Disclaimer: Don't own, hear that silly folks? Someone (phantom105) advised me to separate it and re-proofread it. So, seperated and proofread!

Part One-

"I see," Ulquiorra said, looking at his hand. "Yes. This is... the heart?" Ulquiorra's beautiful eyes rose to Orihime's She gazed back, hand still outstretched, even though his hand was long gone. Even more of him disintegrated. Orihime didn't think and desperately flung herself forward, frantic. She didn't know how, but she was going to catch him, and somehow she was going to hold him together. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Ulqui together again, but maybe she could. The last pieces of his ash slipped through her fingers, and she started shrieking. "Ulquiorra! Ulquiorra! ULQUIORRA!" Her fingers scrabbled painfully at the top of the dome, trying to scoop up any of his remains, but Ichigo finally came to his senses and pulled her away when he saw her bloody fingernails.

He pulled her up roughly and demanded, "What's going on?" Orihime dove for the ground again, blubbering Ulquiorra's name. Ichigo kept shaking her, pleading, "I'm here, look, I'm here. Calm down. This is unacceptable. Woman!" Suddenly, Ichigo slapped her. Orihime gasped and woke up.

Ulquiorra was standing above her. "I apologize," he said stiffly. "You were calling my name, and refused to wake." Orihime was oblivious to his apology. She hurtled forward and put her arms around his waist, squeezing hard enough to break the spine of a normal person. Ulquiorra stared at her as if she'd just started reciting the Pledge of Allegiance while doing the Chicken Dance. Normally, that thought would have made Orihime giggle. She was too busy sobbing into his chest, however.

"I thought you were dead!" she bawled. With a trace of impatience, he replied, "Why, woman, would I be dead?" Acting entirely on impulse, Orihime kissed him, and then said, "Of course you're not dead! You're Ulquiorra! No one can kill you, even Kurosaki-kun in his hollow form!" Ulquiorra, who had sonidoed to the door, froze. "Hollow form?" he asked carefully. Orihime, eager to help Ulquiorra, replied, "Yeah! Whenever Kurosaki-kun loses control, he turns into a super powerful hollow that can block even one of your Lanza del Relampago-"

Orihime was forcibly shut up when Ulqiuorra's pale hand was suddenly covering her mouth. His eyes were full of promises of a painful death as he asked, "How do you know about my lances? How much do you know?" Orihime was silent. "Well?" She could hear the barely concealed fury so she mumbled something into the hand covering her mouth. Cautiously, he pulled his hand away and listened to Orihime's dream.

4*4*4*4*

"I don't believe it," he murmured after Orihime gave him nearly all the details. "Somehow, your dreams rejected the laws of time, and you dreamed the future." Suddenly, his eyes turned curious. "What was your reaction to my Segunda Etapa?" he inquired tonelessly. Orihime's silver eyes took on a dreamy intensity as she whispered, "At first I was terrified. You were so powerful. You could have killed me just by focusing your spiritual pressure. But when I saw your eyes, even though they'd changed, too, they had the same look in them. And, I realized, you wouldn't, couldn't hurt me. Not physically, at least. You were still Ulquiorra, my guardian, my keeper, the one who kept me alive when I wouldn't. The one who showed me I was strong. Who let me slap him and didn't- wait."

Focused again, she asked, "I have slapped you, right?" He blinked, and then nodded curtly. "Yes. Only a short while ago." The light in Orihime's eyes dimmed fractionally. "So that means... you were on your way to kill Kurosaki-kun. Weren't you?" Ulquiorra didn't answer. He didn't have to. Then, he said, "If what you are saying is correct, those two arrancar, Loly and Menoly, will come in and beat you to near death."

His jade eyes closed and he commented, "I failed. By disobeying Lord Aizen and chasing after the stupid strawberry, I failed him, and I failed you." Ulquiorra's eyes opened and he gazed at her with a painful intensity. "I shall not fail again. I will be back, the second those two pathetic pieces of trash walk in." He got up and started to walk out, and then paused. "Woman. To reduce the possibility of failing, I will do something sooner than I planned to. I will betray Aizen. That way, the only one I have the possibility of hurting is you." The door shut in Orihime's shocked face. Then, a smile broke her sobriety and she giggled. "I kissed Ulquiorra," she stated, trying the words out on her tongue. Unknown to her, Ulquiorra paused outside the door, heard her comment, and for the briefest second, he wasn't frowning.
_

Orihime heard a malicious giggle and shuddered. One peridot eye and one pink eye peered in as Loly sing-song-ed, "O~ri~hi~meeee? Let's play a little game..." Orihime couldn't help it. She let out a tiny whimper of fear, despite knowing that Ulquiorra would be here in a second. Then, she realized she was acting the same way she did around Ichigo and brought herself up. "Oh? What kind of game?" she asked boldly. Loly walked in fully, enraged at the supposed weakling's impudence. She snatched her hair and started to yank, growling, "Why, you little bitch!" Just then, there was a gurgling noise. Loly paused and turned while Orihime stared in horror.

