Hola. Thanks for stopping and reading my story. Its exciting the ideas that come to mind as I'm writing. I have an attention problem so its hard to focus on one thing which probably shows in my story. I try not to get too ahead of myself because I am excited for the real story to come. Buuut hopefully I have brought my imagination into yours without being too dull or all over. I will probably end up editing the story to make it better and all the corrections but I wanna get my ideas out before they go poof.

Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2- Catalyst

Its been a year and a half of following pointless leads in this wasteland. I was getting frustrated and discouraged. Of course, some saw an Arancar fitting Ulquiorras description. Some said in the menos forest, others said on the out skirts of Las Noches, but we never found a single clue that he had been there. I was starting to lose hope. I should have known better than to get my hopes up. As foolish as this was, I still couldn't give up. If what he felt for me was real, he would have been moving heaven, hell and earth to find me.

I don't know when I started doubting my feelings for him or his feelings for me. I guess I just thought if so many had supposedly seen him, then why hasn't he found me? Why haven't I found him? My heart couldn't bear the thought of him betraying me like that. Using me for whatever his sick and twisted pleasure was. These thoughts only served to harden my heart and soul. But it suited me just fine.

"You didn't have to be so rough with them, ya know. You're getting worse than me." Grimmjow grinned.

"Maybe you're rubbing off on me. Besides, they didn't know anything of use. If they had Fíorghrá and Murcielago would have scared it out of them." I replied sheathing both my swords. "Lets finish getting this data for Urahara so I can go back and shower. All this going back and forth is really draining."

Nel turned a bright smile at me. She really can be so annoyingly cheerful. I guess shes alot like the old me. Only she never had a reason to doubt herself. She was strong from the start. She had to have been in this world.

"Now Orihime, its not that bad. I mean you have Nel and Grimmjow." she beamed at me.

I turned away from her. I couldn't bear to look at her and all her happiness. She had everything I should have had. A man that loved her, who held her in the night and protected her when she needed him. She could look the man she loved and tell him every second how much he meant to her. Something I could never have again.

A part of me wished that I could hold him in my arms. That he would just show up and take me away from all of this. The never ending searching, the questions, the emotional roller coaster. I smiled at myself. Who would have ever thought that I would agree with Ulquiorra. Emotions aren't always a good thing. I kept sighing to myself. Heartbreak sucks.

The constant nit picking everything. Did he ever mean this? Why'd he do that? It was wnough to drive me insane. But, I would always think about the times I could never question. The times he took me training, our walks, our conversations. I may have moments of doubt or even hatred, but I couldn't disrespect his memory like that. Or put myself down anymore. I needed to just stop feeling sorry for myself.

"Heres the entrance. You ready princess?"

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. My heart beating ferociously in my chest.

"Lets get this over with." I pushed the doors open, they weren't as heavy as I'd remembered. The castle hadn't changed one bit. The white walls surrounding me on all sides made me feel claustrophobic. A feeling I was not happy to experience again.

We made our way through the vast hallways and rooms. Going through doors and up stairs. Twists and turns. It never seemed to end. I couldn't shake the feeling we were being watched. But I couldn't see anyone anywhere, so I just chalked it up to being my uneasiness at being back at this place.

As I turned another corner, I recognized the hallway to my old room, if thats what you could even call it. Without realizing it, I'd made my way into my old room. It looked almost exactly the way I had left it, except for a thin layer of sand that had made it through the window. I stood in the middle of the room, looking out the window at the moon like I used to.

Placing a hand on Murcielago and the other on my heart, I fought back tears. I squared my shoulders and turn to leave. Something caught my eye on the bed. As I walked towards it, Grimmjow was standing impatiently by the door. Nel had taken his hand to probably keep him from grabbing me out of here so we could finish the mission. He is so anxious and fidgety all the time.

