Chapter 6: In which I arrive in Las Noches

Location: In front of the main entrance of Las Noches, Hueco Mundo, Bleach.

Copyright: Tite KURIBOH. Hehe. Sounds almost like Little Kuriboh 3333

"Well, here we are." Grimmjow and I stood in front of the gate. It was intimidating, but I was getting used to being intimidated.

"Seems like they're all keeping down their spiritpower for a change. All for the VIP. Anyway, time to go in, hmm?" Casually, Grimmjow blew a hole the size of my house in the wall. He turned around and bowed mockingly. "Ladies first."

I couldn't move. For the umpteenth time I was glued to the ground, my whole body resisting on its hardest against that order. It had been the same with going to that park. I think it's comparable to having to jump from a cliff. Lucky few who can jump without a second of doubt.

"I thought I was clear. I said: wimps first."

No reaction.

"Unbelievable" he muttered, and walked back. Again my body took the lead and I backed down. How more useless could an act be. He simply just appeared next to me and grabbed my arm.

"He told me to be careful with little missy's mental state" he grumbled "but he picked the wrong guy for this." He clenched my arm tighter, I was pretty sure he was cutting off my blood veins. "No guided tour for you. We're going straight for the main attraction." And with that he just flashed away while dragging me behind him. Ever been in a really fast rollercoaster? Then please put that memory in hyper drive and you might have an idea of how that felt.

Suddenly we stopped. In front of another gate.

"Tch. Of course they would be sitting in the only room that leaks no spiritpower to the outside. For such a mere human…" He turned around and gave me a glare.

"You better be useful, missy."

And he opened the door and pushed me inside.

The feeling was indescribable. The best way to describe it is to ask your imagination a favour. Ask your imagination to recreate the feeling of a 1000 decibel bass resonating through your body, as if you were standing next to an amplifier in a rock concert. Ask your imagination to let you experience the buzzing in your ears again, when your plane takes off. And final, take an overdose of sleeping pills and experience the weird feeling of fainting within 5 seconds.

The room blurred before my eyes before I could even take one look. In fact, I wasn't even aware of hitting the ground. Or maybe I was caught by someone, but considering my rank in the social order here, they probably just let me fall.

When I first woke up in that all white room, I was completely clueless. I did not know where the hell I was and how the hell I got there.

"What the…"

Then the pictures rushed back like an unexpected wave washing you over when you look over your shoulder. Suzume. Wardrobe. Ichigo. Hollow. Toushiro. Teacup. Park. Grimmjow. Thousand scattered pellets of unfinished letters. One envelope on the tea table. Hueco Mundo. Gate. Room-

I heard footsteps coming my way. Scared, I quickly laid down and closed my eyes. It didn't matter who it was, that person would scare me to hell. I heard the door open.

I so don't want to open my eyes. I so don't want to open my eyes. I so-

"Rise and shine!"

Ichimaru.

I had of course to open my eyes. I gave a small yell at the foxy face that had bluntly shoved into my sight. That creepy smile has been added to my list of things I don't want to see after waking up ever again.

"Gin, please refrain from scaring her next time."

O shit. O shitshitshitSHIT.

There he stood, in the door opening. Taller than expected, the infamous curl softly waving in a non-existent breeze, eyes that pierced through everything. But you know, the real funny part was that he wasn't scary at all. Don't laugh at me, but if I hadn't known he was actually a diabolical douchebag, I probably would've thought he was a nice, friendly and harmless guy. Ahaha, the irony.

But I do know. So let's just forget what I said and move on to my predictable reaction, which was crouching back.

He smiled. A very comforting and friendly smile that somehow made me relax a little.

He's toying with you. Focus. Focus!

"Ah, we finally meet in person and all in good consciousness, Myrthe."

Him saying my name has been added to list of things I don't want to hear after waking up ever again.

"It seemed like you couldn't handle the presence of all the Espada at once. Some of us are sadly enough not skilled enough to suppress all of their spiritpower, and the little leaking amount… Well, I had calculated you could withstand it, but I seem to have mistaken. How are you feeling right now?"

