Ulquiorra stared into the room, baffled. His face did not show his confusion, viridian eyes characteristically solemn and void of any temperament. But in his mind was a blatant curiosity for which one couldn't be blamed.
Grimmjow was hunched over his bed, cussing as he tried again and again to light a rather pathetic looking cigarette. Droplets of water were cascading down the stick, which was refusing to ignite. A vein was pulsing on the man's forehead as he relentlessly flicked the lighter on, only to fail.
That wasn't the puzzling factor in the situation, however. It was the glass of water, and also oddly enough pack of cigarettes immersed in this water, that actually caused Ulquiorra to question Grimmjow's antics.
"Sexta, what are you doing?" The voice was calm, yet sharp as a Shinigami's zan-paktou.
"Trying to light this damn thing, what the hell do you think?" Azure eyes locked on Ulquiorra's as the disgruntled hollow threw aside the nuisance of a lighter. It flew across the white room, followed by a cacophony of miscellaneous noises, as it had knocked over a small table near the door. Both men ignored it, still locked in each others' gaze.
"You could not expect that to work, clearly they have been immersed in water, which would render any possibility of ignition. Even trash like you should know that." Ulquiorra's voice was dripping with condescension. "What led you do keep them in water in the first place?"
"Something told me it would be a good idea." Grimmjow shrugged, sheepishly. "Felt safe."
A rare flicker of emotions rippled across Ulquiorra's face as a memory came back to him, from a previous venture to the World of the Living.
It was when he had been keeping watch over Kurosaki, still evaluating his capabilities. He had been observing a casual observation between the "strawberry" and an ink black cat, Yoruichi.
The teenager had been making fun of the cat over the toy mouse that was currently sitting in the depths of the cat's water bowl. The cat had gone on to explain how cats found that their water bowls were one of the most secure places they could keep things.
Making the connection now in Grimmjow's room, Ulquiorra felt almost as if he could laugh. Grimmjow was simply acting on his feline instincts! He really was remarkably catlike, now in yet one more way Ulquiorra could file away into his analytical brain.
"That's a good kitty." Was all he said, before patting the larger man on the shoulder and then leaving the room.
This time, it was Grimmjow's own eyes that were thoroughly mystified as they stared at the petite espada's back as he left.