Updated: 24th October 2016 (majority of the original content rewritten)

Hey there, I'm back!

Firstly I'd like to thank all the wonderful reviewers, you amaze me more and more:

Ps e, phoenix-aerith, eeza77, Red Princess, Sweet Scrifice, Wait-For-Sleep, mk, Lorraine C., Auel Nader, deirdre's dreams (twice!), Nefarian, VampireCabbit, Isolated Mind, TheRavenHawke, konkira, FluffyDog2006, Saya, SoraXNamine, NeonGenesis, SnowLion no Miko

Secondly, I'm terribly sorry for the delay and I have no excuse for it.

But anyway (smooth change of subject ;D) I'd like to wish you all Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or both, however you celebrate this time of the year.

So, onto the chapter! Enjoy!

朝霧 -Asagiri-

The Frozen Whisper
by Asagiri

Chapter 3
Lies

Am I alive?

Where am I?

Gradually consciousness seeped back into her body giving her some awareness of the surroundings.

She could hear the whisper of silence around her, smell sterileness in the air; she could feel some fabric on her skin, warmth it was giving her… There was also a dull pain in her abdomen – a reminder of being impaled with Nejibana, undoubtedly. Then there was a different kind of pain, not a physical one, although it hurt much more severely – pain in her heart at the memory of Kaien-dono and that sickening impression that she'd killed him for the second time, even though she knew it hadn't been really him, but the 9th Espada. It made her feel nauseous, nevertheless.

Shaking off that unpleasant sensation, Rukia took a deep, ragged breath. She could safely assume that she was alive. Gone was that deathly coldness she'd felt when she'd slipped into the smothering embraces of darkness.

Surprisingly, luck was on her side and someone had found her battered body and saved her, and now she was lying in a bed in 4th Division's facility.

However a feeling that something was not quite right stirred in her gut, making her restless.

Unfortunately her body was too languid to let her immediately spring into action. For now all she could do was flex her fingers and toes to get a better feel of her body and prepare herself to officially return to the living. She was a little bit anxious to open her eyes because of that odd apprehension at the back of her mind, but there was no way avoiding it. Besides, not being able to precisely understand the situation was much worse. She didn't like uncertainty.

Slowly Rukia forced her heavy-lidded eyes open, but immediately regretted it. Since she'd been resting in the dark oblivion of slumber for an unknown period of time, the light blinded her severely. She didn't have the strength to cover her face with her hand, so with a groan she let her head fall to the side. Facing a pristine white wall, she waited patiently until her eyes adjusted to the brightness.

In the meantime she racked her brains to find the cause of that odd apprehension coiling around her gut, and then she realised it – pain. She was feeling pain coming from her wounds.

Meaning – it hadn't been Inoue who had healed her.

It wasn't like she took her friend for granted, no… It was just that… it didn't seem like her. Could it mean that they hadn't managed to rescue her? That Inoue was still in Hueco Mundo?

A feeling of dread overcame Rukia. No, it couldn't be—!

"So you've awakened," an unfamiliar male voice broke her out of her musings.

It would have startled her, had she not been this weak. Sadly, all she could do was frown with admonition at her unawareness of somebody else's presence right next to her.

The Shinigami sluggishly turned her head to the source of the voice.

And wished she hadn't.

Before her now widened eyes was standing a man whom she would have put at the very bottom of the 'people ever possible to appear after waking up' list. Hell, she wasn't sure she would even consider putting him on it. She would sooner expect Captain Kurotsuchi, but never him. (An appearance of either of them didn't bode anything good, but that was beside the point.)

Ironically, it seemed the fate was as cruel as it was claimed to be, because not even deliberating her wants or not-wants, it was now bestowing her with the presence of her enemy in the least imaginable moment. Instead of caring Captain Unohana of the 4th Division, she was met with that Arrancar whom she remembered as the one who'd cut in and stopped the fight between Ichigo (or actually the Visored guy) and Grimmjow. He most likely was also the one who'd schemed Inoue's abduction. Urquiorra was his name or something along those lines.

This can't be happening! She had to be in some wicked nightmare – the kind that have you believing you woke up, but in fact you just moved from a bad enough one to a total night terror. There was no other explanation!

However no matter how much she wanted to wake up, that Espada was still there, in the same room as she, watching her impassively.

While she stared at him in disbelief, her mind decided it was too much for her in this weakened state and shut down on her, again plunging her into the dark depths of unconsciousness.

