Alright! I can't believe this is the second to the last chapter (sobs) before I finish this story…

For those of you who have stayed and have read my writing since June 4, 2014… I thank you! You guys are the greatest!

Chapter 21

You never allowed yourself to let go of Ulquiorra again… that was for sure.

After the whole incident with Nnoitra and Ulquiorra almost dying, there were questions that needed to be answered. It was not long after the battle that people from Soul Society were there and Urahara was requesting to speak to the Captain Commander. For safety reasons for when the two Shinigami would escort you back to Soul Society, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and you would have to wear a special collar and cuffs. You weren't happy with it, but you knew that if you wanted to get your way you would have to behave yourself.

Urahara would occasionally come check on you while you were being led through the portal; messing with the feathers of your wings as you walked along. You loved your wings! You knew you could easily fly with them and you knew they could span up to fifteen feet from tip to tip. The feathers were grey and outlined in silver so that when the sunlight hit it, it would shimmer in the best possible way. As you entered Soul Society and you saw the surprised expressions on people's faces, you were left with one conclusion… it was going to be a long day.

A Week Later: The meeting with the Council

Surprisingly, being imprisoned in Soul Society wasn't as bad as you originally thought. But it did have its downsides. Every day an odd fellow you had come to know as Mayuri came and took blood samples from you under the watchful eye of Urahara. You weren't allowed any contact with Grimmjow or Ulquiorra which to you was messed up because it wasn't like you were going to escape and destroy everything, even though you knew you could.

The upsides to being held in the prison for a week were that Ichigo and the others would come visit you and some of the Captains and Lieutenants would come and introduce themselves. They were very kind and you found yourself enjoying the company of them all. You received word about Ulquiorra and Grimmjow every day and laughed when you found out that Grimmjow was caught trying to flirt with some Shinigami women. Ulquiorra was constantly worried about you but all in all he was doing well. Urahara explained that he survived because you poured some of your reiatsu into him and his body regenerated on its own.

You were snapped out of your thoughts as two Shinigami men entered and began to escort you to a large building, where your fate would be decided.

The building held all the Captains and Lieutenants and they were all sitting in elevated seats so that they could look down at you. Your heart soared when you saw Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, and Urahara. Grimmjow smiled widely at you and Ulquiorra met your gaze. They were both just as overjoyed as you were.

As soon as you entered, the large room, Urahara stepped in front of the three of you as he began to speak; things becoming clearer and clearer with each word he spoke;

"Two years ago, I found Ross bleeding to death in the side of the road. I would have mistaken her for a human if I were not for the hollow-like reiatsu she emitted and her hollow hole. When I took her in, I closely studied her and found that she indeed was a hollow who had been completely separated from her mask. She regenerated a new one within 24 hours."

People began to whisper to each other and you began to feel nervous. Ulquiorra grasped your hand in his and you held on as everyone continued to listen.

"I came to the conclusion through countless studies that there is one more stage in the evolution of hollows after arrancar… a stage I still can't really understand. In this stage, the soul of the hollow stores their reiatsu deep inside their being overtime and releases it all at once into the space surrounding its body. The sudden outburst then fills the space of its heart and forms wings upon that hollow; or in this case, Ross… she managed to survive and if she can learn to control her new abilities, she will possibly be the post powerful force ever. Which is why we should consider keeping her as an ally… the other two arrancar, I have discovered, have the power and ability to change just as she did. With such a powerful group, we will be unchallenged and the balance can be kept peacefully."

Urahara joined you again and the Captain Commander began to take notes before speaking with a wise voice that held authority.

"Which one of you would like to represent the hollows of Hueco Mundo in the next discussion to decide your fate?"

You looked at Grimmjow and Ulquiorra and they nodded as you stepped in front of everyone and felt all eyes on you.

"Let us begin simply… why should we trust you?"

You adjusted your posture and felt your feathers shift. "For the past two years, I had many opportunities to help Aizen. To rejoin with his forces and go against you. But I didn't. In fact, I fought Aizen hand in hand and helped in protecting the humans in Karakura Town. As for my friends, you saw what Aizen did to his subordinates when he was done with them. He had everyone in his trap. His plan was to massacre us all when he was done. We didn't have any other choice but to follow him and fall for his lies."

The Captain Commander took more notes while nodding his head and looking you in the eyes. You knew what was coming next.

"About two years ago… there were numerous accounts of humans with reasonably high reiatsu being assassinated by a hollow-woman that you match the description of… why did you follow the orders to kill innocent humans?"

You sighed and chose your words carefully. "I have no reason to state any innocence… all I could say is that I was following the orders of a man who would kill me if I didn't."

Before the Captain Commander could respond or ask another question you decided to take charge and do what you thought would help.

"Excuse me, sir, but I would like to make a deal… I believe it could keep peace between my kind and yours."

"I'm listening…"

"You do what you do best and purify hollows that are not in the stage of arrancar. I and my own allies will be of service to you if anything is to disrupt the peace. We will remain wherever you deem is best. Deal?"

The Captains whispered and then excused themselves to talk it out. You stayed by Ulquiorra's side and waited nervously. When they returned and stated your answer you felt your heart drop and your body freeze.

"We have accepted your deal and will notify you of any help that will be requested of you. You, Ross, will remain in the human world where Urahara Kisuke will continue to study you. You will leave as soon as possible. The other two will undergo transformation and will be kept under surveillance here in Soul Society. We will keep the three of you separated for separate results…"

"What?! That's bullsh…" you punched Grimmjow in the side and shut him up. You stepped up to counter the deal but Ulquiorra beat you to it.

"We accept… thank you for your generosity."

You stared at him and didn't know how to answer as Urahara opened an opening to the human world and began to wordlessly lead you away. Your eyes never left Ulquiorra's as the portal began to close, slowly shielding you from the one you may never see again. He remained the same as the portal closed completely, leaving the memory of his emerald jewels still fresh in your mind.

You cried in the arms of Urahara when you felt the pang of loss. As you moped through the portal into the human world…

A.N.

NEXT CHAPTER IS THE LAST :'(