AU Warning: The Winter War doesn't happen quite the same way at it did in the manga, and the story will diverge even more in future chapters. While this is primarily UlquiHime, it includes several other pairings that I've wanted to explore- some obvious, and some not so obvious.
Also, I'd should clarify that this story was inspired by the "Prize of Victory" series by NovaAlexandria and the "Bleach Redux" fan-doushinshi by Koltiras Rip. Mainly, I based the characterization of certain characters off of their take on them. I even went back and re-wrote this chapter a few times just to make sure that there isn't anything that would come across as blatant plagiarism.
Originally Posted: Jan 1, 2014
Edited (3/6/14): Fixed some grammatical and narrative problems and corrected a mistake in the dialogue. Thanks to NovaAlexandria.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter I:
"Bedlam, Part 1"
The abduction of Orihime Inoue, by Ulquiorra Schiffer and Yammy Largo, drove the young woman's friends to respond in kind. It was an act not born from notions of duty or obligation, but rather by the bonds of friendship that the four teens shared. The small motley band of rescuers pierced the ethereal veil between worlds and journeyed into the endless wastes of Huecco Mundo.
And in so doing, their incursion into the domain of the Hollows had sealed not only their fates, but the fates of many thousands throughout the disparate realms. While Aizen's Espada had carried out the first gallantry on the eve of battle, it was the actions of the young woman's "nakama" that would be remembered as the trigger for the Winter War- fought between the forces of Las Noches and Soul Society. And as the conflict escalated over the next few weeks, Huecco Mundo, the Spirit World, and even the Human Plane soon found themselves violently pulled into the struggle.
The white sand of the Huecco Mundo were stained red, the heart of the Seritei was left devastated, and entire blocks of Karakura Town were leveled. The Shinigami- aided by Humans, the Half-Hollow Vizards, and even a few Arrancar- battled Aizen and his Arrancar forces. In the end, many would not live to see the final outcome of the War... That by the end, had ground a standstill, leaving the "troops" to do little more than watch as the final conflict played out above them.
A giant spherical mass of black, non-reflective energy floated ominously in the sky, crackling with an unnatural power. Here, the mythical "key" to the Gates of Heaven would manifest, granting Aizen the godhead of the Celestial Throne. To prevent the traitor's ascension, Ichigo Kurosaki gambled everything on one final attack via his Mugetsu ability. There could be only two possible outcomes: Either Ichigo's desperate gambit would succeed and the gates to the Soul Realm would close, or Aizen would emerge victorious as the Supreme Being and reign over all of creation.
The mass of super-charged spiritual energy violently contracted in upon itself for an instant, only to then convolse outward several times, sending out wave after wave of destructive energy- causing the entire landscape to tremble. The ground cracked and sheered under the force of each successive wave that was unleashed. Then, everything was rapidly engulfed in a blinding white light...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Captain Jushiro Ukitake staggered to his feat and surveyed the wreckage. He started to advance, only to stumble and fall to his knees, hit by a surge of pain in his chest, before he began coughing up blood.
"Ukitake-san!" A feminine voice called out to him. The white-haired Captain of the 13th Division wiped blood from his mouth as he turned to see Nanao Ise cradling the battered figure of her Captain, Shunsui Kyoraku. The usual stern Lieutenant of the 8th was visibly upset (her lower lip trembling slightly) and his long-time friend didn't seem to be moving- having shielded his much put-upon Lieutenant from the backlash. His body had taken the worst of the blast when the mass of energy had exploded- leaving his robes tattered and bloodied.
He recalled how the Supreme Commander had unleashed his massive Reiatsu during the battle- the crushing power unfurling outward like a shock-wave upon the ranks of Aizen and his allies. So massive was the spiritual aura of their leader that many of the Arrancar had simply withered and died under the pressure of his energy. He silently wondered if Yamamoto had calculated the danger to his own people... Had the situation, in his eyes, become so dire as to eclipse the threat of collateral damage to the Shinigami?
"Oi, Stark, looks like the sickly one is still alive!" A voice called out.
Wiping his mouth, Ukitake looked up to see the familiar figure of the childish female half of the Primera Espada. She stood before him, her hands resting on her narrow hips, and sporting a haughty grin, her rose-colored eye regarding him.
The white-haired man felt a chill run through him, sensing the formidable spirit pressure of the other half of the Primera moving towards them. He panicked, suddenly fearful for the lives of his fellow Shinigami and rose to his feat- just as Coyote Stark appeared. Ukitake paused, noting that Stark was supporting the imposing female Espada- the same one that Captain Hitsugaya had been fighting. She was badly wounded- having been cut down by Aizen himself- but still appeared to be conscious of her surroundings.
