The Night After…conclusion, pt.1 of 2
Far off in the distance of the vast desert sands of Hueco Mundo, a distinctly illuminated cavern entrance could be seen, if one only had the inclination to look for it…
"Enlighten me Aizen, what kind of information did Szayel have on you that could possibly justify the likelihood of exposure?," Gin asked, the question loaded with obvious contempt.
"It's a moot point. It's done.," Aizen replied, dryly, pushing a stray curl of hair off his brow.
"You risk too much, there may be repercussions.," Gin stated in a testy tone as he pictured his future role as "ruler of All" vanishing quickly in his mind's eye.
"Is that fear I hear in your voice, Gin? You really shouldn't concern yourself with such trivial matters...it's bad for your health.," Aizen replied with a smirk of smug satisfaction as he looked upon the desert sands.
Aizen basked in the knowledge that his palace was still standing, right where he'd left it. Yes, it was like a shining beacon of his greatness and he would soon see it in his hands once more. Aizen placed his hand within his hakama, lightly fingering the polished facets of the hogyoku. The stone was now fully awake and its power was beyond measure. His victory was assured, having allies was no longer necessary…and Gin had been somewhat troublesome as of late...
Sosuke Aizen smiled to himself as he contemplated the many ways he could orchestrate Gin's untimely demise. Perhaps he could rid himself of Gin the same way he did Tousen? ..(…It had been rumored that the Soul Society still hadn't found the body.) Still, Aizen's time to plot and plan was limitless…much like the powers of the hogyoku.
Gin turned his back on Aizen and approached their make-shift fireplace within the small cave. The ever-present smile faded slightly as he pretended to warm his hands against the soft glow…his brows further furrowing as his signature grin thinned out into a hard line across his face. Aizen was an overconfident narcissistic fool, now more than ever. …Gin knew it was only a matter of time before it would be his undoing.
::Los Noches Palace::
The pending treaty had been interrupted by the fallen dome wall which had, inexplicably, collapsed during the crucial point of the tentative negotiations which took place just moments before. The entire front side of the palace was now in shambles.
Under the rubble, a small scream could be heard coming from underneath the fallen pieces of wall. …The group of misfit Shinigami travelers worked tirelessly, side by side, with all manner of Hollow beings, trying to save the sole buried survivor. Both the weak and the powerful, worked together side by side, under the cover of moonlight trying to uproot the accumulated debris. Once the victim was finally uncovered, Orihime worked diligently, trying to heal the fatal wounds of the dying hollow servant. As Ulquiorra approached the glowing shield, the trampled hollow held up his hands.
"Stop, Mistress Orihime, I beg you…"
Orihime frowned, closing her eyes as she concentrated on her shield's healing technique that much harder. …Ulquiorra slowly closed his hands around her outstretched palms, stifling her abilities.
"This is his choice, you must allow him a death with dignity.," the new leader of the Hollows stated somberly. Ulquiorra ran a hand gently through her hair until her eyes began to tear and she nodded her acceptance to him. She removed her hands from his and slowly walked away towards the main concentration of wreckage. She furiously began removing a portion of the remaining rubble.
The surrounding Hollows stopped working momentarily to stare, in disbelief, as their pregnant mortal Queen toiled alongside them. Worried, Ulquiorra reached his hand out to try and stop her from over-taxing her body in its fragile condition…but then thought better of it as she ensnared his gaze with her own savage expression. From that moment on, no one dared to question Orihime, having caught sight of the determination and fortitude etched on her face…
He quickly put his hand down and turned away from her, choosing instead, to focus his attentions on the dying servant. The dark grey stripes of his tattered uniform were adorned with crimson red streaks, which continued to enlarge as life poured out of him. One hand clasped onto the hem of Ulquiorra's dust-covered robes in desperation. The crumpled hollow stared up at his sovereign with a profound sense of gratitude and fierce devotion as he looked deep into Ulquiorra's eyes. The servant said only one word before a peacefully silent oblivion overtook him…
"…Aizen."
…The mixed group remained silent for a few minutes, digesting the implications of it all…until one finally spoke her mind,
"Aizen! Do you know what this means? The 13 court guard squad must be informed of this immediately," Rukia stated vehemently.
"Despite the noble house you're from, it's common knowledge that you associate with 'undesirables', Rukia. As anyone like me can tell you, you lack credibility. Your pleas will fall on deaf ears. Face it, we are alone…," Yoruichi trailed off in a melancholy tone.
"That is unacceptable!," Rukia continued, "Maybe you're right and most would not hear me out. But, certainly, there are others who will!"
And so, the soul reaper troop left Hueco Mundo, promising to return with "help," in some form or another, before making their departure….
~The following day~
"Captain, you never bothered to tell me that it's so humid over here! Look how much I'm perspiring!" Rangiku said pointing towards her enormous cleavage while stepping out of the spatial rift onto the soft vanilla sand.
"I can't think of a time when you're not in heat, in one form or another!," the young Captain exclaimed sarcastically.
"Well…I would have worn my summer robes instead of these heavy things. This constant sweating is just so unbecoming-"
"Welcome Soul Reaper Captain and subordinate. I am honored to meet you."
"Oh, why hello there…my, my,…aren't you a site!" Rangiku said awkwardly as she stared at the teal-haired beauty and became transfixed by the woman's overly-ample chest…("Holy Mackerel! I think I'm actually jealous!, " she thought privately.)
"I am Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck; an Espada, Third rank. Welcome to Las Noches palace. Rukia said representatives would be arriving today…however, given our past experience with the Soul Society, we were not overly optimistic. Please come with me through here. Forgive our appearance, as we are still trying to clear and rebuild the area after yesterday's attack…"
As the three figures approached the large pile of rubble just through the main gate, Ulquiorra was directing several hollows with work detail around the half-visible courtyard. He looked up in time to see Neliel and flipped his hand forward slightly to signal her to bring the Soul Reapers before him. He eyed them carefully, recalling stored snippets of information he had on each of them, as they approached.
"So, you are Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto of the Soul Society Tenth Division in the 13 Court Guard Squad. I welcome you to Las Noches, or rather, …what remains of it." Ulquiorra stated bitterly as he focused again on the recovery effort.
"We are honored to meet you. I realize that we are all on a time constraint, so I'll come straight to the point. We must have indisputable evidence that Aizen has returned and that your army is no longer allied with him. We are here in an unofficial capacity, as the Soul Society will not condone its officers consorting with enemies under any circumstances until we have substantiated proof-"
(The air around the group shifted slightly as spiritual energy began filling the surrounding area.)
"-In other words, my young friend, they don't know you're here.," said Aizen as he appeared out of thin air, his left hand hanging off of his obi casually, from which currently held his Zanpakuto. Gin arrived and followed in-step a fraction of a moment later…
"You see, Gin, I knew I sensed them…," Aizen said, patronizing his associate.
"Captain!-," Lieutenant Matsumoto yelled as she unsheathed her own Zanpakuto while flanking Hitsugaya.
"I see them. Rangiku, you must hurry to Soul Society! Tell them what has transpired here. Quickly!-"
"You two don't honestly believe that I would allow that, now, do you?," Aizen snorted.
Aizen flicked his fingers fractionally. A cero immediately exploded in front of the Captain. Hitsugaya immediately parried most of the attack, but it was a moment too late, as his left shoulder took the brunt of the impact. He could feel the crispness of his singed white hair on the left side of his head and his left eye remained partially closed.
"You'll have to do better than that if you wish to achieve a valiant death, Toshiro.," Gin said, tauntingly, from the sidelines.
"I'm surprised you'd even bother to show yourselves, considering what Soul Society will do once they find out you're still alive!," Hitsugaya said breathlessly.
"Oh yes, I already know. That lovely ordinance they've concocted would be rescinded and all manner of forces would join together to form an unstoppable militia to wipe me out of existence, am I right? So, I'll say once more, do you honestly think I'd allow that? No one from Soul Society knows you're here. And I have every intention of keeping it that way.," Aizen said, smiling casually.
"We shall see. BANKAI! HYOURINMARU!," the captain yelled as he called forth his most powerful attack with his infamous Zanpakuto.
Meanwhile, Ulquiorra had quickly gathered what remained of his Hollows and dispersed them to areas of safety as the battle ensued. He then invoked his second release form which he'd gained mastery over, no longer having to hide his full potential any longer.
As the young Captain and Aizen continued their fight, Ulquiorra attempted to join in, only to find himself completely suspended in motion.
"My, My, Ulquiorra, aren't you just the most ferocious of wayward beasts! Despite your increased powers, I would think you'd know better than to challenge me. Did you forget the effects of my Zanpakuto's Kyouka Suigetsu? Perfect Hypnosis, there simply are no time limits of its' effects. I could kill you, now, where you stand with minimal effort and you would be defenseless…despite your current form. Still, I'm not done with the good Captain, here. Just relax, Ulquiorra, and watch as I take back my kingdom.," Aizen stated succinctly.
Aizen resumed his prior battle. He easily thwarted, yet another, of Hitsugaya's ice dragon attacks. Ulquiorra could only watch and maintain his look of utter loathing as time began to move forward again without him.
During the fray, Rangiku had remained far outside the battle area, allowing her Captain his moment with Aizen…as was custom in the Soul Society. It was considered shameful to interfere in another's fight. ...Not to mention that she was currently preoccupied protecting a certain human. Despite the Lieutenant's protests, Orihime remained standing behind Rangiku, who had taken up her sword up in a defensive posture.
"Orihime dear, next time there's a battle within close range, I will PHYSICALLY FORCE you to go to safety, baby or no baby! Are we clear? ...Haven't you realized? If anything happens to you, we can all just forget about this temporary peace thing you all want so badly!"
"Of course, you're right…forgive me, Rangiku, but I refuse to leave Ulquiorra ...again.," she responded, meekly, as the two of them watched the warriors battle from the sidelines.
Gin stood off on the opposite side of the courtyard, leaning up against the main gates looking…rather bored. He caught Rangiku's eye with a small wave of his right hand. As she stared back at him coldly, he winked at her and licked his lips suggestively. …As her cheeks reddened in response, she became completely disgusted with herself.
"…Gin, you are un-frickin-believable!" she mumbled to herself with repugnance.
She furiously blew a strand of sweaty reddish-blond hair out of her face as she tried to refocus her attentions on her struggling Captain. …And, none too soon, as she saw Toshiro make a fatal mistake that landed him on his back, clutching his side, which was now oozing thickly with fresh blood.
"Orihime, stay hidden behind those boulders over there and don't come out, it's not safe!," Rangiku cried as she rushed in to save her captain.
Aizen leisurely walked over to Toshiro and towered over him.
"Any final words from Soul Society's only child captain?," he said, condescendingly, as he slowly brought his sword down and pressed it against the boy's exposed throat.
"You can go to hell, Aizen.," Hitsugaya mumbled back through gritted teeth.
Aizen displayed the most evil smile as he raised his sword up, momentarily, before slamming it down against-
"-Not my Captain!," Rangiku screamed as she flash-stepped toward them. In that split second before Aizen's sword met flesh, her sword caught the blow. It violently scraped against Aizen's blade, shallowly cutting Hitsugaya's face in the process, but otherwise, avoiding his fatality.
"You, a Soul Reaper Lieutenant, interfering in another's engagement? It's ironic that you should bring shame down upon the very Captain you attempt to save. You know he wouldn't thank you for it. Not that any of this matters, really, as I planned on dispatching both of you.," Aizen said with a smirk, while maintaining his calm demeanor.
