I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.

Beta: lilarin

Chapter Eleven

Tuesday morning went much smoother than the previous day. The magic that touched Ulquiorra the night before in the park, seemed to still burn warmly in some small part of his heart, and he seemed more relaxed. The comfortable routine that they had established Monday continued, as she spent much of her day working through the apps that Ulquiorra had downloaded just for her onto his touchpad. She had breezed through the ones that Reiko used, and he found some more advanced programs that helped her learn to spell words and build actual sentences. She found this very exciting, and became so engrossed that he had to force her to take a break for lunch.

That evening Ulquiorra read to Reiko from a new book they had started called Winnie the Pooh. Orihime found the stories very amusing and spent much of the time laughing so hard that tears actually formed in her eyes. The little bear's silly antics reminded her of some of the things she was prone to do in this new world that she found herself, and she imagined Ulquiorra to be a uptight version of the child Christopher Robin, as he tried to deal with the disruptions she caused. And though he wasn't able to laugh them off as easily as the boy in the story, he still remained patient and firm in his own way.

Now with Reiko tucked away sleeping, Orihime found herself restless and unable to sleep. She discovered Ulquiorra downstairs in the family room, sitting in front the television watching something he called the news. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to watch something so violent and troubling, but Ulquiorra would have the program on several times during the day, and then at night before he went to bed. It was no wonder he had trouble sleeping if all these upsetting stories were the last images to fill his head before he turned in for the night.

Sitting down next to him she let out a sigh.

"Bored?" he asked; his eyes still on the screen.

"I don't know," she began as she curled up, her feet tucked beneath her on the cushions. "I enjoyed listening to that story, and I guess I just didn't want it to end."

"Reiko needs to go to sleep," he said as he turned the volume off on the TV and turned to look at her, "Besides she does not yet have the attention to read through an entire book of that length in one sitting."

"I suppose," she replied and then smiled, "You choose such imaginative stories, and all full of magic."

"They are children's stories," he began. "And children still find make-believe believable."

She looked deeply at him. "And once they get older they no longer believe?"

"Many don't," he returned her stare. "But then you wouldn't have such books, or artwork, or even music without some people clinging to fairytales and make-believe."

Once more she was struck by how peculiar he was, feeling one way but acting another. "So you read these things to Reiko, even though you don't believe?"

"She enjoys them, and it is okay to foster imagination and creativity," he turned back to stare at the television, "But the real world continues to exist, and in that place magic is not going to come to the rescue."

"I disagree," she began as she shifted her legs under her, "Magic comes in many different forms, you just have to know what you're looking at."

"Maybe," he said as he took the remote and turned off the TV, "But I believe in only the things I can see. Magic cannot be relied on to make things better. Life is still a struggle, and people still die."

She reached out and laid her hand on his arm. "You miss her a lot don't you?" He looked back at her a question in his gaze. "You're sister - Reiko's mother."

He moved his arm from her grasp and turned away.

"I do not wish to speak of her."

"Sorry," she said softly, placing her hand back in her lap. "I should have realized that it would still hurt you."

He leaned forward, his feet flat on the floor with his arms resting on his knees. "It will never stop hurting." He then looked down at his hands clasped tightly and whispered, "Everyone said it would get easier with time, but that's a lie. I never stop missing her."

"You loved her very much."

He was silent for a moment and she waited for him to gather his thoughts, not wanting to push him. Finally he said, "She was the only one who really tried to understand me. She helped me deal with my feelings and doubts."

"And now you have had to do it all alone," she replied.

"I can handle it," he raised his head to look at the blank television screen. "It's just harder now."

She reached for him and rubbed his back gently.

"You don't have to do it alone."

Ulquiorra stood abruptly, his voice harsh as he spoke "And you're going to be the one to help me?"

She gave no reply; her hand still hung in the space he had just vacated.

Running his hands through his hair he continued, "Why should I let myself trust you, when you're just going to leave in the spring?"

Orihime bowed her head and laid her hand back in her lap. He was right. She would be leaving him when she returned to the Oak. When she glanced back up she could sense the magic from his experience the other night, slowly being pushed from his heart. The darkness that existed there – all the pain and loneliness – was not so easily dispelled.

"But I am here now," she tried.

"I'm not interested in now," he stared down at her. "It's tomorrow that I have to plan for."

She stood up and grabbed his hands, refusing to let him pull away.

"All that exists is the here and now Ulquiorra. Your plans for the future are no more based in reality than the stories that Reiko finds so believable."

"That's a load of feel-good crap," he tried to pull back, but she would not let go.

