Chapter II
-It's Not Always Rainbows and Butterflies-
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along, yeah
My heart is full and my door's always open
You come anytime you want, yeah.
Another mundane day at Hueco Mundo for Sousuke Aizen. Not only was the sunlight artificial, his Espada army were already starting to be a headache. Grimmjow Jeagerjacques, his Sexta Espada, for instance. He wanted to snap that blue-haired man's neck already because of his rude and uncouth mouth. And there was Nnoitra Gilga, the spoon-hooded Octava Espada. Just looking at that lanky bastard made Aizen want to draw his zanpakutou and cut him into pieces. And finally, the former God-King of Hueco Mundo, Barragan Luisenbarn, the Segunda Espada, was someone the ex-Captain wanted to torture first before killing. The old fool's arrogance had already gotten the nerve of Aizen, and he couldn't take it. But he had to stay calm and endure, because he had a plan. And he had to stick with it.
But there was one thing he was not able to endure, and it was to be away from the woman he loved, Soi Fon. It deeply bothered him, especially the look of pure sorrow she had on Sokyoku Hill when the beam of Negacion took him and the two other captains Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tousen away. Her tears were streaming down her face, and her sobs incessant. The sound still resounded in his ears as if the events were being played again and again in his mind like punishment. And even in the meeting he held today, he was still shaken by it. But he could not show it. Not right now.
"Hiya, Aizen-sama!" Gin called out, his face still in its fox-like appearance as usual. Gin was a rather unnerving type of person because of the way he composed his face: eyes narrowed to slits, and a grin that was broad it was scary. Rukia Kuchiki, during her execution, admitted to being frightened of the "snake". "So, is the meeting gonna start yet?" "Well, if the rest of the Espada would be a bit punctual, then yes." Aizen answered, his voice in that deadly calm tone. Since arriving in Hueco Mundo, he already changed his appearance. He lost his glasses, and his hair, which was usually kept down, was brushed up, with a stray lock falling down his face which gave him a sophisticated yet sinister look. His wardrobe was modeled a bit after a Shinigami shikashuho, but the colors were mostly white, and the collar was upturned. The outfit change was the same for Gin and Tousen, wherein Gin's sleeves were still longer than his arms, and Tousen had a sleeveless top.
It had been almost thirty minutes since the scheduled meeting time. The only Espada present in the meeting room was Ulquiorra Schiffer, the Cuatra Espada, Tier Harribel, the Tercera Espada, Coyote Starrk, the Primera Espada, Barragan Luisenbarn, the Segunda Espada, Aaroniero Arruiriere, the Nuevo Espada, Szayelaporro Grantz, the Quinta Espada, Zommari Rureaux, the Septima Espada, and Yammy Llargo, the Diez Espada. Cocking his head to one side, Aizen inquired about the rest of the Espada, preferably Nnoitra and Grimmjow.
"Where are Nnoitra and Grimmjow?" he asked, hiding the irritation in his voice. "We haven't seen them, my lord." Harribel answered in her usually stoic voice. Starrk was in the act of falling asleep once more. "Ulquiorra." Aizen called up, and the pale-skinned, dark-haired Cuatra Espada stood. "Yes, Aizen-sama?" he asked. "Look for Nnoitra and Grimmjow. Please drag them here if necessary." Aizen ordered, resting his cheek on his fist. Ulquiorra left without a word, and everyone just stared at each other. Aizen' reiatsu flared up, causing everyone to almost gag themselves. Starrk was abruptly woken up from his slumber and was choking as well. "If anyone tries to pull this stunt again," the former Fifth Squad captain said in a menacing tone. "Expect more than just my reiatsu trying to suffocate you." Barragan, who would never listen to Aizen in the first place, had a look of genuine fear as the new leader of Hueco Mundo's reiatsu stabilized after Nnoitra and Grimmjow were kicked into the meeting hall by Ulquiorra. Massaging his temples, Aizen breathed deeply and returned to his calm yet sinister façade.
"Good, now we're all here." he said. "We have an important matter to discuss. It is about…the visit, I should say, that I wish to make to Karakura Town." Grimmjow shook his head as he raised his feet up his desk. "And what interests you in the Human World, Aizen-sama?" the Sexta Espada asked, a hint of disgust barely disguising itself in his voice. "For one, the concentration of spiritual energy there is great." Aizen answered. "That place would make a perfect energy source for my plan." "Which you're not letting us in on." Grimmjow said snidely. Tousen's hand was on the hilt of his zanpakutou, Suzumushi, but found out that he did not have to do anything because Aizen had just lost his patience with the Sexta. His reiatsu flared up again, and the constricting feeling returned to Las Noches' meeting room.
"Why…you…son of a…" Grimmjow spluttered out, trying to form another insult even if it meant death. Aizen's reiatsu alone was a monster, and none in his Espada army wanted to know what the man could do with his sword and Shinigami powers. Gin's usual fox-face crumpled in asphyxiation, and in fear, several of the Espada's Fraccion dragged themselves away from the room. The Espada army still seated in the room weren't able to move, and each hung on for dear life as they struggled to breathe. Aizen's eyes weren't filled with their usual calm, analyzing expression, but a look of rage. And that was something none had dared to see, not even in Soul Society. "Grimmjow, I've let your insolence pass time and again, but this time, no more." he hissed. "I'm sick, and absolutely tired of your so-called 'opinions'. If you wish to be recognized in my army, then earn it." With a final flare of his power, Aizen knocked Grimmjow unconscious and stormed out of the meeting hall, leaving the Espada to regain their composure. From afar, he heard Nnoitra grumble, "Nice going, fur-ball. You nearly got us all killed."
"Heya, Aizen-sama, you snapped back there." came Gin's singsongy voice from behind. "I have no time for your incessant sarcasm, Gin." Aizen said. "Unless you wanted to end up like Grimmjow…" Gin shook his head and raised his hands in defeat. "Okay, okay, I'll be good!" the fox-faced ex-Captain said. "Well, aside from Tousen also losing consciousness back there, I can tell you're still deeply bothered by…that." The two men stopped walking, and the brown-haired former Fifth Division captain turned to look Gin in the eye. Bracing himself for imminent death, Gin was poised to hightail until he was surprised at the look in Aizen's eyes to the point he had to open his own to confirm what he saw.
The man was in great pain. Gin had to admit that Aizen was really good at self-restraint and calmness, but when it came to his heart, it was a whole different story. And he could relate to it because of Rangiku. "Gin… You know I don't want to talk about that now." Aizen simply said, as he turned his heel and walked to his bedchamber. Gin, on the other hand, nodded his head in acknowledgement and went for a stroll around Las Noches.
Inside his bedchamber, there was a wall that Aizen kept covered in curtains. When Loly and Menoly came in to bring him food, and tried to pull the curtains apart, he nearly bifurcated them with his zanpakutou, Kyoka Suigetsu. But right now, with the comfort of solitude, he opened up the curtains, revealing a large painting of Soi Fon that he immediately set to work on when he first arrived in Las Noches. His eyes burned with the effort of stopping his tears, but somehow, beneath the calm, callous exterior, his heart was wracked with grief and guilt. He left her when he promised never to leave. He promised to make her happy, and would be there to wipe her tears.
He lied to her. And it hurt him more than any sword, any kido blast, would ever do. He sat down on his bed, head buried in his hands. And in the silence and darkness of his room, Sousuke Aizen shed his tears for his love. The image of Soi Fon's tearstained face atop Sokyoku Hill flashed in his mind, fueling the already out-of-control depression in him. How is she now, he thought to himself as he wiped his tears with his sleeves and closed the curtains. Is she alright? Has she…found someone new? A knock on the door broke his train of thought, and composing himself shortly, he answered, "Come in." In came Ulquiorra Schiffer, the Cuatra Espada, and one of Aizen's most trusted men. "Aizen-sama, forgive me for interrupting your rest." he said. "No harm done. I was going to call for you anyway." Aizen said, sitting down on his bed once more as Ulquiorra stood in the corner of the room.
"What have you seen?" Aizen asked. With a sucking sound, Ulquiorra pulled out his right eye and crushed it, the fine dust turning into a sort of screen. The scene playing before Aizen's eyes was Soi Fon in her room at Seireitei. She looked so pale and tired, her eyes puffy and red from crying. But what pained Aizen so much was the state of her hands: bloodied, cut, and bruised. His gaze shifted to the walls of her room, which were painted gold the first time he saw it. Now, the walls had many red stains on it. Her blood stained the walls. "She would beat up the walls everday, Aizen-sama." Ulquiorra said. "She would do it until her hands were numb and gravely injured. And she…"
"ENOUGH!"
The words just came out of Aizen's mouth. His eyes widened with shock, grief, and rage. Ulquiorra bowed his head and shrank back. "I apologize, Aizen-sama." the pale Espada said. "I shall continue my observation tonight." "No, you will stay here." Aizen ordered. "I'll visit her." "But Aizen-sama, it would be dangerous." Ulquiorra protested but with a wave of his master's hand, he quieted down. "I will be alright. Now leave, I will need to rest." As he commanded, Ulquiorra bowed respectfully and left.
When it was late and the Espada were resting, Aizen opened up a Garganta at the terrace area of his room, and went to visit his love, Soi Fon, in the middle of the night.
OKIE, CHAPTER II OF "SHE WILL BE LOVED" BLEACH FIC. I'm doing this fic along with Listen to My Voice, so I do apologize for the delay. Please R&R this fic too. Thanks for that :)
BLEACH TERMS:
Shinigami - Soul Reapers. They are charged with protecting the Soul Society and to guide the dead souls there as well.
Espada: the most elite of Aizen's Arrancar army, they have numbers from 1 to 10.
Zanpakutou - the weapon of a Shinigami, it represents both the bond between Shinigami and his inner self, and the said Shinigami's battle prowess. Finding out one's zanpakutou takes a meditative process.
Garganta - similar to the Senkaimon, the Garganta is a means of travelling done by the Arrancar Army and Hollows alike. Unlike the Senkaimon which resembles sliding doors, the Garganta looks like a giant mouth that literally appears like a rift in the sky.