Ah, yes, I've finally updated from the cave dwelling in which I currently reside in... :3 enjoy this chapter? Guest starring: Grimmjow!

Chapter 7

"No... I duh wanna go tuh... bed..." Orihime groaned as she slurred her words, making it near impossible comprehending what she had just said. Her arms were wrapped like a bow around Ulquiorra's neck, and he was having quite the time getting her to lay on the bed.

Ulquiorra let out a sigh through his nose, momentarily closing his eyes as he did so. The woman was not cooperating at all, given she was half- conscious. Didn't she realize he was trying to help her? It had been challenging enough getting her coat and shoes off, but she was flat out behaving like a child now.

"Woman, let go of me. I think it's best if you rested for now." Ulquiorra said logically, gently, yet firmly, prying her limbs off from where they hung like scarves around his neck. Orihime's body went lax, like putty, and the dark- haired man had to quickly catch her before she hit the floor. He half- dragged, half- carried her onto the mattress, where she laid vertically and took up the whole bed herself. Ulquiorra stared at her for a brief moment before turning away to turn off the lights.

Just as his fingers flipped the switch off, he stopped.

"Tch." He lightly scoffed and spun on the balls of his feet to turn back towards Orihime. He took the blankets that were messily thrown to the side and pulled them up to the girl's chin. Ulquiorra had to lean forward to do so, and suddenly found himself much closer to her than he would've felt comfortable, had she been awake.

And yet, he didn't move away.

The light from the hallway provided a soft glow on her face, making her look almost cherubic. Her dainty eyelashes were like a bird's soft down against her cheeks, and her lips were parted ever so slightly. Ulquiorra felt uncharacteristically curious as his piercing eyes took her peaceful expression. Slowly, his fingers uncurled from the blankets and he straightened up, but his gaze still lingered on her.

Ulquiorra blinked, and then again. What was he doing? He didn't have time to waste dawdling around. For the second time that night ,Ulquiorra turned and walked out, careful to shut the door quietly behind him.

The dark- haired man exhaled quietly and allowed himself a moment of reprieve from whatever it was he felt so stressed about. Was it stress? He didn't even know, but lately he'd felt more... occupied than usual. And he had a feeling the cause of his turmoil led back to a certain auburn- haired woman.

"She's more trouble than she's worth." Ulquiorra softly said to himself, yet the words didn't quite have a strong, convincing bite to it. He stuck his hands in the pockets of the drawstring pants he'd switched into earlier and headed down the stairs.

Ulquiorra had just round the bend of the stairs when his eyes flit onto the figure occupying the only armchair in the living room. The single source of light came from the blazing fire in the hearth, crackling as it burned. The light cast caricature shadows onto the walls of the room, and gave the uninvited visitor an eerie look.

Ulquiorra was not impressed, and made his attitude known as he gave a short huff of a sigh and crossed his arms, resting his forehead on the tips of his fingers.

"Grimmjow, what are you doing here?" He asked monotonously, not really interested in the answer, but rather when the blue- haired brute would be taking his leave.

Grimmjow was in a relaxed position with both legs stretched out in front of him, head resting on the knuckles of the propped- up arm. The fingers on his left hand drummed away on the arm rest of the chair. Ulquiorra didn't feel threatened, but annoyed, when Grimmjow gave a wicked shark's grin, showing off his unnaturally pointy canines.

"You could say I'm here on business." He said simply, and quit the tapping of his fingers. Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed the smallest of a centimeter at the vague response and he slowly walked over to the wall next to the fireplace.

"Which is?"

"Aizen wants you to come back and work for him again." The blue- haired man finally said, traces of his previous playful smile gone. Despite the burning fire, the temperature in the room suddenly plunged into the negatives from the mere mention of the man from both their pasts.

Ulquiorra stiffened for a moment before relaxing, closing his eyes as he did so. When he opened them again, the green orbs were hard enough to cut diamond, and he spoke in a steely tone.

"You of all people should know what my answer will be. Why now, anyway?"

