Two Hearts, One Love
~Love and fear come from the same place: The Heart. It only makes sense, that to conquer both, you must first master the heart. Two souls will only find happiness when their hearts beat as one, for to master the heart, you must first find another.~
Chapter 1
"Are you afraid of me?" his voice almost quivered, as if he didn't really want the answer. He knew the answer.
Silence. She did not reply to him, instead giving him a look that confirmed his own hidden fears. She was afraid of him. God, what had he done?
"Are you afraid of me?" he asked again, this time more sure of himself. He atleast wanted to disappear into the sandy nothingness with an answer to his question. His body was failing hard, he knew that any minute now, he would become one with the nothingness and the happiness he desired.
"...No." She shook her head, her expression indicating once more a different answer. "No, I'm not afraid."
"I see." He was silent looked into her eyes for what felt like forever. It was a blissful eternity. Happiness.
He watched as she reached a delicate hand toward him, and in that instant, he knew that happiness lay not within nothingness, but within the heart. Within the love felt for friends and all the world. He could feel the pure love and light extending from her soul, warming for the first time something within him. He couldn't quite place it at first, but he felt compelled at that point to reach for her in return. Before their fingertips could touch, his own began to disappear into the gentle winds of the white desert surrounding them.
"The heart..." He realized, this must be it. What he felt for her, he felt from his heart. But it was too late. He stared into her eyes one last time, looking as if he were about to shed a tear, and in an instant he was gone. One with the wite sands of Heuco Mundo.
"No!" She grabbed desperately at the dust he had become, gathering within her palm a few grains. She fell to her knees, sobbing.
"No... Why? Why does it have to be this way?"
"He's gone, Orihime." Ichigo assured her. "You never have to look at him again. He can't scare you anymore."
"I'm not afraid!" She wailed, and her hairpins glowed with holy light.
The sand reformed into a very confused looking arrancar. He didn't understand why she would want to bring him back.
"Ulquoira! Please, don't go..." She was so caught up in her crying she didn't even notice him there. He didn't know what to say.
"..." He glanced at the ground briefly, feeling awkward about the whole thing. "Inoue..."
She looked up, surprised and stunned. "Ulquoirra? Ulquoirra! You're alive!"
"Yes..." He looked around himself, and shrugged his shoulders a bit. "So it seems. Thanks to you..." He paused and gave her a look of perplexion, unable to discern her intentions. "Why would you heal me? You undersantd that I desire nothing more than to follow Aizen's orders... I must kill your friends now." He shifted his gaze to them and back. "All of them."
"No... Ulquiora, you're my frieind now too... Why can't we all just be friends and live in piece. You don't have to do what he says anymore..."
"She's right." Ichigo put his sword in its sheath. "You know, technically, you should listen to what SHE says, she's the one that saved your hiney."
"..." Ulquoirra was speechless. They were right. He now belonged to her and only her. That feeling swept over him again. The one he felt right before he died.
"What do you say? Will you join us?" Ichigo gave him a wink, and grin always ready to except new friendships.
"Join us!" Ishida came towards them, fully healed from his wounds thanks to a quincy potion. "It's the least you can do after all you've done you know."
"I..." The arrancar looked to them with distrust, but back to Orihime with softness, if only slightly. "I will do as you say then, as you are my new creater."
"Oh, thnak you! Thank you Ulquiora. I won't be bossy, I just want for you to be a good friend to everyone."
"I'll... I'll try..." He was unsure of what it really meant to be someone's friend, but he was going to try. His new master ordered it so.
Later that day, the four of them travelled to Karakura town for a break. Ichigo and Ishida Uryu were really tired from that long, hard battle with their former nemesis, and as a result, they want to bed early. This of course, left only Orihime and Ulquoira. He felt a little awkward being alone with her, as he couldn't shake that warm, anxious feeling that he felt for her. Strange, why was it about her? Why had he not felt the same for his previous master?
"Is there anything that you would like me to do?" He asked, eager to except any task she may present him with.
"You need to rest, you just came back to life. Take it easy." She smiled warmly at him.
He wouldn't except this as an answer. There must be something she wanted. "Anything at all. I don't need to rest. I need to serve you."
"Anything huh?"
He nodded, eyes widening very slightly at the idea that she might present him with a task.
"Well... To be honest, sleeping on that chesterfield in Hueco mundo... It was comfy the first few nights, but... I'm so sore... Could you give me a backrub?"
Not what he was expecting. He swallowed, inadvertently making it clear to her that he was uncomfortible. "I... I can do that."
She grinned and stretched herself out on the couch they were sharing, as he reflexively moved aside for her. She tossed her hair from her shoulders, exposing the nape of her neck and making him swallow hard again. His face felt hot, but it refused to flush as any humans would.
He felt like he should not touch her, like that was above him. He was unfamiliar with such a request, and he hesitated to place his hands on her back. To touch her felt indecent. But orders were orders, right?
