Ashes
by Her Pretty Smile
Ashes: Chapter II
HIS WORDS WERE LIKE a blade thrusting through her, spilling blood along with her tears.
"Kurosaki Ichigo has been detained by Soul Society. He is not allowed to take a step to Hueco Mundo despite his attempts at negotiations." His empty green eyes stared at her with no ounce of emotion. "Inoue Orihime... You have no chance of escaping this place." He took a step towards her. "Not that you would, anyway. Because you only exist for Aizen-sama and his desires. You are no more than a puppet for him."
She took a step back, the slightest bit of fear in her eyes despite her inner resolve. "I—I know."
He looked at her with something in his eyes. "I just thought you should know."
She woke up instantly, breathing heavily and sweating profusely. The air suddenly felt so suffocating, and the room felt so hot and cold at the same time.
It's that dream again... she thought a bit dizzyingly, her eyes as wide as saucers. The conversation I had with Ulquiorra-san two months ago...
At that moment, the door opened, revealing the latter who was carrying, surprisingly, two trays. One she could see was filled with steaming food while the other was...
Was that a bowl with a small towel beside it?
"I see you are awake." His piercing gaze was still on her as he made his way over. "If that is the case, then you should be able to eat and take care of your fever yourself."
"I... have a fever...?" she managed to say.
"I believe that I have already said that."
"But..." She tried to get up. "How... How do you know about—"
"About fevers?" he finished for her calmly. "Szayel Aporro informed me about it. He knows more about humans than we do."
"Oh..." Feebly, she reached for the towel.
He speedily caught her wrist. "Stop," he said quietly. "I did not figure that you would do it right away after you woke up. You are still groggy and weak from what I can tell."
His skin felt cold against hers, but gradually, her warmth spread across his hand, sending a sense of comfort and a shot of heat throughout her arm.
He immediately let go of her as if he'd experienced the exact same thing. "Eat," he ordered flatly.
She obeyed, taking an apple from the tray and biting into it hungrily.
He washed the towel in the basin, then squeezed the water out of it. Afterwards, he placed it on her forehead.
She shivered slightly at the cold, icy feeling.
"Is it making you feel any better?" he asked.
His words were soft and concerned, but his tone betrayed it.
Cold and uncaring.
He was obliged to look after her. He was not and did not want to be attached to her, but she knew that she had his interest piqued—even if it was just the slightest bit.
"It will take... some time for me to fully heal," she answered quietly. "Two days at most, I think..."
His gaze was unnerving. "This is what you get from not taking care of yourself, then."
Suddenly, without knowing the reason why, she wanted to cry at that moment. She missed her home so badly. She missed Tatsuki. She missed school. She missed Uryuu and Chad and Rukia and...
...and Ichigo.
She felt so lonely here. She had no one to really talk to, and Ulquiorra wasn't exactly one to have an amiable conversation with.
But...
"You are sad again, woman." To her surprise, he sat himself in front of her, staring at her blankly. "Are you thinking about your friends again? Or perhaps your home?"
"I—I miss them," she blurted out, the apple long forgotten as she gripped it with her hand.
He seemed to be slightly surprised by her statement, because his eyes widened for a fraction of a second before going back to their normal size. "You do know that by coming with us, you have had to leave everything behind. You had no choice in the matter. Missing them is futile." His green eyes pierced deep into her own eyes. "You belong to us now."
She closed her eyes, feeling pained by his words. The tears just kept on falling, and she made no attempt or move to wipe them off.
"I know..." she whispered, resigned. "I'm sorry I said that."
He seemed a bit taken aback by her apology, but immediately regained his composure. "You do not have to apologize," he said quietly, causing her to stare at him in surprise. "I understand that humans are far more sensitive than the norm, anyway."
Funny, Ulquiorra sure was a bit surprising today.
Did something happen? she wondered distantly.
Or has something just... changed?
She looked at him. Two months have passed. Only two months.
And he's becoming a bit like a human.
When she accidentally voiced her last thought out, his eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, she had the fearful feeling that he was going to hurt her.
But he didn't.
She shouldn't really even be surprised by that. Ever since they met, he had never hurt her physically. Though his words to her often made her heart twist painfully, she preferred it because she knew that it was the truth. Not once did he ever lie to her, and she didn't expect him to. She always figured that he was someone who said what was on his mind, and if you wanted to ask him some questions expecting mild or sugar-coated answers, you picked the wrong person.
Because if Ulquiorra Schiffer was one thing, it was honest.
"Me? Becoming a little like a human?" Anger (and... frustration?) flashed in his eyes for a fleeting moment before the emptiness returned. "You are mistaken if you think that, woman. Do not associate me with your kind, because I am not one of them." He stood up, his unnerving gaze never leaving her face. "I am not like you, Inoue Orihime."
When he left, she closed her eyes and let the tears fall, feeling regretful and sad that she inadvertently drew him away.
Was she always this stupid?
Maybe...
Maybe she was.
tbc