As everyone probably expected, I was too scared to answer. He seemed to understand this and nodded friendly. I crouched a bit closer to the wall.

"Now now, no reason to get scared."

How the hell are you supposed to answer something like that?

"Seems like she's not buyin' th' story."

"Maybe she could use some breakfast first, indeed. Ulquiorra?"

A familiar person walked in, pushing a chart with food. The smell of warm coffee and fresh bread relaxed my tenseness for a bit. If only it weren't brought to me by Aizen's pet bat that scares the crap out of me.

He didn't seem to enjoy his chore, since he directly made his leave afterwards. I guess it had something to do with my status as useless, powerless, and most of all human wuss.

"We'll leave you with your breakfast. Shall we go, Gin?"

"Have a nice breakfast!"

And I was alone again.

When they were gone, I tried to do as many things that didn't require thinking but did distract me from my situation. I cautiously approached the chart. I poured some hot coffee. I put in a lot of sugar. And some more sugar. I carefully picked up the cute spoon. The tinkling sound it made when it touched the cup startled me. I stirred.

I took a sip. I burned my tongue. I cursed and dropped the cup. I got hot coffee all over me. I shouted.

I was going a little insane.

I left the burning coffee on my already pretty ragged up clothes and crawled under the blanket, trembling.

I started crying under the blanket. I wanted to never ever EVER do something again besides trembling under this very blanket that smelled disgustingly normal. I wanted to be transported back to my own little room right NOW.

A lot of time passed while I spaced out under the blanket.

"For crying out loud, get a spine, put on these clothes and follow me."

Suddenly my cosy little isolation was cruelly taken away, along with the blanket that Grimmjow pulled off me.

"Can't even drink that filthy liquid" he scoffed after one look at my coffee-stained clothes. Instead of my blanket, he had thrown some white fabric on the bed. It turned out to be a white dress. It was very pretty, I dare say it was prettier than Inoue's, without the ridiculous balloon sleeves. Also it seemed tailor-made. That last part scared me a little.

"What are you waiting for? Put 'em on!"

I turned around, facing Grimmjow.

I sure as hell am NOT gonna undress myself here in front of YOU, from all people. But I'm not entirely sure that's the most sensitive thing to say. How many dilemmas are going to haunt me?

Apparently he read from my facial expression and/or bright red cheeks what my problem was.

"Ahaha, our little missy is a bit prudish, eh?" I held the white fabric a bit closer to my body. "Oh, no need to be scared." He put his hands over his eyes. "All you need to do is hurry up and I won't take a single look" he said, still covering his eyes. I actually wanted to say that he might as well turn around, but that sword he carries around can be very… obnoxious. So I just turned my back on him, which was the least I could do, although that didn't feel very comfortable either, and examined my new uniform.

Oh boy. Turbochanging isn't my specialty. But when exactly in this entire affair did I ever get to decide over something?

So I just changed as quickly as I could, and as I suspected, it fitted me alarmingly well. Halfway the dressing, I heard a light chuckle behind me. As I directly turned around, I directly stared into Grimmjow's sparkling eyes that peeked through two gaps between his fingers. Sparkling eyes that without any delay directly scanned my body with a mix of curiosity and… disappointment. I shrieked and darted back; he let out a full barking laugh while pointing at me, or to be exact, what he had been peeking at.

"Why so prudish, missy, when there's nothing about you worth peeking at?" he said, still grinning.

Ouch. So far my maiden's pride. Oh well, how can I help it that I happen to be walking around in the same building as, oh I don't know, maybe Halibel and her harem?

"Hey hey hey, what's with the angry look?" he snickered. Then he suddenly turned all serious and threatening.

"Are you hundred percent sure you want to continue with provoking me like that, missy?" His hand went oh so slow towards his sheath. If I could, I would've backed down even further. But I already stood against the wall. So you can imagine how I felt when he, déjà vu, took one step forward and bent over until his eyes were at the same height as mine and filled my entire sight. He just stared at me. It might've been for seconds, for minutes, hell it might have even been an hour to me, before he suddenly started to laugh maniacally (again) and scared the crap out of me. Again.

