Chapter one
"Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" Lord Sousuke Aizen sat on his throne staring at his lovely self in the looking glass as he stroked his chin.
The slave in the mirror watched him with a fox like grin. "This again, my Lord? Must your beauty seek my opinion?"
"Ah, but you know it is your opinion that matters most, my dear Gin."
"Remarkable is thy beauty, such is your honesty, my lord." Sousuke Aizen was truly a man of vane character. There was simply no doubt that he was handsome. Despite not being the fairest in all the land, Gin truly thought so no matter how much he was asked.
Aizen smirked, and said, "Go on." He loved hearing about his beauty.
However, Gin preferred not to. You see he didn't want to disappoint his dear King with the news he would be forced to tell when asked the truth. So he said, "There is no one fairer than thee, mah lord, according to me, yer the sexiest man this Kingdom has come to see." If he carefully chose his words, he wouldn't need to lie, nor tell the complete truth.
A grand smile came onto that tanned face. Sousuke chuckled; "I am the sexiest man alive, aren't I…." his eyes were completely fixated on himself that it made Gin sigh.
"As I've said a hundred times, yer the sexiest man I've ever laid my eyes on. Yer a dime, Sousuke, and your charm is refined. No maiden could keep her stunning features such as you have, over time."
"Hmm… Gin, I get the feeling you are not telling me something very important." Finally, Aizen's chocolate eyes pierced Gin and faltered his smile, only for a moment was he stunned.
"What ever do ya mean, my Lord? I have spoken of your beauty, and how boldly it shines-"
"There is one fairer than me, isn't there?" He dared, his stare now becoming steely. "Do not lie to me, slave."
"I could never lie to my only sweetie-pie, there is one fairer than you, pray tell a guy."
"Impossible… Reveal his name." he hissed, without losing his temper. Sousuke Aizen was ever the composed man.
"Eyes as green as jade, hair black as night, skin white as snow," he described reluctantly. He shook his head when he saw Aizen's expression of cold anger.
"Ulquiorra…." He said softly with a roll of the tongue. "My son, little Ulquiorra? How can it be that he is fairer than me?" he said this more to himself as he stood up and paced around the room. He looked into the mirror. "Does he have a fine set of muscles and abs like me? And what of his hair, is it glossy and does it shine? I see no reason, no reason at all, that my son could surpass even me. And he is still only a boy, no man is he."
"A boy yes, and while I agree, there is no doubt in truths mind that your dear snow prince, is fairer than thee."
Sousuke sat down into his grand red chair. He said, "I'd rather not admit it, but I'm afraid it is true. He is even prettier than his late mother once was, before she was reduced to ash and smoke of course." He set a hand over his chin and began to think, while his dutiful mirror rewarded him with sickly sweet words.
"Don't ya fret, my pet. Ulqi may be pretty and cute as a button, but as long as you value my opinion… I still say yer even more delicious than mutton."
"Your rhymes are corny, my dear slave. How am I to believe what you say…."
Another sigh escaped the fox-like man in the mirror. "If only I weren't trapped in here day after day. If I were in my body again, I'd do more than just say…. Why I'd show you that your beauty grows exuberant in every way. Maybe then my rhymes would improve. If only you made a move…."
Aizen was no longer listening. He was deep in thought. He didn't like that someone was more handsome than he was, and certainly not when it was his own son! A long time ago, Aizen dressed his dear son in rags and forced him to live as a servant, despite his royal background. But it turns out that Ulquiorra would be beautiful no matter what he wore.
And Aizen had to do something about it.
He let out a deep laugh and said to Gin, "this is going to be quite fun…."
…
Young Ulquiorra Schiffer sat kneeling down as he cleaned the dirty white stone steps. His face held no amount of joy at the duty. The prince face was as per usual, somber, sullen. His hands were tired from scrubbing, but he knew he could not stop. Ulquiorra had been more of a servant to the King, since the day he was born. He didn't overall understand it, but had to accept his cruel fate.
A little bird chirped as it landed on his head. He looked up with that trademark pout he was so used to putting on.
"Would you mind getting off bird? It is quite obvious that I am cleaning," he said.
This only encouraged other birds to swarm around him, chirping in a lovely rhythm. He sighed and stood up. The little fellow still sat on top of his head, he noticed. This amused the young teen, and his lips curved upwards only slightly. "I suppose you could rest there meanwhile. But no nesting, what people would say if they saw eggs hatching on my head."
He walked along the stone pathway, resuming in his daily chores. The white doves flew after him with their song. They continued to fly in front of his face even as he tried to scrub at the banister. He straightened up and put his hands on his dainty hips.
"Are you not going to allow me to work?"
Their reply was the constant whistle of song. Ulquiorra knew what they wanted of him. I'm not going to sing today!" he said back.
