Updated: 21st June 2019 (a couple of days added, as well as more interactions and dialogue between Rukia and Ulquiorra)

Hullo!

I've finally finished this chapter and it didn't even took me so much time! I'm so proud of myself… XD

And with all the misfortune I had to overcome! My Windows crashed and I had to reinstall the system which resulted in all files wiped out, including 1/4 of this chapter. I had to write the beginning anew, and I hate writing the same thing twice ;(

But that's a past now!

Anyway, many thanks to everyone who have read and even more to those who have reviewed the previous chapter!

Piccus, rockstar1093, Red Princess, Teenager, Tsunayoshi, scarlet white cross, yume girl 91, SoraXNamine, Amaiii, Sweet Scrifice, Yuki Miyazawa, gangsterforever, Kita of Nature, Paper Bullet (Ami), Anjiska, CookieMonster666 and two anonymous reviewers

Thank you!

And now onto the chapter.

Do enjoy!

朝霧 -Asagiri-

The Frozen Whisper
by Asagiri

Chapter 7
Feast

Having rested, her feelings calm (or numbed, really), Rukia decided to look around her cell. It was fairly spacious, with walls painted a dark shade of turquoise, contrasted with a vermillion rug on the floor. The oddly shaped, white furniture looked foreign and unwelcoming. The ceiling was too high, the two windows far too tall and narrow – they resembled slits more than anything else. Even the sunlight and slips of blue sky she could see looked fallacious. This and everything else intensified the already predominant impression of loneliness and isolation.

She took immediate dislike to her cell. Aizen wanted to trick her with a room that on the surface didn't resemble a prison, yet it was obvious she was a prisoner. She could feel invisible cage closing in on her.

Rukia put her arms around herself. She missed her simple but cosy room in the Kuchiki household. The relaxing grassy smell of tatami mats and wood meant home as much as something of a Chappy shrine in the corner of her room that she'd created for the mascot. She would give anything to be back there or in the 13th Division's barracks or her small office… or even Ichigo's tiny yet welcoming room.

Unfortunately instead of warmth and amiability of those, she was surrounded by coldness and enmity of Las Noches.

Unhurriedly, though her recovering body wouldn't allow any quicker movement anyway, Rukia explored her cell. Just as she expected – there was nothing of use, nor of interest. She found some paper, pens and crayons of all things, so perhaps she wouldn't die out of boredom, at least for the next few days here. With forced optimism she thought that she could start writing and drawing a new series for Seireitei Communication. Las Noches Diary wasn't half bad for a title, though she was sure she could come up with something better later.

Once she was finished with the room, Rukia went to the bathroom to explore it. Opening the door, she was met face to face with herself or rather with her reflection in a tall mirror. The bathroom was long but narrow, with no windows. The colour scheme was lighter here – the walls were pure white, while the floor and the ceiling were cyan.

To the left was a sink, and above it – a mirror and a shelf with a toothbrush and other toiletries. A small, teal towel was hanging next to it. In the corner of the opposite wall was a toilet. On the right side was a bathtub. Three teal towels hung on a towel rail on the wall beside. Next to it stood a tall bathroom cabinet – inside she found more cosmetics, and extra bottles and containers of different kinds in case she ran out of anything. On the lowest shelf was a laundry basket.

Rukia really did hope she wouldn't spend here long enough to actually use any of them. Nevertheless she was surprised to get so many things. After all she was supposed to be a prisoner not a guest, regardless of how she had been treated until now.

Tired and drowsy, but also sweaty, she decided to take a quick shower to refresh her body and her senses before she allowed herself a nap.

Ulquiorra thought it below himself, but in all things logical it was of no consequence at all, so he agreed to take the special mixture that the medics had prepared for the Shinigami and bring it to her by himself. Normally he would have someone else do it, but he was going to check on her anyway, so he didn't really mind the exception.

Walking into the room, he was met with a lack of Shinigami's presence in his sight and a distant sound of running water. The woman was most probably taking a proper shower, so he could do nothing but wait for her to finish. Putting the container on the desk and leaning Murciélago against one of the armchairs, he made himself comfortable in it.

Ten minutes passed and the Shinigami still hadn't left the bathroom. She was in there, he could feel her reiatsu. It was soft and kind of feeble as if strength had left her, but then again it'd been like this most of the time since she had appeared in Las Noches.

Frowning, he got up and walked up to the bathroom door and knocked three times.

