Chapter 10: I don't think hate it

"Hey boss...*yawn* what's wrong with Shiro?" Coyote Starrk, the laziest man to ever walk on the face of the earth but also his Manager in the Production Department of the company, asked Ulquiorra when he walked up to him in the hallway.

"What do you mean Mr. Starrk?" Ulquiorra asked, though he already had an idea what he was being questioned about.

"Don't pretend with me. I know you give Shiro more attention than you'd usually give most people, you may be my boss but I've known you since you were a kid. Give me some credit." He finished his casual statement with a loud and open-mouthed yawn as he scratched the back of his head.

"I apologize if I was being disrespectful Mr. Starrk." There were few people on the planet Ulquiorra Cifer actually admired and respected. Coyote Starrk is the first of these people. The man may come off lazy and not even motivated but frankly when he gets to work he's efficient and passionate, loving what he does and doing it right. Ulquiorra admired that about him, even as a child.

"Forget about it kid. Now answer my question already. What's up with Shiro? He's been locked up in his office all day. He didn't even come down to the garage to flirt with the ladies...and me. That's just not him. I'm worried for the guy." Starrk said actually looking slightly awkward at the mention of Shiro flirting with him.

...Shiro...flirts...with...so many...people. And Starrk?!

"...He flirts with you..." Ulquiorra states stupidly, his inner self calling him trash several times for sounding so idiotic but even he knew he couldn't help it.

"Is that seriously all you got?" Starrk asked looking at Ulquiorra lazily but his gaze was calculating. His wife mentioned how Ulquiorra seemed to actually have some kind of emotion towards Shiro and he wants to find out if that's true but he knows Shiro's well being comes first so that would have to wait.

"I mean...he knows you're a married man correct?" Ulquiorra asked, completely ignoring anything else Starrk had said. If he wasn't so tired he would've laughed at the way Ulquiorra sounded. He sounded the same as usual to any passer by, cold and emotionless, empty on the inside and out but Starrk noticed the way Ulquiorra's fingers twitched, and the deepening of his frown. Ulquiorra Cifer is actually jealous of Starrk at that moment. Starrk can tell, it's like a wolf's sixth sense.

"Ulquiorra it's just the way he plays around. He flirts with everyone. Well anyone that's his 'type' or so he says. Anyways, can we get back to the topic at hand. Shiro's depressed. We should help." Starrk says seriously.

"How do you know he's depressed Mr. Starrk?" Ulquiorra asked. Starrk could just imagine him raising a condescending eyebrow at him.

"Call it a sixth sense."

Ulquiorra just stared at him.

"You were a dog in a past life weren't you?" Ulquiorra's question actually felt like a stab with the way he said it.

"Ulquiorra." A familiar voice made both men turn back to take a look at the speaker. It was Halibel.

"Mrs. Starrk." Ulquiorra greeted her as she walked up t stand beside her husband who got more relaxed when she held his hand. Ulquiorra never understood those odd displays nor did he ever want to, he found them unnecessary human contact that regular and weak people used because they couldn't deal with things themselves but...as he looked at them at that moment, he had a passing thought that nearly made him do something horrific, like blush.

I wonder what it'd feel like if Shiro held my hand...

Brain? Shut. Up.

"Please do me a favor and enter Shiro's office to ask him about the form from yesterday, involving the test drive for the new product tomorrow. He had dashed out too fast that he wasn't able to complete them." Halibel asked, daring Ulquiorra to refuse with her intense aqua eyes.

"...Could you please explain to me why you can't do it yourself Mrs. Starrk?" Ulquiorra asked as respectfully as possible but all Hal and Starrk heard was, 'I don't wanna! Why can't you do it you big meanie?' Ulquiorra, one of the most intelligent minds in Japan today, was still just a child in so many ways, no matter how much he tried to hide that fact.

"I need to arrange tomorrow's event perfectly. There are too many important investors as well as your uncle coming tomorrow so everything needs to go according to plan. It wouldn't be a problem I hope." Halibel said and with that took Starrk, who just shrugged in response, and left Ulquiorra in the middle of the hallway that actually leads to Shiro's office which is right beside his.

Ulquiorra took a deep breath and headed for the office that was oozing a heavy and depressed aura.

As he stood in front of the door, he debated with himself whether he should go inside. Shiro seemed so sad and angry over what happened to his baby brother. When he left Ulquiorra's home the night before, the look in his eyes actually...frightened Ulquiorra. Shiro looked postively lifeless. Like everything that gave him his usual bright and energetic attitude that warmed so many hearts had been destroyed before his eyes. It was unsettling to say the least.

