Chapter Three- The Color
Upon arriving to her room/cell, Ulquiorra reached into the wardrobe and handed her a white sundress.
"Change," he commanded, leaning against a wall. Orihime gaped at him for a second.
"Wait, with you in here?"
"Why are you having such problems following orders tonight?" he asked with a hint of impatience.
She hiccupped. "I don't know."
He closed his eyes. "Change, or I will strip you and dress you myself. We will buy you more clothes when we arrive."
Deciding his closed eyes were enough privacy, and too afraid to see if his threat was serious, she turned her back to him and started changing. Right as she finished tugging the dress into place, a pair of ballet flats, white, landed at her feet. Eyes wide, she whipped around to see Ulquiorra facing her. With open eyes. She had no way of knowing when he had opened his eyes.
Ulquiorra's eyes had been open the whole time. Without even thinking about it, Ulquiorra had opened his eyes as soon as she heard her unzip her dress. He had watched her squirm in a very undignified fashion out of the too tight dress, and breathe a sigh of relief as her skin met the cool air. After stretching a bit, she had hopped into the lacy sundress, literally. Apparently, she had never learned that she could put on dresses over her head with a lot less struggle and potential tearing. As soon as she had been dressed, he had instinctively tossed her shoes to her, and now she was gazing at him with wide, ashy, Bambi eyes.
The tension in the air was thick enough that Ichigo probably could have felt it. Not liking it, Ulquiorra opened a Garganta and tossed over his shoulder as he stepped into the black portal, "By the way, woman, there are a lot easier ways to get dressed. Next time, I'll help you."
Resisting the strangest urge to smile, Ulquiorra looked away from her priceless expression.
After several stunned moments of her cheeks growing steadily darker, Orihime started in surprise, realizing that the Garganta was closing. Squeaking, she skedaddled after him. Quickly she caught up, and he turned to look at her, almost looking amused. As soon as she was by his side again, the Garganta opened, and Orihime nearly died.
For the past three months, Orihime had been stuck in a monochrome world. Everything was black and white in her cell, the only place that she ever was. Black sky, white moonlight. White floor, white ceiling, white walls. White couch, black shadows. Black lines on a white dress. Even Ulquiorra, white clothes, black hair, pure white skin. The only color she had ever seen was his emerald eyes, cyan tears, and her orange hair. So, after all that, walking out of a black tunnel and on to a cliff, facing a Caribbean sunset was almost too much to handle.
The deep cerulean blues of the waters that the vivid golden yellows of the sun hadn't yet touched were an amazing contrast. The sky was filled with brushfire oranges and ruby reds, grapefruit pink coating the fluffy cotton candy clouds. The island rock was made out of a deep volcanic purple, and the sky furthest from the setting sun was a deep indigo. The trees were a spectacular shade of green, although Orihime noted guiltily it seemed almost dismal compared to Ulquiorra's emerald eyes. To her great happiness, she could see the crescent moon. And it was facing the right way. And last, the comforting browns of a town about a mile away.
Unable to stop herself, tears formed in her cloud grey eyes. Holding back gasps, she lifted her hand to her mouth. Ulquiorra looked at her, confused.
"Woman? What is wrong? Are you not happy to be in your world again?"
"Don't you see?" she whispered. "Yes, being here makes me want to dance, I'm so glad to at least have the illusion of freedom. But Ulquiorra, it's reminding me of how much I gave up when I sacrificed myself, and it hurts."
Ulquiorra stared at her for something before closing his eyes and opening his mouth.
"Deal with it."
Orihime looked at him, stunned. She had just poured her heart out to him and he told her to deal with it! His jade eyes opened and he told her, "Close your mouth. Are you trying to look like a fool?"
Casting her eyes downward, Orihime muttered angrily, "No, Ulquiorra. Please forgive my idiocy and whining."
He nodded and walked off, ordering her to follow. Orihime did, muttering some very rude things under her breath.
They arrived in the town quickly, and Orihime had already forgotten her kidnapper's earlier rudeness. She chattered eagerly.
"Where are we going, Ulquiorra?"
He didn't even look at her, just answered, "Lord Aizen owns a mansion on the outskirts of this town."
