The Challenge – Chap. 20

(Originally posted 6/15/12, edited 8/13/12.)

XxXxXxX

Orihime had never seen such luxury.

Although she did not come into contact with wealth that frequently, even she could see that Aizen's hotel suite simply exuded opulence. After a private elevator ride into an elegant foyer, she walked into the main room somewhat hesitantly, feeling the thick, soft carpet underneath her feet. At the end of the spacious room was a row of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a dramatic view of Karakura Town from thirty stories up. Every fixture in the room, even every bit of fabric looked like it cost more than most people earned in a year.

She turned to look at Aizen, who had followed her into the room and was watching her reaction with an amused half-smile. She was awed against her will, and it made her voice sharp. "This doesn't seem like you, Aizen-sama. In Hueco Mundo you seemed to go for the utilitarian style, all white and blocky."

Aizen's smile widened. "That was in the public spaces, Orihime." He sighed as he lowered himself onto a couch upholstered with white silk shot through with threads of what looked like gold. "In private, I prefer comfort."

He glanced up at Ulquiorra, who had already entered the suite's kitchen and emerged with a bottle of wine and two glasses. "Ah, thank you very much, Ulquiorra." He picked up a glass and raised it to Orihime in a toast, leaning back on the couch and stretching one arm out over the back. He took a sip of the wine and closed his eyes with satisfaction. "Ahhh," he murmured, "that is heavenly." He opened his eyes again and regarded Orihime. "After my recent experience, I find myself appreciating these small sensory pleasures to a great extent."

She felt a twinge in her conscience but again resolved to harden her heart.

"May I offer you some of this superb wine, Orihime?" he asked. She shook her head with a scowl and he smirked. "Pity. If only you would relax your stance regarding rigid adherence to every rule, your life would be much more pleasant." He gazed at her with his dark eyes over the rim of the wine glass as he took another sip.

"It's not just the rules," Orihime ground out, "but what you did to me after I drank alcohol." She glared at him and he raised an amused eyebrow. Angrily, she took a step backwards. "I've had enough of your games and lies. I'm leaving and you can't stop me." She took another step toward the door. "I'm going home to my own apartment."

He looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Orihime." His voice was soft and full of what appeared to be sorrow. "Of course, it is completely your choice since I have no power to stop you, but please do not leave. It is not in your best interests to go outside, unprotected. The Karakura police as well as independent organizations have your name and description. I could not guarantee your safety out on the streets."

She glared at him.

"And besides…" His voice dropped lower. "I would like you to stay with me." His eyes were on her with unusual gentleness.

"Why?" Her voice was more shrill than she intended as she put her hands on her hips and backed away from him. "You don't care about me; you just want to use me and my powers."

There was a pause as he continued to gaze at her with soulful eyes. She tried to hold onto her anger but felt it threaten to slip away from her; if he used that soft voice on her again, could she resist him? As she felt the familiar weakness, she berated herself. How could she have turned into someone so pathetic, so useless, pining for a man who cared nothing for her or anyone? Her chest heaved and she ached inside. How much she longed for him to deny her words, to prove to her that he cared…She shook her head against the angry tears. She was so foolish. So unbelievably gullible.

"Ah, Orihime. You still have not forgiven me." He heaved a large sigh and looked away, down at the floor. "I suppose I do not deserve to be forgiven." Then he closed his eyes from a moment, took another sip of wine, firmed his lips, and set the glass down on a teak end table. "Orihime. Please look at me." Her eyes were drawn unwillingly to his and again she felt all her resolve trembling.

