AN: the idea came to me one boring geography class and I had to pursue it. I don't know if Ulquiorra is IC in this fic, but oh well….enjoy ^^
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of these characters. They belong to Tite Kubo.
She was a strange burst of colour in their monochrome world. Like an exotic butterfly landing on the glassy surface of obsidian waters, spreading bright and hopeful wings.
The first time he had wheeled the steel tray and it's meagre helping of food into her drab cell, she had proudly resisted. But her resolve was weak.
How easily tears pooled in her deer-like eyes…
Her emotions were like a tidal wave behind a dam of twigs…
The next time she was more cooperative. She took the food hastily and gave him an awkward smile. He didn't return it.
She cried sometimes. She would sit in the corner of the room with her knees pulled up to her chest. It was pathetic. She was like a child. And at the same time, he felt…maybe pity? It was an unfamiliar emotion. But anyways…he left her to snivel on her own.
Sometimes she hummed to herself and chatted. Maybe she was insane. But it seemed to make her happy.
"I-it's okay…Kurosaki-kun will know. They wouldn't forget me…Kuchiki-san…t-they w-wouldn't forget. I-I'll be okay".
And so it continued. Sometimes she would recite odd bits of poetry, trailing off as she forgot the verses.
And sometimes, he would listen. He leaned against the wall outside and stared at the floor while her hesitant voice rapped out snatches of songs and quotes from plays. Maybe she was insane…
"Why do you do that?"
He stood by the food tray and fixed his emerald green gaze on her with a look of cool disdain.
She smiled again. It was a shaky, nervous smile, seeming to be more for her benefit than his.
"It passes the time, I guess…"
She stood unsteadily. He turned to leave.
"Umm…I'd like to say…t-thanks. Yes! Thank you. Very much."
She gave him another shaky smile. It was obvious she wanted him to reply. Expectation was evident in her expression.
I suppose she would be lonely, he mused. Well…it was not his problem. But common courtesy still applied.
"You're welcome", he said flatly.
Then he shut the door. He didn't have to look back to see the hurt and disappointment on her face. That small action, the dismissal of her friendship, made him feel another irritating and unfamiliar emotion: guilt.
To spare himself the alarming increase of feeling, he listened to her.
It became a strange tradition. Every afternoon he came, she would jabber meaninglessly about anything. Her brother, her friends, her school, her cooking…often he stood impassive, waiting for her to shut up so he could leave.
Then just walk out. What can she do about it?
He would always ignore that little voice, because if he obeyed it, if he turned and left while she chattered enthusiastically, then…he would feel sorry for her.
Pity and mercy… were never something he felt.
He didn't want to feel them.
But at the same time, they were difficult to ignore….
Thank you for reading and please review ^^