I'm finally back in action! Here's Chapter 2 which is long overdue. Sorry for keeping you waiting. This fiction takes quite a lot of my philosophical brain to come up with, so forgive me. Compared to my other stories, this one seems to be getting the cold shoulder eh? I actually considered taking out the Kuchiki Siblings for the entire story line, but that just wouldn't work, I realised. It would destroy the flow I've created in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 wouldn't make enough sense.
I do hope you'll review, even if you don't like this fic much... I'm losing the motivation to go on, though it's at the same time difficult to abandon this brainchild of mine.
The GrimmHime scenes will be coming up in the next chapter, for now I still have some explanatory narration to give you!
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 2: AWAKE
She turned. Sleep was somewhat robbed away from her, probably one or two hours earlier than usual, and she huffed in annoyance. Too early. Just another day, her routine never changes unless there was a mega emergency situation in Seireitei. For once she rather stayed hidden in the Kuchiki residence instead of reporting for duty in the barracks. Why, already cursed with a voice box which would not function—speaking of which, the subtle sting could be felt even when she wasn't attempting to make a sound—she was now roused from sleep for no apparent…
"Nn!" she managed a retarded greeting. His reiatsu must have been the reason!
"You're awake, Rukia," his tone, nonchalant and aristocratic as ever as he remained kneeling at her bed side.
She could only stare. He had the habit of suppressing his reiatsu to the minimum when at home, but obviously he opted to release a considerable amount, could it be, to wake her?
She sat up in lightning speed after a second or two of gaping, and nodded.
"You are troubled." What is this, a counseling session?
She wondered if he was referring to some kind of spiritual unrest that was beyond her comprehension. Maybe he was talking about the fact that she was baffled by his sudden intrusion two hours prior to her normal waking time. Oh, whatever, just nod!
"Rukia," he questioned as she raised her head and looked at him with a face he could only identify as bewilderment. "Your reiatsu fluctuations last night was overwhelmingly disturbing. Did you not sleep well?"
It was? I did? Why… what? How! When… huh?
A deadpan stare, a peaceful face… This man… Nii-sama will always be Nii-sama.
She shook her head. "You would not speak to me, is that it?"
She nodded. And then frantically shook her head again. She weakly pointed to her throat after consideration.
But Nii-sama was already standing up, his eyes downcast as not to spare her another glance, turning around he said, "I have a Captains' meeting to attend. Get well, Rukia."
The door slid shut.
And she did not know what to make of that. Did he understand? Or was he still talking about her reiatsu fluctuations which she still had no idea about? She frowned and flopped onto the bed.
Sleep? She no longer wanted to.
Las Noches.
The girl lay in bed but her eyes refuse to flutter shut the way the normally would. It was already dark. The fake sky above them was twinkling with stars and the lonesome moon, she could see it from the corner of her eye, had not moved.
Sleep.
She didn't want to.
But she quickly forced her eyes shut when she heard the soft thuds of boots nearing, and when they stopped outside her door she hoped no one had noticed the breath she sucked in out of anticipation.
Yet, once again, he did not enter.
His visits had become scarce. She concluded that he must have been busy. He probably ran out of questions, too. There was only so little about humans that interested him.
When the footsteps left, she wondered if he was being deliberately loud for her to know that he was there. She was pretty sure that he could glide across space if he so desired. Wasn't he always stealthy? Wasn't he used to lowering his reiatsu? Why the sudden change?
No reason to be awake now.
Sleep.
And she complied.
It was so out of control. He managed to develop a habit of walking to her room entrance in the dead of night, fully aware that she would notice especially since his spiritual pressure was much more rampant than its usual state when he was not in battle. It all started that one night…
He had stayed over, against logic and restraints that common sense had imposed on Arrancars. He stayed by her side when she talked herself to sleep. Her human hands, one fisted under the sheets and d other loosely on the hem of his sleeve. She wouldn't have noticed if he left there and then. But he didn't.
Because it was strangely comfortable to sit on the bed, doing nothing productive, staring at her sleeping face instead.
He did not understand why, but her reiatsu was out of beat for a few seconds. A dream?
Dreaming, a privilege given to humans.
A pale hand touched a frowning face.
