Spring 1946

Ulqui had been disowned by his parents after it appeared that nothing would be done to "fix" him, and he was adopted by the very man tasked with the job. He remained an inhabitant of Hueco Mundo, Youth Correctional Facility, though not as a patient, but as a worker and advisor to the supernatural occurrences around ungifted humans. By the time he was 15, he'd completely grown back his hair and had his own office, down the hall from his adoptive father's, for which to analyze any possibly special cases that came through the doors.

Very few humans turned out to have the "Sight", as Murcielago had said there would be. The pale man would work with them, teaching the frightened children about their gift, and how to live with it without it ruling or ruining their lives. He even introduced them to Murciel to show them that not all "monsters" were scary and out to hurt them. They were usually released with a clean bill of health only months afterwards.

When bored of the monotony of sitting in his office, Ulquiorra, age 18 now, would wander out and patrol the halls, usually in search of the orderlies he grew to enjoy the company of in his youth, Grimmjow, Di Roy, and Renji.

His dark locks reached past his chin, and bounced gracefully as he strolled. The diadem he still had, and wore everyday, looked more natural on him with a full head of hair to cushion it.

"That's pretty..."

He stopped and turned around at the comment, finding amber eyes gazing searchingly and awestruck at him. The teenager owning them wore a shaven head and stiff blue scrubs like all residents, and a light tan dusting his skin gave him a healthy glow. After a second, Ulqui realized that he was looking up slightly, as the boy was at least half a head taller than him.

The orderly tailing the boy gave him a soft but firm tap on the shoulder. "Don't bother the other orderlies, boy."

Ulquiorra cocked his head at the orderly. "Are you new here?"

He bobbed his head "Yes, I have yet to meet everybody. It's a pleasure to meet you...?"

"Dr. Ulquiorra Schiffer," he murmured. In the adoption he hadn't wanted to really change his last name, so he merely changed the spelling. "I work on 'special' schizophrenic cases."

The orderly flushed at his mistake. "O-Oh, I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't worry about it," he interrupted, not caring in the least. He wanted to speak to the resident the man was chaperoning. "Now... what's pretty?"

"The thing on your head. It's shiny." The resident smiled. "My little sister would look cute in it."

The boy had just passed the test. Usually whenever Aizen suspected that a patient had the sight, he had Ulquiorra come in and ask the patient to describe what was on his head. If they passed they became Ulqui's patient; this boy was now his problem so to speak. "What's your name?"

"Ichigo Kurosaki."

"And where were you off to, Mr. Kurosaki?"

"My cell, I didn't want to stay in the playroom."

"Well in that case, would you like to come with me? We need to talk."

Ichigo looked from between Ulqui and his orderly before hesitantly agreeing and following when the ashen specialist began walking back the way he came.

"Would you like for me to-?"

"You are unneeded, go bother someone else," Ulquiorra said to the orderly curtly and turned a corner.

Ulquiorra recovered Ichigo's files from the records room while the boy sat comfortably on the couch in his office. When he returned, he flipped through the file before tossing it on the coffee table. "I may have good news," he told him and sat on the soft brown cushions of the couch. "You might not be schizophrenic..."

The teen glared, not at the shorter male, but in confusion. "But I see and hear monsters..."

"So do I."

"I have a voice in my head!" He paused and stared. "Wait, you see monsters and they let you work here? Should I be worried?"

"I work here, because I see monsters, but the thing about my - rather our - monsters is that they're real and not merely figments like a real schizophrenic." Ulqui leaned over and grabbed a jar from the shelf nearby, uncapped it and offered it towards Ichigo. The boy smiled and they both took a small individually wrapped Chick-o-Stick before Ulquiorra put the jar away, and picked up his notebook from off of the coffee table. "More on that later, but first I want to know about the voice in your head. What's their name? What do they say to you?"

Tanned cheeks went crimson and Ichigo looked to his lap as he nervously picked his nails. "He-He calls himself... Zangetsu Shirosaki. He..." His face went redder until it represented his unintentional namesake. "He says such dirty and unholy things to me... Like... deflowering me and touching parts of me I've never touched other than to clean. And the dreams... ah! Shut your mouth, you disgusting monster!" He gripped his skull and shook it, willing away what was plaguing him. "There's no way this thing is real! I've done something to displease God and this voice is my punishment! Or maybe my mind is sinful enough that it conjured this thing up on it's own! Either way I want it gone! Shut up!" He unwittingly punched himself in his anger and ended up clutching the area with a pained groan.

Ulquiorra pet the bruising area gently before making the brown-eyed teen meet his eyes. "I will not be able to simply get rid of this creature, I can only help you coax him into leaving. Is there anyway that I could speak to Shirosaki?"

"Just one... but I really don't want to do it... bad things happen." He hung his head. "It's what landed me in the crazy house in the first place..."

"What way is that?"

"He... takes over my body for a bit..."

"Ah, then I understand why you wouldn't want to do that. How about we just talk and you relay whatever he says?"

Ichigo hesitated but took a deep breath and nodded. He gasped. "I-I can't say that! Be reasonable!"

"Don't worry, go on and say it."

"But it's.. it's really really rude..."

Ulquiorra shrugged. "I don't mind."

Ichigo sighed and cleared his throat. "'H-Hey, Snow White. Are you a chick or a dude?'"

"Male."

He blushed. "'Any chance you'll bend over anyway? This guy needs a good lay.'"

"Nope. Mind if I ask you some questions, Shirosaki?"

Ichigo's eyes went wide. "No! No, I can't say that to him! Why are you so frickin' dirty?!"

"What did he say?"

"No! I refuse to repeat he just said!"

Ulquiorra sighed thoughtfully and chewed on the end of his pencil. "He appears to have attached himself to you. With that, the constant lewd remarks, dirty dreams, and apparent obsession over making you engage in coitus... I'd dare say that Shirosaki is an Incubus."

The youth made a face and shook his head, obviously trying to rattle the creature around. "What is that?"

"A being that lives off of sex basically. Though I thought the incubi and succubi races were strictly heterosexual."

"He says, 'No, sex is sex no matter how you get it or from whom you get it. Besides there's no chance of surprise children when you," Ichigo made a face," 'screw within the same gender.'"

Ulquiorra nodded, that made sense. "How did you come across this incubus by the way?"

"Oh well..." Ichigo shrugged. "He just appeared in one my dreams one night and never left. It happened a few months ago."

"Please tell me what happened in the dream; if you can remember that is."

Ichigo shook his head. "No, I remember it, maybe too well...

A mere five months ago

Ichigo headed to his room, loudly bidding goodnight to everyone as he walked. He received all of his deserved "goodnight"s back by the time he reached his room. A sigh left him as he flopped onto his bed. He was happy to be going to sleep despite the fact that he had school the next morning. He was out cold in only moments.

He was met with the sight of his crush when he finished the star-filled journey to dreamland. Orihime Inoue was seated on a picnic blanket in a vast field. She turned and smiled when she saw him, waving him over to sit on the checkered blanket with her. Ichigo joined her and the chatted before she offered him a sandwich from the basket.

A gag followed the morsel that he popped into his mouth. He laughed. Not even in his dreams could Hime make something palatable! Sardines, jam, and lettuce; what was the girl thinking?

"She's pretty."

Ichigo jumped at the new, weird, voice and looked to his right. There was a pale figure next to him, clothed in black and gold. "Who are you?!" he demanded. Not waiting to hear the answer, he reached back to grab Orihime's hand so that they could run, but his hand grasped at air. "Orihime?" He turned, she was gone. "Orihime! What did you do?"

The figure waved. "Relax. This is your dream. The pretty girl's probably sleepin' snuggly in her own bed. I'm not here for her anyway-" Ichigo grunted when the intruder leaped forward and pounced on him. "-I'm here for you."

Ichigo was bright red. "I'm sure you can figure out what happened next..."

Ulqui nodded. "Yes, indeed I-" He was about to say more when there was a knock and he told the knocker to come in. It was the orderly from earlier, coming to gather Ichigo, as it was nearly time for lights out. A half an hour to be precise. Ulqui merely told the man to have someone bring the teenager back the next day.

Ichigo turned and lifted a hand to wave goodbye, but a flush and an uncomfortable expression came over him. Shirosaki must've said something particularly crude, because the farewell was completely forgotten and the teen left, grumbling in irritation under his breath.

Ulqui watched the door close, before turning back to the coffee table and fixing up the files and slipping them back into their folder. He yawned abruptly, wincing when his jaw popped audibly. "Hmm... I'm suddenly sleepy. Well, it has been a long day. Boring too, until Ichigo came along."

He turned and headed towards the second door in his office, near where the couch was situated. Through it was his postage stamp of a bedroom. It was big enough for a bed and a dresser, and another door in there led to a small bathroom with nothing but a toilet, sink, and open air shower within. He loved his little room. He sighed as he undressed and slipped his cotton pyjamas on, and then placed his diadem on the little pillow adorning his dresser top before sliding under his blankets.

All was blue, and he was floating in it, completely at ease. A sigh slipped from his lips and his eyes slid closed. Bubbles tickled his nose with each exhale and his hair reached for the surface.

"Nice dream yah got here."

His eyes snapped open to see an unfamiliar man floating above him, his pose akin to someone standing horizontally. His hair was long and white, and his flesh was equally pale. His eyes were a haunting mix of black sclera and golden irises, and a blue tongue flicked out to lick his thin lips. His slim form was covered in sleeveless, black flowing robes that had one side of the hem tucked under a gold scarf on his hips. It was the most beautiful and frightening sight Ulquiorra was sure he'd ever seen.

"Who are you..?" Ulqui murmured, a flurry of bubbles left his mouth but he didn't gargle his words.

Ulqui was unable to move as the dream intruder moved closer and wrapped his arms around him. "We met earlier, I'm Zangetsu Shirosaki." His words were oddly warped in tone and slightly gargled, though Ulquiorra doubted that it was from the water.

"Mr. Kurosaki's incubus," he murmured in remembrance. He flinched when the pale being kissed his neck. "What are you doing?"

Shirosaki bit down leaving a mark on Ulqui. "You already know what I am, so do I really need ta answer that?"

Ulquiorra attempted to lift a hand, but couldn't. "I'd rather you didn't."

"Too bad," he murmured and slipped the striped nightshirt off of Ulqui. Shirosaki pressed another kiss to the other's neck and a hand wandered.

The young therapist gritted his teeth and the spell the incubus must've cast on him shattered as he threw a hand out and caught Shirosaki by the throat. The incubus clung to Ulqui despite the harsh push and was put into a curving position over him with his face pointing upwards.

Shirosaki cackled, the sound filling the water embracing them. He sobered on a sigh. "Yah must be very close ta another demon for yah ta be able ta break mah spell," he uttered calmly.

"Leave."

"Aw... don' be like that."

He pushed the incubus a little more. "Get out of my dream."

"Alright, I'm sorry, I won't try ta git in yer pants again. Please let me stay?"

"Why should I?"

"If I stay here then I won' mess with my Ichigo... at least fer a night."

"Your Ichigo?" Ulquiorra asked. The words reminded him of Murcielago, and how he was his. "If you love him so much then why are you here? Messing with me?"

Shirosaki shrugged, his slim shoulders slipping from the ebony straps. "I wanted ta give him a rest," he confided. "I don' want him always pissed at me. Makes the meal bitter, yah know?"

"No, I don't," Ulquiorra said and let his hand slip from the other's neck. The incubus grinned and buried his face into the human's neck with a sigh. After a while he found himself relaxing, his emerald orbs slipping closed once more despite Shirosaki still clinging to his chest like a woman would a man though Ulqui was sure that the incubus was taller than him.

"Snow White?"

"Refer to me as Dr. Schiffer."

He let out a monosyllabic chuckle. "Are you a virgin?"

Ulqui sighed. "No..."

x~x

Ulquiorra was glad to find that he was well rested despite the eventful "dream" he'd had. After many hours of floating with the incubus on his chest he made them sink until they'd fallen into a maze of bookshelves where he spent most of what was left of the night running away from Shiro before ditching him to go to a vast meadow of benevolent mystical creatures.

"So that's where yah went!"

Ulqui shot up in bed and looked around. His eyes narrowed. "Shirosaki?" he murmured.

"Yep, still here."

The human could only manage a sigh and asked, "Why?"

"Forgot to leave. It's just so nice in here."

"Leave."

"I can't. Ichigo's awake."

Ulqui rubbed his temples and got out of his warm bed. "Why must you remain in dreams? Aren't you supposed to have a corporeal form?"

"Yes, but not until after I've sexed up 13 sentient beings in their dreams. Yah'd've been lucky number 13 had yah just let me have mah way. Mm, maybe that pretty bespectacled brunet would let me have him."

Ulqui went to his drawers to gather his simple outfit for the day. "Leave my father alone."

"Father? ... I dun see it..."

"Adoptive father." With his clothes in hand he headed to his bathroom for a shower.

"Ah, gotcha gotcha."

He undressed and showered quickly to avoid the brunt of Shirosaki's lewd remarks. He dried and brushed his hair - a little annoyed that he wasn't able to enjoy the relaxing action - and slipped the diadem on though his hair was still slightly damp. He took one more moment to check himself in the mirror hanging over his dresser before finally leaving his room. "I would hope that you'll stay silent during my breakfast with my father."

"Heh heh, no promises, but maybe I'll at least be nice when I do speak."

Ulqui nodded. He entered his father's office and saw the man at his desk. Sosuke Aizen hadn't changed much over the years, the most noticeable being the stripe of gray in his hair, right by his temple. His eyes were less tired with Ulqui taking some of the work off his shoulders, but nonetheless he still usually had his hands full with patients and papers so they usually only saw each other during the meals they shared.

Speaking of which, a simple spread of sausage, eggs, and coffee was set on his desk. Aizen smiled and stood to hug Ulqui before they sat down to eat.

"Sorry I couldn't make it to dinner yesterday."

"It's okay." He cut a piece of sausage and dipped it into the yolk of his over-easy eggs. "I have good news for you though." He ate the morsel.

Aizen looked up from nursing his coffee. "Hm? What?"

"I'll be taking another one of your patients. Ichigo Kurosaki to be exact."

The elder chuckled. "You work very fast, he only got here two days ago. A transfer from another asylum that we took over."

