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Prize of Victory	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 87205 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make profit from this snippet

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Meeting Kami Again

　

Despite not knowing where the 1st Division�s offices were, Karin was able to find them with ease. All she had to do was head towards the extraordinary powerhouse that was Aizen�s reiatsu. She took a moment to silently thank Szayel for the reiatsu-defusing shades because without them she never would have made it past the front gates.

She honestly thought most of the Division would consist of Arrancar, but that assumption turned out to be incorrect, to her surprise. This was just another Division like the others, granted one overseen by Kami. She noticed the same slumped shoulders and defeated looks mixed with the more eager faces of the newer recruits.

�I wonder how many years it will take for everything to settle down and seem normal?� she couldn�t help but wonder.

Granted, when one lived the life she did �normal� was an abstract concept. She had adjusted easily because she hardly knew the Hollow race, and she�d been taken in by Grimmjow as part of his �quota� at such a young age. These people had been raised over hundreds of years to see Hollows as simple, mindless beasts to be eliminated and cleansed at best and mortal enemies at worst.

She couldn�t fault them for still harbouring negative feelings towards their conquerors. It wasn�t as if the change in government had gone smoothly. However, Aizen�s conquest had some surprising results. For instance, she had heard the poorer, outer districts didn�t even know there had been a change in government for the longest time.

Since the citizens of the Rukongai Districts tended to have low reiatsu levels, they never really drew the attentions of the conquering Arrancar, other than a few of the lesser Arrancar staking out territories for themselves.

The stronger ones and the Espada had gone after the larger properties and they tended to belong to Shinigami. The murders and rapes that had occurred outside of the Shinigami forces had been very few and very far between.

�I need to stop thinking of such morbid things,� Karin sighed to herself. �It�s getting me nowhere and I can�t change any of it now.�

No one stopped her or questioned her presence and the Shinigami she passed gave her a light bow as they noticed the insignia on her arm. Once she was in the office building she didn�t even need to see Aizen�s reiatsu anymore to know where his office was.

It would seem the structure had the same layout as the offices of the 5^th Division, and she suspected the same would be true for all the Divisions� headquarters.

�No doubt so that any Taichou could be found with ease in the case of an emergency,� she guessed.

Karin reached the office door and was slightly surprised to see it was opened invitingly. Aizen sat at the desk, going through paperwork as if he was just another Taichou and not Kami. He even had a two baskets on the left side of the desk, one with the kanji for �In� and another with the kanji for �Out�. For some reason, it just made the scene a little more surreal.

Karin hesitated for a moment, wondering which title she should even address him by. Yes he was Kami, but right now he was also a Taichou. She made up her mind quickly and knocked on the door frame.

Aizen finished signing a paper before looking up to gaze at her. Soft brown eyes fell upon her standing form before a soft smile touched his lips.

�Kurosaki Karin, what a pleasant surprise. Did you perhaps come to ask for more tea recipes?� he questioned pleasantly. �Or is this business?� he added, nodding to the band on her arm.

�Business, Aizen-kami,� she bowed politely.

�I see. Please, have a seat and a cup of tea while I go over those,� he gestured to the chair on the other side of his desk.

She nodded and handed him the papers before settling on the chair. Someone, a seated officer she guessed, entered the room with a tray and a full teapot to pour her a cup and refill Aizen�s before departing again without a word.

She took a sip and had to hold back a sigh of bliss. If it was one good thing she could say about Aizen, it was that he definitely had good taste in tea, as well as a wide selection of them. They sat in silence as he went over the reports. In fact, he didn�t speak again until she was finished her tea.

It was actually a rather surprisingly comfortable silence. She settled into the old, worn chair and simply enjoyed the cup of tea while absently wondering how the seated officer knew when to come in to refill the cup.

�How is Ajuga-chan doing?� he suddenly questioned.

