Waiting was torture.

Being held captive was one thing. Being faced with answering to men with over-confident, almost scary smiles, was creepy. Fearing what was to become of you or how you'd get out of a big mess such as this was bad.

But standing around all day, alone in a room with nothing to do was pure torture. Orihime came to that conclusion not too long after having been locked inside the small room in the back area of Aizen's restaurant.

Food was brought to her a couple of times, it was no feast but it was enough, but other than that there was nothing for Orihime to do besides wallow in her solitude. Curiosity would fill her half the time, a tornado of questions regarding what business exactly was Aizen running, how Ulquiorra was involved, and what would happen to her for having stumbled upon it all.

It was entertaining for a little while to try and imagine up answers for all her questions, she would create these crazy stories… One of them would have Aizen being the evil villain who wanted to destroy Karakura Town in order to become the King of the world.

But stories could only get her so far. Orihime was dead bored and no closer now to finding anything out or helping Ulquiorra than she was that morning.

She didn't know exactly what time it was, but it was already deep into the night, for the crescent moon was high in the sky, visible through the small window in her room; when the door to her room finally opened.

Ulquiorra came in.

He found Orihime standing again, looking through her window up at the moon.

"I doubt the moon has changed at all since the last time you saw it, Woman." his words made her jump and turn around.

"Gyaah! How long have you been standing there?!" Orihime asked, startled that she hadn't heard him get in.

"I just got here, don't make such a fuss." He said with irritation in his voice. As he walked closer to her, however, his face softened visibly.

They stood there, in silence for a minute. Orihime knew this wasn't a social visit, and, although she'd been dying to know what would happen regarding her, she wasn't all that eager now that she would soon find out. She silently told herself to relax; being afraid wouldn't help anyone.

"Sir Aizen has decided to give you a chance."

Orihime didn't speak as Ulquiorra began.

"He believes you could be useful to him, and has decided to make you an offer."

Orihime looked and felt confused. Give her a chance? What exactly did that mean? What kind of offer was he talking about?

"Tomorrow morning, you will speak with him. He will explain more fully. For now, you are to sleep." Ulquiorra finished, leaving her just as confused.

She thought Ulquiorra would leave now, but he didn't. He just stood there.

After a while, he said quietly, "None of this should have happened."

"It's not your fault." Orihime somehow felt the need to reassure him.

Ulquiorra looked at her now, in a way he often did, like he was analyzing her, but he didn't quite understand. "Why do you still seek to comfort me, Woman? In the position you are currently in, why is it you still don't resent me?"

Orihime shrugged lightly. "It never occurred to me to do that." She said sincerely. Why would she resent him?

Ulquiorra considered this for a moment. "You continue to surprise me, Woman."

Orihime looked at him questioningly.

"You are not quite like anyone I've ever met before, you're…" he trailed of, looking deep into her eyes.

Orihime felt herself grow soft as she swam in his emerald orbs, that were always mysterious and appealing at the same time.

"I am utterly entranced by you."

Orihime was taken aback by his sudden statement. Her brain tried to process his words, but it was already being sent into overdrive by Ulquiorra's proximity, along with his intense gaze.

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, before Ulquiorra said, "I should leave," he started to walk away but was stopped by Orihime's hand on his wrist.

"Don't go yet." She said, her gray eyes pleading.

***

Ulquiorra POV

It was about an hour, maybe two -it was easy to loose track of time in the tiny little room Orihime was stuck in- later, that Orihime was lying on her stomach along the green couch against the wall, her face resting on her folded arms on the arm of the sofa. Ulquiorra found himself sitting on the floor, one knee propped up with an arm resting on it. His back was against the sofa Orihime was in, so that even though they weren't directly looking at one another, their heads were close enough that they could comfortably talk and hear each other without trouble. After Orihime had asked him to stay, this was where they'd ended up.

"…Ulquiorra?" Orihime asked after a lapse of silence.

"Yes?"

"I was just wondering… Do you think- Um, do you think it could be possible for people to have lived for years-centuries even, during different lives, and that in each one, their hearts could be connected to someone else's, someone whom they'd find each new life?"

Ulquiorra quirked an eyebrow, though Orihime couldn't see. Her question surprised him. Under any other circumstances, he would have found it silly and irrelevant. However… "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean…" she seemed to think about it for a second. "Could it be possible for two souls to be meant to be together for all eternity? Meeting even after death to come together… I just, I don't know…"

Ulquiorra clearly remembered his dreams. The dreams he'd been having almost every night, displaying scenes of what could seem like different lifetimes, and in each one, the orange-haired woman was present. "Perhaps." he said finally.

Without his permission, his mind was suddenly filled with all the different scenarios, all featuring him and Orihime together somewhere. Some were sad, even tragic, others were bright and beautiful. His eyes unconsciously drifted closed as he went deeper into a lost memory of him embracing her, his face buried in her hair. She smelled so… sweet.

His eyes snapped open as he returned from the scene. He found, with some dread, that the sweet smell lingered in the room. He twisted his neck to be able to look at her. The corners of his mouth were tugged up in something akin to a smile when he saw that Orihime had fallen asleep. Her mouth was slightly open and she snored very softly. Her long locks of hair fell on her face and he, with utter tenderness that he wasn't used to, brushed them back with his fingers. His eyes lingered on her face, so peaceful in sleep.

Something in his chest twisted painfully as he thought of what was ahead of her. Tomorrow Aizen would try to gain her as an ally; if she accepted, her fate would be sealed as his was, doomed to work for him, forever running from the law, and if she didn't accept… That wasn't really an option.

Ulquiorra loathed himself for bringing her to this. It was all his fault and he couldn't do a damn thing about it! Not unless…

Could he betray him?

Could he betray his own father and the life he'd always know for the sake of this Woman? One look at her and he knew the answer.

Yes.

Without hesitation, he knew he'd go against everything he'd known for her. The Woman had unknowingly awakened something inside him, something even he hadn't known was there. A feeling, a warm feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Sighing, he stood and started to leave.

Suddenly, the Woman stirred.

He froze. For a moment, he thought she'd woken, but it was soon clear she remained unconscious. However, he was shocked, and admittedly curious, to hear her mumble something. At first, he didn't understand what she was saying. She kept repeating something, until he was finally able to hear,

"Ulquiorra, Ulquiorra…"

His green eyes widened tremendously when he realized the Woman was muttering his name!

Over and over she would mumble the same thing, then finally get this contented look on her face, until she finally went back to silence.

Ulquiorra wasn't sure what to feel at that moment, but he knew he felt a familiar warmth, something like what he'd felt the day before, when she had… He'd been avoiding thinking about it, but he guessed at this point in time, it really didn't matter… when she kissed him yesterday.

Ulquiorra let his guard down for a moment, and just as he was about to leave, he put one arm against the top of the couch, the other on the arm, just beside Orihime's face, creating a makeshift cage around her with his arms. He brought his face down, and softly brushed his lips against her head, kissing her hair.

He then pulled back, turned around, and without another look, exited the room.

***

The next morning came too quickly for Ulquiorra's taste.

He reluctantly went to Orihime's room and unlocked the door. He was dreading waking her up for this, but surprisingly, and somewhat to his relief, he opened the door and she immediately looked over her shoulder at him from where she was kneeling by the window.

"Come." he said simply.

She didn't say anything, just stood up and walked over to him.

She didn't look at him this time. Her eyes were sort of focused nowhere in particular. Ulquiorra stared at her.

"Aren't we going?" Orihime asked, finally looking at him. She seemed… resigned. Ulquiorra wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

"Of course."

He led her out to the small hallway that was hidden away behind Aizen's restaurant, and all the way to the door at the very end. Aizen's office.

"May we enter, Sir?" Ulquiorra asked before hearing a silky smooth voice say "Come in."

Ulquiorra opened the door and went inside, Orihime one step behind him.

Ulquiorra expected Orihime to look around and inspect her surroundings, which he was already so familiar with. However, as soon as she entered her eyes were cast downwards, while she held her hands in front of her.

"Good morning, Miss Orihime." Aizen said from were he sat in his seat behind a large wooden desk, his eyes measuring the girl before him. Ulquiorra noticed there was no one else in the room. Usually Aizen was in company of either Gin or his associate Kaname Tosen. Neither were present today.

Orihime barely looked up and nodded in response to Aizen's greeting.

Ulquiorra noted she didn't even look nervous, like he'd expected her to be. She was perfectly calm… She was very brave indeed. His admiration for her grew in that moment.

"Well, it seems we have many things to discuss, Orihime. Ulquiorra," Aizen looked at him, "-you may leave us."

Ulquiorra's eyes widened a fraction, but otherwise, he concealed his surprise very efficiently. Leaving Aizen and Orihime alone had not been discussed. The idea did not suit him at all. Orihime discreetly looked up at him now. He'd seen the look in her eyes before. It was an expectant look, asking him to come to her rescue. It burned away at his insides that he could do nothing but ignore her pleading eyes… for now.

Ulquiorra nodded his head solemnly at Aizen. "Yes, Sir." he said, then turned and started to leave. As he crossed paths with Orihime, he paused very subtly next to her. He was careful to keep looking ahead as he spoke his next words so softly only she would hear them. "Keep your eyes open." he warned. He was glad to see Orihime had the sense not to show any reaction to his words, and with that, he left the room.

