AN: This story is named after the song "Simply Deep" by Kelly Rowland ft. Solange Knowles. If you haven't heard it, download it or something. It's a pretty song and it kinda sums up the whole Ulquiorra-Orihime relationship.

Disclaimer: I'm only gonna do this once. I don't own Bleach; Tite Kubo does. If I did, Aizen would be ugly on the inside AS WELL as out. It's unfair that he's actually somewhat decent-looking (he looks like an evil Superman) and such a douche. Only the ones worthy of redemption should be good-looking (Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, Gin, Starrk, Harribel, etc.). And Shinji and Gin would NEVER fight each other. At all. Seriously, THAT fight would never happen. Whose idea was that?

Oooo… I cannot WAIT to see how Aizen gets his... Seriously, I want Shinji or Urahara or someone-whose-life-Aizen-destroyed to kill him. Hell, GIN would do. Yeah, Gin would be beyond SWEET.

But, to the story.


Simply Deep

Chapter 1: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face


Orihime Inoue chewed on her pencil idly. She was doing it again. She was wishing she was someone else. No. She was not wishing she was someone else. She already knew who the SOMEONE ELSE was. They were only a few feet away from her.

I wish I was Rukia Kuchiki, Orihime thought dismally.

She was watching Rukia Kuchiki sit at the lab table across from her with the guy she'd had a crush on since freshman year at Karakura University: Ichigo Kurosaki. Orihime was not usually the type to be jealous of another person. She did not have it in her to have such feelings. Besides, Ichigo and Rukia were like her best friends. They were not at fault for falling in love. Orihime could not blame them for finding happiness in one another.

Doesn't mean I have to be happy about it, she thought almost bitterly. She blinked and looked down at her notes. Where did that thought come from? That isn't... how I'm supposed to think. Rukia and Ichigo are my friends. Orihime, I thought you were over this.

"Orihime!"

Orihime looked up and saw Rukia coming over to her. She put the pencil back in her mouth and immediately began nibbling as the violet-eyed girl stopped in front of her.

"Hey. We were going to get something to eat after class. Do you want to come?" Rukia asked. She glanced down at Orihime's notes. "You couldn't get that equation either, huh? No one's been able to. Not even Uryuu."

"No, I couldn't. I'm still working on it. About going out, I think I'll just go on back to the dorm. I have a lot of studying to do," Orihime said. Rukia's face saddened for a moment but she nodded. "Sorry, Rukia."

"It's fine. We'll do it some other time. See you back at the dorm," Rukia said. She turned and left.

Orihime watched her leave with Ichigo, Yasutora Sado (Chad), Uryuu Ishida, and Tatsuki Arisawa. Tatsuki was the only one who gave Orihime a lingering glance. Orihime just waved before looking back down in her notebook. Sighing, she completed the equation, tore it out of her notebook, and walked over to a big box in the front of the room. She folded the paper into a star and tucked into the box. Then she left, leaving the lab empty.


It was another mediocre day in the mediocre world of a mediocre guy named Ulquiorra Cifer. Well, Ulquiorra considered himself mediocre. He considered his life mediocre. In a lot of ways, it probably was. He considered himself just a normal guy and nothing more.

After all, he was just a student in a college that spent more time working FOR the college than studying for his classes. It was a miracle that Ulquiorra found time for the essentials to keep himself alive.

It was Monday afternoon and he had exactly one hour to himself before he had to work. He would use that hour wisely and try to study in his dorm.

Hopefully that blue-haired trash is not in there, Ulquiorra thought morbidly. He was burdened with having a boisterous, brash, brazen, and blockheaded athlete as his roommate. Usually, they tried to stay as far away as possible from one another. However, when they did see each other, insult after insult was thrown. They had come to blows once and much to the blue-haired athlete's surprise, the slight, yet strangely muscular Ulquiorra had held his own far better than expected.

At the moment, Ulquiorra concentrated on crossing the street ahead of him. He saw a car coming from his left and stopped. A person walked up next to him, thoroughly engaged in a thick book. Ulquiorra spared them a glance, wondering if they were going to stop on the edge. He noticed that the person had not noticed the oncoming vehicle, and neither had the driver of said vehicle.

Ulquiorra was not one for acts of gallantry or anything of the like. He preferred to meld into the background. That was where he belonged. He had always seen that as his place of residence; his comfort zone. However, if he saw something that was could be prevented with his help, he would help. He was not cold. At least HE did not think so.

So that is why Ulquiorra found himself reaching for the unobservant girl with her nose in the book. He tried to pull her back. She apparently wanted to go forward. A lot. By the time he got her to completely turn around, they had basically switched places, with him facing her.

