'Updates will probably be monthly' - I'm a big fat liar who lies, and I deserve to be punished for my sins. I'm so sorry this update took so long, but I've been so busy in recent months that I barely had time to sit down and write anything at all. Also, I discovered My Hero Academia and started writing a fic for that, which definitely didn't help my time management for this one. (Side note: if you're interested in that, check me out at Archive of Our Own under the pseud bombshellbrunette. The style is pretty different, but I hope some of you guys would enjoy the fic anyways.)

I swear to you all that I intend to finish this story, no matter how long it takes. This is a terrible year for me, but when I can find time I'll definitely update this fic. To compensate for more infrequent updates, the chapters will definitely be longer than they have been in the past.

Oh, also! Happy one year anniversary to this fic! Jesus, I can't believe I've been writing it for that long and it's still not done. Grr.

With all that in mind, let's move on to responses!

rojy - Thank you! Hope you enjoy it:)

Kalliko – Haha, I've always felt that it's a bit strange that she calls him Ulquiorra-kun in the manga - isn't that a lil bit personal for your jailer, Orihime? – so I've taken some artistic liberties. Hmm, maybe! You're getting answers now (a bit belatedly, I know) so hold on to your hat!

LylithB - Thank you so much:) I try my best! I wanted to mirror canon interaction in that respect, so I'm really glad you picked up on that aspect of their dynamic. Hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

Akire - Right? I'd be terrified, haha. (I wouldn't go inside in the first place, though. Silly Orihime.) Hmm, who knows? Thank you so much – I hope I don't disappoint!

QUICK NOTE: There is a brief reference to the Tanabata festival in this chapter. Tanabata is a Japanese holiday about making wishes, and it takes place on what is, according to legend, the only day of the year that two star-crossed lovers (Orihime and Hikoboshi) can meet. The character who refers to Tanabata is making two jokes simultaneously: one is a play on Orihime's name, which is the same as that of the female character in the story, and the other is about star-crossed lovers. Some of you might understand this joke without reading my note, but if you saw it and were really confused, here's an explanation.


Chapter 11

Seireitei, Soul Society. Approximately eight am

Orihime awoke, inexplicably, to the sound of dripping water. It was strange, because the faucet in her house didn't usually…

Oh, she thought, taking in the room around her. That actually makes sense. She wasn't at her house, of course – she was visiting the lab with Mayuri Kurotsuchi and his daughter, or at least she had been before she'd fallen asleep. Orihime rubbed her groggy eyes as her sleep addled mind sharpened, and her blurry memories took shape. Fallen asleep is probably the wrong word, she decided after a moment's reflection. Fainted might fit the description a little bit better.

That had been strange, right? Of course it was embarrassing that she'd passed out like that during a meeting with someone as important as Mayuri, but more importantly than that it was weird. She wasn't normally prone to fainting spells, or anything like that; she didn't have anemia, and she tried to keep a fairly balanced diet in spite of her (admittedly unfortunate) budgetary constraints.

"So the patient has at long last awakened," came a teasing voice from the doorway. Orihime looked over to see Mayuri leaning against the frame, one hand braced against the white wall and the other stroking his chin ornament. "I was beginning to wonder whether I'd get to use you as a cadaver in the lab."

Orihime laughed nervously, but didn't reply. She didn't want to give him reason to take her up on that thought, after all. Of course she knew rationally that he was an esteemed member of the Gotei 13 and wouldn't actually hurt her (at least not right in the center of the Seireitei; apparently he'd done some pretty ludicrous things during the Winter War), but she couldn't help but doubt his intentions at times. There was something about the deliberacy of his phrasing that unnerved her – it seemed as if he knew exactly the effect his words would have before he even said them, and the thought of someone being able to manipulate her without so much as a second's pause sent her skin crawling.

"I'm sorry about what happened, Kurotsuchi-san," she said instead, smiling sheepishly up at Mayuri. "I've been feeling really drained recently, and I definitely haven't been sleeping enough. I just didn't think it was that bad."

Mayuri sighed and tutted at her, wagging a chastising finger in her direction. "Eat your vegetables, Inoue-san – they're good for you. Changing the subject slightly, I have a treat for you. Come downstairs – I think you're going to like what I'm about to show you."

