The rest of the week went by rather oddly.

Renji had gone back to Soul Society with reports of only expected hollow activity, despite his running into Harribel. Running to tell Ichigo the good news when she heard from her soul phone, Rukia had accidentally ran in on Ichigo showering, falling into the tub when she slipped on the wet bathroom floor and between the curtains. He covered up just in time with the blush of a thousand Orihimes, while Rukia proceeded to jump into her closet and not come out until dinner. She would always be flustered around him for her remaining stay on Earth.

The day after the closing shop incident, her friends decided that Orihime was not exactly the same. Yes, she had a scratch on her cheek, but it was something else as well. No one who asked found out the truth behind that cut, and others, especially Tatsuki, noticed her personality change to mostly longing but happier, but sometimes sadder as well. It was too wide of an emotional gap too quickly.

As for Orihime and Ulquiorra, the former made it a point to always visit the latter at least once a day. They would go out to the coffee shop on breaks and after he left work, yet he was sure to make her stay at home past a certain time when he was working late. Neither of them exactly knew how to go about everything, or what this was, but there were times when the both of them were found blushing over things they weren't quite used to.

Sometime at night in the middle of the next week, Ulquiorra had made the second grand move and kissed her goodnight in front of her house. Things were moving along at their own pace, but they were undoubtedly moving. Before they knew it, there was only a week left of school before Orihime got out for summer break, and her friends were intent on finding the truth behind Orihime's constant "disappearances".

"Haven't you noticed anything odd though about Inoue-san?"

Uryu was the first one besides Tatsuki who was extremely curious as he asked Orihime's best friend about her after school. Once everyone else in the group heard about his concerns, they started noticing differences as well.

"I told you, she has a friend she wants to spend time with, is that so terrible?" Tatsuki, although actually telling the truth, still had her friend's back.

"I just want to know why she has changed so much though, she is so different!" Ichigo added in when they were all walking down the street. Everyone from the war knew in the back of their mind what was most likely the case, but they just could not come to terms with it.

"Forgive me, I didn't know being happy was so wrong."

She had an answer for everything.

Though Rukia was also curious, and a little protective.

"I just want to see who her friend is…"

"Hold that thought," cut in Ichigo once more. "Where are we going again?"

Uryu sighed. "We need to get our summer books, and we might as well do it now."

By this time they were nearing the entrance to the Karakura bookstore. The group was still minding their own business, when suddenly Rukia looked in the window of the store, her eyes meeting a scene that no one was really expecting. She stopped and pushed everyone back, being in the front of the group.

"Gah, Rukia, what's the matter with you!"

"SHH. Look!"

At this, everyone looked into the window, and was able to see shelves upon shelves of different books. After a second or two, they could have sworn a familiar voice came from inside.

"What about a movie then? I'd hate to see you get addicted to coffee…"

"Is that…?"

"It can't be…"

"But it is…"

"Oh, so that's what this guy looks like."

Everyone turned to Tatsuki after her statement. Uryu twitched.

"Are you telling me that this is whom she's spending all of her time with!"

"Seems so."

"Ulquiorra…of all people…" Ichigo was astounded. As crazy as it seemed though, he could slightly understand why him. Only slightly. He couldn't help but feel a little betrayed by her, he went through so much to rescue her…only to have her voluntarily go back to her captor. It wasn't right.

"I will see you tonight after your shift, then!"

"Crap, she's coming!"

"HIDE!"

With that, everyone seemed to turn their back or hide next to the store until Orihime had left. Poor Chad, on the other hand, was not able to hide in time and was standing there awkwardly as Orihime went to pass him. She stopped and looked up at him, and surprise that turned to a slight tinge of fear turned back into a pleasant smile as she stopped and talked to him.

"Oh, hey Sado-kun! How are you today?"

"I'm alright, Inoue-san, and yourself?"

He was good.

"I'm doing well, thank you! I'm sorry, but I am in a bit of a rush and must be going! I'll see you tomorrow!"

And she was off. Passing him with a nice wave and smile, Orihime walked down the street, not noticing anyone else sigh a breath of relief as they came out of hiding when she passed them. Suddenly, Ichigo turned around and seized Tatsuki's shoulders.

"You need to go over to her house and find out what time that movie is!"

Tatsuki sighed, and nonchalantly knocked his hands off her.

"Do you really want to spy on them? What is so bad about this?"

Uryu cut in.

"As much as I am against spying, I think we should at least see how they interact, to make sure Orihime's…safe."

Tatsuki rolled her eyes, Yeah right…he just wants to sit there and seethe in jealousy.

Rukia stuck with the other ladies, so it seemed.

"If you guys really care about her this much, wouldn't you do well to at least trust her?"

"…But now that you mention it," Tatsuki had a devilish grin on her face. "I'm curious to see the two of them…"

Rukia sighed, nodding her head. They were all curious.

Tatsuki gave in. "Alright! I'll do it!"

"Well, I'm a little busy tonight…why do you ask?"

Orihime had a confused expression upon her face as she looked at her best friend and great shinigami friend outside her house.

Tatsuki and Rukia's faces were priceless; simply smiling, eyes closed, grins wide. It was rather scary, in Orihime's opinion.

"Oh! We were just wondering if you wanted to hang out with us!" Rukia started.

"But it's alright if you're busy!" Tatsuki finished. "We'll do it another time!"

Since when were those two even great friends? I don't know whether to be happy or afraid…

"Oh, but also," Tatsuki interrupted her thoughts. "What time will you be out tonight?"

She couldn't find a reason not to answer.

"Well…I'll be leaving around 6 and will be back a little later-"

"OK! That sounds great, have fun!"

