Hey there! Happy Valentines! ❤
As promised before, here's chapter 29!
As always, many thanks to my lovely reviewers!
Shu Ouma GC, Incognito74, jhonda3721 (SweetestChick), fuegoleonvermillon498, BerryBiru, Brenda Joyeux, Gaamatsu96
Thank you so much for still sticking with me, I just love you! ❤❤❤
In the meantime, I finally drew a cover for this story. It's not perfect, but it's cute, if I can say so myself. I'm super happy how it came out, especially considering I don't really draw, just doodle, when I'm bored at work. And this was my third time trying to draw digitally, so there.
I hope you'll like both the cover and the chapter!
朝霧 -Asagiri-
Chapter 29
Winter War (Act III)
Ulquiorra arrived at Soul Society and with sinking feeling he realised his Pesquisa couldn't detect Rukia anywhere. He focused on Yammy, and only then he found a flicker of her reiatsu. She was barely alive, and fading away.
Sonido let him reach her instantly. With wide eyes he stared at the scene, his mind rendered blank with disbelief, fear and rage. Whatever vengeful indignation he might have still harboured towards her, it dissipated this moment.
Rukia's small body was surrounded by crushing fingers of a giant, and everything was covered in a layer of ice and jagged ice flowers. Her head lolled to the side, tears that ran down her face were now hoarfrost, blood trailed down her mouth and nose. Yet there was a soft smile on her lips. Even though she must have suffered a lot. It reminded him of that nightmare he once had had.
"Rukia… Rukia!" he called, pleading with her to wake up, to stay with him.
At the same time an unfamiliar voice came from the other side of the fist, followed by a clank of metal against a hard, icy surface. "Kuchiki! Hang in there!"
Ulquiorra and the other person were too preoccupied with Rukia that they didn't notice the other's presence until now. Like a shot a white-haired youngster in a captain's haori appeared right in front of him, swinging his zanpakutō at him. He recognised Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and easily blocked the attack with his bare hand, but jumped away to avoid getting frozen.
"Stay away from her, Arrancar!" the Shinigami brat shouted, his voice laced with threat and despair. His eyes were wild. Fight with Yammy must have been tough on him, yet he did a good job incapacitating him.
But why had he allowed Rukia to end up like this?!
Ulquiorra glared at him, struggling to contain his anger. "You froze Rukia. With Yammy."
The Shinigami brat shot him a look of disbelief and indignation. "Of course I did! That thing had to be stopped!"
He scoffed, but decided to let it go for now. Saving Rukia was his top priority. "Where's Orihime Inoue?" he demanded. She was the only one he knew would help without a second thought, but he couldn't locate her anywhere in Soul Society. Had they hidden her somewhere?
"Leave those girls alone! I won't let you hurt them!" The Shinigami brat slashed the air with his zanpakutō, sending a swarm of sharp icicles at him.
The 4th Espada avoided or blocked most of the projectiles. Those that landed didn't hurt much. "Hypocrite! Didn't you just freeze Rukia yourself? I want to save her!" he declared, and flashed with Sonido to the side to retaliate with a dozen of Balas. With satisfaction he observed his opponent struggle with them, hurting his leg and losing one of his ice wings in the process.
"You?" the Shinigami brat wheezed. His eyes narrowed in a cold, scornful glower. "I know who you are, so don't make me laugh. I won't fall for your trick. This…" he pointed at Rukia enclosed in a giant fist, "This is a favour to you. This behemoth almost crushed Kuchiki to death as a favour to you! My ice is the only thing keeping her alive! So, who's the hypocrite now?"
Ulquiorra frowned, revolted by the idea of asking Yammy a favour, especially one like this. He would have never had anyone deal with his own personal matters. He would have never had anyone kill Rukia!
"So, stay away from her! I won't let you kill her!" the Shinigami brat said firmly and took a stance for another attack.
Then, a loud, foreboding noise resounded in the air. And another one. It was the ice cracking – Yammy was finally trying to break out of his casing.
"What?" the Shinigami brat uttered in disbelief.
Using the opportunity that his opponent was distracted, Ulquiorra knocked him out with one swift hit. In sort of a thanks for trying to save Rukia, he tossed him away, so he wouldn't get caught in what he had in store for Yammy. He had to act quickly, though, before the giant evolved any further.
He produced Luz de la Luna, and put as much reiatsu into it as he could to cut through layers of ice, Hierro, flesh and bones. At the same time the amount couldn't exceed what he was able to control with full precision to avoid even grazing Rukia.
He cut off the thumb first. It fell to the ground unceremoniously. Then, with one long motion he slashed the rest of the fingers right above the knuckles. He was careful not to cut all the way through. A strong pull was enough to break them off, and soon they too hit the ground. Rukia was free from the deadly clutch, but not from the danger yet.
Ulquiorra gently took her into his arms. Her body was stiff and cold, and her reiatsu waning. He needed to find Orihime Inoue at once.
Before that, though, he couldn't let Yammy get off scot-free after what he had done to her. He was going to make him pay dearly for her pain, for all the blood and tears she had shed because of him.
He moved back a bit, and with his fingernails he slashed the palm of his left hand. Aiming at Yammy, he fired a Gran Rey Cero, hitting the area of his head and chest, just when the giant gave out a thunderous roar.
Then another Gran Rey Cero, blue in colour, added to his attack, hitting the gut.
Ulquiorra turned to the side, knowing well who it would be, yet utterly surprised by his presence and assist. "Grimmjow."
・
With a smug smirk on his face Grimmjow admired the destruction and what was left of Yammy. The quiet that fell after his remains collapsed to the ground was refreshing. It was also oddly therapeutic – he guessed that after having lost to Ichigo and seeing what had happened to Nel he needed to take it out on someone. And he never liked that dumb piece of shit anyway. Good riddance.
He heard his name called, uncharacteristic surprise in Ulquiorra's voice.
