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The sound of sand crunching beneath his feet took Ulquiorra back to a time not all that long ago. However, here, it wasn’t as quiet, or cold, or dark. No, the sun was bright and brutal, shining down on all those who sprawled the beach that summer day. Tall, white and fluffy clouds sat lazily on the horizon, spelling rain in the future, casting dark shadows out on the water. Laughter and shouts swarmed around him, children running past and parents lying on towels beneath their umbrellas.
It was only the feel of the sand beneath his feet that really kept him in that Human infested spot. His stiff lips seemed to push down more slightly, dark green eyes betraying signs of irritation.
“U-uh, hey, Ulquiorra, are you doing alright?”
Orihime tugged at the hem of his sleeve, her large gray eyes searching his. Bright blue lace covered her bathing suit, a large straw haw barely holding onto her head as the wind picked up, her orange hair fluttering along with it. Concerned, her other hand gripped onto the straps of her burlap tote bag, lips turning into a slight frown. “You look upset. Do… you not want to be here?”
“I was not fond of coming in the first place.” He held nothing back, his eyes scanning the crowded beach. “I said as much before we made our way over.”
Scoffing, Tatsuki came up from behind Orihime. “Ah, come on, everyone likes the beach,” she said, waving him off. “Especially on a day like this. It’s so hot.” She made an exaggerated face, as if she were melting in the sun. “How do you look so unfazed by the heat, anyways?”
What an unbelievably stupid question. The strain on Ulquiorra’s lips grew, slight lines forming in his cheeks. “Perhaps it is because I am not like the rest of you,” he replied, sparing a glance in Tatsuki’s direction, eyes cold. “Furthermore, this is simply a Gigai, not my physical body.”
Rolling her eyes, Tatsuki turned away. “Geez, it was just a question,” she muttered. “Come on, Hime. Let’s go find a spot.”
Orihime laughed nervously. “Sorry, Ulquiorra. I thought you might want to visit the beach for the first time.” She followed after Tatsuki, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “If you want, I brought some books with me that you might be interested in.”
Sighing, Ulquiorra followed, pale hands shoved into his overly colorful shorts pockets. He was not interested in staying one bit, but there was a small curiosity in him that kept him from turning away and leaving them behind. It was not often he was so exposed to so many Humans in one place. Perhaps he could learn something. And books were never something he could truly turn his nose up at.
In no time, their small claim of beach had been staked, a faded green umbrella sticking up, covering a blanket and their belongings. The two girls began to take off their cover ups, giggling and smiling to one another as they prepared to for their swim.
“I’ll meet you in the water, Hime!” Tatsuki called back, running towards the water, her bright yellow bikini in stark contrast with the deep blue of the sky.
“Okay, Tatsuki!” Taking off her hat, she turned, kneeling in front of a disgruntled Ulquiorra. “You sure you don’t wanna join us out there?”
Looking up from the book he had pulled out of her bag, Ulquiorra almost seemed disgusted by the question. “I have no desire to, no.” He looked past her for a moment, watching as the waves were littered with Humans, all floating and bobbing in the water. “If that is what you consider to be fun, then I will be here.” He looked back down at the pages, pale fingers resting at the corners as he prepared to turn them.
“Th-that’s fine!” She stood up, brushing the sand off her legs. “If you need us, we’ll just be out there!” And with that, Orihime was gone, leaving Ulquiorra to his reading and the peripheral environment around him.
He admittedly looked up as she left him, watching her weave her way through the masses and running into the water, tripping over her own feet. How strange. Lifting his head, Ulquiorra properly surveyed his surroundings now, the sun oversaturating the bright colors and reddened skin. Why is it that Humans are so drawn to the water? In his short time in the World of the Living, the Espada learned that Humans were drawn in by many a strange and mundane thing, but this one perhaps puzzled him the most. From his own reading, there were so many ways a Human could die from water alone, not to mention all of the things that lived below the surface of the ocean.
Perhaps Humans do have a death wish.