What was the point, he wondered. The little birds always loved it when he did sing with them, and often the other servants would gush at his voice. This didn't change Ulquiorra's perspective of the act. Singing must be done with joy, a feeling which he did not possess. No matter what, the prince was miserable. And above that, singing always gave him a sense of hope which he also dared not posses. Hope that someone would take him away from this life.
The birds chirped back stubbornly. After trying to shoo them away and his attempts being futile, Ulquiorra gave in with a sigh.
"Alright, I'll sing for you," he told them. "But only for a moment. If Aizen catches me slacking, it'll be you I shall blame."
They chirped happily, and Ulquiorra strolled over to the well to begin cleaning it. As he did, he broke out in a soft song. Though his voice was not incredibly high, or like a maiden's at all, it was very lovely indeed.
"I'm wishing for the one I love to find me today…."
It was a song he had picked up from his late mother. She would often rock him to sleep in his nursery as an infant, and sing that song to him. As Ulquiorra got older, he finally realized the hint at that verse and related to it vaguely. He had only felt the thing called love once, from his mother. But that was taken away and he was left with none.
So he sang the song, and nobody would ever know that he was singing with all of his inner most secret feelings and emotions. He was truthfully very guarded, so no one would ever know.
…
Grimmjow Jeagerjaques was the Prince of a neighboring Kingdom. Broad shouldered, and strong with tan skin and shocking blue hair and eyes, he was something to behold. The thing that made him different from any other prince was his violent personality. For this, many maidens were scared of him. He didn't mind. His only interest was using his sword, a trade he was incredibly talented at.
His parents would rather he marry a princess and become the King. Spending every day signing papers wasn't something he would enjoy. Thus being said, he'd rather explore the world and find worthy opponents to go up against his brute strength.
Currently, he was doing said task. He rode his horse down the dirt road. A large kingdom came into view; a dark castle, large and ghastly. He was about to ride past it, until he heard a heavenly sound coming from within the castle walls. Grimmjow rode his horse right up to the large wall and looked over.
He gasped. A too beautiful young man busied himself cleaning a well as he sang a melody. Doves were around him, making the scene seem even more heavenly. Grimmjow felt his heart thump wildly against his chest. This feeling was strange. Could it be… love? He was more than convinced.
"Stay here, Pantera," he said to his horse, and hopped over the wall.
Anyone who knew Grimmjow could tell you he acted on instinct- which was generally thought of as a bad quality in a person. In Grimmjow's case it was fifty-fifty. But that moment, when he chose to jump into that garden; it was the smartest decision he would ever make. When asked in his later years, Grimmjow stated this with no shame.
"…to find me today-"
"Hello." Grimmjow was no singer. He didn't quite know what to say to this beauty, but he opened his mouth and let the stupid greeting come out.
The boy jumped back and stared at him.
He took Grimmjow's breath away. Up close he was even more beautiful! He had eyes as green as jade, hair black as the night and skin white as snow. The most noticeable thing was his eyes and the markings on his sad face.
Grimmjow said quickly, "Sorry, I must have scared ya." When Ulquiorra didn't reply, he became a little nervous and said, "I realize that me singen along with ya probably would have been more smooth, huh?" Dammit, why was he being so… so nice! And sweet. He was never like this to anyone. But with this boy… he wanted to be sweet and nice. He wanted to spoil him to the point where being with Grimmjow was all he needed to breathe- Shit, had he just thought that?
Ulquiorra ran. He didn't know who this man was. But he was oh so handsome and made Ulquiorra awestruck; with those deep teal eyes that he could just drown in, with those defined arms that looked strong enough to lift him. And his kindness… that seemed so forced. He had to run.
"Hey- wait!" Grimmjow bolted after him and caught him by the arm. Wow, he was light! The prince's pretty green eyes looked up at him. He was so small and fragile it was cute. "I didn fully introduce myself," he explained.
"I'd rather you not," he said.
Grimmjow flinched at how harsh that was. "Well I'm going to. Tha names Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, yeah I know; it's a mouthful." He grinned like a wild cat.
"I-" he cut himself off. He was only reluctant because he knew in the end this would only trouble him. But when he looked up at those eyes he didn't care. "I'm Ulquiorra… Schiffer," he replied.
"Ulquiorra huh? That's a pretty name." Grimmjow felt more confident after he finally got an answer out of the little cutie.
Ulquiorra felt his face heat up. He put a hand to his cheek in astonishment. Why was his face hot? Did he have a fever?
Grimmjow laughed handsomely. "I see I've made ya blush," he said, "It makes you look even cuter."
Ulquiorra felt his face grow hotter. He averted his eyes. "Uh- I should be going!" This time he ran all the way up to the stairs without Grimmjow catching him. He shouted a protest but waited below the balcony as the boy hid from him.
