Lamenting Enchantment (A Bleach/Ulquihime fic)

Chapter 12

This is not my story! All credits go to The. Teal. Rose. on Fanfiction.net. This story belongs solely to the author.
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Chapter 12: Greatest Endeavor
Chapter XII

Greatest Endeavor

"Let us, instead of gazing idly into the obscure distance, look calmly around us, for a little, on the perplexed scene where we stand."

-Thomas Carlyle

Ulquiorra remained with her, as he sat comfortably at her side. Neither had yet said a word, simply reveled within the contented silence. Inoue closed her eyes and felt nothing but the enraptured feeling of absolute ease.

The sound of the wind howling beyond the window could be heard resounding throughout the room, and the pale light of the moon had lengthened as the night deepened. Inoue felt her mind drifting to sleep and she found herself trying to remember when the last time was in which she felt so entirely absent of loneliness.

"Woman," Ulquiorra then softly called to her.

Opening her eyes, Inoue turned her head to look at him.

The Espada regarded her wordlessly a moment before continuing, "I'm still...somewhat confused."

He then shifted towards her and gazed down at her silently before lifting a hand and placing it over her heart. He closed his eyes as he felt her steady beats beneath his palm, all in a serenading rhythm that called to him in a way that nothing had before.

"You have a heart," he stated before opening his eyes, "you have a human heart that feels things." His gaze subtly intensified, "I don't have that."

Inoue's mouth parted slightly before she suddenly smiled gently and placed a hand over his. "You do too, Ulquiorra-kun."

His eyes widened only slightly, "what have I told you about-"

Inoue shook her head, still smiling, "I want to call you that. I want to call you that because you are someone I care about."

"Why?" Was his only answer, "I find that I still don't understand you at all." He sighed, "Someone like me who is so entirely separate from you."

"I don't think so," she replied, "I don't think we are so very separate at all."

He looked to her and seemed to disregard the initial impulse to counter her response. "Are all humans like you?"

"Huh?" She responded, inclining her head curiously.

"Are they all like you or..." He trailed off as he appeared to consider his next words, "are you the only one?"

Inoue blinked slowly, "well, I don't know. I haven't met everyone. I mean, I assume there's probably somebody else who's like me out there...although, we are all pretty different."

"I see," Ulquiorra responded only.

All was silent until suddenly Inoue's stomach rumbled, breaking through the soundless atmosphere. Inoue flushed and covered her stomach with both hands, "Ah!" she exclaimed, "I'm sorry, Ulquiorra-kun, you see, I didn't really eat anything today." She then laughed and held a hand to her head, smiling awkwardly.