"I've done what you asked." Stark crossed his arms, leaning against the pillar, his narrowed silver eyes focused on the man's back. "If I might.." the Primera continued carefully, ever aware of the slight sliver of the Shinigami's profile visible to him, the hint of a smile played about the sensual mouth. "..I'd like to ask just what it is you're aiming for. Having me keep an eye on that little toothpick of a Shinigami woman."
Silence followed. Slowly, deliberately Aizen turned fully to face his highest ranked officer, "simple curiosity, my Primera. Nothing more."
The slightest furrowing of Stark's brow made the Shinigami Taichou's smile widen. "I see you object to my ways."
"Not necessarily," the chestnut-haired Arrancar replied easily, "I just don't see the point."
Aizen nodded thoughtfully, resting one arm along the high rounded back of the solitary chair, "you've seen it yourself. Ulquiorra's emotionless exterior and yet.." he seemed to be looking at something in the distance, "that girl--I agree I see nothing particularly special about her. But for her-and with her...Ulquiorra becomes something else entirely."
"You mean he cares for her-?" Stark had noticed the green-eyed Arrancar's preoccupation about the petite woman's well-being, but couldn't rightly attribute its source to any sort of an emotion as being from the so-called heart. If anything, Stark was slightly envious of Ulquiorra and the woman. At least he wasn't alone.
"Is it possible for a Hollow to love?" Aizen mused, his dark brown eyes tilted toward the high ceiling above as if searching for the answers. "For a feeling to be born in such an unfeeling creature..that girl must be singularly extraordinary." He seemed to come to himself after a moment, turning a guileless smile to his Espada, "so, you see, Stark. I'm only a man in a pursuit for answers. I trust you will continue to keep watch over Kuchiki Rukia?"
The Arrancar pressed the palm of one glove-covered hand to his forehead, long fingers scratching at the unkempt strands of dark hair, "as long as you want me to."
Aizen briefly nodded in dismissal.
Once the door had closed behind the slouching Arrancar's form, another materialized from the shadows. "It's of my opinion that Stark-kun might find it difficult to follow Rukia-chan from now on. The long-lost Kuchiki princess thought long dead and now found to be alive. You know they'll never believe her about him, right?"
"Gin...are you questioning my judgment as well?"
Without missing a beat, the Third Division Taichou smiled serenely, "why no, Aizen-Taichou. Merely giving my humblest opinion on the course you've set Byakuya-kun on. For sure the Noble Kuchiki-Taichou will do his utmost to ensure that his precious little sister stays behind the four confining walls of Seireitei...what?"
The man was chuckling quietly to himself, "Gin, oh, Gin. Such trivial matters to be concerning yourself over. It was my intention all along that Kuchiki Rukia be returned to Seireitei and young Kurosaki be left with the feeling of uselessness. Which I have no doubt that the next time there is an incident he will be there to lend his feeble strength..."
The Palace was quiet. He encountered no mocking Primera lurking about the halls and for that he was grateful, though annoyed by. The moment when he wished to question the trash, he was nowhere to be found. What is your intentions toward stalking Rukia?
Ulquiorra could not think of any other mode of awareness concerning her past danger save for the Primera's literal following of her. For what reasons and why the Arrancar should think it of utmost importance that heshould know...
The sound of a loud yawn caught his attention. His head lifted and through the arched doorway rested upon the slouching form of the Primera sauntering across the opposite gallery. For a second as their gazes met, it seemed that Stark might simply Sonido to some other location within the large Las Noches compound and evade speaking with him.
However that was not the case. The broad shoulders slumped even lower in obvious surrender, the hand resting in the wide hakama flicked out in a brief gesture.
Damn it. And he had been looking forward to a nap too. Stark cursed the pale apathetic Arrancar's ability for being in the wrong place in the right time. Or however it went. Stark's mind functions felt rather sluggish after reporting to Aizen. Being on his feet for a straight one hour really took its toll on his body. Even now his thoughts turned to the fluffy green pillows...then reluctantly to the narrowed green eyes staring at him with vague aversion.
If looks could kill. Stark ran his fingers through his hair, gesturing that they could speak in his room. Hey, why be mad at me? Irritatingly it seemed the Cuatro was going to take him up on the offer. In the back of his mind Stark had been hoping against hope that it was nothing more than a comradely greeting and not anything pertaining to the Kuchiki woman.
But, then again. Ulquiorra had never been one to think of his comrades as anything but trash.
A fact that rankled the furry hide of the loud blue-haired Sexta.
Halibel and the rest didn't seem to care. Stark didn't either except for when the Cuatro was giving him those darkly murderous looks.
As he was doing now.
Upon reaching his room, Stark went for the pile of pillows beneath the back column, pausing before lying full-length, to toss a cushion out of consideration for the other onto the floor. Ulquiorra made no move to approach it, merely resting his unblinking viridian gaze on Stark.
To buy time, he shut his eyes, cradling his head in his crossed arms.
"Why are you stalking Rukia?" Curt. Abrupt. Never to mince words, forever to the point.
Stark groaned silently, "who says stalking? That's quite a harsh word, Ulquiorra. Besides that..." he glanced over to catch the other's expression, "why do you care so much about that woman? It's like you're in love with her."
Absolute quiet.
In some surprise, he glimpsed the expressionless face filled with something else entirely.
Shock.
Had it never occurred to him? Stark then gleefully surmised that it hadn't indeed ever struck the Cuatro the reasons for his protectiveness over the Shinigami. By Gods... "it's true, isn't it?" Stark said quietly, watching Ulquiorra's expression close up again. Aizen was right.
"You're in love with the Shinigami...Kuchiki Rukia."
It wasn't if a Hollow could love.
It was the question of could a Shinigami love what they were born to destroy?
~Living world~
"Oh, thank Gods!" The confusion quickly changed to that of the warmth she had known. "It is you, Rukia! After all this time...we've found you!"
Numbly, she couldn't say a word only turn her gaze to her brother's expressionless face.
"Rukia."
One word.
She scrambled to her feet, ignoring Ichigo's impertinent, demanding questions.
"Nii-sama." For a moment she was looking into the past, watching his haori fade into the distance. Then, it was gone and the doors to the place she had run away from stood open and Ukitake with his gentle, frail smile was genuinely welcoming not condemning.
My home.
She took a step forward.
My place..
Then another.
"Rukia!"
She paused and glanced over her shoulder to the boy whom had resembled Kaien so. "This is sayonara, Ichigo." She went the remaining way quickly before she allowed herself to feel anything remotely akin to remorse.
She stood between her brother and her old Taichou as the doors slid shut that world and his face then opened to the one where she belonged.
But as the bright sunshine spilled onto her and the world where the guardians of the afterlife lived filled her gaze, she became suddenly sad.
This... didn't feel like home anymore.
The bleakness of Hueco Mundo with all its dangers and emptiness...
..that was the place..
...hehad made home for her.
~To be continued~
AN: thanks for reading :)
No flames-haters-stupid comments!
Reviews appreciated :)