"I didn't know we took on another asylum."

"Yeah, the people decided that they weren't taking very good care of their patients and wanted it closed down, but we came along and snatched it up." He set down his coffee and took a bite of eggs. "I had all the schizophrenic cases transferred here so you could look them over after they'd settled."

Ulquiorra nodded. "I'll talk to them whenever you think it's best."

"Won't be for a while, many are distressed by the move, but I guess Ichigo wasn't very rattled by it. So what have you figured out about him?"

"The voice in his head is actually an incubus."

"Actually, I'm in yer head now, Dr. Schiffer."

Don't start.

"An incubus? Poor boy... are you certain?"

Shirosaki chuckled making him twitch. "Quite."

"Hm, and what do you hope to do?"

Ulqui shook his head as he dragged over his coffee and doctored it up, adding milk until it was white and sugar until it was sweet and barely tasted like coffee. "Not sure yet, I'll need a few more days. But watch out for a strange man in your dreams."

Aizen laughed. "Will do."

After they finished and gathered the dishes, Ulqui headed back to his office while Aizen took them to the kitchen. He went and sat on the couch in his office and quietly looked through the files of some of the new transfers his father wanted him to look at. He was already sure he wanted to meet with a few of them. Namely a girl, Yachiru Kusajishi, and her imaginary friend, as well as a boy, Hanataro Yamada, and his 'cat'.

He looked up when the door opened letting Grimmjow and Ichigo in.

"It's been so long since I've seen Ichigo from the outside," Shirosaki murmured. "And who's the arm candy with him?"

Leave him alone.

"Mm, that blue hair makes him look delicious... Cotton candy hair."

Stop it.

Grimmjow left and Ichigo wandered over to the couch while Ulqui was cleaning up the files. When he returned his attention to the teenager, he saw that he seemed rather conflicted. Ulquiorra offered him a candy and asked him what was wrong.

Ichigo munched on the little candy. It was a while before he spoke. "My demon's... gone..."

"Nah, I'm right here. I'll be back ta'night."

Ichigo shook his head, oblivious of Shirosaki's words. "I woke up this morning and his... presence?... was gone from my head."

"That's good, right?"

The teen shrugged. "I was happy at first, but then I noticed the crippling emptiness. It hurts so bad not having him for some reason. Where did he go?" He snuffled and tears welled in his eyes. "I miss him. Why did he just up and leave, Dr. Schiffer?"

The therapist reached out and hugged him as he began crying in earnest. He opened his mouth to speak but froze with a gasp at the weird pull he felt. Darkness creeped into his vision and then took over.

When the pull faded away he was floating in whiteness while seeming to be looking out at Ichigo.

His body pushed Ichigo away and then kissed him.

Ichigo pushed away. "D-Dr. Schiffer!?"

"Nah, Ichi. It's me."

His brown eyes were beyond wide. "Shirosaki? What? Why are you in my therapist?"

"I paid a visit to him last night, and forgot to get home before you woke up."

"Last night?" Ichigo flushed. "Y-You didn't! With him?"

Shirosaki waved. "He didn't let me. Now quit squirming, I wanna hug ya; flesh ta flesh."

Ichigo fought to get free from the embrace. "No! You need to give him back his body!"

"Indeed, I'd like my body back," Ulquiorra muttered from within. "Preferably before someone comes into my office."

The incubus scoffed and let go of Ichigo. "You guys are no fun."

There was a push and Ulquiorra was in control of his body once more. He gazed at his hands and flexed his fingers. "Do something like that again and I'll wake my demon from his hibernation just to maim you."

"Alright, alright, no need fer threats."

Ulqui took a moment to smooth his frazzled nerves, as well as his clothing and sat back on the couch. "Judging from your earlier actions, I guess you don't want Shirosaki out of your head anymore."

Ichigo shrugged. "Not really, I guess. I mean, we don't even know how and I don't want to just... force him into someone else's head."

"Actually, Mr. Kurosaki there is a way to get him out of everyone's head."

"Hey, don't go telling him, it's supposed to be a surprise!"

"Really? How?"

"It appears that incubi and succubi can earn bodies for themselves after fornicating with 13 other people in their dreams. That's why he was in my dream's lats night; he was attempting to make me his 13th."

"I said don't tell him!"

Ichigo nodded as he accepted the information given. "How'd you find that out?"

"He told me."

The teenager scowled. "He told you? Why did he never tell me something so important?"

"He said that it was supposed to be a surprise. He quite annoyed with me now for spoiling it."

"Angry or pissed is more accurate..." Shiro grumbled.

Ichigo crossed his arms. "Let him be annoyed, he deserves it for not telling me something so important. Especially since he's been freeloading in my head for a year now!" A look of realization came over him. "Wait, so Shiro's been with 11 other people..?"

Ulqui was surprised that the teen had sounded so heartbroken when he'd said that.

"Well, yeah but not like how I am with you," Shiro murmured as if he'd forgotten that he wasn't in the correct human's head. "I was just gonna pass through your head like I did the others, but something about you made me stay."

Ulquiorra repeated the words to the distressed teen making him blush.

They spoke for about an hour after having decided that getting Shirosaki out of the youth's head was no longer top priority. It seemed that Shirosaki's presence in Ichigo's mind protected him from volatile creatures which was why he'd only ever saw things like fairies and spirits, but never interacted with them. Ichigo would probably be able to go home within the next month or so, after he was evaluated by other psychologists and therapists who had been briefed on the existence of the mystical creatures and demons and such.

Dinner rolled around and they said their goodbyes with Shirosaki promising to return to his proper place during the night.

x~x

The next day he decided to take the time to properly fill out paperwork and reports about his analysis on Ichigo's mental health as well as the recommendation for his release. When finished he went back through the files of the children who could potentially be his next patients. After some careful thought he decided that he should meet with Mr. Yamada the next day.

x~x

Log of Patient: Hanataro Yamada

Full name: Hanataro Kyusai Yamada
Gender: Male
D.O.B: April 1 1933
Age: 13
Height: 5 feet 0 inches
Weight: 99lbs
Eye C.: Blue
Hair C.: Black

Admitted to: Bellflower Correctional Facility
Reason for transfer (if applicable): After the loss of it's lead psychologist, Dr. Retsu Unohana, the facility was deemed unfit to care for the mentally unwell after a series of 'misfortunes' befell it. It was absorbed by Hueco Mundo.

Diagnosis: Schizophrenia

Excerpt taken from original document from Bellflower: Mr. Yamada was admitted to claiming to own a cat which he calls Noble. While speaking with him, the boy made motions as if holding and petting said cat, and believed fervently that it indeed existed. He described it as a large, black, fluffy cat with a white face and paws, and gray eyes. He said that it was very calm, seemed to sleep a lot and rarely wandered far from his side. The patient appears to take the "cat" everywhere with him.

(Most of the document omitted due to irrelevance to diagnosis)

[End of Document]

There was a knock on the door and Ulquiorra looked up from the document, not that there was much of it. He called for the knocker to enter and saw Di Roy enter with Ichigo. He opened his mouth to greet them and ask why they'd come, but the words died in his throat as a third figure entered.

Shirosaki, in the flesh.

