All right, well I'm 75 percent positive that this story will conclude three chapters from now, hopefully I won't disappoint!
Well here's Ch. 16, enjoy!
It was wet, the ground beneath her was moist and she could feel dirt under her palms. It was cold, very cold, so much that in her half conscious state she embraced herself, hoping to benefit from her own body heat. She was tired, too tired, perhaps she would sleep, sleep and find this gloomy place to be part of only a dream. Just as she began to drift into a world of dreams, a piercing scream disturbed her slumber.
"Kuchiki-san!" Rukia's eyes immediately widened, and she sat up on the dirt floor. She looked around; they were in an empty cave, there were no visible openings whatsoever, only a door along one of the walls, but that door was obviously locked. The cave was lighted by various torches, and there was a tank of water on one corner of the cave.
"Kuchiki-san, are you alright, you've been like this for hours, I healed you but you still wouldn't wake up," said Orihime tear-eyed as she kneeled next to her petite companion.
"I'm fine Inoue, thank you, I was only sleeping," said Rukia yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, in that case Kuchiki-san you should go back to sleep," said Orihime apologetically.
"I'm fine Inoue. Where are we; why are you also here?"
"We're somewhere in Hueco Mundo, you were brought here by Ichimaru and Ulquiorra; I was brought by Grimmjaw; he only told me I was here to heal you whenever you needed it," said Orihime looking a bit depressed; then she smiled, "but I'm glad to be here and keep you company Kuchiki-san!"
"Thank you Orihime, those are very sweet thoughts. Now maybe I can find a way to break down that door with ki-"
"Do not even attempt to do such a silly thing Miss Kuchiki, did you really think I'd confine you in a place I knew you could escape from. That door is kido-proof," said Aizen walking through the door with Gin, Ulquiorra, and Grimmjaw.
"Aizen," said Rukia; her eyes widened in fear.
"Yes Kuchiki-san, long time no see," smiled Aizen evilly; he approached Rukia and forced her to stand by merely staring at her. "Now then, let's see how our little prince is doing," said Aizen placing his hand on Rukia's stomach; he opened his eyes again and smirked satisfied, "perfect."
"Delicious reiatsu isn't it Aizen-sama?" Asked Gin with his plastered smile.
"Yes, it is, now then, who should go first? Ulquiorra, since you were the one to discover how to take the prince's power the last time, why don't you demonstrate, oh and…be gentle," said Aizen stepping away from Rukia and walking next to Gin.
Ulquiorra obeyed and walked towards Rukia, he stood in front of her for a moment; every step she took back he took forward. He finally grabbed her by the waist and pressed her body against his.
"Leave Kuchiki-san alone!" Exclaimed Orihime; irritated, Aizen sent her crashing against the wall; Orihime remained there, conscious but immobile. Ulquiorra proceeded by forcing a kiss on her.
"So do I get a taste also Aizen?" Asked Grimmjaw watching Ulquiorra's assaults on Rukia fascinated.
"Your behavior has been questionable, you've been unwittingly feeding information to the enemy; I will not punish you for this, but you cannot have a taste of the prince's reiatsu. You may however take the, healer, just do not harm her too much, we will need her to regenerate our prince's powers," said Aizen.
"Fine, something's something," said Grimmjaw approaching Orihime; she tried to fight back, but he pinned her against the wall.
"You mean to tell me that Christina and Yukina were Szayel Aporro and Nnoitra Jiruga?" Asked Ishida beginning to turn a bit blue. Ichigo, Byakuya, Renji, Hitsugaya, Rangiku, Urahara, Soi Fong, Ukitake, Chad, Nova, and Ishida were all sitting inside Urahara's shop having morning tea.
"Yes, why?" Asked Ichigo curiously.
"Because they…I, will you excuse me for a moment?" Said Ishida walking out of the room.
"Well now we also have Orihime to worry about; I still can't imagine why they took her as well," said Rangiku.
"Orihime?" Asked Ishida popping his head into the room and walking inside.
"Yes, they took her after she finished healing Chad and Nova," said Ichigo.
"And there's still the question of where they took them; Nova here mentioned that while he and Chad were captive, Aizen forced them to create mixed dimensions," said Ukitake.
"Mixed dimensions?" Asked Ichigo confused.
"Yes, you see, most dimensions stand next to or across each other; it is all very symmetrical. But mixed dimensions cut through each other randomly; there is no telling where one ends and another begins, they rotate constantly, therefore the entrance you came through would no longer be the same entrance. It is a moving four dimensional labyrinth, where the rules of time and space no longer apply," said Nova.
"Meaning that we do not know what type of environments we will be encountering while searching for the one Rukia and Orihime are in; anything is possible, no gravity, upside down worlds, time portals that could carry us to any given era, anything," said Ukitake.
"Are Rukia and Orihime safe?" Asked Ishida worriedly.
