The Hollow and The Halcyon

Chapter 1: Dysfunction

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach the manga or the anime.

Orihime sat quietly at her small desk near the window of her new apartment. Before her lay scattered sheets of homework, unopened textbooks, and a now lukewarm cup of tea, while a beautiful day floated on in the peaceful realm of nature. She breathed out slowly, blowing little strands of her coppery hair that shone like streams of fire in the path of sunlight. She had planned to spend the day studying for a test tomorrow, but past experiences taught her that the slightest, most inobtrusive disturbances sent ripples through the calmest of waters.

"Turn the fucking stove off!"

"You're the one who left it on, dumbass!"

She cringed at the harsh screams that permeated through the wall separating her apartment from the one next door. Following it was a garbled cacophony of thrashing objects and angry profanities being fired back and forth like the shots of an armed battalion.

Orihime had adored her new home from the moment she first arrived. It was a gift from the Gotei 13, assigned directly in response to Rangiku's boisterous insistence that her previous home was far too small for a growing, young woman. Moving into a whole new, and much larger, apartment complex was a disarming change, especially to the relatives that had been supporting her abroad for so long.

Despite her initial resistence, it couldn't be said that the Soul Society's offer was entirely unwelcome. A part of Orihime, perhaps an inkling of vanity buried beneath her gentle intuitiveness and compassion, guessed that the effort may have carried an unspoken apology for the events of the Winter War. She wasn't so narrow-minded as to believe that she solely carried the burden of her decision to follow Sosuke Aizen, for tensions still existed between her and the Soul Society over the controversey.

Being the optimist she was, Orihime chose to see their patronage to her as a sign of healing to their injured relations. Even the pang of guilt that surfaced when she found out the Soul Society provided for the entire financial coverage did little to abate her elation. It was perfect. Though much too large for a single girl to dwell in, it was open, quiet, and with a touch of her special decorating, very warm.

The only slight issue was being situated on the same floor as her new neighbors.

"Outta the way!"

Another alarmingly loud noise resonated from the other side of the wall, threatening to tear down it's large foundation from the force of its impact. All patience had its limits, and hers was beginning to reach its precipice.

Deciding to act on a feeble sense of responsibility, Orihime lifted herself up out of the dainty chair to walk out the door, and out of the saftey of her home. The serenity normally found on the high-rise balcony was outmatched by the storm of noise coming from the next door residence. She disregarded the slight trembling of her legs as she treaded a considerable distance - really, this building was too big - along the metal rails to their door, the sound intensifying as she drew closer in proximity.

When she finally reached their doormat, the sharp crackle of shattering glass greeted her from the other side of the brick exterior.

She swallowed nervously. Well, she didn't come this far for nothing. After mustering up enough courage, she tentatively knocked on the rough wooden frame.

Mild anxiety lurched at the pit of her stomach. While she knew they wouldn't, or rather couldn't, hurt her, she knew that these particularly people were not a friendly bunch. True, they must have been tremendously stressed from moving in just yesterday, but other apartment residents had already filed complaints on account of the rambunctious noise. She could already tell that the owners association would be sending eloquently worded threats against the newcomers.

Heaven forbid that the roguish group decided to retaliate. Grisly terror would most certainly be frowned upon in this family-oriented establishment.

Haunting reminders of such terror seemed to breathe down her neck in chilling whispers of the past. Orihime shuddered at the familiar edge of danger and uncertainty she sensed at every corner now that these people were back in her life. She never dreamed that the ghosts of her most terrifying experience would follow her home.

Before she could knock again, the door flew open so quickly that the hinges were nearly ripped off the door frame. The smell of smoke burned her nostrils and made her eyes water, nearly blinding her to the all too familiar, and all too humongous, giant of a man standing before her.

"The girl's here!" Espada Cero, Yammy Riyalgo, bellowed to the inside of the room. Orihime had to blink a few times to recognize him. The white Arrancar uniform had been replaced with a muscle shirt and camo pants.