・

Ulquiorra had come to the infirmary for the sheath of the Shinigami's zanpakutō and was quite surprised to find her stir and wake up, seeing as it'd been less than two hours since she'd been operated on. The look of absolute incredulity on her face amused him, but then he was slightly perturbed when her eyes suddenly closed and her body went limp. Moving closer to her, he checked the pulse on her neck – it was a little bit weak, but it was there. Her chest too was feebly rising and falling in shallow, irregular breaths. However her skin was still cold in touch.

Yet, watching her pale face, stubborn frown forming between her brows, he could tell that she would pull through.

Good. He hadn't bothered to keep her alive only for her to die now. Only once he completed his mission, would she be allowed to expire for all he cared.

But Ulquiorra now knew what he'd send Orihime Inoue if she dawdled for too long – the Shinigami's eyeball. Her eyes were of most extraordinary colour, so there would be no mistake to whom the orb belonged to.

※

The second time Rukia woke, she scanned the room for anyone's presence before opening her eyes or even making the slightest movement – it would be unbecoming if she were caught off-guard once again.

She was alone.

She didn't know how much time had passed since the last time she'd been conscious, but she felt a little bit better. Still, merely sitting up cost her a lot of energy. Breathing heavily she looked around.

The room she was occupying was small and all white. The only furniture consisted of the bed she was in, small table and a chair. There were two doors and no windows. It definitely wasn't the 4th Division's.

Her black Shinigami shihakushō – no doubt all torn and bloody – had been changed in favour of a plain, white yukata. She touched her midsection and felt bandages tightly wrapped around it. It seemed her wound had been closed but not completely healed.

Indeed it hadn't been Inoue who had healed her. And indeed she was currently in Las Noches.

Somehow she'd fallen into Aizen's hands.

If she was here then where were the others? What had happened to her friends? Were they dead? Or maybe imprisoned like she? Or perhaps they had rescued Inoue and safely returned to Soul Society?

Rukia searched for sources of reiatsu that might have belonged to any of her friends, but she found none. Did it mean that they'd managed to go back to Soul Society?

She really hoped this was the case. If so, she had to rejoin them as soon as possible.

With this purpose in mind, she once again looked around the small room, this time searching for her Sode no Shirayuki, but the zanpakutō was nowhere in sight. She cursed inwardly, but decided not to think on it at the moment, only to focus on pushing forward and finding a way to get the hell out of here.

Carefully sliding down and off the bed and using the wall for support, she made her way towards the closest door. It turned out to be a bathroom.

After a short rest Rukia moved towards the other door. Opening it, she stepped into a quite spacious room with what seemed to be a medical equipment. There were two Arrancar women, too. They spotted her straight away.

"You shouldn't be up yet!" one of them cried in panic, while the other one rushed towards Rukia to put her back in bed.

"Hakufuku," the Shinigami breathed out, her voice cracking from disuse. Purple cherry blossoms danced in the air around the Arrancars and after confusing them, they put them to a dreamless sleep.

Rukia heaved a sigh and moved to another door.

She found herself in a corridor. She wanted to head to the place where they'd entered Las Noches, but she didn't have the foggiest idea where it might be. But she'd hate herself if she just stayed in one place, so she dragged herself forward, wherever the corridor would take her.

Unfortunately, after few steps she was interrupted by an emotionless voice coming from behind.

"And what do you think you're doing, Shinigami?"

Rukia immediately knew who it was, but she refused to turn around and face him. "Looking for the Ladies," she deadpanned.

"It's the other way around," he replied, unfazed by her obvious lie.

"Oh," was all she said, but she didn't make any indications to turn back. She could hear him approach her, slowly, casually. Soon he was standing in front of her, gazing at her with an exasperating impassiveness. She returned it with her weary glare.

They stared at each other for few more moments, when she finally asked, "Where are they?"

・

"Who?" Ulquiorra asked back, at the same time wondering what the hell this Shinigami was thinking. She was in no shape to walk around. The healing procedure hadn't been finished yet. He could see the perspiration on her forehead, the feverish gleam in her eyes, the trembling of her body and feebleness of her steps… She could collapse any moment.

"My friends," she answered, her voice strained.

"I don't think they deserve to be called your friends anymore," the Espada noted simply, but his words were carefully chosen.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What did you just say?"

"They abandoned you," he explained nonchalantly. "While you were bleeding to death."

"You're lying," the Shinigami retorted, silent threats burning in her cold glare.

