A/N: I can't say the 'end is nigh' but a few more chapters should do it. Enjoy.

Black Twilight: chapter.7: Her story

What else can a girl do when faced with the idea of 1. She was the prisoner of the invading army and everyone else is dead. 2. Her life as Aizen informed her one day when he dropped by in the Gardens, interrupting her and Ulquiorra's walk, was hanging by a thread. One wrong look, or wrong word and she'd be thrown to the Hollows. Not a very pleasant way to begin one's day thinking that at any time you could die—she wasn't too worried about the dying part it was just the thought of becoming one with a foul Hollow that had her filled with unease.

Ulquiorra, she knew, wasn't the least bit perturbed by the fact that his charge could soon disappear into a hungry Hollow's belly. The cold-make that-empty hearted bastard probably just figured she was one less thing to worry about in his quest to be the perfect soldier to 'Lord Aizen.'

Even hearing Aizen's name made her blood boil not counting the reverence in which Ulquiorra spoke of him. "Lord Aizen this, Lord Aizen that…" seriously it was driving her to distraction. Especially when Ulquiorra was bringing her dinner in, "Lord Aizen wants to convey his sincerest hope that you will find your food particularly appealing this evening." Rukia glanced up at his reflection from her usual spot at the vanity, "just place it on the bed," she said dismissively.

He did part of what he was told-setting the tray down on her bed-but not moving a muscle to the door which indicated he meant to stay and watch her eat. Very distracting. So she took her sweet time about brushing all the invisible knots out of her hair and doing at least three hundred brush strokes to her now glossy mane. After a while, she couldn't stand it, "is there something you wanted to inform me of? Perhaps a new ordinance that Aizen is Lord of the Soul society and is erecting a new Las Noches inside of the Seireitei…or what?"

She could not be accused of having too much tact but the Arrancar's next words simply stunned her.

"No. Your hair," he said, staring at it fixedly.

"What about my hair? Did I miss a tangle…?" she tugged at the shorter strands, pulling them apart. She looked back in the mirror to see disconcertingly that her Guard was much closer. "May I…touch it?" he asked, seemingly curious about the feel and wondering if she would allow it. Her lips parted but she couldn't think of a coherent word to say and instead nodded slightly in acquiescence.

Slowly he raised both hands and slid them caressingly through the raven folds. She tried not to flinch when he started to pull none so gently, at one moment pressing a light finger to the pulse pounding on the side of her neck to carelessly letting her hair slide between his fingers again and again. Until she realized chagrined that she had cowlicks and tangles that had been previously none-existent before…damn.

Ulquiorra finally stopped fondling her hair and touched her limp hand holding the hairbrush. He tugged it away, wondering curiously about the light tingle that passed through him after just the tiniest bit of contact with her skin. Maybe it was nothing…it sure didn't feel like nothing to him, though. Carefully he dragged the brush through the formerly perfect strands of her hair making sure that none of the damage he'd caused was left.

For a while she sat still letting him 'brush' her hair and once yank hard when a stubborn knot wouldn't come out. Rukia supposed it was strange behavior for a former Hollow to muss up her hair-the fact that he 'had' wanted to touch it in itself was amazing-and yet he was still polite enough to fix it afterwards. Talk about being a gentleman. Or a gentle-hollow, she tried to stifle the giggle threatening to burst out; if she explained, he probably wouldn't find it funny. He was way to serious for that.

He still noticed however, "may I enquire as to what you find so amusing?"

Rukia froze and silently met his cold green-eyed gaze in the mirror, "um… nothing. Secret joke between me and the real princess *Lurichyo."

"Ah…how…how are you related to the…" Ulquiorra wasn't quite sure how to phrase the question without insulting the touchy female. "How am I related to the King and the princess?" she queried boldly. He nodded though his face remained impassive. "Well it's a long story…if you want to hear it…then you'd better sit down," she waved at the bed and her untouched food.

