Sooooo second to last chapter. I'll explain more later but for now I want to say I am so sorry for being gone for like two years. Enjoy this long awaited chapter!

Death Comes Twice

Ulquiorra wasn't one for pleasantries when it came to the shinigami. Since he was brought back to life they've held him prisoner, tried to kill him, changed their minds and made him tiny, left him to live in Karakura town, brought a super annoying roommate named Ryuuga, and kidnapped him to be killed again when he was about to tell his feelings to a certain human woman! So, no he wasn't the happiest tiny demon around as he sat in a makeshift jail that held his tiny form. It was dark as the only light came through a little slot for food or for people to talk through. So far all he's gotten was sludge as a meal and constant taunts from the guards that stood outside his door.

"Cowards," he snarled aloud.

He hated it being here and always wondering what happened after he was taken. 'Did she hear me? Does she know how I feel? Or was it too late?' The more he sat there the more the jail seemed to get darker and darker. His cloud of distraction was disturbed by voices outside his door.

"This is ridiculous. How many people does it take to take care of one little demon? He's tiny now he's not powerful or anything."

Another voice had answered, "Don't complain. At least this job is easier than anything else besides soon he will be gone and out of our hair."

That wasn't comforting in the least. Ulquiorra stared down at the cold concrete floor and allowed himself to have images of the one thing he could actually be happy about in his life.

"Orihime…"

Orihime quickly ran to her school and entered her classroom without hesitation. She grabbed Ichigo and took him out without even stopping to check with the teacher who stood dumbfounded at her quickness.

"I need to teach somewhere else. This place is a nut house."

Ichigo was trying to keep up with the fast pace his friend was going and found it easy with his long legs. She was obviously worried because no matter how many times he tried getting her attention it never seemed to reach her ears. Finally done with playing follow the leader he stopped and stood firmly. Orihime glared back at him and tried to get him to move again. She tried to push him from behind, pull his arm, and even tried to tackle him. Exhausted she kneeled on the ground in defeat.

"Why?! Why did you stop?! Please I need your help more than ever."

Ichigo squatted down and was face to face with her. "You just grabbed me from class and demanded something from me when I don't even know what's going on. This isn't like you. Is it Ulquiorra? Did he do something?"

Orihime looked up at him with angry tears rushing down her face. "He needs me! He didn't do anything wrong and yet he's being punished because of my failure! I need to save him Ichigo…I need to. You're the only one who can get me into the soul society. So please help me!"

She had done the lowest form of bowing by putting her forehead to the ground. Ichigo stared shocked at the extant she would go for a cranky espada. He smiled and patted her head.

"Raise your head Orihime. You don't have to go this far. Of course I'll help you the best I can."

She rose into a sitting position and let Ichigo wipe her tears away with his sleeve. All the emotions had come out before she could stop them after she saw Ulquiorra being taken away. She was already on the rampage before her mind could catch up to what she's done. All she knew was that the demon that she loved was going to die if she didn't interfere first. She's stopped him from dying once, she sure can do it again.

Ulquiorra stared at the high captain in complete disbelief. "What did you just say?"

"Your ears are in working order so I know you heard me."

Ulquiorra couldn't believe that Captain Yamamoto was giving him the choice to either stay small or go back to his original form before his execution. Ulquiorra started to rack his brain for ways of escape when he would choose to go back to normal. It would be easy to knock out the guards and any obstacles in his way back to… back to where? Could he go back to Orihime? What if she heard him and rejects him? Human feelings were a major pain, Ulquiorra concluded.

"Why not just save me the trouble of fighting you all and just let me go?"

The head captain stood up and came closer to Ulquiorra. "You're a lot more talkative than before. What's changed?"

"Nothing has changed except that maybe you have grown more idiotic in your old age rather than wiser. Letting me choose to go back to my old form seems rather redundant after everything don't you think?"

Yamamoto leans closer rather amused at the little demon. "You have changed and yet you still question my kindness. I am nothing if not merciful."

"I highly doubt that but if you really will give me a choice then...I have only one thing to ask for..."

Orihime knew they were wrong. They have been wrong many times before and this was just another example. Ulquiorra has changed from the emotionless demon he was before. He helped a child deal with her parents, he helped the poor animal of a fighting couple, he has even helped Ryuuga time and time again with the TV, and he especially helped with her and her unrequited love. Why they couldn't see it she would not know but she will fight for him regardless. Ichigo had called Rukia for help and when she finally arrived and heard the issue she only shook her head

"I'm sorry but he is talking with the Head Captain as we speak and right after will be his execution. There is no way we can get to him."

Orihime frantically shook her head denying what she was hearing. This isn't what was supposed to happen. "Rukia please understand! There has to be something we can do."

Rukia laid her head on her hand and seemed to think deeply about what to do. "Well…there might be one way but it is considered a bit odd."

"I'll do anything."

Orihime was so determined that she didn't see that Ichigo was worried about what they possibly would have to do. Ichigo was right to be worried.

An hour later.

"This is the stupidest thing I have ever done. And for an espada no less!"

Orihime was happily moving around Ichigo despite the dreaded situation. Orihime had easily found a costume shop not far from her home and purchased the only thing in Ichigo's size; a lady bunny outfit. She had been a little insulted when Rukia took one look at her friend and couldn't stop laughing and rolling on the floor. Orihime had thought he looked adorable not funny but it didn't really matter. All Rukia had suggested was that a disguise was needed to distract the guards away from the door long enough for one of them to get in without being detected. It was decided that Ichigo could distract the guards so Orihime could go in since she didn't have the kind of presence like her soul reaper friends did. Then Rukia could help 'capture' Ichigo but then release him later when they were out of sight. Orihime had finished her walk around and saw nothing out of place on the costume.