He looked the same as he had in Ulqui's dream only his smirk was a lot bigger and cockier. Without the aid of water, the Incubus' clothing pooled thickly on the floor, but didn't trip him up as he walked. He strolled over and sat uncomfortably close. Ulqui didn't react.

"If you can, please remain close by to return Mr. Kurosaki to wherever he needs to be, Di."

"Sure thing," Di Roy said and stepped outside.

He looked to Shirosaki. "What did you do?"

"I got mah 13th and now I'm flesh and blood," he said happily in that odd, warped voice of his.

"With who?"

"I'll never tell," he murmured smuggly before getting up to capture his human in a hug. "We just wanted to come see yah."

Ichigo pushed him away. "I also wanted to know when I could go home."

"Soon, hopefully," Ulquiorra murmured.

He nodded. "Alright. Uh, we'll go so that you can get back to work." He took Shirosaki's hand and pulled him towards the door.

"But I wanted to stay fer a bit," the incubus whined but didn't try to stop Ichigo from dragging him away.

They exited the room just as Grimmjow was entering. The bluenet let them out to return to Di Roy before closing the door and approaching Ulquiorra.

"Is something wrong?"

Grimmjow paced a small area with a hand clutching his chin before settling on the couch next to Ulqui. "I think... I saw a monster."

Ulqui's eyebrow quirked. Was it possible for a human to develop the Sight over time? He'd have to ask Murcielago once Spring came around. He left his musing and asked when the elder man had seen the monster as well as where and what it had looked like.

He shook his head. "It probably sounds stupid, but it was in my dream last night. It was a completely unfamiliar guy with no color."

The therapist resisted the urge to sigh and shake his head. So Grimmjow was Shirosaki's 13th.

"I knew he wasn't human, though, because of his eyes and his weird voice. We um..." he paused. "did things, and before he left my dreams and I woke up he said to me, 'Tell Dr. Schiffer I said hi.' Which is why I'm here. Was this dream nothing to be worried about or am I going to start seeing fairies and things like Mr. Murciel?"

The edge of his lip twitched as if wanting to smile, but he suppressed the urge. "You're quite fine, Grimmjow."

He scoffed. "Look kid, I know you're like a prodigy, but how are you so sure? Like, without even thinking about it?"

"Because the man you saw in your dreams was real, yes, however he's just a being that can enter another's dreams. He's actually here with Ichigo, the boy you saw when you entered, and is rather... harmless, for lack of a better word, so there's no reason for you to worry. Though do tell me if you do start seeing mystical beings or if he visits you again."

The blunet's worried scowl morphed into a relieved smirk and his head dangled as he chuckled. He lifted his head after the chuckling ceased. "So it was all just a magical trespasser?"

Ulqui nodded.

"Well that's a relief. I really don't think I could deal if I suddenly started seeing the scary things you sometimes see." He rocked to his feet. "Thanks, Ulqui. Remind me to take you out to see a movie. You need to get out more."

"As long it isn't Snow White."

Grimmjow laughed despite not knowing the joke. "That doesn't play in theaters anymore." He shook his head and left.

Ulquiorra was able to enjoy an hour of peace before his patient for the day finally arrived. Hanataro was an almost waifish boy with near pale skin and large eyes that were dark blue and revealed what one would assume was a nervous personality he carried. In his arms was the cat from the file, sitting primly in his arms with its eyes closed serenely.

The orderly who had brought him left when Ulqui dismissed him, and the young man remained standing near the door, his eyes nervously looking everywhere except at Ulqui and using his heel to scuff the floor.

"Come sit, Mr. Yamada," Ulquiorra said, allowing a sort of softness to enter his tone.

He saw the boy's throat bob as he swallowed and slowly went to sit on the farthest end of the couch. Ulqui urged him to scoot a little closer and he hesitantly obliged. Ulqui sat back and watched him with pen and pencil in hand. Hanataro was trembling as he held the cat close and gently stroked him, head to tail, over and over. His lip quivered and he pulled it into his mouth to hide it.

"Mr. Yamada."

He jerked as if struck. "Yeek! Uh... uh... y-yes, sir?"

The therapist grabbed the jar of candy and held it out to him, using it as an excuse to get him, as well as the cat, to sit a little closer and get him to calm. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to learn about you and your cat. Noble, right?"

He nodded as he shifted Noble so that he could nibble on his treat without crumbs falling into the cat's silky black fur. He moved his mouth to speak, but it took a few tries before words came out. "Isn't everything written down? I-In my files?"

"A few things yes, but I want to know more. How did you meet Noble, for instance."

Hanataro looked to him as if shocked but then just as quickly diverted his eyes. "No one's asked me that before."

"Then they weren't doing their job correctly. Now, please, I'd really like to know," Ulqui told him and held out the candy jar when Hanataro finished his. "Tell me all about Noble." It'll help me figure out what he is...

As expected, it took a moment before the boy could work up the nerve to speak. "I saw him on the way home from school. He was hiding under some bushes and I only knew he was there because his tail was sticking out a bit...

Just last year in the fall

He stopped walking and gazed at the fluffy tail coming from under the green bushes. A small smile graced his lips and he slowly crept forward, flinching when the tail quickly curled to be underneath the foliage with its owner. Hanataro got on hands and knees and looked under meeting gray eyes that stared at him warily.

"Um... hi there," he murmured. The cat looked around before setting his eyes back on Hanataro. After a moment he slowly reached out a hand. "C-Can I pet you?" He rested his hand on the cat's ebony flank. He gave it a scratch and reached out another hand. "Can I pick you up?" His second hand reached the cat and he slid them under to scoop the cat up. "P-Please don't scratch me, okay?"

He jerked his hands back when the cat flinched and let out a whimpering hiss. There was a wetness on his fingers and he saw bloody staining the tips.

"You're hurt," he gasped and began pulling off his knapsack and jacket. He spread the jacket out between him and the cat. "C'mere kitty, I'll take you home and make you better." He reached his hand out again to try to grab the large cat, but he was surprised when it shakily stood and plodded over to rest itself on his jacket. In the light he was able to see what was wrong and winced.

The fur near the cat's shoulder was matted and another lightly bleeding wound was on his stomach. Seeing them made Hanataro worried about picking the cat up, but he eventually wrapped him up and carefully carried him home.

"He got better in about a week or so," Hanataro said, his voice having become steadier throughout the telling of his story, "and when I tried to set him free he just stayed. He didn't have a collar so I just kept him."

Ulquiorra nodded as he scribbled on the pad he'd been sporadically writing on throughout the story. He lifted his gaze. "Will you tell me more about him?"

"Wh-What do you want to know?" he asked, his stutter returning.

"Anything."

Hanataro looked at Noble and gently kicked a foot to scuff the floor again. "He doesn't really eat... but he does like bananas. And I once saw him take a nibble of the spicy chilli my dad made one time. He doesn't meow, and sometimes it's days between when I see him open his eyes. He likes when I pet his gloves." As if to give an example he gently rubbed the top of Noble's paw with a finger.

"Has anything strange happened while he's been in your care?"