Loly blanched. Menoly was in the air, impaled by Ulquiorra's right hand. "U-Ulquiorra!" Loly gasped. "You're- you're not- you're supposed to-" "Be killing the intruder?" Ulquiorra supplied helpfully. "So I was told." He ripped his hand out of Menoly's back coldly, causing her body to fall limply to the floor. Ulquiorra's eyes flew to where Loly was touching Orihime. Loly gasped and drew her hand back, but not fast enough. Howling, she clutched her handless wrist to her chest, glaring spitefully at Ulquiorra. "Trash is not permitted in here," he stated emotionlessly, and with the ease of an executioner, he pointed his bloody hand and blew a green cero at Loly. Ignoring the smoking corpse, he turned to Orihime.

"You were right," he said. Orihime only nodded, unable to pull her eyes away from the carnage, especially Menoly's hole. The thought dawned on her that that was exactly what happened to Ichigo. Ulquiorra opened his mouth to say something more when Szayel breezed in and promptly squealed with delight. "You guys got me new experiments? Aww, you shouldn't have." "We didn't," Ulquiorra bit off, his expression unchanging. "Yeah, I'm going to heal them!" Orihime added.

Szayel turned his interested glance to her. He briefly pouted, then brightened. "I know! How about you heal one, I study that and the other, and then when I'm done, you can heal that one too!" Orihime also became brighter with the compromise. "All right! But only if you promise." Szayel nodded solemnly and they shook pinkies. Szayel grinned sadistically and asked, "Any problems, Cuarta?" Ulquiorra responded, "No. I am interested in this as well. Which one will you heal?" Orihime bit her lip and looked between the two dead girls, and then decided, "Menoly. She seemed less willing." Carefully, Orihime placed her hands above Menoly and whispered, "Soten Kisshun; I reject."

Her fairies flew out of her hairpins and made the golden barrier. Szayel leaned in interestedly. The gaping hole in Menoly's chest slowly closed up until there wasn't even a scar. Menoly's dull green eyes slowly recovered their gleam. Szayel leaped back and grabbed Loly's cadaver. "Well, that's my cue to leave. Doubt you want your new friend traumatized," Szayel muttered under his breath. Neither Orihime nor Ulquiorra payed any attention to him. Menoly sat up bolt-right and said wonderingly, "I'm alive." She looked hard at Orihime, who deflated, saying, "I know. I'm a monster."

Menoly stared at her, and then softened. Realizing Loly was dead, she decided it might be time to make a new friend. "Well, here, aren't we all monsters too?" Menoly asked kindly, flicking her blonde hair. Orihime beamed and started chatting eagerly with her new buddy. Neither noticed Ulquiorra look down at Orihime and soften, just a tiny bit. The softness vanished. "Woman, it is time for the Numero to leave." Both Menoly and Orihime pouted. "Please, Ulquiorra? Menoly's actually really nice." Ulquiorra heard what was unspoken. Despite the fact she's assaulted me three times, if you count the future we could have had.

Ulquiorra closed his verdant eyes. "She can come back later." Orihime sighed, and then waved as Menoly walked out the heavy door. Ulquiorra immediately turned to Orihime. "What happens now?" Orihime shrugged. "I'm really not sure. I mean, you were supposed to kill Kurosaki-kun, and Grimmjow was supposed to come and save me. You saved me, and Kurosaki-kun is alive, so I have no idea what happens now. It's strange though, how I was able to see things I wasn't there for. Like I saw the battle in the Karakura town..." Her smile faded as she remembered the horrors. Ulquiorra opened his mouth to soothe her in his own special way, but a voice interrupted him.

"Well, now, ain't that a shocker?" Ulquiorra shut his eyes and acknowledged, "Grimmjow. I thought even trash like you knew better than to eavesdrop on your superior's conversations." Grimmjow's only response was, "Shut up, El-Queer-o. No one cares. I, however, care about what La Princesa is saying. You know what I think?" He leaned lazily against the door frame, ignoring Ulquiorra's muttered, "No, thank Aizen." "I think, seeing as I'm included in these visions, I should know." Orihime nodded, smiling. She knew he was really just a big, soft, cuddly, insecure kitty, and one of her biggest regrets was leaving him after Nnoitora hurt him. She glanced at the stiff Ulquiorra and assured him hastily, "Don't worry. I won't tell your secret." This, of course, perked Grimmjow up immediately.

