Plan Discovered!

I snuck around the corridors of Las Noches. Peering around the corner, I ducked back just in time to see a black haired Espada walk out of a room. I watched as he walked away, and thankfully not in my direction. He had two coattails flowing out behind him and his hands were stuffed into his pockets. I could hear his footfalls falling away as he moved further out of sight. But then he stopped and looked over his shoulder. I ducked back behind the wall and heard the racing of my heart. He must have sensed someone watching him.

I carefully peered around the corner and noticed he was no longer there. He must have finished his evaluation and continued walking. Standing up from my crouch, I observed the halls again, listening for any signs of footfalls. Nothing but silence, the whiteness of the walls and the looming ceiling above greeted me. I stepped out from my hiding place and tiptoed over to the door that the mysterious black haired Espada had walked out of.

Okay I've been back about a week. Not once have I confronted my father, who must be looking for me, but I'm not even sure if he's even noticed my arrival. Perhaps he hasn't, but I'm still not quite sure. If he has, wouldn't he have confronted me already? During the whole week I've been trying to find Orihime, and it seems that this might be the place. After all, that black haired Espada always seemed to be spending a lot of time within this room before me.

I placed my hands against the door, using my senses to feel any reiatsu. Faintly a familiar one responded to my probing. Opening my eyes, I felt relieved. My shoulders slacked in relief. I shifted my hands across the door, feeling for a lock. With my probing, I found it, at handle length that was a tiny incision. I pulled a hairpin out from my hair and arranged it. I poked it through the hole and started probing around. Having performed this in the human world so many times, it doesn't seem so strange to me.

I hear a click and nearly jump for joy. I reshape the pin so that it can go back in my hair and then open the door. Orihime nearly jumped in fear, but when she saw it was me, tears rimmed her eyes. Only when I closed the door behind me did she run over and hug me tightly. She sobbed on my shoulder and I petted her back, quite relieved she wasn't hurt. I noticed she still wore her school uniform, so it mustn't have been long since they took her.

I pushed her out at arm's length. 'Did they hurt you?'

She wiped the tears away with a finger. 'I thought you were gone forever.'

I smiled faintly at her. 'They wouldn't dare hurt me,' I say on a sigh. 'Aizen's my father, Orihime, he wouldn't permit it.'

'Eh?' she said blinking her eyes. I smiled guilty at her. But a smile grew across her face and she didn't seem to be bothered about who I am. 'How did you find me?'

'Well, I've been scoping Las Noches out for a week trying to find you.'

'You have?'I nodded. 'And they just let you?'

I laughed nervously. 'Nope, for all they know, I've run away. But that was about a week ago.'

'Why did you come back?'

'The Captain Commander has given up on you, Orihime. He's classed you as an enemy. I was there at part of the meeting, but they didn't know I was. For the few minutes I was there, I felt free. But when I heard of your kidnap, I had to come back.'

Tears again blurred her eyes. 'You came back for me?'

'Of course I did,' I said smiling. 'You're my best friend.'

We shared another long hug. My eyes widened and I ripped myself away and turned towards the doors. I swear I had heard it closed. I could have also sworn I felt a presence watching us. But now that I look there was nothing there. No indication, nothing but my imagination playing tricks on me. But the way that my instincts were crying out to me, the way my heart pounded in my chest in panic, I know it wasn't my imagination.

We were no longer alone.

'Sylvia-chan, is everything alright?'

'Orihime, we're no longer alone,' I say, slowly backing up, placing an arm out in front of Orihime protectively.

'Quite perspective, aren't you, Sylvia-sama?' the black haired Espada I had seen walk away stepped out of the shadows. His green eyes were emotionless and focused on me like a predator was on its prey.

'Who are you?' I demanded with anger. I've never seen this Espada before. The only ones I've really seen are the top three, Grimmjow and Szayel. All the others were a mystery to me. But maybe he's not an Espada. Maybe he's a fraccion.

He looked taken aback, as if it surprised him. 'You do not know of me, Sylvia-sama?'

'Have you been bullying Orihime?' again my anger started to rise.

'I've been told of your connection with the woman.' I glared at him. 'Aizen-sama's been waiting for your return.'

'Don't change the subject!' I snapped. He looked at Orihime as if unsure on what he's decided, but he looked back to me and everything seemed to have become clear.