�She�s doing well, Aizen-Kami,� she answered with a faint smile after getting over her surprise at being addressed. She always felt a surge of motherly pride when she thought of her daughter.

�Who is watching her with everyone at home working?� he questioned.

�Orihime-chan and Tatsuki-chan,� she answered.

�I see. Ulquiorra reported his pet was with child.�

�Yes,� Karin admitted. �I noticed the odd double layering of her reiatsu and we confirmed she was with child shortly after,� Karin explained.

�It would seem like your ability to see reiatsu has several uses other than knowing where and how powerful someone is. Clever of you to deduce her condition,� he said and smiled warmly at her.

Karin just gave him a slight bow from her chair, acknowledging the compliment.

�What else can your vision see?� he questioned, setting the reports aside to give her his full attention.

�Not much more than that I am afraid, Aizen-kami,� she answered. �I can simply see reiatsu. Each person�s reiatsu has its own signature. I can see differences and thus recognize anyone I know very well.�

�Hence, how you can also see and recognize Claims,� he concluded for her.

He paused and took a sip of his tea. Karin felt suddenly uncomfortable. It was clear he was studying her and thinking. His reiatsu suddenly started moving and Karin found herself going instantly onto the defensive, gathering her own reiatsu about her and tightening it into a shield. She knew that she stood no chance against him should he make a move against her, but it was pure instinct.

He offered her a small smile. He was done fooling about with his reiatsu. It was definitely heavily consolidated, but she didn�t get the impression he was going to attack her with it.

�Well?� he questioned.

She studied him before realizing that even though she could see him clearly, she couldn�t feel him. If she closed her eyes she wouldn�t even know he was there.

�You can still �see� me just fine, can�t you?� he questioned.

�Yes,� she admitted slowly. �You only impaired my ability to feel, not see,� she answered.

�I thought as much,� his smile widened pleasantly. �How far can you �see�?� he asked, clearly interested.

Karin did not like where this conversation was going. She had no doubt that Aizen would resort to using her as a tracking hound if he so desired. Working directly for him was the last thing she wanted to do. If it came down to it, she knew he wouldn�t hesitate to force her to find her brother and the other escapees.

Karin knew that she had to make him lose interest in her as quickly as possible. The question was, how to go about it without using any falsehoods or arousing his suspicions. It wasn�t as if he couldn�t detect a lie a thousand miles away.

�The range is rather limited,� she answered slowly, trying to sound as if she was reluctant to reveal a limitation to her superior. �The results also vary with the person�s power. I can see your power sooner than any other because it�s extremely strong. For the average person, I would have to be within ten meters of them to really identify them� she answered.

It wasn�t exactly a fib. Without meditating and relying only on her sight, she�d given him a relatively honest set of parameters for her ability. She could, of course, slip into Jinzen and expand her range. However, it was better if he didn�t know about that.

�And how close do you need to be to see say, Starrk?�he inquired.

She paused, as if to give it some thought, before she answered

�Starrk-san is pretty powerful; I can see him at the gates of the Estate from my rooms. I am not sure of that exact measurement in meters� she replied, answering honestly.

�And me?�

At that, she lowered her eyes and lowered her head, trying to convey an air of complete deference to power.

�Well, to be truthful, I can see you from anywhere in the city, but comparing your strength to Starrk-san�s is like comparing the light of the noonday sun to a lantern,� she said quietly, hoping he would be distracted by the compliment. �You are the strongest presence in the Seireitei, without a doubt.�

He gazed at her for a moment, an unreadable expression on his face, before he sighed and shook his head. For a moment, Karin dared to hope her tactic had worked, especially with his next words.

�A pity, I had been hoping your range was greater,� he said and took another sip of tea. His eyes left her and he seemed to return his attention to the reports she had delivered.

�I am sorry to have disappointed you,� Karin offered him a slight bow, sounding as contrite as she could.

He waved her response away and signed several of the papers before handing the pile back to her, minus his portions.