But even as he tried to focus in again on his reading, something bugged Ulquiorra. He couldn’t even finish the page he had opened to, his eyes lifting again to stare at the ocean, beyond where even the bravest soul dared to swim. It was dark there, and the shadows of the clouds beyond only seemed to draw him in. He remembered something Orihime had said to him early into his stay in the World of the Living, something that had stuck with him since.
There’s more to this world than Humans, you know?
Six Months Prior
Mindlessly stirring her straw in her drink, Orihime stared out at the cold street view beyond the café window. “So many creatures that live here, things that grow, places that Humans can never touch.” She sounded wistful, her lips curving up into her normal smile. “When I was younger, I always wanted to go see more of the world. I was so desperate to get out there, away from… from everything.” Her voice trailed off, chin resting in her hand.
Ulquiorra sat stiffly in his chair, ignoring the bustle of those around them, watching her intently. He couldn’t help but find her sudden change in demeanor slightly interesting. She was so bubbly and warm, always moving. But her world seemed to pause for a moment, slowing down to point where he felt he could catch up to it.
“What else could there be?” he asked at last, catching her attention. “All I see here are Humans.”
Eyes lighting up, Orihime giggled. “Well, sure, we are in a city, after all.” Lifting her straw, she took a drink before sitting back in her seat. “But there’s always places beyond Humans, too, Ulquiorra. Dark forests, deep oceans, vast deserts, high mountains, outer space; there are things that we’ve never even seen here on Earth.” She shrugged her shoulders tightly, lifting her hands in wonder. “Isn’t that exciting?!”
“Perhaps for a Human, yes,” Ulquiorra replied, eyes glassy and dark. “But I have no interest in such things. Everything is the same, in the end. Once it has all been discovered, then there is nothing interesting about it.”
“That’s… not necessarily true,” Orihime said, her voice warbling slightly. “I mean, even the places and things we’ve discovered have some new stuff to show us sometimes!”
But Ulquiorra looked away, staring out at the bleakness of winter. He had no patience to argue with this girl’s whimsy, no matter how much it intrigued or infuriated him. He had never felt such intrigue for the world around him, and he could never imagine himself feeling that way about this world in particular.
Current Day
Slowly, Ulquiorra set his book down for good, his raven hair stirring in the wild summer breeze. Looking over and beyond the masses, the far-off waves seemed to call to him. Somewhere far beyond where Humans could swim, he felt something oddly familiar.
Without a second thought, Ulquiorra left his Gigai, the stifling contraption falling away from him on the towel. His soul was bare for the first time in ages, the white of his Espada uniform almost blinding in the bright summer sun. The weight of his mask fragment rested atop his head, his hair wrapping over it. White zori nestled into the sand, black tabi mildly sullied by the wet, brown beach.
I must see what lies beyond, he thought. There is something there, I feel it. But what living thing beneath those waves could give off such a presence?
The Espada looked back, making sure his Gigai looked natural before taking off towards the shoreline. Its eyes were closed, a hand resting on its chest; it looked as if it were napping. Good enough.
No one paid him any mind as he passed, for surely none of these Humans could see him. The occasional pet glanced in his direction, snarling a little as they watched, and a small child or two looked up from their haphazard sand castles at him; however, he passed them all, unfazed and uncaring. He could see Tatsuki and Orihime in the water, bobbing in their own small section not too far from him. They didn’t notice him, fortunately, and he stood watching them for a moment, taking in their splashes and stolen kisses between each other. Then, with slight hesitation at first, he took his first step into the ocean, the water soaking into his shoes.
It was cold. Ulquiorra hadn’t expected that, his eyes widening ever-so-slightly as he took another step in. He could feel the waves pulling him in as they lapped against the shore, discouraging him from turning back. His stride was steady as he walked past the swimming Humans, water rising from his shins to his thighs in a matter of moments. It wasn’t until the water reached his neck that he noticed there were far fewer people there, many of them struggling to stay afloat. Quiet. Cold. And with that, he moved forward again until his eyes were under the water, the only things left above were the crown of his head and the horn from his mask.
For a moment, as his eyes adjusted to the water, it was all a blur. A deep blue stretched before him on all sides, sunlight reflecting and refracting off the surface. Then, with a few blinks, his vision came into focus.
Emptiness surrounded him, for the most part. The silhouettes of legs and bodies hovered behind him, their combined spiritual presence diminishing as well. The taste of brine coated his tongue. Bubbles fluttered out of Ulquiorra’s nostrils and clothes, all air escaping him, making it easier for his feet to remain on the ocean floor.
There is nothing here. His eyes scanned the empty, translucent blue for any hint of a shadow, any movement at all. I know I felt something. It must be further on, beyond…
It wasn’t too long before he found himself at the edge of the ocean floor, where it dropped off into a deep, dark abyss. Here it was far, far colder, the continental shelf giving way to nothingness, the sunlight barely illuminating the surface anymore. Whatever he had sensed before was closer now, the weight of its presence pulling him closer to the edge. If he stared hard enough, he could see things glittering in the distance. Life.
Ulquiorra pushed his feet off the ground, his body floating in the cold water. Raven hair floated around him, small bubbles travelling along his skin before floating away into the vast expanse around him. It was strange, the feeling of the water around him, like a gentle caress. In a way, it felt like it was welcoming him.
Something moved to his left, his head turning to catch a glimpse. A large, spherical shadow lingered several meters off, amorphous and occasionally flashing a brilliant silver. Ulquiorra began to swim, drawing closer to the mass, his limbs pushing outward as he glided through the water.
It wasn’t one living creature, he found, but hundreds, perhaps thousands of little creatures, all moving in synergy. Their bodies glittered as the sun reflected off their silver scales, and their small eyes seemed to notice his presence, but they did nothing as he approached. For a moment, the Espada hovered there, watching. He could never recall such creatures in his existence, small beings that created a whole, moving as if they were of one body.
Uniform, almost.
Then, slowly, Ulquiorra reached out a pale hand. He could feel the life flowing in them, exuding out to create something larger, and a part of him wanted to feel it. To hold it.
They scattered, rushing away fearfully, only to reform into their ranks once again a few feet away. It didn’t take them long to race away, their glittering bodies fading into the blue depths. Curious…
However, he soon realized he wasn’t alone.
Ulquiorra didn’t make an attempt to search for who – or whatever it was. There was something he could feel in that moment. Here, the light wasn’t as bright as it had been a minute ago, as if he’d sunk deeper without realizing. But he could tell, without looking, that it was only one entity and that it was large.
Eyes moving slowly, he couldn’t see anything in his periphery. But it is here, he knew. It is looking right at me. His curiosity peaked, he dared to turn around, bubbles floating up past him as he did. And yet, there still was no sign of anyone or anything, no dark shape in the water.
Then, there is only one explanation.
Ulquiorra had already noticed the darkness below once he left the relative safety of the continental shelf, but it seemed far denser now, a thick inky blackness. He knew he didn’t have to go down there. It wasn’t usually in his nature to explore the unknown, for it had always been fruitless, useless. In the end, it would be a waste of time. But something in his eyes shifted, his stiff upper lip parting. There was desire there, in those cold dead eyes. I have to see it, he thought, floating there motionless. There is something there, waiting.
Waiting for what, he couldn’t be sure. Perhaps it was hungry, waiting for him to come down and devour him. Perhaps it was just as curious about him as he was of it. Logic and desire fought against one another, with the latter winning out. In an instant, he took off, descending further, the sunlight fading faster and faster…
Visibility cut out in a matter of minutes, the specs of debris glowing in the faint sunlight fading all together, leaving him alone. It was pitch black for a while, his eyes slowly adjusting to the dark. And, despite no longer wearing a Gigai, he could feel a slight pressure pushing against his being. Strange. He had known that the pressure would compound as he got deeper, crippling for any normal human at the stage he was at. But he hadn’t expected to feel any effects himself.
As his eyes adjusted, he realized that he could see shapes in the dark. Multiple shapes, all slipping by and around him. He hadn’t sensed them before, and it confounded him. But he knew they weren’t the thing he sensed several feet above. The feeling of water swishing past, a slight current brushing against his skin, alerted him that whatever it was, was drawing closer. Circling him like prey.
