Bittersweet Goodbyes: Heart and Hand
Disclaimer: No for the last time I don't own Bleach. NOOOOO! 0o0
A/N: I haven't written this kind of pairing before and though I don't fully support it I'm gonna try something new because I couldn't help but feel sympathetic to Ulquiorra when he reached out for Orihime's hand in the end heck Orihime for the most part annoys me…but sometimes I see some of myself in her and the times when she's weakest I can say with honesty that I'd probably be the same…and well there is almost personal flow with this story. Personally I really like IshiHime better than Ulquihime but it's not a bad pairing! Just IchiRuki is the best in my world. This was gonna be a 1-shot but now idk…Also I know that Ulquiorra prefers to kill with his bare hands…I don't think that will help add with the barely realism tone here. ANNNDD idk the exact eye color of Orihime…it's sometimes a close shade of brown to Ichigo and sometimes a kind of grey-brown. But grey is what I will say so don't get too upset with meh~! Also YOU MAY ONLY THINK YOU KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING. Yea some stuff sounds like Bleach butttttt you can't guess what will happen next or how this will end.
Song of the Mo: Black Cat by Mayday Parade
Chapter Two: …but an excuse…
"Aren't you glad to be alive at least?"
"…" He glanced at her from the corners of his eyes right before he left into the hallway to his lair. "No. But I have no choice in the matter."
"B-But! That's such a horrible thing to say!" As his footsteps retreated, Orihime felt her heart skip with sympathy. Her nature couldn't help but do as she did next, no matter how wrong it was, or how strange. She didn't think about her plan as she acted out in her instinct because she could never be so fake with her emotions. Right as his hands reached for the handle of his retreating room…Orihime Inoue, girl kidnapped for mysterious reasons by a man with even more mysterious intentions…hugged her captor…the demonic, unemotional, and dark…Ulquiorra Cifer.
Thus starting the ripple effect, the waterfall and overflow of turbulence, of chaos that was to ensue, the violence and bloodshed to come. Such foreboding air in a world already so uncertain.
"What." His voice was so soft as her face buried into the fabric of his too white shirt.
"Mr. Cifer." Orihime murmured with emotion. "I can't listen as someone proclaims that they don't want to live. I just…I just can't!" She tried to force back the tears that weren't appropriate. "I-It's just too sad!"
Suddenly she found herself sprawled on the ground as an iron arm knocked her over. And ghastly green eyes narrowed in rare emotion. "What. Do you. Think. You are doing." Shocked, Orihime winced, expecting pain to hail down on her form at the fury surging through the broken dams that were his eyes.
None came yet. Glancing up she was amazed to see pure disgust twisting his once statuesque façade, black hair casting sickly shadows. "New rule you disgusting piece of trash." In the blink of an eye, a brutal hand gripped her throat pulling her way too close to his too expression-filled face, eyes flashing and teeth gnashing while she once again fought for breath. For the first time Orihime felt the fear she should feel of his presence and aura that already hung around her like a stifling black curtain. "Don't ask questions. And never. Ever. Show sympathy towards me." His icy words slid into her ears like poison seeping into her pores.
He released her, emotion vanishing, turning away as she panted with wide eyes. His voice was low and a warning that would forever be the danger. "I want no part of whatever foolish emotions that stem forth from you. Do you understand?"
She shuddered, chestnut hair falling over her shoulder. "Yes."
"Good." But it was too late. The damage had been done. And now there was no turning back. When he exited, entered his room and strode up to the small forlorn and cracked mirror near the doorway to his room, he saw a chink in his armor. And as he brought a hand up to his face to cover it, things whirled around him in vain.
"Ulquiorra!" A woman scooped him up from where he was sprawled out unceremoniously on the street. His short-cropped black hair had yet to splay his face like the blood that ran down his cheek and from various parts of his young ten year old body. Tears threatened to well in his haunting eyes. "Who did this to you? Was it those kids down the street again!"
"N-No…" There was that stubborn streak again, biting his lip.
"Tell me who did this Ulquiorra Cifer!" The same woman gripped his shoulders and tilted his chin up to better get some serious information as to his abuse. But he stared in another direction. She proceeded to pester him with unwanted questions. "You haven't been getting into trouble again have you! What will your father say!"
"No!" Suddenly his voice rose in defiance and he slapped the woman's hand away. "It wasn't me! I was just born to look like the devil! It's all her fault! Not mine!"
The sadness in the woman's eyes was akin to the sympathy and guilt that all the women in this place seemed to give to him. He hated it. "You should tell your father about this."