Las Noches, Hueco Mundo. Nine months before the present. Approximately eight pm

In the absence of human interaction, Orihime daydreamed. She imagined what her friends were doing back in Karakura Town – she thought of Tatsuki-chan running down the track with a sweaty towel slung over her muscled shoulders, of Kurosaki-kun puzzling over his math homework, of Kuchiki-san laughing with Kurosaki-kun's sisters in their living room. And she would try to smile when she fantasized about their happy lives without her, but the images always left painful pangs in their wake, bitter and ugly.

Loneliness, she told herself at nighttime, staring between the bars of her window at the starless sky of Hueco Mundo. It's called loneliness.

Still, loneliness was better than the paralyzing fear the alternative option presented. She would rather rot in a jail cell for the rest of her life at the mercy of Aizen and his army than have her friends walk right into a trap just to save her.

That's what she dreamt of when she slept, hot tears leaking onto the plush couch. The guilt weighed down her shoulders, invading her space and wrapping around her like a snake, poised to choke at any moment. She stayed awake as long as she could these days, just to get a reprieve from the horrifying nightmares. The lack of sleep was taking its toll on her, though. Dark circles sloped under her eyes like bruises and her thick orange hair was becoming brittle and stringy, even though she showered as often as she was allowed.

The nameless, silent aides said nothing about her deteriorating condition if they noticed, and the only other person she saw regularly was Aizen, who spent his weekly visits with her attempting to cajole her into using her powers for one thing or another. There was also Ulquiorra, but he'd been away for what felt like weeks, and she didn't know when or if he'd be returning.

It was strange – somehow, she missed him as much as she hated him. He was cold and brusque, but the absence of him felt like a wound. And after so much time without him, it was infected.

Three knocks on the door marked the arrival of dinner. Orihime looked up from her lap, and was about to divert her attention back to her fantasies when she saw Ulquiorra, accompanied by a Numerós pushing the dinner cart.

"Ulquiorra-san," she said, rising abruptly to her feet. "I–"

"You are expected to take care of your basic needs, woman," he said, striding forwards to examine her more closely. He frowned in distaste upon seeing her sallow face, and said, "This level of incompetence is not to be tolerated by Aizen-sama. If you do not sleep of your own accord, then we will resort to methods that you will not like. When I next return, I expect you to be well-rested. I have already indulged you once – I will not do it again."

The aide bowed curtly and left, unbothered by the scene unfolding in front of him. Ulquiorra turned to follow, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his robes.

Panic flared within her. Unable to help herself, Orihime lurched towards him and grabbed the edge of his sleeve. "Please don't leave," she pleaded, clinging onto the soft fabric. "I don't want to be alone anymore."

Ulquiorra's green eyes registered no emotion as he grasped her wrist with surprising force and pulled it from his uniform. "I have no desire to satisfy whatever human desires you may have, woman," he said, black lip curled in disgust. His nails digging into her skin hard enough to bruise, leaving red crescents in their wake. "Fulfill your duties as you have been instructed. I will return tomorrow."

He tightened his grip once more, hands constricting painfully around her thin wrist, before relinquishing his hold. Satisfied, he turned on his heel and left, letting the door swing shut in his wake.

Overwhelmed, Orihime collapsed onto the couch. Her wrist was alight with sensation from his long fingers, the faint mark they'd left burning her skin like a brand. A familiar heat curled low in her belly, sending ripples of excitement in a pulse through her body.

"I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun," she whispered, dragging her fingers over the redness on her wrists. "I really don't deserve to be saved after all."


Seireitei, Soul Society, present. Approximately eight ten am

Orihime descended down the staircase leading to the underground lab, eyes fixed nervously on the back of Mayuri's head. She knew enough about him to realize that this 'present' probably wasn't anything to be thankful for, but she wasn't sure what she'd done to make herself a target. She'd only met him a few times prior to the Winter War, and while there were probably many Shinigami who resented her due to her involvement in the conflict, she doubted Mayuri was one of them.

A familiar set of doors came into view below, but before she could see what lay beyond them Mayuri turned to face her, effectively blocking the path to the lab. "Tut tut, Inoue-san," he said, pouting exaggeratedly. "You see, I'm a fairly generous man, but if I'm going to give you your gift, then you need to do something for me in return."

Orihime bit her lip. This was exactly what she'd been waiting for – the catch. At least he was being somewhat upfront about it. "W-what kind of thing do you want me to do, Kurotsuchi-san?" she asked hesitantly. Truth be told, she thought she might not want to see whatever surprise he'd found for her if it meant she'd be a victim of one of his experiments, at least not after contemplating what kind of bodily modifications he'd perform on her if she ever ended up on his operating table.

