"Good morning!" The cheerful voice sounded from the spare bedroom before Neliel appeared in the doorway, stretching like a sated kitten, only wearing mauve shorts and a white tank top.
"Good morning to you, too. Did you sleep well?" Halibel asked as she sipped her morning coffee. She had no problem with uncovering her face in front of Neliel. They had been friends for long enough to know each other's secrets and not to mind their friend knowing about said secrets.
"Yes, I did. In fact, the bed was so comfortable I might want to steal it some time in the near future. So be prepared." She flashed the other a carefree smile and walked closer, plopping down next to her at the kitchen table. Halibel smiled back and folded the newspaper what she had been reading and set it down on the surface of the table.
It was still early but they were used to getting up early even after a long night shift. The autumn wind was swaying the trees outside, some of their naked branches rattling against the windows of the first floor room. However, they were intercepted by heavy beige curtains what hung in front of the huge windows of the house, obscuring the view to the big, neglected garden.
"Thank you for putting me up for the night anyway." Nel continued. "It would have been tiresome to ride all the way home after such a hectic night."
"What are friends for?" asked Halibel with mirth shining in her eyes. She got up and walked to the counter, taking a small basket of fresh brioche from it and placing it on the table. "Coffee, tea or orange juice?"
"Orange juice." Neliel answered after a moment of hesitation. "Can I help you with something?"
"No, it's fine. You're the guest after all." The other woman smiled back at her as she took out the jug of orange juice from the fridge. "Besides, you do the same when I'm staying at your place." She looked for a glass and after finding one she poured some juice in it, placing it and the jug in front of Nel and sitting down again.
"Thank you." The green haired woman mumbled, taking a bite from the brioche.
"You were quite tight-lipped about the vampire you shot last night." Halibel said conversationally while spreading her own brioche with butter. "What was your impression about it? Do you think it was the one that bit that man?"
Neliel was close to roll her eyes but she resisted the urge. She understood why Halibel was such a workaholic, but couldn't they at least enjoy their mornings without having to talk about vampires and spilling blood? She nibbled on her brioche, thinking about how to put her thoughts into words before she spoke up.
"I'm sure he wasn't the one who killed that man, but there was something strange about him. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the way he acted wasn't normal vampire behaviour." She nibbled on her brioche again for a few moments. "He seemed to be in control… like he wasn't the slave of his own cravings like most vampires." She lifted her glass to her lips and sipped from the juice. "It was strange."
Halibel listened to Nel's words intently, her breakfast forgotten. Her brows furrowed in thought as she leant back in her chair.
"Do you think he was a pure-blood?" she asked, watching the other's reaction.
Pure-blood vampires were the ones most human authors wrote their romanticized stories about. They were the classic, elegant, refined killers who lived in big gothic castles either alone or in clans, not interfering with human politics or their non-reasoning 'relatives', often called as lowly vampires. Based on their behaviour most people would have thought they were human nobles. They often held an interest toward art and most of them appeared to be cultured and erudite. Pure-bloods could even show affection toward certain members of their family, usually toward their offspring or in some cases their own servants.
Aside from the fact that they killed humans just so they can feed one could say pure-blood vampires were pretty sound people, considering.
Neliel looked up at the other woman, seeming quite shocked.
"That thought didn't even cross my mind at the time but now that you mention it… he certainly behaved more like a pure-blood than an average vampire." Her eyes stared into space but it was clear her mind was replaying yesterday's events and was frantically searching for answers. She blinked after about half a minute, her gaze locking with Halibel's. "But why would another pure-blood appear here? Aren't they supposed to be extremely rare? Is there something in this area what draws them here?"
Halibel shook her head. "There is nothing around here what would draw in a pure-blood. He must have had a personal reason to come here." She tapped her chin lightly, deep in thought. "Did you ask his name by any chance?"
Neliel lowered her eyes, feeling a bit ashamed. They usually didn't ask a vampire's name before they killed it but if they met with anything out of ordinary hunters were directed to gain as much information as possible. She clearly failed to follow those directions.
"No, I didn't." she answered on a low voice. "But I recall his appearance pretty clearly. Can't you go by that?"
Halibel sighed and shook her head.
