The Welcome
"I don't know if I can handle all this heat," Ichigo complained to no one. He was speaking in Japanese so that only Ishida and Sado could understand him. Or so he thought.
"You'll get used to it," Sachiel answered.
He looked at her in surprise, as did the others.
"Yes, I understood you," she said. "Speaking is another thing altogether."
They rode in silence for almost twenty minutes when she broke it.
"Can you reach into that cooler behind you, please," she asked. In her opinion, it was time for a cold drink. Despite the almost fourteen months in the desert, she still wasn't quite used to the heat.
"Here," she heard behind her. Reaching back, she felt her fingers touch the bottle before a hand grabbed her own. She jerked her hand back as if she had been shocked. Looking in the rear view, she saw the orange haired man looking at her in confusion.
"I was just guiding your hand," he said.
She reached back again, getting a hold on the bottle. Settling it between her legs, she noticed the top had already been loosened.
"Thank you," she said before taking a drink.
"So, as Jo said, I am Sachiel," she started. "I set up the exploration program that your school opted to participate in. During the week, you will stay at the dig site in tents. Saturday and Sunday will be spent with me at my house. You are of course, welcome to come back to the house at any time during the afternoon break that you will be given. I am in charge of you three, the mayor only gets two since one didn't come. But while you're in my house, you can treat it as your own with one exception: Clean up after yourself."
All three listened intently.
"There are only two bedrooms in the house so we had sleeping quarters made for you. We had to clear out a room that was being used for another purpose but there are beds and wardrobes for you to store your stuff. Jo is over quite a bit but that's because she's seeing my brother," she continued. "There is a toilet inside but the shower is located outside in a sheltered location. We tried to preserve as much of the original layout during the remodel. The kitchen is also located outside along with the appliances."
"Cooking in this heat can be hot work," Sado said quietly.
"Yes, it can be," she agreed. "Luckily, it's shaded by the outcropping that a stream falls from. That's where the bathing pool and shower type thingie is. You'll see what I mean when we get there."
They drove on in silence.
"Michael," she reached out mentally for her brother.
"Yes?" He returned her summons, his presence filling her mind.
"There are several people that came in from Japan…they have significant spiritual energy," she said to him.
"I know."
"And you don't find this odd?"
"Not really," he answered. "Considering that I sent them there."
"You did what," she exclaim aloud, drawing curious looks from all three. "Headset," she said, pointing to said piece.
"Calm down, sister," Michael said to her.
"Not likely! You'd better explain…and fast!"
"Very well. One of them will lead to your redemption."
"But…they're human, brother."
"Yes, but one of them will be your salvation."
"You sure?"
"Quite," he finished. Sachiel could feel his presence leave her mind.
"Lovely," she mumbled to herself. "How am I supposed to figure this out?"
"So, tell me about yourselves. Are any of you involved in the spiritual arts," she asked, suddenly feeling like kicking herself for asking so bluntly.
All three men looked confused by her question.
"Soul reaper? Spellcasting? Demon slaying?"
From their shocked expressions, she could tell she had been too forward.
"How the hell do you know about soul reapers," Ichigo asked.
"Or spiritual arts," Ishida added.
"Well," she started. "I'm rather sensitive to those who can use spiritual energies or have knowledge of them. I felt it from two of you, but the third has almost nothing but I can sense he knows something because he's with the two of you who can use it."
Ishida smirked. "Well, while I do know about soul reapers, or shinigami as they're known in our country, I don't fall into that class. I am a Quincy."
"Yeah," she asked. "You're one of those zealots, huh?"
Ishida sputtered. "We are not zealots."
"Yeah, ok. Thanks to their narrow-mindedness, they all but wiped themselves from the face of the earth," she shot back.
"How do you know all this?"
"Let's just say that I'm like you but not really," she answered.
"What's 'not really'," Ishida asked.
"I kill demons, not hollows," she answered.
"There's a difference," Ichigo asked.
"Oh yeah. Hollows are malevolent spirits; spirits of the dead that are corrupted. The demons that I fight are created from the Source and corrupted. They were never a living human like hollows," she explained.
"So, you're a demon slayer," Sado asked.
"Yeah," she said with a smile.
"So there are shinigami here," Ichigo asked, dreading to hear the answer.
"Nope," she said. "This is demon territory. Not much for dead but they do wander in from time to time. My brother takes care of them but he also helps me fight the demons."
"And here we thought we'd have a normal time," Sado mumbled, Ichigo agreeing with him.
Sachiel looked at him through the rearview. "If you keep your energy cloaked, you will."
"It's a good thing Ichigo no longer has his abilities," Ishida said. "Otherwise we'd be in big trouble. He still has his spiritual energy but nothing like what he used to. It used to be all over the place."
"Well, then you all should be fine," she said.
She turned onto a dirt road, leading them to a cluster of buttes. The road dipped downward and around one butte, bringing the valley into view. They got their first glimpse of the town nestled in the valley but what drew their attention was the lush greenery that surrounded a modest house built close the river that ran between two of the buttes.
There were only a few trees, newly planted by the look but in the late afternoon sun, they could see the outcropping she had spoken of. It did indeed look like an oasis. The grass was lush and green, the two story adobe house blinded in well with the landscape.
As they approached the house, they could see more of the flowers that bloomed along the green edges, the small waterfall that fell behind a glass brick enclosure and tiny tendrils of smoke from the center of the oasis.
