(AN) This chapter is dedicated to BlackLeafTree!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 9

The sun was setting as Rukia made her way back to the Kuchiki Manor. The days were getting cooler, which made Rukia think about a certain white haired captain. A smile graced her lips as she relived their surprise lunch date and verbal sparring over paperwork. Captain Hitsugaya was surprisingly fun to be around once your broke through his shell.

Her thoughts were derailed as a gorgeous golden leaf crossed right in front of her face. A gentle breeze stirred up leaves from the ground as they flew all around Rukia. She didn't think anything was unusual about this. The Soul Society was privileged to a few seasons; although, they were not as prolonged as the World of the Living. Granted, everyone, or mostly everyone, were souls here. The ones with little spiritual pressure didn't feel hunger or chills of the oncoming season. But they did get to see the glorious colors of the autumn leaves to the pure white now to the painted flowers of early spring.

The changing of the seasons always made her remember the Rukon District. How she and Renji survived all the trauma of their childhood was beyond reason sometimes. A smile graced her lips as she walked over to the small pond. They would sometimes fish out of spots like these for a small meal.

Rukia was so lost down memory lane that she did not sense the other presence near her until it was too late. Before she could draw her drew her sword, a black haired man with green eyes appeared before her. He placed his hand on hers as she gripped the hilt of her sword. She knew this man; yet, he was completely different than the last time she faced him - Uliquiorra Cifer, the dead 4th Espada.

"How are you here?" Rukia asked in shock. She couldn't understand how he underwent a rebirth this quickly. It normally took hundreds of years.

"What no hello? Welcome to the Soul Society? I thought you soul reapers were supposed to be guardians of this place. Apparently, you just let anyone in." The pale man sneered.

"But you're…" Rukia stood starring at those mesmerizing green eyes as she tried to get her heart rate under control. Why wasn't her trying to kill here yet?

"Dead? Yes, I was quite shocked when Ichigo defeated me, but look at me now. I'm all in one piece." Rukia looked like a fish at the moment opening and closing her mouth as she tried to figure out the man in front of her. The main difference between her last view of him was that his hollow mask and his hole near his throat was missing. Although, the frown that plastered on his face was the same one from before.

"But how were you reborn so quickly in that form?" Rukia asked quietly. She was contemplating what to do with the conundrum before her.

"Quit worrying. I already told you. I am not an arrancar anymore, woman! I am a soul now even if I remained dressed as an arrancar without a mask. Now, can you please say something more intelligent than a stutter?" Ulquiorra's frown deepened at he watched Rukia's shock.

"Huh, welcome to the Soul Society?" Rukia jokingly repeated the words he told her earlier. She was still processing that this man did not want to kill her as memories of their fights with the Espadas ran through her brain.

Ulquiorra's stance changed as his eyes narrowed to study the woman in front of him. Maybe he was going to kill her after all. "You are Kurosaki's friend, yes? The one he was so desperate to get to in Hueco Mundo." He stated.

What the hell? Why is he asking about my friendship with Ichigo? But more importantly, what is he referring too?

"I don't know what you mean, Ulquiorra. We went there to save Orihime." Rukia replied with a confused look across her face.

"When Kurosaki and I fought the first time in Aizen's palace, he was distracted and desperate to get to a female named Rukia. She neared death as she fought an arrancar. But when Kurosaki felt her spiritual pressure waver, he was enraged. He could have cared less for the orange haired princess at the time. His main concern was finding you."

Rukia looked a little confused for a minute. This was the first time that she heard anything about that story. For some reason Rukia decided to nod rather than answer him. She didn't trust him. Yet if he wanted her dead, he could have killed her ages ago.

"Something has last happened since I fought him. You share similar spiritual energy with him. Have you … bonded?" He asked as he slyly glanced at Rukia under his bangs.

A rosy blush crossed Rukia's face in embarrassment. "Ichigo brought me back with his spirit energy when I was turned into a hollow. You must feel the residual energy from our power exchange.

