AN: Hello my lovely readers! (: I've finally managed to find time to get an update up for you, though it's rather small compared to the chapters recently. ^.^" The next update should be a bit longer though! I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too long- and I also hope that you love the update! (: Let me know what you think!

She can't bring herself to say anything. Despite the numerous questions that suddenly pierce through her mind, she can't say a word. All she can think is that it's not possible, it's not possible, not possible at all, and…

"How is my little brother?" Grimmjow murmurs hatefully.

The sound of his voice shocks her out of the stomach-dropping rush of emotion, and she just blinks a few times, only able to get a few words out, an aftereffect of her mind rushing earlier.

"T-that's not… that's not possible…"

"How is it not possible?" He asks, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, blue eyes gazing through her.

The look shakes her to the core, and she suddenly feels the need to stand- to escape that gaze- and she heads for the door immediately, knowing nowhere else to go. He doesn't let her leave without getting one more sentence in, however, and it disturbs her so greatly that her stomach almost heaves.

"Was he that thing in the forest?"

Then she's gone.

The terrified girl breaks into a sprint as soon as the door shuts, not caring about a cloak or even snow boots- just running, running, running, running away from what she knows is now true…

What's really scaring her is not what Grimmjow had said, no, it's the emotion that came with it- the pain of knowing that Ulquiorra was not just hers any longer- the forgotten kingdom not so forgotten, the heartless prince now somehow connected to the reality she's always longed to escape. It terrifies her that the beast is not all her own, because…

She knows the end of the sentence, but it makes her want to scream and it makes her heart want to break, and she doesn't want to feel that way. The only thing she can compare it to was the feeling she got when she finally realized that Sora would never come home- the knowledge that the world would never be the same- and now, that Ulquiorra won't ever look the same to her either.

She doesn't know how she managed to shield herself from the truth for so long, and it makes her so angry, so so angry, that now that he's not at arm's reach she can finally admit it to herself- that night at the castle, it was so clear what she had been feeling, but she just wouldn't just admit it! She could've stayed there forever, maybe, if he felt the same. He had tried to kiss her, hadn't he? But that could've been heat of the moment, instinctual…

Can he feel the same?

She almost laughs at herself when she asks this question, finally halting her running at the edge of a cliff facing white mountaintops and a frozen river. She stares over, another realization fully taking over her.

"It doesn't matter if he feels the same!"

Finally the tears come, and they wash over her with such force that she doubles over in a sob. She doesn't care if he feels the same or not- because no matter what, she will always feel the way she does. Whether he can show her affection, or any emotion, is meaningless now.

As her tears come to a quiet end, she looks up at the sky, watching as the snow falls in sheets around her, wishing with all her heart that she could tell him, right now. But she can't, and she's stuck far away from him, with Grimmjow, of all people.

Another wave of emotion passes over her, though this time, rather than terror or pain, it's frustration. Why had she run out to save him? He hadn't ever done her a kindness- hadn't ever been good to her- he had only been rude, and trampled all over her feelings from the moment they had met. So why did she save him? What had pushed her from the castle, from her friends, and from the beast? She had been so stupid to leave… but then again, why hadn't Ulquiorra wanted her to bring him back with her, if they were brothers? Szayel could've taken care of him…

She wipes her eyes, turning back and looking in the direction of the house, the cold finally reaching her skin and making her shiver. She remembers the bitter tone with which Grimmjow had asked her about Ulquiorra before she ran from the house in panic, and she slowly comes to understand that she has someone to answer the question for her.

Grimmjow.

When Orihime enters the house, Grimmjow is lying back in bed silently, hands behind his head, eyes closed. She waits for a few moments before shutting the door, the warmth of the house inviting her further in, though she stands frigidly in the doorway, staring at him.

"I believe you." She murmurs suddenly.

The blue-haired man grunts a little in reply, opening his eyes and glancing at her.

"And so what? Took you all this time to decide that, did it?"

"No. That's not what I meant to say…" She trails off, abruptly uncomfortable with talking to him, realizing what she wants. "I just… I want you to explain how."

Grimmjow rolls his eyes, giving a bit of a groan and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Look, I can give you a lesson on the birds and the bees if that's what you m-"

"No." She cuts him off immediately. "That's not what I meant either."

The blue haired man raises an eyebrow at her, faintly irritated.

"Then what the hell do you want?"

"I… I want to know everything about him." She whispers with sudden softness in her voice and eyes, surprising Grimmjow. "I want to know his story."

AN II: Well, I know this update was a bit more for plot, but I think Orihime has definitely made some big strides, especially in regards to her relationship with Ulquiorra! (; Hope you enjoyed! Talk to you all next update, which will be up as soon as I possibly can write it! (I already have a lot planned out, so hopefully the wait won't be as long this time!) XD