There are a few things I would like my readers to keep in mind as they read this.
1.) This should be considered canon to the manga up until around the Hueco Mundo arc started. There will be things similar that happened in my story, but I'm switching and/or changing a lot of things.
2.) I was not happy when Ulquiorra died. This is my way of getting back at Mr. Kubo for taking away one of my favorite characters.
3.) I will update when I feel the next part of the story is ready. That goes for the next chapter, and the ones after.
4.) I enjoy CRITIQUES, not reviews. Critiques actually give you information regarding your story or your writing. Reviews tend to run along the lines of "Write more!" or "Ths waz su awwsum!!!111!!!" Tell me what you like and/or don't like. It's not that hard people.
And lastly: I do not own these characters, sadly. If I did, Ulquiorra would still be alive, Ichigo would be a background character, Zangetsu would get more screen time, and Renji would confess his feelings to Rukia/Byakuya/Ichigo or whoever the hell he feels he should be with. :P Oh, and Yachiru would be in charge of Soul Society.
Enjoy...if you can.
He didn't really understand why he was here.
To an extent. He knew that he had opened a Garganta into Soul Society, and had stepped out and had silently surrendered to the Captain Commander amid a flurry of surprised movement and yelling.
He had stared down at the seated old man, reflecting how unlike his former Lord he was. Old instead of young, harsh and loud on the outside to all instead of a few, and weathered, both physically and in his soul. The man's wrinkled face held no fear as Ulquiorra Cifer stepped towards him, his hands in his pockets. He ignored the kidu spells that bounced off his hierro, and ignored the sounds of reinforcements running towards him.
Ulquiorra had stared down at the old man for a brief moment before he closed his eyes, and had knelt, bowing his head as he waited for the end to come.
A shuffling movement from above, and then an old rough voice barking out at him.
"Espada! Why do you come and kneel before me as if I am your Lord?"
"I have no Lord, Captain Commander of Soul Society," Ulquiorra had said quietly. "I do not expect mercy from the likes of you, but I do wish to help in your efforts against Aizen."
"Why?"
The simple question that had been barked caused a small spark of...anger to flash in Ulquiorra's mind before he answered.
"Because if Aizen was really God, he would not have bled."
Silence, both from the commander and the large squadron of Shinigami that had materialized since Ulquiorra's arrival. He didn't look up or even open his eyes; if everything went how it would in his mind, he would never see anything of Soul Society again, as it should be.
"You expect us to just take you under our wing, treat you as one of our own, Espada?" the old man boomed.
"No. I expect you to kill me once I have outlived my usefulness," the fourth Espada replied softly.
"Why?"
Ulquiorra felt a sliver of annoyance go through his frame. He was really beginning to dislike that one word question.
"Because, logic dictates that you do so," Ulquiorra droned. "I am an Espada, your enemy. I have information that can help in your battle against Aizen, if you use it fast enough and wisely enough. But I am still your natural enemy. I do not come to you out of a misguided sense of receiving leniency or mercy. I should not; if I can betray my so-called 'home', then it would mean that I could betray you just as easily. I come to you and offer my aid freely, because Aizen deserves god-hood no more than I do. He is not fit, and I refuse to be a tool to a Shinigami with delusions of grandeur any longer."
"Soi-Fon," the old man growled, and Ulquiorra felt the air shift slightly as he felt a form press firmly against his bowed one, and a prick on his neck as something stung him.
He opened his eyes and glanced up at the woman leaning over him; her soul slayer seemed to be a stinger on her index finger. His skin tingled slightly, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the black silhouette of a flower bloom on his neck.
"He's surrendered, Captain Fon," the commander growled.
"Yes sir," the woman nodded. "But it he tries anything funny..."
"Wise, though I would have advised against it, given the likelihood that he could have easily become enraged and slaughtered you."
What did the old man think he was? Ulquiorra thought in annoyance. A new-born Arrancar that was starving?
"Espada, you will be taken into custody and placed in the Shrine of Penitence for your own protection until it is decided what we will do with you and your offer."
And so Ulquiorra now found himself in a tower in the center of Soul Society, his powers inaccessible to him due to the stone the building was made out of and the collar he was wearing, his sword confiscated, waiting.
Alive, and waiting for his fate to be decided.
He looked out his window- a small cut in the stone to allow natural light in, and barely enough to allow the prisoner to view the outside world.
What he could see was, to most he supposed, breath-taking. Spirals of white and brown and green mixed together beneath a pale blue sky dotted with soft white clouds. It was the opposite of Hueco Mundo in every sense, he mused to himself.
He wished that the commander had immediately decided on his fate; Ulquiorra felt...uneasy when he looked upon Seireitei. Like he was looking at something that he shouldn't and had no right to.
He didn't belong in this heaven, nor any other.
Ulquiorra turned away from the window, and curled up on his cot, facing the wall as he tried to sleep away his thoughts.