Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Differences

Chapter One: Places

Renji's POV

"What!?" I could not help but shout in a fit at my Captain's indifferent face as he sat cool, calm, and collected at his desk.

My right eye twitched uncontrollably as I stood on the other side of Captain Kuchiki's large, oak desk; my hands out in front of me and up turned as if I was pleading…maybe I was.

I could not believe my ears – what my 'gracious,' 'caring' Captain just instructed me to do. I had to hear it again to make sure I was not crazy and that Kuchiki was!

"Must I repeat everything I say to you, Lieutenant Abarai?" Byakuya replied icily.

Swallowing a bit of pride, I nodded.

Sighing, he continued, "As you may have already heard, Ulquiorra Schiffer and Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, previously the Cuatro and Sexta Espada of the Arrancar have left the Arrancar in order to join us as Soul Reapers. Grimmjow has been assigned to Squad 11, and it was decided in the last Captain's meeting that Ulquiorra shall join us in Squad 6."

By this time, my angry expression had given way to a more pissed-off, agitated-at-the-world look. I could not help but feel that way; this was NOT okay with me. I, for one, was not in favor of this little 'arrangement' to accommodate our ex-enemies. It's great that they have seen the light and the error of their ways and all that mess, but did they really have to come here?

Now, just getting annoyed by the tiniest of things, such as the color of Byakuya's scarf, I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest.

Captain Kuchiki, noticing how I've somewhat simmered down from wanting to tear the paint off the walls, took this as a sign to finish his explanation.

"Ulquiorra's skill is well-known, and is definitely among the greatest in the Soul Society. To have him as a part of our Squad is a huge advantage," Kuchiki went on about my new 'comrade", as he picked up a small paintbrush and expertly dipped it in a nearby black ink container.

This conversation was starting to make me sick; now I had to hear Captain Kuchiki gush about this guy…

Snapping me out of my bitter thoughts, Captain quickly added, "Therefore, I am hereby making Ulquiorra a second Lieutenant under me. He shall share the same rank as you."

"But Captain Kuchiki! That's not fair!" I hollered; letting my discipline go right out the window at this point.

I know I probably sounded like a child, but I didn't care. All I could think about was how hard I've worked- everything I had done and gone through over the years so I could have this position…and how the very same thing is just handed to this Schiffer clown on a silver platter. This was definitely one of those rare times I would have loved nothing more than to deliver a good, swift punch to my Captain's throat…but that's beside the point.

Captain Kuchiki took one glance as my tightly-balled up fists that now hung down at my sides – so tight that if I had coal in my palms, I'm pretty sure I could have turned them into diamonds- before nonchalantly stating, "As fair or unfair as this all may seem, I am making it your responsibility to oversee Ulquiorra's adjusting into his new role." He finished off this condemning statement with a flick of his wrist as he completed the last of the document that he had been filling out this entire time.

How could he do this to me? Haven't I done everything he has asked of me and then some? Have I not earned his respect by now?

Feeling my anger once again turn into a fuming bitterness, I desperately tried to regain some of my lost self-discipline before I said something I should not have. As calmly as could manage, I asked, "So, what – I am supposed to baby-sit this freakshow for a while? Make sure he's playing nicely with the other kids?"

Obviously not a fan of my dry antics, Kuchiki all but slammed his paintbrush down on the desk and glared at me…hard; making me gulp from receiving the full force of his stern, ash-colored eyes. Jeez, I had always known that Byakuya was an intimidating man, but now it occurred to me that he was also quite scary when he wanted to be.

"Listen, Abarai, you help him find his place here, or I'll be putting you in yours!" he said just as sharply as the daggers with which he was pinning me to my spot.

Shit.

I let my fingers relax from being so harshly coiled up- my palms were grateful- and let out a defeated sigh. So this was my duty; this was why he had called me here in the first place. Fine. As much as I know I'm going to hate it, there isn't any way around it now.

"Yes, Captain Kuchiki. I won't let you down," I replied earnestly with a bow.

Already my mind was a blank about what exactly I should do, but I knew I also respected (and feared) the Captain too much to screw this up. It's better to swallow blood than pride, right? Just take the hit and endure. I can do this…stupid Ulquiorra.

I barely even know him and already I dread him.

Wonderful start.

Grumbling, I made my way outside; already feeling some of my anxiety lift from the cool, fresh air that I let envelope me. I inhaled deeply though my nose and exhaled slowly out my mouth; allowing my head to clear and tense muscles to relax.

It was nearing nightfall- that in-between hour where the sky is having a fight with itself to stay orange and not give into the dark blue just yet. Beautiful. Letting my eyes lower from the above canvas of brilliant color to ground level, I saw a lone figure up ahead a ways…just standing there.