"If we lived about three hundred years ago I could probably find out his identity by simply looking at him but seeing that most pure-blood families have been extirpated I'm afraid we can't trust in identifying a pure-blood based on typical characteristics and physical features."
"I see." Nel answered, scolding herself inwardly for acting so rashly yesterday. Then out of the blue another question arose in her. "Do you think someone will miss him?"
Halibel gave her a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"If he had a personal reason to come here then that might mean he was here on business."
Halibel's eyes widened in realisation. "Do you think he came here to have conversations with one of Aizen's agents?"
Neliel nodded; the thought seemed even more likely when spoken aloud.
Aizen Sousuke was one of the few still existing pure-bloods. He was a descendant of one of the most respected and most ancient pure-blood families. His clan had been slain two hundred years ago during the so called 'Purification', making him the only heritor of the incredible fortune. Some people, mostly the hunters, thought he was the one who betrayed his own family to get his hands on the wealth; others, mostly his loyal servants and the lowly vampires said the Aizen-clan was just another victim of the mindless slaughter the hunters had staged among the vampires at the time.
Now he was one of the most infamous vampires, acting like a mysterious warlord, raising a vampire army with the help of his agents, but never showing up among the humans. No one knew what his true intensions were either.
"It would fit into the picture." Neliel continued. "I mean when do you see vampires doing nothing in the middle of a park? I think he might have been waiting for someone; someone who might have been an agent. And seeing that he might have wanted to join Aizen's army it's reasonable to think he didn't want to let me, a hunter, into his secret."
Halibel nodded, finding that train of thought worthy enough to spend time on investigating it. She stood up, leaving her breakfast on the table almost completely untouched and strode into one of the many rooms of her large flat. Neliel heard some shuffling and rustling sounds and about two minutes later Halibel emerged from her personal library, holding a massive, old-looking volume and some modern folders in her arms.
"I think I'll need your help with these, Nel. I hope you didn't have plans for today."
The green haired woman smiled up at her, making room for the documents on the table.
"I was hoping on staying here to enjoy your company, my friend."
Annoying as hell. That was his first thought after the fog cleared up in his mind and he could finally hear the noises of the outside world. He didn't have a clue what made those fluttering sounds but he wanted to tear it into tiny little shreds and then stomp on it for good measure.
He wearily opened his eyes, thanking whatever god was listening that the room or hall or cave or whatever he was currently staying in was dim lighted.
He attempted to sit up but immediately regretted it as stabbing pain shot up his spine, effectively killing his desire to move.
"F-fuck." He breathed as his head plopped down on the pillow beneath him. He furrowed his brows in pain and confusion, not quite understanding how he ended up in a bed. The last thing he remembered was that hunter and her still smoking gun, her face emotionless but her gaze piercing. "That little…"
"So you're awake." Somebody cut him off and his eyes widened in disbelief as he recognised that monotonous voice. "Would you tell me who you pissed off this time? Just to know who I'm getting into trouble with for saving you."
The voice was coming from above him so he turned his head toward the ceiling, nictitating to make out the figure in the dark.
"Ulquiorra?" he asked uncertainly, not really believing his own eyes. The shorter male was crouching on a rafter just above him, his yellowish eyes gleaming in the dark. Grimmjow just noticed they were in a desolate loft, thin rays of dim light creeping through the little gaps between the roof tiles, illuminating the dust hovering in the air.
"I'm surprised you can remember me at all." The other man replied. "Did I make such a big impression on you the last time we met?"
The vampire scowled and turned his head away, trying to shut out the other's presence. He did not like the thought of being under the same roof with him, especially in the condition he was in. He felt weak and powerless and the dull pain engulfing his whole body made him wish he didn't wake up at all, at least till his wound healed.
"Why did you save me?" he asked reluctantly, damning the fact that he got himself into such a state that he had to be saved.
There was a rush of fluttering sounds again as Ulquiorra jumped down from the rafter, landing effortlessly on the hard ground next to the small bed. His little leap churned up a large cloud of dust and Grimmjow had to stiffen a fit of violent coughing. Ulquiorra sat down on a hunch near the wall, his back stiff and his luminescent gaze fixed on the man occupying the bed.