Grimmjow was equally surprised to see the bastard in Soul Society instead of fake Karakura Town, where he was supposed to be fighting for his precious Aizen-sama. Not only that – he went Gran Rey Cero on Yammy's arse, too! He killed precious Aizen-sama's precious asset!
All that for a mere Shinigami girl…
He would never ever admit it, but he was kinda impressed. Especially since the bastard was supposed to be upset with her and wanted to murder all Shinigamis because of this. And there he was, holding her protectively after sending one of his own kind straight to Hell.
"So you found your girl, huh," Grimmjow commented gruffly. "I guess the Human girl sent me here for nothing." With this, there was no reason to linger here anymore… He ought to check up on Nel and get her back to Hueco Mundo…
"Wait. You know where Orihime Inoue is?" Sense of urgency in Ulquiorra's question was almost palpable.
He frowned, wondering what was going on. "Yea—"
"ULQUIORRA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO RUKIA!?"
He blinked at the holler. "Huh? Ichigo?" With a surprise he noticed that the substitute Shinigami was white with fury and his eyes spoke murder. At the same time, the bastard's face darkened with resentment at the sight of the brat. Grimmjow felt like he was missing a part of the context between the two. The intense and conspicuous animosity was too incongruous with what he knew of their previous encounters.
"Grimmjow, take Rukia to her Human friend. Please."
Grimmjow stared, unable to believe his own ears. He was beginning to think that perhaps he wasn't missing anything, he was just losing it…
"Be quick. She doesn't have much time," the bastard urged.
Normally he would have scoffed at Ulquiorra's request, but the man in front of him wasn't the Ulquiorra he knew and despised. The bastard would have never begged. Yet, the cold and scrutinising arrogance was gone, replaced by a pleading look of despair laced with fear. For some reason, it compelled Grimmjow to move.
"Right…" he agreed. Only now he took in the state the Shinigami girl was in. Something was not right with the shape of her body, and there was a lot of blood. He could tell her life hung on by a thread. He wasn't a charity, though, so he added, "You'll owe me a big time." And with that he took the girl. She was fucking freezing and stiff like an ice statue. He needed to hurry not only for her sake, but his own, too. He didn't want to get frostbite! With a swift movement of his hand, he opened a gate to Garganta.
"Grimmjow! Where are you taking Rukia!?" Ichigo shouted at him. "Give her back!"
Grimmjow forced a grim smirk on his face. "Wouldn't you want to know that, huh, dickberry?" He flipped the idiot off, and jumped inside the gate before closing it after himself.
Orihime sat next to Nel-chan, hoping Grimmjow-san would return soon, and with Kuchiki-san, too. Being stranded in a void with her only companion unconscious made her feel uneasy. Her wild imagination wasn't helping either, thinking up various monstrosities that could be lurking in the surrounding darkness. To keep her mind occupied with more pleasant topics, she gently brushed Nel-chan's hair with her fingers, while telling her silly anecdotes.
"… and BOOM! Tatsuki-chan drop-kicked Kurosaki-kun in the face, and only then the girl stopped crying!" Orihime gesticulated wildly, retelling the story of how they once helped a lost little girl find her mum. All ended well, and the mum even treated them to ice creams.
"Oh, I wish Kurosaki-kun was here…" she said with a sad smile. "I'm afraid he and Ulquiorra-san—"
"Too late to worry, they're already at it," a gruff voice came from behind. It startled her out of her wits.
"Grimmjow-san!" she cried, half-glad, half-scolding. She turned around and saw him holding… "Kuchiki-san!"
"Here, another patient," he said, and laid the petite Shinigami down next to Nel-chan.
Orihime immediately enveloped her with Sōten Kisshun. Only then did she realise how badly her friend was hurt. Her heart was in her throat when she asked, "What happened to her?"
"She almost got crushed to death." After a pause, he added, "By the way, Ulquiorra was there. He found her."
She blinked, a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Are you saying… Ulquiorra-san did this?"
Grimmjow-san frowned. "What? No." With a grumble he sat down next to Nel-chan, and continued, "That bastard actually saved her. I guess he wasn't as mad at her as I thought. Hell, he even asked for my help. The world is fucking ending."
Orihime breathed a sigh of relief. Inspecting the reiatsu around Kuchiki-san's wounds, it indeed didn't belong to the 4th Espada. It was as dense as his, though, if not more. She was having a trouble rejecting it. It wasn't helping that her heart was rattled with fear at how close it was for Kuchiki-san to— No, it wasn't too late, everything was going to be fine. She just needed to focus.
"You okay there, girl?"
She exhaled slowly. Exhaustion was getting to her, but she wasn't going to succumb to it just yet. Kuchiki-san needed her now, and who knew who else might need her help later on. She would sleep it off tomorrow. So for now she put on a brave face and replied with a tired smile, "Yeah."
"Nel is…?"
"All her wounds are fixed, she's just unconscious," Orihime said reassuringly. "Her reiatsu is very low, but it's only a matter of time. She'll wake up soon."
Grimmjow-san nodded.
She couldn't help but notice how he visibly relaxed at learning that Nel-chan was going to be fine. His gaze was on the green-haired woman – cheeks that were deathly pale were now healthy pink. Her breaths were slow and steady; no grimace of pain on her face.
Orihime wondered if he held her dearer than he would care to admit.
"What?" he asked, noticing her stare.
"Nothing." She shook her head, while smiling knowingly.
His flustered look told her he guessed what she was thinking, but he soon changed it into a grumpy scowl.
Ichigo was furious, but also worried. He didn't get the chance to check what state Rukia was in, but she definitely wasn't fine. What had they done to her?! Why did they keep harassing her?! They weren't men, they were beasts! Grimmjow, too!
"Where did he take Rukia?!" Ichigo demanded. It was odd that the 6th Espada was lending Ulquiorra a hand, but perhaps he was getting back at him for his defeat. He should have ended him there and then!