"Yaye food," Sachiel exclaimed as they got closer, the smell of meat cooking filled the air.
They all got out after she parked, the woman running around the house, leaving the three men to stare in awe at the building and surroundings. They suddenly felt a presence that was familiar to all three.
Ulquiorra stared at the three men, not moving as they all turned toward him. Ichigo was the first to react, tensing as he saw the arrancar.
"Be at ease, Kurosaki," he said. "I mean you no harm. When my sister appeared without you three, I figured I had better lead you into the house and get you settled before dinner."
"What are you doing here? You died in Las Noches," Ishida said.
"Technically true and I was sent to a place where I met Sachiel," he answered. "She is helping me earn my redemption."
"She's your sister," Ichigo asked in shock.
"Not in the sense that you know a sibling. I tended her wounds since we were in the same cell. It passed the time," he ended with a shrug. "I was offered a chance at redemption if I helped with hers. And here we are." He turned away, looking back over his shoulder as if he expected them to follow.
Ichigo was the first to follow, Ishida and Sado bringing up the rear, their luggage in tow.
"Are you serious," Ichigo asked as he caught up to Ulquiorra.
"We use the story of sibling so no one thinks differently here. There is no romantic nature between she and I," he explained as he stopped to wait for the others. "I actually have to keep her out of trouble while also helping her protect this area."
"What changed you," Ishida asked, shocked at how much Ulquiorra was saying.
Ulquiorra stared at him for a moment. "Sachiel." This was all he said. No one noticed their surroundings as Ulquiorra led them down a short hall, opening a door at the end of it.
The room inside was large with three low beds against the walls; two on one side, one by itself. Next to each was a model size armoire where they could store their items. The room was decorated in neutral colors to match the wood details of the room.
"This was Sachiel's lab," Ulquiorra explained. "She had it redone for your stay." He stepped aside to let them in.
"Why would you change for one woman, Ulquiorra," Ichigo asked. "That doesn't seem like you."
"You don't know me well enough to make that kind of assumption," he said blandly. "But I will say this, Kurosaki Ichigo. For what she endured, for what was done to her for having faith in someone, no one should suffer as she did."
"Suffered," Sado asked quietly.
"Yes. Maybe someday…she tell you all about it." He left the three, all of them shocked at Ulquiorra's words. For a moment, he had sounded compassionate, as if he truly cared.
Maybe he did.
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They found their way to the yard where the other two students from their school were talking animatedly with the young girl, Jo. Ulquiorra was standing beside her with his hand at the small of her back. Sachiel was standing next to a short, squat man, hopping from foot to foot before the man grabbed a slice of bread and put something from the grill in it and handed it to her. She squealed in delight before giving him a hug and left with her prize to sit by the flowing pond.
"I guess we mingle," Ishida said.
"I guess so."
Sado made his way to the fire grill as Ishida went to talk to Ulquiorra and the other students. Ichigo hesitated before making his way to where Sachiel was. A little girl had joined her, sitting in her lap. As he got closer, he noticed another woman with a baby and a small boy playing with the fish in the pond.
"Oy," he said, sitting near them by the water's edge.
"Hi," she said, tearing a strip of meat and blowing on it before giving it to the girl in her lap. A bowl of fruit sat in the little girl's lap.
"Can I talk to you in private," he asked her. The other woman looked over at him.
"This is Cathy," Sachiel introduced the other woman who held her hand out to him. "This is Eleanora. Joaquin is the little boy who's trying to be sneaky and jump in the pond. The baby is Olivia. They're friends and know all about me and my brother. Anything can be discussed in front of them."
"My sister sent me to Sachiel to help her," Cathy explained. "My sister knows everything about her."
"Her sister knows much," Sachiel added. "If you don't feel comfortable, we can talk later."
"Food's done," the short man yelled to them.
Cathy got up, carrying the baby with her, Joaquin raced to the table. The little girl stayed in Sachiel's lap.
"Ulquiorra is your brother," Ichigo asked.
"Not by blood but yes, I consider him my brother," she answered. "He took care of me when no one else could."
"That surprises me," Ichigo said.
"Why?"
"It's not something I expected from him."
"You knew him?"
Ichigo nodded. "I destroyed him."
Sachiel looked surprised. "So you were involved," she said. "The girl? She lived?"
"Yes."
"Is she happy? He worried about that."
"I think so. I broke her heart."
"Oh," she said, looking down at the little girl.
"It felt like pretending," he added.
"It did?"
"Yeah. I…love someone else. I couldn't give her all of me. When I settle down, I want to be able to give my whole self to the one I love. I couldn't do that with her."
"Does she know? The one you love," Sachiel asked.
"I never got the chance to tell her."
The little girl looked at him, her big brown eyes looking at him questioningly.
"She's only quiet when she's around me," Sachiel said. "She normally very lively. When she's here, she just wants me to hold her so I keep her close."
"Sacha keep the monsters 'way," the little girl said.
"Monsters," Ichigo asked, looking down at her.
"Kukuey," she answered.
"She sees demons," Sachiel explained. "Her whole family can."
"That must be rough," Ichigo said.
"When I came here, Memnoch also came. He brought them with him. They terrorize those that can see them, those that believe in them…even those that don't. Many townspeople have had contact."
"They terrorize even little kids?"
"Yeah! Mon'ters," Eleanora exclaimed again.
