Hey guys!! Please read~~!

Disclaimer: I—Do not own bleach…….I wished though.


Chapter 3: A Chance of a New Life.

When everything has been put into a stop, Ulquiorra, being the only one, well, including Neliel, as the survivors of the Espada, are now being put up into trial.

But to Ulquiorra's wit and pity towards the small Neliel, they were given a chance to live, but will only act as a back up of the Substitute Shinigami, who is Ichigo.

But once this news has came through Ichigo's ears in the real world.

"NO—FREAKIN—WAY—IN—HELL—THAT…." Ichigo's veins were going to pop, as Neliel slept at Sado's back, and as Renji together with Rukia brought Ulquiorra there, and as Uryuu and Orihime were around, it was like a happy----"HE WOULD BE MY BACK UP!! AND NO—HE WILL NOT LIVE HERE IN MY HOUSE!!!"

"Calm down Ichigo, at least I stay here" Rukia sighed.

"YEAH—TOGETHER WITH RENJI'S GIGAI AND THE REST!!! THEY LOOK FREAKIN' WEIRD! LIKE DEAD BODIES IN MY CLOSET!!!" Ichigo yelled out, then suddenly he was jabbed on the head with Rukia's notebook.

"Shut up stupid!—Do you want Karin and the rest to hear you!?" Rukia yelled out.

Uryuu sighed. "Here we go again"

Renji sighed, Ulquiorra looked away.

Sado and Orihime both covered their ears as the fight went on.

"I'M ALRIGHT WITH NEL HERE BUT HIM?!! THERE'S NO WAY IN HECK THAT I WILL LET HIM STAY!! NOT WHAT JUST HE HAD DID TO ME!!"

"OH SHUT UP YOU CRY BABY! THAT'S ALL IN THE PAST!!! BESIDE'S! INOUE WAS THE ONE FROM BROUGHT HIM BACK!! DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU ARE ANGRY AT HER ACTIONS!?!"

"THAT ISN'T WHAT I MEANT DAMMIT!! WHAT I MEANT IS TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT THAT FREAKIN' ***** GUY HERE!!"

"He can here you, you know"

"WHO FREAKIN' CARES?!! JUST SHUT UP YOU BRAT!!!"

Rukia's mouth twitched, "SO YOU THINK I'M A BRAT HUH?!!! DON'T YOU BRAT ME YOU JERK!!!"

Ulquiorra couldn't take it anymore, he pointed at Ichigo and Rukia, and the tip of his finger began to glow.

"Silence," He snapped,

"A—Ah--!" Orihime went in between them. "Ulquiorra-kun! Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san are still healing"

"Move aside, woman"

"Hey you pale freak! Don't talk to Inoue like that!!" Ichigo snapped,

"Why shouldn't I?"

"You!!!"

"A—Ah!!" Orihime tried to calm them down, as Uryuu, Sado and Renji tried to restrain Ichigo, before he charged towards Ulquiorra.

Then they heard footsteps. "Oy, Ichi-nii!!!"

Ichigo and the rest froze, except for Ulquiorra, they all went bluish pale.

"I—IT'S KARIN!!"

Damn it!! Since Karin has seen Toushiro before, for sure she'll see them!! Ichigo panicked in his mind. Then they heard heavier footsteps, it sounded like Ichigo's dad. Damn!!! And my pathetic no good father is here too!!! He can't see Orihime and Uryuu here!!!

"We're coming in!!" Karin yelled out as the doorknob turned. Everyone began to pin themselves to the opposite wall, Uryuu and Renji was behind the door, Rukia was in the closet, Sado, well, he came in since he dropped by to deliver Nel, he didn't need to hide.

Orihime could see Ulquiorra still standing at his post.

"Ulquiorra-kun…!" Whispered Orihime as she beckoned him to go with her as she hid at the side of the closet,

He opened his eyes, then closed them again. "N--!!!" before he had anytime to reject, he was pulled by the arm by her as he squeezed beside her as Karin and Ichigo's dad were peeking.