Slowly, gracefully, he stood up and approached her, his eyes holding hers. "My dear Orihime. I hope you realize how difficult this is for me." As he moved nearer, she felt herself torn apart as though by gravitational waves; like the sun, when he came too close the tidal pull was too intense… she would shatter into a million pieces…

He reached her, took her hands in his; she stared up at him, eyes wide. This close, his body warmth, his scent, his presence… were almost overwhelming. She was paralyzed, stricken, completely overtaken. She could do nothing but look into his eyes, could not think, could not maintain her anger. "As I said, during my enforced time of reflection, I found my thoughts circling back to one idea, and one person." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I had always prided myself on calmness, on the absence of disruptive and foolish emotion… and yet, in that prison, I found myself suffused with an emotion I thought I was unable to feel."

He drew closer and she shivered as his hands slid up her arms to encircle her. She could feel his powerful arm muscles enfolding her as he bent close. His words, so soft and so treacherous, penetrated her mind and filled her heart to overflowing. "Orihime… I found that I could not stop thinking of you. I could not stop wishing I had been kinder to you. I could not stop wanting to see you again. I could not stop…" His voice broke, and her heart seemed to follow it. "I could not stop caring for you and wishing I could have done something to protect our child." Her breath caught as his arms tightened.

He took a deep breath, his eyes blazing, and she could not look away. "I know that you should by all rights refuse to believe whatever I say, but I have no choice but to make the attempt. You have caught me, Orihime; you have ensnared the one man no one could defeat… When the hougyoku abandoned me during the battle, it was because I had lost my single-minded focus on my goal, on unlimited power… and instead… I felt nothing but loneliness. Because… I had left you."

She looked at him, her thoughts in a whirl, unable to move or say anything. Her own feelings, a complicated mix of compassion, dread, thrill, and affection, were flaring, burning again, and she found herself tilting her head up, gazing at him with eyes full of emotion.

"Orihime… please… even though I don't deserve you, I am so lonely…" His voice faded away as her body pressed against him, her face turned up to his, lips parting, eyes closed. With a deep, unbelieving breath, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her, gently, and then she was pushing herself against him, the passion firing in her body once again, the overwhelming need and desire and tingling where all she wanted was to be his once more, his, body and soul; she wanted to cleave to him, she wanted to drown in him, and she was crying huge, silent tears, and he was holding her, kissing her tears away, running his hands all over her body, saying, "Orihime. Orihime, my love, don't cry. It will be all right now. Everything will be all right."

XxXxXxX

Orihime sat up in the tangle of expensive sheets in the huge and luxurious bed. It was still early, but Aizen had already awakened and gone into the other room, leaving her alone with her confusing feelings.

She sighed. She had given into him again, even though she knew he was almost certainly lying to her. It was because… because there was a chance, even a small one, that he was telling the truth, and she could not bear to see him truly as devastated as he had appeared to her the day before. Her compassionate heart could not hold back when someone asked directly for her help.

She got out of bed and went into the vast and elaborate bathroom, a room bigger than her entire apartment across town. As she flicked on the light, she sighed again. She would not let herself believe this time that he truly cared for her. He was evil and that would not change. Why he had chosen her for his use out of all the others he had encountered in his long life no longer mattered. She had no choice but to stay with him, after all; as he himself had pointed out, if she left him now she would likely be gunned down on the street or arrested by Karakura police, or even worse, she thought as she shuddered to herself, imprisoned by Soul Society.

He had effectively trapped her.

She could run and end up in jail or dead, or… she could give into her own shameful desires. Her face felt hot again as she thought of what had happened last night, how they had given each other pleasure repeatedly for many hours in the large and comfortable bed. She recalled again all the wonderful things he had said to her, the words of a devoted lover; and even more, of the intense sensations he had awakened in her.

Her cheeks flushed with renewed vigor as she realized desire was mounting in her again. The mere thought of his devilish smirk, his flashing eyes, his seductive voice… set off such intense electricity in her core that it made her almost glad that she was throwing away all her life, all her code of ethics, all her friends, simply to follow this one man… this amoral but utterly captivating man.

This man who was almost certainly lying to her.

She sighed as she splashed cold water on her face. She really had no choice after all. She was effectively his prisoner. With the thought, the part of her conscience that was berating her for doing anything other than attacking him gave a small sigh and expired.

