Author's Notes: This one wasn't so bad. A little short, but not bad. Second to last chapter, so enjoy! Chapter 6 of...you guessed it!...Punishment(fooled you!)...HEARTLESS LOVE!
Chapter 6: Apache sat at home, pouting to herself about her own stupidity, "How was I supposed to know he was 'gay' gay…this sucks!" "Why didn't you ask me," a voice spoke up from behind her. Apache turned around and gasped. It was her master, espada number three, Tia Harribel. "Master Harribel, my deepest apologies, I-," "No need for that now, your problem comes first." Apache looked up at her master, who knelt down to her level to stare her straight in the face. "Master, you need not kneel-," "Why didn't you ask me, Apache? I'm an espada to you know, I already knew he was gay," she put a gloved hand on her shoulder, treating her as an equal as she usually did with her fraccion. "Well I-," "Were you nervous?" "No, It's just I-," "Were you scared?" "No, I um-," "Or were you just trying to keep it a secret?" "Master, please!" "Hm?" "I'm sorry but…you're a bit too close." Harribel was literally lying on Apache, her heavyset chest pressed against hers. "Really? What's wrong…are you hiding something?" "What makes you think that, mam?" "You usually don't care." Apache blushed and grinned nervously. "You're right, I was nervous as to mention it to you." "Well I guess we learn from our mistakes, huh Apache?" Harribel smiled at her from behind her hood. "Thank you, Master Harribel." How about you call me Tia today?" "But, Master Harri-," "Please, Apache, just…Tia. Now come, fresh tea and conversation await us inside." "You mean you don't care that we're dating other espada?" "Of course not, you ladies are free to do as you wish. The only thing that matters is that you're safe, and I suppose dating espada reassures that you girls won't get hurt." "Oh, wait…what the-," Apache backed up at the sight of the old man. Baraggan Luisenbarn, second espada and previous king, walked out the door and stood before them. "Later…stud," Harribel winked at him. "Hm," was all his gruff voice muttered before he disappeared in a flash of Sonido. "Master Harribel, have you-," "Apache, are you about to say that you're surprised? I can date others as well you know." "Of course not, master- I mean, Tia! I'm just…well…surprised!" "Let's make it our little secret, k?" "Of course Master Harri- I mean Tia!" And they walked inside, anxious to begin their social hour together. She began to walk out the door, leaving the large man snoring to himself on his oversized bed. "Later big guy," Mila-rose whispered to Yammy, placing a pink note on the table of empty dishes before disappearing. Yammy just scratched his stomach as a grin grew across his drooling face. Sun-sun closed the door behind her, blush still in her smiling face. "For a servant type like me, he sure likes to be on top," she whispered to herself. After making quick fixes to her outfit, she bowed to the door with a short, "Arigato." "You're welcome," responded a calm voice in front of her. Sun-sun screamed at the sudden appearance of her half naked boyfriend, only wearing a pair of black sweatpants and an equally black towel that hung from his neck, leaving his chest, sporting his number four ranking tattoo, exposed to the sun outside (Ulquiorra had to squint…he was still used to the darkness of his house). "Ulquiorra…I-I thought you were still asleep!" Ulquiorra closed his eyes and cracked his neck. "Just woke up…thought I'd see you off." Sun-sun smiled at his rare kindness. She kissed him on the cheek with another short, "Arigato," before she disappeared. When she reappeared, she stood in the morning desert. It felt odd, making Sun-sun look down to see her black socks staring back at her. Sun-sun smacked her head with her sleeve and heaved a quiet sigh. "You forgot these." She screamed again, jumping a few inches off the ground this time. Sun-sun turned around to see Ulquiorra standing there holding up her shoes. "Thanks, dear." After wiping her socks of sand and placing them on her, a thankful smile appeared on her face, which was followed with a short, "Bye," before she disappeared again. When she reappeared, she was about ten feet from the front door of her house. "And one more thing." Sun-sun screamed for the third time. She really wished he would stop doing that. "Yes-mm!" She let out a small gasp as Ulquiorra locked lips with her out of nowhere. When they released, she stared at him curiously. "You came all the way here just for that?" "It was worth it…for last night…see you later." And he disappeared. She blushed again, unable to stop smiling at his seemingly common kindness this morning. She whispered one last, short, "Arigato," to herself, having yet to remove her violet eyes from the spot where he stood seconds ago. "Sun-sun! Is that you dear? Why are you standing out there all by yourself?" Sun-sun's dream bubble popped, turning around to see her master, Harribel, waving at her from atop the balcony of their house. "Eep, forgiveness Master Harribel, I'm on my way!" She ran into the house and closed the door behind her. Harribel stared at the spot where her fraccion stood, pondering in thought. "Girls can be so silly when it comes to boys and their musings. It's so funny!" She smiled from underneath her hood, proud of her three girls for what they were trying to accomplish. Normal life…as a human would put it.