Ashes
by Her Pretty Smile
A/N: This is a filler. I've decided to merge the two chapters together. This is only an icebreaker.
Ashes: Chapter V
THE WEEKS PASSED BY quickly, and before Orihime knew it, her birthday had come.
If I were at home today... I would've baked myself a giant strawberry cake with... red pepper, chocolate, and bean paste... she thought fondly with a melancholic look on her face.
I want to go home... I really do...
"Woman." Ulquiorra's flat voice resounded inside the room.
Orihime jolted, turning towards the dark-haired man. "Ah, Ulquiorra-san!" she exclaimed. "You surprised me!"
"You seem energetic today," he remarked flatly.
She gave a sheepish laugh. "Well... That's because... Um... It's my birthday!"
He raised an eyebrow. "Birthday...?" he repeated.
"You don't know what a birthday is?" She sounded shocked at first, but then her face lit up when she realized that this was her golden opportunity to make a real conversation. "Then I'll explain it to you! It's an annual celebration for the day when we were born. Today I'm sixteen years old!"
"Frankly, I do not understand why you humans bother to celebrate such a meager... occasion."
She looked at him. "Ulquiorra-san, could it be that... you don't know when your birthday is?"
He gave her a level stare. "I do not remember such a trivial thing."
"Eh? But birthdays are special!" She started in her lecture mode. "Being born into this world is a blessing in itself!"
"For your information, woman, I do not consider my being born as an Arrancar or a Hollow a 'blessing'." Ulquiorra's voice was flat.
She smiled at him, the very first genuine smile she made in three months. "I didn't mean that," she said softly. "I meant the day when you were born back when you were a human."
His eyes widened slightly.
"You must've been really happy, I'm sure of it. But you don't remember any of it, right?" she continued on.
He didn't say anything.
"Hmm..." Her face took on a thoughtful expression. "If that's the case, then let's have our birthdays on this same day!"
He stared at her incredulously. "You are being ridiculous," he managed in an even tone. "I do not care if I do not have a... birthday."
"But I do! Come on, it's going to be fun! Do you have any cakes here?" Her eyes were sparkling in excitement.
"...No. Stop this. This is getting out of h—"
"Oh, a kitchen would be better!"
He blinked. "What...?"
"Can I go to your kitchen? You must have one here, right? Please? I'll bake us a really delicious cake!"
She is... what do they call that term...? 'Crazy', perhaps. "...Stay here in your room. I will go out for a brief moment."
"But—"
He was already out of the room.
Orihime let out a sigh before a content smile appeared on her face. "He's softening... I can feel it." She stared up at the moon, clutching herself as a form of comfort. "I can make him change. I can save him. He doesn't have to suffer anymore."
-;-
"AIZEN-SAMA," ULQUIORRA BEGAN HESITANTLY, "The woman is making a request."
Aizen looked at him coolly. "And what might that request be?" His voice was like silk.
"She... wants to bake a cake in the kitchen."
Silence filled the room.
Gin's laughter echoed afterwards. "B—Bake a cake...? Hahaha! What an interesting woman..." he managed to say between laughs.
An amused smile made its way over to Aizen's face. "It is all right, Ulquiorra. You can take her to the kitchen. We have all the ingredients necessary in there, so there is no problem."
Ulquiorra's eyes flew wide open in surprise. "You... agree, Aizen-sama?" His voice held a tone of disbelief.
"Of course. I have no reason not to." Aizen's look turned sly and knowing. "And if you really don't care, you wouldn't be asking my permission right now."
Gin snorted in agreement, the amusement evident in his expression.
Ulquiorra, for once, had absolutely nothing to say. "Then I shall take my leave."
-;-
COLD AIR RUSHED INSIDE the room when the door opened, revealing Ulquiorra with an unreadable emotion in his eyes.
"Woman," he said flatly.
Orihime turned to him. "Yes?" she questioned.
"With Aizen-sama's permission, you are free to... use the kitchen as you please."
Her face lit up. "Really?! You asked him for me?"
Ulquiorra looked taken aback. "Because... you made a request," he said with a hint of unease in his tone.
But she wasn't listening. "This is great! Now I'll be able to cook my greatest creations! Ulquiorra-san," she said, turning to him excitedly, "please lead me to the kitchen!"
He could only stare at her. This is the first time in two months that I have ever seen her look this alive... "As you wish, then."
-;-
"WOMAN," ULQUIORRA DEADPANNED, STARING at the chocolate cake decorated with green peas and red pepper in front of him. "...I do not think this is edible."
Orihime was already busily eating her own strawberry cake with onions and apple slices. "Mm? Did you say something?" she asked between bites.
He blinked, then looked uncomfortably at the 'chocolate cake'.
He did not want to eat it.
Looking at it was enough to make him slightly green.
"Ulquiorra-san!" she exclaimed, gulping down a slice. "Eat your cake! It's your birthday today, so you must enjoy your food!"
"...I am not feeling hungry, woman."
She wasn't listening to him (again).
Ulquiorra let out a quiet sigh and proceeded to stand up. "I shall take my leave—" He was suddenly cut off when she stood up from her chair and cheerfully shoved a slice of her cake to his open mouth.
He wanted to gag, but instead opted for swallowing the... garbage.
"If you were any other person, Inoue Orihime," he said coldly with a hint of a threat to his tone, "I would kill you without a second thought."
For a brief moment, she smiled. "Then... I'm glad I'm not just any other person to you."
He narrowed his eyes, then turned away.
"Ah, Ulquiorra-san!" she called out suddenly.
He stopped in his tracks, waiting for her to say what she wanted to say.
"I had a great time today," she told him softly. "Thank you for your birthday gift to me."
He gave a quiet huff before walking away, not bothering to acknowledge her thanks.
What gift is she talking about?
tbc
A/N: Consider this birthday arc to be a filler/omake because it was only created to lessen the tension.
Next chapter will be the start of the rising action part. :D Get ready.
