Chapter 2, Ride

Orihime hummed happily around the house. She washed off the last plate and then fell onto a chair like a sack of potatoes. The seven children were playing in the garden, so she thought she could sneak out again. Just for a few hours, to sing and do her thing for once, instead of babysitting all the time while the parents were out all day.

She took her harp and skipped out the door. She stroked the side of her head and frowned. She still hadn't found the lost hairpin and she was getting anxious. What if someone took it? Then she would probably never find it again. Sighing, she walked down the river again, passing a farm. The animals there were cute and sometimes, she'd pick some grass and feed it to the poor things. She knew they got enough food, probably too much, but she just couldn't avoid those pleading looks. She especially liked the horses. There were some brown ones, a horse with dots all over its body, a palomino and one black horse.

As she fed the horses and goats, yet again, she hummed a tune and soon, began singing. The horses seemed to like the soft pitches in her voice and they all came to stand around her. This probably wasn't their intention, they just wanted more food. But Orihime liked to believe they did like music.

"They get plenty enough food, you know."

Orihime almost jumped and dropped her harp over the barbed wire. Soon, the horse began to push each other in order to get to the bundle of grass, stomping the harp in the process. The strings got loose and the wood cracked easily. When the horses had calmed down, she ducked and took the harp - or what was left of it - out of the pool of mud.

"Oh no..." she whispered.

"I-I'm so sorry, I..."

She looked up to the figure standing next to her. It was a guy she had never seen before. He was half a head taller, had black hair and green eyes. She swore she had never seen such deep green in her life. Although he looked pale, she could tell it was his natural skin tone and no sign of sickness. The only thing that was a little disturbing was the fact that he had two large scars, leading from his eyes to the bottom of his cheeks.

"Don't... don't worry about it..." she said, eyes down.

Ulquiorra heard his heart thump in his chest. Great. The first thing he says to her results in breaking her little harp. Just great.

"Is there any way I can make it up to you?" he asked.

Orihime was kind at heart. She knew he didn't cause this, she was just too clumsy to drop the harp. He didn't do anything wrong, but still, she was curious about him. Maybe she needed some distraction today. Because, she knew what was going to happen this evening. She wanted this day to have a little joy in it...

"Uhm... do you know who owns these horses?"

"Mr. Urahara Kisuke."

"Oh, I don't know him... I wanted to ask him if he'd mind I ride one of his horses today."

"Well," he paused a moment "I work here. I know he'd never let anyone touch his 'babies'."

He used two fingers on each hand to support the word, gaining a chuckle of her.

God, she's cute when she laughs. Wait, wut?!

"Uhm... you're daydreaming..."

"Sorry."

He glanced sideward's to see her downcast look. He knew he was going to regret this later, but somehow his body moved for him. He suddenly lost control of what he was doing.

He jumped over the fence and took two fingers in his mouth. The black horse responded to the whistle and walked over to Ulquiorra's side.

"So, pick a horse. This one's mine. His name is Murcielago."

"What a cool name! Oh oh oh! Are there white ones?"

"I'm afraid we only have brown ones, a palomino and one freckled old geezer left."

"Oh, well, the palomino looks adorable, so I'll take that one." she smiled.

"Good choice, she's the mare here and runs the place. She has all the males at her feet, but she's actually my horses girlfriend, if you could call it like that." he chuckled.

"I bet they have had a few romantic dates then?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Well, I'd think they have dinner on hay stacks with little fireflies lighting the night. Also, they would eat flowers and fresh cut grass with mineral water and I bet they would ruffle each other's necks. I've seen horses do that once in a while, although I don't know why they do that, you know, and-"

"Are you going to help me a little here? Don't want to interrupt your fantasies there, but we have to get back before dusk."

"Woops, sorry about that, I tend to get a little excited."

"I heard that." he chuckled.

As she took the horse by its rope, she followed him out of the stables and onto the road. He helped her get on her horse and he got on his.

"By the way, what's her name?" she asked, patting the horse's neck.

"I don't know. I always call her Onna, out of frustration."

"Why?"

"Because, although my horse has the name of a demon, that mere you are riding has definitely the spirit and habits of one."

"Oh, has she bothered you a lot then?" she smiled.

He noticed the undertone in her voice, she was messing with him, he could tell. It wasn't a bad type of messing, but he didn't like to be mocked with.

"Indeed she has. One time, when I was feeding the males, she would just chase them away and have her fill. When I tried to get her away, for she had already had her nourishments for the day, she kicked me. My shoulder was dislocated and I had to lay still for days."

Orihime was shocked, the mere was calm and had an easy pace. When she dropped the rope to comment, however, the horse picked up a wrong signal and started galloping. Orihime shouted and panicked, causing the horse to run even faster.

"Orihime!" Ulquiorra shouted.

He didn't have to give his horse any signals, Murcielago knew what to do. He began sprinting faster than any horse could have ran and after a few seconds, they were right beside them. Ulquiorra snatched the rope fast and pulled with immense force, causing the horse to stop. Due to the sudden stop, Orihime tumbled over the horses' neck and rolled off the path, into the woods.

Ulquiorra hopped off his horse and ran down the hill, careful not to fall. He saw her laying a few feet further and when he reached her, he took her in his arms.

"Orihime?"

He looked down at the girl in his arms. She had a bruise on her forehead and the top of her dress was ripped completely off her body. He tried to hide his blush, but all efforts in vain. He pulled out his shirt and covered her with it. Now it was Orihime's time to blush. His abdomen and torso were so well shaped! His arms were strong, his body was flawless and every muscle popped out.

"I'm so sorry. I'll take you back to the village. This time, we're riding only my horse."

"Well, yeah, knowing I can't ride one..."

"You what?"

"Hehe..."

"You're unbelievable."

"Says the one that believes in demons."

"Says the one who asks to ride a horse even when she can't even ride one in the first place."

"Touché." she giggled.

When he tried to support her by touching her back, she flinched and hissed.

"What, did I hurt you? Are you hurt? Come, let me-"

"No! No, hehe, I'm fine, it's fine, a branch just poked my back, nothing bad." she blurted.

"I see." was all he said.

He carried her on his back and helped her to get on Murcielago. She had put on his shirt and she was constantly hugging herself. As if she was cold.

"Everything alright?" he asked.

"Well of course. But it's not as if having your dress being torn in front of a guy is very comforting."

"Oh..."

She giggled and ruffled his hair. He grunted in disapproval and she laughed even harder. He sat behind her on Murcielago and held the devilish mere by the rope. She smelled so nice, he didn't know if it was her natural scent or some soap she used frequently. In any way, he couldn't think of anything he disliked about her.

They almost entered the village when suddenly she looked at him and asked to drop her off here. She said that they were surely going to meet again. She w in a hurry, he could tell.

"Wait, just a moment." he said.

Ulquiorra got off the horse and turned. He pulled something out of his pocked and by seeing it, she jumped in his arms, thanking him over and over again, all while nearly suffocating him.