Chapter 15: Ayame

'Do you ever stay conscious you stupid girl?!'

"It's not my fault that they keep doing that!"

'Ugh!'

"Stop sulking and help me find a way out of here already! If you don't we're both goners."

'How do you intend to get out huh? We are literally chained to your own inner world!' Hinoue huffed.

"Why is it always chains? And wasn't it your chains last time? You know , the hollow ones?"

'It ain't me this time if that's what you're getting at.'

I sighed and took a look around. For about the millionth time.I still couldn't believe my predicament. Chained to my own inner world with Hinoue. Unbelievable .

We were stuck with our backs up against the giant tree were that lady always sat. Where was she when I needed her?!.

'Mumblemumblemumble'

"Huh? Did you say something?"

'U-uh no nothing. H-hehheee' she laughed nervously.

I sweatdropped at her antics and sighed again. She's not nervous often.

This is serious.

All of a sudden it went dark and then as though someone had flipped a switch, the woman was there.

I broke into a relieved smile.

"Ah! I'm so glad you're here! We need help"

"..."

"What is it?"

She took a step forward and collapsed into a heap on the grass in front of me.

"Oh my goodness! Are you okay?! Hey!"

Her long raven hair splayed uncharacteristically out across the flowers. Her hand slowly moved down to her abdomen and you could here a slight groaning sound escaping from her elegant mouth.

"What's wrong? Please tell m-"

My sentence was lost in a slight gasp.

There was a scarlet pool quickly growing in size coming from her torso area.

She ever so slightly started to push herself up into a sitting position, failing many times.

I kept telling her to stop and calm down so she could tend to her would but she slow, or even show any signs of hearing me.

"Please ! You're going to kill yourself!"

She shuddered in a sarcastic chuckle. "Me? K-kill myself? Ridiculous."

She started to crawl towards us at an agonisingly slow pace.

Her hand was pressed against the wound concealed by heavy kimono fabric, but there was a steady crimson flow creeping through her fingers and dripping on the ground.

When he got so close that the smell of her blood made me feel like I was drowning, she reached out her hand and it glowed blue.

Her hand transformed into a curved dagger, the material uncannily like that of my scythe.

In one fell swoop she cut the chains binding us and I immediately caught her as she fell forward.

I laid her on her back, cradling her head on my lap.

"Hey! Hey! Can you hear me?!"

I said in a rushed whisper, my voice getting hoarser with each breath.

She coughed and a line of blood dribbled from her mouth down to her chin.

"A-a ...fight..."

"Who were you fighting? Did they do this?"

"The ..intruders t-the ones who..."

She paused to cough up more blood onto the ground. I lifted her slightly and patted her back.

"The ones who...trapped you..h-here"

"Aizen?" I said in disbelief. "You fought Aizen?!"

She did that feeble chuckle.

"So I did. And believe it or not, he won't be coming back anytime soon"

I bit my lip. If I hadn't I know I would have said something about her not coming back ever.

"What should I do? How can I help you?"

"You can't." She said matter-of-factly."

"B-but.."

'You can't help her now.'

I turned my head and saw Hinoue staring of beside the tree, staring at the flowers.

"What do you mean? I have t-"

She whipped her head up and I was shocked to see the emotion she held in her eyes. But it was gone as quick as it came and she turned her head again.

'Her part of your soul has been poisoned by Aizen's power and now the rest of your soul is Rejecting her'

"What?! But it's my soul! Shouldn't I have a say in this?!" I screamed, frustrated.

I felt a light weight on my hand and looked down to find myself staring into the woman's eyes.

So filled with emotion, tears started spilling from her eyes as she reached up to wipe away the salty drops I hadn't realised had fallen.

"You will see me again. Just not as I am now."

"You're leaving us again?"

"Leaving? No. You any get rid of me that easily. When you see me, the six princess shielding flowers will be together again." She said with a smile.

"..." I couldn't bring myself to say anything as I grabbed her pale hand in mine and sobbed.

"Just know this, in order to summon your strength, every part of your soul Must be in unison. Connected."

"N-no..." I pleaded in despair.

She smiled and closed her eyes, breathing laboured her last words were as faint as a whisper,

"Next time you see me, I will be where I belong..."

Then all was silent.

The breeze that gently caressed my messy hair and tear stained face was cold and my grip on her icy hand turned painful as my throat tightened painfully.

Hinoue looked on with a face so empty, I wouldn't. Have thought her to e alive at all.

I closed my eyes as fresh tears came and sucked in a deep breath.

...

...

...

"AYAMEEE!"

So tell me your thoughts on this :)

And as always,

Thanks for reading~