The small smile he'd been wearing faded. "Everyone thinks I'm crazy now. Either that or I'm childish for having an imaginary friend." He snuffled and his large eyes went teary. "The worst part is that sometimes I start doubting Noble's existence as well. I mean he doesn't really act like a cat. His eyes are closed for hours at times, but I can almost swear he never sleeps. He doesn't eat regularly. He doesn't drink at all. He doesn't give a piece of string the time of day. He's not neutered but he completely ignored the neighbor's lady-cat when she came over and started rubbing all over him. In fact, I think he was annoyed." He brought a hand up and rubbed his eyes with the side of his fist. "And I don't even know how other animals see him when everyone says they can't."

Noble had been staring at Hanataro for quite sometime, watching as his caretaker fell into distressed blubbering. He rose on his haunches and placed his paws on either side of the boys face and pressed his head to the underside of Hanataro's chin.

Hanataro snuffled one more time and dropped his hand as he looked at the cat. "He always does this when I start crying."

"Does what?" Ulqui asked, keeping up the charade that he couldn't see the cat for just a little longer.

"Hugs my face." He nuzzled the cat back. "I feel his soft warm fur on my cheek and I think, 'there's no way this is all in my head.'"

"Indeed, the cat isn't in your head," Ulquiorra said.

"What?"

"He's there on your lap. Dark and fluffy with white on his face and paws."

Hope seemed to flash in Hanataro's eyes but then the sight turned to doubt and he diverted them. "You... you read all of that from the papers. You can't actually see him..."

"True. His description is in your file." He reached out. "But if I couldn't see him, could I do this?" He rested his hand on the cat's head making both of their eyes widen, though Noble's quickly narrowed as he stared studiously at Ulquiorra. "I can see Noble just fine, Mr. Yamada."

The boy made gasping sounds instead of words. "You're... you're lying."

"I assure you, I'm not." He plucked Noble from the other's lap and took it into his, leaving Hanataro grasping after the cat in disbelief. Ulqui began scratching the cat's chin.

"You're touching him," his whispered. His face crumbled into tears again. "You're touching him! You can really see him! Can everyone else see him? Was everyone just being bullies and pretending they couldn't see Noble?"

"I'm afraid not. There are probably only a few who can see Noble, because he isn't really a cat." Ulqui looked to the cat. "I'm not sure what he is, but a cat isn't it."

"I don't understand. How can we see him, but not others...?"

"We have something called the Sight, which allows us to see creatures like Noble. There is another boy with the Sight named Ichigo who's here, you should meet him. He has orange eyebrows if you ever see him around."

The boy was absolutely mystified as he stared and thought over the information given. His eyes sparkled with questions forming in his head. "What other things are there?" was the question he settled on.

Ulquiorra looked at him. "Have you never seen anything else that no one else could?"

"Like what?"

"Jackalopes. Mermaids. Pixies. Ghosts," he listed a few and received a head shake. "Hmm, curious. I'll have to ask my friend how it's possible that you have only partial sight."

"Who's your friend? Do they work here?"

"He's a creature that not many can see as well. However, he's hibernating and I won't be able to see him until the Spring."

"That's only in a couple weeks."

"Yes, so I won't be waiting too long. Hmm... though since you only have partial Sight he may have to drop his guise... no matter." He gave Noble back and scribbled something down in his notes. "Noble can you speak?"

The cat sat up and gently shook his head; Hanataro was surprised by that response.

"Then I'll think of another way for you to communicate, for surely you cannot hold a pen. We can end our meeting here, I suppose. Where do you need to be? I'll walk you myself."

"Can't I stay? I-I promise I'll stay quiet."

Ulquiorra shook his head. "I can't concentrate when there are others around. I suppose you can say it makes me nervous; I don't know why..."

"I understand," he murmured sadly. "Then could you just take me to my room?"

"It's a bit early to be heading there. Why don't you just go to the playroom? Ichigo may be there, and I really think you should meet him."

"No, I wanna go to my room if I can't stay here."

Ulquiorra nodded and they rose to their feet after Hanataro had accepted another candy. He secured Noble in his arms and they left the office en route for the cell wing of the facility. He saw Di Roy as they walked and stopped to murmur something in his ear. The pale haired man nodded and walked away to fulfill Ulquiorra's request.

x~x

The next day came, and Ulqui was at his desk. Papers were spread neatly over the expanse of his desk, ordering from mostly important to mostly irrelevant. He scratched a pen over the lines of one paper while his eyes moved from that one to another paper every so often. He gazed up and looked at his door after a moment. It was still slightly ajar as he'd left it. He looked back at the documents and continued to fill them out.

His gaze was brought away from the puddle of papers when he heard a slight thump on the edge of his desk. His eyebrows rose at the sight of Hanataro's cat seated before him.

"Ah, hello, Noble," he greeted in his usual monotone as he set his pen down. "Or should I say Byakuya. Powerful Bajang demon of 200 years of age?"

Gray eyes narrowed.

Ulqui understood the question the look posed. "Yes, it was I who requested that an incubus infiltrate your mind to get information. I do hope he didn't attempt anything more than getting information from you. If he did, tell me now and I'll alert his human."

Noble, or Byakuya, turned his head away and Ulquiorra took that as a negative.

He went into a drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper he'd drawn something out on earlier that morning. It was merely a diagram with letters and words written on it in a Ouija board fashion. He set it before the bajang. "I trust you can read and spell."

It took a moment, but the cat eventually placed his hand on the "YES" written on the paper.

Ulqui nodded and grabbed his writing pad. "I'm just going to ask you some questions and record the answers." He wrote the question before asking it. "Are you stuck in that cat form? If so then how and why?"

=YES... I WAS SEALED IN THIS FORM BY A POWERFUL MAGE AND DEMON HUNTER WHO WISHED TO KILL ME= he spelled out using in the letters.

"So, you did nothing to deserve to be sealed like this?"

=YES=

"When did it happen?"

=THE DAY FLOWER FOUND ME=

Ulqui paused. "Flower?"

=YOU CALL HIM YAMADA... I PREFER FLOWER=

"So you care for him then?"

=HOW COULD I NOT... HE SAVED MY LIFE AND GAVE ME A HOME... SOMETHING I HAVE NOT HAD SINCE MY CREATOR PERISHED=

Ulqui cocked his head. "Are you really this benevolent? I read that bajangs were fearsome creatures that preyed on children, you could be acting so nicely simply because you're stuck."

The cat let out an audible breath and began pawing the letters once more. =MY CREATOR MADE ME DO ENOUGH HORRIBLE THINGS TO LAST MANY LIFETIMES... I DO NOT WISH TO DO MORE AND I HAVE NO REASON TO AS WELL... I UNDERSTAND IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME AS I HAVE MET OTHERS OF MY KIND WHO SCOFFED AT MY WAY OF THINKING...=

He nodded and asked his next question. "As a demon, I assume you feed on something."

=YES... THE BLOOD OF CHILDREN AND MOTHERS MILK=

"Mother's milk?"

=I AM A DEMON BORN FROM THE SPIRIT OF A STILLBORN BABE AFTER ALL=

"Do you feed off of Mr. Yamada?"

The bajang's eyes widened and then narrowed and looked to the side as he tentatively tapped "YES".

"How often?"

=ONLY ONCE A WEEK... IT WOULD BE LESS OFTEN IF I WERE NOT FIGHTING THE SEAL=

"It hurts you?"

