A gentle breeze was blowing. All around, the leaves of the trees and the blades of the grass danced and swayed. Red, blue, orange, indigo, brown, green, pink, and white. These colors could be seen as far as one's eye could view. A few petals fell off from a cherry blossom tree. Emerald-colored eyes watched as the petals drifted closer and closer, until they fell upon the observer's outreached hand. Vibrant and pale. The observer noted how much the color of his skin contrasted with the cherry blossoms. He was lost in thought and did not hear the sound of footsteps approaching until someone called out to him.

"Your Highness." It was the voice of Kurosaki Isshin.

Ulquiorra Cifer turned away from the terrace to find the royal guardsman in a kneeling position several feet from him.

"Your Highness, please forgive me for failing you."

"How have you failed me? What am I to forgive you for?" the former Espada inquired in his monotone voice.

"After Your Highnesses' demise His Majesty gave me the task of searching for your soul. However, I abandoned my mission when I met the mother of my children. I am guilty of putting myself before my king. I have dishonored the embodiment that which is the Royal Guard."

"It is not wrong to follow your heart. You have done nothing that warrants my forgiveness."

Isshin paused to reflect on those words.

"How is your wife?"

The royal guardsman was not expecting that question.

"I trust you two are doing well."

Isshin lowered his gaze. "I thank Your Highness for asking, but regrettably, my wife passed away years ago."

Ulquiorra's eyes widened a fraction before returning to their normal size. "I see." The lifespan of a human is short. That can deem them as delicate creatures, but in their brief moments of life, they can turn weakness into strength. He was immediately filled with thoughts about his new wife.

***

Orihime walked from one end to the other, examining the room that was assigned to her in the palace. The sky had darkened. The candles had been lit. The room contained a large, four poster bed in the middle. There was a vanity table and chair next to the bed. Oriental rugs, curtains, and chinaware added a pleasant touch. Many trunks were placed on one side of the grand room. Her doors had been left opened after the servants retreated, and Ulquiorra now stepped in.

The young woman smiled and greeted him. "Ulquiorra." His eyes were fixated on her as she crossed the room to where the trucks were. "Ulquiorra, your mother and I had a nice talk today, and after that she gave me all these wonderful things." Orihime opened one of the trunks to reveal colorful bolts of silk fabric. "Aren't they pretty?"

The arrancar didn't reply. Instead, he just stared at her.

The girl blinked. Why is he so quiet? "Um…there's more too." She opened up a second truck and took out a lacquered box. Orihime opened the box and took out a strand of white pearls. "I've never seen anything like this before. It must be worth a lot of money."

Emerald eyes continued to gaze at her.

Orihime placed the pearls back inside. She closed the box, placed it back inside the trunk, and closed the lid. He's just staring at me…

The girl faced him once more. "There's so many things here, I don't know if I can fit them all in my apartment. Your mother was too kind. She shouldn't have given me all these things. I don't know if I can use them all."

The silence continued to drag on.

"You look beautiful. That outfit suits you."

"Huh?" Just when Orihime felt lost for words, Ulquiorra's reply saved her. The girl's cheeks began to tingle. Soon she was blushing. "Um...I…" Her words came to a halt as the distance between them got shorter and shorter. He stopped within arm's reach. Then, much to her surprise, he swept her feet off the floor.

"Oh!" Her gaze locked onto his. The young woman continued to blush as Ulquiorra carried her to bed and extinguished the candles.