Would Be Hero Chapter 11
"What're we gonna do while we wait for this to be over?" Maria asked.
"We wait," Ulquiorra said blandly.
"We should be fightin'," Grimmjow disagreed.
"That would prove to be counter productive," Ulquiorra frowned, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.
"These fucktards can't win on their own. I thought this was a fuckin' rebellion."
"They won't lose," Orihime said quietly.
Ulquiorra eyed her wearily. "If they lose, we are going to have to return to Aizen's side. He is not aware of our deflection, and it would be considered unwise to fight either side."
"Well, well, well, looks like Aizen-sama's favorite has turned against him for Pet."
"Nnoitra, the battle is over there. Are you too chickenshit to fight?" Grimmjow goaded.
"Feeling brave, eh, Grimmjow?" he grinned, "Who's gonna protect Maria when you're gone?"
"I can take care of myself, Nnoitra," Maria challenged, as she began to restrain Grimmjow. "It's a real shame your Fracciòn couldn't do the same."
"What the fuck did you just say, you little bitch?" Nnoitra snarled.
"I wasn't even speaking German that time, Nnoitra," she smiled.
"When this is over, your mouth is gonna be too busy to talk with," he smirked, "but don't worry, Ulquiorra, I'll have something else planned for Pet," he gave a lingering look at Orihime's figure before continuing. "Something you stopped me from doing before."
"The time for speaking is long over, Nnoitra," Ulquiorra said, brandishing his sword. "Ich will dass sie ihr schützen, Maria."
"Ja, Ulquiorra-sama," she nodded as she grabbed Orihime's hand, and began to move backwards.
"Maria, what did he say?" Orihime asked, bewildered.
She smiled. "If he wanted you to know, Oirhime-chan, he wouldn't have said it in German." She then turned her anxious eyes back to the battle that raged on in front of them.
"Ich will dass sie ihr schützen, Maria."
Orihime shot out of bed. She had been hearing her raven-haired captor's voice for the past month. Ulquiorra was lost to her, and her dreams were taunting her. His last order to his Fracciòn in battle echoed in her head. It had taken her a week to finally understand what he said, and it has haunted her ever since.
"I want you to protect her, Maria."
Rubbing her eyes, she glanced at her clock. It was five o'clock. School wasn't until seven, but she knew better than to attempt sleep again, instead choosing to focus her mind on her last encounter with the fourth espada.
"We must leave now, woman," Ulquiorra said evenly.
"What? Can't you stay?" she asked puzzled.
"Tch, yeah, 'cause the Gotei 13 is known for it's mercy toward their enemies," Grimmjow scoffed.
"But you helped save us, surely they'll see that?" Orihime argued.
"They're right, Inoue."
"Kurosaki-kun?" she gasped entirely too loud.
"The Commander General has shown no mercy to anyone we fought today," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "even when I told him Ulquiorra was the one who told us about today, he said they couldn't be trusted.
"Why are you here?" Orihime asked, eyeing Ichigo suspiciously for the first time in her life. "I won't let you fight them."
"Orihime-chan," Maria stepped forward remembering her order of protection, before Grimmjow pulled her behind him.
Ichigo had a hard time holding his friend's eye contact. "The Commander General has ordered their deaths."
"No!" Orihime screamed. "I won't let you hurt them."
"Inoue-" he said taking a step toward her, but she rushed to stand in front of Ulquiorra.
"I said no!" she said, her voice forceful.
"Woman, I do not require your protection," he said dully, but she paid him no attention.
"I don't want to fight them, Inoue," Ichigo said, wearily.
"Then what-?" she stopped.
"I can see you trust them, and that's good enough for me," he began to explain, "but the Gotei 13 isn't gonna see it like that." He looked directly at Ulquiorra. "You have to go hide in Hueco Mundo."
"Hide!" Grimmjow said outraged, "I ain't scared of no punk ass shinigami."
"Grimmjow," Maria said softly.
"Kurosaki, do you not believe the Gotei 13 will question you on our demise?" Ulquiorra asked, "Do you not think they will check?"
Ichigo glared at him. "I've thought this through, and if it weren't for Inoue, we'd be fighting right now."
"If it weren't for Orihime-chan, you would have been sitting ducks," Maria retorted with a glare of her own.
"Soul Society can take care of themselves," he countered, turning his scowl toward her.