"Mr. Kurosaki..." Ulquiorra called in his usual tone though he felt what he'd later come to no as nervous.

There was a sound of someone moving and then the door opened, Ulquiorra felt slight relief when he noticed that Shiro hadn't gone and ended it all. Most people in his situation would've given up ages ago.

"Hey boss. I finished up the form for the test drive...if that's what you're here for. If it's not then...could you please leave?" Shiro had said, his head bowed down, his voice slightly scratchy like he had been screaming or something similar and his hand shaking as he held out the form to Ulquiorra.

He looked so...broken.

Ulquiorra couldn't understand how someone so strong, so unbelievably powerful, both intellectually and physically, could be reduced to something so...so pitiful. And then Shiro told him to leave.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Ulquiorra got pissed.

"Alright. This has gone on for too long. Inside. This instant." Ulquiorra ordered as he forced himself into the office, pulling the taller albino into the room before shutting the door with his leg, then he and Shiro had a staring contest. Shiro trying to gauge out what Ulquiorra was planning while Ulquiorra was wondering where that odd feeling of...fire had crossed through him had come from.

"What do you want boss?" Shiro finally sighed as he placed the form on his desk then turned back around, leaned against his desk with his arms folded and looked at Ulquiorra, ready to listen to whatever was going to be said.

"Is your brother not well Mr. Kurosaki?" Ulquiorra wasn't one to beat around the bush. He was precise and effective, though he could learn to use a little more tact.

Shiro flinched at the statement and he felt like he might've said something wrong with how the albino avoided his gaze.

"...He's...,*sigh* He's fine. I'm glad he is." Shiro says simply as he covers his eyes with the palm of his hand. He felt so drained but he knew he'd be back to normal the next day.

He liked pretending he was happy all the time because sometimes, it feels real.

"Then why do you seem...emotionally distressed?" Ulquiorra asked, not really sure what the word for Shiro's behavior could be known as. Is he sad? No I believe I read a book that sadness usually involves crying but his eyes don't seem to be puffy and red so no, not sad. Depressed? That doesn't sound correct for some reason. Maybe-

He stopped his musings when he heard a tired laugh from Shiro. He didn't look or sound better but Ulquiorra felt...warm when he heard the sound.

"I'm slightly on edge at the moment but I'm okay. I get like this after Ichi's panic attacks...they scare me because I feel like I'm failing in protecting him and...you don't really care. I'm sorry." Shiro said as he slapped his forehead l. Stupid! He doesn't care so shit up. Idiot!

Ulquiorra walked towards the desk and leaned on it stiffly beside Shiro. He thought that it was odd. The feeling he had. The feeling that made him want to hear more. Listen more. Get every word Shiro says into his memory forever. It was strange and confusing but he guessed he'd understand it sooner or later. He didn't get his brains for nothing.

Shiro's right leg tensed because Ulquiorra's left thigh was brushing up against it. It felt warm but also a bit cold, more lukewarm than anything. Oh how Shiro just wanted to rub his hands up those long legs until he reached those thighs, placing soft kisses against them as he goes up and up and then he reached for-

Shiro immediately kept his head down, his long white hair covering enough of his face to hide the redness that had taken over his entire head.

Where the fuck did that come from? I ca-I mean no! Mayb- NO! Ulquiorra is off limits! Off! I was so over this just two weeks ago? What the fuck changed?! His attitude towards him proves it. Ulquiorra isn't and would never be interested! So shut up brain!

Okay so maybe Shiro might've thought about Ulquiorra in...that kind of relationship like two weeks back but he had completely destroyed the train of thought because he knew it'd never happen plus he doesn't have time to deal with heartbreak. If that happened how will he be able to take care of Ichigo while he was sad? His whole attention should and would be Ichigo's.

"What were you saying? About failing to protect him? From what exactly?" Ulquiorra asked, not meeting Shiro's surprised gaze.

Shiro was surprised. Someone was actually going to listen to him. Ulquiorra was actually listening to him. He's never talked to anyone about this, the way his baby brother's attacks affect him, because he honestly thought the only person in the world that would care about his problems would be Ichigo. There's also Shinji.

"Uh yeah. I just...I'm sorry you kinda surprised me there." Shiro said sheepishly, a small but still sad smile gracing his features.

"How did I do that?" Ulquiorra asked genuinely confused.