Their eyes only met for a moment: gray and green. Her eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen. While she grew frantic, he stayed completely calm and appeared to accept the current situation as inevitable.

Troublesome woman, Ulquiorra thought as the speeding car slammed into his right side. Curiously, he only felt it for a moment before completely blacking out.


Orihime dropped the book she was carrying. Gasps and screams were heard all around her. There was the screeching of tires, signaling that the car did indeed stop, just with something either on or under it. She turned her head. Forgetting about the book, she ran towards the scene, pushing people out of the way. The driver of the car had already gotten out to see who they had hit. Orihime went around to the front and gasped.

He was bloody. He was bruised. He was broken. But for some reason, Orihime still found him beautiful. She slowly reached forward and checked his pulse. Her heart skipped a beat.

Weak. But he's still alive, she thought. She turned and faced the gathering crowd.

"Does someone have a phone? Anyone? Call the paramedics! He's still alive!" Orihime screamed. She looked back down at the fragile, pale man who had saved her from being in his position. She felt her eyes welling with tears.

He's caught under a convertible. Why? Because of me. If he dies, I'll never forgive my...

"Stop... woman," a dry, pained voice said. Orihime's eyes shot open. He was speaking to her. His eyes were slightly open. "Don't... cry." He closed his eyes again just as the sirens of the paramedics could be heard. Orihime's eyes widened.

"No! Stay awake! Stay with me!" she yelled. Then she was pulled out of the way.

Orihime watched as they removed the mystery man with brilliant green eyes and black hair from under the convertible. They placed him on a gurney and wheeled him off towards an ambulance. From what Orihime could see, he had an oxygen mask on. That meant he was still alive... for now. She was watching the ambulance drive off when a police officer came up to her.

"Did you see what happened, miss?"

"Yes," Orihime said.

"From the beginning, please."

"He pulled me back," Orihime whispered. The officer looked at her curiously.

"What?"

"He pulled me back," Orihime repeated. "I'm the one who's supposed to be on their way to the hospital. I wasn't paying attention and he grabbed me and..." Orihime trailed off. She wiped her eyes. The officer nodded. After a few moments silence, the officer tapped Orihime again. "Yes?"

"Do you want to go see if he's okay?"

"Uh... okay."


Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez walked into the dormitory that he shared with a certain green-eyed senior like himself. He found it quite odd that it did not look as if Ulquiorra had been home at all that day. Normally he leaves his books before he went to work.

Wonder where the little punk is. It's not like him to break from routine, Grimmjow thought as he popped open the can to a soda. He sat down on the sofa, chugging away and turned on the television. He was in no way prepared for the news bulletin.

"... senior Ulquiorra Cifer was struck by a speeding car today..."

Grimmjow spat all of the soda he was drinking out. He did not like Ulquiorra and he was sure Ulquiorra did not like him. Nonetheless, there was a reason the two shared the same dormitory. It certainly was not because they were best friends. Grimmjow grabbed his keys and reached for the remote.

"Give me the hospital name!" Grimmjow yelled at the television.

"... is at Karakura Memorial Hospital..." Grimmjow ran out of the room.


Orihime sat outside in the emergency waiting area. It had been hours since the accident. She had just been told that the guy who had risked his life for her was named Ulquiorra Cifer. She had absolutely no idea who he was. All she knew was that he threw himself in front of a car to save her life and now he was hanging on to his.

I wonder if he has any family. They said they put something on the news about the accident. Maybe someone will come for him, she thought.

Orihime was so lost in thought that she completely missed someone in blue scrubs walk up to her. After a few jabs to her shoulder, she finally realized that someone was standing over her. She looked up and saw the tall woman.

"I'm sorry. I was just... thinking," Orihime said quietly. The woman nodded.

"I get that a lot. I'm Dr. Isane Kotetsu. I run the trauma center here at Karakura Memorial. Are you here about Ulquiorra Cifer?" she asked.

Orihime did not know how to answer that exactly. She was not family, but so far she was the only one who was there for him. So, Orihime simply nodded in confirmation. She turned and led Orihime down the halls, talking all the while.

"Considering what he's been through, he's lucky to be alive. A few broken ribs, a broken leg, a broken arm, and several other injuries are just the start. The real work was trying to stop all the internal bleeding he had. His lungs, his stomach, and his kidney. But, Dr. Unohana is the best." Isane came to a stop at a window.

Orihime turned and looked inside. There on a hospital bed was bandaged man. Orihime bit her lip. He looked horrible. But the best thing was that he was alive. He also appeared to be asleep. She felt Isane tap her. Orihime turned to see a shorter woman approaching them. She had a small smile on her face.

"You are here to see Mr. Cifer?" she asked. Orihime nodded. "I'm Dr. Retsu Unohana. I did a lot of the surgery on Mr. Cifer. He..."

