Chapter 3 - Heart

Orihime had lost any sense of time. She was glad her new accomodation was only temporary, because it was gloomy and everything but comfortable.
Noone had come to her since Ulquiorra had closed the door behind her. She only could feel and hear what was going on – and even that was not really informative. Then and there she could feel a burst of Reiatsu, or an explosion or another. That was all she got at the moment.
What she also had, was time. Plenty of it. And, wether she wanted or not, the events of the past weeks whirled through her mind. One thing was clear: she really didn't know what to make of it. The only thing she did know was the reason for her kidnapping. Aizen, that bastard, wanted to use her powers.
Her powers.
Those six little elfin creatures had grown so dear to her, never would she hand them over to Aizen or let him use them through her.
Suddenly, there was a flash and two little figures floated in front of her.
„Shun'ō? Tsubaki?"
The little female fairy smiled at her, while Tsubaki's eyes shot at her their usual grim glance.
„Long time no see, Orihime", the black clad Shun Shun Rikka said. „Seems like you're in big trouble here." He cast a glance around the room.
„Well", the red haired girl said, smiling, „they're not as big as they could be." Then she grew serious again. „But… now that you're here, I'd like to talk to you two about something…"
Both Shun Shun Rikkas now looked at her with great attention. They must have heard from her tone, that the matter would be serious.
„You two know Ulquiorra, do you?", she asked. Tsubaki and Shun'ō nodded. „I really don't know what to make of him", Orihime continued. „There is something about him… he is a Arrancar, even a Espada. But he seems to be more…"
The two power manifestations contemplated for a moment. Then Shun'ō said quietly: „His heart. It's his heart."
Tsubaki nodded vigorously, but Orihime looked at them with utter confusion. „His heart? But Arrancars…"
„He did have a heart", Tsubaki interrupted her. „Shun'ō is right. Usually Arrancar don't have hearts, and they do not, that's correct. The difference is, did they have a hollow heart or a human heart."
„You mean…"
„Yes." Shun'ō, who normally always carried a smile on her face, was serious. „He once was a human, as were all hollows. But, instead of first turning into a hollow and then into an Arrancar, Ulquiorra became a Espada immediately. And that, as you surely know too, can only be a work of Aizen. Probably he tested how to most efficiently built up his army."
„But that's…" Orihime was shocked. For Aizen to go this far…
„What's more", the healing Shun Shun Rikka continued, and now she smiled, „it also depends on the personality of the human before the hollowfication."
„In other words…"
„… Ulquiorra was a good guy once", Tsubaki finished for her. „Exactly. But…", flames glared up in his eyes, „if he or anybody else wants to harm you, I'll tear them appart!"
Orihime smiled. „That's nice of you, Tsubaki. Thanks."
Before the two Shun Shun Rikkas vanished, Shun'ō said: „Don't give up, Orihime. If you need someone to put faith into, put it into Ulquiorra. If he's not worthy, none of the Espadas will be." With that, she and Tsubaki disappeared.
When the two Shun Shun Rikka manifestations had gone, Orihime pondered on what she heard. A spark of hope flared up inside her.

The thunder of an explosion ripped her out of her dreams. She couldn't tell wether it was night or day, but when she had gotten tired, she just lay down and soon fell asleep, deciding to let her body wake her up.
But the explosion let the walls shake, and Orihime bolted upright. What was going on?
She stood up, and slowly backed down, not letting the door out of her sight. A second explosion, this time nearer, threw her off her feet.
Then, silence.
Two people had been fighting, that much was clear. But who? And who did win? Fear returned, fear for her friends. Please, just be alright.
After something which felt for her like an eternity, she sensed some reiatsu coming nearer.
Who is it?
Orihime braced herself. Before she could do anything, however, the door burst open. A figure appeared in the dust. A rather familiar figure with a large sword…
„I… Ichigo?!"
It must be a dream! All the weeks she had been imprisoned in this surreal world of Hueco Mundo, in the huge, labyrinthous castle of Las Noches. And now, Ichigo was just standing there in the door, coming for her?
„Ori… hime?" Now that the dust had settled, she saw that he had been hurt. On the other hand, the Espada were not enemies to underestimate. „Are you… alright?" He panted.
„Yes. But you…"
„Drop it."
„Please! Ichigo! Let me…"
„Drop it, I said! We gotta get outta here. And quick. Some Espadas are still around."
He grabbed her hand, and they left her cell.
There were a thousand questions whirling around in Orihime's mind. But now as not the time to ask them. They needed all their energy for the escape. After they returned to their world, they would have enough time.
They reached a hallway with a huge stair. When they started ascending it, a burst of spiritual energy made them stop dead in their tracks.
„That's… that's…", Orihime stammered with wide open eyes.
„Him", Ichigo finished the sentence for her. „Ulquiorra."
That second, the Espada appeared on top of the stairs.
„Ichigo Kurosaki."
The orange-haired Shinigami and the Arrancar stared at each other for a moment. Then, Ulquiorra started to walk down the stairs. „So you have come this far", he said. „That idiot Grimmjow. He let himself be defeated. Well, I guess I have to do the cleaning up." The Quarta Espada reached the ground and drew his blade.
„Orihime." Ichigo drew Zangetsu. „Get somewhere safe.
„Huh? Ah, yes."
Orhime ran to the nearest wall of the room. Then she watched the two opponents clash.

