Yokozuki laughed insanely as her final opponent crashed to the floor in a bloody heap. “It’s amazing you thought you could take on an Arrancar.” She blurted the most comical way. The loose minded Arrancar ran her finger through the pool of blood around her victim and licked the sweet red liquid from her finger.

“So full of yourself Yokozuki…” The smooth voice scolded from the sidelines. “Someday it’s going to get you killed.”

The hot headed brown haired girl scowled at her green eyed companion. “Way to ruin my good mood Ulqui-kun.” Yokozuki directed towards her senpai.

Ulquiorra stared emotionlessly at his young apprentice. “War is not all fun and games.”

“But love is.” She said and jumped in front her teacher with a wide smile plastered on her face. Her eyes sparkled with what seemed like actual adoration. Ulquiorra looked around the room before placing his hand on his student’s head, ruffling her hair. Yokozuki smirked. “Ah haha! Senpai you’re quite gullible, you know that right.” She sang with her crazed laugh.

“You know you’re strangely adorable when you laugh.” Ulquiorra said with an unusual half smile.

“Really?” Yokozuki clapped.

He slapped her. “No. Now let’s go.”

“Hmph.” A purposely loud groan slipped through Yokozuki’s lips as she trailed after Ulquiorra.

--

“Heh heh. Killed another one did ya, Flat Chest?” Grimmjow called after Yokozuki who was still rubbing her pain ridden cheek.

“Shut up Grimmjow.” She growled and began to treat her (she swore) broken jaw.

Grimmjow smirked. “I see Ulquiorra was being rough again. So what was it for this time? Not being able to feel up your flat ass chest.”

“SHUT UP!” Yokozuki screamed as she ran him into the wall, her face a glowing red. “Ulquiorra-senpai is not that type of guy and I say demands more respect from a vulgar being such as you!”

“Says the psycho killer.” He laughed.

“That’s enough Grimmjow.” Ulquiorra muttered stepping between the two and resting his hand on the arm Yokozuki had around Grimmjow’s neck. “You too, ‘Zuki-chan.”

Yokozuki’s hand went numb which helped in the releasing of Grimmjow’s throat, her eyes wide and a pale blush tickling her white cheeks. “Y-yes, Ulquiorra-senpai.” She said turning her eyes away as if afraid it would be disrespectful to do otherwise.

“Aww, isn’t that sweet. A loyal teacher’s pet.” The blue haired Espada teased. “You know he’s only looking after you because Aizen told him to, not because he has any emotional attachment after saving you.”

BAM!

Ulquiorra had punched him into the wall once again. “I told you that was enough.” Yokozuki continued to stare down her eyes still wide but this time full of hurt and realization. Her body shivered and when the warm touch of her senpai came upon her shoulder she froze. “Yokozuki, are you feeling okay?” His usual emotionless voice swept passed her ears. He felt her forehead with his hand first and then his lips. “Lips are more sensitive to heat and cold. It would seem you have a slight fever, you might want to go rest.”

"Mmm.” Yokozuki bit her lip forcing back tears. “… Goodnight senpai.” Maybe sleep would help her regain control of her emotions.

“Meet me outside when you wake up.”

She nodded, “Yes sir.” walking off almost as if it was to her death.

“And you,” Ulquiorra turned his attention back to Grimmjow. “Hurt my student again and there will be hell to pay. Can your smallish brain comprehend that…?”

Grimmjow grunted quietly before retaliating with another remark that might get him thrust to a wall. “Are you sure she’s just a student to you, Ulquiorra?”

”No.” He glared dangerously. “She’s more… I’m her only family and I will do whatever she asks of me for I am also in her debt.”

--

Yokozuki lay awake. “Two in the morning…” She groaned trying to find a comfortable position. Knowing her efforts were in vain, Yokozuki stood up and walled over to Ulquiorra’s room. “Senpai.” She whispered through the cracked door. “Senpai…?” Yokozuki took the liberty of entering the room and crouching down next to the side of her teacher’s bed.

“What do you want ‘Zuki-chan?” Ulquiorra spoke softly to his young pupil.

“Umm…” It was a bit difficult to word her sentence in a way that wouldn’t make it uncomfortable. “Can I… sleep with you?” Silence swallowed her words. “Just for tonight, I mean?”

There was a sigh and then arms that wrapped themselves tightly around Yokozuki’s body, pulling her into the bed with him. She couldn’t help but blush. This was most defiantly not what she was used to. “You may… but it’s just for tonight.”

”Okay…” The murmur came not with out Yokozuki turning around so that her face was buried in Ulquiorra’s chest and her arms were around him as well. “Goodnight, Ulquiorra-senpai.”

“You’re falling asleep already?” The words were quick and sharp, piercing the silence that came even with whispers.

Yokozuki jumped in her skin just a tad. “Do you not want me to senpai?”

“You may if you wish, but…” He paused and lifted her face so that their eyes were looking into the others. “Then you’d miss out.” Ulquiorra whispered as soft and tender as an older brother, but as romantically as a lover. Their lips met which sent Yokozuki spiraling into a world of pure happiness and bliss. It was so beautiful. “Yokozuki have you fallen asleep?”

"Mmm hmm.” She hummed from her dream world, a smile pleasantly sitting on her face.

“Heh heh.” Ulquiorra chuckled quietly. “You’re a strange child…” He hugged her tighter and rested his chin on the top of her head. Pale fingers running themselves through her dark hair and caressed her sound face. “Sweet dreams.” He whispered almost silently before he, too, drifted off, and, like her, with a small smile tugging at the edges of his lips. An awkward smile, it seemed, only she could bring.