The face, still asleep, twitched under the hand's care, till it finally relaxed and returned to smooth slumber.
The pale hand left, but the other face had bent forward.
Ulquiorra had kissed Orihime. On the forehead, then on the corner of her lips. He did not understand why, but her reiatsu was out of beat for a few seconds.
"You gave me a reason to end my life," he whispered as she cracked her eyes open just as he expected.
"'Forever' exists in the heart. The body decays to nothingness but the soul will always remember what the heart has gained. It isn't pointless."
She had said that.
She smiled, though she did not understand, hazy from sleep and confused by both bliss and the seriousness his words carried.
He knew he hoped that Inoue Orihime would remember for his sake. And just maybe, that connection will live on with her.
"I never fear death, woman, but I never did accept it. Yet now, it's alright to die."
"Ul…quiorra?"
He leaned in once again. Dark lips devoured the inexperienced mouth below. He could hear her heart. He could hear it.
She tugged him forward and he landed on her, gently enough not to crush her with his stone skin. He closed his eyes, an attempt to feign sleep, as idiotic as the idea was—Inoue Orihime was the only who sleeps in this heartless building. He moved to let her curl up on his side, and he thought that was one of the things Kurosaki Ichigo failed to provide her.
The morning after he left with the determination of never returning, but duty specifically demanded that he had to. So he opted to visit without entering, yet deliberately alerting her each time, perhaps a form of consolation he could offer, for once.
He did not expect to make it a habit, yet it happened, and he wasn't sure that he wasn't happy with that.
"May I enter, Nii-sama?" She was kneeling at the door to his study, her voice tiny, and she swore that he was being deliberately slow in granting her permission. He was never one to wait for her to go through such tedious formalities when he was busy, often telling her to enter before she could even say anything. His life was after all, about efficiency.
"So your voice has returned," came the reply after an awkward stretch of silence. "Come in."
"Get well, Rukia."
He knew. He knew all along. She fidgeted, but determined to give her thanks for his concern, "Nii…"
"You can go. Abarai's odd behaviour at office gave it away, and that awkward display by your face and reiatsu in the morning," he said calmly.
What?
Her reaction must have been comical because he had paused his writing, a gentle expression settling upon his alabaster face.
Yet there was a heaviness in his eyes, the same heaviness which, perhaps had hindered his quick permission for her to see him this particular night. So he knew about that too. She flushed, embarrassed at being outwitted by her adoptive brother, and at the same time anxious under such… care and patience which were extremely alien coming from someone like Kuchiki Byakuya.
"I can go?" she asked, just to be sure.
"This would be the first time I trust Renji to handle an off-duty mission, also, the first time to take my place where I should be, but cannot be." He had resumed writing, the grave eyes cleverly averted her violet orbs, his voice smooth but not so even.
"What about the Gotei… They wouldn't allow…" she gulped, knowing that she was asking him to be a criminal alongside her.
"Of course, you will not be using the Gotei's Senkai Gate. We have our own here in the manor. Isn't that why you are here?" He stated the obvious.
"You're allowing me to do this? To disobey rules and Nii-sama, your promise to…"
"You do not have to question my decisions. Have faith and go." A lot could be overlooked at the expense of war, he was sure no ill consequences would find them. She was the pride and he was the upholder, simple.
She remained silent, kneeling still in front of his desk. "It is late, Nii-sama. You should retire soon and be well-rested for tomorrow's duties," she finally managed to say, something she always said, but this time she knew it came out too sorrowful for anybody to miss her insecurities and her reluctance to leave.
"You will take off tonight as you have planned," he said as he stood and walked over to a cupboard. He opened a drawer, the wood immediately creaking. The sound was much alarming to Rukia as she marveled at his movements, graceful and full of purpose despite the ancient furniture which protested at being violated. "Stand up, Rukia."
She did as she was told, looking out of place being upright on his floorboards which were mostly void of décor or furniture to remind her of home. But vast, empty spaces and Nii-same always went together. Being out of place, robbed of comfort, or deserted always brought her thoughts to him. More often than not he would show up and make the driest of situations seem acceptable and meant-to-be. And now, in his space, she felt the same way and the weight of leaving and going to another empty space where he was not in… The idea almost made her cry.
