Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo.

Sorry for the late update.

Last chapter I told you that this chapter will be the last installment for My Love, My Sacrifice, but I changed my mind. I decided to divide the chapter into two parts, so the next chapter supposed to be the last installment, not this one.

Please enjoy.


"She is capable to take care of herself. I am a woman too, Ulquiorra, and I know what a woman capable of. If you treat her like this, she'll never change. Nothing will ever change. How do you see yourself ten years from now? Can you even imagine? You were a man full of ambitions. You had goals that you wanted to reach. But now I can't see even the trace of that man."

"Pursue your happiness." Nel smiled and patted his hand softly.

"I'm sorry, senpai. I can't. I can't love anyone but Kurosaki-kun. I can't ever love you, senpai. Even if I have five lifetimes, the only one that I will ever love will be Kurosaki-kun. Only him."

"I won't give up yet."


The sky bathed in beautiful orange hue. A man on his twenties simply enjoyed whatever nature could offer him. Gentle breeze blew his ebony hair. The man shut his eyes, hiding the most brilliant emeralds from the world. Aura of calmness wavered from his posture. At that moment, he was a perfect picture of serenity. The supposedly emotionless man opened his eyes to stare at the orange sky.

'Orange, just like her hair.' he thought.

Ulquiorra was reminded to his conversation with his bestfriends several days ago. Recently, he spent most of his spare time thinking –and analyzing- about his condition. He was a very rational man, but when it's regarding Orihime, his rationality was completely useless. He didn't know when exactly had he become such a sappy man. Never in million years had he imagined it.

'To be in love with someone who is completely in love with another man. Not to mention that man already belongs to another woman. What a complete mess.' he thought again.

He reached for his cell phone from his pocket and scanned his contact list until he found one certain name. Ulquiorra pressed the call button. He needed to talk with her first. A melodious feminine voice answered his call.

"Ulquiorra?"


Orihime simply laid on her bed. Her mind replayed the recent event when her love, Kurosaki-kun, proposed to his long-time girlfriend. Her heart still wrenched painfully even just from thinking about it. She remembered how she excused herself from the reunion and texted Ulquiorra after that. Well, speaking of Ulquiorra it had already been almost a week since the last time she saw him. The usually bubbly woman didn't want to confess it but she really missed him. For six years, Ulquiorra had been her constant companion. Everytime she had trouble, Ulquiorra was always there to console her. Even when she had to nurse her broken heart –several times, because of the same man- and bawled her eyes out, Ulquiorra still gathered her in his arms until she's too tired to cry anymore. Ulquiorra was always there. She couldn't be grateful enough for him. She could pass these six years because of him. If he hadn't been there for her…..she didn't even want to think about it. Call her selfish, but Ulquiorra had been her refuge. She didn't want to lose him even if she couldn't love him. She knew she's being unfair but didn't Ulquiorra say he was the one who chose to stay with her? So she couldn't be blamed, right? It was his decision, not hers. Suddenly her phone beeped signaling there was a new email. Orihime reached for her phone and opened her inbox.

'You're free tomorrow, aren't you? Meet me at the central park at 10.'

Orihime practically beamed.


A beautiful woman ran to the central park in hurry. She could see back silhouette of the man she promised to meet in front of the water fountain. Her eyes lit up as she made her way to the man. She tapped one of his shoulders and grinned slightly when the man turned to stare at the woman in front of him.

"Have you waited long?"

Ulquiorra observed the orange haired woman. Her face flushed slightly and he could see her panted. She definitely ran her way to the park.

"Nah, I've just arrived here."

'Well, 30 minutes can't be considered that long, right?' he thought.

He didn't want to make Orihime felt guilty. Knowing her, once she knew the truth she would apologize to him endlessly.

"So, why did you ask me to meet here?" the woman asked him curiously.

Ulquiorra smirked.

"What? Can't I ask you on a date?" he raised his eyebrow suggestively.

"Eh?! D-date?" she stammered as blood rushed to her face.

"Just a date between friends. It has been so long since the last time we did it." Ulquiorra smiled sincerely.

He reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers like lovers did.

"Come on." he pulled her lightly.

He didn't see how Orihime's lips formed a smile and how her eyes soften the moment their hands linked together.


Orihime just had the perfect date at the perfect time, and most importantly with a perfect man. Well, she had associated herself with many men –just as friends of course- and she only considered three men perfect: her brother, Kurosaki-kun, and Ulquiorra. Okay, he had flaws, but who didn't? Except Kurosaki-kun, of course because he was always flawless in her eyes.

They spent the entire day doing whatever Orihime wanted to do. Ulquiorra even took her to carnival and won her a pair of beautiful hairpins in some arcade. They did silly things together, ate silly stuffs together –well, more like she forced Ulquiorra to eat them- and her most favorite part was Ulquiorra almost never let go of her hand. He only let it go when they had to use both of their hands, but they spent the rest by intertwining their fingers and Orihime clearly enjoyed how his warmth seeped into her hand. How she hoped this moment would never end.


It was night already. Ulquiorra glanced at the woman beside him as he walked her to her apartment. He was glad that he could cheer her up because Orihime was so gloomy after the proposal incident.

