Title: Clinging to Hope
Author: darkling59
Fandom: Bleach
Date: 7/8/2022
Disclaimer: Bleach and all associated characters, settings, concepts, etc within this story do not belong to me. Character spellings will attempt to follow those on the Bleach wiki.

Please read and review!

"What do you think?"

"He seemed nice."

"Yeah. Kinda weird for a shinigami, huh?"

"Is it?"

"I mean…Isn't it?"

Starrk and Lilynette lay side by side on the crest of a sand dune to the south of their territory, staring up at the ever-present crescent moon of Hueco Mundo. No one was there to see or hear them except the grinning skulls of long-dead hollows. They could speak freely, without judgment or threat of retaliation.

…Then again, when couldn't they?

Starrk hummed faintly and crossed his arms under his head, pressing his hands back into the cold, gritty sand. It's a while before he answers Lilynette. In fact, he only speaks after his younger half jabs him impatiently in the gut with a bony knee.

"Oof!" He grumbles. 'I've never met a shinigami before Ukitake. Maybe they're all like that."

"But…shinigami." The disgust in Lilynette's voice is born from instinct and ancient history. Both of them were so shocked by their unexpected visitor that they'd completely forgotten the whole 'deadly enemies' thing. It helped that Ukitake didn't seem very deadly despite his strength.

"I…don't know, Lilynette."

"Maybe…maybe if there are shinigami like him, who aren't so bad…do you think…?"

"…That they'd want to be friends?"

It would be dangerous to try. There were many very good reasons that adjuchas and Vasto Lordes avoided leaving Hueco Mundo. But…now there was a moment in time where Starrk and Lilynette weren't alone, when they'd talked to someone who wouldn't die from their very presence and gotten non-violent responses. It was all too brief and Starrk keenly misses it.

Of course, trying to find shinigami friends would take them to Soul Society. Was it worth it? And was staying 'safe' in Hueco Mundo worth missing the opportunity?

"…Do you think we should go see?"

"What do we have to lose?"

That's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed it.

It's up to you to decide whether the ending was ominous or hopeful. ;)

Thanks to all of my amazing readers and and reviewers!