Road to Redemption

Chapter 38: Taking the Throne

A/N: Hi everyone! I'm finally on vacation and the story almost over! Thanks for your patience this past month, I was feeling guilty that I couldn't write due to finals but you've all been very understanding and supportive. Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the chapter and thanks for reading! 🤗😋

© Bleach and it's characters don't belong to me, they belong to Tite Kubo and Shounen Jump. Only Anna, Hanabira, and the Fujiwara Clan belong to me.

Chapter 38: Taking the Throne

The air around them was getting thin. Orihime was starting to feel light-headed. Ulquiorra placed his arm around her.

"Are you alright?"

She smiled. "I'm fine, just drowsy."

"Here." Anna gave both her and Ulquiorra a small pendant.

"What's this?"

"It creates an air bubble around you and gradually lets some pressure in, it'll help you get used to this."

"Thanks, Anna."

"No problem sweetie."

Orihime stared at her for a moment. Before this whole ordeal began she considered that woman an enemy and yet here they were. Nearing the final fight. 'How things change...'

She looked at Aizen as well. The man was still the same physically but Orihime could feel the change in his power levels, along with his manners. He didn't feel like the same person she'd met last summer.

Finally, there was Ulquiorra, who she was holding onto at the moment. Her boyfriend was the change that she had expected the least but loved the most. Even when he was an emotionless Arrancar she was fond of him. Still, she didn't expect that man with sad green eyes to become the person she loved the most. She tightened her grip on him slightly wanting to feel his warmth closer to her.

Ulquiorra reached for her hand, holding onto her as the pups carried them all over a wide flight of stairs. At the top of the stairs, there was a group of Captain's waiting for them. Two women and three men.

"Sosuke Aizen, you're not allowed to thread on further. You and your associates shall be cut down." One of the women responded. She had purple hair and a curvy figure.

"Didn't think I'd be seeing you again Captain Hikifune! Though the circumstances are not as nice." Anna addressed the woman.

Hikifune looked disappointed. "Oh Anna, I was hoping you hadn't been corrupted."

"Me? Corrupted? It's a bit ironic you think that after what the 12th Division became when you left. Would've done some good to check up on Kisuke and his replacement did."

Orihime bit her lip. It still hurt to think that her old mentor had put such a vile man in charge, or what had happened to Nemu. This needed to stop, and for that to happen they would have to beat the entire guard.

"Aizen, you and Anna need to get through without any, injuries. We'll all fight, but at the first opportunity you both need to get away."

Sosuke seemed to be hesitant to follow her plan, but in the end, he agreed. "Very well. Be ready, these people are very powerful."

Orihime looked back at the group before her. They all had high levels of spiritual energy, and very clear intent to kill. None of them could afford to hold back.

Ulquiorra seemed to know this as well. He held onto her hand tightly, silently telling her everything.

The group charged at Anna's signal. They were greeted by an array of needles that Orihime blocked with her shields