New fanart!!

SketchprinterDemon drew a gorgeous fanart called "These Tears...." its beyond beautiful. I posted that guide before in chapter 9. This piece is great and its full of Ulquihimeness and inspired by Orihime having the reaction of her powers and Ulquiorra saving her. go check it out!

Now onto the next chapter.


"You filthy, horrible son of a bitch!"

Urahara tried not to smile too widely as he opened his eyes and looked over at the cat sitting near the fire. A long chain connected to the collar around the cat's neck after Urahara had woken up to the assassin-cat trying to lug a knife over to threaten him into turning her back into a person. He had chained her near the fire figuring there was nothing he could do to make her even angrier. He pushed himself up and rolled over to look at her better. If it was possible the cat glared furiously at him, but the chain around her throat prevented her from doing anything.

"I sound like a man!" the cat roared.

"Well I thought you'd figure it out eventually. I didn't want you to go and tell people who you were and have them know it was you," he said, "a talking cat would be crazy. A talking cat with your voice would start a war."

"I am going to get out of this and i am going to put you in so much pain!" she shouted.

"Wow," he stuck a finger in his ear, "I probably should have made you have a cat-small voice," he said, "you are quite loud."

"That is nothing compared to how much I'm gonna make you scream. You made me sound like a man? Just wait. I'm going to make you scream like little girl! And I will enjoy it ten thousand more times than you are enjoying this!"

"Oh i highly doubt that," Urahara said with a smirk, "and you came here doubting my abilities," he shook his head as he stood up, "oh how wrong you were."

"Get me out of this--put some damn cloths on!" she shouted covering her eyes with her paws. Urahara shrugged and pulled pants on, "I am never assassinating a Wizard again."

"Trying," she glared, "what? You didn't assassinate me. And all you've tried to do is torture me which you've proven rather bad at," he shrugged, "I could scream like a little girl though if you like."

"So much pain," she growled, "so much much pain."

"Not if I keep you as a cat."

"You can't keep me as a cat!" she screeched, "I'll just wait until you go to Las Noches or Kishobu and figure out a way!"

Urahara's eyes narrowed at the statement. He walked fully over to where the cat was, careful to stay out of the range of her claws. He bent down, bringing his face closer to her level. She hissed at him before her eyes widened, obviously surprised that she had done such an animalistic thing. Urahara though had ceased to care about her surprise. He picked her up by the scruff of her neck, holding her so her claws could not reach him. She hissed again, instinctively this time, as he glared at her.

"Why would I be going there?" he asked, his voice low.

"The King of Las Noches is dead," she hissed, "you're going to have to name another Ruler."

Urahara closed his eyes as if she had said something that caused him great pain. Yorucihi's eyes narrowed, not liking the idea that this was bad even by the standards of a Wizard. He lowered her to the ground and walked across the room, his steps far more purposeful than she had heard them before. He reached what seemed to be a piece of the wall that was filled with shelves. Reaching out he grasped something she could not see and gave a tug. It was as if he had ripped the very existence of the wall away. Instead of shelves of knicknacks she found herself looking at a wall of books--old books that probably could have bought The Kingdom twice over. His fingers ran over them as he looked for what he needed. Seeming to find it he grabbed the thick tome and walked back over to the table, dropping it onto a bare corner barely large enough to fit the book.

Yoruichi was silent as she observed him, the lines furrowing his brow as his fingers skimmed the words. His eyes seemed to remain locked in one place, as if his fingers were absorbing the information rather than his mind.

"We're taking a trip," he said finally, "Ururu!"

He was being followed.

Renji knew. While the road was moderately empty someone had been tailing him. The only reason he had not turned around and demanded a reason was because he was confused. Obviously female, though in Las Noches that meant pretty much nothing except that his peruser could kick his ass and look good while doing it. She was dressed in lightweight leather armor, obviously designed for protection and mobility but it was worn in. This woman obviously knew what she was doing and yet she was making absolutely no attempt to hide her presence from him. Finally with a muttered curse Renji pulled up his horse and turned around to face her. She stopped her horse as well.

"What do you want with me?" he demanded finally.

"What do your tattoos mean?" she questioned. He raised an eyebrow. With a sigh she pressed her heels into the sides of her mount and moved forward, "your tattoo," she repeated when she drew level with him, "what does it mean."

"I've got a lot of them," he replied, "you're gonna have to be more specific."

"Do they tell a story then?" she asked.

"You could say that."

"Good," she said, "then you know the caves surrounding Kishobu."

"Most of the people who live in Kishobu know those caves--even Hachi knows them, but he can't fit inside so don't ask him to point out which ones have the gold--" he stopped, "no, I take that back, ask him that way he can't fit inside and take a share."

"I don't want gold!" Nel cried, "I was charged with a mission by the Harusaki--"

Renji turned his horse around.

"Hey!" Nel cried spurring her own mount in pursuit, "where are you going?!"

"I'm leaving before you can tell me what the Harusaki want with me."

Nel glared and followed him easily. He was stupid if he didn't think she was more than capable of following him--she was.

"Look, I promise this won't have anything to do with Prince Kuchiki or Prince Kurosaki."

At the mention of the to his entire body seemed to tense like a bow being pulled taut. Nel winced inwardly, realizing that bringing them up was probably not her most brilliant idea. Well it was better to have everything out in the open before secrets and half truths did them in. Before he could bolt she pulled level with him and angled herself so that his horse would have to have a collision with hers to get by. Her horse was a stubborn one though, he would find doing such a thing a very difficult thing. He pulled up his horse and glared her, their eyes locking. Nel raised her chin and met his gaze squarely. Renji kicked his horse and spurred him into movement. Nel groaned and kicked her horse into action, moving him forward.

"The Harusaki want you to help me go to the caves and keep Ulquiorra safe!" she shouted. Renji groaned as his horse stopped, "he's got to be alive but he--and everyone else--is going to be too concerned with keeping Orihime alive to worry about him!"

Renji sighed and turned around.

"Why does he have to be alive?"

In the caves of Kishobu Orihime Inoue was just opening her eyes. Her head was throbbing and her throat was painfully sore. Her entire body felt like she had run a mile through intense heat. She felt both hot and cold at the same time, her body trembling. The second thing she became aware of after how miserable she felt was that she was laying on the thin bedroll that seemed to have been placed on rocks or uneven ground. She opened her eyes to see the ceiling above her, the smooth rocks arching upwards. She gingerly pushed herself up and froze.

She recognized Ulquiorra, Uryuu, Tatsuki and a giant man she assumed was Sado. They were facing a man dressed in the most eccentric cloths she had ever seen. He was dressed in knee length pants, boots and a loose shirt. A long patchwork coat hung across his body as one hand rested on the sheathed sword at his hip. Standing behind him was a woman with black hair in a single braid. She wore a low cut top and a pair of low slung pants that ended high on her thighs. She wore boots as well and the sword she carried was across her back. On his other side was a grey haired man in a shirt that exposed most of his chest and the 69 on his skin. He had loose pants on as well but his weapon was a dagger that was sticking out of his boots. The three of them were facing the four of the others in some kind of standoff.

"W-what are you doing?!" she cried pushing herself up, trying to get to her feet and failing, "Ulquiorra?" she questioned.

He turned towards her and she gasped. Twin lines of darkened skin snaked down his cheeks, permanent tear marks. She stared at the skin and into the eyes of the Captain. She gasped and doubled over, her body feeling somehow pulled towards Ulquiorra as if he was a magnetic force pulling at her. He turned around, his foot moving towards her body. The grey haired man cleared his throat in a warning. The blond one moved past him and to where she was laying, her body was doubled over, gasping for air. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him kneel down next to her, his eyes focusing on her doubled over body. He reached out and touched her shoulder.

It felt like someone plunged a white-hot knife into her skin.

She screamed.

"Bad idea," Shinji muttered removing his hand from her shoulder, "alright Captain Schiffer it looks like you can come over here. Kensei, Lisa, you keep them there. Any movement, you know what to do."

Ulquiorra came over to where she was doubled over. The invisible pull that had her doubled over, that agonizing leash, it seemed to lessen more and more until she was able to move without the agony. Fighting to take a breath she looked over at him. Ulquiorra reached out to touch her shoulder. She shifted and shied away from the touch. Shinji looked at him and then to Orihime, confusion in his eyes. Sighing he looked at the two of them as she moved further away from the hand. Ulquiorra lowered his hand, more so she wouldn't fall over the other side moving away from him.

"Stop it!" Shinji said grabbing his wrist, "oh thank God, its not me," he sighed looking at the contact, "thought I'd never have sex again," he looked at Orihme, "touch him," he ordered.

"It hurt," Orihime whispered, her voice fearful.

"No pain no gain," Lisa called, "and by the way, you can have pain during sex," she called, "sometimes it makes it way more fun."

"Next time I want sex advice Lisa, I'll ask," Shinji said.

Ulquiorra tuned them out, his only concern for the Princess who was shaking like a leaf. He pulled his wrist free of Shinji's grasp. Orihime made a soft sound of protest, shying away from his touch. It was ironic since she had always complained about how he did not like human contact. But here she was, the one who was afraid of him. Ulquiorra felt something inside him twist at the idea. Of all the people he enjoyed being intimidating too, he never wanted to be such a thing to her. But her wide grey violet eyes were looking at him with such fear, as if the thought of his hand on her caused her physical pain.

"Its alright," he found his voice low, "it will not hurt."

"How do you know?" she questioned.

"Trust me," he said, half terrified that she had changed her mind and decided he was unworthy of such trust.

For a moment nothing happened. He moved his hand away from her and held it out, palm up towards her. They were both still for a handful of heartbeats, her eyes on his palm. Finally her hand moved out towards his extended palm, her fingertips drawing back as her hand trembled as badly as the rest of her. Finally her fingers brushed against his palm before she snatched her hand back, belatedly realizing that the touch had not hurt at all. Ulquiorra waited as her fingers came back, brushing against the calloused skin of his palm before they settled in his hand. Shinji looked between the two of them before standing up and brushing his pants off.

"Carry her," he ordered.

"Who is he?" Orihime looked over at Shinji.

"That's Shinji, the Pirate King," Ulquiorra said slipping an arm under her legs, another at her shoulders, "put your arms around my neck," he said. She nodded and wrapped her arms around him as he stood up, her weight easily borne in his arms. Her eyes kept looking at his face, "I am fine," he said.

"S-sorry," she said looking down.

He carried her over to where the rest of them were waiting with their horses.

"Lisa, you're in charge of these two," Shinji said, "Kensei and I will take the others."

Lisa gave a curt nod and pulled the two palamino's over. Ulquiorra lowered Orihime to the ground. Her hands steadied herself on the horse as he mounted and held his hand to her. She was easy to pull onto the saddle and settle in front of him where he could make sure she was safe. Lisa got easily onto her horse and moved in front of them. The two made their way towards the gates of Kishobu. Ulquiorra looked at Orihime who was fighting sleep, her eyes focused ahead of her.

"Go to sleep," he said. She looked over at him, "I will make sure you are safe."

Orihime nodded and leaned her head against his chest, her eyes fluttering closed as the strong, steady heartbeat under her ear lulled her to sleep. Ulquiorra tightened his arms around her, holding the reins a little tighter. Just ahead of him Lisa glanced back at them before looking ahead, shaking her head as if the sight of two people on a horse was somehow wrong. Ulquiorra pushed his steed forward, pulling a bit closer to her.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Captain Yadomaru," he said.

"I'm not a Captain anymore," she snapped glaring over at him, "and you should be glad of it or you'd be dead."

"I'm sure the armies of Yatsu mourn your leaving," he replied looking over at her.

"I don't think the armies mourn anything---no more than the Duke does," she said, hating how even after time had passed the idea of how quickly her old lover had replaced her made her want to hit something. She knew it was unfair of her, after all men hardly spent more than a night in her bed but even so, every woman had her pride, "you seem to be living the life of a pampered man rather well," she said sweeping her eyes over his cloths.

"It has advantages," he stated cooly.

"And what advantages they are," Lisa said nodding towards the Princess, "you two seem close. Late night visits perhaps?"

"Hardly," he said, "once this is over she will be moving to the Kingdom of Karakura to wed Prince Kurosaki."

"Of course," Lisa said, sarcasm lacing the words.

They finally pulled to the massive gates that blocked Kishobu from the outside world. They were usually open save for a few hours of the day or special circumstance. Apparently this was one, the high creations were closed. Like the gates of the sea they were a gift from the last Wizard. Lisa sighed and craned her head up, shielding her eyes from the waning sun as she looked up at the place where the people were resting. She lowered her hand and cupped both around her mouth.

"Mashiro! Open the gate!"

"What's the password?!" came the call down.

"Open the fucking gate!" she shouted upwards.

A moment later the gates moved seamlessly apart, allowing them access to the city inside their protection. Ulquiorra had been to Kishobu before but it had been some time. He was sure though that no matter what he saw the sight of the city would be one he would remember for many years. High rocky cliffs led downwards to brightly lit houses dotting them. The ancient gates were closed for the night but the sun painted them a bright gold, casting the same eathreal glow on the ships that lay inside the protective confines. Winding, twisted roads snaked from the long dock divining and converging to right before the hooves of their mounts. All the while the lights from the houses continued to glow brightly, they would brighten steadily as the sky finally lost its battle and slipped into dusk.

"Its about time you two showed up."

Ulquiorra turned to see a man standing there. He had skin the color of chocolate and he was dressed as eccentrically as everyone else. Loose pants and low shoes clad his bottom half while his top half was clothed in a loose, long shirt that came almost to his knees. Everything he wore was different shades of green. Black goggles covered his eyes while his hair stuck out in three distinct points. Lisa raised an eyebrow as she took in his apperance and then looked out to sea, obviously tallying the ships.

"When'd you get in?" she asked.

"Couple hours ago while you were getting us into more trouble," came the reply, "well if it isn't Captain Ulquiorra Schifer--and the Princess," he looked at Lisa, "that's more trouble than we're used too."

"You don't know the half of it Love," she said, "we gotta get 'em safe. I'm taking them to Devils."

"Keep them upstairs," he said.

Lisa nodded, despite the feeling in her gut that said there was no-where safe in all the world for the two of them.