Orihime was Dying.

During the fight between Ulquiorra and Ichigo, Loly had taken the opportunity to attack her. Unfortunately for her the fighting parties had noticed and Ichigo horrid to attack loly with his Getsuga Tenshō but he was rash. He did something he would regret for the rest of his life. Loly got closer to his friend much than he anticipated. So, He had injured Orihime in the process...

Ichigo was shocked at what had happened and started calling for her. The reason why he came here..Why he fought. He killed her with his own hands. Ichigo started walking towards Orihime but the espada had sonided and stood next to Orihime. He glared daggers at the Shinigami and prevented him from reaching her.

He then turned to look at her lying form on the ground. She's not his responsibility anymore, Aizen-sama had declared her useless. But.. He can't allow her to die.

He was confused. Strange things were stirring within him. He knew basic feelings that any other hollow would hunger, pain..etc. So He knew these were feelings but this was different, he did not know from where they came and he didn't care, not at the moment, saving her is his priority now.

She was tired.. very tired, she had lost a lot of blood. She could barely keep her eyes open. She took sometime to register what happened and why did was she so pained and hurt. Her vision was blurry as she saw someone towering over her. She was able to recognize Ulquiorra a few moments later. She thought she saw In his eyes confusion and other emotions she couldn't identify yet as she then noticed Kurosaki-kun a few meters behind him.

She turned her head -which proved to be much for her- to the Shinigami He looked so much in pain. She had to say something to him

"Kurasaki- kun.. I forgive you" She said in a very weak voice then continued "please... forgive yourself"

"NO! IN-"

"Women" A voice interrupted "Enough talking, Heal yourself" He was still staring at her and she could still see the emotions in his eyes. 'So my mind was not making this up' She managed a small smile as she thought that he was finally showing emotions even if it was subtle.

"Ulquiorra.. I can't"

She really couldn't her reiatsu was almost non-existent. 'May be if she had a reason she could..'

"NO! Please.." Ichigo shouted. He was too desperate to think why the espada wanted her alive.

"Women, If you don't heal yourself, I will kill your friends." He threatened pointing his sword towards her friend.

Her eyes widened at him. Why was he so persistent. Her friends were the trump card, threaten them and she will surrender. This is what had gotten her here in the first place. Both of them knew that but why? She had outlived her purpose for his master. Then she saw his eyes, There was pleading in them. 'So he cares' She smiled, though weak, it reached her eyes.

"I am sorry really sorry, Ulquiorra, everyone, but I can't"

Ichigo was stunned at what Ulquiorra said but he began to cry and to punch the floor knowing there was no hope.

'Why is she smiling?' She continued to confuse him even in her last moments.

"Ulquiorra, I wish I had the opportunity to show you the heart" She continued to smile at him as she tried left her arm to reach for him and he met her halfway and sat next to her holding her hand and her gaze.

'Foolish women, still talking about the heart and smiling at a time like this. He thought then looked at her hand 'In my hand is that her heart?'. Then an idea struck him. He remembered Aizen telling him The substitute shinigami gained his powers when the petite shinigami stabbed him in the heart with her concentrated reiatsu. Can he also do that? Can he save her? He was never faced with so much uncertainties in his life.

He then broke their contact, reached for his sword and concentrated some of his energy in it and then stabbed her in her heart

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?' Ichigo shouted as he was lashing out at the fourth espada.

"Correcting your mistake" He did not even glance at the shinigami as he was too focused on his current task. Too much could lead to the opposite consequences.

He was going to counter back but then he noticed Inoue.

Orihime did not have the time to be shocked when she saw Ulquiorra was going to stab her as she soon felt energy through her veins. It was dark and cold like a his reiatsu. She felt stronger and better than before despite her injury as she took a deep loud breath.

Ulquiorra could feel his energy pulsing through her and noticed that she looked slightly better. She wasn't as pale.

"Women, now you can heal yourself" He said in his usual monotone voice.

She looked at Ulquiorra questioning what happened but she didn't. The relief in his eyes satisfied her for now. Instead she beamed at him and said "Sōten Kisshun, I reject"

He knew that there were later consequences of what he did and that his reiatsu will affect her powers but she's alive. He found himself relieved and.. happy? 'So the void was not happiness after all' He mused and looked at the palm of his and then her hand 'The heart..'