He hadn't meant to fall asleep, his body acting without consent.

Ulquiorra could get away with many things that typical Hollows or even Arrancars could not, but sleep was not one of them. It was a necessity, not a choice. He hadn't felt comfortable sleeping out in the open, especially with Kisuke on his tail and Kagome sick and needing a check up every few hours. But going a week without a wink of it, even without using much energy in the days, had taken its toll on his body. Before he realized it, he'd found himself passed out in Kagome's bed. While other Hollows suffered with the need to eat regularly, he was the exception with the option to trade that for sleep.

Which he'd been doing neither.

It didn't help that the only thing he'd eaten in that time was one small meal Kagome's mother had prepared - one he'd only done so to humor Kagome and gauge her family's reactions to his presence.

Truthfully speaking, if he wasn't reminded of the fact he could eat, it often escaped his memory. Ulquiorra had always been a strange Hollow, even among his peers. Where other Hollows required constant feeding to maintain their bodies and evolve, he'd been born without the ability to eat. Not because he didn't have the stomach for it, but rather due to his Hollow mask not having a mouth opening.

Or even nose or ears, frankly.

But that was for another case.

He'd never had to struggle through the evolution line, simply being born a Vasto Lorde from the darkest pits of Hueco Mundo. Never truly experienced the harrowing reality that other Hollows faced of needing to always eat and improve to maintain their form. For gluttony to drive their actions. Where other Hollows could forgo sleep for food, he was the opposite. Becoming an Arrancar had granted him a window into the world of hunger and the ability to feed if he wished, but his preferred method of recuperation was still sleep.

He was tired, as much as he hated to admit it.

Hungry, even.

Depriving him of both left him weakened and he hadn't allowed himself one or the other option to recuperate. He was working solely on his reserves, which drained further with each day that passed without rest. To eat was a chore. To sleep, a luxury he felt he couldn't quite afford to have just yet. Kisuke could return any day now, after all.

Hell, Soul Society might finally notice his presence and come hunting for him.

Kirara mewed from her spot in front of his face, where it was pressed comfortably against the pillow on Kagome's bed. Her twin-tails were bushed up in a manner similar to how the other cat of the house's got when around the demonic feline, displaying her agitation for all to see. He pulled himself up against his body's protests, a hand shooting to his forehead at the pang the action brought. Fatigue pulled at his body, demanding he succumb himself back to the darkness. The nap had been too short to do much for him. Vaguely, he felt a small itch from his cheek and he brushed a finger over the area, noticing the tiniest indent on the skin. Kirara had bitten him, apparently.

"What is it?" he asked.

The demonic cat mewed once more, then bit his sleeve and pulled for him to follow. He obliged, getting up. She immediately hopped off the bed and up on the windowsill, mewing for him to look outside. One familiar ex-captain in green peeked out from over the shrine's line of sight. He was back.

With Kagome.

He clicked his tongue. Of course it had to be when he'd passed out. He thanked the cat for waking him up and headed out, with Kirara immediately jumping on his shoulder to not be left behind.

The scene that greeted them coming upon the two was that of Kagome beating the ex-captain with a broom, taking the two aback.

If there was one thing to be wary of when it came to Kagome, it was her temper. Both males were starting to learn the dangers of stoking it, with Kisuke's lesson on the physical side. Ulquiorra doubted the man was truly overwhelmed by her in strength, considering his past position. Still, the sight was a spectacle to behold, one that would not be forgotten for a long time.

What had Kisuke done exactly?

Ulquiorra sipped the hot tea Kagome prepared for them. They were now inside the house in the kitchen, with her sitting at his side and Kisuke on the opposite. If looks were enough to kill, the ex-captain would be dead seven times over from her glare alone. Ulquiorra had the feeling that he too was walking on eggshells, though why he wasn't sure. If he said the wrong thing, he expected that anger to be set upon him.

If Kirara's deliberate position on his shoulder opposite of Kagome was anything to go by, it was best if he waited for her to start the talking.

Kagome itched one hand with the other, the bandages wrapped around them messy in her haste to get them situated. When both males still refused to break the silence, she finally took the lead.

