I am very thankful for all the reviews, favorites, alerts, and messages. You have all made me feel appreciated, and that is a priceless thing to feel.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Also, I will be fusing previous chapters to form larger chapters, so the story will have fewer chapters than it has now. If you check later on, and it says that this story only has about seventeen chapters, do not panic! All the material is still there; I just fused two or three short chapters together.
After having a bad case of writer's block and stress from school, I finally finished this gigantic chapter!
Here is the Chapter 23. I am truly sorry for making you wait so long.
-O-
Chapter 23:
Blue Joker
"Everyone, we are all taking a little trip," Ichigo announced to the group of humans and hollows sitting in the living area before him.
"Why?" Grimmjow gruffly asked, his arm casually thrown around the back of the loveseat.
The hole on his stomach and the jaw-like mask that characterized him as a hollow were both gone. Urahara had performed a fantastic trick that allowed for the quick creation of Grimmjow's gigai. Now that two Espadas were under their care, it was more imperative to prevent any detection from the Soul Society.
Chocolate orbs glared at the intruding Espada. "I wasn't including you."
With the same degree of intensity, the Sixth Espada retorted, "The word everyone includes me dumbass. Look up the definition."
"You're an unwanted guess who has been freeloading off of me and Orihime for the past several days. I hardly count you as part of the collective," the Soul Reaper replied.
Ichigo did, on the other hand, conveniently exclude the fact that Grimmjow had not done a single act that would have caused any alarm or harm to nearby humans. He had been behaving, which was rather hard to digest considering the Espada's history of diabolical destruction and hunger for power.
Grimmjow stared at the orange haired man with the purest look of annoyance but kept his mouth shut. He had no excuse for remaining in the apartment save for the honest reason that he had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go. Besides, the whole concept of a hollow and human friendship just intrigued that heck out of him. Watching Ulquiorra interact with the humans he had despised so much only added to his interest.
"Is that why you gathered us all here?" Sayuri, seated next to Orihime on the large couch, questioned.
"Yes. Since it's still a little over a week until our winter break is over, I figured that we should make the most of it."
"What do you have in mind Ichigo?" the young beauty added to the conversation, her voice its normal serenity.
A wide smile stretched across tan skin. "A camping trip."
The panther grimaced. "It's the middle of winter. I didn't know humans could be so damn suicidal."
Ichigo sighed in annoyance. "One, you are not included. Two, there are human machines called heaters that you should familiarize yourself with."
"I am a hollow," the pale Espada began his own defense, "so forgive me for not being familiar with your human contraptions."
"When's the trip?" the Kimura child intervened before another argument between the natural enemies could ensue.
They had all watched the two males bicker incessantly after Grimmjow had arrived in the scene. It had been a concern for the first day, but it eventually become nothing more than a normal occurrence. Kurosaki and Jaggerjacks possessed different last names but acted as though they were brothers from a family that was competitive and temperamental.
At her words, the Soul Reaper's attention turned immediately towards the human female. "In a few hours, so go pack your things and meet back here."
The ebony haired woman made her way to the apartment's exit, the ever silent bat following a little distance from her. Ulquiorra had remained in her abode as agreed days before. He noted, however, that she still acted distant towards him. She avoided conversation with him; her sentences were short - usually four or less words. Out of common courtesy and politeness, the lily woman would smile at him whenever their eyes accidentally connected. However, though her smiles appeared to pain her in a way that he could not entirely comprehend, he saw that they were genuine; each smile always reached her oceanic orbs, making them sparkle in a bright blue hue. Yet, he still did not understand why the woman was acting in such a way that contradicted her normally sunny and welcoming disposition.
He deduced that the reason may be related to her human heart, and as such, he found it arduous to decode her recent actions.
Sayuri waved farewell. "See you all in a bit."
Ichigo stood by the window, eyes heavenwards. The sky was still the same gloomy and oppressive gray that it had been for weeks. Japan's winter was like a sight of death. There was no sunlight. Whatever light that managed to fight through the thickness of the clouds was quickly suppressed, and the same dullness would overtake the land once again. He lowered his observant orbs to Sayuri, who was walking down a road that has been beaten and smothered by the white powder of December weather. Ulquiorra was nowhere to be seen; he had probably dashed away as soon as he had left the apartment entrance. Even in his gigai, he was still quite a fast.
