Author's Note:
Updated minor spelling and grammar errors. Nothing huge. Enjoy
Ulquiorra regained consciousness several hours later and is being inspected again before entering The World of The Living. Everything had to be perfect in order for this to work. "Incredible, Captain Aizen," Gin Ichimaru complimented, walking around the Espada. "I certainly would think he's an ordinary Soul Reaper if I didn't know any better." The fourth closed his eyes. He didn't care for Gin on the best of days, and him continuously pointing out that he isn't any different than a Soul Reaper now only lessened his opinion of him. "Even his soul ribbon changed to red."
Aizen nodded from a few feet away, looking through a few books and jotting things down on white parchment. "Like I said earlier, for this plan to work, it was crucial to mask every detail that may incriminate him as a Hollow. No matter how small it was." A soft click echoed through the room when his master closed several books. Then he gathered everything on the small table and placed them into a black messenger bag. "Ulquiorra?"
The Espada's eyes locked on to Aizen, "Yes, Sir?"
"Here," Aizen held out the bag to him, "This bag contains information you'll need to get through day-to-day life during your mission. I also placed several instructional books on learning kido. If an ordinary human looks at it, they'll see a generic encyclopedia volume, but use caution when reading them anyways." Ulquiorra nodded, taking the bag and placing it over his shoulder.
"I will," Ulquiorra stated, shoving his hands back into his pockets as his body shifted to accommodate the added weight.
"What a good Espada you are," Gin teased, placing his arms in his sleeves and stopped next to Aizen. "What a good Espada you are," Gin teased, putting his arms in his sleeves and stopped next to Aizen. "You're so obedient."
"My only purpose is to serve Lord Aizen to the best of my abilities. Disobedience is disrespectful and pointless." Gin's snake-like smile broadened, but he remained quiet.
"You may go, Ulquiorra," the fourth nodded his head as he snapped his fingers, opening a Garganta. "Take it easy for your first few days, so you can adjust to your body," Aizen suggested as Ulquiorra stepped into the darkness and out of sight.
The Espada retrieved his gigai from the designated location and slipped it on. He now wandered down a road towards Karakura Town, trying to adjust himself to a second faux body. His pace was slow, and his breathing somewhat heavy. The added weight from the gigai was cumbersome and inconvenient. He felt ridiculous, wandering about this world, knowing that the humans around can both see and interact with him if they wished to.
Ulquiorra glanced up at the darkening sky as the wind rustled through his hair, finally entering Karakura. It's strange viewing it in the human world. It changes so much rather than remaining black like in Hueco Mundo. He broke his stare as soft chatter and other sounds from the people around passed through his ears. "Oh, hi there, you wanna free sample?" A woman with a tray of small portions of meat asked. The Espada merely ignored her and continued onwards, hearing the woman mutter something about him being rude.
The first objective he needed to complete was finding the place he'll be residing at for this mission's duration. He shuffled through the pocket on his bag, pulling out a small folded sheet of paper with the address on it, not that it helped much considering he isn't sure where to find it in the first place. He stopped, staring at the paper in his hands, unsure of his next move. Is he supposed to ask one of these pieces of trash where this place is? He closed his eyes, his grip tightening on the paper. Ridiculous. Help from those creatures isn't necessary, and it will never be necessary.
"Excuse me," a chipper, high-pitched voice started. Of course, another annoying human decided to come and pester him. "Are you lost?" The fourth opened his eyes, warily side-glancing towards the irritating voice. There stood a girl about four or five inches shorter than he was, innocently staring at him. She has long, auburn hair with her bangs swooped behind her ears. "You must be lost! I can tell by the way you keep staring at that paper," she concluded, clasping her hands behind her back then smiled. "Sometimes I get lost too! Once I was heading home after school, and I had to go to a store I hadn't gone to before. So, I took a lot of wrong turns and—"
"Annoying." The Espada looked away from her, stepping forwards, and headed onwards down the street.