--

“Mmm…” Yokozuki moaned as she stretched her arms above her head to get all the sleep out of them. “Good morning senpai.” She turned only to see the covers tossed off the half where Ulquiorra should have been sleeping. Yokozuki let her head drop.

“Oh… so you’re up.” Ulquiorra greeted her in the most unusual way, but of course there was nothing normal about the pair in the first place. Yokozuki immediately raised her head, tears streaking her face, to see he held a tray with two plates and some breakfast foods stacked on top. “What’s with the tears?”

Yokozuki sniffed, “Oh these?” She wiped them all away with her arm. “They’re nothing.”

Ulquiorra stared blankly at her as he set the tray down on the side table. “Don’t lie to me. Why were you crying?” He demanded.
“Because I thought you left me again senpai.” She cried thinking back to just a short time after they had first met.

“That was a long time ago.” He said shoving a piece of toast in her mouth. “I’d never leave you… on purpose at least.” That was a painfully honest answer. “Now eat up, we have lots of training and since today is you birthday. I have decided to take you into town to have some fun. Are you okay with that?”

But she didn’t hear him all she heard were the echoes of his last sentence. ‘Have some fun…’ “You… you remembered my birthday?”

“Of course…” There was a pause. “Now eat your food or you’ll waste away. That’s most likely why your chest is so flat – you’re so malnourished. Do you want Grimmjow to keep teasing you?” He continued as she began to shove food in her mouth once more.

She was able to mumble since that’s the only thing she was able to do, due to all the food that had been collected in her mouth. Yokozuki spit out the food, which was caused by the lack of oxygen she was receiving. “Senpai!”

“What? Do you not like vegetables?” Ulquiorra questioned pointing to a baby carrot he was holding in his hand.

“Why are you acting so strange!?”

“Strange?” He tilted his head to the side. “How so?”

Yokozuki sighed. “Never mind…” She looked at the mess she had made and began to pile it on the tray. “What are you doing?”

“Cleaning up the mess I’ve made.” She said picking up a piece of food she’d never seen – she decided not to ask Ulquiorra what it was, she probably wouldn’t like the answer. He kneeled next to her and picked up some food as well. “What are you doing Ulquiorra-senpai?”

“Helping you clean up – the mess is partially my fault anyway.” His voice was in his usual monotone, but Yokozuki could feel just a bit of rare warmth and kindness, it was always nice to be around him when these small diversions in his mood accrued.

The silence that had fallen was unnerving so – to show her senpai she was feeling better – her same false laugh echoed up from her throat. “This already feels like the best birthday ever senpai.” She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

“You’re still tired, aren’t you?” He questioned softly.
Yokozuki nodded, “Just a tad…” She whispered meekly, showing him with her fingers.

Ulquiorra felt her forehead. His cool palms felt incredibly good on her burning brow, she couldn’t help but groan in pleasant comfort. “Your fever is still really high… It may not be the best thing to do, taking you outside.”

“No, it’s okay!” Yokozuki lied, picking up the tray of food with wobbling legs. “I’ll get ready and we’ll leave to have the best day ever, alright…?”
The older Arrancar took a second to think, and then nodded his head in silent approval. “Don’t forget to take your medication. It might explain your fever and loss of appetite.”

“Hahaha! Since when is senpai so worried about ‘Zuki-chan!?” Yokozuki joked as she referred to herself in the third person like she did on multiple occasions in the past. “She promises not to be too long.” She smiled and hurried out the door. ‘And the loss of appetite was from you shoving all that food down my throat senpai.’

About 10 minutes later…

“Ulquiorra-senpai!” Yokozuki sang as she skipped down the hallway to her senpai’s room. She was dressed in a light blue tank top, a short white skirt she hoped would show off her legs, and her favorite and only pair of knee high converse. It was a present she had received from Ulquiorra just a few month’s before when they had been sent on their first stealth mission together. She opened the door of her senpai’s room, with out knocking – something she should have done when it comes down to common courtesy. “Sen-”

Yokozuki stopped, gazing at Ulquiorra’s beautifully well-built back. He turned his head, his jet black hair sweeping over his shoulders and piercing green eyes illuminated by his pale skin. “Hmm? What is it ‘Zuki-chan?”

He turned full body. Yokozuki covered her mouth with her hand to hide her blushing face for his bare chest made so happen. It was the first time she had seen so much of him so it was only a natural that she blushed. “Don’t make me ask twice.” Ulquiorra warned.

“It’s nothing… senpai.” She said choking on her words, and turned away as he buttoned up his white shirt though leaving sure to leave the top button up done. Yokozuki couldn’t help thinking of how attractive he looked. Last time he wore it she felt nothing, but now it was as if some merciless puppet master was toying with her heart. “Senpai…”

“Yes…?” He answered stepping in front of her. Ulquiorra was only a head taller than her, though at this moment in time she felt much smaller.

“How would you know if you loved someone?” As soon as the words passed her lips she felt foolish.

Ulquiorra placed his hand on her chest, “It’s a feeling of pure bliss. You’d do anything for that person. A passion that burns so hot it could melt the ice around their despairing lover’s heart.” His words were sweat and kind, but quickly turned to poison with the words that left his mouth next. “Love is a worthless human emotion that only gets in the way of ones duty. A sickness that breeds in the heart, it spreads like vermin creating unnecessary feelings towards someone who many not want to receive those troublesome thoughts.” Yokozuki stared at the floor, feeling ashamed that she had even felt like burdening her dear senpai with something as horrible as love. “In the end… love only causes pain.”