'Sylvia-sama, unless you don't want the woman hurt, I'd suggest you come with me.'

Orihime grasped my bicep. 'Sylvia-chan, I don't want you to get hurt at my expense.'

I looked over my shoulder at her. 'And I won't let anyone hurt you.'

'She won't get hurt if you come with me,' the hollow said to me.

'Shut up!' I said turning to face him. 'I wasn't talking to you.' I looked back at Orihime. 'I can't leave you.'

She smiled sadly at me. 'It's okay, I'll be fine.'

I looked at her with defeat. 'I'll demand to come back to see you.' Her eyes brightened in hope.

'Just don't do anything stupid, Sylvia-chan.'

'You know I would if anything were to happen to you.'

We smiled at each other before I turned my attention to the hollow. He seemed calm and composed, unchanging and powerful. No, with the power flowing from him, he's definitely not a fraccion. Could he be one of the Espada I hadn't yet met? What number could he be?

His hands still remained in his pockets, as if boredom was slowly catching up on him, his eyes slightly frowned as if impatience slowly dawned on him. I didn't want to leave Orihime's side, but she wanted me to go. I walked away from her, and just as I reached his side, I turned to look at her. Her smile was small and sad, lonely too. I felt saddened at such a smile and wished I could stay with her. I know what it's like to be imprisoned with having no one you know around.

'I'll see you soon, Orihime,' I say to her and she nodded, a hope she clutched in her hands and heart.

He steered me out of the room a moment later, impatient already with my slow pace. When he closed and locked the door behind him, I glared at him with so much hatred. How the hell had he known I was going to be in that room? He started walking, but I refused to follow. He stopped, looking over his shoulder at me, expecting me to follow. I just leaned against the wall and turned my head away from him, appearing ignorant above all.

'Sylvia-sama…'

'Oh just go away already,' I said furiously.

I felt his presence right beside me. I could feel a small heat coming out from his body to mine. I looked up at him, his form towering me, intimidating me with his height. But he was still not as tall as my father. He was about Ichigo's height in comparison. I noticed the strand of black hair that down his nose and split on either side. His skin was silver, not quite as white as his uniform or mask on the left side of his head.

'I can't do that, Sylvia-sama. Aizen-sama expects me to bring you to him.'

I glare at him. 'You can tell my father to fuck off.' I move away from the wall and walk in the opposite direction he was going in.

A tug on my arm stopped my short. I turn to look at what stopped me and notice that he had grabbed my wrist at the last possible second. As if he hadn't wanted to touch me in the first place. His grip was unreasonably strong, one I could never hope to get out of. If I wanted, I could, if I was using my true strength. But I wanted that to remain under the seal I had put it under.

'I will carry you if I have no choice,' he threatened.

'Ulquiorra!' a voice hissed in anguish and disgust.

Grimmjow!

He looked over his shoulder. Grimmjow came into view a moment later. His hair still remained the same as ever, but his always teasing eyes had hardened into anger as he looked at the black haired Espada. His green eyes looked down on Grimmjow. Not as in Grimmjow is smaller, because he's not. Grimmjow beats this one through height. But the black haired Espada was looking down on him as if he were weak, puny and should be in a hole out of his sight.

'Sylvia-sama,' he said softly to me, worry burning his eyes. He grabbed the Espada's wrist and threw it off me. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me along after me.

'Grimmjow, where are we going?'

The black haired Espada kept in time with Grimmjow's hurried pace. 'Unfortunately, I'm taking you to Aizen…'

I felt disapproval from the lack of respect coming from the mysterious Espada. I looked at him and glared, already hating him with my whole soul and heart. His green eyes turned to me and I saw a knowing in his eyes. I didn't notice that we travelled for ages until we stood outside the throne room doors. I had been looking into his eyes that much? The doors opened and the Espada walked inside first. Grimmjow released my hand and walked in after me.

'Sylvia,' I hear the voice of my father boom from his throne. I cringe as I felt all eyes on me.

'Sylvia-san,' I immediately relaxed as childish Gin waved down at me with his large smile on his face. I rolled my eyes.

I stopped in the centre of the room. I noticed that Grimmjow had moved to take his place amongst the ranks of his brothers and sisters. I looked up at my father. Relief in his eyes, but there was also curiosity and intrigue as he looked from the black haired Espada before me and then to me. I watched as Gin descended from beside my father's chair and walked over to me.

