Chapter Six:
A Pretty Collar
When Seren opened her eyes, she felt a tickling of pearls rolling around on her neck. She looked down.
Damn.
He'd just had to be there, right in the nick of time. Damn your efficiency, Ulquiorra. And while she's at it, damn you altogether.
Yes Seren thought. That was better. She sighed and touched the necklace, expecting it to shock her.
It didn't. Instead it felt cool and smooth to the touch; it felt heavy also. Normally she would have thought it was beautiful, but it wasn't; it was just a pretty collar tying the dog up. She tried to pull at it, hoping it would come off, or snap.
It didn't.
Damn.
Then she looked around, and found some clothes hanging on the door.
Her heart beating fast, she slid out of bed and walked over to it curiously, and found that they were marked with her name. She smiled. Finally! New clothes!
She pulled them off their hanger. There was a pair of long white hakatama pants, thankfully shorter than Ulquiorra's. There was also a jacket, which looked… a lot like Ulquiorra's. The whole ensemble looked suspiciously like Ulquiorra's. Seren gritted her teeth. She bet command center was laughing its butt off at this. Well, no siree!
"Hey!" She called out the door. "Mila Rose! Sunsun! Apache!"
"Why are you bothering us?" Drawled Mila. "Some of us are busy!" Her voice came from the bathroom, and Seren suspected it was from by the mirror.
"Yeah! I haven't been able to get any sleep since you came!" Yelled Sunsun.
"Shut up, Sunsun. You couldn't sleep before she was here either, because Mila Rose and I were always arguing! Duh." Apache yelled from the front room.
It's good to know I'm so loved, thought Seren. Really.
"Why are you bothering us anyways?" Pouted Mila Rose. "We DON'T fucking like you!"
"Aww… that's a bummer. I wanted somebody to help me design an outfit…"
"OOOH! ME! ME!" Mila Rose came rushing out of the bathroom. Then she stopped. "I mean, it wouldn't be TOO much trouble…" She murmured.
"It's okay. Come one help me with this. I think the command central's getting a kick out of me wearing what Ulquiorra does. Do any of you sew?" She called out.
"I do," answered Sunsun. "But… why should I?"
"Because… umm… I'll do something for you?"
"Ha!" Just then Sunsun snickered evilly. "Well then… we want you to… clean the bathroom!"
"Haha!" Laughed Mila Rose. "It is getting pretty dirty…"
"Well, that's okay. It actually looked pretty decent to me…" Seren said. "BUT when I'm done, you guys are helping me with my outfit, and then helping me learn sonido!"
"What? I never agreed to this!" Called Apache.
"Pleeeasse?! Have any of you ever been carried by Ulquiorra while he's sonidoing?"
"Um… no?"
"Well then. That would explain why you aren't taking pity on my poor soul."
"No… you have to do something else!"
"I'll… be your slave for a day?" Seren crossed her fingers. This one always worked…
"Yes!" Apache, Mila Rose, and Sunsun all agreed. This was going to be good.
"First off on your list of duties," smirked Apache, "go clean the bathroom!" She pointed.
"Fine." Seren wandered in, and started cleaning.
Now Seren knew why they wanted her to clean the bathroom. It wasn't that dirty but… it was HUGE. There were at least five separate rooms branching off the main one… and some of them probably hadn't been cleaned in a while.
Rolling up her sleeves, she tried not to think about what she was doing but her clothes. She wanted an off-the-shoulder or boat neck line. And some nice baggy sleeves. Those were always fun, as Sunsun can attest to.
About three hours later, Seren came out of the bathroom, carrying a bucket, brush, and sponges. She was bedraggled, grumpy, and tired. Forget the five rooms. There were at least ten.
"All right. Now I need you guys to help me with my clothes!"
"Huh?" Mila looked over her magazine (did they even have magazines in Las Noches?). "Done already?" She looked at her watch. "That was fast."
"I know, but I want this outfit done before Ulquiorra comes back and I might have to wear his stuff again, so yes. I went as fast as I could." Seren very much wanted to start screaming right then, but no. Think soothing thoughts. Clothes. Sonido. Kicking Grimmjow in the face.
"All right. Let's get this started!" Mila happily pulled out a piece of paper and pencil, and set it on the ground. "Apache! Sunsun! She's done!"
"Already?" Sunsun staggered out of her room. "Wow."
"Whatever." Apache appeared, rubbing the side of her face. "Let's just get this over with."