Silence.

When the Shinigami didn't respond the second and the third time he knocked, Ulquiorra entered the bathroom. If she childishly wanted to ignore him, then at least he gave her enough time to become decent.

The Shinigami wasn't decent. She laid in the bathtub, curled into a foetal position, clearly unconscious. Water was gently gliding around her body in a continuous stream. Luckily for her, she didn't put the plug in, otherwise she might have drowned. Nothing indicated that her current position was a result of intentional action.

Ulquiorra turned off the water. Taking and unfolding one of the big towels, he threw it at her to cover her. He was about to turn around and leave, but he remembered he had to make her drink the mixture soon – regular intake guaranteed quick and full recovery. Moreover, she was wet and so her body could easily lose its heat. He didn't need her becoming sick in her already weakened condition.

Silently cursing her foolishness, he scooped the Shinigami along with the towel out of the bathtub, and then carried her to the bed. The coldness of her skin didn't escape his notice, but it could have been just the water and chill of castle's air. Soon she was in bed, and he made sure to tuck her in to keep her warm and safe from fever.

He had to make her drink the mixture, so he sat on the bed next to her and began to shake her awake. It took a while, but eventually her eyelids fluttered open. She stared at something in the distance at first, but when her eyes focused on him, her gaze didn't change much. Tired, mostly, and empty. She was looking at him, even acknowledged his presence with a blink of her eyes, but at the same time it was like he didn't exist in the reality she was seeing. For some reason it made him feel uneasy.

"You have to drink your medication," Ulquiorra told her, and after a moment she nodded. He got up to fetch the container. Somehow she managed to slightly sit up and free her one hand from the layers of towel and sheets.

It wasn't like the silence ever made him feel awkward, but now it was oddly surreal. So after he handed her the container, he spoke, "Your wounds might appear to be healed on the outside, but inside your internal organs are still tender. I was told your treatment with this mixture will continue for another two days."

She nodded, though didn't look at him. Opening the container, she hesitated for a moment, but after a deep sigh she downed the mixture. Ulquiorra thought he saw a flash of grimace on her face and a glimmer of tears in the corners of her eyes, but they were gone once she put the container away from her lips and into his hands. She continued to look at him silently with eyes devoid of any emotion.

"Rest now, Shinigami," he told her. "I'll come in another few hours."

He left without looking back at her, though for some time after he still could feel her empty gaze boring a hole into the back of his head.

Rukia was confused. Her memory was hazy – she remembered taking a shower, and then nothing. She probably went to sleep, she guessed. Then there was that Espada and some medication, if she remembered correctly. After that she strolled with her brother in his gardens in comfortable silence. Once they returned inside the mansion, Kaien-dono – or was it Ichigo? – put on her head a simple wreath made of snowdrops. Renji suddenly appeared next to her and patted her on her back hard enough that she almost fell over. In the background Captain Ukitake and Inoue observed everything with gentle smiles on their faces.

She looked back at Kaien-dono/Ichigo, but their grinning face changed into that of the emotionless Espada. He stood above her with a container in one of his hands. His eyes observed her closely.

Rukia blinked a few times and then it came to her that she wasn't dreaming anymore. With a surprised grunt she sat up, moving away from him, though it wasn't as effortless as she hoped it would be. Her body still consisted mostly of dull pain.

"Your medication," the Espada said. There were undertones of irritation resonating in his voice. His hand with the container moved closer to her face.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but took it from him, taking great care not to accidentally touch him. Only then did she notice that under the sheets – and a towel? – she was stark naked.

"You fell asleep in the bathtub. I had you moved to the bed," he said, replying to her confused glare.

Rukia slowly nodded. She could find no memory of finishing her shower and going back to bed, so she had to acknowledge his explanation. At least it wasn't him who carried her, she thought as a shudder ran down her spine at the mere idea. To wash off this unpleasant feeling in her gut, she quickly drank the mixture. Curiously it didn't taste as bad as before. She supposed it was an acquired taste. Handing him the empty container, she gazed at him intensely, wishing he would disappear.

"How are you feeling?" the Espada asked, as emotionlessly as always. Then he added, "Physically."

"Tired," she replied curtly.

"Mentally?"

"Tired," she spoke with a clear hint she would rest best without him around. She hoped it would also make him realise that these empty questions were redundant and she would greatly appreciate it if he ceased them. Blatant indifference was better than fake interest.