She offered a small, secret smile to her reflection in the mirror as she felt a sudden sense of liberation. She might as well enjoy the moment; who knew what would happen tomorrow. With a rush, her core optimistic nature reasserted itself.

Yes. She would enjoy herself and all the illicit thrills that being on the lam with a gorgeous but deadly criminal could offer. Perhaps later she would escape. But for now… she might as well relish the experience of being by his side.

As she closed the door behind her, she told herself that it was purely a practical decision. It was a matter of convenience only. She did not dare to think, even in the darkest recesses of her mind, the word 'love.'

XxXxXxX

Ulquiorra entered the central room of the suite. Aizen-sama was dressed in a dark blue silk robe this morning, sitting in the breakfast nook, overlooking the large windows, sipping tea and gazing out at the view spread below him as the early morning sun flooded Karakura Town. The Espada scrutinized his master. He appeared inordinately pleased, his body relaxed.

"Sir." Ulquiorra's voice was neutral as always. "I would like to suggest that we move to another location today. We may have stayed here too long. I am quite certain that if we stay in one place that Soi Fon's forces will discover your location."

Aizen turned to regard him lazily. He gestured at the remains of the luxurious meal in front of him. "But Ulquiorra, you must realize that after so long without tasting anything, I prefer to remain in a venue where the food is of the highest quality. At least for the nonce." He smiled.

Ulquiorra stared at him. He wondered if the food was truly the reason Aizen did not want to move. Although there were several bedrooms in the spacious suite, he was well aware that Orihime had not once slept in the bedroom designated as 'hers.'

"Sir," he tried again. "May I remind you what you once told me, that survival depends upon behaving according to logic and not emotion." He waited, wondering if his master would become angry at his presumption in attempting to chastise him. Usually Aizen was calm and accepted such suggestions with serenity. But this, he suspected, was an entirely different situation.

Aizen turned to regard his loyal Espada, eyes glittering as he tilted his head. "Indeed. And I do value your opinion, Ulquiorra. Nevertheless…" He sighed and turned his head away. His voice, when he spoke again, was low. "Perhaps my stay in that prison damaged me more than I anticipated."

The door to the master bedroom opened and Orihime emerged. Aizen's eyes immediately went to her. She was wearing a black silk bathrobe and Aizen's eyes moved appreciatively to her neckline where her pale skin showed against the fabric.

"Good morning, Orihime." He treated her to a lazy smile as he studied her expression. "I hope you slept well?"

She gave him a bright smile in return. "Yes, thank you. And you?"

"Mmmm," he murmured, rising to pull out a chair for her at the breakfast table. "What there was of it."

Ulquiorra saw the flush that suffused her face at his words and averted his eyes. "Aizen-sama, is there anything more you need from the kitchen? Otherwise I will get back to work on that project you assigned me."

Aizen lifted amused eyes to his Espada. "Thank you, Ulquiorra, but there will be nothing more."

As the door closed behind the black-haired man, Aizen sat in his chair and patted his legs. "Come, Orihime," he murmured. "Sit in my lap."

She paused in the act of pouring herself some fresh-squeezed orange juice and her eyes went wide for a moment. Then she got up and settled herself in his lap. At once his hands were roaming her body and his lips were nuzzling her neck, and she squirmed and laughed. One of his hands slid up underneath her robe along her thigh and she gasped.

Soon she was wriggling on top of him and blushing and giggling at the naughtiness of it all. When they finally straightened their robes and sat down to finish their now-cooling meal, both pairs of eyes were alight with satiation and wickedness.

Orihime sighed with pleasure as she ate another buttered scone. She smiled up at Aizen who gave her a satisfied smirk over a freshly poured cup of tea.

"So," she inquired around her mouthful, "what are we going to do today? Do you have another hideout for us to move to?"