He instinctually raised a hand, finger extended. The darkness was interrupted by the green light of his Cero, shooting up at an angle. And it was in that startlingly bright light that he could see them at last.
There were at least five creatures swimming nearby, circling him. A pair of limbs and a humanoid torso, with longish hair swirling around their heads, but their lower halves were that of a fish. Fins, scales, spines, all glittering and rustling in the dark water, the light highlighting them sharply.
It wasn’t until Ulquiorra looked directly in front of him that he could see another one – a sixth one hovering mere inches from his own face. Large, dark eyes stared back at him from a pale face. Long, dark hair tangled with green algae and whatnot drifted in front of its face. For a moment, he could see a trace of gold in the center of those eyes, the barest hint of an iris swimming in all that black. Sharp, needle-like teeth stuck out behind ragged, pale lips. Darkish, webbed fingers, tipped with long talons reached out, frozen in time as the Cero shot out past it, as it to caress Ulquiorra’s face.
But the one thing that Ulquiorra could make out before the light faded upward made his eyes widen. There, in the center of its torso, the creature sported a perfect, pitch-black hole. Cold. Familiar.
It was a Hollow hole, he realized, his free hand reaching up to his own reflexively.
The light died, but Ulquiorra could almost feel the swarm draw closer, agitated by the sudden light. All he could hear was the swirl of water in his ears, and his eyes were once again useless. It was then that he felt the creature, the one he had seen in front of him, touch his face with its clawed fingers. Gently, they traveled from his cheek to his jaw, tracing along his lips now.
Flashes of memory scattered across Ulquiorra’s mind, things he had thought he had long, long forgotten…
It was in a darkness not much unlike this one that he had first awoken in. His first steps – a crawl, really, taken in that darkness. Alone. Mute. There was nothing to hold onto, no one to greet him.
Above, they watched him, the Others. Their eyes were sharp, harsh, watching as he crawled his way up to the top. He could feel his hatred, but he had not understood. They spoke in whispers and whimpers and murmurs, their voices rasping harshly, gutturally.
He had not understood. He was desperate.
Someone, anyone, please… please explain how I came here? What are these things I feel? This raw pain burning through me?
But the Others didn’t move to help him. They recoiled from him as he reached out, baring their teeth. Don’t touch us, they hissed. You aren’t like us! And it was true, from what he could tell with his new eyes. Their bodies were hard and armored, black and shiny under the cold moonlight of Hueco Mundo. They clung to the edge of the pit, absorbing the others that had formed at the bottom. They writhed with such hatred.
He, on the other hand, was solitary and soft, his body stark white in contrast. Green eyes peering out of a mouthless mask. Like a drop of cruel moonlight trailing through the darkness, he had dragged his way gracelessly out of the pit, hands buried in white sand.
We should eat him!
Would he even be worth the effort?
He could be poisonous!
Leave him be, some other fool will eat him soon enough.
Don’t touch… don’t touch…
Feeling the creature’s nails lift away, Ulquiorra felt something stir inside of him. There was now a stillness surrounding him, as if they had all stopped. They were still there, he knew. Their presences were hard to feel beyond the strong being below him, but after straining, he could feel them close by. They were weak compared to whatever drew him closer, but it was almost a relief when he found them.
He couldn’t see them, but their outlines came back into view. They were gathered, their limbs moving cautiously towards him. As if they were afraid of him. Cautious. No, they are not afraid, he concluded. No, no, they are deciding. The Cero startled them, but now they are curious.
The closest creature, the one who had locked eyes with him, lifted its webbed hand again, but this time, a very soft and dull light appeared in its palm. Ulquiorra could barely make out the details of the others, their own Hollow holes resting in the same spot as the first. It was hard to see their faces, though, but Ulquiorra only found himself meeting the eyes of his first contact. It eyes unblinking, they maintained eye contact once again.
Come.
Shocked, Ulquiorra blinked. It was as if he could hear the creature speaking to him directly. Its lips had not moved, and there was no way a voice could be heard that clearly in the water.
Come with us.
