Authors Notes: It's about time I updated this story isn't it? Sorry, got distracted with my other stories as well as personal hobbies as well as other real life issues that I had to deal with. Now, this story is nearing its end. As said, only two or three chapters left at max; so without further delay!
Tainted
Chapter 9
The day had finally come that Aizen had let his attack plans slip to the Soul Society. Of course he didn't come right out and tell them. He inadvertently let one of his lesser Arrcanars get captured and spill the information while being interrogated. With this new information all the Soul Reapers were busy trying to prepare for the upcoming battle. Ichigo and Rukia had rushed over to Orihimes apartment to tell her the news, and to present her with a gift.
Orihime reluctantly answered the door as the two eagerly knocked. Fortunately she had already sent Loly and Menoly back to Las Nochas. She didn't know how much longer those two would have been able to tolerate the constant visits from the two knuckle headed soul reapers.
"Yes?" she asked as she looked at Ichigo and Rukia.
"We discovered when Aizen plans to attack." Ichigo answered. Orihime faked shock as she heard the news. Of course Aizen had told her first how he would let the information leak.
"How long do we have?" she asked as she invited the two into her apartment.
"Five days." Rukia answered. "That doesn't give us a lot of time to prepare.
"No, it doesn't" Orihime commented. 'I hope Tatsuki will be ready by then.' she thought to herself.
"Don't worry." Ichigo smiled. "We'll win this." he assured the two. Rukia smiled at his confidence, but Orihime only gave him half a grin.
"We got you something Orihime." Rukia said as she produced a small bundle from behind her. Handing it over to Orihime.
"You are no unofficially part of the Soul Society." Ichigo smiled as the orange haired girl held up the black robe of the Shinigami. Orihime muttered a thank you before placing it down on the chair next to her.
"Come to think of it, where are the other two that are normally with you." Ichigo asked as he looked around the apartment.
"They went back home" was all Orihime answered. Which in a sense was true. When she looked up she could already see an idea forming in Ichigo and Rukia's head. "But; they are coming back." she added.
She could see the disappointment written across their face. Ever since the attack on the Visords and the disappearance of Chad and Tatsuki, that they finally told her about; they had been relentless on trying to get her to let the two of them stay with her.
"I can take care of myself as the both of you saw." she pointed out, referring to her fight with the escaped Arcanarr.
"We know, it's just…."
"The answer is no, and that is final." she said sternly. "Anyways you both have a lot of training to do if we are to be ready in five days."
Both Rukia and Ichigo sighed and nodded in defeat. She did have a point. The two of them had to do a lot of training before the battle began. With that they bid goodbye to Orihime and left to go to Urahara's shop to train. The odd shop keeper always had ways to help them get stronger.
After the two left, Orihime finally let the laughter escape her lips. The two fools still thought she was on their side; it was all she could do to keep herself from laughing. Especially when they made her an 'unofficial' member of the Soul Society.
'Why would I settle for being an unofficial member of something that cast me out when Aizen-sama and the Espada already officially acknowledge and respect me.' she thought bitterly.
In five days, her final scene will play out. She let a smirk visit her lips as she imagined everyones shock when she finally reveals her true allegiance.
Las Nochas
Ever since her transformation it had been a long and hard training session between Tatsuki and Ulquiorra. However, it was also because of these intense training sessions that she got to understand her new powers as quickly as she did and how to release them at will.
Hers were truly unique she thought. Bone like material formed over her hands, following her fingers giving it the appearance of a skeletal hand over hers. Except that the went a little past her finger tips giving her bone nails of a sort.
One of their training sessions had to be cut short when both of them released what happens when she scratches someone with her nails. At first it was just a minor burning infection around the wound. But as the Fourth Espada took more damage he noticed the burning sensation spreading and slowing him down almost to the point to where he couldn't move.
Like Ulquiorra, she balanced her powers between offense and defense.
"The battle will begin in days." Aizen commented to his Espada, including Tatsuki who now sat at the table as well, replacing Nointra as the Fifth Espada. The others agreed that she had a far better attitude then her predecessor. "Orihime has worked tirelessly to bring to us all the Soul Societies defense plans."
He began to outline the attack plan based on the what information was given. In one swift stroke he was going to render the Soul Society defenseless and gain access to the kings key.
"When will Orihime rejoin us?" Tatsuki asked. She was worried of her friends safety if her deceit was discovered. Aizen merely smiled at the newest members concern.
"We have a plan in place to allow us to 'kidnap' her as she and her companions make their way to the battlefield. Orihime already knows what to do." he replied with a smirk. "Ichigo and friends are going to be in for quiet a surprise."
The rest of the Espada, Tatsuki included; all laughed until a shadow came from the door way.
"I hope you weren't planning to attack without me." the individual said with a cat like grin.
"Welcome back Grimmjow." Aizen grinned as the cyan haired Espada moved from the door way, eyeing all the Espada present.
"Where the hell is the Fifth?" he asked, clearly not happy about being attacked from behind.
"I am the Fifth Espada." Tatsuki answered, brandishing her number 5 tattoo on her forearm.
At this Grimmjow looked to Aizen for an answer.
"Nointra has been dead for sometime." Aizen answered the Sixth unasked question. "Our dear Orihime was the one who executed him for his crimes."
"The human girl?" Grimmjow was confused to say the least.
"Yes." Aizen dismissed the rest of the Espada. He knew he was going to have to bring his feral friend up to speed of the current events. After they had all left he turned his attention back to the Sixth. "He attempted to rape the girl."
