Author's Note: Whee-whoo. This fic is going to be approximately twenty chapters long, as opposed to my standard fifteen because I don't know if I can fit everything into just three more chapters. So here you go, anyways, this is chapter 13 for nows.
"Where am I?" Ichigo wondered aloud. It appeared that he had been running in complete circles for the past hour or so, and obviously, he hadn't been making much progress at all. "This sucks," he muttered, contemplating what he should do next.
At that moment, he felt a strange reiatsu and the sounds of hurried footsteps. He ducked behind a large pole, just in time to see a masked figure run by. "Geez, what's his problem?" he wondered. Was he running from something, or someone? Somehow, the figure seemed familiar, like he had seen his photograph somewhere before, or something like that. Whatever it was, he didn't have time to waste thinking about it at the moment anyway.
He'd have to find Hitsugaya, and find him fast.
Cautiously, he stepped out, turning down the corridor and hurrying off.
That was when he came to a realization.
The young man who had just gone by was being followed, as he had expected, by a large group of Arrancar.
And he was about to run right into those pursuers.
"Shit!" the strawberry hissed, stopping abruptly upon seeing the horde of Arrancar charging down the hallway. There was no way he could get away now, it was either fight or run away. They had already seen him, and both options would cost him precious time.
"Hey, look! Who the hell is that!?"
"It's an intruder!"
"Seize him!"
Ichigo chose to run.
He didn't get very far.
As soon as he turned around to contemplate which route to take, he found himself smashing into an Arrancar.
The blue-haired, blue-eyed Arrancar, tattooed with the number six, turned around, a broad grin crossing his face.
Oh, shit.
That was the last thing Ichigo remembered before everything went black.
Pacing back and forth restlessly inside the room he had been confined to, Hitsugaya couldn't help but worry. Hours had passed since Kusaka had left him there and run off, and he was wondering if he had gotten away safely, or if...
"Hitsugaya-san."
Blinking at the sound of his name and the door being opened, the white-haired boy turned around, his aqua eyes meeting emerald.
In the doorway stood Ulquiorra Schiffer, fourth Espada.
Hitsugaya did not reply, merely staring at the apathetic Arrancar, taking a small step back.
"Aizen-sama requests your presence."
Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed, before he looked back up at Ulquiorra. "What for?" he demanded.
"You'll find out soon, shinigami. Now, come with me."
Hesitating for a moment, Hitsugaya reluctantly stepped forward and towards the Espada, quietly allowing himself to be led from the room. This was most obviously hurting his pride; he was used to others following his orders, not him following their orders. He didn't have much time to dwell upon this, however, since they arrived in Aizen's throne room shortly after they had departed his own temporary quarters.
"Good to see you again, Hitsugaya-kun," Aizen beamed, looking down at Hitsugaya from his position in his throne. "And thank you, Ulquiorra, for bringing him here. You are excused now."
"Hai, Aizen-sama." And with that, Ulquiorra had disappeared, leaving only Aizen, Hitsugaya, and a few other spectating Arrancar in the room.
"Hitsugaya-kun, I'm rather unhappy with you."
"What do you mean?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean...Anyway, have you been enjoying your little stay in Las Noches so far?"
"Not the least."
"Of course not," Aizen chuckled. "I haven't been very vigilant about keeping you entertained...I know, Hitsugaya-kun...Why don't we play a little game?"
"I refuse."
"Really?" Aizen asked, cocking his head. "That isn't acceptable, my pet."
Hitsugaya flinched at being called "pet."
"Well, then," the former captain of the fifth division continued. Clearing his throat, he called out to two Arrancar waiting behind the closed doors, "Bring our first little guest in."
The doors opened, and one of the Arrancar entered, dragging something - no, someone, with him, depositing his form on the floor.
Hitsugaya's eyes widened. "Kusaka..." he whispered to himself, his heart pounding. The young man was barely concious, his mask was gone, and there was a small but deep gash on the side of his face, steadily emitting a trickle of blood.
"What did you do to him!?" Hitsugaya demanded in a near scream.
"Not much. Don't worry, Hitsugaya-kun, I'll let him live...for nows. He's a strange one, he is...I never would have guessed he had the same zanpaku-to that you did. I now possess not one, but two of Hyorinmaru, that will help me greatly...Ah, I remember now, Hitsugaya-kun..." At this point an unpleasant smirk replaced his previous amused smile. "...You were his dear little fiancée, weren't you...?"
"Leave Toshiro out of this," Kusaka hissed through gritted teeth.
"Hold your tongue," Aizen ordered. "It's your own fault for not handing over your zanpaku-to first and sulking around in that silly mask of yours...Anyways, I'm sure Hitsugaya-kun is very eager to start our game. Bring in our second guest."
The second Arrancar entered, dragging with him another figure, who was struggling ferociously.
Orange hair and brown eyes.
The Arrancar threw the boy to the floor in front of Aizen, before stepping back.