There it was again. It was strong, filling the Espada’s head entirely as it resonated through his body. To where? His own voice sounded far too silent in his head, like a small spark in the darkness. Where are you going?
Tilting its head, the creature blinked, a think gelatinous film washing over the dark surface of its eyes before retreating back beneath its flesh. Follow us. We will show you.
But why show me? Ulquiorra pushed back, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. I am not one of you.
Web fingers stretched out, claws pointing to the Hollow hole in his sternum. But you are, it is plain to see.
Ulquiorra watched, weighing his thoughts carefully.
Come. You must come and see.
The light followed the creature as it descended suddenly, the other five slowly following as well. Then, his mind made up, Ulquiorra descended after them, watching the dim light slowly absorb into the inky blackness.
Two thoughts were eating at him as he followed. The first – and the loudest – was that this was a trap. Hollows, whether they were on shore or deep beneath the sea, were not one to typically desire company. To congregate in packs. They were solitary, only getting close when they wanted to devour or exert dominance.
The other thought, nestling quietly in the back of his mind, wondered if they were even Hollows at all. Certainly, they were nothing like the life forms he had seen above (though they were scarce), and they could see him. They were strange, and it was uncertain whether they were living, breathing things. But he knew that if he didn’t follow, the small seed of curiosity would slowly eat away at him.
And it was just as well, as the large, looming presence from before was growing stronger the further down he went. It also knew he was there; he could tell. He began to swim faster, catching up to the creature holding the dim light. Their eyes met again, eyes glimmering in the light.
We are almost there.
It was overwhelming. Ulquiorra felt his chest tighten, his fingers going numb. His very being was being absorbed in the murky dark, like it was consuming him whole. And yet he pressed on. What is it? The light died in the creature’s hand, leaving him once again blinded in the dark. What is that below us?
You will see.
There was nothing to distinguish water from creature. There was nothing to see. Even as he pushed his arms and legs out, Ulquiorra felt like he was swimming in place. There was nothing. And, somehow, that seemed to no longer satisfy him. There has to be something here, he thought, the words becoming desperate now. I felt it. It is so strong…
A had gripped his wrist, stopping him from going any further. He didn’t fight back, letting his body drift there. The pressure there was so intense, every movement felt fragile. In the haze, he could swear he made out small lights flickering in and out, fuzzy and weak. They weren’t the only group there. He couldn’t sense anything or anyone else, overwhelmed by the large presence below him, but he just knew. Perhaps there were hundreds. It felt like a gathering.
Then, something shifted.
Something rose up, as if waking up from a long, long slumber, stretching its limbs. Every movement disturbed the water around him, pressing against him.
What is it? He dared to ask again.
He was greeted with silence, the others leaving him to watch, to wait.
A bright, white light emerged, hidden within something… irregular. Fleshy. Sluggish. It came from within a body, piercing through the skin. A mouth. Nostrils, Closed eyes, two large dark orbs hidden behind smooth eye lids. Sharp, dark teeth jutted out behind mangled lips. It was shapeless, unrecognizable. It was a monster.
He looked around, seeing that he had been correct. There were countless others of the humanoid-fish hybrids, all circling this large creature that nestled into the ocean floor. It was hard to tell just how large the thing was, its expansive body going on for as far as the Espada’s periphery could make out. He had never seen or heard of anything like it.
Its eyes opened, slowly, beads of light pulsing in the black. It was looking right at him.
You.
It was a loud voice, much stronger than the mercreature to his side had been. And its words were harsh, cutting. Demanding obedience. One he had heard many times before.
You have found us here, where few ever truly go purposefully.
I see.
And why is it you have come here?
Taken aback, the question puzzled the Espada. He paused for a moment, studying the large creature before him. Did you not summon me here?
I merely sensed you, I did not call for you. You came of your own volition.
What…?
The light in the creature flickered for a moment, annoyed. Ask.
Ulquiorra could feel the eyes of the mercreatures turn to him, watching him with calculated interest. What are you?