Ulquiorra shook his head and refused her offered bandages before walking off, bloody and battered.
"He doesn't want to see another of his family die by violence Ulquiorra."
"I don't want your sympathy woman." So young was he and so adult was his tone.
Still sprawled on the floor where she had landed, Orihime was confused. So…there is human emotion inside of this seemingly heartless man. I'm fearful of his anger…but…I still can't help but feel that there is something more to him than a kidnapper. What is wrong with me? I've been kidnapped but I still feel sympathy towards him…oh I just want to go home…
"Hey Mom!" Ichigo called into the supposed to be sleeping house. "I'm home." But much to his guilt, he knew that his mother and sister wouldn't go to sleep until he returned from wherever mysterious thing he had ran off to do.
"Ichigo dear." A soft-spoken voice rose from the living room, and a beautiful warm-smiling head turned to his direction from where she sat on the couch in her robe and nightgown with two little girls passed out asleep beside her. "Where have you been?" She glanced at his two friends walking in behind him, taking off their shoes. "Are Miss Tatsuki and Miss Rukia staying for the night?"
Ichigo glanced at his anxious ridden friends' faces before replying with a nod. "Tatsuki shouldn't be home alone right now."
Sensing the tension from the youths, the doting mother set her cup of tea down -and carefully made her way from the drooling Yuzu and Karin who had been worriedly waiting for their big brother to come back home- to come and take Tatsuki's hand and offer her a kerchief to wipe her tear-stained face. "Please tell me what has happened. I've never seen you all so sick with worry. Come." She gestured to a remaining couch. "Please sit down and tell me what the matter is."
When all was said and done the woman sat at a loss, for once there was a glimmer of despair in her eyes at the tragic tale of their dear friend Orihime and the horror that she was so suddenly taken away to God knows where. But as was her persona, the woman remained strong and smiling, radiating with the warmth and hope that everyone near thrived in. "Don't worry." She hugged the tearful Tatsuki. "She's fine. I know she is. And they will find her and bring her home safely. Be strong and hope for Orihime and for her brother alright?" Rukia looked down at her shoes, hand curling as she fought back sorrow. Ichigo stared out the window as if expecting Orihime to come in at any minute and make things normal again. "You know that wherever she is that she is hoping in herself and praying for the best. And she needs you all to help her in those prayers okay?" Tatsuki wiped her eyes again, nodding solemnly but with a bit more optimism.
"Hey what's all the ruckus?" Isshin Kurosaki entered the room, sleepily wiping his eyes, groggily shifting his robe. Generally he'd be much more hyper, but he wasn't content unless he was in the presence of his beloved wife. Looking at everyone's faces he decided they needed a little cheering up however. He suddenly jumped up and jabbed a finger at his sweatdropping son. "MY SON HAS BROUGHT HOME TWO BEAUTIFUL GIRLS! AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE SLEEPING OVER!"
"Shut up!" Ichigo snarled, though half-heartedly. "Can't you see something is wrong you moron?"
To interrupt the usual onslaught of arguments and violence to come, Rukia stepped between them asking for the phone to make the dreaded call home.
Listening to the loving bickering of father and son, the chastising of mother, the sigh from a childhood friend, Rukia had to smile, but not for long as she knew that if her brother-in-law picked up and heard the news that she was at the Kurosaki's again. He would of course flip out. She was hoping it would be Hisana, her older sister, she would be more understanding and allow her to stay. Finally someone picked up.
"Hello?"
"Renji!"
"R-Rukia?" The voice on the other end gasped. "O-Oh! Hey! Where've ya been! Do ya know how frantic Byakuya is right now?"
Rukia stifled a giggle. "Lemme guess he's sitting at his desk in the office, trying not to show any emotion but is actually concerned and Hisana is trying to poke him and make him finally admit what he's thinking?"
"Naturally eheh." She heard her old childhood friend chuckle. "So where are you? My aunt kicked me out of the house again and so I thought I'd come here to hang out with you. Lemme guess you're at Kurosaki's am I right? But isn't it kinda late?"
"Orihime's been kidnapped Renji…"
There was shocked silence. Then… "Oh my God. Wow…oh…How's Tatsuki taking it? Has she found out yet?"
"Yes. She was talking to her on the phone when it happened. She's…taking it the worst and her parents are out of town so Ichigo offered her to stay at his place till they come back."
"That's…that's just…oh wow…" He was speechless at such news, Orihime was a part of their large friendship circle. Without her just didn't sound possible. "Are you okay? Do you need me to come and get you? Or are you planning on staying there for Tatsuki? Wait why am I even asking?"
