Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters; Tite Kubo does
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters; Tite Kubo does. I do, however, own my OC, Saika, and any other OCs, big or small, that might show up.
Love Conquers All
Chapter 7: Pandora's Box
Rukia had been fighting nonstop against Grimmjow and Saika for the last twelve hours, trying to get her bankai as strong as possible before the 'inspection' that was to take place the next day. After she had been battled to the point of exhaustion, her two sensei gave her a ten-minute respite from training. As Rukia sat on a rock and looked up at the roiling, fiery sky of Hell, she couldn't help but think about Ichigo and Renji, her two friends who were willing to brave Hell itself to rescue her from that bastard, Callos.
What idiots, she thought, a smile on her face.
Looking over, she was surprised to see Ulquiorra perched on another rock, staring into the distance with an uncharacteristically melancholy expression on his face. Wondering what could have possibly happened to make someone like Ulquiorra get emotional, Rukia flashed over to his rock and sat next to him.
"What's wrong?"
Schiffer didn't turn to face her, but his head dropped down ever so slightly.
"Nothing."
Rukia sighed and crossed her arms petulantly; he wasn't going to get off the hook that easy, or her name wasn't Rukia Kuchiki.
"Don't give me that," she said harshly, and Ulquiorra turned to glace wearily at her as she continued.
"I know something's up with you, Schiffer. Ever since I slashed up your arm a few days ago, you've been so moody even Ichigo seems like a ray of sunshine. Spill it, what's wrong? Wait…" she said, the wheels turning in her head, until her eyes widened.
"You… you don't have a crush on me, do you?"
Ulquiorra laughed bitterly at that, a grating, hollow sound that scraped at Rukia's soul.
"Don't flatter yourself, woman."
"Then what the heck is it? I know it involves me somehow, at least."
The former fourth Espada realized that the prattling female next to him was never going to shut up unless he gave her something to chew on, so he gathered himself and spoke.
"You remind me of someone I knew once, that's all. She was… she was my friend, the only one I had."
Ulquiorra kicked himself mentally for talking so much, but the words had just tumbled out before he could stop them. Damn it, not having fought in a while had obviously made him soft.
"What was her name?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Why not?"
"Because she's dead," Ulquiorra said flatly. "Word was that bastard Nnoitra killed her, but we could never pin it on him and Aizen didn't really care. The Espada are replaceable by nature, after all."
Rukia thought about the things Schiffer had just told her and came to a conclusion soon enough, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"You don't mean Nel-Tu, do you?"
Ulquiorra looked up at her in shock.
"How do you know that name?"
"Because… well, it's a long story, but I can tell you for sure that she's not dead. She's alive."
A strange look came into Ulquiorra's eyes in that moment, and Rukia had a hard time figuring out what it was until she realized that it was hard to understand because it seemed so out of place:
He was hopeful. Truly, genuinely hopeful that what she'd said was true. Rukia didn't know what the history between the two Espada had been, but one thing was for sure.
"So you do have a heart after all," she said, smiling.
Ulquiorra's eyes became cold again, his mask perfectly back in place.
"Don't push it, woman."
"Oi, Kuchiki! Stop hitting on Ulquiorra and haul your ass back here! We have work to do!"
"Yes, sensei Grimmjow," she said wearily, flashing away right after she had glanced back at Ulquiorra's face, which was now adorned with the thinnest of smiles.
They had fazed her at first, to be honest, but Neliel was used to the stares she got by now. The whispers were a bit harder to ignore, but she grit her teeth and bore with it.
"Freak."
"Monster."
"Demon."
The green-haired arrancar let herself relax once she was within the confines of the 12th Squad's lab, pounding a dent into the steel wall with her fist.
"Something wrong, Nel-san?" Nemu Kurotsuchi's voice floated over from the far end of the room and the former 3rd Espada blushed in embarrassment.
"Oh, no, nothing's wrong," she said with a forced smile, trying not to make it too awkward. "I was just wondering if I could use one of your computers for a while, Nemu-san."
"Of course," she said, bowing respectfully and abdicating the terminal she was using. Neliel sat down, punching in an all-too-familiar command and waiting.
