Disclaimer: …I ran out of disclaimers. Is there a point where I can stop disclaimer-ing?

...

7

No More Choices

Previous to that, Ulquiorra had been quietly contained in the room. He'd studied the surroundings until he could get around with his eyes closed, he'd listened to every single freaking sound in that house, and he'd stared at nothingness until both his eyes and thoughts burned him. The simple human term for this would be "boredom."

Yes, Ulquiorra Schiffer was very, very bored. To make things worse, his mind was completely jumbled. It was making him sick and he felt as if he might start to go insane. As it was, he was already suffering. He had to choose what he was going to do with the rest of his existence. He was leaning toward going back to Hueco Mundo, but the idea began to repulse him. Soul Society would be a nightmare. The human world held some possibility, but he could barely stand that Ichigo for three minutes, let alone the rest of his life. This was going to be a very difficult-

Something in his chest pulsed and a shock-wave went to Ulquiorra's brain. Breathing became hard. Before he knew it, he was clutching at his heart. He doubled over, trying to think through the haze. The left side of his face began to burn. He brought up a hand to touch it, now used to expecting the plain skin and hair. He found bone.

Ulquiorra stumbled to a stand and tried to shove his way out of the room. Everything was spinning as if he was severely drunk. He wasn't even aware of how badly he was shaking. A feverish feeling took over and it was getting harder to resist. The bony surface he felt around his face grew. He barely made it to the living room when his legs refused to work. He slumped pathetically against the wall, unable to sturdy himself.

The sensation that he had something dark and empty buried inside him increased, taking over his whole being. Hard material began to stretch across his face and his wide green-blue eyes. For a second, he imagined he saw Toshiro standing in the doorway, paralyzed. More pain seared through his eyes, making it impossible to see anything.

Hands dug into his shoulders. Ulquiorra couldn't have possibly known that they were Toshiro's hands. Hitsugaya was making an attempt to still the convulsing creature. Swiftly, he drew Hyorinmaru, releasing Shikai. If Ulquiorra was turning back into a Hollow, it had to be done. He sent a quick, hard strike to the practically full mask. The right side shattered, but reformed. Hitsugaya refused to stop. Where was that d- shop keeper? Urahara should have been watching him!

Finally, the mask gave up and vanished, leaving an exhausted ex-Arrancar behind. All Ulquiorra was capable of at that moment was breathing. His eyes wouldn't even open. Reluctantly, Hitsugaya let the man lean on him after he'd sheathed his sword. Their situation had completely changed. Ulquiorra could still revert back to a Hollow. The option of requesting Ulquiorra stay in Rukongai was completely out now and letting him stay in the human world was next to impossible.

Slowly, Ulquiorra tried to stand, using the wall for support. He nearly collapsed again, but managed to stay up.

"What happened?" Hitsugaya demanded.

Ignoring him, Ulquiorra started to stumble back to his room, barely able to get the sliding door open. Hitsugaya would have none of that. Before the man could enter, the captain grabbed his wrist and held it tightly.

"Answer my question."

Ulquiorra mumbled something.

"I can't hear you."

The message was repeated, but still Hitsugaya could make out nothing. He let go of Ulquiorra's wrist. "I'm calling Orihime," he warned, keeping his gaze steadily on the being.

"No," Ulquiorra said, barely loud enough.

Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Instead of answering, Ulquiorra slumped against the back wall in his room and closed his eyes.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Evidently not. Hitsugaya slammed the door shut. Where was everyone? They called him back! They should be there!

"Ah, Captain Hitsugaya," Urahara greeted, appearing out of nowhere.

Hitsugya spun on him angrily. "Where were you? And where is Matsumoto?"

He laughed lightly. His breath smelled like alcohol. "No worries. All of us were just out back havin' a few drinks."

The tiny captain growled and stomped out back to give Matsumoto a piece of his mind. Urahara watched him go before letting his drunken smile slip. Hitsugaya should have known that Urahara could hold his liquor better than that. Silently, the shop keeper slid open the door to Ulquiorra's room and peeked inside. The former Espada was fast asleep, looking like he was horribly ill.

With the grace of a Shinigami, Urahara sneaked inside the room and knelt carefully by Ulquiorra's side. He drew something out from his robe and placed it in Ulquiorra's hand, closing the fingers around it. Once the task was complete, he left as swiftly as he'd came.

Now he just had to deal with the angry captain.

...

Hitsugaya would have found it impossible to sleep if he wasn't so freaking tired. Between having no sleep the previous night, dealing with the nightmare-case that was Ulquiorra Shiffer, and handling a very drunk Matsumoto, he was ready to pass out. If only his sleep had been a dreamless one.

The room was dark. Outside, rain fell heavily, some of it finding its way through the cracks of the house and dripping from the ceiling onto the floor. Little Toshiro gasped as the feeling that someone was watching him arose. Thunder boomed. Fearfully, Toshiro sat up and crawled over to where a dark lump lay. He shook it, causing it to stir and grumble.

"Katashi," Toshiro whispered.

"Yes?"

"Something's watching us."

Immediately, Katashi sat up, sea-green irises locking onto the exact place where Toshiro felt the invisible eyes. Without glancing away, he moved his hand to Toshiro's shoulder. "It's nothing, Shiro. Go back to sleep."

"What if it hurts us?" the young boy wondered fearfully.

"Would I ever let anything hurt you?"

Toshiro shook his head.

"Then you have nothing to worry about. Go to sleep."

Moments after Toshiro shut his eyes, the presence vanished.

...

When Ulquiorra woke up, it was late at night. He felt something odd pressed in his hand. Opening it, he found a small object wrapped in a piece of paper. Using his enhanced night vision, he found the light switch so that he could examine the parcel.

The paper was a note, he discovered. It said, Put this on and don't take it off. Trust me even if you don't want to. It will help control that thing you felt before. The note was wrapped around a metal ring with a thin chain through it. A necklace.

By no means did Ulquiorra trust the mysterious sender. Instead of putting it around his neck like he was meant to do, Ulquiorra stashed it in his pocket. He listened in case there was anyone watching, waiting to see what he would do with it. At first, he heard nothing. Then, there was a slight rustling from the living room.

Wanting to interrogate whoever it was about the item, he went to the door. Upon opening it, he realized no one was there. He kept listening, knowing it would be almost useless to figure out who it was by reiatsu considering everyone was so tightly packed together. Another sound. He poked his head around the dark corner.

He felt idiotic when he finally comprehended that the noise was only Toshiro on the couch. However, it was odd the way Toshiro's reiatsu was trembling. The changes weren't very large, but noticeably unstable. Old memories stirred and he remembered times when they were younger. After their father died, Toshiro often had nightmares, tossing and turning until Ulquiorra/Katashi could calm him down. It was almost out of habit that Ulquiorra would feel the need to check on him now.

Just like in his memories, Toshiro wouldn't stay still. His clothes were twisted almost to the point of strangling him. When he was younger, his expression would be scared. Now, it was cursed with a hardness that was miserable to see on a child of his age. Ulquiorra bent on one knee as to see his face clearer. He was finding it impossible to doubt this was Toshiro. He could feel that it was. Everything he did, his eyes, his face, his name. No matter the slight age difference and change in hair color, this was the little brother he used to know.

Carefully, so as not to wake him, Ulquiorra put his fingers in the white locks and stroked them through softly. After a few times of repeating this action, Toshiro's movements slowed and his breathing regulated. This only proved Ulquiorra's theory further. Now, more than ever, he wished he knew what happened since he last saw his younger brother. Obviously, things had gone downhill. Ulquiorra once again reminded himself that, conscious, Toshiro wouldn't remember him as anything other than the troublesome ex-Arrancar. Asleep, it was like his body recognized this familiar action that had so often brought peace to him.

Toshiro let out a small sigh, but remained unconscious. Ulquiorra was almost surprised to find himself reluctant to leave. He would have to soon or else Toshiro would wake up and think that Ulquiorra was trying to kill him. It was sad how they had gone from being close brothers to distanced enemies.

