Crimson and Ebony Chapter 4: Red and Blue Part Two
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The morning after was like a bright ray of sunshine on a puddle of blood. It only made the horror of it brighter, easier to see. It did nothing to cleanse away the feeling of guilt and horror.
Grimmjow was gone as well, and she wondered if she was supposed to thank him. Not that she wanted to see him, she didn't want to see anyone, or anything. She wanted to hide away from the world. She never wanted anyone to look at her again, to see the marks of shame upon her body. Aizen was right, she could never escape now, could never go home, not with this sin tainting her very blood.
Somewhere in her mind she knew that she'd done nothing wrong, that it was Aizen who'd violated her and that he was the one who should be ashamed. But her mind was too full of the thought that it was her fault. She'd ask him to take her instead of Orihime, she'd asked him to violate her, to hurt her, she'd promised him that she'd do whatever he asked.
She didn't leave her room that day, and no one came looking for her. For a few hours she pretended she was alone in the world. It was the only comforting thought she could muster until she finally fell asleep again. Her battered body needed all the time it could get in order to heal.
Outside her door stood a gruff man with a shock of teal-blue hair, arms crossed, glaring at any passers by. Most people saw his piercing gaze and walked away quickly, though a few of the braver ones gave him curious looks. The other members of the Espada did not seem concerned.
Grimmjow didn't bother explaining why he was standing in front of Crimson's door. He didn't really have an explanation for himself. He was just playing guard until the life came back into the woman's eyes. Because her eyes were dead, dead and dull and pained and it struck a tiny chord of fear in Grimmjow's chest. He wanted the fiery, sexy Crimson back, he wanted the feisty shinigami in disguise to come back and tell him he was an idiot.
He didn't like her or anything. She was just more entertaining that way. She had guts, she was tough, for a shinigami. But he didn't like her.
-//-
As he wandered through the barren halls of Las Noches, Kurosaki Ichigo looked vaguely confused. There was a small Arrancar girl hanging off of his shoulder, with a cracked mask and a large scar on her young face. His group had met a crossroads, and they were forced to separate. He didn't like it, he didn't like thinking that he couldn't reach them if he was needed. But they'd had no choice.
Renji's words were echoing in his head, powerful, binding words in a chanting voice.
“Now we head towards the battlefield. Believe and our blades will not break! Believe, and our hearts will not bend! Though the roads we take may be different, our iron hearts will beat as one! Swear, that even if the Earth is torn asunder, we will live and return here once again!”
The words held power, they resonated in all of them. And he knew that everyone else was hearing the same echo that he did. He couldn't see them, he couldn't reach them. But they were there. And they'd promised to return alive. He'd have to believe in that.
So he pushed those unwanted thoughts out of his mind, focusing on the steps in front of him, not even noticing the blur of white walls whizzing by him. Nel was asleep, lulled by the rhythm of his footsteps. He wasn't sure why the child had followed him in the first place, but her small, warm presence was strangely comforting on his shoulder. He was used to dealing with kids, being a big brother to two little sisters. It was a long time since his sisters had been this small though.
He hadn't come across any more Arrancar since the group had split up... Where was everyone? There should be more than this right? Then why wasn't anyone challenging him?
-//-
Tatsu sat up, walking over to the pristinely white vanity across from her bed. Her room was surprisingly luxurious, with ample cushions on a wide, round bed. She had a chair and a vanity, a small bathroom to herself. The only little problem was that everything was white. And it was a prison, that was a big problem. She was trapped here. It was comfortable. But that didn't change the fact that it was a cage.
She looked at her reflection. It didn't shock her to see a different face in the mirror any more. The mask on her face no longer made her feel cold and strange, her red hair didn't make her cringe. She looked at her image in the mirror and no longer saw a stranger. This was Crimson. She knew this woman, this Arrancar woman. She recognized her, she understood her. She knew the rough, hardened exterior, she knew the cold eyes. This was who she was, outside of this room, this was how people knew her.
And she was beginning to think of the Arrancar as people. Yes, they were often barbaric and violent. But were many of the shinigami she knew any different? She disliked, and even hated, many of the Espada, she'd watched them and had seen all of their hidden cruelty. She knew more about them than she imagined even Aizen knew. She knew all their little quirks, she knew what they did on a daily basis. But she knew that not all of them were that way. They weren't created cruel and evil.
They were Hollows originally. Hollows were just tormented souls, weren't they? It made sense that Arrancar would share some of the same torment. She felt for them, she understood them.
She had to get out of there.
She was losing her sense of herself. She was forgetting who she really was. Crimson was becoming her new persona, and Tatsu was fading into the background...
She turned away from the mirror. She couldn't continue to think this way. She didn't want to think of Tatsu just yet. Tatsu was still broken, Tatsu was still weak and alone. Crimson wasn't alone. She looked to the door, she knew Grimmjow was standing there, guarding her. And that was just another confusing factor of her imprisonment.
