Disclaimer: I do not own bleach or anything. All the characters belong to its rightful owner.

Summary: The war with Aizen has ended. Aizen has been defeated but now Orihime must pay for going to Hueco Mundo. She is being held captive by soul society and is getting ready to be executed. But not if the last Espada has something to say about it.

Until The Day I Die

He was running. He could feel the wind pressing against his face as he ran. Well, of course, the wind in Soul Society was much different than the wind in the human world. For that matter, it was even different than the wind in Hueco Mundo. Of course any wind in that desolate place was always created abnormally and was usually the initial sign that someone or something was going to die.

The man who was running decided he hated the wind. It was a formidable pressure that slowed his speed. Ulquiorra Schiffer could not understand why he was running in the first place. His green, tear-dropped eyes could not see what point there was to saving the girl but his own gut feeling was telling him he must save her. His mind said only one thing. He must save Orihime Inoue, the princess who became the sun to the desolate Hueco Mundo with its never-ending dark.

How did it ever come to this? He silently thought to himself. He, of course, knew the answer. It happened the day she exposed her powers. The end of his life as he knew it began when he witnessed that event and it only continued when he was ordered to kidnap her.

Everything about her just mind-boggled him. How she could still have faith in her friends when it was quite clear that there was no hope that they would ever win. How she could still be in love with that Kurosaki human when from what he witnessed the boy just unknowingly tears her down every time she's around him.

Ulquiorra Schiffer just smiled to himself. That ridiculous soul reaper boy was also probably in Soul Society as well trying to save the princess, his friend, as well. It didn't really matter to him, Ulquiorra Schiffer, the number 4 espada, he alone would save Orihime. He was consumed with that one thought as he continued running. He remembered where he had hidden himself when he witnessed Aizen's defeat. He was hidden alongside Grimmjow he would die very soon no doubt.

Flashback:

The two espada were hidden in the forest when they saw Aizen fall. Ulquiorra had no sympathy for the Former captain really. He even saw that there was no way the plan was going to work but he decided to help Aizen because it gave him a meaning to his existence. He watched Aizen and the other two former captains fall. But something happened that he didn't expect. His sun, the beautiful princess, was then apprehended. He heard the entire conversation.

"Orihime Inoue, it is time that you came back with us! You must pay for the sins you have committed by coming here in the first place! Because of your stupidity you almost caused the end of all the worlds as we know it!" said the old captain. For once Ulquiorra Schiffer didn't know what to think. He had thought that when Aizen would be destroyed that Orihime would continue to live her life as a human. Happy again, which, he decided, was how he liked her best. Of course he would linger on in the human world and watch over her. Make sure that she always stayed happy and if any existence were to threaten that, then he would eliminate the existence. He never really thought that Soul Society would prosecute her over something that was quite obviously a kidnapping situation.

Then the orang-haired soul reaper decided to pipe up.

"Hey! Wait a minute! She doesn't need to be apprehended. I thought that we had proven that she was really kidnapped! You can't make her atone for her sins because she hasn't committed any. The only thing she's done wrong is-" but suddenly Ichigo Kurosaki was cut short by blade suddenly by his throat. It was Byakuya Kuchiki's blade.

"Boy, say no more. Say anymore and you will only make matters worse for your friend," he said cooly.

"But-"

"Ichigo, don't worry about me," Orihime suddenly piped up. "You're always so kind to me Ichigo and it's you're kindness that is blocking you from seeing the truth. The truth is, I must atone for my sins. I left for Hueco Mundo because I thought it was the only way to save you and my naivety almost cost the world its balance and my closest friends were nearly wiped out because of that choice. I understand Ichigo that it is my fault and I cannot fight this. Good-bye Ichigo and good-bye everyone." She suddenly looked towards the forest and Ulquiorra could have sworn she was looking at him. With that Orihime smiled and disappeared to soul society.

Even as Ulquiorra was watching this he knew one thing.

"I cannot let her be executed."

"Why the hell not? She's just a human. A very interesting human, but a human nonetheless. They all die at some point," Grimmjow managed to cough out. "Why should it matter so much to you whether she lives or dies?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you worthless scum. Stay here unless you really want to die." Huh…Stupid Grimmjow. I have to save her because she's become my new reason. If she were to die then there would be no point in existing. With that last thought he began to prepare for his journey to Soul Society. And besides, its my fault she's in this mess to begin with. Orihime Inoue, I promise I will find away to rid yourself of the sorrow you hold deep within you.

End Flashback.

And so Ulquiorra kept on running through Soul Society to protect his reason for existence. Until the day I die, I'll always be there so no one will destroy you!

So what did you all think? I know I have other stories floating around but I needed to get this one in the air before I forgot about it. If you're confused about the whole prosecuting thing don't worry the reasons will be explained shortly.

As always review and tell me what you think! TA-TA!