Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters, but I do own the original characters I created for this story.

Author's Note: I felt upon re-reading the last chapter that my OC, Saika, was coming off as a bit overpowered; there's a legitimate background behind his skills, but he's not supposed to be a god or anything. I'll try to tone it down a bit in the future, to make sure I stay away from the dreaded 'dude, that's a Mary-Sue' comment.

Anyway, enough babbling; let's get to it!

Chapter 4: Desperate Times

"You want something to eat, Rukia?"

"I'm not hungry."

Saika counted to ten in his head.

"How about now?"

Rukia shot her captor an exasperated look.

"Honestly, I just want to be alone right now."

The General shook his head sadly.

"Trust me, Kuchiki," he said sincerely, "the last thing you want to be down here is alone. That's why I'm here, to protect you."

"Protect me? From what?"

"Your future husband."

Rukia's throat went dry.

"My… what?" she asked, her toughness vanishing.

Saika got up from his desk and opened a cupboard, taking out some plates and talking while he did so.

"Your future husband, Prince Callos, son of Mortos. He's the one who captured you and brought you here, and he intends to marry you."

"Me? But why me?"

Saika shrugged.

"Maybe you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, maybe you were the first attractive woman he saw, or maybe you just have a lot of reiatsu. Whatever the reason, you caught his eye, and so here you are. Don't look so upset, Rukia," he added, "I'll make sure he doesn't kill you, and then we'll bust out of here, like I told you earlier."

Rukia was relieved, but then she thought about what Saika had just said.

"Wait, kill me? Why would Callos want to kill me, if he's going to marry me?"

"Callos has had many wives in recent memory, all for one purpose: to try and produce a son, so that his father can die in peace knowing that his dynasty is safe. There's a problem, though, and a big one at that."

"What?"

Saika leaned forward, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"Callos shoots blanks."

Seeing Rukia's look of confusion, he tried explaining it a different way.

"He's impotent, Rukia."

Rukia understood then, and as she put the rest of the pieces together in her head, her eyes widened in terror and revulsion. The General nodded his head.

"I see you've figured it out," he said, and then began muttering a spell in a language Kuchiki didn't recognize. A few moments later food appeared on the plates in front of them, but Rukia eyed it hesitantly.

"Jesus, woman, stop being so afraid of everything. Do you honestly think I would go through all the trouble of keeping you safe, healing you, and telling you about my past if I was just going to poison your food? Now eat; you're going to need the strength for when Callos decides to meet you."

"Why bother, if he's going to kill me anyway, once he…" Rukia couldn't finish the thought, disgusted by the hand that fate had dealt her. If only Ichigo were here, he would know what to say…

"Because if you show up in front of him all weak and emaciated, he's going to kill you right then as opposed to waiting until a few weeks from now. So eat up, Kuchiki."

Reminded in that instant of Kaien's insistent tone, Rukia nodded and began to eat.

"I need a new general to replace Saika while he is performing the special duty I have put in front of him. Whom do you recommend, my son?"

"How about Tarsin? He is very capable in battle, the his troops follow him without question."

Mortos sighed. This was why he needed to make sure Callos had a son: the prince was an idiot; brash, proud and utterly incapable of ruling.

"Tarsin is a berserker, nothing more," Mortos spoke coldly. "He might have brawn, but he is severely lacking in brains and leadership skills. He cannot lead."

"Then why not…"

"I have already selected a replacement, Callos," the baron said harshly. "This was a test of your aptitude, and you failed miserably."

Callos bit back his rage and swallowed his wounded pride.

"Who is the replacement, honored father?"

"A newer arrival, but one who displays both uncanny power and a devious streak that, I daresay, rivals my own. His name is…

"If you do not mind, Mortos-sama," a calm voice said from the entrance to the room, "I can make the introduction."

Walking over to face Callos and noting with disgust that fear shone in the eyes of the prince, the man inclined his head in forced respect.

"Greetings, noble prince," he said,

"My name is Sosuke Aizen."

Ichigo stopped home to visit one last time before seeking out the mountain Kisuke had mentioned, needing to say goodbye to his family in some way so that he could leave with a clean conscience. As he was rummaging through his closet for supplies, a calm and stern voice interrupted him. Ichigo turned suddenly, finding himself face-to-face with his father.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Ichigo?"

The orange-haired Soul Reaper chuckled, putting a hand behind his head.

"Do what, dad?"

He was expecting his father to come back with a humorous retort, or kick him, or do something expected, but Isshin just sighed.

"Just answer this question, so that I can sleep easily. Is she really worth it to you?"

Ichigo's eyes widened for a moment, and then narrowed.

"How do you know about that?" He asked steely, too riled up for politeness.

"A little bird told me," his father replied, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Does it matter, Ichigo? Just answer my question: Is Rukia worth risking your life for like this?"