Grimmjow had her at his mercy the night before, he could've done anything he wanted to her. But he didn't do anything. He'd held her, he'd been there for her, he'd comforted her, but he hadn't taken advantage of her. It wasn't like him at all.
She went to the door and shoved it open, hearing a satisfying 'smack' as it collided with Grimmjow's back.
“Ow! Fuck!” Grimmjow snarled, turning to face her. “What the hell d'ya think you're doin'? That fuckin' hurt!”
She smirked, cocking her head to one side in a sarcastic gesture. “What's the matter, Grimm? Not fast enough to dodge a swinging door?“ she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
He growled faintly and silence fell between them. She watched his face, his eyes which were looking pointedly away. A small smile played about her lips, and she motioned for him to come inside.
“You've been standing out there for hours, you can come sit.” she said, walking in ahead of him.
He looked a little confused, following her in and flopping down unceremoniously on her chair. He watched her settle on the edge of her bed, across from him. Her colour was back, and she had stopped trembling but something was still off. There was a hurt, a pain in her eyes that she kept masked.
He had an idea about what had happened to her. But he had no way of knowing the details. But she seemed to be feeling better than she did. She was tough, maybe tougher than he thought. Maybe she would pull through this alright.
“You're quite vain, aren't you?” Crimson asked wryly. “You never would've touched me if I wasn't willing, it's not about rape with you.”
Grimmjow blinked, smirking wryly. “Wha?”
She chuckled. “You're a vain bastard, Grimmjow. You want people to know that you're the best.” She flicked her hair over one shoulder. “Anyone can use force, seduction's harder. You would've tried to seduce me, wouldn't you?”
Grimmjow's smirk spread into a grin. “Heh, you're smarter than you look, babe.”
She rolled her eyes, “I ain't your “babe”. And I'm not into being seduced, either. But I'll tell you what...” she leaned forward. “I'll make you a deal. I gotta get the hell out of here, and I think you can help me.”
Grimmjow looked intrigued, leaning forward so their heads were almost touching. “Oh? Why would I do that?”
She grinned back. “Because I think that I can get you out of here too.” she replied.
His eyes widened and he sat back again. “What?”
“You hate Aizen just as much as I do. You hate following him, you hate taking his orders. I can make it so that he doesn't get to boss you around any more.”
“Yeah, 'n' if I do that, I'll just end up takin' orders from you shinigami. I don't think so.” The smile faded from his lips and he sent her a glare.
She didn't waver. “You could run. You could hide out in the human world until this conflict blows over. You'd be free. You'd have to stay undercover but you would be free.”
He thought it over, and over and over. It was tempting. Freedom sounded sweet to him, especially coming from such a delectable mouth. But what was the catch? He could just help her and be home free? Nothing was ever that easy.
“What's your plan?” he demanded.
She scowled. “I don't know yet....” she admitted, sighing and running a hand through her hair. “But I do know this.” she looked him dead in the eye, and the pained look was gone. It was replaced with steel, with fire, with anger. “He thinks he broke me. He thinks I'm his dutiful slave now. And I'm going to continue to let him think that, I'm going to use it to my advantage. He won't suspect me as long as he thinks I'm docile.”
Grimmjow nodded. Okay, so maybe this was sounding good. It could work. “So what d'ya want me to do?” he asked.
She smiled, a little, genuine smile. “I need you, to be the reason why I change sides.”
“Wha?”
-//-
In the afternoon Crimson finally made her appearance out in Las Noches. She grinned cockily and walked with a sensual wiggle to her hips, and walking alongside her, looking like the cat that had gotten the cream, was Grimmjow. He wrapped an arm around her slim waist and walked with her towards Aizen's “office”.
When they were given permission to see Aizen, the Sexta Espada let go of her and faded back. Crimson smiled prettily at Aizen and bowed.
“Aizen-sama.” she murmured, her voice reverent.
“There was something you wanted to say to me, Crimson-kun?”
“Yes. I'd like to say that...” she turned to look at Grimmjow and a small blush tinted her cheeks. “I'd like to say that Aoki Tatsu is dead.”
The former captain's passively smiling expression never wavered, but she could see the curious glint in his eye. “Oh?”
“She died with her men. It's taken me awhile to realize it. But she's dead.” She grinned. “She had nothing to live for anyway.”
Aizen's smile widened a bit. “She didn't did she? She never got what she wanted. She was always keeping her head down. Staying unnoticed.”
Crimson shook her head. “That's not what I want. I want more.” she insisted.
Aizen nodded. “I can give you more...”
“Please... Aizen-sama...”
-//-
“Crimson's my Fraccion now.” Grimmjow announced. “Aizen-sama's given his permission, so she's mine now.”
Aizen smiled. “I'm sure she will work well for you, Grimmjow-kun.”
“Arigato, Aizen-sama.” Grimmjow said, as politely as he could manage.
“Yes,” Tatsu whispered to herself. “Thank you...”
-//-
Tatsu: What's up next? Who knows, be sure to check out the next chapter.
Grimmjow: Who knows? I might actually get some tail this time!
Tatsu: Oh shut up, Grimmjow!