Though it had been minutes since she made that decision, it honestly seemed like hours. She was going to die today. It was weird, she always thought that if you knew the moment you would die, it would make you uneasy…but she felt calm, other than her pounding heart. She had been looking into Ulquiorra's eyes for what seemed like the longest time, also, the emerald eyes giving her a caring look, though the rest of his features he fought to keep the same as usual.

In reality, he had to use everything in him to keep from jumping up or kissing her or something…he really was happy. Though he knew he shouldn't be…since this girl had arrived there, he had grown accustomed to being happy while in her presence. Softly, he reached out and took her hand. He couldn't take it anymore, he needed to show her how he felt, truly and honestly. Soon, she would no longer be human, but he would never want to forget that side of her, no matter what she would turn into. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he got closer to her, liking the redness that was now plain on her face. Would she still be like that as an arrancar? No, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the here and now. He pressed his lips to hers softly at first and then gradually becoming more passionate as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He broke it off, finally, staring into her eyes.

"It's time," he said. "Are you ready to die?"

She nodded. "For you, I am."

{-}

The halls seemed unusually long as they made their way down the corridors of Las Noches. Her hand had never left his until they made it to the room where she would die. With a wave of his hand, the door opened. He glanced at her quickly before leading her into the huge room. It was dark, darker than any other room she had seen in this place before. One by one, candelabras began to light, filling the room with an eerie glow. Taking a look at his face, she could see the excitement filling his eyes. Was it because he was made to kill and she was going to be his next victim, or was it because he couldn't wait to be permitted to be with him.

"Step over here," Ulquiorra led her to what appeared to be a circle drawn on the floor. "The circle will keep the soul from leaving, though it's not very elaborate."

"Yes, okay." She stood in the middle of the circle, waiting for something to happen, something painful and deadly. Her eyes instinctively closed tightly, waiting for anything. Then, his hand raised and began glowing green. It was almost as if he was shooting a cero, though not quite. It was different than that. Quickly, he let the energy in his hand go as he hoped that such a low level attack would merely kill her human body and not damage the soul. When the smoke cleared, all that was left was her slumbering soul curled up on the floor. She was no longer in her arrancar uniform she had been given, but her old school uniform she had arrived in. Softly, lovingly, he picked up her soul. She was dead, yes, but there was still more work to be done.

{-}

When she came to, she felt different, sort of…detached? She could tell that she was laying down somewhere…and where her head was, it was cold so she assumed it was the floor. She looked down at her chest and when she saw the chain there, she remembered everything. Her deciding to give up her life to be with Ulquiorra…then it really happened. She was dead. A small gasp escaped her mouth.

"Finally awake, sleeping beauty?" Aizen said with a smirk from the chair he was sitting on only about 10 feet away.

"Ahh…yes…I mean, yes sir!" She sat up quickly and bowed her head low to the floor. It was better to get off on a good foot here than to try to make it up later, she supposed.

"Well, well, you will be a good addition after all." It was then that she noticed the small black orb resting on the table between them. "Get ready, my dear. This could be painful."

She closed her eyes tightly, bracing herself. Surely, the transition from soul to hollow would be bad enough but to be transitioned to an arrancar from a soul, that would be excruciating. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Ulquiorra there.

"I'll be waiting for you, Hime." He backed away, then, leaving her there on the floor.

Closing her eyes again, she believed she was truly prepared because of his touch, no matter how distant it had seemed to her. Suddenly, it felt as if every part of her body was being ripped apart from the inside out and dipped in white-hot flames. Screamed of agony escaped her mouth as the pain grew worse and worse with each second. She hoped with all of her being, though, that Ulquiorra had not heard her scream, though she wasn't sure why. The pure agony seemed to last forever until the agony had stopped and pure relief, like a waterfall, had washed over her in a tide of pleasure.

{-}

Opening her eyes seemed so…different. Her body felt strange, heavy yet somehow light. Looking around with her still-fuzzy eyes, she felt a hand wrap around her arm and help her up off of the floor. Then, quickly, there was a cold breeze as something was wrapped around her. She looked down at herself, completely in a daze. Her skin wasn't quite as white as the sheet that was so loosely tucked around her body, though it was close. Her head spun, though she wasn't really thinking anything. Then she looked up at the one who was holding her. He looked so…familiar. Those emerald eyes with the lines tracing the whole way down his face, that black hair. Why could she not remember who it was. Then it dawned on her; who was she?

"Ul…Ul…." was the only thing that would come out of her mouth. She couldn't form words. Why was that? Was it because this body was so much different?

"My love," Ulquiorra said, laying a hand on her cheek, "rest now. Don't think to much, Hime."

"H…Hi…Him…e….m…my name….is…Hime."

Ulquiorra blinked, surprised. None of the arrancar that had been created up to this point were able to speak right away. Yet this girl…she just kept amazing him.

"Yes, Hime is your name." He said, happy that she was able to remember anything at all.

"Have fun, you two. Oh, and once again, Ulquiorra, I leave her in your care," Aizen said as he left the room.

AN: Okay, for all of you who brought the formatting to my attention, thank you and it has been fixed. I'm not sure exactly why it was underlined, bold, and italics, but it's changed now. Thank you!