loved Chinese food beyond all reason; kind of like her unconditional love for alfredo sauce when she didn't like cheese. And this Chinese had been, by far, the best she'd had in her life.
Unwilling to voice her praises, however, she met Aizen's smirk with a look that, if looks could kill, would knock him from his seat.
"Now then, Sakura-chan, why the hostilies?" he teased.
"You haven't seen hostilies." she said darkly. He chuckled, and had his hand at her throat before she knew what hit her.
"You don't stand a chance against me, Sakura-chan. You might as well give it up and be a little more submissive." he said, his voice sending a chill down her spine.
"Like hell I will." she growled.
"I believe you've forgotten once again, my dear, where you are." he said, running his lips along her jawline.
Her sword was out and at his throat before he even saw it coming.
"Aizen-sama." she said darkly. "Get off me. Right now."
He chuckled. "You couldn't hurt me even if you wanted to."
She pressed the blade a little harder into his neck, drawing blood. "Watch me." she said as a sadistic smirk crossed her face, her inner Hollow going mad at the sight of blood.
He released her. "You're stronger than I thought." he said, pressing a hand to the wound in his neck.
She turned her head over her shoulder to flash him a wicked smile. "Don't underestimate me." She opened the big door and took a step out. "Oh, and thanks for the food, by the way." she added with a wink.
Aizen merely stared after her, placing a hand over his wound.
"Woman." Ulquiorra's voice was cold.
"Yeah?" the blonde girl asked, not bothering to open her eyes.
"Look at me." the Espada demanded. She stared blankly at him.
"What?" she asked.
"I need your measurements."
"What for?!" she asked defensively.
"For a proper uniform."
"Hang on a second, I never said anything about joining you lot!"
"Aizen-sama commands it."
"Do I look like I care what that perverted son of a bitch thinks?" Mizuki asked.
"I do not care for your protests, woman. Now, give them to me."
"You want the truth? I don't know them." 'Suck on that.' Mizuki added in her mind.
"Then, I shall take them for you."
"No way!"
"Would you rather me call in Nnoitora?"
Mizuki shivered slightly at the thought of Nnoitora touching her, and then sighed.
"Fine."
Sakura sighed when she returned to her room, then collapsed across her bed, arms spread out in a T shape. She closed her eyes, then stood, placing her sword against the wall and glancing towards the bathroom. A hot bath would be really nice right now... she thought.
She entered the bathroom, then dug around in the cabinets until she found what she was looking for. "Aha!" she cried out victoriously. The only thing better than a hot bath was a hot bubble bath. She opened the bottle and sniffed. "Yummy!" she muttered, turning around and running hot water. She quickly coaxed the alastics from her hair, then piled it in a bun atop her head before stripping and slipping into the water.
"Ooh, ah, hot, hot, hot!" she cried, but sank lower into the water anyway. She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh, relieved to finally be able to relax as the heat made her drowsy.
She wasn't sure when she fell asleep, or for how long she slept, but her eyes snapped open and she sat up in the tub. The water had turned from near boiling to lukewarm, and at least half the bubbles were gone.
Guess I needed that more than I thought, she said to herself, leaning forward to let the water out.
"Enjoy your bath, Sakura-chan?"
She shrieked and sank back into the water, gathering the bubbles around her chest.
"What the hell?!" she cried out as Aizen stepped forward, a bandage across his neck where her sword had cut him. She almost smirked at it, but that would have to come later.
He just smirked at her reaction.
"What are you doing in my bathroom?!" she yelled as he took a step closer to her.
"I wanted to know how my queen was doing. When I saw you asleep, I decided to wait for you to wake up." he said simply. "You look very cute in bubbles, by the way."
"Shut up!" she cried out defensively as a blush crept into her cheeks.
"Now, now, Sakura-chan. No need to get so angry." he said. "Now, come out of there."
"Like hell!" she yelled again, sinking deeper into the water.
"Don't make me get you out of there."
"... Turn around..." she snapped, blushing deeper.
He turned his back as she stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself.
"Okay," she said, "what do you want?"
Aizen smirked again, drinking in the sight of her. Lobster red for the heat of the water, dripping wet, a few beads of sweat rolling down the side of her face with a fairly fruity scent coming off her skin. Absolutely beautiful.
"Hey!" she snapped, pointing at her face. "My eyes are up here."
He chuckled. "And what beautiful eyes they are."
"Don't you ever stop?!"
"Not until I get what I want." he replied seductively, that infamous 'come hither' look in his eyes.
"Point for Taiyou-chan," she mumbled, supressing another fangirl reaction.
"What?" he asked teasingly.
