Hello again, readers! I hope you like the new chapter. The plot thickens! Big thank you to Fuzzibunniez, you have helped me so much! To my readers, check out her awesome 17 series and especially her current work-in-progress, Toshiro is 17: Frozen Passion! Thank you!

I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 16

Separation Anxiety

Halibel

I waited for the girl outside the throne room where she was wishing Grimmjow goodbye. I was somewhat nervous about watching her today. If something happened to her on my watch, Grimmjow would probably kill me. He didn't seem to realize that his rietsu was nearly as strong as Starrk's. It had been growing ever since his hole began to shrink. As if he had been to immersed in Hollow-ness to grow anymore, but his newfound human side was allowing for more growth.

No wonder Nnoitra wouldn't do anything around Grimmjow, he had to be afraid. Nnoitra could be an ass but he wasn't an idiot. Grimmjow's new power wafted off him even when he wasn't fighting or aroused. The girl brought it out in him. She was different though. She didn't emit a normal rietsu. But when she was practicing, the power was immense. Barragon nearly salivated on himself when he felt it.

Nnoitra worried me though. I caught him in the halls last night. I have no doubt he was coming from one of Szayel's labs, but what did he want there? He hated Szayel. I couldn't blame him for that. I think Szayel has tripped off the fine edge between genius and insanity sometimes, personally. He thought he was an annoying kiss ass, I doubt he would go there voluntarily for tests. And I hadn't noticed him go lately before tonight, something was off.

I was interrupted by a musical voice. "Hey Hali! Ready for breakfast?" Mirella asked as she let the door to the throne room close behind her.

I couldn't help the smile that made my cheeks rise. This girl just had that effect. " Of course I am, Mi," I replied with normally dormant joviality. She smiled back and we made our way to the dining room leisurely. After all it was still a bit early for Aizen's precise meal times. I felt a reitsu approaching and recognized it as the pink haired psychopath.

He walked right up to Mirella, as if he didn't have a care in the world. I unsheathed Tiburon and stopped him dead in his tracks, my blade at this throat. He may be a sick twisted excuse for a man, but he knew to stop, and that he couldn't beat me outside of his lab. Cheater. I could see him gulp, and then wince as that pushed his neck out into the sharp edge of my blade.

Before I had chance to say anything, I felt a warm, gentle touch on my shoulder. It was so light… I'm surprised I felt it. "It's alright, Hali," she said in a comforting voice. It's my vitamins. Szayel passes the same test everyday and he hasn't tried to harm me yet. She looked into my eyes reassuringly until I sheathed my blade again. She then reached out and plucked the pills from Szayel and swallowed them before going into the dining room.

As usual, the pint sized girl ate as much as a horse, earning envious glares from Loly and Menoly. Aizen smiled at this. Leave it the man who fancies himself a god to think that he is the true reason for their jealousy. He may be right, come to think of it. Those bimbos lost brain cells every day. Then I saw Aizen frown, and felt the rush of a hot wind go by me.

I turned to look at the table, seeing in horror that Mirella had collapsed and slid out of her chair to the floor. Her lips were turning blue. This was not good. Grimmjow would kill me.

Szayel flew out of his chair and around the table, checking her pulse, trying to get her to look at him. Starrk came over when it was obvious that Szayel needed help holding her down. The girl's chest rose off the floor. She seemed to be pulled upward, like a child not letting go of a toy even when it is being pulled away above his head. Only it was her heart that seemed to be holding on for dear life, lifting her limp body until only her toes touched.

Everyone looked on in curiosity and fear at the spectacle before them. I scanned the apprehensive faces around the table, trying to find a clue as to if any of them knew what was going on. All the looks were concerned, nearly frightened. Then I saw that faint twitch of a smile being hidden. Nnoitra… I knew you were planning something. Wait until I get my hands on you asshole. I'll come for you. For now, her… then you!

Then there was a shriek. It was a terrible noise, full of pain and woe and anger. Sparks poured from her body, forming wings that wrapped her in a cocoon. The shrieks died down what I assumed were whimpers before the sparks disappeared and the girl fell toward the floor. Starrk and I caught her before she hit the floor and our eyes widened in unison.

I remembered the warm gentle touch from earlier. How could this be? She was cold, as cold as the deepest winter. "Take her to her room now!" Aizen yelled at us, dropping his usual cool façade. "Szayel, go with them, find out what is wrong with her! NOW!"

We nodded our assent and we all sonido'd her to her room. I laid her under the covers, while Starrk raided her drawers and wardrobe for more blankets. Luckily, she had stocked up on various ones on our trip to the real world when she first arrived. We piled them on her as Szayel checked her vitals and responses as quickly as possible before she seemingly froze to death.

