Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo.

Just a thought on how things would be on a given day between the two.

It had been three years now, since the day of his return. These three years had been extremely enjoyable for Orihime. She had felt his presence every now and then, through out these years. She knew he was around her, but never interfering with her schedules or her life. He had appeared in a physical form a few times, but she could see the amount of strain it put on him. She had offered to try and heal him in his physical form, but he refused, saying that he wanted to let nature take it's course. She had also, of her own accord, asked Urahara Kisuke, if he could make a Gigai for Ulquiorra, but the former captain had gone on a such lengthy explanations as to why it would not be possible, that Orihime had gone cross eyed. Often in these three years, she had woken up to find small traces of him having come to physical form for a brief period, almost as though he was checking something. She had once woken up to find herself covered with a blanket that she most certainly had not taken out in the night before. Sometimes, she would find a glass of water by her bedside, or a chair drawn in front of the the TV (which he seemed to have taken a liking to) or a book left lying open on a table.

She asked him about this once when he had materialised.

"It's easier for me to hold form in the night, than in the day. I have been experimenting."

"Then why don't you wake me up when you are here?" she complained.

He cocked his head slightly and stared at her for a few moments before saying "I didn't want to disturb your sleep. I didn't do it even back in Las Noches."

"You used to watch me sleep in Las Noches?" her eyes widened.

He shook his head "Not purposely. I had come into your room once, in the afternoon. You were sleeping. I didn't deem it fit to wake you up, not back then, not now."

"I want you to wake me up. No matter how deeply I seem to be sleeping, wake me up. I don't want to miss out on a single moment with you."

He seemed to consider this for a while before replying "I don't understand. Sleep is essential for human beings. Why would you want to harm yourself to spend time with me? We do spend time together."

She giggled and replied "Oh Ulquiorra, one night's lack of sleep won't kill me. I'll just be a little tired, that's all. I can always catch up on the lost sleep."

"I fail to see what's funny in this. But fine, I will wake you up from now on."

She walked slowly up to him, and settled on his lap. Even after all this time, he still looked uncomfortable to any kind of contacts or displays of affection. However, he never stopped her from hugging him. A couple of times, he had ventured a kiss, but mostly, it was Orihime who would initiate. She had felt a little awkward initially being so forward with him, but she soon realised that if she wanted any form of hugging or cuddling, it was she who had to do it, left to Ulquiorra, they would hardly ever hold hands.

But that didn't mean that he never showed any kind of care. He did, in his own way. He had once scared the living daylights out a man in the street who had passed an indecent comment at Orihime, materialising out of nowhere. She and Rukia had had a good laugh after that. Once in the medical college where she was studying now, she had gotten into a fight, and a girl had said something nasty to her. She had come home and cried. He had appeared briefly to tell her to stop crying and give it back to the woman who had insulted her, telling her crying didn't suit her.

Him and Ichigo still didn't get along very well, but since they rarely met, the two chose to remain painfully polite and courteous to each other. He seemed to get along surprisingly well with Rukia, both comfortable enough in each other's presence to be their natural self. It had been relatively easier to explain things to Ishida and Chad. Ishida had asked a couple of questions about his spiritual form, but they seemed more to satisfy his intellectual curiosity than anything else. The only thing Chad had ever said to Ulquiorra was 'welcome', other than that, the two had shared a comfortable silence both the times they met. Things had however been much more difficult with Tatsuki. She knew instinctively that something had happened due to which Orihime was glowing. Tatsuki had asked her if she was going out with Ichigo, causing Orihime to be very surprised that Tatsuki even thought that was possible, with Rukia in the picture. Since then, Tatsuki had repeatedly asked her the reason for her glow, but Orihime always replied it was nothing. She had off late started trying to hook her up with different guys, but Orihime resisted, much to Tatsuki's annoyance.

She sat with her head bent over her book, making extensive notes. She was studying to become a doctor and it was tough. When she realised that she had just read the same line the fifth time, without taking in a word, she slammed the book shut. She turned around to find her silent companion reading something.

"Ne, Ulquiorra."

He looked up from the magazine he was reading, his hands closing it and putting it on the couch. This was what she liked about him, he was completely devoted to whatever he did.

"I cannot understand this."

"What?"

"These books. They are so confusing."

"That is to be expected. You are studying the human anatomy."

"I guess.." She fidgeted.

"Is there something you want to say, Woman?" He had an uncanny ability to guess what was going on in her mind.

"No, nothing. It's nothing."

He looked at her keenly as though he knew that she was hiding something. When she didn't elaborate, he reopened the magazine and resumed reading. She sighed and turned back to her books, her mind still in a jumble. This action of his brought back an old memory, the time when she first felt something for him. It was of course much later that she realised what that 'something' was, but back then, she had no idea.

She stood staring at the half moon of Heuco Mundo. She heard his curt announcement of his arrival before the door opened and he walked in, followed by a servant who pushed a trolley of food for her. The servant bowed and left.