The lone figure bundled in thick layers of sweaters and coats was framed by the window's outline. She was like a moving picture, and like a film, the Soul Reaper had seen her transformation. She smiled less and on the rare occasions that she did, the smile did not reach her eyes. What had once been a calm and salved waves were now a turbulent sea of the purest blue. At least, that was how he perceived it.
He did not want to intrude on her personal affairs, but he hated seeing a friend wither.
'I hope this trip helps you,' the Soul Reaper thought.
She needed to find the light in this endless ocean of dull winter. She was the light that had been smothered by the clouds, whatever her clouds may be.
-O-
"Where exactly are we camping Ichigo?" the shorter woman asked the tall man guiding them through the thick white woods.
They had been hiking in an ascending and rocky path that was camouflaged with the blanc and monotonic environment. It had been a little over an hour since they had departed from the civilization of the city. Though the ground was icy and all the colors of nature was painted into a bland shade of ivory, there was a sense of sheer harmony amongst the otherwise anarchic setting. It was as though the snow had tamed the wild qualities of the forest and made it quaint to the point of peacefulness. Sayuri had always been fond of nature, so the hike was enjoyable.
The Soul Reaper turned his neck to gaze at the trio behind him. Bleached clouds of breaths appeared in quickened paces from the carmine lips of the women. The Fourth Espada looked neutral as he always did. In fact, his pale and ashen skin seemed to belong in the winter image.
Evenly, Ichigo uttered, "Fifteen more minutes, and we should be there."
The battered forest floor grew steeper as the time limit grew smaller. The Kimura child, however, did not mind. Exercising and sports were two of her favorite activities during her time in middle school. Unfortunately, high school required too much of her time, and she had been forced to abandon her passions. Orihime was breathing heavily, her large chest expanding and contracting noticeably.
"Are you ok?" the dark haired teen questioned the slightly shorter woman.
The female responded with an embarrassed laugh and a nod, no doubt being too fatigued to speak.
Sayuri allowed Orihime to walk just a bit in front of her own body, permitting the voluptuous woman to use her shoulder as a support whenever the hill grew too rigorous.
"We're almost there. Hang on just a little bit longer Orihime," she assured her classmate.
A quick and weak nod was her reply.
Ulquiorra watched the interaction between the two females. Sayuri still treated Orihime much the same way rather than giving her the aloof attitude that she has lately treated him with. In fact, her manners towards Ichigo and Grimmjow were still characteristically normal. It would seem that the only relation that had been strained was her relation towards him.
'Humans are such labyrinthine creatures,' he thought.
Within a few more moments, the group of youthful individuals came upon a small vertical wall where the path they had been following continues at the top.
The Soul Reaper easily made his way up the mini cliff, extending his hand to Orihime. Sayuri supported the orange haired woman's back to ensure that there was a zero chance of her friend falling. She too climbed the rocky barrier, careful to avoid slipping on the loose dirt and rocks.
"You need help?" Ichigo asked while in the process of lending his hand to the Kimura woman.
Sayuri shook her head no and gave her thanks for his thoughtfulness. Upon reaching the top, she pulled herself up. The Espada simply jumped to the higher ground and was clearly unfazed by the minute hassle.
"Wow," she heard Orihime whisper, "It's beautiful."
Sapphire orbs lifted to find a wondrous sight of natural serenity and aesthetics gazing back at her.
A tall waterfall cascaded down a wall where boulders protruded in random increments. The roaring water landed and gave a misty and ephemeral dance with large shiny rocks as its partners. The wrinkled water then eased into a quaint pool that was half frozen over. The unmoving surface of the ice gleamed even in the low light of the day, contrasting with the dark moving water of the pool. Four trees decorated with fragile icicles and glittering crystalline snow stood grandly at the left base of the waterfall. A small open field separated the tranquil site from the rest of the forest.
"What do you guys think?" the brightly haired lad smirked at the awed expressions of the two females. "I found this place while we were hunting down a hollow yesterday."
"It's perfect!" Sayuri muttered lowly, almost afraid that her voice would destroy the charming landscape.
Interrupting her reverie, Ulquiorra verbalized, "Woman help set up camp."
The teenager with raven locks quickly snapped her head to the source of the baritone sound. Ulquiorra was standing a few feet away with Orihime and Ichigo behind him beginning to unload their belongings. Ichigo then converted to his Soul Reaper form and used the force of his sword's swing to effectively sweep the snow to make a circle for them to set up the tents.
Sayuri brought her gaze downwards as she rapidly made her way towards the commotion.
"S-Sure," she murmured.
She passed by the ashen man without so much as a glimpse in his direction. Ulquiorra noted all her actions. She had shielded herself once more - for whatever reason he does not know.
-O-
A mischievous figure, hiding some distance from the group of four, wore a satisfied smirk.
'This should be fun.'
-O-
Sayuri had no idea how this came to be.
She sauntered meekly, following the lean figure of the silent Espada. Ichigo and Orihime were busy setting up the tents given that they were the only two in the group who knew how. Thus, she and the man before her had been dictated to gather rocks and branches to make the fire pit. She assumed that fate was laughing at her and making her situation worse than it should be by constantly causing her to be alone with the ashen man. She had dealt with sharing her bedroom with him as best she could, but there were only so many things she could take before the burden in her chest would spring free again. Even now, this situation was already pushing her boundaries and her limits.
Sayuri could feel the quick beating of her suppressed heart. No matter what, she needed to annihilate all her feelings for him.
He did not want it. He did not want her.
The lily girl spotted a decently sized rock laying under a young tree. Kneeling down, she picked it up, and to her misfortune, found a large worm with its faceless head sticking up from the soil.
An uncontrollable squeak ran its way up to her throat and she found herself unconsciously throwing the rock forward in surprise. Her sudden momentum resulted in her ungraceful landing on her bottom. The already dismal surroundings turned even darker still as a shadow loomed behind her.
"What are you fussing about woman?" spoke the voice of the Fourth Espada.
From her submissive position on the ground, Sayuri turned her head and in a controlled voice said, "It's nothing. I was surprised is all."
Ulquiorra's smoldering jewels fixed on the squirming worm.
"You fear such ridiculous creatures," was his unconcerned statement.
Sayuri stood up and dusted the snow from her clothes mechanically. Ulquiorra could clearly see the fluster in her face regardless of how much effort she called forth to conceal it.
Walking forward to look for more supplies, he heard her quietly comment to herself, "I'm not afraid of bees, cockroaches, spiders, and most things that people find disgusting. Why do slimy things scare me so much?"
The young maiden become more careful while gathering the rocks and the branches in the hopes of preventing any more moments of embarrassment. Finally, after digging through snow and awkward silences, the duo made their way back to the clearing.
Two pairs of earthy eyes immediately acknowledged their arrival. Sayuri, however, recognized a problem in the camp site.
"There are only two tents?"
Orihime rubbed the back of her neck while laughing sheepishly. "I guess I forgot to pack the two other tents, so the only ones we have are Ichigo's and yours."
"That's fine," Sayuri remarked, "We can just share."
"We have to be a little careful though. Hollows sometimes wander around here," Ichigo inputted.
Emerald jewels glared at the speaking male. "You decided to lead us to a location where hollows often visit," he blandly stated, his mocking tone barely concealed.
"I figured they would be no problem considering there's an Espada and a Soul Reaper around," the swordsman retorted, "Unless you've gotten weaker since the last time I fought with you."
"Fool, you were only able to kill me by reverting to your baser instincts and submitting to the hollow inside of you."
The substitute Soul Reaper swallowed the argument that had been rising in his throat; he agreed that he had truly been the loser during their fight. To defeat Ulquiorra, he had relinquished control over his mind and body. He had been defeated by both the Espada and his own inner demon.
"How about one fighter stays in each of the tents," Orihime cheerfully compromised, "That way, if we do get attacked, one of you would be there to defend each tent."
Ichigo's eyes gleamed at the compromise. "That sounds smart."
Sayuri shrugged. She doubted Ulquiorra would want to pair up with her anyway, so there was no harm in the idea.
"Let's have dinner first though before we pair off!" Orihime exclaimed.
Dinner had gone smoothly much thanks to the jovial attitudes of Ichigo and Orihime; they had made things less uncomfortable and enabled Sayuri to forget her recent troubles.
