I was…a fool.
Why did I do that?
Hmph.
It doesn't…she was free falling; the air whooshed past her ears, tearing at her clothes…matter anymore. Her body fell straight, her legs spread open, above in the darkness something moved. Blurring in between the shadow and the sky, black wings flapping furiously, the silhouette reminded her of. Ulquiorra.
But you said. Her eyes closed against the sharpness of the wind. The touch of his reiatsu spiraled after her. Rukia winced as she collided heavily into someone's arms, the side of her face being roughly buried into his chest. His grip tightened, claws grazing her back. They tumbled violently through the air, slamming into a high dune of sand; he kept her from the worst of the collision, using his own body as a shield.
"Ulqui…orra?"
Their momentum had stopped, but he hadn't let her go.
"I-I can't breathe—uh—you're…" Rukia struggled, pushing her arms against the powdery white sand to gain leverage. "You," he said quietly; her attempts were stilled, "are a fool." His arms lifted and she hovered over him, breathing hard. The impact had jarred his mask, she saw, her hand lifted slowly, lying her palm against the fracture. Ulquiorra didn't move, didn't show any sign of displeasure as she slipped his mask off.
The bone had cracked in half, the two pieces sliding away in her hands as if desiring to reveal the face that had been hidden for so long. His skin was pale like his body; his eyes were narrow and indiscernible as he stared up at her, a line of green trailed down to his chin beneath each. A tiny trickle of red streamed from his hairline and she brushed her thumb over it, remembering something from before.
"You said…before."
His expression became unreadable.
"You wouldn't catch me if I fell. Why did you save—"
"I only paid my debt. I owe you no more." He answered flatly.
She stared at him, her confusion mounting. Debt? For…the Kido?
"You mean nothing to me, Shinigami."
"You don't either."
"I'm not obligated to protect you."
"I know."
"But why…why did you do it?"
That was a new one. Rukia lightly dusted off grains of sand from his cheek; her fingers tingled at the contact. "I—I'm not obligated to answer you," she smirked. Something flickered over his expression, a change of emotion, a recognizing of certain defeat. "No, you're not," he agreed tiredly. Her smirk widened into a smile, "that's the first sensible thing you've said all day."
"Don't push it."
"So what was it you wanted to show me?"
~~~*~~~
They weren't far, he explained, choosing to Sonido the rest of the way with her on his back. "But what is it? You never told me," she whined, leaning in close to whisper into his ear teasingly. "You'll find out soon enough and please…" his surety faltered amid the craggy rocks, "…refrain from doing that."
"Doing what?" frowningly Rukia laid her head against his shoulder blade, her cheek against his skin. Ulquiorra grew silent, refusing to admit enjoying the feel of her gentle breathing. In time, he realized she had fallen asleep or was merely dozing proved at her knowing instinctively when they had stopped. Peering over his shoulder, she gasped, "It's so…so lovely!"
Amidst the rocky cavern and stalactite crystals, illuminating the darkness with a beauty not quite pure was a tiny field of newly blooming flowers. Ulquiorra landed near the edge allowing her to slide off. She went immediately for the closest stem, glancing back for approval, he nodded slightly. The flower of four petals colored a faint purplish hue glowed ethereally in her hand.
"La Valle de Siete Azahares," he said to her questioning look, "the valley of seven blossoms."
"Oh…I never would have believed anything so fragilely beautiful could exist here," Rukia looked over the field once more, her child-like wonderment for the natural beauty lent an almost lovely cast to her plain features, he thought before quickly stifling the thought.
"Not everything is blighted in this land. The Luna de Tristeza is one such thing. "
She heard the dryness in which he addressed her and assumed he had taken offense. "I didn't mean it like that," she shrugged, spinning around to face the flowers, "I was just…"
"Shinigami," he said quietly behind her.
"…surprised is all." She turned back, her head tilting up immediately to compensate for the height difference between them, the look in his eyes drove all else from her mind.
Was he…"We'd better go." He broke eye contact, his countenance smoothing over as if she hadn't seen what she'd thought as if it hadn't been there to begin with.
"Y-yeah." She went slowly after him to the narrow opening in the cavern's mouth, her fingers tightening around the slender flower stem.
…going to kiss me?
~*~
AN: argh! Sleepy. ;) Thanks for reading and reviews are appreciated.
Note: Luna de Tristeza-Moon of sorrow.