***Hello! I hope you forgive my tardiness… school started… :/****

Ichigo ran ahead as Rukia, Byakuya, Renji and Yoruichi followed close behind. The situation was growing intense by the minute as they ran across the sandy terrain of Hueco Mundo. Byakuya stayed close to Rukia as flashbacks of their last visit played in his mind.

"I can feel her spiritual pressure!" Ichigo shouted as the palace became closer.

Yoruichi shunpo ahead to Ichigo's side…

"Do you have a plan?" she asked.

Ichigo hesitated for a brief second, "I'm going to kill that bastard!"

"Ichigo, you shouldn't be…"

Suddenly, huge plumes of sandy smoke appeared in front of them as several Menos Grandes blocked their paths. Ichigo was so enraged and upset he slashed through them with a single swipe of his Zanpakutō. Byakuya was silently impressed and gave Rukia a meaningful tug. She looked up at him and semi smiled. She knew Ichigo was hurting and she hated seeing him like this. Orihime and he had grown closer after the war with Aizen was over, and there were even talks of a wedding once Rukia had her baby. She looked towards Ichigo and took a deep breath. Whatever Ulquiorra wanted with Orihime couldn't be good considering she had the power to reverse time. Then it hit her…

"Orihime is an Arrancar!" she said loud enough for only Byakuya to hear.

He took a quick look at her, "What do you mean?"

Rukia thought back fast as they continued to run…

"Do you remember when she was first held captive here? The Arrancar had mentioned that she was no further use to Aizen, but that didn't mean she wasn't any use to him! I think she came here with him willingly to help him do whatever it was he needed her for." she added.

Byakuya was still intrigued by his fiancée's skill of putting things together quickly. They both looked forward as they quickly approached the palace. Rukia took a hold of his hand and squeezed. He knew she wasn't going to like what they were going to find inside, and he knew that Ichigo was going to take it the hardest. Being pregnant, Rukia was beginning to think that she should have stayed behind, but Ichigo was like a brother to her and she couldn't let him face it alone. Suddenly, they stopped…

"What are you doing here, Shinigami?" a monotone voice came from the darkness.

Ichigo grasped his sword tightly in front of him as the sound of footsteps came closer.

"Where is Orihime, you son of a bi-"

"That is no way to talk to the Lord of Hueco Mundo, Ichigo Kurosaki!" Ulquiorra said as he appeared suddenly beside him.

"Lord?" Yoruichi questioned.

Ulquiorra smiled a smile that made their skin crawl. He lowered his head and held out his hand and the five of them stood speechless at what they witnessed.

"I needed my Lady in order to complete an order… Isn't that right, Lady Schiffer?" he said as Orihime took his hand and stood beside him.

Ichigo was dumbstruck and could not speak. Rukia was disgusted and began to take a step closer to them when Byakuya held out his hand in front of her.

"Think of the baby, Rukia…"

"Orihime… what are you doing?" she asked from behind his arm.

Orihime looked up at Rukia and smiled. She didn't seem out of the ordinary. Her smile was legit and her eyes lit up as she made eye contact. There was just something that irked Rukia about the whole thing. Orihime loved Ichigo… Everyone knew that. Why all of a sudden did she change her mind, and for an Espada none the less! Ichigo dropped to his knees and Renji and Yoruichi stopped behind him.

"Why are you doing this, Orihime?" Yoruichi wanted to know and she wanted to know now!

"Who are you trying to reverse time for, Espada?" Rukia interrogated.

Ulquiorra looked up and directly at her. His eyes fixed on her bump hiding behind her cape and suddenly, in a quick flash, stood right beside her…

"No one…"his tone was flat and had no emotion behind it.

Byakuya placed his arms around Rukia and tucked her away in his arms. Ulquiorra snickered and sort of rolled his eyes…

"Please, I have my own things to deal with Shinigami. You're the last thing I would trouble myself with…"he gloated.

He returned to Orihime's side and looked down at Ichigo who was still kneeling on the ground.

"What is wrong with you, Ichigo?" Ulquiorra asked in an annoyed tone.

Ichigo quickly grabbed his sword and suddenly appeared at his throat. Ulquiorra smiled at him but did not flinch.

"What the hell is going on you simple bastard!" he growled.

Ulquiorra closed his eyes and then suddenly appeared behind Ichigo…

"You should just let her go… Isn't it clear that she wants to be here with me? Besides, she is holding my child inside of her, so there is nothing you can do…"

Ichigo gasped and steadied himself up against Renji. Yoruichi's eyes nearly bulged out of her head and looked at Orihime. She stood there silently as if nothing was abnormal. Her eyes were fixed on Ulquiorra and she smiled as proud as ever.

"You're pregnant?" Yoruichi gasped.

Orihime blushed and looked to her feet, "I didn't want to steal Rukia's thunder… but yeah… were having a baby too…"

Ichigo couldn't fathom the idea any longer… he shook his head in disbelief. Byakuya didn't turn his head, but his eyes watched the broken hearted teen for a second. Rukia turned her attention back to Orihime…

"When did this happen?" she asked.

Orihime's cheeks turned pink a little, not thinking about the question properly.

"Well… I…"

Rukia realized what she was about to say, "Not how, I mean when?"

Ulquiorra stepped in the way, "I don't think that is any of your concern, Shinigami… what my Lady and I do and how we live our lives is none of your business!"

At that point, Ichigo had had enough. He sighed heavily and turned away,

"I hope you are happy with your decision Orihime… This will be the last time you will ever see me…"

Renji placed a comforting arm around his comrade and began walking away with him,

"Ichigo, it will be all right you know? Nell's been waiting to hear from you for quite some time now… I mean don't put all your eggs in one basket."

Ichigo looked at Renji from his peripheral view…

"Pshh…yeah, I know… I wasn't going to pass up a good thing like Nell; I just worried about her because I know she gets into a lot of bull shit when I'm not around."

Renji's attention averted to Orihime the instant Ichigo addressed her as her in a careless manner. That was a first even for Ichigo. He turned back to see Ichigo's facial expression and knew then that he didn't mean it like that. The two began to walk back toward the Garganta site to await Kisuke's arrival. Yoruichi looked at Orihime one last time and smiled,

"I hope this is what you want…" she said as she began to walk away.

Orihime still said nothing and her head remained down. Byakuya stood silently beside Rukia and waited for her to say something like she usually would. Much to his surprise, she pulled his hand toward her,

"Come on… we are done here." Rukia said softly.

She was hurt and felt a little betrayed by Orihime, but her heart just couldn't allow her to say cruel things to the girl. She didn't know if it was because they were both pregnant, or just the fact that she knew, deep down inside, that Orihime was in fact happy with him. Ulquiorra looked at Orihime as she quickly darted toward Rukia's back and wrapped her arms around her. Rukia was caught off guard and froze in her place. In a second, Byakuya was ready for anything. She relaxed a little when she realized it was Orihime, but was a little confused at that point.

"I am so sorry I have let you all down again, Rukia. I just want you to know that… and tell Ichigo…"

"I'm sorry Orihime, but I am not telling him anything for you. Just let him forget you and the two of you can move on…"Rukia interrupted.

She turned to look at Orihime who had her head down again. Rukia opened her mouth to add on to her speech, but noticed something behind Orihime's crossed arm. She pulled her hand and nearly lost her jaw.

"You are one of them!" she stated quietly.

Orihime looked up and her and gave her a weak smile, "I have been for a while now…"

Rukia let her hand go and met her eyes with hers, "All the more reason you can't let Ichigo see you again. This would kill him…"

Orihime crossed her arms again and looked down, "I know… I'm sorry."

Byakuya put his arms around Rukia and began to walk her away from them.

"Let's go, Rukia. We have no more business with these beings."

Rukia didn't hesitate nor fight him on it. She was too shocked at the discovery she made, even though she had already figured it out.

Orihime stood by Ulquiorra's side and watched them disappear. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder. With everyone gone, it was safe for him to be himself again. Orihime closed her eyes and took his arms and rested hers over them.

"Do you have any regrets?" he asked.

Orihime smiled, "No… I don't."

She turned in his arms and faced him. His emerald green eyes seem to pierce through her soft grey ones. He cradled her in his arms and ran his fingers through her hair resting his hand behind her head.

"I love you…" he whispered close to her lips.

Orihime closed her eyes as she felt his warm breath on her lips.

"I love you, too" she replied, taking his lips with hers in a loving kiss.

***Whew! Sorry it took an eternity to update! I've been meaning to, but I started school and I'm working more! I promise the next one won't take so long to bring up…."