MY NEW BEGINNING CH. 3
A Very Merry Birthday
It was two days before the beginning of December, where all through the house many creatures were stirring. For on the first of December they would celebrate the birth of their dear friend Ulquiorra Schiffer (or what he is referred to by Grimmjow when the Christmas season comes around- Scrooge)
"Come on, chick! Let's get a move-on! I'm gonna show you the rest of the zoo and then Ulquiorra's gonna join us when we go through the house."
"Ok, Jaggerjack-kun! I'm coming, wait for me!" the auburn-haired girl called out as she darted through the backyard her hair streaming behind her and glittering as the sun shone down upon it. She wore skinny jeans, with chestnut UGGS, with tee shirt that was embroidered with intricate pink flowers and also wearing a think white jacket and a beanie on her head.
In an instant the girl was at the boy's side. His tousled neon-blue hair and famous scowl adorning his face, wearing a white wife-beater, a leather jacket on over a pair of washed-out and torn jeans and black combat boots adorning his feet.
Overnight the weather had suddenly turned cold and the auburn leaves that we on the trees no longer glowed, and the sky overcast with the chill of the new day.
The pair wandered through the secret passageway and began to go towards the zoo. Grimmjow had promised Orihime that he would show her all around their little zoo and tell her who owned which animal.
Their first stop was the aquarium. Tia kept her female shark in one of the larges aquarium tanks, while the twins Aaroniero and Arrurerie kept their large octopus in another nearby tank. Each tank was filled with an array of beautiful fish, some for their pets to eat others to make the tanks more appealing to the eye.
Grimmjow approached the shark habitat to look inside and view the shark. Then he got a mischievous look on his face, his cyan eyes glittering. He went up to the glass and knocked loudly on it, almost immediately the fish swam away as fast as their little bodies would allow them two; their tails swishing back and forth quickly as their muscles contracted and relaxed. Then suddenly a large form appeared, moving oh-so quickly through the deep blue waters. Large jaws opened to reveal rows and rows of sharp, deadly teeth as the large shark rammed its head against the glass over, and over again. Grimmjow jumped back, startled. At the show of fear the shark closed its mouth and swam away, content that it had scared the offender into submission.
Grimmjow made a nasty face at the shark as it swam away stating, "I guess the shark dislikes guys just as much as Tia does."
The two continued to walk, and soon they were at a large enclosed habitat. Orihime tilted her head in confusion as asked Grimmjow, "Jaggerjack-kun? What animal lives here?" And with an annoyed glance towards the habitat itself he replied, "Yammy's pet. The ugliest, stupidest, and definitely the most irritable bull on the planet. It won't let anyone near it unless it's Yammy. It probably senses that Yammy is of the same intellect as him…" And with a shake of his head they moved on.
Grimmjow continued to stroll through the zoo, when Orihime suddenly noticed that they were passing the tiniest enclosure, no bigger than a podium in width but rather tall. "Umm… excuse me, Jaggerjack-kun? But I think you passed up one."
With a glance back her way her replied, "No I," and his eyes locked on the tiny habitat that the girl was standing next to, "Oh, that thing. That's not really an animal, it's more like a bug that you can catch in your backyard, nothing special."
"Can I see it?" Orihime asked gleefully. With a sigh he replied, "Sure," and pointing to some of the green leaves he continued, "If you look really close you'll see a pry mantis. Nnoitra such a weirdo. He could have any animal he wanted, rare or not, and he chooses a stupid pry mantis, what an idiot."
Orihime looked at the leaves, and as she spotted it a large grin overtook her face as her eyes continued to trail the tiny little insect.
Very soon the pair were on their way to the next enclosure, a personal favorite of Grimmjow's. The enclosure was by far the largest, even larger than spacious habitat that belonged to Pantera. As Orihime gazed at it, suddenly a pack of wolves emerged from the forest, a gray wolf at the head and a young hyper female wolf at his side. "These are Starrk's. You see the tiny wolf next to the alpha? That one belonged to Starrk's little sister Lillinette who passed away two years ago. He was devastated, and every year since on her birthday he disappears into this habitat and stays with the pack leader and the little wolf that belonged to his sister, lost in the past." Grimmjow's eyes held a forlorn look.
With a shake of his head he kept walking. Then suddenly he was at an enclosed area covered by a curtain. "This right here," Grimmjow said, "will be where Ulquiorra's pet will live, it's covered by a curtain so that you don't have to look at the ugly construction."
As Orihime stared at the strange area, she felt something rather odd. And it was such a familiar feeling too…
With a gasp she recognized just what this particular feeling was.