"We're gonna eat all the food," they heard Cathy yell. Eleanora ran to her mother, jumping onto the seat of the picnic table beside her brother, both pointing to what they wanted.
Sachiel got up, Ichigo following suit. As they walked toward the meal area, he put a hand at her elbow to stop her.
"I know I'm not as strong as I used to be, but I'd like to help you," he said as she turned to him.
She smiled at him, taking his hand from her arm. "Thank you for the offer, but you're not near strong enough to defeat even the weakest demon," she said.
"And Ulquiorra is?"
"He should be. I trained him," she said as she walked away, helping Cathy to feed the children while Jo fed Ulquiorra and the others.
Ichigo and Ishida were surprised to see Sado almost in tears as he smelled and ate the food. While they would admit it was very tasty, they didn't think it was something to cry over.
"This reminds me of the food my grandfather used to cook," he said after a few moments of eating.
"I thought you were from Japan," Rob said. He had introduced himself to everyone after they had come from the house and had talked a bit with them.
"My mother was Mexican," he said.
"That's cool, man."
"The food is very good," Ishida complimented.
"Thanks," Sachiel said with a smile.
"Sachiel cooked almost everything here," Ulquiorra said. "She even spiced the meat that Rob cooked."
"I'm surprised she's not married with how good she cooks," Rob said.
Sachiel laughed, rolling her eyes at his comment.
"Oh no," Jo groaned as she covered her face with her hand.
Everyone looked at her before looking to where she was pointing. Olivia was in her highchair with her face buried in her plate. She looked up as if realizing everyone was staring at her. Through the food covering her face, all that was visible were her eyes. Then in baby talk, she raised her fist and began yelling at them. The sight she created made everyone laugh.
"Eating is serious business for Ollie," Cathy said as she tried to clean her up some.
The rest of the meal passed without any more events, all the students reclining back as they patted their bellies in satisfaction.
Sachiel, Cathy and Jo cleaned up as Ulquiorra talked to the students. Rob set himself to cleaning the grill while the kids stayed at the pond's edge.
Before the sun set completely, the mayor's car came into view, pulling up beside the two jeeps. Ulquiorra again handled the students, introducing them to him as well as the chief archaeologist.
Transferring the belongings of the two students, whose names they learned were Naoko and Mirkim, to the mayor's vehicle, they left with him to go to their lodgings.
Before long, Cathy announce that she was going, too. Rob helped her get the kids in the car along with putting himself in as well. Ulquiorra talked to him for a few minutes as he promised to see Jo home safely.
After all had left, leaving Sachiel and Ulquiorra with their boarders and Jo, they made their way inside. Sachiel and Ulquiorra went to their rooms for a few minutes while Jo went back to their guests. It wasn't long before Sachiel and he came back down, wearing different clothing that was loose fitting. Both had on black cotton pants and shirts, Sachiel's boots were laced up to her thighs while Ulquiorra's only came to his knees. Ulquiorra's shirt was long sleeved, keeping his arms covered which hid daggers. Sachiel's shirt was missing her sleeves, thick leather armguards protecting her forearms. Sachiel walked past them, making her way to the clearing by the pond. She sat there, stretching her muscles in preparation for work that night.
"What are you doing," Ichigo asked from behind her. She stopped her upward reach to lean her head back, looking at him.
"Stretching?"
"For?"
"Patrol…duh," Sachiel said as she slowly stretched forward.
Ichigo winced as he watched; her legs were splayed outward as she brought her stomach flat to the group to stretch her back muscles. She slowly rolled back up before lifting herself up on her hands, her legs still out before slowly bringing them together to set her feet on the ground.
Turning to face him, she smiled before walking past and going in the house. Ulquiorra met her at the doorway, the same stoic look as always on his face.
"Jo wanted to know if she could sleep over, keep our guests company. I told her I would run it by you," he said to her.
"That's a good idea," Sachiel answered. "It will keep them here so they can't get into trouble. You might wanna call her dad as well so he doesn't worry."
"We won't be a bother," Ishida interrupted. "We are your guests and we'll abide by your rules.
"Well, while I appreciate that, I won't take any chances," she said. "You all, despite your abilities, are not capable of taking on full grown demons. There are hollows from time to time but demons are much more prevalent and they do try to attack this house. If you sense any hollows, feel free to challenge them."
"I'll put the barrier up," Jo said from beside Ulquiorra.
"Ok. Are you ready, Ulquiorra?"
"Yes," he answered, walking out the door. Jo followed behind them, stopping with them at the edge of the patio. He turned to Jo, stooping to give her a kiss on the cheek.
"Be safe. Ok," she said softly to him. He nodded to her, his eyes being the only part of him to betray any emotions.
"Wait," Ichigo said. "You're going out on patrol? But the sun's just barely set."
"It's a full moon tonight and if you look east," Sachiel pointed. "The moon has already risen. Because of that…the demons will begin to come out. It's our job to hunt them."
The two walked past their guests, Ichigo following them. Sachiel shifted armor to her body and Ulquiorra's as they walked. Ichigo came up short when he saw Ulquiorra put his hands up. He thought the arrancar meant to stop him until he saw Sachiel doing the same. From his hands, a deep green aura concentrated at his hands, at Sachiel's the light was a deep red. As the light intensified, they spread their hands; the light coalescing into form. Both weapons were almost identical save for Sachiel's being broader than Ulquiorra's. The blades were wickedly carved, the edges looking almost like claws that turned back on each other but turned slightly away from the main course of the blade. As the gripped the hilts, runes of the aura's colors carved themselves along the blade's edge.
