Updated: 4th March 2023 (bigger cosmetic changes, both Orihime and Ulquiorra are more proactive in wanting to save Rukia… And Ichimaru says 'hanky-panky' xD I don't know why I thought it was a good idea, but here we are…)
Hullo!
A pretty quick update (considering it is me (^▽^;)), don't you think? ;) Exactly after a month ;D I'm so proud of myself xD
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Thank you～ （●＾ω＾●）ノ〃 You always give me a motivation to do my best and move forward, I'm really, really grateful to you all!
And now onto the chapter, enjoy!
朝霧 -Asagiri-
The Frozen Whisper
by Asagiri
Chapter 14
Friendship
The eleven o'clock meeting with captains and lieutenants of Gotei 13, the first one with everyone present after the return of the Hueco Mundo party, had just ended. Even though there were good news of two dead Espadas and one captured, it still cost a life of their own. Not many were close with Rukia, but they all knew her. It was enough to lower morale. But Soul Society needed to move forward, rigorously focus on various war preparations, so similar tragedies could be avoided.
Ichigo and his friends agreed with that statement. They all had to get ready for the war. But they also had the most important task of rescuing their supposedly dead friend.
With this sentiment they left the 1st Division and followed Hanatarō to somewhere secluded, where they could discuss possible ways of achieving it. Impossible ones, too, if it came down to that. It was clear it wasn't going to be a piece of cake, but even if it would take a miracle to save Rukia, they would make it happen.
During the meeting they had to feign their mourning. This pretence didn't come easily to any of them, but they deemed it necessary. They couldn't afford raising any suspicions. After all, they couldn't tell anyone their hopes and suspicions. Gotei 13 was too preoccupied with war preparations and therefore most likely wouldn't help them. Or worse – they would prevent them from going to Hueco Mundo on a rescue mission, calling it a suicide and a waste of fighting force, and locking them up somewhere until they were needed.
They were also afraid that, even if Gotei 13 would believe them, they would say that it wasn't worth it… That one life wasn't worth the risk… That the success chance was zero. That she might be already dead for all they knew.
Admittedly, they had no tangible proof that Rukia indeed was alive, it was just their hunch, their earnest wish, something they doubted Soul Society would understand. But for Ichigo and his friends it was enough. With just their hope to guide them, they would overcome every difficulty in their way to save Rukia, even if it meant ignoring Soul Society or turning their backs on the world. They would rescue her at any cost!
The six friends arrived at a greenhouse where the 4th Division cultivated various herbs. Air was a bit stuffy here, but the herbal scent was refreshing and soothing.
"No-one will disturb us here," Hanatarō said. Then he added, a bit sheepishly, "And I also need to pick some herbs… I hope you won't mind…"
"It's fine," Ichigo said.
"I can help you," Inoue offered with a smile. "Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it."
While Hanatarō explained to her and Chad, who also volunteered to help, which herbs to pick and how, Ichigo, Renji and Ishida sat on small stools they found.
"Is there a direct way from Soul Society to Hueco Mundo?" the Quincy wondered out loud.
Renji shook his head. "Only through the 12th Division… Without authorisation from Commander-General Yamamoto they won't work their technology for us. I can take us only as far as the Human World. Through Dangai, though. And it won't be long before they notice our disappearance and follow to detain us. We'd probably be charged with treason, too."
Ichigo scoffed. "They can't just hold us here… We aren't Shinigamis in the first place, we're Humans and should be able to return to our world."
・
"You heard Commander-General… And under normal circumstances I'd agree with him." Renji well understood his friends' grievances, but he also understood the standpoint of the Gotei 13. Soul Society was currently the safest place to be in, while in Human World they would be like sitting ducks. As strict and pragmatic the Gotei 13 was, that was one of the reasons how it continued and would continue strongly throughout the centuries.
"What about Byakuya? Maybe he can help us?" Ichigo asked.
Renji sighed. "I'd rather not involve Captain in this…" He knew his superior for years, therefore even if no-one else saw it, it was obvious to him that Captain Kuchiki was in a very vulnerable state of mind right now.
"Damn it," Ichigo voiced everyone's thoughts, ruffling his hair in frustration. A gloom silence fell.
None one of them really had a knack for strategy. He and Ichigo usually just ran into action without thinking first. Inoue, Ishida and Sado were smart, but being only Human teenagers, they were inexperienced. And Hanatarō was… well, Hanatarō. They not only needed a way to Hueco Mundo, which was the easier part of their rescue mission, but more importantly they needed a way to rescue Rukia from Las Noches – a castle infested with Arrancars, including seven Espadas, not to mention Aizen with Tōsen and Ichimaru. And there were only six of them against that army.
Last time proved they and their resolve weren't enough. Wasn't it for the backup from Soul Society, they would have failed their rescue mission and ended up dead. It was a miracle they had actually lost only one of them.
Renji tightened his fists in anger. Why had it had to be Rukia? Why not him?
Ishida cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "I think Urahara-san is our only hope. We need to somehow get in touch with him."
"Yeah," Ichigo agreed, nodding his head eagerly. "He has his own agenda, and isn't really under Gotei 13's authority. He helped us out before, so chances are he will do it again!"
Enthusiasm was visible on everyone's faces – everyone's but Renji's. He needed to cut it short, before it went to their heads. "Let's say we somehow get to Hueco Mundo… What then?"
Ichigo scowled, irritated that he even needed to answer a question like this, "Fight our way to Rukia and rescue her. Isn't it obvious?"
Renji sighed. "Have you already forgot how it ended the last time? I doubt we will get this lucky again!"
"Abarai has a point," Ishida agreed, while adjusting his glasses.
"We won't know, unless we try!"
The Shinigami lieutenant shook his head. He respected his friend. He was strong and reliable, but also very naïve. He was still just a teenager, after all.
"We already tried, Ichigo," Sado reasoned, "Bravado could get us only so far, before we hit the wall."
The substitute Shinigami stood up angrily and shouted, "Are you all saying we should abandon her?"!
Renji, too, got up to his feet, fuming that his friend even dared to say those words. "Of course not, you dumbass! But you know Rukia. If we come unprepared and get hurt in the process, she'll kick our arses and stop talking to us. I want to avoid it, so I say we need a really good plan if we want to rescue her properly!"
There was a sudden knock, and the door to the greenhouse opened, revealing Captain Ukitake. "Here you are, Abarai-kun, Ichigo-kun, everyone."
They all stood up at attention, stiff with inner panic. How loud were they just now?
"Captain Ukitake," Renji saluted and the rest bowed in greeting, trying to act as naturally as possible. "Something happened?"
"Tell me what you know," he demanded without any custom courtesies. The usual kind smile on his face was replaced with a frown. It was clear he was serious and wouldn't let them avoid the subject.
"What do you mean, Captain Ukitake?" Renji asked, inwardly cursing himself for sounding so nervous.