After the War, Neliel, who was caught in a grey area legally due to being both a sympathizer and an arrancar, was given a position within the Seireitei as a freelance operative. After training hard with Ichigo to find a way to maintain her adult form, Nel had excelled in her duties to such a degree that there was talk of making her a seated officer. Far from being good news, though, this had just made her life a living hell as rumors and whispered hatred abounded. There was only one place she really felt safe outside of Ichigo's company, and that was here, in the cocooning darkness of the laboratory, hunched over a flickering computer screen.
Looking for someone. Someone who, once, had meant a great deal to her. Someone she had called a friend.
"Just… promise me you'll keep your distance from Nnoitra."
Neliel raised a single eyebrow in curiosity, her tone mildly amused.
"Are you concerned for my safety, Ulquiorra? Such emotions are surprising, coming from you."
"You saved my life once, Sir," Ulquiorra replied. "I'm just doing what I can to repay that debt."
"Are you sure there's nothing more to it?" Nel asked, moving closer to the Fourth Espada with a mischievous look in her eyes. Ulquiorra just stared at her, green eyes steely as ever.
"I don't know what you mean, Sir."
Nel stepped back and crossed her arms, glowering at the man in front of her.
"I was just giving you a hard time, Ulquiorra," she said. "And don't call me 'Sir'; that just feels weird. My name's Neliel, in case you've forgotten. But in regards to Nnoitra Jiruga, I have nothing to fear from him. Not only do I outrank him by two numbers, he is a spineless coward. He might huff and puff about how much he hates me, but I guarantee you that he will never have the guts to move against me as long as he knows I can strike back."
Ulquiorra sighed.
"That's what bothers me. Haven't you noticed how he's been looking at you lately? Like a cat toying with a trapped mouse. He's planning something, and I don't know what, but I know it'll end poorly for you if you're not careful. Please, Nel, just watch your back."
The third Espada looked at Ulquiorra with quiet awe.
"What's made you so passionate all of a sudden? I thought you were supposed to be the cold, tactical one, Schiffer."
Ulquiorra reined himself back in at once, but he couldn't keep a shard of urgency out of his voice.
"There is a great level of discontent among the Espada," he said, analytical once more, "and I do not know how long the ten of us will be able to hold together, even with Aizen commanding us. All I'm saying is that things are going to get violent around here sooner rather than later, and an ally is a good thing to have in troubled times."
Nel smiled, placing a hand gently on Ulquiorra's shoulder. He jerked at the contact, but did not pull away.
"I appreciate your concern, Ulquiorra," she said firmly, "but I'll be fine." Her voice softened the slightest bit.
"Trust me."
"As you wish, Sir," he said curtly, turning around and leaving without looking back.
A few days later, Nnoitra strode into the main chamber, all swagger and blood and thunder. Ulquiorra's heart began to beat faster and faster as he saw the vicious grin on Jiruga's face, but he kept his face calm. He could not afford to show concern or weakness, not in front of the other Espada.
"Well, I have some good news, and some more good news!" Nnoitra called out. "First bit of good news is, that weak whore Neliel is dead. Second bit of good news is…"
Ulquiorra's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing to slits, focusing all of his rage on the Fifth Espada. As images of the Third Espada's prone corpse flashed through his mind, the Fourth Espada carved out a resolution within his soul. Never again would he attach himself emotionally to anyone, or make any kind of sacrifice to aid anyone other than his master, Aizen. From here on out, Ulquiorra Schiffer was a lone wolf.
Back in the Soul Society lab, Nel shook her head and sighed, taking another pull on the bottle of sake.
"For what it's worth, Ulquiorra," she said, "wherever you are, I'm sorry I didn't take your advice."
"What kind of monsters d'you think we'll find down here, Ichigo?"
"Hard to say. This isn't Hueco Mundo, so I doubt there'll be Hollows. I guess we'll find out when something tries to kill us."
"Cheery as ever, Kurosaki," Renji groused as the two friends walked through the blackened landscape, heading towards a massive, walled city that looked like a corrupted Seireitei.
"That's where they're keeping her, you think?"
"Yep. I just hope it doesn't take as long to get to as Las Noches, or we might not get to Rukia in time."
"We'll make it, Ichigo. We can't not make it, and you know that. She's counting on us."
