AN: **Dodges bullets, tomatoes, lettuce, and other random airborne objects** Been going through major "Bleach manga depression." Sorry for the delay, folks. Blame it on Kubo. **squeezes fists together** (damn you Aizen) And another thing... I was recently informed by a fellow nominee that "Simply Deep" has also been nominated for a UFO Award. That's the Universal Fanfiction Open for all who don't know. Who nominated me? Thank you so much. **cries with joy**Now if only I could figure out how to ACCEPT the nomination...

Simply Deep

Chapter 12: Close My Eyes

Ulquiorra cursed his ability to always be first in class. Usually, he did not mind because no one ever noticed him in the first place. He had the uncanny ability to meld into the background regardless of his appearance. However, he felt like he stuck out like a sore thumb.

Why? Why am I trying to avoid her? I don't have a reason to, he thought as he watched his fellow students file in the class.

It was true. Ulquiorra had not seen or talked to Orihime since he left her standing at her door after the party. He had avoided places where he knew she would be. So, he kept away from her at all costs and he had no idea why. It did not make sense. Orihime had not done anything wrong. He was not mad at her.

Ulquiorra shook his head. "This is nonsense," he muttered.

"What's nonsense?" a sweet voice said from behind him.

Ulquiorra stiffened. He turned his head. Orihime came down the steps from behind him. She smiled and looked at him. Where Ulquiorra would have expected her to be somewhat angry with him, she looked as though she was simply happy to see him. She waved at him and kept moving down the stairs.

"You shouldn't talk to yourself. People might think you've gone crazy." She giggled a bit. "Then you'll be hauled off to a different type of hospital." She kept walking down towards a different row of seats in the lecture hall.

Somehow, Ulquiorra had been expecting a tantrum of some sort from her. Instead, he just watched her sit about four rows below him among some friends. One had black hair and another had brownish-red hair and glasses. The one in glasses seemed to be very attached to Orihime; attached in a... curious way. As usual, Orihime sat in the middle.

"Hime, who was he?" Chizuru Honsho asked. "He was looking at you in a dreamy way."

Orihime blinked and looked at Chizuru as she leaned in curiously. "Dreamy? His name is Ulquiorra Cifer. He's the one who saved me from getting hit by the car," she answered.

"So he's the one that you threw in front of a car?" Ryo Kunieda asked without looking up from her book.

Orihime blushed. "I didn't THROW him in front of the car."

"Right." Ryo finally looked at her. "So, he's taken Ichigo's place in your heart? It's about time you finally got over him," she said to a gaping Orihime.

"What?" Chizuru glared at Ryo. "Hime likes Ichigo?"

"Where've you been the past four years, Chizuru? Oh, I know; trying to get Orihime to come to the dark side. Don't let me tell Tatsuki how you're trying to feel her up," Ryo said.

Chizuru shot Ryo a nasty look. Then she snuck a peek at Ulquiorra as discreetly as possible. "He's scary-looking," she said.

Ryo sighed. "Chizuru, you think ALL men are scary-looking."

"Can we please stop talking about Ulquiorra? The professor is coming in," Orihime said quickly, trying desperately to change the subject.

It worked. At that moment, a blond man in a green and white hat strolled in. He was carrying about five large books under one arm. He slammed them down on his desk and placed his hat on top of them. Then he looked out over the class, a smile on his face. He seemed relatively young to be a college professor and in no way did he look intelligent. However, looks were one thing that were known to be quite deceiving.

"Gooood morning, class. I'm Kisuke Urahara. I will be your genetics teacher for the second half of this course. I really hope you are ready to work..."

Ulquiorra visibly cringed. The man sound so incredibly happy; almost too happy for the hour of the morning. He did not ramble for long, though. After the general introduction to the class, Urahara immediately began teaching. For the first time in all his years of schooling, Ulquiorra found it hard to concentrate. His eyes kept drifting from the chalkboard at the bottom of the lecture hall over to Orihime. After about thirty seconds of staring, he would immediately be zapped back into the lecture.

He sighed. It's going to be a long three hours, he thought.

The class ended with Urahara assigning four chapters' worth of homework due at the end of the month. Chizuru did not seem to like this very much and let it be known with a very loud, audible sigh. She managed to catch the eye of Urahara. She sunk low in her chair, but Urahara only smiled at her.