Ulquiorra settled down, his legs crossed neatly over each other. Rukia had snagged a cold biscuit and was gnawing on it to stave off her growling stomach. Lately the food had gotten slightly better due to Aizen seeking her comfort as their prisoner. Although it never occurred to her that any of it could be poisoned…Ulquiorra kept shooting her little looks while she ate more of it. Strange…

~~~~~~~~~ Chapter.7: Her story~~~~~~~~~

His fingers still carried the memory of the feel of her hair, strange how such a little thing could affect him this way. Just four weeks-a month ago, he hadn't even known she existed. Reio, the spirit King was thought to live alone in the Sen'nenoki, a dimension away from the Soul society. Lord Aizen's goal-their goal-was the complete annihilation of all soul reapers and access to the King whereupon Lord Aizen would be given the true title of 'Lord of the Soul society.'

That is until they discovered the princess had escaped and one other member of the Royal family in evidence…Ulquiorra watched the girl down the tainted food. The last swallow became stuck and she gagged rather unladylike. Wordlessly he handed her a full flask of red wine. She took a long drought of it and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

Make that VERY UNLADYLIKE.

"Okay," she said seemingly satisfied, "let me tell you a story of a girl thought to have died in infancy…her mother dead, her father in mourning and no one to question the mid-wife's claims that a 'sudden' draught of air from a window left open was to blame."

Ulquiorra was sure he knew what was coming; baby spirited away to be raised by another, years pass and someone from the Royal court just happens to come across the child. Is able to identify their lineage by some obscure mark branded upon the child and is taken back to much celebration and joy. Big deal. That little plot device was known to almost every simpering fairy tale ever conceived by human hands.

So why was he…so enraptured by her slightly different telling of the events. Observing her every movement and gesture…knowing this might be the last time she would ever speak to him. Alive that is. Ulquiorra inwardly frowned at the disquiet tightening in his chest; it was nothing to him that she would die soon. One little speck of a girl…her mere presence endangered Lord Aizen.

If truth were told…Ulquiorra couldn't actually see the reason why or how she could endanger his Lord. She wasn't the direct heir to the Throne in fact she was merely Lurichyo's cousin. It was Lurichyo that they should be going after instead of wasting their time dallying with her.

He stood up suddenly; she stopped mid-way in her narration to stare at him, "where are you going?"

He heard the accusation in her voice and stifled the urge to confess the truth; Aizen had poisoned her food and if not administered the antidote kept by Szayel…she would die in four days a perfectly agonizing death-as suggested by Gin Ichimaru.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, looking anywhere but at her trusting violet eyes, "but there are more important duties I must attend to…rather than waste my time listening to your childish story." The last part he added on a whim. She probably wouldn't have let him go otherwise.

It had the desired effect too much so he feared.

"GETOUT!" she screamed, once she had processed his words. If he hadn't had such good reflexes, her fist would've smashed into his stomach. Ulquiorra suspected that she had forgotten he was an Arrancar and not as susceptible to her attacks. Or…maybe she did remember. As he exited the door, her dinner tray flew through the air and landed with a decisive clang where his head had just been.

The woman had a definitely violent temper.

Although…even when in the throes of her violent fit…he had to admit…she looked absolutely beautiful.

~~~~~~~~~ Chapter.7: Her story~~~~~~~~~

Anger wasn't something Rukia indulged in very often. Her fits when they happened were usually quelled and after she had calmed down, were given a stern talking to by Misao. Young ladies, especially those of Noble birth were not favored if they exhibited a temper. They were to remain bland and doll-like in appearance in order to make the best marriages to eligible men.

Ulquiorra, she knew, was NOT an eligible man-er-Arrancar-former Hollow, whatever.

His opinion or what he thought of her didn't matter and she didn't care…

But then if she really didn't care than why did that thought of him suddenly wrench her heart painfully seemingly in two-? She glanced at the closed door, locked so that she wouldn't try another escape and gave thought to what he must be doing-what important duty he was attending to.

She shook her head; a slight throbbing had started in her temples and her stomach felt slightly queasy. Sighing heavily she threw herself onto the bed and burrowed into the cool sheets and blankets piled there. A slight indentation at the foot spoke of his recent disastrous presence; Rukia scowled and quickly reached out and smoothed the rumpled top blanket.

Nothing.

She didn't want anything to remind her of his cool calculating acidity.

Bearing that thought in mind; she steadily dropped off into a dreamless effortless sleep and never noticed the thin shadow that crept back into her room after some time had passed. She neither sensed his calm stare as he gazed at her sleeping form nor felt the black nailed hand that curled along the hairs on the back of her neck…

To be continued

A/N: exhausted! Reviews are appreciated, ciao! Note: *Lurichyo-I'm not sure if that's how you really spell her name I've only seen it a few times so it might not be accurate-mutters.