Orihime watched with a bright smile as the lights made a halo around Ulquiorra's head. It shined off of the bones on the side of his head, making the whole setting seem even more unreal.
She had never felt so much like a princess before. She was dancing and whirling and her dress was flaring around her like she always saw in the movies.
Her prince wasn't smiling, he didn't look like he was enjoying himself. He wasn't showering her with compliments and endearments. He definitely wasn't the prince charming role model. He didn't have blond hair and kind green eyes. He wasn't a peaceful man ruling his happy country with a grand smile and a laugh.
She found she liked it that way.
She could see both Grimmjow and Ichigo getting angry over in the corner as they dance-battled. They both took it very seriously as they spun around and tried to make every step look good. Rukia looked slightly annoyed, and Soi Fon looked like she might have been taking the dance fight just as seriously as the two men whom had started it.
Halibel and Stark where both eloquently waltzing to the music, ignoring everything else, as they quietly talked. They didn't look star-stuck or head over heals in love, but they seemed to enjoy each other's company a lot.
Nel was dancing with the boy who had retreated them from dinner, the poor guy shaking in fear as Neliel elegantly twirled in the light.
Lillinette was dancing by herself, looking like she preferred it that way. She quiet clearly thought she was the best dancer in the room.
Orihime looked again at Ulquiorra and smiled brightly. She didn't know any dances, but he seemed to be leading them just fine. She wasn't stumbling over her own feet like she had feared she would, ether. Everything was… perfect.
After a while Ichigo and Grimmjow got frustrated enough that they broke out into a real fight, and so Halibel had to break them apart.
"How about we move on?" She had tersely suggested. She turned to Orihime. "You said you had something else planned?"
"Oh!" Orihime put her fist into her open hand. "That's right!" She had asked the messenger boy to get them a horror movie, and he had been able to dig up some that Gin had in the control room. The room had couches and a huge monitor screen, too. So, she had planned a movie.
"To the movie!" She cried. Taking Ulquiorra's hand in her own she ran out of the ballroom, heading down the hall.
He easily kept pace with her, never once asking what they were doing. He had been the one who had ordered that popcorn be prepared when Orihime had said they needed it.
Everything was prepared when they got into the control room.
Once everyone was seated and Ichigo and Grimmjow were separated, the movie started.
At first Orihime had simply been leaning against Ulquiorra in the love seat they shared, watching with a quiet clam. But as the movie when on she found herself inching closer and closer, until she was gripping his arm with both of her hands.
"No, don't go in there, moron!" Grimmjow yelled at the screen, stuffing another handful of popcorn into his mouth.
Soi Fon jabbed her elbow into his ribs. "Quiet. If he intends to be this stupid than he had better die and do it quickly. He is a burden to the rest of the group."
Grimmjow stared at her. "He's. Fucking. Hilarious." Grimmjow spat. "You can't kill off a guy that funny."
"Grimmjow." Halibel snapped. "We're trying to watch."
He glared at her, but didn't say anything else.
The movie went on, slowly dwindling down to the last character.
Orihime watched with her teeth worrying her lip as the little girl slowly backed into a room, looking around while she shook. She was alone.
She shut the door and fumbled for the light switch, breathing hard. She slammed her eyes closed in her fear when she couldn't find one, her whole arm trebling. She opened her eyes with a little sound of pain suddenly, drawing her hand close to her eyes.
It looked perfectly fine.
She squinted again, closing her hand and opening it as a little tear escaped from the corner of her eye.
A single drop of blood formed in the tip of her index finger, silently rolling down her hand. Her breathing sped up again, her whole body seizing as she tried to draw in breath.
As she wiped the hand on her shirt she froze, her eyes going wide when she heard the noise from the dark of the room. "Shh…"
Orihime's hand flew up to her mouth and slipped between her teeth to stop herself from making noise. Ulquiorra looked at her out of the corner of his eye, regarding her.
"If you are this terrified then why do you continue to watch?" He asked.
She did nothing but frantically grab his hand. "Ah!" She had practically climbed up into his lap by this point, but he didn't seem to mind. "It's so scary but I can't look away."
She screamed and jumped when blood splattered the screen. When she had put in the horror film she hadn't thought it would be this bad.
She looked around the room to see if anyone was as scared as she was. Ichigo looked interested, but not scared. He had his arm around Rukia, who was leaning forward with wide eyes. She looked absolutely fascinated. Then there was Grimmjow and Soi Fon, both leaning against opposite arms of the couch with their legs tangled together. They both looked a little bored. Halibel was leaning against Stark, looking calm. Stark was asleep. Lillinette was watching with a huge grin, totally amazed by the amount of violence in the film. The girl would jump and let out a little noise every time something happened, but for the most part looked completely engaged. Nel was watching with narrowed eyes, picking up flaws in the plot. Momo seemed to be the only person who actually was as affected by the film like she was. She had a white-knuckled grip on Toshiro's hand. Toshiro looked disinterested with the film.
