A/N: Just a few drabbles, all inspired by either songs or art. I know this is abysmally short, but I don't see myself adding to it anytime soon, so here you go! Also, Ulquihime is one of the only reasons I still follow Bleach. Just saying.

I. You Fight Me: Breaking Benjamin

Control was everything. It was absolute, uncompromising, complete.

She was breaking it down piece by piece and there was nothing he could do about it. She was supposed to be the victim, the one who was slowly losing everything, the one who would fall to him.

But in the end, as the world faded around him and her tears glistened in the distance like a threat and a promise, he found himself falling instead, lifting his arm and watching it disintegrate between her straining fingers.

II. Invoking the Moonshield: lookingback7

He would die here, he knew it. But if it meant she would live, have enough time (just a moment, that's all it would take) to bring down the ancient enemy, he would do it. Without question, without hesitation, no second thoughts, no emotion.

He was made to stand here before this woman and offer up this mortal body as sacrifice. His sole purpose in this world was to protect her, his charge, his duty, his liege. It was what he had been born into a long line of warriors to achieve.

Yet as he heard her gasp from behind him and saw the realization in her eyes, there was a flash of helpless joy and love, surprised gratitude for everything, for her, before he faded down into the darkness.

III. Sophomore Slump/Comeback of the Year: Fallout Boy

It hadn't been easy for anyone after the war with Aizen was finally over. Orihime knew it wouldn't be, least of all for herself. At first the Soul Society had attempted to prosecute her, then switched abruptly to wanting to "research" her abilities, then finally were content to leave her in Urahara's care.

Her friends didn't understand (she had known they wouldn't) and they were all coping with something else as it was. And Ulquiorra...well, she had assumed he would hate her.

It had been a selfish, foolish act and he was the one who ended up with the consequences. So if anytime he spoke with her it was edged with a sharp passive-aggressiveness, she didn't care. She'd take what she could get. And if she snapped back occasionally just to see his eyes change shape (still the only way he showed emotion), what of it? Even if it made him stalk away or avoid her for a few day, he came back. He always came back for her.

One step at a time. After all, they still had a long journey ahead of them.

IV. Not Gonna Get Us: tATu

No. This was not meant to be.

If only it had gone differently.

"What is a heart? Would I see it if I tore open your chest? Would I see it if I cracked open your skull?"

A moment in time. Breaths held, eyes locked, questions unanswered...lost forever.

But if it had gone differently, I would've answered. Said it can't be seen or touched or sensed in any way. You're looking in the wrong place.

Perhaps it couldn't be helped. The moment experienced solely at death's door was the only way to truly see. To understand. To...feel.

And he would've understood. He would've dropped his hand, only to raise it again, reaching...so I could take it. This time.

In another time, another place, we might have stayed. As we were, no more or less. But would that be truly satisfying? Would it be enough?

And we would run, run far away, just the two of us! To a place with no war or enemies or sides at all; a place we could just be. Ourselves.

But...

It cannot be. Not here, not now, never again.

Left with ashes on my fingers and no where to put them in my heart.