Ulterior
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Bleach.
Episode 4
【Previously】
It was a heavy price paid. Aizen may be brutal and cold-hearted, but he recognised and valued talent and loyalty and was a great judge of these two aspects. In order to repay Ray's commitment, Aizen decided to raise his son on his behalf. He allowed Ray to have his last words with his son. Aizen took over as a father-figure when that child was eight. For his protection, he arranged for home-schooling and watched this boy flourish and excel in every aspect of intelligence, combat and resourcefulness through the years. That boy was Ulquiorra Schiffer.
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Flashback
The night was silent. The sky was a starless black. A crescent moon hung. Nature seemed to be preparing itself formally for solemnity. A single car drove along a deserted stretch of road, with the city lights as backdrop. "Where are we going, my husband?" a gentle voice asked. The driver smiled. His intentions ambiguous. "Can't we spend some alone time together, my dear?" he responded, and gazed to see a faint tint of blush on his wife's delicate face. He would miss her beauty. He would miss her intelligence. He would miss all the reasons he chose her to be his wife. But she yearned for stability. He yearned for the opposite. Life's a gamble. Survivor of the fittest. Nevertheless, he had given her stability. He had given her all that she wanted. It was time now that she gave him what he would want.
The tires stopped. The car was parked at the side of the highway. There were no other cars. Serenity. A night to remember. A flash of events.
"You have given me a good life," Inoue Akio spoke.
"You too. I love you very much." His wife smiled and leaned against his chest. She held on tightly to his hand as though knowing it would be the last time she could do so.
Click. A gun. "Get out of the car," a rough voice spoke.
The couple got out.
The gun fired. Bullet met flesh. She took the bullet for her husband. Eyes closed. A pool of blood.
Another gun fired. The rough voice let out a final gasp. "Your purpose has expired," a cold voice breathed.
The woman was unknowing. A smile on her face. The intruder realised. He was betrayed.
No time for grieving. A click of a button. The sky lit up, orange. It matched the auburn tresses of the woman. The car exploded, fell limply to its side, engulfed in flames.
Akio walked away. Because he knew she loved him, he would let her go first. She died thinking she protected the love of her life – it would be better than living a life thinking that the love of her life had died.
No time for regret. What was done, was done.
The night was silent. The sky was a starless black. A crescent moon hung…
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"Orihime, have you decided?" Tatsuki asked her best friend. Lessons were over for their first day of highschool and the group decided to take a walk through the school's huge hall, gazing at the variety of club booths set up. All freshman students can only join one extracurricular activity each. There are sports clubs and culture clubs. Orihime still wasn't sure. She gazed at her best friend beside her and gave her a weak smile. "Iie, Tatsuki-chan," she started, "It's easier for you since you've been in Karate since young… I'm not so sure for myself." The group continued pacing when they heard the sounds of colliding shinais. Just ahead of them, Ikkaku and Toushirou were sparring just beside the Kendo booth and a small crowd gathered to watch.
"Argh! Take that!" Ikkaku charged full-force at his smaller opponent. His swings were powerful and fast. Toushirou swiftly evaded each attack. A firm foot forward, a slight rustle, an abrupt blast of air. Jabbed. The next second, Ikkaku fell on one knee. The tip of a shinai rested gracefully on his left shoulder. The crowd drew in their breaths. Some gasped. Impressed. Ikkaku got back on his feet and both Ikkaku and Toushirou bowed. The crowd clapped. "Taicho, you still live up to your name. But, I may catch up." Ikkaku said, resting a firm hand on Toushirou's shoulder blade and using the other to wipe away his perspiration with a towel. Toushirou grinned knowingly.
"That was impressive, Hitsugaya-san!" Rukia bowed and then applauded. Orihime blinked. "Hitsugaya-san! No wonder you insist people address you as 'taicho'! We didn't think you are so skilled in Kendo…" Orihime praised. Toushirou let out a smirk, satisfied with himself. "…Hmm, I guess looks can be deceiving…" Orihime continued. Tatsuki let out an embarrassed chuckle for her friend and dragged her best friend away. "Orihime, we should continue finding a club for you ne?" Everyone knew they could trust Orihime to say the weirdest things. Toushirou's smirk faltered and twitched. "Ha! Ikkaku! You've lost," Renji was being spiteful and earned himself a staring competition from the sophomore. "Well, I don't mind showing you how it feels like to lose… baboon," Ikkaku retaliated. Seeing that the two nutcases were headed towards tearing each other apart, Rukia grabbed the nearest shinai and whacked Renji and Ikkaku on the head. She didn't meant for it to be as forceful as it turned out to be. The two collapsed momentarily before hopping up onto their feet and staring daggers at Rukia.
"Enough. If all of you like to fight so much, consider joining the Kendo club," Toushirou positioned himself behind the booth and spoke professionally. "If you've got the guts…" Ikkaku incited. Immediately, Renji signed up. "Who's afraid of who? I think I'll enjoy Kendo – fighting's legal here," Renji said arrogantly. Ichigo was initially uninterested. He isn't one to commit to anything. But listening to what Renji suggested, he remembered that Renji still owed him a fight. Kendo – more opportunities to bash up Renji, just for kicks. In an instant, his name was on the list. Rukia thought she may actually have innate talent. She needed a club too, so she wrote her name without much hesitation.
"I guess everyone signed up for a club already," Tatsuki and Orihime were back. "Orihime, what did you sign up for?" Rukia asked. "Handicrafts' Club!" she chirped, "Something tells me it will come in handy one day…" Everyone thought that perhaps 'weird' was an understatement. Orihime was one person you can never read. An enigma. "Hey, Sado! What did you sign up for?" Ichigo asked, curious to know. "Kickboxing," Sado replied. The school would need more punching bags.
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"Highschool, eh?" Gin Ichimaru was leaning against a wall along one of the many corridors in the mansion. Ulquiorra ignored his presence and continued walking, with hands in their perpetual position – in his pockets. "Been there, done that," the elder man bragged. Ulquiorra was already a few metres away from the man, his back facing him. "It's not as easy as you think it will be, Schiffer-san," Gin was not discouraged by the lack of attention given to him. "If you require any… assistance, you know who to look for." Gin smirked and strode in the opposite direction. He knew Ulquiorra would eventually.
"By the way…" Gin called out loudly. Ulquiorra stopped momentarily. "Good luck!" His grin never leaving his face.
【To be continued…】