He had walked over to her, holding whatever he had brought out of the drawer.
"If you were to fall ill again, I doubt my lieutenant could be of any help in Hueco Mundo."
She looked up to meet his gaze, puzzled, but still preoccupied with her morbid thoughts. But that was all in a short second, for he handed her a neatly folded cloak, a brown and sturdy material but of good needle work. It was new. And judging from the layers it formed as it lay folded in her hands, it was big enough to drown her in. She did not understand.
She did when she saw that he was holding another cloak which he swiftly unfolded, a flap of wind sounded at her ears as he whirled it around her and the comfortable protective clothing settled on her shoulders and fell to her ankles. She laid her eyes on a particularly interesting pattern on his emerald blue kimono and said nothing as he fastened the collar.
A moment of uncertain silence descended. He looked at her, probably satisfied with what he had done while she clenched her fist under the fabric.
"Thank you, Nii-sama."
He offered nothing in return but a slight inclination of the head to signify that he had heard her. He went back to his desk and sat with his writing brush in hand.
"Please sleep well tonight," she said. She was about to bid him goodbye, but it just wouldn't roll off her tongue right. He was back to his air of ignorance and ultimate concentration in work, so she backed away till the hand behind her back could touch the doors and paused to look once more at him. She thought about the nights she could feel his faint pressure out at the gardens—those somewhat depressing moonlit walks he supposedly enjoyed. She had concluded that he must have been searching for ways to sleep better in those nights. Please sleep well tonight? It was not a suggestion, but a wish she truly wanted him to fulfill.
She almost cracked a bitter smile, wondering if he would worry about her during his night walk later.
He didn't wished to be consoled
Pain was something deliberate
To feel awake
Though a part of the dead
To love was to know
Sleep would come late
Hush now and go ahead
He spoke to her, his words hollow without care or patience—something she was spoiled with under Ulquiorra's wings. It was nothing like the exchange she had with this blue-haired man the day she wandered away from her usual cell without the bat's supervision. Grimmjow was rough and limitlessly violent in every way, and she cringed in pain as he sonido-ed without care of the discomfort she was experiencing being hurled with her stomach resting on the bone of his shoulder…while being enveloped by some kind of kidnap bag. It was very unpleasant.
Yes , she was being kidnapped from her kidnappers by the colleague of her kidnappers.
Marvellous scenario.
He came to her rescue by blasting the female bullies to hell. He sneered and growled and even roared at her idiocy when she healed up the two, but let her have her way nevertheless. Perhaps he was purely irked, but do not care enough to change her mind. Though, oddly, he demanded that she healed up her own face, muttering, "I don't want the bloody shinigami to think that I ain't fighting fair."
She couldn't help but wonder anyway, did he feel it too? The connection?
As he sped up she began to choke without air. Her eyes watered. Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra Schiffer.
Fear for her guardian's safety sank in as she considered the possibility that he was in battle with one of her friends. Her friends. She was, honestly, disgusted by her emotional betrayal.
And that fear was quickly replaced by another as Grimmjow came to a halt, and she felt a presence much more familiar than everyone else's within her reiatsu-detection zone.
Kurosaki-kun.
It was going to happen. Someone was going to die. The two men before her and the one who would soon interfere. One? Two, or all of them? "There will be blood," she heard herself whisper.
Amidst the clashing of swords where the two monsters flew at each other under the pretty blue sky, she heard his voice.
"Do you not despise me for bringing you here?" He had once asked her that. And now the question rang clearer than ever.
She had given him a firm shake of head as a reply, he was contemplative as he threw her a glance which she interpreted as suspicion. Once having her food swallowed she added, "Really, not at all. I agreed to come, didn't I?"
"Human trash," he had retorted with venom, but the harm was not meant to reach her. He was the one who was poisoned.
"Mm-hmm," she had then responded with a smile.
Another loud clang. Was it a Getsuga? Was it the Panthera? She felt herself crumble.
She recalled how differently he had interacted with her after the shinigami infiltrated the palace.