"The fuck does she want?" A cantankerous voice snarled from the inside. She nearly winced at the ferocious bite that accompanied the Sexta Espada's rude words.

"How the hell should I know?" Yammy immediately roared back.

"Invite her in." A calmer voice ordered. Firm and feminine - Halibel, she decided.

"Yeah." Her skin crawled at the sound of the Quinta's lecherous laugh. "I've missed Pet-sama."

"Whatever." Yammy snapped, issuing her a look more suited for wanting to crush a bug than inviting a person into his home. Nonetheless, he retreated into a the house with a grunt, leaving the door open behind him as a welcoming.

Well, this was already turning out to be a mistake. She vaguely felt like the unassuming heroines of the horror movies she and Tatsuki enjoyed watching, waltzing into the arms of blatant danger like this. Orihime shuddered and coughed from the lingering smoke fumes, but allowed herself in nonetheless.

Her uneasiness melted away when she walked into an unexpectedly lovely, furnished living room.

In it were her neighbors: the Espada elite just in from the white sands of Hueco Mundo. Like Yammy, their white uniforms had been discarded for human attire, and their hollow masks had disappeared. All of the hollow soldiers had their attention turned to her.

"This is your home?" Was all she managed to breathe out.

"Isn't it marvelous?"

She looked to the source of that silky baritone to find a sharply dressed Szayel Apporo smiling proudly at the open space.

"The design at Las Noches was horrendously drab. This 'interior decorating' you humans practice is just enthralling. It appears my expertise extends beyond combat and science." He said as he flipped the rosy locks from behind his ear, looking completely pleased with himself.

Orihime drank in the whole wide space with a curiosity akin to that of a newborn familiarizing new surroundings. Boxes were still scattered throughout the room, but the setup was elaborate and elegant, if not a tad ornate. A warmer mocha color scheme was a much more pleasing sight than the stark contrast of white and dark teal at a certain castle. The only unsettling features were the smashed lamp near the hallway corner, and a sudden flash of hostile eyes glaring her way.

Oh dear.

"Why are you here?"

Suddenly, Grimmjow Jeagerjacques was towering over her. Tattered jeans and a sleeveless top accentuated the most intimidating aspects of his muscular physique, and just about everything pitifully frail about her own smaller frame.

"The hell do you want, woman?"

Woman...

Degrading as it had been, that had been her label on their territory for all the time she spent there. Terrible tension threaded through her when she heard the word formed from his grating voice. It reminded her of violent bindings. The carefully chosen words that she had come prepared with fled from his harsh gaze.

"I..." She swallowed back the lump in her throat. "I was..."

"Spit it out already." He growled, his tone darkening warningly. Before he could threaten her further, something flew at him from the kitchen. Orihime froze, but he dodged effortlessly, completely unfazed as the knife whisked past and pierced the wall.

"Please excuse his rudeness." A calm, female voice said from afar.

Orihime glanced over to find Halibel in the doorway to what appeared to be their fogged kitchen, glaring at Grimmjow with that unwavering gaze of hers. Orihime noticed her golden hair had grown out just long enough to brush against her bare shoulders.

"It's lonely in the kitchen, huh?" A mocking voice chuckled. Orihime glanced over to see smirking Nnoitra leaning against the wall, eyes leering at Halibel before sliding over to her. "Nice skirt."

Orihime tensed and tore her eyes away, feeling relieved when Halibel treaded over to stand by her.

"You're here in regard to the noise." The Tercera Espada stated rather than asked, unerringly calm in spite of Grimmjow's dirty looks and Nnoitra's shameless ogling. "I assure you, it was nothing but a petty dispute between two simpletons."

"That hulking dumbass nearly started a bonfire." Grimmjow growled from a far corner, gesturing to the hallway that Yammy had stalked off into. Judging from his surly reaction to the Tercera's words, Orihime could guess who the second 'simpleton' had been in the fray.

"Regardless." Halibel continued smoothly, turning to look at Orihime. "Is that all you've come to check on?"