�It was pleasant to see you again, Karin-chan. I would like you to stop by my palace after work.�

She froze in fear at his request.

�Kami-sama?� she questioned.

Despite her best efforts, her voice and her body language betrayed her sudden anxiety. He must have sensed it, since he folded his hands together on the desk and leaned back, giving her a congenial look, as if there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

Karin wasn�t fooled for a moment.

�I simply wish to hear how little Ajuga-chan is doing. In fact, please bring your charming daughter with you. I haven�t seen her since she was a baby,� he suggested, sounding as if he was actually eager to see her child.

An icy knot formed in her stomach and grew larger with each passing second.

�Of course. As you wish, Kami-sama,� Karin said quietly and bowed on her way out.

She hardly even registered the walk back to her own Division, a million scenarios racing through her head as to what Aizen could want with her and her child. Her greatest fear was that he had found out about her heritage, but there were other things he would be less than pleased to find out, such as the identity of the person who had really cast a Claim on Szayel, and the fact that she hadn�t exactly told the entire truth about her abilities.

�That has to be it. He seemed more interested in my ability to see reiatsu. No doubt he has someone or something he wants me to find for him, as a test,� she reasoned.

She picked up a rather happy Ajuga after her shift. Her daughter had apparently spent the day with Byakuya with the promise that she could visit again. Then she stopped by Szayel�s lab and confirmed that as far as the scientist knew, Aizen had no knowledge of their heritage. Reassured in part, Karin made her way towards the Palace.

�Where are we going, Mama?� Ajuga curiously asked

�Aizen-kami wants to see us,� Karin answered.

�We get to go to the Palace?�

�Yes, we get to go to the Palace,� she confirmed.

Ajuga gave a small �squee� of delight, nearly bouncing in place. Karin wished that she could share in her child�s innocent enthusiasm.

Checking for the twentieth time since getting off shift, she still could not detect Grimmjow�s reiatsu anywhere nearby. She could sense irritation when she concentrated, but otherwise nothing else. That left a sour taste in her mouth.

�No doubt Aizen was quick to find him a mission to get him out of the way,� Karin thought angrily.

It was definitely a running theme with the bastard. Every time he wanted something of her that he knew Grimmjow might protest or fuss about, he simply had the Espada removed from the immediate vicinity, or sent him on patrol.

�It�s amazing,� Ajuga commented in awe as they approached the front gate, guarded by two Arrancar.

The two guards crossed their weapons as they approached.

�Halt,� The one on the left ordered.

�Aizen-kami has summoned us,� Karin answered as they came to a stop.

The guard turned to speak to someone she couldn�t see. After a minute or two, the guards withdrew their spears as someone powerful approached the gates. When the man in question came into view, Karin was surprised to note that she recognized the silver haired Shinigami from the Claim Meetings she�d attended.

Taichou class, un-Claimed, but he always sat behind Unohana, and he carried himself slightly hunched. He wore nothing more than a plain white yukata. Even his feet were bare, which Karin thought was highly unusual.

�Ah, Karin-san,� he addressed her, in an unusual accent, his face set with a foxlike smile. Then he turned his attention to her daughter. �And you must be Ajuga-chan.�

�Hi,� Ajuga responded shyly.

�Aizen-kami is expecting you. This way, please.�

He bowed and held out a hand to indicate the direction.

Karin nodded and fell into step beside him. Ajuga hung near her leg, looking about in amazement.

�I must say, it is a pleasure to finally meet you face-to-face Karin-chan,� he smiled warmly at her.

�Thank you. I have never had the pleasure of your name,� she admitted.

�Ah yes� my apologies. My name is Ichimaru Gin,� he declared and bowed politely to her as they walked.

�Your name is funny,� Ajuga giggled.

�Is it now?� he asked her with a smile.

�Yep,� she said firmly with a nod of her head.

