Disclaimer: Bleach is the property of Tite Kubo and I don't get even a cent outta this.
Note: So sorry for the long wait, my dissertation is eating up time and I'm going to a LARP next weekend so there's lots to organize.
Again many thanks to all who read on and those who reviewed. Also, Icy Fae Tears pointed out that I messed up the 12th squad with the 13th in the last chapter, sorry for that!
Now let's get on with the story, enjoy!
Chapter 12:
Shihana opened her eyes in a white room. She felt weak and tired. Her shoulder ached and throbbed and every breath was pain.
Soon she felt the blissful oblivion of sleep wash over her again.
She lost track of time between sleeping and half-waking. She thought she heard voices from time to time, speaking about her, but it could as well have been her imagination.
At last she woke and for once felt truly awake.
Shihana tried to sit up only to find her hands had been tied behind her back. She struggled, yet immediately let out a gasp of pain. The cuffs that bound her had been spiked with razor-sharp shards on the inside. The more she would try to free herself, the deeper they would dig into her flesh.
She managed to sit up without her arms and looked around the room.
It was small and rectangular. Behind her, a barred window showed black sky and endless white desert.
So this was Hueco Mundo? Looked rather boring. The walls of her room were white as well, as was the floor and ceiling. All the lightness stung her eyes, so she fixed her gaze on herself instead. Great, more white. She had been dressed in a long white dress with tight-fitting sleeves. At least it was lined in black.
"Ah, how nice to see you up and about", came a voice from the door.
Ichimaru Gin appeared, again that eerie smile on his face. "Come with me", he commanded.
When she hesitated for a moment, he grabbed her left arm and yanked at it, hard. Shihana stifled a cry.
Blood began to seep from her wrist and dripped down her hands. She left a crimson tail behind them on the floor.
She knew that this was no time to grow desperate, worse pain lay before her. She wrapped the Kuchiki pride around herself like an expensive cloak and ignored the sharp pain in her wrist.
While they walked, Shihana tried to memorize their way. It wasn't easy, because every corridor seemed to be just as white and empty as the one before.
Finally, they arrived in a wide hall. At the far end, a white throne had been set up on a small platform. On it sat Aizen Sousuke. He had propped his head on a pale hand and seemed to examine his nails, as if utterly bored. He didn't take notice of them until they arrived at his feet.
Gin shoved her so hard that she stumbled and without the help of her hands, fell on her face.
Calmly, she pulled herself up on her knees and looked the traitor in the eye. He smiled down on her.
"Well, who do we have here?", he said, amused. "A Kuchiki, it seems. Ah, this wonderful pride! It has always fascinated me. Like a caged lion, such strength and beauty all going to waste in a self-induced prison. You will be excellent bait to finally give me Kuchiki Byakuya."
"That won't happen", Shihana spat defiantly.
"Oh, he'll come for his precious cousin, of that I am sure", affirmed Aizen leisurely. His gaze fixed her now with the look of a cat playing with her pray. "But it would be much more fun for her to be broken, should he find her, wouldn't it be, Gin?"
"You'll never break me", hissed Shihana. Inside, she felt cold fear crawl up her spine. Those dark eyes, they were so full of cruel joy it almost made her shudder. Behind her, Gin started to laugh.
"Is that so?", asked Aizen and stood up. "I know the right way to shatter your pride", he said coldly. "Everyone has their weaknesses."
He held out one hand and said: "Kido #86: Mind Mirror."
Shihana threw back her head in pain and cried out. It felt as if her scull was split open and thoughts were ripped out like strings of flesh.
A flickering image appeared above her. It showed Byakuya when he was younger, smirking at her. Then her parents appeared and after them other relatives.
Shihana willed her thoughts to stop, but it was no use. She started thrashing at her wrists, howling. Aizen, guessing what she was planning, merely smiled.
Just when an image of Rukia swam into her mind, Shihana blackened out. She didn't know that the consciousness of the victim was not necessary for the spell. Still pictures flickered up, without her notice now. Byakuya as a grown-up, Rukia again and at last Renji, looking at her with blazing eyes.
I hope you liked the chapter. The image that you could wear your pride like a cloak is actually loaned from Cassandra Claire's Draco Trilogy (if anyone knows it) and I liked it so much I just had to use it^^.
Next time you'll hear what's happening back in Soul society, so please keep reading and review!