Ichigo, Ishida and Sado both stared at the swords as they were hooked onto the sword belts both hunters wore.
"Ready, Jo," Sachiel asked.
"Yes," she answered, her aura already glowing silver around her.
Ulquiorra and Sachiel nodded, turning away and walking toward the edge of the grass.
"Wait," Ichigo said as he grabbed Sachiel's elbow.
"Ichigo," Ishida barked at him. Ichigo turned to him.
"I want to help if I can, Ishida," he said to him. "I helped to defeat Aizen and you all know I'm stronger than any shinigami in Soul Society."
"You no longer have those abilities, Ichigo," Ishida reminded him.
"You do not have the strength that Sachiel and I have, Kurosaki," Ulquiorra said to him. "And even she has some difficulty."
"Thanks for that note of confidence," Sachiel said as she pulled her arm away from Ichigo. Turning to him, she continued, "You will stay here, boy. I don't need novices getting in our way."
That said, she turned, breaking into a run. Ulquiorra followed behind her, both jumping into the air as they reached the edge of the yard. Ishida, Ichigo and Sado stared, eyes wide and incredulous as wings sprouted from their backs, taking them into the air.
Ichigo's jaw dropped as he recognized Ulquiorra's wings from his released form but Sachiel's were as dark as the night with what looked like lightning coursing through them. He watched until they disappeared from sight. He turned to Jo.
"They fly…with wings," he said.
"Usually," Jo said to him with a shrug before turning back to the house.
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Sachiel swung hard, her sword coming in low, splitting the demon from hip to shoulder. Ulquiorra swung around the demon he was fighting, his sword taking the demon's head. The body dropped at Sachiel's feet before she threw out her arm, encasing the demon behind Ulquiorra in lightning. Finishing his spin, Ulquiorra brought his sword around, taking that demon's head as well.
Panting slightly, Sachiel looked at the bodies as their skin began to bubble and ooze, the acid in their blood already liquefying their bones underneath.
Grasping her side, she looked at her partner, taking in his various bruises and minor cuts. She cast a small healing spell on him before putting one on herself.
"There's more out lately," she commented as she flicked her sword, fire running along its length to burn off any blood.
"It seems that way," Ulquiorra said as he cast the fire spell that set both demons ablaze.
"I've lost track of how many groups tonight. It would seem Memnoch is finding more to do his bidding."
"Or he's found a way around the barrier."
"They haven't made any significant discoveries to warrant that."
"Well something has the demons excited."
"There is indeed," a voice said from the darkness.
Sachiel and Ulquiorra turned quickly toward the source of the voice. They both knew who it was.
"Care to elaborate for us," Sachiel asked in an even tone.
"Now now, Sachiel. You know I like to surprise you," he said in his smooth voice.
"And you know I hate surprises," she shot back. "I think we should just finish this now." She took a threatening step toward the demon, her sword held at the side of her, ready for the first strike.
"We could…or we can just see how things play out," Memnoch smiled. "It's much more fun that way."
"I think not," she responded, moving quickly as she shot a ball of lightning at the demon.
Memnoch stepped aside, his smile never faltering…Until he felt Sachiel's sword edge at his throat, the point of Ulquiorra's at his heart.
"Fine," he said, rolling his eyes. "I will tell you this, my sweet angel. Your destiny has arrived."
"No riddles."
"One of the men staying at your home, is your destiny. He will turn on you, though…before you have the chance to find out," Memnoch said as he disappeared in a column of smoke.
Sachiel stared blankly at the spot the demon vacated. Ulquiorra took a step toward her. She quickly sheathed her sword.
"Sachiel?"
"Angels don't have destinies," she said in a whisper.
"He can't be trusted. You of all people should know that."
"I know," she said with an exasperated sigh. "But why would he say something like that? Every lie has a grain of truth in it."
"Who knows. Let's go get you patched up. It'll be daybreak soon and you have work in the morning," Ulquiorra ordered.
"I know…I know," she whined as she took to the air, Ulquiorra following her.
The sun began to lighten the sky in a false dawn as they approached their house. Nothing seemed out of place until they landed. Sitting on the grass were their three houseguests looking as if in a meditating pose.
Sachiel and Ulquiorra landed soundlessly near them, not wanting to disturb them if they were in face meditating. She had taught her brother how to hide his aura completely and so both were able to observe their guests without disturbing their meditation.
After a moment, Ulquiorra made his way into the house, leaving her with them.
She studied all of them intently, questions going through her mind as she recalled Memnoch's words.
She read their auras, ending with the redhead. Feeling mischief come over her, she smiled before leaning close to him. Bring her hand up, she let just a thread of her aura out, playing with the tip of his nose.
She giggled quietly to herself as she watched him try to flick it away as if it were a fly trying to bother him. She did this several times before she finally flicked his nose with her finger.
"Hey," he shouted, disrupting their circle.
"Do you always scowl," she asked innocently.
"It's a permanent feature," the tall dark one said.
"Really?" She reached up, smooth his brow, his eyes instinctively following, curiosity written on his face as he wondered what she was doing.
Ishida looked at her a moment, doing a double take as he caught sight of her blood encrusted clothing.
"Are you alright," he asked.
