Pale Fire: A Bleach Fanfiction

Chapter thirty-two: The end isn't what it seems

 

“It’s this bad, huh?”

Ulquiorra looked at himself. “Kill me. Quickly. I no longer have the strength to walk. If you do not cut me down now, then this fight will remain forever unsettled.”

“No, Ulquiorra,” I cried.

“Never,” Ichigo refused.

Orihime stopped healing me for a second to look at Ulquiorra. “No.” I could see tears welling up in her eyes, although they didn’t spill.  

Ulquiorra glanced at me. Regardless of Orihime healing me, I stood up and walked towards him. “Reina, forgive me. I have failed to keep my promise to you.”

“No, Ulquiorra, forgive me. Because of me, your end is drawing near. I should’ve saved you, yet I watched,” I argued, looking at him desperately.

“I told you to watch,” Ulquiorra replied. He took a glance at Orihime. “Are you frightened of me?”

“I’m not afraid,” Orihime answered. Ulquiorra reached his hand out to me. But before I could grab it, his hand began to dissolve into ash. I ran and pressed myself against his fading body. He huggd back tightly. “Reina…you showed me love. For that, I am grateful.” I looked up and him. He had a peaceful expression.

“I see. This. Yes. This thing in my hand is the heart?” Ulquiorra looked at me. His lips formed into a small close-lipped smile. He was referring to me. I was in his hands. I was his heart.

“Don’t let go,” I whispered to him. Half of Ulquiorra’s body was fading. All of a sudden, a cloaked figure appeared behind him. I recognized her as Fang and before any of us could do anything, she pierced a dagger into Ulquiorra’s slowly dissolving body. Ulquiorra’s eyes widened. I saw that he felt immense pain because of this. He finally felt peace but now, because of Fang, he had to die a painful death. Ulquiorra faded, into the wind, with a look of horror on his face.

Fang looked at me from under her hood and disappeared.

I looked down. My knees gave away as I collapsed to the ground. I started to shake violently. “It’s okay, Akari-san,” Orihime assured me. I reached my hand out towards the air where Ulquiorra disappeared. I dropped up hand, groaning. Orihime resumed healing me.

I lay there, clutching the hilt of my zanpakuto, unaware of what to do next. I moved my hand slowly to my chest, above my heart. Where are you now Ulquiorra? Why did you leave? I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing as I tried to feel the connection I had with Ulquiorra. Fang…I promise you Ulquiorra, that your death shall be avenged. I will kill her. W-why? Why…

I closed my eyes. Orihime completely healed me and I immediately stood up. I wasn’t going to bother saying thank you to Orihime. This was partly her fault. I wasn’t going to kill Ichigo as it wasn’t really him that killed Ulquiorra. I felt no anger, sadness. Just this emptiness. Emptiness Ulquiorra tried to teach me. Now I felt it, true despair. One that let goes with find peace and harmony. One that holds on will find trouble in one’s mind. I thought that I had learnt that when my life changed forever. I need to let go. If I don’t, I will live in despair for the rest of my life.  I sheathed my zanpakuto and plummeted down into the dome of Las Noches without another word.

I landed on my feet. Ulquiorra would expect me not to feel this despair. I couldn’t help it. There was a fight in front of me. Byakuya and Kenpachi were fighting Yammy. I made my way to them slowly. Seeing Byakuya again shocked me slightly but he had no idea who I was.

Just as Yammy was defeated, I saw Fang appear behind Byakuya, slashing him at the throat with her dagger.  I screamed with anger and ambled to Fang, unsheathing my katana as I did so.