"Oh? A secret, huh? Ya know, Princesa, secrets ain't nice. You should tell me. After all those poor Numero are awful defenseless, especially that one-eyed blonde one." Ulquiorra came close to glaring, and Orihime realized she had made a huge mistake. Inspiration struck, and she quickly babbled, "No, no, don't hurt Menoly!" She bit her lip and looked at the two men, thinking of dead puppies and abandoned kitties. Instantly, tears filled her eyes and she wondered why she had thought of something so sad when there were so many lesser things that could make her cry. Finally, she burst out, "I'm sorry, Ulquiorra!" His eyes narrowed and she quickly blurted, "The secret is I kissed him, and he kissed me back!" Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow at that last part, but said nothing. He went stock still, playing along.

Grimmjow froze. Orihime froze. Ulquiorra was still frozen. Suddenly, Grimmjow collapsed, howling with laughter. "That's what your secret is? That you KISSED her?" "No, she kissed-" "HA! No wonder you didn't tell Nnoitora he was wrong! Oh, gawwwd, this is priceless! YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH LA PRINCESA! I'M TELLING AIZEN!" Orihime was bright red as she tried to explain, "No, Grimmjow, I don't think you understand, it's..." Grimmjow looked up at her expectantly, still snickering. "It's... it's complicated," she finally muttered. Grimmjow sighed and said calmly, "All right, Princesa. Tell me what you know."

LATER-

"So, you're telling me that Nnoitora, fucking bastard, kills me?" Grimmjow asked from where he was sprawled across the couch. Orihime nodded from her position on the arm of the couch by Grimmjow's feet, and then amended, "Well, that's what it looked like. There was a lot of blood..." Ulquiorra, who was leaning against the door, said, "You forget he's part cat. Supposedly they have nine lives, so he probably has four and a half. I'd say he has one and a half left." Orihime smiled at Ulquiorra's unique brand of comforting. Grimmjow was too preoccupied with cussing Nnoitora out to care what was being said by Emospada and La Princesa. After he finished, he cleared his throat and said, "And you're saying Ulquiorra killed Kurosaki twice with ease, but Kurosaki came back as a Vasto Lorde and blew the distracted, not-even-released Emospada's ass to oblivion?" "Dumbed down, yes," Ulquiorra interjected.

Grimmjow shot him a half-hearted glare, and then got up, stretching and saying, "Well, I got places to go, Spoony-spadas to kill, you know." Orihime leaped to her feet. "What! You can't! He'll kill you!" Grimmjow patted her head fondly. "I love the concern, Princesa. I like you, I really do. But if that dick thinks he can interfere with my fight and try and kill me, let's see him think with his head rolling down the damn white hills of Hueco Mundo!" "The woman's right," Ulquiorra stated boredly. "He's Quinta, you're Sexta. Whether your pride allows you to accept it or not, he is stronger than you. You'd be lucky to defeat Nnoitora."

Grimmjow's face blanked out for a second, and then his mouth twisted into a snarl. "Watch me." He started to stalk out the door when a small warm hand halted him. Grimmjow turned to see the pleading face of Orihime, her orange hair falling into big silver eyes. "Please, don't Grimmjow. I don't want to see you bloody and broken again," she begged. Grimmjow was torn. Most of him wanted to go, but a tiny place in his chest, quite a bit above his hollow hole, didn't want to hurt La Princesa. "Oh, all right," he grumbled, plopping himself on the couch. "But if Ulquiorra didn't kill that ass Kurosaki, where is he?" Orihime shrugged. Ulquiorra answered, "I would assume he was on his way here right now."

Grimmjow felt around a bit and sensed Ichigo's reiatsu coming at an alarming pace, and a wicked grin stole across his face. If he couldn't destroy the stupid pumpkin-haired dumb ass physically, he'd do it another way. Grimmjow was actually really smart. He just chose not to show it, as he preferred senseless violence. Most of the time, he had a plan. A really well-thought out plan, that was bound to work. But then he got bored, and would resort to crude battling. Using that keen intellect now, he looked at his two companions. Princesa was obviously smitten with Emospada, and Emospada, in his own, special way, probably returned at least a little of the affection.

Grimmjow noticed Ulquiorra was now sitting on the floor, directly next to Orihime, who was still on the couch arm. Every movement thoughtful, Grimmjow lifted his foot and planted it hard in the side of Orihime, who yelped and fell into Ulquiorra's lap. "What was that for?" she whimpered, holding her bruised ribs. Grimmjow shrugged. "I dunno. But don't move. You guys are cute, and it tickles my heart, which is pretty amazing. It doesn't happen much in these dark days." Orihime flushed, but made herself comfortable. Grimmjow smirked when he saw Ulquiorra's arm automatically wrap around her waist.

