AN: AN UPDATEEEE! XD I finally got the chance to write this week, and I'm so glad I did. TT_TT I've missed writing too much! Thanks for waiting patiently and reviewing you guys! (: Hope you enjoy this chappy as much as I do, and please review letting me know what you think!

After successfully rousing Starrk from his third nap of the day, and alerting Lilynette- who had been doing Starrk's chores so he wouldn't get into any trouble with the prince- to the fact that they were heading outside (as well as grabbing Orihime a warm cloak), the group of friends exit through the front doors of the castle, Nelliel running out ahead of them. Even as an adult she looks all too excited, and then pop, she turns into a child and practically throws herself into a large snowdrift, completely disappearing in the white.

"Don't get lost brat!" Nnoitra jokingly calls out to Nelliel, whose head pops out a few feet away from where she had jumped in.

"You're just scaryed I wyll Nnoytra!" She calls back, sticking her tongue out, making the tall man frown (is he blushing?) and then jump in after her, only to appear as if he's running rampantly around in the snow chasing after nothing. Orihime laughs out loud at this, and Lilynette does the same. Starrk just goes and lies on a pile of snow- that is, until Lilynette notices and throws a snowball directly at his face.

Ulquiorra stands above all this, watching from his balcony with much curiosity, though it doesn't show. He doesn't understand the fascination the others have with playing around in the white mess, but honestly, he's also concernedabout Orihime and how she feels being outside in the snow. She doesn't seem emotionally distressed, but still, he'll have to keep a close watch out, especially since he told her…

He watches as she turns and looks up at the castle, and as she notices the balcony as well as him standing there watching. Ulquiorra is surprised to have the sudden urge to duck, as if he's somehow not supposed to have been watching her, though she doesn't seem to mind, waving at him with a smile. He doesn't respond at all.

She turns away with a shrug then, noticing and laughing at the now-angry Starrk, who is chucking snowballs back at Lilynette in his rage. She ducks when one narrowly misses her own face, and picks up some snow of her own, tossing one at Lilynette's arm, who gives a shocked look at the red-head. She smirks, breaking into a run through the yard, picking up spare snow along the way. Lilynette and Starrk glance over at each other, smirking themselves, breaking into a run after her, packing snow in their hands as they go. Nnoitra and Nelliel soon notice and join in the snowball fight as well, easily catching up to them. Ulquiorra watches as the group chases Orihime, his frown deepening, noting that the grey-eyed woman is now cornered.

"She is a fool… she picked a fight with the other trash."

The entire group closes in on her, and she tries to pick up some snow to defend herself, though there is little to use- she has only one snowball's worth.

"I did not think that the onna would be so foolish as to…"

The entire group raises their arms in unison, and Orihime gives a shriek.

"Foolish woman!"

It takes Ulquiorra a millisecond to land in front of her, blocking the snowballs easily with his wings. He towers above the others, killing intent fresh in his eyes, and the group looks absolutely terrified, taking a few steps back, though they know it won't help anything.

"You will not harm the onna..." He murmurs, eyes narrowing faintly, wings spreading out even more. "…or frighten her ever-"

A snowball suddenly slams into the back of Ulquiorra's head, and the entire group's eyes widen as Ulquiorra turns around to see Orihime giggling, her cheeks rosy from the cold as well as the running. His eyes are wide, and the entire group stares at the girl, getting ready to throw themselves in front of her if necessary. She, however, doesn't seem afraid at all, brushing past Ulquiorra and running again, grabbing some more snow and tossing a snowball at Ulquiorra, who dodges it easily. He glances at the others, and then immediately flies forward, so quickly it doesn't seem possible. The others do not fail to notice the claw marks in the snow where the prince had grabbed some his hand.

Orihime turns just in time to see Ulquiorra flying toward her, and she makes a quick dodge left, very narrowly being missed by the packed snow he had thrown at her. She pops out from behind a tree, laughing and throwing one at him, this time hitting him in the chest. The others just stare, bewildered at the sight. All of them see the hint of playfulness in the prince's eyes, though the expression is not even remotely viewable on his face.

"I've never seen him this way before…" Lilynette murmurs in faint awe, watching as the game continues on between the two.

"I thought he was going to kill her." Nnoitra replies bluntly, glancing at Nelliel, who is smiling knowingly. Starrk doesn't say anything, though even he looks a little surprised.

"She's chayngin' him more than we thyought." Nelliel finally murmurs, as Ulquiorra picks up a large amount of snow, preparing to throw it at her. Before he can, however, Orihime throws a snowball that hits him directly in the face, and he drops it all on himself, accidentally burying himself in the giant snowball. Orihime runs up immediately, eyes wide.

"Are you okay, Ulquiorra?" She asks, smiling when she realizes the prince is okay and digging through the snow, trying to unbury him. "I didn't think you'd drop it!"

The prince just watches her silently, eventually unburying himself, realizing that he had indeed been playing along with the woman, and was blatantly staring at her again.

"I do not have time for these silly games, onna. I thought you were afraid."

She laughs, standing on her tip-toes and helping get some of the snow out of his hair with her fingers.

"I'm not afraid of them! They're my friends! Just like you!"

He watches her in silence again, unmoving, letting her words sink in. She finishes getting the snow out of his hair moments later, stepping back and looking up at him.

"I'm really glad you let me stay here, Ulquiorra."

His eyes widen faintly, but he quickly masks his faint surprise, grunting faintly in reply to her statement. She grins a little, turning to the others, a sudden wicked smile on her face.

"Come and get me if you can!" She calls, picking up some snow and tossing it at them as she had earlier. They smile, going to chase after her again (figuring Ulquiorra is okay with it now), laughing as they do so. The prince watches as she runs off, the others following after her, wondering at what the girl had said.

"I am… her friend."

The prince suddenly sneezes.

AN II: And let there be fluff! XD Next chapter to be up ASAP! (: ACHOO! xD

P.S. It's so weird to imagine Ulquiorra sneezing... is that just me? Haha