"Oh, sorry. Sometimes I talk too much, and then people start thinking I'm weird, hahaha," the girl giggled, falling in step next to Ulquiorra, much to his dismay. He locked his eyes on the space in front of him, trying to ignore the babbling pest to his left. "You probably think I'm weird now, too, huh? Anyway, I could help you find the place you're looking for. I'm sure I could find it," she pressed, leaning over to read the paper he held. "Oh, it's that old apartment building on the other side of town. You're going the wrong way. No wonder you're having so much trouble." The girl laughed, turning around and pointing in the opposite direction.
The fourth peered at the girl behind him as she continuously pointed down the street. "You're aware of this place's location?" he asked monotonously.
The girl nodded enthusiastically, tilting her head to the side. "Uh-huh," she smiled, "It's a bit of a walk, though; we'll be passing my favorite bakery too! That's actually the reason I'm out right now." Ulquiorra blinked, neatly placing the sheet of paper back in his bag and uncomfortably stuffing his hands into his denim pants pockets. "I'll buy you a tasty doughnut as a welcome to Karakura gift—"
"The only thing I'm interested in is locating my residence, not your pointless patronage, woman," the Espada interrupted. He didn't want her help, or anyone's for that matter. He only wanted to complete his first objective, not waste his time dealing with human trash.
The girl's eyes watered as she looked to the ground and spoke quietly, "I'm sorry." Her demeanor changed, and the slight glistening in her eyes vanished as she skipped a few steps backward. "Let's get you home then!" she declared, marching in the direction where she'd pointed earlier.
Why is she so persistent in trying to help him? He is a complete stranger; she owes him absolutely nothing, so why won't she just leave him alone? There's no point in meddling in other people's problems, especially when it's of no concern to them. What benefits would she gain from her actions in the first place? It is illogical. The Espada wondered as he followed several paces behind the girl, watching as she contently ambled forwards. Humans are truly baffling creatures.
The pair entered a small park and strolled on the empty dirt path. "The sky is beautiful tonight," the girl began, absentmindedly staring upwards. He merely glanced at it, noting that it nearly matched the dark shade of his homeworld, except for the millions of twinkling dots that littered the black abyss above. "When I was a little girl, my brother and I would stargaze. We looked at all the constellations and see who could name the most—"
"How much farther?" her rambling was beginning to get under his skin.
The girl blinked. "Oh, we're almost there," she slowed her pace, coyly scratching her head. "What's your name?" she asked, falling in step with him once again.
"Why do you ask?"
The woman blinked, "I gotta call you something, right? I mean, 'hey you' or 'man' or uhh…It's just nicer to call someone by their name," she explained, her smile never vanishing. "Oh, b-but you don't have to tell me if you don't want to!" Her arms flailed as her face turned bright red. "Haha, but my name's Orihime Inoue."
Ulquiorra's eyes widened slightly. This woman is one of the humans that invaded the Soul Society with the substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. Perhaps meeting her here will prove useful after all—"Umm, if-if you follow this path out of the park and turn left, you'll eventually come to the building. It's tall and old looking," she stopped, taking a few steps on to the grass away from the path. Ulquiorra stopped as well and stared at her, regarding the miserably weak spirituals pressures drawing near. "Really, y-you should get going, right now," she urged, pointing in the direction of the park's exit.
An animalistic howl echoed through the area, causing the girl to spin around and take a defensive stance, "You need to run, NOW!" her voice pleaded as a winged Hollow swooped at her. "Santen Kesshun, I reject!" Three little beams of light flew from the two hairpins on her head and created an orange shield, successfully repelling the Hollow's first attack. "HURRY! LEAVE!" the woman hollered desperately, rolling out of the Hollows path. "Koten Zanshun, I reject!" a single beam shot from her hairpin, splitting the Hollow in two.
She skidded to a stop with her back to him, taking on an offensive stance. "Why are you still here?"
"Why does it matter to you?" he questioned, staring directly at the lowly Hollow that howled in the distance. The monster charged at Orihime, but the orange shield blocked its attack again. Interesting. He'd never seen such a strange means of defense and offense before. Her power seemed to emit from the small hairpins on her head, similar to a Zanpakuto. She requires a more in-depth analysis. He decided, watching her dodge several other attacks before finally destroying the Hollow.
"That's an unusual power you have, woman." Orihime's eyes widened as she panted heavily.
"You, you can see the Hollows?!" She asked, her voice full of surprise.
The fourth closed his eyes, making his way towards her, ignoring the question, "Those hairpins." He stopped a mere foot from her, staring at the gleaming accessories on her head. "They are the source of your powers, are they not?"
Her hands flew to them defensively, "Well, yes. I'd be just a normal person if I didn't have—"
Sharp claws slashed at them, making Orihime fall to the ground clutching her side as she bled, while the fourth stumbled backward several paces as blood trickled from his shoulder. Damn this gigai. The body's reaction time is slow and stiff, making his response to its attacks slower than it should've been.
It howled as its masked face locked its sights on Ulquiorra. "Huh? That attack should've cut you in two!" the creature cried, standing to full height, charging at him. "This time, I won't—AHHHH!" its pained scream nearly deafened him. Orihime attacked it again, slicing through its arms that now lay twitching on the ground. Ulquiorra glanced back at the girl who stood up on her shaky legs, clutching her blood-drenched side.
"I'll protect you!" she declared, her spirit pressure rising as she sent out another attack, slashing down its stomach this time. The Hollow backed away, screeching as blood poured from its wounds. "No," she fell to her knee, holding her stomach. "That didn't…finish it?" Tears rolled down her face, her expression full of pain.
Ulquiorra closed his eyes, reaching for the small pill Aizen had given him earlier. That girl must be thoroughly observed before she can die, he thought as he popped the pill into his mouth, releasing him from his body. His master may also be interested in her strange powers, another reason she cannot die just yet, or at least until he reports to Aizen first. "Watch the girl," he commanded as his gigai moved to her side.
"You're a Soul Reaper?" the Hollow questioned, spitting blood from its mouth. "Whatever, your soul will just taste better when I devour it!"
"Trash," he stated, drawing Murciélago from its sheath, and sliced through its mask faster than the eye could see.
The Hollow stared as the Espada sheathed his sword, "Why you puttin' your sword awa—"
He watched as the Hollow dispersed into nothingness. He shouldn't have had to use his Zanpakuto on such a worthless opponent. "You're a Soul Reaper?" Orihime's voice echoed through the air and into his ears.
Ulquiorra's hands balled in his shihakusho's pockets, his face remaining expressionless. How he despised being recognized as one of those creatures. Then again, what else is the girl supposed to think? He looked just like one and carried a Zanpakuto too. Even his spiritual pressure gave off the impression that he is, in fact, a Soul Reaper. "No," he stated simply, turning to face her. His eyes widened slightly with interest. Another power of hers? He questioned, watching the gaping wound on her stomach begin closing. As a matter of fact, everything under the golden-orange dome slowly returned to its original state. Even her ripped and bloodied clothes were returning to what they were before.
He kneeled in front of her, observing the glowing dome. "How interesting," he commented as she finished healing the gash. "You not only healed your wound; you also reverted your clothing back to its original state." She smiled up at him, nodding her head. He wanted to observe the technique once more. He needed to understand what she was doing when she used that healing spell.
"It really comes in handy when my friends get hurt," the woman started, rising back to her feet. "That's about all I'm good for, though, hehe," her tone dropped at the end, scratching her head in embarrassment. "I'm not very good at fighting. I try my best to avoid it whenever possible." Her eyes lowered to the ground, "And when I do fight, someone always has to come and save me. Like you did just now." The last part of her comment was quiet, and her lip quivered slightly.
"I didn't save you," Ulquiorra clarified as he grabbed his body and merged with it again, which was just as irritating as it was the first time. The wound on his shoulder isn't making things any better either. "I killed the Hollow because it targeted me. You merely benefited from my actions, and that requires payment." This is a perfect opportunity to observe her healing powers again.
"P-Payment? I don't have very much money—"
"Use that technique of yours on my wound, and you will no longer owe me anything, woman," he commanded, his cold gaze focused on her as she stood back to her feet.
"That sounds fair," Orihime smiled, stepping in front of him and stopped a little less than arm's length. "Sōten Kisshun, I reject." Her voice was soft to his ears, he noted and watched a small dome appear over his shoulder. The area enveloped by it felt warm and rejuvenating, not a sensation the Espada is very familiar with. Soon the pain too had vanished along with his wound. Like Orihime's, his shirt also returned back to what it looked like before the battle. "There you go, all better now." She smiled as the dome vanished, making her hairpins whole again.
Ulquiorra rolled his shoulder, inspecting it for any problems. There were none. Actually, that area of his body was the only area that didn't feel heavy and stiff. Too bad the rest of his body remained in that state, though. He turned his attention back to Orihime. "You're a strange girl," he commented, falling back into his usual stance.
"Oh, you really think so? So many people tell me that, especially when I talk about my dreams and goals. They say I have an overactive imagination that makes up weird stories and…."
Did this woman ever stop rambling? Ulquiorra wondered as she spieled on and on about her friends, but one choice topic continued to surface over and over again, Ichigo Kurosaki. So, he listened to her for a bit longer, hoping she'd spit out something useful. However, she only told him pointless information about Ichigo. And he thought Yammy gave meaningless longwinded speeches about idiotic matters. Yet, this human easily beat him, as her mouth still hasn't stopped. "…Tatsuki told me he plays the guitar, but not in front of anyone 'cause he has to act cool. But I think playing the guitar is really cool, and he should—" Ulquiorra quickly spun on his heel, heading in the direction she'd told him to go earlier when the Hollows appeared. "Huh, where are you going?"
"To my residence."
"Oh, yeah, sorry," Orihime apologized, catching up with him yet again. "I almost forgot you're new here and don't know where anything is and—"
"If you wish to walk with me, then refrain from speaking."
"Okey-dokey," she said, running two fingers over her mouth as if there were a zipper there. An odd behavior, but if it kept her from babbling, he wouldn't question it.
Thankfully, for the rest of their walk, Orihime didn't make so much as a peep. She merely sauntered contently next to him with a smile on her face. If she knew what she was actually walking next to, she'd be cowering in fear right now. That aside, now that she's silent, her presence beside him wasn't as irritating as the babbling idiot that followed him around Las Noches like a lost dog. "Were here," she proclaimed, standing in front of a tall, aged building. "Now, let's find your apartment!" she ran through the wide glass doors excitedly. He closed his eyes, entering the building in a more dignifying manner than she did.
Orihime was talking to an old woman behind a desk when he passed the threshold. "Yeah, he just moved here and has an apartment waiting for him," she nodded to the woman before looking back at him, her smile still intact. "She needs your name so she can give you the key and apartment number."
The fourth stopped at the desk, "Ulquiorra Schiffer." the old woman nodded at him, reaching into a small drawer before handing over a little silver key with a small paper stuck to it reading four-hundred and forty-four. Perhaps this is Aizen's form of a joke. No, seems more like something Ichimaru would do. He brushed the thought aside, placing the key in his pocket, and headed for the stairs.
The woman continued following him until they stood outside his door. "You have a really cool-sounding name. Ulquiorra Schiffer. I've never heard anything like it before," she complimented, staring at the wooden door in front of them. "Well," she scratched her head, "I guess I should leave and let you get settled in, Ulquiorra." She giggled a bit. "Your name's fun to say!"
"You were leaving, woman," the Espada reminded, making her face turn an odd shade of red as she apologized several times over. His nerves began to fray as he came to the end of his patience with the pesky human girl.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm just glad we found your home," she turned away, taking several steps towards the stairs. "If you want, I can be your first friend here." Ulquiorra stared at her. Friend? She turned back around, her eyes gleaming with something he didn't understand. "It can be pretty lonely starting out somewhere new, especially if you don't have any people around to talk to."
Ulquiorra opened his door, looking away from the girl as he spoke, "I don't require meaningless relationships," he said, promptly entering his room, leaving Orihime standing alone in the hall.
He didn't want a relationship of any kind, especially from a human. What purpose would it serve anyway? He was only in the living world to observe the substitute Soul Reaper and those close to him. He refused to trifle with menial human customs. The fourth exhaled softly. He needed to rest, having endured enough physical and mental exhaustion for one day. Perhaps tomorrow would be less tiring and more productive.
Author's note:
I hope you liked it. Have a wonderful day.