Mayuri's pout melted into a toothy yellow smile. "It's quite simple, really," he explained. "Try to activate your hairpins – I'd love to see that power of yours up close. It's quite unique."

Orihime was a little taken aback. She'd definitely used it in front of him at least once before, and he hadn't expressed an interest in it. But even if this sudden interest were genuine, she couldn't show it to him. "I can't," she admitted, averting her eyes from Mayuri's probing gaze. "They haven't worked properly in months, at least not since… Not since I returned from Hueco Mundo."

Mayuri's grin didn't falter. "Oh, c'mon," he said. "Just give it a try."

Orihime frowned. She'd tried to get Tsubaki and the rest of her fairies to react countless times since her return to Karakura Town, but no matter what she did they remained dormant and unresponsive. There was nothing here that would make them change their minds, or anything. Still, even though she didn't really want to, it wasn't like doing what Mayuri asked would hurt anybody. She had no real reason not to oblige, especially if it meant she'd see whatever 'gift' he was hiding in the lab. She took a deep breath, and said, "Okay, uh… Souten Kisshun!"

Much to her surprise, the hairpins began to emit orange light, and they soared from their place behind her ear to form a somewhat small but still functional shield in front of her.

If Mayuri's grin had been kind of creepy before, it was downright lascivious now. "Excellent," he said, clapping his hands together in excitement. "Just as I anticipated. Well, Inoue-san, thank you for your compliance. Now I think it's time I give you your reward, no?"

Orihime didn't reply, staring in wonder at the shield before her. It wasn't up to par with the kind of work she'd been doing before the war, but it was certainly something.

"Inoue-sannnnn," cooed Mayuri, tapping his wrist as if to mime wearing a watch. "I don't mean to hurry you, but time is money. Chop chop."

"Right," she said distractedly, still transfixed by the shield. "Sorry."

Mayuri waved her off and continued down the stairs, stopping right in front of the doors. Orihime tore her eyes from the hairpins, recalling them and sliding them back behind her ears to be examined later, and followed suit. She tried to peek behind him into the lab, but thick drapes covered the glass, keeping the room's contents shrouded in mystery. An uncomfortable pit formed in her stomach as she realized that someone had to have lowered them while she was unconscious; they hadn't been hanging when she visited the downstairs area with Nemu, which couldn't have been more than ten minutes ago.

"I'll provide a little explanation before we go in, just so you'll understand what it is you're looking at. What you are about to witness is something entirely of your own making, Inoue-san," said Mayuri, gesturing grandly at the steel door. "You see, those hairpins of yours have developed more than you anticipated. Our previous understanding of their functionality is that they trigger in response to your command, which you so kindly demonstrated for me. But you yourself told me that they hadn't activated in months, so… Tell me, Inoue-san – why would they activate now?"

Orihime shook her head helplessly, and said, "I don't know, but I promise they haven't done anything until now. I'm not lying – I swear I tried everything I could think of."

Mayuri shook his head and continued, thrilled, "And I believe you, Inoue-san! I really do. You're probably thinking about how much of a failure you are right now – your one power, and you can't even use it. But that's not true at all. See, what you've achieved is the next level of development. One more question if you will, though I think I already know the answer. Who gave you those pins?"

Bewildered, Orihime replied, "M-my brother, Sora? He died in a car crash shortly after, and I've been wearing them ever since."

Mayuri clapped his hands together in excitement and said, "Well done, Inoue-san – well done. You really are the perfect specimen; you prove all my theories right. Well, now I can tell you all about this mystery. My hypothesis is that the bond with your hairpins – and, by extension, with the creatures that live within them – was so strong that you were able to forge somewhat of a mental link between you and them. While you might not have been conscious of it, they were attuned to your mind, and thus understood not only verbal commands but nonverbal ones, too." He put on an exaggerated frown, wagging his finger in her face. "And let me just say that you, little miss Orihime, have chosen a rather unsuitable Hikoboshi. I suppose that is the point, but… Oooh, if I were you I would not be quick to tell the other Captains about what we've got hidden back there."

"I – I don't understand," said Orihime, stumbling over her words in an effort to keep up with the scientist's rapid pace. "I never gave them any nonverbal commands, or anything like that. And what does Tanabata have to do with this, Mayuri-san?"

