Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
Lesson 7: Figure Out The Relationship
It is important to understand how you feel about each other. You already have figured out your own feelings, but what about them? Remember Lesson 5? This is where the mutual friends trick comes into play. Your friends that you share with your love will now tell you everything you need to know. However, if Lesson 5 wasn't a success, that is perfectly fine. There are many hints that your love will give to show you his/her true feelings.
Keep this list of hints in mind as you interact with your love.
1: He or she invites you to spend time with them
Ulquiorra forced down the last bite of Orihime's cooking. It was days like that one where he missed the taste of hollows, but to avoid hurting the woman's feelings, he made sure to eat everything given to him. Besides, if he wanted to eat food that didn't make him feel faint, he could always learn how to cook for himself.
Orihime came back from the kitchen to take Ulquiorra's plate to the sink. "Hey, Ulqui," she said over her shoulder. "Mine asked me if I wanted to hang out with her today. Would you like to come with me?"
Ulquiorra, who had memorized the list of hints from Lesson 7, jumped on the opportunity.
"I would," he answered her.
Orihime was a little surprised by his answer, being that she hadn't expected a 'yes', though she did want Ulquiorra to spend the day with her. After the dishes were cleaned and put away, the roommates got dressed and left the apartment.
"I wonder if Grimmjow will be there," Orihime wondered aloud while Ulquiorra reflexively scowled at the name of the blue haired man.
"If you are curious you should ask her." Ulquiorra told the redhead. "You have a… cell phone, that you can use to contact her."
Orihime nodded, taking out her baby blue cell phone. "Oh, by the way Ulqui," she said as she texted Mine. "We should go get you a phone soon, too."
"Why would I need a phone?" Ulquiorra asked.
"So I can call and text you," Orihime told him with a smile.
Ulquiorra remembered hint number 2.
2: He or she asks to call you
"Alright. When should we get the phone?" Ulquiorra asked. Deep down inside he was getting very excited by the turn of events. If things kept going the way they were, he could be safe to assume that their feelings were mutual.
The girl squealed, overjoyed by the man's attitude. She too was excited by this turn of events.
They reached an apartment complex that looked less rundown than Orihime's, but much smaller. Orihime went up to one of the doors and knocked.
They heard the scuffling of feet before Mine opened the door. The girl greeted Orihime warmly, not paying much attention to Ulquiorra, though, and let her guests in.
Mine's apartment was on the small side, but still immaculate and cozy.
"Thanks for coming," Mine said as she served Orihime and Ulqiuorra warm tea. They went to Mine's living room to drink.
"Thanks for having us," Orihime said around her cup. "Where's Grimmjow?"
"He's working right now."
"Working?" Orihime raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. About a month after he came here, you know, after he adapted to life as a human, I helped him get a job. He works at a boxing dojo as a trainer. I think it's a good outlet for him."
"That seems…" Orihime cringed, remembering all the nasty hits Ichigo took from the Sexta. "Fitting."
"Yeah," Mine smirked. "He's even picked up a thing or two while working there." She turned to Ulquiorra. "I bet he could beat you in a match."
Ulquiorra doubted it.
"Don't look down on Ulqui," Orihime told her friend. "He's really strong, too."
3: He or she will defend you
Ulquiorra tried not to smile.
"I know," Mine grinned. "Orihime, can you help me with the snacks?"
"Sure," she got up from the table, leaving Ulquiorra alone.
"I made a bunch of little cakes last night, I just need to decorate them." Mine said, taking a tupperware full of small cakes from her fridge.
"Do whatever you want," Mine said as she began to decorate the first cake with a little blue kitten.
Orihime thought about it for a while before decorating her cake with a picture of her hair clips.
"That's cute," Mine said, holding up her own cake. "This is of the cat I got Grimmjow for his birthday. He's around here somewhere."
"What's the cat's name?"
"Desgarrón. I don't know what it means but I think it has to do something with the fact that when we first got him he clawed Grimmjow pretty badly." Mine chuckled. "But they're the best of buddies now."
"Maybe I should get Ulqui a cat," Orihime said as she decorated another cake with a little black cat with bat wings.
"Why does it have little wings?" Mine asked. "Not that it isn't cute."
"Because Ulqui's resurrección form had wings like a bat."
"Really?" Mine asked as she made a strawberry with a smiley face.
Orihime looked at her friend's creation and smiled, taking orange frosting and brown chocolate chips from the pile of decorations.
"What are you making?" Mine asked.
"I'm making Ichigo."
"Ichigo?"
"A really good friend."
"Oooooh! Tell me about him."
"Well… um… he's really nice, and he's hilarious!"
"He doesn't look very funny, from what your decoration tells me. He's frowning."
"That what makes him so funny!"
"Isn't Ichigo the guy Grimmjow fought?"
"Um, yes. He fought Grimmjow to save me."
"Where is he now?"
"He went to a college away from here for sports."
"Do you miss him?"
"I miss all my friends. But, honestly, I do really miss him."
"Do you like him?"
"…"
"Come on, you can tell me."
"…I…"
Ulquiorra listened, his hands balled into fists, as he sat taut in his chair.
"I do… I like Ichigo a lot."
Ulquiorra stood from the table, his feet moving for him while his mind remained a tangled, angry mess.
Why was he acting this way? Why did that something inside him hurt so much when he heard Orihime say those words?
"I do… I like Ichigo a lot."
It wasn't as though the ex-espada was deeply in love with the girl….
Ulquiorra walked out of the apartment, his hands going to his pockets.
He thought about that. Lesson 7: Figure Out the Relationship had explained to him that there were many signs to tell whether or not someone liked him. As well as those hints, there were also the hints to tell if they only saw you as a friend.
Hint number one: If they talk about other people they like, they probably do not have romantic feeling for you.
"I do… I like Ichigo a lot."
He walked home by himself, those words ringing on and on in his brain. Painfully. Repetitively.
M!M!
"Mine…" Orihime murmured as she drew a big red heart on one of the cakes.
"Yeah?"
"Even though I like Ichigo… I don't love him." Orihime blushed, her hands pausing over the cake.
"I kinda thought that." Mine chuckled. "Is there someone you do love?"
"I don't know," Orihime shrugged. "But if I were to fall in love, it would be with someone who could change my life."
"I know what you mean. Grimmjow sure did change my life. For the better, too. That's why I love him so much. He changed me, life, everything." She shook her head. "It's crazy how much love can change us."
"Yeah… change." Orihime smiled, decorating the heart with something more…
ウルキオラ
Poor Ulqui. I'm horrible! By the way, are any of you watching the Olympics? I am! If this chapter seemed awkward at any time it's because I was watching the Olympics for gymnastics and the women's cycling while writing this. Read on and review! Thank you.
P.S.: I was REALLY tempted to make Grimmjow's job be as an Abercrombie and Fitch model, but I didn't think Grimmjow would find the humor in that ;)