Bleach Arc - 17

Khan was summoned by Aizen, along with the rest of the Espada. As Khan sat down a cup of tea was placed in front of him. Aizen appeared sitting in his throne overlooking the Espada. Aizen then said, "hello my dear Espada, I called you here because we are under attack, Tosen if you please."

Tosen pulled a lever, then an image appeared showing Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryu Ishida, Yasutora (Chad) Sado, and Renji Abarai. Khan thought about the sudden appearance of Renji and realized when he checked Ichigo's progress, he was looking at the background, not who he was with.

Khan was pulled from his thoughts when he heard Barragan say, "What is this, I thought we were under attack by some massive army." Then Szayelaporro added, "it's disappointing to say the least."

Aizen with his calm poker face said, "don't underestimate are invaders, three of them had previously mounted a successful invasion of the Soul Society, and the Soul Reaper is actually strong enough to become a captain." Then asked, "how long before they arrive then?"

Aizen looked at Khan then turned to Gin, Gin then said, "hard to say at the rate they're currently going, I'd say 5 days, unless something delays them, or they find a faster method of getting around." Then Aizen said, "my dear Espada you need not worry about them, as long as you don't underestimate them when you fight, then it will be fine."

With that they were dismissed, and Khan decided to check on Orihime. Khan arrived, and once inside he found Loly and Menoly. Loly was insulting and verbally abusing Orihime, while Menoly was just standing there looking nervous, she clearly wanted to stop Loly from going too far but was too sacred.

Khan caught everyone's attention when he said, "what do you think you're doing." Menoly instantly recognized Khan as one of the Espada, Loly however she loudly said, "who are you to challenge us, we're the personnel aides of Lord Aizen, as such everything we do is in his best interests." Khan looked at Loly, then at Menoly, and said, "Loly Aivirrine and Menoly Mallia, firstly your positions aren't as infallible as you're implying, secondly, I am the 3rd Espada, so I can kill you and Aizen wouldn't care."

Loly quickly looked to Menoly who gave a quick, nervous nod, then she looked at Khan, the anger and arrogance gone. Khan used his Sonido and appeared behind Loly, placed his right hand on her shoulder, and pressed a spot that he knew about to release stress.

[Notice a seed has been planted in Loly Aivirrine.]

Khan said, "look it's a stressful time, what with those Ryko invading, so all I'll do as punishment is this." Khan snapped his fingers and suddenly Loly was on the ground writhing in unbelievable pain, Menoly and Orihime were both shocked at what just happened, Menoly clearly upset, looked like she was about to attack, but Khan said, "Menoly, if you want to save Loly, I need you to listen." Menoly looked at Khan not sure what to do, except to try and save her friend. Khan continued, "I'll let Loly live, if you swear yourself to me."

Menoly looked at Loly, who was struggling to breath at this point, then Menoly looked Khan and said, "alright I do whatever you want please, spare her." With a second snap, the pain assaulting Loly ceased, and she promptly passed out. Khan held Menoly's chin and forced her to meet his gaze, then looking her in the eyes he said, "you really are a lovely one, aren't you."

Whether it was Khan's words or the intensity of his gaze, Khan got the notice he wanted.

[Notice a seed has been planted in Menoly Mallia.]

Khan then said, "look the two of you need some rest, so I'll talk to you later." Before Menoly could react, a shadow arm appeared and placed both her and Loly in Khan's Shadow Pocket. After Orihime saw Loly and Menoly disappear, she regained her thoughts and asked, "what happened to them?"

Khan turned to Orihime and said, "I just placed them in my shadow, their fine." Orihime had a look of relief then her eyes got slightly wider as she remembered something Khan said earlier. Orihime asked, "um, earlier you said there was Ryoka invading, does that mean my friends are coming?" Khan responded saying, "yes, that was to be expected after all, to Aizen your nothing more than bait." Orihime had a look of confusion, then asked, "what do you mean I'm bait?"

Khan bluntly said, "Aizen only had you captured because he knew they would be threatened by what you can do, and if Aizen got control over you, they would be afraid of what he would have you do, Aizen knows this and is using you to lure out the captains."

Orihime suddenly asked, "if I'm only bait, then why can't you take me away?!" Orihime immediately covered her mouth, once she realized what she just said. Khan couldn't help but laugh, as Orihime tried to back-pedal and correct what she just said. Then Khan got close to Orihime, looked her in eyes and asked, "so do you really want me to rescue you and not Ichigo or his friends?" Orihime mouth made words, but no noise accompanied them. Then Khan continued saying, "I can, but know this I'm very greedy, and if you join me at my side, I will treat you with affection like you've never known, but I will also never let you leave."

Orihime grew still as she thought seriously about Khan had offered. Khan then said, "if you need more time to think I can give you until Ichigo arrives, because once he does, I'll be too busy to arrange anything." Then Orihime asked, "how soon till they arrive?" Khan answered, "Aizen is under the impression it will take 5 days." Orihime then got a look in her eye that said she was scheming something. Without using The Eyes of Hermaeus Mora, Khan guessed that Orihime was planning on using Khan to escape and scratch whatever itch she developed from her erotic dreams involving him.

Khan thought, 'it's too bad that I'm unresponsive whenever I use The Eyes of Hermaeus Mora, otherwise I would know what's going on in Orihime's head would be easy.'

Orihime then suddenly asked, "would you still rescue me if Ichigo failed?" Khan was rather impressed with Orihime blatantly hedging her bets. Khan asked in turn, "what would you consider failing?" Orihime answered, "if Ichigo leaves without making sure I can get away safely at the very least." Khan then said, "alright it's a deal."

Khan left, and Orihime was left wondering if she made the right decision. Once back at his palace, Khan decided to check on everything, Nelliel had 2 hours left before she would be restored to her adult self, Yoruichi, Pesche, and Dondochakka had met with Ichigo and his friends, and were already on their way back, they would arrive in 6 hours. Khan upon observing Gin noticed that he lost track of Ichigo and thought Khan might have something to do with it. Khan thought about what he could do with his free time, he could see how Loly would react to being alone in a room with him, he could enjoy Nelliel when she awakens, or he could simply relax while he waits for every to kick off. That would have been Khan's choices if he hadn't noticed a rare event happening in the Soul Society, an event he had to take advantage of.

Standing in his Shadow Nexus, Khan was observing a rare occurrence, certain individuals in squad 0 were actually sleeping, we'll all of them were actually. While everyone in the Seireitei were scrambling to complete the finishing touches, they seem to be resting up in case the others fail. Khan first observed Senjumaru Shutara, Khan could only observe, he noticed that she had dozens of things that could detect him, luckily, he didn't need to enter to use Morpheus's Dreamland.

[Notice a seed has been planted in Sunjumaru Shutara.]

Khan was relieved to learn that that wasn't an illusion. Khan then observed Kirio Hikifune, the state she was in suggested that she just finished cooking. Khan was aware of the power Kirio's cooking good give him, he used Morpheus's Dreamland again.

[Notice a seed has been planted in Kirio Hikifune.]

Khan observed the remaining members and all of them had methods of detecting him should he physically entered their locations. Khan had one thought to that, 'annoying.' Khan returned to his palace to relax, waiting for everything to kick off.