Chapter 3: Why a person shouldn't make Ulquiorra mad and ways to keep your limbs attached when you do. (In other words, run. Really fast.)
Of all the Espada Ulquiorra could be labeled as a 'pushover'. Or, more appropriately, 'Aizen's bitch'. He is very compliant and agreeable in most cases. Ulquiorra tends to think things over and decided whether or not to do anything on a matter. Usually he would avoid most people or be polite and walk away. He doesn't want to waste any energy being rude. He is mostly cordial to his fellow Espada, even to other beings.
Except if you make him angry.
As the cuatra Espada, Ulquiorra is in the top five seats of the Espada ranking. It also helps that he was once a Vosto Lorde. By default, even the shinigami acknowledge this fact, he can defeat a Death God captain.
As such, the other higher numbered Espada were beneath him. It pained Ulquiorra to admit that the top three Espada were beyond him in power. There was truly a big gap. There is also a maturity difference. The top three do not act childishly nor lust for battle. Of all ten, the top three could be considered the most threatening. There was a logical reason Aizen placed his top three as the most powerful of all the Espada.
The thing is, strangely, it could be reasoned that if Ulquiorra actively worked and strengthened himself, he could work himself up to one of the top three positions. But sadly Ulquiorra does not have a competitive bone in his body. He lusts for neither power nor position.
Frankly, he likes where he is.
It was as if, Aizen-sama made him into an agreeable, loyal and emotionless person. It certainly worked. Of all the Espada, Ulquiorra was the one to go to when there was a job to be done, what that also means that Ulquiorra does nearly all the work.
Ulquiorra was 'happy' doing that. He didn't have any complaints.
Now, there was a small voice in the back of his head commenting of some of the most inane things irritating him further. He was already pissed at being trapped, his body taken over by a Death God ie shinigami, and being placed in a humiliating position.
There will be a reckoning.
That was why when Kenpachi charged at him, instead of killing Kenpachi outright, Ulquiorra stepped aside, elbowed the shinigami in the kidneys and broke his back not exchanging words or taunts. He did all this in the span of seconds, moving to quick for Kenpachi to react.
To Kenpachi's credit, he was bleeding and he had just defeated Nnoitra who wasn't a pushover. To Ulquiorra's credit, he was pissed off, very fast, powerful and pissed off.
Ulquiorra stepped around Kenpachi's body, careful to avoid his arms. From what Ulquiorra knew and from what L was telling him Kenpachi would fight even if his back were broken, just only with his arms and the use of kido. Kenpachi shouted insults at Ulquiorra while still on the ground, trying to drag his broken body in standing position.
In his opinion, Kenpachi was like Grimmjow and Nnoitra, bloodthirsty fighters who will fight even if every bone in their body was broken. Grimmjow and Nnoitra understood how hollows lived, how it was a world where you have to watch your back and your front, how their life will end in violence, in pain.
Also in his opinion, he hated the other two Epsada, barely tolerating their existence. They were a constant annoyance and generally were useless other than battle. He was pleased that Nnoitra was dead. While Nnoitra was powerful, he had a dirty mind and rude as well. He also jeopardized missions, doing more things than needed.
While he had crippled Kenpachi, Ichigo had lunged at him, hollow mask already on his face.
Ulquiorra tracked Ichigo with his eyes, deciding what to do and leaping right in front of Ichigo's face all in a scant second. With one hand, he shattered Ichigo's mask, preventing the strawberry shinigami from using his hollow powers.
With ease, he also broke Ichigo's back in passing. He disliked Ichigo. In his mind, it was easy to rationalize that Ichigo was a problem. While he may not have orders to kill Ichigo, that does not mean he could be vicious. It was remarkably easy to break an opponent's back if they don't have iron skin.
It almost didn't seem fair to the shinigami.
Almost.
Ulquiorra landed on the sand, next to Orihime, expressionless. The battle had taken less half second and he didn't even use both his arms. Most battles would take less time if they didn't posture to each other. Like Halibel, he disliked useless speeches and just killed his opponents.
He felt satisfaction that two annoyances were currently detained in obvious pain.
Orihime chocked back a shocked cry as she stared at Ichigo and Kenpachi. She had to help them. She had to. She already had a shield over Yachiru, healing her minor injuries when Ulquiorra landed next to her.
She opened her mouth and started to activate her powers when Stark appeared.
"Ah, you dealt with them already?" He asked lazily, his droopy eyes scanning the area, noting the crippled but alive shinigami.
Ulquiorra nodded.
