I do not own Bleach.

Well I have a one-shot done and now for your reading pleasure comes a multi-chapter fic about a couple I love...that doesn't really get any love. Enjoy. It is another AU fic. Some OOCness.


Ulquiorra Schiffer wandered the streets of London looking for a place to stay during the night. Fall was fast approaching and the streets were less crowded than they were in the summer when the members of high society would take strolls through the London streets on the way to some sort of get together. A wind blew past him chilling him slightly to the bone as pulled what was left of his coat around him. Things had not been fantastic for him since he ran away from home at the age of 16. It had been three years since then. Every day, he tried to find work in one of the lavish homes with hopes of getting room and board in exchange for his services. He was not an exceptional cook or anything like that, but he was a hard worker and he knew how to clean. He could also tend to gardens and the like having tended to his own back in his native country.

However no one would hire a foreigner to work in their homes. It was depressing to say the least, but he kept up hope that he might find work. The horse drawn carriage could be heard as it rode away down the cobblestone streets. It seemed this wouldn't be any different than any other night. He would find an alley or something to sleep in and maybe a bite of old bread to soothe his stomach until morning when he could look for work again. He sighed before he began to walk past another gate to someone's home. It was like all the other high society homes being protected by a gate to keep commoners away from their riches. He looked at the dark house figuring the owner must already be asleep before his eyes landed on a small opening in the fence.

He looked around for any of the guards that patrolled the streets before slipping through the opening and hiding in some of the garden shrubbery. Once he was sure no one saw him, he made his way to the house only to find that the back door was unlocked. Figures, he thought, as he very quietly slipped inside. He didn't hear other servants or anything as he made his way into the dark house. After a bit of light exploration, he saw that a door was ajar. He peeked inside and upon realizing that it was empty he slipped into it. It was warm. Warmer than it would have been had he decided not to slip through that gate earlier. Looking around, he realized he needed a good place to hide until morning when he could hopefully slip out undetected. A glance at the closet told him that it might be his safest bet. Sure enough when he walked into the large closet there were clothes everywhere. He went to a far corner hiding behind loads of dignified, high quality clothing. They wouldn't find him here and once he was settled in the corner and well hidden, he closed his eyes slowly drifting off to sleep.

- Later that night -

Muramasa looked up at the sky from the place where he was hidden. He was tired and it was almost time for him to get some rest. He never really left his home in the daytime unless he had to. He had his secrets and very very few servants. Temptation would be too high, if he had as many servants as others in his circle of society seem to have. If he needed extra help for an event, he would simply hire it. Money was of no importance to someone like him. He took his handkerchief out of a pocket on his side wiping away the crimson liquid on his lips. The body below his feet was just another of the prostitutes that roamed the streets this late at night. It wasn't a taste he particularly enjoyed, but none the less, he needed to sustain himself.

When he was sure no one was around, he left to go around the corner and begin his way home. This was a long evening. He had to attend a stupid party held by Duke and Duchess Gilga. The events these people held didn't mean a thing to him and he really did not want to sit around a bunch of society's supposed best as they chatted and flirted about trying to up their own station or that of a family member. It was disgusting to be honest, however as he was Lord Muramasa, he could not decline their offer. It would cause an uproar with these people and rumors would spread that he had taken a lover of some sort. While he could care less for such stupid rumors, he did not need their spies investigating into his life. They would get more than they bargained for that way and he was in no mood to relocate just yet. He would have to eventually, but for now he enjoyed his life.

He slipped through the gates of his house and went inside the back door that he had left open purposefully. No one came to bother him and the only one who used this door was the woman that came to restock his fridge in the wee hours of the morning. However as he moved through his home, a new scent reach his nose. He did not recognize this person and almost instantly a touch of rage entered his system. Who would dare enter his home? Did they have a death wish? He frowned not wanting to have to come up with a cover story if someone found a dead body on his estate. The last thing he needed is for his life to be in the papers. He didn't have many enemies, but there was someone he was avoiding. Sighing, he hunted down where the scent was. As a vampire, his senses were heightened and unlike most of the stories, he could travel out in the daylight, he just chose not to.