***

Orihime POV

Any mild comfort she might have had from Ulquiorra's presence was now gone. His whispered words resonated in her mind, "Keep your eyes open."

A warning.

She knew she needed to be careful. But there wasn't much she could do at the moment except stay calm and listen to what Aizen had to say.

"Miss Orihime, first of all I'd like to apologize for any inconvenience this could be causing you. You do understand, of course, these are necessary measures." Aizen spoke to her in his silky 'pleasant' voice. It made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

She didn't say anything, just waited for him to go on.

"It has come to my attention that for the past week or so, you have developed a relationship with Ulquiorra, correct?" he started casually. Orihime tried not to react to the word 'relationship'. She decided just to nod in response.

"So then, by now you are aware that Ulquiorra works for me in a rather…delicate business. Right?" It was no question. Orihime knew enough by now to realize that. That's why she made no attempt to deny it. Aizen had his mind set already, trying to dissuade him would only make things worse for her and for Ulquiorra. She remained silent and waited for Aizen to go on. "I want you to know that I did not wish for this to happen. The last thing I wanted was to get you involved in this situation, but unfortunately that is how things turned out. There is nothing I can do about that. You understand that, right Orihime?"

Orihime hated being talked to like that.

Like she was just a young child who'd done something wrong and was expected to acknowledge it like a mature adult. Like she was being talked down on by a scolding superior who wanted to be kind to her, despite her inferiority. The way Aizen was talking to her now.

Orihime was once again grateful for having been raised by her Brother, who would have never talked to her like that.

Despite everything she felt, she swallowed it all up and remained quiet.

"This is a very difficult situation indeed. However, you will find that I am a very generous man." Aizen said. Orihime was wary of what his next words would be. "See, I run a business with different corporations all over Japan. It's quite an honest business, really. Just like any other. We buy and we sell. Just an ordinary business." Aizen's smile grew slightly. There was an almost mischievous glint in his eyes. "Business is doing good right now, but it's due to the fact that it is a well kept secret. And you, Orihime, are going to help us keep it that way."

Orihime's eyes widened. "Me?" What could he want her for?

"I have many people working for me, and each of them delivers the products I sell to one corporation. But, it so happens that this next Saturday I have a very important delivery to make, and the employee responsible just called to say he couldn't make it. That's were you come in."

Orihime froze. She knew where this was going.

"Next Tuesday morning, you, Orihime, will have the task of delivering a very important product. I trust it won't be difficult, and that you will complete the task successfully. I trust you to be discreet about this as well, of course."

Orihime had to do all in her power to keep her voice from quivering. Her hands were tightened into slightly trembling fists. "Yes, Sir."

Aizen smiled at her, then dismissed her. "Ulquiorra may take you to your home tonight." he said, and Orihime was out.

Out in the hallway she let her breath out and hunched over and continued almost gasping for breath. The entire time in Aizen's office had made her feel like she was suffocating, and getting out was like taking a breath after staying underwater too long.

She didn't notice at first when an comforting and slightly hesitant hand fell on her shoulder. Feeling his touch, her eyes immediately snapped up and met with his deep green orbs.

"Come on." he said.

Ulquiorra waited for her to straighten up and calm down. His hand was still on her shoulder. But as soon as she was recovered, he let his hand slip off, back to his side, and he began walking ahead, and out of the hallway, through the restaurant, and finally, outside.

"Ulqui-" Orihime started, once they were out, but was cut off.

"You can talk at your house. Let's go." He instructed, and they hurried silently all the way to Orihime's place in the late morning light.

Orihime found the key hidden under the matt with mechanical movements once they reached the house. She didn't take any time to look at it from the outside, even after spending an almost two days away from it; she just went right in, with Ulquiorra one step behind her.

Once inside, Ulquiorra immediately shut the door behind them and locked it. Orihime switched the lights on. Then they were just facing each other.

"…Ulquiorra,"

"I know what Aizen told you. He's going to have you work a job for him." Ulquiorra beat her to the point. Orihime opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before Ulquiorra went on. "Aizen runs a business selling black market products to big companies. Said companies pay for what they believe is an exclusive item, to then sell it at a higher price and get ahead their competitors. What they don't know is that Aizen is selling the same products to every company. That's why he needs at least ten different subordinates, to have a different one negotiating with every company. You'll be running the next dealings." Ulquiorra finished.

Orihime was shocked. "Why did you tell me all this?"

Ulquiorra looked away before answering. "It's obvious Aizen firmly believes you already know. He can't risk you going to the authorities, or even to the companies and telling them everything. If that happened, it would be over for Aizen. By making you run a job, he's making you an accomplice. He's trapping you so you can't take him down without going down yourself."