The dinner itself, however, was a different case all together. They faced some sort of...glop - it was the best word to describe it - that her slender classmate had prepared for the trip. It was a messy and gooey purple mess that dared to move as it was being scooped up by a spoon. Without any contemplation, Sayuri excused herself, under the pretence that her stomach was full, from any serving of the poison. Ulquiorra, being an Espada, did not eat human food and did not even bother to sit with them around the campfire to eat. The ebony haired teen guessed that he was undoubtedly sitting on some high branch ignoring their existence. As a result of the suddenly abundant supply of the cooking, Ichigo received a large and disgusting heap on his plate. He had looked at Sayuri, eyes clearly begging for help, and so she, feeling sympathy for her poor friend, saved him by claiming that she had some private and personal business to discuss with him. Orihime, who has gullibility as part of her endearing qualities, allowed the two to leave the campsite together to talk about the so-called important matters.
From a high perch, jaded eyes saw them stroll under the veil of darkness.
"Thanks for that," Ichigo chuckled.
"Anytime," she responded, "But what are we going to do now? We can't go back there so soon."
"You're right. Orihime would probably serve me some of her food again."
A pixie-like laughter resonated in the heavy veil of night. "I never knew she was so gifted in the kitchen."
"Now you know. She is gifted with brewing poisons that it should be used as some sort of military weapon," he agreed.
Sayuri looked at her friend, and replied with a smile, "It can't be that bad."
At her defense towards the meal that had almost become his last, he exuberantly claimed, "It moved! I know you saw it move. I've tasted it before too, and it was the first and last time I will ever taste it. My stomach was complaining for weeks!"
Another giggle sounded from the shorter figure. "Ok, ok. Her cooking is a weapon of mass destruction. Are you happy now? I agreed with you."
"Yes. I am satisfied," he acknowledged with a grin.
They walked randomly under the comfortable mood of friendly silence. Though they had only known each other for a few weeks, Sayuri saw him as a dear friend - maybe even a best friend. God knows that her closest friends had turned out to be frauds. Ichigo, on the other hand, does not act malicious. He looked out for her. They were even comfortable being around each other.
"Sayuri..." he spoke, breaking the silence.
"Hm?" she inquired, rotating her head to look up at him.
He was staring straight ahead, his lips pressed tightly into a fine line.
"What's wrong Ichigo?" the lily child asked worriedly.
Her friend finally turned his head towards her as he stopped walking. She followed his example, setting herself by his side.
He opened his mouth after a moment of hesitation. "I don't mean to pry, but what has been going on with you? Recently, you've looked sad almost to the point that you might even cry."
Sayuri laughed sheepishly at his statement. "No, it's nothing. I'm sorry to have worried you Ichigo."
Orange brows furrowed while chocolate orbs scrutinized her face.
Finally, he said, "You don't have to pretend that you're alright you know. I don't mind being a helping hand to my friends. If there's anything that is bothering you, I am ready to listen Sayuri."
His hands lifted to cup her cheeks as his soft words left his lips.
"You can always come to me whenever you need anything, even if it's just for me to listen," he spoke tenderly.
His eyes expressed a softness that had never been there before. He had always been a generally benevolent and protective person, but this kindness was something different all together. It was aimed directly at her and only at her.
"I-Ichigo?" she stuttered, his actions confusing her.
The calloused hands that held her at both sides of her face tenderly remained. She watched him bend his upper body so that his face was the same height as hers.
She saw his lips move, but could not hear his words from the sudden rush of blood into her own ears. All she could hear was the wild thumping in her veins.
His face was drawing nearer to her. She placed her hands on his chest to halt his movement, but it was as though he did not even feel her push. Her lips opened and closed in a last attempt to stop him, but no words would come out.
His lips were hovering just above hers. She felt his breath, tiny wisps of air, caressing her skin like a misty spray.
Then, there was a loud crash.
"What the hell!" Ichigo shouted while standing back up and rubbing his shoulders.
Behind him was an unfortunate tree with a large dent in its hard trunk.
"I-Ichigo are you alright?" Sayuri ran around the tall figure in front of her and towards her slightly sore friend.
A cool and dominating hand, however, clung to her upper arm. It appears that even in his gigai form, his skin was still slightly cooler than normal humans, but it was not to the extent as his hollow body.
"Do not test me woman," he spoke with a voice so soft that it was the most threatening thing she had ever heard him say.