The Espada nodded. "Rest then. I'll come tomorrow morning."

The sight of his retreating figure was like a balm to her wounded psyche and she welcomed the click of the closing door with a deep sigh. Invigorated with the healing mixture and impelled by simple embarrassment, she scurried to the bathroom to finish the shower she started those few hours ago. It took longer than usual before she finally felt clean.

Ulquiorra stopped in front of the door to Shinigami's room, wondering why again he didn't have someone else bring her the medication. It was unseemly for someone of his rank. On the other hand, it wasn't much of a chore and he had to check on her once in a while, as now was a crucial time for his ward to adjust to her new environment. The more often she saw him, the easier it would be on her.

He entered the room. The Shinigami sat on the rug, playing with a sphere made of her reiatsu, though she dispelled it the moment she noticed him. She was visibly getting better, not only able to use her spiritual energy, but also in overall appearance – the colour returned to her cheeks and strength to her body.

They silently stared at each other until Ulquiorra said, "Your medication."

His ward only nodded in response. She wasn't as hostile as before, but she did treat him with a frosty indifference. Without a word she got up, took the container from his hand and downed its contents at once. Her face no longer twitched in an attempt to keep the grimace away. She had no intention of showing him even a glimpse of weakness. Yet he wondered what feelings surfaced on her face once he was out of her sight; what thoughts crossed her mind most often; what her now cold eyes were hiding.

The Shinigami handed the container back to him and proceeded to stare at him sternly, until he nodded and left silently.

The same exchange occurred five more times, during which she spoke to him only once: "Could you at least knock? It's not that hard, is it?"

Rukia lay on her back on the rug. It was quite fluffy and comfortable. She had just finished another round of reiatsu practice, when she would just play with it, trying to control it as perfectly as possible. She was really good at it, but she could still be better. More physical exercises were not an option yet – she wanted to wait until she was fully recovered.

She stared at the ceiling as it slowly began to turn orange from the glow outside the windows. She had noticed it before, but never felt the need to investigate it, and now was as good as any other time. So she got up, jumped, and taking a couple of steps on the wall, she stood on the windowsill. The window was a little bit smaller than she but wide enough to fit her without causing any discomfort. She sat on her heels and took in the view that unfolded before her.

It was a gorgeous sunset. The sun partly sunk below the horizon, and the moon had already came out to see it off. Soon it would reign over the sky accompanied by the stars. In few days it should be in full phase, showing itself in all its glory.

This sight was no different from those she observed in Soul Society. For a moment there Rukia felt she was back home, sitting on the veranda just below the windows of her room in the Kuchiki household. Pang of homesickness and sadness hit her hard in the gut, and she gritted her teeth and balled her hands into fists, trying to prevent herself from crying. She pushed away her feelings and focused on the view instead.

In the orange glow of the sunset the visible parts of the castle looked quite handsome despite their plainness and crudity. From what she could see, her room was on the middle levels, but it was impossible to tell which floor exactly it was located on, not to mention in which section of Las Noches.

Soon enough the sky turned cobalt blue. Zillions of stars encrusted it, but still the most prominent was the smiling crescent of the moon. There was something odd about them. The constellations didn't seem to be in place, and there were stars she didn't recognise. If she had any doubts before, now it was clear the sky was an illusion.

A soft breeze caressed Rukia's face, but there was something menacing in it. Filled with despair, sorrow and death, it made her blood run cold. She shivered involuntarily. It must have originated from the cursed deserts of Hueco Mundo. The moon seemed to be snarling at her now, too. The castle illuminated by its faint light and the fake constellations became unreal and eerie.

Every fibre in her body rejected this place, and it looked like the sentiment was mutual.

Suddenly a short knock on the door snapped her back from her thoughts. Rukia was more surprised by the fact that he actually knocked than by the knock itself. She looked back at the sky. It was back to normal.

・

Ulquiorra entered the room. He spotted her a second later than usual, but then again the place she chose to sit on was quite unusual.

The Shinigami was a curious one. The first time he had had a real encounter with her, she'd been trying to escape, despite her body giving out on her. She'd been insolent, too. But once she realised it would get her nowhere, she became compliant. Yet pride and inner strength radiated through her quiet demeanour. It was a smart strategy, one he could respect. At the same time he knew she wouldn't be easily tamed; if an opportunity arose, she could and would cause him trouble.

It did make sense to him now why she had been given a regular room instead of being locked in a room made of sekkiseki. His superior knew the Shinigami better than him, after all, and so he could predict her actions.

