Ulquiorra didn't know why he did it. Why he got involved in such a trivial matter. He had been in the World of the Living for a mission. While walking in a barely lit street the Espada heard the cry for help. "Trash," the young man muttered, walking past the alleyway.
"Sit down and shut up," a thug growled, forcing a female down roughly. "Do as your told."
"Yeah, don't make the boss angry," spoke another.
"No!" she yelled. "I will never stop!" Ulquiorra stopped. "I will never stop until I can get away from you! I'd rather die!"
Maybe it was because she spoke up to them, no matter the danger? Or the sincere determination in her voice? Or the fact she was never going to give up?
He intervened.
An invisible force threw the men off the young woman, knocking one out cold, the other scrambling to get away. Ulquiorra looked down, realizing, the one who had been attacked was looking right at him.
"Thank you," she breathed, gripping at the torn shirt. The Espada stood frozen, shocked that she could even see him. "They attacked without warning..."
Finally composing himself, the Espada turned away. "Go home, human."
Not trash.
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It should've been the last time he saw her. That was not the case. Ulquiorra had been walking in the same area, looking for someone with spiritual pressure. Him and a group of other Arrancars had been instructed to eliminate anyone with pressure so the Soul Reapers would not find more allies.
And there he saw her walking on the other side of the street, before entering a run down apartment complex. The young man was not curious by nature, yet still found himself drawn to follow.
One bedroom, a kitchen that was barely functioning because half of the appliances did not work, and a small bathroom. The only other form of living space came from a two-person table, crammed into a corner of the kitchen. The young woman packed everything away before turning on the burner to the stove, which flickered before going out. Running a frustrated hand through her hair, she rummaged around a drawer before pulling out a lighter and igniting the flames.
Ulquiorra watched her well into the evening, observing the streets as well, looking for his target. Her clothing was baggy against the thin body beneath, a ratty appearance to the articles. They were clearly old, possibly pre-owned. Her brown hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail, green eyes scanning a newspaper. During that time, she had eaten a small portion of white rice and noodles, clearly not satisfying her always grumbling stomach.
The Espada didn't know why he took an interest in the young woman. It wasn't like he was going to walk up to her and start a conversation. In fact, he wanted nothing to do with a human, no contact whatsoever. Ulquiorra would rather observe from afar.
His target became known in the area, and he turned away from the window to finish his mission.
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It was raining one night, the only window in the run-down apartment cracked open. The smell of rain floated into the room, calming the young woman. Something was bothering her, besides the fact that bills were increasing in price, and the job she held was soon no longer going to be able to pay for everything. Not facing the window, she spoke, "If you're going to keep watching me, I'd prefer you let yourself be known. I don't like stalkers."
A few seconds later, someone's soft steps touched the kitchen tiles to her right. Looking over lazily, she spotted Ulquiorra, dripping wet from the rain. "How did I know it was you?" He said nothing. "You've been watching since the night you saved me, three months ago."
"You knew I was there?"
A small smile came to the young woman's lips. "I know you're different. Those thugs from before... They couldn't see you... I take it you're dead then?" Again, no answer. "I guess that's a yes. Why have you been watching me?"
"You're... interesting..."
"Thanks...?" The two were quiet, neither knowing what to say. "What's your name?" Ulquiorra merely stared. "Never mind... I'm Tora Woodward."
That was the first of many meetings.
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Another two months passed, and Ulquiorra would always find himself coming back to Tora. Some nights she talked more than others. Rarely, the Espada put in his own thoughts. The human was poor, an orphan from birth. The orphanage she had been working at when she came of age was torn down, and the young woman was forced to work dead end jobs to help pay the bills. One night she had expressed her concerns that she was almost out of money.
She plagued his mind whenever he took out a human with spiritual pressure, wondering why he couldn't stop thinking of her. Tora was a secret. Ulquiorra never voiced his visits with the human to Aizen or any of the other Arrancars. Slowly, as he began to know her, the young man had picked up that she had a low amount of spiritual pressure. If Aizen or any of the other Arrancars who were sent to the World of the Living knew about that, Tora's life would be in danger. So, the Fourth Espada did everything in his power to make sure he took care of the humans in her area.
Ulquiorra didn't realize he had grown protective over Tora.
It was another day in Las Noches, and Ulquiorra was walking around, hands stuffed into his pockets carelessly. Nothing exciting was going on. A group of Arrancars had been sent out earlier that morning to patrol on the North end of Karakura, nowhere near Tora's position. So the Espada did not press to go along.
The young man was walking by Nnoitra's room when he heard a whimper. Ulquiorra didn't want to know what sick and twisted things he was probably doing to one of the lowly Arrancars. "Come on now, give me something?" he asked in a sadistic voice. "All I want is some answers." Nothing. "How do you know Ulquiorra?" The Fourth Espada stopped, lowering his spiritual pressure next to nothing so not to be noticed.
"I-I don't-!"
"His pressure was all around you in the World of the Living, even now." A cold finger ran down over the person's jaw line, making them grip the chair they were sitting in tightly. They were looking away, refusing to gaze at the man. "If you tell me, I won't tell Lord Aizen you're here." The finger traveled down the arm to their leg, Nnoitra's lips getting closer to their ear. "Instead, as a reward, I'll keep you as a pet."
It sounded like the person spit in the Espada's eye, the man cursing in response, pulling away. "I'd rather die."
Ulquiorra recognized the voice in a second, throwing open the door right as Nnoitra slapped Tora across the face. She flew backwards into a wall, cracking it upon impact. "Bitch-!" the Fifth yelled, ready to slam his foot into her stomach when Ulquiorra grabbed his shoulder. The man was thrown backwards through the air, destroying a lamp in the room.
Looking up, Tora's eyes were seeing double vision. However, she was able to pinpoint the young man. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Ulquiorra?" Nnoitra spat, standing.
"I could be asking you the same question," he answered back.
The man grinned. "Protecting a human? I never thought I would see the day." A dark laugh came from his throat. "So, is this why you've been going to the World of the Living? For this bitch? If you're still around her then that means she must be giving you one hell of time to have kept you interested for this long. Making you want to come back for more. I think I'm interested to see what moves she can perform. Maybe she'll have the same effect on me?"
Something snapped in the Fourth Espada at those words. In a flash, the young man was in front of the Fifth, slamming his head into the ground. Nnoitra gasped in surprise, pain coursing through the right side of his face. He looked up through Ulquiorra's parted fingers, seeing the murderous look in the Fourth Espada's eyes. That emotion scared Nnoitra greatly.
"If you ever so much as touch or speak to her that way again, I will personally kill you," Ulquiorra threatened.
Releasing the Fifth Esapda, he walked over to Tora, picking her up and leaving the room.
They passed Gin along the way, an eyebrow cocking in interest. "A human?" the Soul Reaper questioned.
"My new Fracción," Ulquiorra answered without hesitation.
"She has spiritual pressure. Didn't Lord Aizen instruct the removal of humans with such abilities?"
"This one is different."
In his room, Ulquiorra sat Tora on the edge of the bed before walking into the bathroom, wetting a cloth with cold water. "Ulquiorra..." she spoke up. "That's your name?" He walked back into the room, their eyes locking. "I like that name." Carefully placing the cloth against the bruised cheek, Tora winced. "Thank you..."
"You can't leave now," he stated.
"I know... There was a reason you came to my world. To take care of something... I always knew... The minute I met you I knew I would be dragged into it."
Sighing, Ulquiorra closed his eyes. "How did Nnoitra find you?"
"I was in my bedroom when he tore apart the window and wall in the kitchen. He just came in and grabbed me without warning... I don't like him..."
A smile twitched at the corner of his lips. "No one does." Noticing she was only wearing a long T-shirt and boy shorts, Ulquiorra ordered her to follow him. Arriving at a section of Las Noches where the Arrancars received their uniforms, Tora was given one. A white tank top with a high collar that dipped in the front with a black trim on the top, as well as along the bottom hem, and a white skirt that reached the floor. It was the most beautiful clothing Tora had ever wore before, her eyes lighting up in excitement from the new clothing. Something stirred inside of Ulquiorra at seeing the expression.
The day was not over, Tora having to be presented in front of Aizen to see if she would be spared from death. Ulquiorra was not allowed to sit in on the conversation, being instructed to return to his room. To try and get his mind off of Tora, he opted to take a shower. It didn't exactly work the way he wanted.
Horus passed, the Espada sitting on the edge of his bed in nothing but pants, hair dripping wet. No word from Tora. He was wondering if Aizen had already killed the human. Ulquiorra was so deep in thought he didn't notice the towel beside him being lifted till it was placed over his head. Two hands were positioned on the other side, running against the wet strands to try and dry them.
"You're going to make yourself sick if you sit like that."
Ulquiorra turned and spotted Tora kneeling on the bed behind him, a small smile on her lips. "You're alive?"
"Obviously. Aizen said I can stay as long as I stay loyal and agree not to return to the World of the Living. My argument that I was from Karakura Town and know the area won him over, I believe."
The Espada turned back around, relief washing over him. Tora stopped her actions, arms wrapping around his neck from behind, forehead pressing against the side of the young man's head. "Thank you, Ulquiorra."
Taking one of her hands, Ulquiorra brought it up to his lips, kissing the skin softly. He then turned in her direction before lightly kissing Tora in response.