"…So this is a heart."

Reaching out towards the emotional, yet confusing, woman, Ulquiorra watched as his arm began to crumble and dissipate into the wind.

"Really, what an irrational thing it is," Ulquiorra scoffed to himself as he felt the last of his body break apart. He knew his death was inevitable: not only was his body unable to recover, he had failed to follow through Aizen's orders. Even if he had survived, there was no excuse for his failure. Either way, he was going to be at death's doorstep, but he didn't mind; without any pride, what would he have to live for? Holding his head high with no regrets, he closed his eyes as he felt the last of his outstretched hand disintegrate. But there was one thing left on his mind:

"It is infuriating how you humans do the unexpected because of something that I cannot see."

2 Weeks after the arrest of Former 5th Division Captain, Aizen Sosuke:

Emptiness was originally what he first felt when his conscious began to build. But then he suddenly realized that he shouldn't even be conscious nor have thoughts if he was dead. Slowly peeling his eyes open, Ulquiorra caught sight extreme white brightness and placed a hand on his face. Once he had adjusted, he look at his body to find that he still felt solid and had been reverted to Espada form without his hollow helmet rather than a pile of dust he expected. Confused, Ulquiorra patted himself down to see that all of him was still there, but his new outfit now consisted of a white kimono similar to the shinigami's and his black socks were replaced with white ones. But if he lost his mask, was he still an Arrancar? He touched his chest and felt for the circular gap he had for so long. Unsure if this was reality or not, he lifted a part of his new garments to confirm what he felt: the hollow hole was still there.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Ulquiorra took a look at his surroundings which composed of a blank white void that stretched for miles on end. How ironic, it was just like him. But he looked at his hand and recalled the last few moments before his death. He had discovered a heart, hadn't he? But why did he feel no different from this unless void? Letting out an annoyed tch, he closed his hand and look towards his surroundings; what was he suppose to even do in this situation? He turned around and suddenly bumped into something. Surprised, he looked down and saw a wooden table with a tea set already warm and prepared.

He suddenly tensed and swiftly looked left and right, but nothing substantial appeared.

"…"

Skeptic, Ulquiorra didn't bother to sit in the matching chair that just so happened to be there. Why was there tea in front of him? He had no thoughts of tea even on his mind until now. While he did enjoy tea, he was hardly in the mood for it. But he was becoming very tempted as the minutes grew. Debating for at least an hour whether he should accept the strange hospitality, he finally took a cup and sipped a small amount, pausing for a few minutes to see if anything would happen to him. Fortunately nothing did. He relaxed slightly after several more cups of tea, and began running a finger around the rim of his cup, wondering what was going on. Was he in what the humans called "the heavens"? Was he even dead? Pondering for more theories, he tried to think back to what he knew. Sighing, he took another sip; At least the tea never ran out here.

Around the Same Time in Soul Society (Give or take a few hours):

"Wah!"

A giant thud and crash of glass could be heard from outside the thirteenth squad's quarters. Ukitake sighed as the peaceful moment was impaired. He wished for more peaceful moments like a few minutes earlier.

"Is that you, Saitoki-chan?"

"Yes…Oww..."On the ground laid a young girl that seemed no older than fourteen in the black shinigami robes. She rubbed her light brunette head to alleviate the pain that was coursing through her skull while thankfully holding an intact teapot that was still more than half-full. Unfortunately, several shattered cups with spilled tea splayed all over the ground next to her.

"Here."

Ukitake handed her an ice bag that he had in an ice box with the several other ones (kept in cases of frequent headaches. After all, it couldn't hurt to have more than one). Stepping back into the office, he grabbed a small broom that was next to the door.

"This usually only happens once a week Saitoki-chan, but it's escalated to five this week. Is something bothering you?" He smiled at her.

"I'm sorry Ukitake-taicho." She replied as she kept rubbing the back of her head. "Nothing's wrong. I just…happen to be very clumsy this week. I'll help."

