i hate this stupid document uploader thing!! it is so annoying! it keeps changed all the fonts and underlines and whatever. it is sooooo annoying! stupid think doesn't work right! AAARRGH! X(
also, this chapter was inspired by this great song by death cab for cutie, called 'your heart is an empty room.' i highly advise you guys listen to it while reading this chapter. it makes it all the more emotional...
the song is perfect for ulqui!!
Chapter Twenty Two:
Your Heart is an Empty Room
While Seren was in the shower, she thought.
She couldn't stop thinking about Ulquiorra. He'd just never struck her as mortal, as weird as that sounded. Perhaps, to her, it had just seemed that he was a ghost that lived off of warfare and shadows. Not a person. Not a person who slept or did human things. Not someone who got tired, hurt, or ever looked- this was going to sound weird- breakable. Ulquiorra Schiffer had just always been indestructible to her.
It was strange.
Perhaps he just naturally repulsed people. Was that it?
She knew he'd freaked her out when she saw him.
Then again, he had basically beaten her to a bloody pulp.
Hmm.
Maybe, she thought, they could try to be something other than captive and guard.
And if he repulsed people, did that make him lonely?
Did he ever feel alone?
Luckily for her, no matter how much she hated this place, she had Chompy, Kimi, Apache, Mila Rose, Sunsun, and as much as she tried to deny it… Grimmjow.
Ulquiorra had his missions.
That was it.
It seemed awfully lonely. She knew how it'd felt to be alone- she hadn't realized it, but that's what she had been out in Hueco Mundo. Of course, it hadn't bothered her because she'd had false memories and hadn't known better.
Now she did. Thinking about how alone she'd been made her want to sit on the floor and hug her knees to her chest. It made her feel so awfully bare.
Her heart had been an empty room. Full of nothing.
That's what Ulquiorra was, she thought.
He didn't know any better than that.
Ulquiorra's heart was an empty room.
She heard him rustling around as he was leaving. She didn't move from her bed, only spoke.
"Ulquiorra, don't you ever feel alone?"
"No. I don't have time to do that, nor would I want to. Only trash think of that."
"Huh. Maybe you should try."
The door closed, and Seren wondered if he had even heard her.
"So, Ulquiorra, how's our little Seren-chan?" Aizen asked. His usual happy face was on. And his usual cup of tea.
"She is restless and is usually out by Grimmjow's quarters to visit an Arrancar she saved from a gang." Ulquiorra reported faithfully.
"Ah, of course. I always thought that she would be the bleeding heart type." Aizen paused to chuckle. "I bet she annoys you."
"…"
"Of course. Has she tried to escape lately?"
"No. You would know if she had."
"Hmm… well, that's progress. The last thing I need to worry about is a wayward child." Aizen treated all his subjects like his children.
"She does not take to captivity well."
"But she has calmed down, no?"
"That's because I have allowed her to go and explore as long as she is back before dark."
"Is that so?" Aizen took on a thoughtful tone. "Perhaps it's the illusion that she is free that makes her less… feisty. What do you think, Ulquiorra?"
Ulquiorra paused for a moment. "I think you're right."
"What else?"
"…She reacts adversely to no. She is like a rebellious child. Yet she will act to protect others she sees as weaker than herself. She claims it is love."
Aizen smiled. "And Ulquiorra, you are like the eldest child. So responsible, and reliable. And yet, you don't understand something so simple."
"I don't understand?"
"She will do anything for someone she loves. She cannot be ruled by fear or hate. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"So this is what I want you to do. I want you to get her to love you, because with it will come absolute loyalty. It works. My vice captain Hinamori can tell you all about it." He chuckled, but it was a sound of such mirth that it seemed to suck all joy out of the air around him. "Do you know how to do this?"
"No."
"Well, here's a start. Take her out of Las Noches. I will release her from her binding necklace fore three hours. But make sure you watch her and she leaves Fuerda behind. You may go."
"Yes, Aizen-sama." Ulquiorra left without another word.
haha! cruel place to end, no?? don't worry. it'll be up soon... if i can be persuaded... *hint hint*
yay! more good news! i've been favorited again! yaaaay me! *does victory dance*
