Disclaimer: Bleach will never be mine.
When Orihime came home that night, she didn't expect Ulquiorra waited for her. The light in the living room was turned off, but the TV was on, so she could recognize his silhouette. Orihime felt trapped in those brilliant emerald eyes as soon as the owner looked at her way when she entered their apartment.
"You are late."
She shivered. She didn't know if it was from his baritone voice, his gaze, or the temperature of the room. Well, it was several degrees colder outside, so the third option was definitely impossible.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"We can't be late for school tomorrow. Go sleep now."
Ulquiorra raised himself from the sofa he'd just sit on after turning the TV off and started to make his way to his own bedroom.
"You don't need to always wait for me," the orange-haired woman told him.
That made the man stopped his motion.
"I don't need to, but I want to," he answered without looking back at her.
Orihime came and hugged him from behind.
"Thank you Ulqui-kun, and sorry for worrying you."
The man just rolled his eyes. Orihime giggled inwardly because she knew Ulquiorra was not mad at her.
"Oh, you know, the date was perfect! Kurosaki-kun was so gentle! He brought me to-" Orihime started babbling.
The pale man stopped himself from rolling his eyes again – he absolutely didn't want to end up crossed eyed because of the woman constant silliness – and convinced himself that he needed to stop her jabbering, so he covered her mouth with his palm in a flash. Now, that shut her up.
"Woman, listen. I want to sleep, and you need it too. I don't want us to be late tomorrow because you can't stop chatting about the date, which I don't really care about, alright?"
When he saw how her eyebrows furrowed, Ulquiorra released the hand that had covered her mouth.
"How could you say that? Don't you care about me?" she asked annoyed.
Ulquiorra's eyes soften. He patted her head gently.
"Of course I care about you, but we'll talk about it later, okay? Now, sleep," he commanded.
Ulquiorra's hand started to mess her hair. That turned Orihime's scowl into a smile.
"Okay, Ulqui-kun. Goodnight."
She kissed his cheek. As usual, he just responded by grunting.
When he rested on his bed that night, he remembered what he had said to Orihime.
He would always wait for her because he cared, so very much.
The next morning Ulquiorra was eating his breakfast calmly while Orihime was practically flying to the bathroom. This scene made the pale man sighed. Even if he was used to it now, didn't mean he enjoyed it. Ten minutes later, the young woman appeared complete with her uniform, which she wore rather sloppily. Without greeting her young companion, Orihime chomped on her toast. Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow and stared at her like she was the weirdest thing alive, well at least in his life.
"Slow down, woman. You're going to be choked by your own food."
Orihime chugged a glass of milk before answering.
"I can't. I must hurry."
Ulquiorra opened his mouth to start giving her a lecture about table manner when they suddenly heard someone knocked at the front door. He halted before even could form a word and walked to the front door.
'Who is coming this early?'
Well, whoever he was, Ulquiorra just assumed their guest was a male; he was so impatient because he kept knocking persistently.
Ulquiorra opened the door to see the mysterious guest, not that he cared but the knocking noise was getting annoying, and the sight in front of him made him raised his eyebrow because the male guest, his earlier presumption was right because the guest was definitely a male, was someone he would never predict.
Ichigo Kurosaki stood proudly in front of him, wearing his trademark scowl.
Never in his wildest dream - as if he wanted the annoying male appeared in his dream - he thought the orange head male had guts to step into his apartment. Well, technically the Kurosaki boy hadn't step into his apartment yet, but still.
Ulquiorra crossed his arms, trying his best to look intimidating. Actually, he was still intimidating even without trying.
"What do you want?"
Ichigo wore sheepish grin and scratched his head.
"Err- is Inoue-san in?"
Ulquiorra could feel his eye twitched.
"And what business do you have with her?" he asked firmly.
Ichigo understood the underlying message:
'If I deemed your reason absurd I'll kick you out.'
Ichigo was sweating inwardly. Well, he knew his senior was very protective of the bubbly young woman. Made wrong move and he's officially dead.
"Inoue-san and I-" he started but was cut off by the young woman herself.
"Ooh, Kurosaki-kun, you're already here!" Orihime said with her overly excited voice.
Well, at least overly excited for Ulquiorra's taste and he found it annoying.
"What's the meaning of this, woman?" he asked in dangerously low voice.
Having the orange-head boy as a schoolmate was annoying enough, but having him here, in front of his apartment, with the bubbly Orihime looking at him adoringly was completely annoying in different level.
He absolutely couldn't deal with this, especially in this early morning.
"Eh, you see," Orihime scratched her head and wore sheepish smile, "From today onward, I and Kurosaki-kun will go to school together."
"Oh, and of course Kurosaki-kun will also walk me home everyday," she added quickly.
Ulquiorra was appalled. Seeing his expression Orihime felt guilty.
"Sorry for the late notice. I intended to inform you last night, but it just slipped off my mind."
Ulquiorra glanced at Ichigo's way.
"So basically from now on you'll walk Orihime wherever she goes everyday in my stead, won't you?"
"Well senpai, if you put it that way, then yes," Ichigo answered nervously.