Ichigo stepped forward, looking his father right in the eye.

"Absolutely."

Isshin smiled at the sight of his resolute, powerful son and the man he had grown into: he was sure Masaki would be as proud of him as he was. His smile growing, Isshin took a step forward of his own and drew his son into a tight embrace.

"Then I wish you the best of luck, Ichigo," he said to him, before stepping back and walking down the stairs. Before he left earshot, however, he turned around and grinned.

"If you see Grand Fisher down there anywhere, tell him I say 'hi'."

He laughed at the look of confusion on Ichigo's face, walking down the rest of the stairs and joining Yuzu and Karin for some family TV time. For his part, Ichigo cleared his head and finished packing what he thought he'd need on his journey, switched into Soul Reaper form, and told Kon not to do anything stupid while he was gone.

Not like it'll make any difference, he thought bitterly, although not without a hint of a smile. Collecting himself one last time, Ichigo Kurosaki vanished into thin air, heading towards the mountain and the answers it held.

He just hoped he wasn't already too late.

Renji stepped through the open gate with a sigh, closing it behind him noiselessly. His earlier conversation with Captain Kuchiki still bounced around in his head, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Hunt Kurosaki down. I want answers."

"Captain, do you mean 'find' Ichigo?"

"Did I stutter? Hunt him down, and get him to talk by any means necessary."

Ever since he had heard of Rukia's abduction, and the circumstances surrounding it, Captain Kuchiki had been a different person. Oh, sure, he tried to hide it, but those who knew him well, like Renji, could see the change in his eyes, the uncertainty and fear creeping in on their icy calm.

"Damnit, Ichigo," Renji said to no one in particular, "what's going on?"

Saika and Rukia had finished eating a while ago, and were now sipping on tea and talking. The General regaled the young Kuchiki with stories of her brother's younger days, provoking reactions ranging from laughter to thunderstruck shock. She had no idea Byakuya-nii-sama had been such an emotional and energetic person when he'd been younger. Eventually, Saika's expression got serious and Rukia focused accordingly.

"I can't promise you that I can keep Callos at bay forever, and eventually you'll have to deal with him. What I can do for you, though, is help you get strong enough to withstand the force of his reiatsu without flinching. If he smells even a hint of weakness on you, you don't have a chance. For this to work, though, I'll have to know that you trust me. Do you?"

Rukia nodded, her expression grim. Saika smiled. Before he could go into any further detail, though, one of his runners appeared at the door.

"What is it, Balthazar?"

"Forgive me for intruding despite your orders, sir, but I thought you might want to know that Lord Mortos has chosen a replacement for your position as General while you act as the guardian for Callos' betrothed.

Rukia thought she was going to vomit up her dinner, but General Aron was impassive.

"Oh, really? Who'd the old man choose?"

"He is actually here presently, and wishes to introduce himself to you."

Saika nodded.

"Very well, send him in."

The runner vanished in a flash, and Rukia made to lie down, but the voice at the doorway froze her still.

"Well, there's a face I didn't think I'd ever see again."

It couldn't be…

Saika's voice was a mixture of hatred, revulsion, horror, reluctant respect and a tinge of fear, all compressed into a single word.

"Aizen…"

"Aron," Sosuke replied evenly, not bowing in the slightest. "Long time, no see. I hear you've recruited two of my Espada to be your lackeys, is that true?"

"What do you want, Aizen?"

"What, I can't come by and greet my predecessor on the eve of assuming his position? But you still haven't answered my question, Saika."

"They aren't my lackeys, Aizen, they are my brothers-in-arms. I don't control them through fear, as you did, and look where that got you."

"In a good position to control all of Hell, from where I'm standing. I fail to see how that's a bad thing, Aron."

Saika couldn't keep from laughing at that.

"Control all of Hell? Are you serious, Aizen? Even you couldn't pull that off, especially not without your two traitor-underlings. Mortos alone commands an army twice the strength of Seireitei."

Aizen smiled.

"Mortos will be dead within the week, Saika," he said with a chilling sense of certainty, "and your precious hierarchy will fall with him. If you excuse me, I have business to attend to," he finished, walking out of the chamber. Right before he flash-stepped away, he looked over his shoulder and spoke.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Kuchiki. May you be fruitful and multiply."

Rukia felt blood flow back into her limbs as Aizen's reiatsu faded, collapsing on the bed in shock. Saika wasn't as disturbed as his ward, but this was still a huge problem. Reaching out through his reiatsu, he sent out a summons to Ulquiorra and Grimmjow before sinking into his favorite chair with a sigh. Why did simple things like escaping from Hell always have to get so complicated?

A minute later, the former 4th and 6th Espada appeared in the doorway.

"You called, Aron-sama?"

"This is about Aizen, isn't it?"

Saika smirked darkly.