He walked over to Nnoitra and grabbed him with one arm. "We have a meeting. Bring Grimmjow with you."
Ulquiorra disappeared and reappeared with Grimmjow.
"Halibel already got Szayel, Aizen-sama's orders." Stark said in explanation while adjusting his grip on Nnoitra, the big gangly arrancar was already getting stiff.
"What of the other two?" Ulquiorra asked, adjusting his grip on Grimmjow as well, using his and L's intelligence, trying to accommodate for taking two people while sonido'ing.
"Never mentioned." Stark said evenly. "Let's go."
He disappeared.
Ulquiorra turned his gaze to Orihime. While they were talking, Orihime had erected a healing shield over the two currently crippled shinigami.
"Stop Onna. You need to conserve your powers." Ulquiorra said, placing a free hand on her shoulder. He had an inkling into what Aizen wanted her to do.
Orihime looked up at him, fearfully and nodded. She disengaged her shields. Ulquiorra sonido'd, his speed barely affected by the extra weight. They arrived back at the palace. Ulquiorra dumped Grimmjow with the healers. He noted that Szayel was there as well, strangely frozen with a zanpakuto blade stuck in his chest. Nnoitra was placed on an extra bed made especially for big arrancar. He still looked dead, in which Ulquiorra was still pleased.
"Ulquiorra-sama." Said the head arrancar healer, approaching the trio slightly nervous and strangly he was glancing at Ulquiorra frequently. "Aizen-sama orders that Orihime be placed here for the time being."
Ulquiorra nodded. He knew what Aizen-sama wanted Orihime to do. Orihime took a hesitant step into the infirmary before shooting him a look. There was fear in there but also gratitude.
Ulquiorra scoffed inwardly that what he did was mercy. He was just prolonging the shinigami's suffering. No doubt, the two will be back and they will suffer even more at his hand, especially the pink one.
With a last glance at his charge he disappeared, he took a pit stop at his room to get another jacket to replace the one that was destroyed. Ulquiorra took the time to address some internal problems. The extra zanpakuto that appeared when L took control had disappeared when Ulquiorra was restored.
'What will you do now, shinigami?'
A faint whisper resounded in the mindscape. 'Nothing yet, more information is needed.'
Ulquiorra closed his eyes in thought. 'Do you know it's name yet?'
'No.' A slight flicker of sadness appeared. 'It says I'm not ready yet.'
'I see.' Ulquiorra looked at L, arms stuffed in his pockets. 'It is bizarre how similar we are.'
L had to agree. 'True.' He looked up and then back at Ulquiorra. 'A truce then.'
'A truce.' Agreed Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra stepped out of his mindscape before walking to the meeting place. He was unsure in how to tell Aizen. He didn't want everyone else to know he had a problem. Then they would pester him even more. The less who knew the better thought Ulquiorra.
He opened the door and walked in, gazing at the table where the rest of the Espada were seated. Aizen wasn't there but Gin and Tousen were. Gin was grinning and snickering whenever he looked at Ulquiorra. Tousen, being blind, was like a statue.
"You're back." Halibel said, her voice muffled by the high collar.
"You're late." Said the old man pointedly.
Ulquiorra took his seat. "I am not late until everyone else is here and I am not." He stated, melancholy eyes flickering over the vacant seats.
They sat there in silence, only with Gin's constant snickering breaking the silence. Finally, Aizen arrived.
"My Espada, I apologize for being late I was being detained for a special mater." Aizen said to the shock and disbelief of the Espada. Aizen never apologized. He seemed to be in a decent mood, a good enough mood to actually joke around.
"Now that we are all here." Aizen said, calmly ignoring the vacant spots at the table. "There is the matter of the intruders."
The holo projector was activated. Images appeared of the offending invading party "There are now four captain in Hueco Mundo along with their vice captains. There is also another from fourth division but is of no threat. All captains are injured except for the fourth division captain."
"Sadly we lost four of our number to them." Aizen said, not exactly sad. "However that was their own fault for going against my orders. However now we know more about the invaders and their abilities, thus we now have the upper hand."
He smirked. "Had we not have Orihime and her god-rejecting-abilities we would be no doubt looking for others to take place of the fallen Espada. However, at this current moment, she is working hard into bringing them back to life."
A ripple affect appeared among the Espada.
"What?" Yammi was a bit lost; he expressed his feelings by slamming a fist on the table. "They are dead. They cannot be brought back to life!"
Murmurs of agreement were voiced.
"Ah but it appears Orihime's powers are more extensive then I have previously thought. Earlier my own projections of her true abilities were blown away. As long as she has the energy and will, she can do almost anything." Aizen smirked.