Ulquiorra had the nerve to glower at him. "You have no right to ask about her. Not since you abandoned her to her doom. Second time, too."
"What are you talking about?!" Such outrageous accusation filled him with indignation and incredulity. "I'd never abandon her! You kidnapped her! You and your lot attacked Soul Society! And you think I'm in the wrong?!"
"I owe you no explanation, brat."
Ichigo didn't know what he was expecting. Beasts like him knew only one language – violence. "Fine. I'll just make you spit it all out. And I mean all of it. From kidnapping her then, and now, and all the in-between. I'll make you confess all your misdeeds and I'll make you grovel and apologise to Rukia. And then I'll judge and execute you."
"You meddle in people's affairs you have no understanding of," Ulquiorra replied, unimpressed by his threats. "Back off before you regret it."
"The only thing I regret is not rescuing Rukia the moment I learned she was in Las Noches alive."
"I'm glad you didn't." He clearly meant it.
"Bastard," Ichigo seethed. If he was furious before, this tipped him over the edge.
He blamed himself for Rukia's and Inoue's ordeals. They might be of different opinion, even repeatedly assuring him there was absolutely nothing he had done wrong. But he knew better. He felt it under his skin whenever he interacted with them, especially Rukia. She hid it well, but not well enough for him to miss it. A dark secret haunted her. Even Inoue was a bit twitchy about Las Noches, suppressing something. He should have been there to protect and save them!
And here was this bastard, satisfied with what he had done. Unforgivable!
Ichigo pointed Tensa Zangetsu at Ulquiorra, silently vowing to cut him down; to erase whatever marks he had left on his friends.
"A day will come neither Rukia nor Inoue will remember you anymore," he swore. With Shunpo he closed the distance between them. He slashed and stabbed, eager to sink his blade into his opponent.
・
"Rukia will never forget me," Ulquiorra replied with conviction, while blocking or evading each strike. He was in her Heart, wasn't he? Besides, he intended to be by her side and remind her of himself every day. How could she forget him then?
Ichigo Kurosaki's attacks became even more furious.
Ulquiorra wasn't sure why he kept provoking this brat again and again. Not that he lied or varnished the truth. But he could have just stayed silent. Perhaps he wanted him to suffer in his misconception, to feel the despair he himself felt seeing Rukia at death's doorstep. A state this brat could have easily prevented if only he hadn't been such an idiot.
What couldn't be said about mental capacities of Ichigo Kurosaki, could be said about his fighting prowess – he improved a lot since their last clash. He was faster and stronger, his attacks more precise. He still wasn't a match for him, not without his trump card. Yet, he didn't seem inclined to use it. Did he really think he had even a speck of chance to win without it?
"You really are a fool, Ichigo Kurosaki," Ulquiorra said, slashing him across the chest with Luz de la Luna. The brat moved away quickly enough to sustain only a shallow wound. So, with no delay, he sent a Cero at him.
He hovered over the brat coughing on the ground and added, "You come at me with such a feeble resolve, yet keep barking at me that you will save Rukia from me. She wouldn't find it pathetic, but I do. It's an insult to both her and me."
The Substitute Shinigami was quick on his feet. "SHE! ISN'T! YOURS!" he roared. After each word he slashed the air with Getsuga Tenshō.
Ulquiorra lost a part of his left wing, but quickly regenerated it. "We shall see about that."
"And don't talk so casually about Rukia! You know nothing about her!"
"I would think that after almost a month I had with her, I grasped her well enough. Though there is still plenty to learn."
The brat paled with rage. A Hollow mask started to form on his face.
Sensing his opponent's reiatsu surge, Ulquiorra wondered if perhaps he had another reason or two to provoke him. The fact was, he could easily win this fight, even though – potentially – Ichigo Kurosaki was more powerful than him.
Perhaps he was provoking the brat to attack him with full power, so he would have an excuse to kill him. He just didn't like him, and his hands itched to claw him apart. Rukia wouldn't be happy, but if she saw he had no choice? He did spare her brother and childhood friend, after all. For her he was capable of mercy, she would understand that, right?
Or perhaps it was just an ego thing. To test his own abilities. To confirm that he was right in his theory. To prove his own strength he had cultivated for decades. As ridiculous as it was, he couldn't exclude that. Easy victory was insipid, and he couldn't recall the last time he felt satisfaction after a battle.
Ichigo Kurosaki fell upon him in a flash, a wide intimidating grin on his mask. His speed and strength increased immensely.
Ulquiorra blocked the attack with his lance, but not without a difficulty. Immediately he had to change his stance to parry incoming stab from a different direction, and then another one. For a bit he had to be on the defensive. Then, he let the zanpakutō go through his shoulder to create an opening. His right hand grabbed his opponent's sword hand to keep him pinned at close distance, while his left one closed around his throat.
"Are you ready to go for Rukia's sake only this far? Disappointing," he commented, choking him. This still wasn't the full power of Ichigo Kurosaki. "You speak of Heart, yet it seems you can't put any into this fight. That Human woman had more guts than you."
The Substitute Shinigami gave out a frantic howl, and ignoring his restraints, charged at him. Ulquiorra swiftly moved aside, slashing his shoulder open on the zanpakutō in the process. It healed immediately. The brat was on him again, so he showered him with Balas. He took most of them head-on, too distraught. Luz de la Luna grazed his Hollow mask. It started to crumble.
"Enough! Stop mentioning them with your insidious mouth!" Ichigo Kurosaki shouted angrily. "Leave them alone!"
Ulquiorra regarded him with scorn. "It's truly pitiful that your Heart is but a flimsy excuse to meddle in people's affairs for your own gratification. It's misguided. This despair I see in your eyes has been brought about only by yourself. Why don't you trust Rukia and Orihime Inoue?"
"I trust them!" the brat protested vehemently. "It's you I don't trust!"
