Chapter 6

My dreams are filled with clouds. Fluffy white clouds and bright blue skies and grassy plains. Wide-open plains bordered off by a wall of trees to the left and jagged rocks to the right.

I stand in the middle of the plains, a sea of long grass tickling my bare legs. My gaze wanders over the jagged rocks, mountains actually, and their snowy peaks.

I've never played in the snow.

The clouds overhead draw my gaze when they shift in front of the sun, bathing the world in darkness as the colors shift.

Slowly the clouds become gray, gloomy, as everything darkens to various shades of deep blue. Dark. Sinister, as I anxiously wait for the clouds to shift again and bring back the sun.

Except that, when they do, it's not the sun that they reveal.

It's the moon.

White and full as it sits in the dark sky. A pearl among a sea of diamonds, as it somehow manages to outshine the stars littering the sky beside it.

The wolves are out tonight.

Howls rip the quiet night apart then. Singing to the moon as if summoned by my thoughts alone. They cried come from my left. From the deep, dark forest and I don't move, don't even run, as the shadows twist. Separating to reveal a lithe figure, graceful and sleek as it slinks forward on four legs

A wolf.

But it's too big for that. Huge. Even from a distance, I know it will loom over me. Still, I don't run.

I don't try to escape as the shape nears, steps purposeful, yet slow. Leisurely, as if the wolf knows I won't leave. As if it knows it has all the time in the world to come and eat me.

Dinner's getting cold.

Except I never get to find out if it will eat me. Suddenly it bolts, changes directions and disappears back into the forest. Black fur melting easily into the darkness.

Then I'm alone again, standing amongst the grass and staring at the stars overhead. Watching them twinkle and dance just as one whizzes by, leaving behind a trail of fire and ash.

Make a wish.

"I want to go home," I whisper, the words nearly inaudible as I stare at the white walls in front of me. Everything shifts slowly, I don't notice it. Gone are the stars and the moon and the grassy plains. All that's left is the Ulquiorra's dreary room with its white walls and black furniture. "Huh?"

When did I wake up?

Sitting up slowly, mindful that my head still might hurt from last night's fall, I peer around the room. Unsure of what else to do, I just sit there, dumbly staring at nothing and cataloging any aches and pains that make themselves known.

My body aches, my throat burns, and my head throbs faintly. More of a memory of agony from yesterday's injury than anything too severe. I'm more surprised to find myself waking than the fact that it still hurts. I was so sure I'd suffered a concussion.

Aren't you supposed to slip into a coma if you sleep with a concussion?

No such luck on my end, it seems, as I'm up and wide awake.

With nothing better to do, I take in the room as a weight in my lower abdomen makes itself known. Hoping this is a master bedroom and I'll find an attached restroom, I renew my search of the room. There's only one other door here, besides the one leading out, and I quickly scramble off the bed when I spot it.

The need to pee pushing me towards the door even while I wonder if Espadas have a need for a restroom. They surely need bathrooms, to wash all the blood and grime off after a long day, so they should have at least that, right?

At this point, I no longer care.

I'll pee in a bathtub if I have too.

Finally, luck shines down on me as I open the door to find a crisp, clean bathroom. With needs to take care of, I don't pay the running water any mind. Completely ignoring the figure in the shower, I focus on relieving myself.

It's just Ulquiorra.

The uncaring, emotionless fourth Espada.

Bladder empty and hands washed I make my way back to the bed and dive in it. I'm not embarrassed. I refuse to let myself be. I mean, it's not like I saw him naked.

So as I lay there, sprawled across his bed, I settle for wondering what today will bring.

Ulquiorra emerges from his bathroom squeaky clean and fully clothed. His patent blank look is on his face as he regards me. I still send a smile his way and burrow deeper under his blankets.

"Good morning," I chirp from under the blankets, pulling up the edge to peek at him.

"What are you doing?"

The look on his face is still blank and no more interested than before. I grin even though he can't see it, wrapping the blankets more firmly around me.

"I'm a burrito."

Ulquiorra says nothing to that, just moves away from the bed to do whatever it is he does. I can't see him from under the blankets. I just hear his footsteps as he moves around the room, oddly rhythmic and soft and, soon, the quiet and warmth nearly lulls me back to sleep.

Nearly being the keyword.

"I'll be back soon," Ulquiorra says, pulling me back from the edge of sleep as his footsteps lead away from the bed. I pull the covers back to watch him walk towards the door. "I've left a change of clothes for you. Feel free to use the facilities."

He leaves without another word, shutting the door behind him. Carefully sitting back up, I peer around the room and find a bundle of clothes folded neatly on top of a dresser. It's his own clothes, I know but I can't help but wish they would be something a little more…nicer.

They aren't, of course, and I lift up the clothes. Eyeing them distastefully, I figure it really can't be helped. I'm going to have to do something about this, though. I can't keep walking around in such…well not exactly ugly but unflattering clothing.

Laying the clothes flat on the floor, I begin to rummage through the room. Hoping to find something sharp enough to fill my needs.

I find a pair of scissors tucked away in a black desk. A beautiful black desk at that, made from wood and polished to a shine.

Scissors in hand, I make my way back to the clothes and begin to cut. Starting with the top. I cut a few inches from the bottom hem, turning it into a crop top and chopping the ridiculous coattails off. I make sure not to cut off the zipper as I go. I cut along it, keeping it fully intact and figuring I'll just hide the excess under the top.

Better that than being left without a zipper.

Once that's done, I study the shirt, checking to see if it'll look too bad un-hemmed. I have nothing to re-hem it with even if it does but thankfully it doesn't look that bad. I slip on as soon as I'm done, more than eager to get out of such unfitting clothing. Putting it on, the end of the shirt comes to a stop just above my belly button, keeping most of my torso from view.