"No it's not," she continued to hold his hands in her firm grip. "While you're planning for the future, you are missing what is right here in front of you."

"Planning is necessary…"

"Some planning," She agreed, "Like what you will wear if the weather turns cold, but what you are doing is not healthy. It is more an obsession."

"I already pay Ukitake good money to pick through my brain," his voice grew cold. "I do not need you to try."

"I'm just being honest…"

He yanked more forcibly and pulled his hands back. His voice was laced with anger, "I didn't ask for your honesty. In fact I really don't want anything from you. Amandán Már forced you into my life, and I am trying to deal with that - which by the way only adds a whole new set of problems that I have to try and plan for each day."

She felt the tears burn her eyes as they threatened to fall. His words definitely held power, and he used them like weapons at times.

"Don't try to analyze me," he continued unaware of the effect he was having on her. He took to pacing like a caged animal preparing to attack. "Don't think you can begin to understand me. You don't know me, and believe me you are better off not getting close to me. I'm a freak, Orihime. People don't know what to make of me, and even my friends try to manage my life for me, walking around on eggshells all the time, wondering when I am going to lose control."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be," his voice grew louder, "I don't need your pity or help. I can do this on my own. After all I am the only person I can truly rely on. No one else can promise to be there forever. So don't pretend to care when you'll just leave me too."

She didn't know what to do. His words were so angry, but she could hear the unspoken fear. He was afraid of being alone, but in reality he had created such an existence for himself; his heart only strong enough to give Reiko what she needed, but not to give himself what he desired.

Against her will the tears that she had held at bay, began to fall. He caught sight of them and stopped pacing.

"You're crying."

"I'm sad." She began to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Don't cry Orihime," his voice a command.

"I'm trying not to, but you…you're hurting me…with your words…"

He took a step back to where she stood. "Are my words so powerful that I should just remain silent so that I don't hurt anybody?" he asked, now frustrated more than angry.

She shook her head. "I just feel bad…"

"Don't."

"I can't help it Ulquiorra. I care about you and I want to help you."

"I don't need your help and I never asked you to care."

She wrapped her arms around herself. "But I do care, and you can't stop me."

"How can you care?" he sounded more perplexed now.

"Because you are a good man…"

"You are mistaken."

"No," she refused to let him retreat any further. "It's you who are mistaken. I see how you are with Reiko. You can't hide from that. You took her in and gave her a home…"

"I had to…"

"No you didn't. You did it because you love her. The other night you even told me how you fear they will take her away from you. You wouldn't worry about that if you didn't desire to keep her. So stop lying to me and to yourself!"

"You have no idea what you're talking about," his words were like ice.

"Yes I do," she stepped forward and laid her hand on his chest. "You care for her like she is your own. You have always been there for her, and she is secure in your love." He stood still and she could feel his heart beating rapidly under her hand. "You read her fairytales Ulquiorra, when you yourself do not believe in them, but you know it is what she needs. You enable her to experience magic, and even if you refuse to let it into your life, you allow it to work in hers."

He raised his hand and placed it over hers. Bowing his head he spoke, his voice hoarse as the anger within him began to fade. "I don't want her to exist in this world that I live in. I want her to be free."

"But what about you Ulquiorra, don't you want to be free as well?"

"I have lived with this all my life." His voice held defeat. "There is no freedom. I can only manage it."

"No," she pleaded. "I will not accept that. You had to have felt free at some point, or you would not be able to provide for Reiko like you have."

"Hisae," he whispered.

"She showed you how to be free."

He nodded his head.

"So she had the key."

"And now she is gone," his voice was so soft she had to strain to hear his words.

"But the key, Ulquiorra," she pushed forward, "The key still exists. We just need to find it."

"But you will leave too…" he protested weakly.

"That is in the future," she reminded him, "It doesn't exist. So let's focus on right now."

"I can't live like that."

"Try." She stepped even closer.

"You ask the impossible."

"Weren't fairies and sprites impossible only a week ago?" she asked.

"This is different."

"No, it's not," she said.

He stared at her for a moment and then reached up, pulling her close against him.

"I'm sorry," he began as he held tight to her. "I was trying to hurt you earlier. My words were meant to make you feel bad."

"You were scared," she replied soothingly.

"I just want that feeling back," he whispered. "The one I had yesterday at the park."

"It can happen again," she began to rub his back, her head against his chest so that she could hear his heart beating. "We will continue to make it happen. And the more you experience that joy, the easier it will be to fight the darkness."

He gave no answer. His arms though held her tighter.

