The next few days were painfully slow. Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes felt like hours. Hours felt like days. And days like years...I couldn't stand it much longer. It was the first time in my life that I had ever felt like running away from Hueco Mundo. But I knew – Aizen would always find me, no matter where I ran, it was like I was a fly caught in his spiderweb, his prey forever more...

It was only a week later that Aizen held yet another meeting. Perhaps situations were getting out of hand and we needed even more orders than we already had...whatever the reason, the whole week I had been holed up in my room, too scared to face Aizen or the other Espada after what had happened. But this time I had to face him. There wasn't a choice...but instead of arriving early at the meeting like I usually did, I waited for one of the Espada to knock on my door...perhaps, just perhaps, Aizen would cancel the meeting. My stomach twisted into knots. For one of the few times in my life, I was terrified.

I waited. And waited. Perhaps he really did cancel the meeting, I thought to myself desperately, listening to the clock tick, each second menacing. Please...I don't want to face him...

"Oi, Ulquiorra!" There was slamming on the door. My eyes widened a centimeter. There was no way, it couldn't have been...

"Oi, you shithead, get out here!"

There was no mistake. It was Grimmjow. My heart sank. What would I do? What could I do? My mind snapped – of course. Just act as if nothing had happened. Become the Cuatra Espada, Ulquiorra Cifer, the man that wasn't the real me...

"I'll break down the door if you don't get out here! Aizen'll have my ass if he doesn't have his loyal dog by his side!"

After deciding that Grimmjow had already broken down enough doors (and walls) as it was, I slowly rose and unlocked the door. I gripped the door knob, but hesitated. What would I say? What would –

My thoughts were interrupted when Grimmjow slammed the door open. If not for my nimble leap backwards, I would have been a pancake behind that door.

"Tch. Finally. What the hell were you doing in there? Applying make up?" Grimmjow sneered.

"It's none of your business." I replied, my voice hoarse.

"Hm." Grimmjow didn't sound convinced. I stared at the floor, not knowing what to do.

"Don't just stand there like a fucking retard! Move!" Grimmjow exclaimed after about five seconds of silence, giving me a hard push in the direction of the meeting room. I found myself falling forward and I had to grip the wall for support. Since when did my body become so weak?

I lumbered towards the meeting room, pretending that I was oh so strong, even though everything seemed to be spinning around me as I drew closer to where Aizen was. Grimmjow merely stared at my back. Were the bloodstains still there?

We finally arrived at the meeting room. I took a deep breath...and I pushed the door open. Grimmjow followed closely behind.

Aizen and all the Espada turned to stare at me. My body felt like it was burning when my eyes met Aizen's. There was a strange look in his eyes – triumph? Desire? Whatever it was, it sent shivers down my spine, although I didn't show anything on the outside. I walked nonchalantly towards my chair. As I pulled it out, the squeaks that it had emitted seemed to be so loud...

Grimmjow had already taken his seat, pausing a moment to send an icy glare at Aizen, who ignored it. As I took my seat, Grimmjow's gaze reverted back to me. We stared at each other for just a moment – and then I quickly looked down.

Aizen finally began the meeting. However, I couldn't concentrate and Aizen's words sounded like a foreign language...I tried to keep awake while listening to Aizen, who droned on and on. I could feel Grimmjow's eyes on me, but I ignored the burning sensation inside of my heart. What was that feeling, deep inside of me? It hurt and...it felt so...forbidden...

"...and that is all for the time being. You are now dismissed, my dear Espada." Aizen finally said, leaning back in the chair. He shot another stare at me. I looked around instead – most of the Espada were already in the doorway, having casual conversations with each other. Grimmjow was by the doorway, but he didn't seem to be leaving – was he waiting...for...me?

Realizing that the voices of the other Espada were gradually fading away, I rose from my chair quickly, almost overturning the chair. I turned and walked past Aizen as fast as I could, but I could still feel his gaze boring into the back of my neck. My body still felt feverishly hot all over...and I could feel needles of tension pricking into my skin. Grimmjow was still there, but he didn't look at me.

I was almost out of the doorway when I heard that cold voice behind me. "How's Yuki?"

I froze in the doorway, my eyes widening a good one and a half centimeters. "I...he...he's fine, Aizen-sama..." I bit my lip – how could I have been sounding so utterly weak in front of Grimmjow?

I suddenly found myself almost running to my room – I suddenly couldn't control myself, the cool, composed Ulquiorra Cifer was disappearing and I was left only with the human feelings of Yuki...wait – human? Feelings? I stopped, gasping a little by the door to my room. There was no way that a hollow, let alone an Espada could be feeling such things! But I knew that my human counterpart was deep inside, somewhere, still hiding –

"What. The. Hell is going on?!"

I whipped around, but I already knew who was behind me. Grimmjow.

"It – you wouldn't...understand..." I said finally, my deep green eyes locking onto a pair of aquamarine eyes.

He grabbed my shirt collar. "Who the hell is Yuki?!"

I stared up at him and looked away. What would I tell him? But I knew that Grimmjow wouldn't stop until he knew the truth.

"Yuki is..." I choked on my words, as if they were made of sand. "Yuki was me. Yuki was when I was a human."

"But...he is still me." I whispered. There was no going back now.

Oooh...what a crappy ending...*smacks self* Okaaay...so it wasn't the BIG one that I was going to write...but instead we'll drag it out longer so we can see more GrimmUlqui! That okay with you guys? But anyway, uh, I am just SUPER DUPER sorry for the long wait...school and going to China...arrgh!! And once I got back from China, I burned a finger and ripped a toenail!! It just doesn't get much better, huh? Haha, well, see you guys until next time! Hope you enjoyed!!

Oh and I supposed I'll need to stress it again – please, please, please review! Thank you! Hugs and kisses for everyone!

~Sukika-chan