"You're not mad, aren't you?" Orihime asked cautiously.
Ulquiorra just sighed deeply before answering.
"Do as you want. I'll go first."
With that, he departed quickly, without even looking at her way. It's better that way, because he didn't know if he could control his facial expression, as he was absolutely seething inwardly. That's why he couldn't see Orihime's sad face looking at his figure walking away from her.
"Why are you brooding, man?"
A blue-haired young man asked his self-proclaimed best buddy. The said man just groaned in response. He was currently slumping on his desk, resting his head on it.
"Hey, I haven't seen your woman, like for two weeks already. Where is she? She finally dumped you, didn't she? Is that why you are brooding now? Huh?"
Ulquiorra groaned louder. Seriously, why was he surrounded by fools?
"Grimmjow, first, she is not my woman. We just live together because we are childhood friends and we only have each other. Second, if she's not my woman, how can she dump me? Third, she is currently busy with her new boyfriend. You know him, Ichigo Kurosaki, the orange-haired boy whom you proclaimed as your rival in judo club."
"Yeah, yeah, not your woman. As if I would believe that," the man whose name was Grimmjow said.
Ulquiorra just rolled his eyes. It's useless to convince a fool.
"Did you say Ichigo Kurosaki?! As in Ichigo Kurosaki?!"
Ulquiorra sighed. Did he have to repeat every word he said?
"Man, it's that Kurosaki. What does the Princess see on him?" Grimmjow chuckled.
"Don't ask me," the emerald-eyed young man replied grumpily.
Grimmjow looked at him intently before bursting in laughing. Ulquiorra just raised an eyebrow at his way.
"This is hilarious. The mighty Ulquiorra is being jealous!"
"I'm not," Ulquiorra retorted.
The blue-haired man still couldn't stop guffawing. Ulquiorra looked at him annoyed.
"Sorry, man," he started, "Why don't you just tell her? I mean no woman in their right mind would reject you."
"You know that Orihime is a bit unusual, don't you?" Ulquiorra answered.
"Well, I know, but even so-"
"She only has her eyes on that Kurosaki boy, since the very first time. She won't see me that way."
Grimmjow could hear how the pale man's voice was tinged with longing. For the first time in his whole life, the blue-haired bestfriend pitied his buddy.
"Oi, Ulquiorra. Boss wants to see you," a bulky man hollered.
"Okay, I get it. Thanks, Yammy!" he yelled back.
"No problem, man," his workmate answered.
Ulquiorra headed to the boss' office. He knocked at the door.
"Come in," his boss commanded from behind the door.
Ulquiorra entered and bowed to his boss.
"You called for me, Aizen-sama?"
His boss, Sousuke Aizen, a handsome man on his early forties, was like a guardian to Ulquiorra. He had worked for him for almost three years and he treated him like his own son.
"Sit down, Ulquiorra. We haven't got chance to talk like this recently since both of us are busy people. How's life?"
Aizen offered Ulquiorra a cup of black tea. Ulquiorra accepted and took a sip of it.
"Good, Aizen-sama. Before you ask, Orihime is good too."
Aizen smiled fatherly smile at him.
"That's nice to hear, Ulquiorra. I'm glad that I've seen both of you grow up well, especially you. You have excellent record at school. Anyway, I heard that you've decided where you'll continue your study. Oxford University, right? I completely agree with your choice."
Ulquiorra gaped slightly.
"How did you- ah, never mind."
He remembered the only one who knew about it was his teacher, Kuchiki-sensei. And Kuchiki-sensei was a close friend of Aizen, so it's no wonder he knew.
"Yeah, Byakuya told me. You know, you are practically his favorite student. He has deep concern for you," Aizen chuckled.
Ulquiorra just rolled his eyes inwardly.
"Maybe that because he sees his young self in you. He wants you to gain what he couldn't," Aizen hummed thoughtfully.
Kuchiki-sensei was one of few people he could trust. He absolutely favored him more than other teachers. Besides, he was smart, cool, and only talked when needed, just like him. Ulquiorra smirked.
"Well, tell me if you need anything, okay?"
Ulquiorra bowed in gratitude. He was lucky to have a boss who treated him like this.
"Yes, Aizen-sama."
It had been already three months since Ichigo Kurosaki stood in front of his apartment that morning. That meant it had been three months since he walked Orihime to and from school. He hardly met Orihime during those three months. He didn't avoid her at all, but since she got her dream boy as her boyfriend, she was busy with him.
Ulquiorra only get a few chances with Orihime, only both of them together, and he was living with her! At morning, Ulquiorra had always departed before Ichigo came, when Orihime had just woken up. And he was so busy recently; he was a senior anyway and in three weeks he would face his final test. If somehow Orihime came home later than him, he didn't wait for her anymore. Orihime went on with her life, and so did he. He sometimes felt bitter about it, but he always knew one day this day would come. It's not like he didn't expect it, it's just he felt he was not ready yet for it. But now it's here, and he had to face it.
It's time for him to move on.
Ulquiorra came home that night to hear familiar sobs. Orihime's. He immediately searched for her. The sight that greeted him nearly broke his heart. In front of him, Orihime sat at the corner of her room like a lost puppy.
