Weeee over 100,000 words! ; ; And I haven't updated this often in a while! Tee hee, it's starting to get spicy ;) Oh, and before you give me crap about the swimsuit, this fic is rated T and will stay that way. ;p Bleach isn't mine and all that jazz.
"Fools. What do you think hollows eat?"
Yoruichi stared at Ulquiorra with a scowl and her arms crossed as a troubled hush overtook the darkened living room. All were gathered there, shifting uncomfortably as they considered Ulquiorra's question.
It had been several days since the the merchandise trip, and everyone was still adapting to the peculiarity of living with a decaying hollow. The three shinigami took turns minding him, though they soon learned there was little need for such caution. Kisuke had done a thorough job with with the barrier, and Ulquiorra steadfastly kept to himself. Poor Orihime likewise closed herself off.
Since the beginning, everyone had been avoiding the subject of his appetite. Hollows fed on other hollows. And souls. They could not allow him outside the barrier to hunt for himself, for he would surely try to escape, and permitting him to run around would only invoke the wrath of Soul Society. Because of Ulquiorra's weakness, the barrier also served as a detection blocker, at least for the moment, so he was unlikely to be spotted by the typical shinigami assigned to Karakura. Kisuke had confided to Yoruichi and Tessai that even if they were to let him out, Ulquiorra was likely too feeble to hold his own against most hollows.
Earlier that day, Yoruichi announced that she feared Ulquiorra had escaped. His bedroom emitted no inkling of life, so after knocking on the locked door for ten minutes, Tessai agreed to break Ulquiorra's door open in a rare manifestation of brute force. Everyone except Orihime—who was locked in her own bedroom—peered into his room and gasped when Tessai flicked on the lights.
Ulquiorra had repressed his reiatsu somehow, in an attempt to appear unnoticed. At about half the translucence of his former self, he lay on his bed perfectly still, as though he were purposely withering himself away.
The shinigami immediately pulled him to his feet and shoved him into the main living room. When they tried to reason with him, he had asked his cutting question: What do you think hollows eat?
When no one responded to him, he continued, "It would take me but five minutes to achieve sustenance. If that is what you wish, let me out of this hovel."
Yoruichi groaned in disgust. "We forbid you to hunt any hollows. We're already taking a risk by keeping you."
"No one asked you to bring me here."
"Idiot. Do you really think you're the priority? Orihime—"
"Yare! Yare, Yoruichi-san," Kisuke interrupted.
Yoruichi bit her lip, realizing she almost embarrassed Orihime. It would be wise not to repeat the awkward reasons behind Ulquiorra's rescue.
Ulquiorra briefly glanced at the back of the room, where Orihime's was now sitting on the arm of a sofa. In the dim light, Orihime's face was downcast. She was wrapped in her favorite purple shawl, maintaining ample distance away from everyone. Despite her apprehension, the commotion appeared to have drawn her out of her room.
Lips twitching and fists clenched, Yoruichi glowered at Ulquiorra. Despite the rescue, she had grown several times more protective over Orihime since his arrival.
"Surely you wouldn't deny me the basics of survival after dragging me into this hovel," Ulquiorra quipped, turning to face Yoruichi again.
"I'm saying this right now. That hollow is not going to touch, let alone eat, any souls!" Yoruichi warned.
Despite over a century of abandoning her royal station, Yoruichi could still command an heir of authority when needed. Still, even after delivering her order, it was becoming clear that the logistics of hosting Ulquiorra had been poorly thought out. Because the decision to rescue him had been so sudden, Kisuke had lacked the opportunity to craft a plan for Ulquiorra's sustenance. Even Yoruichi had to admit that the resurrection of an Espada who responded poorly to recovery treatments could hardly have been predicted.
"But how are we going to feed him?" asked Jinta, stating the obvious. "He'll die if he doesn't eat."
Jinta's question hung in the air in a long silence until Orihime's small voice emerged from the back of the room. Her voice wavered, but threaded within the uncertainty was a sliver of hope.
"Ayame and Shun'o might be able to reject it," she murmured.
Everyone's head—even Ulquiorra—snapped in her direction. Shifting the shawl about her shoulders more snugly, she trod to the spot closest to Yoruichi, eyes averted from the hollow.
"You can reject spiritual hunger?" Yoruichi asked, leaning her head forward.