"Your intuition is as sharp as your tongue, Grimmjow. If that bastard's serious about killing Mortos, our plan could hit the skids pretty hard."

"I don't think so," Ulquiorra said. "If this whole place was in an uproar over Mortos' death, wouldn't that make it easier for us to slip away, rather than harder?"

"Good point," Aron admitted, and was about to continue when a scream cut him off. All three soldiers looked over to see Rukia staring at the former Espada with wide eyes, no doubt remembering her last encounter with Grimmjow. The blue-haired Espada smiled.

"I see I make a lasting first impression," he joked, drawing a disapproving look from Ulquiorra.

"So childish," the 4th Espada said, drawing the two into a verbal argument while Saika turned his attention to Rukia.

"Hey, Rukia… are you okay?"

She was too exhausted to be flustered, so her voice came out as a thin, frightened whisper.

"What are they doing here?"

"Schiffer and Jaegerjaques? They're my captains, Rukia."

"But they're… they're Espada! They work for Aizen!"

"Technically, they were Espada, and they did work for Aizen. Now they work for me, and they aren't really arrancar; they're something else entirely."

Rukia was going to drill Saika for information, but her head was pounding and her eyes could barely stay open.

"I'm going to sleep," she mumbled. "Tell me in the morn…zzzz"

Aron pulled the blankets over her and made sure she was asleep before turning his attention back to the former Espada. Ulquiorra was impassive as usual, but Grimmjow had a mocking smirk on his face.

"I knew the boss was a big softie, Ulquiorra. Sure you don't want to make her some hot cocoa and tell her it'll be all better, mom?" He finished, the jibe directed at Saika. Schiffer's eyes widened ever-so-slightly in anticipation: if this had been Aizen, Grimmjow would probably be missing an arm, or worse. What would Aron-sama do?

"I'd love to," Saika said, a mysterious grin on his face, "but I have a training regimen to draw up. Would you mind sitting vigil with Rukia tonight in my place, Grimmjow?"

His tone made it clear that this was not a question, and Jaegerjaques' eyes narrowed to slits that would have made Gin Ichimaru proud.

"You're not serious…"

"Do I look like I'm joking to you, Grimmjow?"

The former 6th Espada engaged his commander in a brief staring contest before caving in and stomping off.

"This is such bullshit…" he complained, pulling up a chair and sitting by Rukia's bed with a thick book in his hands. Ulquiorra's lips displayed the faintest traces of a smile.

"Well played, Aron-sama," he said.

"Thank you, Ulquiorra. Come, we have a training program to draw up."

"For whom?"

"Rukia. She must be able to face Callos' reiatsu without flinching, and for that to happen she needs to be at about Captain level, in Soul Society terms."

"So that means…"

Saika nodded.

"We have to bring out her bankai."

Rukia woke up what felt like 10 hours later, her head still buzzing but feeling a bit better. Alone in the room, she looked over and was surprised to see a mug full of something on a chair next to her bed, with a note leaned on it. The note read:

'From the boss. Drink it and love it or I'll rip your arms out; this shit took me 10 minutes to make. –GJ.'

Rukia raised an eyebrow at the oddity of the situation, but took a sip of the brew anyway, her eyes lighting up as she did so. It was hot cocoa, one of her favorite drinks. Footsteps sounded outside the door and soon enough Ulquiorra walked in, taking a seat in the chair and saying nothing. Rukia tried to keep quiet, but her curiosity burned too strongly to be tamed.

"So, what are you doing here, Schiffer?"

He looked at her as if she'd just asked why two plus two equaled four.

"I'm guarding you. It was Grimmjow's job, but Aron-sama asked for his help in drawing up your training regimen."

Rukia shook her head as she took another sip of the cocoa, which seemed to taste much better knowing that Grimmjow had slaved over it.

"You didn't answer my question. I meant what are you doing here, instead of serving Aizen. Isn't he your master, the one who created you?"

"He might have created us, but he is no longer our master."

Rukia was going to ask another question, but she could tell by the look in Ulquiorra's eyes that she wasn't going to get anything else out of him. So she focused on finishing up her drink instead, taking the last sip right as Saika and Grimmjow walked back into the room. Aron smiled.

"Well, you're finally up, I see! This is good; we need to start you training as soon as possible. Ulquiorra, you're relieved. Go get some rest, or whatever it is you do in your spare time; Grimmjow and I can handle the first phase of the training.

Ulquiorra rose silently, bowing to Saika.

"As you wish, Aron-sama," he said, using sonido and vanishing with a buzz.

"Yo, woman!" Grimmjow half-shouted, stomping his foot on the ground to get Rukia's attention. "Get your lazy ass out of bed, we've got work to do."

"Have I ever told you your people skills could use some work, Grimmjow?" Saika said, but the former 6th Espada pretended not to have heard him. Aron gently gripped Rukia's shoulder and the three of them vanished, the door locking itself behind them.

