Tea. Was that all that they drank? Orihime was inclined to believe so, considering that there was always a steaming cup of it sitting on her tray at all meals, taunting her with it's now monotonous stench.
" I'm sick of it." she remarked to Ulquiorra one day, just as he was about to leave the room.
" Sick of what?" he asked.
" Tea. How do you drink it every single day?"
Ulquiorra raised one of his eyebrows, pondering this peculiar question.
" Aizen likes tea." he supplemented
" And...?"
" Is it not proper to someone to enjoy the same things as the people around you, to avoid conflict?"
" Well, I don't see you challenging the other Espada to battles, or wearing weird clothing. And..."she paused dramatically.
" I've never seen anyone wearing eye make up as strange as yours."
" What?" Ulquiorra couldn't hide the indignation in his voice. " Look, I was born this wa- okay that's not the point. Fine. I admit that we are-"
" -all tea brains?"
" NO!" Ulquiorra's face reddened, but he seemed to realize that he was showing actual emotion on his face, and he composed himself once again. Before he stepped out of the room he sent a lingering glance to the undrunk tea on Orihime's tray. He nonchalantly took his hands out of his pockets, reached back and grabbed the handle, taking a brief sip before slamming the door behind him.
He was lucky that he couldn't see Orihime's smile.