Noble nodded. =ITS DESIGNED TO KILL ME OVER TIME SHOULD THE HUNTER FAIL TO KILL ME IN THE FIRST PLACE... DRINKING FLOWERS BLOOD KEEPS ME POWERFUL ENOUGH TO FIGHT IT=

"Is there a way to lift the seal?"

=IF THERE IS THEN I DO NOT KNOW IT=

Ulqui brought the end of his pen to his lip. "Hmm... that is a problem..."

=INDEED= Noble agreed. A back paw reached up and scratched his pointy ear a few times before he gave his head a shake and settled on his belly.

"Oh, should I call you Noble or Byakuya?" he asked more as a personal inquiry than a professional one.

He remained on his belly and stretched out a paw. =NOBLE... AS THAT IS THE NAME FLOWER GAVE ME=

"I understand. Shouldn't you be heading back to him?"

=I WILL SOON... IF I REMAIN OUT HERE HE WILL LEAVE HIS ROOM... IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT=

The therapist nodded, seeing the demon's path of thinking, and went back to his documents. Noble took his leave later in the hour.

Log of Patient: Yachiru Kusajishi

Full name: Yachiru Kyandi Kusajishi
Gender: Female
D.O.B: February 12 1936
Age: 10
Height: 3 feet 7 inches
Weight: 34lbs
Eye C.: Dark pink
Hair C.: Pink

Admitted to: Bellflower Correctional Facility
Reason for transfer (if applicable): After the loss of it's lead psychologist, Dr. Retsu Unohana, the facility was deemed unfit to care for the mentally unwell after a series of 'misfortunes' befell it. It was absorbed by Hueco Mundo.

Diagnosis: Schizophrenia

Excerpt taken from original document from Bellflower: Ms. Kusajishi is suspected to be in contact with the main suspect of a string of murders that occurred around her hometown; one victim of the murders being her uncle. When questioned she more than happily plead innocent and admits to knowing the true suspect, however when asked to lead police officials to where the suspect lives she only points to the air beside her and says that the suspect is just behind her. Quote: "Kenny did it. He's right there, but don't worry he only kills bad people. Uncle was bad so [Kenny] killed him."

She was admitted to help with her mental condition in hopes that she will be able to help in catching the murder suspect.

Update: Ms. Kusajishi claims that "Kenny" has followed her to the asylum, and the murders have moved to town the asylum is situated in supporting her claim. She was moved to Observation cell #11.

[End of Document]

Ulquiorra chewed on the end of his pen as he read the file a few more times. No doubt about it, this little girl has some sort of demon following her, he concluded after a while. He was to be meeting the little girl later that day and it was to be expected that the demon would be with her. There was no way of telling how it would react to Ulqui being able to, possibly, see it. Would it care? Would it attempt to harm or kill him? Then again, it was possible that Ichigo and Hanataro had met them by now (When she was brought to Hueco Mundo, she was put into another Observation Cell until it was decided that such actions were largely unnecessary) and as far as he knew, they were fine.

As usual, a knock preceded the entrance of an orderly with his latest patient, however his pen slipped from his fingers in shock and he forced himself to look at Yachiru instead of the giant following her.

The demon's broad stature completely eclipsed Yachiru and her escort. Spiked tendrils of black hair touched the demon's elbows, framing a fearsome face accented with narrowed beady eyes, a scar running down the left side of his face, and two sets of long fangs peaking past his thin lips. He was clothed sparingly in animal hides, leather, and dirty black cloth that left most of his arms and one of his legs bare. More leather was wrapped around his feet and even more was around the hiltless, damaged sword blade he had on his hip. The demon crossed his arms and looked about the room before settling his eyes on Ulquiorra.

"Hi there!"

Ulquiorra greeted the little girl as she walked over and plopped down on the couch next to him, and Kenny moved to loom over her. He bid the orderly farewell and waited until they were gone before speaking. "How are you today?"

"I'm great! Kenny's great too, before you ask." She stopped and gasped. "Is that candy?!"

A small smile tugged at his lips as he reached to the jar on the table and offered it to her. She took a handful and put them into a pile on her lap to enjoy.

"I love candy!" she announced as she munched. "It's even my middle name." She swallowed the first candy and struggled with the wrapper of the next. "You probably want to know about Kenny, right?"

Ulquiorra nodded.

"Why? You won't believe me."

"How do you know that?"

"Because that's how you adults are. No matter what, the kid's wrong and it's all in their imagination. Like Taro-Taro! His cat's real! And cute! And fluffy! Taro-Taro let me pet him!"

"I know that."

"And then Ichi- wait are you Dr. Schiffer?"

Ulqui nodded making Kenny grin and move to loom over him instead.

"So that means you can see me, right?" he growled and leaned close using the back of the couch for balance; he didn't stink as bad as his appearance would make one believe.

"Yes... I can see you, Kenny."

The demon grunted and settled on the couch next to him, his wide frame taking up what was left of the space on the couch. "Good. Then enough playing around, let Yachiru free from this place."

"I don't have that sort of authority, unfortunately. I'm only here to confirm that whatever the children see are indeed real, and not the tricks of a damaged mind."

He used an already filthy pinky to clean his ear. "Then can we go since you already know that I'm real?"

"Not just yet." Ulqui turned to face him. "I also must find out what creatures have latched onto my patients and whether or not their presence is dangerous to them. So I must ask, what are you, Kenny? And also, why have you latched onto Ms. Kusajishi?"

"Hm? Well, if you must know, I'm an ogre," he told Ulqui. "The name's Kenpachi, by the way, only Yachiru can call me 'Kenny'."

Ulqui nodded. "And why have you latched onto her?" he repeated.

"Just felt like it."

Yachiru giggled. "Kenny just likes me! He's liked me since the first day he met me."

He tapped his pen against his pad before sitting back in his seat. "I believe you should start from the beginning.

"Okay! Do you wanna tell him Kenny? Or should I?"

The giant waved a hand and looked off somewhere else.

"Here I go!" She took an exaggerated breath and Ulqui struggled to decipher the flood of words that came from the girl's mouth, but he managed to get the story.

Eight months prior

Yachiru sniffled as she dragged her streets through the seedier parts of her home town. It was dark, but nonetheless she didn't want to go home. Not when her cruel uncle had struck her after she'd yelled at him for throwing away the fairy house she'd worked so hard on building. "Don't raise your voice at me girl!" he'd yelled. "You live in my house, and don't want garbage laying about! Fairies aren't even real, stupid girl!"

"They are to real! You're stupid for not seeing them!"

He'd hit her again, and she'd wailed and ran from the house; running until she was lost.

Yachiru wished that she didn't have to live with the mean man, but with her father having perished in the recent war, her mother sick and in the hospital, and her uncle her only next in kin, she was forced to live with him until either her mother recovered or she married, but that wouldn't be happening for a long time anyway. She sighed sadly.

Passing through the darkness due to the sparse street lanterns, she paused when she heard something in an alleyway.

"Agh! No! gurgle cough! Help! Hel-!" Crunch!

There was the sound of eating and fabric ripping as Yachiru walked into the alley. It was dark, but after a moment she could see outlines and shadows. There was a large figure in the middle of the small space, squatting over something while noisily eating. Red eyes spared her a quick glance before it returned its focus to its meal.

