The Challenge – Chap. 16

(Originally posted 4/7/12.)

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Orihime shrank back as Ulquiorra approached her bed, his eyes glowing like emeralds in the dim moonlight coming in through the tiny window. He tossed a set of white robes onto her bed. She recognized them as her old Arrancar outfit with a sudden shock of adrenaline and dread.

"Dress yourself, woman."

Grimly, she gathered up the shreds of her courage. She wasn't going back to that horror, wasn't going back to the man who had destroyed her child. The war was over and he was imprisoned and helpless. She would never be used by him again.

"No." She was proud that her voice was firm. "I won't go back." She met Ulquiorra's eyes with fierce determination. "I don't care if you kill me, and the trick you used before won't work now. I'm not going." She lifted her chin and looked directly into his eyes. She knew her power was nothing before his and he could kill her in an instant. But she had had a year and a half to rethink all her actions during those painful weeks in Las Noches. This time she knew what was necessary to do. She had already decided she would accept death before allowing herself to be taken prisoner and used again. She waited, her heart pounding, for the emotionless Espada to raise his hand and send a Cero into her heart. Silently, she readied her fairies. If he tried to capture her, she would fight with her new abilities until he killed her.

The black-haired Espada stared at her, his face as expressionless as ever. Then without a word, he put a hand to his face. She gasped in horror as she realized he was gouging out his own eye. Then he was holding it out and crushing it into tiny bits. Her eyes wide, she clutched the blankets in amazement. This was the power she had heard of but never witnessed. Unbidden, her eyes drifted shut as the fragments of Ulquiorra's eye floated past her head.

The man she had believed she would never see again stood tall before her, one of the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the Hueco Mundo desert as a backdrop. His face was as beautiful and serene as ever, and she felt her heart clutch in the same mingled agony and attraction that she always seemed to feel in Aizen's presence.

"My dearest Orihime—" his voice was honey and heavy cream just as she remembered it— "If you are seeing this now, it means that my primary plans have failed and I am imprisoned, most likely in Soul Society's prison, Muken." A faint smirk crossed his face. "Not, of course, that any prison built by shinigami will be able to hold me for long."

He paced to one side of the room, then turned back to meet her eyes. "However, much as it pains me to rely on someone else, I do have need of you and your unique power once again, my dear. And as a down payment on that favor, I have something to show you."

He lifted his hand and she saw he held a remote. He turned to a video screen set into the wall and pointed the device at it. The screen flared to life and she saw another image, this time of Aizen's sitting room, occupied by two men. The brown-haired shinigami was seated on a white armchair, and Ichimaru Gin was standing behind him, his hands on his shoulders.

The image of Aizen turned to look up at his lieutenant's face. "Did you examine the woman's reiatsu?"

Gin nodded. "It's as you suspected, Aizen-sama. There is no sign of the child's reiatsu any longer within her body. She must have used her powers to reject its existence, as there is no evidence of her using physical means to terminate the pregnancy."

Onscreen, the brown-haired shinigami's eyes narrowed. "She dared…" he whispered, "to do that to my child."

Orihime's mouth dropped open and her eyes opened. Ulquiorra stood motionless before her in the dim room, his arm still outstretched. "But that's not how it happened! I never would have done that!" she protested. "Gin was lying!"

Ulquiorra's voice was neutral. "Silence, woman. There is more you need to see." He gestured once again with his free hand, and her eyes closed again of their own accord.

The video faded and Aizen tossed the remote onto an end table. Turning once again to face her, he murmured, "I regret that you felt the need to end the life of our child, Orihime. I truly thought there was a bond between us. And I admit I misjudged your character, for I did not believe you had it in you to take a life." His beautiful eyes bored into her. "Thus I am altering the plans I originally had for you." A dark smile bloomed on his face. "I'm afraid… that it will not be… as pleasant for you as I had anticipated; however, since you apparently are made of sterner stuff than I believed, surely it will not disturb you too deeply."

He paced again to the window and stood with his back to her for a moment, looking out over the endless desert sands. Then he swung to face her once again. The sinister smile was still on his face. "It was a foolish choice on your part, my dear. I meant what I said… I would have made you queen of Las Noches and of the worlds beyond. You, and our child, would have ascended to the throne at the top of the world by my side." His smile faded. "But instead, I will do what I need to do without your consent."

