Author: Mosh
Fandom: Bleach
Title: Watercolour
Pairing: Byakuya/Ulquiorra
Rating: G
Summary: Ulquiorra takes a look around Byakuya's house.
Disclaimer: These characters are property of Kubo Tite. No money being made, no copyright or trademark infringement intended.
A/N: This was written as a small gift for Akuni, on the occasion of her birthday, '08. It's a very rare pairing and probably reads as quite random to anyone who doesn't know Akuni's story yet. This fits in her 'verse, so I guess it could be considered a fan fic of a fan fic. :) To anyone still interested, consider it an AU in which Byakuya has taken Ulquiorra in under observation, post the Hueco Mundo arc.

Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks!

Although Ulquiorra concealed his reiatsu, Byakuya eventually found him in the study, inspecting a vase sitting atop a tall bureau. As he moved closer, Byakuya started picking up an air of cool curiosity radiating from the other man.

Stopping at Ulquiorra's side, Byakuya made sure to stand a respectable distance away, clasping his hands behind his back. “That is an underglazed Ming Dynasty vase,” he explained. “It dates from the Earth year 1468.”

Ulquiorra gave no indication he was listening, let alone particularly interested, which Byakuya found odd since the vase had apparently caught the arrancar’s sharp green eyes. They stood together in a strange but not uncomfortable silence for some time, until Ulquiorra turned slowly away.

“It was not the vase I was looking at,” he said in his customary matter-of-fact tone, before heading to the door, his tread so light he barely made a sound.

Originally, Byakuya’s own gaze had lit upon the precious china, but now his focus began to shift to the only other ornamentation nearby - a portrait in pale watercolour, set directly above the bureau. His wife Hisana had painted it for him and placed it there many years ago, and Byakuya had never been able to bring himself to take it down.

He allowed his eyes to linger on his own face, staring stoically back at him from the painting, before he glanced at the doorway, puzzled.

But Ulquiorra was already gone.

~Fin~