"Ichigo...?"
"Oi, you!" the subsitute shinigami yelled, jabbing a finger accusingly at Aizen, even in his lowered state. "Yeah, you! Let Toshiro go right now!"
Aizen laughed again, his eyebrows crinkling in cold amusement. "But if we are to release him, there'll be no one left to enjoy the game, will there?"
"What game?" Ichigo demanded. "What the hell are you talking about!?" He glanced from Aizen, to Hitsugaya, to Kusaka, blinking. Ah, so the masked figure he had seen earlier was someone he had seen before; Kusaka Sojiro, Hitsugaya's fiancée that had died quite a while ago...But what was he doing here?
"Very well, let's get started," Aizen beamed, turning to Hitsugaya. "Hitsugaya-kun, do you like gambling?"
"What?"
"Do you like to gamble, my pet?"
"No," Hitsugaya answered bluntly. "No, I don't."
Aizen shrugged. "Ah, well then." He looked at the Arrancar standing near the back of the room, calling out to them. "Gentlemen...Place your bets."
"I bet on the orange-haired one!"
"Nah, I bet on the dark-haired one."
"You're stupid! I'm betting on the orange-haired kid, too!"
"No way! He's going to pick the mask freak! I've got my bet on him."
"Wh...What's going on?" Hitsugaya stammered, his panicked eyes flickering from Kusaka, to Ichigo, to the bickering Arrancar, and back to Aizen.
"Don't worry, Hitsugaya-kun. I'll explain to you," he chuckled, gazing in an amused fashion down at the frightened boy. "Now, then, Hitsugaya-kun, what they're betting on is which of these two young gentlemen are to live or die..."
"What do you mean!? How do you-"
"...And you, Hitsugaya-kun...Are going to pick which one gets to live."
Hitsugaya's eyes widened in shock.
"Go on and pick, we haven't got all day now..."
Gritting his teeth, Ichigo glanced over at Kusaka, mentally thinking, God, this sucks. It's hopeless...Why the hell would Toshiro pick me? I mean, the other Sojiro guy - That was his name, Sojiro, right? Well, I don't see why Toshiro would pick me over his fiancée...
Naturally, the strawberry was a bit suprised at Hitsugaya's response.
Hesitantly, the young prodigy dropped to one knee, then the next one down, kneeling in front of Aizen. He inhaled before leaning forward and touching his head to the ground in the most submissive bow one could possibly achieve.
"Please, Aizen..."
"Your manners, Hitsugaya-kun."
"Please, Aizen-sama," Hitsugaya begged in a quiet voice that was nearly a whisper, "Please, I beg of you, let them both live."
"I'm not obliged to."
As Kusaka watched, he bit his bottom lip and looked down. It was a pitiful thing to see, Hitsugaya Toshiro, the formerly proud juuban tai taichou, reduced to this state, throwing away the last of his dignity.
"I'm begging you," he implored desperately. "I...I'll do anything...I promise I'll do anything you ask of me, and...and..."
"Anything?" Aizen repeated, the unpleasant smirk on his face widening.
"Hai."
"Very well," Aizen agreed, standing up, his smirk broadening still. "You," he commanded, pointing at one of the Arrancar in the room's rear. "Bring Hitsugaya-kun to my private quarters tonight at eight o'clock, sharp. I'd hate to be kept waiting...Ah, and bring some friends if you'd like as well. I plan on having some fun tonight...if you know what I mean, Hitsugaya-kun."
"Y-You...You bastard!" Ichigo screamed, completely losing his temper. "You sick-minded bastard! Do you have any shame!?"
Aizen merely ignored him, instead, stepping down from his throne, approaching Hitsugaya and kneeling next to the terrified boy, who instinctively backed away.
"Don't forget, Hitsugaya-kun," he smirked, tilting his chin upwards, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Eight o'clock tonight. I'll be looking forward to it...Let's hope you enjoy it as much as I will." He leaned forward, dragging his tongue across the boy's neck, earning from him a whimper of discomfort.
"D-Don't touch me..."
As Aizen rose to leave, Ichigo could no longer control himself. Despite not having Zangetsu to aid him, he lunged at Aizen, infuriated that he would dare do and say such things to Hitsugaya. He couldn't believe how disgusting the man was, he had already stripped the boy of his pride, and now his dignity and honor as well? Was he never satisfied?
The Arrancar at the back of the room were on Ichigo in an instant, pinning him down to the floor, restraining him and preventing him from getting to Aizen.
With a laugh, Aizen turned back around, looking at Ichigo. "If you're that jealous, then you're welcome to join us as well, Ichigo-kun..."
"You fucking bastard! I'll kill you!"
Aizen made no effort to reply, merely snapping his fingers. The next thing he knew, Ichigo found himself and Kusaka being dragged back out of the room, and Ulquiorra had returned to take Hitsugaya back to his room.