well, the title to this chapter was originally bleeding hearts and bleeding holes, then i thought, well... that sounds like some kind of pervy statement... so i changed it.
plz people, i really am NOT a pervert. also, today, you all get to meet the aforementioned Kimi! Yay!
Chapter Eighteen:
Bleeding Hearts… Er, Holes
Seren sped along the hallways, grasping at all the fresh air that flowed in her lungs. Free! If only for a little bit, free!
"Whoohoo! Doesn't that feel nice, Chompy?" She lifted it up, and the thing only drooled. "Gee, you sure are quiet. All you do is drool and grunt," Seren said.
"ARGH!" Seren stopped in her tracks. She'd heard a girl screaming. She looked around; it had come from down the hallway to the left.
"Hm… Let's go see what it is, Chompy." She turned on her heel and ran down the hallway.
What she found raised her blood.
There was one small Arrancar girl backed against a wall, surrounded by a semicircle of seven laughing Arrancars. There were two women and five men, all of whom looked considerably stronger than the girl.
"Leave me alone!" She called out. There was a large bruise on the side of her face.
"Oh yes, listen to that trash!" One of the men joked and he pushed the girl down. She tumbled on the ground. "What a stupid slut!"
"Oh yes. I think we should just put her out of her misery!" Suggested one of the women.
"Such a weakling!" Agreed the other.
"What should we do to her?" Asked one of the males.
"You won't be doing anything!" Seren's voice rang out down the hall. The gang of Arrancars looked up at her, just as surprised as she was.
Seren wanted to kick herself. WHY?! Why?! Why was she always getting herself into crap like this?!
Oh well. The die has been cast.
She strode down the hall. "Leave her alone." The girl on the floor looked up at her, surprised; her eyes were begging her to help her- or leave.
"Yeah, right. You think you can take on all of us? How arrogant!"
"I'll kill you! You bitch!" Yelled one of the women.
Seren's eyebrow twitched. She really didn't want to fight them. This could very well end badly-
The first woman pulled out her sword. "I'll kill you!"
As if on cue, all of the Arrancar attacked at once.
"Damn," was all Seren said. Then she dodged to the side.
A rain of attacks fell on where she had just been. "Well, that's overkill!" She said, just before a sword sliced off part of her bangs. One of the women were there, smirking.
"Bitch."
"Whore. ROKU!"
The woman was thrown hard against the wall as the lightning got her head-on. The wall cracked behind her, and her head lolled to the side, unconscious.
Seren turned around, and grabbed a sword before it got her in the back, and grabbed the wrist of its wielder, and heartlessly broke it.
Of course! She could remember her life as a vice captain- this was nothing next to some of the battles she remembered!
Seren laughed wildly, enjoying the heat of battle.
She spun around, jumping above another sword slash, and kicked the face of the Arrancar who had attacked her.
She touched ground again, before diving to the side. The cero missed her eyes by inches.
Seren pulled out Fuerda, and started fighting, viciously, wildly. Her heart pumped, the adrenaline flowed, and she couldn't have loved it more.
A punch. A kick. Dive, dodge. Shoot lightning. Parry, thrust. Blow flame. She only saw blurs and swords and hands, no faces.
She fought with all her might and speed, and when she stopped, she found that she had knocked out five of them, and only two Arrancar remained left.
They looked at her shocked. "H-how?"
"Hmm…I suggest you leave."
"Like hell, you BITCH!" One of them screamed, and charged. Seren jumped above him, and landed on his head, successfully knocking him out.
He hit the tile floor with a resounding bang.
"One more," she said, smiling at the remaining Arrancar.
"Y-you-!"
"Seren." Seren's breath caught in her throat. She spun around.
It was Ulquiorra.
"Seren, you're late." He was angry, she could tell. She looked around, surprised. Oh, yep. It was dark again.
The remaining Arrrancar took his chance and fled down the hallway.
"Ul-ulquiorra-sama?" The girl stuttered, suddenly more afraid of him than the other Arrancar.
