Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or it's character, that right belongs to Tite Kubo. Nor do I own InuYasha or it's characters, that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
Author's Notes: This whole story is dedicated to one particular Reviewer who has earned their own special place in my heart with their long Reviews (much, VERY much appreciated), random thoughts, logical leaps, and just being a generally good person. Here you go, Stargazer013. And Ulquiorra Cifer x Kagome Higurashi Crossover just for you.
Several sets of eyes looked at the busty red-headed girl who stared back at them with wide gray eyes as she clung to her friends, Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida. Who had similar expressions on their faces as they tried to process what was just told to them. Shock locking their bodies in a frozen state of being.
"Are you three, okay?" Shunsui asked as he leaned back.
It took a few seconds before all three nodded their heads. Their eyes were dropping to the small, white silk pillow with the tiny little pink bauble that Orihime had just happened to notice and pick up after their fight with the 4th Espada Ulquiorra Cifer. None of them could have fathomed that the pretty little trinket was what they were just told. A power artifact that had gone missing. And was now sans its Guardian, meaning this could be troublesome.
"You... are saying that little thing has the power to destroy the universe as we know it?" Uryu asked, his voice showing his disbelief.
There was silence before Mayuri spoke up, "Yes, that is exactly what was just said, Quincy."
This earned a dark look from Uryu as he tilted his head. Not once had he ever heard of the little Artifact. It was something of great note, which means that in the wrong hands, it could bring about a great disaster.
"My concern is that Orihime had tried to reject it out of existence, and it did nothing to her," Kisuke said, his voice dropping low. "Not that I am not happy, she thought to bring it to me afterward. This is what I based the making of the Hogyoku on, well theories of it, at least."
This had several shocked gasps coming from the Captains gathered, making the sandy-blond haired man shrugged.
"Well... something did happen. I got the feeling it... was sad and disappointed in my actions. The pink seemed to shimmer, which is why I brought it to your Urahara-san. I thought it was alive. And with all we have seen in the last few years... I was not above throwing that notion out the door," Orihime said, her voice quivering slightly.
This had the attention of all the Captains, their Lieutenants, Kisuke Urahara, and Yoruichi Shihouin. It was causing Orihime to blush and look at the table more pointedly, embarrassed.
"This... could be good news. Kisuke, what is your take on this?" Shunsui asked.
A contemplative look crossed the man's face as he stared at the Jewel. He, of course, had felt the pull of it when it was handed to him. Neither of the human children had when they held it in turn. But if it gave Orihime the impression, it was sad when she tried to erase it from existence with her power. That meant the little sentient thing might have a way of communicating. And finding its Guardian was a big issue.
"Orihime, instead of trying to reject it, can you focus on your ability to heal only?" he said. The dark gleam in his eyes as he looked at the Jewel, and no one else had Yoruichi twitching.
"Uh... okay..." Orihime said as she stepped forward, lifting her hands up and focusing them. "Sōten Kisshun."
From her hands sprang a triangular shield that gave off a soft golden light that was relaxing and soothing. As it started to heal, there was a flash of silver and lilac. It was making Orihime falter for a second, before continuing. Only to get another burst of silver, but this time it was mixed with black and green swirled together before the Jewel went silent.
"You may stop. I think this gives me enough information to state a theory," Kisuke said, lifting his gaze up and to those gathered. "The Guardian didn't disappear. They are in the Jewel. But they are in a dormant state. There was not much known about the Shikon no Tama, except how it was created over five hundred years ago. The two priestesses who took care of it. The last... we all know showed up here before vanishing just as quickly. Though... that darker energy bothers me."
"Wait, you are saying that the former guardian... is in that tiny little thing?" Ichigo sputtered.
"Yes, that is what he said. Are you deaf now?" Mayuri snapped. His eyes glinted as a smile showed off his teeth.
Again silence fell over the room. The air was suddenly heavy and tense. All gathered knew the looks on both Kisuke's and Mayuri's faces. And were waiting for one or the other to say what they wanted to do. Their excitement at experimenting was a tangible thing.
"I do believe that the last known Guardian is in there. The lilac-colored energy indicates it swirled with the Shikon's Silver. And if you all will allow, I will stay here and have Mayuri supervise alongside me, trying to resurrect the Guardian out of the Jewel," Kisuke said.
The smile that was being flashed had several stomach dropping. Yoruichi didn't like the fact that her longtime friend and lover wanted to play mad scientist with the current Captain of the 12th Division while she picked up on the distaste from a few of the others.
"How long do you think it will take?" Toshiro asked, speaking up for the first time.
"Oh... depending on the amount of energy needed, and how stubborn both the jewel and the guardian want to be... a week, maybe a bit more," Kisuke said.
"Fine, but both of you will always have another Division with the two of you at all times. And all videos, notes, and anything else related to the Experiment will be shared. Nothing shall be edited either, do the two of you understand?" Shunsui said, his voice sharp and resigned all at the same time. "And Byakuya will be the first Captain to babysit you two.
The twin nods that were given spoke volumes as the said an intense frown marred Captain's usually blank face.
It had been two full days. And the reading coming from the tank where the Jewel was floating lazily was amazing. There was no mistaking it. The thing was alive like the legends said. Hence the sentience tended to show. But now, as both Kisuke and Mayuri stood there with Yoruichi and Shinji, the Captain of the 5th Division. No one could even describe what they were seeing.
They'd decided to keep Orihime and the two boys around. And had just had Orihime apply more healing energy to the Jewel to get another reaction. And react, it did. The clear glass was now opaque due to the swirl of silver, lilac, green, and black, forming a cocoon around the Jewel. Which was giving off a bright light as they saw shadows form on the strangely mixed energy cocoon? Showing that not just one image was developing and growing around it, but two.
Just to have the alarms start ringing as they watched the monitor light up with statistics that were unheard of. There were now two heartbeats resonating with each other. One just slightly faster than the other one.
"What is happening? Did I do something wrong?" Orihime asked, her eyes wide, pupils were completely blown out, so only a small sliver of gray of her iris' was visible.
"No, I think you helped speed this whole process up. But the fact that we are getting two separate readings is not what we factored in," Mayuri replied, his voice high with his excitement.
"Yeah, but don't get too ahead of yourself. We expected only the Guardian to come out. And according to the legends, the demon that had originally been sealed in the Jewel had been destroyed. So, how is there a second..." Kisuke stated only to trail off as his face paled.
"Kisuke, what is wrong?" Yoruichi asked.
The way he slowly turned to look at the others as he focused his gaze on Orihime.
"You said you found this right after Ichigo kills Ulquiorra, right?" He asked, his voice low.
"Yes," Orihime said, tilting her head to the side.
"And when he died, what happened?" Kisuke asked, having already heard this story.
"He turned to dust. But as he was doing so, he reached out to grab for me. His eyes showed true emotion for the first time. Like he had finally found something important and didn't want to let it go," Orihime explained.
Nodding his head, Kisuke turned and looked back at the glass tube/tank. One of the shadowed outlines was indeed larger than the other one. And from the way it kept growing, shifting in shape, no one had to ask why Kisuke asked that question. Each was hoping that his theory was wrong, and they were not reviving that particular Espada.
It was now day five of seven, and the lab had all the Captains of the Gotei 13 in it. Their eyes were focused on the tube/tank that held the Shikon as the strange energy cocoon started to crack and spill out a silver light. Over the last three days, it had become hard to see inside the tank as the cocoon got thicker. Or that was what they were calling it. The readings still registered two heartbeats, along with two different sets of brainwaves. And they were on edge to see if Kisuke's theory was true.
The sound of glass shattering had every one of them tensing up. Eyes wide as they scanned for the glass tube of the tank to show cracking. Which it didn't as the cocoon began to fall apart, causing brilliant silver lances of light to shoot out around the room. And it would have been beautiful to look at if they were not worried. But soon, the light faded as the last few pieces fell to the bottom of the tank.
There were two people in the center. One male, with abnormal alabaster skin, arms wrapped around a small person, most definitely female, whose skin was a light pink, protectively and holding them to their body. Both had black hair. As they floated, there was a soft gasp, as Orihime stepped forward to the tube/tank. Her hand came out and touched the glass.
"Ulquiorra?" she whispered.
The male in the tank snapped open, brilliant green eyes, and looked down at Orihime before eyes narrowed and scanned the rest of those gathered. All while his arms tightened around the tiny female they really couldn't get a good view of. It was clear, very clear; he would not be letting whoever the female was go.
"Orihime, are you sure that is him? I mean, he doesn't have a hollow hole," Uryu asked.
This had Ichigo stepping forward, eyes narrowed. "No, it is him. I would recognize that Reiatsu anywhere. But, it is not quite the same as when I fought him in Hecumundo," He stated.
The way those green eyes shifted from Orihime to Ichigo as he spoke widened before the male's body moved back, turning as it floated in the liquid, hiding the female further from view.
"I think we should release them from the tube/tank," Kisuke said. "Otherwise, we will get no answers. But he is protective of the girl. So, no one makes quick movements. There is no way to tell if he has his memories, or is running on pure instinct.
The room was quiet as the few that had been selected watched the human-looking former fourth Espada stay curled around the tiny female. He had spoken very little other than to demand a place to let her rest. And anyone who got too close, that was not Orihime, he lashed out with impressive spiritual power. If the situation were anything else but what it was, it would have been romantic and cute how he was doing what he could to take care of the girl.
"Can you explain... to us, how you ended up in the... Jewel?" Orihime asked.
"No, I think we should know how he even acquired the Jewel in the first place," Shunsui said.
The way an emotionless face looked at them before green eyes softened as they glanced down at the blanket wrapped woman lying against his chest. It was telling. There was emotion there, just not on the face. And after they had gotten to this little sleeping room for those in the 12th Division to rest in between projects, the man they now knew was Ulquiorra had become clothed in his original white attire with his Zanpaku-to, Murcielago attached at his hip.
"Aizen."
At that name, those present stiffened and narrowed their eyes.
"Can you elaborate on that?" Kisuke said.
Green eyes blinked slowly like a cat as they stared at the small group. It was clear that they were thinking about whether to answer when a soft sigh came from the tiny female — drawing everyone's attention to her as she nuzzled against Ulquiorra's chest, smiling as she sighed once more before settling into a deeper sleep.
"For her sake... I will tell you," Ulquiorra said, a faint smile curling the very corners of his lips upward. "It started for me a year before Aizen sent me to Karakura Town."
TBC!