When it ended Orihime was shaky, looking back and forth in watch. Any minute now something would dart out of the shadow and rip through her flesh. She wished that the lights would have been turned on.
She sat rigidly attached to Ulquiorra with her face pressed into the crook of his neck as everyone else stretched.
Grimmjow was the first to rise. "Later, bitches." He said; waving the hand that wasn't attached to Soi Fon's waist, as they existed the room.
"It 's been a pleasure." Neliel said with a smile, rising. "I'll see you all in the morning!"
Halibel rose next, gently shaking Stark. "It has been fun." She murmured. "But it grows late. Goodnight."
Stark rubbed his eyes, standing. "Come on, Lillinette."
The girl jumped up off of the back of the couch, babbling excitedly about the film as they left.
Toshiro and Momo got up right after. "She's right," Toshiro said. "It's late."
"Goodnight!" Momo said, giving a little wave.
The door thumped closed behind the two.
Rukia yawned, stretching her hands above her head. Ichigo was wearily studying Ulquiorra and Orihime, trying to figure out just what their relationship was. Hadn't the shared-bed thing been some sort of misunderstanding?
Ulquiorra glared at him, placing his hand on Orihime's side.
"Well, I'm tired." Rukia said, giving Ulquiorra a smile. "Night."
She grabbed Ichigo's hand and pulled him up after her. "Oh, yeah, uh, goodnight." He muttered.
Orihime peered up at the couple form Ulquiorra's arms. "Goodnight Kurosaki-kum. Goodnight Rukia-san."
"Goodnight."
Then they were gone, too.
Ulquiorra stirred, shifting underneath Orihime. "Are you ready to retire?" He murmured in her ear. "Or are you so stiff with fear that we will need to remain here for the remainder of the night."
"What about dessert?" She asked suddenly.
"It seems it has been forgotten."
She stuck out her bottom lip. "But I made it so yummy."
He looked down at her with a shadow of a smile. "I know."
"Can we please go have some? I'm not tired!" She stifled a yawn after the last word, trying to look truthful.
He regarded her for a moment. "… Fine."
"Yay!" Fear forgotten Orihime leapt to her feet. "Let's go!"
Taking up her hand they made their way back to the dining hall, where the lights dimly lit up the area; presenting a grand cake. The whole table had been set, but Orihime just ran back to her spot in the middle of the table and hopped up into her seat.
Ulquiorra calmly sat down beside her, reaching forwards and pulling the cake towards them.
Orihime froze. "Wait. Do you think we should get the others…?"
"You heard them, Onna. They wish to retire for the night." Taking up the knife he cut two pieces. He slid one out onto her plate, and then another onto his own.
Orihime cut into her cake with a huge smile, popping a piece into her mouth with relish. "Mmm."
He ate his own piece without a noise, enjoying the taste much more than any of her normal cooking. He could see her getting a job at a bakery sometime in the future.
They ate in relative silence, the comfortable type, not the awkward heavy silence that Orihime hated so much. When she was done Orihime pushed back her plate, rubbing her stomach.
"That was yummy." She said. She turned to Ulquiorra. "Did you like it?"
He nodded.
She yawned again, leaning back in her chair with heavy eyes. "I'm tired."
He stood up smoothly, offering her his hand.
She took it with another small smile, standing. "Do you want to go to bed or do you want to go watch another movie?" She asked. "I could stay up for another."
He found it a little odd that she didn't want to sleep, but was still truthful in his reply. "I could not bare to sit through another hour of such poorly thought out screen play."
She nodded. "Okay. I'm sleepy anyway."
They quietly walked back to their quarters, passing a couple people on the way. Everyone looked ready for the night to end.
When they got back to their room they went about their usual routine. Ulquiorra dressed in the bedroom- the door had been repaired while they were out- and Orihime put on her night gown and brushed her teeth in the bathroom. She stepped out and let him in, laying back on the bed with tired eyes as he got ready to sleep.
The lights to the bathroom clicked off and Ulquiorra came out into the bedroom. Orihime was already curled up under the sheets, waiting for him. He slipped under the covers beside her, welcoming her into his arms when she moved to get closer to him.
She lazily kissed his neck, pressing her face into his shoulder, and snuggled closer to press their fronts together. "Goodnight." She whispered.
He pressed a soft kiss on her own forehead, looking down at her with sharp eyes as he drank in the sight of her. "Goodnight."
He closed his eyes, holding her, and then finally they were asleep.
.
So. This is late. Again. I'm really sorry but I've just been... meh. Anyway, I should probably put up another short chapter tomorrow. So... yup. :) Thank you to all the new reviewers, followers, and favorites. I really appreciate it, you guys.