"Yup!" She straightened, taking a few steps back from the group. Ichigo and Sado also noting her stiffened clothing as she moved. "It's not mine, in case you were wondering. Well most of it isn't." She moved her hand over her clothing, causing it to change to a tank top and shorts. She sported a cut on her arm and a deep scratch on her chest. Looking them over, she shrugged. "They're not bad. At least not as bad at the one on my side that I had earlier..."
Ichigo jumped in surprise as he said her armor change, then rushing back to her as he noted the blood spot on her side growing. She placed a glowing hand over it, stopping the bleeding.
"Are…Are you a bruja," Sado asked.
Sachiel looked confused for a moment. "No. What makes you think that?"
"You fly. You can change your clothing in the blink of an eye," Sado asked.
"What are you," Ichigo asked, his face beginning to look angry. "How did you summon that sword? And why is Ulquiorra here?"
Sachiel looked at him, her mouth agape, astonishment written on her face. "Are you freaking out," she asked.
"Hell yes, I'm freaking out," he practically yelled back at her.
"Please excuse Kurosaki's lack of manners," Ishida interrupted. "I'm afraid too many blows to the head have done permanent damage."
She giggled, the slight sound light and please. Ichigo's scowl softened a bit, Ishida smiling at her as well as Sado.
"In answer to your question…No, I am not a bruja," she said after a pause "I am not a soul reaper and my abilities are beyond what most demon slayers have. I am able to manifest my weapons by my ability to manipulate time and space. As for Ulquiorra, he already explained why he is here."
"But why him," Ishida asked. "And for us to be put in the same location as him is not a coincidence."
"There is no such thing as a coincidence," she agreed. "But you are here to help the archaeologists. Not me."
"How do you fly," Sado asked, taking a step toward her.
"On my wings of course," she answered matter-of-factly. "Do you fly?"
"No. But Ichigo could and Uryuu can still."
"Really?"
"We can only fly in spirit form, as we were in Seireitei and Hueco Mundo," Ishida answered.
"But you can't normally, right?"
"No but we do have, had rather, superior abilities."
"What was that shift that I felt last night," Sado asked. "It was as if the world was muffled."
"That was the barrier that Jo put up," she answered. "It's one that I taught to her. She's amazingly powerful. I think I'm going to go catch a nap before I have to go to work. Jo and Ulquiorra can take you into the town later for anything that you might need. Use this weekend to get over your jetlag. Today is Saturday. I know you left on Saturday but that made you arrive on Friday for us. So take advantage of the rest." With that, she walked away from them.
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Ulquiorra sat on the edge of the bed, humoring Jo as she fussed over his injuries. To him, the were minor, but to her, she acted as if he were going to bleed to death.
He watched her small fingers deftly apply the wrappings, noting how she had become more adept at bandaging since she started coming around. He could see her worry for him etched on her face as she worked. He suddenly found himself remembering their first meeting, how she hadn't been afraid of him despite how he had initially treated her.
She had been persistent, even following him back to the cabin. Eventually, she had mentioned Sachiel, claiming to know about her and her abilities, knowing about him.
He jumped a bit, his eyes widening slightly as he realized she had intentionally over tightened the bandages on his upper arm, pinching the cut there.
"I knew you weren't listening," she accused.
He looked at her for a moment before blinking and looking away. "It was only a repeat of the what you have been saying for the last few months," he commented.
She looked crestfallen. "I just…I worry," she said quietly.
He looked back at her, taking in her submissive posture. Unable to stop himself, he reached out, putting a finger under her chin and forcing her to look at him. He wasn't surprised to see her tears, but he was surprised at the stab of guilt he suddenly felt.
"Why do you stay if all this causes you pain," he asked her.
"That's obvious, isn't it?"
"Just because your aunt said you are to help us, doesn't make you bound here."
"You really are dense."
He continued to stare at her. He knew her meaning.
"I care for you too, Jo."
"You do?" Her eyes brightening considerably.
"Yes," he answered. "And I don't want to see you get hurt. It surprised me."
"What did?"
"The realization that I care. How I've come to depend on you."
"Ulquiorra?"
"What is it," he asked, brushing his fingers across her cheeks, wiping the tears away.
"I…it's nothing," she said with a slight smile. His change in demeanor when they were alone comforted her.
"Were you up all night," he asked her.
"Yeah…mostly. I started to doze off until I felt you and Sachiel coming home."
He nodded, moving to lay down on the bed. "I'm home now. You can rest," he said, patting the spot next to him.
Jo hesitated. Usually she slept on the couch, not in a bed and certainly not one with him in it.
Ulquiorra looked at her for a moment more before holding his hand out to her. As she took it, he pulled her gently to the bed. She lay on her back, stiff as a board, tense as a taut wire. Ulquiorra still held her hand but made no other move toward her.
"Sleep, Jo," he said softly. "I won't do anything. We both just need to rest."
She trusted him at his word, relaxing before closing her eyes only to have them pop open again, looking at him from the corner of her eyes. As she felt him relax, she watched him change. His normally pale skin turned white, strange marking appeared on his face. She smiled as he took on his true form, feeling comforted by the fact that he now trusted her enough to allow her to see it. Giving his hand a slight squeeze, she turned a bit toward him, taking his form as she let sleep take over.
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Three hours later saw Sachiel scurrying around the house, looking for her purse, her keys and after running out of the house barefoot…her shoes.
Ichigo and Ishida tried to help but didn't fare much better. Holding two non matching shoes, she sighed before diving to the floor, reaching under the couch.
