Angel of Darkness

Rating: M

Summary: What would happen if Orihime chose to stay in Hueco Mundo? UlquiHime

Disclaimer: Well, I don't own any of these characters or anything Bleach-related. I'm just having my way with them…. *evil grin*

A/N: This story will be AU and it's rated M for a reason. Anyone who doesn't like Ulquihime or dark subject matter or sexual themes should not read this story. Otherwise, proceed and I really, really hope you enjoy it! XD

Chapter 1

" The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness." – Victor Hugo

Dark crimson stained pale, shaking fingers. Screams of horror sounded in the darkness, twisting into painful echoes. Heavy breathing ensued. Blood drenched hands clenched shut, digging nails into soft flesh. The world as Inoue Orihime knew it had transformed into hell.

" Kurusaki-kun!" the woman rasped, squeezing her eyes shut in agony. " Don't die, Kurusaki-kun! Please… don't…"

The darkness that surrounded her shaking body seemingly became heavier. It weighed down on her shoulders, pressing into her with a force she could not withstand. She crumbled, falling into the sticky red mess below her, drenching her hair and face in the blood of some unknown victim.

Helpless and alone, she felt her sanity failing. She reached, groped, searched for anything to grab onto. There was nothing, just a slippery plane of emptiness. Suddenly, as though a light had appeared above her, Inoue's hope was realized.

" Ulquiorra!"

His name fell from her lips easily. It was as though his name had been waiting the entire time to be spoken. And now, it echoed throughout the blackness growing louder and louder… and louder…

" Ulquiorra!"

Strong hands gripped her shoulders roughly and pulled her from the empty pit. The hysterical red head found herself being pulled upright in her bed in the dark, quiet room. Sweat dripped from her face as reality crashed down on her in large waves. Orihime released a shaky breath and closed her eyes for a moment. The deep voice that sounded beside her, however, startled her and her eyes snapped to the side of the bed.

Ulquiorra Schiffer stood next to the large white mattress, hands in his pockets and dull look on his face. His eyes however appeared to be curious.

" You were having a nightmare. You were calling for me," he said in a stony voice.

The young prisoner felt her face grow warm. How loud was she calling him? How many times? The look in her eyes grew frantic, and the blush on her face reddened deeper.

" I-I'm sorry…" she whispered, avoiding eye contact with her stiff warden.

" The guilt will pass."

Orihime's eyes widened as she stared down at her white sheets. How did he know? She bit her lip and closed her eyes. When she opened them again and turned to her side, Ulquiorra was gone.

The young woman's brow furrowed and she sank back into her bed with a heavy sigh.

" Ever since their battle…" she thought. " I haven't been able to sleep well."

As she stared at the ceiling above her, memories began to dance across it like a screen.

Flashback

The wind was gusty as it claimed its victims huddled inside the tower where Orihime stood. The fourth Espada and Ichigo Kurusaki stood feet apart, watching the beautiful girl with heavy eyes.

" That girl is already one of us… Even if you manage to rescue her, that won't change. "

Before another word was spoken, Ichigo whipped out his sword and they met in a fierce instant, hilts locked, their faces not six inches apart. " That's not for you to decide!" They strained fiercely, then Ichigo thrust his opponent backward, sending him against the wall with a tremendous crash that rattled the large stone walls.

There was a silence, the two opponents frozen for one brief moment. Then Ulquiorra Schiffer said, "You're right. It was Aizen's decision."

Ichigo did not respond, but merely lifted his zanpaktou, Zangetsu. The sword, so balanced to his hand that it seemed to carry its own weight, was as steady as if it were carved out of stone.

The adversaries quickly moved forward and the blades rang; then they disengaged and fell back. This was no simple tournament--- this was a fight to the death.

Time and time again, Ulquiorra's blade circled slowly, then like the strike of a snake it drove straight toward Ichigo's heart and each time the substitute shinigami used just enough pressure on Ulquiorra's blade to deflect it.

Once Ichigo saw his opportunity and made a lunge, but the Espada's long arm made it ineffective.

Ulquiorra was fighting by the book, and Ichigo was caught off guard when suddenly, instead of lunging in a classic thrust, the green eyed demon bent to one side and slashed viciously at Ichigo's leg. A sudden pain ripped through his thigh, and blood spattered the dust-covered ground, making it a deep crimson.

" A foretaste, human!" Ulquiorra said with the smallest hint of a smirk. Then he turned his emerald eyes to Inoue. She was on her knees, sobbing with her hands folded in desperation. He was taken aback when their eyes met, and the emotion that she conveyed moved him.

