Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach

Patience

"Is she dead?"

She was in a dark place. It was cold and devoid of anything. Memories were hard to come by. She was a girl? Yes. A human. She was Orihime.

"No. The wound went straight through her heart, but the surgery completely repaired the damage. Any longer and she would be dead."

Her eyes didn't work and she could not move. She could not speak. Vaguely, she could hear noises in the distance. It sounded so far away and muddled that she could not distinguish any meaning to the disturbances.

"According to the Daten, she can reject reality – essentially negate any wound."

She was cold and numb. She simultaneously floated in limbo and was pressed into the earth.

"... it doesn't matter now. Her abilities will only be restored under the Emperor's orders."

The only thing she could feel was her chest and how much it hurt. Something was wrong. It was so cold and vacant in her chest and something was not right. She was without.

"His majesty wishes to meet the girl."

What was missing?

"Do you think she knows where Aizen is?"

"hmm"

"She along with the Espada are to be brought to the head quarters. Assuming that we can sustain the Hollow, that is. Even with it's reiatsu drained, it is still too rebellious. We've identified it as the Fourth and acting regent of Los Noches."

The sounds intensified and the word 'Espada' struck a cord within her and the beat of life fluttered faintly in her chest. The heart. It had stopped... but now it was beating again.

"Do you really think it is wise to bring such a threat back to the headquarters?"

Life poured through her empty consciousness and pushed her to the surface of the void. With every beat, light began to spread and shine through her essence until the darkness was left behind her.

"His Majesty's orders are not to be questioned."

She was so close to the surface.

"Look, she is waking."

Orihime's eyes fluttered. Once, twice and then she gasped and shot up from her dormant position. At once a hand clamped onto her shoulder. Orihime looked around frantically. She was terribly confused and dizzy. Still gasping, she rubbed at her eyes and tried to find her balance.

"Easy there. The surgery was a success but your recovery will be slow." An old, solemn voice told her. Orihime followed the hand on her shoulder to the owner who was an older man with light hair swept back over his forehead. He was dressed in a white uniform with a thick mustache and wiry glasses and pointy cheek bones.

"Finished staring?" He asked promptly. Orihime looked down embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. I – I can't seem to remember. Who are you? Where am I?" She spoke timidly, noticing for the first time that she was in a tent of some sort and lying on what appeared to be a medical cot. Her white dress was no where to be seen as she was dressed in a medical gown.

"You are in the Jadgarmee camp of Hueco Mundo. I am the acting surgeon of the- "

"-That will be quite enough." A new voice interrupted. Orihime jumped at the disruption. Turning her head, she saw that at the entrance of the tent was a man with small shady glasses and a black hat dressed in a white uniform with a cape.

"Sir, I was debriefing her on the situation." The surgeon explained. The caped man nodded.

"Yes, that would be most ideal. However, we can only divulge so much. Unfortunately, time is short. Surgeon, you are dismissed." The surgeon nodded and quickly left the tent, leaving Orhime alone with the other man. She gathered that he was of some importance.

"Please forgive the informality. I am Quilge Opie of the Wandenreich." He told her. The name sounded vaguely familiar. The man smiled at her and the sight sent a shiver down Orihime's spine.

"We are now the conquering force occupying Hueco Mundo, as well as Soul Society. Sosuke Aizen's forces have been defeated and the man has fled." Orihime's eyes widened at his words but she remained silent.

"All Hollows are now under our command." Opie continued when she remained silent.

"We found you on the dome of Los Noches. An Espada had stabbed you." His words brought an onslaught of images and emotions to the human girl.

She was running on the dome. Ulquiorra had been chasing her – had caught her. He wouldn't let her go. He wouldn't let the enemy have her either. He pointed his sword at her chest.

"If I have a heart at all, it consists entirely of sin."

Orihime squirmed at the memory of his words.

"We were able to resuscitate you and heal your wounds. The Arrancar that attacked you has been sustained... our Emperor wishes to meet you," the man added and then picked up a discarded gray robe that was lying on a nearby cot and draped it around the girl's frame.

"I commend your silence. You must have many questions." The man invited her to speak. Orihime could tell that he was attempting to be kind but her instincts told her that he was not a nice man. There was something cold and cruel about his aura.

"So then, am I a prisoner?" she asked in a whisper.