"Come here you stupid…," she said to no one. Ichigo came in at that moment, met with the visual of Sachiel's butt wiggling in the air as she tried to reach her shoe.
He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. He cleared his throat, scaring the woman who screamed.
He smiled as she turned to him.
"Not that I'm complaining but what are you doing," he asked.
"Trying to reach my shoe," she answered, bending over again. He got on the other side, easily reaching the shoe with his longer arms.
"Thanks," she said, sitting up and taking it so she could put it on.
"You need longer arms."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," she shot back sarcastically, standing up. "You eat?"
"What I'm hungry."
"And a smart ass to boot. Have you eaten yet," she asked again as she rolled her eyes at him.
"We found some food in the fridge."
"Good. I gotta go. My brother will bring you in after he wakes up," she said as she walked toward the door. "Thanks for helping with my shoe." And then, she was gone.
He stared after her car as it drove to town.
"Do you like her?"
Ichigo jumped. "Ishida!"
"Do you?"
"I barely know her."
"She's very pretty."
"Yeah," Ichigo agreed. "But I can't think of that right now. I promised myself I would stay focused."
"Would you like to spar to take your mind off it," Ishida offered.
"Sure. I may not have my sword, but I still have my fists. It'll pass the time until Ulquiorra wakes up."
|(|)|
Like Sachiel, Ulquiorra didn't need much sleep. He woke up four hours after falling asleep with Jo in his room. Sachiel had been gone for only an hour when he woke. He could sense the lingering presence that she always left behind. The sound of a soft snore caught his attention, smiling slightly as he turned to Jo. He looked to her, his normally hard gaze softened by the sight of her sleeping peacefully.
Reaching for her, he noted that his skin had turned back to its pasty hue. As he stared at his skin, he didn't see Jo open her eyes.
"I like you better this way," she said softly. "I like the real you. It seems to fit better."
"It doesn't scare you?"
"No. I know the person. What you look like doesn't matter. It's your heart."
"I have no heart."
Jo looked at him with sadness in her eyes. "You have one, Ulquiorra. You just haven't realized it yet."
"Will you sleep longer?"
"I have to go. Dad needs my help with my aunt today."
"I have to take our guests into town."
"I'll ride with you," she said as she rolled over to get up.
For the sake of his privacy, Sachiel had given him the only full functioning bathroom in the house. This is where Jo went to wash up before giving the room over so he could do likewise.
Together, they went downstairs to find their guests. They found them in the open air dining area eating left over meat from the barbecue. They had made sandwiches and cut up fruit to go with it.
"Well at least you don't have to feed them," Jo said as they walked out onto the patio.
"I hope you don't mind," Ishida said as all three turned to the pair.
"Sachiel said that you should make yourselves comfortable. It's good to see that you have," Ulquiorra answered as he went to the fridge to get a juice and water for himself and Jo. "After you're done, we'll go to town. I have to get Jo home."
"We were actually just finishing. We'll clean up and we should be ready," Ishida said.
An hour later saw them waving goodbye to Jo as they dropped her at home. Her aunt's house was another oasis with many trees to shade the explosively colorful flowers and manicured yard. No one had seen the woman but knew that her family followed her instructions to the letter.
Through the rearview, Ulquiorra saw Jo walking to the patio, hugging a woman in a large straw hat. He assumed that that must be the aunt. He turned his eyes back to the road as he came to the turn that led them down the small plateau where Jordan's family lived.
"Sachiel is working until late this afternoon," Ulquiorra said. "She said to show you around town. Do you need anything?"
"Not really aside from some basic items," Ishida said.
"We'll stop by the store first."
He took them to the store where Sachiel was working, the parking lot was half full of cars. Being a weekend, Ulquiorra knew Sachiel and the crew would be too busy to really chat. Have a store halfway between two large cities a hundred miles apart made it ideal for those that didn't get to the big stores often.
As they entered, he spotted Sachiel with a large trailer of boxes, unpacking items. Walking toward her, the other three went in separate directions.
"Excuse me, miss. Do you have any peach lemonade?"
Sachiel turned to the woman, direction to the beverages. She began to turn back to her boxes when she caught sight of Ulquiorra, smiling at him.
"Hey, brudder," she greeted.
"I brought them."
"What's with the serious face? Did they burn the house down?"
"No. I'll tell you later, though. Want me to bring you lunch? I doubt you left the house with a sandwich at least."
"No, I didn't get to eat. I would love some food…I'm famished!"
"I'll go get something from the diner," he said.
"Ok," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
Ichigo watched from a distance, feeling confused at the ease in which the woman interacted with his former nemesis. From his past experience with the arrancar, Ulquiorra had been cold and unfeeling…heartless.
He wondered for a moment about the situation that had brought the two together. Why treat her wounds? As Ulquiorra had said, she had suffered. What had she done? And why would he care?
He turned away, bumping into Sado who had found a pop up hamper that looked like a penguin.
"What do you think," the big man asked. For all his tough exterior, he still couldn't resist cute things.
"It'll work," Ichigo said with a smile. "Where did you find it?"
Sado led him to the other hampers and laundry baskets, showing him the others that were shaped like pigs, frogs…even a cow. Ichigo chose a plain blue pop up hamper. They met up with Ishida in the shampoo section where he was trying to decipher the labels.
