Chapter 25: Lies, Lies, Lies

"Two weeks… I only have two weeks to prevent a war. A war in which I know practically nothing about," Orihime thought, walking back to class. "Okay, Orihime, let's review everything we found out. My dreams from a month ago about Ulquiorra were being controlled by Mia and Lyon. The leader of their group is the one that brought Ulquiorra back to life and can easily take it back. I'm going to be a spy in the war."

Orihime stopped walking and she mumbled, "This doesn't get me anywhere. None of this makes sense…"

"What doesn't make sense, Orihime?"

Orihime turned around and saw her best friend, Tatsuki.

"T-Tatsuki! You scared me!"

"Sorry about that. Anyways, what were you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"You said something doesn't make sense."

"O-Oh. That was nothing! I was just talking about the homework assignment!"

Tatsuki stared at the orange haired girl with suspicion as she said, "But Orihime, you weren't in class… How would you know the homework assignment?"

"I uhh… We better get to class, Tatsuki! We don't want to be late!"

Orihime grabbed Tatsuki's hand and started to pull her along to the classroom with her.

"I made Tatsuki suspicious. Now things are going to get even harder…"

The two then walked into the classroom. Orihime expected to see Ulquiorra question her as to why she wasn't in the classroom and why she was in the library, but much to her surprise, the hollow simply glanced at her and returned his eyes to his book. Little did she know that Ichigo, Rukia, Uryu, and Sado had their eyes on her.

"Hey, Ulquiorra! I accidentally fell asleep in the library! What did you do in class?" Orihime asked as she walked up to her boyfriend.

"It is just like you to fall asleep while reading. The instructor talked about useless things and they wrote some notes." Ulquiorra answered. He knew full well Orihime did not fall asleep in the library, but since she decided she was going to play dumb, he would play along.

"Ulquiorra, you have to write notes down too, silly!"

"No. They are useless."

The two did not notice that they were being intently watched. They weren't being watched by Ichigo, Rukia, Uryu, or not even Sado. Instead, it was Tatsuki's gaze that was on the couple. Her face was more serious than usual as she sat at her desk.

"ORIHIME!" Chizuru cried out, hugging the girl.

"Chizuru-chan, you always surprise me," the poor girl said.

"Where were you doing lunch and in class!? I was so scared that some guy kidnapped my beautiful Orihime!"

"Oh, it was nothing! I fell asleep in the library. Sorry!"

The two girls continued their conversation at Ulquiorra's desk- much to his displeasure- until the teacher came in and told everybody that it was time to start the lesson again.

"Inoue-san, you are back," the teacher started, "why weren't you in my class earlier?"

"I fell asleep in the library. Sorry!"

The teacher sighed and she said, "It's alright. Don't do it again though."

The teacher began her lesson and Orihime went back into thinking mode.

"At least I was able to convince everybody," she thought. "I even managed to convince Ulquiorra! So, Mia and Lyon Horikawa… I figured out their last name and that they used to go to this school, but now what? This doesn't give me much."

Eventually, the bell rang, indicating that school was over. Ulquiorra and Orihime began to walk home. Orihime felt nervous. She hasn't been too successful at dismissing Ulquiorra's doubt about her mild coma.

"So, Ulquiorra, uhh…"

"What is it, onna?"

"Are we uhh… Are we okay?"

Ulquiorra stopped to look at Orihime in the face. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, ever since I woke up, things have been a little tense and awkward between us… I was just wondering if we were okay…"

"We are just fine, onna. My sincerest apologies for making you worry."

Orihime blushed. "I'm the one who made you worry, silly."

"The worry has already left my mind," he lied. There was something wrong with her and he was determined to find out.

The two continued their walk home, hand in hand, and in blissful peace. The two were completely unaware of the girl following them. The karate loving girl, Tatsuki, to be exact. Something about her was different, though. Her face was grim. Suddenly, she turned around and started to walk the other direction. An hour of walking past until she came across a huge, abandoned building. The girl glanced around her surroundings to make sure that nobody saw her. Then, she entered.

"Hey, how was it?" a voice asked.

There were nine people inside the building, including herself.

"It was another long school day, Lyon," she replied.

Lyon chucked. "Man, I really hated school."

"We all did. Anyways, here's what I found today. Orihime wasn't in class today. She claims she fell asleep in the library, but I'm calling major bull shit on that one. She was doing something, but I wasn't able to follow her inside. Ulquiorra was suspicious of her, but said he isn't anymore."

"Interesting…" a deep voice said.

"Master," everybody else said.

"Keep an eye on her," the master instructed, walking away. "Our plans will commence soon. Don't let that girl out of your sights.

"Yes, master."

"I wonder what Orihime was doing in the library," Mia said, walking with Lyon.

"Who knows, but she better stop or she'll get in some deep shit," Lyon replied.

"Should we tell her that, tonight?"

"Sure."

Tatsuki exited the abandoned building and began to walk home.

"Inoue, Orihime… Guess I'm stuck watching you for a while."

Author's Note: Oooh what's wrong with Tatsuki!? Well, Orihime is going to try to find out, as you see in this preview: What Ulquiorra didn't know, is that what the girl meant when she said she was "hanging out with Tatsuki" was that she was really going to follow her. Send predictions of what you think is going to happen and what you think is wrong with Tatsuki! :D