Disclaimer: The rights for the production of Bleach belong to Tite Kubo and Viz Media. I take no credit for it and am not making any sort of profit with this story; which I write for mere entertainment.
Information note:
Nagajuban: An underkimono garment; usually white. It is considered underwear.
Second Chance
When Orihime was with Ulquiorra they had a connection.
Some time after she was saved by Ichigo and the others, she thought she would be happy, and she felt glad, but she had realized about this emptiness inside her. A place in her heart created and occupied by Ulquiorra, and which no one else could fill. She missed him ever since they returned…
When Ulquiorra was trapped inside Grimmjow's negacion, he could still be able to perceive Grimmjow's reaitsu had disappeared, and since then knew he had been defeated by Kurosaki Ichigo. When he set himself free to take charge in Las Noches after the top 3 Espada along with Aizen, Ichimaru and Tousen departed, the first thing he saw was Orihime…
Due to the memorable speech he gave her about the soul, one wouldn't have thought he felt any mercy towards her. How wrong such assumption happens to be. While he was trapped inside the darkness Grimmjow put him in, she was all that occupied his thoughts.
He couldn't understand why anyone would go so far to save that woman. She wasn't a particularly important person in her world. The only thing that made her special was her power to reject reality; however, his enemies had made it clear they didn't wish to save her for that sole reason but for friendship; a concept he couldn't grasp as anything other than an unnecessary relationship among humans who were weak and couldn't stand up for themselves. Apparently, there was more to it, but what? What was there about it that made it so important? If it's so important, then how could he be missing it?
But none of that mattered. He did his best to stick to his duty and his duty only.
Before he knew it, a fierce battle exploded in Las Noches. He had broken the rule of not using his resurreccion form and shattered his recollected demeanor and still he lost the fight.
How strange. He was disintegrating particle by particle; this was his end; and he still thought of that woman.
-Do you fear me? – He asked her for the second time.
And for the second time, she answered negatively.
Why did he hope for her answer to change? Why was it so important anyways? He didn't understand how but he knew then that that woman had made a strong impression on him. She had seen him in forms that would've made most tremble and fall to the ground, but she still didn't fear him?
Just what is there about that woman named Orihime Inoue? – He thought with his last breath inside his soul. – I somehow want to understand. It is ridiculous. I have no future anymore but I still want to understand… In the end, I am having an illogical desire; much like a human would. Is it simply that no matter how much one tries to detach from such humane traits, they just cannot be detached from a soul that was once human? Is the human essence that persistent? Have I lost my opportunity to understand that woman? Why do I wish to understand her so badly? She should just be trash to me, but something about her tells me there's more to her yet. What makes Inoue Orihime thus worthy of so much analysis? In what way would it benefit me in the least to understand her; a mere human? Despite this much inner arguing, I still want to know more of her.
He didn't know what to expect after vanishing. In theory, his soul would be purified and sent to Soul Society but for some reason he always felt that his case would be different; an illogical thought he'd always shrug off whenever it came to his mind.
As illogical as it seemed, his foreboding was true in the end.
All of a sudden, he wasn't in Las Noches and neither Ichigo Kurosaki nor Orihime Inoue were anywhere in sight. There was absolutely nothing surrounding him, just dark nothingness. Not a sound could be heard.
He stood up but he couldn't really feel the floor and the atmosphere was strange. It was as if there was no gravity or spiritual pressure.
He placed his hand in front of his eyes. Despite the dense obscurity, he had no trouble distinguishing his hand or his feet. It was as if his soul radiated light.
Then, a second body radiating light appeared in front of him as if by magic. It was a young-looking woman. She had creamy white skin, grayish brown hair picked up in a ponytail, her face had fair features, her nose was small and graceful, her lips were thin and smiling kindly and understandingly, her cerulean eyes weren't judging but sweet and in the middle of her forehead she had what appeared to be a circular onyx stone. The kimono she wore was open in the front like a cleavage and it was red with pink, white and black flowers with shape of dandelions and her nagajuban was black. Around her neck she wore a white gold necklace from which a crescent-shaped pendant drooped.
-Hello, Ulquiorra. – She greeted smiling.
-Who are you and where am I? – He asked her with his always unemotional face.
-We've met before, Ulquiorra. – She answered him without her smile vanishing. – But of course, you cannot remember me. And us being in this space means time was stopped from its continuity.
-When did we meet? I do not understand how stopping time is possible for you.
-We met when you were in your material body, Ulquiorra. – She continued with her kind voice. – And I cannot reveal to you yet the reason why I can stop time. There are many things you wish to understand, aren't there? But don't feel frustrated. Remember humans have limits to their understanding and you were once considered human. However, it being limited does not make it any less wonderful that it is. – She sounded happier as she went on.
-But that shouldn't matter anymore to me. – He interrupted. – My existence has ended. Anything you tell me now is futile, for I won't remember it in Soul Society.
-But Ulquiorra, you will not go to Soul Society. – She stated perfectly serious.
-Will I go to hell, then?
-You won't end up there either. I can assure you that what awaits you is different.
-How can you assure me that?
-I cannot tell you how, but I can.
-Why have you stopped time and brought me here?
-Because I owe you a favor, Ulquiorra.
-A favor? – His voice was still lacking emotion but its tone was varying; beckoning that Ulquiorra was surprised.
-Yes, a favor. – She smiled again. – I have not only stopped time; I have also rewinded it.
-You reversed it? – He found himself doubting the stranger.
-I did. Ulquiorra, this is a new chance for you.
-A new chance? – He repeated the question while slightly frowning in confusion.
-Yes. – Her smile grew. – You see Ulquiorra, if you continue with your cycle of life in your current state, you will not be happy. Something within you is still unsatisfied; there is something you need to do, something you couldn't do before. This new chance means you can do it.