"That's weird, I thought that I heard other voices just now," Karin muttered.

"Yeah! You were imagining! Just imagining! Now bye!!" Ichigo pushed her away, with the gesture of shoo! Shoo! To his dad.

"Ichigo," His dad gave him the serious look.

Ichigo almost took it seriously. He waited.

Then his dad pouted his lips as he asked. "Are you hiding girls in your room???~"

At an instant, Ichigo slammed the door hard to his face, outside the door, Ichigo's dad's face, was now, extremely flat.

Karin sighed. "…That's what you get," her hands to her hips.

"That stupid old fart!!" Ichigo growled, pissed off.

Everyone sighed, well, except for Ulquiorra of course.

"That was close don't you th--!!" When Orihime turned her face to face Ulquiorra, it was extremely too close, she blushed as she looked away.

Ulquiorra too felt weird when that happened, in the inside, her felt, warm.

But he had build huge icy walls, that was his protection, he isn't human, therefore it is unnecessary. But, one part of him, urged him to feel again.

A few hours after that, they have settled things already, Sado had volunteered to take care of Neliel, Psyche and Dondachakka is now in the Soul Society, they were asked to stay there by Mayuri, which, is quite, troubling.

Ishida can't let Nel stay, or else his dad might get angry, Ichigo had too many people and therefore can't accommodate.

Orihime had agreed to let Ulquiorra stay in her place, since she stays there alone and would like some company.

Although Ishida and Ichigo was slightly annoyed, while Sado agreed to the idea, seeing no harm to it.

"We're here," Orihime had announced at her apartment door,

"…I am aware of this," Ulquiorra said impassively.

Orihime grinned. …Same as always, she thought as she turned the keys and opened her apartment door.

Ulquiorra took a step inside as she closed it from behind, "Oh, and Urahara-san said that he would be delivering your Giggai after for a few minutes from now…"

"I see," He replied as he looked around, then he came across a picture of a young man in a suit, Ulquiorra looked at it, his head tilted a bit, although it was rarely seen.

"That's Sora," Orihime smiled, coming to him with a tray of tea. "…Want?"

"No," He said coldly, but then he was still curious. "…Sora?"

Orihime put the tray down on the table and smiled, "Yup!—My older brother, he died though…"

"…How?" Unsure if he really had asked that, but the curiosity had gotten the better of him.

"…He was turned into a hollow…" Orihime said, with a smile on her face.

Ulquiorra turned to her, eyes focused at her beautiful smiling face.

"I don't understand," He said.

"Huh??" Orihime looked at him, and for the first time, she was surprised that Ulquiorra didn't understand. He always do though.

"Why do you continue to smile, yet there are heavy burdens within your memories?" He asked her as he took a step forward, "Why do you still befriend those who are even close to a hollow?---Even if your brother had died, normal humans should be crying till they die"

Orihime remained calm, as the good looking Espada was stepping closer to her.

"You still smile, even while talking about his death" He said to her, taking another step nearer. "…I…envy you" those unexpected words just came out from his mouth, that it made her gasped.

He extended his hand, as he did the same thing when he said that 'what if I would rip open your chest', just before the epic battle of Ichigo and him began.

"….You're soul, is stronger than anyone else's here…" He said, as his hand slowly moved up to her lips. "….It makes me feel like, I want it for myself…" then he paused, he felt his fingers touch her soft lips.

Orihime paused, wondering what he had meant, then the door bell rang.

"A—Ah, that must be Urahara-san…" Orihime blushed as she turn away from Ulquiorra's lip touching fingers. "I—I'll be back right away!!,"

Then the door bell rang impatiently. "Coming!!!"

Ulquiorra too was surprised he had felt it, he pulled back his hand from the space where Orihime's face had earlier occupied, and put his hand infront of his face, …Hmph, useless emotions… He coldly brushed it away as he placed his hand back into the depths of his pocket. It was annoying him, again and again…these feelings. For him, it felt like losing his sanity, but for humans, it's called falling in love.