"I haven't done anything wrong," she retorted, her blue spheres flaming, "You had no right to hurt your own friend like that Ulquiorra!"
Matter-of-factly, he retorted, "A Soul Reaper is not a hollow's friend."
Her eyes burned brighter at his claim. "Well, he is my friend."
"His actions state otherwise," the dark haired male spoke coldly.
"Why does that matter to you?" she raised her voice, and the fire in her eyes grew dark.
She pulled her arm from his grasp, but in less than a second, he replaced the broken hold with a stronger one. He held her with enough strength that she could not free herself, yet it was not enough to bruise or harm her.
He dragged her further into the forest as Orihime entered the scene and began tending to the minor bruises Ichigo had sustained.
"Let me go!" the Kimura woman persisted in her futile attempt at escape.
"Stop your struggling woman."
"Then let go of my arm Ulquiorra!" she voiced in a tone that clearly expressed her anger.
Ulquiorra continued to drag her into the forest while she continued to resist.
Gradually, her strong attitude abated, and was supplanted by her weaker character. She knew she could not win. With the weight of defeat, she submitted herself gracefully to her situation. She knew when to admit defeat.
"Please...let me go..." she pleaded, no longer struggling to free herself.
The Espada heard the boundless grief and pain in her request. He immediately dropped his hold without even thinking of his actions. His body had yet again reacted to her, and he found it rather aggravating not to have total control over himself.
Rubbing the area where his hand had immured her arm in an iron prison, she murmured weakly, "Thank you."
Ulquiorra turned around to face the human woman. He saw her fragility and her vulnerability. This is who Sayuri Kimura is in all her humanity.
"Why did you not stop him?" came the question that forced its way out of him.
Sayuri stared dumbly at his face, which unfortunately remained blank.
'Is he jealous?' she mused, rekindling a small fire in her chest no matter how much she fought against it. It was burning brighter with each second that ended. It took the shape of the ugly and unwanted form of what people call hope.
"I tried to," she articulated shortly.
She watched his face, but it retained its unmoving expression. His eyes, on the other hand, gauged her reply, and she was aware of it.
"Let us return to camp then," was his curt response.
He walked back to the direction they had taken without so much as looking back to check on her. She was rooted in place even after he had long merged with the night.
The sparks of anger mixed with total befuddlement ignited within her core.
"Stop," she whispered when she was in the presence of solitude, "Stop toying with me."
Sayuri Kimura stood alone in the middle of the forest. She needed a little bit of time to reseal her emotions, to soothe her heart. The little spark of hope that she had felt needed to be crushed. Her heart cannot afford to hope because she will surely end up broken...again.
Reluctantly, she made her way back thanks to her good memory. When she was about to cross the last few trees that bordered the waterfall, she saw Ichigo casually leaning against one of the many trunks. His face was empty as his mind was deep in thought. Like a trained fighter, he immediately sensed her. He stood up straight to his full height, but his shoulders were shrugged as if in defeat.
"I'm sorry," they both said simultaneously.
"What?" they spoke together once more.
"I said I'm sorry," their voices rang in unison.
Suddenly, like a welcoming spring shower, a round of laughter filtered through the natural noise of the night.
"Ichigo," she tried to speak in between giggles, "Thank you for worrying about me."
"That's what a friend's for Sayuri," he chuckled as though he was coming to terms with their relationship.
They entered the clearing together. The bat and the healer were sitting in front of the fire. The voluptuous teenager greeted both her friends with a wide smile.
"So," the human siren began, "How do we decide who stays with who?"
-O-
'I think I'm cursed,' came the reoccurring thought.
She closed her eyes to prevent herself from looking at the body sitting the end of the tent where the entrance was located.
"So how do we decide who stays with who?" the female with god-like powers inquired.
"I will stay with the woman," answered a baritone and leveled voice.
"P-Pardon?" Sayuri stammered.
"Wh-" the Soul Reaper began but was interrupted by the cold and velvet tongue of the Espada.
"Given our current arrangements, Kurosaki and Inoue already share an apartment while I am left to stay in the woman's abode. This tent situation should logically follow the same arrangement," the ashen man elucidated, his eyes still the same eternal green. No emotive expression signaled on his face.
"I-I," Orihime attempted to form words, but when she could not, she settled for, "Ah, ok."