Ulquiorra continued without any trace of emotion either on his face or in his voice. "You were lying in the puddle of your own blood, awaiting help. With your last strength you attempted to stop the bleeding with your ice. I assume it was in hope. You hoped that someone would come and save you. Yet no-one came. No-one from your friends, that is."

・

"Lies!" This time she growled dangerously. "Your words are nothing but lies!" They had to be. There was no way her friends would leave her at the mercy of Aizen and his lackeys. Simply no way.

"Suit yourself, Shinigami. It's not my concern if you want to deceive yourself."

Rukia didn't like the way he said that. It made her boil inside. With difficulty she restrained herself from plunging at him. And it didn't matter to her she didn't have the strength nor weapon. (Where was her Sode no Shirayuki anyway? Had they taken her from her?) She mentally reprimanded herself to keep her emotions in check. "You—"

"If you're wondering, they withdrew as soon as they found Orihime Inoue." He nonchalantly leaned against the wall, mirroring her stance, his eyes never leaving hers.

Why you bastard! He had the nerve to interrupt her! She was now absolutely seething. If the look could kill, he would have been dead hundreds of times already. Quite nastily, too…

Unperturbed by her silent death threats, the Arrancar continued, "They didn't even bother to finish off Grimmjow or Nnoitra, though they did take out Zommari and Szayelaporro. But those two were trash, so it doesn't even matter."

Rukia kept silent, while absolutely loathing the indifference of this man and the man himself.

"If you don't believe me, then why are you here? Where are your so-called friends?" he asked cruelly. "And if you haven't noticed, it was us who patched you up. Had we come any second later, you would have been gone by then."

She glared at him. How dared he insult her friends?! True, their friendship might not have a long history, but they'd been through many hardships that strengthened the bonds between them to the point it was impossible to break them just like that. They had been supporting each other for too long for such thing to happen. They were all loyal, she was absolutely sure of it, so none of them would abandon the other no matter what.

"I don't believe you. I never will," she hissed through her gritted teeth.

Rukia would never admit it, but his words wounded her deeply. But whatever he said, she'd never lose faith in her friends. Never.

"Do whatever you want. I don't care what you think. I don't care whether you live or die, too. But you should be grateful to Aizen-sama that he deems you worthy a chance to be a part of his new reality." Ulquiorra knew his words got her to the rawest core. The way she clenched and unclenched her fists proved him she was at the verge of losing it. He wanted her to hate him. He wanted her to be livid. The bigger outburst now, the greater confusion later. "And it would be better for you if you faced the reality. Nothing will change the fact that—"

"Shut up!" Rukia didn't want to hear him anymore. Even if they were just empty words, they still hurt.

"—you were left behind by your friends."

・

Ulquiorra wasn't surprised when she grabbed him by the collar, but what did surprise him was the strength with which she clutched the fabric of his jacket, despite the trembling of her hands – be it with fatigue or anger or both. In her eyes he saw promises of Hell, but there was also pain and sadness. He curiously stared into those two violet pools of raw emotions, when he felt a slight movement of her fingers and heard her whisper.

"Hadō #4, Byakurai."

With a swift movement he managed to deflect the Spell, so it hit the ceiling. It wasn't powerful, the Shinigami's reiatsu at the lowest levels, but it irked him nonetheless that she would attack him out of blue. He caught her wrists in a tight grasp and brought them forcefully to his chest, immobilising her.

"It's futile, Shinigami," he said with a sharp edge to his voice. "There's no point fighting your fate, your friends have already determined it for you. It would be best if you forgot them. Trash like them aren't worth even a fleeting reminiscence."

・

"SHUT UP!" This time Rukia bellowed with all her strength, snatching away from him.

Then, suddenly she had troubles breathing. Her legs gave out on her and her knees hit the ground. A fit of coughs shook her body and she felt sharp pain in her abdomen. Wincing, she doubled up, her hands protectively wrapped around her belly. She could taste blood in her mouth. Dizziness overcame her and only his arms prevented her from falling to the ground.

・

"Calm down, Shinigami," Ulquiorra instructed dispassionately. "Your wounds have reopened."

He picked her up, while her eyes bored into his, unforgiving resentment shining in them. A thought that he might have pushed her too far crossed his mind. He hastily carried her back to the infirmary and had to curse at the unconscious Arrancar women. This Shinigami needed immediate medical attention!

・

After the surge of anger, hate and despair, Rukia became oddly calm. Life was slipping away from her, she could feel the deathly coldness slowly seeping into every cell of her body. Yet there was nothing but tranquillity in her heart. Maybe her fate wouldn't be that bad after all?

・

Ulquiorra felt her lose consciousness as her body went limp in his arms. When he gently put her on the infirmary bed, he noticed that weak but satisfied smile on her face, while a trail of blood streamed from the corner of her mouth.

She really was making his job harder. He was responsible for her and here she was, ready to welcome death. Just you wait, Shinigami. He wouldn't let her get off the hook this easily.

With another curse escaping his lips, Ulquiorra hurriedly went to find other medics.

※

To Rukia's displeasure she woke up for the third time. The first thing that she became aware of was that Espada's presence near her. She remained still, not wanting to let him know that she was awake. She didn't fancy seeing his blank face again. Thinking of her friends, she tried to get back to relatively safe (and Espada-less) comforts of sleep.

However her attempt at falling asleep was interrupted by the rustle of his clothes as he got up from the chair and moved closer to her.

"I know that you're awake," he noted simply.

Rukia, irritated that he noticed her waking up, was about to send him a nasty glare, but her eyes wouldn't open. She tried to move, but her limbs wouldn't budge no matter how much she strained her muscles. She wanted to shout, but her lips were sealed shut. She searched for her reiatsu, but it was too scattered. Panic began to raise inside her.

"I'm sure you've noticed by now that your movements have been confined," his voice drawled.

Curse you, bastard! she shouted in her mind vehemently.

"And it's only up to you whether this state will be simply a demonstration or a more permanent solution to your foolish antics. Aizen-sama wouldn't like you to become hurt and it's my responsibility to keep you from harm, and in any way possible."

Yeah, right… Do you take me for a fool?! The last time she'd seen Aizen, he'd readily sentenced her to death to extract the Hōgyoku from her soul. And when she'd miraculously survived, he'd almost had her killed anyway for no reason at all, the depraved traitor he was!

"So my question is – will you behave or do you wish to stay like this for an indefinite period of time?"

Shove it, arsehole!

"I will now remove the binding on your lips. What will be your answer?"

・

Ulquiorra not without a satisfaction observed the Shinigami woman all enwrapped in straps of black cloth that bound her movements. He wanted to know her thoughts – all panicked and spiritless, no doubt. He touched the black strap around her mouth with his index finger, and when he channelled a bit of his reiatsu into it, it dispersed revealing her pallid lips.

"Well?" he prompted her.

After a pause she said quietly, her voice hoarse, "I… I'll behave."

Part of him wanted her to give him a reason to keep her confined, but still her answer pleased him. At least common sense wasn't foreign to her. He proceeded to free her from the bounds, touching one strap after another as they dissolved into thin air.

Stepping back few steps, Ulquiorra watched her carefully. Even though nothing restrained her movements anymore, the Shinigami stayed still, gazing at the ceiling. Her skin was almost as pale as her white yukata, and because of that the dark circles under her eyes stood out all the more. She looked like a corpse, though he knew her life was in no danger – he'd made sure of that before having her awoken from coma.

Having expected her to flood him with inane questions and maybe even insults, he had to frown at the prolonged silence. She was actually making him unsure whether she would open her mouth at all and he didn't like it. He planned her to be the one to start talking and he didn't fancy the idea that she might make him change his plans.

・

Rukia just stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. Dull anger flowed through her veins, converging achingly in her heart. Not only because of this emotionless bastard – a fair amount of anger was directed at him, naturally – but she was mainly infuriated because of herself.

She was still this weak as to get herself captured. What if it would disadvantage her friends and Soul Society? What if it had? Was she to replay the part of a damsel in distress? She'd trained so hard as not to let this kind of situation happen again. Had it all been a wasted effort? Would she once again be a burden?

Her left fist, hidden from Espada's keen gaze, clenched tightly on the white sheets of the infirmary bed.

Nevertheless, from now on she could count only on herself. She could no longer hope for Ichigo, Renji or Nii-sama to come and rescue her. (They were all safe and sound, right?) There was no-one to support her, no-one to rely on… no-one to laugh with.

Yet, part of her didn't want to be rescued. She hated the idea of burdening or endangering anyone, especially because this time it was solely for her own incapability that she found herself in this predicament. Rukia didn't want anyone to pay for her own mistakes and powerlessness.

Perhaps it was a good thing that her brother and friends seemed unaware of her capture. She'd never believe they would've abandoned her simply like that. It had had to be enemy's manipulation, she was sure of it. This bastard would never be able to make her believe in their betrayal.

Speaking of whom – oh, how she wanted to punch this git in the face! It would be really nice to feel his nose break under her knuckles. But she knew a moment of pleasure wasn't worth even a day of confinement. She'd spent enough time in prison to last her lifetime, and being unable to flex as much as a muscle was something she'd rather avoid at all costs.

Besides, there were many questions plaguing her mind and the one who could satisfy her need of information was he. She didn't like the idea of asking him, but she had to know. No matter what the answers would be. Without any she was left to mull them over by herself and she couldn't stop herself from thinking up quite the bad-case scenarios. She was well aware that he might lie, but even a lie could give her answers she needed.

With her eyes still fixed at the ceiling, Rukia finally asked the Espada, trying to sound confident, "Why am I here?"

He didn't reply straight away, but she could feel his scrutinising gaze on her. She didn't like it one bit.

"It's Aizen-sama's wish to keep you alive, though the reason for it is unknown to me. I can only assume you have some qualities that would make it a waste to kill you. You did defeat Aaroniero, perhaps Aizen-sama has acknowledged your strength."

"I see," Rukia replied simply, but inwardly she had to make every effort to keep herself from snorting bitterly in disbelief at his words. After a pause, she continued, "How long has passed since you've captured me?"

・

For some reason Ulquiorra found her question a little bit odd… It was too pragmatic when he expected her to frenziedly question him about her friends. She could simply want to organise the recent events in time, but something was telling him that she tried to delay the pain that undoubtedly would come, once he again told her about their betrayal.

"We've rescued you," here he put a subtle emphasis on the word 'rescue', "around eighty-eight hours ago."

He saw a shadow of displeasure distort her mask of indifference. He agreed that over three days and a half was a long time to be out. Worlds crumbled in shorter time.

"What time is it now?"

"Just past nine o'clock in the morning, Soul Society time," Ulquiorra replied, making sure to speak the truth when possible. In case when the truth was inconvenient, he'd either be ambiguous or oblivious or he'd lie. Simple.

"What will happen now?"

"That is for Aizen-sama to decide. Much depends on you, too."

The Shinigami still refused to as much as spare him a glance. He had to admit her skills in concealing her emotions were quite decent, at least face- and body-wise. Though it wasn't difficult to guess her current feelings and thoughts.

・

Rukia wanted to scream at the top of her lungs just how much she hated this mess she'd found herself in, but she had to keep her emotions in check. Again her life depended on Aizen's whim, and what worse – there was nothing she could do to protect herself. She was at his mercy, this Arrancar's words were simply a bullshit.

Oh, how she despised her powerlessness!

The knowledge that it was pointless to struggle pained her. But she couldn't give up. Right now her predicament seemed unalterable and with no way out. Yet she wanted to believe that there was hope for her. There had to be! She would make her escape. It would take time, no doubt, but she would be patient. She would endure whatever the cruel fate and Aizen had in store for her. And once the opportunity arose, she would flee from Las Noches to Soul Society or Human World.

She wouldn't give up. She couldn't.

If she did, she'd have to forget her friends. There was no way she could face them then.

"Are they all right?" Rukia finally asked, her voice merely a whisper. Suddenly she felt nervous.

・

"What?" Ulquiorra asked, feigning confusion at her inquiry.

"My friends…" her voice trailed off.

"They betrayed you, yet you still call that trash—"

"Don't!" the Shinigami cried, a hint of desperation ringing in her voice. But when she turned her head to glare at him, there was unspeakable force in her eyes that froze the rest of his sentence from leaving his lips. "Don't you dare insulting my friends," she said slowly, accenting every syllable. "Ever."

He gazed at her with curiosity, and she held his gaze with something akin to a challenge, her eyes brilliantly alive in the contrastingly ashen, corpse-like face. Aizen-sama had called her stubborn. He just learned that she had a pride. Not a haughty kind, but a simple, foolish one. He wasn't sure which was worse.

"You're too naïve for your own good, woman," he commented matter-of-factly. Then a canny thought crossed his mind and after a carefully measured pause he told her the truth.

"None of them was killed by us, if that's what you're asking. They all departed Hueco Mundo safely."

Just as he predicted – her hostile glare unmasked into a look of sheer surprise. The Shinigami most definitely wasn't expecting an answer like this, but thanks to that his words gained more credit. It amused him in a self-satisfying way. At the same time he keenly observed the changes in her face and eyes. Apart from surprise he recognised uncertainty, fear, pain… and gladness.