"I have no logical explanation." He answered plainly. "It was based on an urge, just like a lot of my actions seem to be since we first met. As much as I hate to admit it I cannot control it."
'Pathetic.' Grimmjow thought and turned to his side, clenching his teeth in pain.
"You haven't told me who did this to you."
The teal haired man looked up at the other, murderous intent clear in his eyes.
"A vampire hunter." He grunted after a minute, turning his gaze away in shame. A simple hunter handing his pure-blood ass to him… he would have found it hilarious if it didn't happen to him. Man, what a disgrace.
Ulquiorra cocked an eyebrow what went unnoticed by the man lying on the bed.
"It must have been a really good hunter then… or were you just careless like you usually are?"
Grimmjow turned his head away, refusing to answer. He was not going to humiliate himself even more in front of him by admitting that yes, he had been acting way too breezy around the hunter for his own good. He didn't take her seriously and couldn't even imagine her being able to harm him, probably that's why she could catch him off guard. Underestimating her was clearly a big mistake.
Seeing that the pure-blood wasn't planning to answer the black haired man turned his glance down at the other hunch next to him, brows furrowing just a tad for a moment. There was a quiet clink as long black claws closed around a small metal object. Ulquiorra lifted it close to his face, examining it for a minute before he tossed it toward the bed. Grimmjow blinked in confusion as the little ball-like thing collided with his bare chest. He looked down on the bed where it had fallen and after spotting it among the bed sheets he picked it up and placed it on his open palm.
"It took me almost one hour to take this out of you without causing too much damage in your body." Ulquiorra deadpanned, motioning with his eyes toward the slightly deformed silver bullet in the vampire's hand. "Good thing you pure-bloods regenerate quickly, otherwise I doubt you would have survived the rather unprofessional operation."
Grimmjow's gaze shot up at the other in shock and rage. He wanted to pounce on the other man and strangle the living hell out of him. True, he had saved his life by removing the silver object from inside his body where it would have burnt the flesh and caused even more serious injuries but he had nearly killed him in the process. Just what kind of an idiot was Ulquiorra anyway?
"I won't thank you." He growled instead, turning onto his back again, suddenly feeling extremely drained and sleepy.
"I didn't expect you would." Came the smooth reply, not sounding offended at all. "I advise you to rest now. I think you'll heal in a span of two days at max if you don't strain yourself. I'll come back to check on you before the sun rises."
Grimmjow only grunted as a reply, not liking the way Ulquiorra played the anxious mother around him. He heard the creaking sound of a window opening, the dim light of dusk pouring into the loft for a moment before the smaller man stepped out to the roof of the old, disused tenement. The vampire's eyes closed tiredly at the same time as black demon wings grew out of the dark haired man's scapulas. As he slowly sank into unconsciousness he missed the sound of a few silent flaps of wings as Ulquiorra took flight above the outskirts of the town, invisible to the mortal eye.
"Jeagerjaques, isn't it?" she muttered, her eyes serious as she studied the file in front of her.
They had spent the day with reading through countless pages about Aizen's agents who resided in the area and had enough connections and power to have an effect on a pure-blood.
They had narrowed them down to three individuals and looked up all of their connections what equalled in huge piles of folders to go through again. After about four hours of reading spent in complete silence Neliel's quiet 'I think I've found him' utterance had caused Halibel to jump in her seat in alarm. Nel had smiled at her apologetically and handed the file to her friend.
Halibel memorized the name before laying the papers down on the table and reaching for the massive volume she had brought with her from the library in the morning. It contained the register and family tree of all pure-blood clans ever in existence and she intended on getting to know Mister Jeagerjaques' background in depth.
"His data sheet is quite useless." Neliel said on a mildly annoyed tone. "Most of his data, such as his whereabouts, connections and the scale of his dangerousness are unknown. The description fits, though."
Halibel nodded absentmindedly, her finger following the branches of the Jeagerjaques family tree, stopping once she found the name 'Grimmjow Jeagerjaques'.
"It seems like he was pretty young vampire standard." She said, studying the minimal amount of data under his name. "He was born in 1836 during the massacre staged among the vampire families." She frowned at the little crosses next to all of the family members' names. "None of his relatives are alive."