"So, start talking. What's going on," she demanded.

Kisuke shot a look to Ulquiorra, who expertly ignored it via closing his eyes and taking another sip of his tea. He was not the conversationalist, after all. Kisuke had started it anyway.

The blonde cleared his throat. "Why don't we start again from the beginning, Higurashi-san. As I mentioned before, I didn't come here for a fight. Merely check in on Ulquiorra-san here."

"Right, of course. That's why I suddenly got a letter from a school in Karakura Town," she retorted.

That was new information to Ulquiorra. He resisted the urge to glare at the blonde as he connected the dots. Thinking back on it, perhaps that was why the ex-captain had left so easily last time he'd visited. He'd changed plans to involve Kagome in the matter and he'd needed time to make them happen. Ulquiorra had shown a closeness to her he'd never wanted or meant to and Kisuke picked up on it.

If he resisted, Kisuke would go after her.

How irksome.

"I figured as his friend, you would want to follow him to Karakura Town. Besides, I've heard you've been struggling to get into a school due to your past absences and wished to help out," Kisuke explained.

To control her, more like it.

"And why would he need to leave? He's fine here," Kagome stated. "I'm fine being homeschooled, anyway."

"As an Arrancar, he poses a great risk to living beings. I can't just very well allow him to move around so freely without supervision."

"He hasn't hurt anyone, though."

"That you're aware of."

Kagome's brows furrowed in confusion and Ulquiorra took another sip of his tea. He still hadn't given her the full history with him and the Shinigami, just that they were naturally against each other due to their natures. He supposed he couldn't hide it for much longer - not that he was actively keeping this information from her.

"I have actively fought against the Shinigami in the past, even briefly killing one of their members during the war," Ulquiorra said.

Technically speaking, he'd only begun clashing with the Shinigami after joining Aizen's army. Even then, Aizen often kept him busy with recon missions and other personal errands, so in truth the only person he'd personally antagonized was Kurosaki Ichigo and perhaps to an extent that Quincy friend of his, but both had come out of that battle alive - as far as he was aware of.

Well, no.

There was also Orihime, who he'd personally been entrusted to kidnap and care for during her stay in Las Noches. Her two attendants during her transport between Soul Society and the Living World had been gravely injured, but she'd healed them. While he'd never laid a hand on her, he was not a friend to her either. They could be counted on that list.

"Okay… and?"

Kagome surprised both of them. She noticed their stares and looked even more puzzled.

"What? You were in a war, right? Killing on either side is to be expected. I'm sure the Shinigami killed, too. That doesn't really tell me which side is the good guys and which is the bad," Kagome defended.

"Fair enough," Kisuke conceded.

So he told her a summarized version of the story, of one Aizen Sousuke and the two traitors of Soul Society, and of the war he waged against them using the Arrancars. Kagome turned to Ulquiorra once he was finished, who didn't refute any of it.

"He speaks the truth. As one who did Aizen's bidding, I'm the 'bad guy'," Ulquiorra said.

"And now?" she asked.

"I hold no loyalty to him nor wish to continue serving under him," he stated.

Kagome nodded slowly, processing everything she'd been told. They allowed her that moment, curious for her take on the matter. When she finally settled on her thoughts, Ulquiorra expected her to turn on him. As a human, it was the logical thing to do. And yet, she looked conflicted.

"So that's why you're here… Even if Ulquiorra says he no longer follows this Aizen person, you still have to be sure since you were enemies," she concluded, to which Kisuke nodded. "Does he have to leave, though? I mean, he hasn't hurt anyone so far. Can't you watch him from here?"

Kisuke was amused, Ulquiorra could see. He himself was unsure of the situation.

"I'm afraid not. While I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, Soul Society won't see things the same way. Putting aside his desertion of Aizen, he is still a Hollow who by nature feeds on souls and disrupts the balance of the Living World. Unless he can prove beyond all doubt that he is not a danger, he'll be hunted down by the Shinigami. As I see it, he has only three options."

"Which are…?" Kagome asked.