Things never seem to go her way.
'Maybe I'm just an unlucky person...'
She held the layers of blankets closer to her chest and positioned it in such a way so as to obscure her view of him and him of her. The discomfort that reigned the moments in which they had both been simultaneously present in her room only intensified in the much smaller setting.
Ulquiorra surveyed, with uninterested eyes, the unmoving bundle laying in front of him. He had sat by her feet so that he could be close to the exit; this was a strategic position if a hollow was indeed foolish enough to attack.
Awkwardly, Sayuri closed her eyes and attempted to will herself to sleep. As soon as her sapphire jewels became hidden behind their protective barrier, they snapped open in a moment of remembrance. She had forgotten to take out the heater from the bag Ichigo had handed her earlier. She could feel the biting iciness of the air seeping through the layers of blankets that was covering her. Sayuri did not want to get sick during the camping trip.
Languidly, she sat up and reached for the container that just so happened to be next to Ulquiorra. Her hands instinctively pulled back before extending once more.
"What are you doing?" Ulquiorra challenged, while analyzing her.
He saw that her hair, which had been in a low braid, was a little messy from her laying down. Some lose strands had strayed and framed her gentle face.
"I need to get the heater," she clarified as she leaned down in front of him.
Emerald orbs watched blandly as her face moved closer to his. She, however, tilted to the side as her hand grasped the course fabric of the backpack. She was in such close proximity that he could smell her ambrosial soul. Her slender fingers fumbled with the opening of the bag before the continuous sound of a zipper moving along filled the air. A strange contraption was lifted out from the black void. She soon retreated to her makeshift bed with the machine.
After staring at various parts of the machine, a deep frown printed on her skin. Without a word, she placed the heater next to her and went back to the warm comforts of all her blankets. For hollows, cold weather meant nothing. Their bodies had a high tolerance to almost everything. As such, he felt comfortable simply sleeping inside his gigai without a blanket to keep the coldness of winter away.
He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander. He was not that tired, but there was no point to going into the forest; he had already hunted and did not require another meal for several weeks.
The Fourth Espada sat in the comfortable company of darkness and the woman nearby. It was the middle of the night, and from the relaxed spiritual pressures in the other tent, he understood that the two ginger-haired teens were also sleep. He soon heard, however, the uneven breathing of the raven-haired girl, thereby realizing that she had woken up. Still, she remained immobile. An hour passed, but she still did not sleep. In fact, he felt an increasing trembling within the tent. When the shaking persisted and augmented, he stood up from his position and kneeled besides her, the blankets covering her from her head to her feet.
"Woman..." he started while pulling the blankets covering her head and upper body, but upon seeing her, he stopped speaking.
Her sapphire spheres were tightly shut. Her frame was in a fetal position with her arms tightly wrapped around her. She was shaking - shivering - uncontrollably. He looked at the apparatus by her head and did not feel it emitting any heat. There had been a sudden decrease in temperature about two hours ago, but he had not minded it in the least. In fact, due to his ability to withstand dramatic temperatures, he had not bothered to pay any attention to the temperature in the tent. He did not need to be cognizant of it. She, on the other hand, was fragile.
"What is wrong with the human contraption?" he asked her while returning the blanket around her body to assist in keeping her warm.
Her oceanic orbs opened and regarded him tiredly.
"It's b-broken," she stuttered, "It w-w-won't t-turn on."
His face hardened strictly. "Why did not you say so earlier?"
She faced the tent wall in front of her rather than looking at his disapproving expression.
The young teen breathed, "I-I didn't w-want t-t-t-to trouble you."
"You are a troublesome human," he pointed out.
"I k-know."
She pulled the blanket above her head in embarrassment and kept her eyes tightly shut. If only she could ignore the icy pricks on her skin.
Suddenly, she felt something envelop her. Sayuri instantly peeled her blanket from her head and turned only to find that she was a few inches from touching Ulquiorra's attractive face. Her body lurched back, to put more distance between them, in surprise. However, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her and her blankets kept her in place.
"W-W-What are you d-doing?" she squeaked, her hands landing on his chest to maintain a distance between them.
He was laying next to her. In fact, he was hugging her!
"Attempting to prevent you from dying of hypothermia," Ulquiorra blandly explained.
