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.


He stared down at his newly acquired property, who just stared back at him expectantly — watching her body for an answer to his request. When she just tilted her head to the side, spilling wavey raven hair over her shoulder. Ulquiorra took it ascent and led her to the door to his bathroom. Opening it, he gave a pointed look, sending the girl scurrying into the room.

"You are to shower. I do not tolerate uncleanliness," Ulquiorra stated. "Do you understand me?"

The slow nod of her head had him reaching into the shower and showing her how to use it. Just in case, before pointing to his shampoo and conditioner, and body wash. When he received another nod, Ulquiorra waited until she climbed in. A smile was shifting her face into a mask of delight as she tilted her face up, allowing the water to spray across it.

Silently glad he didn't have to wash her, Ulquiorra left the bathroom. He did not have any clothes for her, meaning he'd have to procure some. But to get the size she needed, he'd have to bring her along, which could spell trouble. So, as he thought about who'd be the best to approach, Ulquiorra went to his closet. Where several of the same white outfit he was currently wearing hung.

He needed to put on a clean overcoat and decided it'd be in both his and the girl's best interest if she too wore at least one of his spares. He was quickly grabbing two. He removed the dirty one he wore and tossed it into the laundry hamper. He was slipping one of the two clean ones on. His ears were picking up the water being shut off. Meaning the girl was done.

Quickly he re-entered the bathroom. He ran a critical eye over his unwanted charge, who paused in wringing out the extra water from her thick locks. Eyes trained on him. He was pleased to see she'd been exceptionally thorough. Though he could now see her skin clear and noted, it was not flawless. There was a large scar on her left hip. It wrapped around the front to the back. Causing him to narrow his eyes. As he noted, the hollow hole was no longer visible again.

"Put this on," He said, tossing the spare overcoat to her.

The way her eyes brightened in wonder as she caught the piece of clothing, Ulquiorra decided he made the right decision. As she put it on, he took note that the hem came to her mid-thigh, and the sleeves covered her hands. Making him realize she wasn't more than four to five inches shorter than himself.

With a nod of his head, Ulquiorra turned to leave the bathroom. Only to stop as he caught the girl climbing back into the shower with her damp towel. Ready to rebuke her, he halted himself as she used it to wipe the leftover water and moisture from the shower walls and floor. Before placing the towel on the rack, he had mounted it in the shower itself, to let it drip dry.

Surprised by this, Ulquiorra chose to say nothing as he left the bathroom. Hearing her soft footfalls as she followed him.


As he stood there, staring blankly at Starrk, who was kneeling before the girl. Ulquiorra began to wonder if he'd chosen the wrong Espada to help acquire clothing for the girl. It had seemed logical since Starrks own Fraccion was a tiny female as well. And was conspicuously absent at the moment.

"Ulquiorra, why do you have this girl?" Starrk asked his voice that lazy drawl.

When the man's eyes met his own, Ulquiorra knew he had to answer.

"She was gifted to me. So, she is my Fraccion, Kagome," he replied.

When he said her name, he noted her body visibly relaxed — an odd reaction to him. Then again, the girl was strange. So full of mystery. Which he intended to solve.

"Ah! So, why bring her to me?" Starrk asked. His voice showed a small hint of amusement.

"I was told to get her some clothes. And as you have a tiny female Fraccion. It seemed you'd be the best choice," Ulquiorra stated as if it was supposed to be obvious.

This brought a smile to Starrks lips. Those blue eyes were shining for but a second. Then Starrk was standing and motioning for them to follow. Ulquiorra went on alert. He'd never gone to another Espada's living area, except for Yammy. And knew the others also kept to their quarters. So, he had no idea what to expect in the large, open, and dimly lit room.

His shoes made soft clicks on the polished black marble floor. His eyes slowly adjusted, just as he started to feel a multitude of other life signatures the further they walked into the dim room.

"Hey, Lilynette, I need your help," Starrk said after coming to a halt.

The shrill squeal had Ulquiorra frowning. The noise was irritating and had him looking down at his Fraccion. Who was watching him? Seeing in her eyes that she noted his reaction. Before very obviously filing it away. Something he too did, in his ever-growing knowledge of the girl, that she was more intelligent than she appeared or acted.

"Hey, old man, what is stuffy doing here?" Lilynette chirped.

Smothering the urge to twitch at Starrks Fraccion's rudeness, Ulquiorra put a hand on Kagome's back, pushing her towards the blond girl. Whose eyes narrowed at the sight of Kagome. Her spiritual pressure was spiking dangerously, while Kagome didn't even react to the potential threat.

"Are you trying to replace me?" Lilynette whined.

A telling sigh from Starrk before he answered, "No. She is Ulquiorra's new Fraccion. See if any of your clothes fit her lily."

The look of horror on the blond Fraccion's face as she looked at Kagome before saying only two words that had him narrowing his eyes at the Fraccion, wondering if Starrk would get pissed if he'd hit her, saying I'm sorry! to Kagome was highly insulting to him.

