Lamenting Enchantment (A Bleach/Ulquihime fic)

Chapter 25

This is not my story! All credits go to The. Teal. Rose. on Fanfiction.net. This story belongs solely to the author.
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  227 Chapter 25: Unabashed Transparency
Chapter XXV

Unabashed Transparency

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength."
-August Wilson

The two female Arrancars entered the room and switched on the light, choosing to first linger by the door and simply leer down at Inoue.

Heart pounding, Orihime rose from beside the sofa, her eyes wide and her hand clutched nervously over her chest. "Um..."

She stopped as the girls slowly made their way over, walking deliberately and maliciously. Lolly looked about the room, her eyes dark as they appraised her surroundings, "Well, well!"

Inoue lowered her hand as the pair reached her, Lolly continuing to taunt in a voice that was both spiteful and mocking. "You've got a pretty nice room, don'tcha?"

"Doesn't she?" Melony responded flatly as they circled around Inoue.

"Oh?" Lolly touched the couch then before seeming to recognize something, and Orihime briefly wondered if she could sense Ulquiorra's reiatsu. Had he visited her last night after all? The very thought made her feel an indescribable flicker of exhilaration.

However, the feeling quickly passed as she watched Lolly unceremoniously lay upon the sofa, her smile malevolent.

"A very nice room," she repeated again, though Orihime had no idea what the girl was implying.

"Aizen-sama must really like you!" Lolly continued, her arms crossed and her gaze lowering as Melony moved to stand beside her.

'Aizen?' Inoue wondered, clutching a fist. She had not encountered Aizen very much at all since her arrival.

"Well, doesn't he?" Lolly inquired before lifting a hand and patting the pillow.

Inoue looked to the girl with widened eyes, her mind suddenly interpreting her vague statements.

"Everyone's all into you!" Lolly proclaimed, "You're super popular!"

Inoue's brows creased somewhat angrily as the girl continued to provoke her. Was she jealous?

"Amazing isn't it! Five people even came here to rescue their princess."

Inoue gasped slightly, as she instantly recalled the decline in every one's reiatsu, her heart feeling a new wave of pain.

She pictured Rukia against the 9th Espada, Chad fighting Nnoitra, Ishida continuing within his battle, Renji facing off yet another powerful opponent, and...as her eyes lowered...she felt within her heart the absence of Ichigo's presence, every beat instilling a piercing ache that coursed through her veins and into her very soul.

"They're..." she began breathlessly before lowering her head and closing her eyes, fists tightening. They were all falling and she could do nothing to stop it. There wasn't even anyone to lean on or look to for comfort. The one and only person who had even remotely cared was now so far across the void that she could do nothing to bring him back.