On the bed, there was a white piece of something. I picked it up and examined it. It wasn't that big. Maybe the size of a golf ball. Jagged edges showed that it had been broken. A crack ran from the edge to the middle. It felt smooth, almost like a harder porcelain. Realization hit me right in the gut. Its a piece of a hollow mask. It was too small to know for sure who it belonged to. But just to be sure...

I ran to Grimmjow and Nel, placing the piece in the pocket of the arancar uniform. Reaching both hands out, I touched Grimmjows jaw bone and the top of Nels head. They felt almost the same. Theirs was a little rougher, probably from all the fighting and sandstorms we had been in. But, I had no doubt in my mind, this was a piece of a mask.

"Someones been here. And they lost a piece of their mask most likely." I said, taking out the golf ball sized piece to show them.

"Could be anyones. Hell it could have come through the window in a sand storm."

"Grimmjow, it was on the bed, there is no sand on the bed that I can see. Nel thinks its him. He must have left it there for her to find."

"Why would he break a piece of his own mask off? He wouldn't be able to gain anymore power or evolve any further doing that. Hes alot of things but hes not stupid."

"Thats enough. It doesn't matter anymore. The only thing this shows me is that if it is his, hes alive and doesn't want to be found."

"Princess, you can't real..."

"Lets go. We are almost to the lab." I stated, walking past their shocked faces.

So much for all this bullshit. I couldn't wait to get back to the human world. I needed to figure out my next move. Obviously, looking for him was pointless. After a year and a half, I'd finally found some possible proof he was alive, but he didn't want to be found. If he had he would have left something else. Thats what I believed. I didn't want to stop looking for him. I wanted him more than anything. But my broken heart was getting to be too much.

I called forth my shield, turning to my two companions.

"Jump on. The sooner we get out of here the better."

They looked at one another before getting on the shield. Once they were on, I didn't hesitate to will my shield full speed down the hallways and around all the twists and turns. Almost making Grimmjow fall off a few times. I couldn't help but giggle. He was getting mad. And Nel just laughed like it was an amusement ride. I started laughing too. The exhileration of the wind whipping through my hair, the cold air on my face that brought tears to my eyes. I could cry freely if I wanted to and I could just blame the air hitting my face. But I wouldn't cry. I am not a crybaby anymore.

When we made it to the lab, Nel was gasping for air. She had been laughing too hard for too long. Her hair that came down to her mid back, didn't look any different than normal. Her green shirt and skirt that barely covered her intimate areas, were ruffled and out of place. She had to take a minute to readjust her clothing after finally caught her breath. Grimmjow just looked like a windblown puppy. Hair all over the place but he still looked good. He could probably roll out of bed everyday and not do a thing and still look handsome.

"Alright Grimmjow, you know the access codes, so you collect the data." I ordered, handing him the human equivalent of a USB.

"Be right back."

Nel turned to me with a serious look on her face. 'Oh boy. Here it comes.'

"Orihime, are you really going to give up on finding Ulquiorra?"

"No. I will never give up. But I think its time that I have something else in my life besides trying to find him. Theres only a small chance he is even alive, as long as there is that small chance, I'm going to take it."

"Nel thinks he is just waiting for the right time. You still have that mindset that you need him or someone, but you have gotten stronger. You even scare Grimmjow now, which is no easy task."

"I don't need him like what you think. I need him because I love him. He didn't just protect me, he taught me to stand my ground. He taught me to fight and challenged me. He didn't baby me like everyone else. He saw me even when I couldn't see myself."

Thats right. He saw me. And thats all he saw. He saw my weaknesses and built them up into srength. He saw my strengths and made them grow. I wouldn't be the fighter I am if it weren't for him training me. I think I must br going crazy. My thoughts are so jumbled and all over the place. Hes good, hes bad. I love him, I hate him. I'm gonna scream.

"Okay, princess. Lets get this to the crazy bastard and get you home before you start tearing this place apart." Grimmjow said, opening a garganta.