Ichigo wasn't much help and Sado became distracted by a baby in a cart. Ichigo looked up to see Sachiel nearby putting away more items. He tapped Ishida on the arm. "Ask her," he gestured with his thumb.
"Sachiel," Ishida called. The woman came over, her arms full of women's panties on hangers.
"Yeah?"
"I can't quite read the labels on these bottles. Can you help?"
Without hesitating, she handed over the panties to Ichigo, not notice the young man's face turn bright red as he realized what he was holding.
He looked away from the pile in his arms, trying to concentrate on what she was saying in regards to the different brands.
"Or, if you like, you can just use mine," she finished.
"What brand do you use," Ishida asked.
"I make my own," Sachiel answered.
"Works pretty good and doesn't really have a strong smell," a red haired woman said as she came up to them.
"Hey, Diane," Sachiel greeted.
"Your brother's here with your lunch if you wanna take a break," she said.
"Alright. By the way, these are the students staying with us," Sachiel said as she gestured to the men, introducing each one.
Diane stayed with them as Sachiel left to get her food.
"Be nice to her while you're here, boys," Diane said after a moment, taking the panties from Ichigo.
"What do you mean," Ichigo asked.
"She means a lot to a lot of people around here," she finished before walking away.
The trio paid for their stuff, finding Ulquiorra sitting on the curb with Sachiel as she ate her lunch.
They couldn't quite grasp how he looked like any other normal person in his denim pants and t-shirt, sipping a drink as he sat next to her. He even stole a few of the fries from Sachiel's container. They watched the two banter back and forth, a rare smile on his face.
"That's kind of creepy," Ichigo said quietly.
"It is a bit unnerving," Ishida agreed.
"You three gonna stand there gawking or what," Sachiel asked them.
Both Ishida and Ichigo blushed before going over to them.
"We weren't gawking," Ishida said.
"No? What do you call standing in one spot and staring," Sachiel asked, her normally warm, green eyes turned cold and hard as she stared at them.
"Gawking," Sado answered, coming up beside the two.
"Ok. So long as we have that clear," Sachiel said. "Tomorrow, we'll take you to the discovery site. You will have to set up your tent and what not. Get settled in."
"Tent," Ichigo asked.
"You wanna sleep without one?"
"No, I just…"
"We can't drive you there every day. So as I said yesterday, you will stay there during the week," she continued. "I do have one favor to ask, though."
All three men looked at her expectantly. Ulquiorra took the take out box from her as he continued to munch the fries. She didn't seem to mind.
"Don't go looking for trouble," she said.
Now they looked confused.
"All three of you continue to give off a spiritual signature. I will mask you until you're able to do it yourself," she explained. "If you go into spirit form, the masking will come undone. Your powers are strong enough that you'll become a lure. With Ichigo no longer having his abilities, you will be vulnerable."
"I can still fight," Ichigo defended.
"But not against something with inhuman abilities," Sachiel said.
"What about hollows," Ishida asked. "We can fight those off."
"No. You're human," Sachiel said. "And you will be human with human abilities while you're here. Hollows don't come here because of my wards. You shouldn't have to fight any off. And if any do, there's a soul reaper nearby."
"We'll try our best," Sado said for the group.
"Now that that's settled," Ichigo said, "We can finish our tour of the town."
"Yep," Sachiel agreed. "I have to get back to work."
"Why do you work when it's obvious you have money not to," Ishida asked.
"Gives me something to do," Sachiel answered. "And keeps me out of trouble. Right, bro?"
"Yes," Ulquiorra said.
"See you guys later," she said, leaning up and kissing his cheek. "Thanks for lunch, Ulquiorra." She left them then, walking back into the store.
When they came back to the house, Sachiel was already at home. Ulquiorra had shown them around town, noting to them the improvements made and businesses that had come in with Sachiel's financial backing. He also drove them out near the dig site, the professor there giving them a tent as well as explaining their roles in helping.
Sachiel already had dinner made and set out for them. As the four men sat down to eat, she announced that she would not be joining them.
"Where are you going," Ulquiorra asked.
"I have to finish that elixir I was working on," she answered. "I shouldn't be too long. I also have some transmutations that I wanted to try."
"Transmutations," Ishida asked, suddenly curious.
"I'm an alchemist," Sachiel explained. "I made medicines, elixirs and I can change material compositions."
"What does that mean," Ichigo asked.
"I can change a base form into another," she said.
"No one can do that," Ishida snorted. "That's just a fable that many scientists have been trying to accomplish."
A hunk of metal landed on the table by him.
"Know what that is," she asked.
Picking it up, Ishida answered, "Iron."
A stone landed on the table, the color shifting from silver to gold as it swirled just under the surface, giving off a faint light.
"And that?"
Ichigo picked it up, noting the warm feel of it. "What is that," Ishida asked as he got close.
"The only one of it's kind in this world," she said as she took it from Ichigo again, feeling a slight jolt as her fingers made contact with his palm.
"It's a mercurial alchemist's stone."
"Like the philosopher's stone?"
"Yes, but more powerful."
"The philosopher's stone is a myth," Ishida said.
Sachiel plopped another stone in front of him. Red and golden light swirled beneath the surface of this stone.
"Is it," she asked, picking up the iron. She closed her eyes and concentrated. A faint silver light began to form between her hands. Light from the alchemist's stone began to merge with it. She began to roll her hands, kneading the two lights together, the hunk of iron suspended between them. After a few seconds, the iron began to change color. A few seconds more completed the process. She dropped the now yellow chunk of metal on the table.