His face was emotionless as he spoke that it actually pacified her somewhat. It was odd how his unchanging features acted like a salve, like medicine to wounds.
Unable to control her own curiosity, the ebony haired-maiden inquired, "W-Why? I o-only cause you trouble."
A light sting on her forehead was her answer; he had flicked her lightly with his thumb and forefinger, effectively communicating his opinion regarding her question. She rubbed the reddened spot and watched, mesmerized, by the subtle movements of the muscles on his face.
"You ask foolish questions," he merely said, "Now, sleep."
He closed his own eyes, but when he felt her still staring a minute later, he glared at her weakly.
"Would you prefer that I let you freeze for the night?" he mocked.
Sayuri, too shocked to speak, shook her head no.
"Then close your eyes woman."
This time, the Kimura child did as she was told. Her hands still perched cozily on his upper body. Having him hug her like this, his gigai emitting a light warmth, soothed her numbed skin and bones. Yet, the situation was too perplexing - too fantastical - to fathom, especially with her fatigued mind. As a result, Sayuri chose to let things be and just rest; she will try to solve Ulquiorra at a better time.
Ulquiorra stared at her face. He watched as her tense expression melted to a softness that comes with sleep. Her black brows, without any tension, arched around her large eyes. Her tiny nose exhaled and inhaled in a soothing rhythm. The pink lips above her quaint chin were curved into an almost unnoticeable smile.
He recalled that never had they interacted like this. Never had he bothered to touch her. She was a human woman after all.
His large hands caressed her cheeks, which were pale from the cold. He still felt light shivers coming from her body. His own muscles reacted by holding her closer. He allowed one arm to securely wound around her back while the other went under her neck and around her shoulders.
The trembling ceased completely.
He, too, fell asleep, an almost invisible smile on his lips.
When Sayuri awoke the next day, he was not inside the tent. At the surreal quality of the experience, she grew to believe that it had all been a dream.
'Ulquiorra would never do that,' she rationalized.
She had breakfast with Orihime and Ichigo. Thanks to Ichigo's quick thinking, they were having smoked fish. The young woman gave her friend an appreciative grin, knowing that it was his way of thanking her for saving him from the food of mass destruction.
Ulquiorra did not reappear for the rest of the morning. Only when they had finished packing everything and were about to journey home did he enter the camp.
"Good morning," Sayuri beamed at him.
He sauntered past her without so much as a glance. Given that it was typical Ulquiorra behavior, she did not dwell in it.
As they made their way through the forest, Sayuri watched as Orihime and Ulquiorra walked side by side with the beautiful healer constantly talking; the Espada occasionally replied.
The environment had not changed much save for the lesser amount of snow on the ground. It was relatively quiet, the animals likely to have remained within their homes. The only thing that surrounded them was the untainted sight of nature.
Finally, they arrived at the apartment. The pair, still, remained together as though they had become attached by the hip. This did not bother Sayuri in the least. She had acquiesced to the possible relationship between the princess and the knight.
The lily child did note that the ashen man had not even looked at her the entire time. He pretended that she did not exist. His actions assured her that what she had remembered last night must have been mere fantasy. Her reality was one in which Ulquiorra found her to be an annoyance. He was interested in Orihime Inoue after all. A world where he actually felt something towards her was not of this world.
Grimmjow was smirking on the couch when they arrived in the apartment. From the look on his face, the Kimura woman knew that something interesting must have happened to him while they had been away.
After dropping off the objects that were not hers, Sayuri departed from the apartment with Ichigo in tow. He had volunteered to help carry her belongings to her abode. Orihime had asked Ulquiorra to help put the supplies away in the apartment.
As they strolled through the almost vacant streets, Sayuri explained to the Soul Reaper about the broken heater.
"Sorry, Sayuri," he apologized, "It had worked when I had checked it before we left. I didn't mean for you to sleep in the cold."
The maiden shook her haead, claiming that she had somehow managed.
When they reached a crossroad, Sayuri suddenly stopped in her tracks when she recalled something that she had forgotten to do.
After a few days of deliberating with herself, she had finally reached a definitive conclusion. She needed to talk to Grimmjow.
She told Ichigo that he can continue walking to her house because she needed to do something important at the apartment. Reluctantly, Ichigo conceded and continued on his journey to the white abode. Sayuri ran back to the familiar building, hoping that Grimmjow would agree.