�Did Aizen-kami inform you what he wanted with us?� Karin inquired

�I�m afraid not,� he frowned. �We are almost there.�

The rest of the short trip was done in silence. Aizen was waiting for them in a tastefully decorated sitting room.

�Ah, Karin-chan, and Ajuga-chan. My, you have certainly grown,� Aizen exclaimed, as if the two of them were relatives visiting after a long absence. He offered them a warm smile and gestured for them to sit in the chairs across from him.

Karin and Ajuga both sat after offering him a polite bow. Ajuga fiddled impatiently while Karin sat absolutely still. Gin set about pouring them all a cup of tea before kneeling beside Aizen�s desk, hands clasped in his lap and head bowed.

Karin took a sip of the tea and oddly, began to relax, despite her inner anxiety. Ajuga also seemed less impatient as she sipped her own cup.

�How has Ajuga-chan been coming along?� Aizen asked.

�Well,� Karin answered.

�Her growth rate?�

�About double that of a normal human, thus far. She is only two and already displaying the physical and mental development of an average four or five-year-old human,� Karin answered.

�She seems to have an impressive amount of reiatsu for a child,� he noted. �But I sense only hollow powers within her. A pity.�

�She does take after Grimmjow,� Karin smiled fondly at Ajuga.

�I am going to be strong like Papa,� Ajuga chirped up happily. �Szay say so. He said my claws are already really, really sharp,� she announced proudly, holding her hands out in a clawing gesture.

�Are they now?� Aizen asked amused, resting his cheek on the knuckles of one hand and taking a sip of tea with the other.

�Uh huh,� Ajuga was clearly proud. �An I hunt really good. So good Papa can�t find me, but Mama always does,� she pouted at the last bit.

�Really now?�

�She is very good at hiding her reiatsu and stalking.� Karin admitted with a hint of pride. �And you know the reason I always know what you are up to, brat?� Karin asked with a smirk.

� �cause Mama always knows everything,� Ajuga answered.

�That�s right. Mama always knows everything you do, so no sneaking around.�

Aizen�s smile widened in real amusement at Karin�s mock-warning.

�I have a wonderful garden out back. Ajuga-chan, why don�t you show Gin here your prowess,� Aizen suggested. �I�m sure he would love a demonstration of your skills.�

Ajuga looked up at her expectantly. Karin did not like the situation at all, but reluctantly nodded her head.

�Go on, Ajuga. Just don�t damage anything.�

Ajuga cried happily and jumped from her chair while Gin stood up and offered her his hand. Ajuga readily took it and he led the girl out of the sitting room.

�What is it you wished to see me about?� Karin asked once her daughter was gone.

�You are a smart woman, Karin-chan, far smarter than your brother. Why do you think I summoned you?� Aizen asked, relaxing into his chair.

Karin sighed and took another soothing sip of her tea.

�You want me to find something, or someone,� she guessed.

�Indeed,� he smiled pleasantly.

�I won�t betray Nii-san,� Karin said firmly. �I�ve already told him my place is here, with my family.�

Aizen set his cup down and shook his head at that.

�Fortunately, it is not your estranged brother I am looking for.�

Karin felt a large amount of tension leave her body at that declaration.

�These creatures� Szayel mentioned that you noticed the portal opening at the lake during the initial attack.�

�Yes,� she said slowly. �But I understand Szayel went back and has since checked the lake, several times. As there were no lingering traces of reiatsu, I fail to see how useful I would be to you.�

�If you concentrated, sat down and mediated, what is your range?� he asked.

Karin mentally cursed that he had thought of that.

�I am not entirely certain,� she said slowly, and this too, wasn�t exactly a lie, or rather, it was at least a half-truth. She honestly had never tested the limit of her range while in Jinzen, so technically, she had no idea how far out her abilities extended.

�Do it. I want you to find someone for me.�

Karin swallowed nervously, before requesting who it was he desired her to find and pointing out it would be best if it was someone she knew.

