Orihime Inoue couldn't contain her smile as she made her way to school. Most people were bummed after the summer vacation, reluctant to go back to school, but she could never see why. She was just so excited to get back, where all her friends were waiting to see her again. Well, its not like she didn't see them during the summer; Ichigo, Chad, Uryu and Rukia always invited her to hang out, and Tatsuki came over to her house whenever she wasn't busy with her karate tournaments. But still, living by herself, she could get quite lonely sometimes, like something was missing. She didn't feel like that in school though, which was why she was so excited to get back.
"Orihime!" she whirled around and saw Tatsuki waving at her.
"Hi Tatsuki!" she said, happy to see her best friend.
"Well, guess summer's really over now." Tatsuki complained, though she looked just as happy as Orihime.
Together, they made their way to their first class.
There, they found all their other friends: Ichigo, Rukia, Chad, Keigo, Uryu, and Mizuiro. They chatted for a while and relayed all their various experiences during the vacation, Orihime contributing little, but content to be with them.
"Students. I realize you're all very happy to see each other again," the teacher said as she entered the room. "but please save some of your stories for after class."
Everyone reluctantly took their seats.
The teacher spoke again. "Class, we have a new student, I'd like you to welcome Mister Ulquiorra Schiffer."
Orihime had been distractedly doodling in her notebook, and hadn't seen the boy enter the classroom. Looking up now, she was struck by his… unique appearance.
He stood there with his hands in his pockets, unsmiling, as everyone in the room appraised him. The first thing she noticed were his almost eerily green eyes, they were so huge and beautiful and, cold. Orihime felt a shiver run down her spine, just as the boy's eyes met hers, only for a second, but she felt like she was staring into the eyes of the dead. Without interest, the boy simply looked away, then walked to the one empty chair Orihime hadn't noticed, and sat without a word.
"Creepy dude, isn't he?"Tatsuki murmured to her from the seat behind her. "Just look at his skin, it's like the guy's never seen the sun in his life!"
"Uhuh." Orihime agreed vaguely, still looking at the boy in the back of the room, who was now looking out the window instead of bothering to pay attention to the class.
Something about him just made her uneasy, which was weird because she tended to always like new people! Infact, Tatsuki constantly scolded her for being too trusting of people she didn't know, saying she was too naïve… But she could tell something was off about this guy, she just didn't know what.
The hours and classes passed and Orihime didn't notice the strange boy again. Not until lunch period, that is.
She noticed him sitting against a big tree all by himself, without any food, and suddenly, she was herself again and he just looked like a lonely person who could use a friend.
Quickly excusing herself from the circle she and her friends sat, she took about half of her food and walked over to where he- Ulquiorra- sat alone. Too immersed in Keigo's spirited recounting of some mishap with his sister, only Tatsuki looked to see where Orihime went. Ignoring her friend's gaze, she kneeled beside the boy with her friendliest smile. He looked at her with boredom written on his face, but that didn't dampen her mood.
"Hi there! I noticed you sitting here all by yourself and with no food, and I figured no one can go through lunch without food! Luckily, I always bring enough food to share with anyone in need! You should come eat with me and my friends! Uryu and Chad don't say much, but they're really nice! And Keigo's really energetic. You'll get used to that-" she went on in a perky voice and didn't notice his grim expression until he said,
"I think it best for you to leave me be, woman. I do not associate with trash." He said in an emotionless voice.
Orihime's face fell. She didn't want to admit it, but it took her all her effort to stop her eyes from tearing up.
He looked away, the same bored look planted on his face, as if he hadn't even spoken to her.
The cold feeling came back to her now, and, with her head low, she made her way back to her friends.
"What's wrong, Orihime?" Tatsuki asked immediately, half concerned, half angry. "Did that guy say something to you? Just give me the word and I swear I'll kick his-"
Orihime looked at her and managed a smile. "It's okay Tatsuki, he didn't say anything." She lied, for the benefit of everyone around her, who were all giving her the same look Tatsuki had.
That was how she and Ulquiorra met. And she thought that had been the last time they would ever speak.
How wrong she was.