"I don't know," sighed Aizen, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his hair. "Maybe we'll stay here for another day. It's not so comfortable being on the run."

She laughed. "I just saw this movie a couple of weeks ago about being on the run. Bonnie and Clyde. Have you heard of it?"

Aizen was smirking at her, but said nothing as she continued. "It's a movie about a couple of American bank robbers from the 1900s."

"Yes," Aizen murmured, his eyes lidded. "I know the story. She was quite the innocent until she fell in with him… but at the end, there were photos of her brandishing a submachine gun along with the rest of the gang." He leaned forward and nuzzled her. "Do you think that will happen to you?" he whispered. "Will you use your power in my service and become an accomplice to my crimes?"

His voice was low and seductive and Orihime could not help but shiver as another hard chill went through her.

"I—" she began, frowning, but then there was a rapping on the suite door.

She quickly straightened and Aizen returned to his seat.

Ulquiorra emerged from the kitchen and went to the door, his hand hovering near his weapon. Orihime could see he was prepared for anything. Ulquiorra's unwavering loyalty… seemed very touching to her this morning. No doubt, a man in Aizen's position would appreciate that kind of unswerving allegiance.

As she raised her reiatsu sensitivity to detect whoever was at the entrance to the suite, she realized Aizen could not see who was at the door, nor hear what they were saying. Without his powers, his perceptions were still blunted. Nevertheless, his face was serene as he took another sip of tea and waited for Ulquiorra to return.

The door closed quietly and the slender Espada turned back toward the room, a large white envelope in his hands. "Aizen-sama." The black-haired man handed him the heavy, elegant parchment. "This was delivered for you. I do not detect anything amiss in its reishi."

Aizen took the envelope, eyebrows raised, and slit it open, reading. His eyebrows climbed further.

"Well." He glanced at Ulquiorra. "You were right after all. They have found me." Ulquiorra tensed, but relaxed at a small hand gesture from his master. "But…" Aizen leaned back in his chair and a subtle smirk appeared on his face. "This missive is quite… interesting."

"What is it?" asked Orihime, sitting on the edge of her chair, wondering if she should be worried.

"It appears that captain-commander Yamamoto, of all people, is interested in setting up a meeting with us. He wishes to declare a cease-fire, he claims. He would like to send an agent to meet with us."

Orihime noted his choice of pronouns. "Are you going to meet with them?"

Aizen's eyes turned to Orihime, bemused. "Ah. Yama-jii's choice of emissary is… quite enlightening."

Orihime looked inquiring.

"He is sending Kuchiki Rukia." At Orihime's intake of breath, he glanced at her briefly and then gazed out the window. "This tells me a great deal about his plans," he murmured.

"Oh?" asked Orihime.

"Yes," continued Aizen. "If this were a rescue attempt, Yama-jii would have sent Kurosaki Ichigo." His calm eyes met Orihime's puzzled ones. "Ichigo is powerful enough to defeat me, as far as the captain-commander knows, and he would not quibble over your supposed loyalty.

"If it were a trap, and he intended to capture me, he would have sent one of Soi Fon's men. A lower-level shinigami, someone expendable," he said calmly. "And yet… he has chosen Kuchiki Rukia. A powerful shinigami in her own right," he murmured, "yet of negligible power against me if I were at full strength. Nevertheless, as a Kuchiki she has stature in Soul Society that surpasses most of the seated shinigami. Additionally, she is your friend. Thus Yama-jii is showing both of us respect, as well as confirming that he sees you as my ally rather than my prisoner. I have already threatened Rukia's life once already, yet spared her, so he is telegraphing intent to send a message that I will want to hear." He leaned back, his face thoughtful. "On the other hand, should I simply kill her, her powerful family will make it… impossible for me to ever reconcile with Soul Society."

Orihime listened to Aizen's comments with her mouth open. "You can't kill her!" she protested, outraged.