"I don't know…I've never tried it, but it's worth an attempt," she offered. "I…gained a lot of strength when I was in Las Noches," she continued, voice still wavering. "I was able to resurrect one of the arrancars without help. But the atmosphere in Hueco Mundo is dense with reiatsu. I think that might have been part of the reason why I was able to do it, and quickly. Hunger is probably a much easier problem to address than death…" her voice trailed off.
"Well, this is a fun twist!" Urahara remarked.
Yoruichi pursed her lips. "It might work. It would certainly be a simple enough solution."
"And how does our guest feel about this?" Urahara asked, glancing in Ulquiorra's direction.
Ulquiorra's eyes were hard.
"O-ho! He doesn't like it!"
"Then he chooses death," Yoruichi stated matter-of-factly.
Kisuke chuckled. "He still has time to think about it. He might change his mind after a few more days of starving and disappearing?"
"Do not speak about me as though I cannot hear you," Ulquiorra hissed.
"Then make your choice. Death or life. Orihime is kind enough to offer you life."
Ulquiorra turned to face Orihime. "I never asked for your assistance."
Orihime's eyes widened at the harsh refusal, but it took her only a second to give a response, gently and without wavering.
"I don't want you to die."
It was subtle, but Ulquiorra jerked backward. And just like that, Orihime disarmed him.
"Try it, Inoue-san. I'm sure I can find another solution if it fails," Urahara stated.
Orihime nodded. She headed over to one of the couches and sat down. Ulquiorra did not move from his position in the corner. He seemed irresolute about his preference, but his vote had been overruled by everyone else in the room, and he was powerless to do anything about it. After about a minute, Orihime rose to initiate the delicate task, walking over to the shadows where he remained, his feet planted and fists clenched. It was difficult to make out exactly what his expression was in the dim light until Orihime approached him and spoke.
She angled her head. "I promise it doesn't hurt. I would never hurt you."
"As though you have ever had the capacity to injure me."
Yoruichi could not believe she had ever agreed to allowing such a damned idiot into her home. She opened her mouth to unload on the bastard, but Kisuke stilled her with a steadying hand. She met his eyes and took a deep breath. She had faith that Orihime could accomplish this task, but nothing would satisfy her more than giving Ulquiorra a good box to his face.
Orihime let out a shaken breath as she drew out her palm, hairpins cradled in her hand.
"Soten Kisshun. I…reject," she whispered.
A golden glow cut across the air, swift and practiced. As it enveloped his body, Orihime drew her hand to her chest, and the tiny spirits did their work. Everyone saw him better in the light now, through the transparent barricade. His eyes were deadest on Orihime's, and his breathing was growing steady. Orihime, too, breathed more easily as he allowed her to continue, and Yoruichi relaxed a little.
They continued in silence for several more minutes until Ulquiorra suddenly jerked up and stumbled out of the gilded vessel, eyes practically bulging out. He doubled over, setting a clenched fist in front of his chest.
"What is it?!" Orihime cried.
Ulquiorra soon stepped through the healing shield towards Orihime, grabbed the collar of her shirt, and pulled her close. Yoruichi immediately recognized the threatening move and started over to them.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
"You will not reject anything but my hunger!" Ulquiorra menaced.
Orihime vigorously shook her head. "I wasn't!"
At that point both Kisuke and Yoruichi had broken her free of his grasp and pulled them apart.
"Don't you ever touch her again," Yoruichi snapped, "or so help me, I'll kill you myself."
"No one's stopping you, cat-woman," Ulquiorra spat.
In the speed of a cheetah, Yoruichi slammed her fist into Ulquiorra's cheek, lending powerful imagery to his insult.
"Don't ever call me that!"
Ulquiorra flew back from the sudden hit, but he quickly regained his position and started towards her. She was ready for him, but he was abruptly stopped by both Urahara's hands on his shoulders and Jinta grasping at his legs.
Urahara grunted as he pulled Ulquiorra back. "Now, now, no need to turn this into something ugly!"
Tessai, who had also joined in to break the brawl, grasped Yoruichi's arms and pulled her away from Ulquiorra. Ururu was glancing back and forth between Yoruichi and the arrancar while Orihime helplessly straightened the wrinkles on her shirt.
"You are fortunate I am not at full capacity."
Yoruichi bared her teeth. "Cheap threats."
"Inoue-san, you must continue, and quickly," Urahara stated as he managed to create more space between Yoruichi and the hollow. "The hunger is doing things to his mood."
