Chapter 1
After the second day of their confinement, Ulquiorra Schiffer decided that death was too good for Grimmjow Jeagerjacques.
The two Espada had come to tolerate each other while planning an escape from Hueco Mundo in general and Las Noches in particular, but that did not mean that they were suited to sharing a space for more than an hour at a time. It wasn't that their prison was uncomfortable; by rights it wasn't even a prison, but some ex-lieutenant's quarters. The Soul Society simply didn't know what to do with them. On the one hand, they had been responsible for the deaths of countless shinigami, but on the other, they had provided the soul reapers with the advantage that had won them the battle. Executing them wouldn't be quite right, but neither would simply letting them go. Ulquiorra could appreciate the difficult position he and Grimmjow had put them in, this situation did not bother him. It was the fact that there were not enough rooms for he and Grimmjow to be separate that was slowly, but surely driving him mad.
He tried to suppress a twitch as he heard the other former Espada rummaging or, rather, crashing, around the guarded apartment they occupied, searching for something to do, and went back to imagining ways in which to maim or kill Grimmjow for his inability to sit down and shut up.
"Oi, Ulquiorra, whatcha doin'?"
Well, that had been short lived.
"I'm considering our situation Grimmjow. In silence. Perhaps you might do the same?" Ulquiorra wasn't usually an optimist, but in this instance he lived in hope.
"Che, what's to consider? We either get executed or they let us go. We can't do fuck all until they decide, but in the mean time I'm bored out of my fucking mind here."
Trust Grimmjow, Ulquiorra thought, to be this ludicrously unsubtle.
"They are not likely to do either."
Yes, it had been worth continuing this conversation in order to see the expression on Grimmjow's face at that last comment.
"What the hell do you mean by that? What the fuck else are they gonna do?"
"Grimmjow, the fact that they are hesitating this long in making a decision indicates that they are not comfortable with either solution. They do not wish to execute those who helped them, but they do not trust us enough to let us just leave and do what we choose. They have learned the hard way that deciding rapidly without considering facts does them no credit and has a way of coming back to haunt them. What they are most likely trying to do is devise a third solution, a middle ground. It could be that we will get to go our own way, but will be limited in what we can do and will remain under guard. They may keep us under semi-house arrest permanently. They may decide that life imprisonment is slightly less harsh than death and all that we deserve."
He paused here, unsure of how to articulate his next thought.
"Or…"
"Or what?"
"Well, think about it. The Gotei 13 are out five captains and two lieutenants. Many soul reapers are going to be promoted, but after this war there are bound to be gaps that need filling. And here we are, tailor-made for the job. I suspect it is possible that we could be placed in a squad under a captain as sort of payment for our part in the war. That, I think, would be the best likely scenario."
He leaned back in his seat and shut his eyes, only to realise that, for the first time since his internment with Grimmjow, the house was in complete silence. Slightly shocked, he opened his eyes to find the blue-haired arrancar staring at him open mouthed.
"Is there a problem Grimmjow? Did I use too many big words?"
The insult jolted him out of his trance.
"Shit no, I get ya. I've just never heard you use that many words before in one go. Does it hurt to do that?"
That question was best met with a biting tone and a cold glare, Ulquiorra decided.
"Of course not. And if it makes you shut up every once in a while you might just have to deal with me talking more often."
"Bitchy today, aren't ya?" Grimmjow muttered, looking thoughtful. "You think that's our best option?"
Ulquiorra sighed. Grimmjow was not unintelligent, but he preferred to have others spell things out for him rather than think for himself.
"Grimmjow, even if they'd let us go, where were you planning on heading off to? I sure as hell didn't know, and you're considerably less able when it comes to the concept of planning. Here is the best place for us now. If you still want to leave, stay and convince them you're relatively trustworthy and they'll be more likely to help you when you go. I for one, think I would prefer it here."
The other Espada smiled ruefully, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ya gotta point there. As far as I can see, this job means beating the crap out of hollows, and that's pretty much what I do anyway, so I'm in. If they even offer, that is." He paused, and a smile flickered across his face. "Overheard our guard talking earlier. Apparently they've already promoted an arrancar to Captain of the 7th, to replace they guy who looked like a fox. Ya know, the one Tousen killed before his old lieutenant got him? Anyway, it's your crush with the green hair."
Ulquiorra suppressed another twitch.
Death is far too good for him, unless I get to set him alight, watch him burn and then dance in his ashes.
"I do not have a 'crush' as you call it, on anyone. But I'm glad to hear it. This would make it easier for them to accept us if they already are willing to consider our kind."
"The hell you don't. You were staring at her the entire time. Fuck, for a couple of seconds there I even thought I saw an emotion on that pasty mask you call a face."
"I was surprised by her presence. If I watched her, it was only to take her measure as our captor."
Not for anything else. Certainly not for what he's implying. She caught me off guard, that was all, and it won't happen again.
There were many things Ulquiorra had not expected to happen to him. He had not expected to defy Aizen. He had not expected to assist the woman escape. He had not expected to spend more than five minutes at a time alone with Grimmjow and avoid giving in to the urge to kill him. But he had not expected what he felt when he'd seen her.
Whatever that was anyway. It was an anomaly and it will be forgotten. It is unlikely I will have much contact with… her in future anyway.
"Che, whatever." Grimmjow interrupted his thoughts. "Did I mention ya girlfriend needs a new lieutenant? You never know, ya could just get lucky in more ways than one!"
"This conversation is over."
"Oh, touched a nerve did I?"
Death, thought Ulquiorra Schiffer as he sat back in silence once more, was far, far too good for Grimmjow Jeagerjacques.