"Not presently, but you must understand that it will take some time before we can formally send you back to the Living Realm. I'm sure with your cooperation, the process will go much more quickly. Now," Opie grabbed her elbow and "helped" the human onto her feet.

"If you'll come with me. Immediate service is required." Opie didn't give her a chance to respond before he led her by the elbow out of the tent. Orihime squeaked quietly and shuffled the gray robe more securely over her person as they walked through the camp.

All around her stood erect white tents with hordes of soldiers in white uniforms. She noticed right away that all the soldiers wore some strange insignia that was shaped almost like a metal star. What she found astounding was the sight of captured Hollows. Orihime stared wide eyed at the spectacle of Arrancar chained to one another throughout the camp. There must have been at least fifty of them! She recognized some of them, like Loly and Menoly right away, while others she had never seen before in all of her time in Los Noches. Aside from the captured Arrancar, there were heaps of dead hollows throughout the camp. The sight made the human girl queasy.

"Where is..." Orihime bit her lip wondering if she should even ask. She didn't like Hollows but the poor state that they were in made her pity them. It was clear that these Vandenreaich were ruthless with their treatment of prisoners.

Opie stopped and if not for his grip on her elbow, Orihime would have fallen flat on her face. Somehow Opie knew who she was asking about.

"He's over there." The man pointed to a part of the camp that was decimated. Tents were shredded and flattened. Several bodies of soldiers lied scattered around. In the midst of the destruction stood Ulquiorra. He was in his sealed state but there was something distinctly wild and desperate in his movements. His pristine white clothing was filthy and bloody. His normal, melancholic, green eyes were entirely black.

Several soldiers were attempting to detain him. There were a handful of glowing blue ropes wrapped around him. Orihime guessed that it was a spiritual technique. There were also several blue reishi arrows pierced throughout his body.

"You are Quincy, aren't you?" Orihime asked but Opie did not answer her. The two watched as the soldiers tried to drag Ulquiorra down to his knees, but the Arrancar was having none of it. It was obvious that he was frustrated, but Ulquiorra neither attacked or spoke. Instead, foam escaped his mouth and where there should have been words, instead were feral growls and snarls.

"Ulquiorra!" Orihime shouted and then turned an accusing glare at Opie.

"What's wrong with him?" She demanded.

"What can you expect when you corner a wild animal? His reiatsu has been sealed, but even without it the instinct to fight remains." The shaded man snickered. Orihime made to run to Ulquiorra and summon Tsubaki to help, but she was startled to find her own reiatsu cut off. She shot a dark look at Opie, laced with accusation.

"Sorry my dear, but it was necessary to seal your reiatsu as well. You know how it is, orders from the top. Opie smirked.

"Then why do you need my help?" she demanded, not knowing that Quincy had only summoned her so that she could watch the Fourth be destroyed.

The Emperor had ordered that both the girl and the hollow were to be taken alive, something about in the Crown Prince's interest. It was a distasteful thing. His Majesty's heir meant nothing to Opie, and even less his interest in the girl and the Arrancar. Should one or both of them die during arrest... well accidents happened.

The Quincy watched with barely contain glee as his men wrestled with the Fourth. Orihime could barely stand the sight. It didn't matter if she had reiatsu or not, she was going to help!

Opie did not bother to restrain her when she ran into the midst of the chaos.

Ulquiorra did not understand. Instinct overrode logic. He could not speak; he could barely even think. All he knew was that his power was gone and that he was in danger. The men around him were a threat. He was surrounded by the enemy. He was so caught up in his instincts that he could not see beyond his being. Everything was shrouded in a dark, black cloud of animosity and rage. Things he had not felt in long time. It was overwhelming.

So when they began to throw restraints around him, he reacted the only way he knew how. He tried to flee, and when that failed he turned positively lethal with aggression. He was going to kill them all, every last one of them. No one would be left. Then he would be safe. Then he could flee. The Hollow snarled as another restrained was lassoed around his neck. His claws – no hands - swiped furiously at them. Something sharp pierced his stomach. Another pierced his head. Why wasn't he regenerating?