Satisfied with her answer, Ulquiorra held her glaze before he surprised her again. "I acquire your presence woman. I want to find out why Kurosaki was so intrigued by you. For your cooperation, I offer you food and drink." He looked away from her for a moment to stare off into the distance, like he sensed something that she couldn't. "You seem like a formidable opponent once you collect your wits unlike that Orihime girl Aizen had me kidnap."

"Awe, you miss her." Rukia joked. Her blood froze in her veins because her reaction just popped out of her mouth. Where was the Kuchiki filter? Where was her icy behavior? Good question. It should be more like where did my brain disappear to? Was I really considering having a… date with this man?

"You know, Orihime isn't that bad, Ulquiorra." Rukia stated to cover up her mishap. Orihime was a good friend no matter how ditzy she was.

The green eyed man decided to ignore the raven haired soul reaper as he walked towards an area covered with a blanket. Rukia silently followed him. She hid a smile as she watched the solemn figure before her stare at the ground as if he were nervous.

When they reached the picnic area, Rukia was amazed at the spread. He had all of her favorite foods, so he either assumed she would say yes to his date or kidnap her. Thankfully, she went with the first option.

They sat down near each other as he offered her a bento box with sushi, rice dumplings, eggs, and a cucumber salad. Rukia's mouth salivated at the thought of inhaling the rice dumplings. Of course, she had a later lunch with Hitsugaya, but now she was starving.

"Thank you." Rukia stated as her companion simply nodded at her. She watched as he took a large bite of his food. Seeing him inhale the food, she concluded that he would be joining their soul reaper ranks soon or at least she should introduce him to the Fullbringers. He needed to be trained by Soul Society standards.

Ulquiorra broke his silence. "You're right though."

"Hmmm…" Rukia replied as she continued to stuff her mouth full of dumplings.

"Orihime isn't too bad. She taught me about hearts. I doubted the strength of your group's determination and your power of being connected to one another. I would like to know more about that from you."

"Me?" Rukia asked in a squeaky voice as she tried not to choke on the dumpling she swallowed.

"Yes. I've watched you lately. You are one of the most beloved people in the Soul Society whether you know that or not. You seem to touch everyone in simple task from completing a task for your captain to granting a brilliant smile to a wore out stranger."

Rukia was stumped to say the least. She never expected anything like this from the ex-Espada. "I just try to be kind." She let a small smile slip. "Growing up on the streets teaches you to remain humble even if you live the life of luxury."

"So the Kuchiki Princess likes to help others?"

"Of course." Rukia said before she took a bit of her cucumber salad. She noticed Ulquiorra stopped eating. "Is something wrong with the food?"

"No. I was just conversing with you." He replied, but her eyes narrowed at his lie as she noticed his hands shaking. He must be trying to figure out why he was shaking. Maybe his spiritual pressure was greater than she thought it was. If it wasn't his spiritual pressure, then what was it?

"Are you nervous then?" Rukia was trying to pin point his cause for not eating.

"Of what? Why would I be nervous conversing with a slip of a girl like you?"

"You are such a charmer!" She said sarcastically.

Ulquiorra coughed as he was not prepared for her sassy retort. Rukia was everything opposite of Orihime. He looked almost shyly at Rukia. "I also had another reason for wanting to talk to you, Rukia." She just raised an eyebrow at him as she looked at him expectantly. "Would the Gotei 13 allow me to become a soul reaper?"

Rukia chewed on her food thoughtfully before she answered him. An image of Kukaku Shiba and the Fullbringers popped into her head. They were at least helping with all this mess lately. "I think I have a better group of people that you would fit in with for a while. I can talk to my brother and bring it up with a few captains, but I doubt they will be ready to trust you. Each their trust and respect by helping out, then they should accept you. But don't expect it to be easy. You'll be watched like a hawk."

Ulquiorra contemplated his answer for a minute. "I could live with your decision if you think that is what's best for me."

"Good! Now, let's watch the leaves fall and enjoy the rest of our date!" A red faced Rukia replied.

So I was a little nervous writing this chapter. One, it was a requested date so I hope I did it justice. Two, this is my first time really writing in the Espadas/former Espadas. Ulquiorra was written as a soul because I wanted a plausible explanation as to why he would be alive. Also you will see Ulquiorra further into the story too.

I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for the reviews!