"I'm glad you like my choice of coursework, Miss..."

"Uh, Honsho. Chizuru Honsho," Chizuru mumbled, this time barely audible. Urahara heard her, though.

"Well, Miss Honsho, I expect to have your work first at the end of the month. Isn't that right?" he asked, the smile still plastered on his face.

"Uh, yeah," Chizuru said.

Urahara nodded and looked away. "Dismissed, class."

Ulquiorra tried to bolt for the door. His efforts were diminished by his classmates who obviously had to leave faster than he did. He managed to avoid being trampled up the stairs. However, the tiny voice of Orihime managed to catch him before he could go through the door.

"Ulquiorra!" she called over their classmates. She saw the head of jet black hair pause and turn. Smiling to herself, she pushed her way through the crowd and made it to the door. Ulquiorra was leaning against the wall, one hand in his pocket and the other holding his bag. "Where are you rushing off to?"

Ulquiorra cleared his throat. He looked at Orihime's two friends as they caught up with her. "Hello," he said.

Orihime laughed. "What? No 'woman?' I was getting used to that." She straightened up. "Do you want to eat lunch with us?" she asked.

Ulquiorra swallowed. "I... can't. I have to study. We were just assi..."

Orihime shook her head and grabbed his hand. "Nonsense, Ulquiorra. It's only the first day back. You don't have to hit the books IMMEDIATELY. Come eat with me, Chizuru, and Ryo. I'm pretty sure the others will be there as well."

"Others?" Ulquiorra had no choice but to be dragged along by Orihime out of the lecture hall. The redhead in the glasses shot him a nasty look as they left the hall. Once they were out of the building and heading towards the student center, Orihime pulled him closer and intertwined their arms. Ulquiorra looked down at her proximity, but said nothing.

"So your name's Ulquiorra? That's a strange name," Chizuru said.

"Chizuru!" Orihime said, looking over at her friend.

Chizuru shrugged. "Well, it is. How many people do you know with the name Ulquiorra? It's a name I'm not accustomed to hearing." She looked closely at Ulquiorra's face. "He looks more like a 'Daisuke,' don't you think?"

"How does someone look like a name, Chizuru?" Ryo asked.

"Well, Orihime looks like a princess, hence her name." Chizuru moved behind Orihime and wrapped her arms around her. "Isn't that right, Hime? Aren't you a pretty princess?"

Orihime laughed nervously. "Well, uh..."

Suddenly, Chizuru was gone from Orihime's back in a gust of wind. Orihime blinked. She looked at Ulquiorra, who appeared just as shocked as she did. They both looked to the left and saw Tatsuki dusting off her hands.

"And don't let me catch you touching her anymore!" Tatsuki yelled.

Chizuru turned her head, straightening her glasses. "You're EVIL, Tatsuki Arisawa! You'll never be able to keep me and Hime away from each other. It's meant to be!" Chizuru yelled. Tatsuki made to come after her again and Chizuru turned and ran off, Ryo following after her.

Tatsuki shook her head and looked at Orihime. "You okay?" she asked.

Orihime nodded with a smile. "Fine. Chizuru is harmless, Tatsuki. You don't have to beat her up all the time."

"Sure I do. She's a menace." Tatsuki looked around Orihime and noticed Ulquiorra standing there. He was looking off in another direction, bundled up to his chin in a plaid green and black scarf and black jacket. Somehow, it seemed funny how he matched Orihime's green pea coat and black leggings. "Hi, Ulquiorra."

Ulquiorra turned his head to look at Tatsuki. She was looking at him expectantly; like she expected him to greet her back. He stole a glance at Orihime. She also seemed to want him to interact with her friend. Inwardly sighing he inclined his head slightly.

Tatsuki shook her head. A man of many words, she thought.

"So where are you headed, Tatsuki?" Orihime asked.

"I was going to get some food. I'm pretty sure the others are already in there." Tatsuki looked at Ulquiorra. "Join us?"

Ulquiorra felt Orihime tug at his arm lightly. Before he had time to respond to Tatsuki, he found himself being pulled off towards the student center again, this time arm in arm with Orihime.

Rukia was the first to notice Orihime approaching with Tatsuki. As they grew closer, she noticed Orihime was tugging on someone else. Her eyes grew a little wider when she noticed a relatively dull-looking Ulquiorra on Orihime's arm.