Orihime took a moment to take it all in. It took her a moment to find what to say next. "If telling on him is all it takes to take him down, why hasn't anybody done so? I'm sure the police wouldn't punish them if they-"

"This is bigger than you think." He looked at her. "Aizen has friends in the police and other authorities. You could just as easily be sentencing yourself by going against him unprepared. Once you work for him, you have no choice but to stay loyal."

It was a long moment before Orihime spoke again. "…Is that what happened to you?" she asked hesitantly.

"No." he said only. She hadn't expected much more from him, but it was still a dissapointing explanation.

"So what now?" she ventured.

"Now you do as you're told. I'm sure Aizen will have his men watching you, so don't to go out unless necessary. Until Tuesday, continue your life as you normally would. Got to school. Don't act suspicious. Don't say anything you shouldn't. Be wary."

Orihime was very quiet then. Ulquiorra was hesitant before asking, "Are you alright, Orihime?"

She was surprised by his-almost, concerned words. Before she knew it, she had a huge smile on her face. "Yeah of course I'm alright! There's nothing to worry about! No no!" she laughed nervously at the end and awkwardly scratched the back of her head.

Ulquiorra watched her in silent amazement. He opened his mouth and looked like he wanted to say something, but decided against it. "I'll see you tomorrow, in school. Goodnight, Woman." And then he left.

***

Orihime stood on the edge of a dark, seemingly endless precipice. She wanted to back away, but she couldn't move.

Why?!

She tried with all her might, but instead of going back, she found herself moving forward.

She tried screaming, but nobody would hear her and as she edged closer and closer to the fall, she could hear one silky voice saying "You understand, don't you Orihime. I have to do this."

Then the earth disappeared from under her feet.

Before she even had time to scream, though, she felt herself stop in the middle of the air. Her feet dangled beneath her, and she looked up to find someone tightly grasping her hand.

"Ulquiorra!"

He struggled to pull her out, but finally managed to get her back to safety. They helped each other stand up from the ground, and Orihime noticed their hands bound together between them, even after she was safe. Ulquiorra looked at her with an almost soft, yearning look similar to the one he'd had after their kiss. Eyes locked with hers, he let go of one of her hands -keeping the other grasped, making their intertwined hands the only things separating them now- and laid his free hand on her cheek.

They were so close… Orihime felt her heartbeat like it was almost synchronized with his. He opened his mouth to say something, but someone else appeared- a smiling brown-haired man.

Before she could react, the man she now recognized as Aizen was about to push her back into the precipice, but Ulquiorra was faster, and got her out of the way just in time. Unfortunately, in the process, he got himself thrown down instead.

Orihime cried out.

She immediately fell flat against the ground at the edge of the precipice, looking into its blackness, one hand extended towards Ulquiorra, knowing it would never reach him…

***

She woke up gasping, tears at the corners of her eyes.

She immediately fell flat against the ground at the edge of the precipice, looking into its blackness, one hand extended towards Ulquiorra, knowing it would never reach him…

The final scene in her dream stayed fresh in her mind. She could almost feel as her hand reached out to touch him, but found only empty air.

Too late.

***

A/N: It took me a LONG time to write this. I spent like a week writing one paragraph one day, two the next…GYAAAAH!!!! It was annoying, because it was mostly dealing with Aizen's business, which has been finally revealed! HURRAY FOR THAT! I DID try to get some Ulquihime moments in there, though, hope they were good^^

So:

Pharitse

MiloMaxwell AlmightySteelShoe

Rag Daz the Spaz Kat

Chaeria

lengshmily

relya_schiffer

TheLastNumberInPi

Himegimi-chan

Alluringmermaid BananaCreme

Merciless Ruby chrome midori

sonofafluffymuffin

WestAnimeBrigade MarHeavenAngel nobody159 yuuki36 Roxas's favorite

Scarlettsky

ulquiorraxorihime

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roystealer

THANK YOU ALL FOR REVIEWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, again, without Reviews, I would never have made it to 5 chapters, let alone 14 XD So thanks!!!!!!!!3

You may have noticed, my A/N is no longer in BOLD, that is because my computer has been…weird lately and my last chapter was published almost fully in BOLD for no apparent reason, so I'm not taking any chances. No BOLD for me anymore, hehe

Oh and I need to get this out of my sistem; BLEACH MOVIE 4 IS COMING IN DECEMBER 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAHHHHH I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!

-That was all XD

See ya for the great Chapter 15!!!!!!!!! Oooooh and I'm almost up to 200 reviews!!! I'm so excited!!!!:D

Bye for now!!!