"So," Grimmjow boomed, kicking the door open with his foot, knowing Kurosaki would hear their voices. Thank Aizen for such echo-y halls. "What do you think of Las Noches, Princesa?" "Well, I used to hate it, but when I left, all I wanted was to come back," Orihime gushed. Grimmjow felt Kurosaki pause, and then speed up. From the way Ulquiorra's eyes flashed, he felt it, too. "I guess I really do like it here, especially now that you and Ulquiorra are my friends, Grimmjow." "Really?" Grimmjow purred. "Well, I like you, too, Princesa. And though he won't admit it, so does Batman over there." Grimmjow was all too happily aware of a paralyzed Kurosaki standing in the doorway as he continued, "So, who's a better friend? Kurosaki or Ulquiorra?" Orihime bit her lip, unaware of the dangerously pale Kurosaki in the doorway. Apparently, the sight of Orihime in Ulquiorra's lap along with the conversation was enough to send him into shock. Grimmjow snorted internally. The idiot still thought he was hidden.

Finally, Orihime answered, "That's a tough one. I mean, Kurosaki-kun came all this way to save me, but Ulquiorra taught me I don't need to be saved by anyone but myself. Kurosaki-kun is nicer to me sometimes, but Ulquiorra can care for me and still teach me to stand on my own two feet. I know whenever I was around Kurosaki-kun, I was weak. Even I was aware of how pathetic it was. But, you, Ulquiorra," she placed a hand on his tear-streaked cheek, "You make me strong. I see you, and I want to be like you. You gave me confidence, so I guess, you're the better friend."

Grimmjow feigned surprise and leapt to his feet. "Kurosaki! When did you get here?" He could hardly contain his feral grin. Orihime jumped out of Ulquiorra's arms and off of his lap. "Kurosaki-kun! Wha-what are you doing here!" "I told you he'd be here soon," Ulquiorra sighed. Orihime looked desperately at Kurosaki, hating herself for the lack of excitement at seeing him. "W-we came here to save you," he said dazedly. Grimmjow smiled and put an arm around Orihime's waist. "Too bad. Princesa here came to the dark side, bitch!" "Grimmjow!" Orihime elbowed him, hard. He laughed, not at all affected.

"Kurosaki-kun, it's not the Espada's fault! It's Aizen who's the bad guy, never them!" she pled, clearly agonized as tears pricked at her eyes. Ulquiorra and Grimmjow both felt a slight twinge of guilt, Grimmjow for using her, Ulquiorra for not alerting her to the orange-haired shinigami sooner. "Inoue, they killed people!" Ichigo screamed at her. "They're not good people, hell, they're not even people! They're heartless monsters!" Orihime felt anger rise in her, especially when he added, "Come on, Inoue. You know they're using you. Why else would they put up with you?" His eyes widened as he realized with horror how that sounded. "W-wait, Inoue, I-I didn't mean it-" he stuttered as she recoiled into the crying one's arms, and Grimmjow swelled with rage. "OI!" Grimmjow bellowed, blue eyes electric. "I've seen her be nothing but strong and fun! The only reason YOU ever saw her as weak was because you had that fucking hero complex! You know, maybe if you'd-"

He cut himself off, running his hands through his sky hair, before spinning on the remorseful shinigami and simply growling with wordless fury. Ulquiorra was also angry as hell, Grimmjow could tell, but was concealing it a lot better. "Did you know that the only reason she even considered coming with me was to save your pathetic life?" Ulquiorra asked, his voice cold and cutting. "I have no doubt in my mind that otherwise she would be with you right now. Although you fail to grasp that it was so much better for her to come with me to Las Noches, with us, those who actually appreciate both her powers and her phenomenal strength."

Ichigo scoffed, "Yeah, right." Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow. "You do not believe me? Why is it you came here, when you had doubts on her innocence?" Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "How'd you know that?" "I told you," Ulquiorra repeated, with the same frozen tone. "She's better off here. Here, under our guidance and care, both she and her powers of blossomed magnificently. She can reject time itself and view the future, while sleeping. Do you understand? She does not even have to be conscious to use her powers anymore. But would you like to know the future, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo looked at him distrustfully. Grimmjow was prowling/pacing behind Orihime while Ulquiorra gently placed his long, white fingers over her temples. "She saw it all here, in her pretty head. I'll skip over the meaningless parts to the ending,as I believe that will surprise you the most," Ulquiorra said, tracing light patterns on the side of Orihime's face. "I defeat you. But you, or your hollow, can't accept that. You must win. So, after your second death at my hands, you hollowify." Grimmjow snickered and interrupted, "Ichithing." Ulquiorra continued. "You are entirely taken over by your hollow, which is of Vasto Lorde power. You slice my chest open with your Zangetsu, or whatever. You pin me down and start powering up a cero between your new horns, ready to destroy me while I lie, defeated and defenseless. Your Quincy friend tries to save what remains of your humanity, so you thrust your Zanpakuto to the hilt in his abdomen, ignoring the screams and pleas of the girl you died to protect."

Ichigo cradled his head, his eyes even more horror-struck than when he had accidentally insulted Orihime. "No... I mastered my hollow! He can't control me anymore." Ulquiorra went on, Orihime crying silently, Grimmjow laughing his ass off. Ulquiorra gently wiped Orihime's tears as he said, "Your cero hits me, of course, blowing off my lower half, my left arm, and who knows how many internal organs. I noticed the woman's distress, so I did what I thought would erase her tears. I saved you from your hollow." Ichigo stumbled backwards, unable to comprehend that when he and Ulquiorra were in the same form, Ulquiorra was the more humane one.

Orihime couldn't help chuckling sadly inside, knowing that Grimmjow and Ichigo only knew half of it. They didn't know about Ulquiorra's Segunda Etapa. Ulquiorra started one last time. "I died, of course. However, Orihime Inoue, the one you so ignorantly think of as weak, when she saw me dying, she turned away from you, her golden knight, to reach for me, the dreaded demon. Tell me, is that a weakness? To comfort a dying man, whether he be friend or foe?" "Inoue, is this true?" Ichigo choked out, hoping that she'd somehow save him. His fate was sealed when she said, "Every word." He could see how much it pained her to hurt him, but Ichigo was already off in his inner world. Her Espada friends would have to comfort her.

As Orihime looked at the fallen man at her feet, something in her grew. The desire to protect the others from the horrors she had seen. She wasn't going to let anyone hurt anymore. If she did the right thing, maybe she could make everybody happy. As Ichigo fell to his knees, Orihime asked Grimmjow, "Could you go find Chad, Rukia, Uryu, and Renji and bring them here?" He pat her shoulder. "Normally, no. But seeing Kurosaki fall into a pit of self-hatred has put me in a very good mood. Be back soon, Princesa." With that, he sonidoed off. Next, Orihime looked at Ulquiorra. "Ulquiorra, could you gather the Espada here?" His emerald eyes searched her ash eyes. "What are you planning?" he inquired. "A happy ending."

4*4*4*4*

"Where are we going?" Rukia demanded, fully healed, along with the rest of her friends. "I told you," Grimmjow grunted as he quickened his sonido. Uryu was matching him stride for stride, Renji was behind him, Rukia to his right, and Chad brought up the rear. "Princesa wanted you. She's done me several favors, so I'm just repaying my debt. Not to mention she's like my adopted sister now." Grimmjow ignored the disbelieving looks thrown his way and said, "By the way, Kurosaki is comatose with shock. Just thought you guys should know ahead of time." As he ran, he scooped up Child-Nel, remembering her from Orihime's dream. Renji growled, "I'd kill you if I wasn't so damn curious."

4*4*4*4*

"Ulquiorra? What are you doing here? I was just experimenting on Lo- Stark? Lilynette? Hallibel, Nnoitora, Barragan, and Yammy, too? What's going on, Ulquiorra? Why are all the surviving Espada, exempting Grimmjow, doing at my lab?" "I suggest you come if you'd like to find out. By the way, Szayel, and all of you, too, this is a peaceful gathering. I highly recommend you keep it that way." No one argued with the green-eyed Espada, simply following him down to the prisoner's room.

4*4*4*4*

Orihime paced anxiously, throwing worried glances at Ichigo. She knew he was probably talking to his hollow, but was he supposed to be so still? "Woman." "Ulquiorra!" She spun on her heel to see him standing at the door, a crowd of silent Espada behind him. "How did you get here before-" "It's Grimmjow," he interrupted. "Are you surprised I am faster?" She looked down. "I guess not. I mean-" A rush of voices from the suddenly vocal Espada interrupted her. "Is that one of the intruders passed out on the floor?" "Isn't he her friend?" "What is he doing here?" "What are we doing here?" "Does Aizen know?" "Hell, no! Otherwise we wouldn't be having so much fun!" "How messed up are you?" "Wait, isn't that intruder supposed to be the strongest?" "Oh, yeah, I'm scared..."

Grimmjow walked in, followed by Orihime's friends, to the Espadas' excitement. "Inoue?" Rukia called over the noise of the now-crowded room. "What's going on? You're safe! What are all the Espada doing here?" Renji walked over and kicked Ichigo's body. No response. He snickered. Nnoitora walked over and kicked him, too, followed by the same snicker. Uryu smacked Renji's head. Hallibel smacked Nnoitora's head. The two sulked together, united by pain. Then, Uryu kicked Ichigo, sniggering. Instantly, the three started arguing as Hallibel simply walked off. Lilynette was jumping on Starrk, who was sleeping on the couch. Chad watched, bemused by the father-daughter relationship.

