First Bleach fanfic! And it's Ulquihime, what a surprise. The idea for this was birthed while I was pondering the universe. ;)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach, Kubo Tite does. And thank god for that.
Name.
Letters placed close together to form a word.
A concept made to distinguish something from another. A way to describe something.
Really, just a tool humans created long ago to address each other. Nothing more than a word.
Aizen-sama uses them, so thus he does as well. That is the only reason why.
Nothing more than a word. Just a tool.
So why does he feel different when she uses his?
"Ulquiorra-san?" A curious question, wondering why he had come empty-handed, without food. Her usual way of addressing him.
"Aizen-sama requires your presence, woman."
He also makes it a point never to use hers.
"Ulquiorra." A statement, meant to catch his attention. No honorifics.
He pauses, but only because she has never used this tone with him before. He doesn't recognize it.
Her warm gray eyes look at him, her eyebrows scrunched up in sadness. He's surprised.
"What, woman?"
Her eyes soften.
"Why do you wish to know what a heart is so desperately?" she asks the question as if she knows the answer.
He looks back blankly.
"You humans are so trusting in this 'heart' that does not exist. It mildly intrigues me."
She smiles. He notices, but it is of no matter.
It is time for her breakfast and he lets himself into her room with a simple "Time to eat, woman," to announce his presence.
When a quick scan sees she is still in bed, he proceeds to sit on the small couch, waiting for her to wake so he ensures the food is consumed.
A giggle from the bed startles him briefly. He glances over and sees she is still asleep.
"Oh you're so silly Ulqui...Everyone knows that salmon and chocolate sauce go amazingly together!"
He blinks at her abbreviation of his name. Making something that was pointless in the beginning just plain ridiculous.
Ulqui. He almost says it out loud.
"Ulquiorra!" She reaches out to him but it's too late-
He is becoming ash and the long cycle will repeat.
Her hand is so close to his and he hears his name again. He smiles.
He prepares to disappear. To return to the dark. To the cold. Where he belongs.
Except.
As he dissolves, he is aware of warmth. Of a golden light.
"Ulquoirra?"
The waves of her voice reach his ears. It is the first sense that functions. Then his sense of smell.
He smells the orange hair falling into his face. Face?
Then he can taste and feel again. Her tears are salty.
And finally, his eyes.
"Ulquiorra?"
He shudders and the warmth is surrounding him again, only this time it is human.
"Ulquoirra-oh thank god-I didn't know-"
He shushes her.
"Woman."
She smiles through her tears.
"It's Orihime."
"I know. It doesn't suit you. It is just a word."
She couldn't be described by a mere name.
But.
"Say my name. Woman."
What you think? Since this is my first Ulquihime, I'd like to know...