"Will he recover? He looks so... bad," Orihime blurted out. Unohana simply smiled.

"He should recover. He'll just need a lot of time. That accident was really rough on him. I am told you were directly involved in the accident, Miss..."

"Orihime Inoue. Yes, I was. He pulled me out of the way." Orihime looked back at Ulquiorra. "I would be on that bed if it wasn't for him," she mumbled. Unohana nodded. "This is all my fault. I should've been paying more attention."

"No, it isn't, Miss Inoue. Things like this happen. Would you like to talk to him?" Unohana asked. Orihime blinked.

"But isn't he..."

"Doesn't mean he can't hear you," Unohana said with a smile. She pulled the door open for Orihime. Orihime nodded and entered the room slowly.

Isane looked at her superior and then at Orihime. The redhead was approaching the bed slowly and timidly. Isane jumped when she heard Unohana sigh. She looked down at her. A faint smile was on her face.

"Sweet, isn't it?" Unohana said suddenly.

"Huh?" Isane asked.

"Isane, you don't find guys like that every day." Unohana turned and walked away.


Orihime approached Ulquiorra on the bed. She quietly pulled up a chair and sat. He was so incredibly pale. He had been pale while they were on the street. Now that all the blood, dirt, and grime was washed away, he looked positively ghostly. Orihime took a deep breath a leaned forward, looking down at his still form.

"Hi. I'm Orihime. I'm the girl who you pulled back from the street. So, I guess it's my fault you're laying there, huh?" Orihime sighed. "I'm really, really sorry. I just wish there was some way I could..."

She was cut off by loud noises from outside the room. She froze as she heard the door open. Clunky footsteps were heard. Orihime turned her head. A tall, blue-haired man with sharp blue eyes was staring down at Ulquiorra. He crossed his arms, sighed, and shook his head. Then he seemed to notice that besides Ulquiorra, he was not alone in the room.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked gruffly. Orihime jumped and looked away.

"Orihime Inoue," she said quietly.

"You the reason the green-eyed monster is stuck this way?" he asked. Orihime nodded slowly, tears coming to her eyes.

Grimmjow seemed to notice that his words may have hurt the redhead sitting next to Ulquiorra's bed. She was sniffling and rubbing her face with the back of her hand. Rolling his eyes, he glanced around for the tissues. Finding the box on a table across the room, he walked over to the girl named Orihime and held them out to her. She looked up and took one.

"Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez," he said. Orihime nodded as she wiped her face. "So how do you know Ulquiorra?"

"I don't," she said. Grimmjow blinked.

"You don't know him? So why are you here?"

"If it wasn't for him, I'd be in his position or dead. I owe it to him to at least thank him." She turned her gray eyes on him. "Wouldn't you do the same? You're his friend, right?"

"We're roommates. We sorta grew up together, too. I kinda promised someone I'd look out for him." Grimmjow smirked. "Not really doin' a good job of that now, huh?" He noticed that Orihime was looking up at him with teary eyes again. He sighed to himself.

Is she gonna cry every five minutes? Damnit! he thought as he handed her another tissue. She nodded in thanks and blew her nose.

"Did they say when he'll wake up?" Grimmjow asked.

"No. But, I hope it's soon." Orihime looked back Ulquiorra's serene face. He looked as if nothing was wrong; as if he was simply sleeping. She heard Grimmjow walk towards the door. "Where are you going?"

"To get a snack? You want something? You look like you haven't eaten anything," he said. Orihime shook her head, but her stomach protested loudly. Grimmjow shook his head. "I'll bring you some chips."


Grimmjow walked down the hall towards the vending area. He could not believe Ulquiorra. This was a guy who would sooner throw him in front of a bus than pull him from getting hit.

That's a little harsh. He'd warn me about it, Grimmjow amended. Still, it's awfully strange that he just saves this girl out of nowhere. She seems awfully torn up about it. How do you not see a speeding car coming towards you? He could only imagine the daydreaming nature of the girl. She seemed like the type.

"Better call Harribel and give her the news. I'm gonna put that little punk back in the hospital because of this ass-chewing I'm about to receive from Harribel." He walked over to a pay phone.


Orihime rested her head on in her hand. She thought back to right before the accident. She had caught a glimpse of his eyes. They had no business being on someone with such pale skin. They were such a bright green; a defining feature on him. Those reptilian eyes would haunt her dreams if he never woke up. She shook her head and sat forward.

He'll wake up.

"I know he will," she whispered. "You hear that, Ulquiorra? You will wake up and you will meet me in earnest. And we will leave here. And I will buy you ice cream."


The first time ever I saw your face I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave.