Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Deathly Hollowed ❯ Getting Out Alive ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Harry Potter, they belong to Noriaki "Tite" Kubo and J.K. Rowling respectively. I make no profit from this fanfiction, well, besides the joy I find in writing it. =3

~ CH 2 - Getting Out Alive ~

In the dark void between worlds, Ulquiorra slipped on a small silver bracelet at the last moment. He had to be extremely careful with the precious device. Most of its power had been used up by the human girl, Orihime, but it was essential that no one sense his presence in living world. The spiritual pressure concealer might not have long left, but so long as it held up until he completed this task then all should be well. In fact, if everything went properly, Ulquiorra would have a second chance at life.

When the garganta opened, the former espada found himself in the last place he had been alive. He had stepped out of the dimensional rift directly beside the veil. Waisting no time, Ulquiorra stepped up to the gateway and removed his hands from his pockets. He placed the palms of his hands against the area of fluttering material. “Calm water of chaotic stillness. 13 ravens, 52 snakes, 43 dragons, come forth to destroy the stone wall of Earth and pass beyond the shattered remnant of Heaven. Wrongfully bring back that which was rightfully lost to the seventh veil of hell.” He chanted in his normal, calm intonation. “Espíritu Camino: Ochenta y Cuatro.”

Upon the completion of the incantation the translucent material fluttering in the gateway seemed to snap to attention. A solid plane formed beneath the arrancar's fingers and it appeared as if he were standing before a blackened mirror. His eyes widened slightly as a tarnished chain shot out from the hole in his chest, passing through the `mirror' as if it were water. No sooner had the ripples vanished from the surface, a familiar face was suddenly being pulled up even to his own.

Ulquiorra looked on in curiosity as his reflection matched up with the body on the other side of the mirror. `Is this really me?' He thought to himself. It had, after all, been the better part of two hundred years since he laid eyes on his human body. The features between the two were similar to be sure, but the half lidded eyes were the tell. Though vacant they were still the same vibrant green as the ones appraising them. “Curious.” He commented.

The chain links holding his body before the mirror were already beginning to corrode. Ulquiorra had no more time to waist on the frivolous. The pale man began the second part of his ritual. He wrapped the chain around his right hand and clenched it tight. “Life that binds Body and Soul, remake thy gluttonous steel. Bind this demon in decay and pass judgement not. Overthrow the golden seat of Death, bringing forth the chain of earthly sorrow and woe.” He reached up and grasped the horn of his partial arrancar mask. “Espíritu Camino: Noventa y Nueve.”

His mask disintegrated under his crushing grip and seemed to be vacuumed into the hole of his chest. At the same time, he jerked the chain and violently pulled his human body through the gateway. The blackened mirror-like structure shattered into a million pieces that disappeared as they touched the stone floor. When his body was safely in his arms the veil once again filled with ghostly cloth fluttering on an unseen wind.

He hugged his corpse to his chest gently as their shared chain strengthen and lengthened to encircle them several times over. The chain even managed to snake it's way around the phoenix wand and Murcielago, binding them to one another as well. The chains had been loosely draped, but they were suddenly constricting with bone crushing ferocity.

Ulquiorra felt as if he may very well explode under the pressure until something finally gave. He was pressed cheek to cheek with his mortal shell and the two were merging into one another. He felt what was left of his energy after the destruction of his remaining mask spike once... twice... again. It slowly became a pulsating rhythm. One two, one two.

His spirit and body were one again. This singular form hummed with the energy. The power surges weakened as a soft sound replaced them, one the arrancar hadn't heard in well over a century.

Lub... Dub.....

Ulquiorra grasped at his chest, his hand fisting in the material of the shirt he had died in.

Lub Dub...

Tears leaked from wide green eyes, tracing their ancestors' emerald paths.

Lub Dub, lub dub, lub dub...

His body had finally synchronized with his spirit. Ulquiorra Cifer, or was it Harry potter, was once again a living, breathing being. He allowed the slightest of smiles to grace the corner of his lips as he inhaled deeply. The all consuming hunger of the hollow was all but a whisper now. He felt more whole, more at peace with himself, than he had in a very very long time.