Grimmjow cleared his voice loudly, which made Ulquiorra's eyes dart to the staircase before going back to Grimmjow. It would definitely not be an opportune moment if the woman were to suddenly decide for a midnight snack. She didn't need to get herself into the wrong kind of business, especially when he could easily diffuse the situation at hand.

"You remember Luppi? Damn, that kid was weird as hell, but anyways, one day he showed up at my door asking me if I wanted my old job back. Rank and everything." Grimmjow explained, and began cracking his knuckles, one by one. Ulquiorra had to suppress an annoyed sigh and eye- roll. Was the brute intent on making as much noise as possible?

"Anyway, I denied the offer and he told me to tell you the same thing. I dunno why Aizen would want old Espada members back, but maybe his little mafia business isn't going so well. Must be it, with weaklings like Luppi running around..." Grimmjow trailed off, while Ulquiorra's mind remained firmly on the topic. He knew wanting to sever all ties with his past was too good to be true. There was bound to be something hanging over, but it didn't mean he would grab at the chance like he did before.

And besides, being part of Aizen's personal hit- gang had never been much his style. That life was over, stowed away like his katana cased away in the kitchen.

"It was a waste of time coming here. My answer is no." Ulquiorra stated. Grimmjow cocked an eyebrow and raised his arms behind his head.

"Really now? Your answer have anything to do with your little girlfriend?" He mused. Ulquiorra immediately locked eyes with him, his hair standing on edge.

"What nonsense are you talking about now?" He asked, although the words felt a little dry leaving his mouth. Grimmjow grinned widely again and nodded his head at the front door, where Orihime's boots lay discarded, along with her tattered cloak. Ulquiorra's eyes lingered on them for a moment before turning away, eyes closed.

"Is there any reason why you're still here?" He asked stiffly, not bothering to hide the fact he wanted the blue- haired man out. Grimmjow got the message as well, since he let out a harsh laugh before rising up out of the seat.

"Ulquiorra, you actually found yourself a lady? Congratulations, be sure to lock the door when she leaves you." He said and walked over to the door. He shrugged on his coat, black and army- style with two rows of buttons lined down the front. Seeing as he hadn't taken off his shoes in the first place, Ulquiorra noticed with a dull headache, Grimmjow tugged open the door and stepped out, one hand raised in a goodbye before he shut the door.

Ulquiorra turned the metal lock in its place and sighed, walking to the kitchen with his hands in his pockets again. The whole reason he had come down in the first place was to make a cup of tea, and he was going to make it, Grimmjow and other reasons be damned.

Switching on the light in the kitchen, he set to first boiling a kettle of water, and then waited, leaning against the counter on one elbow. The faintly glinting glass of the katana case above the cupboards caught his eye, and he raised his head to look at it.

Murcielago. He hadn't forgotten the familiar feel of the green hilt, the faint whistling sound of the sword cutting through air... among other things.

As soon as the kettle started making noise, Ulquiorra turned the flame off and reached for a mug as well as tea leaves from one of the cupboards. The leaves went in the up first, followed by the steaming water. Ulquiorra picked the cup up by the handle and walked to the doorway, flipping the light switch off as he went.

It didn't matter what sort of bribery Aizen would resort to, his mind had been made. There was no need for him to join the Espada again, and it would only prove troublesome if he did. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

Ulquiorra reached the top of the stairs and took a sip of the tea. Before turning down the hall to his own bedroom, he stopped and nudged the woman's door open with his shoulder. The room was dark, but he could just barely see the outline of her sleeping figure. Lowering his cup, he quietly shut the door again and made his way down the hall.

Grimmjow was an idiot among other things, but perhaps he was right, just this once. Ulquiorra didn't know why, nor was he in a hurry to find out why, but the woman was part of the reason he was holding back from being part of the Espada again.

A/N: And that's all for today folks! I hope the pace of this story is alright. I don't want things to drag out, but I don't want it rushed either. Feel free to drop a review, like, follow, whatever you want. As always thanks for reading!