When they reappeared, Rukia found herself looking at an area that reminded her of one of the places she had seen in class with Ichigo all that time ago, the Roman Coliseum.

Ichigo…

The very thought of the orange-haired Soul Reaper killed a little bit of her soul, and she was lost in thought until she felt Saika's hand on her shoulder.

"Don't think about him," he said firmly. "Thoughts like that will only cloud your heart and soul, and we need them crystal clear for your training if we're going to succeed in the time we have."

"And what are we trying to do, exactly?"

Saika gave her a wolfish grin.

"You'll know that soon enough, trust me. For now, just go stand over there," he said, pointing to a spot quite a few paces away from him and Grimmjow. Once she had assumed a fighting stance and drawn her zanpakuto, Grimmjow did likewise while Saika flashed out of the way, reappearing on a rock several feet away.

"First lesson, student, is this," Aron shouted. "Draw blood from Grimmjow with your zanpakuto before he kills you. Go!"

Rukia froze, wondering if this was some kind of test. In her moment of hesitation, Grimmjow flashed behind her and kneed her hard in the back, sending her flying.

"Here's a tip, kid," she could hear Saika say over the ringing in her ears. "Don't think so damn much!"

Rukia could almost hear Sode no Shirayuki scoffing at her, and Grimmjow's jagged taunts pushed her until she got up, finding her footing after a stumble and gripping her sword firmly. Grimmjow's eyes shone with the lust for battle, and as he charged forward, Kuchiki could only wonder if she needed that kind of abandon to become powerful enough.

No, a voice inside of her said, that she knew belonged to Sode no Shirayuki. You need nothing but will, trust, and the strength to persevere. You possess all of these things, child, but it is up to you to find them.

Rukia closed her eyes and focused, trying to delve deep within herself to the source of her power. As she drew closer and closer to the shining light, Rukia felt Grimmjow's sword slice through the air and descend towards her heart. Knowing there wasn't enough time to open her eyes, see the sword, and block it, she placed her life in the hands of her blade in a way she hadn't done since her battle with the 9th Espada. Her reiatsu flared, and for a moment Rukia could see the battlefield as clear as day, even with her eyes closed. Smirking, she blocked Grimmjow's strike and opened her eyes.

"That the best you got, Jaegerjaques?" she taunted, assuming a more confident stance. Grimmjow smiled, baring his fang-like canines.

"Taunting me, woman," he growled, "is not very smart!"

He disappeared and then reappeared behind Rukia, but she felt his reiatsu and shifted her sword accordingly, placing it behind her back and blocking the strike yet again. Grimmjow barked a laugh.

"You might get style points for that, whelp," he said, "but it leaves you so open it's disgusting." He moved to strike again, and Rukia blocked again, although it was much closer this time, and she could feel her grip on her reiatsu center starting to slip. She had to maintain appearances, though, so she smiled.

"Really? I hadn't noticed, seeing as how you haven't scratched me yet."

"Give it time, woman," he snarled, punching Rukia in the side with his free hand, causing her to lurch. While she staggered to keep her footing, Grimmjow followed up with a vicious slice to her abdomen. Reeling back, her world engulfed in pain, Rukia could only pray for some miracle to save her as Jagerjaques advanced again, murder in his eyes.

Help me, Sode no Shirayuki.

Silly girl, the voice answered in a scolding, yet motherly tone, all you had to do was trust me enough to ask.

There was a flash in her reiatsu, and everything went white.

Ichigo figured he was about halfway to the mountain when he felt a familiar reiatsu nearby. He turned and raised his sword just in time to block a strike from Renji, who was without his usual grin.

"Renji? What the hell are you doing here?"

The red-haired Soul Reaper pushed off of Zangetsu and landed a few paces away, keeping his zanpakuto drawn but sealed.

"The Captain wants to know what happened to Rukia, and I can't go back to him empty-handed. You have any answers for me, Ichigo?"

Kurosaki grimaced.

"I don't have time for this right now, Renji. I have to go save Rukia!"

"Well, than I have some bad news for you," Abarai said, sending his zanpakuto into shikai, "because I've been ordered to beat the answers out of you if necessary. Either answer now or prepare to defend yourself, Ichigo!"

Author's Note: Man, that was a long chapter. Hope it entertained/answered a few questions/left you wanting more. Please review if you have the time, it really feels super awesome when I see that someone enjoyed this story enough to take their time and tell me so. Also, here's what you can expect to see next chapter: Rukia meets with Callos (for real this time), but will she have achieved bankai by then? Also, learn the history between Saika Aron and Yoruichi Shihoin! Also, more of Aizen being a manipulative bastard and all-around jerk.

Hope you enjoyed this installment, and see you next time!