The pink haired youth wandered close with her hands clasped behind her back. "Whatcha doin?"

The figure ceased chewing and looked to her again. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Eating."

"What're you eating?"

"A man." He gripped an arm and tore it from the body. He took a moment to pull the sleeve off of it and bit into the still warm flesh.

She gave a little twist making her skirt flare out playfully. "Why?"

He gave her a look. "Because I'm hungry. You should leave before I try to eat you too, kid."

Yachiru pointed. "Won't you be full from eating him?"

"Don' know. I might have room for dessert," he chuckled.

She giggled too. Looking to the side, she saw a box an sat down. "I'm Yachiru, who're you?"

"Kenpachi."

The backs of her feet thunked against the box. "Are you a troll, Kenny? You're far away from a bridge if you are."

He dug a hand into the man's stomach cavity and pulled out his intestine. "I ain't a troll." He took a bite. "'m an ogre."

"That's cool too." After that she sat quietly while Kenpachi had his dinner. He finished when he was full, leaving the man he was eating without organs and an arm as well as a crushed head, but Kenny had done that before she'd arrived. She invited him over her house, and he eventually agreed after Yachiru had begged as cute as she could.

Her uncle had been in for a nasty surprise when he'd struck her a week later.

"And we lived happily ever after!" Yachiru cried. "The end."

"Not really," Kenpachi grumbled. "You ended up here."

She shrugged. "It's not that bad here."

Ulqui finished writing. "You weren't afraid of Kenpachi when you met him?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Mm mm."

"Why?"

She shrugged and hummed the "I dunno" sound. "Mm mm-mm. Can I have another candy?"

The therapist offered the jar and she squealed and took another handful. He turned to the ogre while his patient munched. "How often do you need to eat?"

He shrugged. "I don't keep track. I just eat when I'm hungry. Last person I ate was this portly hag of a woman."

Ulquiorra stifled a cringe. "Must you eat humans?"

"I eat other things too, I just prefer humans." He grinned. "They're the most interesting to catch. I like it better when they put up a fight but most just freeze up and piss themselves." Kenpachi scratched his chin. "And before you ask: No I ain't planning on eating Yachiru. The staff here are safe too, but only because she likes them."

"What a relief," Ulquiorra murmured dryly.

Half of the candy jar was gone by the time Yachiru and her ogre guardian left. He was very glad that the hulking beast was gone, and a little irked that with his heavy frame he'd left a sizable indentation in his couch cushions. He could only leave them alone and hope that they would fluff back out soon enough.

Many days passed with sparse visits from Ichigo, Hanataro, Yachiru and their demons as well as meeting with potential seers, though those turned out to be actually in need of psychiatric help.

Ulquiorra was at his desk when Grimmjow knocked and entered his office. "You've seen the demon again?" was what the pale gentleman initially assumed.

"Hm, oh no actually, I'm just here to tell you that outside privileges are back. And I saw that the netting on the pond was unhooked."

Ulquiorra looked up. His pen dropped from his hand and he stood and rounded his desk. He barely spared a glance in Grimm's direction as he headed out the door.

He waved absently to those he passed as he walked to the door to the grassy courtyard. The doors creaked in protest as he opened them and thudded loudly upon closing. Ulqui quickly walked to the far right and smiled genuinely at what he saw.

His naiad-kappa, Murcielago, was back. The pale blue fleshed hybrid was resting with his head cradled in his arms on the edge of the pond, the rest of his body was still submerged in the pond. His strange gold on green eyes were closed as if he were napping.

"Murcie."

His eyes popped open and he lifted his head. "Ah!" he exclaimed and lifted out of the pond as Ulqui approached. He swept the smaller human up in a tight, wet, hug when he was close enough. "Hello, my youngling. No. You're not a youngling anymore, are you? You're a man now!"

Ulqui pulled his face from the other's chest and looked up at him. "Yes, Murcie, though wasn't it you that said that I was always very grown no matter my age?"

He chuckled. "Mm yes. Oh, I forgot your present on my bed."

"It's okay. I have a something to tell you though."

The naiad grew excited. "What? What?"

"There are three seer children here now."

He gasped. "Three? How wonderful! May I meet them too?"

"Of course. They will be happy to meet you as well."

They waited for the hybrid to dry off before going inside. The therapist asked an orderly to have his three seer patients brought to his office. He and Murciel sat together on his couch and chatted while they waited.

"I had wonderful dreams through the winter months, I was almost sad to wake up," Murciel told him. He gave him a squeeze. "But then I remember I have you to return to and my breast swelled with joy."

Ulquiorra shook his head. "You sound like a romantic fool."

"I can't help it; you make me feel this way, my human."

Sensing the sincerity in the hybrid's words Ulqui looked up at the other who was gazing off into the distance with a disbelieving face as if he were wondering if he'd really said such a thing.

Before the awkward silence could reign for too long, there was a knock on the door and Ulqui called out to the knocker. The door opened and in walked the three Seer children and their respective monster guardians of a sort. They gasped at the sight of Murcie and Yachiru darted over and leapt into the hybrid's lap.

Murcie grunted from the force of the blow but then laughed as he wrapped his arms around her. "What an excitable girl you are," he chirped with a large smile and then looked at the boys who had yet to draw close. "And you both can see me as well?"

It was only Ichigo who nodded and stepped forward. "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki and this is my Incubus, Shirosaki."

"Ah, an Incubus?" Murcie murmured as he held his hand out to coax Ichigo closer.

Shirosaki grinned as he followed his human over to the naiad man. "Hello cousin."

As the others peered at Murcie, he scoffed. "You really consider our species close enough to warrant such a familial name?"

"Sure, why not?" Shirosaki said with a shrug as Ichigo and he took the floor next to the couch.

"Taro-Taro, come over here!" Yachiru called to the boy who was still standing far away from the slowly growing party near Kenpachi who was also distancing himself.

The shy boy clutched Noble closer to his chest and looked at the floor. "I'm fine here."

Kenpachi growled and suddenly grabbed the back of the boy's neck before forcing him forward. Hanataro squealed in confusion and terror as he was shoved forward into the awaiting arms of Ulquiorra. The boy clung to him once he was in Ulqui's lap.

"Kenny!" Yachiru whined. "You scared Taro-Taro! You know he can't see you!"

Kenpachi just grunted and returned to where he'd been standing.

"You can't see him?" Murcie turned to ask. "Then does that mean that you can't see me as well?"

Hanataro didn't answer.

"Is partial-sight possible?" Ulqui then asked. "Because the only being he's ever been able to see is Noble, the bajang demon, who is in his arms."

The naiad scratched his head at the question. "This is the first I've heard of such a thing." He reached out to touch Hanataro's arm, the poor boy whimpered at the contact and Murcie pulled away. "Maybe his sight hasn't fully awakened and Noble is helping it along somehow. I'm sure his sight will mature later. Now, " He looked, now, to Noble who didn't look very comfortable in Hanataro's tight grasp, but didn't squirm or complain. "What has happened to you, little bajang?"

"He was sealed in that form by a demon hunter," Ulqui answered for the mute cat.