Lilinette turned to the First and Third Espada. "What do you wanna do with these three," She began. "They're looking pretty shabby at the moment... We could probably kill 'em." The female Arrancar offered.
"N-no!" Ukitake exclaimed. "Th-they're no threat to you... Please spare them!" He frantically begged the two halves of the Primera Espada, falling to his knees. "Kill me in stead- I won't resist- just please spare the Captain and Lieutenant Ise!" He'd meant to bow in supplication, only to lurch forward and cough up more blood- the latter motion, ironically, not dissimilar to the former.
Stark frowned, falling silent for a moment. "Such a hassle..." He muttered to himself, helping Halibell down into a seated position. "Ease off, Lilinette," The tall brown-haired Espada began, shooting her a brief glance before he plopped down into a sitting posture. "That man could have killed you early on if he'd really wanted to..." He reasoned. "And I think more than enough people have died today."
The little female gave a dejected sound and crossed her arms in a huff. Then, she turned around to glare at Ukitake. "You're lucky, 'Sickly'," Lilinette began, running a hand through her short yellow-green hair and giving him an arrogant smile as she continued to address him. "Be grateful that Stark happened to be in a such a good mood." The Arrancar finished.
Stark exhaled and looked at him. "So..." He began, his hands resting on his knees. "Any of you know where we can find a healer around here?"
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Orihime's brown eyes narrowed as she focused her powers, using Negation to restore the prone figure obscured within the glow of Soten Kisshun. It took every ounce of discipline she had to remain composed as she tended to the task at hand- not to mention holding back the wellspring of emotions that threatened to break free at any moment.
Not that she was alone... Rukia was there as well, her left arm in a sling, a neutral expression on her face as she watched the redhead now using her powers for the benefit of the last person she ever would have guessed- the very Arrancar that spirited her away in the first place. Still, it wasn't her place to judge the girl for wanting to help her sole companion during her time as a prisoner. As an Officer, she'd taken a basic psychology course, so she knew that fear and stress often drove people to seek reassurance and comfort from any possible source- in her case, it happened to be her captor.
She suspected that Orihime had willingly had an affair with Ulquiorra. She was a terrible liar, and the unintended subtext in her hasty explanation of events had spoke volumes. She theorized that the cold detachment of the Fourth Espada must have seemed like the safest option for her- especially when compared to the leering, hungry eyes of the violent males surrounding her. However, while she could understand the redhead's fear-driven rational for seeking his 'company'... She couldn't think of any explanation for the Cuatro Espada to have returned her... overtures.
Orihime focused on the task at hand. Since her time spent in Las Noches, she realized that she had only just scratched the surface in regards to the extent of her powers. It frightened her a little think that she had the power to "Negate" the laws of matter, energy... even time itself. However, at the moment, all her thoughts were currently focused on the individual she was healing...
The Past...
She kept telling herself that she'd accepted her fate, that she had surrendered in order to spare her friends from the wrath of the Espada. She had even donned their colors- wearing the white robes of Las Noches- a further sign of her submission to her fate. Orihime tried so hard to consul herself, telling herself that this was all for the best, that she had done the right thing...
And yet, it still pained her just as much as if she'd been taken- fighting and screaming- and forced into submission by her captures. But perhaps what disturbed her the most was the terrifying sense of finality that came with her surrender, and the profound loneliness of her new "home". She wondered if Aizen knew just how much his false assurance and praise tore away at her. She suspected that he knew all too well that each day here, each time she was brought before him, each reaffirmation of her importance in his so-called "great plan", was slowly killing her... Like a flower deprived of light and warmth.
Orihime had quickly realized that everything about her imprisonment had been tailored to slowly erode her sense of self, to break her spirit, slowly dehumanizing her. In the end, she would either bend to his will or deteriorate into a broken shell of a person. She was dieing here, not all at once, but a little at a time, and with the same certainty as a pullet through her heart or a rope around her neck.
As some point, she'd started refusing to eat her meals- she wasn't sure if she was unconsciously trying to starve herself to death, or if it was simply because the food given to her was as pallid and soulless as the place itself. Most likely, it was a combination of the two. Regardless, her "guardian" hadn't been pleased by her 'defiance' (though she could hardly tell with him), and had made it clear that if she didn't start eating, then she'd be restrained and force-fed.