They would find the key, and not because Amandán Már demanded it, but because she desired it for him.

Wednesday began in relative silence. Ulquiorra continued with his usual morning routine, and once Reiko left for school, he and Orihime continued as they had the past two days – he working silently and she learning to read. Today he showed her the EBook reader app and downloaded The Secret Garden for to listen to. She had disappeared after that, taking the tablet out back where she had discovered the hammock he had set up between to maples in the yard. Occasionally he would get up from his work and go check on her.

The weather was pleasant and she wore a lightweight sweater to ward off the chill in the air. She lay on the hammock, the touchpad resting on her stomach as she gazed up at the sky. Though he couldn't see her expression, he knew she would be smiling. Her life as a sprite had been one filled with joy, and he hoped that her time here would not diminish that happiness.

Neither of them spoke about the previous night's conversation. She was giving him space, he realized, and he was glad to accept the reprieve. It gave him time to think about all she had said, and she had given him a lot to consider.

He was working on a new project; the plans he had completed for the rather critical client from last week, were completed and waiting for Uryuu to pick up and bring to Starrk. As soon as the county approved the plans, his partner could resume work on the house once more.

Uryuu arrived shortly before noon, and he was glad that Orihime was outside so that he would not have to explain her presence to his partner. He was even more relieved when Szayel Aporro Granz walked through the door behind Uryuu. His partner gave him apologetic look as he made his way to Ulquiorra's office.

Granz owned an electrical company that did all the work on the houses they constructed, and was a genius when it came to creating fantastic light fixtures and gadgets that gave the homes a dynamic flare. He was pricey, but he was good, and their customers paid top dollar to have a Granz original in their homes. The man though was well aware of his talent, and his narcissistic personality always grated on Ulquiorra's nerves. Still he tolerated him, because he brought with him a very elite clientele.

Ulquiorra laid the plans on his desk and he and Uryuu quickly became engrossed in the changes. Granz hung back, sighing occasionally to let them know that he was bored with it all. He could tell Uryuu was about to snap at the man when Orihime suddenly burst in to the room. Her face was red from running, but her eyes sparkled with delight.

"Oh my, this story is just wonderful. I admit at first I didn't like Mary because she was a very nasty little girl, but now that she is becoming nicer she is not so bad. And one of her friends is a robin…actually robins are very funny birds…" She came to a stop as she spotted his two guests. "Oh…I didn't know you had visitors. Sorry."

"Oh no my dear," Granz stepped forward, a predatory gleam in his eye. "It was actually quite rude of Ulquiorra to keep such a lovely girl as you all to himself. Please interrupt, as I was about to die from boredom."

"No one asked you to come," Uryuu remarked to Granz, but his gaze was also on Orihime.

"Uryuu honestly, do you have no manners?" Szayel replied as he drew up beside Orihime. "So my dear, who exactly are you?"

She smiled at the man beside her, but Ulquiorra could see that she did not quite know what to think of him.

"I'm a friend of Ulquiorra and Reiko," she said, "Orihime."

"Orihime?" Uryuu shot Ulquiorra a look. "Wasn't that the name of the sprite that Reiko found? The one you kept in that terrarium by your desk."

Ulquiorra held Uryuu's gaze. He knew his friend would see through some long winded explanation, so he stuck with what worked best – sarcasm.

"Yes and now she has been transformed into a human, giving up all her magical powers, so that she can remain in our world."

"Ooh how intriguing," Granz smiled wider as he peered even closer at Orihime. She backed up a step, trying to inch away from the man. He merely took a step closer, blocking her path to Ulquiorra.

Uryuu whispered to him, "I do expect an explanation later."

"I hear you Uryuu," Granz's voice sung out. "Afraid of what I'll find out. Maybe our weird little friend has some secret fetish that he doesn't want to share." He glanced at Ulquiorra, "Maybe you ordered this sweet little thing from a catalogue. That would explain a lot of it."

"She is a friend," he tried to keep his voice even and cool. "She needed a place to stay for a few months and I offered her the spare room…"

"The spare room," Granz grabbed at Orihime's hand; the one that wasn't holding the touchpad in a death grip, "If you find yourself bored with Mr. Passionless here, you can always come live in my spare room."

She recoiled from his touch but he held firm. Ulquiorra quickly crossed the room and taking Szayel's hand, forcibly removed it. He then got between Orihime and his associate and said, "You are making her uncomfortable."

Granz put his hand to his forehead and feigned a swoon. "Oh my Ulquiorra, you can be so dashing at times." He then winked at Orihime, "Besides the sweet thing knows I am merely teasing."

