No Place Like Home

Warning:Yaoi(boy x boy) don’t read if you don’t like it.



AN: Thank you to Jennifer, Golden Kitsune, Smexy Pie, and SassyCat. Also I kinda had a small brain storm last night. I know I said I my next in this series would be Hitsugaya x OC but then I thought since so many of you don’t like OC (don’t know why I love them) and I am writing for you guys as much as myself, I thought what about Hitsugaya x Hanatarou. Let me know what you guys think. I think writing Hanatarou would be a bit of a challenge for me. Nothing is in stone until I finish my two ongoing fics. All I can say about this chapter is my mind is still reeling from it. I usually don’t ask but I really want to know what you guys think about this chapter. Thank you for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter.



No Place Like Home



Chapter Fourteen



“Open the gates! We have an injured Grimmjow, don’tcha know.” screamed a loud booming voice. Dondochakka stood on the back of his parasitic worm, Bawabawa, a limp, barely breathing Grimmjow cradled in his arms.



“Ulquiorra…” Grim whispered through dry, cracked lips before dropping once more into unconsciousness.



“Hold on, kitty.” murmured Nel from Peche’s arms. She had packed the wounds with some of her excretions but in this form they were very mild and only delayed the spread of the poison. Her reiatsu was far too low to even attempt a change. Their only option had been to carry him to the citadel and hope there were others around that could help.



The trip, even on Bawabawa, had been three hours. Nel was worried. The last hour had shown a significant decline in Grim’s condition. His breathing had become even more shallow and his body temperature had gone through the roof. They taken turns wiping his brow with their limited water supply if for nothing other than comfort to the sickly man. He was lucky that they had even been in the area. If they had not recognized the flaring of reiatsu they might not have even investigated the ruined colony. Finding a weakened Grimmjow lying unconscious on the ground had not been what they were expecting.



“Nel, should we bust down the door?” asked Peche, “He will die soon with no help.” Nel didn’t have to decide, the gates began to open and a very angry looking Ulquiorra appeared before them. They had blinked their eyes and by the time their eyes were open again Ulquiorra was standing before them. Rage poured off of him in waves. Nel whimpered a little and snuggled closer to Peche. The weight of the reiatsu alone sent Peche to his knees. Dondochakka only remained standing by shear force of will.



“You have five seconds to tell me why he is in that shape before I destroy you all.” said Ulquiorra. It wasn’t the words or the emotionless tone. It was his eyes. The darkness behind those eyes was something of nightmares. This was a barely caged demon, one of the true Vasto Lorde, present before them. The green fire that flared in his eyes threatened to consume them.



“Ulquiorra-sama, we found him hurt and poisoned. We have to get him inside quickly, don’tcha know.” panicked Dondochakka. Ulquirorra said nothing but relieved the clown Arrancar of his precious burden. He could feel the fever radiating off of his lover. Ulquiorra was standing before the infirmary with in the blink of an eye. He didn’t have to call for help, the entire citadel was awake and on alert. Everyone had nearly gone into a panic from the darkness in Ulquiorra’s reiatsu.



“Stark…” yelled Halibel as she flashed past his room. “Ulquiorra-sama is going mad.” She barked orders to her fraccion as they exited their own rooms. Most of her fraccion were talented somewhat with healing, a benefit lately with no steady healer, so she had them follow her towards Ulquiorra’s signal. Stark burst from his room and followed his friend. He didn’t know what set Ulquiorra-sama off but whatever it was there would be hell to pay.



Halibel stopped abruptly causing those trailing behind her to run into her. Stark was beside her a moment later and his heart hit the basement. There standing in front of the infirmary was Ulquiorra, an extremely pale Grimmjow held reverently in his arms. It was obvious that Grim was in very bad shape. Halibel was the first to come to grips with the sight.



“Put him on that table.” she barked to Ulquiorra, trying to ignore the pain in her lord’s eyes. This was not how it was supposed to be. She ripped the makeshift bandages from his sides and paled at the sight. The jagged cuts on his sides oozed pus and poison. Normally, this was the shape of someone that had been infected for several days, but the cuts looked fresh.



“Dear Gods…” she whispered. Ulquiorra heard her and looked up sharply.



“Heal him…NOW” he ordered. The harshness in his tone snapped her out of her thoughts. She had never in her existence as an Espada heard Ulquiorra raise his voice in such a manner. His whole demeanor seemed off but she brushed away the thought.



“I…can’t.” she whispered. “My skills in healing are no where near the level needed to heal this.” Halibel paled when Ulquiorra lifted his gaze from his lover. The despair she saw nearly crippled her.



“I will help.” said Nel from the doorway. The tiny girl walked in, her frame belying the true knowledge she possessed. The girl began to rummage through shelves and cabinets until she came across what she was seeking. Gulping down the pink colored liquid from the vile, Nel began to shiver. Her reiatsu exploded and the room was filled with pink smoke. The smoke faded and Neliel stood before them.



“Smart bastard Syazel.” she murmured as she stepped towards where Grimmjow lay. She saw how they all looked at her and tilted her head to the side in thought. “You didn’t think Syazel had that much energy naturally did you?” Halibel blushed and Stark glared, he didn’t even want to think what Syazel did with all that energy.



“Poor kitty, I am sorry I didn’t have the energy to help you.” she whispered. Grim remained unconscious. As she set to work analyzing his injuries, he began to convulse violently, his body arching high off the examination table. Halibel and Neliel attempted to hold him to keep him from falling from the table. The convulsions seemed to go on forever. When they stopped, he wasn’t breathing. Ulquiorra slowly began to back from the room, the light in his eyes began to fade into something much darker. Stark glanced sharply at Ulquiorra. He recognized that darkness and it boded ill for everyone.



“He’s not breathing Neliel” cried Halibel as they both began chest compressions to attempt to restart his heart. Each pushing energy into him. Ulquiorra flashed away to the outside of the structure. He felt the madness taking over his very being. The madness had been staved when Aizen had converted him from Vasto Lorde to Arrancar but now it was loose again. He fell to his knees outside the citadel and screamed, his reiatsu flared darkly around him. This was why he always held himself apart from everyone, this was why he tried not to care. He had opened his soul to another and his pain was now eating away at whatever humanity he had obtained. His mind was breaking once again. The darkness began to overwhelm him.



“Ulquiorra-sama” cried Stark from behind him. Ulquiorra whirled around and Stark felt his eyes widen. Ulquiorra’s form, for a moment took on that of the true Vasto Lorde, complete with a full mask and piercing red eyes. There had only been three true Vasto Lorde to Stark’s knowledge. One didn’t survive the transformation and the other went mad. Aizen had him destroyed because he was unable to be controlled. If Ulquiorra was converting back he had to be rendered immobile immediately.



With out even having to order her, Lilinette attacked Ulquiorra drawing his attention from Stark. Ulquiorra attacked at her like a demon possessed intent on killing. She would not survive long and Stark knew he had to act fast. Utilizing every bit of speed he possessed, he flew towards his leader praying that Lilinette survived. Drawing his zanpakuto from its sheath, Stark brought the hilt down hard on the uncovered part of Ulquiorra’s skull. The man stopped his assault of Lilinette and stood still for a moment before collapsing against Stark. The red faded from his eyes and were once again the stunning green before rolling back into his head.



“Stark-sama?” asked Lilinette, her breath coming in pants. She had seen her death in those emotionless eyes. The anger and rage had left him until all that had remained had been a monstrous killing machine. Her own hands wouldn’t stop shaking. She had known Ulquiorra-sama was powerful but she had never realized just how much so until tonight.



Stark said nothing. It was not his place to discuss with her the workings of Ulquiorra’s soul. Scooping up the smaller man, Stark walked slowly in the building. Taking Ulquiorra to his bedroom, Stark laid his broken leader on the bed. He noticed something lying among the sheets. It was a crumpled jacket that obviously belonged to Grimmjow. It seems that Ulquiorra kept it in the bed with him. Stark took the jacket and wrapped Ulquiorra’s limp hands around it. It would no doubt provide him some comfort while he rested. Stepping from the room, Stark saw Halibel nearly collapse against him.



“He’s dead isn’t he?”



“He’s not dead yet, but he’s not out of the woods yet. His body is so weak its barely fighting. I think Ulquiorra is the only one that will be able to rally Grimmjow and now he’s half mad with grief.” she answered. They walked towards the infirmary slowly, talking in low voices and going over their options. If Grimmjow died, there was no doubt in either mind that Ulquiorra would have to be put down. He would not survive the loss. The rampage that he would cause would be that of epic proportions. Neither wanted that to happen but they had to be realistic.



“How is he Neliel?” asked Stark as they both approached the green haired former Espada. She lifted sad eyes.



“Kitty-kun, is dying. He isn’t trying to fight. Its like he has given up. I can heal the body but the soul, I can not.” she said before her body suddenly shimmered and once again she was in her smaller form. Collapsing against Dondochakka, whom was sitting on the floor in the hallway.



“What can we do?” asked Stark. Halibel thought for a few moments.



“We need to bring Ulquiorra here now. If Grimmjow is going to die I want them together in his last moments.” she said.



“He’s unconscious, neither will feel the presence of the other.”



“Don’t be so sure. I’ll have my fraccion bring him here.” She turned and issued the orders. Several minutes later they returned with the still unconscious Ulquiorra in their arms. Halibel directed them to place him on the second bed and pushed the two beds together. She picked up Grim’s hand and felt his thready pulse. Taking both hands, she linked their fingers together. Perhaps the presence of his lover would send the blue haired man into the afterlife more easily.



Grimmjow’s heart rate stuttered for a moment and Halibel thought this might be the end. Amazingly enough, it began to steady out. His breathing eased and his body appeared to be resting more comfortably. Her brows shot into her hairline. Ulquiorra also seemed to be resting easier.



“Go rest, I’ll stay with them.” said Stark. She started to refuse but the look he gave her changed her mind. With exhaustion weighing heavily on her body, Halibel slowly made her way back to her room and collapsed on the bed in an exhausted sleep. Stark remained at the bedside. His eyes watched the monitors though in all honesty he had no idea what they meant. All he knew was that Grimmjow was still breathing and at that moment, that was all that mattered to him.



Ulquiorra slowly opened his eyes. He scanned the room and realized it was the infirmary. Turning his head, he saw his most precious person lying beside him, their hands linked. Grim had color in his cheeks and his breathing was deep and regular. Ulquiorra released a relieved sigh. Sitting up but refusing to release the hand that he held, Ulquiorra glanced at the dozing Stark. The man could obviously sleep anywhere. His head was propped on a instrument table and his feet on the foot of the bed.



“Don’t bother pretending to be asleep. You were awake the moment you heard me shift on the bed.” said Ulquiorra. Stark sighed, the green eyed man never missed anything.



“What did I do last night?” he asked. Stark arched a brow. He knew the actual question was more like, ‘Who all did I kill last night?’



“I incapacitated you early so the only damage is minor. Well, and the fact that you frightened Lilinette so bad that she refused to sleep alone.” he answered with a chuckle. Ulquiorra kept his eyes on Grim, watching every rise and fall of his chest.



“You had me worried last night.”



“I need to be alone, Stark.” said Ulquiorra. Stark sighed again but figured if Grim’s breathing was easy then there was no need for him to stay. He wanted to find a more comfortable spot anyway.



Ulquiorra watched Grim sleep. His hand reached up of its own volition and traced along the bony structure of his mask remnants. Leaning down, Ulquiorra placed his lips near Grim’s ear.



“You are the only thing that is keeping me from becoming a nightmare for both our world as well as the Living World and Soul Society. You are the light that keeps my darkness at bay. Do you think you can handle such a burden?” asked Ulquiorra. Grim’s eye lashes fluttered and tired blue eyes looked up into green.



“Hmph…about…time…you …acknowledged…my…greatness.” said Grim weakly. Ulquiorra closed his eyes at the sound of the voice. It was weak and he could barely hear him. To him though, it sounded like heaven.



“Don’t let it go to your head.” said Ulquiorra, his voice once again monotonous. His control once again in place. The darkness sealed away for the moment. His most precious person, his light, would heal. Already, the calm was returning to his soul.



“Tsk…should…have…known…it wouldn’t…last.” retorted with a small breathless laugh, that resulted in a pained grimace cross his face. Ulquiorra laid his head near Grim’s and kept their hands linked. For now, he only wanted his lover to rest and heal. The rest would come later.



TBC~