Orihime started squirming in her seat. "Um...I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back!" she called to Ulquiorra as she got out of the booth. He just looked back at her and she wondered if he even understood what she meant. Did hollows use the bathroom? She would have to ask him that when she got back.

After she was finished and washing her hands in the cracked and rust stained sink, she again thought about the idea she had this morning as she laid in Ulquiorra's arms. Would it be possible to use her powers to reject the fact that Ulquiorra became a hollow? That he had even died? She didn't know. She definitely had to discuss it with Urarhara though. She wondered what he would be like when he was human again. What would he look like? What would he act like? It was all really quite fascinating to think about. She hoped he wasn't too different though. She still wanted to be able to recognize the person she had fallen in love with after he was changed. She dried her hands off and walked back into the dining room. She wasn't but three feet from the door when Ulquiorra came up and grabbed her arm.

"We need to go now." he stated, directing her towards the door.

"W...What about paying for the food?" she asked glancing at the table they sat warily.

"It's taken care of."

"H...How did you do that? I didn't have any money on me and even if I did it wouldn't have been American and I doubt..." she stopped as comprehension dawned on her. "You didn't steal it did you?"

"Orihime. You needed to eat." he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door.

"But...but...it's wrong to steal!" she yelled trying to stop again, but he was pulling her with determination and he was much stronger.

"Must you attract the notice of every customer with your boisterous accusations?" he asked her bitterly as he finally dragged her out of the door and into the blistering heat.

"Ul...Ulquiorra."she said sadly as she looked at him.

"I'm going to take you to Urahara Kisuke's shop now." he told her, opening a garganta in the middle of the parking lot.

As the rip opened, Orihime could see the front of Urahara's store and a cool spring breeze blew through, softly stirring her hair. She stepped through and reached out for Ulquiorra's hand. He took it (gently this time) and they walked to the front of the shop together. As she carefully knocked on the door, she thought back to the last time she was here. A time when Ulquiorra was dead and she was filled with despair. Had that only been two days ago? She looked at his profile and smiled as she waited for the door to open. She was about to knock again when the it was finally opened by Tessai.

"Um...good morning, Tessai-san." she said, hoping she got the time of day right. It certainly felt like morning to her, but after jumping back and forth to America today she was somewhat confused. "May we speak to Urahara-san?" she asked politely as she saw Tessai eye Ulquiorra carefully.

"Just a moment. The boss has been expecting you." he said as he motioned them into the shop and let the door close behind them. Expecting us? she wondered. How could he know we were going to show up here? She glanced at Ulquiorra but he was just standing in his impassive way, staring straight ahead. She gently squeezed his hand to see if that would get a reaction out of him. He glanced down at her hand and then at her.

"I wonder what Urahara-san wants us for?" she nervously asked him.

"You will soon know the reason." he told her and then went back to staring at the back of the store.

"Ah, Inoue-san! A pleasure as always!" Urahara smiled at her, then he turned to Ulquiorra. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Ulquiorra-san." he said.

Ulquiorra just looked at him and then said, "Orihime needs to stay here. Her house is no longer safe."

"I know." Urahara said. "We will discuss housing arrangements later, though." He turned to Orihime. "Inoue-san. There is something I need to tell you. Last night Kurosaki-san was attacked by an extremely strong arrancar. He managed to subdue him and escape, but was gravely injured in the process. Yourichi is with him now and doing what she can, but he needs your help. Otherwise..." he trailed off, looking at her gravely.

Orihime nodded and felt tears form in her eyes. "Of course I'll go to him and heal him."

Urahara nodded at that and then said, "Wait here just a moment. I want to go with you." Then he whisked off towards the back of the store to where his living quarters were.

Orihime let go of Ulquiorra's hand and rubbed the tears from her eyes. Then suddenly she felt Ulquiorra move on her right and then she was pinned to the wall behind her. She looked up at Ulquiorra and fearfully whispered, "What are you doing?"

"You will not go to him. I forbid it." he said, menace snaking through his words.

"W...what are you talking about? I...I have to go...Kurosaki-kun...he needs me." she answered, for the first time in weeks reminded of why she was so scared of Ulquiorra at first.

"You will make some excuse as to why you have to disincline Urahara's request. You will not heal him."

"W...what has gotten into you? Why...why are you doing this?" she asked tearfully looking his hands pinning her shoulders to the wall.

"You are mine, Orihime. I will not share you with trash." he said and then bent down to kiss her lips, but she turned her head.

"Please..." she whispered as his lips brushed her hair instead. "I can't let him die. I...I..."

"You what? Love him? Still?" he asked and she felt his reiatsu flare and envelope her. "No! I won't let you." Then he took her shoulders and brought her face close to his and she started crying loudly now, not knowing what exactly he was going to do to her.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" came Urahara's voice from behind Ulquiorra. "Let her go!" Urahara started towards them pulling his zanpaktou from it's sheath. Ulquiorra suddenly dropped her and then disappeared from her sight. Urahara followed him, but even as Orihime turned to watch she saw a tear open in the scenery in front of the store and then he was gone. She slumped down to the cool wooden floor and started sobbing uncontrollably. Urahara came back into the store sheathing his zanpaktou and Orihime looked up at him through her tears.

"Inoue-san." he said gently. He reached out his hands and she allowed herself to be brought to her feet. "Would you please join me?" he said motioning out the door.

Orihime nodded and wiped her eyes. "W...What about Ulquiorra?" she asked.

"I don't know Inoue-san, but I think Kurosaki-san should be your first priority at this point in time." he said opening the door for her. She thanked him and they walked through the cool sun to the Kurosaki clinic.

Once there, Isshin opened the door for them and motioned them in, not to the clinic like Orihime expected, but upstairs to Ichigo's room. She trailed behind Urahara and Isshin and listened to them mumbling quietly to themselves. As she approached Ichigo's room she felt a strange mixture of fear and shy anticipation grip her stomach. Isshin opened the door and nodded for Orihime to go through. As she did so she saw Yourichi and Rukia already at his bedside, looking on Ichigo's still form with concern. Orihime nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and walked to the trio.

"Um...um...I'm here." she said as she looked down on Ichigo gasping and bleeding on the bed. She placed her shield above him and then sat down on the floor by his bed. She placed her head in her arms and quietly cried. Rukia and Yourichi came to her side, but she just waved them away. She heard Yourichi mumble something about her being upset at seeing Ichigo so badly hurt and she heard Rukia reply that they should leave her be for a bit. Then she heard the bedroom door open and click shut. Once they were gone, she raised her head and looked at Ichigo lying in the golden light of her shield. His gasping had already ceased and he looked peaceful again. She reached out and wanted to brush his hair from his face, but couldn't. Why? Why was it so easy to touch Ulquiorra, but not Ichigo? She put her hand back in her lap and bowed her head, wondering if she would ever see Ulquiorra again. She stayed that way for a long while as the light morning sun deepened into rich afternoon gold around her.