Orihime chattered endlessly during the walk to her apartment but Ulquiorra wouldn't complain. With the moonlight illuminated her face, she looked absolutely divine on his eyes. He wanted to engrave this image in his memory.

They finally reached her apartment.

"Will you come in?" she offered him.

Ulquiorra shook his head.

"Well, if you say so. Thank you for today. This is the most wonderful date ever. You are not usually this sweet." she teased him.

The man raised his eyebrow.

"I thought you said once that I was the sweetest man alive when we had our fourth date?"

"Mou, you are exaggerating." she pouted cutely.

He chuckled lightly.

Orihime let go of his hand and embraced him softly.

"Thank you, Ulquiorra, for everything. What can I do without you?" she sighed.

Ulquiorra braced himself from whatever he was feeling because he knew this meant nothing. Not what he wanted.

"You would have been the most miserable woman alive." he stated jokingly.

Orihime playfully pinched his abs through his shirt. Ulquiorra winced slightly. The woman was definitely not lack in power like everyone thought.

"Woman, do you remember our first date?" he asked softly.

"Hmmm…of course." she hummed in response. She was inhaling Ulquiorra's manly perfume scent as she nuzzled into his neck.

"What about it?"

Ulquiorra stopped playing with orange strands on her backside.

"Nothing. I just remember how awkward it was."

Orihime giggled.

"You are right. It seems you have improved yourself in that department." she rasped.

Orihime rubbed her cheek to Ulquiorra's before kissing it lightly. This was not uncommon occurrence between them. They were affectionate to each other. Never went over kissing, though. For Orihime, it because she needed someone that could divert her attention away from Ichigo even for a moment. For Ulquiorra, because he couldn't deny Orihime a thing. He never took advantage of her. He was much too gentleman to do it.

"Orihime, till when are we going to do this?" he whispered directly to her ear making the woman shivered.

"Why? I'm perfectly content like this." she answered as she tightened her arms around his.

The pale man sighed inwardly. The woman clearly misunderstood his intention.

"Let me rephrase that. Till when are you going to make me wait for you?"

The grey-eyed woman sighed before letting go of her embrace.

"Ulquiorra, we have talked about this already. Can't we not talking about this anymore?"

"Orihime, all I ask from you is just a chance. Haven't I proven myself to you these six years? Only a chance, Orihime. Can't you give it to me? If somehow because of my idiocy I mess up that chance, I won't ask for another, I will be content by your side as your best friend only." he pleaded.

Now, this was something new to Orihime. Ulquiorra was not someone who pleaded to get something. He always got whatever he wanted. But this time Orihime could clearly hear sincerity mixed with desperation and urgency in his voice.

'What is happening?' she wondered.

But this conversation evoked something from Orihime, annoyance. Hasn't she made it clear already?

"Ulquiorra, listen. I told you I can't. I…"

"Kurosaki is already out of your reach." he stated firmly.

He could see the woman's eyes flashed in hurt instantly. This was forbidden territory, he knew, but he needed to do this. Even if it just this time.

"Stop saying it! So why if he has proposed? Or if they will tie the knot? You know what, I don't care! I won't stop loving him. Didn't I tell you? Even if I have five lifetimes, I will still love the same man. For me, it's only Kurosaki-kun!" she cried.

Ulquiorra looked like he was stabbed in the heart. This was it, complete rejection. He should have known. This woman gave him a heart, the very reason why he fell in love with her back then, but she never intended to share hers. She gave him a heart but she also the one who crushed it.

He brought her to his arms and let her cried there.

"Shhh…I understand. I'm sorry, Orihime. Don't cry." he hushed her.

He could feel his shirt began to soak from her tears. He kissed her temple.

"I'm sorry. I promise I won't ask again, so stop crying. Okay?"

He felt the woman in his arms nodded and her sobs ceased. He let go of his hold to stare at her eyes as he lifted her thumb to erase her tears away.

"I love you. I really do. Don't you ever doubt it."

He focused gazing at her, memorizing every single feature of hers. Orihime couldn't help but blushed at the intensity of his gaze. Ulquiorra was amused when he saw her cheeks flushed.

"You really are beautiful, you know that?"

His eyes soften. The emerald-eyed man moved his face toward Orihime slowly.

'He is going to kiss me.'

Her heart beat fast in his chest, Orihime closed her eyes. She could feel Ulquiorra's face getting nearer…..but the kiss never came. Instead, she felt his lips on her forehead.

"Better now?" the man smiled slightly.

Orihime just nodded dumbly as she couldn't trust her voice at that time.

"Now, go in. I'm sure you are tired because of our little adventure today." he patted her head.

"Okay. See you." she grinned as she entered her apartment while her eyes never left his form.

Ulquiorra didn't answer. He waited until Orihime's form disappeared. After ensuring that Orihime had been already safe inside her apartment, he walked away from the apartment complex and whispered something to the wind.


Inside, Orihime was still trying to calm her heart.

'Everything is alright.'

She smiled.

'Everything will be alright.'


To be continued


I thought this chapter explained a lot about what Orihime thought and how their relationship worked.

I hope I can update next chapter soon.

Please let me know what you think of this chapter.

Review, please?