"It's fake… The sky…" her soft voice broke the silence. He looked up at her, but all he could see was her silhouette; her face was turned away from him.

"Yes," he replied, though he wasn't sure if she expected him to. "Hueco Mundo sky is an eternal night with no stars. This is an illusion created by Aizen-sama."

"How do you feel about it?" she asked out of blue.

"Indifferent," Ulquiorra answered honestly. He never really cared about the Hueco Mundo sky nor the illusory one under the Las Noches' dome. He could tell, however, that it bothered her, so he asked back, "You?"

"I hate it," she confessed, and even though he didn't see her face, he somehow knew she was scowling at the sky.

"Why?"

There was a pause. He knew she knew her reason, she was just looking for the right words, most likely a neutral answer, so she wouldn't give away too much. Finally she replied softly, "Makes me think of home."

Ulquiorra raised his eyebrows. "Is it a bad thing?"

The Shinigami finally turned around and gracefully jumped back into the room. Her face wasn't betraying any emotion. "Yes and no."

"How so?"

She only shrugged, cutting short their first casual chat. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to hand her the container with medication. When she saw he wasn't holding anything, her head tilted to the side in confusion.

"You've officially recovered from your wounds and to celebrate it Aizen-sama asks you to join him, Ichimaru-sama, Tōsen-sama and Espadas for dinner," Ulquiorra informed. Her expression he got in return amused him greatly.

・

Rukia gawked at the Espada in a mix of surprise, horror and disbelief, while the blood drained from her face. D-DINNER?! What was the meaning of this? Straight off she wanted to refuse, but it wasn't an option, she knew it. Aizen didn't ask – he ordered.

So instead of an honest "Tell him to stuff it" she opted for a more polite, "It… it would be… an honour."

"The dinner is at six, so that gives you fifteen minutes to prepare," the Espada added and sat in one of the armchairs, the one near the door.

Rukia walked to the bed and sank on its edge. Great, just great. A bloody dinner with the crème de la crème of enemy's forces. Oh yes, she indeed was honoured, thank you very much. She just couldn't wait to attend this tribulation. Ichimaru would have a blast, for certain. He wouldn't pass up a chance to get under her skin for anything in this world. Fifteen minutes weren't enough to prepare herself mentally for this.

She was hungry before, but now there was a knot in her stomach and she wasn't sure if she would be able to swallow anything.

She glanced up at the Espada. He was calmly watching her, as usual, though this time it didn't bother her at all. Oddly enough she found a kind of a support in his calm demeanour. Whatever happened, she was sure he would stay the same – aloof and unmoved. This time he would stay near, too. She would use him as an anchor to keep her composure under control during the mishap of a dinner.

"It's time," the Espada announced and got up.

Rukia nodded and followed suit. She was determined to survive this ordeal with her head held high.

・

Ulquiorra opened the door to let her out first. As he led her down the corridors of Las Noches, she kept pace with him. She was walking upright, taking her steps steadily. Her back was a little bit stiff, but all in all she hid her anxiety quite well.

He wondered what the meaning of this dinner was. Aizen-sama always had a reason for everything, but what could it be now? He was pretty sure it wasn't only to officially welcome the Shinigami to Las Noches and to introduce her to the rest of the Espadas. Was it to ease her into her new 'home'? It was a little bit too much in order to just maintain the illusion. Did he want to intimidate her – or on the contrary – win her over by showing off their military force?

Well, whatever it was, perhaps he would learn it during the dinner.

At last they reached the door to the banquet hall. It was wide open, inviting them inside.

・

Rukia could hear the murmur of conversations, however when they walked in, everyone fell silent. They were the last to arrive. She spotted two vacant seats near the head of the table, right next to Ichimaru, to her utmost delight. With great effort she suppressed the grimace that threatened to appear on her face.

"Evenin', Rukia-chan!" the fox singsonged and patted the chair next to him. "I've kept a seat fer ya."

Damn it! And there she was, hoping to take the other seat… Of course Ichimaru was going to make it more difficult for her. A droplet of cold sweat ran down her spine. She felt a sudden urge to turn on her heel and skedaddle to her room. With the way this dinner was starting, her composure would begin to crumble soon.

"Let's take our seats," the Espada said next to her. Rukia looked up at his blank face that would remain the same even during the Apocalypse, and it calmed her a bit.