Rukia smiled, he knew her too well. She would never say anything was wrong, she would never just leave a person in need.
"Want me to sacrifice my neck and tell your brother for you?"
"No thanks Renji. Just hand it to Hisana. She'll fight for me."
"Kay. Well I'll see you tomorrow I….erm guess." She didn't know that he was sort of flushed. "Bye Rukia."
"Yeah bye." The phone was handed over to her sister and then proceeded to the next explanation, plan to thwart Byakuya without lying, and goodnights.
She hung up. Everyone had gotten settled, futons had been set up, and an exhausted Tatsuki had flopped wearily down after some calming tea from Mrs. Kurosaki. They all each other goodnight and the adults went off to bed, Mr. Kurosaki carrying his two daughters up to their beds after he had made sure to lock all the doors and windows, until all who was left was Tatsuki, Ichigo, and herself. They sat in respective silence for a moment until Ichigo sat back putting his arms behind his head. "I've been thinking."
"Well that is unusual." Rukia couldn't help but try to banter as usual and keep up some relative bit of normalcy.
But for once Ichigo didn't take that bait. He met both of their gazes. "Why can't we try and help find Orihime on our own?"
The others just gave blank stares. Tatsuki shook her head, looking away. "The police know what they are doing just leave it to them…"
Ichigo snorted. "You know as well as I do." He stared at the old family photos his mom hand hung on the wall, one of them being a young police officer with his arm wrapped around her. "Dad quit the force because of how they ran things."
Rukia blinked. "B-But…I thought it was because he liked being a doctor better and…he met your mom Ichigo."
The strawberry shook her head. "Think about Kaien Rukia…" He said as gently as possible. "Think about what happened to Kaien."
Her eyes trembled with old memories of her old friend and mentor. "I'd…much rather not."
"Dad told me…there were reasons as to why he quit besides the obvious. And your old friend Kaien. He might have been in on things too. I don't think we can just trust the police to take care of finding her." Tatsuki fiddled with the hem of the blanket. "I think I know a way we can find Orihime." His eyes began to take on that fiery glow the others loved so much. "Here's my plan…"
"What are you planning now woman?" Ulquiorra shifted his gaze down the long white table at her. "You keep staring at the door but you know it's pointless."
Orihime just glanced down at her food, watching how the rice tried to escape its designated area from behind the roll. Days have gone by and she wasn't eating well. Ulquiorra was getting ready to carry through with the tie down and force feed option because she was starting to lose weight.
"Aizen won't be pleased if his prisoner is not taken care of."
"No." She mumbled. Ulquiorra blinked. I thought this trash was lecturing me about despair. Typical hypocritical human.
"It's…it's not that…" Orihime put her fork down. "It's just…this food…it tastes really gross to me."
"This expensive cuisine packaged and made with only the finest of ingredients…is 'gross' to you." He stated this with just the slightest hint of incredulity.
She nodded, blushing somewhat. "I…can't eat this much longer…it's hurting my stomach."
Ulquiorra set down his glass of wine then stood. "Then make something for yourself. But I will have to make sure it isn't poisoned. There will be no suicide and I should remind you that if I die, you will be permanently trapped in here because only I, alive can unlock the doors."
"OKAY~!" She suddenly appeared in front of him with large excited eyes. "May I use the kitchen?" He nodded, privately a tad bit puzzled. Keeping a close eye on her movements proved difficult as she was a blur with random foods and stirring and cutting and cooking. Then…in about a minute flat she sat back. And revealed a tower of food as she beamed with pride. "Ta-da~!"
There were fruits mixed with hot sauce, meat mixed with marshmallows and mayonnaise, disgusting revolting aromas swirled in the air and flies immediately noticed. Ulquiorra could've sworn he heard little twinkling sounds as she stared at her creation. "May I ask what is so exciting about this absurd concoction?"
"This is what real food looks like~!" Orihime's stomach growled in delight and so she grabbed for a fork.
"Not so, Trash." He pushed her over-eagar hand away. "Recall what I told you about me checking for poison."
Undaunted by the meals appearance and destruction to his senses, the man took her fork and dug in. But…unsure of whether it was a liquid or solid, it had the consistency of cement and he picked the bowl up and held it in the air by the fork handle. A fish bone made its way to the surface. Ulquiorra blinked. I doubt it's poisoned…but I don't think it really matters at this point.