He held out his hand and turned it palm upwards. Within it, she saw once again the deep blue glow of the Hougyoku as it flared and glittered in his palm. "Most likely you are unaware of the incredible breadth of powers the Hougyoku can confer on its master." His eyes took on a possessive, avid glint as he regarded the jewel. "Now that I have fully subdued this device, it has yielded its deepest secrets to me, and me alone." He glanced up and his lips took on a scornful twist. "I allowed those fools in Soul Society to believe that I needed you to fully awaken the Hougyoku, and that I intended to destroy Karakura Town to create the Ouken. It served my purposes to have everyone so misinformed." She saw malice flash in his eyes. "Instead, my true plans will surprise you all." He laughed quietly. "I do not expect that you will ever see this recording, Orihime."

His eyes darkened. "Nevertheless, I never make a plan without preparing for contingencies." His smile turned chilly. "You, my dear, are my contingency." He held up the Hougyoku so that she could see it fully. "Are you curious as to the nature of my plans for you? Then watch."

As he spoke, the jewel appeared to grow in her vision until it filled her entire field of view, its dark glitter overwhelming and mesmerizing. As she stared, unable to look away, she began to notice tiny lights moving deep within the jewel. They were forming patterns, scenes. In a blinding flash, she realized that the jewel was portraying a story… it was revealing the truth, if only she could look just a bit closer.

She leaned forward…

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Orihime opened her eyes. She was lying on a comfortable bed in what looked like a windowless hospital room. In the dim light, she could see banks of equipment surrounding her. She tried to sit up and discovered to her shock that she was bound to the bed and could not move. Her arms, legs, and torso were restrained. She reached out to her fairies, only to discover her hairpins had been taken from her and she could not access her powers. She struggled briefly against her bindings, but they were secure and she could make no headway against them.

Heart pounding, she relaxed against the soft pillows, accepting that there would be no escape for now. Her eyes darted about the room as she tried to take stock of her position. Where was she? She cast her mind back over how she could have come to be in this situation.

The last thing she could remember was Ulquiorra in her room in the apartment, and him showing her Aizen talking to her… She shook her head as the terrifying memory flooded back. Aizen somehow planned to use her in his schemes, and Ulquiorra must have abducted her in order to further those schemes.

She blinked as she remembered again what Gin had said in the vision. He had lied about her to Aizen… and Aizen hadn't realized it. She shuddered at the potential implications. It could explain why Aizen had been so cold to her that last afternoon in Las Noches. Her mind whirled. But… if he hadn't wanted her to destroy their child… then did that mean that he wasn't responsible for Loly and Menoly attacking her either? Had she assumed the worst of him, as he had of her?

But then… she began to tug again at the bindings with renewed urgency. She needed to talk to Ulquiorra, to explain to him what had happened. And where was Aizen? Was he still in prison, or had he already broken out? Her heart chilled as she realized that the man was apt to ignore any attempts at explanation she would give. Whatever plans he had for her would likely involve her being a helpless pawn in his schemes.

She cast her mind back again over what Ulquiorra had shown her. Her heart had leapt up for a moment when Aizen had said, "I meant what I said… I would have made you queen of Las Noches." Then her wiser self had instantly rejected the notion that he had ever had any kind of feelings for her. He was lying again, of course. But still… What had he done to her with the Hougyoku? She sucked in her breath as she realized she had no idea what had happened.

The door opened and another Espada she only vaguely remembered entered the room. From his pink hair she realized this must be Szayel, the eighth Espada. He walked in, smirking as he saw she was awake, and flipped on a light. She shrank away from its brilliance and squeezed her eyes shut. She heard footsteps walking to the side of the bed.

"Ah, awake at last, princess?" She cracked open one eye to see him moving to one of the banks of equipment, scanning the readouts, adjusting a dial. He picked up a line that she saw ran to an IV in her wrist. He gave her a lascivious grin as he ran a finger along the tubing all the way to her arm and began tracing the sensitive skin on her wrist, his fingers teasing her as his avid eyes sought out her own. She shivered and tried to pull away from him.