"Since you seem to relish in that despair of your own making, let me add to it. Perhaps it will help you accept the fact that whatever you do, you won't be able to keep me away from Rukia. Resurrección: Segunda Etapa."
Dark, depressing energy spread through Ulquiorra's body, changing him into the form of true despair. Or so he had thought of himself for the longest time. But he was wrong. True despair would be if he lost Rukia. If that happened… he would destroy everything. Soul Society, Human World, Hueco Mundo… Even Aizen-sama and Soul King. He would set the world ablaze and at the end perish with it in its last breath. Without Rukia everything was meaningless; letting it last would be a sour joke.
The urge to tear everything apart stirred in him, fuelled by his worry for her. He wouldn't be content until he took her in his arms and heard her say his name. Then he would let her explain away her disappearance.
Before that could happen, however, he had to get rid of this Substitute Shinigami nuisance.
Ulquiorra… He was the first thought that came to Rukia. It took her a moment to realise that she was breathing and it didn't cause her any pain. Fluttering her eyes open, she saw an orange glow and behind it a black void. Perhaps she did die, after all…
"Kuchiki-san?"
Rukia blinked at the familiar voice. Turning her head to the left she saw her dear friend. "Inoue?" she asked hoarsely. "What…?" she began, but noticed someone else lying next to her. Long green hair and white clothes gave away her identity. "Nel? What happened to her?"
"Fucking Nnoitra happened. And her own fucking stupidity." Another familiar voice, gruff in nature, came from over her head.
"Grimmjow…?" She frowned, surprised by his presence. She pushed herself up to a sitting position. Her muscles felt stiff and worn-out. A fit of coughs shook her body. It didn't hurt, but she could taste blood in her mouth. Looking around, there was no-one else to surprise her. She sort of hoped he would be here, too… "What's going on? Why are we in Garganta?"
"Well," Inoue began. "I guess Grimmjow-san hid injured Nel-chan here, then he dragged me in to fix her. Then I asked him to find you and help you reach Ulquiorra-san, and so he brought you here."
"Yeah, more or less," Grimmjow confirmed. "Nel almost died, you almost died, me and Human girl are somehow holding it together, saving people left and right. We deserve a fucking medal."
Rukia raised her eyebrows in a surprise. "You saved me?"
"Nah." He waved his hand dismissively. "I just brought you here. Bastard was the one to pry you out of Yammy's grip."
"Ulquiorra…?" A soft smile made its way to her face as hope that perhaps he would at least let her explain everything warmed her up. She wanted to see him right away. "Where is he?"
"He's fighting with Ichigo."
"Oh…" Her smile faltered as fear for their lives spread in her gut. She couldn't just sit here and wait for the outcome, so she got to her feet. She felt a bit unsteady, but there was no time to lose. "I need to stop them."
"Kuchiki-san…" Inoue clearly hesitated, still keeping her enclosed in Sōten Kisshun. But Rukia was fine enough, while fight between Ichigo and Ulquiorra could end in tragedy any minute, really. She must have understood that, too! Before long, she steeled herself, and gave her a resolute nod. They had to go.
Grimmjow stood up. "Then let's move. She's going back to Hueco Mundo with me," he grumbled and none too gently hoisted Nel's unconscious body over his shoulder. Then he pointed at Rukia, "You're going to your lover boy." And then he pointed at Inoue, "And you? Might as well drop you off wherever you want while I'm at it. I don't give a fuck anymore."
"I'm going with Kuchiki-san!"
"Suit yourself," he replied with a shrug. He led the way, when out of the blue, he turned to Rukia, "By the by, girl, why didn't you tell that idiotberry about your questionable love interest?"
She pursed her lips at his choice of terms for both her friend and her love, but let it slide. "Right now, I don't think Ichigo would believe that our relationship is sincere. He, as well as my other friends, don't even seem to believe me when I say he treated me with respect. So imagine what their reaction would be if I told them we are lovers. They would think Ulquiorra coerced me into it or something unreasonable like this."
"He didn't?" Met with her unamused gaze, Grimmjow raised his free hand defensively. "Okay, okay, I was just joking."
"And if my brother learned of this, he might have locked me up somewhere, until I started thinking straight, according to him. Or until he got rid of the problem. He can be quite strict." She sighed. "I was— am still hoping we will survive this war, and then I will slowly break this to them… With time, perhaps they will understand."
"Good luck with that…" he commented gruffly, and opened a gate to Soul Society.
They all started, even Grimmjow. An oppressive maelstrom of reiatsu nearby made their hair stand on end. It was so dense, Rukia felt like it was seeping into her skin, constricting her, cell by cell, squeezing cold sweat out from her every pore. Black spots danced in front of her eyes and she could hardly breathe. Inoue next to her began to sway, so she grabbed her under her arm to give her support and courage.
Only when she saw a green Cero strike against Getsuga Tenshō in the distance, she realised that it was Ulquiorra's reiatsu.
"Son of a bat. What even is that power?" Grimmjow cursed, and spat. "It's been a while since I've seen bastard's Resurrección… I don't fucking remember it being like this."
Rukia was about to voice her frightful amazement, when she felt something in the air. "Wait. Tenteikūra."
"Tentei-what now?"
This is Chōjirō Sasakibe, lieutenant of the 1st Division. Aizen has been defeated. I repeat. Aizen has been defeated. Do not let your guard down, the fighting is not over yet. Proceed to exterminate all Hollows. End.
"What?" To say she was surprised would be an understatement. "I… can't believe it. I'm glad, but… Has he gone down this quickly?"
Inoue stared back at her, same expression of disbelief on her face. "Is it true? Urahara must have done something about the Hōgyoku, and there were Commander-General and other captains… they did it…" Her disbelief changed into relief. "They did it!"
Grimmjow stared at them like they were madmen. "What the fuck is going on? I felt something pass through the air, but no clue what it was."
"It was a message," Rukia explained. "Apparently Aizen has been defeated."
