The Capture Part 3

I was mindful of some attack from Ichigo, but how it all panned out amazed even me. Ichigo turned to leave, flash-stepped, grabbed Orihime and made for the exit. I stood there watching him, not really that impressed with his technique. But you would've thought what with such a daring plan of rescue, the rescuer would have checked to see if he'd been followed. This fool, however, hadn't.

"That was very well done", a voice said, slowly applauding.

"Hey Ulq, what the fuck are you doing?" Dammit, the idiots are back. Trust them to find me now. I sighed.

The owner of the first voice sauntered up to me. "And what will your next move be, Ulquiorra? Save the girl? Kill the bad guy? ... Oh wait, you ARE the bad guy! Ignoring Aizen's orders and running off with her. He was so angry he just HAD to send me." Gin smiled at me.

Again, typical, Aizen never does anything himself. So now I had three little problems to deal with and Gin. I could see her face from where I stood, she was in tears, but even though she was with Ichigo (one of the little problems) she was best out of this fight. However, Ichigo wasn't going anywhere either. Between him and his way out was Grimmjow and Yammy (the other two little problems). And Orihime was attempting to struggle out of his grasp in order to get to me. This of course made it more difficult to escape. There was no way he could fight them and hold her at the same time, so he let go. She ran towards me, seemingly unawares of Gin, up until the point where he smacked her across the face as she ran past him. I grabbed her and held her close to me, blood dripping from her nose, down the whiteness of my outfit.

"Heal yourself", I said quietly to her, which she did.

"Well. Well. Well... The lovers are back together, but their future doesn't look very good. I see death for both of them." Gin said happily.

Hmmmm... perhaps today could be interesting after all. I was just in the mood for a good fight... and I was certain she wouldn't hold me back on this one.

I could see Ichigo being involved with the idiots at the back of the room, he was putting up a good fight, with it being two on one. She just stood close behind me. This was good, I needed her close, I knew Gin's techniques and I would prefer her being nearby than me having to chase to the other side of the room to get to her before he did.

"Stay with me." I whispered to her. She nodded.

"Well then, shall we?" Gin was eager for this fight too, and who was I to deny him such pleasures?

She stayed away from the fight as much as she could, her shield protecting her from the point of Gin's vicious blade.

"What are you playing at Ulquiorra? Don't you want to win this fight?" He teased me, trying to make me snap. But he failed, I wasn't giving this fight my all, I was holding back, determined to beat him, if I could. A chance blow knocked me off my feet, and as Gin advanced I wish I hadn't've held back.

"Its not looking good for the brave knight and his princess." Gin said sarcastically.

I dragged myself up off the floor as another hit knocked me back down, blood splattering around as I came into contact with the floor rather suddenly.

"Well, Princess, you've got two choice." Gin walked past me towards her. He obviously felt I was no longer a threat. True, in his eyes, I was so weary I couldn't withstand any more blows. He continued talking, "You can stay here and die with this pathetic fool or you can come back with me and live... for the time being." She looked at me her eyes wide with fright as she saw all the blood; then steadying herself, she looked back at Gin, "I'm staying."

"Sorry, that's not a valid option - I lied." He advanced towards her, she cast shield on herself and attacked him.

"CERO"

For a microsecond the room went silent. Everything stopped. Then all hell erupted all at once. The blast hit him full in the back, he wasn't expecting it, he let his guard down. The fool. Turquiose light absorbed into his body then ate him up from the inside. The picture of torment; a screaming skull, arms flailing attempting to grab the nearest person and take them down with him, before its disintegration into ashes.

I collapsed back down onto the floor, in my weakened state, it had sapped the remainder of my strength. He wrongly assumed that I was finished. That was his big mistake.

She ran over to me and put her arms around me. We stayed there for what seemed like ages. I was glad she was unharmed.

"Hey! A little help over here???" called Ichigo and the moment between us was broken once again. She healed me up and kissed my cheek smiling at me. A kind of 'go-get-em' smile. I was just in the mood to kick Grimmjow into place. And that place was one far away from here.

I approached him, he looked at me, then looked passed me. "Woah, that's Gin?"

I smirked, "Yes. He's there, there and probably another bit right over there." I was thoroughly enjoying this.

"But he's one of Aizen's right hand men." Grimmjow was panicking a bit.

"Not anymore, he's feeling a bit dehydrated at the moment, shall we say." I smiled, "Want to join him?" I said sternly.

"Ummm... not really."

"Then go, leave us be." I was giving him the opportunity to let us go. I really hoped he didn't take it, I wanted to crush him like the fool he was.

However, this fool decided that leaving was his best option. Grimmjow grabbed Yammy and left shouting... "You can't hide forever Ulq, Aizen's gonna be pissed and we'll be back sometime later to reclaim the girl for him, and then you'll wish you'd given her up willingly."

"In your dreams" I called after them.

"Orihime!" Ichigo advanced towards us.
Damn, I'd forgotten about him.

She smiled at him, "thanks Ichigo, for coming to save me. I'd like to go home now." He took her hand and I stood there speechless. In that brief moment I lost a big part of myself, which suddenly returned as she grabbed my hand and pulled me along too.

Ichigo stopped, "You're taking him?"

"Yes, And?" I was annoyed at his comment.

"Look Ichigo," she explained, "You either take us both back or none at all."

He pondered this, "Okay, but I'm not happy about it."

"Point noted, neither am I", I added.

She stopped and looked at me, "come back with me, stay with me, I need you." I held her gaze again and looking into her soul there was no way I could refuse such an offer.

"Your house guests?" I questioned.

"Don't worry, we'll sort it." she smiled at me, and at that moment, I felt that the world had become a brighter place.