"Oh, Ulquiorra… I was…"
"Defending that trash?" Ulquiorra looked at the girl on the floor.
"She's not trash." Seren had actually forgotten all about her in the heat of battle. She turned around and helped her up.
Ulquiorra looked around at the six Arrancar bodies that were scattered around the hallway. "Did you do all this?"
"They're just knocked out. They should be fine. And there were seven, but the other one took the high road." She jabbed her thumb behind her. She looked around. "Wait, where's Chompy?!"
"H-here, miss." The girl was holding him. She'd been protecting him the whole time as Seren fought the Arrancar.
Seren smiled. "Thank you." She picked up Chompy. "Ooh, my little baby, that was probably so scared," she cooed, smooching its head, "but you were in good hands." She turned around and looked at the girl. "You're pretty beat up. I think you should come with me. Those guys will be back with a vengeance."
"No, it's okay. They'll stay away from me for a while. I think you cowed them entirely." She rubbed the back of her head nervously.
Seren turned around. Oh yeah, Ulquiorra was there.
"Yeah, sorry about this… but I was busy… and…"
"Only trash defend the weak," he said.
That ticked her off. Seren was so sick of his superiority complex! "Are you kidding?! You, on your little sand pile of perfection? The only trash are those that don't defend those that need help!"
His sword was at her throat in an instant.
"Something you should remember, woman. I can kill you without needing to blink." Seren's pulse froze. Ice flowed in her veins, replacing blood. Oh, no. What was he going to do? How could she calm him down? Apologize?
But he let up. "You're coming back with me."
"No!" Seren's mouth opened of its own accord, as usual.
WHY?! Why?! Why couldn't her mouth just stay shut?!
"Let me finish what I started." She looked at the girl. "Let me get her help."
Ulquiorra looked at her again.
Once again, that strange pain in his chest. It was like having hot needles stabbed through him. It hurt.
He wanted her gone. He wanted this girl gone forever.
She hurt him.
"Fine. But you are to come straight back." He turned around and left.
The girl stumbled behind Seren, who was carrying Chompy.
"You didn't have to do all that for me, you know!" She said.
"Huh?" Seren turned around, confused. "Well, I did, and that's that."
The girl looked confused. Well, not quite girl- now that Seren had a better look at her, she looked about seventeen, not a girl. She was just short, that's all. She had vibrant orange hair with golden blonde streaks and freckles. Her eyes were yellow, and she had thick, dark eyebrows.
She was beautiful. Well, that probably explained why those two female Arrancar had wanted to attack her. For a moment Seren almost felt the coiling of envy in her gut, then she heartlessly shoved it out of her mind.
She was better than that.
"Why did you do that?"
"Umm…" Seren tried to think of something to say. She couldn't tell her she remembered being a shinigami and love, or pity and empathy. "Umm… see, I, uh…"
"It's okay. I should just shut up and be grateful. I know." She looked at the ground again as they started to whiz down the hallways.
"What's your name? I'm Seren." Seren asked.
"Kimi. Kimi Utara."
"Aah. Pretty name, probably why those Arrancar women were mad at you."
"No, it's because… I'm weak… and new."
"Ah, the new kid on the block. That's never easy."
"But I'm still too weak. I wish I was stronger."
"Don't wish for that." Seren spat. "That's wishing for the ability to kill more people, faster. Besides, if I were surrounded by seven Arrancar, I'd probably be weak too."
"But you weren't."
"Ah, but that's not the point."
"Where are we going?"
"To somebody's who I think we can trust. I don't want those guys coming after you again."
"Why didn't you kill them?"
"Well, that was none of my business. For all I know, you could have been some instigator or have slept with the two women's boyfriends, who then realized you cheated on them and they brought their friends to get revenge."
"What?!"
"Umm… never mind…" Seren started laughing. Wow! That was funny. She started laughing even louder and harder, and clutched at her stomach. It felt good to laugh, and she hadn't done it in so long!