He found the scent to be stronger in his own bedroom. Another frown graced his features as he realized that he may walk in their to find some woman of high society on his bed asking to warm it for the night. It would not do for the lady to be seen leaving his home in the morning and it would not do for her to be seen leaving this evening, though he was sure he could come up with some excuse. He opened the door looking around and not seeing what he thought he would see. There was the low burning oil lamp in his chambers was still going from when he had left it earlier, but there was no woman in his bed. Strange, he thought, I know I can smell someone in here.

He looked over to see his closet door slightly ajar and walked into it. It was a large closet full of clothing and gifts that others had gotten for him. They claimed it was because he had helped them, when he knew it was because they wanted something more from him. He was not an idiot and he would not fall for the illusion that humans wish to create for themselves. His eyes could see just fine in the dark and he made his way to the back of the closet. There under the remains of a tattered coat was young male sleeping. Judging from the looks of the young man, he was a runaway and definitely not from London. A small smile crossed Muramasa's face as he realized he may be able to have another meal this evening and yet another that no one would miss.

He picked the youth up and took him over to his bed laying him down. He took a moment to survey the person he had on his bed. It was obvious the youth hadn't eaten much in a long time. His figure was thin almost to the point of unhealthiness with strange tear markings down his face. "Hmmm, interesting.", Muramasa mumbled as he touched one of the lines only to find that it was not make up on the boy's face.

The youth shifted turning and realizing that he was not in the same position he fell asleep in and was in fact laying down on something soft, he sat up quickly. Ulquiorra waited for his eyes to focus before they widened as he laid his eyes on Lord Muramasa. He started to move away only for one of the man's hands to grab his wrist. He was shivering and actually scared of what was going to happen to him now. He had been caught in a nobleman's home and around here that was a serious offense.

Muramasa looked at the youth slightly amused, but not quite. The boy, at least, had some looks going for him. "So may I ask why is it, that I have come home and found a runaway sleeping in my closet? Did someone send you here?", he asked his turquiose eyes staring into the emerald ones.

Ulquiorra shivered lightly under that glare, but kept his gaze. It almost felt like he didn't want to look away even though he could. "I-I am sorry sir. I w-was j-just l-looking for...for a p-pl-place to s-sleep t-tonight.", he said now realizing that he couldn't look away.

"And so you decided to break into my home? Should you not have stayed in the place you were working?", Muramasa asked not releasing the boy's wrist just yet.

"Well, I-I am not from this country, sir. I left home three years ago and I came here but have not been able to find work because of how I look since it is obvious I am not from around here.", Ulquiorra said to him surprised he was able to keep his voice as calm as he did.

"I see. That still gives you no right to sneak into my home. I should turn you into the guards to have you executed for such a crime.", Muramasa said watching as Ulquiorra's eyes widened. "However, I think you may be of some use to me. I do not have many servants, but if you can learn to do what you are told I shall allow you to stay. Is this acceptable?", he asked not even sure why he was making the offer, but something in those emerald green eyes made him want to keep the boy around a little longer.

"Y-Yes. Thank you. That is acceptable.", Ulquiorra said not believing his luck.

"Perfect. Now there is one more thing you must promise. To break this promise is to forfeit your own life.", Muramasa said seriously as he looked right into the youth's eyes. "You are not to tell anyone anything about what you may see in this house. Understood?"

"Yes...", Ulquiorra trailed off not knowing what to call his employer.

"I am Lord Muramasa. In front of other servants and guests, you shall address me as Lord Muramasa, milord, or master. However when there is no one here, you may address me as simply Muramasa.", he told the youth. "Your duties will begin around lunchtime tomorrow. Until then, rest is in order. For tonight you will sleep in my bed with me. I shall make sure you have an adequate room tomorrow.", he said lettting the male's wrist go. "Now go to sleep.", he said passing his hand over Ulquiorra's face.

Ulquiorra's eyes closed as he fell back on the bed. Muramasa moved him so that he was under the covers before getting up and changing into his night time clothing. Muramasa got into the bed and sighed. It seemed tomorrow was going to be just as long as today, he thought before drifting off into sleep.