"What?" he mirrored her initial reaction. "I mean, I won't cry over him, but that's… surprising. And disappointing as fuck…" He paused, and then shrugged. "Oh well, at least now no-one will call me a fucking traitor for going back to Hueco Mundo." A smirk appeared on his face. "And the throne is empty now…"
Seeing it was time to part their ways, Rukia said, "I don't know if we'll ever see each other again, Grimmjow, but take care. Don't stir up any trouble."
"And please take care of Nel-chan, too," Inoue added, pointing at unconscious Nel hanging from his shoulder.
Grimmjow scoffed. "And you don't go and be dumbasses like her, girls. Especially you." He jabbed Rukia in the forehead with his index finger, to her great annoyance. "Normally I'd have said she can take care of herself, but clearly that's not the case."
"Don't be too hard on her. She's been through a lot."
"Haven't we all?" he barked in retort and closed the gate, off to Hueco Mundo.
・
Orihime smiled softly, relieved that Nel-chan was in good hands… well, relatively good hands. She trusted that for the time being no harm would befall her. And once she regained her consciousness, which shouldn't take too long yet, she would be fine all the more. Hopefully, they would be able to meet again someday.
"I think Grimmjow-san likes Nel-chan quite a bit," she voiced her thoughts out loud.
Kuchiki-san raised her eyebrows. "He does?" After a contemplative pause, she agreed, "I guess you're right. He's pretty self-serving, yet he saved her. And he seemed quite upset with her, too, for getting hurt."
"Yup, it's just too obvious, isn't it?" Orihime said knowingly. Her moment of ease was cut short, when a huge explosion went off, rather close for comfort. She looked up, and Kurosaki-kun and Ulquiorra-san were exchanging blows one after another, apparently unaware of their presence nearby.
When she turned back to Kuchiki-san, she wasn't there, but around a hundred yards away. She jogged up to her, and found her kneeling next to Captain Hitsugaya. He was unconscious, but alive. He had sustained some injuries, but they weren't life-threatening. Kuchiki-san gently tugged his captain haori from under him, and rolled it into a makeshift pillow. Then, with care, she put Hyōrinmaru next to him.
"Inoue, can you please look after Captain Hitsugaya for me?" she asked with a sad expression.
"Of course," Orihime agreed readily. She scanned left and right, searching for a familiar figure. "What about Rangiku-san? Shouldn't she be…" she trailed off, noticing grief and regret on Kuchiki-san's face. A terrifying understanding began to form in her mind, but she wanted to reject it. "Oh no…"
"She's… gone…" Kuchiki-san confirmed her fears.
Orihime sank to her knees next to her and put her arms around her, both wanting to give comfort and seeking some for herself. Feeling her hugging her back, she couldn't help but let out a tearful whimper. She adored Rangiku-san, how could have that happened?
Another explosion nearby shook the earth.
Kuchiki-san patted her back and pulled away. Tears were in her eyes, but her features were set in determination. "I entrust Captain Hitsugaya to you, Inoue. And I'll go and try to stop Ulquiorra and Ichigo."
"Be careful, Kuchiki-san."
She gave her a nod in return, and was gone.
・
Rukia felt weak, not only because of the fatigue, but also because of the overwhelming reiatsu surrounding her. At least her body got used to it enough to be able to breathe normally. She had no plan how to approach both men, so she just went straight to them. She would have to figure it out on the spot.
They were going at each other relentlessly, though it seemed Ulquiorra was holding back a bit. It filled her with hope. Seeing they put some distance between themselves, presumably for both a breather and to throw in ranged attacks, she began reciting an incantation. Just when they resumed their charge, Ichigo again with Getsuga Tenshō and Ulquiorra with a green arrow, she was quick to interfere.
"Bakudō #81, Dankū!" Rukia shouted, and a translucent barrier appeared before her and between both projectiles. Hitting the barrier, they destroyed it, but their force diminished, so the explosion wasn't that big. It still pushed her to the ground, though.
Ichigo appeared next to her, clearly worried. "Rukia! Are you alright? Stay away from him. He's been looking for you."
"I'm fine," she assured him, grateful for his concern. Yet, knowing she was about to break his trust, she couldn't keep a frown away from her face. For that reason, she also couldn't hold his gaze for long, so she looked up at Ulquiorra. He was still in the air, but descended to be closer to them. As always, his expression was unreadable, but she wanted to think it softened at the sight of her.
"I've been looking for him, too," Rukia whispered, all the emotions welling in her chest made her voice tremble.
The Substitute Shinigami urged her, "You don't have to do this alone. Just leave him to me!"
She looked back at him, and put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Ichigo, I… Hakufuku." A whirl of cherry blossoms put him to sleep. She caught his unconscious body and gently laid him on the ground. "I hope that one day you can forgive me."
Turning to her love, she jumped with Shunpo into the air and began approaching him. His reiatsu was intimidating, his form more beast-like, but she didn't fear him. He was still her Ulquiorra, she knew it in her Heart.
・
Ulquiorra stared at Rukia. Slowly but unhesitatingly she made her way towards him. She didn't look too well, but she was here, alive. And her eyes told him everything he needed to know – her yearning for him, her regret for leaving him, her hope to be with him. Her Heart was open to him to read it, to take it and do whatever he pleased with it.
When she was just a few steps away, he closed the distance and swept her into a tight embrace. Feeling her this close, her warmth and scent, everything seemed right.
Rukia brought her arms around his neck, sinking her hand into his hair. She let out a shaky sob against his neck. "Ulquiorra…"
"You left me, Rukia," he said. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't muster any anger in himself. He was completely disarmed in her hold.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I never meant to. I planned to have only Inoue go back. I didn't know that this would happen."
He produced the hairpin ornament. "This."
Rukia pulled away to see what he was talking about. "Oh, Chappy. You found it?"
"Why is it broken?" he asked. He didn't really need to know this anymore, but he was still curious.
"I broke it," she admitted. After a pause, she added, a blush spreading on her cheeks, "On our first night together."