�Let us make it relatively easy. Tell me where Ulquiorra is right now. He should have a sufficient pool to find.�

Karin nodded and settled into Jinzen. She let her senses sweep out, pausing to make sure her daughter was well and safe. Ajuga was nearby with Gin, her reiatsu radiating happiness as she moved slowly about the pine shrubs.

Convinced her daughter was safe and well, Karin let her senses sweep outwards. She started with where she knew his house was and traced the lingering trail of his reiatsu. He was a good distance away from the city, and briefly Karin wondered if he was out on a mission or if Aizen had sent him out there to test her.

The distance was rather fair and she debated on letting him know that she had found the target. It was farther than she wanted him to know she could reach, but at the same time she wasn�t so sure she dare lie to him.

Karin was spared the lie though when she felt several spikes of unfamiliar reiatsu. She quickly latched onto it, frowning as she watched the two merge and swirl about each other before becoming one. Her confusion didn�t last long as nigh unnoticeable smaller flares of reiatsu suddenly streamed from the now single mass.

�I think a portal is opening,� she gasped, eyes flying open as she reported without hesitation.

�Why and where?� he demanded, hands now planted firmly on the desk, all trace of smoothness in his voice gone.

She described what she saw and the location the best she could. A moment later, the alarms went off as Szayel�s defence grid picked up the approaching swarm.

She snapped out of her trance, forcing herself to sit still while her body and mind screamed at her to get going.

�You have a division to run, you are dismissed,� Aizen waved her away, seemingly done with her. �I will let you see yourself out.�

Karin knew a chance to escape when she saw it. Jumping up, she gave a bow that barely qualified a proper before rushing out of the sitting room and towards Ajuga�s reiatsu.

�Ajuga!� Karin called as she bolted into the garden, knowing exactly where her daughter was hiding.

Gin looked up at her in surprise, obviously not expecting her that soon. Ajuga came out from behind one of the bushes and leaped into her mother�s waiting arms.

�Mama?� Ajuga asked, looking up at her, worry on her small face.

Karin wasted no time, nodding to Gin before launching into a Shunpo. She raced away from the palace the moment her daughter was in her arms. The streets were already full with Arrancar and Shinigami rushing to their stations. The young woman came to a halt and set her daughter down carefully, crouching to look Ajuga squarely in the eyes.

�Ajuga, I need you to do exactly what I say, alright?�

�What is it Mama?�

Her daughter didn�t seem to least bit disturbed by the commotion and alarms. It saddened Karin to realize the little girl had grown accustomed to the sounds of war already.

�I need you to go see Szay. I want you to run right there and don�t stop for anything. When you get there I need you to tell him �42, 28�. Do you have that?� Karin asked.

�42, 28,� Ajuga repeated dutifully.

�Good girl. Now go, quickly. Go see Szay and don�t leave until Papa or I come get you.�

�Right,�

Ajuga jumped from her arms and darted away, nimble as any cat. Karin watched her disappear, amazed at how easily her daughter weaved through the streets and crowds.

Then, giving herself a mental kick, Karin turned about and raced towards her Division, already seeking out Nanao�s reiatsu.

�Time to see if that training paid off,� she thought as she raced forward.

She had no doubt Ajuga would be safe with Szayel. Karin strongly suspected his lab was more protected than Aizen�s Palace. It certainly seemed far less threatening and oppressive to her mind.

　

　

　

　

Thank you all so much to everyone that took the time to review. I am afraid my schedual hasn�t cleared up very much so I do not have much time, add that to the fact that their seems to be something wrong with my stomach, it hurts like a bitch and I had an Ultra Sound yesterday but it will be a week before I know the results, and I am pretty much indisposed of 24/7.

Anyway, huge loves and hugs. Oh one major important thing I MUST add. Black Storm drew an amazing picture of Grimmjow and Karin and you can see it here: blackstorm.deviantart. com/#/d4d9wo2
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Prize of Victory