She was never afraid of him. Hadn't he known? He had pointed a dangerous finger to her heart, seemingly entranced and pained at the same time. The connection seemed broken that split second, she knew he was reverting back to the old Ulquiorra who did not know her. He was preparing to kill the man she adored for most of her teenage years.
"No, I'm not afraid," she had replied his question with absolution. She knew too well that her answer would more or less bring him back. She would bring the man who kissed her that night back to existence. His gaze was unwavering, a cloud of confusion was visible, he almost said something in return, but…
Kurosaki-kun came for her.
And now watching the fighting figures, flashes of blue, white, orange and black, she was scared beyond wits. "I'm not afraid," she said again to herself. Afraid of Ulquiorra, I won't ever be. She could feel the connection again, her heart beating.
"I want power. I want to fight. Endlessly and tirelessly! This is what people without 'forevers' must do. There is nothing for us in death, so we fight till the very end… Argh!" Grimmjow's growl ripped through the air.
More clashing, more blood and more pounding.
Two monsters. Her heart ached for them. She was confused. She didn't like what she was seeing.
Grimmjow's words struck a heartstring, she heard the voice again.
"You gave me a reason to end my life."
Pale hands, ash and her frowning face. Ulquiorra is dead. She gave him no tears, and she was disappointed with that.
"I'm not afraid," she had said to him again.
She couldn't hold him. All too soon his body wasted away.
She left the miserable rooftop, instinctively heading to the faint life she felt tingling in her heart and spiritual power. The Sexta Espada. He was still breathing. She hurried her footsteps, thinking that that hand, the one I returned to him, I haven't held it yet.
He didn't wished to be consoled
Pain was deliberate
To feel awake though already dead
Hush now and go ahead
To love was to know
Sleep would come late
So he didn't hope
Didn't want to be saved
Give him the silence then
He will understand
If your hands stretch to meet him
He wouldn't be there
Say no words
But bid him well by staying away
A human heart like yours
He understands
"I never fear death, woman, but I never did accept it. Yet now, it's alright to die."
"He had inevitably lost his voice, possibly for good, due to a ghastly wound to his throat," Urahara told them as Ichigo laid unconscious on the bed. "He was lucky to have Orihime-chan retain his Arrancar form, else he would have been reduced to a normal hollow by now."
"He's still dangerous, isn't he?" Chad asked.
"Yes, I suspect he could still summon his katana if he put his mind to it," Urahara replied, "but, I've put a total amount of four kido spells which seal his ability to go to his resurrection form, permanently. I've also injected him with a serum which prevents any sort of activation of reiatsu for now. He's…you could say, temporarily human, except that he wouldn't need to eat. I will have to inject him every two weeks."
"Inoue-san…" Ishida Uryuu wiped the dust off his glasses as he spoke, "she really outdid herself huh?"
"Hmmph, I heard the girl have offered to perform a more thorough job of healing him to restore his voice but…" The black cat sauntered in and propped herself next to the sleeping orange head. "The panther refused with everything he still has…claws and punches, you get the idea. Anyway, how's the boy here?"
"Sleeping soundly, don't you see?" Urahara smiled.
"You've told them about his powers?"
"Yep, I believe the whole of Soul Society too had heard, Yoruichi-san."
Chad and Uryuu shared a solemn silence as the older two spoke. Inoue-san, what have you done?
"Kurosaki-kun, please sleep well. We'll be here waiting when you wake up, alright?"
She certainly said that. But Uryuu found it ironic that she left immediately to nurse the wretched panther whom she, insisted quite fiercely, was to remain in her apartment for the time being. Uryuu didn't even want to imagine what an uproar it must have been in Sereitei.
"Kurosaki… Just wake up already," the Quincy muttered under his breath.
PLEASE REVIEW. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY DONE SO, AND EVEN ADDED THIS FIC TO THEIR FAVOURITES. I WAS CLOSE TO GIVING UP THIS ONE BUT YOUR SUPPORT PULLED ME THROUGH =] HOPE TO HEAR FROM MORE OF YOU SOON!
PS: All poems in this fiction are original. The one in the last chapter is simply named Forever Blue (after the title of this fic) while this one, for Byakuya and Ulquiorra, is called Sleep Would Come Late. Do tell me if you like it!