"Yeah, I bet she is," Kurosaki replied, his thoughts wandering to Rukia. After a while Renji got sick of the lovestruck look in Ichigo's eyes and smacked him.
"Ouch! What the hell, Renji?"
"We have to stay focused, Ichigo, and we can't do that if you're off daydreaming about Rukia!"
"Well, I'm sorry I care about her so much, Renji! Maybe you should try it sometime!"
"What are you implying, asshole?"
"Why, you little—"
The two warriors were so busy growling at each other that they didn't notice the pack of three-headed dogs stalking them until their barks filled the air and they charged.
"Oh…"
"Shit."
It took a good ten minutes to subdue them all, and by the time the last sword-stroke had fallen, Ichigo and Renji were the embodiments of battle-scared warriors, covered in blood and grime, drawing in ragged breaths as their lungs burned and smiling with a berserker's glee. The silence of their victory was soon broken, however, by a voice coming from some nearby rocks.
"Most impressive," it said. "It's been a long, long time since I've seen an unblemished soul down here, much less a pair of veteran Soul Reapers. You must be here on some pressing mission, no?"
"Show yourself!" Renji shouted, and the voice chuckled.
"So I can't be even the slightest bit mysterious? You're no fun."
The owner of the voice stepped out from the shadow of the rocks, revealing a young man about their age with brown hair and a single blue eye shining out from a weathered face, an eye-patch covering the other socket. He wore a uniform not unlike a Soul Reaper's, and a katana was stuck in his sash.
"My name is Marcus," he said, bowing slightly.
"That's an odd name," Renji commented. "Where're you from, originally?"
"I can't remember, to be honest with ya. A few centuries of this damn place'll wipe every pleasant memory from your mind."
"What are you doing all the way out here?" Ichigo asked, curious as to why anyone would venture outside the walls of the city in the distance.
"I'm on a routine scouting mission for my commander, General Aron. Well, technically, he's not a general anymore, but that's a long story."
"We don't have time for stories, Marcus," Renji insisted. "We need to get to that city as soon as possible."
Marcus' eyebrow rose in surprise.
"Why in the name of all that is holy would you ever want to go there on purpose? That place is lethal for people like you; outsiders, and especially living souls, get torn to shreds by the mobs of the damned."
"We have no choice, man," Ichigo said. "We have to get in there and rescue a friend of ours, Rukia Kuchiki."
Marcus' blue eye shot wide open at the mention of that name and he staggered back, bracing himself on some rocks.
"Rukia Kuchiki?" he repeated. "Tell me you're not serious."
"Why? Where is she? What happened to her?!"
"She's the crown prince's new bride-to-be," Marcus explained, and Ichigo looked like he'd just been shot. "Going up against him is suicide, friend, no matter who you are!"
Renji saw that Ichigo wasn't going to be speaking in complete sentences for a while, so he stepped up and pleaded instead.
"Trust me, Marcus, we've been up against suicidal odds before, and we're still standing. Ichigo and I need to get to Rukia as soon as possible, and we don't care who we have to kill to do it."
The one-eyed scout looked at the red-haired warrior with newfound respect and smiled.
"Well, from one fighter to another, I have no doubt that you could probably get pretty far into the city. But there's no way you could get into the place where she's being held without some kind of permission from one of the higher-ups. That," he continued with a twinkle in his eye, "or you could just sneak in. And it so happens that I have a portable gateway that we scouts use for transportation that I'd be more than happy to let you two use. That is, provided you promise me one thing."
"Which is?"
"If you ever get out of here alive, take me with you."
Renji smiled.
"Consider it done."
"Balthazar!"
"Yes, General Aron?"
Saika sighed.
"Damn it, man, how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that? I'm not a general anymore."
"With all due respect, sir," the messenger said, "there are many people I know who would disagree with you. The loyalty of your men does not rise and fall on Mortos' whims, or those of his son."
Aron grinned wolfishly, his eyes gleaming.
"I know that, Balthazar. That's why I need you to round up every single one of my ranked officers who will still follow me and bring them here, as quickly as you can. The time is nearing for us to make our move."
"Oh, and bring me some beer, too."
"Grimmjow, now isn't the time for you to be boozing. You have someone to train, don't you?"
"Well, boss, the way I see it, it'll be much more interesting if I can't control myself completely."