He gathered her in his arms. This state made him remembered about what happened years ago, when Sora died. That time he vowed he would do his best to protect Orihime, until he deemed Orihime didn't need his protection anymore or until someone came and took his role as her protector.
"What happened?" he inquired as he stroked her hair gently.
She didn't answer.
Ulquiorra waited till her sobs ceased before repeating his question.
"What happened, Orihime?"
Orihime lifted her head to stare at his eyes. Ulquiorra saw her tear-stained face. He wiped the trails of tears on her cheeks gently.
"I broke up with him," she whispered sadly.
"Kurosaki?!"
She nodded.
Ulquiorra saw red. He wanted to beat that orange-head bad.
'That fool!'
He growled.
Orihime saw his expression. She knew Ulquiorra was furious for her.
"Don't, Ulqui-kun. It's not his mistake," she pleaded.
At his glare Orihime told him what really happened.
"I was the one who wanted to break up," she started.
"What?!"
Ulquiorra was aghast. Why did she want to break up with the love of her life, whom she loved since childhood years?
"Why? Did he do something that made you upset?"
Orihime sighed deeply before telling her story.
Flashback:
Class had been dismissed.
Orihime waited for Ichigo to walk her home. She noticed her dream boy hadn't been at their appointed place yet, so she searched for her boyfriend.
The young woman noticed the orange head of her prince from faraway. He was on secluded hall, seemingly was talking with someone. Orihime just about started to call the scowling boyfriend when she saw who he was talking to.
Orihime gulped. Rukia Kuchiki was having a heated argument with her boyfriend. Orihime wanted to eavesdrop, but it was something impossible to do because from her current place she couldn't hear a thing they said. She didn't want to be noticed either.
By now, Rukia was crying quietly. Orihime had never seen the petite young woman cried before. Tears cascaded down her cheeks beautifully. Even when she was currently holding her jealousy, Orihime still pitied the violet-eyed woman. She knew neither Ichigo nor Rukia wanted to break up. They just needed to grow up. And she perfectly noticed how Ichigo sometimes sent subtle glances to Rukia, which the petite young woman didn't really ignore.
The next action made Orihime stunned. There, on the end of the hall, not very far from where she stood, Ichigo Kurosaki embraced Rukia Kuchiki tightly, as if never wanted to be separated.
Orihime wept silently. Her own tears dropped to the ground under her. When Ichigo half-heartedly released the embrace just to kiss Rukia's forehead softly, Orihime covered her mouth and tried to stop her whimper, even when it's impossible.
What was happening in front of her was a picture of love. She suddenly felt like some intruder.
"And then? What happened?" Ulquiorra inquired.
"I went back to our appointed place. When Kurosaki-kun came I asked him if he still loved Rukia-chan. Kurosaki-kun said he was sorry but he never loved me. He just agreed to date me because he thought maybe he could forget Rukia-chan that way. I was heartbroken, but I couldn't stand in their way of happiness. I broke up with him. Kurosaki-kun felt guilty but he thanked me because he could back together with Rukia-chan. We promised to be friends."
"But now you're crying," the pale man stated.
Orihime shook her head.
"Didn't I make the right decision, Ulqui-kun? Then why does my heart hurt a lot?"
"You did the right thing. You are a strong woman. I'm proud of you."
Ulquiorra caressed her hair softly.
"Am I not desirable, Ulqui-kun? Why no one wants me?" she whispered sadly and pointedly stared at his eyes.
Ulquiorra was flabbergasted. Didn't she know how every male wanted her? Even he was no exception. Well, it's practically his mistake if no one made a move on her yet. He was so protective of her, he knew. And Orihime never attracted to other man than Ichigo.
"Silly, of course you are."
He poked her forehead.
"Well, Kurosaki-kun doesn't seem to think so," she snorted.
Ulquiorra chuckled. To hear his voice like this warmed Orihime's heart. She smiled unknowingly.
"You can't force someone to love you. Remember the legend of red thread which you told me years ago? If he is destined to be with you, you'll be with him at the end. Don't worry."
Orihime hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Ulqui-kun. You are the best."
Ulquiorra just caressed her back.
"Now, since tomorrow is Saturday, want to have movie marathon? Just this once, I'll let you pick the movies."
Orihime nodded eagerly. Ulquiorra always knew how to cheer her up.
"Okay, you prepare the movie, I'll get the ice cream."
Orihime kissed his cheek and headed to pick the movie. Well, he hoped she didn't pick chick flicks.
Later, they both snuggled on the couch while watching some science fiction movie. It was a good thing that Orihime loved robots.
The next morning, when Orihime woke up, she could feel hot breath hitting her face. The sight that greeted her when she opened her eyes was a familiar pale face that belonged to a certain young man. Somehow, she ended sprawling on top of him. Orihime observed his face.
'Ulquiorra is quite handsome.'
She giggled quietly.
'He has long eyelashes', she noted.
Orihime just stayed there, observing the young man. She wondered why suddenly her heart skipped a bit. Or why her face was suddenly flushed. She wondered.
T B C
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