"A seal, huh? I'll have to search through my books, but I may be able to help you, or at least weaken it to the point where you could break it yourself after some time has passed." He rubbed his chin. "Hmm, I'll have to really dig..."

The group continued to chat from there with Ichigo and Yachiru chatting happily with Murcie and Hanataro remaining quiet yet calm in Ulqui's lap which was ever so slowly losing feeling. Eventually, it became time for the kids to return to there rooms or wherever else they may have been needed, and Ulqui and Murcie were alone.

The human yawned and stretched as he stood.

"What now?" Murcie asked as he stood as well.

"I think I will shower and go to sleep," Ulqui murmured. "Want me to walk you back to the pond?"

The hybrid pursed his lips for a moment before he shook his head. "No. I will stay a while longer and then walk back myself."

"Oh. Well then I'll postpone my show-"

Murcie shook his head. "Don't let my presence interrupt anything."

Murcielago sat quietly on Ulqui's bed as he listened to the water rush as his human bathed in the other room. He let out a wistful sigh as he looked to the diadem he had long ago given to Ulquiorra. His not-so-little-anymore human had taken such good care of it; it made Murciel feel as if he were being cherished in a way.

The sounds of water ceased and very soon Ulqui stepped out of the wash room. Murciel stifled a gasp as he looked at Ulqui.

His normally pale skin was flushed from the heat of his shower, and he was still bare with only a towel about his hips. Thin rivulets of water ran down his flesh and more dripped from his hair. As Murciel stared, his earlier words popped into his head. "You're not a youngling anymore, are you? You're a man now!"

His body seemed to catch a flame from within as the words played in his mind. How long had it been since he'd given in to his naiad side?

Ulqui cocked his head as he pushed his wet hair from his face. "Are you alright? Your eyes have gone all green."

His human's words snapped him out of his daze and he quickly diverted his traitorous eyes as he stood. "I think I will head back to my dwelling now."

"Oh? Well I'll walk you to the-"

Murciel put up a hand. "Ah, no need to bother yourself; I know the way." With no further words, Murciel headed for the door and quickly left the building. He had to stay away from Ulqui until these urges went away.

x~x

Two days passed and still Murcielago struggled with himself. He remained alone in his bed with an ache he refused to soothe but desperately wanted to get rid of. It was never usually this bad for him. In the past whenever the urges came over him, he acted on them and was done with them, however in the past he never had the desire to do anything with someone he cared for.

He'd never cared for anyone before.

Murciel moaned, almost in pain, as he fisted his skirt with both hands and flopped onto his side.

Splash! "Murciel!"

An undignified yelp left the naiad/kappa and he sat back up as Ulquiorra climbed out of the pool that was the gateway to his home and anywhere he wished to go. The human was dry as his bare feet met the cold stone floor and he paused to straighten his clothing before turning his green gaze on Murciel.

The very sight of the raven-haired human made something within Murciel rear back its head and release a primal roar. Everything within him said to pounce on the human and claim him before ripping the diadem from Ulqui's head so that he would be trapped in Murciel's pearlesk cave home. The naiad grit his teeth and held the bestial compulsion at bay.

Murciel's tense posture didn't stop Ulqui from stomping up to him. "We're separated for all of winter and then you disappear after one day back; explain yourself, Murcielago!"

Hearing his full name spill from Ulqui's mouth stung a bit.

After some hesitation, Murciel opened his mouth, but words failed to come so he merely closed them again making Ulqui growl - yes growl- lowly at him. The sound excited him. He gasped and placed his hands over his lap to conceal the evidence of his interest, but not before Ulqui saw it.

Ebony brows were high as Ulqui's posture lost its aggression and he crossed his arms. "Murciel. Is this because you're part naiad?"

The hybrid shot him a shocked look but then it softened. His human had always been bright, what reason did he have to be surprised? "Yes."

"Has this happened before?"

"No. It happens very rarely, and because I've been in the presence of children -something I think of as friends or possibly even food- I haven't had this problem. It wasn't until I," he swallowed thickly, "began to consider you a man that this became a problem."

Ulqui's arms uncrossed to hang loosely at his sides. "I could help you with this, you know."

"No!"

Ulqui jumped and his eyes widened at the force of the shout.

"Do you not understand? I have been avoiding you because I refuse to defile you in such a way!" Shaking his head, he turned his back on the human. "Now, leave. I will return once- ah!" He yelped and grunted when a heavy weight collided with his back and he fell onto the bed. He had to resist the urge to throw off his human.

Ulqui ran his hands over Murciel's shoulders. "If you don't want to 'defile' me, then how about I 'defile' you?" There was a rustle of cloth and Murciel saw Ulqui's uniform shirt get thrown on the floor.

"Ulqui, no..." That was a very weak protest if he'd ever heard one.

"Hush, I'm defiling you." If Murciel could blush, he would've. "And then we'll go back topside to meet with the possible seer child who arrived yesterday."

Murciel gasped in excitement, but it changed to a different kind of gasp when his human shifted to divest them of the rest of their clothes and turned Murciel over. He caressed the kappa's cheek and Murciel lifted his hand to return the tender gesture. Ulqui turned his face into Murciel's cooler hand without breaking eye contact.

"I'm sorry," Ulqui suddenly murmured. "I don't have the experience to 'defile' you. You'll have to guide me."

The naiad's eyes widened but then a delighted smile came over him. He had such a delightful human.

Log of Patient: Toshiro Hitsugaya

Full name: Toshiro Kori Hitsugaya
Gender: Male
D.O.B: December 20, 1934
Age: 12
Height: 4 feet 4 inches
Weight: 62lbs
Eye C.: Turquoise
Hair C.: White

Admitted to: Hueco Mundo, Youth Correctional Facility

Diagnosis: Schizophrenia as diagnosed by Dr. Sosuke Aizen; awaiting diagnosis from Mr. Ulquiorra Schiffer

Excerpt taken from Dr. Sosuke Aizen's findings: Mr. Hitsugaya seems to be plagued by what he calls an "over-affectionate snow woman" that he came across over this past winter. He describes the snow woman as having bright orange hair, blue eyes, a large bust, and wearing a long white flowy dress with long sleeves though she leaves most of her breasts out on display. After giving her description, he shifted and began to shiver before ordering the Yuki-Onna -whom he only refers to as "woman"- to get away from him as her presence was making him cold. When asked about why she has latched onto him, he merely said, "She thinks I'm cute, and wants to be around me."

[End of Document]

Murciel let out an enlightened hum as he set down the document he was glancing over. There was a knock at the door as Ulquiorra came to sit next to him on the couch.

"So are you ready to meet Mr. Hitsugaya?" he asked.

Murciel smiled. "Of course." Ulqui called for the young man and his escort to enter, and upon seeing the short white-haired boy with a busty Yuki-onna tailing him he grinned a little brighter. "Hello, Toshiro," he greeted. "Can you see me?"

Gah! Finally! I've been wanting to finish this story for MONTHS! Like almost since this story first came out! XD Thank you so much for reading, and pretty pretty please leave a review for me to enjoy!

P.s. Their middle names are just words related to them so:
Hanataro "Relief" Yamada (As in that he is a healer) Yachiru "Candy" Kusajishi
Toshiro "Ice" Hitsugaya

Also, it's a complete cowinky-dink that all of their middle names start with "K"