"Dear me, you might be the most useless thing I have ever seen stumbling on two left feet, but your scaredy-cat face is the best I've ever seen!" He managed to bring out between two laugh attacks. I quickly turned around and finished dressing, my cheeks bright red and my sight turning cloudy.

"This is the best toy I've ever had since I got Pantera!" Grimmjow was close to getting a stomach-ache from laughter by now. The bullies from primary school are angels compared to these people.

"Grimmjow."

Oh. Sure. My day was already great, so let's add another portion of Ulquiorra to it. No objections here at all.

Grimmjow sighed as annoyed as possible and reluctantly turned around to face the green-eyed mime. That could speak. Sometimes.

"I think Aizen-sama wasn't clear enough with his orders" Ulquiorra said, his face an unoccupied desert of non-existing emotions. Better pray 'n run when Ulquihime fans find out my opinion on him. And on Inoue.

"And what brings you here on this lovely evening, Ulquiorra?" Grimmjow said, as sarcastic as possible. Ulquiorra just ignored him. He also ignores me.

"His orders were not to upset the human."

The human. So far my maiden's pride AND my self-esteem.

"Aww, come on. That wasn't even teasing!"

If that's true, I don't want to know what bullying is like here. A flashback of Inoue getting beaten the crap out of her sent some shivers down the graceful folds of my dress.

Or technically speaking, it was/is a flash forward, since it has yet to happen in this world/anime/dream. But since this is a simple fanfic, and I suck at science, I will drop the time-and-space-continuum-thingy and go back to the discussion. About 'the human'.

"Aizen-sama isn't very pleased with your current actions."

"Hey!" Grimmjow got angry now. "It's not like I ASKED for the job of babysitter!" He gestured towards me in a most contemptuous way.

"Then you will be pleased to hear that you are relieved from your duty as babysitter, and that you may never again interact with her except in emergencies." Oh well. At least he acknowledges my gender.

Grimmjow grumbled something and then turned towards me.

"Well, guess this is good-bye. See ya, missy." He messed up my hair, did a final "BOO!" in my face so that I screamed again, grinned, and walked out the door.

I've had good-byes more painful than that.

"Now then, follow me."

Ulquiorra already stood in the door opening. I quickly followed.

We crossed a lot of corridors. And with a lot, I mean that halfway I started to wheeze like an old Golden Retriever after chasing that nasty Siamese from the neighbours.

Ulquiorra seemed a little annoyed. Probably because our speed wasn't exactly worthy of the name. Then suddenly he spoke, so loud and clear I was startled. Again.

"I want to make a few things clear to you."

"Uhm, ok?" OshitoshitoshitOSHI-

"Aizen-sama is interested in your knowledge." I nodded.

"And when you cannot provide any useful information, or tell lies, he will lose interest."

I didn't nod; instead I just looked at the incredibly interesting, captivating floor.

"And when he loses interest, you will be something even less than an outlaw."

This must be the most amazing floor I've ever seen.

"Which means that any Arrancar, from a simple Menos to an Espada, can do whatever he or she wishes with you." The rather disturbing scene in which Loly and Menoly beat the crap out of Inoue flashed before my eyes.

"There are a few Arrancar here who have already shown interest in torturing you to death, for example Grimmjow, Szayel, Yammy, Loly, Menoly-"

"Yeah, yeah, I get the point" I mumbled, an image of ME getting beaten the crap out of myself flashing by. Floorfocusing… Floorfocusing…

I nearly bumped into him when he suddenly stopped to give me a glare I will never forget. And since I'm a wuss and just a liiiittle bit afraid of Ulquiorra, I quickly lowered my gaze and went back to observing the floor.

"I should warn you not to disappoint Aizen-sama, or even think about lying. Because he is about the only one in Las Noches who doesn't want to kill you out of disgust."