"I guess... I didn't think you'd care." Shiro answered honestly. It was how it was for Ichigo and Shiro especially when they were younger and protecting themselves. Nobody cared about the two brothers that lived in a rundown warehouse, working harder than children should ever be able to. All they knew was that they were alone and they didn't care about much after that. All of Shiro's friends deserted him because he wasn't 'cool' anymore and he stopped partying with them. Ichigo couldn't get any friends because all the poor boy could do was scowl and frown at everyone but his brother. They were the only ones that cared for the other and that was enough. It was all they needed to keep fighting to stay alive and not fall into the dark abyss that's hiding away in both their hearts.

"Why wouldn't I?...You did say we are friends and I read that friends listen to school other in times of distress...Or am I wrong?" Ulquiorra put a hand under his chin as he recalled his research on friendship wondering where he went wrong.

Shiro just looked at Ulquiorra, surprised that he actually thought of him as his friend at last and the fact that the guy actually searched on friendship. He found the whole thing funny. He laughed his usual obnoxious laugh which snapped Ulquiorra out of his musings.

"Oh God Ulquiorra! Y-you're such a r-r-HAHAHAHAHAAH! Who researches on how to be a good friend? What the fuck? HAHAHAHAGA!" Shiro laughed so hard that had to hold his tummy for it hurt too much.

Ulquiorra actually huffed in annoyance which just made the laugh stretch longer.

"Could you please tell me what you find so humorous?" Ulquiorra asked as he folded his arms, nearly losing his usual frown to glare at Shiro.

Shiro calmed down, his laugh turning to small chuckles as he looked back at Ulquiorra, standing right in front of Ulquiorra with his hands on his hips. "Baka. You don't study on how to be a good friend." Shiro told with a shake of his head in mock disappointment.

Ulquiorra felt both insulted and confused. Insulted for being called an idiot...for the first time in his life and confused because he had no other way to learn on how friendships work.

"...What do you suggest?" Ulquiorra asked, his eyes showing how sheepish he felt at that moment.

Shiro rose his arm and wrapped his arm around Ulquiorra's in a friendly way, though it had forced Ulquiorra to suppress a shiver of...something. "You experience these things. By hanging out with friends. Tell you what. Come over for dinner." Shiro randomly said making the organ in Ulquiorra's chest squeeze and his stomach did some weird flips.

Me?...In Shiro's house?...What?

"Excuse me?" Ulquiorra asked, he didn't even notice how breathless he sounded.

Shiro didn't seem to notice either for he grinned bradly at the thought of having his friend over. "Yeah! It'd be fun! Ichi and I are making Italian! My baby brother's pesto lasagna is to die for! Oooooo!~ Movies! We should have movies too! Pitch Perfect is my absolute fave but Ichi loves his superhero movies. Hey maybe you could pick which movie you want! You're sleeping over by the way. I'm guessing your very first sleepover! Pictures are a must! Oh I've gotta get that futon out. Hmm you're a guest so I guess I could give you my be-"

"Mr. Kurosaki." Ulquiorra had to stop him there. The thought of being on Shiro's bed, surrounded with his scent...it was too much.

"Hmm what's up?" Shiro asked, his mind still on the evening.

Zuppa di porcini or zuppa di vongole? Decisions, too many decisions. Does he have any allergies?...

"...After all that, do you promise to go back to our discussion from before? I know that these things affect you greatly but I have...heard that talking about it helps." Ulquiorra asked, not even bothering to lie to himself that he wouldn't go.

His brother would be there and we'd be speaking fr the first time. I...strangely wonder if he'd like me. Looks like I'd have to cancel my arrangement with Aizen. It is time for our monthly...activities but this seems more important...for some reason.

Shiro looked down at Ulquiorra, his arm still wrapped around his shoulders. Like stared at him with those strange, unnatural eyes, like he could see his soul. Then he smiled. It was small but there was that sadness that Ulquiorra had come to realize was always present around Shiro.

The albino surprised Ulquiorra when he pulled him closer for a one armed hug, having to bend down slightly. His lips, whether unconsciously or not Ulquiorra didn't know, were hovered over his ear which made Ulquiorra want to get out of the physical contact almost immediately because he felt like he was having a heart attack. He placed his hand on Shiro's chest to push him away but then he stopped. He...could feel Shiro's heartbeat. It was beating hard but at a normal pace and the feel of it vibrating against his palm made him relax into the strange show of affection. It feels so strong...

"Thanks Ulquiorra." Shiro sighed into Ulquiorra's ear. Ulquiorra nearly moaned. He had to practically bite his tongue off to stop himself from doing such a horrendous thing. Wha-What was that just now? What kind of reaction is that?

