Though Las Noches was supposed to be like a prison to her, Orihime had grown somewhat fond of it. She enjoyed it when the small hollow-like lizards would crawl through the lone window in her cell and run over to her. They would sit and stare at her until she would pet them and they'd run off. Even more, though, she had begun enjoying her visits from Ulquiorra. He was the only arrancar she felt truly comfortable around. Lately he had even begun visiting with her just to keep her company. Whether it was an order to keep her happy or his true feelings, she wasn't sure. Still she enjoyed having someone to talk to. Before he had sstarted visiting, she had been so lonely.
The door to her cell had begun to creak open and she ran over smiling, the same way she did every time the door had opened. Ulquiorra stepped through, looking at her with the same green cat eyes as always. Following him, one of his fracciones brought a tray of food and handed it to Orihime before leaving directly.
"It's lunch time, woman." She nodded and was surprised when he sat on the lone couch in her room. Normally, he would leave while she ate and would return later for the tray. "Well? Eat your food."
"Right! Sorry!" She sat down next to him and started eating the day's assortment of food.
He didn't knkow why he enjoyed listening to her boring drabble and watcing her eyes light up when he would appear bfore her. Still, it was beginning to became a daily habit for him. Quietly, he watched her eat until she was finished and then ordered another of his fracciones to the empty tray away.
"Was the food to your liking, woman?"
"It was excellent!" He face lit right up on cue. She smiled such a sweet smile at him but it had a hint of sadness in it as well. "When you first brought me here, I wasn't too sure about what it would be like. I was sad, honestly. Leaving my friends and everything...I was sure I was only brought here to be killed. After all, what would anyone want with me? There were plently of more powerful people at home...Ulquiorra..." she looked at him. "Thanks for spending time with me and listening to me prattle on..."
He looked at her emotionlessly, though he was feeling a range of emotions. Honestly, he didn't understand how she could be so wrong about herself. She was an extraordinary girl, and here she was pouring her heart to a arrancar, a modified hollow made to fight. He didn't know what to say, so he simply nodded. "It is my job to keep you satisfied, woman."
"Still," she looked at him with a happy smile this time and put a hand on his. "Thanks." He quickly pulled away fom her gentle, inviting grasp. Just what did that woman think she was doing? He was made to fight. So then why? Why was he feeling guilty, seeing her sad face from seeing him pull away?
He couldn't stand looking at her sad face anymore. Quickly, he brushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear, causing her eyes to open to nearly saucer-size.
"It doesn't matter, woman. Because no matter how much you thank me, it will not change the fact that you are the prisoner and I am your guard." She smiled so sadly at his words. Somehow, she wanted them to be more than that. She knew it was wrong to be thinking this way about an enemy, but she couldn't help it. Trying to change how she felt would be like trying to keep leaves from changing colors or keeping the snow from falling. Of course, she missed her friends. Who wouldn't? But she had found compantionship in the Espada who was sitting before her, no matter the relationship between them.
"You know," she said after an awkward silence. "I don't think I want to return home..." This made Ulquiorra raise his eyebrows. "At least...not yet. Not now. I have too much here that I cannot leave behind." She looked him in the eyes. "Like you."
"Don't get carried away, girl." He stood up. "We are merely guard and prisoner. Nothing more." So then why did the words feel so wrong? "Besides, even if they did want to save you, there would be no way. They would die," he said coldly. "I will return later." Orihime sat and nodded, looking sadder than before. Why must she frustrate him so much? No matter, though, nothing would ever come of it, he was convinced.