A/N: I don't have very much to say, except thanks for all the love I've been getting with reviews. It's amazinggg

So here's an update!


Orihime appeared to be crying when Ulquiorra visited with lunch, which was not an unusual sight for him. He set down the tray and placed his hands back in his pockets. His fingertips ghosted over the black notebook.

"Thank you," whispered Orihime, picking up her glass of water and sitting back down on the bed.

Ulquiorra nodded. He knew that he had a mission to complete, so he suppressed a sigh and ran a hand through his silky, black hair.

"How are you feeling, woman?"

Orihime heard her mattress squeak as Ulquiorra took a seat next to her. "I guess I'm fine. Everybody except Sado-kun is still fighting..."

Ulquiorra nodded his head and closed his eyes.

Orihime sighed softly and leaned her head on his shoulder. "All I can do is sit here and see what happens. Like when you see a scary movie, and everybody does the exact wrong things. They go off by themselves, backtrack for somebody who is already dead," Orihime paused thoughtfully before continuing. "And act like a hero, trying to win a psychological battle with brute strength."

"I cannot say that I have ever seen a horror movie, but it seems to apply here," replied Ulquiorra tonelessly. He felt slight discomfort with Orihime's head resting on his shoulder, mostly because he longed to reach out and stroke her silky hair.

Ulquiorra chided himself for letting these urges affect him. For letting trash like Orihime get under his skin when it was he who was supposed to be under hers.

"I finally realized something important after living here for so long," said Orihime. She moved a hand from her lap and placed it on Ulquiorra's upper thigh.

The espada's hand twitched as he reached to straighten his hakama. "What is that, woman?"

Orihime took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and relaxed. "Maybe it is my fate to be here instead of on the battlefield. I mean, I may have started this war by coming here, but it was going to happen eventually... I bet it won't be long until the rest of Soul Society jumps into fight." She opened her eyes and a faint smile touched her lips. "Everybody has a destiny. Maybe mine is to be here suffering emotionally for everybody outside to suffer physically, but with a stronger cause at heart."

Ulquiorra was honestly impressed and a little bit aroused by her wisdom. He stood up, shaking her off of his body. "Very interesting. Now eat your food."

"Where are you going?" asked Orihime, sadly watching as Ulquiorra crossed the room.

"There are other matters I must attend to," he replied tersely.

The espada gripped the notebook deep inside of his pocket. He brushed his fingers over the thick leather cover, weighing the consequences.

Ulquiorra placed his hand on the doorknob, twisting it, before he stopped and turned to face Orihime.

"Come over here, woman," he said softly. "I need you to promise me something."

Orihime scrambled to her feet and crossed the room to stand before him. "What is it?"

Ulquiorra removed one hand from the depths of his pocket, holding out a black book. "If I give this to you, you need to swear that you will hide it under your mattress the instant somebody enters this room. Nobody must know about this."

Orihime squealed with excitement. "Thank you Ulquiorra-san, thank you so much! I promise nobody will find it!"

The force of Orihime's leaping hug almost knocked Ulquiorra back against the wall. Blushing when she realized their faces were only inches apart and her arms were wrapped around him, Orihime stepped backwards and took the book in her hands.

"I shall see you later this evening," said Ulquiorra. He watched Orihime flip through the notebook for a few seconds before departing. Her features were lit with unbridled excitement.

He had never seen somebody so excited over something as trivial as a notebook before. Not even an avid researcher like Szayel.


The first thing Ulquiorra heard when he visited Orihime the next morning was not the usual deep, even breaths of the soundly sleeping woman. He heard giggles and laughter.

Ulquiorra entered the room and saw Orihime scribbling in her new journal, smiling like crazy.

"Woman, what did I tell you about the notebook?" asked Ulquiorra. He set down the tray and glanced over at Orihime.

"Umm... I'm supposed to hide it..." She giggled, flipping a page before continuing to doodle in her black book. " But nobody besides you ever comes to visit me." Orihime paused to look up at Ulquiorra every few seconds, left hand moving rapidly across the page. Her tongue was poking out of the corner of her mouth.

Ulquiorra tilted his head slightly. What was she playing at? "That isn't the point, I ordered you to do something. You cannot ignore my orders."

Orihime continued to write. "I know! I just need to have some fun. I think you need fun too, Ulquiorra-san," she replied.

"Put it down," ordered Ulquiorra sharply. It was the closest she had ever hear him come to an exclamation.

Orihime's smile withered. She set the notebook down and carefully ripped out the page. She saw his expression, impassive as usual, but she could tell by the way Ulquiorra clenched his fists inside his pockets that he was irked.

"I-I'm sorry," Orihime muttered. Ulquiorra strode over and picked up the piece of paper.

It was a picture of himself drawn in sketchy, thick lines. Orihime had even rendered the details of the mask remnants encompassing the left side of his skull. Ulquiorra's heart skipped a beat. She had drawn his calm features with stunning accuracy, but on his thin black lips was the shadow of a smile.

"Do you like it?" asked Orihime hopefully.

Ulquiorra's hand twitched. He wanted so badly to tell Orihime that she was trash and her strangeness was immature and agitating. To crumple up the drawing and leave the room.

But his body had betrayed him again. "Very... Interesting. It surprisingly resembles me."

"I'm glad you like it," replied Orihime joyfully. "And I really am sorry about the notebook. I promise it will not happen again."

"I've heard this before woman, don't make me regret taking your word."

"I won't," said Orihime. She stood up and moved across the room to stand before him. Close enough that Ulquiorra was looking straight into her bright, hopeful grey eyes and her thick black lashes.

His heart was beating double-time. As Orihime continued to inch closer to Ulquiorra, thoughts raced through his mind. She was so sweet and innocent and alluring. But Ulquiorra couldn't allow her to distract him from his goals. He had to nip this strange, overwhelming attraction at the bud before he allowed it to consume him.

Orihime smiled and stood on her tiptoes to plant a peck on Ulquiorra's lips. All of his concerns and doubts melted away.

The smiling girl placed her hands on both sides of his face. Ulquiorra felt her part his lips with her own, and his viridian eyes slide shut.

The continued to kiss softly, his arms instinctually snaking their way around her slim waist. Ulquiorra could feel Orihime's large breasts rubbing gently against his chest as the urgency and passion of the kiss began to grow.

Orihime's hand fumbled with the zipper of his robes as the two continued to lock lips. Ulquiorra froze up when a couple of her fingers accidentally slipped inside of the hole at the base of his throat.

"I-I'm sorry," mumbled Orihime, eyes flying open. He had pushed their bodies apart. "Does that feel... Weird?"

"Very much so," replied Ulquiorra. He zipped up his jacket.

I musn't let her get the best of me... Ulquiorra looked Orihime in the eyes. "I will not see that journal ever again unless you ask while I am in your presence. No more second chances. Is that understood?"

"Hai, Ulquiorra-san," replied Orihime simply. She watched him leave and frowned, sitting down in front of her breakfast.

The kiss had left Orihime in a daze for the next few hours. She would lie down and envision Ulquiorra's body pressed against hers, wishing that he would stay and keep her company.

But the espada was obviously uncomfortable with their blossoming attraction to each other. He ran hot and cold. One minute, Ulquiorra enveloped Orihime in a passionate kiss. The next, he turned away from her and walked briskly out of the room like it was day one.

Orihime thought about Ulquiorra's loyalty to Aizen. It didn't seem like that was holding him back, because Aizen had given him the absolute right to 'use any means necessary' to tame her. The conflict definitely came from within. Orihime wondered if Ulquiorra truly thought she was trash.

She sighed and brushed out her hair. It would be a while until Ulquiorra returned with lunch, so Orihime spaced out and lost herself in thought.

Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to crack Ulquiorra's protective shell.


A/N: Drop me a line on your way out, I really appreciate it.