That's strange. The floor is wet.

After that, we quickly reached another hella huge door. Of course, it just opened out of itself since this was Aizen's doll house.

The bastard himself sat on a rather large throne with a cup of tea in one hand, his head resting on the other.

"Ah, Myrthe. It seems like you have recovered a bit." I would give up my secret stash of chocolate if that would make him stop saying my name.

"And your dress seems to be fitting well." Sick pervert.

"You seem a little upset though…" Don't snap, don't snap…

"... Is there a problem?"

From the moment I woke up after, oh I don't know, I was KIDNAPPED, you and your employees have scared me to hell and further, made me cry several rivers, called me things that weren't even said to slaves in the ancient times, peeked at me while dressing and haven't even stopped once threatening me so much I could sue all of your asses off for verbal harassment.

"N-no."

"Ulquiorra, any problems?"

"Nothing besides what Aizen-sama had already seen. With Grimmjow taking his order to watch over her a little too literally."

"Ah, Grimmjow, yes." He turned towards me again.

"My apologies for his misbehaviour. You do not have to fear of seeing him again."

I didn't answer, although he had an expectant look on his face, as if waiting for a 'thanks'.

There's no way in hell I'm going to say thank you to Aizen freaking Sousuke.

Aizen himself had probably figured that out himself, and a small, overconfident and definitely scary smirk crept up the corners of his mouth.

"Now then, since you have recovered, I think it's time for us to come to business."

"S-sure." Spineless little chicken.

"Ain'tcha scarin' the lil' miss a bit too much, Aizen-taichou?"

And the crap continues.

"Time to come to business… You aware you're talkin' to a young lass?"

"I'm sure she can handle this, Gin. Now then" he turned back to me, "let's analyze your situation: First, you may leave any moment you want to and no one will stop you."

Ok… didn't see that coming. The same thought must've been visible in my intelligent-looking face, for both started to grin a little.

"Of course, you might not want to." Give me one good reason.

"See, this is the only place free from wild Hollow wandering about in Hueco Mundo. Outside, every creature will try to eat you." Damn.

"Now that that's out of the way, I will explain to you what exactly your purpose is in my plans."

"What… i-if I…" I was planning on saying something heroic, like 'What If I Refuse, You Bastard' but I couldn't even finish, let alone make it sound heroic. So Aizen just continued.

"I need your information. You will tell anything I want to know."

He smiled. "Peanuts."

Peanuts.

Peanuts.

P-E-A-N-U-T-S.

"I won't tell you a thing!" I screeched; my voice all but confident and my attitude all but dignified. Nonetheless Aizen raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you know everything here will change if I tell you things you shouldn't know? I can't just-" The harsh slap on my cheek made me fall and the directly following kick in my stomach made me roll over and gasp like a guppy out of water.

"How dare a mere human talk to Aizen-sama like that." Ulquiorra merely stated the fact that I just did something unforgivable. I stared up to him, still trying to reclaim my breath, the loud sobs making my body tremble like mad. For the first time he had some sort of emotion on his features, looking at me with anger and abomination. I curled up like a ball again, just like when the Hollow had attacked me.

"Ulquiorra." Aizen sounded a little sharp. "There was no need for such harsh actions, even if you were holding yourself back." Then, to me: "Get up, please."

Sorry, having a mental breakdown over here. Please try again later.

Someone grabbed my hair and pulled it upwards until I stood on my feet.

"I am beginning to lose my patience." When I made eye contact with Aizen again, I regretted that highly. Given, he is already intimidating when he looks nice and cuddly with his ah-the-enemy-is-here-but-let's-have-tea-first-attitude, but when he looks just a little bit more serious… I couldn't avert my eyes. I've never had that before, but I couldn't avert my eyes. I felt like the moment I would do that, something would happen. Something bad.

"For me, there is no danger in knowing too much. You see, in your world, ours is nothing more than a story. A story is driven by a plot." I can handle so far, thank you very much. I write stories myself, you know.

"It means that everything happening here in this world is happening according to that plot."