"...Like this?" He placed his hands symmetrical on her shoulders blades and gently rubbed, barely placing any pressure.
"No, no. A little more pressure."
He pushed a little harder. "...Like this?"
"..." She waited a moment to get a feel for it, but it wasn't working for her. "No, you need to put pressure on it. Harder..."
"Sorry..."
"It's okay, just make sure you really giv'er." She rested her head on the couch again.
He swallowed again, annoying himself a bit. He wasn't used to this feeling. Was he nervous? He pushed hard this time, forgetting that he was superhumanly strong and there was quite a crack, and a small, pained cry from his master. He immediately let go. "...Not like that..."
"No... Too hard." She winced, but remained unharmed for the most part. She sat up and stretched, her insides giving a crack and indicating they were back in place. She looks at him a little puzzled, but then had an idea. "I'll show you how, Ulqiuorra."
If he could have gone red, he would have. Instead, he said nothing.
"Lay down." She gently nudged at his shoulders to entice him into laying for her.
He looked around a bit, and then lay down like she asked. He was feeling more like a pet and less like an Espada. "Like this?"
"I don't need to tell you how to lay down do I?" She giggled.
"No... I am unfamiliar with these human activities. I do not lay down often and as such, am unsure which way I should lay."
"You're doing great." She teased. She brushed aside a few stray locks of raven hair and applied firm but gentle pressure to his neck and shoulders. Immediately, she felt his tension release, and he turned into a pile of mush beneath her. "Just like silly putty! Hehe."
Ulquoirra said nothing, but gave a soft grown as she worked the centuries of nots out of his back. Unbeknownst to him, but amusing to her, he began to nuzzle at the sofa fabric, clearly enjoying himself for the first time in a very long time. If her ears didn't deceive her, he was actually starting to purr!
She moved her hands downward, needing and stroking firmly at the area beneath his shoulders blades and beside his spine. There was a little bit of cracking, but he seemed to like that, and so she did not stall. She worked downwards and rubbed at his lower back, then slowly and thoroughly working her way back up to rub his shoulders and neck again. He was still purring, and she wasn't sure he was even paying attention to her technique. She giggled, happy that at least he was getting something nice for once, he had probably never had a back rub before. She finished, patting his back softly, "My turn."
"Mmmmnnn..." He growned and looked at her with an expressioned she had never seen on his face before. His pupils were huge, and he seemed a little spaced out for lack of a better word. "Orihime... Mnn... Yes, at once." He got up slowly, giving a little stretch as she lay herself down for him to have another go at it. "I think I get how it works now."
He placed his hands on her shoulders and began working his thumbs into her muscles.
"Ohh! Not so mechanical! A little more smooth. Formless, like water! Hehe... Aim for those little nots and things."
"I see..." He ceased the consistant motion and began focusing on the areas of tension. It took a moment for him to get it down pat, but he learned quickly. She was expressing the same bliss as he had been in no time. "Like this?"
"Yes... Just like that... Ohhh..." She growned, her back feeling much less tense already.
He continued needing and rubbing just as she had to him, relying on her soft growns to indicate weather her technique was a hit or miss. She let out a sound of extreme relief when he reached her lower back. "That's not surprising, you have a lot to carry around up top..."
"Ulquoira!" She was a little surprised by his remark, though she had to admit it was probably the most polite remark about her chest ever.
"I'm sorry. Just an observation." Once again, if he could functionally blush he would have. For once, his logical nature was not doing him any favours. Still, she seemed to enjoy the relief he provided, so he continued on that spot for a while before moving upwards slowly, much as she had.
She sat up, also giving a stretch. While she was in bliss from her massage, Ulquoirra totally took advantage of that view. Unfortunately she turned to look his way and since he had awkwardly placed himself to get that view, he was busted. "Ulquiorra, what's gotten into you? You're worse than that lesbian I go to school with."
"I never laid a hand on them..." He turned just a little bit pink, only because if he could truly flush he would be rainbow by now. "I will never lay a hand on you unless ordered to."
" You're funny. Don't go gettin' any ideas, Ulqui-kun."
"...What? What is that?"
"What is what, Ulqui-kun." She looked puzzled.
"That... No, please don't call me that."
"Why not?"
"It's... embarrassing..."
"Embarrasing? Ulquoirra, I didn't realise you could feel embarassment! That's so cute in a way. Ulqui-kun, Ulqui-kun!" She laughed.
He looked at the floor, still pink, but expressing annoyance with his eyebrows alone. "I don't appreciate that. I must request you stop calling me that."
"BatBat McBattyFlapper!" She was acting a little manic at the moment.
"Wh...What the hell is that?" He was visibly stressed at this point by the name calling. "I find it really emasculating that my master is referring to me with zero respect."
"I'm sorry, Ulquoirra. Here... I'll give you a kiss to make it better." She giggled some more, then gave him a quick, sweet peck on the cheek. Pink again!
"..." He remained silent for a second, "Inoue..." He felt that feeling was over him again. Tingling throughout his body, lightheaded bliss, his heart pounding in his chest, and an erratic feeling in the pit of his stomach not unlike the fluttering of a soul reappears hell butterflys. Was it his heart? Could he be... no... He was incapable of such feelings... But when he looked into her eyes once more, he was sure. "Inoue... Orihime Inoue."
"Ulquoirra? What is it?"
"I... The only time I can feel it... The only time I have ever felt...this... this heart... is with you." His voice was quivering and he was struggling to make eye contact, whereas before every encounter with him had been a determined stair-down.
"I'm glad, Ulqui-ku- Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean that... I mean no disrespect to y-"
He took her hand, his pale finger entwining with her own, making her look almost tan by comparison. His grip was firm, from the heart she knew it. He forced himself to look her in the eyes, and in a soft voice unlike any she'd heard from him before, he whispered. "I... love you... Orihime..." He quivered quite a bit the first time so he said it again, this time more sure than ever. "I love you."
She was speechless for a change. Her expression, she realized, must has reflected her shock and she quickly softened, seeing that fear of rejection in his eyes. "Ulquiorra..."
"It's okay... If you do not feel the same. But I need you to know how I feel." He couldn't keep her gaze, forcing his own downward out of shame.
"No... Ulquiorra... I... It will take time." Orihime was very taken back by his sudden confession. "I can grow to love you as well. It just takes time." She smiled. "But we have all the time in the world, now that we are friends. Let's spend some time together, and we'll see how it all goes. Don't feel like I have said no to you. I just need some time to say yes."
He couldn't meet her gaze, feeling nothing but shame washing over him. He looked at her briefly, sadly; and then he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I understand..." He barely whispered, letting go.
Orihime yawned, changing the subject quickly. "Wow, I'm so tired... You must be too. You should sleep in my bed to make sure you get enough rest, I'll sleep on the couch."
"No... You've slept on a chesterfield long enough. You deserve to sleep in your bed. This in itself is better than anything I've ever slept on..." He looked into her eyes again, having regained his composure. She could still see that glimmer of hurt in those emerald eyes though. "Good night, Inoue. Sleep well tonight."
"Ulquoirra... Please don't be sad." She was starting to feel very badly, but it was all so sudden. Just then, her face lit up- she had an idea. "I know! You and I can have our first date this weekend. I've got to go to school since I haven't been there in like a year, but if I study hard and do all my homework, no doubt Ill have time for that this weekend. Is that okay? Will you go out with me Saturday?"
"Really?" His face lit up just a little, then he looked a little nervous again. "I mean... Shouldn't I be asking that? Orihime, will you go out with me on Saturday?"
She smiled brightly at him. "I will. I will Ulquoirra. It's a date!" Orihime giggled, and with that, she skipped off to her bedroom for the night.
Feeling a little better about how things stood, Ulquiorra stretched out on the sofa. He spent a long time that night staring at the sealing, his heart just short of racing. "Orihime... It can't be undone... I will always love you. Even if you never feel the same..." He didn't know what to feel. Eventually, he grew tired, exhausted even from his own feelings. Just shortly after, he drifted into sleep, dreaming not of nothingness, but of everything love could bring.
Unbeknownst to ether of them, they had been eaves troughed on by Uryu, who was already in the empty bathtub, door locked, lights on very dim. He had pulled the shower curtain so that only a crack of light, just enough for him to see his notebook, was beaming through. Just like Inoue has been the only and one true love and light in his life! He had been love shy, and still hadn't made a move, and now a HOLLOW was moving in on his one... true... love. She had no idea weather this hollow would turn on her as they had previously experienced a tumultuous relationship earlier at Hueco Mundo. He might well kill her if he was ordered to do so by Aizen. He defiantly couldn't be trusted.
Whatever it took, Uryu would protect the love of his life, even if she didn't feel the same for him. He sketched up a few blueprints and plans so as to eliminate the hollow. He could not be discovered, however, as Inoue would never forgive him. But it is his duty to eliminate hollows.
He opened the shower curtain, his spectacles glinting in the dim light. He had to do this, he had to ensure his Inoue was safe. At all cost.
Disclaimer: I am not in any way shape or form affiliated with Bleach, nor do I own any rights to anything related to the franchise.
A/N: Well, that's it for now! Hope you enjoyed my story. I worked really hard on it. If you couldn't already tell, this is AU, a kind of 'what-if' about what would've happened had she healed Ulquoirra. His name is so hard to spell! I kind of resent Aizen for giving him such a ridiculous name, it's a pain in my arsebum! And isn't Uryu acting strange? Hmmm, I think he might be part of an upcoming triangle. ;) Review, and let me know what things would make you happy in the next chapter. I am very open to ideas and criticism. Oh, and sorry for my bad spelling, my first language is English, but I have spent half of my time learning Francais so neither is perfect.