"No need, I can do menial tasks once a while." He replied as he casually swept up all of the shattered pieces. Just because he was ill didn't mean he couldn't do anything.

"Oh, by the way, another tea cup." Saitoki-chan said as she pulled out another tea cup from her pockets. Ukitake chuckled, she must be getting used to dropping things.

"That's greatly appreciated Saitoki-chan," he said as he got up and tossed the broken glass into the trash bin stationed in his office, "but," he pulled out a cloth and bandages that were also already placed near the door, "you sure nothing's bothering you?." He finished as he bent down to wipe up the spilled tea. However, his string of coughing came back.

" …Taicho." Saitoki-chan stood where she was. He was glad that she knew him so well after so many years for if she moved to help him; he would just push her away. He always disliked it when people saw him weak because of the disease. "…Then let me do at least this much of the clean up." Saito exclaimed as she set the tea pot aside and helped his up while taking the cloth from his hands.

"Hand out please." He interjected after clearing his throat from coughing.

"…Yes, sir."

Saito reluctantly balanced the ice bag on her head and held out her now bloodied hand for Ukitake to wrap while bending down and wiped up the tea.

"Looks like it isn't too bad this time around." Ukitake commented as he wiped the blood from her fingers. Saito only nodded as she cleaned up the mess. "Done," and he taped her fingers. "I do believe you do have some business with me though, no?"

"Yes sir." She followed Ukitake's beckon to his office while placing everything their its original position.

I quickly snatched the teapot and teacup on the floor and brushed the strands of light brunette hair away from my face. Maybe it was time to cut it (currently at waist length) and dye it black at the meantime; no one in the squads truly appreciated those with strange qualities unless they had something to make up for it, and I had nothing to counter those who ridiculed my hair.

"Saitoki-chan."

"Hm?"

I nodded out of my mini stupor to realize that the Captain at his desk waiting for whatever I needed to attend to.

"Oh! Sorry." Quickly poured the tea out, I opened one of the drawers at Captain's desk labeled 'Daily Medication'. "Kotestu-san and Kotsubaki-san asked me to make sure you had your medicine and said that they had left a note but… I don't see any though…"

At the Meeting for Seated Members:

"Ahhh!" Kotestu and Kotsubaki shrieked as they saw the pale note stuck to Kotsubaki's pants.

Back at the Thirteenth Squad Headquarters:

"…I still can't find that note," I sighed as I flipped several more papers and placed the pile back into the designated crate. "Maybe Rukia would know…"

"It's okay. I know what I need to take today." Captain reassured with a smile.

"What! Then why did they even bother ask me to give you your medicine?" I bristled while brushing a hand through my hair. "Those two are getting even more hopeless by the minute."

"Just think of it as their dedication," Captain smiled as he looked through his medicine cabinet for the right pills. Then silence ensued after the Captain's answer. "What am I suppose to say now?" I thought as I panicked inwardly as Captain calmly took his medicine. I grew into the type that wasn't to start a conversation unless forced to and it has been a while since me and Captain was actually left alone. It was always those two third seats with him or another seated member of the thirteenth squad accompanying me to make sure nothing unfortunate happened.

"It has been a while since we had this kind of environment like this, hasn't it?" Captain asked gently before taking another pill.

"Well…yeah…" I hesitated as I sat on the floor and crossed my legs together.

"I remember the times when your adorable self would sit right where you are and just yammer on about the captains and people you met that day and pulled pranks on." Ukitake-taicho smiled that funny way that meant he was half laughing and half pitying at me. I knew what he was talking about and my cheeks grew warm at the embarrassing thoughts.

"Captain if you must recall that, I was extremely young and didn't truly understand between right and wrong."

"At least you had me to protect you from those who busted my door numerous times asking for you." I smiled sheepishly at Captain. "There, I got you to smile that time." He smiled at his small victory. I scowled at him for playing that game I no longer enjoyed.

"….Captain, you know that side of me is long gone."