・
Jūshirō Ukitake had learnt about Kuchiki's death from Captain Unohana who had personally come to his office to offer her condolences. Needless to say, he had been struck deeply by the news, so much so that he spent entire night bedridden with fever. He held dear all of his subordinates, but the petite Kuchiki girl had a special place in his heart. How could have it happened? Another heart-rending death in his Division…
At first, he had regretted letting her go (he had been aware of her plans to rescue Orihime Inoue), but then he reprimanded himself for such thoughts – Kuchiki would have never forgiven him if he had stopped her. Besides, it was simply how she was, always putting others before herself, and that was one of the reasons why he was so fond of her. And he had been this close to convincing Byakuya to let him make her his lieutenant, too! How regretful he would never be able to hand her the lieutenant badge of his Division and see the look of surprise and pride on her face!
And Jūshirō wasn't the only one affected by Kuchiki's death. The whole meeting proceeded in a gloomy atmosphere. Not many knew her well, but she was a fellow Shinigami, after all.
However, something about her friends struck him odd. He didn't know what it was, but they acted somewhat unnatural. People grieved differently, so perhaps that was it. Perhaps they didn't know how to process it. So after the meeting and a chat with Shunsui, he went to look for them. He wanted to talk with them, offer his guidance or at least some words of consolation to help them go through their grief.
And when he was approaching the greenhouse they apparently hid in, he heard heated shouts about "Rukia" and "rescuing her". It stunned him for a second. Then the need to know took over, and he knocked and let himself in without waiting for anyone's response.
Now he had six of Kuchiki's friends in front of him, all stiffly standing straight, trying not to look as if they were caught red-handed.
"Tell me everything you know about Kuchiki," Jūshirō repeated his request. How he wished he hadn't misheard or misunderstood their shouts and the hope he suddenly felt wasn't false!
"But… Captain Ukitake…" Abarai-kun started, evidently trying to quickly think up some excuse.
"And I mean the truth," the white-haired captain insisted. "You know more than you let on." And he needed to know what it was.
The friends looked at each other unsure, wordlessly trying to discuss what to do in this pinch. Abarai-kun with Ichigo-kun started to outdo each other in playing dumb, denying they knew anything more than he did. They weren't very convincing.
Then Orihime-chan squeezed her way out to the front of the group. With face full of determination, she quickly said, "We need your help, Captain Ukitake!"
"Inoue!" Ichigo-kun shouted in panic, waving his hands awkwardly before her, trying to stop her from saying more.
She faltered for a second, but then she shook her head. "No. We need help. And who would be better to ask for it than Kuchiki-san's captain?"
Jūshirō smiled softly. "I'm all ears. And I'll do everything in my might to assist you."
・
Ichigo was at first disgruntled that not only Renji with his wet blanket attitude dampened others' enthusiasm for a straightforward rescue plan, but also now an outsider was invited to meddle in their affairs. But as much as he wanted to do everything by himself or with the help of his friends, deep down he knew their small group might not be enough. Renji and Inoue were right. They needed all the help they could get. And here was a capable man, who also cared about Rukia, eager to lend them a hand.
It took him a moment to realise everyone were looking at him, waiting for him to start. Sighing, he said, "Okay. But you must promise us that whatever you're about to hear, you'll keep it to yourself. Unless a rescue plan would require the aid of someone else, of course."
"Don't worry, you have my word," Captain Ukitake agreed.
It was the third time they were discussing their doubts and suspicions that led them to believe that Rukia was still alive, so Ichigo was able to surmise everything in a simple and concise way.
Next to him Inoue was nodding her head eagerly at his every word, as if both cheering him on, and trying to convince Captain Ukitake with her enthusiasm only.
"This is it," Ichigo concluded. Then he added, a bit defensively, "Rukia is alive in Hueco Mundo and we're going to save her. No matter what."
Captain Ukitake smiled and nodded his head. "I see, that makes sense."
The substitute Shinigami wasn't prepared for such a quick and ready assent that it took him a moment to process it. Before long a sigh of relief escaped his lungs. "Doesn't it?" he asked eagerly, encouraged by this positive reaction. He decided that he liked Rukia's superior, he was a cool guy.
"So, what should we do, Captain Ukitake?" Renji asked. "How can we rescue Rukia?"
The white-haired captain sighed. "I won't sugar-coat it – it'll be tough. We're completely at a disadvantage here."
"I still think we need to hit them quick," Ichigo said. "We go in, grab Rukia, and we get the hell out of there. We are now more familiar with Las Noches, should be easier. So, we just need a way in and out of Hueco Mundo."
"Absolutely out of the question," Captain Ukitake disagreed with a stern expression.
"But—" the redhead started, however was stopped by a quick silencing gesture.
・
Renji was glad they had Captain Ukitake on their side. His experience and authority could only benefit them. Perhaps he would also be able to nip Ichigo's reckless plan in the bud, and help them come up with something fail-safer.
"I'm with Captain Ukitake here," Renji quickly backed up his superior. "We don't know where they keep her. Or worse – they might have learnt from the last time and put her in a cell made out of sekkiseki – if so, it'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack. In the worst-case scenario, she might already be…" He trailed off, that one dreadful word stuck in his throat, but no-one had any doubts what he meant to say.
"She has to be alive!" Ichigo yelled fervently.
"There's no other way," Inoue added with forced optimism, but her eyes betrayed her fear for Rukia.
"There's no guarantee they bothered with that," Captain Ukitake said, a glum expression on his face. "Or they might kill her the moment they notice us barging into Hueco Mundo."
Renji grimaced. In the last twenty-four hours he had heard and thought of Rukia's death for more than his entire lifetime. Even when she had been sentenced to death those couple of months ago, the disbelief and denial had kept his mind clear of such disturbing thoughts. This time, however, she was far away from him, in a different world, surrounded by enemies. He couldn't even visit her in prison. He had to get her out from there!
"Rukia is already in a worst place possible, so our priority should be avoiding making her situation even worse. Open raid through the front gates of Las Noches could be a death sentence for her."
Captain Ukitake added, "Not to mention, you're too small a force to successfully engage in a battle with all those Arrancars and you should know it by now. And this time I'm afraid Soul Society won't come to aid you. Commander-General Yamamoto can be unforgiving."
A gloomy silence fell. They knew they were pretty much alone in it, but only now they were realising just how powerless they were.
Renji shook off the discouraged attitude and said firmly, "We need to act smart. And quiet. Stealth is our best option. It's almost given they are expecting us to barge in like the last time. We need to surprise them. Do the opposite."
"Yeah, let's see just how good Kurosaki is at keeping a low profile," Uryū jabbed, but there was no mean spirit to his words. "Or better yet – stealth."
"Hey, I can do that!"
"Sure you can," Sado added.
"Hey!"
Somehow, this small exchange brought a smile to everyone's faces, even if it lasted only a brief moment.
Captain Ukitake sighed sombrely. "If only there was a way to confirm that Kuchiki is still alive. I'd hate to endanger you for nothing. Perhaps Urahara-san would have means to do that."
Renji shook his head. "It's not for nothing. At least we would know for sure…" The thought was disturbing, but this was their current situation and they had to take every little possibility into account.
"You're right, I'm sorry."
・
Orihime knitted her brows together, thinking hard. She just remembered something that perhaps could help them. Or not.
"I…" she started quietly, hesitating if she should bring this up. Deciding that any option was worth discussing in a group, she said, "I think I know how to contact Ulquiorra-san."