We passed through the dark tunnel pretty quickly. Its still pretty creepy being surounded by darkness and God knows how much room we actually have on this tiny platform that seemed to float on nothing but air. Who knows how far of a drop it actually was. It was both terrifying and exhilerating all at the same time.

We ended up in the training ground underneath Uraharas shop. I couldn't wait to get home and take a shower. I felt so grimey after all that time in Hueco Mundo. The sand and just all around depressing nature will do that to you.

"Welcome back. I take it that everything ran smoothly?" Urahara grinned from behind his fan.

He has that thing on him at all times. Sometimes it made me wonder if he was hiding something. He usually was. He was more knowledgable about just about everything than he ever let on. Sometimes it was a good thing. Other times, it would make even the strongest person cringe in fear. I found years ago that it was easier to handle him and his insanity if you left some of your sanity at the door.

"Nothing I couldn't handle."

"Well now I have Szayels data to keep me occupied for a while. And theres more good news Orihime." He closed his fan, putting it under his chin like he was in deep contemplation. "I have figured out how to fulfill your request. I just need you to leave me Murcielago and Fíorghrá."

I nodded my agreement. I reached behind my back and unsheathed Fíorghrá. Her blade was pristine. Not a mark or scratch on her. Her blade was surated, a way to make death as painful as possible. It was kind of funny how unlike Murcielago, she was merciless and unfogiving. Her hilt was very much like Murcielago only instead of having green and white ribbons, she had red and black. Grimmjow had made the mistake of jokingly saying that my swords were like Christmas and that instead of bringing death, I would bring presents. I don't know why he thought that was funny, but he didn't after I nearly cut off his arm again. He didn't find that amusing.

It was amazing the strength and speed I had gained. I was now on even ground with an Espada. I like to think that I had that strength all along but Urahara thought it was because I had Murcielago feeding me strength and speed. And Fíorghrá did the same as well. To protect their owner. I had my doubts.

"How long will it take?"

"It shouldn't take more thsn a few hours. But just to be on the safe side, why don't you come back in the morning. I still have to figure out exactly how to do it. Something like this has never been done before."

I nodded, turning to leave. Might as well get some sleep while I can. I needed to eat and shower anyways. It was pointless hanging around waiting.

The cool night air felt amazing against my face. I closed my eyes raising my face to inhale the night air. So refreshing. I looked at the night sky. So beautiful. The moon was bright and big against a sheet of brightly lit stars. The sky clear except for a few clouds that looked dark and yet light around their edges against the moonlight. Seeing a night sky like this was rare, which made it that much more beautiful.

I remembered thinking as a kid that I wanted to fly into the night sky. To fly as close to the moon as I could, to soar between the clouds. To feel free from any care in the world. Of course I could technically fly with my shield, but it wasn't the same thing. I guess I always thought that flying with wings gave more freedom. Freedom to just let your thoughts wander, without a care in the world.

I looked around, taking in my surroundings. Theres the little candy shop my brother used to take me to when I came home with a good report card. I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever have a little one to bring there. When Tatsuki had a little girl last year, I couldn't help but wonder what my child would be like. If I ever had one. I had imagined a boy with his black hair and green eyes, sometimes he had my grey eyes. I wondered if he would be good, kind, yet strong like his father. If he would be smart too. If he would like books like I did. So many ifs and so many questions, eventually I just stopped thinking about it. No sense in wondering about something thst could never be. But still those thoughts sprang to my mind.

My friends had told me several times that I should move on. I had tried. I had gone on a few dates, if thats what you could even call them. Some guys just wanted me for my body, others just plain stupid or annoying. One guy had gotten clingy to the point I had to kick his ass to leave me alone. But this one guy in particular, had pitied me. Since, I told no one about Ulquiorra, they made their own assumptions. This guy had called him an idiot for leaving me. That he must have been crazy or I was just that stark raving lunatic girlfriend people hear about. He had said that he felt sorry for me that such a guy would willingly give me up. Needless to say, I didn't even finish dinner. I didn't need or want their pity.

Before I knew it, I had made it to my apartment. Unlocking the door and stepping in. I took my boots off and hung the keys on the hook. Might as well eat something quick. I opened my fridge and saw that I seriously needed to go grocery shopping. Taking out some leftover lasagna, I heated it up and ate quickly. I then went to the laundry room, stripping off my arancar uniform. It might be wierd wearing the white uniform, but I felt more comfortable in it than anything else. Dropping it in the washer, I grabbed a fresh towel from the dryer.

Closing the door to the bathroom, I stopped front of the mirror. I no longer looked like the little girl from eight and a half years ago. My hair had grown down to mid thigh. It was a deeper red, probably because it wasn't being bleached by the sunlight everyday anymore. My face had gotten slightly thinner, just enough to accentuate my cheek and jaw bones. From what I heard some guys in soul society say, I had turned more woman than girl. Whatever that meant.

I took my hair pins out from holding my bangs back from my face. I put them onto the soap dish that I used to keep them from falling down the drain. I remember when my brother gave them to me, the fight we had. Such tiny little things that seemed to hold so much power.

Climbing into the shower, I let the hot water run on my back before turning my face into the stream. The water felt nice after feeling so grimey. I reached for my bodywash. I thought about my first shower at Hueco Mundo. Amazing how memories just pop up out of nowhere at the tiniest things.

~Flashback~

We walked down the stark white hallways of Las Noches. There was such a lack of color here I almost felt like puking just to add some sort of color. Would it really kill Aizen to paint in here? Some red, blue, green, ANY color will be better than the white and black. My God.

"Since I cannot leave you unattended, you will be showering in the community showers by the training arena." Ulquiorra stated, bored.

What? Does that mean he will see me naked? No ones ever seen me naked, not even the girls at school in the locker rooms. Leave it to him to leave out modesty.

He must have noticed my panic because he looked at me from the corner of his eye.

"I have no interest in a girl like you. So you needn't worry about such trivial things like that."

He seems to always put me down in some way. First, I'm trash and now I'm just a little girl. Come to think of it, everyone thinks I'm a little girl. I am so much more than that. Why can't anyone see it?

"You have no right talking to me like that. Of course I wouldn't want to be seen naked. But you don't even know me, so you and your insults can suck a nut!"

My eyes widened and I slapped my hands over my mouth. I can not believe I just said that! Oh hes gonna kill me or make this worse than it has to be. Why do I let him get under my skin like that? How does that emotionless bastard even get there in the first place?

"I know you."

Thats it. Thats all he said about that. No biting remarks or sighs of indignation. He just stared straight ahead, hands in his pockets. If anything he looked bored. Hes always bored.

We turned another corner, and arrived at the entrance to the showers. It looked just like a high school locker room. A half wall was the only thing that seperated the lockers from the showers. Nnoitra was sitting by a locker on the end farthest from the door. He looked at me wickedly and licked his lips. He reminded me of a snake with his tall and sickly thin figure and face that only a mother could love. I shivered with grotesque.

Ulquiorra then opened a locker. It had a change of clothes, white and black much like his own uniform, and a towel. There was a bag in the locker as well. Opening it to examine its contents, I saw bodywash, shanpoo and conditioner, they were all my favorite scents. Sttrawberries and cream. I glanced at Ulquiorra, shock clearly written on my face. I turned back to the bag, I found a razor and shaving cream. Clearly, someone made sure I had something normal in this god forsaken place.

"I made all the necessary arrangements for you to be as comfortable as possible. Given the situation, this was the best I could do." Ulquiorra explained.

"Thank you. I definitely didn't think I would be so happy about something so small." I giggled.

Nnoitra then walked to the showers, clearly not shy about his nakedness. I wish I could rip my eyes out. Thank god I didn't see anything that would make me lose my lunch. My eyes were still virgins.

"Turn around, please, Ulquiorra." I whispered.

He looked at my hair, "Give me your hair pins so nothing will happen to them." he said reaching out his hand.

When I handed them over, he turned around, giving me my privacy. I took off my shirt and skirt. Then my bra and panties. Putting them in the locker. I'm pretty sure I won't ever see them again. I wrapped myself in the towel and grabbed the bag with my toilletries. Making my way to the showers, I turned and saw Ulquiorra leaning against the locker with his eyes closed. At least hes not following me.

I looked around the showers, Nnoitra nowhere to be found. So I picked a shower, turning the hot water on full blast. The water barely warned up past lukewarm. Another joy to have here I am sure. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around my waist and a hand covered my mouth, pulling me further into the showers, further into darkness.

"Such a lovely lady shouldn't be left all alone. Ulquiorra is so foolish, wouldn't you agree?" a voice said licking my cheek.

Nnoitra, he must have hidden in the darker part of the showers, waiting for me. Oh god! Ulquiorra, help me! I struggled against the arms around me. It was pointless, but I had to try. Suddenly, the arm around my waist disappeared, and I was pinned against the wall. Nnoitras body pressed on mine. His hand still on my mouth. He began kneading my breast so hard, it hurt. I could feel the tears begin to well up in my eyes, but I refused to show such a weakness.

He took his mouth and bit my nipple so hard, I'm sure he drew blood. I can't do anything. I punched and kicked as hard as I could, but I feared if I kicked too high, my thighs would open up enough for his already hardening length to gain access to my most private place. I'd rather die than let that happen.

"Sit still you little tramp." he said, punching me on the cheek so hard, I saw stars.

Things became a blur, I could feel things being done to me, but it didn't feel like it was happening to me. If that makes any sense. I felt probing at my womanhood, so not how I imagined my first time. And then, just before I could be disgraced, I was free.

I collapsed to the floor, relief flooding me. I looked up to see Ulquiorra standing before me. I blinked the haze from my eyes. I launched myself into him, wrapping my arms around his waist. Clinging to him as if my life depended on him. I let the tears fall freely, thank god he came.

"You should learn not to touch what isn't yours, Nnoitra. Lord Aizen will not be pleased."

He wrapped an arm around me and held me close. My heart started racing. Probably because of all the adrenaline. It was nothing. He blasted a cero at Nnoitra and then in a blur, I was in an unfamiliar room. There was a desk and chair on one wall, a bed on the other wall. Where am I?

"Given whats just happened, you will have to shower in my room from now on. The bathroom is through that door. I will bring your things."

Then he was gone. I went to the bathroom and showered. A few moments later, Ulquiorra walked in with my new clothes and toilletries. Hidden by the shower curtain, I sat in a ball in the shower. Letting the water run over me. After a few minutes, I quickly washed up, toweled off and got dressed.

When I left the bathroom, Ulquiorra was nowhere to be found. I saw the moon shine through a window. I don't know how long I stood there, looking out the window.

"That dress surprisingly suits you."

I turned around. I had made my decision what my next plan of action was.

"Teach me to fight. I can't have you always protecting me. So teach me." I said, walking closer to him.

I knew my eyes were tearing up, after what happened who could blame me. I looked into his emerald eyes, I could get lost in them. They were so beautiful.

He never said anything. He just took my hand and held it while we walked. My heart thundered, my pulse quickened and I felt... Like everything was going to be okay.

Ok so this chapter is a little longer. And the flashback, I didn't wanna get into too much detail because I am sooo not for rape, but this part was a huge catalyst of how Orihime became who she is and how Ulquiorra and Orihime grew closer together.

Again thanks for reading and any comment, questions or constructive criticism is welcome. I am hoping to have the next chapter up in a couple days. So fingers crossed. Spring is a pretty busy time for me. Anyways. Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed!