White Hibiscus: Stigma
「零」 The Moon and The Gray Clouds
Greetings!
Thank you for stumbling onto this page m(_ _)m
I thought I should provide some warnings that this fic is pretty much focusing on Ulquiorra x Orihime, with an occasional introduction of characters residing in Hueco Mundo~ XDD
You need to have some kind of character knowledge to know what this chapter is talking about.
No names are mentioned so far XDDD
Disclaimer(s): I do not own Bleach and their characters (definitely); they are all masterpieces from Kubo-sensei~
The moon looked up, her eyes reflecting a strong sense of disbelief,
"We are not that different?"
"We are too different," She retorted.
She had a facial expression that reminded me of a stray cat, petrified but still very rebellious.
This world that I was introduced to, was peaceful and serene. The pale sands would make tiny ripples on the surface as the occasional strong winds blew. The sparse dead trees would cackle softly against the breeze as if they were singing in harmony.
This world that I knew and grown too familiar with, had people living in it. The citizens who made up of the residence here spoke politely with grace, with the exception of a few - they too would give their utmost best to respect those that were above them. This world may resemble a monarchy, but it definitely had a lot of democracy within it. The king was often decisive with his flawless counter-strategies. Whenever we had court meetings, he was aided with two loyal advisors which stood by his every decision without fail.
A mere minister I was, along with nine others we formed the cabinet which seemed like the governing body to the remaining citizens - all decisions were eventually finalized by the King. I may not be the highest-ranking official; yet I was often entrusted with major duties, ordered by the King himself. A favorite, the other officials would whisper amongst themselves and jealousy sparked as they fought for attention from the King. My job was not to participate in that foolish rat race; it was to fulfill my duties as a cabinet member. If there was someone that I had bothered to throw my glance at, it would only be this wise King.
This world that I lived in, gave me almost everything I had wanted.
Almost. This world, was so close to being the perfect, idealistic one I had always visualized it to be.
This world, was getting boring.
My eyes observed how the gray streamlined clouds had wrapped the bright silver moon in darkness. A shadow had crept stealthily behind me - it was the King, with his usual polite greeting towards his own subordinates.
"The moon looks pitiful, isn't it?" A random remark about the surrounding environment would seem just fine to spark a conversation. The ruler kept quiet as if he was demanding a reply from me.
What about the moon that was so pitiful?
I turned slightly to my right, my eyes studied the gradual motion of his mouth.
"Why do you say so?"
The King revealed a slight smirk, as if he had already anticipated my question.
"As beautiful as she has always been, she is unable to resist the looming darkness that engulfs her."
"She is being pitiful?" I was picking up another lesson from him once more.
"Yes, indeed." The King replied softly with an amused reaction. He must have enjoyed the way that he was taking control of the conversation.
"Why is...the moon..."
I wasn't sure how I should approach this question and stopped at the last word.
Why is the moon a "she"?
There was no way we could tell the gender by looking at its round appearance just like that.
"I think she's feeling lonely, isn't she? That's why she didn't even mind the companion of darkness," The man beside me described motionless objects as if they were entirely alive. Darkness was now like a friend, not the phenomenon caused by a lack of light.
Why is the King speaking of the moon all of a sudden?
"Pardon me for asking," I interrupted the puzzling conversation.
"Is there a reason...," It was difficult to complete the sentence without offending this man. A mere minister like me should never question a King's actions, nor should he ruin his seemingly enjoyable evening.
"Do I need a reason to speak to you?" The King asked in a quizzical tone. Like a huge clock tower that just stroke midnight, the great man had just knocked some sense into this head of mine.
"No," I bowed my head in apology.
I guess I just angered the King, didn't I?
The monotonous days might have just dimmed my analytical senses in asking intellectual questions.
"Just when I thought you would make a nice listening partner..." He frowned while he gazed at the muffled moonlight peeking out at the ends of the clouds.
"My apologies once again," I insisted firmly, with my head still looking at the white concrete tile.
The King broke out into a laughter.
He actually thought of me, a tiny residence of this massive castle, as his listening partner.
A listening partner.
That would mean I should just keep quiet and hear what the King has to say, am I right?
"I was just joking," He gave me a pat on my right shoulder.
The moon slowly regained her former shape - smooth, shiny and speckled with gray spots. The people from my world just assumed naturally that it was a she. Why was the moon a female? It did not have long hair, nor did it spoke in a higher pitch. It would be awkward if I had asked the King why, for it seemed like a commonly known fact; based on how he phrased his sentences.
"How wonderful if everyone had an existence like the moon," The King remarked randomly, expressing his awe for the silver glowing object in the night sky.
I kept quiet. There was something intriguing and mystifying about the silent presence. The moon may not have eyes that moved around like we do; but she definitely looked like she was gazing back at us in the same manner. Even when I could not see her eyes, she appeared that way to me. What a strange moon, I thought to myself.
"Do you have a existence like that?" That curious mindset was operating on its own, against my will to perform my duty as a "good listening ear".
"Ah...about that, I'm about to have one," The King closed his eyes and smiled.
So the King does have a moon for himself.
"The moon that is mine, belongs to all of you here as well,"
"The moon that all of you will stand under when we enter the new world," The King spoke of the visions he had of the new world that we are fighting hardly for.
"Does everyone have a different moon?" I asked while I counted the number of spots on the surface of the round object.
The King smiled and replied,"Why, of course it differs to everybody. You too, will have one."
I too, will own a moon like that?
"I see," I concentrated on the almost even lines of the sand dunes.
***
Do you know something?
You are just like the moon, entirely afraid of being alone in this world.
So much so, that you did not seem to bother that the existence standing in front of you,
That that existence was so filled with the color black, he became the darkness that was devouring you.
You and I, were like that of the gray clouds and the frail silver moon.
I stared at the same woman in front of me. Orange haired, gray eyes and a pair of blue flower-shaped hair clips fastened above her ears. I could tell that the only thing she probably feared at that moment was not facing me, it was that she was aware of something else.
That I was about to isolate and rip her of her current companions – those two weak-looking Shinigamis.
"Wait! You have something to say to me right?" She thought she was able to retain her company.
I have to apologize to you, woman. You can't change the way I want things to turn out to be.
This is how I make my self-introduction - I show people how despair feels like.
If you don't understand how that feels, you should at least watch it with your own eyes.
Her eyes wavered in fear when I took out one with a snap of my fingers.
"No!" She mouthed those words without even having the strength to raise her voice.
There was even difficulty to breathe out those words that she intended to say.
It's futile, woman.
The feeling of being unable to save the people around you, that in itself is the birth of despair.
"Follow me," I said those words to her.
I knew she was about to reject my offer so I added another sentence so that she could understand my intentions better.
"You can only say Yes. Or, your friends will suffer,"
This woman had commendable levels of bravery within her. The only thing she did was to move her legs closer towards my back. She did not even say "Yes"; it was apparent that she wanted to negotiate some terms with me.
"This is not a negotiation," I warned her.
"It's an order that you can only heed and nothing else,"
The moon was left in the vast open night sky, fending for herself.
Let me be the darkness then, and then I'll cover all that you don't want to see.
She stood at the entrance, her hands tugging very tightly at her skirt; like she was showing her reluctance on purpose.
I remembered I asked her very mundane questions like "Have you said your goodbye?" even when I was aware of her every move in that town. She just wouldn't reply.
The gray clouds drifted away slowly and revealed a beam of white light that shone onto the two of us. It was time to leave this town - I turned my back towards her, hinting her to follow my footsteps.
"We are not that different," I remarked, trying to assure her that there was not much to adapt back at the new place.
The moon looked up, her eyes reflecting a strong sense of disbelief,
"We are not that different?"
"We are too different," She muttered to herself.
She had a facial expression that reminded me of a stray cat that passed by a few minutes ago, petrified but still very rebellious.
As the dark hole opened itself, the pavement laid its path back home.
I whispered something so softly,
I knew she probably would not like what I wanted to say to her.
"Welcome to my world."
I looked up at the sky one last time.
The moon was all alone again.
yu-pon's note:
Hello =33 If this is your first time reading my fic, Welcome!
I started writing this fic on a bus...and just finished writing!
(it's 5 am soon~so aka --- I need some sleep haha.)
It's a Chapter 00. So it's like a prologue!!
I didn't actually continue off from the previous one because there would be people reading this only? yep~
Chapter 1... which will be written soon will talk about the events... Orihime says goodbye at Karakura Town from peeping Ulquiorra~ XDD
I'm trying to make this UlquiHime~ I'll try okay!
so..I guess it's Chapter 01 then?
See ya guys soon!!
ほなおつ～
yu-pon deshita~