Chapter 9
-Why are you running away? She asked him.
Her unpredictable and unexpected moves were unknown to Ulquiorra.
He stepped back until reaching a wall to take support.
What kind of situation was this?
As if he had been thrown in a foreign land, he was seeing things that he would have never ever imagined.
First, the prisoner seemed to have gained so much confidence she was clearly acting in a way he would have never allowed before.
What was this lack of respect while she dared to say her name without honorifics?
But what seemed to be even worst to him: where was the girl gone?
The one who had been so easily tricked when they mentioned her 'precious friends'?
The one who claimed to feel no fear but 'hope' thanks to these same friends but had so much despair in her eyes? Yes, this poor and weak little teenage girl... What had become of her?
Because whenever he looked at the one in front of him, all he could see was but an adult woman...
A strong and determined one who seemed to have grown into a fearful and unknown creature... neither a Shinigami nor an Arrancar. Something he knew he could never be: a human with Hollow powers... Yes, just like that brat...
Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't saw her approaching nor did he hear her previous question.
He still couldn't understand the reason why he wasn't able to control himself.
There was definitely something wrong with him because Ulquiorra, whatever the situation, always knew how to face it without any kind of troubles.
But then, why did his heart wouldn't calm down?
Why did his skin felt like it was on fire?
Why was it that his whole body refused to obey him and instead was so desperately drawn to the woman?
What could she have done to him? And while he wondered oh so many things in his head, he didn't even notice that she was already right in front of him...
-Why are you running away? She asked him.
But the ex-espada seemed way too troubled to even hear.
Right now, Orihime just wished to hold him tight in her arms so she could tell him that he had nothing to be afraid of because she was there for him and... and that she simply loved him.
She wanted to cry her eyes out as she was happy to see him alive but, he didn't remember the slightest thing about what had happened between them.
And because this was obviously too much of a shock to him, Ulquiorra, who was usually so perceptive, didn't even noticed that she was already right in front of him...
She gently stroked his cheek and he abruptly caught her arm.
-What do you think you're doing? Don't you touch me!
-Why…
-Otherwise, I'll smash your wrist!
-Why are you scared? She asked, sadly.
His heart skipped a beat and his eyes widened.
"Scared?"
He just stared at her big grey eyes, frozen by her words.
She was right.
Inside of him, he was afraid.
This uneasiness he felt, it was fear.
The cuatro Espada was afraid of a mere human girl and it really annoyed him.
How could she know better than him?
How could she give him that kind of look?!
Did she pity him?
Was she making fun of him?
He couldn't bear to feel this way. How could their roles have been switched in such a way?
Because he didn't know what to do anymore, he let his anger act for him and pressed her against the wall without releasing her hand.
-The first time, [her eyes moist and shimmering] because I was cold, you held me in your arms, [her voice shaking] do you remember?
-Shut up.
-I'm still hearing the sound of your voice telling me "let me warm you up". [a tear rolling on her cheek] Your scent, your warmth… I, myself… haven't forgotten anything…
-WILL YOU SHUT UP!
Lost among the things she was saying and the ones he thought to know, his body seemed to only obey at her.
He was losing his control in front of her. No, rather he was losing it because of her...
He had to shut her up.
He had to get rid of her.
His hand landed abruptly on her neck as he wished to see her suffocate.
He wanted to tighten his fingers, one after another, around her slender throat but instead, his mouth had crashed against her plump lips.
Why was he kissing her?
He couldn't understand.
He kept trying but just couldn't get what was happening to him...
Gasping for air, he backed to take a breath.
-Why do my lips burn when I touch yours but feel even worse if I don't? Why is it so painful when I see you? Why is it… that my chest hurts so much when I have no memories of what you're talking about?
The cuatro released her arm, letting himself slowly fall to the ground.
Seeing that sad look painted on his face added to the feeling of being, one more time utterly powerless, Orihime couldn't stop herself to shed some silent tears.
-No… please…don't cry… I feel like my heart is ripping apart…
The woman threw herself in his arm and they both enjoyed this warm embrace. A nice touch that was soothing both his heart and mind.
He couldn't explain why he was already feeling better but, because he had this feeling that they were nonetheless bound, he pressed her hard against him.
-'Aren't you ever tired of asking why?' She said while wiping her tears.
I won't let you die again. Ulquiorra… I don't care if you don't remember the time we spent together… I do know there was a time when you loved me… so, I beg you…Don't ever let me alone anymore… Do what you want to me, but don't leave me…
"Leave her?"
She was now the only thing that mattered to him into this world full of desolation that was the Hueco Mundo. Even within Las Noche, he didn't have his place as an arrancar anymore...
Rather, it was up to him to beg her... He, who didn't even know who he was anymore...
"What am I doing… here... and dressed like this...?"
"I'm cold"
"Be mine… and nothing else"
"WHY?!"
"I love you, that's why"
"…I'm back"
"Ulquiorra… I love you."
"So what Ulquiorra… *pant* ...could it be… *pant* …that you're hesitating, tell me?"
"STOP!"
"NOOOOO!"
When he opened his eyes, a drop of sweat rolled along his forehead.
He realized he had just made a nightmare… yet it seemed so real... as if he had already seen it with his own eyes... it felt like... he was watching a film.
"I rem-"
But as soon as he realized, the memories faded away, leaving nothing but an odd feeling of 'déjà vu'.
Orihime was still peacefully asleep.
Her breathing slow and quiet, she was hugging him against her chest.
Was her embrace a way to show him that she was here for him? Or was it to reassure herself that he was real?
"This woman brought me back to life? She threw away her previous life and everything else just to be with me? ...All this time, she never gave up... Why? A mere human so weak, yet showing so much strength…"
From his warm place, he could see the edges of the woman's tattoo on her shoulder and breathed her comforting scent.
Her skin seemed so soft to him that he wished to take off that monochrome dress she wore just to touch her more.
He suddenly found her so beautiful that he felt like his heart was trapped in a closing vice.
"No"
"No, I'm not… I am not…"
Yes, he was.
He smirked to himself, feeling like a stubborn idiot.
"In the end, that brat was right...much more than he could've ever imagined... because I REALLY have become more human!"
-Inoue… Orihime…huh?
To say her name out loud seemed strange but not unpleasant.
Just to be sure of the way it made him felt, he kept calling her name.
-Orihime.
Ori-hime…hime
Orihime...
His repeated tries had managed to wake up the sleeping beauty.
She didn't open her eyes that tried to block the piercing light, and simply rested her hand on his head, gently stroking his hair.
-I'm here Ulquiorra… I'm right here…
Her voice was as quiet as a whisper but she smiled nonetheless.
-Are you a real princess? He asked, somewhat serious.
She forced her eyes open to look at him.
-What are you talking about?
-Your name. Aren't you supposed to be the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor?
-I'm impressed you know of that story* she admitted. But, you know I'm no princess… and honestly I wouldn't like to be one.
-Why so?
-Because that would mean you'd be my "Hikoboshi" and I don't want to see you only once a year... I want to spend aaaaall my life with you.
She smiled to him up to her ears and he wondered how she was able to make him melt like this, though he didn't show any sign of it.
She was definitely not a princess and even less a queen.
He knew it because this feeling inside of him…there was no way it could be fake.
[Yes, right now]
"I might die a million times"
[he was sure of it]
"or live a million lives"
[Inoue Orihime was a true goddess]
"each time"
[and the one of his heart.]
"I think I would fall for her."
_~_Epilogue_~_
Orihime was standing when she felt something grabbing her leg.
-What are you doing here, my angel? Shouldn't you be with your father?
Stuck to her leg was a little boy whose age was around 5 years. He was small and cute, hair black with shades of faint blue and looked very shy.
The child joined both his hands together and angled his head to the side.
-What do you mean, he's sleeping?! Exclaimed the redhead.
She took the boy in her arms and went to a nearby room where was a large and white sofa.
When she recognized the father of the boy who was indeed asleep, she laid him down.
-Just be quiet, otherwise dad will wake up, she said with her forefinger on her lips.
She then took a light blanket and gently placed it on the man who was sound asleep. This one too, was looking like an angel... a fallen angel.
She bordered him before to put a kiss on his forehead.
-Sleep tight, my love.
She said in a whisper, contemplating his nostalgic green tears...
THE END.
*The legend they are talking about is the one of the Tanabata, also known in Japan as the Star Festival.
If you've never heard of it, ask Google to tell you the story of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair).