"Wenn du das glaubst, irrst du dich," she scoffed.
"Maria, it's useless to argue with him, Ulquiorra said, giving her a quick look, "And he does not speak German anymore than these two do."
Rolling his eyes, Ichigo continued, "Look, unless you want the other Captains to come, you need to leave."
"Can't you make them see reason? They helped us!" Orihime pleaded.
"Inoue, do you want to be branded a traitor?" Ichigo snapped, finally losing his patience. "This is the only way."
Orihime turned and looked at Ulquiorra. "I'll go with you."
He watched her wearily, "No."
"Why?" she asked as tears began to fill her eyes.
"You do not belong in Hueco Mundo," he said, unwavering.
"I want to be with you," she frowned as her voice turned to a whisper. "I belong with you."
Ulquiorra wanted to pretend he didn't hear the bright-haired human's admission, but he knew with one look into her brown, pleading eyes, it wouldn't be possible, so instead, he remained silent.
She blinked quickly, the tears finally falling. "You don't want me to go with you?"
"I did not save your life, so you can waste it, woman," he said blankly.
She let out a faint whimper, "So this is goodbye?"
"It is," he nodded.
"Maria? Grimmjow?"
"Viel glück, Orihime-chan," Maria said sadly.
"You guys need to get goin;," Ichigo said awkwardly, glancing over his shoulder. "If I'm not back, they'll send reinforcements."
"Then we'll take our leave," Ulquiorra conceded. With a snap of his fingers, the garganta, "Maria, Grimmjow."
"Auf wderschenie," Maria frowned as both she and Grimmjow took their leave.
"See ya, chick."
Ulquiorra turned to join them, but Orihime's hand, which wrapped against his, stopped him.
Her teardrops clung to her lashes, but she managed a small smile. "Goodbye, Ulquiorra."
His facial expression did not change, but he gave her a soft squeeze of acknowledgment. "Goodbye, woman."
The walk to school was uneventful, and as she made her was through the busy streets, her thoughts continued to wander to what was lost in Hueco Mundo. Her friendship with Ichigo had been strained, and she couldn't figure out why. She appreciated what he did for them, for putting himself at risk for saving the arrancars she grew to care for. Maybe he thought she blamed him, but she didn't, she never did. However, she had grown colder in the months since leaving Hueco Mundo. She refused to acknowledge anything Soul Society related. It was them, and their inability to see past their own prejudices, that she blamed for Ulquiorra's departure. He had changed, and they wouldn't consider it to be real.
It wasn't until she got to her classroom that she remembered what today was. The field trip to the museum had been planned for the last two months, but it still managed to sneak up on her. The room was buzzing with student's chatter about today's activity, but she couldn't find Tatsuki anywhere in the room, but she heard her name called anyway.
"Inoue!" Ichigo motioned to the seat beside him, and she hesitantly took it.
"Hi, Kurosaki-kun, have you seen Tatsuki?" she asked, quietly.
"Yeah, she had some kind of martial arts tournament, and isn't gonna be back until tomorrow," he shrugged, "I was wondering if you'd be my partner today since the both Ishida and Chad aren't going."
Ishida, her usual partner when Tatsuki was unavailable, had been taking it easy at home for the past week, after a hollow attack left him without his left hand. "How is Ishida-kun doing? What about Sado-kun? Is he okay?"
"Eh, he's okay according to Urahara, but Ryuken isn't thrilled that their training has been delayed," Ichigo shrugged again. "Yeah, Chad's fine. He's just training and whatnot. So, how about it? Partners?"
"Of course, Kurosaki-kun," she smiled, happy not to be alone on the trip, hoping things can start to get back to normal.
Orihime stood with her mouth gaping. It wasn't possible. She had to be seeing things, her eyes playing tricks on her. She caught the green-eyed man's gaze, and with the next blink they were gone. "Ulquiorra?"
"Inoue, are you alright?" Ichigo frowned, suddenly standing beside her.
"Did you see them?" she asked with excitement.
"Who?"
"Ulquiorra, Maria, and Grimmjow; I just saw them," she answered smiling.
"Inoue," he said glancing side to side to make sure they weren't overheard. "They're still in Hueco Mundo. If they get caught here, then," he trailed off.
"No, I just saw them," she said, her smile faltering.