Rangiku was just about to call forth the spirit of her Zanpakuto, when suddenly, Aizen whispered a strange phrase to her. She looked at him oddly as her senses were suddenly unable to comprehend speech. But before she could concentrate on regaining her use of language, she quickly discovered that she had also lost control of her gross motor skills. She stumbled, as she lost her footing, in effort to regain control of herself.
Moments from panicking, she began to register that Aizen had used his Kyouka Suigetsu/hypnosis on her. Her body was moving, of its' own accord, toward Aizen's sword, as he laughed cruelly all the while. The razor-sharp edge was now only mere inches away from piercing her heart. She soon saw and heard the tearing of fabric as her body began its gradual descent onto Aizen's blade. Her eyes widened in panic and fear…
…Gin had no intentions of fighting. He had simply leaned back idly, watching everything unfold to Aizen's satisfaction…as usual. However, he had to admit, he was eagerly anticipating watching the Captain getting run through with his own sword. …Gin's only regret? …Aizen would be the one doing it. …And then things took a bad turn as Rangiku got involved. …Gin watched in horror as her body, involuntarily, began lowering itself onto Aizen's katana.
Gin quickly flash-stepped over to her and removed her trembling body from its' current trajectory. He then grasped onto Aizen's sword and removed it from its' owner's grip, letting it fall carelessly to the ground...as a very-shocked Aizen froze in disbelief.
"YOU DARE?," he asked Gin with outrage.
"Apparently, it seems, I do. Who knew?" Gin said smiling maniacally as he flash-stepped several times around the area before crossing the main gate. He then opened up a spatial rift, and quickly, disappeared through it.
"Wait!," Rangiku cried out.
Her body regained its' senses the moment Gin flash-stepped towards the massive gate. …But she'd arrived a moment too late as the rift vanished from her site. …She looked around in despair.
…As she was about to return to her Captain, a rift opened up silently just behind her. She gasped in shock as a pale arm grasped her around her waist. Then she gasped, once more, as another hand clasped over her mouth…and she was pulled roughly into the black void.
~meanwhile~
Orihime watched the spectacle, involving Aizen, with dread. She had just been about to invoke a shield, when she saw Gin fly into action. She watched with fascination as Gin saved Rangiku. Aizen had been betrayed! …And then she felt a sudden gust of wind from no where, as well as an added weight within the grasp of her left hand that hadn't been there before. She held her left hand up to her face, and stared in disbelief, as the sparkling Hogyoku illuminated itself in front of her astonished eyes. It was the chance she had been waiting for…
She concentrated solely on the physical makeup of the stone, ignoring the violence and confusion happening just on the other side of the boulders. She quickly sat down on the pebbled ground and placed the hogyoku on the rough terrain, just a few inches in front of her crouched body. …She had fantasized about this moment every night and day she'd spent in Aizen's captivity. She quickly placed a small shield over the gleaming jewel and invoked with every last ounce of her power.
"Soten keshun, I reject. …I reject you from existence."
She, forcefully, whispered her incantation again and again over the small glowing cube. The jewel began to redden as it tried to resist its' un-making. Within seconds it began to turn a faded hue of pink translucence….and then, as if it never was, it faded into nothingness.
Her shield winked out of existence as Orihime attempted to sit upright. As she adjusted her cumbersome body to the effort, she sensed the danger. She turned her head to look behind…only to find a madman towering above her.
Aizen had seen her shield just before he was to deal Captain Hitsugaya a killing blow. However, Aizen had arrived a moment too late to change what was no longer there…his body began to shake with effort as he attempted to control his fury and remain dignified...
"So, it seems I'm undone by a traitor and…a mere mortal.," he laughed maniacally.
And he didn't stop laughing for several minutes. He laughed at himself, his fate, Gin's life, and their power-hungry ambition that took hundreds of years of deceiving to cultivate and see to fruition…all wasted, all gone…("no, not gone, TAKEN! SHE TOOK THEM FROM ME!," he thought with mad hatred.)
"I never realized you had it in you, my dear, Orihime. And I do believe I've just had an epiphany. You're going to love what I now have in store for you.," Aizen said as she cowered before him, crouching her body protectively against the nearest boulder.