"You know?" Kurosaki-kun asked, surprised. "How?"
"When he came for me, he left something like a white cube that allowed me to give him a signal I was ready to leave…" Orihime explained, feeling a little bit uneasy with all the eyes staring at her in hope of some revelation. Also, she couldn't shake off the resurfacing guilt for having left then, even though she knew she had had no say in the matter. Kurosaki-kun's life had been at stake.
"A cube? Do you still have it?" Ishida-kun asked, and they all kept looking at her eagerly.
"Yes, but it's in my home…"
"So, if you use it, Ulquiorra will come?" In Kurosaki-kun's head the wheels were clearly turning at a rapid speed.
Orihime nodded her head. "I think so."
"Maybe if we ambush him…"
"I don't think it will work," Captain Ukitake again acted as a voice of reason. "We don't know what kind of device that cube is, but it might sense reiatsu in some radius. If it picked up someone other than Orihime-chan, then that Ulquiorra might not come. Even worse, he might assume that we're not interested in Kuchiki's life and just kill her."
"Didn't think about that…" Kurosaki-kun grouched under his nose.
Orihime decided to keep it to herself, but at any moment she was ready to go home, activate the cube and just let them snatch her away with only hope that in return they would give Kuchiki-san back. Call her naïve, but she really believed this was one sure way to save her friend.
・
Ichigo hated just how little if any options they had. They were walking on a thin ice here – any wrong move and Rukia might end up dead. Whoever had orchestrated all this, was unforgivable. Ichigo would make them pay for this dearly. And he had his suspect, too…
Captain Ukitake seemed to be thinking on the same topic. "I hate to admit it, but the one who came up with this is a cunning one. They left us with practically no options…"
"Bet it was Ulquiorra," Ichigo spat out the name as if it was burning his tongue. "First, he got Inoue. Now, Rukia."
"That bastard," Renji cursed, and took out his anger on a wall by punching it.
"He's going down," the substitute Shinigami promised vehemently. "This time I'll be stronger and I'll beat the shit out of him!"
"Let's finish for now," Captain Ukitake said calmly, interrupting their murderous rant. "I'll try to contact Urahara-san. Opening a Senkaimon to the Human World is no problem, but the most important thing right now is to reach Urahara-san first. Without his help, we won't be able to reach Hueco Mundo. Perhaps he'll have some insight, too."
"So, what are we supposed to do now?" Ichigo asked, unhappy they couldn't start acting straightaway.
"Rest, train, think," he advised. "Especially about how much you are ready to sacrifice in order to save Kuchiki."
"That's unnecessary, sir," Renji said resolutely. "We're putting our lives on the line here."
"Then just rest and train." Captain Ukitake smiled at them, touched by their loyalty towards his dear subordinate. "I'm really happy Kuchiki has such splendid friends."
They returned his smile with their slightly embarrassed ones.
"I'll head to the 12th Division now to contact Urahara-san. I'll be in touch."
"Captain Ukitake, we're really lucky to have you on our side. Thank you," Renji bowed in half and soon was joined by the rest.
"It means a lot," Inoue chipped in. "I'm sure it means a lot to Kuchiki-san as well."
Captain Ukitake shook his head. "Save it for later when you and Kuchiki are all safe and sound in Soul Society. Besides, it's me who should be grateful to you, for giving me hope."
With another smile, he left.
"Well, I guess we should start training then," Ichigo said, and everyone agreed. Hanatarō still had chores to do, but he would later join them in Urahara-san's cave under the Sōkyoku Hill.
Jūshirō entered the 12th Division's facility buildings and with satisfaction noted that Mayuri was nowhere to be seen. The mad scientist was probably still experimenting on that Arrancar he had brought back from Hueco Mundo. Good, at least he wouldn't have to explain to anyone what the purpose of his call to Kisuke Urahara was. It would be better if no-one knew about it for now.
"Captain Ukitake, good morning," Tsubokura-kun greeted him, noticing his arrival. "What brings you here?"
"Ah, Tsubokura-kun, I need to contact Kisuke Urahara," Jūshirō stated his business without unnecessary small talk. "At once, if you please."
"Yes, sir," the small Shinigami saluted. "I will try to reach him. If he is at his place, he should answer."
"And make it confidential and don't record it," Jūshirō told him, wanting to keep this conversation a secret. He doubted that the 12th Division would bother to inform Commander-General Yamamoto about it, but better safe than sorry.
"But—"
"Just do it, please," he cut him off, trying to sound both pleasant and impatient, a mix that left no room for objection.
"Yes, sir," Tsubokura-kun flinched and hurriedly started the connecting procedure. Soon enough the monitors showed none other than Kisuke Urahara himself.
"Hello," he greeted in a singsong, fanning himself with his trusty fan. "How can this humble and handsome merchant help you?"
One look at Tsubokura-kun and he obediently left the room to give them privacy. Jūshirō never liked exerting his authority this way, but circumstances needed him to act firmly… and a bit against the rules. He would bring some candies for the kid later to make up for treating him this way.
Once they were alone, Jūshirō, skipping all courtesies, said, "It's about Rukia Kuchiki, my subordinate."
"Oh?" The ex-captain of the 12th Division hid his face behind his fan, so only his glinting eyes could be seen from between it and the brim of his hat. "What about Kuchiki-san? Is she well?"
"That, I hope so," Jūshirō said, sighing heavily. For some reason he suddenly felt old and tired. "You haven't heard any details form the yesterday action yet, have you?"
"Oh?" Urahara-san folded the fan and rested its edge on his cheek, ready to hear everything.
Evening found the group still training in the cave under the Sōkyoku Hill. Hanatarō brought scrolls and books on Soul anatomy, Healing Spells and techniques, and all kinds of concoctions. He studied them diligently.
Orihime kept him company, also reading the medical texts. She figured a better understanding of anatomy, flow of reiatsu inside a body and so on, would improve her rejecting of injuries. Maybe later or tomorrow she would ask Yamada-kun to spar with her. She didn't feel she could ask her fellow Human friends or Abarai-kun, since they wouldn't improve from it, and she kind of felt they wouldn't take her seriously. But she didn't have a bitter bone in her body about it. She understood. It only made her miss Kuchiki-san even more. She was the only one that ever treated her as a fighter, and they had so much fun training together, coming up with some joined tactics and techniques.
The other four boys were going all out against each other. It was almost a battle royal. If someone got hurt, they limped or crawled to Orihime and Hanatarō who were already past worrying about them. Once healed, they were back to fighting. They didn't mind getting hurt, not only because they had the two healers with them, but more so because they knew it was the only way to get stronger. They had a friend to rescue, and their goal made the pain more bearable. The blood and sweat they shed were just a testimony of their resolve.
"Here you are, troublemakers!" a sudden yell disturbed their training.
Looking up at the entrance, they saw Sentarō and Kiyone waving at them. The duo bickered a bit, as it was just what they did, but it was half-hearted. Rukia's death affected them, too.
"Captain wants to see you!" the two 3rd Seats yelled again.
The four boys looked at each other. With a nod they put away their weapons and quickly climbed up to the entrance. Orihime and Hanatarō were right behind them. "On our way!" Ichigo shouted, and they run past the duo towards the 13th Division. Orihime was most familiar with the place, so she led them to Captain Ukitake. Too excited for the news he might have for them, they rushed into his office, not even bothering to knock on the door.