Orihime gaped at him. In reply, he pointed ahead of him. Orihime's jaw dropped further. It was like a mini Las Noches. Ulquiorra continued.
"Aizen owns one of these in every major vacationing location in the world, just in case he deems an Espada worthy of a break."
"He's so nice!" Orihime squealed without thinking. Ulquiorra gave her a scathing look.
"No, he isn't. Yes, if we work hard enough we get a vacation to the human world, but do you honestly believe that if we were to do anything foolish out here he would hesitate even a heartbeat to exterminate us? Lord Aizen is clever. We are pawns, and easily disposed of, whether for a reason or for entertainment. You belong to Lord Aizen now, but do not have misconceptions about him. He does not trust us. Perhaps he cares for us, but that would never cloud his judgement or decisions, and it's for that reason that I follow him."
Orihime gazed at him, dove-grey eyes searching and a little surprised by this look at Ulquiorra's psychological process. It took her a while to realize that he had turned and was staring at her, too, green eyes intense and cold. To her surprise, she couldn't move. All she could do was stare into his viridian eyes and fall deeper and deeper into what felt like the ocean. She felt like a mouse staring at a cobra, petrified, but unable to move, only able to stand there and watch as her death came closer.
Because Ulquiorra was moving closer. His brilliant verdant eyes were getting closer and closer, her breath was speeding up, and Ulquiorra breathed, "Why are you staring at me?"
Orihime looked down, ashamed of her body's reactions. Of course Ulquiorra wouldn't have... She didn't know that Ulquiorra was currently berating himself for his loss of control. When she had been staring at him, her eyes had been so warm and deep and he had felt like his stomach was dropping out of his body. He hadn't even noticed until he was about an inch away from her that he had been growing steadily closer. So he had done the only thing he could think to save face and insulted her.
Feeling slightly guilty about her tear-filled eyes, Ulquiorra walked into the house, calling, "Come, woman."
Nodding slightly, Orihime followed him. Ulquiorra ordered over his shoulder, "Woman, walk up two flights of stairs, turn right, and walk down the hall until you get to the room with the green door. Understand?"
Orihime nodded and ran up the stairs, while Ulquiorra headed for the kitchen, knowing it was time for a late dinner.
Orihime sat on the luxurious bed, kicking her feet excitedly. She had figured out that this was Ulquiorra's room, and she was very intrigued by it. The bedspread was a green so pale, she had at first mistaken it for white. The pillows were only slightly darker. The walls were white, there was a black dresser and bookshelf and that was it, unless you counted the glass wall facing the ocean. It was so simple, yet so Ulquiorra. Just as she thought that, he walked through the door carrying a bowl of soup. Immediately, Orihime's guard was up.
"Woman, it is time for your meal," Ulquiorra stated.
Orihime crossed her arms and stuck her nose in the air.
"I'm not hungry."
She could have sworn Ulquiorra sighed before he said impatiently, "Are you truly going to keep this up, even now that you are out of Las Noches?"
"I'm not hungry," Orihime repeated, glaring defiantly at her warden.
He tilted his head ever so slightly to the side before declaring, "You brought this upon yourself."
Orihime's eyes narrowed in confusion as he spooned some of the soup into his own mouth and picked up two spare black sashes hanging on his closet door, his movements slow and deliberate, his stunning eyes never leaving hers. Her innocent mind put two and two together far too late.
Using Sonido, Ulquiorra managed to bind her hands and tie them to the headboard, tie her legs together and attach them to the railing at the foot of the bed, straddle her, use his hands to hold her head steady and place his mouth on hers before she could so much as draw in the breath necessary to scream. Unfortunately, her body didn't quite comprehend the new position in time, so by the time his lips were on hers, her mouth was open, ready to screech at the top of her lungs.
Immediately, he used his tongue to attempt to shove the food down her throat. Instinctively, she fought back, her tongue wrestling with his, her body arching desperately, trying to throw off the immovable Espada. Suffice it to say, she failed epically. He used just enough to strength to not hurt her, but was heavy enough that her struggles barely jostled him, and meanwhile, their tongues were still entwined in a legendary battle for dominance, the soup going back and forth between the two determined mouths like a tennis match. Orihime tried desperately to NOT think about the fact that, despite their power, the hands cupping her face were almost gentle, where his body was pressed against hers was pleasantly warm, and his tongue almost felt like it was stroking the inside of her mouth.
Ulquiorra, too, pretended like he didn't notice her heaving chest brushing his, her taut stomach pressing the area between his legs, the way she tasted like candy apples. He could feel long-buried hollow instincts rising to the surface, and panic started to gnaw on the edge of his mind. He couldn't lose control, not now! Wrong place, wrong time, wrong girl. Aizen most certainly was watching, he couldn't just suddenly attack the prisoner, especially not the second they were out of Las Noches. And the woman... she wouldn't be able to take it. Even if he didn't hurt her, he would scar her mentally for life, and his being shied away from the thought of her cringing in fear because of him. So, Ulquiorra resolved himself and resorted to trickery.
Orihime gasped, accidentally swallowing the soup, as a cool hand suddenly squeezed her breast. Trying not to choke, she slumped against the bed, eyes wide, mouth open. Ulquiorra pulled back, sitting on her abdomen regally.
"Wh-what the- what was that?" she screeched.
Ulquiorra regarded her curiously before answering, "I told you I would force it down your throat, using any means necessary. Need I do so again, or will you eat willingly?"
Subconsciously, his thumb started lightly rubbing her breast. None of Orihime's previous blushes compared to the red hot supernova on her cheeks when she accidentally moaned.
"GET OFF!" she shrieked, thrashing around, face still redder than Crayola marker. Ulquiorra cocked his head to the side slightly, curiosity etched into his features.
"Why? Based on the slideshow Szayel showed the Espada, such a response means you like it."
Orihime went dead silent, freezing up. Ulquiorra wouldn't admit it, but he felt a slight chill.
"Koten Zanshun, Tsubaki. I reject."
Ulquiorra instinctively Sonidoed to the other side of the room and watched in mild shock as instead of flying at him, Tsubaki cut her bonds. Blowing a raspberry at Ulquiorra, he disappeared.
Orihime walked over to the fold up table, grabbed the bowl of soup lightly, and announced, "Thank you for the meal, sir. It will not be necessary to feed me as such again. Now, I believe that after I eat, I will go to bed. Does that interfere with your plans?"
Ulquiorra blinked, then regained his composure, rejoining icily, "Not at all, woman. Tonight you will simply 'settle in'. Tomorrow we will purchase more items to fit your needs, so sleep well."
That said, he turned on his heel and walked out, both he and Orihime more than a little annoyed.
The Fourth Intermission- The Spy
Gin sat in his bedroom in the Caribbean Las Noches, staring at the ceiling and patiently tapping his fingers, one of Szayel's weird doodads making him totally invisible and hiding his reiatsu to Orihime and Ulquiorra, but visible to everyone else. Just then, a Garganta broadcast appeared.
"Well? Aizen asked, smirking sinisterly. "How'd it go?"
"Terrible!" Gin wailed, clawing at his face in despair.
"They were doin' friggin' fabulous, an' then Ulqui gets all, 'You must eat', an' Hime's all, 'Death First!' an' then Ulqui's all kissin' her to force the food down her pretty throat, an' when tha' still doesn't work, he gropes her, an' everything woulda been great when it all went wrong!"
"How?" Aizen asked, hiding his amusement behind entertainment. Gin really was taking the matchmaking dead seriously, not to mention he was acting out said-scenes melodramatically.
"Hime's virtue was in danger an' she was all aflutter an' turned on at the same time, so she was like, 'Oh, Ulqui, how I wanna, but I must not!' an' Ulqui just had to be all socially inept an' was like, 'Well, accordin' to this PowerPoint our resident mad scientist showed us all, your body reactions are tellin' me you want me ta screw ya.' And Hime practically slapped him, an' then they all stomped off in opposite directions!"
Gin was silent for a second, then yelled, "OH! Why are they such idiots?"
"We can't all be like you, Gin," Aizen agreed solemnly.
"Why not?" Gin whined. "I'm practically perfect!"
Aizen settled back in his throne, smirking.
"Just give them time, Gin. Just give them time."