"Ulquiorra!" A distinctly feminine voice shouted, but he was beyond reason. He tried to remove the offending objects that pierced his flesh, but when he touched the foreign energy it burned him. He was outraged. Shaking and hissing, he tried to summon his wings. There was nothing. Where was his power? More restraints followed and soon, Ulquiorra was brought to his knees.

"Stop! Stop!" The voice called again. Then there was warm, soft flesh cupping his cheeks.

Ulquiorra responded the only way he knew how: he swiped at the foreign thing touching him. If he had had his claws, he would have shredded it, but with his hands he was only able to swat it away. There was a distinctive cry of pain and then the restraints around him were being pulled tighter. He growled loudly and tried to shake them off.

"No! No, please stop! I can do this!" The voice insisted loudly, although there was an undertone of pain in their words.

Ulquiorra did not understand. Was this the voice of the enemy?

"Ulquiorra you know me. It's me, Orihime." The voice continued, though in a much more subdued tone. The Hollow sensed that whoever it was, was trying to approach him again. He did not like that. Flashing his teeth, he struggled against his bounds and moved to back away.

"Everything is going to be ok." The voice went on and then he felt the soft flesh touch his face again. He reached out and instinctively swiped at the foreign flesh and when it persisted, he bit down hard. There was a significant pause and then the sounds of bone cracking could be heard as his fangs sank into the soft flesh and blood flooded his mouth. He swallowed it greedily, liking the taste.

"No one come any closer! I can do this!" The voice shouted again, making Ulquiorra wince at the high pitch of it at such close proximity. He spat out the soft flesh and moved to flee again, but he could not move. He did not understand.

"I know you're hurt and frightened, but you're going to be fine." The voice soothed again. He sensed it trying to reach him again and so he charged it with what little movement he was allowed. When he impacted with the creature, he felt how soft and small the being was. Hardly a threat, something in the back of his mind whispered. It calmed him slightly and he stilled.

"I made a deal. They're going to let you live, Ulquiorra. But you have to stop fighting them." The voice continued, undaunted. He listened as the soft thing picked itself up and approached him again. He waited for it to try and touch his face again.

"Please, you have to snap out of it." The voice continued. He was surprised when the thing encircled him with its warmth. It's soft, fleshy appendages wrapped themselves around his torso. He didn't understand. Was it attacking? He fought back, snapping and hissing as he tried to shake the thing off but it would not let go.

"I know you're still in there somewhere." The voice went on, calm as ever. He thrashed and bucked, trying to remove the thing.

"I won't give up. I can do this forever." The voice went on. He kept on fighting, even as more restraints were thrown around him.

Eventually, hours later, Ulquiorra collapsed from fatigue. As panic and instinct were chased away by exhaustion, logic resurfaced and he willingly succumbed to his restraints. There would be another time to fight.

Orihime was carried away, exhausted. Opie watched in distaste as she was brought before him and roused. He had underestimated her. Without taking his eyes from her, he waved a surgeon over to tend her wounds. Ulquiorra watched from some distance away. His energy was utterly spent. His mind was slowly giving way to sleep. His eyes however, they watched.

The woman was there. He didn't understand why at first but when he saw her conversing with the enemy soldiers, her disposition became clear. She was a betrayer. There was no other reasonable explanation. She had come to him, coy and shy, promising her heart and in the end given him over to the enemy. How foolish he had been! He was raw and vulnerable now because of the heart. When opportunity presented itself, he resolved to put an end to his vulnerability. He would kill her.

When he fell into the sand, Orihime's spirit fell with him. Her heart hurt. What she had done had been to save him, but she knew all too well that her noble deed would come with a high price. She had all but condemned him to a life of chains.

"Try not to fret my dear," Opie said as he and Orihime watched as the Quincy carried the Arrancar away.

"Your methods were much more gentle than anything I could have relayed. There is no permanent damage."

Orihime smiled bitterly and sent another silent apology to her lover.

"Patience has it's own rewards."


A/N: Ugh I couldn't stay away from this pairing. You can think of this as a sequel to SIN, although it can be read as a stand alone. I wasn't very satisfied with my last fic but it was a dark one and needed to stay theme appropriate. Still, I wanted to give Ulquiorra a happy ending and a chance to learn about the good of the heart. This story has a little bit more politics in it, but ultimately still revolves around UlquiHime. The first chapter is a little dry, but introductions needed to be made. Next chapter is: Humility.