There are no victors in war, only survivors.

Every chapter will be from a different character's point of view. This story will follow the lust arc, and MIGHT end differently than cannon. I'm not sure yet. Anyway, please enjoy.

[Chapter 1- Ulquiorra]

What a fool.

The child is called Kurosaki. I know this but chose not to care; he is not worth a name; he is simply a shinigami with bright orange hair. He is no being to me. He is a threat to the palace that I have been put in charge of, and that is all he will ever be.

"Kurosaki-Kun!"

Damn it.

He means much more to her. She's put all her hopes in him- every last ounce of her faith, and she believes that he's going to win. She's a fool, too, that girl. Does she really think we'll let her go so easily? I have no orders to do anything to her, but she's choosing to ally herself with this trash, and that means she could end up falling in line with the rest of the threats to the palace. That would mean I would have to eliminate her- and there is very little that I can do to get around that fact.

Foolish, foolish girl.

"Get away from Inoue!"

Or what? You'll kill me? Idiot boy, you were dead by my hand earlier this day, and yet you have come back for more? "Very well. I have no orders to harm her." Now leave.

This brash hotheaded shinigami boy just has to engage me, doesn't he? He is like the sixth espada; programmed to fight, unable to stop himself from tearing down anything that stands in his way. But there is some manner of logic in that brain of his- his abilities have increased since we last fought. Perhaps he can listen to reason. Perhaps he will-

What?

He caught my arm. He actually touched me.

And now what nonsense is he going on about? Ah, yes, I see.

"Maybe I can read you because I've become more like a hollow." He's smirking, like he's done something clever- idiot boy. "Or maybe it's because you've become more like me! A human!"

I can't help it. For a single instant my eye turns and I see her, standing there, looking neither pleased nor unhappy. She's at war with herself, it seems. She has yet to rush into her savior's arms, she has not broken down into tears. Either she is wise, to know this is not over, or I wasn't simply talking when I said she is truly one of us now. She wears our clothes, she carries or flag on her body in some manner of speaking, and she has pledged herself to Aizen. Surely all of that has left at least some manner of impression on her. She's not just with them any more- she's sought refuge behind my sword, too.

Do you feel torn, girl? I keep watching her, even as we fight. The last explosion of spiritual pressure would have harmed her if she had not put up her shields. Is there truly some part of you that is connected to this land of death? To us? … To me?

After the boy's inspiring little speech I've reached my limit. I am not a patient being, and I cannot tolerate big mouths on such small and insignificant creatures. Don't you realize you will soon be dead? Why not put off the long-winded talks and just give in or flee? The moment you set foot within Hueco Mundo you were destined to fall, don't you understand? It is inevitable.

I am the first to attack, but he is not the first to defend.

She is.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I- I…"

And here I thought she was torn. Pity, it seems she was merely deliberating her choices. The so-called heart she was going on about earlier has clouded her judgment, I see, and so once more she's fallen in with the trash she so dearly calls her friends.

"Is it because he's your friend?"

"I-"

"Why step in now? What do you think you are doing, girl?" I do want to know. I want to know what she is thinking but now is not the time, she's being confusing and I do not have the ability to stop time and just listen to her.

But then I see.

She's doing it because she loves him. What is love, to make her so ignorant of her position? What place does an emotion have if it is dangerous to the holder? She is a strong woman, why would she succumb to such a pithy bond?

I'll kill him. Despite it all I am perfectly able to play this off to my advantage. It only takes a few words about her hesitation to send the doubt back into her gaze, to send the fire back into his eyes, and soon we're fighting again. Not before he tells her to get back, though.

It's a shame that a woman with the powers of a goddess would stoop to being saved- no, coddled- by a brash little human boy.

Nothing can ever be so simple as a plain fight, it seems. Soon enough those small-time arancar girls come crawling up from the basement and to her, looking for blood in their jealousy. The boy is so concerned about Orihime Inoue, but he is blind to her powers. If the girl wanted she could easily defeat them. She just doesn't want to- and that is something I cannot understand, either.

It is his attempts to save her that put her in harm's way. Why does she believe in him so, when he does not believe in her? Why can he not realize her power? Why does she allow those petty low-level arancar girls to torment her so?

I will never, never understand humans.

Yammy comes in to add chaos to the mix. He takes out those two arancar that wished to harm the girl, but of course she's got to heal her tormentors, take her powers and squander them on such insignificant life forms. It's over soon, anyway, and then Yammy turns his sights on her.

"Hey, Ulquiorra, what's the deal with this one?"

Can't that idiot see I'm in the middle of something? I am not one for conversation, let alone ideal chitchat. The Neanderthal has met her before; he's seen her in my care. Does he really have no memory of it or is he so stupid that he cannot recognize her?

He goes after her. I didn't say he could and he still did- has he no brain? She puts up her shield and he still thinks she's an insect for him to crush? What sort of fool can't see her abilities are unique?

The boy gets angry and wants to save her. Always wanting to protect her, as though she is a doll made of glass. Stupid boy. She is not a figurine made of porcelain, she is stone, she is strength, she is fire- but she is not fragile. She can handle herself, and even if she could not, that Quincy will be here soon enough, don't you sense it? Just let her be.

Nothing here makes sense. Everyone is acting without any thought at all.

This boy won't even fight at full strength, even as I continue to injure him. Why?

I glance at her again, taking in her torn sleeves. See, boy? Nothing but her clothes have been harmed. Why did you doubt her? Do you doubt yourself in this manner, is that why you will not rise up to full strength or-

Oh.

"Is it her?" I ask, glancing at the girl again. "Is her presence preventing you from putting on your mask?" She could handle it. This woman can handle most anything.

Still, I want this to be over already. As things are the palace has been damaged enough. I'll move her, back to her cell, perhaps- maybe just down the hall. "In that case-"

"No!" He darts in front of her. Did he think I would harm her? My fight is with him, no one else. "It's not her fault!"

"Then bring out your mask."

"Whatever!" He comes charging at me with that.

Whatever? What is that even supposed to mean? That he refuses? That he'll move her himself? Is he just not feeling up to it? Surely he cannot be so idiotic. It must be a human thing, or do I have to move the moon for him to finally fight at full strength?

He throws up another gestsuga. As if he has not tried before.

It does more harm to her than I, but she protects herself sufficiently, even before the quincy is at her side again. And still the foolish boy goes on about how the archer must protect her. They are all blind.

Suddenly he's talking to me again. He has put so many stops to our fight that I had almost come to believe he wouldn't turn his attentions back to me until I sturck. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Ulquiorra. Here it is. This is the hollowfication you wanted to see so badly." He swipes his hand over hid face, roaring, and all I can think is, why does he have to announce everything he does? Why is he yelling? So noisy.

For a moment I am surprised by his increase in strength. He really has grown exponentially over a short period of time. But it will not be enough.

He knocks me from the tower and I cero him in return. Neither of us is hurt, and it is then I am able to fully gauge his strength. With the woman out of mind and out of sight, I make way up.

It is time to take this above the canopy.