"Um… are you okay? Seren-sama!" Kimi was getting nervous. "What did I do?"
"Oh, nothing, it was just funny. It was probably actually better that you didn't hear that," Seren replied.
"But whose place are we going to?"
"A last resort," replied Seren. She didn't even know if he would agree, but she had a better chance with him than Ulquiorra…
They stopped at Grimmjow's rooms.
"Hang on." Seren almost considered knocking on the door.
Nah. He was probably sleeping.
She kicked the door down and knocked it off its hinges with a loud rip. There was a loud bang as it slammed into the ground.
"Grimmjow! I need you!" She called out, while Kimi quaked behind her.
"Y-you knocked down the sexta's door! What if he kills you?" Kimi shrieked.
"He won't. I'm pretty sure, anyways." Seren strode in through the door. "Yo, Grimmjow!"
"What the hell?!" Grimmjow roared as he came in. Then he did a double take as he saw Seren. "What are YOU doing here?!"
"There's someone I need to clean up and I need you to watch her for me."
"Why would I do that for YOU?!"
"Because if not I will… do something… bad?"
"Umm, it's okay Seren-sama! I'll be just fine!" Kimi started backing up from the Espada. Poor girl. Two Espadas in the space of an hour, she was probably terrified. "You don't need to get yourself killed by Grimmjow-sama for my sake!" She pulled on Seren's sleeve. "We should go!"
"Damn straight, you should leave right now, before I rip your head off your throat!" Oh, so Grimmjow was in a bad mood today.
Whoops.
"Just let me use your bathroom so I can clean her up." She pulled Kimi behind her and charged into the bathroom.
"Hey! I never said you could do anything!" Grimmjow yelled.
"Thanks!" Seren called behind her shoulder.
In the bathroom (which was unbelievably messy, of course), Seren washed a towel with cold water. Chompy grunted as he investigated the counter, looking for something to eat. "Let me see your face. And, ah, your arm too…"
Kimi's shoulder had a gash in it, and dried blood stained her uniform. She had on long hakatama pants and a jacket with a high collar and long sleeves.
"Take off the shirt. It's okay, I'm completely straight and a girl, don't worry." She smiled at Kimi.
"But what about Grimmjow-sama-"
"Don't worry about him. I'll kick his head in so hard that he won't remember a thing." Kimi obeyed, and Seren cleaned out her wounds, tsking all the time.
"Such mean creatures! Really."
"But Seren-sama, your shoulder-" Kimi started.
"Huh?" Seren looked at her arm. There was a harsh burn on it. "Oh, ha, this? I didn't even feel it. Haha, see?" She rolled her shoulder- only to realize it did hurt.
Oh snap!
"Whatever, I'll heal soon. You good?"
"Y-yeah… but do I have to really spend the night in… his quarters?" She looked out the door, like expecting Grimmjow to appear suddenly.
"Yes. And if you don't, I will find you!" Seren wagged a finger childishly at Kimi. Kimi looked at her hand, and started giggling quietly.
"Oh, ok. As long as he doesn't try to kill me or anything bad…"
"Oh, that. Yeah, let me go set him straight on that. Watch Chompy. Wait here." Seren strode out the door, leaving Kimi behind holding Chompy, looking after her worriedly.
Grimmjow turned around. "All right, you have some explaining to do, woman!"
"Ahh, yeah, sorry about that. She just needs a place to stay for the night. There was this vicious gang of Arrancar beating her up, and-"
"You saved her right?" Grimmjow almost looked smug. "You and your dumb bleeding heart."
"Umm… bleeding hole. We don't have hearts, remember?"
"You do." Grimmjow turned to look the other way. "So… for this, what are you going to do for me?"
"What?"
"It's not fair if I let her stay here and you don't do anything for me."
"Well, sure. What do you want me to do? I can clean this place up." She looked around. "It could certainly use it. Really, Grimmjow-"
That's when Grimmjow grabbed her face and kissed her.
