Choice

Theme: Role reversal


How things could change so quickly. One moment she was his prisoner, and now he was her's. He had been careless and now he was paying the price. Whether she killed him or not did not matter. King Aizen would kill him for his failure if he were to return. What good was a knight who got captured by the enemy? If he did not return to his King what would he do? His life had no meaning if he had no one to serve.

Having been stripped of his armor and weapon, he sat in the prison cell on a straw mat. Dressed only in his simple tunic, pants, and boots he felt naked. The single torch outside his cell cast a gloomy shadows in the quiet dungeon. He was the only prisoner. When they tossed him in the cell they did not bother to even chain him up. That was how pitiful they saw him.

Ulquiorra heard the distant sound of a heavy lock turning. Then the stomping of boots as they descended the stone stairs. So they were coming to interrogate him. They were wasting their time as he would not say anything. Even if he did want to talk there was not much he knew. King Aizen did not share his plans with lowly knights such as himself.

A lamp shined brightly in front of his cell. He squinted at the sudden brightness. "The prisoner is here, Princess."

"Thank you. Please leave us." The voice was soft but commanding, stern but kind. He closed his eyes as he knew the voice well.

The guard gave a grunt. "Call me if you need anything, Princess." He set the lamp on the hook that hung outside the cell.

She waited until the guard's footsteps disappeared. "Hello, Ulquiorra." Even without looking at her he could see her image in his mind's eye. Eyes like cherry wood, hair brighter than a flame, Princess Orihime Inoue of the Sun Kingdom gazed down at him. Her eyes would still kind despite everything that had happened between them, he knew.

He did not open his eyes. "There is no information I can give you."

"I didn't come for information. I came here to talk," she confessed.

His eyes flew open at that. The sight before him caused the breath to leave him. She was a beautiful woman; there was no denying it. However he had been used to seeing her in one way. As his prisoner she was dressed in a torn and tattered dress. Her hair had been a tangled mess that got worse each day. The mud that caked her clothes and face masked her true beauty he now realized.

Cleaned and wearing a brand new dress, she looked every inch the royalty she was. Her hair was combed to shine in the light. It fell in soft waves down her shoulders and framed her delicate face. She had a healthy glow about her that had been absent when she was his prisoner. Even back then when she was fatigued and hungry, he understood why her people called her their sun. Even in prison she had an aura about her that seeped into even the darkest corner.

Looking away from her, he focused his gaze on the hem of her red gown. "What do you want, woman."

"I heard about your capture….are you okay?"

He laughed hollowly and glanced up to give her a scornful look. "I am your prisoner. I am at your mercy. My life could end if you utter the word. How well do you think I fare?"

"I would never have you killed." Her eyes widened. She clenched her hands at her sides, "I just wanted to….check in on you. I wanted to make sure you weren't hurt."

He suddenly got to his feet. Grabbing the bars of the cell he glared at her. "Why are you so concerned with my well being, woman? Have you forgotten that I was your warden not too long ago? Have you forgotten that you were my prisoner?"

She did not flinch or take a step back. "I did not forget, Ulquiorra. How can I forget something like that?" Eyes downcast she sighed. "I also remember that you took care of me despite being your prisoner. You kept the other knights away from me when they wanted to….hurt me. Despite everything you showed kindness in your own ways."

His grip on the metal bars tightened. "Your pity is misplaced. I am your enemy and should be treated as such. Your bleeding heart will be the end of you."

Orihime straightened up and looked him squarely in the eye. "Perhaps you are right, Ulquiorra. I am often told I show my emotions too freely. However I believe in giving people second chances if there is hope that they can be changed. You have goodness in you, Ulquiorra. I know it."

"What you thought you saw is only what you want to see. I am a knight for King Aizen. A tool to be used for his war. Nothing more or less." He released his grip on the bars. His hands fell uselessly to his sides. Observing her face he wondered what it was she saw in him. What did she see in him while she was his prisoner that made her believe he could change?

Reaching between the bars, she grasped his right hand with her own. The sudden contact burned; yet he could not bring himself to pull away. "You are more than that. You have a heart, Ulquiorra. No matter how much you may deny it, you have one. You are capable of good just as much as you are capable as a knight."

Her hands were soft and warm. Compared to his rough calloused ones, it was like night and day. "What do you want, woman?" All the fight seemed to leave his body.

She squeezed his hand. "I want you to live. Live for yourself, Ulquiorra."

"I do not understand." He truly did not understand what she was asking him. He had expected her to demand he swear allegiance to her. Again she surprised him. She released his hand, and he almost reached for her again. Almost.

She gave him a sad, mournful smile. "What do you want, Ulquiorra? What do you want to do? You have the choice to decide your own life now."

He had never been asked what he wanted. Not even when he was a boy was he asked if he wanted to be a knight. It was chosen for him. Similarly who he served was chosen for him. His actions were always chosen for him. Now it seemed he had the freedom to finally make a choice of his own. Even though he was her prisoner and she had every right to torture or kill him, she was giving him the gift of choice.

What did he want?

He looked her in the eyes. Searching for any deceit or mock sincerity. There was none. There never was and, he realized, there never would be.

So he made the first choice in his life. Dropping to one knee, he kneeled before her. She let out a gasp as he raised his head. His green eyes were steely and filled with determination.

"I pledge my sword and my life to you forever, Princess Orihime Inoue."