I do not own Bleach

Chapter Eleven: The Start of War

Ulquiorra watched as Hinata walked through the garganta. He had been surprised when she had shown up one day in a physical form saying it was a gift from her Uncle. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. It made her weaker, but he also saw how it made her happy. She now went to the world of the living every day to go to human school.

Ulquiorra had been curious when she had first taken an interest in the world of the living and had followed her. He had seen the orange haired boy that she called Ichigo. The boy's spirit pressure had an odd feel to it; it was very similar to Hinata's when had he first found her, with a great potential for growth. Ulquiorra didn't like it, but the boy sincerely seemed to want to protect Hinata, so he decided to leave the boy alone for now.

The people that worried him most were the Uncles. He could feel Shinigami spiritual pressure radiating from them despite their physical bodies. His distrust had grown when he felt them taking some of Hinata's spiritual pressure.

He had tried talking to Hinata about how she needed to be careful, but she didn't seem to fear her "Uncles" as all. Even now he could sense her new body slowly eating her spiritual pressure.

He let out a growl of frustration. He wanted to protect her to keep her for himself, but she was so free-spirited and happy. She would never be content to be kept locked away. He needed to be stronger to make sure that no matter what she did, he would be able to save her.

Sighing, he looked up to the moon again. It was the only comfort he had when she was gone. He felt the appearance of a nearby hollow. Looking towards the new hollow, he set off. Hunting was the best way for him to destress.

. . .

He sighed as another hollow vanished beneath his hand. Fighting simple hollows and even vastalordes weren't much of a fight any more. How was he to become stronger if there was no one to fight? He took off at a run again, looking for another fight. He came to an abrupt stop when he sensed Starrk and Lilynette. He had run into them a couple of times, always because Hinata lead them to him. Each time they found him they would follow him for weeks before he was able to get away, weeks in which he couldn't see Hinata. He was about to run the other way when he stopped. Starrk and Lilynette where strong; maybe they would help him get stronger. He thought for a few more minutes, weighing the pros and cons before heading towards them.

. . .

Starrk sank onto the sand again while Lilynette's back was turned. He was tired; they had been walking for over an hour and she hadn't let him rest. He had just enough time to close his eyes when he felt Lilynette's foot slam into his face.

"STARRK! How dare you lie down! Get your lazy bum up again!" She screeched at him.

He rolled over, "I'm tired."

"That is not an excuse! Get up now!" She began to kick him.

He sighed, trying to decide if it was worth it to get up, when he sensed a spiritual pressure nearby. Opening his eyes, he saw Ulquiorra standing on a sand dune looking down at them. Starrk went to stand, knocking Lilynette to the side. She had been jumping on him. "Hey," he called to the green eyed arrancar.

Ulquiorra looked hesitant, almost like he was going to run, but walked down the dune anyways. Once at the bottom, he looked Starrk in the eyes and said, "Fight me."

"What?"

"I want to become stronger, but all the other hollows are too weak. Fight me."

Starrk sighed, sitting back down on the sand. "I'm tired."

"I will come by more often if you fight me."

That got Starrk's attention. He liked Ulquiorra a lot and enjoyed having him around, but he was tired. He looked at Lilynette. "You want to fight him?"

She stopped mid kick, aiming at Starrk's head, and looked at Ulquiorra. "I can fight him?"

"Yeah."

She didn't need more encouragement than that and was off in a flash, throwing kicks at Ulquiorra who skillfully dodged them. Starrk smiled as he laid back down, closing his eyes. He had gotten both of the things he wanted. He was able to sleep, and Ulqiorra had promised to visit more often.

. . .

Ulquiorra was surprised that it was the smaller arrancar that he ended up fighting, but he found that she kept him on his toes. She was incredibly fast, and her attacks were directed to the soft spots on his body. He had little time to go on the offensive. They fought for several hours without relenting. They were so focused on fighting that they didn't notice that Starrk was awake or the strong spiritual pressure that had been approaching.

Starrk grabbed Lilynette as she flew once again at Ulquirroa. Lilynette went to complain but he stopped her. "We aren't alone anymore."

All three of them turned to look at the strange man standing on the sand dune above them.

. . .

Aizen smiled as he approached the three arrancars below him. They were strong, the strongest he had met so far. They turned to watch him. They weren't scared of him, which fascinated him. He watched them shift slightly into defensive stances, their eyes accusing.

The short girl made to move, but the taller arrancar caught her collar and held her back, whispering something. The green eyed arrancar kept his expression neutral, standing slightly apart from the other two.

"Give me a reason not to kill you, Shinigami," the feisty little arrancar said, eyes blazing. Her companion yanked on her collar again.

"Shouldn't you be asking why I'm not already dead?" Aizen said, smiling as he stopped before them, just a few feet away.

"We have no business with Shinigami," the green eyed one said. Aizen was impressed with his even tone.

"I have an offer. I'm looking for the strongest arrancars in all of Hueco Mundo."

The feisty one looked up at her companion. His eyes gleamed. "You think we're the strongest?" he asked, matching the other arrancar's even tone.

"Yes," Aizen said, "and I can make you stronger."

"We don't want to be stronger," the companion of the feisty one said.

The green eyed arrancar blinked. "Why should we trust you?"

Aizen met the arrancar's gaze. "I will destroy the seretei. Does that interest you?"

The three arrancars stared at him for a moment. "We're listening," the tall one said, releasing his hold on his companion.

Aizen smiled again. "Splendid."

. . .

Ulquiorra waited for Hinata to return from the world of the living, felling uneasy. His encounter with the Shinigami had excited him, but frightened him at the same time. The Shinigami was strong. Ulquiorra had agreed to join with him; he wanted to be stronger. However, he didn't dare mention Hinata to the strange man. He was looking for the strongest arrancar, which meant he would search out Hinata if he could. Ulquiorra had tried to imagine Hinata joining the Shinigami man, but she was too sweet and innocent; she would never agree to his cause. Ulquiorra had to keep the Shinigami from finding out about her existence.

He felt grateful to Starkk for keeping quiet about Hinata as well. When Aizen had asked if any of them knew of other arrancars, Starkk and Lilynette had denied all knowledge of other arrancars. Ulquiorra had felt a weight lift off of his shoulders at that point. For now, Hinata would be kept secret. No one would be able to touch her for the time being. He hated the idea, but he knew that he would have to ask her to spend even more time in the world of the living. It would be better for her to stay with the human boy, Ichigo, than to be caught by Aizen.