Seren shrieked behind his lips. Her heart was pumping bullets as his mouth moved against hers. She slapped Grimmjow's hand, but he was too strong; he wouldn't let go!
Finally, she kicked him in the knee with all the force in her body.
"OWCH!" He let go, and rubbed his knee.
Seren stood up, fists clenched at her sides. "You… you PERV!" She huffed angrily, her face blushing wildly. "Why is EVERYONE here like that?!" Seren wiped her mouth vigorously. "What the hell, Grimmjow?!"
"It's probably because you're cute." He grinned at her wolfishly.
"Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?! Keep your lips off me!"
"You liked it, admit it."
"Did you totally miss me smacking at your hands as you FORCED me?"
Grimmjow didn't even bother to look ashamed. "Well, that was payback enough. I'll take care of the girl. You can go, that was worth it."
He was laughing about it, hysterically, dammit!
"Gr-Grimmjow, you BASTARD!" Seren shrieked. She grabbed Chompy and stormed out of the room, calling out to Kimi that she could stay over her shoulder.
When Seren got back, she tried to calm herself down. It was just a kiss, and quick one too. It was just a kiss- STOLEN! That bastard would pay when she got back tomorrow!
Oh. That's right. Ulquiorra. She gulped. If she got back.
Seren walked in through the door, making a mental note to get a new door. The room looked empty- but, oh. She could only see his back, but Ulquiorra was standing by the window.
"Seren."
Oh, damn.
"Yes, Ulquiorra?"
Damn, damn, dammit. This was bad.
She set Chompy down. "You should probably leave now," she whispered to it. "You don't want to see this."
Chompy simply grunted and waddled away.
"You're pissed, right? I'm sorry, I just lost track of… time?"
Instead of an answer, Ulquiorra turned around and strode towards Seren, his eyes burning into hers.
Seren felt her knees start shaking again. She wanted to close her eyes against his fury. But no. She mustn't lose any ground.
Ulquiorra stopped, inches from her. "I allow you some freedom, and you go and disobey me." His face didn't even change, but his eyes simmered.
Seren winced like she was being hit. He wanted to kill her, and ironically, again, it was Aizen protecting her.
Why?! Why?! Why couldn't she just be good instead of always getting into trouble?
"I'm sorry… Ulquiorra." Her nails bit worriedly into her palms. Her tendons flexed under her skin. She braced herself to be hit.
"…You think I'm going to hit you?" Ulquiorra's anger alleviated, a little. It was replaced by slight surprise.
"Aren't you?"
"…"
"Exactly. Just go ahead and do it, before I have a heart attack."
"You don't have one."
Seren almost smiled. "Oh yeah, forgot that one. My bad. A hole attack." She bit her lip. "I'm sorry, really."
"You hurt your shoulder."
"Yeah… but I think that's it. I guess I earned this one." Why was he talking about this? Wasn't he going to hit her?
"Just don't do it again."
Seren looked up, surprised. She could almost have sworn Ulquiorra's eyes had softened. He was about to turn to go.
Her heart burst with a rush of excitement and release. "R-really!? Thank you, Ulquiorra!" Before her head could take control, she hugged him.
Ulquiorra's eyes widened- there was a scent of lavender at his throat as her head brushed him, a warmth where her body pressed against his, and a light pressure around his back where her arms embraced him- and then it was gone.
It had only been a moment.
Seren's jaw dropped, just as surprised as he was.
"O-oh," she muttered, arms curled over her chest. "I-I'm sorry, that was an accident. I… I won't do it again."
Ulquiorra simply turned away. Seren spun and fled to her room, not even bothering to pretend to hide her shock. There was a quiet slam as she shut her door tight.
And then Ulquiorra noted two things. Her fists had curled in front of her, like he was about to hurt her.
Two, he had turned away from her, but what he had really wanted to say to her was, 'do it again.'
'Don't leave me.'