She took a deep breath and nodded, "Of course." Trying to look unperturbed, she made her way to the worst possible seat by the table. Everyone's gazes were on her, most probably watching her with contempt, sneer or, in the best case, indifference. She didn't dare to look and confirm that impression – she was stressed enough even without that.

"How 'r'ya doin', Rukia-chan?" Ichimaru asked, while helping her take the seat. "Ya look much better than before."

And what do you think, you bastard?! She wanted to yell profanities to his face. Badly. Unfortunately they would get her nowhere and she was determined to survive this dinner. She wouldn't let anything get to her, especially him…

No, don't provoke him, just play along and everything will turn out all right… Calm down, calm down, calm down… You're a young noble woman, and this is an official party. A young noble woman…

"I'm quite well, thank you," Rukia answered politely, faking a smile. "And how are you?"

"Just splendid!"

With somewhat of a fascination she noted his grin grow even wider. How that was possible without his face cracking, she didn't know. It made her wonder if the corners of his lips could reach his ears…

・

Ulquiorra, sitting next to the Shinigami, overheard the seemingly casual chat between her and Ichimaru. Her hands clenched on the fabrics of her jacket and overall tension surrounding her didn't escape his notice. Despite knowing her for only few days, it was obvious to him that her courtesy was fake and in fact she wanted to be as far away as possible from her former comrade.

Nonetheless it was a pretty good strategy she had chosen. It would keep Ichimaru from taunting her, at least for a short while. For now he allowed her to humour him. Eventually he would get bored with the polite chat and would tease her a bit just for the sake of his own entertainment. It was a matter of time before he would gradually start pushing her buttons, trying her patience until her composure cracked. Ulquiorra didn't think it would take long – the Shinigami did have a rather short temper.

Clink, clink, clink.

Aizen-sama stood up, tapping a champagne glass with a small knife. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Now that we all have gathered here, I'd like to start this dinner with a few toasts, if you don't mind."

At those words everyone raised from their seats.

Smiling pleasantly, Aizen-sama looked at all gathered one by one, finally stopping at the Shinigami woman. "First toast I'd like to raise to you, Rukia Kuchiki. Being abandoned by those whom you trusted and considered to be your friends and family must be really painful, but I hope you'll find here the comfort you most certainly need and deserve.

"This is the land of Hollows, we all lost something here, be it faith, reason, heart, friend or lover. But it's people like us that know such pain, who will overcome and rise above everyone else. There is strength in that pain born from loss, and motivation to change things for the better. I've known you, Rukia, for decades. You're a strong, honest young woman and I have faith in you. I hope you'll find your place here, in Las Noches."

He raised the glass in her direction, the others followed this gesture.

Sipping his champagne, Ulquiorra had to admit that Aizen-sama had his way with words. The sincerity in his voice and gaze was so genuine that he almost forgot that he was the one responsible for capturing the Shinigami in order to lure Orihime Inoue back to Las Noches.

He looked at the woman next to him.

Her head was down and shoulders bowed. Her left hand clenched the fabrics of her jacket so tight the knuckles turned white. Nevertheless, after a moment she looked up at Aizen-sama and he noticed tears rolling down her cheek. Raising her glass, she whispered, her voice cracking with emotions, "Thank you. That is most kind of you."

There was a strange edge to her voice he couldn't precisely describe. She sounded sincere, but he was unsure whether that was really the case or not.

"You're very much welcome, Rukia," Aizen-sama replied with a kind smile.

・

Rukia felt like crying and screaming at the same time. Aizen's words hit her hard. They were so cruel and painful, she was unable to stop the first few angry tears from falling. Her own words, too, made her feel sick. She despised herself for saying them, even though she only did so to keep the façade – to survive. Now she had to focus on keeping her composure, otherwise she feared she would fall apart.

"'T's okay, Rukia-chan," Ichimaru said gently, handing her a napkin.

She accepted it, not even caring if the fox had any ulterior motives behind the gesture, and quickly dried her tears. Breathing slowly in and out, she imagined the stupid faces of Ichigo and Renji. It was easier to calm down while thinking about them than clearing her mind of any thoughts.

"If ya wanna a hug, just say a word. I'm sure if ya asked Ulquiorra fer one, he'd comply, too."

The idea was so ridiculous, Rukia actually snorted. "I'm fine. I just need a second," she mumbled. Distracted by that absurd notion, she held onto it. Tears would have to wait for the night, when she would be finally alone.

Aizen smiled at her again and turned to the green-haired Arrancar. "The second toast is to you, Neliel Tu Oderschvank. Due to an unfortunate accident, you lost your memory and went missing. It was a great loss to our forces and I regretted it immensely. However you have miraculously recovered and returned to us. I'm more than delighted to welcome you back, this time as the 7th Espada. Welcome back, Neliel."

And he again raised his glass, this time to the Arrancar woman.

Rukia, too, drank to her, while curiously studying her. She looked very, very familiar, with green hair, a crimson mark across her nose, a skull on the top of her head…

Could she be…?

Everything matched except the age. And instead of a goofy smile, her face was graced with a melancholic look. Other than that it was Nel. But how? What had happened? If what Aizen said was true, did it mean she had been an Espada before?

Nel looked back at her, but she couldn't find a spark of recognition in her eyes. However she did smile slightly at her. Rukia hesitantly returned the smile. She didn't know how to act. They weren't friends, but the woman in front of her had helped Ichigo, and he had seemed to be on friendly terms with her. However she was sitting at the enemy's table and was a part of Aizen's army, directly under his orders. She didn't want to be enemies with her, but the circumstances weren't making them friends either.

Perhaps time would tell which she was… Ally or enemy?

"Ah yes, where are my manners?" Aizen asked rhetorically and turned to Rukia and Neliel. "I've introduced you, Rukia, to the Espadas, but I haven't introduced them to you. Neliel, too. You must be surprised to see so many new faces. My bad, but fortunately it can be easily corrected."

Rukia had to use all her willpower to return his smile.

"You already know Kaname and Gin…"

The traitor and the treacherous creep. She knew them, all right.

"Yo!" Ichimaru smiled broadly and waved his hand almost in her face. She sent him an irritated glare.

"So, going clockwise, there's Harribel…"

A serious looking woman. Better not get in her way.

"Baraggan…"

An old geezer. There was something regal about him, though, and that told Rukia that he wasn't to be underestimated.

"Nnoitra…"

Another creep. Rukia most definitely didn't like that disgusting sneer on his face and the way he eyed her up and down, like a piece of meat.

"Yammy…"

A stereotypical thug.

"Grimmjow…"

But she had met him already! He had almost crushed her skull and made a hole in her just below her sternum…

"Starrk…"

A man suffering from serious laziness. He looked like he wanted to be nowhere else but in his bed.

"And last but not least, Ulquiorra, who you, Rukia, are already familiar with."

The bastard. She looked up at him only to meet his eyes. She held his gaze for a moment, but looked away before it became awkward.

All Espadas acknowledged her with a nod or at least an indifferent look, however she felt they did it only out of courtesy to Aizen. They couldn't care less about her. Not that it bothered her, as long as they left her in peace.

"And the last toast I'd like to make," Aizen declared, "is for our victory. Soon everything will be ours, ladies and gentlemen. We shall overturn this stagnant and unjust status quo and we shall shape the world the way we deserve it to be."

This statement was met with a murmur of approval from the Espadas; Tōsen silently nodded his head and Ichimaru just chortled. Everyone raised their glasses and drank to honour the last toast.

Rukia stared at the glass in her hand. The desire to throw it in Aizen's face was hard to suppress. However she knew she couldn't openly disregard the raised toast, not when she wanted as little trouble as possible. After all, she was being watched, at least by the two men next to her. Thrown in the land of Hollows, now corrupted even more by Aizen's illusions, she could drink only to one thing.

"To Heart," she mouthed silently and drank the rest of her champagne.

"Now let's the dinner commence," the master of Las Noches announced, and soon the dining room filled with servants bringing various types of delicious-smelling food. Each and every dish held a promise of wonderful taste bud sensations. This and their visual appeal could compete with those of the most sumptuous parties held by the Kuchiki clan.

However toothsome everything looked, Rukia didn't feel like eating. She was too tense, and her stomach felt like there was a knot in it. To keep the pretence she put some food on her plate and was raising the fork to and from her mouth, but she was scarcely eating anything. She was mostly just playing with it, while praying for the dinner to end.

"Rukia-chan, have ya tried this, yet?" Ichimaru asked out of blue and unceremoniously put something on her plate. "It's simply gorgeous."

Startled by his sudden question and action, she almost dropped her fork. Of course he did notice this and chuckled at her clumsiness. "Um… no, not yet," she muttered nervously. "But it does look delicious."