Her straightforward approach caught Orihime off guard, leaving the younger human girl blinking away the daze in her eyes.

"Or is there something else you wish to say?" She inquired calmly, crossing her arms in that familiar manner that spelled control and confidentiality.

"Um, y-yes..." Orihime began slowly, formulating her point carefully so as not to agitate anyone further. "It's just that the owners probably aren't too happy about all of the complaints. A-and, you're not supposed to draw too much attention. I understand you all are adjusting to the change but-"

"Is that shit coming from the Soul Society?" Grimmjow plopped down next to a quiet Zommari on the couch. "Tell them to shove it back up their asses. They're the ones who put us in this damn internment."

The bitterness in his voice made her stomach twist into a knot. After capturing the newly revived Espada army from the winter war, the Soul Society had kept them locked up in Captain Kurotsuchi's laboratory for testing and studies on hollow anatomy. That in itself seemed like absolute torture to be put through. For reasons that the Soul Society didn't seem to comprehend, it pained Orihime to see her captors holed up in such terrible conditions.

Some people told her it was only right that the people who kidnapped were sentenced to a similar, if not worse fate. Justice deemed that they deserved it.

Orihime simply couldn't think that way.

"It's not an internment." She said soothingly. "The Head Captain just wanted to give you all your own place to live now that you've been, um, released-"

"You call this a goddamn release?" He snarled acerbicly, gesturing at the entirety of the room. "More like a change in scenery. We're still caged like fucking animals."

At that, Halibel glared frostily at him. "Would you prefer that wretched Captain's actual lab cages?"

Despite herself, Orihime winced at the memories that popped into her mind. Instinctively, her arms wrapped themselves around her, trying to banish the unwanted chill in her bones.

"I am informed that the ones they call Vizards are also left on their own in this town." Zommari, who had been sitting silently throughout the whole exchange, finally offered some input in that deep, serene voice of his. "Though they live in exile - independent of the Soul Society."

"Except we're not independent!" Grimmjow slammed his fist down on the table, his whole being blazing in fury. "Those goddamned Soul Reapers have complete tabs on us! They put freaking radars on us!" He lifted up his arm to show the black tracker wristband that each of them wore under demand from Squad Eleven. "We're trapped. They might as well put us in a fucking zoo for exhibition!"

"That's not their intention..." Orihime defended weakly.

"Quit it with the fucking melodrama!" Yammy called out from a different room down the hallway, which Orihime assumed led to their separate bedrooms.

"I'm trying to sleep!" She heard Lilynette's high pitched voice pipe up from down the same hall. "Keep it down!"

Orihime blinked in bafflement. They're all crammed into one apartment?

"And we have another pet to join us." Nnoitra's breath on her neck made her shiver as he chuckled and whispered in her ear.

In an unexpected shift of that immaculate indifference, Halibel wordlessly grabbed him by the collar of his dark button-down shirt. Instead of despairing an inevitable doom, the Quinta spread his lips into a challenging grin at his superior.

"Do somethin', sweetheart." He jeered maliciously. "Come on, I'll get on my knees and beg if ya want."

"Repulsive." Halibel turned away with disgust sketched on her perfectly sculpted features. Nnoitra chuckled in response. Orihime saw that his hair had changed too, and was now short to his jawline.

Uncomfortable as she felt, she couldn't help but think to herself, It rather suits him.

On a side note, regular clothes on his slim, skyscraper-sized form made him look good, minus the creep-factor of his personality. In fact, it was a pleasant surprise to see that they all looked nice in regular clothing, even gargantuan Yammy. She couldn't imagine the tailoring for those kinds of measurements.

"To think, I left off leashes on that shopping list." Szayel lamented. "Hopefully Ulquiorra has the sense to buy a few."

Her breath hitched at the name before she thoughtlessly blurted, "I-Is Ulquiorra here?"

There was that tension coiling her insides again as Szayel arched an inquisitive brow, "Not at the moment."