Grimmjow strode over to Nnoitora and tapped him on the shoulder. When Nnoitora turned, Grimmjow punched his nose, yowling, "You stupid, fucking SPOON!" Orihime looked at Ulquiorra pleadingly. Ulquiorra caught Nnoitora's retaliating fist with one hand and kicked Grimmjow with the opposite foot. "Deal with it later," he told the two shortly. Renji and Uryu finally realized they were in a room full of Espada and banded together, staring around suspiciously. Nel was sobbing on Ichigo's body. Just then, Kenpachi and Byakuya appeared at the door. "The hell!" Kenpachi thundered. "This is where everyone went?" Byakuya made his way to Rukia's side and asked her something. Rukia's reply was to shrug and point to Orihime, who chose that moment to roar, "SHUT UP!"

Everyone shut up and looked at her where she was standing on a table. She blushed and scratched her head, and then regained her confidence. "All right," she began. "I'm sure all of you are really confused as to why you are here, and have lots of questions. Please, just sit and listen. I'll do my best to explain."

"As you all know, I have some really weird powers. But they are strong. I saw the future, and it sucked. Majorly, for everybody. Kenny, Yachiru dies. Byakuya, Rukia dies. Renji, you become paralyzed. Chad, you get knocked out early and wake up in a collapsed building after the battle is done. Uryu, you lose your left hand. Almost seventy-five percent of the Thirteen Squads are killed." Her nakama stared at her in shock and horror. She continued, crying a little bit.

"Starrk, you and Lilynette die. Barragan, you die. Hallibel, Aizen kills you himself. Ulquiorra already knows he dies. Nnoitora dies. Grimmjow knows he dies, Nnoitora strikes the killing blow." "Sorry, buddy," Nnoitora whispered. "Zommari and Aaroniero are already dead. Szayel, you die. Not even your rebirth helps. Yammy, you die. Kurosaki-kun, it's good to see you awake. You already know you turn full hollow and then Aizen imprisons you. Uryu, he stabs you in the stomach with Zangetsu." Rukia looked down at Ichigo, who was sitting, sadly. Everyone in the room stared around in varying levels of shock, except the Sexta and the Cuarta.

"Gin and Aizen escape. Tousen dies. A few vizards die." Orihime swallowed hard, tears coming out when Lilynette asked Starrk softly, "Can we really die?" Starrk looked at her sadly, silent. Nnoitora's face was blank. "I'm killed?" Nel was being held by Ichigo, her eyes watery. "I don't want you all to die," Orihime said quietly. "Why did you call us here?" Hallibel asked. Orihime looked up, and her eyes shone with determination. "Because I don't like the way our stories end. So, I'm going to change it. We're going to kill Aizen, and stop the war. We're going to do whatever necessary to survive. We are going to live."

4*4*4*4*

Byakuya, Rukia, Renji, Chad, and Uryu stared in amazement at the glowing woman on the table before them. This wasn't the little girl they'd come to rescue. It was a shining goddess who would do whatever it took to save them from horrors they couldn't imagine, who would lead them out of the darkness and into the light. Byakuya became aware of a blue-haired Espada staring at him. "Do you require something?" Byakuya asked formally. The man shrugged. "It's just hard for me to believe this is really the first time you guys are really seeing Princesa. She told us you people always underestimated her, but we thought she was just being oversensitive. It was obvious to us how strong she was."

Rukia glared at him. "Shut up, Grimmjow. We've loved her a lot longer than you have!" "Maybe, but have you guys are respected, or believed in her? Not just her powers, but her?" he shot back. Rukia scowled at him, fuming. "I thought so," he sneered. "You're all thick as mud." Byakuya stared ahead at Orihime, who was smiling at an Espada with cyan tears. "Perhaps you are right, Grimmjow," he allowed. Rukia froze. Her brother was admitting to being thick? Grimmjow and Rukia both watched Byakuya's noble profile as he closed his eyes and said, "Perhaps we have underestimated not only Miss Inoue, but many, for far too long."

"That was very well-spoken," a smooth voice said from behind Orihime. Orihime beamed at his praise. "Really? I was speaking from my heart, so I wasn't sure how much sense I was making." "It was wonderful," he repeated. "The Espada have all switched their loyalty to you entirely. It amazes me, but I think all of them would die for you, myself included, I'm surprised to admit." Orhime giggled. "I would much rather you lived for me." With that, she spontaneously hugged him. He didn't hug her back, but he didn't push her away, either, as he would have less than three days ago. Right as he was about to take his hands out of his pockets and hug her back, a voice asked, "Inoue?"

Orihime pulled away and turned to see all of her friends and the two captains kneeling before her, the Espada watching silently in the background. "We're sorry we never believed in you!" Uryu exclaimed, his voice muffled. Orihime smiled. "Get up, guys. I forgive you all. I didn't believe in myself! You'd have to be insane to believe in me." As they stood, Grimmjow strolled over and demanded, "Hello? What about me and Emospada? We believed in you since the beginning!" Orihime laughed. "Example A. Thank you for reminding me, Grimmjow." Everyone was watching, and, as such, everyone but Orihime saw Ulquiorra smile when she laughed.

Grimmjow, playfully annoyed, smacked the back of her head. Instantly, all of her non-Espada friends moved forward to attack the Sexta Espada for daring to lay a hand on her. All froze when she fought back. Laughing, she pushed him with all her strength. He laughed in her face, not even bracing himself. When Orihime realized she would have no effect on him that way, she glanced at Ulquiorra. Next second, Grimmjow landed hard on his ass, Ulquiorra's expression not even flickering, one hand still outstretched. Orihime, Kenpachi, and the Espada laughed. Hard.

Enraged, Grimmjow got on his feet and yelled, "That ain't fair, Princesa!" She stuck her tongue out, and then squealed when he tried to pinch it. She twirled away and ran hard, the crowd parting for her and slowing Grimmjow down, trying to take away the advantage of sonido. When she felt Grimmjow get too close, she laughed, "Ulquiorra! Save me!" Next second, she was on Uqluiorra's back. "Ha!" she crowed triumphantly. "Still wanna play tag, Grimmjow?" Suddenly, Kenpachi joined. "Hey, that sounds great! Everyone against Ulquiorra and Orihime!" Immediately, everyone converged on them. Ulquiorra sonidoed out to the middle of Hueco Mundo, far from the prying eyes at Las Noches. Orihime, still attached to Ulquiorra's back, saw a flash of color and whispered, "They're here."

And everything became a blur. Brief images came and went as Orihime's brain tried to process the amounts of sonido and shunpo being used. She and Ulquiorra darting away as Byakuya reached for her foot, his lips curling ever so slightly. Ulquiorra jumping a dozen feet in the air to avoid a grasping Rukia and Nnoitora. Doing a graceful sort of twirl to avoid a super-fast Hallibel. Laughter floating from everyone's mouths as Ulquiorra twisted and turned and ducked and jumped and spun; all with a giddy Orihime on his back. Ichigo almost got Orihime, but Ulquiorra sent him flying with a harmless kick. "Whoa! That was close!" Orihime managed to gasp before the words were torn from her mouth as Ulquiorra jumped to avoid a barrage of blunt Quincy arrows and did some serious acrobatics to dodge landing in a waiting Starrk's arms.

Orihime grinned massively as she was pulled along. Everyone was working as a team to try and get Ulquiorra and her. Finally, after a dizzying fifteen minutes, Orihime felt a strange twist at her center of gravity, and the next second, she and Ulquiorra were sprawled on the white sand. Everyone stared at Ulquiorra. Finally, Orihime said, "Did you just trip?" Ulquiorra pondered her question for a second, and then said, "It appears I did trip." "Okay," Orihime said, choking back laughter. Others weren't so kind. Szayel and Uryu were chuckling at a distance. Kenpachi and Grimmjow were clinging to each other in attempt to remain standing through their mirth. Lilynette and Ichigo were both rolling on the ground, howling. Stark laid down, grateful for the rest. Hallibel and Byakuya stood side by side, both showing signs of amusement. Renji whispered something in Rukia's ear that caused her to crack up, along with Yammy, who heard the comment. Yammy lightly hit the semi-amused Barragan on the back and told him the joke. Nnoitora and Chad were laughing and conversing in Spanish. Over all, everyone liked everyone.

Orihime crawled over to where Ulquiorra was sitting. Gently, she combed white sand out of the coal-black locks. "You have sand in your hair," she explained. He nodded and relaxed after a while, sighing slightly. After a while, his piercing eyes fluttered closed. Orihime smiled tenderly and hands in his hair even though the sand was all gone. He just looked so peaceful, she didn't want to ruin it.

Grimmjow chuckled softly. "Looks like you were right, Tia. You win the bet. They did fall for each other." Hallibel nodded, smiling secretly. "What?" Ichigo said loudly. "They're not-" "Hush," Rukia whispered. "You'll ruin the moment."

Orihime's hands finally stilled, tangled in Ulquiorra's hair. His viridian eyes slowly slid open. "What are you doing?" he questioned quietly. "Admiring you," she replied, his bluntness rubbing off on her. "You remind me of a poem I read once," he admitted. "'Because of the heart, I lust for everything about you'. I can feel my heart, Orihime." Her eyes widened and her heart quickened at the use of her name. He reached up and moved her right hand from his hair to a place just to the left of his hollow hole. "Right here. It's warm. And nice. It feels like you. I think that you're my heart. Is that... good?" Orihime smiled. There was wonder in his voice, and his eyes were clear instead of cold.

"That's good. I'll be your heart. You can be my logic." He frowned and disagreed. "I don't want to be your logic. I want to be your heart, too." She shook her head. "You don't need to be my heart. You own it, instead." "Where is it?" he asked, innocently bewildered. "I don't see it." Orihime smiled, putting all of her emotion into that simple gesture. "You can't see it. But if you ever need a reminder, look at me smiling at you, or take my hand." She carefully intertwined their fingers, thrilled that she could finally reach him. "That smile is just for you. No one else's hand fits in mine as well as yours. Every time you see my smile or take my hand, look for the heart behind it, and remember it's yours, and only you have it. I could never trust anyone else to remember how precious owning a heart really is." Ulquiorra looked at her, eyes wide with awe, and then he enfolded her in his arms, whispering, "Thank you, my heart."

No one could hold it in anymore. There was a collective, "Awwwwwww..." Ulquiorra blinked and asked, "What are you all still doing here?" A blushing Orihime hid her red face in his chest. Rukia smiled. "We're getting more sugar than is probably good for us." "Yeah," Grimmjow added, getting rid of all traces of the tender smile he'd had a couple seconds ago. "I can feel my hollow mask growing cavities from sweetness exposure." Kenpachi, who was cleaning out his ear with his pinky, suddenly said, "Hey, weren't we plotting to kill Aizen a while ago?" "Really? Who'd'a thunk it?" a new voice commented. Everyone turned to see a smiling Gin.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Nnoitora asked eloquently. Gin shrugged. "I sensed a happy endin', or beginnin', from miles away and had to come watch. I hate depressing stuff. And that was totally cute, by the way. I almost cried as hard as I do at weddings!" Everyone but Hallibel, Byakuya, Ulquiorra, and Orihime gaped at him.

"So ya said ya were plannin' to kill Aizen, huh?" Gin continued cheerfully. "Well, he sure didn' see his Espada rebellin' tha' quickly, 'specially you, Ulqui. Why?" Orihime answered before anyone else could. "He has Rangiku tortured to death because she was a distraction to you. Her last movement was to blow you a kiss. I hope you caught it," Orihime sniffled. Gin dropped to his knees to be eye-level with her and asked solemnly, "Are ya sure?" Orihime nodded sadly. Gin stood and walked away. "Remember, Espada," he called over his shoulder. "Destroy his Zanpakuto to get rid of the illusions. Don't let Hime touch the Hougyokou. Be prepared to win. Without tha' conviction, he'll crush you." "Where are you going?" Rukia called suspiciously. "To go beg forgiveness from the only person I care ta have it from. Hopefully, I'll come out with mosta' ma parts intact," he laughed, opening a Garganta.

Kenpachi, Grimmjow, Ichigo, Nnoitora, and Renji immediately turned and walked off in synchronization. Byakuya halted them and asked evenly, "Where do you think you are going?" "To go kill Aizen, duh," Grimmjow stated, looking at Byakuya as if he was the biggest idiot alive. Byakuya returned the look as Ulquiorra, Hallibel, Barragan, and Uryu joined him. "No," Barragan commanded firmly. "I've waited too long to kill Aizen just to let a bunch of hotheads like you five screw it up."

Orihime stood next to Rukia and Chad off to the side, along with everyone else. Chad looked at Orihime and said sincerely, "It's really good to see you again, Inoue." Orihime smiled at him, then looked back towards where Ichigo was now arguing with a closed-eyed Byakuya. Uryu interrupted with, "It'd be stupid to just launch in and attack him. He would have all of you, our power people, dead in seconds. In fact, he probably would have used that damn Shikai and have you kill each other." "And you have a plan?" Renji retorted. "No," Uryu said, jerking his thumb behind him. "But Ulquiorra does."

Orihime heard the admiration in the Quincy's voice and resolved not to tell him Ulquiorra cut off his hand.

Ulquiorra nodded in response to Uryu's claim. "A lot of this depends on Aizen's hopefully huge ego. If Aizen doubts his own intelligence and wonders if us Espada are really as legit as we seem, as he created us to be, we are doomed." Grimmjow snorted. "It's Aizen. Nothing's gonna deflate that bastard's head, not until we wipe the smile off that know-it-all face."