"You called for us, Captain Ukitake?" Renji asked, panting heavily. Blood was streaming down the side of his face from a wound on his temple made by Ishida's arrow. His left forearm was broken – a courtesy of Sado, and he had quite a nasty cut on his back thanks to Ichigo. Rest of the boys wasn't in any better shape.
"Yes," Captain Ukitake confirmed, a frown of worry appearing on his face at the sight of their battered bodies. He was about to scold them for going to extremes with their training, but decided against it. He understood well why they were doing this. So, he cut to the chase, "I've spoken with Urahara-san and he'll be happy to help. He may ask back for a favour in some future for this, though. Which is fair, I guess. In the meantime, he'll try to come up with something. He'll contact us again soon."
"That's good, I guess," Ichigo said, wiping the blood from his eyes (his face collided with a rock after Chad's unexpected punch). "The favour part bugs me a bit, but whatever. As long as we can rescue Rukia, I'll do anything."
"Same here," Uryū nodded, adjusting his broken glasses. His nose didn't look too good either. All courtesy of Abarai.
"Yeah," Yasutora agreed. He was mainly covered in various bruises, his clothes tattered. There was a gash on his forearms from trying to block Zangetsu, though.
"So now that all we can do is wait, I suggest you rest for today," Captain Ukitake said. "It's already evening, and you're dripping blood…"
"Ah, so sorry," Orihime and Hanatarō cried sheepishly, suddenly realising the condition of their friends. They immediately started healing their wounds, while apologising profusely.
"Some nutrition would do you good, too…"
It was the tenth day since Captain Ukitake got in touch with Urahara-san, and they still hadn't heard back from the quirky shopkeeper. The wait and worry were killing them. Rukia was in Hueco Mundo eleven days now, and they couldn't do anything about it while in Soul Society! The longer she was there, the direr her situation was, surely!
With each day the frown of worry between Orihime's eyebrows was growing deeper, and didn't disappear even when she smiled encouragingly at her friends or tried to cheer them up. Hanatarō was acting more franticly and clumsily than ever, once even firing a Shakkahō in Renji's face instead of healing his injuries. Ichigo and co. took all their frustrations out on each other and other friends that came to train with them – usually Ikkaku and Yumichika from the 11th Division.
Today it was just the five of them in the cave under Sōkyoku Hill. Hanatarō had duties that needed his attention. Other than that, it was business as usual for them.
In midst of their fight, Uryū spotted something out of the corner of his eye – a black fluttering shape of a Hell Butterfly. It was unhurriedly gliding down from the entrance and in the direction of Orihime. Observing the little messenger, he almost didn't notice Zabimaru coming at him in a fast attack. At the last moment he somehow managed to guard himself, avoiding a fatal blow.
"Oy, Ishida, what the hell are you doing spacing out there?!" Renji yelled in distress. "I could have killed you, you idiot!"
"I'm fine," the Quincy told him, calmly standing up and dusting his once pristine white clothes. There was a nasty gash on his arm and blood was quickly covering the fabric of his sleeve. But he didn't seem to heed it, and with his other hand he pointed at the Hell Butterfly, "Look."
The other boys looked at the little messenger which was now only a few yards from Orihime. They immediately approached her, just in time to hear the message:
"Orihime Inoue is asked to come to the 1st Division Headquarters at her earliest convenience. End."
"What does it mean?" Ichigo asked in puzzlement, but the faces of his friends displayed a similar confusion.
"Who knows…" Yasutora wondered, at the same time trying to stanch the blood flowing from a deep cut on his left forearm.
"Better go and find out," Renji said, and everyone agreed, even though neither of the boys had been mentioned in the message.
After Orihime fixed their wounds, they made their way to the 1st Division Headquarters.
Once they arrived, Lieutenant Sasakibe was already waiting for them, and without a word he showed them to the front of his captain. Commander-General Yamamoto stared sternly at them and it took a lot out of them not to flinch under his intimidating gaze. The air around the aged man demanded respect. It made them feel like little kids after being caught doing something naughty and were now waiting for their punishment. A few uneasy minutes passed until he finally spoke.
"Orihime Inoue, Kisuke Urahara has requested your aid in protecting Karakura Town." He watched her carefully. "What a Human child like you can do to help?"
・
"I…" Orihime hesitated, nervous under his gaze. "To be frank I'm not sure, I still don't grasp my powers fully…" It was no time to analyse it, though. This was her ticket to the Human World, and a step closer to Kuchiki-san! So, she quickly added with a warm, eager smile, "But if Urahara-san says I can be of help, then I'll do my best to help!"
Commander-General Yamamoto paused, scrutinising her. Eventually, he said, "You see that you do."
"Yes, sir!" she saluted. Inwardly she was glad he didn't press the matter.
"Very well. You shall depart for the Human World the day after tomorrow. Ten o'clock in the morning. Make preparations."
Orihime saluted again. She wanted to say that she was ready to go anytime, even now as she was standing, but decided to keep quiet. She didn't want to push her luck. Something about the way Commander-General Yamamoto looked at her made her feel like he didn't trust her completely. She was the reason Gotei 13 lost Kuchiki-san, after all.
"To ensure your safety you shall be escorted by Captains Ukitake and Kyōraku."
"Thank you, sir." At least she wouldn't need to worry about them. She still felt bad about her previous two escorts; luckily Ulquiorra-san had allowed her to save them.
"Any questions?"
She was about to say 'no', when she realised something. Abarai-kun beat her to voice it out loud, though.
・
Hearing that they were summoned to the 1st Division Headquarters on Urahara-san's account raised Renji's hopes up. Finally, they heard back from him, even if indirectly. It could only mean he had come up with something that could help them save Rukia. But why did he ask only for Inoue?
"What about us, sir?" Renji asked. Perhaps it was just obvious they would go together?
Commander-General Yamamoto looked them over. "Kisuke Urahara made no mention of any of you."
"But we want to help, it's our home, too," Ichigo protested in a voice full of determination, backed up by vigorous nods of other Humans.
"Only Orihime Inoue shall go."
"But—"
Renji grabbed Ichigo and put his hand on his mouth, silencing him. Once Commander-General Yamamoto decided on something, he never changed his mind. Trying to argue with him would only get them in trouble.
"All dismissed." Commander-General wasn't happy, his tone of voice cut short any discussion they might have.
"Thank you for your time, sir," Renji said and bowed in a proper etiquette, making Ichigo do the same. Before anyone could say anything to further anger Gotei 13's leader, he ushered everyone out of the 1st Division Headquarters. They walked in silence for a while, some grumpier than the others, until they reached a more secluded area.
Looking around if there was no-one near enough to overhear them, Ichigo asked the question that nagged them all.
"Okay, so Urahara-san finally started to act… But why did he ask only for Inoue?"
"I don't know," the Human girl answered, confused. "And I doubt my powers would be of any help…"
"My guess is he needed some excuse to get you to the Human World," Ishida suggested. "He must know we're all in this together, though. Perhaps he'll come up with something else a bit later for the rest us?"