"Jaggerjack-kun! Can I please look inside this curtain?" With an apprehensive and confused stare he replied, "Uh, ya sure I guess…." Then she ran through the curtain, her hair streaking out behind her as Grimmjow was left to stare at the space that the auburn-haired girl had just occupied.
Orihime walked throughout the room, her eyes filled with wonderment. A kido barrier showed a construction site, but by using her Shun-Shun-Rikka she was able to go within. The whole area was black shots of multi-colored kido shot across, like the inside of a video game. The kido bounced of off walls, formed incoherent shapes, broke apart, and start over again. It was wonderful, and that was how she realized that all of the enclosures were made through kido. Then her eyes met the sight of Gin.
His creepy smile, gay attitude and all. "Why 'ello there Hime-chan. What ya doin in 'ere?"
"Oh, I was just… just curious. I could sense spiritual pressure, and it felt very similar to the kido that Haichi used when he protected Kurosaki-kun's reiatsu from leaking out during his training. So I came in here to investigate."
"Well, tha's great Hime-chan. But ya should be careful, we don' wan' Grimm-kitty ta know tha' this isn' just a construction site, but a fully operational kido."
"Oh, don't worry Ichimaru-san, your secret is safe with me. But ummm… I have a favor to ask you Ichimaru-san."
"O' Course my precious lil' Hime-chan. Anything for ya." His large smile stretched even further across his face, his eyes staying continuing to stay closed.
"Ichimaru-san, I know what I'm going to get Ulquiorra-kun for his birthday! I'm going to get him a bat, so can you build the kido accordingly? Also, where should I go to get him a bat?"
"O' course Hime-chan! Well ya see, tha's kinda hard to explain. Ya see the problem is tha' I haven't bought any of these pets. You see, wha' happened was tha' when we were reborn I was given their zanpakuto for safe keepin'. Ya know cuz it would be unfair ta separate them from parta their souls. I inserted parta my reiatsu inta the zanpakuto and entered their inner worlds ta ask tha zanpakuto for permission ta have them change inta the animal that their owna wants 'em ta be. But any animal we tried for Ulqui-kun wouldn't work, he said no ta all of 'em. Actually, I feel kinda dumb for not tryin' a bat in tha first place, especially cuz he looks like Batman in his release form. I'll give you Murcielago, once you a Grimm-kitty are done, ya?"
Orihime stared at Gin wide-eyed. With a shake of her head she responded, "Al-alright Ichimaru-san. Thank you so much. I better get back outside before Grimmjow-kun starts to suspect something."
"Bye-bye Hime-chan, I'll see ya later!"
"What took ya so long in there, 'ey chick?" Grimmjow asked, his eyes betraying suspicion.
"Umm, ummm! Well, you see I was ummm… daydreaming, ya daydreaming, that I was I giant robot that was soaring inside of this huge construction shoot, building a wonderful apartment for all the tiny little animals with her super neko sidekick and then all the little animals started cheering for me and then there was a huge party and Ulquiorra was wearing a sombrero and Gin was dressed up as a lady! Funny, huh?" Orihime said this crazy alibi in a fast succession of words, panting for breath after she told this ridiculously winged story that would hopefully appease, or distract, her cyan-haired company.
With an odd glance her way, he nodded with confusion and led her along. Then the pair went back into the house and where Grimmjow proceeded to yell, "HEY EMO-CLOWN, GET YOUR SORRY ASS DOWN THE DAMN STAIRS! I ALREADY SHOWED THE CHICK THE REST OF THE ZOO AND NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO SHOW HER OUR HOUSE!"
She stared at Grimmjow, her eyes portraying her complete and total apprehension. Ulquiorra made his way down the stairs, blinked at Grimmjow, and then drew his entrancing emerald gaze toward Orihime, "Come woman. I do not have all day to show you the house, for I have other more pressing matters to attend to."
And with a slightly nervous glance back at her former company, she followed Ulquiorra; secretly wishing that he remembered her, and that he wouldn't be treating her liked chopped-liver.
Ulquiorra showed her the kitchen, with granite counters, stainless steel appliances and a wonderful paint scheme of dark browns. He led her to the living room, with is black couches with shades of blue stripes paired with smaller slivers of grey stripes. Then they browsed the house with its dark oak floors, and matching stairs with banisters on the second floor.
In truth the house had gorgeous paint schemes, wonderfully fashionable furniture, subtle stylized décor that gave the house a pleasing modern yet homey air.
In the entire tour Ulquiorra spoke only minor words to point out what each room was, and on the second floor show her the bedrooms that belonged to the different inhabitants of the two-story home.
Finally it was over. Ulquiorra left her with a blink of goodbye, and Orihime got prepared to find Gin so that she could get Ulquiorra's present in order.