Halibel turned her attention to Orihime after promptly striking Nnoitra in the gut for a snide remark. "Ulquiorra and Nel are out gathering supplies from stores downtown."

"Oh." Was all Orihime could say. Against her better sense, her eyes fell downcast in slight disappointment. Having not seen the stoic Espada amongst his comrades for weeks had plagued her with an inexplicable anxiety. To know that he was so close, yet out of reach was disconcerting to her in more ways than one.

"It's blissful without that tight-ass around." Grimmjow said as he leaned back on the couch. "And that annoying kiddie bitch with him."

"That 'tight-ass' is the one who got us this place." Yammy emerged from the small hallway with noticeable difficulty. "Ulquiorra and Baraggan are the only reasons we're out of that fuckin' creep's lab." He muttered defensively.

Grimmjow's scowl visibly darkened at that note, and he didn't deign to reply.

"Well, I agree with the oaf for once." Szayel interjected tartly. "That man is the single most disturbing individual I have ever had the displeasure of knowing."

"Pot called the kettle black." The 'oaf' muttered under his breath, and Orihime was surprised that he was familiar with the expression.

Her eyes turned questioningly to Halibel, "Umm, how is Nel, by the way?"

The former Tercera's condition was a boggling case to both her allies and adversaries. While her physical form had indeed been restored to it's full-sized and full-powered glory, the same could not have been said for her mental state.

Halibel's stare grew colder at the question, but she replied with a curt, "Fine."

"Neliel is still recovering from the effects of her injury." Zommari elaborated further. "According to that Soul Reaper Captain, her condition isn't permanent. Her childlike behavior will gradually wear off as she assimilates to her original mental age. Though it will take a considerable amount of time."

"Understandably. That 'accident' of hers was severe." Halibel glowered at Nnoitra, who didn't have a retort to fire back. Instead a very irritated look twisted on his face at the mere mention of the green-haired beauty. He then turned to Orihime with another wide, unpleasant smile that made every cell of hers cringe.

"Yeah, yeah, enough of that. I'm more concerned with our little guest here." He drawled, drawing nearer to her in a slow predatory manner. "So what're you really here for, Pet-sama? Waitin' for your owner return?"

Orihime's head snapped up at his leery statement, and she flinched away from how close he was standing. Before she knew it, she recalled those glaringly narrow eyes boring down on her, long arms immobilizing her, a rough hand shutting her mouth as she was forced watch her friend being crushed to death.

His hand slamming against the wall she had been forcibly backed into stole her from her reverie.

"Hah, wide-eyed like a fuckin' rabbit." Nnoitra grinned malevolently. "I bet you just wanted to come see that tight-ass jailor of yours again, right?"

The look on her face must have spoken for her, because he laughed harshly.

"Well, damn. I'm startin' to get why Ul settled for this place. I can only imagine how much fun the lucky bastard had back at Las-"

His obscene allusions were interrupted by something large, and quite heavy-looking. Orihime yelped as a white door thwacked against the side of his head and smashed him against the wall.

"Watch the paint!" Szayel wailed frantically from the kitchen. Halibel brought her fingers to the bridge of her nose, while Grimmjow and Yammy snickered at their fallen roommate.

To Szayel's apparent relief the wall was fine, seeing as all the damage had gone to Nnoitra. Orihime gaped at the scene, utterly stunned to see at his groaning form from underneath the forcefully detached door. All heads turned over to the now open doorway, where the straight-faced Cuatra Espada himself was standing with grocery bags in his arms, while his foot was outstretched as if he had just kicked-

Oh.

Undeterred, he wordlessly stepped in to deposit the numerous paper bags in his arms at the door to the kitchen. Glossy black strands of hair curtained the side of his face as he dropped the bags. When he stood again, Orihime noted the changes in his appearance that had slipped past her awareness. Like the others, he was dressed in normal attire - simple jeans and a black henley. With the bone fragments gone, she could see his hair was shorter and messier than before. It was different, but when those unmistakable, questioning eyes came to light, she knew it was the same Arrancar from her past.

She hoped he, or any one else, didn't notice the shudder that passed through her.

"Owww, shit." Nnoitra stood back up from the heavy impact with astonishing ease, rubbing his head where the sharp corner struck him. "The fuck, man?"

"You had it coming, jackass." Grimmjow sneered.

"Pfft. Can ya blame a guy for wonderin'?"

At this, the Cuatra fixed him with a look that was stern and indifferent all at once.

"Don't involve me in any of your sickening fantasies." He said, dropping the last bag and rolling his wrist as he muttered something about the 'flimsy gigai.'

"Tell me about it." Grimmjow said frustratedly, stretching his arm out and straining the tightly corded tendons beneath tan skin. "These damn meat sacks are killin' me."

"Did you buy everything?" Zommari asked offhandedly from the couch. Ulquiorra briefly nodded in response before Szayel surprisingly chuckled in amusement.

"Although it appears we need a new door."

"Hime, you're here!"

Orihime blinked in surprise, but was swept into the air by strong limber arms before she could even turn her head.

"Oh, fuckin' hell." Nnoitra cursed under his breath, still rubbing his head as he ambled over to the sofas.

Nel twirled in delight with Orihime swept up in her arms. Despite feeling breathless, and slightly stupefied, Orihime managed to smile at the girl's giddiness. At least there was one friendly face she remembered out of the bunch.

"I missed you too, Nel."

"Yeah!" She beamed up at Orihime with round and distinctly childish eyes. "It's been so long. I've missed you and Ichigo so much!"

"Oh, I'm gonna puke." Nnoitra muttered bitterly.

"Don't mention that bastard in front of me." Grimmjow scowled. "It only pisses me off."

"That shrimp pisses me off too." Yammy concurred sullenly.

Szayel chuckled at the disgruntled trio. "That brat sure has a lot of hatred following his heroics."

Nel stuck her tongue out at all three of them before settling Orihime down with a smile. It was still a shock to see that the adorable little Arrancar she had met in Hueco Mundo had turned out to be a former Espada, and a formidable one at that. Although, that bright little girl's spirit still resonated in the stunning woman before her.

"I haven't seen you in so long! You should stay tonight! Let's have a sleepover with Halibel!"

"No." Was the curt answer that did not come from Orihime. Nel spun around to pout at Ulquiorra, the skirt of her dress swaying from movement.

"Aww, come on Ulqui! You said you missed Hime too!"

Stifled snickers sounded from the couches, but immediately died down under the Ulquiorra's frigid glare as he calmly responded, "I never said that."

I can't imagine that you would, Orihime agreed, though couldn't help but feel her face flush with heat.

"Aww, why not?" Nel now grasping Ulquiorra's hand as well as Orihime's.

"She may be busy Nel." Halibel offered as she worked to prop the detached door near its broken hinges. "Besides, we stil have our own work to do. Since Baraggan is absent, the final decision goes to Ulquiorra."

"Why does he get to play boss?" Szayel inquired, clearly displeased.

"Because our new boss's ass is covered with his lip stains." Grimmjow said venomously. Both Espadas glared at each other until a Nnoitra's dry laugh surfaced.

"Come on, Ul." He grinned from the sofas, sporting a bruise from his assault earlier. "Let her stay and it's a win for the both of us. I can share."

"Hey, don't worry about him." Nel gestured to Nnoitra as she whispered in Orihime's ear. "He won't bother you while I'm around."

"I..." She tried to formulate a response, but no words would come out. It should have been easy for her to politely refuse, but only a feeble silence hung loosely in the air. Seeking their safest option, her eyes flicked to where Ulquiorra was standing.

Sure enough, his eyes found hers again, cold and steadfast in his decision. Yet, she couldn't help but find an implacable difference in them. It was as if they were more wavering. It was only barely noticeable, but the concrete set of his features faltered fractionally.

"What are you thinking, woman?"

Orihime surveyed everyone in the room, taking the hint from each piercing set of eyes thrown in her way, before turning back to Neliel with an apologetic smile.

"I-I do have a bit of studying to do," She managed to say meekly. "So I can't spend the night, Nel. But m-maybe we can go out together later today."

All the while, her grey eyes were fixed against green ones, awaiting judgement under their still gaze. "Is that alright?"

Delighted, Nel jumped up and clapped her hands and turned to Ulquiorra with a pleading smile. He didn't say anything, nor did he gear his attention away from Orihime, but the slow fall of his shoulders from their rigid set was enough of an acquiesence for Nel. She squeaked happily and bounced up to latch her arms around his neck.

"Only after her studies are complete." He affirmed as he pried the giddy girl off of him. He raked the messy bangs back from his forehead and turned to Grimmjow and Nnoitra. "Put the groceries away."

Nnoitra scoffed and raised an offensive hand gesture. Grimmjow began to protest. "Why should-"

Cue the ominous glint in his emerald eyes.

"Fine." They simultaneously grumbled as they heaved themselves up off the couch. Zommari silently treaded to the kitchen to help, while Szayel disappeared into the hallway, complaining of a headache from all of the noise.

"We'll go get the rest." Ulquiorra stated as he dragged a reluctant Yammy out the doorless doorway, with Nel bounding happily behind them.

As everyone else exited the scene, Orihime was left alone with Halibel. The blond beauty crossed her arms and gazed around the entirety of the lavish room. Orihime had not been well acquainted with her in past years, but she could see that the cold resolution in her green eyes was waning beneath hardship.

"In time, they'll understand that this is our fate." She said more to herself than anyone.

Before she could offer an apology, Halibel ordered her silent with one finger. The sight of the damning black wristband made Orihime, and her heart, cringe.

"Apologies are meaningless. They won't change a thing. All we can do is bear with our predicament."

Crash!

Orihime nearly jumped out of her skin, but Halibel merely shook her head at the sound of broken glass, screeching tires, and a blaring siren from outside. "Though, it appears that the stress is getting to Ulquiorra, too."

Unbelievable. She thought, casting a concerned glance at the doorway.

"Please excuse me for intruding." Orihime had to say with an ashamed expression. "It must be so hard for you all to adjust. I can tell you're all-"

Suddenly Yammy was thrust back into the house with a very tense looking Ulquiorra following behind. As he stalked off into the kitchen, Grimmjow and Nnoitra were - quite literally - kicked out, and left to topple into a heap on top of Yammy. The door slammed, splintering at the impact.

"...unhinged." Orihime finished lamely.

Grimmjow stared incredulously at the closed kitchen door and at what sounded like a domestic warzone on the other side.

"What got jammed up his-?"

The sound of hurried steps from outside caught their attention, and soon Nel was at the door looking puzzled and concerned.

"That man behind the wheel in the car-thingy isn't moving." She informed, worriedly peeking over her shoulder out to the parking lots. "Is that bad?"

"I should go help out." Orihime mumbled and awkwardly excused herself, anxious to leave the premises.

The four Espada watched as the girl hurriedly scampered out of their mess of a home to the wreckage sight. A tired yawn from the hallway caught their attention.

"What the hell happened to the door?"

"Go back to sleep, Starrk." They snapped in union.

Ulquiorra set his empty mug down on the granite counter. That had been his third cup of tea, yet it still hadn't been enough to settle his usual calm over him. It wasn't often that he felt so on edge. It had been a long, laborious day, but the worst had yet to come for the next few days of settling and unpacking.

He absently gazed out the window, where deep blackness veiled the skies and obscured the moon. All that remained was a scattered expanse of stars woven into the dark horizon. The glittering little specks were an unfamiliar sight.

Such things were nonexistent in Hueco Mundo, a realm devoid of light, shackled beneath darkness, clouds, and a stagnant crescent. Nothing shone there. Nothing brightened the perpetually dismal landscape. Nothing about the colorless scene ever seemed to capture him.

Nothing until she had arrived.