"Hey, guys!" Orihime said happily as the three made it to the table. "Ulquiorra's going to eat with us today. Is that fine?"

Ichigo shrugged. "Why would it bother us? Pull up a chair," he said.

Orihime smiled. She watched Ulquiorra move painstakingly slow to move chairs for both of them over to the table. Once the two sat, she looked around the table while Ulquiorra seemed to look everywhere but her friends. Orihime glanced around.

"What are you looking for, Orihime?" Tatsuki asked.

"I thought Chizuru and Ryo were eating with us, too," she said.

Rukia laughed. "Has Tatsuki dished out her daily ass-beating? If so, I wouldn't count on seeing Chizuru for a while. As for Ryo, you know she's probably trying to keep Chizuru in line." She looked over at them. "So who was your first professor?"

Orihime nudged Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra snapped his head towards her. She nodded towards Rukia. Ulquiorra's eyebrows furrowed. Obviously, she wants me to answer her friend, he thought. He looked at Rukia.

"Someone named Urahara," Ulquiorra said. Then he blinked. "Now that you think about it, I believe he is Yoruichi's mate..." he mumbled to himself.

"Yoruichi's mate?" Orihime asked with a laugh. "You say it as if they're carnivorous beasts that live in the wild."

"You guys know Yoruichi?" Ichigo asked.

Orihime nodded. "She's one of Ulquiorra's physical therapists along with Soifon. Soifon's Grimmjow's... Well, I don't know what you'd call them exactly. But he seems to really, really like her," she said.

Rukia nodded. "Small world. They were all at Grandfather's for Christmas."

"Yep. Seems like everyone is connected in some way," Tatsuki said.

"What do they call it? Six degrees of separation?" Rukia asked.

"More like 'Six Degrees of Orihime.' Seems like everyone can be traced back to Orihime in some form or fashion," Ichigo said.

Everyone seemed to dwell on that for a moment in silence. Then Uryuu was the one who spoke. "For once, Kurosaki makes a valid point," he said.

Thus began a long game of "Six Degrees of Orihime," leaving its namesake out of course. Orihime herself just sat back and watched as the others connected other people, some of which she had never even heard of, with herself. She found it odd how it could be done.

"Does it always go like this?" Ulquiorra said in her ear, startling her.

Orihime jumped a bit and looked at him. She simply smiled and shrugged. "This is normal. I don't think about it too much, though. It doesn't matter," she said.

Ulquiorra stared blankly at her. "Your smile is false." He took her hand. "Let's go," he said.

Orihime looked down at their hands. Ulquiorra stood up and pulled her along. She looked back once at her friends before just making her way out of the student center with Ulquiorra. She was curious about his actions. Only a few minutes before he was hesitant to even look at her. Now he was pulling her.

"Where are we going, Ulquiorra?" she asked.

He did not answer her. He ignored her queries and she eventually stopped asking questions. Orihime soon found herself going up flights of stairs in school's auditorium. Using context clues, she could only conclude that he was taking her to some special place he went to regularly. When Ulquiorra finally came to what appeared to be the final floor, they entered a dusty room with furniture that was covered in sheets.

"Wasn't expecting that..." she murmured to herself. She opened her eyes a little wider, noticing that Ulquiorra had released her. "What are we doing up here?" she asked.

Ulquiorra walked a little ways from her, towards a covered piece of furniture. He uncovered it, throwing dust everywhere and revealing a piano. He heard Orihime cough and start to make her way over to him. Heaving a sigh, he did not look at her. "Why do you let yourself be continuously shoved around by your friends? I thought it was silly to hear about, but to actually witness it makes it even more pathetic," he said as he took a seat on the bench.

Orihime blinked and stopped moving. "They weren't... I don't think they were pushing me around. At least not today," she said.

"You are simultaneously the center of attention, but left out of the loop. Explain how that is possible. For friends as protective as they are, they sure know how to treat you when you are actually around," Ulquiorra said, stretching his fingers and looking over the keys.

Orihime crossed her arms and looked away from him. "Whatever, Ulquiorra. Did you just come up here to berate me about that?" She glared back at him, placing a hand on top of the piano.

