The Kidnapping
Ulquiorra's grandfather, Geno Beltrame, was an Italian businessman. He owned a business that imported saffron, and on the side (or rather, behind the scenes) he did a bit of smuggling and set up some illegal gambling. He was no Don Corleone, but he was fairly influential and moderately wealthy.
One day, a local gang decided that they wanted to steal a bit of Geno's wealth. Instead of going about it the proper way, they took what they considered to be the easy route - they kidnapped Geno's only grandson (Ulquiorra) and held him for ransom.
Young Ulquiorra, who was fifteen at the time, was in the gang's custody for a total of four days. In that time, he was looked after by four men. And by "looked after," I mean abused. They made a sport of beating him silly, trying to make him scream or beg. But Ulquiorra was a prideful young man, and wouldn't give them the pleasure of seeing him cry out.
After a while, the men got tired of his brave facade. They beat him within inches of his life and, after they had celebrated by drinking a few bottles of cheap wine, decided that if they couldn't make him cry real tears, they'd give him the next best thing. They rounded up some India ink (they were in an warehouse that was stocked with loads of marvelous things), and told Ulquiorra that they were going to give him permanent tears. After cutting deep lines into his cheeks, they put ink in the wounds, and then sealed them shut by going over them with a searing hot knife blade. Afterwards, they laughed and laughed - delighted that they had given the stoic boy "clown tears" that would never fade away.
Although Geno Beltrame eventually rescued Ulquiorra (by killing the head of the gang that was responsible), Ulquiorra knew that he'd never forget those four days, or those four men. His captors had fled when they heard that their leader had been murdered, probably leaving town for good. But... Ulquiorra swore that some day he'd find them. And kill them. As a reminder (as if he really needed one), he got another tattoo - one that he received of his own volition.
The number four.
One day, a local gang decided that they wanted to steal a bit of Geno's wealth. Instead of going about it the proper way, they took what they considered to be the easy route - they kidnapped Geno's only grandson (Ulquiorra) and held him for ransom.
Young Ulquiorra, who was fifteen at the time, was in the gang's custody for a total of four days. In that time, he was looked after by four men. And by "looked after," I mean abused. They made a sport of beating him silly, trying to make him scream or beg. But Ulquiorra was a prideful young man, and wouldn't give them the pleasure of seeing him cry out.
After a while, the men got tired of his brave facade. They beat him within inches of his life and, after they had celebrated by drinking a few bottles of cheap wine, decided that if they couldn't make him cry real tears, they'd give him the next best thing. They rounded up some India ink (they were in an warehouse that was stocked with loads of marvelous things), and told Ulquiorra that they were going to give him permanent tears. After cutting deep lines into his cheeks, they put ink in the wounds, and then sealed them shut by going over them with a searing hot knife blade. Afterwards, they laughed and laughed - delighted that they had given the stoic boy "clown tears" that would never fade away.
Although Geno Beltrame eventually rescued Ulquiorra (by killing the head of the gang that was responsible), Ulquiorra knew that he'd never forget those four days, or those four men. His captors had fled when they heard that their leader had been murdered, probably leaving town for good. But... Ulquiorra swore that some day he'd find them. And kill them. As a reminder (as if he really needed one), he got another tattoo - one that he received of his own volition.
The number four.