Ulquiorra watched the whole scene from a distance, fighting the hypnosis with every fiber of his being. He was very slowly beginning to regain control of his movements again. He, too, had felt the slight gust of wind before Gin made his spectacular exit.
Ulquiorra soon rushed over to where Aizen had Orihime boxed in. Before Aizen could sense him, Ulquiorra used Sonido and appeared directly behind him. Then, the "Sovereign of Hollows" plunged his talons deep into Aizen's back and out through his stomach.
"You're rule has ended, Aizen.," Ulquiorra stated calmly as he removed his clawed hand and pitched Aizen's bloody form onto the nearest pile of rubble…only it never made it, as Aizen whispered another Zanpakutō invocation. Time suddenly stopped for both Orihime and Ulquiorra. Aizen, standing between them in crimson stained robes, smiled again as he contemplated their fate…
~meanwhile~
The lighting was poor, Rangiku could barely make out where she was, as Gin dumped her struggling body to the cave floor unceremoniously. Her legs splayed out in front of her while she remained in a sitting position on her bottom…she began pushing herself away from him along the floor, holding her Zanpakutō in front of herself. She wielded her sword clumsily, making quick and jerky motions with it, defensively, until her eyesight began to adjust. Gin, laughed a bit, as he watched her...
"My darling, Ran, you still wish me ill will? …And to think I've, painstakingly, planned this little rendezvous for months."
"You don't say.," Rangiku said sarcastically.
"Ok, you caught me!," Gin laughed, "However, I did just betray Aizen for you. If that doesn't that just scream devotion, then I honestly don't know what will."
"You left the losing side for me? …Wow, Gin, my heart's all a flutter. *sigh* Need I remind you that we are at war, Gin? You and me, against each other, in a war you and that bastard started! …You're more foolish than I'd imagined, if you think you can trap me here to play house with you while my captain dies out there without me!," she screamed at him as she raised her Katana to eye level and pointed it squarely at his chest.
"*tsk* One day, you simply must share with me what it is, exactly, you see in that brat."
"Captain Hitsugaya would never have betrayed his comrades the way you and Aizen do again and again. You've the loyalty of a snake, Gin. It's as simple as that."
"So tell me, Ran, would you refuse a dying man?," Gin asked in a mocking tone.
"HA! That'd be a bit of poetic justice for you, if you ask me."
"It would only be poetic if it was you who granted me my dying wish…"
"And just what might that be?"
"Why, for you to be mine tonight, of course."
As Gin leered at her suggestively, she inadvertently took a step back toward the entrance of the cave. Upon seeing her hesitation, Gin snapped his fingers and activated an alarm of sorts. A concealed panel from the wall of the cave slid open to reveal two cords of metallic chain that snaked their way across the floor and quickly wrapped around Rangiku's form again and again. Her body, from her chest up, was the only portion that remained exposed and free of coil.
Gin sighed with satisfaction, striding up to her with a sinister smile, his hands clasped behind his back. Rangiku stared daggers at him as he approached her…
"Albeit, long ago, doesn't this place seem familiar to you?," Gin whispered tenderly into her ear, his hot breath tickling her perspiring neck, "You were attractive back then…and now? Well frankly, Ran, you're simply magnificent…"
"Gin, you bastard…," Rangiku said, protesting, as Gin slid his hand into her Shinigami robes and began stroking her right nipple to a hardened peak.
"Why all the fuss, Ran? I know you better than you know yourself. And I know you want this too…"
After several minutes of ignored threats and posturing, Rangiku began to succumb to her heightened emotions…well that, and several minutes of enduring his endlessly probing hands on her overly-sensitized skin.
"You could…(ughnn)…consider untying me first. I'm pretty 'magnificent' at some other things too, if you'll remember." She whispered back into his silver hair as he fondled and licked at her cleavage.