"Let's go see Captain Ukitake," Renji decided. "Maybe he knows more."
Since the meeting he had had with Commander-General Yamamoto this morning, Jūshirō expected to see Kuchiki's friends in his office sometime today. Sure enough, it wasn't even noon, when a knock sounded on his door, and the five of them flooded his office. Their faces displayed puzzlement and worry.
"I'm as surprised as you," he told them. Regrettably he was unable to shed any light on the matter. "Urahara-san contacted Soul Society directly without notifying me first. If Commander-General Yamamoto didn't assign me to escort Orihime-chan, I wouldn't be involved at all."
"What does it mean?" Ichigo-kun wondered, scratching his head.
"He must have some plan," Jūshirō said reassuringly. "Otherwise, why call for Orihime-chan?"
"Why keep it from us, though? Why not call for us as well?"
"I don't know, but surely he has some reason for it," he suggested, trying to make a sense of it, hoping it would ease their worry as much as his own. "Perhaps communicating through the 12th Division is too risky. Perhaps he just called for Orihime-chan to explain his plan, give us some tools, and she'll be back with us the next day."
"That guy is impossible," Ichigo-kun sighed exasperatedly. "I'm not sure if we can trust him."
"I have my doubts, too," Uryū-kun admitted, his arms crossed in front of him. "Unfortunately, he's our only hope at the moment."
"I know… But that guy never tells anything, I'm worried."
"We're all worried," Abarai-kun said with a heavy sigh. "But there's nothing else we can do about it."
Jūshirō nodded his head. "Exactly. Let's stay positive and I'm sure everything will turn out all right."
Anticipation made the two days pass quickly. An hour before Orihime's departure, she received a Hell Butterfly that informed her where she should meet with Captains Ukitake and Kyōraku. Surprisingly, she would also be accompanied by Lieutenant Hisagi, who would be staying and watching over her in the Human World. The six friends concluded that under the pretext of protecting her, his mission was to keep an eye on her, looking out for any suspicious activity, like trying to contact Aizen. Gotei 13 clearly still didn't trust her.
The boys of course went with her to see her off.
"… and don't let that shifty shopkeeper work you to death, okay?" Kurosaki-kun said half-jokingly, half-seriously.
Orihime chuckled. "I won't." She said her goodbyes to her friends, and entered the Senkaimon to the Human World. Lieutenant Hisagi was leading the way, she was right after him, and the two captains behind her. It was an uneventful walk, and before she knew it, they arrived in front of the Urahara-san's shop.
Almost the moment their feet touched the ground, the shopkeeper himself appeared to greet them. "Ah, Inoue-san, it's great to see you again."
"Good morning, Urahara-san!" She smiled at him, happy to see him. But she was even more happy to be home. Only now she realised just how she missed Karakura Town. How she hoped she would have a moment to visit Tatsuki-chan!
"Good morning, Captain Ukitake, Captain Kyōraku, Lieutenant Hisagi," Urahara-san greeted the rest of the party in a singsong. "I trust you are all well?"
"Yes, thank you," Captain Ukitake replied for all of them. Gesturing towards the lieutenant, he said, "Hisagi-kun will be staying here to aid you in protecting Orihime-chan."
"Ah, that's very kind, but I don't think it'll be necessary," Urahara-san replied with a nonchalant wave of his fan, and added with a wink, "She'll be safe, I assure you."
"That's good to hear," Captain Kyōraku smiled. Taking out a blade of grass from his mouth he exhaled deeply. "However, those are orders from Yama-jii. I'm afraid Shūhei will be staying with you."
"I see, the more the merrier and safer, I guess." The quirky shopkeeper shrugged. "But I'm going to bill Gotei 13 for housing him. And he better stays out from under my feet and make himself useful around the shop. I don't like freeloaders."
"Understandable."
"Urahara-san, I assure you I won't be a bother," Lieutenant Hisagi promised. "And if you need help with anything, I'll do my best to lend a hand."
"Ah, will you? Good, good," Urahara-san chuckled. Mischievous smile on his face betrayed he was eager to test to what extent the young Shinigami would put his money where his mouth was.
Orihime felt a bit bad for Lieutenant Hisagi that he got involved in this. He seemed like a nice, honest guy, too. Hopefully, the shopkeeper and his employees would go easy on him. Then again, everything would be fair if it kept him from interfering with their plan to save Kuchiki-san.
・
Jūshirō clasped his hands together. "Now that everything is settled, we'll be returning to Soul Society." He wished he could stay a bit and discuss the rescue plan with Urahara-san, but he would have to leave it to Orihime-chan. He did his part for now, and could only wait and see how the rest unfolded. In his heart, he prayed for the safety of the two girls.
"Oh, aren't you going to stay for tea?" Urahara-san asked, surprised. "Ururu was just putting a kettle on the stove."
"No, I'm afraid we can't," Shunsui declined politely.
"And I have a delicious saké…"
"In that case, then—"
"No," Jūshirō said sternly, making his best friend pout in disappointment. "We appreciate it, but we need to go, really."
"Pity," Urahara-san said. "Then perhaps you'd like to buy some to enjoy at the leisure of your own home?" A mysterious glint passed through his eyes. "This herbal tea I recently discovered is absolutely gorgeous in the evening. It'll soothe your mind like nothing else. And the saké…"
"… is great just about any time," Shunsui finished for him with a wide grin. "I'll take one, bill it to my Division, Urahara-san."
"Perfect," the shopkeeper smiled back and put the bottle in a paper bag and handed it to his customer. "Anything for you, Captain Ukitake?"
Jūshirō noticed the subtle emphasis in Urahara-san's words, and wondered if he was trying to pass a secret message to him or just sell him a product. He hoped for the first, but the latter sounded good, too. "You intrigued me with that tea, Urahara-san. I guess I'll take one."
"You won't regret it."
Done with the unexpected shopping, they were finally ready to leave. Shunsui opened the Senkaimon with his zanpakutō. With a casual wave of his hand he said, "Until then."
"Take care, Orihime-chan, Hisagi-kun. And thank you, Urahara-san," Jūshirō voiced his goodbyes and followed his best friend back to Soul Society.
Once they settled and had a small snack, Orihime with Hisagi-san in tow went to her home to grab a couple of necessities like a change of clothes and basic cosmetics. While her companion was kind enough to bin the spoiled food from her fridge, she took this opportunity to confirm that the cube from Ulquiorra-san was still on her desk. It was, and just in case, she hid it in a drawer.
Her eyes landed on two photo frames – one of her and her brother, and the other one with Tatsuki-chan. She took them and sat on the bed, reminiscing. She missed them dearly.
"Inoue-san? Are you all right?"
Orihime blinked, suddenly realising she was crying. "Oh, sorry, I got lost in a thought." She showed him the photos. "This is my brother, he's somewhere in Soul Society now. And this is Tatsuki-chan, my best friend. It feels like I haven't seen her in ages." She sighed, a sad smile playing on her lips. "And only now I realise, I don't have any photo with Kuchiki-san."
"I'm sorry," Hisagi-san said gently. His gaze shifted to and fro between her and the floor or walls – he clearly felt awkward in the presence of a crying girl.