Then she again did something he wasn't prepared for. A sigh of relief escaped her pale lips as they formed into a small, almost unnoticeable smile. But it was undeniably there. Why? Why did she smile? Ulquiorra didn't understand it. It was unthinkable for him to do that in such predicament. Shouldn't she be crying or something? Was it really enough for her to be content with just her friends' well-being without considering her own? She had no idea what might happen to her here. For all he knew, Aizen-sama could make her Nnoitra's plaything. Would she still smile then?

He just didn't understand what prompted her to smile, when she could be in for the worst torment of her life.

She wasn't that naïve nor stupid, was she?

・

Rukia, realising her face gave a full display of her emotions, promptly averted her gaze. Shit. There went her blank façade… Her brother would have scolded her for giving out too much, and rightfully so. But at least her friends were safe and sound, that was all that mattered. This mess was her own ordeal and she'd withstand it and she'd break free. She'd made a promise, after all. She would meet them again.

That Espada was still in the room and she got a feeling that she might be seeing him quite too often for her liking.

She looked at him with scrutinising gaze that matched his. He didn't seem hostile, perverse nor sadistic, though he could be any or all. He seemed… nothing. All she could tell about him was that he was disciplined in both body and mind, and that he was at Aizen's command. He had to be rather clever, too.

"How did you convince Inoue to go with you?" she asked suddenly, trying to catch him off guard.

"The simplest way, really."

So it had been him. And he even shamelessly admitted to it! Bastard. He didn't elaborate, but he didn't have to. She had a rough idea that his 'simplest way' had involved various threats and/or empty promises laced with more threats.

"What is your name, Arrancar?"

・

Ulquiorra raised his brows quizzically. He didn't expect her to know his name, but actually ask for it? This Shinigami, this Rukia Kuchiki, was quite a surprising creature.

"Ulquiorra Cifer."

For a moment he thought that she'd respond with her own full introduction. Her lips parted ready to say the customary, "And I'm Rukia Kuchiki, member of the 13th Division under Captain Ukitake. It's nice to meet you," – he'd seen her say that in Aaroniero's last memories or rather they had been Kaien Shiba's – but she thought better of it. Manners were one thing, but they were utterly redundant when both she and he knew very well it wasn't a nice encounter. Instead, the Shinigami closed her mouth and after a small nod of acknowledgement in his direction, she tiredly turned around, facing the wall.

"Leave." Her voice was quiet but firm, yet it held trails of many emotions she tried to suppress.

Ulquiorra was satisfied with how this conversation proceeded. At the moment she wasn't seriously considering the disloyalty of her companions, but once she analysed her situation, she'd definitely discover at least a small doubt lingering at the back of her mind. Slowly it would grow to the point she wouldn't be able to ignore it. She wouldn't be able to stay indifferent.

And confused mind is easy to manipulate. Aizen-sama would definitely find it useful.

The Espada continued to gaze at her small form. He couldn't see her face, but from her tensed muscles and slight but visible trembling he guessed she was having a difficult battle with herself to hold back tears. Nevertheless he had to give her credit for being able to keep her emotions in check despite her new predicament. He had to admit she was made of tougher material than he'd previously thought.

"I must yet inform Aizen-sama that you woke up from coma, but I'm sure he'd like to see you soon," Ulquiorra said, trying to get some reaction out of her. She merely nodded her head without uttering any sound.

He decided to give her some time to rest and collect her thoughts. For now it seemed she'd accepted her fate or at least found the struggle against it meaningless. Good. As long as she behaved and as long as it was required of him, he'd keep the impressions that they weren't enemies. Should she cause him any nuisance or try going against Aizen-sama's wishes, however, he'd have her confined at once.

Concluding he was done here for now, he headed for the door. With his hand ready to open it, he turned back to her. "I'll be back in an hour or two. Get some rest and don't try anything foolish."

・

Rukia held onto the white sheets as if they were her lifeline. Up until the Espada left the room, everything seemed too bizarre to be real, allowing her to distance herself from it. But the moment he left, the clack of the door closing became the sound of reality crashing down on her, hitting her square in the face and overwhelming her completely with a feeling of loss and helplessness. Any façade she'd been putting on up until now crumbled this very moment and bitter, anguished tears began falling down her cheeks.

A/N:

And so the romance begins… ❤

Until the next chapter! Cheers!

朝霧 -Asagiri-