Upon reaching the door, her heavy breathing resulted in white puffs occurring in quick succession. The door was left a little open that one can see slivers of the living room. Her hand was about to touch the door when two figures came into view.
"What do you need to tell me Inoue?" sounded his voice.
The beautiful woman stood before him, her two small hands fidgeting. Her mouth opened and close, no words managing to form in her clear nervousness. With substantial amount of patience that he seemed to possess only for the attractive siren, he waited.
"I-I," she trailed off meekly, "I..."
For seconds, they stood there in silence.
Orihime inhaled, as though gathering the courage that evaded her. At her exhale, she quickly spit out, "I really like you Ulquiorra!"
Sayuri became a petrified statue. She did not mean to eavesdrop. This was not something she wanted to hear and the last thing she wanted to see. It reminded her of the time she had seen them at Ulquiorra's shop - when Orihime had hugged him and had clearly expressed their close bond. The same pain and the same ugly head of inferiority swallowed the blue eyed maiden.
This time, however, it was not too bad. She had expected this - waited, in fact, for this outcome.
She took steps backwards. The last thing she saw was Ulquiorra's lips moving but Orihime's figure was no longer in view. The two then mutually embracing each other.
Sayuri walked on, her calm collected and persevering. She strolled away from the scene, but the image tattooed to her brain followed. She continued her steady pace. All too soon, she caught up with Ichigo.
"Did you find what you needed?" he asked her, oblivious.
"Mm," she nodded, "I found exactly what I needed."
-O-
Sayuri laid on her bed. She could not return to the apartment while Ulquiorra was still there. She did not want to risk the chance of witnessing that again...
She would be able to handle it, but she was not a masochist. Looking for heartbreak was an activity she would rather skip. Even though she could no longer cry, the pain was still very much real. The tension that had coiled itself in her heart had eased from her surrender to the impossibility of a future with Ulquiorra.
Hopefully, she can return to the apartment before it got too dark.
As if willing her wishes to reality, the dark figure of Ulquiorra's giga landed on the window frame. She did not have to peer at him to recognize that it was his presence that had disturbed the room. He stepped into the quaint space with all the silence of an expert hunter. Just as he sat at the foot of the bed, Sayuri rose from her position and stood.
She opened her closet, slipped on her shoes, and wore her jacket. The same sensation of his eyes watching her movements could be easily felt by her currently sensitive state.
She opened the door, and as she was about to step out, his deep voice vibrated in the air.
"Where are you going woman?"
Without turning around, Sayuri answered honestly because she saw no reason to lie. Besides, she had never liked fibbing. She preferred to speak the truth whenever she could.
"To see Grimmjow."
She did not bother turning her head to look at him. This action caused her to miss the millisecond long shock that ran across the Cuatro's face. Closing the door after replying to his question, she left her house.
Little did she know that her guardian, face steely, was watching over her from afar.
-O-
Luckily, the panther was alone in the apartment when she had arrived. Orihime and Ichigo had apparently gone out to buy groceries.
"What do you need kid?" he grinned at her.
"Train me," she requested, wearing the full extent of seriousness she had on her usually gentle face.
The Sixth Espada looked at her, startled, and one fine eyebrow raised. He had not expected her to ask him of that.
"Mind repeating that?"
Sayuri closed her eyes and breathed. When she reopened them, he saw the intense chaos within her. Most of all, he saw her hate.
With conviction and strength, the lily girl uttered, "Teach me how to fight."
"Why?" he inquired, still slightly perplexed.
"Ulquiorra and Ichigo would most likely refuse to teach me," she elaborated, "I...I hate being weak."
Grimmjow then understood. All the hate that he saw in her was directed at her own inability - her human fragility. He, too, had hated being an incapable hollow; That was one reason why he had hungered for power to such an extreme extent.
"I won't go easy on you Sayuri," the blue haired hollow warned.
Sayuri nodded. "I don't want you to."
She was exhausted from being a simple flower.
Lilies are poisonous, but she had never harnessed the power contained in her name.
If she could not tap into the poison, she will just have to find another way to get stronger.
He will help turn her into a flower with thorns.
-O-
This chapter has a lot of things going on. I hope that I pulled off all the various scenes. If not, let me know!
Thank you again for reading.