It seemed like an eternity to her. But it couldn't have lasted longer than a few minutes. Flashes of black, red and green. Explosions.
Transformations.
With wide eyes she stared at Ulquiorra. The Espada's body started to dissolve.
Such power… and still only Quarta? Surely Aizen knew about he Segunda Etapa? Unless Ulquiorra had kept it secret from him, that is…
The Arrancar turned to her. Their eyes met. Green and brown.
„Are you afraid of me, woman?"
What as with this question?
„No."
Ulquiorra turned away. „Very well. It seems it is time."
„Wait!" Orihime started to run at him, her hand outstreched. „Ulquiorra!" The second she reached him, the last ashes flew away.
Ichigo stepped next to her. And she told him. Told him everything Ulquiorra had done and spoken. He kept silent and listened.
„So, in the end he wasn't that bad a guy", he stated after Orihime had finished.
„No…"
„Hm… huh? Hey, Orhime! Look!"
Her gaze followed Ichigo's finger, which pointed at the floor. There it was. A tiny bit of dust. Orihime's head spun around to Ichigo. He nodded. „Do what you have to do."
Slowly, Orihime got down on her knees and gazed at the dust. Then:
„Soten Kisshun! I reject!"
The golden shield enclosed Ulquiorra's remains. Would it work? She didn't know.
After something that seemed like a eternity to her, the dust finally started to change. Before her and Ichigos wondering eyes, a body began to form. First a leg… then the other… a loincloth for coverage… hips and things… and then finally the torso. Both of them held their breath as more and more of the chest recovered.
No hole.
Orihime wanted to hug Ichigo out of joy. She did it! She had been able to restore… a heart! Euphory washed through her. She was strong! This was a feature nobody else had ever been able to achieve! But she remained where she was. Her job was not done yet.
A few moments later, a fully restored Ulquiorra lay before them. He blinked in confusion and seemed… different.
„U… Ulquiorra?", Orihime asked cautiously. Behind her, Ichigo was at the ready should need be.
The former Espada turned his head.
„Woman…?"
„Yes", Orihime said with tears in her eyes. „It's me."
Ulquiorra sat up, lifted his left and and stared at it. „I feel… strange." Then he laid it on the spot where his hollow hole had been. „It's… gone. What… what is this warmth I feel in my chest?"
„It's called heart, Ulquiorra", Orihime explained with a rare tenderness in her voice.
„I see…"
„Hey, Espada", Ichigo spoke up. „What're you gonna do now?"
„Firstly", Ulquiorra said, „I would be glad you'd refrain from calling me Espada from now on. As you can see I am not an Arrancar anymore. Secondly…" He paused. „I guess since I am human again, I should use the last bit of my power to return to the world of the living. But about what I am going to do there… I don't know."
„Why don't you go to Urahara?", the Substitue Shinigami suggested. „He's always helped us out."
„I guess I will do that." Ulquiorra stood up, lifted his hand and opened a Garganta. Then he turned to the other two. „Thank you, woman", he said. „With my new heart I understand now the value of a second chance. And I am sorry for having been a nuisance to you two."
„It's alright", Ichigo replied. „You were under Aizen's control. There's no way you could have acted differently."
The former Espada nodded greetingly, then turned to the Garganta. Just as he was about to step into it, Orihime called: „Wait!" Ulquiorra turned.
„Will… will we see you again?"
The black haired man looked at her. Then he turned and said: „I don't know.", before stepping into the Garganta. He turned once more, looking at Orihime. „Thank you for my heart, woman."
„Ulquiorra!", Orihime yelled. „Wait!"
But the gate had already closed.