Kisuke held up his hand, with one finger raised. "The first is that he returns to Hueco Mundo and never comes back to the World of the Living." Then, another finger. "Second; that he stays here and is eventually eliminated by the Shinigami. Of course, as a Shinigaimi myself, this duty would fall on me to kill him."

Kagome didn't like either option. "And the third?"

"He works for me," Kisuke said, holding up a third finger. "If he agrees to come with me, I can protect him from Soul Society for the time being. At least until we can prove he's no longer a threat to us, but an ally. That of course would mean he'd live with me in Karakura Town."

She bit her lip, looking back to Ulquiorra. "What do you want to do?"

Nothing would be his preferred choice. Kisuke gave three options, but Ulquiorra knew if he picked the first, he'd be forced to fight for the right to leave. He couldn't be sure the man wouldn't set his sights on Kagome to control him if he managed it in his state. Nothing awaited him back in Hueco Mundo, even if he left. He'd simply go back to wandering the desert or succumbing to emptiness. Staying meant being under the control of another again.

To go back to Karakura Town was…

His stomach turned unpleasantly. It was not a sensation he was familiar with, but it didn't take a genius to understand the thought was uncomfortable. Orihime was there. He'd be able to see her again.

He wanted to see her again.

Yet didn't.

Before his death, she'd stirred something inside him. Their last moment was bittersweet and the thought of seeing her again brought up feelings he didn't understand. His gaze turned to Kagome, who was still waiting patiently for his answer. Her eyes swirled with emotions he could not process, she looked as conflicted as he felt. Leaving her was also an unpleasant thought and he still knew too little about his own heart to understand why. Both women brought out emotions in him he never knew he possessed.

Her warm hand settled on his own and she squeezed gently. "I'll support you, whatever you decide. I won't let them hurt you," she said.

There was no doubt in her words. She meant every word she said. If she was anything like Ichigo, she would die keeping her word. Just as he'd done for Orihime.

He looked to Kisuke, who was patiently watching. "What will you do with her?"

"Nothing. I'm only here for you. She'll need a check up performed to rule out any damage to her body or soul, but afterwards she's free to do whatever she wants. Even forget all this ever happened," he replied.

He could accept that.

"I only have one final question," Ulquiorra said. It had been bugging him a bit. "Why do you wish to make me an ally? Would it not be more convenient to simply eliminate me now?"

Kisuke laughed, fanning his face. "Things have changed. Aizen may be gone, but there are still mysteries surrounding him. As someone who worked under him, you have information we don't. Besides, his defeat has left Hueco Mundo without a leader. I don't doubt the realm is in chaos right now and until things finally settle, the Living World is the one most in danger. Soul Society could benefit from allying with you, who can act as a bridge between the worlds."

So, that was it. He'd figured as much, but the verbal confirmation gave him certainty.

There really was only one option for him.

With Ulquiorra's answer given, the rest of the talk wrapped up fairly quickly. He'd decided to take up Kisuke's offer to work under him, so all that was left to do was prepare for the move. Kisuke bid the two goodbye for the day, promising to be back the next day to pick them up as he still had some preparations to make. Kagome still needed to break the news to her family and pack up, so she was relieved to be given that extra time.

Before he left though, he'd given Ulquiorra a bracelet to wear. Kagome wasn't sure what it was for, but the Arrancar seemed to have gotten an idea of its use. Neither of the men bothered to explain to her, even when she asked.

That night Kagome found herself glued to one of the books Miroku left behind for her - specifically the one for spiritual training. She managed to convince Ulquiorra to sleep, as even she could tell he was tired. He wasn't pleased, but they both knew he needed the rest for tomorrow. Who knew what the following day would bring, so best to start it with a rested mind and body. Kagome wouldn't be getting any sleep that night anyway, her nerves too high. So she'd keep a watch, instead.

The book was insightful, but also somewhat confusing. When everything she knew about her powers came instinctually to her, Kagome's mind had a hard time wrapping around the mechanics behind it. Miroku's book brought some clarity, but also questions she had no one to ask. It was refreshing finally having something to look to for training her powers though, considering she'd never once during her travels in the past gotten proper training. Still, it was evident she'd still have to struggle with understanding even the basics before moving on to the advanced techniques.

Kagome sighed, stretching her arms over her head and stifling a groan as her back popped and clicked. She'd been at it all night and into the morning, only stopping for a small break to pack before continuing to study. The sun was now glaring once more outside her window, the birds chirping in song. It wasn't her intention to stay up so long, but Ulquiorra never once stirred from his slumber and she was too anxious to try herself.

Once Ulquiorra was finally awake, Kagome took the opportunity to visit the well house one last time. She set a tray of food for him before she left in case he was hungry, though she had the feeling he wasn't hungry. Though his perfect mask of indifference was back and his thoughts hard to read, she got the inkling that he wasn't happy. Which was understandable, considering the situation he was in.

So she'd left him alone to brood in her room.

Just as last time, there was no magic to light the well. No pull back to the past. Just the hard impact of the rough ground against her feet. She sat at the bottom of the well, feet curled to her chest.

"Why do I even bother anymore…"

Kagome sighed, resting her head against her knees. If ever a time for Inuyasha to pop into her life, it would be now. She wasn't strong. Didn't even know what to do. She was only acting on her feelings, knowing full well that there was little she could offer to help Ulquiorra. If Inuyasha was here, he could protect them. Like the knight in shining armor she'd come to see him as.

"I fail to see the benefits of crying inside a well, yet this is the second time I've come upon you in such a state," came the familiar voice of Ulquiorra. Kagome looked up, cerulean meeting emerald. "Tell me, is this a common past-time for you humans? Or just exclusive to you?"

He was genuinely curious.

She huffed, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. "I'm not crying."

He didn't look convinced.

Kagome squeaked, startled as he suddenly appeared in front of her.

"How strange," he muttered. His eyes traced over the ground, then the walls of the well. He didn't respond when she asked what he meant, simply placed a hand against the wall and closed his eyes in concentration. "It is faint, but I sense a peculiar energy. The vague semblance of what appears to be various foreign signatures mashed into one, mixed together with that of the Goshinboku's own energy. What is this well, exactly?"

Well now, that was a lot of words.

"What is it?" he questioned.

Kagome shook her head. "Nothing, nothing. Just that I didn't expect you to go into detail. You're not usually much of a talker."

"Yes, well… I figured it was best to describe it to you, seeing as you lack in spiritual awareness," he stated.

She resisted the urge to hit him.

"Judging by the lack of response, I take it you don't know then?"

Kagome glared, instead. "Hey, I'm not that dense, you know! It's known as the Bone-Eater's Well and was created using the wood of the Goshinboku, which is why you sense it here."

"Bone-Eater's?"

"That's right," she said, nodding. Kagome got up, dusting off her skirt of dirt. "In the past, it was used to dispose of youkai remains. If you're sensing mixed energies, then it's the remnants of them. Though I'm not sure why, since they should be from centuries ago."

Or he was just that stupidly great at sensing things. Which in that case he couldn't blame her for not sensing it herself. He was just that gifted, while she never got proper training in how to do so herself.

Then again, Mistress Centipede did spring back up in her time. Whether that was because she somehow traveled from the past or her remains never fully degraded like other demons in those five centuries she was down here, was anyone's guess. Maybe if she looked hard enough, she could still find bits of bone hidden in all the dirt.

"Anyway, we should get going. That Shinigami guy will be coming by soon," Kagome said.

Ulquiorra didn't respond.

"Ulquiorra?"

Still nothing.

He finally turned to look at her. Kagome suddenly found herself backed into a wall, his body inches from her own, his intense gaze holding her in place. "You are quite the curious human. You have powers, yet hold no reiatsu. You are confident, yet weak. There is a sense that you are hiding something, yet I cannot figure out what."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said.

It was only partially true.

"Urahara Kisuke mentioned the Shikon no Tama. While I do not personally care for the jewel, I am curious as to his interest in it. He believed me to have come here for it, yet according to him that jewel ceased to exist centuries ago," Ulquiorra said.

Kagome gulped.

