((This has not been proofed, it's being written on my cell but I want to get it up))
It was strange, Orihime thought that she didn't hate Ulquiorra. She never had. She had run through a myriad of feelings towards her warden but hate wasn't one of them. She feared him; that was true, but she also was curious about him.
Whenever he was near she felt just an overwhelming nothing. An emptiness that hurt her. He wasn't just a hallow, it was as if he was hallow. The thought made her sad and her heart hurt for him. Did he want to be empty inside? There had been times that she had thought that she might prefer being empty inside so she didn't have to feel anymore hurt or pain.
When Sora had died, or when she saw how Ichigo would all all over himself for Rukia. When she saw her friends being hurt and when she had first been brought to this awful place. Now though..now she knew the truth that she would never want to be hallow. Those emotions, even though they hurt, made life more real.
She was contemplating this when her morning meal arrived the next day. With his usual threats to have her force fed she focused on the meal till but a few bites remained. After he had abruptly left her the day before she had been confused. He had told her that he wanted her to not be sad. To Orihime that meant that he wanted her to be happy, but was that the case? Was that was he had meant?
Her warden was always very direct so perhaps she should stop trying to read into the things he said and take them at face value. Ulquiorra did not seem to play the palace games of politics or intrigue. No he was blunt. She supposed that was part of why she was coming to like him. She always knew where she stood with Uliquorra. She knew he was dangerous to her but found that she didn't have it in her to fear him at the moment. Instead she tried to sneak glances at him as she ate.
As her eyes came up to watch him before she took her last bite she found that she was being intently watched with open curiousity on his face. She swallowed hard and looked him in the eyes. For some reason her pulse jumped when she did.
Over the centuries that he had lived Ulquiorra had always been self composed. Since his ascention from mindless hallow he had liked to think he had more dignity that most of the trash that he was surrounded by. While he lived with him the society of Las Noches he was not truly apart of it, not in the same way that Grimjow or Harribell were. They were integrated into the society that Lord Aizen had created. While Ulquiorra functioned well enough within in it he knew that he'd never truly be a part of it.
He had never been bothered by the idea until now. He knew that the man he served had plans for Orihime Inoue that went far deeper than what he was told, but it was known that he intended for the woman to be a part of the society of Las Noches in a large capacity. While he should have no opinion on it he had come to realize along with his desire to be loved by the woman he wanted to be around her, but that also meant being apart of the tapestry that was woven in Las Noches.
He had no desire to be constantly surrounded by trash like Nnoitra or Grimjow. He could only barely tolerate Yammy and that was more so because the lower Espada somewhat hero worshipped him. This was different. He found that he...desired to spent time around Lord Aizen's captive.
Captive.
Lord Aizen's. He all came back to that. The woman might have followed him without a fight but she wasn't here of her own free will. While she may have dreamed about him; a thought that brought him a feeling he couldn't describe, she would never be here-with him or otherwise-freely.
He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he had not seen her finish her meal and her eyes upon him. When he met her gaze his throat felt tight. He knew he should look away, not encourage the feeling in his chest or the actions she seems more and more intent on making lately but he didn't want to crush another part of her. He wanted to preserve her the way she was.
"Orihime." He said and she smiled at the use of her given name. The silliest things seemed to please her, but seeing that he was the one who had performed the action that had pleased her he felt irrational pride. He had made her smile. Twice in as many days. He was keeping count now he realized. "You have an audience with Lord Aizen, you have one hour to prepare yourself. I will return then, I suggest you use the time to not only compose your physical persons but your so called 'heart' as well."
"What does he want to talk to be about?" She asked as he turned to leave. He acted as if he had not heard her because he himself wasn't privy to what the Kinda of Heuco Mundo wanted. He wasn't going to respond. He shouldn't have responded but with his hand on the door he paused but didn't not turn back to her. He didn't want to see if the smile she had had freely give him moments ago was gone. He didn't want to be the cause of it's loss.
"I do not know." And with that he was gone.
Orihime had quickly dressed in a fresh uniform and righted her hair. Lacking cosmetics there was little more she could do so she had waited for Uliquorra, her mind running wild. What did Aizen want now? Was she to heal another of the espada? Perhaps he wanted her to heal him?
It was the not knowing that had her so distracted that she had walked right into Uliquorra's back. She had been so absorbed in what she was thinking she had failed to notice that he had stopped before her, directly below the marble thrown of Lord Aizen. She gulped as she tumbled expecting to hit the floor but before she did she felt the cool hands of Ulquiorra on her. Her head was cradled in one of his hands, the other resting lightly on her abdomen. His eyes quickly met hers and she felt a jolt of electric that sent her cheeks on fire.
How could she be so silly! She was embarrassed to be staring on Ulquiorra but didn't look away till she heard the chuckle from above.
"My dear Orihime. Were you so entranced by me that you failed to notice anything else?" He was mocking her and she blushed harder as Uliquorra helped her up. Even though his hands had been cold she still felt a lingering something where they had made contact with her body. She bit her lip and flushed red looking away from him to Lord Aizen.
"I'm sorry, I just..." She trailed off as she looked at his face and realized that while his words had been light he was not actually amused by her faux pas. She bit her lip and looked down him fear and shame. That seemed to be the reaction he wanted because he was suddenly before her. Orihime couldn't help but tremble as she felt his finger slide along her cheek then hook beneath her chin, raising her face to look at his.
"Oh Orihime..there is no need to be embarrassed. It was an accident after all. It make me quite pleased to know that being around your King makes you so enraptured." She looked at him and nodded not wanting to say anything else. She averted her eyes to her hands that she was twisting nervously.
She wished she could reach out to Ulquiorra. He had a way of making her feel better just by being there and twice over the last two days he had gone out of his way to make her smile. She looked out of the corner of her eye to make sure he was still there.
While he had no facial expression she saw how tense his posture was and his eyes betrayed him. She knew she saw concern in them. She couldn't focus on that at the moment though. She looked at the man before her and he smiled wider. It was not a pleasant site.
"It pleases me to know that being around your future husband makes you so excited, Princess. Have no fear though Orihime...you will soon be my queen." When her jaw dropped he laughed and turned away. "In two months time we will be wed. All that is mine shall be yours my dear Orihime. And.."He turned back to her, the color drained from her face. "All that is yours will be mine."
With that she had been dismissed and she could hard feel her legs and she was led from the throne room. Her mind reeling, she only barely registered the feel of Uliquorra's hand on her arm, negotiating her through the hallways of Las Noches.
She was to marry him. Marry a man she did not love. A man she hated. The shock was wearing off and fear was taking hold. She turned towards Uliquorra her eyes wide.
"Will he kill me? " She asked, her voice just above a whisper and she looked directly into his eyes. He studied her face for a moment before looking back into her eyes. His grip loosened and she felt something leaking from him but in the emotional state that she was in she couldn't quite place it.
"I don't know." She knew Ulquiorra didn't lie but she wished just this once that he had.