His smirk widened as he watched her expression, his eyes glinting. He bent down over her, his flyaway hair draping over her face as his hot breath stroked her ear. "I know you were Aizen-sama's little toy, but now you're mine, and he promised me I could do with you what I liked once your usefulness to him was over."

Her eyes widened in terror and she tried again to shrink from his touch. She had been ready to face death, but the thought of what the sinister Espada might do to her made her feel weak all over. She could feel the man's lips moving to caress her ear, and with a shudder, she felt him lick up and down the shell. One hand reached down to rest on her bosom.

The door banged open and Szayel straightened with an oath. She heard Ulquiorra's monotone voice almost with a sense of relief. "What are you doing to Aizen-sama's prisoner, trash?"

"Eh, just checking her vital signs, Ulquiorra." The pink-haired man gave an obscene giggle and Orihime shivered. Then his voice dropped lower and he wheedled, "Ah, come now, Aizen-sama wouldn't know. He's not here, and when he gets here he's going to have other things to occupy him. He didn't install surveillance equipment in this outpost, after all."

Ulquiorra's voice remained toneless. "That's as far as you know." His eyes raked Szayel. "You would do well not to underestimate Aizen-sama." Szayel's eyes widened and his eyes flicked to the corners of the ceiling as if checking for hidden cameras there.

The black-haired Espada moved to the bedside and stood looking down at Orihime. "Are you feeling acceptably well?"

She pulled herself together. She would no longer be a terrified little girl in the hands of these evildoers. She glared at Ulquiorra from the bed. "Well enough to be released from these restraints!"

He remained silent for a moment, his gaze on hers. "I will not release you until you are ready. You need to be properly prepared for what has happened."

She struggled against her bonds in another futile attempt to raise her body. "What do you mean by prepared? All I need is to get out of this bed! Surely you're not afraid I'm going to escape! I just want to sit up so I can face you. Are you scared of letting me up?"

He looked at her dispassionately. "It is for your own protection that you are kept secured. What I am about to tell you may give you an emotional shock. Additionally, Aizen-sama ordered you be kept restrained so that you could be properly nourished this time." His green eyes slid over the curves of her body beneath the sheets.

Mingled fright, anger and guilt surged in her at his mention of Aizen. "You need to tell Aizen-sama that Gin lied to him! Tell him that I never would harm our child!" she urged. "Is that why he ordered me kidnapped? Because he was angry at me? But there was no reason for it! You need to tell him!" she repeated.

Ulquiorra looked at her, considering. "I am not in direct contact with Aizen-sama at this moment."

She stopped and took a breath, her eyes still wide. "But then… what does he want with me?"

"That is what I am about to tell you, if you would cease complaining and allow me to explain." He eyed her again and nodded as she subsided. "So. What was your last memory?"

She frowned, a little apprehensive about his words without knowing why. "Why, just last night when you came to me in my bedroom." Anger overwhelmed her once again. "Why did you kidnap me again?" Szayel, still standing at the head of the bed, gave another high-pitched giggle. Resolutely, she kept her eyes away from him and focused on Ulquiorra.

The black-haired Espada ignored her question. "No, it was not last night. I came to your apartment three weeks ago, woman."

She stared at him, panic gripping her by the throat. When she spoke again, it was in a squeak. "Wha- what? Three weeks? I've been unconscious for three weeks?"

"No." Ulquiorra's voice was flat as always. "You simply have no memory of the past three weeks, because you were operating the entire time under Aizen-sama's hypnotic suggestion."

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A/N: Thanks to my recent reviewers, KawaiPanda, cassjaerinmiyasha, Aoi-Kaji, Princess Teska, bunny201, Flare-Flare, El3v3n, , PLacidWickedness, Himeko, fadedsolitude28, Maybelline, BritishBrilliance, Airrieal, Aquarius Dragon, Olive, N, xoulblade, Onlynameleft, champylin, wanda lensherr, WesternMistress, MondayRain90, Gr8pes, moodymel, sokkenai, randomfan17, boho, aihime4evah, Twoformemories, ssapientia, LilyGirl101, ichihime shaz, miss quirky bookworm, OtakuZEO, nypsy, sweetdisaster, SasuNarulover49, Black Diamond07, tootsiepopgurl, ThePandaHat, Jess, BleachAsylum, CreationDestruction, Lonewingwriter, borisbear, and Eldar-Melda.

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