'It's good to have ya back,' he said happily and patted my shoulder. He didn't move away like I would have thought he would have done. Instead he remained by my side with his hand on my shoulder.

'I thank you all for coming, on such short notice.' Everyone's attention diverted from me to my father. 'There are a few things that I need you all to be aware of from now on,' he looked at me as he spoke. 'My daughter needs to be kept within Las Noches at any cost. If I hear that she has somehow gotten out, those that are responsible for watching her will be punished.'

I zoned out on my father's lecture. Yeah, yeah, it's all the same thing anyway.

'How'd ya get out?' Gin whispered into my ear.

'Don't know,' I tell him truthfully. 'I just desired to be free and I manifested the image of the place I wanted to go. Next thing is I found myself there.'

'Oh, that's intriguing. I'm gonna need ya to come by my lab later, I want to discover the extent of that power.'

'What am I, a test subject?' I whispered harshly and with anger.

Gin stifled a chuckle. 'Course not, I'm just profoundly interested. But only if ya want to do it with me.'

I sigh. 'I'll see you in the lab later.'

'Aw, ya so sweet,' he said ruffling my hair and then turning to pay attention to my father.

'Sylvia, it appears you've met Ulquiorra.'

I now noticed that the whole room was empty. Only my father, Gin and Kaname, and the black haired Espada remained. Name to face, got it. The emotionless bastard with green eyes is Ulquiorra. Gotcha! Okay now I want to go away from him and return to Orihime.

'Can I go now?'

Gin didn't suppress his laughter then. 'Aw, here ya daddy out will ya, Sylvia?'

I groan and just look away.

'From now on, Ulquiorra, Starrk, Harribel and Baraggan will look after you.'

'What about Grimmjow?' I ask, repulsed with the idea of having Ulquiorra looking after me.

'I no longer see him fit to take care of you.' I glare at my father for trying to destroy the bond between me and Grimmjow. 'You will continue to see Szayel once a week for check-ups.' I groan at that and Gin patted me on my shoulder. I know he's trying his hardest not to laugh.

'The freaky Barbie man is going to make me become a hedgehog when he's finished all of his check-ups,' I groaned.

'Barbie's are blonde, Sylvia,' Gin said trying to contain his laughter.

'Nuh-uh, he has Barbie pink hair and eyes. It's totally creepy. I think he's another Chucky, the pink version.'

'Chucky's a murdering doll,' Gin explained.

'Barbie's a doll too,' I countered.

Gin shrugged his shoulders. 'Fair enough, wait, Szayel's a doll?'

'Should I perform plastic surgery on him and find out?' I quizzed and Gin smiled.

'Then you will see Gin for some check-ups in relation to your powers,' my father continued as if he hadn't been interrupted.

I looked over at Gin and raised an eyebrow. Yup, I'm becoming a test subject. Not just of Szayel but of Gin. Could they ruin my life anymore?

'Anything else, father?' I cross my arms over my chest and I definitely felt the glare of that Espada, Ulquiorra. So obviously he didn't like me not showing any respect to my own father. He doesn't know understand how difficult for me to be me. For all I care, I would deeply appreciate if our roles could be switched. Like hell that's going to happen!

'As a matter of fact, Ulquiorra will be escorting you around Las Noches today. The other days it will be taken in turns with the others.' I glare at him, damning him for splitting me away from my lovely friend Grimmjow.

'I have one condition,' I say, stopping him before he could walk away from his throne. He stopped and turned to me. 'All do as I'm told, as long as I get to see Orihime, everyday.'

He frowned at me. 'How did you know that she was here?'

'Sylvia-sama had been in the woman's room,' Ulquiorra snitched.

'How did you know that she was here, Sylvia?' he said, turning to me with even more of a disappointment.

'Oh, so now I'm not allowed to know about my friends? Especially if one of them has been kidnapped by you?' I snapped at him.

'Calm down, Sylvia. I'm not going to have you ranting and raving at me.'

'Do not tell me to calm down!' I glared harshly at him. 'You pissed me off the moment you kidnapped her.'

'Sylvia,' he said in a warning tone.

'Why the hell is she even here?'

'Ulquiorra, please escort my daughter to her room. When she's calm, take her to the cafeteria for some food.'

He left just like that, before I could even finish having a right go at him. I glared at his throne, wishing nothing more than to destroy it.