Something in the creature’s eyes glistened a bit. Its mouth twitched, something floating out of its teeth. Dead flesh, no doubt. A question I have heard many times. It sounded disappointed. I had assumed you would understand once you arrived. Do you not understand what your eyes see before you?
My eyes have never seen anything like you before.
I see. And yet, I am of your kind. We are of the same ilk. Same kind. I have been here… Its thoughts trailed off, as if forgetting. Too long. I have lost track of the others.
Stunned again, Ulquiorra’s eyes widened a bit. Green irises dully reflected the shimmering white light. You are a Hollow, then.
Is that what they call themselves now? It asked him, scoffing. We were called many things, in the beginning. We had no proper name, as many of us could not speak. The earliest of us settled here, growing fat and strong while the others crawled to the surface. It sounded like a disapproving grandfather, shaking its proverbial head in dismay. From what I hear, things are more complicated up there than they are down here. Perhaps… that is why I can no longer find the others.
With every word from the creature, Ulquiorra’s seed of curiosity only grew stronger. Do you have a name?
It seemed to pause, as if trying to remember that as well. Suriel. Or at least, that was the last name I recall hearing. The light flickered again. And you, small one?
I am Ulquiorra Cifer. His hand rested subconsciously over his Hollow hole.
One of the eyes twitched, the mercreatures around him seeming to flutter with understanding. Ulquiorra. It studied him, focusing. The lights in its eyes pulsed ferociously. You are alone down here.
Yes.
Are there others?
A brief pause passed. Yes. Countless others.
You seem strong, despite your size. Not like the creatures who drift down here, dead and picked apart by the fish. I only see stragglers who have lost their way nowadays. Although, the food is not as plentiful as it once was.
I sensed you from the shore. In all of the time I have spent in the World of the Living, I have not sensed a presence so strong. I had believed all that were like us were in Hueco Mundo.
The name gave the creature pause. Your home, I take it.
For some reason, Ulquiorra felt he had said too much. Instead, he watched the light pulse within the creature. It was like a cold sun burning at the bottom of the ocean. Cruel. Terrifying.
You were among the living creatures. It is confusing that you would intermingle with them.
I do not do so by choice, Ulquiorra retorted.
Suriel’s lips parted, large bubbles escaping, shooting upward. Are you saying they are keeping you there by force? Those fleshy abominations, are they somehow stronger than you?
No.
Then you do not need to surround yourself with them.
The pressure in the Espada’s chest tightened again, a cold feeling overtaking him from the inside. There was something threatening in that last sentence. Something ominous. Curiosity turned to suspicion
You must stay, Suriel insisted. Join us. You are as strong as my children.
Your children?
Yes. They are the ones who brought you to me.
Turning, Ulquiorra stared at the mercreature to his left, its large black eyes staring back.
They are the souls that gathered independently within me, not quite unlike yourself, Ulquiorra. I believe that is why you bear the shape you do. Many of the land dwellers are often shapeless or unrefined. But you… your small body betrays the power you possess. You would fit in amongst us perfectly.
Danger. Every sense in Ulquiorra’s body was a light with fear. He had not felt such a thing since… since the beginning. His whole being wanted to turn, to run. But was he fast enough?
I must return to the surface.
What? Then why come all this way?
I thank you for indulging me, but my place is on the surface.
The white light changed, churning into a deadly blue. It was agitated, on the verge of lashing out. Hungry.
Those who come here do no leave! You will stay, and you will join us!
There was no point in arguing, Ulquiorra knew. Without missing a beat, he shot upward, pushing into the inky blackness. He felt the pressure of the water fight against him, his being straining. He then realized that it wasn’t the water pressure that was pulling him back.
He looked down, seeing Suriel’s large mouth opening wide. Its illuminated flesh swayed as a vortex appeared, pulling anything and everything in its path right into its gullet. The mercreatures that had floated beside him moments earlier were now swallowed, their souls becoming small orbs of light that orbited and eventually were swallowed into the blue sun.
Gritting his teeth, Ulquiorra felt his body being dragged back down, despite his own best efforts. At this rate, I will not get anywhere. He raised his hand, finger pointing towards Suriel’s large eyes. He knew that the Cero wouldn’t kill him, but he hoped that the attack would shock him enough to stop the vortex. Bright green energy swelled at his fingertip, then exploded in the next instant, cutting through the water and into those large, black eyes.
The vortex came to a halt, a horrible sound filling his head as Suriel recoiled from his wound. A mental scream that threatened to shatter him. But he knew he was strong enough to survive it, jetting upward as fast as possible.
AFTER HIM! BRING HIM BACK DOWN TO US!
The water around him seemed to vibrate dangerously, as countless fins and hands moved in unison, following him as he fought his way back to the surface.
Ulquiorra didn’t turn back once, keeping his sights set for lighter waters. It was inky black for what felt like ages, and at times he wasn’t sure if he was moving.
That is until he felt a hand grip his ankle, his body coming to an abrupt halt. Daring to look down, Ulquiorra could see the ominous, faint glow of Suriel below him, hundreds of silhouettes chasing after him, surging through the water with ease. And one of them had latched onto him, attempting to drag him back down, needle teeth exposed and dark eyes pulsing with gold. Come back with us, it urged him. We are the same. It is better for us down here.
The same, he thought, his body shooting up as fast as he could go. Not quite true. They were similar to Hollows, he knew, but their very beings couldn’t be more different. They were false, created rather than evolved. Perhaps more like husks.
Ulquiorra noticed they were gaining speed, nearly within reach of his ankles. Not fast enough. Even with all of this pressure, they are able to catch up this easily? He looked back once, eyes narrowing. Eyes gleamed in the pitch black, hungry. Inconceivable. He considered firing another Cero, but something told him that would scarcely take care of the issue. They were countless. Perhaps Suriel could make more on command. It wouldn’t surprise him, considering the sheer amount of its spiritual pressure. There had to be another way to evade…
The black soon became dark blue, dark shapes dancing around him in the water. They were surrounding him, preparing to lock him in. Like a net, the mercreatures rose around him on all sides, the freedom above slowly becoming smaller and smaller as they closed in.
Surrender to us, they demanded. We do not wish to harm you.
Before Ulquiorra could think, the water around him began to tremble. Something was coming. Its presence was unlike that of Suriel’s; in fact, was far greater. Familiar. Was this what I had sensed before? Was there something larger than Suriel here, competing for his soul as well? Suriel had mentioned others…
It came from above, startling Ulquiorra slightly. Moving fast, a dark figure descended on the mercreatures, its disturbance sending them into a frenzy. Ulquiorra remained still, watching as the creatures shot up towards it, trying to tear into it. It was hard to see, but he could smell blood in the water, quickly realizing that it was from the mercreatures. Their anguished screams and roars filled his head, but he watched on in mild awe.
What are you?
As if in response to the Espada’s question, bright green lights began to cross the body of the figure, revealing just how large – and how close – it really was. The lights were like constellations across its body, unlike anything that Suriel could produce. They were warm, full of life. Symbols and markings etched in light spanned across alabaster flesh, revealing the carnage that now surrounded them both.
With aid of the lights, Ulquiorra could see that he was floating in front of a giant, glassy eye. Brown, with flecks of greens and blues, the iris’s dark void clouded over, milky. Whatever was before him probably couldn’t see him, but it knew he was there.
Without a word, Ulquiorra knew what it wanted. He approached it, pushing up towards where he believed the head to be. Its skin felt velvety beneath his fingers as he traced along, trying to find his place. Then, deciding he had found the top of its head, he crouched down, pressing his whole hand down on the creature’s body. I am ready, he told it, preparing himself. He could sense another wave of mercreatures shooting up from below, prepared to fight.
WHAT IS THIS!? Suriel’s screams could be heard, even that far up. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CREATURE CAN OUTWIT ME?!
Violently, the water around Ulquiorra pushed past him as his body was hurled upwards, the creature below him surging upwards with ease despite the immense pressure. For its size, it was faster than Ulquiorra had previously surmised. His fingers unwittingly dug into the creature’s flesh, holding on the best he could.
NO ONE ESCAPES! NO ONE! NOT EVEN THE LIKES OF-!
Ulquiorra could barely understand what had just happened. Water of black, dark blue, and bright blue past him, suddenly breaking into blinding, searing light. Gone was the weight of the ocean, fresh summer air trailing along his pale skin. His wet hair trailed behind him as the creature continued upwards, the blue sky above greeting them both. It was a shock to his system, his lips parting and eyes widening as salty water trickled down.
Gathering himself, he managed to look around, seeing that he and the creature were several feet above the water, the creature’s shadow rippling across the surface of the water. In the sunlight, he could at last make out its full form.
In almost every way, it took on the shape of a humpback whale. Its head was flat and smooth, elongated back and graceful tail. He had seen such creatures in the books he read in Orihime’s small, cramped apartment. Ulquiorra had not particularly found much interest in them initially, but here, in the presence of one such as this, he found himself speechless. And then confused, as he realized the creature was white all over, instead of the black and white of the book’s diagram. White, with glowing symbols and scars.
Body twisting, the whale prepared to enter the ocean again. Ulquiorra, giving the creature one final pat on the head, jumped off, hovering in the air for a moment. Their eyes met as the whale turned, a moment of silent understanding. Even above the water, the creature’s presence was astounding, dense. It was no surprise that he could feel his gut churn as the whale returned to the depths, as if gravity itself had just changed in that moment. The waters reached up, embracing the whale, dancing even as its body disappeared into the darkness, leaving the Espada alone in the air.
For perhaps the second time in his life, Ulquiorra found himself unable to think. Unable to understand the string of events that transpired. He stood above the waves, staring down into the darkness. Its presence was still there, permeating the air, the smell of rain following shortly behind.
Then, realizing where he was again, Ulquiorra looked to his left, seeing the shore in the distance. Storm clouds were quickly gathering, reaching towards the land. He could see the humans gathered at the water’s edge.
It didn’t take him long to arrive on land again, his feet pressed into the sand. There were no humans sitting on their towels or traipsing across the beach, as they were all gathered together, staring at the distance in awe and wonder.
“Did you see that whale?” someone muttered.
“Yeah, it was huge!”
“I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen one, especially so close to shore.”
“It didn’t look like a normal whale to me… maybe it was just a really big dolphin?”
Ulquiorra’s gigai was still resting on the towel beneath Orihime’s umbrella, eyes closed, hands resting on a book he had been reading hours before. It seemed no one had noticed he was gone. Reluctantly, he re-entered the vessel, his eyes opening again. This time, he wasn’t alone.
“Ulquiorra!” Orihime sounded out of breath, kneeling beside him as soon as she reached their spot. “Did you see that?! Did you see the whale?!”
Tatsuki wasn’t far behind, the same look of glee in her eyes. “That was so cool! Whales don’t often get that close to shore!”
Sitting up, Ulquiorra set his book to the side, sand falling off his arms. “No, I am afraid I did not,” he replied, his voice monotone. “I appear to have slept through it.”
“Awwww!” Orihime gave him a sad smile look. “You would’ve loved it! It’s a rare thing to spot a whale like that.” She turned to Tatsuki. “What kind of whale do you think it was?”
Tatsuki shrugged. “Not sure,” she said. “My guess it was a humpback whale.”
“Aren’t they extinct, though?”
“I’m not sure. They were at one point.”
As they spoke, Ulquiorra stood up, watching as the people dispersed, leaving him to stare out at the ocean. The winds were picking up, the water churning as the storm came closer. He could hear the frantic sounds of humans gathering their belongings, running to their cars or any cover they could find. Even Tatsuki and Orihime were packing. But he stood still, staring out contemplatively.
There was something in him stirring, a spark unfamiliar to him.
I must learn more, he thought. There has to be more to this creature.
“ULQUIORRA!”
Tatsuki’s voice carried over the wind, her hair whipping into her face. “WE GOTTA GO! STORM’S COMING IN FAST!”
As he turned to follow, Ulquiorra let his mind wander, casually strolling along the stormy beach. That giant eye haunted him, the mystery lingering still.
He would have to come back.