"It's just not possible, Inoue," he paused. "I am sorry about how everything turned out, just so you know."
"What do you mean?" she asked, staring at the empty spot across the room.
"Abandoning you in Hueco Mundo."
"You don't have to apologize for that, Kurosaki-kun," she said, giving him her full attention. "You saved the people who saved me. We're even."
"But if I hadn't left you there, then you wouldn't be so upset about Ulquiorra leaving," he said, digging his shoe in the ground.
"But because you left me, I got to know him, and he really isn't the terrible person that Soul Society thinks he is."
Ichigo sighed, "That's kinda one of the reason's I didn't just skip the field trip today."
"Why?" she asked, confused. "You wanted to talk about Ulquiorra?"
"Not exactly," he hesitated, "Soul Society needs to know what happened to you there." Orihime had dodged everyone's questions about her captivity in Hueco Mundo. Images of the feeding chair, Telsa's messages, Nnoitra's assault, and the blood soaked room went through her head. Those were the stories Soul Society wanted to hear, but images of Maria and Grimmjow's bantering, Yammy and Grimmjow saving her, and Ulquiorra's quick kiss, ran through her head as well. She wouldn't share any of it. "Soul Society needs to know in case this ever happens again, Inoue," he pushed.
"Soul Society turned it's back on me, and branded me a traitor, Kurosaki-kun," she said, shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but I have no interest in helping Soul Society right now." In truth, she partially blamed them for her current state. First, they refused to save her, then they refused to help the people who did.
"What if it happens again?" he asked, trying to appeal to her caring side.
"By who?" she asked, curiously.
"Anyone who saw that it worked when you were kidnapped," he theorized. "What if they take Rukia next time?"
"Then Soul Society will automatically send all reinforcements in with you, and you wouldn't leave until you found her," she frowned. "Soul Society knows how they kidnapped me, whatever happened after that is personal, and not up for discussion."
"I'm sorry, Inoue, you're right," Ichigo frowned, tucking his hands in his pockets. "I know how you feel about Soul Society lately, and I shouldn't pressure you into talking about Hueco Mundo for them."
"I think I'm just going to go home," she mumbled, staring at her feet.
"Yeah," he nodded, "I'll cover for you."
"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun," she said, giving a small smile before sneaking out the back, wondering if she really is just seeing things.
Orihime awoke with a jump to the knocking on the door. She frowned, as she grabbed her blankets around her as she stumbled looking for clothing it would be appropriate to answer the door in. She was dreaming about the museum, about how much she wished it was real, and not imagined in her head.
When she opened the door, her heart began to race. "What are you all doing here?" Tears sprung to her eyes as she stared at her visitors.
"Was ist das? Why are you crying? I thought she'd be happy," Maria said, glancing at the blue-haired espada next to her.
"Tch, this chick is always cryin' 'bout something', Grimmjow shrugged.
"Humans cry due to both happiness and sadness, you idiots," Ulquiorra said, stepping to the front.
"It really is you guys," she smiled bringing all of them into a hug.
"Oi, lemme go," Grimmjow yelled, as Maria embraced her back.
"Release us, woman," Ulquiorra frowned.
"Oh, sorry," she said, blushing, before reality crashed back around her. "What are you doing here? What if Soul Society detects you?"
"Those morons? The can't detect a damn thing," Grimmjow laughed, but that didn't fade the worry in Orihime's eyes.
"It is fine, woman. We have cloaked our reiatsu," Ulquiorra explained. "They will not know we are here unless they physically see us."
"Are we gonna have this conversation in broad daylight, or are we gonna go inside?" Grimmjow asked, waving his hand around to prove his point.
"Oh, of course, where are my manners?" Orihime smiled as she stepped aside to allow them into her apartment. "Are any of you hungry?"
"We do not require your type of food, you know this," Ulquiorra reminded her.
"She was just trying to be polite, Ulquiorra-sama," Maria chided. "Danke, Orihime-chan."
"Ain't you gonna ask us the obvious question?" Grimmjow asked, flopping on the couch.
Her eyes seemed confused at first, but seconds later they were wide set in horror. "You can't be here!," she shrieked.
"Woman," Ulquiorra started, but Orihime refused to let him finish.
"Soul Society will sense you here! They'll find you, and take you back to the Seireitei to stand trial. You have to leave."