He eagerly looked up into her eyes, placing her cherished lariat necklace between his teeth suggestively, while raising his eyebrows up and down. She winked at him once, before half-closing the lids of her eyes and dreamily planting suggestions in his mind,
"You know, I can't taste you until you untie me, Gin."
"With pleasure…"
Gin snapped his fingers as he kissed her mouth with severe force. The chains unloosened themselves in wide circles around Rangiku and fell to the ground in a heap…along with her robes. She smiled seductively as she stepped, completely naked, out from around the metal coils.
She dropped her Zanpakuto carelessly on top of the pile as she grabbed Gin by his robed uniform. She then kissed him more forcibly than he'd kissed her. After a few minutes of intense tongue war, with neither side yielding, Ran allowed Gin a bit of a breather…
"It's…," Gin replied breathlessly, "not a competition, Ran."
"Oh, isn't it though?," she purred as her hands tightened their grip on his robes and pushed them down to the floor effortlessly.
"Perhaps you're right, Gin, as I very much doubt you could keep up with me," she said, laughing remorselessly as she pushed him down onto the floor too.
Before he could form a response, lying on the ground, she had him straddled between her knees. She quickly aligned her thighs alongside his. He slid his fingers along her nakedness, running them along her inner thighs. He shortly reached her entrance. He could feel the heat and moisture building within her and smiled, knowingly, up at her.
"You want me very badly, don't you, Ran.," Gin stated…it wasn't a question.
"Perhaps…but I can endure my needs and get over you. You, on the other hand, will be absolutely BEGGING for me before I'm through.," She replied, giving him an exaggeratedly charming smile.
Rangiku began massaging his naked form, stroking his hardened length, just before grabbing the base of his shaft and squeezing gently. She then shimmied herself down his body until her mouth reached her hands. She looked up at his face slyly before letting her tongue drag slowly down the underside of Gin's erection. She continued to flick her tongue against him as she slowly began to pump him with her fist. He jerked his head back in pure pleasure as she ran her tongue back up his shaft and gently began to suck the head until he moaned her name in rapture.
"Oh, how I've missed you, Ran," he moaned softly.
The taste of him drove her wild, and she could feel herself growing wetter. She bobbed her head up and down on him while he arched his hips into her. His eyes were tranfixed as he hypnotically watched her, using one hand to prop himself up off the floor while his other tangled its' fingers in her silky mane.
"J-Just a little further, Ran..," He urged her in a guttural tone that was deep and raspy, as he gently attempted to push himself further into her dripping wet mouth.
Upon hearing his plea, she slowly pulled her mouth off of his hardness and smirked up at him.
"...Not yet," she whispered coyly before continuing to lick the head with quick, purposeful strokes.
Rangiku's long locks of blond hair brushed, tauntingly, against his hips whenever he endeavored to push himself further into her mouth. His body now sought the sweet release that she simply would not allow. Her brow furrowed and her smile broadened the more attempts he made and the more frustrated he became.
Within the span of a few minutes, he was so physically aroused by her antics that enduring her teasing was growing intolerable, and bordering on painful. She climbed back on top of him, using her hands to guide his high above his head. She then used kido to provide a binding on him. He no longer had use of his hands, as they remained in bondage, high above his head.
He smiled ecstatically, he'd always enjoyed this game. …He continually tried to thrust himself into her body as she smiled down at him, holding him captive. No, she would still not allow it. She merely smiled sadistically at him as his hips bucked up repeatedly without purchase.
"You're being ridiculous, just come closer to me!," he demanded with unbridled frustration.
"No. And I'd hardly call that begging. You didn't even say 'please.' Just give it up, Gin, I can deny you all night long if I choose to."