Orihime nodded but waited until Yoruichi and Ulquiorra had calmed down enough. She approached Ulquiorra again, her face looking more hesitant than before.
"Nothing but my hunger," Ulquiorra groused again.
"I didn't do anything. I'm telling you the truth!"
Ulquiorra scrutinized her eyes, but after a long moment, he relented. He relaxed his shoulders, Orihime continued her task, and Yoruichi stood ready for a second round.
.oOo.
Ulquiorra could feel his hunger satiate with every passing second. Faster than he could have imagined, Orihime's soothing power flooded over him. Gratified him. Revitalized him. It was an unexpected benefit, really—having spent all those months building her strength was now aiding him in his own quandary. He despised that he was being assisted by the likes of her, but there was no other obvious solution. He reasoned that it may yet be temporary. Until he could find a way out.
Immersed in concentration, the woman stared at his stomach as she worked, oblivious to the fact the source of a hollow's hunger did not lie in its belly. She should have been staring at the hole at the base of his neck, but the last thing he wanted was for her eyes to wander in that direction. He felt the darkened cavity in his chest tingling as Orihime's pensive eyes bore into his own during her first attempt. He could feel himself grow distracted as her pacifying, skillful light satisfied his starving spirit. He could ignore the tingling sensation circling his hollow hole to some degree, as it was not atypical to feel a similar stir in a feeding routine. But the moment she shifted her eyes in the direction of the hole, the temperature circling it spiked—a maddening reminder of his experience in Las Noches with the libélula. That was when he stumbled back.
He'd forgotten about the libélula incident, and the woman's effect on him was disquieting. He was still adapting to the resurrection ordeal, the loss of his rank and powers, and now it seemed he would be forced to take the woman's effects on him into consideration. Hardly one to succumb to exhaustion, Ulquiorra's energy had nearly been depleted—from the resurrection, the loathsome tests, lack of nourishment, and now mentally having to navigate his wretched imprisonment. The only respite so far, he was loath to acknowledge, was the healing force accorded by the woman.
The cat-woman was presently scowling at him in the background, and the shopkeeper had that same, grating grin on his face as they observed the marvel of Orihime's power. It took about thirty minutes for Orihime to complete the deed—about the same time it would normally take Ulquiorra for a hunt and feed, on his quicker days.
He abhorred his uselessness, abhorred being robbed of the simple task of feeding himself, abhorred his loathsome confinement. But most of all, he hated being subjected to the pity of those he considered beneath him.
"Cease. I am satisfied."
The woman looked fixedly on him as she released a breath, and the golden light disappeared. Her eyes were soft.
Ulquiorra turned away from her in disgust, mainly with himself.
.oOo.
To Yoruichi's annoyance, the following weeks proved to be uncomfortable for everyone involved. Jinta and Ururu were unusually muted. The reduction in their brawling was a welcome change, but after a while the sterility of the house grew eerie. Added to this was the unfortunate circumstance of having the children's primary play area located on the outside wall of Ulquiorra's bedroom. After his arrival, they started retreating closer to the street to play their usual games.
Everyone avoided him. Especially Orihime. The atmosphere of the house and adjoining shop was losing its normal bustle, to the point where the more astute customers began asking questions. Yoruichi had never considered the impacts of living under the same roof as a hollow. Usually they were eliminated on sight, so there was never a reason to worry about the impacts of sustained proximity. Orihime seemed to be her usual cheery self outwardly, but Yoruichi had no doubt that the young woman was probably crying herself to sleep every night. Even Tessai expressed annoyance that Ulquiorra's room was off limits to clean. Yoruichi herself was irritable all around, which made her snappier than usual.
Curiously, Yoruichi was not aware of a single instance where Uquiorra left his room. Ghost that he was, he did not have any need for normal bodily functions like bathing or eating solid foods. He kept to himself, locked in his small quarters, and refused to breathe a single word to anyone. At night, Yoruichi would always glance at the crack under his door and observed that he refused to even turn on his bedroom lights. Quite often no one laid eyes on him for days, until either Yoruichi, Tessai, or Urahara sensed his spirit weakening and knocked on the door so Orihime could tend to his feeding. At least two people stayed with Orihime as she did her work, though Ulquiorra usually refused to open the door until it was absolutely necessary—until he was at the point of disappearing, or worse, reverting back to a low-level hollow.