"There is also the mystery of your powers," he continued, inching forward. When Kagome attempted to duck away, he slammed his arm at her side, cutting off the escape. "You claim to have only recently learned how to heal, yet were able to restore my body. A feat that should not be possible unless you have powers similar to hers."

She had no idea who he was referring to, nor did she care to be compared to anyone again. Kikyo was more than enough. Kagome attempted to push him away, but his other hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

"What do you wanna know, exactly?" she questioned.

"Everything."

It was a difficult request - no, demand. She had no idea how to go about it, not without physical proof that she wasn't just some weird crazy girl. There was just no way he would take her word for it. It was a miracle Miroku's descendent did. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you…"

Besides, she was nervous about sharing such information with him. Not now, when she still wasn't sure what that Shinigami guy was gonna do with them.

"I'm sure I can manage," he assured.

She bit her lip. "Can we do this later? It's a long story."

"No. That was not a request. You will tell me now."

Kagome opened her mouth, though was thankfully interrupted. Her brother's voice sounded from outside the well house. "Kagome, someone's here asking for you!"

Ulquiorra didn't budge.

"Kagome~!"

The door to the well house opened and Souta was heard coming inside, calling for her. Ulquiorra finally backed off, pocketing his hands. They could faintly hear Kisuke's voice from somewhere outside the building, talking with what sounded like Kagome's grandfather. He'd finally arrived for them.

Ulquiorra relented.

Kagome knew he'd ask again later.

The trip to Karakura Town was fairly short, as they traveled the distance by air via their powers. Kisuke had given Ulquiorra a cloak to wear much like the one he'd used when he first confronted Aizen a century ago, which hid his reiatsu from any prying eyes. Soul Society would still have gotten an alert of a Hollow in the area once they left the shrine grounds, so Kisuke clipped a piece of the Goshinboku's bark he'd chipped off in his last visit there, complete with a temporary charm that would conceal his presence.

Once at his shop, Kagome was handed off to one Kurosaki Isshin. Kisuke had offered to do the body inspection himself, but that offer was met with a harsh threat and cold glare, as she didn't trust him enough to touch her. He had introduced himself as a pervert, after all.

That was fine, though.

It meant she wouldn't fight Isshin on the matter, putting more trust in the Human World doctor over him. He'd play the creep if it meant smooth cooperation.

Ulquiorra, on the other hand, was taken to another part of his shop. Specifically, his small lab. Questions about Aizen and the two other ex-captains was expected, but Kisuke also wanted to examine Ulquiorra himself. After all, it was a rare chance to be able to check out an Arrancar, especially an Espada as powerful as Ulquiorra was. No other would willingly hand themselves over to him for examination.

He didn't protest or voice a complaint, either.

"This piece of bark is from the Goshinboku, isn't it? I sense a spell on it, but it's fading. Do you plan to chip away at the tree to keep me hidden from Soul Society?" Ulquiorra asked.

It was the first question he'd allowed himself in the time they were together. Kisuke paused in his note-taking, looking up to the Espada who was slipping his jacket back on. He was perceptive, though Kisuke expected as much. This was the man who Aizen seemed to use most for missions, trusting in his judgements to carry out orders and find hidden meaning where there seemed to be none. Aizen claimed not to trust anyone, but from what Kisuke gathered of the information Ulquiorra shared, he could be argued as an exception to some extent.

"Not at all~ It's just a temporary solution until I'm finished with your gigai," Kisuke answered.

"Gigai?" It truly was impressive how well the man could mask his emotions. Kisuke barely caught the confusion flicker in his eyes, before it was back to indifference.

"Yes, an artificial body like the Shinigami use when interacting with the Living World. I would have had it ready earlier, but I needed to examine your body first before I could complete it," the blonde explained. "It is my first time making a Gigai for a Hollow, after all~"

Ulquiorra voiced no further questions.

Then it was onto Kagome. Her check up was completed before theirs and she'd been waiting patiently outside for them. Kisuke let her inside the room, where she went straight to Ulquiorra. Kisuke excused himself from the room, trusting they wouldn't do anything too crazy on their own, and met Isshin outside. The man was frowning, looking over his own notes.

"So, how did it go?" Kisuke asked.