"F-For what?" Ulquiorra could curse at himself for letting his voice shake like that. It was disgraceful.

He didn't even have to look to know Shiro was smiling. "For caring. It...means a lot. I'm really glad we're friends." Shiro said, his hold tightening for a moment before he pulled away. Ulquiorra felt his stomach clench at the word friend. This confused him. His entire...relationship with Shiro just plain confused him.

"Now aren't you supposed to be working L-quiorra? I am positively appalled! What kind of example are you setting for your subordinates? Disappointing." Shiro said, hands on his hips like a scolding mother as he shook his head with mock disappointment.

Ulquiorra just frowned at him, nothing new, "I do believe you are not one to talk for you still have work from last week you haven't finished. Another thing, I searched on this L and made an analysis. I do see where you can get some...similarities between us but I must inform you that I sleep normally, do not have sweets for every meal of he day, sit rather mannerly, I do enjoy games of wit and strategy I would not be deranged enough to play one against a mass murderer that could kill me easily with a look of my face and my name...In addition if I was L, that Kira trash would've been killed by 'unfortunate' circumstances for I would've figured it out faster. Thus I have made my point that we are entirely different." Ulquiorra states, telling Shiro everything he had learned in his research.

Shiro looked at Ulquiorra with slightly wide eyes before he leaned on one leg, looking down at his feet, his left hand still resting on his hip but his right palm covered his eyes but the goofy smile on his face was too big to hide.

Damn...why did he have to make it so hard to not want him...Really Ulquiorra? You actually researched on a manga character just because I compared you to him? Why does he listen to me? He always seems to hear every word I say, then later uses them against me, taking me off guard. He's actually paying attention to me...Why? Just...damn.

"You are something else Ulquiorra." Shiro mumbled, a slight chuckle falling off his lips.

Ulquiorra felt like he was being made fun off but before he could comment on it, the sound if Shiro's ringtone, the smooth and wonderful sound of two instruments playing, went off making Shiro smile so brightly.

Ulquiorra felt a strange emotion stirring in his mind. It made him...bitter, if he could use that word. That smile is only for his brother isn't it? He smiles for me but...their always so different. Like his precious brother is above anyone else, even me. He shook those weird thoughts from his mind. What is wrong with me? Of course he loves his brother more than anything. Why do I even care? Shiro what are you doing to my sanity?

"ICHIIIII!~ MY BABY FROM HEAVEN ABOVE!~ HOOOOOOOOOW ARE YOU?!" Shiro sang loudly as he walked out of his office, but not before sending Ulquiorra a cute smile and a mock salute. The CED sighed loudly, strangely feeling tired.

He walked out of the office but was then stopped by this brown haired, the hair up in a bun, and short woman. "How may I help you?" Ulquiorra asked, his tone as cold as ever if not colder, making the timid woman flinch but she went on with determination.

"I...I just wanted to say thank you." She said, her voice small and shy. Ulquiorra rose an eyebrow in response. "Uh f-for cheering Shiro-san up. Everyone was so worried about him when he wasn't acting like his usual self. But he seems better now. So thank you." She said with a smile before walking away towards the elevator. She was wearing a blue jumpsuit so Ulquiorra guess she was from Starrk's department.

He looked in the direction he heard Shiro gushing over his brother through the phone and was taken aback by how many employees were looking at Shiro with smiles of relief on their faces, even the ones that bullied him occasionally seemed relieved he was okay now.

These people, every one of them, have barely known the albino for a month yet he had affected them greatly. Touched them in a way that made him important and...he doesn't even know it.

What are you Shiro Kurosaki? How are you changing me so much?...Do I even like the change? Do I hate it?

Shiro caught Ulquiorra's eye and he sent him a cheeky smile and a peace sign like he was some high school girl posing for a selfie. Ulquiorra almost...smiled, well his lip twitched for a millisecond but close enough.

...I don't think I hate it.

I would've kept going but then it would've been an extremely long chapter. Like...7000 words or more.

Next chapter would be on the little dinner party and I hope to have it done by the nineteenth for an amazing reader of mine's birthday. He/she's a guest so I have no idea what to call em but I'll have it done by then. I promise.

Please leave a review. As I've said soooo many times they make my days brighter and better! And sorry about the terrible spelling. Laptop crashed on me so I'm relying on my phone.

PADDY'S DAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! AHHHH!

Ciao from,

Grimmjowislife.