Orihime clutched her child close and backed away from the intruder, her hand going to her mouth. Ichigo moved to stand in front of her protectively.
"Ulquiorra," he said in a low voice. "You should be dead. We stopped you, Rukia gave her life to stop you, and Las Noches collapsed with you still in it."
"You should know by now that it would take more than that ice princess's attacks to kill me. True, I was weakened at the time from the fight with you two so it did freeze me. But there was no way it could possibly kill me."
"Why are you here?" I asked angrily.
"Know your place, child," the Arrancar commanded me. "You have no idea who you are dealing with. You also probably have no idea who you are."
That statement stunned me.
Who I am? I thought. What is that supposed to mean? Does he know something about me that I don't.
I waited for a moment to see if that strange voice would reveal something, but nothing came. I could feel a strange awe coming from within me, an awe combined with a seething hate.
"Ulquiorra, how did you find us?" Ichigo asked. "Urahara told me that we would be safe from being sensed."
"And you were," Ulquiorra's attention shifted back to Ichigo. "Until she forgot to wear her shielding button." He pointed at Orihime. "Regardless, it was not you I followed here. It was him." Ulquiorra turned back to me. "Aizen-sama has need of you. He sent me to bring you back to him."
Back! I thought. I've never even met him.
"What do you mean back?" I asked, moving slowly away from him. "I've never seen Aizen, let alone been near him."
"So I was right, you have no knowledge of who you are. Good, that makes things easier. It means that you are weak."
The word 'weak' triggered something in me. I couldn't hold back anymore. I yelled as I drew my sword and charged him. The feelings of awe and hatred were replaced with excitement and rage, as if I'd been waiting for this moment for a long time. I slashed down towards his head but he lazily lifted an arm to block my blade.
"You know you can't defeat me," he told me. "Why bother trying. I am to bring you to Aizen-sama alive, though he gave me full permission to use force to get you to come along."
"Sai-kun!" Orihime cried out. "What are you doing? You're no match for him. Just run!"
I looked around the small kitchen and realized that we didn't have a lot of room to fight. I leapt over the table and ran out the back door, knowing that Ulquiorra would follow me. I moved to the center of the backyard and found Ulquiorra standing there, waiting for me.
"Did you really think you could escape me?"
"Nope," I told him. "But it was too cramped in there to fight properly." I didn't know where the words were coming from. Every logical fiber of my being was yelling at me to escape and inform the captain. Despite that, I knew that I wanted this fight. I didn't know why I wanted it, but I did. Again I charged at Ulquiorra. I swung my sword at his side. He moved his hand to catch the blade, but at the last second I turned it downward. My sword struck his leg in the thigh with all my strength behind it. I looked at him and grinned. He merely looked down at his leg. I followed his gaze and saw that my sword had not even make a mark on him. Suddenly he disappeared.
Move now! the strange voice yelled at me.
Without pausing to think I dove forward in a roll. I heard the whoosh of a sword swing down where I had just been moments ago. I turned back to look at the Arrancar. He had an amazed look on his face.
"How did you dodge that strike? It should have been faster than you could sense. Perhaps you do know more than you are letting on."
"I don't know what you are talking about, but maybe your just not as fast as you think," my retort stopped when he disappeared from my sight again.
"Is that so," I heard his voice from behind me. I was already diving to one side, spurred on my some unknown instinct. I ended my roll with an upward slash to my side. I began the slash with no target, but Ulquiorra appeared directly in the path of my sword just in time to get hit in the chest. He jumped back, surprised but unwounded.
"This is impossible," Ulquiorra muttered. "I shall have to end this quickly."
He held out his hand and charged a Cero, aimed directly at me.
"No," I whispered. I shunpoed up into the air. He followed me with his hand. I tried to dodge around but wherever I went, he was already aiming at me. I stopped at last, directly above him. The corners of his mouth turned slightly upwards. He released his Cero.
I had no time to dodge. All I could was hold up my sword and attempt to lessen the impact. The enormous energy blast hit me dead center, knocking my feeble defense away and scorching my body. I screamed, but no sound came from my mouth.
Help me! I pleaded silently.
Help you? the strange voice responded. I have been helping you. How do you think you dodged all those attacks? However, you decided to get to close to him as he attacked. It was your decision to lead us into the mess. How do you expect me to help you now?
I started falling to the ground. I heard someone shout something and felt myself slow down and start drifting. I looked up weakly and saw that Orihime had caught me with her shield. I was moving away from Ulquiorra slowly. He merely stood there watching me. I landed softly on the ground. Orhime was running over to me to heal me but was stopped by Ichigo. They had a swift discussion that I couldn't hear.
I know you hate them, I thought to the voice, attempting a difference tactic. Both Ichigo and Ulquiorra. I can feel it whenever their names are mentioned. I can feel it now, looking at them. Help me kill Ulquiorra.
Kill Ulquiorra? You? the voice laughed at me. It's gonna take a hell of a lot more time and effort to get me to give you that much power. But for now, lets put some doubt into his mind. He wants me back, he wants us to go with him. Lets give him his answer. Stand, my vessel. Stand and receive my power.
I struggled to my feet. I stared defiantly at Ulquiorra as my legs wobbled under the effort. I stood straight and tall, willing my body back to strength. I took my sword in hand and charged Ulquiorra and shouted. Ulquiorra's eyes grew wide in triumph. I heard Orihime gasp from behind me. I heard Ichigo whisper "Impossible!" I released my Zanpakuto.
"Rend….. GRIMMJOW!!!"