Disclaimer : Ulquiorra and Orihime are Kubo Tite's

Thanks for reading.

Not There.

Chapter 4

Ulquiorra grabbed her wrist when she passed through him. She immediately turned and looked directly at him.

How much years has passed, again?

Seven years. Ulquiorra's body also matured as the time flew. Now he had that wide shoulder, strong back and sturdy chest. Orihime blushed without reason while hastily facing his back. Then, she paused right when she saw that view.

His back was filled by sores.

Orihime suddenly silent. She lingered her fingers on Ulquiorra's back. The view hurt her feeling, so much. She decided not to ask, because he would upset. Then, she brushed gently his new cut, the skin around there was still red by the blood's left. His wound felt a bit cold when the girl applied ointment on it.

"Is it hurt?" she whispered.

"No longer." he answered.

She stared at the back of his black hair. Then, lowered her gaze at his back again. She prolonged the watch.

Ulquiorra felt his shoulder weighed when Orihime placed her head there. He immediately turned his head toward her.

She didn't exactly know why she leaned her forehead on the back of Ulquiorra's shoulder. She just felt her heart was weighed. He worked so hard, still, she questioned him for every little thing. She felt so bad. One of her hand held his ample and the other hand stilled on his back. Tears slowly dropped through her cheeks.

"Please don't hurt yourself anymore." she murmured.

Ulquiorra closed his eyes and slowly leaned the back of his head to hers. He could feel her shaking.

"I do not have many choices."

"I understand. Just . . . don't go anywhere afar. I only have you, Ulquiorra."

Ulquiorra opened his eyes, bemused by her confession.

. . .

Orihime was humming a happy song, she stepped the road cheerfully as she headed to Town Market. She felt much better after she found out the truth about Ulquiorra and Rangiku relation. The geisha was a nice person, after all.

The girl was about to leave the market when the shopkeeper lady held her to not go.

"Dear, there is someone who want to meet you." said the shopkeeper.

Orihime titled her head, "Who?"

"I don't know, I guess she is someone from the Capital."

The girl lifted her eyebrow. "Oh . . Is it important?" she hesitated, "I should go home before dark."

The shopkeeper shook her head, "I already told her about your shopping schedule. Perhaps, she will come here soon. Just wait for her a bit, okay?"

"Umm . . I think I can wait for a while." Orihime said.

"Thank you for waiting, but I am already here."

Orihime turned and she found a beautiful lady standing there. More beautiful lady.

The lady bent gracefully and greeted the girl with gentle smile. "Good afternoon."

Orihime was bemused for a while. "G-good afternoon."

She bowed and replied her greeting clumsily.

The lady bound her black long hair around her neck. She dressed in black silk kimono with white features and gold ornaments. "Are you Orihime-san?"

The girl nodded. "Yes, and you?"

She smiled again. "I am Unohana. There is something urgent I want to talk with you. Can I have your companion?"

Orihime bit her lower lip. The lady dressed in such fine attire, could be . . she was also the other woman who related to Ulquiorra? What business she wanted from her? She looked so composed but somehow rather scary as well. Orihime didn't know why, but she couldn't refuse.

Orihime nodded again.

Then, the two seated on a public house, the lady told Orihime her intentions. Various expressions were showed on the girl's face as she listened to the lady. She was confused, shocked, faltered and hesitated as well. Occasionally, she widened her hazel orbs. A hour had passed. Finally, the lady rose from her seat.

"I hope you will take the offer to your consideration. Please think about it carefully."

Orihime stood and nodded slowly.

Unohana smiled tenderly and bowed her head. "Thank you for your time."

Orihime remained unmoved from her standing position as she saw the lady blended with the crowd. She exhaled her breath, deeply.

X X X

Something was going peculiar.

Ulquiorra came back home and had found the girl already acted in unaccustomed attitude. Orihime seemed depressed in something, she remained silent for most of the time. Her cheerfulness was gone. That what made the air around there felt thicker. Furthermore she kept staring openly at him longer than usual, as if it was the last time she could see him .

"It is unusual for you to be so peaceful." he finally spoke, was agitated by her strange behavior.

She was staring at him right now but her mind was totally somewhere. Her mouth moved in o shape as she blinked, then she slowly looked away.

"Really?" she forced a laugh. "My body feel a bit not good. Maybe I only need some rests."

She rose from her sitting position and walked forward to her chamber, without even looked at him.

It disturbed him when she was empty like this. He had a bad feeling.

Ulquiorra grabbed her wrist when she passed through him. They rarely made skin contact so that was a bit shocking. Orihime immediately turned and looked directly at him.

"Tell me what is going on?" he ordered. He refused to be ignored, especially by her.

She looked firmly at him, for about five seconds, hesitated, and then inhaled a deep breath.

"Ulquiorra . . ," she started, and held back his hand with both hands. "Actually, there was someone who want to meet you."

Ulquiorra didn't show some interest, "Who?"

"I can't tell much, you are invited to a lunch, tomorrow. Can you come?"

"I can not accept an invitation from someone I do not know. Besides, I have my work."

"I knew it." Orihime gently released her grip of his hand. She smiled ungainly, "Then, I would tell that you can't come."

"You go?"

"She nodded. " I am invited too, and somehow can't refuse it."

"For what business that person invite the two of us?"

She looked away, again, didn't speak any further. Perhaps, she either didn't know or didn't want to talk about it.

"Fine. I will accompany you." he said.

Orihime instantly glanced up, surprised by his sudden approval.

. . .

"Thank you for your agreement to come out here." The lady named Unohana said, while she elegantly poured wine to Ulquiorra's glass.

"Well, let us discuss the details while we enjoy our meal." she continued. Her delicate manner almost made Orihime felt uneasy.

The three of them were staying at a medium size room of a family restaurant in the Town. Orihime sat beside the woman, whereas Ulquiorra was sitting across them.

They currently treated by sumptuous meals. Ulquiorra hadn't touch the food, likewise Orihime. She even didn't talk a word ever since they came to this place and met the woman.

"You took very good care of Orihime-san." The woman kept talking.

"So, what is this all about?" he asked, coldly.

Unohana smiled, already understood he was the type who didn't like a chit-chat.

"So," she was up to the point, "if you want her to be happy, please accept the offer."

"What do you mean?" Ulquiorra had no idea about the talk.

Unohana looked a bit surprised, then she leered at Orihime's direction by her eyes. She smiled again.

"It seems that Orihime-san haven't tell this case to you, yet."

Ulquiorra took a glance at the girl, she didn't look straight instead kept her chin down and placed her gaze at the foods with complete uninterest.

"No." he said.

"Well, as you know, Orihime-san has become a fine lady. There were many gentleman showing interest in her and asking me for help. I usually kept refusing them, but recently the gentleman asking for her hand in marriage is a very good man from a fine family as well."

His eyes widened, finally had a grasp of this. He squinted at her without listened to the rest of story. The girl seemed didn't surprised so he guessed that she already knew.

Unohana brought out a box wrapped in silk cloth and put it on the table. She pushed it near to him and succeeded bringing back his attention. "I don't think you could ask for better match." The lady opened the wrap. "Please think of this as a betrothal gift." She pushed five piece of golden bar.

Ulquiorra was showing no interest. He closed his eyes a while, then spoke. "Stop this nonsense."

He rose from his seat, was about to take a leave. Orihime finally looked up. He waited for the girl, but she remained unmoved.

"Ah, where are you going? The conclusion was still unmade." Unohana asked.

Ulquiorra looked down at the woman direction. "You can not decide things like that by your side alone."

"Yes, because of that matter I asked for discussion." She replied.

"Then, you should mind her agreement as priority."

"Ah, there is no problem about that. Orihime-san has already agreed." She answered calmly.

Ulquiorra froze, his green orbs widened again.

"But, we need your approval as her brother first, so we can keep the plan." Unohana explained.

He moved his gaze at Orihime who slowly looked at him, still didn't showed her usual expressions.

"So, how is your idea? The lady continued to ask.

"Is it true?" he asked the girl, totally ignored Unohana question.

Orihime carefully nodded.

He hid his deep inhale, then coldly turned on his back. "If so, this matter does not become my concern anymore." He said, while stepped out the room.

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Tbc . . .

Three or four sentences of conversations in this chap don't belong to me, but I tried to rewrite them.

Sorry for the late update, hope you will continue to read.

Thanks.