"Why don't you talk to them like you speak to me?" He started playing. "With such force and spirit. You instead sound so weak-willed and feeble; like a used doormat." Ulquiorra looked up at her, still playing.

Orihime had nothing to say. She bit her lip and turned her eyes away from his, unable to stand his piercing glare any longer. She turned away from him. Then it registered what he was playing. Her eyes widened and her body went a bit stiff.

Ulquiorra noticed Orihime's change in posture. She was no longer looking quite as angry as before. In place of her irritation at him was... sadness. He looked down at the hand that rested on top of the piano. She was unconsciously dragging her nails across the top of it. He almost jumped when she spoke.

"I didn't know you knew how to play the piano," she whispered.

Ulquiorra looked back up at her face. Her eyes were glassy with tears. "Woman, you're..." He made to stop.

"Don't stop," she said quickly. Ulquiorra stared at her for a moment, but continued playing as per her wishes.

Orihime listened to the song Ulquiorra played. It was a song she always thought sounded so sad and lonely. It was also a song that she would only associate with one thing: death. She had no idea why she wanted Ulquiorra to keep playing it. It was like opening a wound to listen to it. But when Ulquiorra played it, it felt less like torture. She had not even realized he was playing it until it had grown quiet between them. Normally she could hear the song through even the loudest of noises.

Ulquiorra chanced a glance up at Orihime. She had blinked a few times and the tears in her eyes had spilled over. He did not stop playing, though. She had asked him to continue playing and play he would. When the song concluded, he stood up and stepped closer to Orihime. She was still staring directly ahead of her. She barely noticed him touching her face. He turned her face to look at him and she brought him into focus.

"What is it?" he asked.

Orihime blinked a few times, shaking her head. She wiped her face furiously. "What do you mean?"

"You grew stiff and then you cried when you realized what I was playing. I take it the song held some sentimental value." Ulquiorra watched as she tried to calm herself. "What is it?"

Orihime shook her head. "That song..." She closed her eyes and held her head down. "It was the song that was playing when the police came and told me about my brother. Ever since then I've always associated it with his death."

A long pause passed between them as Ulquiorra soaked in this new information. Why did she want me to continue if it hurt her so much to hear it? he thought to himself.

Orihime looked up, her face rosy and a smile adorning it. "But you play it magnificently. I didn't feel as sad as I did when you played it. Normally I usually break down into uncontrollable tears and simply don't know what to do with myself afterwards. But look at me! I'm completely fine."

Ulquiorra stared at her. "Sure, woman." He picked up his bag, slung it around his shoulder, and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Let's go." He turned towards the door. Orihime picked up her things and followed him out.

Tatsuki crossed her arms as she stood in the middle of the main courtyard. I can't believe she just ditched us like that! And with Mr. Gloom and Doom too! What is that about? she thought angrily. She turned around as she heard the auditorium doors opening. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed Ulquiorra and Orihime exiting. Tatsuki began approaching the unsuspecting couple. She squinted and noticed that Orihime's face was a bit red. She's been crying...

"Orihime, have you been crying?" she asked as she stopped right in front of them.

Orihime gasped as Tatsuki was almost suddenly in front of her. She blinked a few times before smiling. "Not... really. I just remembered something that brought me to tears. It's nothing ser..."

Tatsuki was already on Ulquiorra's case. "What did you do to her, jerk? You've been making her cry?"

"He didn't, Ta..."

Ulquiorra put a hand up, silencing Orihime. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me, woman. I can assert myself just fine." He gave Orihime a stern eye. Orihime narrowed her own gray eyes at him, catching the intentional potshot at her. He looked away from Orihime and back at Tatsuki. "I played a song on a piano that gave the woman sad feelings. It was not my intention to make her cry, but she did. She is fine now."

Tatsuki crossed her arms. She glanced over at Orihime. Her friend wore a dejected look on her face. Tatsuki glared back at Ulquiorra. "Well, she doesn't look happy right now. Are you sure you didn't make her sad?"

"Are you sure I'm the one who's making her sad?" Ulquiorra asked.

Tatsuki's eyes widened. Orihime sighed and stormed off. Ulquiorra and Tatsuki stood and watched her go, stunned for a moment that the redhead had just taken off. Then Tatsuki rounded on Ulquiorra, glaring daggers at him. Too angry to say anything, she shook her fist at him and went after Orihime, calling her name.

Ulquiorra sighed and pull his bag closer to him. He set off in the opposite direction. Silly women and their emotions. I'm definitely not cut out for that.

The sun was setting and the temperature was dropping. Orihime knew she needed to go inside or she would catch her death of a cold. But she just did not feel like moving. The day had not been particularly long; just relatively stressful. She glanced up at the sky. The moon was full and shining down at her.

Well, that's one thing that never changes. I can always count on the moon to be there for me when I'm alone, she thought with a small smile.

"Why are you out here alone, woman? You'll get sick."

Orihime nearly fell off the swing she sat on and into the snow behind her. She turned and looked behind her. Ulquiorra was standing there, hands in his pockets and scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. He looked as though he had just finished working. She squinted in the darkness at him.

"Why are you out here?" she asked him.

"Do not return my question with a question. I asked first," Ulquiorra countered.

Orihime bit her lip. She turned her head away from him and looked back up at the sky. "I was just looking at the moon."

"Can't you do that at a place where it isn't below freezing?"

"Why are you so concerned with whether I'm warm or not, Ulquiorra?" Orihime turned to look at him. She nearly fell forward when she realized that he was directly behind her. She had not even heard him move in the snow. "How do you move so quietly?" she whispered.

Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her. "I have no desire to see you end up in the hospital due to pneumonia or some sickness of the like. You're practically begging for it by sitting out here in the cold doing nothing. There is no possible way for you to enjoy the moonlight in your dorm?"

Orihime leaned back against him and sighed. "No," she said. "I'm fine right where I am."

Ulquiorra sighed inwardly at her stubbornness. Still, he removed his right hand from his pocket and took her hand. Orihime's eyes widened as he pulled her to her feet. "You're freezing," he said. He pulled her into an embrace almost without thinking. "You're such a foolish woman, Orihime."

Orihime frowned, looking up at him. "Hey! I am not..." She blinked a few times. "You called me by my name," she whispered.

Ulquiorra stared down at her. He belatedly realized that he had. "It wouldn't have sounded right and would've been redundant if I had said 'woman' twice," he rationalized.

Orihime smiled and shook her head. "Must you always have a logical explanation for everything, Ulquiorra? That takes the fun out of unexplained," she said. She looked back up at the moon as he held her. "It really is pretty. Don't you agree?"

Ulquiorra was not looking at the moon. "I can think of something that's more beautiful." He watched Orihime look back down at him. "You, for instance."

She must have blushed bright enough for even him to see in the darkness. That or she instantly grew hot. When she looked back down at him, he was giving her a strange look. "You can't keep saying nice things like that, Ulquiorra. I don't have any good comebacks for stuff like that," Orihime said nervously while trying to laugh off her blush.

"Why? I'm not being 'nice.' I'm just stating obvious facts." He touched her cheek. "It would appear as though you've reached an acceptable body temp..."

Orihime kissed his cheek, hushing him. Ulquiorra watched as she pulled away from him. She smiled and straightened her jacket and scarf on her. "I should head back to the dorm now. You should, too. Back to your dorm, I mean," she said.

Ulquiorra stared at her blankly. He managed to nod. Orihime waved at him before turning to walk away. Ulquiorra watched her go to the gate of the playground before setting himself into motion. He caught up with her and grabbed her arm. Orihime turned around, looking like she was going to fight him. Her face softened when she realized that it was just Ulquiorra.

"You move to quietly!" she said loudly.

"I apologize. I wanted to tell you, uh..."

Orihime squinted. Ulquiorra Cifer did not stutter in his speech. Something was amiss. "Tell me what?"

"I wanted to say good night," he kissed her and pulled away, "Orihime." He turned and walked away from her.

Orihime stood there under the streetlamp, dumbstruck. She shook her head. "See you at school tomorrow," she mumbled before turning and heading in the opposite direction.

Funny how one can learn
To grow numb to the madness
And block it away
I left the worst unsaid
Let it all dissipate
And I try to forget

As I close my eyes
Steady my feet on the ground
Raise my head to the sky
And let time roll by
Still I feel like a child
As I look at the moon
Maybe I grew up a little too soon

"Close My Eyes" – Mariah Carey

(and the song Ulquiorra was playing was "Moonlight Sonata." Absolutely dreary song if you play it slow enough)