Chapter Fifty-Two:

Start Again

"Well, you know, it was just like she herself said. 'It is too late to save the violet eyes.'" Aizen drawled on coolly. "A pity, really. She would have made such a good tool." He ran his fingers through his hair as he yawned.

Ulquiorra couldn't speak. For a second, he considered ripping Aizen's throat out- then decided against it. He was silent, as usual. He buried what was left of his burning heart underneath a cold mask.

"Yes, Aizen-sama."

Aizen smiled back.

Grimmjow stormed thorugh the halls of Las Noches, howling "Where's Ulquiorra? Where is that bastard!" He ran down the hallway, turning the hallway to where he knew Ulquiorra's room was.

He smashed the door off its hinges, and it flew into the opposite wall.

"Ulquiorra!" He roared.

Ulquiorra calmly got up from where he was sitting and turned around to face Grimmjow.

"What do you want?" He spat icily.

"Please tell me why you killed Seren!" He mocked Ulquiorra's calm tone.

"I didn't kill her."

Grimmjow grabbed Ulquiorra by his throat and smashed him into a wall. "Didn't kill her, huh? And you're not Aizen's little pet," he spat.

For the first time, and the last time, Ulquiorra lost it. He slammed his fist into Grimmjow's face, grabbed Grimmjow by his collar, and dug his nails into his throat. "She begged me to kill her." Ulquiorra hissed between his teeth. "She wanted a new life. Do you see now? I killed her because she wanted me to. I helped her."

Grimmjow snarled.

Then, his growl softened.

Because he knew Ulquiorra was right.

Just then Kimi charged into the room. She took one look and gasped.

She ran to Grimmjow and kneeled down next to them. She grabbed Ulquiorra's fingers at Grimmjow's throat. She looked up at him, with- fear- in her eyes.

Please let go, her face said.

Slowly, Ulquiorra's fingers loosened from Grimmjow's neck. Relief flooded Kimi's face. She grasped Grimmjow's back and struggled to help him up.

With one final venomous look shot behind him, Grimmjow and Kimi left the room.

Ulquiorra breathed out.

At last, he realized the terrible truth Seren had.

He realized how lonely the room was now, with no one in it.

A time came later when Aizen sent Ulquiorra on another mission.

It was to retrieve another girl.

Her name was Orihime Inoue.

She was gentle, sweet, and had red hair.

She was his savior.

Perhaps it was insanity. But everything Inoue did reminded him more and more of Seren. Her quirky character, her sweetness, everything. She was the only light that brightened the pitiless abyss of his heart. He wondered if she knew. He wondered if Inoue could see anything beyond the cool façade he presented to the world everyday. He wondered if she could see through him, like Seren.

Indeed, Inoue had Seren's nobility, will to fight- and love.

Inoue, too, had a man who loved her.

A red haired boy came to "save" Inoue. A black-haired boy came with him. Ichigo, the rehead's name was. Ichigo declared his intentions and attacked.

It was a long battle.

Ulquiorra had slipped into Bankai by now, but watched with amazement as the boy morphed into something more, a total hollow.

Thinking him finished, the hollow then turned to stab him. Yet the black-haired one jumped to stop him. The hollow turned on him and was about to cero him.

Ulquiorra attacked from behind and saved him.

The hollow fell and morphed back into the red haired boy. Inoue ran to his side and cried for him.

Amazing! The boy regenerated, got up again, and declared that Ulquiorra must fight him more.

Just as Ulquiorra turned to obey, he started turning to ashes. With a simple sigh, he realized what was happening.

He was dying.

He told the red haired boy to kill him as Seren had begged him to kill her.

The boy refused.

He at last turned to Inoue. "Are you afraid of me?" He asked.

"I'm not afraid," she replied, with tears in her eyes.

Beware of the red hair, for it will be both your savior and your doom.

My savior and my doom.

And at long last, Ulquiorra finally realized what a heart was.

And with that, Ulquiorra vanished into ash that spread along Hueco Mundo.