Break and Bind
"I envy because of the heart. / I glutton because of the heart. / I covet because of the heart. / I am prideful because of the heart. / I sloth because of the heart. / I rage because of the heart. / Because of the heart, / I lust for everything about you."
Chapter 29: A Reason
The Fourth Squad of the Gotei 13 worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the battle with Les Railles to restore the warriors' strength and stamina and heal their injuries. Those Shinigami who Captain-Commander Yamamoto had not called on to fight in the battle were dispatched shortly following the conclusion of the war to help round up wounded soldiers, and, subsequently, assist in the clean-up of the battleground. There had been some disgruntled grumbling from this group — What do we look like? The Human World's Garbage Pick-Up Squad? — until Captain-Commander Yamamoto had unleashed his Ryūjin Jakka on them. The flames of his zanpakuto had chased them all the way into the Senkaimon Gate. "If I hear you complain one more time about this mission, I'll strip you of your ranks and banish you to the human world!" he threatened all of them.
That put an end to the complaints.
Among the patients in the Squad Four barracks, most struggled to make a quick recovery; many were impatient to get back out on the battleground again.
"Almost everyone seems to be recovering well," Rukia remarked one day about a month following the battle, striding up to Ichigo's bed.
"Yeah," he replied, glancing around the room. There were more empty beds now; several had already been discharged.
"How's your arm?" Rukia asked, nodding to his left arm, which had been badly broken when Aizen had tried to struggle out of his bonds while being escorted to Soul Society.
Ichigo smiled. "Better. Captain Unohana says the cast's probably coming off soon."
Rukia smiled back. "That's great news."
Ichigo smiled. His gaze slid from the petite Shinigami's face to glance around the room. Only a few Shinigami were left here: Rangiku, Renji, Hitsugaya, and Byakuya. The Visored had all left with the exception of Shinji; the blond noticed Ichigo's gaze and nodded to him. Ichigo grinned back, then continued to scan the room. The Espada who had joined the battle were all there, even if their injuries had healed. That's weird… Ichigo thought. You'd think they'd be trying to make a quick getaway as soon as they could… Or at least demanding Inoue or someone to heal them quick… And you'd think Soul Society would be eager to kick them out too…
He mentioned all of this in a whisper to Rukia.
She glanced over at the Espada and Anza as well before leaning in and answered, "They're awaiting their trial."
"Huh?!" exclaimed Ichigo in surprise. Rukia shot him a look. "Sorry," he apologized, lowering his voice so it wouldn't carry. "What do you mean their trial?" he hissed.
Rukia sat down on a wooden chair by his bed and leaned forward, muttering, "I only overheard Nii-sama mentioning it to Captain Ukitake…the captains had a meeting to discuss what would become of the Arrancar once they healed… Now that Aizen's gone, they don't have a leader," she pointed out, "but they're still dangerous."
Ichigo clenched his uninjured fist, glancing over at the Arrancar's beds. Their lives were better without those Hollows around. "So they're gonna be shipped back to Hueco Mundo?" he asked, unable to keep the anger out of his voice for all they'd done to Inoue, for all that Aizen had done to Soul Society and threatened to do to the Human World.
"I'm not sure, Ichigo, I only heard part of their conversation…"
Ichigo glared at Grimmjow, then at Ulquiorra, who was being approached by Inoue to treat his wounds. Inoue spoke to the dark-haired Espada, too quietly to be overheard, and he answered likewise. Then her face started to become more flushed, her gestures more flustered.
"I hope Soul Society is harsh with them," Ichigo growled. "They deserve it."
He opened his large viridian eyes. He must have fallen asleep again. He cursed his body for its sluggish response to healing his injuries from the battle. Presumably there was something in Les Railles' weapons that accounted for it; now that he thought about it, the other Espada as well as the Shinigami were taking longer to heal than they should.
Ulquiorra frowned. He was not accustomed to his; he was beginning to grow impatient at the slow healing rate of his injuries. He thought he could finally understand Grimmjow's consistent eagerness for a fight. He repressed a shudder at the thought that he was, in any way, like that trash. But he could not deny that he was restless.
"Um…Ulquiorra-k — Ulquiorra?" a slightly breathless, girlish voice cut into his thoughts.
He glanced up at the auburn-haired woman, though he knew it was her without having to look.
"Um…how are you feeling?" Inoue Orihime inquired tentatively.
He frowned deeper, but did not offer a response.
"A-Are…you… A-are you in pain?"
"No."
"Do you feel tired?"
"No."
"Are you hungry?"
"No."
She frowned slightly, her forehead creasing in her frustration.
"A woman as beautiful as you should not frown," he stated quietly. "When you frown, it is as though a gust of wind rips through a meadow and destroys everything in its path. When you smile…it is like blossoms coming into full bloom."
He did not know what possessed him to say it. Though it pleased him to watch the woman's face turn redder than her hair as she tried to hide it in her hands. Her large gray eyes swam with tears. Ulquiorra's frown deepened. What could he have done to upset her?
"T-thank you, Ulquiorra," she choked. Her voice held so much emotion he could not distinguish what she felt. "Did you…do you really mean it?" she whispered.
Is that what upset her? Perhaps she was upset because she still had feelings for Kurosaki Ichigo. "Yes, I meant it," he replied cautiously.
Her eyes shone bright with tears as she lowered her hands from her face, though her still-scarlet face beamed radiantly.
His lips tugged in an almost-smirk.
She began to heal parts of his injuries to speed up to process, as she and the other Shinigami healers had been doing for the past month or so with the other fighters. She looked very pleased. Ulquiorra felt a surge of pride rise up within him.
"Um…Ulquiorra?" she called hesitantly. Her voice was low enough that only he could hear.
"What is it?"
"Do you really think I'm…pretty?" she whispered.
"I just said I did."
She smiled before continuing, "Then…well…" She scuffed her shoes and looked around awkwardly, avoiding his gaze while her face reddened even more. "Um…does that mean…that…you…um…you…like…" — the last word was so quiet that he had to read her lips — "me?"
He closed his eyes. Only humans spoke freely of their emotions, of their infatuations, affections, in such a careless manner. Only humans freely admitted feelings to one another without a care in the world of how those admissions might be used against them.
But when he opened his eyes and caught sight of her angelic face, he heard himself say, "Yes."
Tears fell silently down her cheeks, but she was smiling.
"Why are you crying, woman?" he demanded.
She sniffed. "I-I'm h-h-happy."
He could not understand why happiness made her shed tears.
For a few minutes, they were silent. She healed him, sneaking glances at him or his half-bandaged bare chest and smiling to herself.
"I will likely be leaving soon," he stated bluntly, shattering the silence several minutes later.
Her smile faltered. "Why?"
"I, along with the other Espada, will be interrogated by the Shinigami to determine whether we pose a threat to Soul Society. I will likely be considered dangerous and return to Hueco Mundo, or they might find it more appropriate to exterminate me."
Inoue Orihime's bottom lip trembled. "B-but… Will I e-ever see y-you a-again?"
"It is possible… Though probably not."
The woman looked horrified and began to cry softly, mopping her tears on her sleeve. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered.
Ulquiorra stared at her. "Why should I mean anything to you?" he inquired of her. "I was your captor. I forced you to eat when you had no desire to do so. I threatened to kill your friends. I kept you locked in a cell for most of the duration of your time in Las Noches. You should be relieved that I will soon be leaving you."
She shook her head. Long, silky, ginger hair brushed over her shoulders and caressed her collarbone.
"Because I know you've changed." Her voice, thought quiet, held strength. "I can tell you're not like you were before, Ulquiorra. You're…different. Your eyes aren't so empty anymore." His eyes widened at that statement. "I think…I think you've found something to live for."
For a few seconds, he said nothing, contemplating her words while he stared into her captivating eyes. As she turned to leave, he remarked softly,
"Perhaps I have."
Hope you all enjoyed that special Ulquihime insert ;)
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