"Nothing." she said quickly.
"In that case..." he said quietly, stepping toward her and placing a hand on the curve of her neck and shoulder and leaning his face close to hers, "why don't we pick up where we left off before you decided to become violent...?"
"No-" she stared to say, but was cut off by him pressing his lips gently to hers.
And then, Sakura found herself surprised- she was enjoying the fact that he was kissing her. Her arms wound themselves around her neck, her hands in his dark hair; she moaned softly as he ran his tongue over her lips.
No!! a voice in the back of her mind yelled. What are you doing, you dingbat?!
Sakura slowly pulled away, leaving Aizen aching to do more to her.
"Okay. Time for you to go away."
"If you want me to go away so badly, why'd you kiss me back?" he teased. "You wanted that and you know it, Sakura-chan. It was written across every inch of your body."
"You wish."
"Fine." he said, stepping away from her. "I'll see you in the morning, Sakura-chan."
"Huh?"
"Someone has to teach you how to use that sword of yours." he explained.
"Huh." she responded.
"Good night, Sakura-chan." he whispered as he left, allowing just a hint of desire to seep into his voice.
She flopped back on the bed after her door was closed, then ripped the alastic from her hair and changed into her sleeping clothes. She then walked through the bathroom, to the door that connected her room to Mizuki and Akemi's. She knocked politely before throwing it open.
"Knock, knock!" she yelled, stepping into the room and tossing the door shut.
"What's with you?" Akemi asked, not looking up from her book.
"Yeah," Mizuki turned her attention briefly from a bowl on Udon, "what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?! What's wrong?!" the girl sputtered.
"Oh boy, here she goes," Akemi muttered, marking her spot in the book and placing it on the bed beside her.
"Aizen totally just walked in on me bathing, that's what's wrong!" Sakura yelled.
"Doesn't surprise me." Mizuki said flatly before shoving another bite into her mouth.
"What do you mean. it doesn't surprise you?!"
"No offense, Sakura-chan, but I kind of see Aizen as a... well, a very sexual guy." Mizuki said before slurping her noodles.
"Yeah, I do too." Akemi added.
"You two are no help." Sakura pouted before flopping down on the floor.
"Now, now." Akemi soothed. "It's not like he's ugly or anything. At least you've got a good-looking guy chasing after you."
"True, true." Sakura mumbled.
"I've got a story to tell." Mizuki offered in an attempt to ease the tension.
"Really what is it Taiyou-chan." Sakura said, going for the bait but completely uninterested.
"That pale emo guy took my measurements for a 'uniform' today."
"He took mine, too." Akemi said. "Apparently we're not supposed to wear our school clothes around here anymore."
"That's odd." Sakura said. "Oh! I just remembered- Aizen's gonna let me attack him with my badass new sword tomorrow."
"Why?" Akemi asked. "Does that man value his life at all?"
"Puh-lease," Mizuki said, "she's never even held a sword in her life before. She won't stand a chance."
"Quiet, you." Sakura said darkly. "And he said it was because somebody needed to teach me how. Guess he just wants to see me try to hack him to bits."
"Guess so." Akemi said. "But who knows? Maybe you'll have a knack for it."
"Yeah. Maybe." Sakura turned to Mizuki. "Ne, Taiyou-chan. Share the damn noodles."
"No way. Get your own." the other girl said, defensively holding the bowl close to her body and snapping her chopsticks together at her friend.
"Like hell I will. Just share, dammit."
"I said no!"
"You damn pest!" Sakura teased, lunging across the room for the food.
"Gin."
Ichimaru could practically hear the smirk in his leader's voice.
"What is it, Aizen-sama?"
"You've taken a liking to the oldest of our three guests, yes?"
Gin stared through half-closed eyes at Aizen, then responded. "I guess so, ya. She's funner than you."
Aizen spun around in his chair to face the fox-faced man.
"You have my permission to take her."
"Huh?"
"You heard me." A sick smile twisted its way across Aizen's face. "I plan on taking Sakura-chan very soon. And I thought that if you wanted either of the other two, you should know that you can have them."
"Uh, thanks?"
Aizen's smirk disappeared. "What's the matter, Gin? Haven't you been feeling lonely after leaving your precious Rangiku?"
Gin's normal smirk faded a bit. "Is that why ya been spendin' so much time with Sakura-sama, Aizen-sama? Is that what ya really want from her? Just somebody to sleep with 'cause Momo-chan's not here?"
"Is there something wrong with that?" Aizen's face was calm, but his tone told Gin not to push the matter any further.
"No, Aizen-sama." he said flatly, turning on his heel and taking his leave.