The raven haired man reached up a pale hand and removed the glasses that were blurring his vision. He gave the spectacles and the appendage an appraising gaze. `Apparently it was not as complete of a binding as I would have liked.' He thought, but he would deal with the repercussions later. For now, he needed to leave this place. He attempted to open a garganta, but was disappointed to only see a twitch in the dimensional fabric. It was an annoyance, but not an unexpected hindrance. He had a mortal body now as well as gave up a large amount of power to seal himself away. So if the portal was no longer an option, Ulquiorra had an escape from the ministry to accomplish as well as an evaluation of whatever remaining spiritual powers he had retained.

He pocketed the glasses and realized his wand was clasped in his other hand, with no sight of Murcielago. He `felt' the swords presence though. It was not gone, merely dormant. He was grateful that his cherished partner was not completely lost like he had originally believed would happened. A prominent curiosity then took hold of him. `I wonder if I can even remember how to preform magic.' He flicked the wand at a large stone, forgetting the words that went along with the motion, but remembering the feel and the intent. The boulder exploded violently. “This is... acceptable.” He said in a monotone.

The raven haired man, or teenager as he appeared, pocketed his wand with his glasses together. He placed a hand in the pocket on the opposite side. He glanced to the sole doorway out and in the blink of an eye he was there. Maybe it was his returned human heart or the return of his hormonally flawed mortal body, but the former hollow couldn't help the slight twitch of his lip as it turned into a very small, satisfied smirk. “Excellent.” In another moment the green eyed teen was gone and the door he had been standing before was left slightly ajar. The remains of a broken silver bracelet lay on the ground discarded and forgotten.

o0O0o0O0o0O0o

The escape from the ministry had been pitifully easy. At his sonido speed no one had even noticed him. `Trash.' Was what he thought in regards to the wizarding government. He had kept at sonido speed all the way until he reached his next destination. He would waist no time in dealing with his old nemesis and moving on with his existence, where ever that may lead him. This was the place he needed to start.

When he finally came to a stop across the street from the dilapidated building, he nearly collapsed. He coughed slightly before regaining his breath. `Perhaps this mortal body cannot tolerate extended periods of master sonido speeds.' He thought as a metallic taste flavored his mouth dully. `I will need to avoid long distance sonidos if at all possible.'

He retrieved his wand from his pocket and walked directly to the door. Luckily, regardless of how long ago it had been for him, he had been allowed access by the secret keeper. Even better than the easy entrance this gave him to the building, the wards would not alarm any of the inhabitants to an intruder. He lifted his wand up to the door and tapped it. The sound of several latches unlocking could be faintly heard. He pocketed his wand again and easily allowed himself in.

The sound of voices were drifting up from the lower level. `So they are meeting in the kitchen as usual.' He made sure to suppress his presence as much as possible. The soul society monitors may not be able to pick up his spiritual signature now that he was locked away in his body, but that didn't mean others couldn't sense him in close quarters. He had yet to properly determine the timeline yet, so if he had indeed came back too early he would need to remain hidden until the appropriate time.

It didn't take long listening to the voices for him to determine his timing was rather well. He had obviously died already and, by the topic of conversation, he hadn't been gone too long.

o0O0o0O0o0O0o

It was once again the end of summer and Grimauld Place was filled with activity. The reunion of everyone to this place was not a joyous occasion however. With Harry dead, Voldemort had finally felt confidant enough to move forward with his plans. Disappearances were happening left and right. The streets of wizarding towns were mostly deserted these days, most being too afraid to come out for more than the essentials. It was just like the Dark Lord's last rise to power and the realization that the people's possible savior was gone weighed heavily on everyone.

Only a small portion of the order was present at number twelve, along with the two younger Weasley children and Hermione. This was meant to be a civil dinner after a long and depressing order meeting, but tempers and opinions were still running high. Despite not wanting to involve the children yet, the adult's strong opinions and unrest were causing them to forget that particular concern at the moment.

Dumbledore was sitting at the head of the table, mismated hands folded calmly before him, as he listen to the argument between the two childhood enemies. Sirius, still mad about the potion masters snide comments to him during the meeting, had started up yet another quarrel with Severus over the dinner table. His opinion was that even if his godson was gone they still had a chance of defeating Voldemort while Severus felt that at this point they were in a losing battle and should consider going into hiding permanently, save himself of course. The spy was not known to his dark master as a double agent after all.

“You're such a prat Snivilous! You can't just sit there all high and mighty, acting like this doesn't even effect you.” There was almost a canine like growl to the sound of Sirius's voice as he yelled at the sallow skinned man.

