I don't own Bleach, Kubo does. If I did, a lot of things would have happened differently.
Her eyes had yet to get used to the darkness around her. Where was she? For that, she had no answer. It hurt her just to breathe and she couldn't help the feeling of being trapped. The darkness was consuming her, but she struggled against it, trying to remember. How had she gotten here? Where had she been last? She pushed herself up with aching muscles. She had been in her cell. Of course. But now… her head pounded as she squinted. She could see a small light.
Was she still in Hueco Mundo? She had a foggy memory of Ulquiorra saying…something. Was he… reaching to her? She wasn't sure. Her legs where weak but she stood and her hand felt a wall. Using the wall, she began to move towards the light. Slowly, she moved and her heart pounded. The light was bright and hurt her eyes. Ulquiorra… Was he… dead? Was she dead? Her mouth was dry and she couldn't swallow. She was scared, so scared. But the light was warm. So warm. And it seemed to pull her towards it. She couldn't take her eyes away. Suddenly, her name was called, piercing through the silence. "Orihime." She was startled by the sound, and stopped. Who? She looked around, then began to walk again. It came again, the voice more scared this time. "Orihime!" She paused and her heart jumped. Was it Ulquiorra? Was he… Actually calling her name?
"Ulquiorra?!" Suddenly, the light disappeared and a hand reached toward her. A pale hand. She reached out and was pulled out with a jerk. She opened her eyes to see Ulquiorra standing over her, looking down. She looked at her hand, entangled in his, she looked around to see Ichigo, staring at them. And she suddenly remembered. She had used a huge amount of magic in a desperate attempt to save Ulquiorra as he was fading away. She began to cry as she looked back up at the man above her. "Ulquiorra. Y-you're alive." He nodded and she reached up and touched his face, not caring that some of her friends were watching. "T-thank goodness." She smiled in relief and ran her fingers down the tear-like streaks on his face.
"Orihime…" Her heart jumped again as he called her by her real name. He brought her hand up to his lips and gently kissed her fingers. "You almost died…" His eyes held pain, and so much emotion, something she had never seen in her time being his prisoner. "You almost took my place." She shook her head.
"No. I did this so that we could live together, Ulquiorra." The tears wouldn't stop, and a warm feeling was spreading through her stomach. She was so happy. So happy. Suddenly, the warmth on her lips took over any other feeling. Her eyes widened in surprise as realization hit her. He was kissing her. She quickly retaliated, kissing back softly, appreciating the raw emotion he was showing her for the first time. As they parted, she giggled at the light pink blush on his face. "I love you, Ulquiorra." She said gently, putting her hands on his cheeks. She could tell this was new to him, and her heart pounded as she waited for his response.
"Me too." She sat up to hug him and he buried his head in her shoulder. "So this is what a heart feels like." He whispered as he held her close. She didn't care about the war around her, the staring eyes. All she cared about was him, them, the warmth of the moment. And she knew, she would never feel the darkness again, with him there with her.