"That'll just make it easier for me to kick your ass, Jaegerjaques!"
Grimmjow looked over at Rukia and snarled.
"Do you want me to actually try and kill you, Kuchiki?!"
Rukia bowed her head.
"No, sir."
The former sixth Espada grinned.
"Thought not. Now wipe that pathetic look off your face and let's get back to work."
"With pleasure," the Soul Reaper replied, smiling as images of a beaten-up, broken Callos danced through her head. Soon it would be time for the 'inspection', after all, and she needed to be strong enough to impress him.
Balthazar bowed low, promising to obey the order before vanishing. Ulquiorra, who was hunched over some maps, suddenly snapped to attention.
"That reiatsu… it's Kurosaki."
Both Grimmjow and Rukia stopped fighting, excited for completely different reasons. Rukia was about to cry she was so happy, and Grimmjow couldn't wait to give that strawberry some payback.
"Man, they got here fast, didn't they? He must really love you, Kuchiki," Saika said, while Rukia just blushed.
Ichigo…
Maybe the day was looking brighter, after all.
"Hey, Ichigo, can I talk to ya for a second? Alone?"
Ichigo thought it was odd that Renji was whispering so urgently, but he nodded and slowed his pace, trailing behind their guide until they were out of earshot.
"What's up, Renji?"
"Don't you think this has been a little too easy, man?"
"What'd you mean?"
"Come on, don't be an idiot. There's no way a place like this would be so easy to sneak in to. You had to use a freaking artillery bombardment to break into the Seireitei, after all."
"But I did use that underground passage to sneak all the way to the tower, didn't I?"
"And I was waiting for you right there, remember? Because I knew you were coming! Can't you see, Ichigo? This thing reeks of a setup, and we're gonna get screwed!"
"Jeez, why can't you just take a good thing as it is for once, Renji?"
"Because I'm not a stubborn idiot like you, maybe?"
"You son of a—"
Marcus heard the bickering behind him and smirked; this was almost too easy. Even if the moron with the red hair was suspicious, it was too late for them to do anything to save themselves. He'd already alerted the Kill Squad to his location, and they were never defeated. Right on cue, A man appeared in the alley next to him and Marcus stopped.
"You have done well, soldier," the man said.
"Hey, this wasn't easy for me, you know. Aron-sama is a good man, and I betrayed him. I just want my reward, and I'm out of here. My family; tell me they're safe."
"About that… your wife and daughter were crucified this morning, I'm afraid."
"What?! You mother—argh!"
Marcus' curse was cut short as a sword ran through his chest, blood spattering the wall opposite him as he fell. Ichigo and Renji turned sharply towards the commotion and saw Marcus hit the ground, but immediately after that a phalanx of hooded figures emerged out of thin air, blocking the view completely in front of, and behind them.
"You are intruders," they said in disturbing unison. "You are unwelcome. If you do not leave at once, you will die."
The two friends assumed battle stances back-to-back, ready to fight and die.
"We aren't going anywhere, you bastards."
The two ranks of enemies drew their swords, the sound of drawn steel ringing in the air.
"So be it."
"The Kill Squad…"
"What'd you just say, Grimmjow?"
"Somone sicced the dogs on your boyfriend and that Abarai guy, Rukia," Saika elaborated. "My guess is, Callos got word they were coming and set a trap."
Rukia's eyes widened in horror.
"I have to go help them!"
She made to flash-step away, but Saika was faster and held her in place.
"Stop."
"But…"
"I can't let you go alone."
"How could you just let them die?!"
Aron looked Rukia dead in the eye, as serious as she'd ever seen him.
"I never said I couldn't let you go period, you idiot. I said I couldn't let you go alone. Don't let your emotions rule you, Kuchiki. Do you understand me?"
Rukia nodded, cursing herself for being so rash. Saika turned to the former sixth Espada.
"Grimmjow, you and Rukia chase down those two as fast as you can."
"Yes, sir."
"Ulquiorra?"
"Yes, Aron-sama?"
"You stay here with me, but be ready to fight; my guess is that as soon as we make a move to protect those two Soul Reapers, Callos is going to take the chance to attack us and brand us as traitors."
"Understood."