She shook her head, and wiped her tears. Once they all reunite, she would be forcing all her friends for a group photo. Heck, she would be printing it in a poster format to hang above her bed. Soon… soon their lives would go back to normal and all this would feel like a bad dream.
She wondered, "Do you think I can go and see Tatsuki-chan?"
"That might not be the best idea. We should focus on the task at hand," he replied solemnly, but there were apologetic hints to his tone.
"You're probably right."
Seeing her downcast look, Hisagi-san suggested, "But you have those things called telephones. Maybe you can give her a call and tell her you're doing okay?"
Orihime smiled warmly at him. "Yeah, I think I will."
In the evening Urahara-san took Orihime to a huge pillar in the middle of a communal park. She looked at it in awe, and was surprised to hear that, apparently, there were three more, and they were undetectable to the regular people. They formed a frame that would protect Karakura Town. The quirky shopkeeper explained briefly how it all worked, but to Orihime the most important part was that the residents would be safe.
"Now, for the reason I brought you to the Human World…" Urahara-san changed the subject. They could talk freely – Hisagi-san was occupied with chores, and Tessai-san with Ururu-chan and Jinta-kun were keeping a close eye on him.
"I'm all ears!" Orihime said eagerly, ready to go to Kuchiki-san's rescue right away.
"Before I get to the point, I must ask you first – what lengths are you ready to go?" Uncharacteristically for him, he was all serious.
"I'll do anything, any of us will," she said the obvious, while wondering what Urahara-san was getting at.
"I'm only asking you, Inoue-san. Because what I have in mind is a solo mission."
Orihime didn't hesitate. "I'll do it."
"What if they don't return Kuchiki-san and your sacrifice will be for nothing, and you'll be both stuck in Las Noches?" he asked bluntly. He wasn't trying to discourage her, only to prepare her for all possibilities.
"It isn't a sacrifice, it's just being a friend." A soft smile played on her lips, only to turn into a sad frown. "We already left her there for far too long. I can't imagine how she's been feeling and what she's been thinking all alone there. If me going to Aizen-san gives Kuchiki-san a sign that we haven't forgot about her, a sliver of hope, it'll be enough for me." Orihime could relate only so much. Compared to Kuchiki-san, she only brushed the loneliness of being in their enemy's hands.
"I see… But what if…" the shopkeeper paused, a pensive, almost worried tension between his brows.
"Urahara-san?"
He shook his head, dismissing some unpleasant thoughts. "Ah, sorry, where was I…?"
"I know what you're thinking," Orihime said. Those thoughts haunted her nightly, too. "But the worst-case scenario happens if I don't go. They captured Kuchiki-san because of me. And it's been almost two weeks, their patience must be running thin, too. We…" She put her right hand on her chest. "I can't risk her life any longer. I must go."
"You're probably right…" He nodded, more to himself than her, as if he just made a silent decision and committed to it. "Kuchiki-san is still alive. I mean, she was two days ago, so chances are she's still alive today."
Orihime stared, taking the news. The joy that burst inside her chest was overwhelming. "Oh, thank goodness! We all believed she is, but actually hearing it confirmed is so much different. I feel like…" This load of uncertainty that weighted on her mind had been lifted, shooting her up to cloud nine. Tears began streaming down her face, and all she could do was grin like the happiest fool on Earth. It took her a while to finally utter, "It's such a relief!"
"I wouldn't be sending you to Aizen before ascertaining that first," Urahara-san said with a chuckle.
She eventually calmed down and wiped her tears. "But how do you know?"
The shopkeeper unfolded his fan, hiding his mischievous smile behind it. "That's a trade secret."
She didn't press, it wasn't that important anyway. She was more curious about the plan, too. "So, what do I do?"
"Simple. You go to Aizen, you find an opportunity to get you and Kuchiki-san outside Las Noches, and from there you just let the magic do its work." His hand disappeared in folds of his samue, only to produce two small objects.
"Chappy?" Orihime asked, looking at what turned out to be hairpins with the said character as a decoration.
"Not too shabby, right? And Kuchiki-san loves this thing. I still remember how disappointed she was when we ran out of Chappy Soul Candies…" The shopkeeper smiled fondly at the memory.
"They are really cute, but… Oh!" The moment her hand touched them, she understood they were no ordinary hairpins.
"With Tessai's help I sealed a transportation Spell in them," Urahara-san explained. "Just snap them like a twig and it'll activate and bring you to my shop in an instant. But you must be outside Las Noches castle, it's very important. It'll work only if you're in Hueco Mundo desert, otherwise, nothing will happen and the Spell will be squandered. One hairpin is enough to transport you both, but hold each other tightly. I made two, just in case. Any questions?"
"No, not really. It's a very simple plan, I like it." Just in case Orihime repeated what she memorised.
With a nod Urahara-san confirmed she got everything correctly. "You move tomorrow. Take this time to rethink everything. If you suddenly feel like calling it quits, no-one will blame you, especially Kuchiki-san."
She shook her head. "I decided, I won't turn back. I need to save her."
"You'll once again be considered a traitor, at least until you get back with her," the shopkeeper warned her. He knew a thing or two about such hardship.
"I don't mind. I would be a bigger traitor if I left Kuchiki-san at Aizen-san's mercy," Orihime said with a reassuring smile. Besides, her friends – people who mattered the most – were on her side and trusted her. Then, she thought of other people involved. Captain Ukitake should be fine, but… "But what about you, Urahara-san?"
"Me?" he chuckled, and waved his fan nonchalantly. "Don't worry about me. Officially I knew nothing and you betrayed my trust as well."
She laughed nervously. At least he wouldn't be getting into any trouble because of her…
"Urahara-san…" Orihime began, wanting to change the subject to something that had been wandering on her mind for some time now. "Can my powers destroy Hōgyoku? Undo it until it's gone?" If it was possible, Aizen-san would have one tool less, and wouldn't be able to create any new Arrancars… Fewer enemies could mean fewer wounded and dead. It was worth considering as a side mission, to say the least!
"Hmm, most likely," Urahara-san replied. Seeing her determined face, he added hastily, "But don't trouble yourself with it, it's my job. Only focus on getting the two of you away from there. It'll be hard enough as is."
"Of course," she agreed. Inwardly she decided – should she get a chance, she wouldn't let it go to waste.
"There might not be time later, so I wish you good luck now. I'll be awaiting yours and Kuchiki-san's safe return."
Orihime suddenly got emotional, and had to fight back tears from falling. Words couldn't express how grateful she was to him, and also to her friends and Captain Ukitake. Together they were going to get Kuchiki-san back! At length she gave him a warm smile. "Thank you, Urahara-san, for your help."
"Don't mention it," the shopkeeper spoke softly, somewhat embarrassed by her gratitude. "Before you start acting, we'll need to distract Hisagi-san first, but I have something in mind already. Speaking of the devil, he's coming this way now. Let's pretend we have just finished considerably enforcing the protective barriers," he said with a wink, happily swinging his cane at the pillar. The mischievous smile was back on his face.
The next day was both eventful and uneventful at the same time. With plan decided and knowledge that Kuchiki-san was alive, Orihime finally felt at ease. A phone call with Tatsuki-chan also added to her good mood. They talked as if they just saw each other at school, even though in reality they hadn't seen each other in almost four weeks. She also cooked a lunch for everyone. For some reason they all seemed unsure about the food on their plates, Jinta-kun didn't even try to hide the grimace on his face… But the first bite made them believers in her cooking skills, and praising unique texture and interesting but definitely delicious taste, they ate until nothing was left. Hisagi-san and Jinta-kun even asked for seconds.
To keep up the pretence, Urahara-san took her to a different pillar to "work" on it, while in fact he brought various items for her to fix. Some apparently could be useful during the upcoming battle, but Orihime wasn't so convinced, seeing an old comb or umbrella… But she didn't complain and restored them to their former glory. She just liked being useful.
Returning to the shop, Urahara-san said cryptically, "Inoue-san, when the moment is fitting, serve everyone tea you bought this morning – it's the one in a blue bag. But don't drink any yourself."
She nodded. This must be a way to distract Hisagi-san, and also an alibi for Urahara-san and his employees. Especially since she hadn't bought any tea during her morning shopping with Ururu-chan.
After the supper, everyone moved to the tea parlour. Orihime cleaned the table, prepared cups, and put on a kettle. She served some for breakfast, so it shouldn't look suspicious.
"Hisagi-san, care for a drink?" came the jovial voice of the shopkeeper.
"Sorry, Urahara-san, but I'm on duty," the young Shinigami declined politely.
"Pity."
"How about tea?" Orihime suggested, lifting up a kettle with this mysterious tea she just brewed.
Hisagi-san smiled at her. "Tea would be great, thank you, Inoue-san."
She poured it into all the cups. A soothing, floral scent filled the room. "It has… um… lavender infusion in it, apparently," she explained, making up things on the go. Improvisation wasn't her best forte, but at least hints of lavender were pretty strong in the floating fragrance. "I just had to try it, and I hope it's good. If not, I'll be brewing regular tea right away."
"Lavender? What's this? A girly tea?" Jinta-kun scrunched up his face, but took a cup anyway, probably instructed by Urahara-san beforehand.
"I like lavender," Ururu-chan mentioned quietly. After tasting the brew, she added, "I like this tea."
Urahara-san took a sip. "Mmm… A cake would go nicely with it."
"Yes, you're right. I'll bring some," Orihime said, and happily disappeared inside the kitchen.
While cutting a lemon cake they bought this morning, she heard some noise from the tea parlour. Upon her return, she found everyone sound asleep. Some cups fell to the floor or were tipped over, so she quickly fixed broken ones, and cleaned spilt tea. Smiling softly at Urahara-san and his employees, she again thanked them for their help, and she also apologised to Hisagi-san.
Then, Orihime hurriedly ran to her small flat. It was already dark, sun had disappeared behind the horizon around an hour ago.
In her room, she took the cube out of the drawer. Somehow everything was working out well so far, so she had no doubts it would work, too. She put it on the desk. Taking out the Chappy hairpins, she put them in her hair. They actually complemented her Shun Shun Rikka hairpins really well – she set them the way it almost looked like the cute bunny was holding the flower.
She then approached the little shrine with her brother's photo. "Keep your fingers crossed for us, Nii-san." She lighted a small incense and said a prayer. Now she was ready to go.
Taking the cube, she climbed up to the roof of her apartment building and placed it in the middle. Using her spiritual pressure, she activated the device. Its reaction was identical with the last one – it emitted a small greenish light and the smooth surface opened in a few places.
Soon enough, a gate to the Garganta opened, revealing Ulquiorra-san.
"So, you finally decided to come," he said, his tone of voice as impassive as she remembered, if not a bit colder. His scrutinising eyes regarded her closely, inspiring fear and uncertainty in her.
Orihime tightly gripped the hem of her skirt to stop her hands from shaking.
"How is Kuchiki-san? Is she well?" she asked, wanting to let him know she was here for her friend. Otherwise, she would have never ever come to them. They'd better not hurt Kuchiki-san, too!
"She hasn't been harmed," he eventually replied. His gaze seemed to soften for a moment, but this impression was gone, when he added, "Despite you taking your sweet time to come. You're lucky I took into consideration that you may have problems leaving Soul Society."
Orihime breathed a sigh of relief. This was great news, and gave her some confidence. She requested, "Please, let her go!"
Ulquiorra-san ignored her, and said, "Come, woman, Aizen-sama is waiting for you."
She faltered a bit. But no-one had said it would be easy. Not to mention, he didn't outright decline, perhaps she just had to plea with Aizen-san to free Kuchiki-san. If that didn't work, they would just need to find a way to escape Las Noches together. So, blinking away the tears, she silently followed the stoic Arrancar into the Garganta and towards the enemy's clutches.
・
Ulquiorra didn't rush the pace. He was lost in thought, again trying to comprehend this foolish and paradoxical thing called 'friendship'. The Human woman came in its name, ready to sacrifice everything to rescue Rukia. The very same woman that in the very same situation grieved that her friends were ready to sacrifice everything to rescue her.
Knowing Rukia, her reaction would be identical. The idea that someone would put themselves in danger for her didn't sit well with her. Once she learned about Orihime Inoue's arrival at Las Noches, she undoubtedly would be upset and would blame herself for everything.
The Human woman should know this best, having experienced it herself before.
They were repeating the cycle, never learning, never realising they were just hurting each other. It would be the same this time, the roles were the same, only the actors switched.
Yet, they were talking about bonds, hearts and whatnots as if it explained everything. To Ulquiorra it was illogical. Why did they prattle about caring so much about each other, when ultimately they ended up hurting each other? What was the point of it? Where was any sense? To him it seemed they were just being selfish in their presumed selflessness, doing it for their own gratification. Lofty ideas were just an excuse to tickle their own hero ego.
Suddenly, he remembered that for Rukia he was ready to disobey Aizen-sama, his master whom he swore to serve through and through. His case was different, though. First off, he wasn't going against the impossible or sacrificing himself for her. If his request was denied, he would just kill her and face his punishment, which – he assumed – would be minor at worst. Secondly, he was more capable than them. Thirdly, Rukia wouldn't worry about him (…he immediately realised he had to scratch this point, recalling her reaction to a mere speck of his blood on his sleeve). Lastly, his motives were mostly selfish, and he wasn't disguising them as ideals. He just wanted to keep her safe and close to himself.
And he had no reason to doubt Aizen-sama would let him have her. If needed, he had some pretty solid arguments in his favour, too.
・
Orihime wished she would never have to put her foot inside Las Noches ever again, but here she was. Grand and austere interiors made her feel small and insignificant. The echo of their footsteps in otherwise silent corridor seemed to grow louder the closer they were getting to the Throne Room. Or was it her heart beating in fear?
Finally, they arrived before Aizen-san. He was as imposing as before. Cold sweat ran down her back. Even though she came here on a rescue mission, she couldn't help but feel disheartened and helpless.
"Ah, Orihime, I'm glad to see you again," he greeted her with a kind smile plastered to his face. "You've been well, I hope?"
"Um, yes, thank you," she replied nervously. She had to fight back the urge to touch her hairpins. She knew they were in her hair, and they wouldn't help her now. No need to bring unnecessary attention to them. "But more importantly, how is Kuchiki-san?"
"Rukia-chan's good," Ichimaru-san said reassuringly. "Ulquiorra here 's been takin' a very good care of 'er. I'm sure he's been scrupulous 'bout his duties."
Orihime stole a glance at the Espada next to her. He ignored her inquiring gaze, only kept staring ahead with an unreadable face. If he was in charge of Kuchiki-san, then perhaps she really was fine. Ulquiorra-san didn't seem like a particularly bad or violent man, though his words could be mean or harsh. This knowledge put her mind at rest to some degree. "Please, let Kuchiki-san go. I'm here, aren't I?"
Aizen-san smiled at her as if she just said something silly. "I'm afraid I cannot do that. You see, Rukia's quite comfortable here. And she might still be of help."
She had no idea what he was talking about, but it didn't sound good. Did he mean to keep her as a hostage in case she tried to refuse whatever he wanted her powers for? "Can I see her, then? Please."
"You ought to rest first, you had a long day," he said in a patronising tone of voice.
"I'm fine, really," Orihime assured. "So please, let me see her."
"I'm sure it can wait, can it not?"
Dissent got stuck in her throat. His demanding eyes so contrasting with his pleasant face filled her with fear. She could do nothing but meekly nod in agreement.
"Very well. Ulquiorra, take Orihime to her room."
・
Ulquiorra bowed, but before he left with the Human woman, he had to bring up Rukia and his duties. He had been unable to get a hold of Aizen-sama the past couple of days, so now was the best opportunity. He needed to clear this up before it was too late… before he lost her to something far worse and more permanent than her anger or hate.
"Speaking of the Shinigami woman…" he began, but had to pause at his own choice of words. He didn't like calling Rukia so impersonally, but thought it better to stay detached. "What are your orders, Aizen-sama?"
"Of course, with Orihime here, your plan succeeded," his master said graciously. "You've probably been looking forward to this day, when you can hand over this responsibility. I've heard Rukia got your back up more than once. So, all the more – thank you for your hard work, Ulquiorra."
"I am at your command, Aizen-sama," Ulquiorra replied. Feeling he needed to express she wasn't a burden at all (in the long run), he added, "There were some difficulties, I admit, but with time she became… agreeable."
Ichimaru snickered triumphantly. "See? I told ya she can be quite a sweetheart."
He didn't reply not wanting to give the Fox the satisfaction of being right. In the distance, he felt Rukia's reiatsu surge in icy rage. Either she noticed or Grimmjow told her…
"Nonetheless, it's fine for you to step down from this duty, Ulquiorra," Aizen-sama said. "Nnoitra has been quite restless recently, asking about her over and over again."
"What? No!" the Human woman cried from behind. She fearfully begged, "Don't hurt Kuchiki-san, please!"
"Silence, woman," Ulquiorra told her, though he was a bit surprised that she knew anything about the degenerate Espada. He had engaged with Ichigo Kurosaki during their rescue attempt, so perhaps then she had got a chance to realise what a beast he was. Turning to Aizen-sama, he said, "Nnoitra has no patience. He will just torture and kill her. If it is of no consequence to you, Aizen-sama, I would like to ask you to allow me to continue this duty… or – if it is not too bold a request – bestow the Shinigami woman on me."
His master tilted his head to the side and raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't expect you to get attached."
Ulquiorra didn't comment. Part of him hesitated if it was accurate to say that he got somewhat attached to Rukia. But the fact was – even the prospect of facing her frostiness didn't deter him from wanting to keep her safe.
"Oooh, someone's in a mood fer some hanky-panky, eh, Ulquiorra?" Ichimaru asked slyly. He just had to put in his two cents and seemed really smug about it.
Ulquiorra couldn't ignore him flatly enough. But this insinuation might actually help his case.
Aizen-sama contemplated things for a moment, and at length decided, "I see, you might be a better match for her than Nnoitra. Not to mention, you've been serving me well, Ulquiorra. If you want her, take her. You can do whatever you want with her."
He bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Aizen-sama." Inwardly he was relieved he had one thing less to worry about. All was left was to placate Rukia.
"Now, take Orihime to her room."
"Right away." He turned to the Human woman. She stared at him with wide eyes, a mix of befuddlement and horror shone in them. He took a small offence that she seemed to think he wasn't any better alternative to Nnoitra. "Come," he told her coldly. Quietly, she followed.
・
The audience with Aizen-san left Orihime in a daze. It all felt like a bad dream. Too distraught, she had problems focusing enough to sense her friend's reiatsu properly, but Kuchiki-san was there, alive, and this had to be her only comfort for now.
She knew her mission wouldn't be easy, but everything was going wrong from the get-go. She came to Las Noches, but not only they didn't free Kuchiki-san, they seemed to treat her like a property. When they mentioned the name 'Nnoitra' blood drained from her face, as she remembered how he had treated and spoke to her, even if it was for merely a moment. Just the thought what this awful man could do to Kuchiki-san if she was at his mercy made her sick to the stomach.
Though now her friend was at Ulquiorra-san's mercy, for better or worse. He apparently had been taking care of her until now, but what did that really mean? He had said she hadn't been harmed, but those were only his words, he could have very well lied to her to keep her compliant. And what was the insinuation that he would… do things to Kuchiki-san?
Not to mention, what was the reason they didn't want to let her see her? Were they already doing something bad to her and didn't want her to witness it?
Orihime shuddered at the thought. She needed to get Kuchiki-san out of here as soon as possible!
She didn't know how long they were walking, but finally they reached her room. Her vision was blurry with tears, but she recognised it as the same one as the last time. She hesitated, wanting to keep walking until she found Kuchiki-san.
"Get inside," Ulquiorra-san told her curtly.
She complied. Before he closed the door, however, she turned to him pleadingly, "Please, just don't hurt Kuchiki-san. I beg you."
・
Ulquiorra gave the Human woman an impassive look. All the way to her room he kept feeling Rukia's reiatsu. It was fuelled by anger, but also anguish. The fact was – they already hurt her. It wasn't just his fault, even though he had orchestrated all this. The Human woman was also implicated. If she hadn't come out of those preposterous pseudo-heroic ideals, Rukia would stay oblivious, and he would somehow keep her safe until the end of the War and longer… A nice notion, though he knew it was a pipe dream.
No matter how hard he tried, he was bound to hurt her, one way or another. It was inevitable. He was a Hollow after all.
"Please," the Human woman repeated in a whisper, her eyes red from tears.
Ulquiorra had nothing to say to her, so without a word he closed the door. As he took a step away, banging from the other side and muffled cries started.
Exhaling deeply, he headed to see Rukia.
His Rukia.
A/N:
This is it for now! The next chapter should focus purely on Ulquiorra and Rukia (*^-^)b Ah, it'll be fun, mufu～
And I think that tomorrow I'll update my other story, 3:00 A.M. and soon you can expect few one-shots from me, not only Ulquiorra x Rukia, so do look forward to them too! Hope you'll like them! (・ω・)
'Bayo! ヾ(＠^▽^＠)ﾉ
朝霧 -Asagiri-