Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Haunted ❯ When it all began ( Chapter 1 )

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Rukia's p.o.v

Green. That's all I see…the shade of his eyes a perfect color between the grass of early summer and of a new leaf. I find myself obsessed with them, what lies behind them? Does anything-? His mind is a mystery, 'what moves him to make such actions? Is it possible for a Hollow to possess emotions?' I doubt my questions will ever be answered even if I had the courage to ask them. For you see, he whom I speak of is a being created from a thousand wandering souls and I am his enemy, a Soulreaper.

Sometimes I wonder how this came to be, my unconventional feelings for this…thing. The first time was when I was caught at unawares while being on patrol in Karakura. Captain Hitsugaya had divided us- Ayasegawa, Madarame, Matsumoto, Renji and me into two teams. One would stay near potential targets; the other would patrol the town. That night, Renji and I were alone near the eastern outskirts of the town, I'd gone ahead to scan the outlying areas while he stayed on the top of a tree and kept watch.

I hadn't gone very far when I noticed a certain flux in the energy flowing along the breeze. I stopped and stood quietly still; up ahead a small shadow appeared along the side of a building. My breath caught in my throat as the shadow passed beneath a streetlight, it was an Arrancar. He was dressed in a white gi with long white hakama pants tied by a large black sash; his sword had a pale teal sheath and hung from his waist. His hands were in his pockets, in all an absolutely casual pose for a midnight stroll…yet why did it feel so wrong?

“Soulreaper,” he said quietly, I flinched from my place on the low roof and came out. My mind already devising ways to get out this alive, my palms sweated. He scrutinized me silently almost calmly probably trying to assert the likelihood of my friends being around the corner, I saw his eyes which I now realized were green widen just a fraction and then close and reopen slowly. I held my breath and waited for him to make the first move.

I think we stood in that pose for about a minute it felt like an eternity and then he silently turned and began to walk away. `Huh? He's not going to kill me?' I stared at his retreating back, feeling quite confused. Maybe he sensed my inherent thoughts, because he said in a low voice over his shoulder,” you aren't worth the effort, Soulreaper.” I started to make a move toward him, angrily reaching for Sode no Shirayuki. He spun on his heel to face me, a sneering grin on his thin mouth, ”are you that willing to die? Or will you put it off for another day?”

My sharp retort died on my lips, he was right in a way. He cocked his head at me still keeping that sneer on his face, “well?” I suddenly recalled what Kisuke had said about those Arrancars that had attacked a few weeks back…in particular their descriptions. `Short black hair, dark cyan lines going down his face and…green eyes… it was him.'

Ulquiorra's p.o.v

I stood there for quite a while wasting time talking to the trash. For some odd reason, she just didn't understand my point of there being no reason to kill her right then and there. The only thing I wanted was to enjoy a night time stroll through what in a month or two will be ashes…for once I wasn't accompanied by that overgrown glutton Yammy or by any bothersome fraccion. I was alone. Or at least until this meddlesome creature appeared. “A nice night isn't it?” I asked, changing my tactic. She stared as if I'd grown an extra head or something, “what do you mean?” she asked me right back. Her face was so serious and…what's the word? Foolish looking that I started laughing. It was strange the sound of my own laughter, I covered my mouth and looked away attempting to stifle the small outburst of…emotion…

“What?” the trash was speaking, “what's so funny?” she asked almost angrily. I refrained from answering her and instead turned my face up to the sky, ”nothing,” I said quietly. In the distance I sensed through my pesquisa two fast moving spirit pressures approaching us, `probably her friends,' I thought. I stepped away from her,” goodnight, Soulreaper,” I sonido-ed off, “and pleasant dreams,” I added as an after thought.

Rukia's p.o.v

He left. I stood there stunned, still staring at the place he'd once been standing at when Renji and Matsumoto raced up, ”where is he?” Renji demanded; Zambimaru was withdrawn from its sheath. Even the normally fruity Matsumoto, had Hai neko out. I blinked, trying to clear my head, ”uh…who are you talking about?” I asked uncomprehendingly. Renji stared and then forcefully shook me by the shoulders; ”he didn't do any thing to you? You're not hurt?” He ran his eyes quickly over my body looking for any visible wounds. When I didn't answer him he shook me even harder till Matsumoto laid a hand on his arm and with a look stopped him. “I'm sorry,” Renji muttered as he sheathed Zambimaru. In all I should've been more thankful that I'd escaped with my life and not been so…intrigued I think is the word with that…Arrancar.

Later when Ichigo found out, I got a proper scolding, more like it was me yelling while he cowered as I threatened to hit him with my book bag. “So…” I said after we'd both settled down,” do you know that Arrancar's name?” I asked casually. Ichigo stared at me as though I was insane, ”what?” I smiled at Ochi-sensei as she passed by our desks, ”his name?” I whispered. Ichigo cast an eye down to the blank page he was supposed to be filling, ”no, I wasn't paying much attention to anything other than the fight…so I-wait why is it that you want to know?” he asked suddenly suspicious.

“Captain Hitsugaya wanted to know our enemy's name that's all,” I lied. Ichigo seemed to believe me `cause he said, ”go ask Urahara, he might remember.” So I did after school, go to Urahara's shop and question him more closely about `our enemy' not because I thought the pervy salesman might know anything but I was pretty much out of options.

