DISCLAIMER: i do not own Bleach, b/c if i did, ULQUI-KUN WOULD BE ALIVE!

CHAPTER 3

I woke up the next morning feeling lighter than air. I just lay in bed for a long time, filled with such a euphoric attitude I couldn't even will my body to move. Of coarse my bed was empty, not even holding any warmth to make me believe last night had been more than a dream, but my body held such a sense of happiness, I didn't care. I could still feel his cool skin under my fingers, could still hear his velvet voice calling to me. I could even still feel his arms wrapped around me as he fell asleep in my own, lazily playing with my hair.

I felt my lips slowly twist upwards, a smile finding it's way to my glowing face. I couldn't help it, I just wanted to stay there and relish the feelings of satisfaction. And I wanted to see him again. More than anything.

"Ulquiorra…" I said, my voice heavy with ecstasy. I was so happy…

Suddenly my phone rang, roughly yanking me from my bliss. I rolled over, grabbing my cell phone from my nightstand. After checking the caller ID, I answered it, noticing it as Tatsuki's. I was immediately met with the voice of my tom-boy best friend shrieking into my ear.

"ORIHIME! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!" she yelled into my ear. I winced away from the phone at the octave she could reach before slowly putting the speaker back to my ear, hesitant at answering.

"…U-um, I'm at my… house…?" I answered softly, afraid of saying it, though not completely sure why.

"YOUR HOUSE! DO YOU REALISE WHAT TIME IT IS! GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR AND GET DOWN HERE! YOUR LATE FOR SCHOOL!" she shrilled into my ear, her voice almost reaching hysteria. Mine joined hers instantly.

"WH-WHA! H-HANG ON, I'M GETTING READY NOW!" I screamed into the receiver, jumping up immediately. I slammed my phone shut before Tatsuki could respond, grabbing my uniform out of my closet and slipping it on before grabbing my brush. I ran to the window to open the curtains before stopping dead in my tracks.

The curtains were already open. And what I saw in front of them paralyzed me.

On the window sill, sitting on the pages to keep the reader's page…

My Stephen King novel. The Shining.

The one Ulquiorra had been reading in my dream…

I felt the brush fall from my hand, but I didn't completely register it as it clattered at my feet. I stared at the book as if it were a diseased zombie. My body started shivering as I looked at it closely.

The book looked to be stopped about a fifth of the way through. Exactly where he had been when he'd set it down last night. It was even in the same position. I should have been terrified. I probably should have screamed or called the police or searched for an intruder. But none of that even crossed my mind. I was too busy thinking that what had happened last night had really happened.

I couldn't stop believing that I had really spent the night wrapped securely in Ulquiorra Schiffer's arms. The thought that it had all been true scared me, yet made me want to beg on my knees for it to have been real. I was completely transfixed to that spot. So scared to hope. So hopeful it scared me. I didn't even feel my phone vibrating in my hand…

"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!" Tatsuki screeched at me as I ran into the classroom, just barely before the bell. I ran to my desk as fast as I could as she whacked me upside the head for being late.

"I'msorry-I'msorry-I'msorry-I'msorry-I'msorry-I'msorry-I'msorry-I'msorry-I'msorry!" I whined half-heartedly, trying not to laugh at Tatsuki's expression. Before she could mock-punish me for that too, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my ribs, trying to grip my chest. Before they succeeded however, an arm flashed past my face and I heard it connect with something behind my head. I glanced back slightly, not at all surprised to see Chizuru's face caved in under Tatsuki's fist.

"Get your damn hormones under control already! Every day it's the same god damn thing! Honestly, I almost get tired of hitting you every time you try to molest Orihime!" she growled out, her face filled with agitation. I heard Chizuru say something but it was too muffled for me to understand. Suddenly our teacher walked in, telling us to get to our seats and open our textbooks to page 64, causing everyone to scatter like cockroaches.

"See you later then, hime-chan!" Chizuru said as she went to her desk, Tatsuki throwing daggers with her eyes as she walked to hers as well. The day passed by pretty uneventfully, as usual. Ichigo close-lining Keigo every chance he was given, Tatsuki attempting to knock out Chizuru when she tried something obsene on me, Rukia playing her "good-girl" school girl act and messing around with Ichigo when given the opportunity. As I watched the day pass, I saw how much repetition was in every moment.

My mind frequently wandered to another world as I watched the familiar scenes passing. A world completely clad in white and black. No colors existed there. No, not entirely. There were colors, but only little ones. Like green eyes or teal lines. There, things were repetitious, yes, but not in the way they were here. Memories of each day I had spent in that desolate, dreary, black and white world came back full force. I hadn't thought this much of that world since just after I had been brought back to this one.

"Hime-chan, you're crying!" Chizuru cried out as we ate our lunch under our usual tree. Everyone turned to look at me, concern etching their expressions. I looked at them confused before fully registering what she had said. I reached a hand up to touch my cheek and pulled it away, seeing it glistening in the sun.

"If your so upset about something, let me cheer you up! I know a great way to relieve any feelings of stress and-!" I stared blankly as Tatsuki kicked Chizuru out of the air where she had leapt forward at me.

"How many times do I have to say it!" she said angrily. I just watched them, not really seeing or hearing them. I was imagining how Ulquiorra would have acted had he seen me crying for no reason whatsoever.

"Onna, cease your useless sniveling. There is no reason for you to be acting as such, so I suggest you discontinue." he would command, not even blinking as he spoke icily and clearly.

The entire day passed by as if in a blur. It didn't pass slowly or quickly. I just wasn't aware on any time until everyone was walking home. I walked home by myself, my mind far from easy. Or the present. I had been trapped in my memory-version of the white, sandy world of Hueco Mundo the entire day. And only one person vacated the hollow realm. The one person I wanted to hold and be held by as I had been last night. I had no idea on how to do so though.

I walked into my apartment, my body heavy and withered. I was suddenly filled with such a sense lethargy and weariness I could hardly stand. I went straight to my room, shutting the blinds, not even touching the book on the windowsill. I laid down and fell asleep almost immediately, my last coherent thought being only one thing.

Was I ever going to see Ulquiorra again? Or was I slowly losing my sanity?

That's when I heard someone walk through my bedroom door.

A/N:

I like this one. Not as much as i wanted it to be, but i like it. Can anyone guess what happen's next? *waggles eyebrows*

Ulquiorra: "your sanity is slowly receding from you..."

Me: so?

Ulquiorra: "...i could bring up the fact that you do not deny, but i doubt you would even refute my claims..."

Me: your right about that Emo-sama! i know i'm insane! that's why i'm so likable! so meh!

Ulquiorra: "...i'm not even going to respond to that claim..."

i've noticed this is becoming routine... my poor poor mind. Ulquiorra is right too... as usual. damn. oh well! review please! love ya!