As Kuchiki and Jaegerjaques vanished, Saika sunk down into his chair and sighed. Why wasn't life ever easy?
Because it wouldn't be life if it was.
The words Yoruichi had told him at the end of his first day as 10th Squad captain came rushing back to him now, and he got even more depressed. What he wouldn't give to talk to her right now; she would know exactly what to say to him. She always had.
"How many of these guys are there, damn it?"
"Just shut up and keep killing them, Renji!"
"What the hell do you think I'm doing?"
"You resistance is meaningless," the group spoke. "We cannot die, and your mortal flesh is all too easily pierced by our blades. Give up now and accept your death honorably, like men."
"Screw you," Ichigo hissed, pulling on his Hollow mask and battling with a renewed frenzy. Renji was beyond feeling pain at this point; his eyes pulsed with reiatsu as he cut through scores of soldiers, barely even hesitating when one of them landed a solid blow on his shoulder. But as valiantly as they fought, the numbers of their enemies seemed limitless and eventually they were back-to-back again, barely holding up their swords.
"Ichigo! Renji!"
The voice Kurosaki thought he might never hear again was as clear and welcome as the first ray of sunlight after a typhoon. Looking up and scarcely believing his eyes, the Substitute Soul Reaper grinned as he saw Rukia flying down towards him. But the smile turned into a confused look and finally a hateful glare when he saw who landed next to his friend.
"Grimmjow…"
The former sixth Espada grinned.
"Long time no see, kid."
Ichigo made to strike at the blue-haired man, but was stopped by Rukia's zanpakuto.
"Rukia… what're you doing?"
"It's a long story, Ichigo, but Grimmjow's on our side now. I know it sounds weird, but you have to trust me."
"But…"
"Ichigo, we don't have time for this!" Rukia shouted, stunning the orange-haired warrior into silence. "Do you trust me, yes or no?"
Ichigo was really confused by this turn of events, but there was no doubt that the person in front of him right now was Rukia. With a glint in his eyes, he smiled.
"Of course I trust you, midget."
"You're such an idiot," she said, retuning his smile. Just as the group rallied together and turned to fight, though, they were confronted by the last person any of them wanted to see.
"Well, this is cute," he said, appraising the situation before him with a smirk. "Two Soul Reapers, a traitorous half-breed and a runaway bride. Don't you make quite the team?"
Grimmjow snarled like a cornered beast and drew his sword.
"Aizen…"
"Please, Grimmjow, don't trifle with me," Aizen said smugly, blasting him with a beam of focused reiatsu. "I'm not here to fight any of you. My orders are merely to retrieve Rukia Kuchiki, and nothing more."
Ichigo laughed harshly.
"So you're the one taking orders now, Aizen? How does it feel to be a messenger boy?"
Sosuke stared daggers at Ichigo for a moment, but then relaxed.
"Boy, you have no idea who you're talking to. In a few days, I'll be lord of this whole plane, and you will soon bow before me."
"I've heard that speech before, on the day that we killed you. What makes you think I'll believe you now?"
Aizen smirked.
"Whether or not you believe me is irrelevant, Ichigo Kurosaki. The fact of the matter is that I'm going to kill you and return Rukia Kuchiki to the person she belongs to, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"Over my dead body."
Aizen's smirk widened.
"If that's how you want to do it. Hado number 90: Black Coffin."
Rukia screamed as she saw the dark cube enclose Ichigo, and her heart stopped when she heard the cruel hiss of countless blades striking him all at the same time. The sight of his body falling, horribly lacerated and bleeding, was the last thing she saw before Aizen appeared in front of her and knocked her out. The former captain grabbed the young Kuchiki by the neck of her robes and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, glancing nonchalantly at the two people who were looking at him with murder in their eyes.
"Deal with those two, and throw the lot of them in the dungeons when you finish."
"Of course, General Aizen."
Sosuke vanished with Rukia in tow, leaving Renji with nothing left but a heart full of hatred and a soul crying out for vengeance. Grimmjow's face was impassive as he got up, but his eyes had a certain sadness to them. Recalling what Rukia's face had looked like as Ichigo was skewered by the Black Coffin, he sighed mentally as he drew his sword once more.
