Chapter One: Precious
The song in this story is called Hartes Ciel, Melenas Walasye. I've put the English lyrics in parenthesis. The English lyrics come from an Ar Tonelico forum called 'A Reyvatiel's Melody' .com/watch?v=IMEKnZjh99Q&feature=related
Grimmjow landed onto the grass of the human world, the void of his home world dispersing into nothing. 'Why am I here?' He thought, realizing that he had come here without any actual reason. That small girl's face seemed hazy to him as it flashed before the Menos. Her smile remained clear, showing her childish innocence without fail. He growled, shaking his head as his ears tilted back. 'How annoying.' He thought to himself once again. But he remembered how sad Ai was when they parted, and he began to wonder if it was because of that look she wore he came back. Grimmjow began to believe that it was because he didn't want to be bothered by a human girl like her, and that he could tell her that he would eat her if she didn't leave. However, it was her voice that made her think differently.
"Hitorikiri de aruita atarimae no mainichi
I walked alone, day after day
Kakomareta sekai wo kowasanu youni ikiteta
The world surrounding me kept existing the same way
Kagami ga utsusu no wa usotsuki no egao
The smiling faces of liars are reflected in the mirrors
Kokoro no kumori wo sakasama ni
Reversing the clouds inside my heart"
His right ear twitched, and he looked in that direction to find the small human girl once more. Her hair was braided into two sections, with loose strands flying freely from the soft breeze. The white dress she wore swayed at the melody of the song she was singing, and the large smile was still on her face. Why he felt relieved to know she was smiling, he'll never know. Why he didn't want the seven-year-old to stop singing, he didn't know either. Possibly it was because it was the first time he's heard a human child sing, or maybe it was because the lyrics seemed to bring him a comforting peace. Something he couldn't find in Hueco Mundo.
"Takusan no hitotachi yukikau sora no shita de
Many people wandering under the sky
Jibun wo mamoru tame kagi wo kakete ikiteta
To protect themselves, they live a life locked in
Sonna watashi ga ima shitta shiawase wa
The "me" of the past is now a known happiness
Ude wo nobashitara todoku mono
Something I can touch if I reach out with my arms"
Suddenly, she stopped singing, and walking. She looked around, as if looking for something, or someone. Grimmjow remained silent. But then, she laughed. She looked in his direction, her smile still there," You can come out you know." The panther walked from the bushes he had hid behind, and sat in front of the girl with his tail swaying from side to side. "Why do you sing something like that." He demanded. For some reason, he found it offensively determined. From the way she sang it, it sounded like she knew how everyone felt, and wanted to bring them into a world of everlasting peace. Something that couldn't be achieved. Despite her being a child, and that kind of wish something only a child would want to come true, he still found it offensive.
Ai shrugged," I'unno. I just really like the song." His ears perked faintly," Why?" The girl's right pointer-finger pressed against her chin; her thinking pose as he found himself calling it. She nodded; her approval of her answer. "It's because it's the truth about everyone." She responded. His eyes narrowed in confusion, and her fingertips pressed themselves together as she stared at them," I want everyone to be happy because everyone is precious in one way or another. If I sing this song, maybe people will understand why everything bad that happens is breaking us apart." It wasn't the answer he was expecting, but he wasn't surprised at it either. Ai seemed like that kind of girl. The kind of human that would sacrifice her own happiness for the happiness of a thousand souls. A foolish, and kind, human.
He sprawled himself out on the soft grass, growling," Then keep singing." She tilted her head," Eh?" He glared into those teal eyes with irritation," If you want them to realize what you found, you said that you had to keep singing. So why stop." "You don't find it childish?" She asked. He was bewildered at how smart the small girl was, but he simply said," I find it pointless. But you're a child, and you think like a child. Even if I were to rip your soul apart, it wouldn't change that you are NOTHING but a child." For an odd reason, as soon as he said those words, Grimmjow wanted to take them back. But instead of finding shock and tears within her eyes, she simply smiled and nodded. She closed her eyes, and laced her hands together as if she was praying. Praying for her wish to be realized. Slowly, her mouth opened, and she began to sing again.
"Tobira no mukougawa senobi wa iranai
At the other side of the gate, I don't need to overdo it
Arinomama no kotoba de katarikakeyou
Let us talk with words of truth
Soshite kono sekai e koko de au hito e
Thus, to this world, to the people I meet
Hana wo tabeneta ai no uta wo okurou
Let us express the song of love that tied the flowers together"
He closed his eyes, resting his head upon his large paws as she continued to sing that wishful song. Lost in his own thoughts, he found himself fighting against his instincts. To kill everyone to become the 'King'. Why didn't he want to kill Ai? Let alone bring her hopes down? No matter what the reason, he found himself unconsciously wanting to protect the one thing that seemed precious to him..
And that.. is Ai.