His back was to me, but there was not mistaking him. Long white hakama and jacket, jet black hair – it was Ulquiorra. I blinked at the solemn form ahead of me; wondering what he was doing. He was not even next to anything; just standing perfectly still with his hands in his pockets. I quirked up an eyebrow as such an odd sight.

Was he looking at the buildings out in the distance?

"That's a good question to ask him, idiot. You should probably start trying to talk to him anyways. You have orders and all…" I begrudgingly thought to myself.

I briefly grimaced to myself before making my way up to the pale ex-Arrancar. I stared at the ground as I closed the distance between us, just continuously reminding myself to ask him if he is staring at the buildings. I did not know why, but I was nervous. He made me nervous. Just the thought of doing this made me nervous.

About seven feet away, I finally looked up at him; catching just in the time his extremely long coat-tails flutter wildly behind him as a rough breeze pushed past us. He still had not acknowledged my presence, but I knew that he knew that I was there.

Slower now, I kept my eyes trained on him as I rounded my steps to come up on his right.

Suddenly, as I was just about at his side, Ulquiorra looked over his shoulder at me. Instantly his eyes found mine; holding me where I was.

I was completely frozen in place; could not move even if I had tried. Those eyes of his…the most brilliant emerald green I had ever seen. God, and he looked so sad, so down about something like he could have cried right then and there.

As quickly as it happened, it was gone as he turned his head back to look out in front again; thereby releasing their spell on me. Gulping down my initial shock of such an enthralling gaze, I reached my target spot at his right side at last.

If I had thought that I was nervous before, I was sorely mistaken, as I was an inch away from turning right back around and sprinting as fast as I could to get away from him.

Ulquiorra's deep, distant eyes definitely…did something to me.

By guts and miracles, I managed to ask in a normal voice, "What're you looking at?"

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye- just in time to see his thin, white lips part as he silently sighed; seemingly lost in his own thought. He was so pale; white as a sheet, but his unnatural skin tone only served to bring out those pleading eyes of his even more.

"The Seireitei," Ulquiorra answered finally; his voice was dark and velvety, but quietly spoken.

"What do you mean?" I inquired about his overly simple, quizzical reply…also wanting to hear his calm voice again.

By this time, the battle in the sky was over; rendering everything wrapped in thick, navy blue, which made the former Cuatro Espada practically glow amidst the peaceful night. It didn't help matters that he also always wore white; making him, quite literally, white on white. The subtle hints of black; such as his hair, sash, and the inside of his jacket, contrasted perfectly with all of his white…making him just look…amazing.

"The Soul Society is so different from Hueco Mundo," he began as he continued watching the sun say its final goodbyes to us and welcome the moon, "…much busier."

I chuckled at that; mentally agreeing that life truly was never dull in the Soul Society, but hushed up once I sensed that he was going to continue.

"Also, there is no sand here. Back in Hueco Mundo, I realized a long time ago that I actually had a lot in common with the desert sand. Just as the grains of sand had no choice but to be moved from the stronger current, I…was only created to be manipulated by a stronger entity. Like the sand, I was only ever moved to abide to the stronger one's whims," Ulquiorra explained almost remorsefully, save for his expert skill at appearing quite emotionless.

As void of emotions as Ulquiorra's somber face appeared to be, I could not help but feel completely heavy-hearted for him.

Created just to be manipulated?

Aizen.

He was speaking of Aizen and the slave-like treatment he must have received from him.

Though the subject of Aizen typically made me feel physically ill, Ulquiorra's words and the glum meanings were the only things that were affecting me at the moment.

Without really thinking it through, I raised my left hand and gently placed it on his right shoulder, squeezing softly with my fingers. Again, he turned to look directly at me, and again I felt my breath catch in my throat as a result.

I offered him a small, sympathetic smile and said, "Hey, but you did make a choice."

I watched those cat-like pupils of his trail slowly downward – he obviously taking in my words – before re-administering our solid eye contact.

"Yes," he acknowledged simply before sliding his eyes shut and turning on his heels to finally head back.

I removed my hand from his small shoulder and watched him sink father and farther away into the night as he walked home.

For the second time that night, I took a deep breath of the cool, crisp night air (this time it was borderline cold) and trudged toward home myself. Though I could have said more to him in regards to his painful story, I think we both understood what exactly I meant from it.

Unlike the sand's inability to choose where it goes and ends up, Ulquiorra chose to come here – a complete disregard to his 'stronger entity', as a matter of fact.

I smiled to myself as I reached my apartment.

Maybe Ulquiorra did deserve to be a Lieutenant after all…

Author's Note: More to come later. Working on it. Leave a comment and tell me what you think so far. Thanks and kindest regards.