Again, I'm not THAT slow.

"A story is often nothing more than a conflict between the good guys or a hero, and the bad guys or a villain. Judging by you actions and you reactions to me, it seems that in this 'story', this world, I am the villain. And I can't think of anyone else as the hero than Kurosaki. Am I right?"

My scared face must've been enough.

"And what usually happens to villains: in the end, they lose, hmm?"

This was dangerous. If I screwed up, Aizen would know his fate. And that could be put into the category "Spoiler Extraordinaire". Focus… Use your pokerface… use your pokerface…

"It seems I am right. Now then, to continue my theory: The 'plot' you are supposed to guard will thus lead to my defeat." Where the hell is he going?

"Now let's reverse the situation: If this plot is disturbed, it will no longer be able to lead to my defeat. Do you understand?" Yeah. I have a slight clue where this is going, and I don't like it.

"It means that if I can even change the slightest thing in this 'plot' by obtaining forbidden information, I will be the victor instead of Kurosaki. It means I will win."

Oh. Now I get it.

Fuck.

"Now, the last thing I want to make clear is why you're not in the position to refuse my orders. You see, you don't really have a choice at all. Let me make this even clearer with some examples. If you refuse, there are several options to force you." Several options…?

"The easiest way would be to torture answers out of you. Grimmjow in particular is skilled in this." No shit. Again, a painfully realistic scene flashed before my eyes, and I was on the edge of overflowing again.

"Then there is the option of leaving Szayel in charge of you." The crazy scientist?

"He might eventually find a way to get the truth out of you, but that won't be a very pleasurable way either." I know that. Anyone who has seen Szayel vs Renji & Ishida knows that. I don't want that creep within a 15 mile radius of me.

"These are the quickest options, however, there are downsides. There is a reasonable risk you will lose either your life or your mind. Therefore, the best option would be to use… A hostage."

Suzume.

F!Myrthe: Well well well. You actually FINISHED it? Do you have any idea how long you let me and everyone else wait?
Me: Sorry.

F!Myrthe: Sorry, what was that?

Me: SORRY! Dude.

F! Ok, that was it, stay tuned for the next bucketload of trouble, and-

Me: WAIT! STOP! SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

I'm honoured to announce that my friend Suus, or as she is called here IfTreesCouldFly (though she hasn't published her kickass work yet) will be taking part in this FF too! She is the model for Suzume and a great friend in real life (Yes. I actually have friends in real life. Biggest revelation in the entire chapter) too.

She will be writing about the same story, from Suzume's POV. And guess what: A teaser! She has more, but won't send me. Because I- well, it gets too complicated, but in short it's because of my laziness.

Anyway, N-JOY!

So as you've probably read before(if you don't read it it's awesome). Me and Myrthe wanted to find Narnia, but found Karakura town instead. You could call that epic failure, which it is, or an awesome coincidence. But let me start from the beginning.

There I was, standing in front of her door just raping that doorbell like it was Ray William Johnson. Meanwhile trying to keep myself from exploding with talk about Anime to her mom. Poor thing, I would never to that to her. Not even to my worst enemies. But that's just because I have better plans for them. AHEM.
So for short, I tried to keep 5000 things inside me, only to pour them over Myrthe, but she would understand and laugh… WAIT, that's wrong. But let's skip to the interesting part, after we talked, watched and breathed anime. It then, somehow, changed into Narnia (no, I don't get the transition either, but we're awesome who cares?)

So we decided, in all our awesomeness, to go and find NARNIA! Which was quite a problem since I know her closet and it has shit in it. So we threw everything out and got in, it was tight first but as we walked further we realised. DUDE WE CAN WALK IN YOUR CLOSET? Before we could think about it we fell down. A lot (and I mean A LOT) of swear words and bad phrases further we landed, surprisingly soft. On the pavement, now I don't know Myrthe's closet so I didn't know if this was supposed to happen but according to her reaction it was not.

SO! That's all! See you next chapter! Btw, these lines are pretty awesome.