The Espada were silent after this revelation. The knowledge that they could be brought back to life after being killed was shocking. The woman was indeed dangerous. If Soul Society had such an asset, Soul Society would be unstoppable. It was indeed a great deed in foresight to capture her.
"Of the four that were killed, only two will be revived. Aaroniero and Zommari are useless. They have nothing to contribute to the upcoming war." Aizen looked at the other Espada. "Are there any objections?"
There were none.
"But now to other matters." He looked at Ulquiorra.
A minute passed and soon everyone was looking at Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra did not even blink when the most of the occupants of the room were looking at him.
"Ulquiorra. You are not yourself, are you not?"
"Whatever do you mean Aizen-sama?" Ulquiorra had the perfect poker face.
"This." The holo projector changed and images of Ulquiorra eating cake appeared. The images flickered to him stuffing candy in his pocket.
Ulquiorra felt a tiny twinge of…well…embarrassment flicker across his face. "Oh." He forgot about the cameras.
Aizen raised an eyebrow. "Can you explain your behavior?"
Ulquiorra's mind raced. He had wanted to tell Aizen in private and away from the prying eyes and ears of the others. However he had a feeling the images of himself gorging on cake had already circulated around Los Noches. No doubt, that was why Gin was snickering.
"I have an extra guest in my mind Aizen-sama." Ulquiorra said truthfully. "A shinigami."
Aizen blinked. He had honestly not expected that. "I see." There seems to be more than one surprise this day.
"Damn, no wonder you were acting strangely." Yammi said, laughing. "Figures."
Ulquiorra was really glad that the Espada that were bound to laugh at his predicament were currently dead or extremely injured.
"Aw. Shame." Gin said his fox smile on his face. "Thought ya actually got a personality underneath that drywall look of yours."
Ulquiorra hid his deep sigh.
"May I speak to this shinigami?" Ulquiorra looked at Aizen in puzzlement. "I assume that the shinigami in question can take control?"
Ulquiorra nodded. Yes the shinigami did take control in the beginning and they were currently at a truce.
"Very well, let him appear. I am interested in him."
Ulquiorra closed his eyes. L had heard and seen everything and did not need anything explained to him.
All the Espada watched interested as Ulquiorra's body posture shifted. Instead of being stiff, he slumped and when he opened his eyes, even the Espada could tell there was this other person in control. They could also smell shinigami on him. A zanpakuto materialized on the table unsheathed and in a sealed state.
"Welcome shinigami to Hueco Muendo." Aizen said smiling, a friendly expression on his face. "May I ask your name?"
The being that was in control of Ulquiorra tilted his head and spoke. "You may call me Ryuzaki."
"That is not your true name." Aizen tapped his fingers together. "You do not trust me with your true name?"
"To know a beings name is to have power over it." Ryuzaki shifted his body into a crouch, his expression remaining blank. "Do you mind?"
"No on both accounts." Aizen leaned back in his chair. "You do not wish to stop me like the other shinigami?"
Ryuzaki's eyes flickered at Aizen before looking over the room and its inhabitants. "I do not have any allegiances with this Soul Society and as such do not have any disagreements with you." He paused. "However that does not mean I will assist you in your endeavors. I am neutral."
"That is to be expected." Aizen smiled. "I will talk with you later. It was pleasant meeting you Ryuzaki-kun."
Ryuzaki rocked back on the balls of his feet. "You're lying." He stated plainly. "There is no doubt you are trying to find some way of manipulating me into your plans."
Aizen nodded indulgently. "I see you are very intelligent."
Ryuzaki said nothing in return before relinquishing control to Ulquiorra. The zanpakuto disappeared. Ulquiora opened his eyes, straightened his posture and glared at his fellow Espada, daring them to say anything.
None said anything and even Stark was awake during the short meeting. It wasn't long before Yammi started laughing again with Stark snickering as well. The others did not do the same but Ulquiorra did hear snorts coming from the normally silent Halibel.
Ulquiorra endured the laughter patiently.
A sudden increase of reiatsu stopped the laughter. Aizen stood. "I see Nnoitra has been revived."
Nnoitra's reiatsu was back, flickering, but back.
"Let us go greet them." Aizen looked at the Espada. "I have no doubt you wish to see the evidence yourselves."
They did.
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Well?
I know I did something really AU but seriously Orihime could do that. If Aizen, wanted it to be done then he'll do it.
After all, Orihime brought back the one arrancar that was cero'd by Grimmjow.
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