Sorry for the long time without posting. I hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 2: The shadow
Ulquiorra didn't know for how long he had floated in nothingness, trying to escape from that condition and search for his heart. After a time that felt like centuries for him, he heard a voice and felt his existence being pulled to somewhere.
"17 months have passed… I wonder if Kurosaki-kun still thinks about Kuchiki-san." That voice was very familiar to Ulquiorra. It was the voice of that woman, the keeper of his heart.
In a sudden, he saw himself standing in a desert street of the human world. For his surprise, he felt he had a body or something similar. He looked down and saw two legs wearing brown pants and feet in black shoes. Above those legs, a white shirt with buttons and long sleeves covered him. He examined the arms stretched in his front amazed; he had white and pale hands, but in a normal tone of skin, not that one he had while he was an Espada. Ulquiorra ran his hands through his hair and didn't find any sign of extra-cranial bones. If anyone saw him, would think he was just a regular human. However, he didn't think anyone could see him, not even a human with the ability to see spirits. His body was barely visible; it was hard to distinguish it. Even for a spirit, his image was too faint.
Kurosaki-kun didn't want to see Sado-kun with me. Well, I'm probably just over thinking. He was busy today, that's all. It's not as if he didn't want my presence or anything.
Coming in his direction, Ulquiorra saw her. She had a long and bright hair and was wearing a school uniform. Inoue Orihime was walking with a serious and sad expression on her face. He couldn't define what he felt when he saw her, but it was surely a strong feeling. That woman had some odd effect over him, an effect he wasn't able to erase.
What can I do for him? What can I do for Kurosaki-kun to look at me? I haven't seen him smiling like he used to do when Kuchiki-san was around.
Ulquiorra soon noticed that Inoue Orihime wasn't talking. Somehow, he was able to hear her thoughts. Her sadness reached him as knives and he couldn't avoid wishing for a smile to appear in those lips of hers.
A smile like the one she gave him when he was turning to dust.
She was approaching him slowly, looking at his direction, without being able to notice his presence. Ulquiorra could realize that and another strong emotion that he couldn't define took him over.
If Kurosaki-kun had never met Kuchiki-san, he wouldn't be depressed like that and he would see me in a different way… if he had never met Kuchiki-san… if she didn't exist…
Ulquiorra froze when he saw a thick shadow coming out of Orihime's body and wrapping her. What is that? Darkness? Is it coming from her heart?
Without thinking, he stretched his arm in her direction, but Inoue still wasn't able to see him there. When his hand was about to touch Orihime's chest, right in the place her heart was, the woman simply passed through him.
He couldn't touch her.
He couldn't feel her, despite they had occupied the exact same space… despite they had been one for a few seconds.
Ulquiorra didn't understand what was happening to him. What was that agony?
He turned around and saw that Inoue had stopped walking. Her long hair covered her back. The strange shadow that had wrapped her instants before had vanished.
What is this feeling? Inoue asked herself, putting her hand on her chest. Her heart was beating in great speed.
"Woman…" Ulquiorra called, waiting for some reaction of the other. Orihime shook her head and walked away.
It couldn't be him! What am I thinking? Ulquiorra is dead. He was murdered. Inoue thought, fighting the water that was filling her eyes.
Ulquiorra wasn't willing to lose her, so he followed the woman. He couldn't lose his heart again.