"Yer shy aren't you…" he said with a sigh. There was no response. "Can't you at least come out here so I can talk to ya?"
Behind the curtain on the balcony, Ulquiorra clutched the fabric with his fingers and peeked over. He saw Grimmjow's wide grin and pulled back. He didn't know how to react around this man who was making his face heat up at his suggestive comments. No one had ever called him 'cute' before.
"Please?"
But what harm would it do? And he was being so nice too…
Ulquiorra walked into his view timidly. And Grimmjow's face lit up.
"Well at least now I know you aren't scared of me," the blue-eyed prince chuckled.
"Why would anyone be scared of you?"
"Huh? Oh… I'm kinda aggressive around people, it unnerves them." He said this, but he was grinning while he did.
"You don't seem aggressive at all," Ulquiorra said honestly.
That's because I'm with you, was what he wanted to say. He smiled and said instead, "Yer sweet aren't ya…."
Ulquiorra blushed. He took the time then to examine Grimmjow's appearance. He was devilishly handsome. And he wore what looked like a prince's ensemble. Curiously, and timidly he asked, "Are you… a prince?"
"I am yeah. What about you my dear Ulquiorra?" He was unsure of this do to his peasant clothing, but Ulquiorra held the grace of a noble, he could tell.
A prince! Ulquiorra thought this over. His father didn't like for him to tell people this, but he felt it would be safe to tell Grimmjow. "Of course I am. Would I be here if not?"
Grimmjow laughed, "no I guess not," he said.
Ulquiorra bit his tongue. He had just made a cruel statement and Grimmjow said nothing of it. He opened his mouth to speak. "I apologize, Grimmjow; I'm not used to talking with anyone from outside the castle walls. Especially someone so… attractive." He blushed after saying this out loud.
Grimmjow felt his heart give a giant leap inside of him. This might be easier than he thought! He said with a smirk, "yer not too bad looking yerself," in which he made pink dust settle over those pale cheeks. "So do you like talking to me?" he inquired.
"More than anything in the world," he said. This answer surprised both princes. Ulquiorra kept speaking his mind in front of this man and it was surprising to hear himself do so!
"Then… Ulquiorra Schiffer, please marry me!"
Whaaat! He was taken aback by this bold statement. "You cannot be serious!" However it was very flattering.
"Gawta say this is the one time I am being serious," Grimmjow said.
"But we've only just met."
"And I feel like I've known ya for longer. I can't help smiling when I'm with you Ulquiorra. You make me want to be sweet and- and fucking all lovey-dovey with you! Shit, sorry! I don't mean to be vulgar, but I really do like you."
Ulquiorra bit his lip and mumbled, "This is all so sudden. I'm flattered but… don't you believe as well as I do that we will need to get to know each other properly before- marriage?"
Grimmjow cursed under his breath. He was sure that it went something like this with all the other princes. They fell in love at first sight with a damsel in distress, saved her and then lived happily ever after. Ah! That was it; he had to save Ulquiorra before they got married!
"Yer probably right," he said with a laugh. Then his eyes lit up, "so you like me too?" Ulquiorra nodded. "Great! Ulquiorra, I promise I'll come to see you every day. I won't give up on ya just yet. As long as you keep sayen no, I'll keep asken you to marry me."
Something ticked in Ulquiorra's mind. "Grimmjow… you do realize that I am of the male persuasion, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"You don't care?"
"I think women are a nuisance anyway. And as long as you're you… It doesn't matter if yer a guy."
"Very well then, I shall be waiting here." This was so embarrassing to say to someone, but it was worth it when Grimmjow smiled up at him.
Watching from an open window, Aizen glared at the sweet exchange. There was a guard standing alongside the wall whom he turned to address. "Find Yammy, and have him meet me in the throne room," he ordered. The guard obeyed with a stiff bow. Sousuke Aizen smiled as he continued to watch from the window. He felt kind of sorry that when Grimmjow returned, he would find no Ulquiorra there waiting for him.
…
"Yes, Lord Aizen?"
"Take Ulquiorra deep into the forest, sometime around noon. Tell him it's to pick wild berries for stew, anything that will make for an excuse really. Make sure it's secluded."
"Of course, sire."
"And then I want you to kill him."
Yammy gaped. "But sir, he's the prince-"
"You know not to disobey me, Yammy," Aizen stated with a cold glare.
Yammy's shoulders drooped and he dutifully replied, "yes, Lord Aizen."
"Good." Aizen smiled eerily and folded his hands together. "As much as I trust your loyalty to me, I want you to bring his heart back as proof."
Yammy nodded, bowed and left. The news was a shock to him but he told no one of his deed to be done. If Lord Aizen requested something of him, he had no choice but to follow through with it.
A/N: What do my readers think? Is it good? Is it bad? Tell me please! I'm very scared of posting this in case I get too many bad responses!