"It must be lonely to be a pure-blood nowadays." Neliel interjected, not looking up from the files in front of her.
Halibel glanced at her and smiled.
"Not if you have great friends." She said, earning a smile from the other in return.
The blonde woman sighed and got up from the table, strolling to the counter and started rummaging through the cupboards.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked and moved to pour water into the teapot.
"Yes, thank you." Nel replied and started to arrange the scattered papers. "What do you think, is Aizen planning on drafting some of his soldiers into the area?"
There were some clinking noises before Halibel replied.
"It's possible. We hadn't seen Jeagerjaques in this region before so if Aizen's agent organized the meeting here I think it's likely that they wanted him to reside here and fight against the hunters."
"Good thing I killed him then. I don't think most hunters I know would stand a chance against a pure-blood."
"Me neither. Aside from you, me and Stark I can't recall anybody around here who could kill one. That recluse Luisenbarn is said to be one of the few veteran hunters who is able to kill one, but he is like an old, grumpy bear hunter. I doubt he'd come to the town to help us even if we asked him nicely."
"Don't forget about Ichigo." The green haired woman interjected. "He might not be a member of our organization but he is on the same level as us."
Halibel shook her head sceptically. She returned to the desk and placed two steaming cups on it. Neliel thanked her and lifted hers to her lips, blowing on it and taking a sip from the hot liquid.
"I know he is strong but he only goes after vampires if he sees them attacking somebody. He is not a real hunter, therefore we couldn't count on him in a war."
"I guess you are right." The green haired hunter sighed. "Anyway, do you happen to have any kind of data about Aizen's moves in the past few years? I wonder where his agents appeared in this county. The pace he extends his influence is a bit worrisome."
"Unfortunately I have no copies of those folders. You should check the organization's archives."
"I will, but certainly not today." Neliel said, stiffening a yawn. "It's getting late and since I have tonight off I want to spend it at home in peace."
"Good for you." Halibel replied with a tired smile. "I'm out on hunting with Stark tonight so I better take a nap before the sun goes down."
"I don't want to hinder you any longer then." The green haired woman stood up and pushed the chair back to its place. "Just give me a minute to dress and to pack my belongings and I'll be out the door."
"You made it sound like you're a burden." Halibel chuckled what earned her a light shrug and an open smile in return.
The chilly wind blew her hair out of her face, the hum of the motorbike drowning out all other sounds. She was the only one riding on the unpaved road just outside the town so she slowed down a little to enjoy the view. The wide trail was lined with old oaks what's yellow and brown leaves were scattering around in the autumn wind. The setting sun's last rays were painting the bare meadows golden, giving them a warm yet still cold feeling. The air smelled like fresh hay but the dark clouds gathering on the eastern horizon were bringing the smell of cleaning rain with them.
Neliel inhaled deeply, feeling her lungs nearly burst. It really was refreshing after all those long night shifts spent with hunting after and killing vampires.
She turned to a smaller path and after about half a minute her house finally came into view. The medium-sized, plain country-house was surrounded by slender robinias what had already lost their leaves. There weren't many sighs of life around it, only some potted plants here and there, waiting to be taken inside the house before the first frost, and a lonely bird feeder on one of the trees near a big, encurtained window.
As forlorn as it seemed at first glance Neliel felt almost giddy to be at home again. She parked her motorbike down next to the wall and grabbed her valise. As she hurried up the short flight of stairs to the front door with a small, unconscious smile on her lips she missed the dark shadow flitting above her garden, bringing the smell of rotten flesh with it.
TBC
A/N: I assume no one thought I was gonna kill Grimmy off, am I right? I wrote that little glimpse of him just to confirm that he is alive and kicking.
Hope the chapter wasn't too boring despite the obvious lack of action in it. I try to write some kinda plot into the story and some basic things had to be explained (the curse and charm of AU). The true GrimmNel will come in a few chapters… erm, until then, eh… have some NelHali! What, it's a guilty pleasure of mine and yuri is cute so… OK, I'll shut up now.
Anyway, the fic takes place somewhere in Europe (since I'm only familiar with this continent) but I won't name any specific country or town.