“Hmm…the name of that Arrancar?” Kisuke fluttered his usual paper fan at me, ”why ever would you want to know?” he asked. This was a tough one, convincing Ichigo was one thing but Kisuke Urahara…possible disaster may ensue. “Um…” I fluttered my lashes at him hoping against hope that he would buy my feminine wiles, ”Captain Hitsugaya wanted to know,” I said using the same lie as I had done with Ichigo.

Kisuke was silent for a moment obviously weighing my current flirtatious mood and probably trying to figure out if it was fake or not, ”I think…his name was Ulquiorra,” he said finally. `Ulquiorra?' my heart was hammering, I stood up, ”thank you for the info, Kisuke.” I bolted before he could say anything else besides, ”have a nice day.”

“So what did she want, Kisuke?” Yoruichi asked she stood in the doorway in human form. “A name, she wanted to know the name of some thing,” Urahara said lowering his fan. Yoruichi glanced at him a line furrowed her brow, “I hope this doesn't turn out bad,” she muttered. “Don't worry. It won't,” he murmured softly.

Rukia's p.o.v

I raced down the streets in my Gigai, my feet surprisingly fast and surefooted. `I know his name!' I thought joyously before I could stop myself. `But so what if I know it?' I argued mentally, 'what sort of advantage does it give me over my enemy?' None that I could see until…

“Ulquiorra,” I said walking out of my hiding spot. He was standing on…I guess an unusual place for a Hollow…the edge of the building's roof watching the sunset. As the orange sphere sunk into the bottom of the sky he shielded his eyes and glanced at me, ”what do you want?” He was quite calm seeing as we were supposed to be enemies but then I guess I'm not much of a threat to him anyway.

Ulquiorra's p.o.v

I was surprised when that trash from last week reappeared and…spoke my name.' How did she find out?' I wondered curiously. She was dressed in human clothing-a short gray skirt, with a short-sleeved white shirt and a small red ribbon around her neck and no sword to speak of. She was unarmed. “What do you want to prove by being here?” I asked again, boredom evident in my voice.

She blinked, `obviously not very smart,' I noted. She shifted from foot to foot,” I…I came to see the sunset,” she said quickly. `Hm, not a very good liar either,' rather than make anything out of it I said instead,” darker and darker the black shadows fall; sleep and oblivion reign over all.” The sunset was over and the darkness began creeping up, the trash looked at me surprised, I answered,” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Curfew verse II.” “Oh…” she said softly, I got the impression that she didn't expect me to know anything above a Cero blast. I suspect that might be Grimmjow's memo but not mine.

“Tr-“ I started to say but she cut me off, ”where did you learn that poem? Is it something you remembered from your previous existence? If you don't mind that I ask,” she said. ` How polite,' I thought sarcastically, “ no I don't mind… I-“ `wait. Just where did I read that poem?' For the life of me I couldn't recall so I kept quiet, as it got darker and darker and until full night fell.

She stayed there, sitting up against the wall of the mini outer building just looking at me. I suppose she was studying the side of my face that she could see. I brushed my hand across my cheek; they should be noticing my absence in Las Noches by now in particular Aizen-sama. “I'll be going now,” I said alerting the trash whom I could no longer see clearly. She didn't deign a response not that I'd expected one. I placed my sandaled foot on the building's edge and prepared to tear an opening in the sky a moment later someone wrapped their hands around my lower arm.

Rukia's p.o.v

I seemed to move of something not of my own volition. One moment I was sitting down the next I had grabbed Ulquiorra's arm and was pulling him back, ”stay…” I said pleadingly. `Okay…wait pleadingly? What the hell is wrong with me?!'

Ulquiorra's p.o.v

It was her. “Stay,” she said to me in a low voice. I allowed myself to be gently tugged back to the roof; her hands slid beneath my sleeve and lightly stroked my skin. I trembled almost imperceptibility, my eyes closed, `what was this strange sensation encompassing my being?' She leaned into me, pressing her body against mine I responded by wrapping my free arm around her…I lowered my head, conflicting desires…and emotions were racing through me at that moment…then…

Rukia's p.o.v

He had pulled me tightly against his chest, I had tilted my face up and I knew what was coming…and was eager for it… “Rukiaaaa!!” yelled a voice in the distance. The next second, a blazing hellish wreath of black flames was bearing down upon us. Ulquiorra reacted quickly by pulling me off the building with him and teleporting to the ground. I had a brief sensation of weightlessness before touching down lightly he shoved me away just as another mass of swirling black flames hurled toward him.

` That's Ichigo's bankai,' I thought dazedly, 'how did sneak up on us?' Ulquiorra evaded the last attack; I glimpsed him one more time before he disappeared. I'll never forget the look on his face; it was a mixture of anger and desire. Suddenly someone yanked me into a bone-crushing hug from behind, ”Rukia!” he cried. `Gods, it's Renji! How much did he see?!' The faint light from the rising moon allowed me to see Ichigo land a few steps away, his Zanpaku-to still gleamed black, I trembled from fear, `if Ichigo saw me up there…'

“Rukia,” he said softly, and then he yelled at Renji, ”you big oaf! Quit hoggin' her to yourself!” I breathed a silent thank you, as it seems Renji and Ichigo and everyone else for that matter are convinced that Ulquiorra is targeting me and not that it's me following him…

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