AN: HEY GUYS! So, this is the first time I've ever published a story here. I actually just joined the community just barely a week ago. I am a big UlquiHime fan so if you're not into the pairing, you have been warned. hahaha. Well anyway, I have been inspired recently by OveractiveImagination39's works and along the way I also became a fan of Princess Kitty1's stories. They both write exceptionally well and they are the reason why I signed up here at fanfiction :D
In this story, Ulquiorra lives as a normal human being. Nope, he is not an arrancar. I just want that clear :D
anyway, I hope you enjoy the story! :D
Run. Run as fast as you could. Don't even dare look back. There is no time for words or tears. Bear the suffering the storm brings over your bruised body. Forget the throbbing pain of your broken ribs and dislocated arm. Hide the scar that streams down from your eyes to your chin like tear marks, but never forget the emptiness that your heart feels, the longing of one's companionship. You are all alone and can never feel being whole. You have given up finding ways to feed your soul of this bottomless pit of nothingness.
Somebody? Anybody? You scream and can never be heard. You're freedom was measured only by the four corners of your barred prison cell. You have seen children your age work day and night. You have stood up for them whenever they were in trouble. You were always there, constantly forging a path but when it was your turn to be saved, no one even dared to stick up for you.
You eventually turned up to a corner running towards a narrow and dark alleyway, squeezing your limp body to a small gap beside the garbage container as you listen to the footsteps of those who were following you pass by and eventually fading away.
Silence. This defeaning silence. You remember all those sleepless nights when your drunk father opens up your door. The way you painfully held back your tears as he approaches you with a knife on his hand. You have finally given up to your weakness as your tears ran down your face on its own. You are finding a way to escape but alas, your back eventually hits the wall. It was a dead end and all you could do was wait in fear as your father approaches you, holding out the knife in his hand.
"You worthless piece of trash! You can never amount to anything! All you could ever do is cry. So let me do the honor of permanently letting everyone know how much of a useless coward you are. Those brilliant green eyes will reflect nothing but sorrow."
With that, he held your face with such great force and your scream eventually fills the air but no one was there to come to your rescue, your heart finally giving up to despair.
If only you had wings. You have always looked up through your barred window in the stillness of the night. The moon was shining brilliantly at the vast sky. You watch the bats roaming freely without any care. If only you had strength so you could blast these walls away and lead everyone to their own freedom, living a life of their own free will. No chains around your wrist, no tears to be shed and no blood to be spilled.
But it was too late now. This hole in your heart can never be filled.
"Hello there! What may your name be?" a blonde girl with a tanned skin asked. She was roughly a few years older than you are. She was at the tender age of 12 and her jacket reached all the way up, covering her mouth.
"I don't know, Bel. I think the punk's not the type to go all friendly." a blue-haired boy of the same age as you interrupted, curiosity evident on his face
You shook your head and stared at the floor. You never had a name but your pathetic excuse of a father always called you 'Trash'. You sit still and looked at the blonde girl who was staring at you with such intent.
"If you don't mind my asking, why is it that you have scars right under your eyes and framing down your face?" the blonde girl asked, concern evident in her voice.
You stiffen at her question and immediately brought your hands to your face, hiding what was left of your traumatic childhood. "M-my f-father…h-he was…I was…" you begin to shake and stutter, reminiscing the horrible past of your drunken father.
She reaches out to you and pats your head, "It's alright you don't have to tell us. But those eyes…" She looks at your emerald green eyes with such admiration and traces her finger down to you tear-like scars. "…It is as if your soul is crying."
"He who cries…" a boy with brown hair said from behind the blonde girl, his whisper almost a sleepy tone.
"El que llora." The girl said in Spanish and immediately she reaches out her hand for a handshake and says "You're Ulquiorra!"
You reach out your hand and return her handshake as she spoke again "Ulquiorra, I'm Hallibel." She flashes a smile and you nooded in recognition.
"Eh? I'm not really into this crap but my name's Grimmjow. Let me know if you're ever in for a fight!" The boy with blue hair punched you playfully on the shoulder. You stared at him with such intense that he backed off and took his place beside Hallibel.
"I'm Stark." the boy with brown hair said lazily, sparing you a glance and walking off to find a nice spot to sleep
"And together, we are the Espada!" Hallibel exclaimed with much pride as she strikes a pose and eventually holds your shoulder. "I guess it's fate that brought us all together. I'll introduce you to Neliel and Nnoitra later when they get back. I'm pretty sure they would be psyched to see our little family having a new member."
"…a family?" You stared at her for a moment and turned away as soon as she let go of your shoulder. No one may have noticed it, but at that very moment your lips turned up and displayed what seem to look like a smile.
"Well this calls for a feast!" someone exclaimed running towards you. She had green hair and looked extremely enthusiastic as she ran towards you, giving you a suffocating hug.
"Oi Nel! Since when did you freakin' get here?" Grimmjow asked surprised.
Following behind Neliel was a tall boy with a weird smile. He was carrying with him five pieces of apple and he threw them almost carelessly at Grimmjow, one hitting him right in the face.
"Nnoitra you...!" Grimmjow growled as he ran towards the tall boy and punched him right back on the stomach.
"Not too long ago, Hallibel-san! We heard everything!" Neliel said, finally releasing you from the hug and hopping her way to Hallibel's side. Nnoitra and Grimmjow, however, were too engrossed fighting, not paying much attention to what was happening around them.
Hallibel gave you one last look and a reassuring smlile and made her way to the fallen apples. She drew out a knife skillfully divided them in half.
A family? What does it mean? Will it finally fill the hole in my heart?
You grasped the thin fabric of your torn shirt right above were your heart is. You finally realize that beneath your flesh and bones, your heart was beating and you may just have found a place in this crazy mixed-up world.
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing
- All Around Me, Flyleaf