“What you fail to realize is that it does not.” He responded with a sever sneer. “You are the ones that will be hunted like wild animals. I will play the same roll I have been.”

“And if the resistance is gone? Then what, huh? You wouldn't be a spy anymore, but an actual follower! In fact, how do we know you aren't one now?” Sirius hastily stood and pointed his wand at Snape. “You didn't try very hard to help Harry with his Occlumency.” He ranted in his anger while the potion master stayed seated, but subtly pointed his wand at the irate Black from beneath his crossed arms. “You probably lead him straight into that tap at the ministry. You don't even care that he's gone, you evil bastard!” His voice cracked slightly with emotion, but the anger on his face only intensified.

“Sirius, that is enough.” Demanded the leader of the light.

“No. I'd like to answer this one.” Hissed Snape at the headmaster before turning back to Sirius. “It has the boy's own stupidity that got him killed, trying to save you! I risked my life for years acting as a spy for this ridiculous little rabble for one reason and one reason only.” His silken voice was dangerous as he spoke. “I was atoning for my sin. And it is because of you that my purpose was lost.”

“That's enough Severus.”

“No! I will not be silenced anymore.” He snapped at the elderly man. “Or better yet, you tell them how right they were about Potter.”

“That is irrelevant at this point.” The normally present twinkle was gone from the blue eyes and Albus's tone was more stern than usual.

Snape scoffed. “Yes, because the truth would have them all realizing how hopeless it is at this point.”

Remus, ever the peacemaker, decided to ease things by directing the flow of conversation. “Severus, I understand you are angry,” The werewolf placated, “but what did you mean by loosing your purpose and what don't we know about the prophesy? What are the rest of us missing?”

Sneer still in place, Severus's cold eyes landed on Lupin. “Who do you think it was that revealed the prophesy to the Dark Lord before his first fall? Hm.” He glared at Sirius who had let lose a growl like sound.

“It was you? You're the one that got James and Lilly killed!?” Snarled the last Black.

“That's right.” Sneered the potion's master, but his face softened slightly. “It is my sin to bare that Lilly was killed.” His voice rose in anger again. “And I had promised to keep here son safe as my atonement! If you were not such a complete incompetent her son wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself to save you!”

Sirius's looked completely broken at that point and fell back into his seat as if having taken a physical blow. “I...” he started, but in reality he truly believed it was all his fault and couldn't justify defending himself.

“The prophecy said that Potter was the only one that could destroy the Dark Lord. Well, he's gone now isn't he?” He sneered, gaining back his calmer condescending tone. “The Dark Lord grows stronger everyday while our forces diminish. The chosen one is gone and all hope is lost. There is no reason to keep fighting at this point!” He seethed and noticed the shocked expressions that suddenly swept over the others' faces.

“I wouldn't say that professor.” Came a familiar voice from directly beside the dark man's ear. He snapped his gaze to the right and found himself staring directly into vivid green, snake like eyes. He jumped back, shock lighting his face for a brief second, before he trained his wand on the intruder and masked his emotions once again.

The figure straightened casually from where he had leaned over to talk in Severus's ear. He seemed completely at ease for a man who now had every wand in the room trained on him. He was especially calm for wearing the face of a dead boy before those who had cared for him. He swept impassive green eyes about the room. “I had imagined a warmer welcome.” He stated in a bored monotone.

“Don't move.” Hissed Snape as he pointed his wand at the intruders neck. “How did you break the fidelius charm?” He demanded. The young man began to reached into his pocket, but Severus touched the tip of his wand to the poorly done impostor's neck. “Move another muscle and I promise I will hex you to the seventh layer of hell.” He hissed.

The green eyes stared at him unconcerned. “I'm sorry Professor, but I don't intend on going back for quite some time.” He stated and began reaching into his pocket again.

Snape jumped back with a cry of “Stupefy!”

The intruder raised his hand and allowed the spell to impact the back of his forearm. He looked down at the arm momentarily before bringing to attention what he had been reaching for. A pair of rounded glasses were placed over his eyes and there was no denying the resemblance. Save for the green stripes and extreme pallor, the spitting image of one Harry James Potter stood before them.

o0O0o0O0o0O0o

IVX: ok, that's it for now. Penny for your thoughts? ok, well an imaginarry penny anywho... ^_~