Chapter III

-The One Who Got Away-

It was late at night in Soul Society. As always, Soi Fon's depression had made it difficult for her to sleep. Her hands still stung with fresh cuts and bruises from punching the walls in her room, which made the other squads rather nervous because of the tremors it made. But the pain in her hands was nothing compared to the pain of being left behind for the second time, this time, by the man she loved. But a small part of her still believed he would come back, and so she clung onto that last bit of hope as she fell asleep with blood all over her knuckles and tears in her eyes.

A Garganta then opened up at her terrace area, and from it came Sousuke. He looked around and concealed his reiatsu to make sure no one can sense him. The night was deep, and his lover's room was dimly-lit. Carefully, he stepped inside Soi Fon's bedchamber. He could see her sleeping silhouette underneath the crimson and gold covers. Her breathing was ragged, her reiatsu was disoriented. He knew that when a Shinigami's reiatsu was disoriented, it was because of strong emotions.

"Soi…" Aizen said, softly, as he sat beside her on the bed. When he touched her hand, he felt something warm and sticky from it. He looked, and saw that there was blood. He gently lifted the blanket off Soi Fon's hands and, to his horror, saw several gaping wounds, some only skin-deep, the others revealing flesh. You've been hurting yourself, he thought as he cast a healing kido on the wounds. My dear…don't. There's a reason for everything… "Please…don't hurt yourself anymore…" A single tear streamed down the former Captain's cheek as he gently brushed away a stray lock of hair from Soi Fon's face. "I'll be back… Soon.. But right now, I need you to hang on, love. There's a reason why I did all of this… Don't cry…" As he stood to leave, he felt a hand close around his wrist in a firm grip.

"Don't go… Don't go… Please…"

He turned around and saw Soi was holding onto him. Sousuke's heart began beating erratically. Did she sense me, he thought. He looked at her closely, and fortunately, she was still asleep. Apparently, she was dreaming of that day again in Sokyoku Hill.

-Sokyoku Hill-

After a lengthy battle that led to a heartfelt reunion, Soi Fon and her former Captain, Yoruichi Shihoin, caught wind of Sousuke Aizen fending off several officers of the Gotei 13 in betrayal. Soi Fon was struck with disbelief. She didn't believe the news of his betrayal, and she was hesitant to move, until Yoruichi placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know this is really tough to hear." The former Second Squad captain said. "The way you're frozen because the one you considered the one person who could take you away from your sorrows did the impossible? I felt that way when Kisuke was branded a traitor." "Yoruichi-sama… What do I do?" Soi Fon asked. Yoruichi closed her eyes and folded her arms. Aftera brief moment of silence, she opened up her eyes again and said, "We head to Sokyoku Hill to sort this out."

The pair flash-stepped towards Sokyoku Hll, the place where Shinigami that were sentenced to death would be executed. Rukia Kuchiki, the younger sister of Byakuya Kuchiki, would be executed that day for giving her powers to a human named Ichigo Kurosaki, who, along with his friends, invaded Soul Society to rescue the younger Kuchiki.

Soi Fon was not able to get any more details rather than that, but as further investigation revealed the details, Aizen orchestrated everything from the shadows, from the execution to his "death". And as they arrived in Sokyoku Hill, both she and Yoruichi were surprised at the sight of many that had fallen before Aizen and his Kyoka Suigetsu.

"Hold it right there, Sousuke Aizen." Yoruichi called out. Aizen turned around and saw her, along with Soi Fon. He was both happy and irritated. Happy at the sight of Soi Fon, but not at the Shihoin clan's heir. "You were the brains behind everything? Wow, if you weren't so bad I'd call you a damn genius." Yoruichi said. Soi Fon had already disappeared and moved behind Aizen, her zanpakutou poised to slash across his throat.

"Aizen… Stop whatever you're doing." Soi Fon whispered to him. "I don't want to hurt you…" "So do I." Aizen answered softly. "But it's too late to turn away now…Soon, you'll see why I've done this…" He drew out his sword and slashed across her abdomen, stunning her. Yoruichi came to her aid with a flying kick, but Aizen's shunpo was surprisingly fast, even for the Goddess of Flash-Step herself. She didn't realize that he stood behind her, until she was slashed across the back. "Sousuke, no!" Soi screamed as she stood to protect her mentor.

The rest of the Gotei 13 officers poured in. From Sousuke's left, the ryoka Ichigo Kurosaki, in his Bankai form, lunged towards him. "You son of a bitch!" he screamed, his Tensa Zangetsu raised above his head. "You're gonna pay big time for -" But his attack was stopped by only the Fifth Division captain's index finger. "What the…?" Without a word, Aizen threw the sword, along with Ichigo aside as he drew his own blade. From his right came a very angry Toshiro Hitsugaya. He was raging mad after he heard Aizen had stabbed Momo Hinamori, his childhood friend. "YOU MONSTER!" the Tenth Division captain screamed as he aimed Hyorinmaru, his zanpakutou, at Aizen. "I'm gonna make you suffer for what you did to Momo-chan! Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyorinmaru!" A chain with a crescent moon blade extended from the back of Hyorinmaru's hilt, and icy winds blew atop Sokyoku Hill.

"What a display of courage…and idiocy, Captain Hitsugaya…" Aizen purred, losing the warmth in his voice. "I shall have to teach you again, what it means to fight me." He disappeared so quickly, Hitsugaya wasn't able to discern whether he teleported or if it was a flash step. But before he could look around, Sousuke stood behind him and ran the sword through his abdomen, causing the smaller captain to stagger and fall face-first on the ground. No… Soi Fon thought. This has to stop! "NO MORE!" she cried out as she ran headfirst towards Aizen, but Yoruichi stepped in to grab and pull her back, because a horde of Gillians came in from a rupture that formed in the sky. Then, Sousuke was engulfed in a column of light, along with Gin and Tousen. Aizen ascended higher, and higher, with a cocky smirk on his face, but it changed to pure sadness as he saw the look of sorrow and horror on Soi Fon's face from down below.

"Soi… Wait for me… I love you…" were his unheard words as he and his group disappeared, while Soi Fon was grasping for him, and screaming, "Sousuke.. Come back, come back! No, please! Don't go… Don't go…" before slumping onto the floor and crying like a child. Her fresh sobs echoed in Aizen's mind as he and his men arrived in Hueco Mundo. But he was a man of conviction, so he would not turn back. Sacrifice over reputation, he thought as he, Gin and Tousen, along with the Gillian army, marched forth to Las Noches, where Aizen would unfold his plan.

"Don't leave… Don't let them get you… Don't come with them… Sousuke…Sousuke…" And Soi muttered his name in her sleep as her tears kept streaming down her face. Sousuke bent down and kissed her tear-stained cheek before disappearing in the dark.

AN: Ooh, chapter III... Finally, I managed to upload something, eh? LOLZ. Please support this fanfic and its main love tandem. And please PM me for any suggestions on how these lovebirds can have a bittersweet romance... Wew... :D