And people wonder why I never get involved in relationships…
The Soul Reaper and former Espada charged, two unlikely allies fighting for a common goal. But they were overwhelmed in time, and the Kill Squad dragged the three men down to the dungeons, as they had been ordered to do.
"It's done, Prince Callos," Aizen's voice spoke through a reiatsu bridge. "I have Rukia, and the three others are in the dungeons, as per you command."
Callos grinned wickedly, knowing now was as good a time as any to make his move. Flash-stepping to Saika's quarters, he kicked the door down and was not at all surprised by the sight that greeted him.
"So it's armed insurrection now, is it?" he asked, smirking. Saika and Ulquiorra stared at him, swords drawn and waiting for the prince to make the first move. Instead of attacking, Callos began to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Just that you two think you can change anything by attacking me here. I've already won this battle, Saika."
"What do you mean?" Ulquiorra asked, and Callos glanced at him disdainfully.
"I didn't know your dog could speak, Aron. You should tell him it's considered rude for slaves to speak out of turn."
Ulquiorra made to dash forward, but Saika stopped him with his arm.
"What do you mean you've already won, Callos?"
"I sent Aizen to capture my concubine and deal with those other three urchins. The woman is now in my private quarters, and the others are in the dungeons awaiting punishment. Now, the way I see it, this can end one of two ways. You can either lay down your swords and surrender peacefully, or I can have the Kuchiki whore strung up and quartered before I kill both of you."
Ulquiorra and Saika shared a glance, their hatred for the man in front of them overruled by necessity. Taking off their swords, the two warriors tossed them to the prince. Callos smiled.
"Good choice."
Ichigo awoke groggily, but sat up sharply as the putrid stench of the dungeon shot up his nose. Suddenly pain raced through him in waves, and the memory of being eviscerated by the Black Coffin came surging back to him.
"Don't make any sudden moves, you dumbass," a familiar voice growled from nearby. "If your wounds open up again, you'll probably die. And don't bother thanking me for healing you or anything; it's not like it took me two fucking hours."
Ichigo collapsed back down with an exhausted sigh, waiting for his vision to clear up before attempting any more movements.
"Why are you even here, Grimmjow? And why did you heal me?" he muttered, too tired to be worried by the former Espada's presence. Grimmjow sat down on a bench across from the one Renji was sleeping on and cracked the joint in his neck before speaking.
"Why am I here? I guess I have you to thank for that, Ichigo. Ya see, souls only get sent down to hell if either they're so impure they can't be cleansed, or if the person who separates the soul from the body does so with so much hatred that the soul is tainted by it, sending it to hell. In other words, your hatred towards me for what I did to your girlfriend that one time is what sent me to hell. As for why I healed you? Well, apart from the fact that we'll all need to be at full strength if we want to get out of this shithole alive, I'm pretty sure your girlfriend would castrate me if she found out I let you die."
Ichigo couldn't help but smile at the image of Rukia chasing after Grimmjow with a carving knife, but when his thoughts lingered on Rukia for a few more moments his mouth opened in mute horror.
"Aizen… he took Rukia…"
"So you didn't go blind. That's good, Ichigo."
"What did he want with her, Grimmjow? He said he was taking her to the person she 'belonged to'… what's going on here?"
Grimmjow figured that none of them were going to be going anywhere for a while, so he told Ichigo the story of how he and Ulquiorra had been sent to hell, met up with Saika, and began serving under him as captains. He told Ichigo about the Baron of their circle, Mortos, and his son the crown prince, who was the one that abducted Rukia in the first place. When he finished with the past few days, Ichigo looked at his former enemy with a new level of respect.
"Thank you for doing that for Rukia," he said, but Grimmjow just shook his head.
"Don't thank me, man. 'Was just orders."
Renji woke up with a yawn, reaching instinctively for his zanpakuto and coming up empty.
"Wha—? Where'd our zanpakuto go?"
"My guess is they took 'em to the armory for safekeeping," the former sixth Espada answered. "While those are out of our hands, we don't stand a chance against these fuckers."
Ichigo was about to say something, but there was noise at the iron door that was the entrance to their cell. It swung open with a creak a few moments later, the three occupants shielding their eyes from the sudden influx of light. Two figures were roughly pushed into the cell, and the door swung shut once again. Once Ichigo's eyes readjusted to the darkness, he could see that one of the two new arrivals was Ulquiorra, which meant that the other one was probably Saika Aron.