Unknown to either of them, two doors down, someone had woken up. This someone was Rangiku Matsumoto. She was well-used to the slight fluctuations in her captain's reiatsu. They were practically an alarm clock to her. Waking up was an instinct. She was already at the door to go look for him when the wavering suddenly stopped. Curious, she still went to check on him. Needless to say, she was shocked when she found Ulquiorra leaning on the couch.

For a second, Matsumoto thought that the man was trying to hurt her captain. She was half-way to drawing her sword when it became apparent to her that the motions he was making were not ones meant to kill. In fact, they were the same ones she had used to calm down her small captain. Looking closer, and somewhat astounded that Ulquiorra had not sensed her yet, she noticed how his eyes were softer. She couldn't see Hitsugaya from where she stood due to the backrest of the couch, but she could feel his steady, calm reiatsu along with that of Ulquiorra. She even thought there might have been the traces of a smile on the ex-Espada's usually emotionless face.

With a sigh, Ulquiorra stood to leave. Panicking, Matsumoto fled back into a shady corner. Ulquiorra walked straight past her and to his door. Before he entered, though, he gently whispered, "Goodnight, Toshiro."

All Matsumoto could do for a second was stand there, confused. Then, she gathered the mental capacity to walk over to her sleeping captain. He looked relaxed. Her eyes drifted to the door of their supposed enemy. Not for the first time, she wondered, "Who are you, Ulquiorra Schiffer?"

...

The minute school ended the next day, Orihime found herself in a hurry. She ran straight past Ichigo, giving him and Rukia a quick "goodbye," and waved to Tatsuki. She was lucky that her tomboy friend had a martial arts meeting today. She didn't want to be delayed from getting to the Urahara shop.

She heard it before she saw it. The place was accompanied by the usual ruckus, not to mention the added noise that had been sounding ever since Matsumoto came. It was quickly discovered that putting two sake-lovers in the same place was an utter disaster. Yoruichi's voice screamed at them, quickly growing irritated with whatever they were doing. It all brought a smile to Orihime's face.

She stopped to catch her breath quickly before stepping up to the door and knocking. There was a moment of complete silence. The noise only became louder after it was over. She winced at the commotion as, finally, Yoruichi opened the door.

"Hello, Orihime," she said, voice strained. Man, did she have a headache!

"Hi, Yoruichi!" Orihime's grin was as bright as her hair. She entered the small abode and was blasted with the equivalent of a rock concert. However, if this was a rock concert, the band was horrible.

"Orihime!" Matsumoto shrieked happily. She ran to do hug the girl, almost crushing her.

"Hi…Rangiku," Orihime choked out. As soon as she was released, she scanned the area.

"'Quiorrrrrrrra's in there," Matsumoto slurred, pointing a drunken finger to a few feet left of Ulquiorra's door. Orihime got the point nonetheless and went to visit the ex-Arrancar. She found him staring at a blank wall. His attention instantly shifted once she entered.

"Hey, Ulquiorra."

He nodded to her. His gaze was sadder than the other day.

"Is something wrong?"

Behind her, Hitsugaya stood in the open doorway, staring at the two with displeasure. "The situation has changed."

Orihime looked between the two of them with worry. "What?"

"Ulquiorra is to stay here in the human world until further plans can be made. In two days, Soul Society will be informed that he has mysteriously vanished. He will be contained here and monitored indefinitely."

Orihime finally understood Ulquiorra's sad gaze. Something happened. Something bad.

"Would you like to tell her the rest?" Hitsugaya asked, looking directly at Ulquiorra with a hard expression.

"Last night, I started to become a Hollow again. They think it may happen again and do not want me in Soul Society nor become of use to Aizen in Hueco Mundo."

She couldn't help but gawk. "A…a Hollow?"

He nodded again.

"A specialized gigai is being created as we speak," Hitsugaya informed. "All will go according to the plan mapped out yesterday with one exception." He paused to make sure he had Orihime's attention. "If he fully transforms into a Hollow, we will have no choice but to kill him."