Ulquiorra watched Orihime well into the night. She talked a lot! Even in her sleep, though most wasn't coherent, two names where quite commonly spoken, Ichigo… and his own name. Ulquiorra closed his eyes lost in his own thoughts. Orihime began to shake slightly in his arms he watched her making sure there was nothing wrong. There didn't seem to be. Yet, the woman kept shaking.
'Why is she shaking? I can tell she's not cold its like she's scared….'
He continued to watch her. She eventually stopped shaking. He closed his eyes thinking again.
Orihime woke up she was comfortable and she was reluctant to open her eyes. She felt a soft breath on her neck.
'Ichigo?'
She opened her eyes turning slightly and jumped Ulquiorra was stretched out beside her. He was no longer in his gigai, his pale face calm and his eyes closed. It took Orihime a moment to realize he was sleeping. She wondered at it she had never seen any espada sleep but Starrk. She tried moving but his arms were wrapped tightly around her. She looked at his face. A soft smile spreading across her face. She lifted her arm a finger tracing his "tears" her thin warm finger, light to the touch scared to wake him.
He felt her finger the moment she touched him but made no move curious to see what would happen next.
Orihime's finger moved down to his jacket her fingers lingered at the collar and she began to unzip the jacket. His hand darted forwards grabbing her fingers. She gasped looking up to see his emerald eyes looking at her.
"What are you doing, woman?" His voice was cool and calm almost calculating.
Orihime froze, unable to speak the fear was plain on her face. Ulquiorra watched her slightly amused.
"I asked you what are you doing Onna?"
"I-I…." she trailed off nervously.
"Ulquiorra watched her for a moment. "It does not matter. Just don't do it again." He continued to watch her for a moment before slipping out of the bed with out a sound and walking out of the room.
'What was I thinking! I am not supposed to love him! Ichigo! Oh, Ichigo! I am so` sorry!' Silent tears slid down her face 'Ichigo I'm sorry, I'm so sorry'
After a while she got up wiping away her tears, walking into the small kitchen. She made herself something to eat and calmed down.
Ulquiorra was in his own room thinking.
'Why didn't I punish her? This human, this woman is getting to me!' He walked into the kitchen and she ran directly into him. Literally, she fell to the floor he looked down at her surprised. "Onna?"
"Sorry Ulquiorra-kun!" She got up, hardly pausing to look at him and continued her frantic pace to the stove, shutting it off. Ulquiorra wrinkled his nose, what ever she was cooking smelled terrible.
Orihime looked disappointed as she peeked into the large pot. "Oh no! I burned it lunch is ruined…" She looked up at him and blushed again her sunshine hair was tied back into a pony tail her pink tank-top showed off more than he wished and shorts were well…. short.
"Don't you have any other suitable clothes Onna?" he observed her again eyes lingering.
"Orihime blushed even redder "I-I well.. it seems who ever gave me the clothes….. well this was the most suitable… errr… set of clothes."
"Very well onna, now explain what you are doing?"
"I was making lunch! I was going to make noodles with bean paste and fish!"
Ulquiorra face remained emotionless. "Why can you no longer eat it?"
" I burned it"
Ulquiorra thought quickly "How about i make you lunch? i don't eat but I know how to cook some human dishes."
Orihime's silver eyes lit up. They now looked like glittering stars as she nodded her head. She watched him as he cooked, the kitchen soon smelled delicious. He set down a plate of beef tacos. " Will this suffice?"
Orihime nodded stunned. They looked like they had just come right out of the commercial and smelled good to. She took a bite and smiled. It was the most delicious taco she had ever had. "Wow Ulquiorra! This is delicious!" she turned to look at him but he was gone. She heard his bedroom door shut. She looked down, the small piece of his mask that had fallen before they left was in her pocket. She pulled it out turning it over in her finger hesitating for a moment closing her eyes. 'Ichigo I am sorry…' she re-pocketed the piece of mask with a hesitant air of finality.