An arrancar appeared at the door with hot water packs and steamers to lay under the covers with her, no doubt Aizen saw her chilled in the dining room and ordered that any bedwarmer in las noches be brought. Don't want to lose your prized possession, Aizen-sama?

Szayel flashed away and reappeared a moment later and began setting up hospital room equipment. He pulled her arm out and quickly attached a blood pressure cuff and finger sensor. He laid her arm back under the oven we created for her and inserted a thermometer in her mouth. "Starrk, Halibel, find a hat, scarf, something to keep the heat in from her head. "

We ran to the dresser and wardrobe, tearing through it. "Got one!" Starrk called out as he ran back to the bed with a long fleece scarf.

I took it from him and wound it around her neck and head, so only her features were revealed. Thank god for the girl's sense of fashion, buying a scarf because it was pretty rather than useful.

"She is stable, not improving, but no longer falling into hypothermia. She will wake soon, hopefully, as she warms up. The sudden drop in temperature caused her black out," Szayel told us.

"Are you sure?" asked a voice from the doorway. Aizen himself had come to check on the girl. He assumed a dangerous look as he walked toward the bed. "Move." We obeyed, and he approached the unconscious form. He reached out a hand and placed it on her. "I have always been a threat, why am I not being blown backward? She was dead asleep in the desert but she was still dangerous. Szayel, did you give her the pills I ordered you to make?"

"No! Aizen-sama, I swear, all I gave her were her vitamins.

I decided to speak. "I caught Nnoitra in the halls late last night… coming from the direction of Szayel's lab. Could he have done something?"

"There's no way that half wit could have gotten through my security systems. No one can get in that lab after hours but me," Szayel stated boldly.

"Just get in?" Starrk asked incredulously. "He may be an ass, but he's smarter than he lets on. He got in that lab while you were in there and left." The normal nonchalance of Starrks demeanor seemed to have evaporated as soon as the action started.

Szayel's face paled. "No," He mumbled to himself. "Dear god, what have I done?"

"Szayel, go to your lab, make an antidote or tell us how long the effects will last," Aizen ordered.

"They will wear off in a day to day and a half, once the medicine is out of her body. I have to make a cure, though. She is missing an intrinsic part of her soul. She will be dead by the time she can finally be rejoined with her inner being."

"GO! Now!" Aizen yelled at the Espada who was already retreating toward the door.

A soft moan came from the bed and I watched as Mirella's eye lids fluttered open a crack. I knelt by her bed side and turned her head to face me. "Mirella, you were drugged, and it caused…"

"I heard," she said softly. "Lock Nnoitra in a sparring room, but don't touch him."

Aizen nodded silently. "Are you sure you don't want me to eliminate him?" he asked her seriously.

"No, he interfered with my plans, I get to deal with him how I choose."

"Very well, I will take him to the room myself," Aizen stated stoically as he swept out of the room. Starrk followed him after looking protectively at the helpless girl in the bad.

The emotion surprised me, until I realized as I knelt by her bed, that I felt the same. "What do you need? Are you sure you don't want us to go ahead and kill Nnoitra?"

"Yes. I do want you to find Aizen for a moment and tell him to bring Grimmjow back."

"Of course, but are you sure you want me to leave you here?"

"I'll be fine," she said sleepily. "I think the worst has already happened." She managed a small smile with this, so I agreed to find Aizen. I sonido'd from the room, trying to make my errand as fast as possible, fighting the unfamiliar feeling of worry inside my stomach.

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Aizen

How did this happen? The utter amounts of stupidity involved for an accident of this magnitude to occur astounded me. Now I had to honor a promise which would damage my own line.

I could refuse. No. I couldn't. This… creature… was already angry. Let her have Nnoitra. It was a small price to pay for keeping the rest of Las Noches intact. Not that anyone would even miss him. Yes, he will have to do as a sacrifice.

My true debate was if I should bring Grimmjow back from his mission early. I could give Nnoitra, no problem; that was simply a matter of my word on punishment to those who harm her. To bring Grimmjow back before the mission was completed… that just looked weak.

I know her plans may have been jeopardized, but I didn't jeopardize it. My sexta wasn't responsible. She didn't have the right to ruin my mission but hers got set back! Even so, I knew she would ask. It was only a matter of time.

I saw the image in my head of the once resilient, nearly terrifying, woman laid up in bed, lips blue and fighting to keep her eyes open. I may be surrounded by Hollows, but could I really be a monster to someone so helpless.

Who was I kidding, I'd done much worse than deprive some one of their boyfriend. But those victims were different. They couldn't strike back, not like she could. I continued to probe Las Noches for the cause of all my problems. I think I would enjoy watching her rip him apart.

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I hope you enjoyed! Please R&R, I need the love and the motivation!

~Echo