DISCLAIMER:: I do not own bleach or any of the characters.
Chapter 4: The third and final visit
Orihime sat on her bed late in the night awaiting the arrival of her secret late night visitor. A warm smile was on her face as it had been most of the day. Her night with Halibel had been wonderful and she wanted to spend more time with the woman even if there wasn't any intimacy between them. Even if there hadn't been any the night before it still would have been wonderful but her feelings for Halibel wouldn't have grown to the point that they had. Now any time spent with the espada was a wonderful time for her.
She watched the door expecting Halibel to arrive and spend time with her or even offer to do something she otherwise wouldn't be able to do. Even if they were to just sit and talk that would be enough for the young girl as Ulquiorra was not someone that talked more then what was necessary while Halibel had actual conversations with the girl. Halibel even became her friend even though it was only for a short time before they went beyond friends and became intimate.
Her door opened and Halibel entered silently. Orihime rose to her feet with a warm smile but the woman avoided her eyes, "Inoue, this will be my last visit."
Orihime's eyes widened as her chest tightened a little, "What do you mean, do they know?"
"No, it hasn't been figured out yet." Halibel said and motioned to the bed. "Please sit."
Orihime sat down slowly as Halibel made her way to the small table and pulled the chair closer to the young girl, "You're friends have come here for you, I'm sure you've noticed their presence by now. They came here to bring you back to your world. It's where you belong, there's no place for you here. This is for the best, Inoue."
Orihime was silent as tears formed in her eyes. They didn't get far down her face before they were wiped away by the woman but Orihime pulled away from her, "There never really was anything to this for you was there?"
"I'm sorry, Inoue." Halibel said. "Last night was a mistake. I lost control of my lust and I never ment for it to be around you but it was and I hurt you because of it."
"You didn't." Orihime said as she shook her head. "I enjoyed the time we had last night and I'll never forget it. It wasn't a mistake so don't say it was."
"I'm sorry, but that's all it was to me." Halibel said. "I know this isn't something you would like to hear but its best said now before you're led on by some trivial emotion that will never be returned. You should be home in a few days and you can live out your life like you should without all this captivity and secrecy."
"Even if I want to go back home I don't want to lose you, Halibel." Orihime cried.
"Inoue, I am a hollow." Halibel said. "Our kind isn't supposed to get along and the soul reapers wouldn't allow it either. There is no way the two of us could remain friends or anything more then that."
"Why are you saying these things, Halibel?" Orihime asked through her tears.
"Because its better this way then continuing on with your whims about something that doesn't exist between us." Halibel said. "If we continue on as we had then your whims would just increase and you wouldn't be able to handle any of the coming battles. I am a hollow and soul reapers are my enemies, not even you could change that no matter what were to happen."
Orihime fell into silence as tears continued to make their way down her cheeks without pause and yet without sound as well. Halibel reached over to wipe them away but hesitated then allowed her hand to fall away as she rose from the seat, "I should leave."
Halibel went for the door without meeting Orihime's eyes as she sat there in tears. There was hesitation at the door and even more so as Orihime spoke, "Can you at least stay for a little while? I don't have anyone else here that will talk to me."
They met eyes once more for a brief moment before the woman spoke, "I'm sorry, Inoue. If I were to stay then you wouldn't be able to let go of your whim."
With that she left the room and left Orihime in tears. As the door locked behind the woman Orihime burst into tears as she was unable to comprehend what had happened exactly. Last night she knew that Halibel was more then just drawn to her, she was able to see it in her eyes but now she claimed it was all just a mistake on her own part and a whim on the girl's. It didn't make any sense. The only way it would make sense was if they had been found out since she saw no reason for their time together to come to a halt because Ichigo and the others came here for her.
Her tears knew no end and worsened when she sensed the reiatsu flare up as multiple battles began in the distance. Orihime had known everyone had come for her. She sensed their arrival days ago and even kept track of their progress with complete worry. Her worry for them had become so much that when Halibel first visited her she felt as though everything would be alright and that everything would work out for everyone she cared about.
Without Halibel here to speak with her and keep her company she had no source of distraction from what was going on around her. All her mind could focus on was the danger everyone was in because of her. She gripped her arms as she felt most of her friends were out matched by their opponents. Nothing was going to work out the way she had hoped it would. This wasn't like the time they went to Soul Society. The arrancar and the espada were much stronger then most of the soul reapers they had encountered and back then Yoruichi had been there with them to make sure everything would work out even if that was done on the side.
Eventually she laid down on the bed with her tears still running as strong as the battles in Hueco Mundo. It was done for her sake but that didn't make her feel better but only made things worse as their injuries were her fault. There was no glimmer of happiness inside her even as some of the battles died down. It wasn't long before they picked up once more. Even with the distance she could sense the major shift in power as some of the arrancars became stronger.
The stronger they became the closer Orihime pulled the pillow to her face as her tears increased dramatically. The pain she felt for their struggles continued to grow as did the pain of being left by Halibel. At this point in her tears each breath caught painfully in her throat making her cry even more without end. She felt a sorrow that she didn't even know existed.
A hand fell gently on her shoulder as a beautiful voice gently spoke, "This is the last time."
Though seemingly impossible, her tears stopped as Orihime looked over at the source of the voice. Halibel had returned and was sitting on the bed with her. There was a moment where they both remained still before Orihime practically leapt into the woman's arms as her tears reemerged. Halibel wrapped her arms around the young girl as she said, "I only came back because this is my fault so I have to take responsibility for my actions."
Orihime's grip tightened around Halibel as she shook her head, "Please don't say that."
Halibel tightened her grip around Orihime as the tears continued without pause. Even with the woman's presence nothing went away but only seemed to get worse with the battles around her. Her pain was eased as Halibel began to stroke her hair gently. The action soothed her tears but not her pain at it continued to build in her chest.
"Do you need anything?" Halibel asked delicately.
Orihime looked up at her with red eyes but quickly looked away as she found that her eyes remained cold. Halibel slowly released her and rose from the bed with one hand extended to the girl, "I'll take you to the bath so you can clean up."
She took the woman's hand and was helped off the bed before they went to the door in silence. This time Halibel wasn't dragging her by the wrist but holding her hand instead. The only time this had happened before was during their intimacy and no other time. Halibel didn't comment on it nor did she really seem to acknowledge it either as she was just allowing it to happen.
When they left the room Halibel continued to hold her hand and didn't shift her grip to the girl's wrist at any time during their walk to the bathroom. The trip was made quickly as it had been before but there was brief hesitation for Orihime when they passed the room where they shared their first kiss with one another. A smile formed on the girl's face for the first time since Halibel last left her room.
When they arrived at the bath Orihime was released as the door was locked behind them. She watched Halibel in hopes of some sort of nicety even if it was just a warning that she should hurry but nothing came as she was just watched with cool eyes. The lack of interactions upset her as she went to the small table to undress before going to the shower and turning on the water. She washed herself as quickly as she could so she could sink into the warm water that waited for her in the bath.
When she was done washing herself she wasted no time in going to the bath and sinking in the warm water with a nice sigh. The water seemed to take away what was left of her pain as she closed her eyes and relaxed. All her thoughts were on the bath and nothing else so when Halibel spoke from behind her she was startled, "Is everything alright?"
Orihime looked over at her nervously and found she was crouched down a few feet away and out of reaching distance. The girl smiled warmly and said, "This is fine, why not join me in the bath?"
Halibel looked away from Orihime and into the water before saying, "I despise warm water."
Orihime gave her an odd look before asking, "How could you despise warm water? How else would you bathe?"
"I bathe in cold water." Halibel said coolly. "I cannot relax in warm water, only cold."
"I can't see how cold water is relaxing." Orihime said.
"It's like being in the ocean." Halibel said.
"Why not just go to the ocean?" Orihime asked.
"There are no oceans here." Halibel said. "All of Hueco Mundo is desert and underground forests. The only water is here in Las Noches."
"You should go to the human world then." Orihime said with a smile. "Most of it is covered in oceans."
"I won't live long enough to see the oceans of the human world." Halibel said as she looked even further away.
"What do you mean?" Orihime asked frantically as she stood up. "Why wouldn't you be alive to see it?"
"I know what's to come, Inoue." Halibel said. "I won't delude myself with thoughts of my survival because I know the chances are slim."
"You'll be okay, I know you will." Orihime said frantically as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Halibel stood and walked back to the door in silence but Orihime followed her unable, and unwilling, to let things come to an end so easily. When the woman stopped and turned around at the door she was pressed against it. Their eyes met but both remained silent as Halibel challenged the young girl. Orihime held Halibel tightly by her shoulders, "I know you'll be okay, Halibel. You're the Tercera no one can beat you."
"I'm not invincible, Orihime." Halibel said as she took hold of the girl.
Orihime was taken aback at this action and the words as it was the first time that Halibel had spoken her first name. She was held close to the woman for a long time before they separated a little to look into each others eyes as Orihime found no anger or cold in her eyes. All that remained in her cool gaze was what had been there in the late hours of the previous night. The look in her eyes now showed the depth of her emotions for the young girl.
Halibel placed her hand on Orihime's cheek while the other reached for her collar and hesitated. Orihime smiled warmly and placed a hand on the woman's and brought down her collar and leaned a little closer where she was met by the older woman's lips. Any space between them was banished as Orihime was pulled closer to the woman's body.
They soon lost themselves in the kiss as Orihime pushed Halibel into the door behind her while allowing one hand to undo her jacket. The grip around Orihime tightened for a moment before she was forced away. She hit the ground hard making her look back at Halibel only to find an angered look as the back of her wrist covered her mouth. There were no words between them as the woman looked away with a sense of hate growing in her eyes.
Neither moved for a long time until Halibel spoke, "I can't control my lust. It's nothing more then that, human."
Orihime's eyes widened with shock and pain before she too looked away, "Have I been misreading you this whole time?"
"Yes," Halibel said coolly. "We should leave, it's getting late."
"Yeah," Orihime agreed as she picked herself up and walked back to the table.
By this time she had dried on her own and didn't need to waste anytime trying to dry herself off as it was no longer necessary to do so. She dressed slowly as there was no incentive to hurry back to her room since she knew there would be no conversation with Halibel tonight and the espada would leave at her first chance. Any hesitation before her leave was very unlikely to happen on this night.
When she finished she returned to Halibel's side and found her anger had yet to fade while her jacket had been done up. Their eyes didn't meet as the door was opened and they took their leave and went down the hallway with no interaction between them. Orihime was no longer being dragged or even pulled but their pace remained fast. Halibel walked in front of her with her arms crossed and an angered look that refused to fade away no matter the situation.
As they got back to Orihime's room Halibel opened the door and forced her inside before closing and locking the door. Orihime stood by the door for a moment as she sensed Halibel walking away without even the slightest hesitation. She went to her bed and slowly laid down. The only espada that would come see her now would be Ulquiorra but he didn't care much for her the way Halibel had seemed to care before. Even if it had been a mistake in her eyes it wasn't to Orihime.