"Yes, the dimension we created for them is in the center and remains constant, it never changes; the only different thing about it is the time, a day here is a month there. The other dimensions travel around it and change in the period of one day. There is however, a safe route from the center dimension to Hueco Mundo; it was designed for Aizen to safely travel back and forth, though only Aizen knows where it is located," said Nova.
"Are there any other ways to come across that path without knowing the specific location?" Asked Hitsugaya.
"Yes, as the dimensions are spinning, they come across the bridge dimension; lookout for a violet light in the sky and slash at it with your zanpakutos; that should put you in the secure path to where Rukia and Orihime are," said Nova.
"How many dimensions are there?" Asked Renji.
"Many, though there are only four entry dimensions from Hueco Mundo, North, South, East, and West. Once you are in a dimension you can travel to another one when you see a yellow streak in the sky, and pierce it with your zanpakuto," said Nova.
"Very well then, any questions?" Asked Ukitake; everybody remained silent, "we will need to split up into groups of four, Ashido and Nel will also be joining you, while I will be staying behind to inform the captains if anything goes wrong. Lieutenant Rangiku, Captain Hitsugaya, and Nova, you will be taking the eastern dimension. Lieutenant Abarai, Captain Soi Fong, and Ishida, you will be taking the western dimension. Captain Byakuya, Chad, and Nel, you will be taking the Northern dimension, and Ichigo you and Ashido will be taking the Southern dimension," said Ukitake; they all nodded, "very well then, gather your things, we will be leaving to Hueco Mundo in two hours.
Rukia was sitting on the bed bruised and tired; Aizen had finally brought the two girls beds since Rukia had grown significantly bigger. Orihime, who also had a bloody lip, looked over at Rukia; then she kneeled in front of her and proceeded to heal her.
"How long have we been here?" Asked Rukia once Orihime finished healing her.
"A month Kuchiki-san," said Orihime.
"It feels like it's been longer," said Rukia; she combed Orihime's bangs to the back of her ear and then performed healing kidou on Orihime's bloody lip to heal it.
"Hideto-chan has been good though, he's a strong little baby," said Orihime looking down at Rukia's stomach.
"Yes, seven months, two to go," sighed Rukia. 'Hold on tight there little one,' thought Rukia placing a hand on her stomach.
"So, how was it?" Asked Orihime suddenly sitting beside her on the bed.
"How was what?" Asked Rukia confused.
"Your first time with Byakuya-sama," said Orihime lying back on the bed and sighing.
"Wha…Orihime, that's too personal," said Rukia blushing furiously.
"Oh come on, I bet it was awkward wasn't it? It was for me," said Orihime sitting up.
"You mean…you and Ichigo?" Asked Rukia sadly.
"No of course not, Uryuu Ishida," giggled Orihime as she blushed.
"You and Ishida?! When did this happen?" Asked Rukia surprised.
"Well, I'll tell you but you have to promise not to tell anyone," said Orihime; Rukia nodded, "well, we started dating when we came back from soul society, it was towards the end of December that we…you know, did it, but I left him after that," said Orihime sadly.
"Really? Why?"
"I don't know, I felt very uncomfortable about it; that's why I asked Ichigo to pretend he was my boyfriend, so Uryuu would leave me alone," said Orihime in the same melancholic tone.
"You mean you and Ichigo aren't really…?" Asked Rukia attempting to hide her joy at this.
"Nope, he loves you Kuchiki-san, he always has," said Orihime; they remained quiet as Rukia tried to rid of the blush on her cheeks.
"So, how was it with Ishida?" Asked Rukia teasingly, clearly not expecting her to answer.
"Well, it was very good, it hurt a little bit at first though," said Orihime scratching her head as she remembered; Rukia almost fell over at this.
"What's wrong Kuchiki-san? Why do you look so uncomfortable?"
"Well…you see Inoue, I wasn't expecting you to answer," said Rukia sheepishly.
"Really? Well…now you have to tell me about your first time," said Orihime looking at her very anxiously.
"Well," sighed Rukia trying to put what she was about to say into words, "you know those rumors among the women back in Sereitei about nii-sama?" Asked Rukia; Orihime nodded, "well, they're true."
"Oh poor Kuchiki-san, your first time must have been really painful, you're so little and if his...is as big as-" but Rukia cut her short by placing a hand on her mouth.
"Don't say that," said Rukia going three shades of red.
"All right," said Orihime.
"Hey Inoue, do you umm…you still have feelings for Ishida don't you?" Asked Rukia; Orihime looked away thereby answering her question, "then why did you leave him?"
"I'm not sure, but if I could…I would correct my mistake. And you Kuchiki-san, you don't have feelings for Kurosaki-kun anymore?" Rukia remained quiet for a while, but then she looked back at Orihime.
"Well, if I did it doesn't matter, all that matters is my baby now, and it would be best for him if I stayed with nii-sama," said Rukia sadly.
"But…you still love Kurosaki-kun don't you?"
"Well…I…yes , I do, and I'm sure he knows that."