He looked back into the picture of Orihime's deceased older brother, he had a kind smile on his face, that it had remained of hers. From the thought he quickly cut it off, …What was I imagining just now?—Ridiculous… he thought, cutting all ties from his head that might end up into his weakness.

"Ul—Ul--!!" Orihime gasped, Ulquiorra looked around and froze.

Orihime was on the floor, while the Gigai seemed to be crushing her, like a huge and fully human sized manikin. "H—Help---please…!!"

Ulquiorra sighed, Idiot he thought as he pulled his Gigai off of her with no sweat. Just with one hand, just as she relaxed when the death weight on her was gone.

"Why didn't Urahara Kisuke help you?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Uh—well, he looked like he was in a hurry and….um" She was playing with her fingers as she stood up, a bit embarrassed. "So….even though I knew it was heavy, I told him I would be alright,….But I end up being crushed just as he had left"

"Don't do things when you know you couldn't," He told her straight.

Orihime felt punished. Weird. "A-alright….oh, look!" Orihime tried to change to mood as she looked at the Gigai of Ulquiorra, it's eyes were closed as if it was sleeping, but his pale white skin was still there, but the skull and green tear markings weren't there, "It's an exact copy of you!—You look really good looking without black nail, green tear markings and that half helmet skull of----Ah….." Orihime was that dumbfounded to see Ulquiorra taking it as an insult as he faced the door to leave.

"I—It's not that I think you look ugly in how you look now!!!" Orihime gasped, making him pause for a moment. Orihime somehow didn't want him to leave so badly that her mouth wouldn't close. "A-ACTUALLY! I REALLY LIKE HOW YOU LOOK!! IT'S SO IRRESISTABLE TO LOOK AT YOU!!!"

Ulquiorra moved his head back to look at her slightly. There was a huge silence, as Orihime panted from using too much of her voice.

Before realizing what she had blurted out.

"……………"

[Epic silence]

Orihime gasped. "….Ah….!"

Ulquiorra tilted his head a bit, he didn't show that he was amused, although in fact, he was amused, yet felt something warm inside.

"….Irresistible….to look at….??"

Orihime's whole body turned red like a thermometer.

"NO-NO-NO-NO-NO!!! T—THAT'S NOT—IT'S NOT LIKE I—NO!—D—D-D-D—DON'T!!" Orihime gasped, panicking as she frantically moved her arms around. "D—DON'T MISUNDERSTAND!!! IT'S NOT LIKE I LOVE YOU OR---N—NO WAIT!!! NO! I DON'T!! W-WAIT---I---ARGH!!!!" she was almost getting crazy, her heart was beating fast.

W—Why??...... Why can't I think straight, when I'm…. with him??

She looked down, panting, then looked up to yell again.

"I---!!!!!" before she panicked, a hand covered her mouth, she saw Ulquiorra, close to her.

Expecting a cold look and harsh words, Ulquiorra took Orihime unexpectedly.

His voice wasn't impassive, but somehow, a bit warm, and calm, his mouth showed a slight grin, and his eyes softened.

"……Foolish, woman…" He muttered.

Orihime, slowly calmed down.

"….I know….you don't harbor anything towards me," His words, went darker and darker, until it was back into his old voice. "…So don't over react over such ridiculous emotions…"

He removed his hands from her mouth, taking a step back.

"I don't understand," his voice had repeated the time of when they were last in the cellar. "….Why do humans make such a big thought of these 'emotions'?—We don't get stronger, just weaker as we feel remorse or hesitation….Yet" his eyes looked more like a glare.

"Why do you guys say, that these is what makes us stronger?" He asked sharply. Orihime felt sorry for him, perhaps, maybe he would if he had closer friends, no one must've actually regarded him as an ally or a friend.

"….I don't---"

"It must have been sad for you, isn't it?" Orihime said without thinking.

Ulquiorra's eyes widened, surprised from her words, again.

"…For someone, who never understood you so much, that you just keep things to yourself…" She said, "Yet you follow your orders, serving, not caring to anyone…..and anyone not caring to you,…..Aren't you sad?...Mostly," her eyes wavering as she asked him sincerely, that it almost struck him.

"….Aren't you afraid?" She asked him.

His eyes widened again, it hurt. Pain…? He noticed as his mouth opened slightly with no words coming out. It felt like the hole just in the middle of his collar bone was expanding rapidly.

Then, something horrifying happened. Pictures, statically flashed in his head, and a voice.

"Aren't you afraid?"

"….No"

"…..You're lying….."

"I'm not lying….I'm not scared!"

"….You will suffer consequence, nor time will forgive anyone…. It will not wait,"

"…W-What's that suppose to even mean?...??"

"…..You are afraid, admit it…."

"I said I'm not!!!"

"…Liar…"

A voice of a child, and a voice, a manly voice could be heard, as he heard this in his head, his mind began to suffer, it was aching. Pain.

His hand grabbed his face as he fell on his knees.

Orihime gasped. "ULQUIORRA-KUN!?!"

He struggled as his eyes looked through the spaces from his fingers that clenched onto his face. "…L….lying…?....!"

"Ulquiorra-kun?! What's wrong?!" Orihime panicked, her hands on his shoulders.

Ulquiorra's eyes were moving around, unable to focus, his head felt like being shot repeatedly by a gun just beside his head, as the static memories flood in. W—What is happening?!.....!! he thought, he was shivering.

"Ulquiorra-kun!—Ulquiorra-kun!!" Orihime yelled out, she sees no injuries, and she doesn't know what to do. She was wondering if he was also panicking, if that was even possible for him.

……It's my fault, I said something stupid… Orihime thought. Feeling so dumb and sorry for saying things she wasn't thinking first.

"….I'm…not…!!!!" Ulquiorra could feel himself being pulled into a tight embrace, in an instant, his eyes, his pale, lightless eyes, began to soften. His hands removed his face, as it was still open, inches away from behind Orihime's shoulder, ready to hug her back. "!?!!!?!!?!!!!" he was still panicking, and for the first time, confused.

"It's alright now…" Orihime calmly said to him, rubbing his back gently, her voice was so warm.

It took him right away, as his eyes calmed down, and his breathing slowly returned to normal.

"….Everything that had happened his gone now, and now you have a chance to relive the life you wanted, if you want it..!" She hugged tighter, "….I'm not scared to be with you, I want to be your friend so!----If you have anything you want to talk about….tell me….This isn't Hueco Mundo anymore, you and I, all of us aren't the Espada, Aizen is gone, and we are all back home!....."

Then she sighed, trying to have a more calmer tone.

"…..Our home……"

His eyes widened dramatically from her words, then, slowly, his eyes softened.

Ulquiorra felt a sigh coming out from himself that he didn't even recognized it fully, he hands rested at her back. Slightly hugging her back.

Then a picture of a kind, beautiful young girl flashed in his mind, the smile as so similar to Orihime's.

"……Hime…no" He muttered softly a name,

Orihime's eyes expanded, "….Himeno??..."

Then, Orihime felt Ulquiorra's hands slipped, when she looked, surprisingly, he fell asleep. This was such a rare occasion that she would see him sleep at an embrace, or to see him, scared?.

Orihime sighed, she was wondering in how could she carry him to bed, arrancar are human size and weight, so when Orihime couldn't carry his Gigai, much more that she couldn't carry him.

Just one thought that came through her head. Futon…

Ah, yes, the Futon, for Ulquiorra though, it would be an utterly pathetic idea, but the sweet and innocent idea of Orihime just might be good enough to convince him when he wakes up.

After all, this isn't his house.