"She is an innocent," Ulquiorra's voice was cold and clipped. "You're sexual innuendos are lost on her."

"Oh now you really have my interest piqued," Granz licked his lips. "How did you manage to find a female, of legal age, that hasn't become jaded?"

"That's not any of your business," Ulquiorra's voice lowered, his calm slipping.

"Oh my, Ulquiorra, this is a side of you that I have never seen before," Granz turned to glance at Uryuu, "How about you? So do you like the new Ulquiorra?"

"Granz you are a pig," Uryuu replied. "Any man with a pulse would be disgusted by your antics."

"So we are now sure that Ulquiorra is in fact alive," he smiled slyly back at Ulquiorra.

He said evenly, "Maybe it is time to sever this partnership, if you feel so strongly about me."

"Oh cut the drama, Ulquiorra," Granz walked over to one of the chairs and sat down gracefully. "You need me more than I need you."

He clenched his jaw tightly. If it was up to him, Granz would be a distant memory, but his partners were willing to put up with the arrogant man, so he had little choice. Behind him he felt Orihime's hand on his back, reminding him to relax.

"Let me place the plans in the container so you can take them to Starrk," he looked to Uryuu. His partner nodded, but remained where he was, his eyes still on Orihime.

Granz remained in the chair, his hand to his chin, deep in thought. Finally he spoke, "So Ulquiorra, are you going to come as Batman again this year to my Halloween party?"

He always went to the party as Batman, but he changed the costume each year, picking a different movie or comic version of the outfit.

"I already have my costume created," he said as he placed the plans in the heavy cardboard tube. "I decided on the 1992 Batman Returns movie as my inspiration."

Granz smiled, and then his eyes lit up and he said softly, "Oh my." Standing once again he walked over to Uryuu and said, "I have an idea for our dear, sweet Orihime - I insist she come Ulquiorra."

"That is her choice," he replied as he turned to stare at Granz.

The man smiled and then placed his mouth close to Uryuu's ear. As he whispered his idea, the other man's cheeks flushed and he coughed in an attempt to clear his throat.

"Can you create it?" Granz asked. "I'll pay for all the materials."

Uryuu grew indignant. "Of course I can."

"Well then, Ulquiorra, we have the perfect costume for your friend."

"I don't exactly trust you…"

"Ah but you trust Uryuu, don't you? And Uryuu would never create something that would be in any way perverted."

He looked at his friend. Uryuu assured him, "It will be perfect for her, and I will make sure it covers her completely."

This brought a snicker from Granz. He looked to the other man. "In the end she will be the one to decide."

"Of course," Granz smiled.

Ulquiorra then handed the plans to Uryuu, and led the two men from the office and to the front door. When he returned he found Orihime in the kitchen making some sandwiches for lunch.

"I apologize for Granz," he said as he came up next to her.

"He is not a very pleasant man," she replied. "But thank you for defending me."

"It was the right thing to do."

She smiled up at him, "Ready to eat?"

He took his sandwich and they headed to the table. As they ate, she relayed to him all that had happened in the story so far. Her face was so animated, and she talked with excitement. When they had finished she asked him if he would like to join her for a while since the weather was so nice. He glanced out the window at the hammock and then back towards his office. He had made a lot of progress this morning, and could afford to take a break.

"Well?" she asked as she threw away her trash.

"Okay," he said as he followed her. "I suppose I can take a little time to relax."

She smiled and grabbed the touchpad, and he felt his mood lighten at her joy. On impulse he reached for his wrist and removed his watch. He left it on the table along with his cell phone. If he was going to do this, than he would do it right.

Once outside he laid in the hammock and she crawled in, snuggling up beside him. He listened to the story, but his thoughts were on her, and the comfortable warmth her body created alongside his. The feeling he had experienced the other day flickered in his heart, and it was enough for now to make him nearly smile.

Author's Notes:

So my brain is too tired to say anything of real importance. Just that I am glad so many people are enjoying this story. Of course Uryuu is back and Granz was fun to write, as I have never really done him before in any more than a bit part. So now he has a plan for Orihime's costume and knowing him it will be sexual in some way. I guess Ulquiorra will just have to trust Uryuu's judgement.

My plan is to have the Halloween chapter posted on Halloween, but I am blocked with it and hope that my weekend will help clear my head. This will be my first weekend without football in quite some time - so writing may actually happen!

So as always thanks for your reviews. And please let me know what you think. The next chapter needs some heavy edits on my end, but I will try to stick to the weekly schedule for updates.