Carefully, he suck a finger in it, driven only by his duty as the guard. Taking a large chip of it with a nail he slowly raised it to his mouth, Orihime hovering in anticipation of someone's opinion of her cooking. Slowly he bit into it. Slowly he chewed, swallowed, took a napkin and gingerly wiped the corners of his mouth and stood back. "Very well."
"YEA~!" She hoisted the entire bowl to her mouth and chowed down like a ravenous animal in three seconds flat. "Did you like it?" There were mustard splotches on her cheek, eyes incredibly dazzling with hope. He could practically see the twinkles.
"I don't understand the attraction to it." He raised a brow at her and calmly strode out the kitchen. He could still hear her chomping happily on some other concoction. Then…very composed and maturely…he dashed to the toilet and threw up. Clutching porcelain, Ulquiorra for once…felt surprise. It's been awhile…since I've vomited. And…was unable to predict the outcome of her…
Purging himself of her disgusting 'meal'…he sat up and rinsed his mouth out with mouth wash. There is something about this particular trash…whatever thing she does that I cannot comprehend…involves her hands…emotion comes from her heart and with her hands she becomes a different kind of garbage.
He shook his head, a hint of a smile as he washed his face. Like I care. I'd like to see what Grimjow would've done in this situation. Probably kill her.
"Momo." His usually placid voice of the commanding officer rung with a hint of surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I…I just…" The sweet-tempered young girl cast her soft brown eyes to the ground, grabbing the hem of her uniform. "I just realized I haven't talked to you in awhile Shiro…"
"It's Captain Hitsugaya now." He habitually scolded, even though it was strange for an older girl by two years to refer to the lad in higher title. "I've rose in the rankings since I last saw you, you know."
"Yeah…" Momo's eyes glimmered with happy memories past. "You've really grown up Shiro…so much taller, so much more mature. I feel like… you're a stranger to me now."
The white-haired youth blinked, then crossed his arms and turned away. "Is that why you're here Momo? Just to point out the obvious."
Momo jumped, feeling guilty. "But-"
Suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder as he came to step beside her. "But I'm glad you finally realized it though." His turquoise eyes softened. "I'm glad you finally stepped away from the memory of Aizen to remember your old friend."
"Y-Yeah…" Her voice faltered and he started.
Something was off in her eyes, he could tell. He frowned, taking his hand away from her as her shoulders shook. "Momo?"
That was when he felt his old childhood friend place a gun barrel to his chest.
"I'm so sorry Shiro…" Her dear friend and wiser commanding officer had made the grave mistake of letting his guard down for just one second.
"Momo…" His eyes widened as hers became remorseful.
"I just can't let you kill anyone else."
A shot rang out and blood splattered to the floor.
Days were rolling into weeks like gentle rippling waves. The fear from the beginning did not fester but bled away from the wound with pangs of sadness. Orihime went through each day fighting off worry and homesickness of her friends and family. Hoping they hadn't suffered her fate. She had to distract herself with little things, to lose herself in the white of her room.
"Ichigo! No that's Peetan! There's a difference!" Her voice called out from the quiet, there was something different in its pitch and tone. "Rukia! Make him stop hitting poor Peetan! Oh noo! Chad has a telephone pole! Big Brother stop yelling! And Uryu is going to sew your arms to your side Ichigo! Everyone stop! Tatsuki don't-!" She jumped when she saw this whole conversation with her little handmade friends dolls had been observed by that familiar phantom. "Ah! Oh Mr. Cifer! Ehehe…" She was caught red-handed with her pathetic attempt of fun. She held her cute chibi Ichigo doll in mid-roll from the Tatsuki dolls discipline kick, flushing slightly.
"Dare I ask what you are doing now." Ulquiorra stared as color rose into her face. "You made those out of my clothes." Orihime couldn't hide the evidence of cut up shirts, dye concoctions made from food seasonings spilling from their bowls, sewing kit almost out of thread. She rubbed the back of her head guiltily, afraid she would be scolded. "I…needed something to do."
"Aizen didn't instruct me on how to deal with the weird trash." Ulquiorra almost seemed perplexed. "What is that in your hand?"
She blinked and held up Ichigo. "Ah…these are all my friends…eheh well dolls of my friends in real life. I…" Her grey eyes shifted. "…I missed them."
"Your hands quiver when you look at the orange haired one."
She flushed. "I…I really like Ichigo. He's a really nice guy."
"Che. More useless attachments to this world." He was about to take his leave again when he felt her hand on his wrist, warm and alive. He looked down into large kind and lonely eyes.
"Let me introduce you to my friends." Her voice was just pathetic.