Ulquiorra rested his forehead against hers. "Why?"
"I didn't think I needed it anymore. I—"
He kissed her with all the longing and desire he had for her. Her lips, soft and welcoming, returned the sentiment. He brought her even closer to himself and deepened the kiss. Her hands eagerly wandered around his body, while he had to be careful not to scratch her with his claws. He wanted to take her somewhere secluded, where they could express their craving for each other more intimately, undisturbed.
When they broke apart to catch air, Rukia spoke, "I have to ask. My brother and Renji…?"
That Shinigami captain and his lieutenant were the last things he wanted to think about right now, but he knew they were important to her. Besides, once she learned they were fine, she would stop worrying about them, and focus solely on him. So, he replied, "I fought them, but left them alive."
She breathed a sigh of relief, and a grateful smile lightened up her face. Before he got a chance to tell her that her brother knew about them now, she kissed him with a renewed fervour. Not that it was all that important at the moment.
Pulling away, Rukia suggested intently, "Ulquiorra, let's run away from all this. You and I. Somewhere far away, somewhere no-one will find us. Aizen has been defeated. You don't have to serve him anymore."
"Run?" he echoed. Ichigo Kurosaki mentioned to him the news about Aizen-sama's defeat. He didn't want to believe him, but coming from Rukia, too, he had to accept this as a fact.
She nodded her head. "Yes. And I have a plan that might just work."
Instinctively he tensed, and pushed her away.
Grimmjow appeared in Hueco Mundo with Nel still hanging over his shoulder. It was quiet here, only a soft shuffle of sand under his feet could be heard. Air was still, as if the whole world was holding its breath in anticipation. Aizen would not be returning, so who would take his place? Time of unrest was coming to the land of Hollows.
With Pesquisa he searched for any familiar reiatsu… They didn't go with Nel to Soul Society, so they had to be somewhere here. Ant, Head or whatever her fraccións were named.
After a while, he found them. Appearing right in front of them with Sonido, he startled them out of their wits.
"Gri-Grimmjow-sama!" They immediately made a move to scatter, making panicking noises. However, seeing the green-haired baggage he was carrying, they stopped in their frantic antics, and approached him tentatively. "Nelliel-sama!"
Having their attention, Grimmjow unceremoniously dropped Nel on the sand. Now that her life wasn't in danger, he could take all his worry out on her, and not bat an eye. Both her subordinates made a clumsy attempt to catch her, and ended up hitting their heads. Ant scolded his pal, and gently dragged her away from the 6th Espada, eyeing him warily.
"What happened to Nelliel-sama? Is she hurt, don'tcha know?" Head clung to Grimmjow's arm and started bawling. Worm also slithered closer, making distressed sounds.
He shook off the big pain in the arse of a fracción and kicked him away. "Ask that idiot yourself, once she wakes up."
"Grimmjow-sama!" Ant complained in indignation. "How dare you insult Nelliel-sama!"
He rolled his eyes, annoyed, and launched an angry tirade, "I'm just calling her what she is. A stupid princess of a shitty idiot kingdom! You can tell her that and I'll repeat it to her fucking face the next time we see each other again. And tell her that this doesn't make us even, she owes me a fucking big time. Not just a beer, but a shitload of it! If it weren't for me, she'd be a fucking dust by now." Grimmjow didn't know why her stupidity affected him so much, and that angered him even more. He had never feared for someone else's life before. Hell, he had never feared for his own! He needed to distance himself from her, at least for some time, and think this through.
After a pause he added, "Also, Aizen's gone. Soul Society got his arse. I don't think those shitheads will want to raid Hueco Mundo in return, but be on the lookout. Good thing she has you, dumbasses, maybe she won't try dying in some another moronic way. Fucking hell."
With a last look at Nel, and a scoff, Grimmjow departed for Las Noches. He needed to monitor the situation, so probably it would be best to go to the control room first. Then, he could claim that empty throne.
Rukia's initial confusion quickly changed to horror, when she saw Getsuga Tenshō cut off Ulquiorra's arms – arms that had just held her. With relief she saw them regenerate almost in an instant. She was about to go to him, when Ichigo appeared between them, and started attacking the 4th Espada. She had never seen her friend move so quickly. His reiatsu, too, suddenly became overwhelming and violent, matching that of Ulquiorra.
"Ichigo! Stop!" she cried and jumped on his back, putting her arms under his shoulders in a block, trying to hinder his movements. To no avail. He swiftly broke her hold. Before she could grab him again, he caught her by her shihakushō and hurled her with a great force.
She had a hard landing, adding a few more bruises to her other, still unhealed wounds.
Ulquiorra, choosing this opportunity that she was far away, threw his green arrow at Ichigo. It hit the target in a huge explosion.
Rukia stared in worry.
The Substitute Shinigami soon emerged from the smoke, slightly injured, and his clothes were more ragged. With Shunpo – or was it Sonido? – he charged at Ulquiorra, and they exchanged a few blows, until the 4th Espada whipped him away with his tail, leaving a nasty mark on his chest.
Ichigo again closed the distance, and swung Tensa Zangetsu for a close-ranged Getsuga Tenshō.
That was when Rukia yelled, "Bakudō #61, Rikujōkōrō!"
The Binding Spell quickly shattered, but at least it gave Ulquiorra enough time to move to a safer distance.
Ichigo turned to her. Only now she noticed how drastically different his Hollow mask was. It was menacing, but it wasn't what chilled her blood. It was the look that he gave her. He was ready to kill her. Brutally and mindlessly. This instant.
Rukia instinctively jumped back, away from danger, and drew Sode no Shirayuki to block the incoming attack. Except, her right arm was gone. Only seconds later did she realise that it was torn off. By Ichigo. It took her another few more seconds to start feeling pain, though because of shock it wasn't too severe. The bleeding, though, was.
Wide-eyed, she turned her head and gaped at her friend.