It wasn't the threat that had stuck with her, it was the fact that he moved in close- close enough for his breath to tickle the shell of her ear. The sudden invasion of her space hadn't scared as she might have expected it would. Instead, his proximity to her made her heart race...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"Grimmjow-sama, speak up, are you alive?"
The blue-haired Sexta Espada perked up slightly, looking up to see a familiar figure crouching down beside his battered body. "...Ylforte? What are y-ahhh!" He groaned out, cursing audibly when the pain from Nnoitra's attack finally registered with his brain.
"That's a pretty bad wound," The No15 Arrancar observed. "Honestly, Grimmjow-sama, I'm surprised that you're still alive." He remarked calmly.
"Fuck that," The blue-haired Espada replied, sitting up. "How the fuck are you even alive, didn't one of those Shinigami blast you and the others to hell with that sword bullshit they do?" He asked, anger and annoyance in his tone.
"Yes, well I don't know about the others," Ylforte replied. "But let's just say that we Grantz never go into battle without a firm contingency plan." He continued with a note of pride, running hand through his dirty blond hair. "Never show your enemy your full hand and always have a way out."
Grimmjow rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance. After a moment, he looked over to see two fallen bodies in the distance. He snorted derisively, before chuckling to himself. "Not a total wash," the blue-haired Arrancar remarked with a wide smile. "If that piece of shit, Nnoitra Gilga, and that little kiss-ass follower of his are dead... then I guess it can't be all bad."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soifon grunted as none other than Ggio Vega pulled the large chunk of rubble off of her, a crestfallen expression on hers face as she looked down at her damaged leg.
"Oh man, that's not good- looks broken." Ggio casually observed. "I guess I'd better get you over to one of your healers before it gets infected." The cat-like Arrancar remarked calmly, before scooping her slender form up into his arms, mindful of the lithe captain's injured limbs.
She winced slightly, confusion and curiosity overriding her instinct to violently lash out of the Arrancar that was holding her aloft. "W-what's going, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Soifon asked.
He just shrugged off her indignation as he leapt across the battered landscape. He paused, and looked down at her, meeting her irritated gaze with his calm expression. "Last I saw, Aizen disappeared into that big cloud of weird energy." Ggio replied. "Plus Barragon-sama is dead... So I don't really have any reason to fight you now..." He paused. "The Chimera went in after him a while back, so I figure there's not really much that any of us can do until one of them wins."
"...'Chimera'?" She questioned.
"Yeah, the Chimera, he's got all three energy types." Ggio replied.
Soifon was at a loss as to what to say or think now. As a matter of principle, she was obliged to follow her oath as a Shinigami and try to slay him. On the other hand, her right leg had suffered a break below the knee and she suspect that she had a fracture in her left forearm. Even if she were in any condition to fight him, he didn't strike her as having any concealed motives- he certainly didn't appear to have the guile to be scheming anything sinister.
After a moment, she sighed and acquiesced to her bizarre predicament... Soifon hated to admit it, even to herself, but there was something strangely comforting in his simple, genuine manor.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ulquiorra was vaguely aware of something... That in and of itself, was shocking as the last thing he'd remembered before now was his death. Still, he was too week at the moment than do little more than give in to the strangely comforting sensation that presently engulfed him, while flashes of recent memories played though his weary head...
The Past...
Aizen sat on his throne, the picture of suave authority. He had dismissed both Gin and Tousen, leaving the two of them alone in the arched hall. "Ulquiorra," he began evenly. "I have a task for you, one that I believe you alone are suited to. It involves the young human woman you brought here, Orihime Inoue."
He continued. "She possesses a unique ability, a power that- given time- could very well come to rival that of the Transcending Orb itself." He revealed. "You have, no doubt, witnessed the lesser manifestations of the girl's powers, correct?"
"Yes, Lord Aizen." Ulquiorra replied.
Aizen smiled faintly. "Excellent," he replied approvingly. "Then you will have likely surmised that what she has shown so far is only a fraction of her true potential." He explained to him. "She is young, and scared, and her powers would be lost should something... untoward befall her. Now, in such an uncertain and dangerous place as as she finds herself, special care must be given to ensure that her powers are properly... nurtured."
"You have served me, faithfully, for many years. Your loyalty is without question, and so, I shall extend my trust in you by tasking you with ensuring her mental and physical well-being." Aizen went on. "It is no small undertaking, but I am confident that you will carry out this task with the same level dedication and objectivity that you would any other instruction that I were to give you."
"Oh course, Lord Aizen." Ulquiorra replied, bowing respectfully.