"Your mind doesn't consist only of your thoughts, Inoue-san," he explained, tapping his temple. "It's also your emotions. At the time of activation, you must have felt so strongly that you needed to interfere that your hairpins did it instinctively. You told me that you've been drained recently, right? Well, of course you are – all your energy has been going towards maintaining the shields until their job was complete."

Orihime nodded, dazed. "I think I… kind of understand that part. But," she said, brow furrowed, "where was the energy being channeled? I thought Kurosaki-kun and them resolved everything when the war ended. Are there really still things going on?"

Mayuri's smile grew, creasing his elaborate facepaint. "And that's our cue. Raise the curtains, Nemu! Our star-crossed lovers are about to be reunited!"


Hueco Mundo, approximately eight thirty am

After being cooped up in Harribel's office for a whole goddamned hour, Grimmjow could admit that he was developing a new appreciation for her Fracción. As fucking loud and annoying as they always were, they seriously got their jobs done. Commander Sharkface had told them to get all the top commanders of the newly rebuilt Arrancar army, and they really had done it well – too fucking well, in Grimmjow's opinion.

Harribel had chosen for her and her ladies in waiting – his fond nickname for her fucking annoying Fracción – to occupy Aizen's throne room, which was a ballsy act of defiance that Grimmjow would normally love to get behind. In theory, he was all for it; he digged really hot chicks stickin' it to the man, led by a scary-sexy boss lady who could slice his dick off with nothing more than a look. Brilliant. Superb, even.

In reality, though, it just wasn't cuttin' it for him. The throne room, as grand and intimidating as it was, didn't really work as a home base. Actually, it's size was the problem – it was too fucking big to get shit done in there. In order for any constructive discussion to actually happen, everyone either had to gather around at the small island near the throne and huddle all together or just stand on the floor far below and hope they were hearing Harribel right.

The situation at hand was pretty dire, so of course Harribel elected to go with the latter. And because she decided to hold the meeting in her office instead of the clearly superior, conveniently set-up board room, Grimmjow and every other fucking member of the executive team were standing around like idiots near the throne, peering over Harribel's tanned shoulders to catch a glimpse of the material she was reviewing.

He had to admit that he was a little curious. Sharkface didn't usually check the books – that was menial labor for her underlings, of course – so to see her puzzling over them like they held the answer for why Hueco Mundo just had what felt like a goddamned earthquake was kinda surprising.

"Nelliel," Harribel said suddenly, looking up into the face of her second-in-command. "You have an exceptional memory for postings. Numeros 35 - Luchadora. Do you know where she is?"

Grimmjow could see the frustration on Nel's face as she shook her head no. Even from his vantage point about six million miles from her, the hard set of her mouth and tense posture were impossible to miss.

"I don't either," said Harribel, leaning back slightly in her throne. "But it's not because we didn't try – I made sure to track down every surviving Arrancar, and no one ever sensed her reiatsu. Had Ulquiorra been here perhaps we would have been able to keep better track, but we all know what happened to him. There's no one as adept with the Pesquisa as he was on our staff currently, but… she shouldn't have been able to slip through the cracks like that."

"Perhaps she's dead," suggested Sung-Sun, lifting her sleeve to her mouth daintily. "After all, there are many Hollows and Arrancar whose bodies were discovered after the conclusion of that dreadful war. It wouldn't be a surprise if hers were one of them."

Harribel frowned. "I would normally be inclined to agree with you," she said, "but this Numeros didn't disappear after the final battle. She apparently went missing around the time when Luppi, Wonderweiss, Grimmjow, Yammy, and Ulquiorra traveled to Karakura Town. These records aren't entirely clear, especially with regard to dates, but… Grimmjow, you were there – was she part of your group?"

Grimmjow, distracted by the sour look on Nel's face during the lull in activity, jerked to attention at the sound of his name. "Sorry, got distracted," he said, grimacing at Harribel's displeased expression. "Uh… Don't think so. But if she's the one I'm thinking of, then she was that bastard Luppi's Fracción. Creep probably killed her before he died, if no one's seen her since – you know the type of guy he was."

Nel nodded in agreement, and said, "I worked with him occasionally when I was Tercero, and he was always unpleasant. Very ambitious, for a Numeros. I know nothing about this other one, though; I was stuck in a child's body when she disappeared." She paused, then said tentatively, "With all due respect, Harribel-sama, why are we talking about a random Numeros? Don't we have bigger things to worry about right now?"

"She – well, if my idea about the earthquake and the fluctuations is correct," said Harribel, lacing her fingers together, "then we have a problem."