It was Ichigo, he wouldn't kill her, right? Though, if he did, there would be some poetic justice in it. She betrayed him, after all. She disrupted his fight and protected his enemy… If it happened and he killed her, she only hoped no-one would notice and he would forever stay oblivious.
Then, Ichigo disappeared, ready for another attack.
Dazed, Rukia just stood there.
Instead of cold embrace of death, she was swept into Ulquiorra's warm arms. Under the cover of numerous Balas, he opened a gate to Garganta and retreated inside the void.
With swift fingers, he untied her tasuki ribbon and tightly tied it around her stump to stop the bleeding. Cupping her cheek, he put his thumb to her lips. "Bite on it. I'm going to cauterise your wound, so it's going to hurt."
Rukia nodded, and did as told. He burned her wound close with a short blast of his reiatsu. Her shock seemed to start wearing off, because she felt it acutely. A yelp escaped her throat, and she sunk her teeth into his thumb. If she ever wondered if a Hollow's blood tasted any different from a Shinigami's, then she got her answer now – it didn't. They really weren't that much different.
"There," he said and moving his thumb away, he kissed her softly. It almost took all pain away.
・
Ulquiorra peered closely at Rukia. A sweet smile on her lips was for him, but her eyes were still glossy with pain and shock from her friend's attack. He wanted to kill that brat for hurting her, yet he was guilty of the same crime. She had had similar expression then, too. There had been no blame in her eyes then, and there wasn't any this time, either.
She must have guessed what he was thinking, because she softly stated, "It's not really Ichigo, he's not controlling himself." She tugged on his arm. "Let's just go. Please—"
The very moment she said that, the membrane between Soul Society and Garganta got ruptured. Violent reiatsu surrounded them.
"Looks like your friend isn't planning to let us go," Ulquiorra commented, and holding her close, he returned to Soul Society with her. "Stay back. When you see an opening, go to your Human friend. Don't make me worry anymore." He let go of her and took a few steps forward to stand between her and the brat.
"Ulquiorra…"
He didn't look back at Rukia. He couldn't assure her that he would spare her friend. He couldn't assure her that he would return to her alive, either. She wanted both, and he wasn't sure if he could provide her any.
Scrutinising his opponent, he guessed his best shot would most likely be to tear off that Hollow mask from his face. It should force him to change back to his weaker Shinigami form.
Ulquiorra produced Lanza del Relámpago. It wasn't going to be pleasant, but this lance wasn't as easy to control as Luz de la Luna. With Sonido he appeared right above Ichigo Kurosaki and hit him in the top of his head, right where his mask ended and his hair began. The explosion blew off his right arm and singed almost half of his body. He quickly moved back to regenerate.
When nothing changed in the brat's reiatsu, he threw a few more lances at its source. Most hit their mark. Those that hit the ground sent up a billowing smoke of dust into the air.
Then, Ichigo Kurosaki jumped out of that cloud. Ulquiorra was ready to receive him, but he went past him…
With horror he realised his target was still Rukia.
"Run!" he shouted at her and quickly moved after the Substitute Shinigami to stop him. That brat wanted to finish the weaker one first. He couldn't help but notice how Hollow-like it was of him.
Rukia was hurt and weakened. She stood no chance and had little to defend herself with! Luckily, she still had enough strength for Shunpo. She somehow managed to avoid Getsuga Tenshō by a hair.
When Ulquiorra caught up with his opponent, he coiled his tail around his neck and roughly yanked him backwards. With a powerful kick he sent him towards the ground and fired a Cero at him for good measure. He then grabbed Rukia and moved farther away.
Ichigo Kurosaki was relentless, however, and again appeared before them.
"Ichigo! Snap out of it!" Rukia cried, but her plea didn't reach her friend. Bloodlust still oozed out from him as he gazed at them with heartless eyes.
"Run, and don't stop," Ulquiorra told her. "I'll keep him here."
She protested, "But—!"
"No buts!" he interrupted her harshly. "Just listen to me this once. Go!"
To his relief, she nodded her head, though reluctantly. She squeezed his forearm, and eventually let go. There was no need for spoken words between them.
・
Rukia ran just as Ulquiorra told her, but when there was no-one on her tail, she halted. Panting, she turned around. The fight was still in her sight. At this safe-ish distance, she could finally focus for the first time since it started. Reiatsus of both men were remarkable and almost impossible to comprehend. She had never felt anything like it before, they hardly felt like reiatsu in the first place. They were more like two tides in a sea of violence and despair. And the one belonging to Ichigo was stronger.
She now all the more understood why Ulquiorra made her run away. Not only because he wanted to keep her safe or because she hampered him in his fight. If Ichigo didn't come to his senses soon, a tragedy was inevitable. He wanted to spare her witnessing his or her friend's death. Her heart sank at this realisation.
Right now, it looked like Ichigo was dominating their confrontation. Ulquiorra was mostly on the defensive. Then, Tensa Zangetsu slashed him across his chest. He swiftly evaded another slash, and even managed to claw Ichigo's shoulder, but it was obvious he was struggling.
Rukia's worry rendered her mind blank, and without thinking, she let her body move towards them. She was propelled by only one purpose – to save Ulquiorra. Just when Ichigo thrust his zanpakutō at him, she crashed into them with Shunpo to push her love out of the way. She succeeded, but something pinned her in place.
"Rukia!"
She looked down and saw a black blade going through her chest, just right to her sternum. Following it up she came face to face with the Hollow mask. He stared at her menacingly. "Ichigo…" she uttered sadly. He still didn't recognise her.
At her wits' end, Rukia could only grab Tensa Zangetsu, and declare, "If you want to kill Ulquiorra, you'll have to kill me first."
Ichigo, unmoved by her pleading, desperate stare, pulled out his zanpakutō in one swift motion, almost cutting her hand. She swayed on her feet. Blood started to fill her right lung; she soon tasted it in her mouth. Before he could strike her again, she wobbly jumped away. There was Ulquiorra who caught her and took away to a safer distance.