Having reached his limit, Gin painfully broke his bindings and grabbed onto her hips. He then tried to force himself inside of her, but she'd always had a talent for out-maneuvering him. She felt his nails dig deep into her fleshy curves as she cried out with pleasure. Her back began to arch more and more until her neck was close to her ankles behind her. It was still dark, but she could make out shapes and outlines from the distant moonlight pouring in through the mouth of the cave. As she remained in this position, curving backwards while straddling him, she could see the shine coming off of the metal bondages on the floor. She could just make out the pink scarf adorning her soul reaper robes, laying crumpled in a heap. And she also caught the white gleam of polished steel she knew to be her katana. The hilt was barely within her reach. She was just about to extend her arm out and reach for it when-
"…Please Ran," Gin murmured softly as the smile left his face.
Rangiku sat upright, once more, and gently lowered herself onto his length. He locked onto her eyes as he felt himself move deep inside of her. He gasped as she took him in until she'd completely engulfed him where their bodies met. She then elevated herself slightly, creating a slight gap between their bodies. At this point, he began to buck his hips feverishly into her warm center until she arched her back once more, only now in sheer ecstasy. She could feel his hands gripping her frame once more, he was quickly approaching his climax. She arched herself back, once more, and this time she reached out to grasp her sword.
She could feel him begin to shake uncontrollably beneath her. She knew he'd reached orgasm, as she felt the gush of liquid heat and moisture from deep within. Gin cried out with pleasure. As he began to sit upright to embrace her arched body, Rangiku straightened herself suddenly, bringing her sword directly in front of her as she completed his embrace…
…Gin gasped in shock, as he looked down to see that she had run him through. Gin jerked slightly as he felt the pain mix with his pleasure. Despite the sword still imbedded within him, Gin threw his arms around her tighter than before. She embraced him as well, holding onto him tenderly as tears streamed down her face. …They stayed like that for what seemed an eternity, before she began to pull away from him. He looked deep into her teary blue eyes before closing his own one final time.
"…Magnificent.," He murmured the word to her in a soft whisper as a dribble of blood trickled down from the corner of his smiling mouth.
Rangiku pressed her mouth onto his until she felt his lips grow cold. She then broke away from him, numbly, laying him gently on the cave floor. She shed tears one last time for him as she viewed his handsome, yet lifeless, form…
"Yes, we were…and that's the thing I hated most about you." she stated sadly.
Ran, still naked, dressed Gin back into his robes and laid his arms across his chest. Within his cold hands she placed her beloved lariat, much in the same manner as one would place a rosary…
She quickly dressed herself. After adjusting her robes, she removed a black ribbon from her pocket, and uncharacteristically, tied back her long hair with it. The ribbon had been haunting the inside of her pocket since the day he'd left her. Finally, his time had come and she could now display it properly, in mourning.
"Well Haineko," she said to her zanpakuto, "I guess it's just you and me now…"
She then approached the mouth of the cave and looked out across the vast desert sand to see the great white palace, far off in the distance. She began to run toward it, refusing herself the need to look back...
~meanwhile~
"It seems as though the two of you are far too eager to end your own lives. Perhaps, I should increase the stakes for both of you…"
Aizen smiled minisculey as ceros began to form from each of his hands. He placed one hand in front of each of their faces. And then, the hand in front of Orihime slowly descended from her face.
She watched in horror as it slowed and then stopped mere inches from her rounded stomach. Aizen adjusted the magnitude of the cero closest to her, it became much smaller than the one facing Ulquiorra…in fact, it was much much smaller. However, it was just large enough for Aizen's intentions…
"…I will even give you a choice, my dear Orihime. Who will you save: your beloved or your unborn?"
Orihime's eyes filled with tears, just as Ulquiorra's closed in fury and frustration. Aizen looked from one to the other…and his smile broadened with immense satisfaction.
"Oh dear, it seems I've upset you. …I'm certain if Ulquiorra were capable of speech, he would gladly offer up his newly-made life for you. Perhaps you should consider this. I'll give you a minute or so to think it over…"
…Orihime began to feel the beat of her own heart pounding brutally within her ears, almost as if to gratuitously emphasize every second that quickly rushed by…
Next chapter Conclusion pt 2 of 2 Ch: 17 -
"Beautiful Mine" was the Song which inspired this chapter.