A/N: So this chapter I wrote before the recent manga chapters and I decided to keep it as was rather than changing it. We are getting close to the end...which means I better get going on finishing the last chapter... *sweat* Anyways, I couldn't keep She is the Sunlight by Trading Yesterday out of the fic, it is such a perfect UlquiHime song. I didn't really have a perfect place to put it, but I like it with this chapter anyways. It's a chapter about Orihime with a song of what Ulquiorra might think of her, heh. Thanks to the UlquiHime FC at BA for this song rec.

She is the sunlight

Her arm remained suspended, needlessly, for there was no one there to reach. His hand had been right there, but now was… gone. He had unraveled from the top down, and her hand had gone through his because it had been unable to maintain its form.

A tear leaked down her cheek, and then another, and yet another followed.

"N-no…"

Her fingers brushed against each other, and she felt a rough substance on them. When she brought her hand up to look, she saw tiny pieces of ash clinging to her skin.

No…he…he…

She called to her shield, and it surrounded the spot where he had just stood a moment ago. The spot that was now marked by a pile of black ash.

"Inoue…" a voice called softly from nearby, and Orihime swung her head around to see Ichigo standing by her. His eyes were sad and wouldn't quite meet hers. Looking past him, she saw Ishida there too.

"Ah," she gasped upon seeing him, and stretched her shield so that he was encompassed under it as well. "I'm sorry Ishida-kun, let me heal you."

The Quincy looked relieved as he was surrounded by the glowing shield. Within seconds, his hand had begun piecing itself back together, and the wound in his stomach began shrinking.

Marveled by how quickly he was being healed Ishida commented kindly, "It looks like your abilities are stronger now, Inoue-san."

She wanted to smile, she really did, but her mouth wouldn't work the way she wished.

"It might not be enough," she murmured, mostly to herself as she turned away, the part of her shield that had finished healing Ishida retracted to focus on the point in front of her.

Ichigo turned to the now healed Quincy and said awkwardly, "Ah, Ishida, sorry about what happened…"

Ishida, who had been flexing his newly healed hand, looked up at Ichigo, somewhat startled but understanding. "Just don't do it again, Kurosaki." This seemed to cheer the shinigami up a bit for he managed a smile, but then they looked back to where Orihime was kneeling in front of her shield and their smiles both faltered. "We need to get Inoue-san out of here."

Ichigo's mouth drew in a worried line and he replied, "Yeah, but we're all stuck, aren't we?"

"If we meet back with the captains, we might be able to devise a way out of here. Surely we can figure something out," Ishida said, looking thoughtful. "At the very least, we shouldn't stay in this place. I'm worried about Inoue-san's mental state…she has been through a lot."

At that moment, Orihime swung her head around and looked suddenly fearful. "I-I can't leave," she said, her voice strained, "I have to keep trying! Please, let me stay…"

His eyes saddened seeing her as she was, and he said, "Inoue-san, is there really anything you can do? And, even more importantly, should you even be trying?"

Orihime looked down at the floor. "He…he was the one who brought me here and watched me. He was cold, and it made me sad sometimes, but," she looked up and suddenly her eyes were unwavering and honest, "But, he never hurt me, and…he talked to me. I…I think he was really…lost."

She looked to Ichigo then, because if anyone would understand, it would be him. He was someone who balanced precariously between shinigami and hollow, and now she knew just how close to being hollow he could come. Ichigo looked back, and thankfully didn't argue with her, even though she could tell Ishida was skeptical.

Before the Quincy could reply however, there was a huge release of power somewhere below them, and they all cringed at the feeling.

"What the hell," Ichigo shouted, "Isn't that…"

Pushing up his glasses, Ishida agreed, "Yeah, it seems like that huge espada found someone else to bother."

He looked at Orihime then, and she knew. She knew he would tell her they had to leave. Orihime couldn't have it.

"You two go on ahead, I'll catch up later." Ishida opened his mouth and she went on, "Like you said, we can't get out of Las Noches right now. Ul-," she paused, his name sending a pang through her heart and she had to swallow before trying again, "Ulquiorra was in charge here, and he was defeated, so…I don't think there is much harm…"

Ishida's lips went thin; he didn't like the thought of leaving her, she knew. They had come to save her, and turning away from her now seemed counter productive. "Even if that's true, if you actually are able to bring him back…"

"Ah," Ichigo interjected, looking thoughtfully at the pile of ash surrounded by the healing shield. "That guy isn't the type to cause problems after he was defeated." Then, his eyes met Orihime's and he said, "Right, Inoue?"

She smiled then, grateful for his trust. It was a wonderful feeling, one she wished to continue to receive from her nakama, and set within her a realization of what she could attain if she would only believe in her own voice.

Ishida, feeling left with no other choice, sighed in defeat. "Alright…catch up as soon as you can Inoue-san."

Her smile didn't falter. "Yes, I promise I will! Thank you."

She watched the two run off, her heart feeling a little lighter. This…this is how I want to be.

The ability to stand up for her friends and herself had always been something she desired, and even when she wished for it the hardest, it had eluded her. It had been far too easy for her to step down in the face of a friend she considered stronger than her, especially Ichigo. She had always wanted to be strong for him the most, and yet she had never shown him strength.

Orihime watched the warm glow of her shield. I may not be the best at fighting, but what I can do is protect, and that is also strength.

Her eyes fell on the barely shifting ash beneath her shield. You…thought I was strong, didn't you?

She recalled the look he had given her before crumbling away. It was one of quiet trust. Somehow Ulquiorra had seen strength within her and believed in it, when even she did not even in herself.

My will is also to help those in need, even if they are my enemy.

It was part of her personality to worry about everyone. Up until now, she had been worried about her ability to feel sorry for her enemies. But she remembered Tatsuki's words to her, that she should not change who she was. Taking that advice, Orihime came to the conclusion that being kind was not weakness. Her weakness was her inaction, caused by her disbelief in herself. Now, she was filled with new vision. If it was possible for her to help, she would do it. She couldn't allow there to be another Ulquiorra. The situation had slipped out of her fingers so quickly that she hadn't been able to help him or realize his need in time. But next time…she would be more careful. For now, she needed to repair the damage she had done.

Orihime closed her eyes, suddenly aware of every particle of ash that clung to her skin, and she focused all power and thought upon reaching the soul she had just now come to truly understand.

I will help you Ulquiorra.

She is the healing, and I am the pain

A/N: So, like I said, not much further to go! I hope you liked this chapter...it represents what I hope Orihime will learn from her experience, as well as return to her a much needed increase in resolve and for her to realize her true strengths. Oh, I loved all the theories everybody had about the mysterious newcomer Ulquiorra met. Next chapter we will return to Ulquiorra and we will find out exactly who it is...

Beta'd by an extravagant chu

--Miss Soupy