Orihime Inoue

Orihime x Aizen: A different life, a different story.

It was always night in Hueco Mundo. Except for the illusion of day inside Las Noches. Orihime lay awake, unable to find sleep again. Ulquiorra who had been her prison guard in a sense opened and walked through the door over to the girl to deliver a message for his lord. "Lord Aizen summons your presence woman. Get up and come with me." He said, not bothering to look back to see if she was following or not. They both walked the halls of Las Noches all the way to the room where Aizen held the Hokyoku. Ulquiorra stopped in front of the door and said. "Wait here until Aizen calls you." With that Ulquiorra left Orihime outside the door. She didn't know how long she would have to wait, but decided to knock on the door instead of just walking in. From within the room she heard the slick voice of the ex-soul reaper. "Come in Inoue." With those words she cautiously opened the door, walked in, and closed the door behind her. She stayed close to the door and didn't move. She heard of what Aizen was capable of and knew to always be on her guard. Her eyes landed on the glowing object in the center of the room and just behind the stand was Aizen himself. His back was turned away from her so it offered her some relief from his penetrating gaze. The air was tense and the silence was broken by Aizen. "Come here Inoue." He said. She straighten her back and started walking towards him. "You summoned my presence Lord Aizen." She said solemnly, looking him straight in the eyes. Even though she was a prisoner and she lost her hope, she couldn't give up her courage. It was what still held her mind together. "Yes, I did. You see in order for you to fulfill your purpose here, I need you to learn how your abilities can adapt to the Hokyoku." He said. Orihime was now glad that her training with Rukia helped her to grow her powers. She wasn't sure how useful she would've been if she didn't meet the expectations he had. Not replying back, she turned her gaze to the Hokyoku. Reaching her hands out she held them above the glowing orb, sensing the power coming form it. Aizen's gaze was trained on the woman. Not that he would make it known, her power fascinated him. Being able to reject or reverse reality was something he had never heard or seen before. A pity that this human wasn't a bloodthirsty warrior but that didn't mean he ignored the fact that she was a fighter. Except Aizen couldn't picture this woman any other way than what she already was. She glowed with her own power, even while living in a place of darkness and loneliness that light couldn't be extinguished. He tried so hard. To break her, make her submit, to become that bloodthirsty version he wanted at first. When she pledged her loyalty to him, Aizen thought he won. But she still stood tall and didn't lose the kindness in her heart. Never had he witnessed someone with such mental resilience. Orihime closed her eyes and then placed her hands gently on the Hokyoku. It felt like everything was heightened. The rasuti in the room was more prominent and she could feel the intense soul pressure coming from the figure standing not to far away from her. It was so sudden that her eyes flew open and she retracted her hands away quickly. Orihime was breathing heavily from the intensity of it all. Aizen slowly lifted his gaze to the woman. "Well? What did you learn?" He asked. She got her breathing under control again and looked at the man. "I could feel everything at it's fullest. The power within the Hokyoku and your soul pressure." She said. His gaze turned curious, a human could stand within his presence and not fall to their knees with it's weight? Maybe there is much more to this woman then already known. "What do you hope to gain? This power is dangerous. It will take a great deal to activate the Hokyoku." She explained. "That is none of your concern Inoue." He stated. While turning away from her and walking towards the railing over looking Hueco Mundo. "Why weren't you satisfied with what you had in the soul society? Everyone seemed to be impacted when you left." Orihime said. She couldn't understand why he wanted more. But for someone who grew up with so little and with a loving brother, she didn't feel that desire to surpass others. She just wanted to be friends with them. Aizen stopped and turned his head to look at the woman. He held a warning in his eyes, telling her that she was about to cross a line. "What makes you so curious? So concerned?" He asked in a chilling voice. Orihime sucked in a breath knowing she was facing someone who could kill her in the blink of an eye. "No matter who wanted to access the power of the Hokyoku, I would try to ask them not too. No matter what kind of person they were, I wouldn't want to see them harmed." Orihime explained. Aizen processed her words and took slow calculating steps towards the woman.
Standing in front of her Aizen fixed his eyes on her big brown/gray ones. "It is not your place to have concern for others here. Question my methods or my reasonings again, and I guarantee you won't like my reaction." He said in a cold voice, his stance ridged, and eyes fixed on her face that held so many secrets and so much pain in them. Orihime didn't shutter, didn't look away, her brave stance didn't falter one bit. The air was tense and silent again. Ever so slowly Orihime lifted her right hand and grazed her fingers over his cheek softly. Her eyes trace the features of his face and his body didn't move a single beat as she did this. He felt incapable of grabbing her hand and cutting her down. Maybe it was because he hadn't felt this kindness before, when his true self was shown. Momo was a pawn in his plan. An alibi that he crafted to adore him. Her affections weren't exactly true, but something he manipulated over time. This woman standing before him was different. Her hand holds his jaw tentatively, like a mother soothing her child to sleep. She spoke softly and with all honestly almost as if she didn't want to wake up the dragon. (No truer metaphor could be said for this dynamic. A dragon becoming mesmerized and envious of the golden light shining from within a woman that had a strengthen, warmth, and kindness. Things that he didn't have. So he took what he wanted  and there in his dark domain he would keep this rare jewel to himself. Trying ever so hard to warm his cold heart. But never being able to do so.) "I don't care what becomes of me anymore. I know what my fate is Aizen. No matter how dark and suffocating it gets. No matter how many times I'm left to my own loneliness and despair. No matter how many mind games you use against me and try to break me. I will not fall and lose the love I have on my heart. My mind, body, and soul may serve your wishes. But you do not own my heart. Only I do. And it is free to care and love anyone it chooses, no matter the circumstances." Orihime said, and with that she slowly let her hand fall and took a few steps away from Aizen. He felt the warmth leave his skin and the coldness that followed stung. "I'll see you when you summon me again Lord Aizen." She said, bowing slightly and then walking towards the door. Before she left Orihime gazed at the ex-soul reaper one more time seeing that he hadn't moved in the time that she made her way to the door. She could tell that he wanted to say something, but knew that she wouldn't hear the words. So she turned back to the door and walked out of the room going back to her own. Leaving Aizen to his swirling thoughts. Never had someone looked at him as if he were glass. Never had they been able to look inside and see the jagged and sharp, bloody, edges of his being. Maybe in a different time, a different life they could've been friends. Maybe in a different reality where they met under different circumstances they could be more. Maybe in this life if things weren't the way they were, then maybe by some chance they could have comforted the other in their loneliness. Could have grown to love the aspects of one another that others couldn't quite understand. But this is the story that we were given, with the circumstances that make this dynamic impossible, with situations that make it seem toxic and be viewed as nothing more then a case of Stockholm syndrome.
Unseen by most, Orihime and Aizen are very much similar, but the difference between them is this. One let their heart grow dark and cold, with a thirst for vengeance. While the other grew and bloomed in the dark and sunny moments, with love overflowing for the ones that couldn't quite see things the way she did. Most don't like the idea of these two together but can you ignore the potential they had to become equals and serve as a lesson to one another? If so then I understand. And if not, you can see the way that Orihime sees the world and all the possibilities it holds.
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First story, had fun writing this. Hope you enjoy, even if we might not have the same opinions. Below is a link to a song that inspired this piece. ^.^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWaB4PXCwFU