"Physically speaking, she's perfectly healthy. The only thing of note is a small scar on the left side of her abdomen, but it looks rather old," Isshin said.

"And spiritually?"

Isshin's frown deepened. "She holds no reiatsu and her reiryoku is suppressed to a point that it's hard to easily pick up on. However, I did sense a small anomaly. It's faint, so I can't be completely certain, but I caught a fluctuation in her soul. She's not consciously doing it, but her body is going to great lengths to suppress itself. If I didn't know any better, I'd think it's trying to erase its existence."

Oh?

"What do you mean?" Kisuke asked.

"See for yourself."

Isshin closed his eyes and concentrated. Spirit ribbons popped into Kisuke's line of sight and he watched patiently as Isshin reached out to one nearby. The ribbon was transparent, easy to miss if you weren't actively looking for it. The moment Isshin touched it, it turned translucent. "It's her reiraku. I was puzzled, so decided to give it a try, and barely noticed it. Her soul is actively trying to hide itself."

Interesting indeed.

"And you said she was perfectly healthy?"

Isshin nodded. "You said she may have suffered with some sort of illness or two in the past, so I asked for her medical history. She said she's had a few sick days in the past year, but didn't specify anything serious. Her files showed she hasn't been seen by a doctor in over a year, and there aren't any significant notes left from prior check ups. No hospitalizations, either."

"And yet she missed many days in the prior school year due to poor health," Kisuke muttered.

He took Isshin's clipboard with notes and looked it over. Just as he said, nothing stood out. Kagome was a perfectly healthy teenage girl just like any other her age, contradicting what her grandfather and the school she went to prior claimed. Either she was faking the past illnesses or something else was going on. Kisuke couldn't be sure what complications could arise from being in such an extreme state of suppression, not until he could personally examine her himself. This was definitely a first case for him and he expected Kagome wouldn't be completely forthcoming on the issue.

What a peculiar woman she was.

It was a good thing she was so attached to Ulquiorra. While Kisuke was interested in the Espada and the gains that could come from getting him to work under him, it wouldn't be too devastating if Ulquiorra managed to slip away back to Hueco Mundo. The research would just take longer to complete.

Kagome was different.

Kisuke had purposefully come off as only taking interest in Ulquiorra, being sure to slip in that he was fine with leaving her alone after this check up if she so wished. He judged she was not the type of person to abandon those close to her, and she'd stated to view Ulquiorra as a friend. If she came along of her own free will rather than by force, Ulquiorra would have less reason to be suspicious of his true intentions. He was relieved to see his judgement was correct.

Ulquiorra believed Kisuke was only interested in him and would cooperate to ensure her safety.

Kagome would stick by him for the same reason.

Kisuke would have both under his wing.

"So, what are your thoughts?" Isshin asked.

"Hard to say," Kisuke admitted. "Could I bother you to look into her medical records again? I'm curious about that scar she has and why there isn't a record of treatment on her file."

"Alright," he agreed. "I've got a few things to take care of at the moment, but I should have an update here sometime within the week."

Kisuke nodded. He could guess at what some of those things were. Ichigo was still in a coma, after all. The man had his son to take care of, on top of his two daughters and his clinic. There was also the matter of Soul Society now knowing he was alive and well in the Living World, thus confirming he'd abandoned his post to stay here. Thankfully, due to his efforts in the war against Aizen, he was being given leniency. Kisuke wouldn't demand his attention at all hours.

"How is he doing, by the way?" Kisuke asked.

The pained look on Isshin's face said more than his words could. Everyone was worried over Ichigo, who sacrificed a great deal in the war. Too much for a boy his age. He sighed. "Still the same. His body's recovering, but it's hard to say when he'll finally wake up."

Kisuke could offer little in comfort and reassurance. He made a note to check up on the teen later once he got the chance.

Author's Note

Decided to play around with Kisuke's POV, but it's a bit tricky. There were some things I wanted to add using him, but then decided against to save for later. This chapter is pretty slow, but hopefully still enjoyable to read.

Lurking Bullfox: Kisuke's smart and definitely has ideas is all I can say. He's gonna be a fun character to deal with.