Pain was running through Ichigo's leg, sending its message through live nerves. He knew at once that he was cut to the bone, and was aware that if he put his full weight on that wounded right leg, he would go down. Backing up slowly, parrying Ulquiorra's now frantic thrusts, he saw that his opponent knew as much and was bearing down with all his might to end the fight with one final thrust. Ulquiorra didn't need to fear the human's blade, for the wounded leg meant that he could not thrust at all.

Then Ichigo felt the wall against his back, and saw instantly that Ulquiorra was uncoiling that long body of his, ready for the final attack that would pin Ichigo to the wall.

" Please, Ulquiorra!" Orihime screamed from the sidelines. " Please don't kill him, Ulquiorra!"

What happened next stunned everyone. The Espada froze. His gaze turned back to Inoue, who was looking at him with shock and fear.

Then an idea struck the shinigami.

As Ulquiorra had his head turned, Ichigo thought frantically before the last thrust came. Then the shinigami did what he had never done--what he had never seen done, and what he had never even heard of; and he did it smoothly as though he had practiced it every day of his life.

Ichigo's left hand flashed out, and grasped the tip of Ulquiorra's zanpaktou. He then twisted the blade to one side, slicing through his palm, cutting to the bone with each edge. But that was a small thing. At the same time, Ichigo simply lifted Zangetsu. Sensing at the last moment what had happened, Orihime opened her mouth to cry out, " No!"

But her cry came too late. The force of his lunge brought Ichigo in range, and he felt his blade penetrate through the membrane of Ulquiorra's chest, grate on bone, and then slide easily up to the hilt.

Ulquiorra stood there staring at Ichigo with a terrible brightness in his green eyes. Then he looked down at the hilt of Zangetsu nestled against his chest. For a long moment he seemed to be meditating what to do about it. He brought his ashen hand up, touched the hilt of Ichigo's zanpaktou tenderly---then his legs buckled and he sprawled limply to the ground, a bright crimson flood spreading out from beneath his body.

Ichigo stared at Ulquiorra's form, took one step forward on his wounded leg, and fell headlong, his legs tangled with the Espada's body.

He then faintly heard Orihime's impassioned screams as she frantically ran towards the two. What startled him to the core was that she quickly kneeled at the side of her captor, tears streaming down her frightened face. As he studied her in disbelief, she disappeared behind a veil of glowing orange. She was healing them both. He looked at his left palm, noting the white gristle and bone in the red slashes, then at the rate of which they disappeared.

The blood that pumped from his leg had diminished and he felt his leg begin to mend. When the pain had subsided and he felt normal again, he looked back at the girl he came to rescue. Her grey eyes were filled with tears, and her face was filled with intense concentration. Ichigo's gaze passed from her to Ulquiorra and noticed his wound was almost healed, but the Espada had not woken up. He turned his brown eyes back to the girl, and saw her bite her lip and a tear spilled over her left cheek.

" Inoue…" he gasped.

The red head's eyes snapped to him, and for an instant, the shinigami thought he saw anger in her silver orbs. Then her gentle voice broke the silence.

" Are you healed, Kurusaki-kun?"

The orange-haired substitute nodded his head slowly. When the orange shields disappeared from his sides, he stood, testing his weight. When he was satisfied, he confronted his friend.

" Inoue… What… Why are you healing this asshole?"

This time, he was sure she gave him a dirty look. Without saying anything, she stood, grabbed his uniform in fists and pushed him. Him being stronger and weighing more didn't prove to do much. Ichigo's brow furrowed regardless.

" Inoue, what have they done to you?"

Another tear streamed down her face as she glared at him. " They need me, Kurusaki-kun. I can't leave. I belong here now."

The shinigami's mind reeled at that point, and he began to feel slightly dizzy. Before he could question her, she spoke again. " I'm sorry you came here, but it was foolish of you, Kurusaki-kun. I came of my own free will. There is nothing else for me now." She then turned her gaze back to the Espada. " They need me," Inoue repeated.

Ichigo snorted, looking disgusted. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His stubbornness took the best of him, and he stepped forward to grab her. She knew better this time and rejected his attempt. He gasped in surprise as he was zapped by her shield. Their eyes met instantly and he searched for an explanation.

The wind picked up then and her gaze grew cold with it. " Leave me, Ichigo…" Her voice was drenched in bitterness, and Ichigo knew he had no choice.

Orihime sighed heavily one more time before rolling on her side. She closed her eyes tightly and pushed the memories from her mind. She had chosen to stay, and the guilt of it had haunted her every night since.

A/N: Well, what do you think? Would you continue reading this? Did you like it… at all???