The way Starrk shifted his body, putting him between Ulquiorra and the girls, was told him he would not be tolerant of such actions. So, he let it go. He did not need to fight Starrk. Just to see Kagome look at him for confirmation that it was okay for her to let Lilynette drag her away, which he gave with a tilt of his head.

"She has no presence. I could not sense her. And she doesn't seem to have a visible piece of a hollow mask," Starrk commented as soon as the girls were gone from sight.

Shifting his eyes, Ulquiorra again just tilted his head in answer. Aware of the multiple life signals moving more restlessly in the dimness of the room, just out of sight. That was the direction that Lilynette took Kagome.

"Do not worry, Lilynette won't let anything happen to your new Fraccion," Starrk stated. "So, tell me a few things, please, Ulquiorra."

Putting his hands in his pockets, Ulquiorra looked directly up and into Starrks eyes, giving him his full focus as the man stiffened just slightly before relaxing once more. Not fooled, he knew Starrk was wary of him. Even if he looked indifferent. So, again, Ulquiorra just gave a tilt of his head in answer.

"What do you know about your new Fraccion? You stated her name was Kagome. Does she even speak?" Starrk asked.

His mind sorted out all he had learned from watching and listening so far. He had not been told he couldn't say anything about his new Fraccion. Though that silver and lilac light was something, he'd be keeping to himself as well as the fact that it caused harm, even if it was little, to their leader and his aides.

"She was a human who has undergone Hollowfication. But it did not work on her. She does not speak, yet. And seems to be feral. She growled at Aizen, Gin, and Kaname," he replied.

The low whistle from Starrk at hearing she growled at their leader and his aides. It was unheard of without being killed. None of them after their first fight with Aizen ever wanted to fight him again. The Ex-shinigami was beyond strong, even for them.

"So, verbal communication is void. Have you tried to see if she can read and write? Because, apparently, she can understand what is being said," Starrk mused, smartly not asking about her reactions to their leader.

Ulquiorra just stared past Starrk to where he could feel Lilynette. He had not thought about testing her to see if she could read or write. Then again, he had a priority in finding clothing for her first. She could not run around naked as a jaybird as Gin so eloquently put it. So, Ulquiorra gave a small shake of his head to indicate he had not.

Just as Starrk was about to ask something else, a sharp cry of pain and anger resounded out of the dark. Making Starrk narrow his eyes and look directly at where it came from. Before mumbling as a massive spiritual pressure seemed to come from out of nowhere, moving quickly towards where he felt Lilynette was with Kagome.

"Damn, he's awake," Starrk drawled, clearly annoyed.

He was not hesitating in following Starrk into the darkness of the room. Ulquiorra didn't like the feel of that spiritual pressure. It was whipping around in agitation as is closed in on Lilynette.

"This won't be good..."Starrk groaned as they entered into a new area that was lit.

He was not looking around as he stood stock-still. There before the two girls was the largest wolf he had ever seen. As well as several smaller ones milling around. Ulquiorra shot a quick look to Starrk, who had gone still as well — watching the scene before they play out.

The giant wolf had it's mouth open, saliva dripping onto the floor as it growled at Kagome. It was blowing her hair straight back, its nose only inches from her face. While she just stood there, unimpressed with the scare tactic. Lilynette was slack-jawed, with a hand covering one cheek as she tried to calm the giant wolf, telling him it was okay. But the wolf didn't seem to be hearing her as it growled loudly at Kagome, opening its mouth even wider.

Then the world seemed to stop. Kagome lifted both her hands up and smacked the giant wolf's nose while growling back. Just as threateningly as the wolf had, her blue eyes flashing as she snarled and hit the stunned wolf on the nose again. She was causing it to back away, shaking its head in confusion as it sat down, hard. The floor was shaking under their feet. Before it began to wag it's tail and lay down. It was nudging Kagome with its large black nose. Making her smile and laugh silently as she stroked its broad brown-gray muzzle.

"You said feral... you were not kidding. There was no fear at all. He is overly protective of Lilynette. But now, he is like putty in your little Fraccion's hands," Starrk whispered in shock.

Lilynette walked over to them, glancing back at the wolf and Kagome. Ulquiorra never took his eyes off of his Fraccion. He had felt it across his skin. When she smacked the wolf the second time, she had used that odd power. It made his skin tingle again. But yet, he noticed that neither Starrk or Lilynette seemed to feel it.

"Lily, what happened?" Starrk asked after pulling her hand from her face.

"I tried to take that jacket off her; she fought me. Then... she smacked me hard. That girl doesn't look at it, but she hits like Grimmy did when I pissed him off," Lilynette exclaimed. "Hey, I wanna know Stuffy, can she come to play with me?"

Again Ulquiorra kept from twitching. But he figured if he gave consent, he knew Kagome would at least be safe here, especially if that large wolf liked her so much. But now he had more questions to figure out about his new little shadow.

TBC!