-What is it that I couldn't do?
-That's a question only you can answer.
-I do not understand.
-You do not need to. Ulquiorra, as we live on, time flows. If you stop by to understand each of your actions you'd be wasting an enormous amount of your life in which you'd be missing different opportunities. Like Kierkegaard said: 'Life can only be understood when looking back, but it can only be lived when looking ahead'.
Ulquiorra's befuddlement was taking the best of him. Just who was this mysterious woman? What she said sounded out of this world and then she was suddenly quoting philosophy. And why was she smiling like that? Such expression he had only seen anything close to it in Aizen's expression; which he always wore, but there was something different about hers. Hers didn't feel like a mask; hers was heartfelt. And how in the world could he know that? All in all, he found his current situation as impossible to analyze, even with his highly-praised skills even Aizen acknowledged. Such a situation was frustrating for him.
-What will happen now? – He resigned himself to reply as if he didn't have to question anything previously covered in that conversation; if he could really call it that.
-Like I said, I rewinded time. Everyone's minds will 'reset'; except yours. Nobody acts exactly the same way twice. Because you know this is the second time events occur, you will act differently, even if just slightly. You will think and feel differently.
-Feel? – He asked blankly.
-Yes, Ulquiorra, feel. This is your new chance.
-Why are you doing this?
-Like I said, I owe you a favor.
-How is this paying me back for whatever I could've done for you before?
-Do you really need to ask, Ulquiorra? – She sounded amused. – A second chance is what myriads of minds have craved for ever since the beginning of times. You are fortunate enough to get one. I'm afraid this is all I can do and I cannot rewind the same lapse of time twice or else a delicate balance will break for sure. Doing it once risks it, in fact.
-Why would you take that risk for me?
-Because I owe you a favor. – She repeated smiling.
-Was that favor thus important?
-That answer varies according to each person; for some it wouldn't be considered like that and for some it would be more meaningful than it truly was. It's a matter of perspective.
-How should I know what to do?
-You'll have to do what you've already done, but this time, you may take advantage and try to do what you couldn't do the first time.
-How will I know what that is?
-Have you forgotten already, Ulquiorra? What was it that you desired after your demise? What was it that you wished you could do despite knowing you had run out of time?
His eyes froze and he ceased breathing.
'I somehow want to understand. It is ridiculous. I have no future anymore but I still want to understand… Have I lost my opportunity to understand that woman? Why do I wish to understand her so badly? …I still want to know more of her'
Those words resonated in his mind. Had he really thought that?
He then turned to look at the smirking woman.
-Seems like you've figured it out.
She then walked closer and closer to him until she was so close she could touch him. Her expression was suddenly turned heavily serious.
-This is a gift but at the same time a trial towards yourself. You'll face something you've never faced before. You must not turn around and face things, no matter how hard, if you really want to reach your objective. – She then reassumed her smile. - I sincerely wish you the best and hope you find happiness eventually, Ulquiorra Schiffer.
That said, she put her hand on his forehead and closed her eyes. The onyx stone on her forehead had a blinking red shine. The dark that surrounded them seemed as if it was absorbed and disappeared. Now everything around them was white and blinding.
Ulquiorra squinted because of the sudden white and suddenly felt as if an external strength forced his eyelids close.
When he could open his eyes again, the mysterious woman had disappeared without a trace. He could sense the gravity and the floor again.
He glanced around. He recognized the room he was in as the room where he had kept Orihime Inoue prisoner.
In front of her was that very girl. He noted she was wearing her school uniform. Then he noticed that he carried in his hands the folded white uniform she'd wear.
Unbelieavable. That woman had really reversed time. This was the moment in which he'd hand her the uniform. He did his best to remain recollected.
He looked at her. She had one arm in her front; it was body language expressing she was guarding herself against his presence. Her eyes were looking at him with trembling irises. Her expression resembled fear; but that couldn't be. She had stated he didn't fear him. Was she then telling him she didn't trust him? That sounded logical given the circumstances. Perhaps, in order to understand her, he'd have to make her open. He had to gain her trust.
-You shall wear this from now on. – He spoke and left the clothes in the couch nearby.
He looked at her without saying anything for a moment. She didn't move either.
She could've sworn that he was one person and then, the next second, he conveyed a different aura. She didn't understand what had happened or why he was staring at her that way.
-What are you thinking, woman? – He asked her.
She looked bemused at his question.
-What am I thinking? – She repeated blankly; more to herself than towards him. – Do I really have to wear those clothes?
-You do. It's an order of Aizen.
-Aizen? - She looked a bit surprised at his answer.
-Did I say anything strange, woman?
-You didn't call him 'Aizen - Sama'. – She answered bluntly.
She was right. It was strange for him to forget that suffix for Aizen…
Ulquiorra decided that the best thing he could do was to not do anything rash out of confusion just yet. So he would calm himself down first.
-Do put it on. – He told her right before leaving and closing the door behind him.
She had no choice but do as he told her. She felt strange wearing that. And she didn't like being alone in that small, cold and boring room.
I'm positive something happened. In the middle of his visit, the air around him changed somehow. I don't know how. And then, he told me to wear these clothes twice; though the second time he sounded different… Ulquiorra…Schiffer… Will he come by again?
A/N: I started this story months ago. It's about time I start publishing it. I use the term 'soul' as a synonym of 'body'. This story is not my current main focus. When I have time to write, I try to write for KISA, my other story; which you are welcome to read. So, I will not update this story regularly, but I am certainly going to finish it. Proof of my commitment to what I write is that my other story is currently on 78 chapters and I haven't stopped. Please review. C: