What is a Heart 8
Chapter 8
Aizen sat on his throne talking to Szayel and Gin. In his hand were some papers that he didn't seem happy with. The look on his face showed this. Ulquiorra felt uneasy. When ever Lord Aizen was upset, all of the Arrancar were uneasy. He bowed to him by placing his left hand across his chest and bowed to one knee. "My Lord."
Aizen turned to him. He didn't seem pleased. He stood up and walked to Ulquiorra. "Raise." He said in a fatherly tone. "Tell me, how has our Princess been acting?"
"The Woman has been fine. There is nothing out of the ordinary." He replied.
Aizen smiled though his spiritual pressure told otherwise. He was angry, far beyond any Ulquiorra had ever seen him. "According to Szayel, her stress levels are far beyond abnormal. Stress leads to many problems in humans." His eyes narrowed in anger. "Even death."
Ulquiorra remained emotionless at this.
"For my plan to be a success, she needs to live." He put his hand on Ulquiorra's head, a large smile on his face. "After all, I put her in your care. I trust you above all my Espada, Ulquiorra."
He bowed once more to his lord. His eyes lowed in honor. "I assure you; I will do all I can to keep her alive."
Aizen nodded. "I knew you would." He handed him the papers in his hand. "These are ways to prevent stress. I want you to do whatever it takes to keep her alive."
"As you wish, my lord."
Aizen turned his back to him. "See to it that you do." With that, he motioned for him to leave.
He rose and walked to the door.
She laughed as she looked at Grimmjow's hair. It was braided several times. He sat there annoyed at this. Yet, her laughter was something rarely done in his world. Something that he wished would happen a lot more.
She stopped all of a sudden. Grimmjow looked to her, then to the door which she was looking at. The figure was that of her guard dog. Grimmjow immediately shot up.
"I'm surprised you let her go near you."
"I would have beaten her for it if you had not told me not to harm her!" He yelled back. His face was red with anger. He turned to her. "Stay away from me!" he said as he ran from the room.
Ulquiorra turned to Orihime. She didn't look at him. Her face red with the thoughts of the embrace. His strong arms wrapped around her…
He walked to her. He took her hand in his. She tried not to look at him, yet she couldn't. She looked into his beautiful eyes. They were so lovely. So sad.
"Stand Woman. We've somewhere to be." He said pulling her up.
She smiled though she was frightened. She watched as he split the air with his finger. He pulled her toward it. "Go." He said. She obeyed.
The darkness enveloped her but soon she felt wind brush against her cheek. Before she knew it, she stood in a large open field covered in wild flowers that filled the air with their lovely scent. The warmth of the sun shone brightly on her. A small lake lay to the side and the water was so clear you could see the koi fish that swam in it. Trees lay all around, enclosing the valley. She gentle touched the soft grass and a smile formed on her face.
She turned to him. He was looking toward the lake. She threw her arms around him. "Thank you!" she whispered.
"Your stress levels were too high. I took you here because I read it would help you." He said in his normal voice.
She continued to smile. "Thank you still." The young princess turned back to the valley. The wind ran its long fingers through her hair. She was in her world again. The world she thought she would never see again. She was able to see the sun. To feel its soft rays on her skin. She was at peace. Truly peaceful serenity that such a simple valley could provide her.
He watched her. She seemed so happy about such a simple thing as this valley. 'Such a curious human.' he thought to himself. Though as he watched her, a strange feeling ran through him. One he couldn't explain. She turned to him. Taking his hand in hers she lead him down the hill toward the patch of wild flowers. He followed her. Down the hill and to those flowers. She released his hand. Happily she gathered a few blue flowers and placed them in Ulquiorra's hair. He allowed it. He had planned to allow her to do as she wished in this valley.
She smiled. "Do you think Grimmjow would like these blue flowers? They match his hair."
He was taken by utter surprise at this. She was thinking of Grimmjow. He was angered by this but refused his face to show it.
She turned around, but her foot lost its step and she began to fall. Ulquiorra reached for her hand. He gripped it tightly and wrapped his body around her. They rolled down the hill and soon came to a stop. He picked himself up from her. She looked up at him. She began to laugh. Her lovely laugh. He stared at her. Her long autumn hair fanned out in the soft grass. Her skin radiating in the sunlight. Her silver eyes shining like the stars themselves. His eyes lowered to her lips. Instantly, he thought of that book. Of what it said. Kiss…He slowly lowered his head to hers.
She stopped laughing by now. She watched him. She didn't know what he was doing, she was afraid. Her heart began to race rapidly, wildly out of her control. She looked into his emerald eyes. It was hard to read them. Hard to understand them. Not because she could not read them, but because all she could focus on was the sadness that consumed them. Never before had she seen such sadness in anyone besides that of her dearly departed brother.
He was closer now. He could feel her sweet breath on him. Something was happening to him. Something he didn't understand. His body felt so odd. It felt so hot, as if on fire. Yet, it did not hurt. This was quite odd.
She closed her eyes. She knew what he was planning. Though Nnoitra had taken her first kiss, she seemed willing to allow him to have one. It shocked her. She did not expect to do such a thing yet, she felt it was the only way she could thank him for all he had done for her. For stopping Nnoitra from taking all of her.
His lips were to hers now but only he tips of their lips touched. He was so unsure about this. He knew he wanted to yet, he felt that it went against his lord to do so. Yet, it was as Gin said, she was their comrade now. She was, in the eyes of his lord, an Arrancar just like him. It wouldn't go against him if he did decide to…he closed his eyes.
She began to laugh. At this moment, she laughed! He opened his eyes to see what was so funny. On her face near the bridge of he nose laid the flowers she had placed in his hair. They had fallen on her. He seemed relieved at such and stood up. He extended his hand to her. She took it without hesitation.
He looked down at her as she looked up at him. "I'm afraid our time here is up."
She smiled though he knew she was sad to leave. She picked up the flowers and placed them back in his hair. She then walked to the patch of sky blue flowers and picked them. She turned back and looked up at him. "They're for Grimmjow." She said softly.
Ulquiorra nodded and ripped open the darkness once more. She stepped through. He turned back to the field. Looking at the spot where they had laid together. He turned to the darkness and…for the briefest of moments, like the flicker of a candle, he allowed himself to show emotion. He allowed himself to smile.