"I was beginning to wonder when you bastards would show up," Grimmjow joked from his bench.
"Wouldn't miss this for the world, man," Saika replied, sitting on the floor to let Ulquiorra have the last bench. After sitting silent for a moment, the orange-eyed warrior spoke.
"So, you must be Ichigo Kurosaki," he said, and Ichigo sat up.
"Yeah, that's me. You Saika Aron?"
Saika nodded.
"That I am. Saika Aron, former lieutenant of the 2nd Division of the 13 Seireitei Court Squads, later Captain of the 10th Division."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
"You were a Soul Reaper? How long ago?"
"I served under Yoruichi Shihoin, and I was a good friend of Byakuya Kuchiki's when we were growing up, if that gives you a frame of reference. Sorry I can't be more specific, but you lose track of time when you've been down here long enough."
"You knew Byakuya when he was a kid? Damn, that must have been a long time ago. What was he like?"
"Completely reckless, totally irresponsible, utterly impulsive and incredibly short-tempered."
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"You sure we're talking about the same Byakuya Kuchiki?"
"Yeah, unless he has an evil twin or something that I don't know about. How's he been lately? Last I saw, he was married and pretty pleased with life."
"Well, about that…"
Ichigo told Saika all about the trials and tribulations Byakuya had been through in the past years, and Aron felt incredibly guilty that he hadn't been able to help his friend through those rough times. When the story was finished, a somber mood hung over the group until a few knocks came on the door and a slat in the bottom opened; it was dinnertime. The five inmates expected gruel of some kind, and were shocked when five plates of gourmet food and a few bottles of sake slid into the cell. A slat of metal in the middle of the door slid open, revealing a pair of concerned brown eyes.
"Sorry I couldn't do any better, Sirs," the man's voice said.
Ulquiorra squinted, trying to figure out who their benefactor was.
"Yoshinara? Is that you?"
"Yes, Captain Ulquiorra, sir! I managed to pull some strings and get the assignment to run food to your cell. Just remember, sir," he finished with a glint in his eye, "you've got friends down here."
"Who was that?" Renji asked in between gulps of noodles.
"Yoshinara Ure, one of my subordinates," Schiffer explained. "If this bit of luck develops into a trend, Sir," he continued, looking over at Saika, "we could be out of here much sooner than expected.
"Let's hope so, my friends. How's about we have a toast, eh? To freedom."
"To freedom!"
"Yeah, let's get hammered!"
"Damn it, Grimmjow…"
Kisuke Urahara walked into the room wearing his Captain's haori, feeling like an amputee who had just, by some miracle, been given back a limb. His current feelings of happiness had no place here, though, so he sobered up and took his place next to Byakuya, across from Ukitake, Shunsui and Yoruichi. The Shihoin princess looked devastated, but she was holding herself together with years of discipline forged in the fires of nobility. Still, there was something about the look in her eyes that cut deeper than usual, and Urahara could only wonder if she had finally figured it out, so many years too late.
"We're waiting on Captain Zaraki," Byakuya said, after five minutes had passed in awkward silence. "I say we give him five more minutes, and then we just start without him."
"Oh, come on, Byakuya-san," Shunsui insisted, "I'm sure he'll be here any minute."
Right on cue, the door swung open to reveal the 11th Squad captain, without Yachiru perched on his shoulder. He stood next to Urahara and across from Yoruichi, who seemed to want to glare at him, but decided not to.
"Shall we begin by paying our respects?" Ukitake said, and Byakuya stepped up to the shrine first.
The memorial to the fallen Soul Reaper was simple, consisting of his two haori and a portrait. His zanpakuto was kept by Yoruichi in a place only she knew of; he had entrusted her with the task of keeping it safe, and she wasn't about to betray that trust.
The ceremony was a simple one and it ended after an hour, but Yoruichi lingered behind, staring mournfully at the simple picture of her former lieutenant. Byakuya saw her distress and walked back to her, standing next to her in a show of moral support. The Shihion princess glanced over at him and smiled thinly, thankful that she wasn't mourning alone. She knew that he was probably doing this as much for himself as for her; after all, Saika had been one of the only people Byakuya called a friend and meant it, but all the same, it was comforting.
