Anticipation stirred his senses. Lethargy had fled replaced by this new heightened awareness. Stark shielded his eyes as the round dome over the small figure brightened then broke apart. At its center was the awakening form of Rukia Kuchiki. Her body had been stripped of clothing and was now shivering with the breath of life. Pieces of condensed reishii clung to her trembling shoulders and hips. She lurched forward unsteadily onto her knees, palms against the floor.

Aizen raised a hand when he had started forward. Anxious yet understanding the reason for this longer wait, Stark stayed in the shadows.

"Comrade...can you tell me your name?" There was a barely concealed smile in Aizen's voice. If all had been successful her answer would be...

Stark held his breath.

"I..." her head was bowed, one hand lifted from the floor to rest against her forehead, covering one eye as if trying to remember something. "I...I don't know." Her chin finally tilted up. Aizen's satisfaction was great, "come, Stark."

Stark couldn't see what his lord did. A faint feeling in his stomach like things fluttering around in there, made him hesitate. Nervous, he identified the human-like emotion. He was afraid all had gone wrong...

He crossed the room and stopped at his lord's side. Staring in wonder at the pale upturned face staring back with equal inquisitiveness.

Gone were the beautiful violet of her eyes.

Instead the color of the Hollows, a deep yellow ocher filled the irises.

A slender piece of bone lay beneath one eye, framing it like half an eyeglass, the tip curved outward along her midnight black hair.

And in the center of her sternum, above her small breasts, in the exact same place as his, lay the one thing that declared her wholly changed. An empty chain of fate.

She was an Arrancar.

He had gotten what he wanted, now for the last thing to seal her new identity.

Stark sensed Ichimaru approach, a white garment draped over his arm. Stark took it, bending slightly to lay it over her bare shoulders, "you are my Fraccion...stand, Rukia Gingerback."

~*~

The pain was interesting to see flicker across the Shinigami's face.

Szayel caught the elongated blade of the Zanpaku-to with his bare hand. "A predictable reaction. You do realize you'll never see her again, hmm, Shinigami?"

"Shut up!!!"

Szayel observed rage replacing the sorrow in the redhead's expression. How interesting it will be if he ever sees what has become of his friend...I do wonder what expression he will make...

~*~

"You're lying!" He refused to believe it. She couldn't be! She had promised! They all had promised! The Espada remained impassive to this charge, eyes closing slowly with contempt. "It is true, boy." Pitiless green eyes opened, "Rukia Kuchiki is lost to you forever."

~*~

Lilinette started up as the door opened.

Stark entered first. Eagerly she scanned his face for any emotion other than apathy. Gleaning nothing from his droopy eyes, her gaze dropped to the arm extended to another, smaller figure in white hesitating in the doorway.

A large smile broke out over Lilinette's face.

For it was none other than Rukia Kuchiki whom Stark had led in.

~To be continued~

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