Grimmjow made a look of disgust.
"Now, I will have you know that Orihime is no longer a prisoner and is in fact on our side." he grinned.
"You mean to tell me she turned her back on her friends from the human world?"
"No, they turned their backs on her." he corrected the cyan haired Espada. "We forced them to retreat and in the process they left her behind. As a result she wanted revenge."
"Last I remembered she was weak, even to her friends." the Sixth commented.
"Not anymore." Aizen grinned. "She matches my power now and she weilds the Crystal Blade."
"WHAT!" this got Grimmjows attention.
"And there is another thing you should know." Aizen commented as he made his way to the door, and opening it.
"What's that?"
"She is my wife."
With that Aizen left the Sixth to his thoughts. Grimmjow for once in his life was dumbfounded from what he had heard. Never would he have expected her to switch sides like that. Shrugging he left the room, he didn't really care for the attack plan he just wanted another shot at Ichigo.
Human World
Orihime walked the streets of the town. It was a bitter sweet experience. She knew that this would be one of the last times she would see these streets the way they were. There was no way the town was going to escape the large scale of destruction that would happen during the battle.
She was at least a little grateful that the Soul Society had actually showed enough concern for the people to separate them from the town so that WHEN the pillars failed and the real town returned; at least the people would not be harmed.
Regardless of this, she was still determined to help Aizen and ensure his victory. Besides, when he takes over the Soul Society, she will be his queen. A smirk visited her lips at that thought. Maybe then everyone will acknowledge her.
She let out a soft sigh. Without Loly and Menoly around it was boring. She wanted to return to Las Nochas now, but she knew she couldn't. If she just disappeared right now it would take away the advantage her and Aizen had over the Soul Society.
"Orihime" a voice from behind her broke her out of her thoughts. She turned to see who the voice belonged to.
"I take it you've already heard Ishida?" she asked the Quincy as he caught up with her; walking beside her as the left the busy streets into the part that Ulquiorra and Yami first appeared in.
"Yeah." he answered. "Where is Ichigo?"
'Sucking face with Rukia probably.' she wanted to say but answered "Training with Rukia at Uraharas."
"I see." he was silent for a moment. "Did you want to train?"
"I am more then ready for the upcoming battle." she stated confidently. As she stopped she looked around. Making sure no one was around. The park was abandoned. Since the 'gas explosion' no one dared visit her anymore.
"Is there something wrong Orihime?" he asked as he watched her looking around, as if looking for someone.
"Yeah, there is a problem." she stated coldly. Letting her fairies fly out around her. At this Ishida braced for a battle, but not from Orihime. "The problem is, I can't have you interfere with Aizen-samas plans."
At these words all of her fairies flew around the Quincy, who unlike the others was actually faster in response at avoiding attacks. Narrowly escaping the bladed tip of one of the fairies.
"Orihime?" he asked uncertainly if it was her or not.
"Oh, I am the real one alright." she grinned. "After everyone abandoned me there, I got to know Aizen-sama a lot better." she emphasized this by holding up her hand that had the ring on it.
"Too bad you wont live long enough to be at the wedding. When Aizen and I are named King and Queen over the Soul Society."
Ishida braced for another attack from her fairies, as they flew in for another attack. Dodging the incoming discs until he felt something slam into his back and a pain in his chest. Looking down he saw a slender hand covered in blood. Daring to crane his neck he turned to see Orihime right behind him.
"You didn't think my fairies were my only means of attack did you?" she laughed as she dropped him off her arm. Her fairies returning to her as she closed her fist and charged a cero blast. "Good bye Ishida."
With that, she fired off the cero blast, instantly vaporizing the quincy where he laid. Not wanting to wait for anyone to show up she used her sonido all the way to her apartment to get cleaned up.
Even though she held no ill will towards the Qunicy, she knew he would be a threat to her and Aizens plans. The boy was a lot smarter then Ichigo and would have figured out something to stop them if given the time.
Ichigo and Rukia
Meanwhile, as the two shinigami trained they felt a sudden cold feeling in their guts as the disappearance of one of their friends spiritual ritsu faded to nothing. Both dropped their blades to the ground and looked at each other with concern before taking off to the surface.
"It's too late." Urahara stated as the two came out of the underground chamber they were training in. "Ishida is dead."
"What?" Ichigo asked in disbelief.
"Aizen seems to be doing assassinations of our allies. Making us weaker and less likely to successfully fight back." the shop keeper mused.
"Do you think he will try to kidnap Orihime again?" Rukia asked.
"Maybe, it is hard to say." Urahara answered. " So far she has remained safe, but time will tell."
The other two nodded and quietly mourned for the death of their friend.
"Aizen will not win." Ichigo vowed.
Meanwhile, Orihime had reported what had happened to Aizen who was pleased with her taking out any advantage the Soul Society may have. In the next few days she would have to try and take out the last two threats to their power. Urahara and Ichigo's father.
Additional Authors Notes: Finally an update! Again I am sorry for the extremely long delay in updates to this story. I finally got hit with the mood to write for this fic and ran with it as you saw. Next chapter will probably have a slight time skip of a few days and the start of the final battle.
Also, I am sort of stuck of who to pair Tatsuki with. While I think she would fit with Ulquiorra well, after bringing Grimmjow back into the picture I am not so sure. So let me know what you think!
Another side note. I recently updated my fanfic profile. Please check it out for upcoming stories I have planned as well as check out some of my other works!