Aizen glanced at her. "Do not worry. I would be a fool to attack Yama-jii's emissary. He has made an intelligent choice. Especially, since he is implying there may be something in my best interest in the deal he is about to propose."

Orihime shook her head, angry that he had even mentioned killing Rukia. "What sort of deal do you think he has in mind?"

"It is unclear. Still… I think I will accept his proposal. This location is as good as any other to meet; there are one thousand rooms full of civilians in this hotel, and there are defenses woven into this suite so that it is impossible to attack me here without destroying the entire building."

Orihime's eyes widened. "You're not using human shields!" she cried, horrified.

"Don't worry. Those humans are not at risk, based on my estimation of Yama-jii's behavior."

She sprang to her feet, her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "That's not the point! You may say I'll end up being an accessory to your crimes, but not if they include the murder of innocents!"

His face flickered. "Didn't you understand when I said that no murders would be committed?"

"But there's a chance something could go wrong! You're threatening them!" she protested, her eyes burning with fury. "I don't care what you say. I'm not staying here one minute more if I'm cowering behind human shields!" Angrily, she spun and ran into the bedroom and began quickly throwing on clothing.

As she was furiously and jerkily shoving her arms and legs into her old clothes, Aizen walked softly to the door and leaned against the jamb. "Orihime." His voice was cajoling. "What if I promise you it is only an empty threat, that the devices in the hotel will not be activated?"

She stared at him, still enraged. "I'd need proof that they had been disabled."

He raised his eyebrows. "And once you saw such proof, would you be satisfied?"

Her chest heaved, and she looked at him with mistrustful eyes. There was a long pause. "Okay."

"You do realize that then I will be defenseless. There would be nothing stopping Soul Society from picking me up in my powerless state and returning me to that prison cell." He gave her a level look.

"I'll protect you," she declared. "Nothing can get past my shield."

His lips twitched. "A noble sentiment, my dear." He stared at her for a moment, his eyes turning blank. "What if your powers failed? You would allow me to be returned to prison?" His face was unreadable.

She spun to face him. "Of course I don't want you to go back to prison! But killing, or even threatening to kill innocents is wrong! I won't stand for it, no matter what." She faced him now, face stormy, refusing to back down.

He met her gaze calmly, raising an eyebrow. "Not that Soul Society is above sacrificing tens of thousands of lives to achieve their goals," he said dryly, "as we learned only last week when Mayuri killed 28,000 Rukongai peasants in the name of 'balance.'"

"No. You're lying," accused Orihime. "Soul Society would never have condoned such a thing."

Aizen gave her a dark smile. "As were my own prison conditions, Soul Society's recent massacre in Rukongai is a matter of public record," he responded. "Indeed, the life of a Rukongai peasant is worth almost nothing to the rulers of Soul Society," he continued, and Orihime stared at him. Did she just hear a tinge of bitterness in that urbane voice? "Very well. I agree to your terms. I will disable the self-destruct mechanisms in the hotel and allow you to watch as they are disengaged." There was now faint amusement in his voice. "I suppose I am growing careless in my old age," he murmured with a sidelong glance at her. "I wonder how you would feel if I were captured again?" She glared at him and refused to back down in the face of his ploy for her sympathy.

After a moment, though, he gave her a relaxed smile. "But, as I said before, I don't think Soul Society will risk taking action against me in this hotel. Not because they care about lives, but… in our case here, we are talking about humans… and their deaths might offend Kurosaki Ichigo. And I suspect that the captain-commander is being very careful not to offend Ichigo at the moment."

"What? Why?" asked Orihime.

Aizen merely glanced at her. "That will shortly become clear. What is interesting is that Yama-jii also appears not to want to offend me at the moment." His eyes became distant. "The captain-commander is desperate."

XxXxXxX

A/N: I originally planned a lemon for this chapter, but with FFnet's recent crackdown, since I am unsure of the exact dividing line between M and MA, I decided to keep everything on the safe side. :(