Of course, there's still the problem of it not closing over my breast. The zipper comes up to just under them, but my bra is black and lacy and, while not new, it's nice enough to showcase.

'Sides, there's worst-dressed Arrancars out there anyways.

Turning my attention back to the pants, I have no idea what to really do to them, so I settle for turning them into shorts. Starting at what I hope will be a decent length, I cut through the fabric. After that's done, I set the scissors aside and slip them on.

Luck is still on my side, it seems, as the new shorts end a few inches from my rump. Of course, they look more like a really fluffy skirt than shorts, but I'll take what I can get. New clothes ready I shuffle back out of them and take a long, steaming shower.

Once clean, dressed, and ready to go, I realized I have nowhere to go.

Bummer really.

"Well," I mumble from spot perched on the edge of the bed, bare feet grazing the cool tile floor. "He never said that I wait for him here," I tell myself, eyeing the door. "A little adventure never hurt anyone."

Decision made, I slip off the bed, ignoring the cold that bleeds into my feet as I pad over to the door. The dangers of this are very real but it doesn't stop me from opening the door and leaving the room.

The hallway is blissfully empty. There's no one in sight so I pad confidently down them. I'm dead anyway. Sooner or later someone in this building is going to kill me. Be it Ulquiorra or Grimmjow or even Azien, my days are numbered.

Hell, my hours could very well be numbered.

So, I walk the walk of a woman who knows she's on her way to the noose and itching for it. The only reason I don't skip is because of the whole no shoes situation. If their plans to keep me from wandering about had been leaving me barefoot—seeing as Ulquiorra didn't even bother to lock me up before leaving me on my own—then it obviously failed.

I walk for longer than I mean to, passing many equally white and plain halls. All while never bumping into anyone else. Maybe their plans to keep me from escaping had simply been to empty the whole god damn building. With no one around there's no one to ask for directions, after all.

Or kill me for that matter.

So I get free, uninterrupted range of the halls. Which turns out to be as boring as you can imagine. By what I think is the twentieth hall, I'm more than ready to turn back and I do. Only to realize that I haven't been keeping track of where I've been going.

Caught between a cross-section of uniformly white halls, I make my turn completely by guess. I know it's wrong even as I make it, but without anyone to guide me in the right direction, I have no other choice. This is really not turning out to be the adventure I was hoping for.

At all.

Both bored out of my mind and inching for excitement, I almost wish someone would stumble across me. Dangerous or not, I have no other hope of returning to Ulquiorra's room. If I had my phone, I would be blasting music right about now. If only to draw someone's attention.

"So he really did leave all alone."

Ask and you shall receive! Hallelujah!

Except now I'm most definitely going to die.

Nnoitra appears just as I turn the corner. Casually leaning against the wall like he has nowhere better to be. Knowing him, he probably doesn't. If he had appeared behind me, I would have accused him of following me. As it is, I can only stop, wary for all his casual demeanor.

Tesla stands beside him, several heads shorter and looking just as wary when Nnoitra pushes off the wall and turns my way. Standing at full height, Nnoitra dwarfs him dramatically. Though Tesla stands taller than me, he looks so much shorter while next to Nnoitra.

"Though I can't blame him," Nnoitra continues when I just stand there, watching him as he slings the ridiculous Zanpakuto over his shoulder. "I just saw the new chick he just brought in. Shame he threw you away after just one night, but I must say, she has better goods."

So Orihime has bigger boobs. Nice, but why would I even give a fuck? I would demand the answer if I didn't already know it. Better goods mean more of a chance to ensnare the man of my dreams, not that means I'm out of the running. Orihime doesn't even really want him, after all. So, I really don't care.

Why did I want anyone to find me again?

"And with those words," I begin, careful to keep my body from tensing. Rather than wait for the next words to spew out of Nnoitra's mouth, I duck back around the corner. Sprinting towards the closest door. "I'm leaving."

I don't bother to listen to the curse that spews from Nnoitra's mouth as I disappear around the corner. Though, I'm sure is very colorful as he sprints after me. Obviously, I'm no match for both his long legs and Espada related super speed.

The only reason I end up slipping from his grasp is that the closest door turns out to be a few feet down the hall. I reach it and slip through it just as Nnoitra rounds the corner. Scrambling for the lock, I waste no time looking for an exit.

I highly doubt a door is strong enough to stop him, after all. Especially, when it rattles harshly, nearly buckling under the onslaught of his anger when he finds it locked. More colorful curses leave his lips, both angry and dangerous as the door continues to rattle.

Other than searching for a door, I don't bother to take in the room. I ignore it all, jumping and scrambling over and around the furniture as I find one across the room. I have half a second to hope it's not a closet before the door to the room is blown open.

Something hot and heavy and red—a Cero, sends it clear across the room, shattering it even as it burns. The door and Cero miss me by inches as the force of the blast has me crashing onto the floor. Even as I struggle to scramble up to my feet, I know it's too late.

Nnoitra's hand is in my hair before I make it all the way up. He drags me to my feet, pulling up until only the tips of my toes brush against the floor. I struggle against his hold on pure instinct, kicking out and scratching at his arm even though I know it won't help.

Out of all the Espadas, Nnoitra has the strongest skin. His Hierro is impenetrable so the kicking does nothing more than to send spark spikes up my legs with every kick. A particular sharp pain, as my toes crack painfully, stops that right away.

Going limp in his grip, I hold onto his hand. I cling to it so the pain of him pulling my hair won't be too bad. When he shakes me in frustration, I hold in my cry of pain by sheer force of will and stubbornness. Instead, I keep my eyes firmly locked on his face in both anger and defiance.

"Let the poor girl go, Nnoitra."