A/N: Long time no see. I started this out as a one shot, but I got a couple of requests a really long time ago to continue this story and I finally got around to doing it. So sit back relax and enjoy the story.

Chosen

Lying

-Tell your subordinates what ever you have to. You must get them to believe that you are leaving, for good. -

"Well here I go," I thought as I thrust open the door, on protesting hinges, to reveal four very bored, very grumpy Vasto Lorde. I strode into the room, a glower settling over my features. I watched the shock register on their faces as Ulquiorra followed me silently into their midst. The first of them to say anything was Larchra, my pathetic excuse for a right hand man.

"W-what the hell is Ulquiorra doing here?" he spluttered. His beady eyes jumped frantically from my face to Ulquiorra's, then back again. Suddenly sobering, as if sensing my resolve he stated simply, "You're leaving."

I raised my chin in a subtle show of power and distain. "Yes, I am. I expect you lot to keep out of trouble. Larchra," addressing my subordinate without looking at him I scanned the others in the room for signs of hostility. "I'm putting you in charge; you're the oldest one here, other than me of course. Don't let them kill each other, will ya?" With out another word I turned on my heel only to find my way to the door blocked by a slender, blonde Vasto Lorde. I merely stared her down, waiting for her to move.

"What in the name of sanity do you think your doing Raven?" demanded Valencia in an octave displaying her distress. In the time since Ulquiorra had left our ranks Valencia and I had become as close as sisters. "Leaving with that… that…," temporarily at a loss for words her large eyes flickered from my dark chocolate ones to Ulquiorra's emerald ones and back again, "thing!" She spat the last word. "He's not even one of us anymore. Look at him with half a mask. Ha. You think he could offer more than us? And you're putting HIM in charge?" She flung her arm out to indicate Larchra, who looked rather offended. "He's no better than a rock; I don't care if he is older!"

I had suffered her tirades many times before and usually found them quite entertaining but time was short so she had to be stopped. I put my hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear. At my words she instantly stiffened. Her eyes down cast and full of tears, she turned and sulked off to the corner of the room, but not without a parting shot.

"Fine, be that way."

Feeling horrible about having to say that to her I turned, grabbing hold of Ulquiorra's wrist and pulled him out of the shack. I marched down the pale dunes of Las Noches, pale friend still trailing behind me like a piece of ribbon caught in a hurricane. When finally we were out of earshot of the others I rounded on my green eyed companion. The undescised fury in my eyes shocked him. "Why the hell does this shit happen whenever your around?" his only response was a slow closing an reopening of those emerald orbs. The only things that showed the hint of a hint of expression in that maddeningly stoic face of his. "Oh don't act so innocent you dip shit!"

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't give me that bull-shit! You know exactly what I'm talking about. That scene with Valencia just now," Understanding must have dawned on him then because he glided to my side and laid a consoling hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I had no idea you two had grown so close in my absence. That must have been quite traumatic for you."

By this time there were tears of rage and anguish in equal measures welling in my eyes. "You had better be sorry. I had to tell her that…" But uncharacteristically I let my emotions overpower me just for a moment. For that one instant I lost myself in the familiar safety of my friend's arms and buried my face in his chest. The rest of my sentence lost in the fabric of his shirt.

Awkwardly he patted my back. This was so unprecedented that his usual calm was shaken. Sniffing once, I quickly pulled myself together, ashamed. I was unwise to let my emotions get out of control. What disturbed me more, however, was how natural it was to lean on him, even after all this time and everything that had happened since the time when we hunted together.

A/N: Read and review please! I'll up load the next chapter after I get a few reviews thank you everybody