They stayed that way for quite some time, thinking of happier memories. But eventually the moon rose, the crickets started to chirp and they went their separate ways.
Rukia woke up blearily, rubbing her eyes and turning on her side while pulling the bed-sheets closer to her.
Wait… bed-sheets?
Bolting upright, she looked around and was astonished to find herself in a room that resembled her quarters back in the Kuchiki Manor, elegantly furnished, well-lit and cozy. But there was no way she was back home, was there?
"Oh, I see you're awake. That's good," a voice came from one of the doors to the room, and Rukia turned to see that a young woman about her physical age had come in. Her voice was soft but surprisingly kind, in a way that reminded Rukia of Inoue. Medium-length chestnut hair framed a dignified, sad face that was completed by a pair of deep blue eyes. She bowed, introducing herself.
"My name is Arina Ure," she said, "and I've been assigned to be your lady-in-waiting. I hope I can perform my duties to your satisfaction, my Lady."
Rukia took a few moments to let everything that had happened to her recently sink in. She had gone to rescue Ichigo, and they were about to fight their way out, but then Aizen came and… damn it!
Arina looked at the young woman in front of her with concern that grew into alarm as she started to weep silently, almost subconsciously.
"My Lady? Are you all right? Why are you crying so?"
Rukia snapped out of it and noticed, to her embarrassment, that tears were rolling down her cheeks.
"Oh, I… I didn't know I was crying," she said, hoping it didn't sound too weak. "Forgive me, Arina."
"There is nothing to forgive, my Lady. Here, take this," she offered, holding out a handkerchief. Rukia accepted it wordlessly, dabbing her eyes and trying to get herself back together. She needed to be strong right now, not bawling like a little kid. Looking over at Arina, she gave her the kindest smile she could muster.
"You can just call me Rukia, Arina," she told her. "That'll work just fine."
Arina bowed gracefully.
"As you wish, My L—Rukia," she corrected herself, blushing slightly before she turned around and made to leave.
"Wait!" Rukia called out, sounding a little more desperate than she would have liked. Arina turned around to face her.
"Yes?"
"Could you stay here for a while?"
"Of course, Rukia," Arina answered kindly, empathizing with the look on the poor girl's face. After all, she had worn a look very similar to it when she had first been bought by the prince and thrown in here, so far from her home and her family. The person who had taught her the way of the Court had been a cruel, miserable old hag, and Arina vowed to herself that she would not treat Rukia the way she herself had been treated. She went to go get some tea, and by the time she had come back, Rukia was out of bed and dressed in a basic gray robe, sitting at a table overlooking the city. Arina came and sat down with her, and they talked until the sun had dipped low in the sky, a cautious smile drifting over Rukia's face whenever she allowed herself to hope that things wouldn't be too bad. All too soon it came time to call it a night, and Arina took her leave. As she was leaving, though, she left Rukia with one last bit of knowledge.
"Your 'inspection' is tomorrow," she said, "but even if that goes favorably, there's still a law that dictates a period of two weeks must pass before the marriage can be performed."
Rukia laughed bitterly.
"That sounds like the grace period before an execution."
Arina smiled in kind; she liked the new arrival much more than the previous airheads.
"Be that as it may, Rukia, that means your friends will have ample time to rescue you."
Kuchiki smiled, but this time it was warm and genuine.
"I guess I hadn't thought about that," she said, settling down on her bed and closing her eyes.
"Thank you, Arina."
"You're welcome, Rukia Kuchiki. May your dreams be pleasant."
Author's Note: You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you? Man, I feel like a jerk for doing that to those guys because, like everyone's favorite fox-faced former-captain Gin Ichimaru, I hate it when stories get sad. However, just because it's dark now does not mean there isn't a dawn on the way. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please review; it really helps with the inspiration facet of the writing process.
Next chapter will focus on Ichigo and Co.'s time in jail, as well as their plans to get out. Also, what's Aizen up to now, and what do Callos and Mortos think about the whole thing? Oh, and a certain Captain of Squad 6 may decide to run a little search-and-rescue operation of his own. Tune in next chapter for the good stuff, tentatively titled 'Power Animal' (bonus points for the people who know what movie I got that from).
Until next time!