"I am content to leave the details of her care to you... However, I would offer you this piece of advice." Aizen continued, giving an enigmatic smile. "As a Shinigami, I endeavored to master the cultivation of nature just I had the way of the sword." He explained. "This woman will require a certain delicacy of touch and manner." He explained with a thoughtful expression.
"If properly cared for, then her powers will blossom like the most exquisite flower..." Aizen continued in an almost whimsical tone. "However, if neglected, she then will wither and die- like a plant trapped in the grip of choking darkness." He cautioned gently- no hint of menace in his tone, only the natural charisma that defined him. "Ulquiorra," he continued. "do whatever it takes to ensure that her 'flower' will bloom magnificently in the 'spring' of my ascension."
Ulquiorra nodded. "As you command, Lord Aizen, your will be done."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Captain Unohana prided herself on her ability to maintain a constant air of serenity. And yet, the sight she was met with when she arrived back in Soul Society (flanked by Isane and Hanataro), had actually caused her to pause for a brief instant, as she took it in...
Shunsui Kyoraku lay in a crumpled heap, his bespectacled Lieutenant kneeling beside him with a worried expression. Then there was the hunched over figure of the female Tercera Espada, her hand clenched over the deep piercing wound in her torso. Ukitake was the first to notice her, followed by the small female Arrancar that had been hovering around.
"Unohana-san," The white-haired Captain began. "Thank you for coming... Shunsui is in dire need of your assistance." He paused. "And it seems, so to is Halibell-san."
The little female Arrancar sighed. "You're such a bad liar," She reprimanded. "You were coughing up blood only a few minutes ago, Shiro-san." She declared haughtily, trying to feign indifference, despite the fact that her hand was on his back in a comforting gesture.
Unohana couldn't help but smile. "I will attend to Captain Kyoraku's injuries," She began as she turned to her subordinates. "Lieutenant Kotetsu, you will please tend to Halibell-san." The woman continued in her usual serene tone. "And you, Yamada-san, will oversee triage."
"M-me?" The young Shinigami asked nervously. "Are you certain, Captain Unohana? I-"
Unohana held up her hand, causing him to fall silent. "Yes," she replied. "Many of the Fourth's Seated Officers did not survive the initial attack- including Iemura-san." She explained. "As an Officer and Medic, this responsibility now falls to you."
"But I-" Yamada began.
"Yamada-san," again, she silenced him. "As of this moment, you are now the 3rd Seat Officer of the Fourth Division." Unahana informed him, her tone gentle but commanding. "I'm sorry to thrust this upon you, but I have faith in your ability, and I am confident that you will rise to the occasion."
Isane smiled, watching as Yamada took in all that had been said. Then, he straightened himself up and bowed respectfully to their superior. "I... I understand. Captain Unohana, thank you." He replied before departing to carry out his Captain's instructions.
Halibell watched as the silver-haired young woman appeared beside her, her hands glowing softly with healing energy. "Why... are you doing this?"
Isane placed her hands on the wound, her healing reiatsu penetrating the large gash and causing the damaged tissue to start mending. "Because we've taken oaths." The silver-haired woman replied evenly as she worked. "As Medic, it's our duty to help the injured, regardless of who or what they are." She explained as the wound slowly closed.
Nanao watched nervously as Unohana knelt down beside the Captain. The Lieutenant had never felt so utterly useless as she did right now. Just as she was felt her composure about to break, a powerful hand came to rest on her slender shoulder. She turned around to see Stark, at her side.
He gave her a simple nod, and she- somehow- felt her worry ebb slightly.
Once Isane had finished healing Halibell, she stood up, leaving the Tercera Espada to silently mull over what she had said to her...
Jushiro watched as the elder sister of the female half of his duel Third Seat placed a hand on his chest, using her sensory Kido to assess his condition. "Thank you, Kotetsu-sa" He paused, realizing that there was technically two 'Kotetsu- sans'. "Er, thank you, Isane-san."
She smiled, a faint chuckle audible. "Rather confusing, isn't it." She replied with a smile, stopping when she confirmed the damage was to his lungs. With that done, she worked her reatsu into his body, soothing and mending the frayed tissue of his lunges. "Well, I am the oneesan, after all," She began softly with a smile as she finished. "And Kiyoni ne-chan would never forgive me if something bad happened to her beloved Captain while he was in my care."