"Go ahead, try it," he encouraged her.

Rukia, hiding her disgust, did what he expected her to do. She chewed on what she thought was a tender piece of a fish. She was sure that under normal circumstances she would love it, but now it had no taste in her mouth. Forcing the corners of her lips upwards, she said, "It's… really good."

"Told'ya," Ichimaru nodded his head enthusiastically. "Anyways, how d'ya like yer room, Rukia-chan? Everythin' good?"

"Yes… It's… nice," she answered hesitantly. What did he want with her now? Leave me alone…!

"Glad ya like it," he said, and added casually, "Picked it out fer ya."

"Thank you," she replied automatically, but then came an understanding of what exactly he had just revealed. Wait a second. You did what?! Rukia looked at him dumbfounded.

"Ya're welcome," Ichimaru grinned, and she didn't like it one bit.

Something was wrong. That was a principal rule when dealing with everything connected to this man. Whatever he touched became somehow corrupted by him. It didn't matter why or what for he did things. Answers to those question were irrelevant or even non-existent. What mattered was what he did, so she could track it down and neutralise it. It seemed she wasn't done with exploring her cell, and this time she would need to be extremely thorough.

"What's with tha' face, Rukia-chan? Didn't do anythin', ya know." However his grin didn't change. Needless to say, it only fuelled her suspicions.

She knew he wouldn't be straightforward about what he did, so furrowing her brows, she asked, "Why this particular room?"

"'Cause it's cold, yet warm," he answered cryptically.

Rukia was positively puzzled. What did he mean by that? What kind of a reason was that? "I don't understand."

"Ya don't need to," Ichimaru chuckled. "I'm just takin' the mickey outta ya." He waved his hand in a manner saying, that that was it and nothing else.

She didn't buy it, and insisted, "Please explain, anyway."

"Oh, Rukia-chan," the fox shook his head in amusement. "Ya're the funniest thin' ever with that gettin' all worked up over nothin' of yers and all."

Now he was mocking her… Great, just great! He was probably trying to shrug off the matter, but it only reinforced her suspicions. He most definitely was up to something. The urge to go back to the room and search it thoroughly again was growing with every second, along with the concern for her physical and mental well-being.

Rukia kept pressing Ichimaru to reveal a clue or anything, but he kept denying any scheme or kept changing the subject, while incessantly grinning at her.

She was staring at him with narrowed eyes, trying to make him talk with her glare, when a movement at the head of the table caught her attention. Aizen stood up.

"Thank you for coming, ladies and gentlemen… Friends," he said. "I do hope you have enjoyed the dinner. I must excuse myself for tonight, but I have matters that need my attendance. Don't mind me, though, and stay as long as you want. Have a good night." Smiling pleasantly, he left.

Yes! Finally! Rukia cheered inwardly.

・

Ulquiorra didn't need to look at her to know the Shinigami straightened up, ready to go. Turning to her he saw what he expected to see – her eyes shining with determination. They told him she was leaving, with or without him.

He nodded and stood up, when she sprang up from her chair with unmasked joy. It would be better not to leave her alone to wander the castle. Not only she could get lost, but also there was danger lurking behind the corners. One just rose from his seat, eyeing the Shinigami with unhealthy interest.

They were about to leave, when Ichimaru spoke, "A word, if ya don't mind, Ulquiorra."

"Wait for me," he said after the Shinigami, who was already by the door. He turned to his superior, "What is it, Ichimaru-sama?"

"Hope ya're takin' a good care of 'er. She might be troublesome at first, but with patience and right treatment she can be quite a sweetheart." The fox was grinning, but at the same time he was being serious. Something about his eyes wasn't as buoyant as usual.

Ulquiorra raised his eyebrows, and noted, "Your own advice does not seem to work for you, though…"

"The thin' is, I don't try, it's more amusin' fer me the way it is," Ichimaru chuckled. "However you treat 'er, she'll treat ya the same in return. Rukia-chan's an honest lass."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Oh, and get her an apple or somethin'. She hardly ate anythin' and she's bound to be hungry soon. I'd have done it meself, but she might think it's poisoned or somethin'."

Ulquiorra wondered if Ichimaru realised that he was partly at fault for the Shinigami's lack of appetite, but refrained from saying this remark out loud. Gazing at the apples, he couldn't help but wonder if they weren't poisoned after all… Realising there was no point in killing the Shinigami – at least yet – he took the biggest one he could spot.

"Thanks, Ulquiorra."

He nodded and went after the Shinigami, who had already left the hall. He found her down the corridor, looking for a way to pass by Nnoitra, who was blocking her way, leering at her widely.

"Thank you, I'm good, really," she told the towering obstacle, "I can manage by myself, so if you could just…"

The Shinigami tried to sound unperturbed, but he – and Nnoitra, too – knew she was scared. Emotions like this didn't affect him, but Nnoitra, ruled by his own primal instincts, responded to them avidly. Degenerate he was, he was drawn to them and stimulated by them. In other words – he posed a great threat to her.

Ulquiorra, wanting to avoid any trouble, acted quickly, appearing next to the Shinigami. He put one hand on the small of her back, and manoeuvred her away from the threat, near the wall. "Move," he told his associate. Without waiting for his reaction, he fluidly guided the Shinigami past Nnoitra, while putting himself between the two. She was all tense, but she cooperated, letting him handle the situation.

"Fuck you too, Ulquiorra!" Nnoitra snarled after them, but stayed in his spot. It seemed he quit. For now, at least.

・

Rukia allowed the Espada to guide her until they turned a corner. Then she jumped off to the side, away from him, but she still could feel his warm, and surprisingly gentle hand pressing into the small of her back.

"You didn't have to do that, you know," she told him, flustered. "I could handle him myself."

"No, you couldn't," he said simply, and resumed walking.

She huffed, but quickly caught him up and fell into step beside him. Deep inside, though, she knew he was right. Even now that man's reiatsu made her shudder. Not only it was on a captain's level, but it also oozed danger and dark madness.

After a moment the Espada spoke, "A word of advice. It's true you can move freely around the castle, but don't. Unless you're with me, it's not safe for you here. If you need anything, just let me know."

Rukia nodded. Somehow she knew it wasn't a lie created to make her stay put in the room.

"Also, if you ever encounter Nnoitra again, run. He can't be reasoned with and you're no match for him, so focus all your strength into escaping him. Because if you don't, he'll hurt you, and he'll enjoy hurting you some more."

"I understand," she replied. It was a good advice. Kidō wasn't enough, she needed Sode no Shirayuki to be able to stand her ground. Speaking of which – she could feel her not far away, at least in a straight line. She wanted to pester the Espada about her zanpakutō some more, but quickly decided against it – she would only end up getting annoyed herself and at the moment she had other, more pressing matter to worry about.

・

Ulquiorra appreciated that she was reasonable and knew her place. It took one item off of his list of concerns, especially when Nnoitra had just added a new one. He'd have to talk to that degenerate, perhaps he'd be able to get through to him and thus resolve this issue quickly and effortlessly.

The apple he had taken by Ichimaru's request was still in his hand, so he gave it to her with a short, "Here."

The Shinigami stopped in her tracks, her eyes widened in surprise. She stared at the fruit, but didn't move to take it.

He furrowed his brows. It wasn't exactly a reaction he expected to receive. She didn't think it was poisoned, did she? "It's just an apple," he assured her, even though her face didn't show any suspicion, but simply a surprise.

She hesitated, "I know, it's just that…" After a moment she shook her head and took it. "Never mind."

The rest of the way to her room they spent in a relatively comfortable silence. The Shinigami clearly felt more at ease when Ichimaru wasn't any near her. She casually played with the apple, passing it from hand to hand, occasionally tossing it up in the air and then catching it.

Finally they reached her room, where she did something unexpected. Before closing the door after herself, she paused.

"Thank you…" she eventually said, oddly timid. Lowering her eyes, she continued, "For the apple… and for your help back then."

The Shinigami looked back at him. Her face didn't betray much; only her eyes shone with pride – she didn't necessarily want to thank him out loud, but she did, because she felt it was the right thing to do. When he nodded in acknowledgement, she returned the gesture and closed the door.

Ulquiorra stood there for a moment, analysing the scene that had just transpired. He still doubted she could be a 'sweetheart', as Ichimaru had put, but perhaps she could be agreeable.

A/N:

I still can't believe I've updated this quickly… At least comparing to the last one, ahahaha ;)

BTW, is there sun in Hueco Mundo or not? I didn't remember and I didn't feel like looking it up… But I thought it would suit the world of Hollows quite nicely, so bear with me if it's different in manga.

Bye!

朝霧 -Asagiri-