"And now you have gold," she said. "99.9% pure."
Sado, Ichigo and Ishida all stared at the hunk of gold as it sparkled on the table.
"It's real," Ichigo said in disbelief.
"You bet your buttons it is," Sachiel exclaimed before going into the house.
"That's not possible," Ishida whispered, still staring at the chunk of gold.
"And yet, you saw it yourself," Ulquiorra said.
"She is a bruja," Sado said.
Ulquiorra snorted in response before digging into the chicken breast on his plate.
Half an hour later, Sachiel came dashing into the patio area holding small flask of glowing, purplish blue liquid, a grin from ear to ear on her face.
"I got it," she exclaimed. "The effects should last about an hour. Wanna try it?" She held the flask out to Ulquiorra.
"What's it do?"
"Come on," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him behind her.
The rest followed as she took him out to the practice yard, all of them curious about her 'discovery'.
Grabbing a rock the size of her fist, she placed it on a boulder at the edge of the yard. She turned to Ulquiorra, handing him the vial. "Now drink."
He did so without hesitation. Her elixirs had never harmed him, so he trusted her. He immediately felt its effects, the swell of his spiritual pressure flowing through him.
"Hammer," she said, pointing to the rock.
He cast one of the fiery hammers she had taught him which would have just melted the rock but instead, the rock shattered into hundreds of pieces.
"Yaye! It worked," she exclaimed, jumping up in the air.
Ulquiorra looked unphased except for the slight widening of his eyes.
"It intensifies the power of your spells," Sachiel exclaimed excitedly.
"We need this?"
"No, but I was experimenting," she answered with a shrug.
She drank another elixir of a different color. She shrank down to where she was no taller than Ulquiorra's ankle.
"Sparring time," she said in a high pitched voice. Her wings spread out behind her and she brought herself to eye level with the arrancar. "You know the drill," she said as she moved quickly out of his reach.
"I just ate, Sachiel."
"When did that ever stop us from sparring?"
Without another word, he sprang after her, his sword materializing in his hand.
The trip retreated back to the patio, watching the events from there and watching with their mouth open in disbelief.
Sachiel whizzed by them faster than they could follow, Ulquiorra keeping up with her movements.
All three watched for a moment longer when Ichigo moved further into the yard. He jumped on a rock and watched as Sachiel came toward him, Ulquiorra behind her. He reached out and snatched the miniature woman out of the air. She had been looking behind her, making it easy for him to do so. Ulquiorra stopped short of him, his eyes narrowed.
"Let her go, Kurosaki," he said.
"Relax," Ichigo returned to him. "I wasn't going to…ow!" Looking down, he saw Sachiel biting his hand in an effort to get free.
"Let her go," Ulquiorra repeated.
"Yeah! Let me go. I can displace myself but I don't want to dispel the elixir's effects."
He let her go. "Elixir?"
"Noggenfogger's Elixir," Sachiel answered, smoothing her hands over her clothing. "Here at home, it just makes me small. Out there…well that's another thing entirely."
"So this is your training," Ichigo asked.
"Speed and accuracy training usually. I wanted to add something so I increased his spell power."
"I caught you pretty easy," Ichigo said with a smirk.
Sachiel stared at him for a moment, a different look in her eyes. "I was focused on Ulquiorra."
"I'm going to sit down," Ulquiorra said, walking away from the pair to the patio.
"Ok," Sachiel said back to him. She turned to Ichigo, still floating on the air. "What are your skills?"
"Huh?"
"Your fighting skills. You don't have shinigami powers any more but you said you can still hold your own. What can you do?"
"Uh…hand to hand fighting, swords of course."
"Really? Hand to hand fighting," Sachiel asked, perking up.
"Yeah. Can I ask a question?"
"Sure. Getting an answer is another story altogether," she answered with her own smirk.
Ichigo took a moment to study her features, her heart shaped face and bow mouth, the high cheek bones that her slightly tilted eyes rested over, all framed by the fiery dark red curls that were shot through with gold. Her aura radiated purity and strength but with a tinge of something else.
She looked at him, waiting for his question. When one wasn't coming, she flew closer to him, her hand reaching out before flicking a finger at his nose.
"Hey!"
"You were staring," she said.
"I was not," he said defensively. "My question, though…what are you?"
"Umm…human?"
"No human has the abilities you do. You also said that the stone you produced was the only one in this world. I may not be the brightest person but I know that you can't be human."
"Well…not totally human," she said, flying back to the house, Ichigo following. As she got closer, she changed to her normal size, dismissing her wings.
"Brother, Jordan is waiting for you," she said to him. "Her aunt left today, so we'll begin her stay with us today as well."
Ulquiorra nodded. "I'll be back soon." He knew that in order for them to have any semblance of normalcy, at least normal for them, she would have to tell them something of herself.
He was loath to admit that he didn't know much of her past since she didn't speak of it much. He did know she had lived in another world before being imprisoned. He also knew that she had been allowed to retain things from that previous world. He also knew about her daughter.
He'd take Jordan for a drive tonight, take her stargazing, a favorite pastime of hers. Sachiel hadn't sensed anything and so, had told him that the night was his. Jo loved to sit and watch the stars, pointing out constellations to him and telling him the stories behind them. He liked listening to her.
Pulling out of the drive way, he drove toward the main road, his course of action for the night decided.