"Don't worry Ichigo the bow is in place."

"Oh yay thanks. You know that this is going to go horribly wrong right? Or is that just me?"

Rukia nodded, "Don't worry, I also know this will go horribly wrong."

Orihime smiled at them, just glad she had supportive friends that are willing to help her. "Well then shall we go?"

Ichigo sighed. "Let's just get this over with."

"Let's just get this over with."

Ulquiorra was annoyed at the slowness and incompetence of the reapers. He had made a decision that being back to his original form would give him at least some dignity before his second and hopefully final demise. He had hoped that the Head Captain would give his final request to the woman he had spent his miniature time with and also the woman he had feelings for. He didn't know why or how but falling for the human woman Orihime seemed to have been predicted by Yamamoto. The old man had easily accepted the note and said he understood why Ulquiorra wanted this to be passed on without anyone else reading it but by its' intended reader. Before Ulquiorra could question the shinigami he was lifted up by his restraints and then taken to Captain Kurotsuchi. The white faced man had this evil grin upon his lips and it made Ulquiorra glare at him. "My, my. My favorite mini espada is back already?"

"Keep talking and I will strike you where you stand."

This just made the captain laugh before doing something so unbelievable that Ulquiorra couldn't even react. The scientist had pinched his cheek like an old woman would do to her grandchild! "So cute and helpless. If only I was allowed to experiment some more on you but I have my orders. Guards put him in the pod."

Ulquiorra was lifted over to the familiar platform with which he was in the first time he was here. This was it. Not too long from now he would be killed and long forgotten. He tried to suppress many images and memories from his mind but thinking how he wouldn't see her again, he decided to let them flow. The way she smiled at him…the way she worried for him…the way she was embarrassed by her cooking…the way she got angry at him…and the way she looked so afraid while he was being taken away. Before too long he felt a slight tingling sensation from his feet and going up to his horns. His body had started to grow more and more and had returned him to normal before this whole fiasco started. He had to tuck his wings closer to him so they wouldn't be smashed against the glass container. Suddenly he fell to his knees as a bright green light was upon him and slowly sapped his power from him. This light was on until he turned back to his first form. He lifted his hand to his head as he felt a headache start to form. His hand brushed the bone on the left side of his head and he looked down to see the hole in his chest. His white clothes stood out against the dark platform of the machine that started to quiet into a low hum. He tried to stand but had to lean a little against the glass and roamed his emerald eyes to Kurotsuchi. "Satisfied that you had to weaken me?"

Once the glass was lifted his guards had tied him up once more on his wrists and had to help him move closer to Kurotsuchi. Despite how weak he felt, he kept his face emotionless like normal. The captain nodded seemingly happy with the way he was and gestured with his hand to send him away. Jerking the espada harshly to the door Ulquiorra clenched his hands letting himself be moved around. Thoughts of Orihime stuck in his mind wanting her to be the last thought. Once he was escorted back to the head captain he had noticed the new figure of Yamamoto's lieutenant. "Welcome back. It seems it was a success. Are you ready?"

Orihime stood behind a pillar with the fuzzy Ichigo and waited until Rukia gave the signal which she said was supposed to be obvious. Ichigo kept shifting his feet, nervous that this plan wouldn't work but Orihime had hope. Rukia finally moved into sight and was gesturing wildly and panting pretending she just ran to them in a hurry. All of sudden they heard her scream in their direction.

"There it is! The killer bunny!"

Ichigo didn't move shocked at the way he was just signaled. Orihime had to shove him forward out from behind the pillar and he froze in the middle of the hall. The guards were staring at him not seeing the threat. Ichigo looked at his companion still hidden but at a loss so she shrugged showing she had no clue what to do either. The next thing she saw would scar her for life as Ichigo slowly started to…dance. At least that's what she thought he was doing. He put his hands above his head waving them frantically then put them on his knees and did some shaking around. The guards were too dumbfounded at this sudden development. So Ichigo threw them a kiss with his hand and that set them off after him with Rukia in tow. She threw me a look over her shoulder before trying to catch up to the running trio. Moving quietly, Orihime went to the big double doors and breathed in deeply before pushing them open. She was just in time to see a shinigami pointing his scythe at a full grown Ulquiorra who didn't move and seemed to wait for his death. Not thinking twice she ran out in front of the weapon and put up her shield right when it hit; stopping it just in time. The shocked faces around made her relax at the fact she made it. She put down her shield and fell to her knees mostly in relief and emotional exhaustion.

"Orihime Inoue. How nice of you to drop by," the head captain stood and moved to her but something blocked him.

Ulquiorra couldn't even blink he stood stock still hearing Orihime yell her incantation type spell to get her shield to guard him from his death. He had so many questions fly through his head. How was she here? Why was she here? He couldn't dwell much longer though when she suddenly collapsed to her knees and the head captain started to come closer to her. Feeling that he was a threat Ulquiorra simply moved in front of the woman in a gesture of protection. Ulquiorra never showed much emotion but for Orihime all bets were off. His glare was cold and he hoped it was enough to make the reapers realize coming near the woman would cause a great problem.

"Don't touch her."

Okay so I lied in past chapters if I said this was the last chapter because I have decided that I am going to add another one because more ideas just kept going and I didn't want to write an extra-long chapter so one more in store for this story and sorry I've been gone…for two years….wow.