"Eat."

She didn't turn.

"Woman, have your food."

Food was the last thing she needed at that point. The two Arrancar females Loly and Menoly had paid her a visit some time ago, and she was aching all over. What she needed was a shoulder to cry on. A friendly hug to support her through this. She was at a very weak state emotionally, and she wouldn't give the Arrancars the satisfaction that they were breaking her. She did not trust her voice enough to stay strong. So, her heart thrumming, she chose to ignore her jailer.

"Would you like it if I tied you and force-fed you instead?"

Realising that Ulquiorra would not leave till she gave him a reply, she shook her head. Unfortunately, he mistook her meaning, thinking she was refusing to eat. Like a flash he was next to her, probably with the intent of tying her down, but he stopped. He took in her battered state. Although his expression didn't change, she felt his spiritual pressure increase. Instinctively she knew he was angry.

"Who did this, Woman?" his voice was infinitely softer than she had ever heard before. There was something about the way he said it that broke her resolve. She broke down completely, crying bitter tears of hopelessness, pain, loneliness, anger, sorrow and some nameless emotion. She held on to the lapels of his jacket as she cried, her head on his shoulder. He stood there, immobile, letting her cry her heart out. It was only when she had let those tears out, that she realised who it was that she was holding. She let go of him as though she got a bolt of electric shock. She licked her lips and said

"Sorry Ulquiorra San, I ruined your jacket." She wished he would look elsewhere.

"You are injured, clearly beaten up and distraught, and you are worrying about my jacket? You have got your priorities wrong, Woman"

Did she imagine it or did he just make a small joke of his ruined jacket?

"Who did this to you?"

"It does not matter. Thank you for letting me cry, I needed a shoulder."

He looked at his shoulder curiously and then back at her. Luckily for her, he did not press the matter of her assailants, because she really didn't want to complain and thereby show a weakness. She had a feeling that if he pressed, she would not be able to keep it from him for long.

"Why don't you heal yourself?"

"I need these wounds, they keep me steady on to my purpose."

She thought she saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He walked over to the couch and sat down.

"What are you doing?" She asked, feeling a little nervous.

"Keeping you company while you eat. I understand it's a human custom. However," he said getting up "if you would rather eat alone.."

"No, please stay." she blurted out before she realised how needy she sounded.

He sat expressionlessly, staring at the wall. He stayed silent through out the meal, but she was still glad for his company.

"Ne, Ulquiorra san." She asked in between bites.

He turned his face from the wall to her.

"Is there ever sunlight in Heuco Mundo?"

He regarded her question for a minute before replying "There is some artificially created sunlight within Las Noches, but none in Heuco Mundo."

"Hmm." she pushed the food around with her fork.

"Is there something you would like to say, Woman?"

"No, nothing. It's nothing."

He looked at her keenly as though he knew that she was hiding something. When she didn't elaborate, he resumed staring at the wall. He left without so much as a goodbye. He simply walked out, with the servants cleaning up the plate. She watched his retreating back and reluctantly admitted to herself that he wasn't as bad as she had thought him to be. She was surprised to find that she actually missed him.

Later that day, Orihime had to return some book to the library and get some new ones. She really did not want to go, but he insisted that her studies were important (courtesy Ishida, who had convinced him about the countless advantages of studies). He assured her that he would be there when she got back.

She got back later than she anticipated, hating herself for making him wait, when she knew for how little time he could hold on a form. She had run into a couple of girls from her college, one of them, disturbingly enough for her, named Melloney. They had stopped her and started chatting with her, much to her annoyance. She had to feign a headache to get away from them, but by then she had missed her bus. It was either wait for an hour for the next bus or walk home. She chose to walk, which was a bad idea. By the time she came home, she was late, soaked in sweat, out of breath and very angry with herself.

"Are you alright?" was his first question when he opened the door.

"Yes I am fine" she said, panting.

He collected the books from her hand and led her to the couch. Offering her a glass of water, he sat down next to her. She emptied her glass in one gulp, closed her eyes and reclined on the couch. Slowly she realised he was touching her hair. Smiling she looked at him.

"There is something I have wanted to tell you, from the time I first saw you." He said softly

"What?"

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

She felt the warmth of happiness spread through her entire being. A part of her wanted to hug him, but she wanted him to initiate this time, so she simply smiled at him.

He looked at her, his eyes darkening slightly.

"What?" she asked.

"I thought.." he paused. "Never mind."

He withdrew his hand from her hair. This time she had a shrewd idea exactly what he meant. reclining on the couch she said with a grin

"Sometimes, people have to take the things they want."

She was wondering if he got her meaning or not, when she felt his lips on her eyes. She smiled and said,

"You know what I wanted to say earlier today?"

"What?" he murmured against her cheek.

"That I wanted you to hug me."

"You should have just asked." he said, before enveloping her into his embrace.