"Sie hat es in die falsche kehie gekriegt," Maria mumbled.
Orihime didn't even try to understand Maria, she just shook her head in frustration at their blasé attitudes. "You don't understand," she cried, "the sentence is death."
"Woman, you are to calm yourself," Ulquiorra ordered, stepping in front of her. "We are in no danger."
"But-," she attempted to cut in, but he cut her off.
"As I said earlier, we have concealed ourselves well enough that our spiritual pressures will go unnoticed."
Orihime bit her lip, "Are you sure?"
Grimmjow let out a booming laugh while Maria raised her eyebrows with a smile, and Ulquiorra just ignored her question. "Maria, do you remember our earlier conversation?"
"Ja, Ulquiorra-sama," she nodded as she turned to Grimmjow. "It's time to go."
"Go?" Orihime repeated. "You just got here." She turned to Ulquiorra, "Do you have to leave, too?"
"Not at the moment," he said, "but I can't linger here long."
"Then why did you come back?" she asked with downcast eyes.
"Maria," Ulquiorra said casually, but she could hear the order in his voice. Grabbing Grimmjow by the hand, she began to drag him to the door.
"Oi, chick, real quick, did you see us at that museum you were at?"
"It really was you?" she asked, shaking her head as if clearing away a daydream.
Maria laughed, "Unglück, Grimmjow, Should've kept your mouth shut."
"Shut up," he growled, walking out the door.
"It was your idea to make that bet," she called after him before pausing momentarily. "Ich bin gespannt, ob sie kommt, Ulquiorra-sama."
"Das muss ihr belassen bleiben," Ulquiorra answered without taking his eyes off Orihime, and Maria left the apartment with a quiet click of the door.
Orihime didn't try to hide the confusion on her face. "What did she say?"
"It was nothing important," he said placing his hands in his pockets, and leaning against the wall.
"Why did you come here?" She asked, slumping beside him.
"There are new developments in Hueco Mundo, new technologies have become available," he said.
"But, what does that have to do with me?" she asked, further confused.
"I want you to come back to Hueco Mundo with me."
Orihime looked at him abruptly, "What?"
"I do not need to repeat myself, woman," Ulquiorra said, looking her directly in the eyes.
"You said Hueco Mundo was no place for me, that I didn't belong there."
"It is not," he answered.
"Then why-?"
"I heard what you said that final day, despite my not answering you. I've given it much thought, and realized that perhaps you were right. You do belong with me."
Orihime's eyes began to water again, "Do you mean it?"
"I do, however, I do not want you to rush into Hueco Mundo unknowing, woman" he said, with his frown deepening just a little.
"What do you mean?"
"If it is still what you wish, then I will take you back to Hueco Mundo, but-"
"You'll take me back with you?" she asked hopeful.
He hesitated, "Yes, but you will have to give up everything you know in your human world."
"I can't come back?" she asked.
"No."
Orihime let it sink in. Everything she has ever known will be gone if she goes with him, but if she stays, she'll lose him. "Would I be able to say goodbye to my friends this time?"
Orihime could've sworn she saw a small smile form on his face, but it was gone so quickly, she couldn't be sure. "It would be necessary for you to say goodbye, so that no one will follow us to Hueco Mundo. It will not be as it was last time."
Smiling, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, sweetly pressing her lips to his, to which he responded by entangling his arms around her waist, passionately returning her gesture.
The End.
Wow, almost three years later, and I'm done. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who stuck around through all my inability to update this story in an appropriate time frame, and thank you to everyone who took the time to review. Hope you enjoyed it. :)
Oh, and for anyone interested, I'll be posting a one shot of how Maria and Grimmjow met. I've already written it, I was just curious as to who would be interested in reading it.
Ich will dass sie ihr schützen - I want you to protect her
Ja- Yes
Wenn du das glaubst, irrst du dich- If you believe that, you're wrong/ You're mistaken if you believe that
Viel glück- Good Luck
Auf wderschenie- Goodbye
Was ist das- What is it?
Danke- Thank you
Sie hat es in die falsche kehie gekriegt- She took it the wrong way.
Unglück- Bad Luck
Ich bin gespannt, ob sie kommt- I wonder if she'll come
Das muss ihr belassen bleiben- That must be left up to her
This part hasn't changed. I'm hoping these are right, and according to research, they should be.