Yoruichi suspected this was the real reason he opened the door when they came knocking: To avoid regressing to a lower form. Even in his current state, it seemed he wanted to retain his cognitive faculties. It made sense as a pure act of survival, which was the way of hollows, but she often wondered what in the hell must be going through his mind. To be so dependent on those in the shop—especially Orihime—must not be an easy feat for someone like him. Overall, Kisuke was probably the only one who stayed relatively constant, though she did catch him pensively staring at Ulquiorra's closed door often. She determined to ask him about it one night, after everyone had retired for the night, and the two of them were alone in the backyard.
Yoruichi nestled into the steamy waters of the private backyard onsen—Kisuke's latest, and in Yoruichi's mind, greatest device yet. Traditional-looking, but with modern components, it fit the backyard nicely and served as a great way to end a full day's labor. Yoruichi released a sigh of pleasure as she rested her head against the pool's wood rim. Kisuke, hat off and coatless, put his feet in the water and lit a cigarette.
"By the way, what the hell are you doing when you stare at the hollow's door?" Yoruichi asked, head back and eyes closed.
Kisuke laughed. "I knew you were eventually going to ask about that."
"Well?"
"I'm thinking there might be a way we can get him to assimilate."
Yoruichi considered his words for several moments. She opened an eye. "Of all the hare-brained schemes I've seen you come up with, that has got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say."
"Hey! Don't splash me," he whined, wiping water off his face. "I have a plan!"
Yoruichi adjusted the left strap of her swimsuit. "Do I even want to know?"
"I have a few ideas," he replied after exhaling smoke from the side of his mouth, away from her. "The first thing I'm going to do is ask him to help me with my inventions."
"What?"
"I've been doing some research. And if my theories are correct, I think that's how we get him to warm up to our team."
There it was. The team. Kisuke rarely spoke about it, but Yoruichi had seen with her own eyes how hard he had taken it when he'd lost everything all those years ago. Nearly all his research, his staff—valued relationships he had spent decades cultivating, mentoring, and leading—the rank he'd attained through many years of sweat and blood. But the worst loss of all was his prized department of research and development, the lab he'd fought tooth and nail to found, fund, and develop. His lab in the human realm sufficed for his minor projects, but it would never come close to his resources in Seireitei. When Kisuke set his mind to something, there were no limits to what he could do, Yoruichi knew. There was a reason he had been banned from Soul Society for a century. He was both an asset and a threat. He served a purpose in this realm, and despite his amicable exterior, he protected his own, which is why there were so many people—both living and dead—that remained with him.
Yoruichi felt she had to be honest. She opened her eyes to meet his. "Look, I'll be happy if you prove me wrong on this one, but I'm gonna say it anyway. I think you're wasting your time."
"I know you think that," he said. "But what else is there to do? The gloominess is starting to get to me."
Yoruichi scoffed. "That's my line. It's creepy having a hollow around who just sits there all day long."
Kisuke said nothing, but he nodded, exhaling more smoke.
"I could really use some sake right now," she murmured.
"That actually sounds really good. I think we have a bottle of that new Junmai Ginjo in the fridge. I'll go get it."
"That's why I keep you around," she mused.
"Nice to know I'm good for something."
She nestled her head back once more and was about to close her eyes again when she spotted something.
A shadow on the roof.
Senses heightened, Yoruichi glanced at Kisuke, who gave her a look that said he saw it, too.
Kisuke stood up and started over to where the figure was while Yoruichi braced herself. She was close to bounding out of the spring when Kisuke, still facing away from her, waved her back furiously. His eyes were glued to the figure.
Brows high, Yoruichi drew her attention to the shadow.
Ulquiorra.
He had somehow managed to get on the roof. It couldn't have been very difficult for him to do so, but it would have required leaving his bedroom, which was an intriguing observation. When Kisuke returned to her, he had a big smile plastered on his face that said I told you so. Yoruichi still wasn't so sure.
How long had the hollow been sitting there? It was getting close to feeding time, so his spirit was dimming, which made him harder to detect. It was an unusual sight, but Yoruichi relaxed into the water again as Kisuke went to retrieve the sake. Ulquiorra was staring up at the sky, at the brilliant crescent moon suspended in midnight. The night was clear and a little crisp.
Not unlike the night skies of Hueco Mundo.