"Rukia, you foolish, stubborn woman," he berated her. "Why can't you listen to me just this once?"
She smiled weakly. "Because you're being unreasonable." He scoffed half-heartedly, making her smile wider. "I don't want to leave you ever again."
・
Ulquiorra held Rukia close, while evading another barrage of attacks. He once again tried to open a gate to Garganta, but was thwarted. That brat just wouldn't let them leave… Mindless Hollow compelled by insatiate hunger and bloodlust. One day he would learn to control and utilise it, but right now that powerful drive consumed him. Only blood of his quarry could sober him up… or death.
Unfortunately, there was little Ulquiorra could do. He was close to his limit, already panting for breath. He resented his powerlessness and his poor judgment – he shouldn't have provoked his opponent. He should have just incapacitated him and be done with him when he had been a bumbling idiot. Now he was reaping what he had sown.
Death didn't frighten him. It would be just a different state of emptiness. But he didn't want to die, not yet. He wanted to spend some more time with Rukia. There were still many things he wanted to learn about her, to experience with her.
"I go where you go," she said, her voice soft yet resonating with resolve. She grasped well the dire situation they were in, and was ready to die with him.
Ulquiorra looked down at her, and knew he couldn't let her. He just found his Heart, how could he let her die? No matter the cost, he was going to protect her. He was confident he would stay in her Heart forever, and that was enough for him.
Not to mention, it wasn't certain she would be safe with him. What if he too regressed into a mindless beast? What if he unwittingly attacked her again? Perhaps this was the best solution, after all…
Ichigo Kurosaki closed the distance again, swinging his zanpakutō at them.
Ulquiorra whirled away to keep Rukia as far away as possible from the threatening blade. His wings got cut off, but he escaped any serious injury. She once more cried her friend's name, but it was of no avail. It only made her cough and spit blood.
He sent a rain of Balas at the brat to keep him occupied deflecting them.
Using this short pause, he kissed her lips, even sweeter with blood, and whispered, "I wish we had more time."
・
It took Rukia a moment to realise that he was saying goodbye. A moment too late for her to cling to him, so he wouldn't leave her behind. She felt something coil tightly around her legs and arm, immobilising her. Ulquiorra's tail.
With wide, pleading eyes she objected, "Ulquiorra, don't!"
He ignored her protests, but his embrace around her tightened. With Sonido he moved to the ground, snapped off his tail and laid her down. "Take care of my Heart," he said, almost like an order. And then, he was gone.
Desperately trying to wriggle free from her bonds, Rukia watched Ulquiorra grab Ichigo and drag him away from her. She couldn't see their fight anymore, but only heard some explosions in the distance. Worry made her feel like the restraints tightened even more around her. Blood gathering in her throat and choking her wasn't helping either. She had to calm down.
Rolling to her right side, she coughed out the blood, and caught some breath. Then, one loop after another, she disentangled her left arm. Awkwardly, but she managed to unsheathe Sode no Shirayuki. She cut the tail to free her legs.
Looking around, she found Ulquiorra and Ichigo. They were both still alive, giving her hope. Wobbly, with only her will keeping her somehow upright, she made her way towards them.
Close enough, Rukia released her Shikai, "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki. Please help me save Ulquiorra. Ichigo, too."
She thought of Hakuren and Shirafune. With only one arm she couldn't really initiate the former, and the latter didn't have the needed reach. Second or third Dance, or even a fourth one she hadn't discovered yet… whatever worked would be fine!
"I beg you…" She wanted to protect Ulquiorra from Ichigo. She wanted to protect Ichigo from himself, to cool his head, so he would go back to being himself.
Rukia pointed Sode no Shirayuki in their direction.
・
In the struggle, already at his limit, Ulquiorra made a mistake. He miscalculated a step. Ichigo Kurosaki was merciless and used it to his advantage. The black blade went right through his heart in a swift and precise stab. A commendable move.
Mustering his last reserves of energy, he fired Cero Oscuras at his opponent. It hit him in the chest and knocked away. All strength left him and he began to fall.
A blast of cold air wrapped around him. Rukia's last embrace. Icy cold, yet it warmed him up.
Ulquiorra hit the frozen ground, but if it hurt, he didn't notice. He turned his head, glad he could see her one last time. In the distance she looked beautiful, gracefully standing in a flurry of ice and snow. The white landscape around her twinkled and glittered in the morning light. He finally understood why temperature of her body lowered whenever she was in a stressful situation. It was preparing her for this.
He took out Chappy the rabbit and squeezing it tightly in his fist, he put it to his chest.
With a soft smile he proudly admired her until his eyes saw no more.
・
Rukia stared in front of her, where Ulquiorra fell. She could see him, covered in frost, but she couldn't sense his reiatsu anymore. Her surroundings suddenly became so, so quiet.
She felt numb.
She wanted to cry, but her tears were frozen. She wanted to scream, but her throat, too, was frozen. Her mind was stuck repeating alternately "Ulquiorra" and "no". It couldn't be… They have just reunited, he wouldn't leave her now, would he? There were still so many things she wanted to tell him; many things she wanted to learn about him; and even more things she wanted to experience with him, together!
Rukia took a step forward, but fell to her knees. Ice shattered. Something cracked. She felt nothing, but she wouldn't be surprised if it was the sound of her heart breaking.
Noticing she forgot to breathe, she gulped for air. She then took another breath, and another, and another… each more shallow and quicker than the one before, until she felt like she was choking. Her vision began to blur. She made a desperate move to crawl towards Ulquiorra, but after a yard or two her body gave out on her.
Soon merciful darkness enveloped her and she gratefully let it take her away, hoping— praying that she would meet him there.
Um… Look at that cute cover we have now! Yes, very cute…
It's not the end, yet, so read you next time!
朝霧 -Asagiri-