A pure white sword cutting through the darkness.
Who wielded such a sword? he wondered, watching from a great distance away.
"Some no Mai, Tsukishiro," intoned a woman's voice.
Her opponent, a lowly Fraccion of the Sexta's became entrapped in a pillar of glittering ice that rose to the sky. It was only then, as the woman explained to the shattering ice column that had been the doomed Arrancar the ability he had underestimated.
Sode no Shirayuki was not limited to the ground. Gracefully she lowered the white sword, the ribbon trailing from it, fluttering in the wind.
There were others of course. The orange-haired boy whom Ulquiorra had belittled as trash and therefore not worthy of their Lord's attention and a giggling mirror-image of the Shinigami in human clothes.
Stark turned away from them, finding little interest in the Gigai; once again the Shinigami caught his eye. He didn't know why. She wasn't pretty in the sense that humans valued. Her stature was diminutive, but her voice was loud. Stark could tell she hardly smiled.
So, what was it? He puzzled and puzzled over it, completely at a loss as to why he found this woman- his enemy so absorbing. Maybe it was the fact that she didn't smile.
When people were happy, they smiled.
Stark never smiled because he wasn't happy. He didn't know what it was like to be happy, maybe once he did, but now he couldn't remember what it felt like.
Or could it be her eyes?
They were a deep, dark mixture of blue and purple. A combination that was most pleasing save for that they never looked contented. There was always some emotion flashing through them. Whether annoyance at the boy and the Gigai's play, or displaying fear when Grimmjow finally made his appearance. Stark was pleased to note, never once did he glimpse the particular emotion of tenderness ever when she addressed the orange-haired boy. She did not feel deep affection for him.
And finally...maybe it was because she seemed lonely sometimes. Keeping a part of herself hidden from her Nakama, seeking solace beneath the moon in the darkest part of the night.
It was then, that Stark found the answer he was searching for.
They were alike, he and she.
And even if it was impossible...he--
~*~
"Stark! Wake up!" The voice wasn't the one he remembered.
"Yeah! Get up, you lazy ass!" Now, that was the voice he recognized. Lilinette, but who--
His thought process was interrupted by the implantation of two-sets of fists into each side of his rib cage. "YOWCH!" His eyes flew open to confront his molesters. A pair of yellow eyes stared back into his, the black-haired girl leaning back pleased with herself onto his left thigh. Lilinette was poised on the right; their crossed arms and scowls mirror image.
Stark blearily rubbed at his eyes, trying to see if he could wipe the illusion away.
She didn't disappear. Rather got angrier. "What?! Still think you're dreaming?!"
He took in her appearance slowly, the white jacket clasped closely at the throat to the opening revealing her Hollow hole, to the bone framing her eye to the color of her eyes. "Rukia..." Stark said her name slowly, relishing the feel as it rolled from his tongue. It was no longer the name of one who was out of reach, the name of his enemy. It was the name of his Fraccion, second to be exact as Lilinette still claimed first place. But Stark didn't mind, as his bare hands lazily rose to her hips, slipping beneath the audaciously short skirt. He was amused to see a faint blush rise to Rukia's cheeks and the sucking of Lilinette's teeth.
Lilinette knew without words of course that he wished to be alone. She also knew why he wanted to be alone with just Rukia. Though she was still slightly ill-tempered on the whole about being made to leave their room, Lilinette did it without complaint. If he was happy, she was made happy as well, that was the way their bond worked for good or ill.
He smiled indolently as the door closed quietly. His eyes drifted upward, meeting Rukia's. Her look was shy, the anger fleeing in an instant. Her hand rose to her chest, tugging apart the jacket, the sides fell open. His gaze dropped to her bared breasts, "beautiful." He breathed, his voice sincere, "you're beautiful."
Rukia pouted a little, averting her face in a tiny huff. "I'm not!"
"You are," Stark pressed ever more convincingly, his tone falling into a low purr. Blunt-tipped hands trailing upward now to cup her small breasts. Her pout lessened, "...I am?"
Stark hummed a little, taking his time of massaging her nipples into firmness, "maybe."
Her face fell.
He chuckled throatily, "always."
She thumped him on the chest, falling forward until her arms were braced on either side of his head, the strands of her thick hair falling forward to trail caressingly along his cheek then jaw as she moved lower.
"You're always the most beautiful thing to me, Rukia." Stark whispered truthfully before claiming her lips. And she responded with as much or more fervor, letting it escalate into a battle for dominance.
The impossible had been made the possible. She was now his completely.
~*~
"Where are you going?" Ulquiorra was surprised. The Ryoka's back had turned to him, long strides taking him back to the doorway through which the boy had first entered the room. This was most unexpected. Had the Shinigami woman meant more then what had first been assumed? Was she not only his Nakama?
"To save Rukia." The boy's answer was emphatic to the point of being stubborn. Ulquiorra reflected the boy refused to believe his words that the woman was dead. A most foolish assumption of course, that cognitive synchronization was inaccurate. He had merely to close his eyes and view the empty, echoing ruin that was the Noventa Espada's palace, to know that Kuchiki Rukia's death was established as fact.
Her death to the Shinigami and all those whom had called her friend and comrade that is. An imperceptible smile touched the Cuatro's black lips, letting the fool venture back to save a friend that was a friend no longer.
~*~
"Ku...chiki-san?" Beneath her closed lids, she glimpsed the deserted battlefield. Kuchiki-san's body was gone, but...
Orihime felt a flicker of hope flare inside her benumbed mind.
She still felt her reiatsu pulsing softly...somewhere inside Las Noches!
~To be continued~
AN: I was having a hard time following the manga! :/ hence instead of Ulquiorra antagonizing Ichigo to do battle; he perceived it wisest if Ichigo were to find Rukia's body gone. Then later... ;) Thanks for reading!
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Reviews appreciated! :)