"Amuse me." After a moment he gave in. No. Had nothing better to do.
She held up a lad with glasses happily. "Okay well here's Uryu! He's really nice too! And he taught me how to make dolls like these in Handycraft's Class!" That was when Ulquiorra noticed the makeshift bandages and blood on those strange hands of hers.
"WHERE IS ORIHIME!" The door nearly got thrown off its hinges as an uncharacteristically angry young man made his frantic entrance, trespassing into enemy territory. "KUROSAKI!" He snagged the front of a certain rivals shirt in ferocity. "TELL ME WHERE SHE IS RIGHT NOW!"
"U-Uryu!" The strawberry head was caught off guard for only one second before he pushed the guy away in anger. "HEY WATCH IT!"
"Uryu?" Rukia blinked, caught in mid-bite of her breakfast.
The handsome young lad adjusted his glasses and fwipped his head in her direction. "Rukia." She stared back at the glowering Ichigo and shook her head at him in silent warning against his desire to punch his rival.
"We don't know where she is." She stared down at her cereal sadly as the boy visibly became more distressed. Ichigo clapped a hand on his shoulder, finally calm. "Uryu…"
Now it was his turn to get pushed away. Uryu took a shocked step backwards. "Where is she?"
Ichigo shook his head just as a sleepy Tatsuki popped in from the kitchen. "She's been… kidnapped…" He couldn't look the guy in the eye. They all had been wondering about what would happen when he finally heard the news.
Uryu dropped his bag, hands trembling, eyes for one moment filled with an emotion that could not be concealed behind his sturdy frames. "Kidnapped…"
Tatsuki stirred her tea gloomily nodding. "…"
"W-wha…" Uryu shook his head in disbelief before letting his tone rise again. "How! Why! When did this happen!"
Ichigo's gaze bit stubbornly into his. "We don't know why. She was talking on the phone with Tatsuki just a few hours ago when it happened."
Uryu's chest rose and fell harder and harder, body quivering with turmoil-ing emotions. "Ori…hime…" His lips just barely had the strength to murmur, his entire soul was being drained away.
"We have a plan to find her and get her back." Ichigo bent down and picked up the bag Uryu had dropped. He stared him square in the eye. "Will you join us?"
"Let me…" Uryu felt resolve bubbling in his blood. "…let me burn in hell if don't…" Slowly…he adjusted his glasses again, taking the bag from him again. "Tell me…what brilliant plan do you have Kurosaki?" There was something…that I had wanted to tell her…and I'll be damned if I let myself stand on the sidelines for someone I care about again…
Momo watched in distant horror with her own crazed eyes, as her dearest friend…slumped over with red spurting from his chest…the snaring look of shock and betrayal forever to burn into her retinas.
"You shouldn't have done that so soon little one." A mouth whispered into her ear, voice eerie. "That's not what I had in mind. Really now what should I do with you disobedient children?" Silver hair swayed and a slit of a smile grew.
Momo gasped when she saw the gun in his hand. "G-Gin why?"
He just smiled, raised a hand to wave goodbye in such a creepy mocking fashion. "Let's just say Aizen got bored with you."
There were two shots through the night.
"There are bandages in the bathroom fool." Ulquiorra grew bored with her lifeless friends. He held up her hand. "Don't make me bandage you myself. Aizen will not be happy to find his prisoner grew ill from something as trivial as a cut." There was something different in his voice and even he could feel it.
Orihime was taken off guard when he dragged her to the bathroom without her doing so herself. With strange gentleness he peeled back the tape she had used and gingerly tended to her wounds. In awe she couldn't help but see a small light in his eyes. "Mr. Cifer…"
"Don't ask questions." He didn't say trash or woman this time…And as soon as she saw and was amazed…he was gone around the bend into his chambers. Where he sat on his bed…running a hand through his hair…and wondering about why his hands felt strange.
And before all complete hell tore through the souls of all involved…there was a knock at the door of a shop. The sound of clacking wood was heard and as the rice paper doors slid back a man in green robes fanning his face took to a smile while the shadows hid his face.
"Ah. Look at what the cat dragged in! C'mon in Mr. Kurosaki Jr and friends~! I was wondering when you might decide to come for assistance!" Four teenagers exchanged nervous uncertain looks before nodding and stepping into the darkness. Little did they know that there was no turning back into the light cast by the moon outside.
AGHH! WHAT'S HAPPENING! Ahaah you'll have to find out! Where am I going with this? Even I'm not really sure! So much confusion agh ma head hurts! Oh well enjoy. XD