Hi there! This is my very first Ulquihime Fanfic and I'm proud of it, haha. Rated M for later chapters ^^

Enjoy!

Chapter A, Beauty

On a sunny spring day in Karakura village, Ulquiorra found himself mumbling in the shades. He hated the heat, he hated the burning sun and most of all, he loathed the thousand traveling music players, the gypsies. They always came to villages at the most irritating times and today was no different. When walking on the paths, they would often shove their loud instruments in your face and encourage you to sing along. He absolutely, positively HATED them.

Although this would normally one of those days, he found himself glued to the tree he was leaning to. It was slight, very quiet, but he heard it. A soft, feminine voice reached his ears and it was supported by the silent plucking of a harp. The sound came from behind him, so he turned around only to see the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen sit nearby the river. She swayed along with her song and her hair was a fiery orange/red color. He had yet to see her face. And know her name.

Wait, wait, wait, hold on. What was wrong with him all of a sudden? Ulquiorra in trance by a mere woman? The thought itself was preposterous. Not ever had he lowered himself to such primary emotions, so why would he now? He had seen attractive women before, she was nothing special.

He thought.

"Orihime, honey! We have to go!" an old woman's voice shouted.

"Orihime..." the young man whispered in himself.

"Coming, Hama!" the girl said back.

What was it that caught his attention more? Her voice, her laughter or those... oh my god...

Ulquiorra watched her stand up and turn slightly in his direction. Never had he imagined the beauty that would encounter him. The girl standing before him was absolutely the most angelic appearance he had ever witnessed. And yet, he knew nothing about her. The girl drifted away from him, she followed the river all while happily singing and stroking the little harp she had. She was a gypsy, part of the irritating, stealing and singing population that plagued the villages. But her, no, she wasn't anything that could possibly fit in that description.

As he saw her face, her glowing grey eyes and pink lips humming a pleasant song, his breath hitched. Such beauty didn't belong here, no, absolutely not. The sunrays rebounded on her hair and the tips glowed a stunning gold.

She wore a simple brown dress, reaching her ankles and no shoes. He wondered if she had many scars on them, for walking here would definitely result in cuts, knowing the rubbish lying around. The dress hugged her well-shaped curves and he noticed a blue hairpin at the side of her head, holding a few locks and making her look even more elegant.

"Oh! Hama sorry I forgot something! I'll be there in a moment!"

The girl skipped to her former place again and searched for something. She turned around a few times and sighed inwardly. Ulquiorra wondered what she could have lost and just when he was about to go and ask her, a tall ginger haired guy came running up to her.

"Yo! Lost something?"

The girl turned and blushed, Ulquiorra wondered why.

"Oh! Kurosaki-kun! Well... you see, my other hairpin... I can't seem to find it..." the girl managed to say.

"No problem, I'll help you, Inoue."

"T-thank you!"

Ulquiorra tsked. If he knew one thing, it was that she was far too flustered when it came to that guy. He had suspicions about her weird behavior, but he decided to let it pass. After all, he didn't even know her.

But he was bound to get to know her.