Rukia sounded almost too happy about this…

With that though, they left, before Orihime could even wave goodbye.

"That was odd…" She muttered to herself.

A screen that shows fast moving pictures for two hours? Something that depicts lives of fantastical people…How odd, humans…

Ulquiorra was taking off his nametag, a usual ritual, and thinking about what the Onna said before.

"Oh! It's amazing; we get to sit in the dark and eat lots of snacks and watch a really good story by actors that gets recorded onto a video recorder to show later! It's awesome!"

He then thought of the "movie" she wanted to see: Harry Potter. She mentioned how it was a story about a group of children with "witch and wizard" power that gets into a lot of trouble. He actually saw the books as he was stocking them…it must have been adapted.

Humans are too strange, yet I might as well get used to it…

Fixing his shirt, he left the bookstore and immediately met up with the one who stole his heart, Orihime.

They started walking.

"Ulquiorra! You don't have to pay for me all the time, I feel bad!"

"No need to, Onna. You will not be paying as long as you are with me, I will not allow it."

Orihime sighed and lightly smiled up to him.

"Oh come on now, listen, you go to the theatre and get us two seats. The best seats are in the second to last row up top, alright? I am getting the snacks, whether you like it or not."

When did she get so demanding?

Knowing that there was no use in arguing, Ulquiorra did what she said, handed her the ticket, and left to find suitable seats for them.

"Are they in here?"

Ichigo was whispering to the group of Tatsuki, Rukia, Uryu, and Chad along with himself in the back row of the theatre, so they could see everything. It was only a two complex, and this was the only theatre playing the movie, so they had to be in this one.

"No, not yet…WAIT! I think I found Ulquiorra at least…"

Rukia pointed over to where the pale man was finding seats as the woman said; two rows from the top. He looked up, and everyone ducked. The poor man felt like people were watching him, but he shook it off and immediately went up in the middle of the row and sat down, saving a seat for the Onna.

How ironic was it that he was right in front of them.

Uryu rolled his eyes. Now he would have no choice but to stare at them, pretty much.

Suddenly everyone spotted Orihime rushing through the aisles with popcorn and candy in her arms as she quickly located Ulquiorra and went to join him. Instead of ducking, the group turned the other way as though they were all talking to some nonexistent person at the end of the row. Not obvious at all.

Orihime happily sat down next to Ulquiorra and started eating the popcorn, trying to get the ex arrancar to try it. After a moment's hesitation, he accepted the oddly popped cornel and placed it in his mouth, slowly chewing and getting used to the different texture. He nodded his head after he swallowed; telling Orihime that it was good, to which she smiled and kept eating, talking about how excited she was about the movie.

Suddenly, the lights went out and the screen turned on, and it was time for Harry Potter to take the stage. Both the couple and the group went instantly silent, watching what was in front of them.

Two hours later, and Ulquiorra was walking Orihime home again, the group still closely on their tail. During the movie, nothing had really happened between the two of them. Yes, the group saw the girl cuddle up to Ulquiorra and daringly rest her head on his shoulder, but that was it for moves.

They were actually surprised he let her. Were they more than what they seemed?

"Thank you, Onna, for taking me with you…"

Quickly, in front of Orihime's home, the group hid behind the bushes, Rukia pushing in front to get a better view of the two.

"Oh! No problem at all, I like spending time with you!"

She was blushing as she admitted that small fact.

Ulquiorra eyed her before sighing.

"I shall never understand why, though. You have a mind like no one I have ever encountered."

Orihime giggled and whispered.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Ulquiorra, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Onna…"

The group watched the odd exchange between the two, and was blown out of their minds as Ulquiorra bent down slightly, placed his hand on her chin to lift her face, and gave her a short and sweet kiss on the lips. She immediately hugged him tightly, and he watched her go inside her house.

None of those in the bushes knew what to do, or think, but it was as they thought; the two were a couple.

Suddenly they ducked as Ulquiorra whipped his head over to where they hid, for he could have sworn that he heard a noise. He stood there, completely still from old instincts for a moment before turning and leaving when he deemed there was nothing there of importance.

When he was far enough away, a heavy sigh could be heard from everyone.

"That was close…" Rukia whispered, to which Tatsuki, who was grinning, nodded her head in agreement.

"What do you think about that, sir?"

It was late at night in the Sereitei, and Yamamoto soutaichou was sipping tea with his lieutenant in the 1st squad barracks. Clicking pause on the remote, the second in command turned around toward his leader from the big screen, showing a pale attractive man staring at the bushes in alarm. Sasakibe spoke again.

"It certainly seems like the camera on Kuchiki-san works well."

Yamamoto nodded his head gravely, before agreeing in his commanding voice.

"Yes, and there is no denying the evidence that is showing off directly in front of my old eyes. That man is none other than previous Espada number four of Aizen's army. Ulquiorra Cifer. Wouldn't you agree, Espada number three?"

He turned around to see Harribel chained to a chair. Slightly wounded and breathing heavy, she had put up a fight to get here, but being human, really had no choice. Her mouth was bound by a piece of fabric, and she was glaring at the Captain Commander from where she sat.

Gah! Sorry for the wait on this one, it was also tough believe it or not! I tried to make this chap humorous (please forgive me if it's not humorous at all :3) with a twist at the end that acts as a bit of a turning point in the story line, but sorry if this one isn't as quality compared to the last! My job has also just started, so while I will still definitely be updating as quickly as I can, it won't really be every other day or so like the first few chapters, unless I have super rapid fire finger action. But I am so glad you guys like it, thank you for the reviews, I appreciate it so very much!

With Love,

CelestialAngelofSorrow