The captain blushed faintly under the second-hand praise. "Ah, yes..." Ukitake began. "I'm not sure what I'd do sometimes without the assistance of Kotsubaki-san and your sister." He admitted bashfully.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Orihime exhaled and slumped back, the golden barrier of her Shun Shun Rikka quickly fading to reveal the prone figure of Ulquiorra- still in his demon-like Segunda Etapa form. It made sense when she thought about, after all, he'd been in this state when he'd...
The Past...
Ever since he had "invaded" her space, things had changed between them- well, at least as far as she was concerned. In contrast, Ulquiorra continued going through the monotonous rituals that now made up the farce that was now her "life". He was cold, and emotionally distant, and even cruel at times with the bluntness of his words- talking about the likely deaths of her friends.
And yet, she believed, perhaps foolishly, that Ulquiorra would never harm her. Orihime was not naïve about her situation, but she realized that it could have been worse. It was perhaps the only genuine act of consideration for her well being on Aizen's part. He had never raised a hand to her, even when she'd slapped him in a momentary lapse of rage. And while he made no effort to comfort her, it was clear that he took no pleasure in her confinement. But perhaps most significant, she realized, was that he was likely the reason that both her life and her "virtue" continued to remain intact.
She'd done her best to soldier on, through the smothering rituals that had come to define her existence, no longer a person but a possession. Orihime suspected that she was rapidly loosing her grip on the passage of time in this place. She wasn't sure if she'd been there when it happened- it could have been less than a week, or two months- when she finally faltered...
She was taking a shower. At some point, Ulquiorra had thought to reveal a panel situated on the wall across from her bed, where she was to place her hand- causing a section of the wall to slide open and reveal a small bathroom to her. She entered without hesitation, and promptly set about washing her body, not really thinking about anything. But as she was finishing washing her hair, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest and began to gasp for breath, falling to her knees. The next thing she knew, the door opened and Ulquiorra appeared beside her. He moved behind her, capturing her wrists in his hands and crossing her own arms across her chest- above her breasts.
"Woman, listen." He began. "Listen to my voice, focus on nothing else..." He instructed, unconcerned that the downpour of water coming from the shower-head. "I need you to take a deep breath, slowly... Now, slowly exhale..." She complied with the command. "Again, slowly breath in... Now slowly breath out." Ulquiorra repeated his instructions a half dozen times, and each time she complied. And slowly, her breathing returned to normal and she felt her chest begin to relax.
The two of them remained like that, her water-slick body heaving as she breathed, until he rose to turn the shower off, then draped a towel over her. Wordlessly, he scooped her trembling form up into his strong arms. Back in the main room, he calmly took her wrist in his hand and gently pressed two fingers against the underside, silently gauging her pulse.
He left the room, only to return shortly and hand her a cup. "Drink this," he instructed calmly, waiting until she took it and sipped the warm liquid. "You appear to have suffered an anxiety attack, but you will soon recover..." He paused, setting a fresh uniform beside her. "I will leave you to change, though I will return shortly to further assess your condition."
He started to leave. "Ulquiorra," she called out softly, causing him to pause. "Thank you." Orihime replied simply. He looked at her for a moment, giving her a simple nod before leaving.
Orihime watched, nervously, as his chest rose, the Arrancar drawing breath, then as his piercing yellow eyes snapped open. He sat up, only to groan in pain. "What... is happening?" He thought out load to himself, as his body registered several pangs of discomfort throughout his body. "Unless..." Ulquiorra turned to Orihime, an unreadable look on his face as he regarded her. "Negation?" He asked simply.
She nodded, giving him a small smile, before gingerly circling her arms around him, mindful of of his aching recently recovered body. "I was so worried when you crumbled to ash..." She paused, looking into his yellow eyes with her own soft brown ones. "But your ashes were enough for me to be able to restore you with Soten Kisshun." She explained gently.
He remained silent and she held onto him. "Such an interesting woman." Ulquiorra silently thought to himself, the slightest hint of a smirk gracing his features as she held onto him.
(- End of Chapter I -)
Final Word Count: 4,240
I'll always be proud of "The Human Condition" and its success, but there are always things that I could have done better. While most of the characters are pretty spot-on, I clearly hadn't really gotten a handle on writing Ulquiorra- there are scenes where he's way too emotional. In hindsight, I really should have foreseen this problem, given my rather melodramatic writing style!
I wanted to do something different with this story. This time around, I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could write something bigger. I'm working with a much larger cast of characters, so there will be a lot more interplay between them- especially exploring all the different dynamics and relationship that exists between them. Hopefully, you guys will enjoy some of the surprises I've got planned.
-Bojack727