Orihime sat in her room on the floor, legs crossed, staring at the very familiar blade. Its green-handled hilt and silver glinting blade shot flashes of memories through her brain. The most prominent memory was the very last moment that she saw Ulquiorra, his eyes turning a familiar viridian as he asked her if she was afraid, his arm reaching out toward her in a desperate attempt at acceptance.
She summoned her Shun-Shun-Rikka, and the six little fairies surrounded her head, their voices echoing inside her mind. Mistress, have us release our spiritual energy around you and the blade and you will be transported into the inner world of the ex Fourth Espada.
And so with a deep breath, she and the blade were surrounded in glowing orange energy, her physical mind being transported into the world that Murcielago, the great zanpakuto spirit, lived.
The world was nothing but a deep void of dark eternal midnight, an all-consuming emptiness. She wandered through the void, searching for Murcielago hopefully to find him in this horrid and cold void. The suddenly she reached an end to the complete and total void. There were six flowers, each with six turquoise petals glowing with orange light surrounding a dark figure. Deep black sclera with horribly gold irises glowering with malice, midnight wings, and sharp horns made for skewering bodies, but the face of the strange figure was not viewable.
Then the mysterious figure spoke, "Are you not the girl who as added light to the nothingness that had once enveloped my master's heart and coating this world with eternal midnight?"
Her large doe eyes betrayed wonderment and slight fear as she responded, "I-I guess so. Are-are you Murcielago, Ulquiorra's zanpakuto spirit?"
"That I am young girl. Though you need not fear. For I owe you much for brightening this world, but these flowers used to illuminate this nighttime grove that was covered in ivy leaves- but because his mind does not remember you, yet his soul recognizes you, these flowers began to glow again. Though not even close to the glorious light that they once shone with. Will you help my master find the light in his heart once again?"
"Of course I will Murcielago! I-I, I think I may love him as more than my friend, and so I will help you. But I-I can't do this alone, I will need your help."
"It is because of the love that you had for him and still have, that this world was once again lit with the brilliance that it once did, before emptiness swallowed him. Show him this love of yours, and he will be drawn back to your with open arms and you will once again bring light to his world. Of course I will assist you."
"Then I have to ask a favor of you. Can you change your form into a bat, because that is what I'm going to give Ulquiorra for his birthday," she replied with an uncertain smile and a hopeful glance.
With a nod Murcielago told her that of course he would do so, and that he would be there to help her in her quest. Then the midnight world faded into swirls of color and Orihime left the inner world of Ulquiorra and the zanpakuto spirit's home.
Orihime came to with a start, and her Shun-Shun-Rikka returned to her hairclips. When she looked down at the blade she no longer saw the sword, but a gold-eyed fruit bat with a curious gaze. "Why hello Murcielago, let's go get you into your knew home. Ulquiorra's birthday is tomorrow and everything has got to be absolutely perfect."
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCHIFFER-KUN!" The whole motley crew wished Ulquiorra a happy birthday, with green and red Christmas streamers everywhere and big sign that said Happy Birthday.
After everyone feasted on a big chocolate cake with white frosting and mint-chocolate chip ice cream, they began to open gifts. One-by-one each and every member of the group handed Ulquiorra a gift, except Orihime. When it was over everyone looked toward Orihime, the same question on the tip of their tongue.
"Oi, chick! Where is emo-clown's birthday present?"
With a mischievous glance she stood up, grabbed Ulquiorra's arm and raced out of the room. And without a second thought everyone ran after them. (Especially because some of the them thought cough Grimmjow cough that if Ulquiorra was gonna get a piece of that cake they wanna see it). They ran through the backyard and into the zoo, Orihime's grin enveloping her face and mirth and excitement in her eyes. Finally she stopped at the black curtain that covered Ulquiorra's animal enclosure.
"Woman, why are we here? Did you just decide to drag me out here to stare at a construction site?" And with a happy glance she said, "Well, why don't you see if it's a construction site?" Then she pushed him through the curtain
He was met with the sight of a… forest and… bat cave. Orihime whistled and called out, "Murcielago!" And then a fruit bat came and landed on Ulquiorra's hand, its curious golden gaze landing on his emerald irises.
And with a greatful glance her way he said with the slightest smile, "Thank you, Orihime."
"Your welcome Ulquiorra. Happy Birthday."
A/N: This is for Ulquiorra's birthday and I'm so so so so so so sorry, that i didn't have this posted for Ulquiorra's birthday! I hope you love this and the next chapter will be up between Christmas and New Year's. This chapter is pretty much a filler, but does has some important plot points. The next chapter is one of the most important chapters for the start of the plot. Also, beware of the Grimmjow and Orihime friendship and NO ONE should think that they will have any Grimmhime moments because their friendship is ONLY important to the plot. LOVELZ AND HUGGLZ