Orihime was a delicate flower, a girl that was as small as she was frail. Her arms, thin and lightly tanned, were wrapped around her knees that were drawn to her chest. Her head was slightly bent, her auburn hair haloing her face in a ring of fire. It had been so long since she had seen her friends, so long since she breathed air that didn't smell of harshness and crippling loneliness. But she wasn't wallowing in pity or sadness, she was thinking.

One of her small hands drifted upwards and tucked her hair behind her ear, her brown eyes dancing up the wall to the ceiling. Ulquiorra would be arriving very soon to 'tend' to her, which included anything but. The Espada brought a meal that was barely consumable, harsh words and green eyes that stared past her as if she was nothing. It had been the same every day since she had arrived in the world of the Hollows, a place devoid of everything she held dear. No friends, no family… a lack luster piece of coal compared to the shining gem of the land of the living.

"Woman." Orihime turned her head slightly to stare at the Espada that had just entered the room, his presence announced by the opening of the door. "I brought you food." His voice was almost painful to hear in the beginning, but she was used to the deadpanning. She turned and set her feet on the cold, whitewashed stone floor.

"Yes, Ulquiorra." She rose and went to take the tray from his hands, her eyes on the jacket he wore. Many times did she wonder why he was placed in charge of her, though the obvious reasons were evident, she preferred to know the actual solution to her question. When her fingers curled around the edge, the Espada still held tightly to his end of the metal. Orihime frowned down at it before lifting her gaze and tilting her head back to stare at him. Ulquiorra's head was tilted slightly to the side, his lips slightly apart as if he wanted to speak but said nothing.

"What?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. He was staring at her as always, but there was something different about his gaze… something somehow softer and less devoid of emotion. Then the moment was broken once it registered that she had noticed his actions. His fingers dropped from the tray and he turned to exit the room.

"I shall return momentarily to collect the tray. If it is not empty, it will be the usual punishment." His words lingered even after the door closed, the locks clicking into place. The usual punishment consisted of a verbal thrashing and threats on her life. If that did not work, he resorted to threatening the lives of her friends. Orihime was sick of it, so she ate whatever they gave her – aside from the mystery meats – without complaint, without really tasting. Not that it had much of a taste to her… her desire to eat had left her and as a result, she was getting unbearably thin until the threats came.

It was almost like Ulquiorra cared… almost. He brought her clean clothes, food and what little it was worth, company everyday. If he hadn't been forced to take care of her, she would have assumed that he was willing to. Moving to the small table in the room, she set the tray down and started to eat, stabbing the most appealing looking foods first before choking down the meat-like substance. Eventually, the tray was completely emptied of all its contents and she was feeling sleepy. Not that she could sleep too early. The Espada didn't want her sleeping before the bright orb of light outside sank to oblivion.

Orihime was too caught up in her thoughts to hear the door opening or the footsteps that broke the silence in the room, her position that of before as she stared out the only window in her room. Ulquiorra was mildly surprised to see the tray empty. There was usually a considerable amount left on it, and today there was nothing. And she wasn't looking at him as she usually did when he entered. Not that she cared if he was here; she was too busy reliving her own memories to be bothered by his anti-social behaviors and cruel, biting stares.

"Woman, look at me." She turned her head slightly, her eyes trailing across the line of his dark hair before meeting his gaze.

"Yes?" Her voice deadpanned across the room, falling heavily on his ears. She was still with Ichigo and Rukia, still at the school fair that happened before all of this hell happened; her yes was only a natural, learned response. They had so much fun together, Rukia and Ichigo fighting like lovers as they tried to see who could win at the most booths. It was enough to make Orihime laugh, but not quite. Blessed memories. They kept her sane.


Ulquiorra knew she wasn't paying attention to him by the far away look in her eyes. It angered him that she would dare be more absentminded than usual around him, and she deserved some sort of punishment for her utter disregard. He lifted the tray and slammed it down on the table. Once. Loudly. It was enough to shock her from whatever she was pondering as she flinched and jumped to her feet.

"Yes?" She repeated, her eyes filled with fear and revulsion as he watched. That was better, much better. Serves the human trash right for thinking that she could so easily ignore him.

"Do not treat me like I am not here. I demand all of your attention and I shall get it." She bowed her head and nodded, her lower lip quivering slightly. Emotion that he did not understand. Why was she so attached to a place that she could no longer return to? It made no sense to the Espada and it was something that he was going to pry from her, that longing to return. She would want to stay here by the time he was finished with her. All he had to do was wear away that image she had so carefully preserved, the image of her friends coming to find her, of her Soul Society, of her home.

"Yes. I understand. I'm sorry." She had learned quite well, he had to admit. At least she was being submissive and meek now, like she should have been in the beginning.

Orihime had changed much since she had first arrived. Her deeply tanned skin had paled to a light glow, her eyes lost their boldness and her voice, its volume. It was only a matter of time before Aizen's plan was set in motion and she fulfilled her purpose. Then what of her?