Author's Note: I've finally done it. I've finally completed this fanfic after ten years!
Thank you to all who have been patient with me over the years when it came to updating. I hope that you'll find this ending satisfactory. Without further ado...The conclusion to My Master's Voice.
"Mommy! Where's my lunch?"
"It's by your backpack on the counter, Kiori. Please hurry and get on your shoes so we can get you to school!"
Over six years had passed since the final battle with Sousuke Aizen, and things in Karakura Town had finally grown peaceful over the years. Orihime Inoue, having lost all her powers the night of that fateful battle in Hueco Mundo, had only been able to provide support from the sidelines while her friends—Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Chad Yasutora, Uryu Ishida, and all the other members of Soul Society—all worked hard to take on any other adversaries that threatened the stability of the worlds. Without her Shun Shun Rikka, Orihime hadn't been able to be of much assistance in the combat department, but that hadn't stopped her from being a supportive ally. She helped wherever she could, holding onto the hope that maybe one day her powers would return and she could be the team's most valuable healer once again, but she didn't exactly have time to just sit around and mope about things. Being a single mother meant she had her hands full as it was since Kiori Schiffer was born several months after the fall of Aizen's reign.
That's right. Orihime was the mother to a beautiful daughter with hair as black as the night sky and eyes as vibrant and green as her father's. The last time Orihime and her lover, Ulquiorra Schiffer, had made love, a miracle had happened. The weeks following Aizen's defeat had been rough on the poor teenager, from mourning over her deceased partner to suddenly growing extremely sick from fatigue and nausea. At first, Orihime wasn't sure why she had been feeling so ill. It wasn't until she decided to grab a pregnancy test that the reality of her situation finally settled in. It was truly an astonishing moment when her pregnancy test had come back positive, and in light of Ulquiorra's untimely departure during the final fight with Aizen, it brought the young woman hope for a better future. Losing her soulmate had shattered her heart into a million pieces, but the thought of being able to have his child helped repair some of the cracks and dents in her broken spirit. It forced her to keep going, to keep moving forward, and gave her life a new purpose.
When Orihime first discovered she was pregnant all those years ago, her friends were in shock. While getting the healer pregnant with one of his Arrancar servant's seed to produce a powerful offspring with both human and Arrancar DNA swimming in their veins had been Aizen's ultimate plan, the poor bastard never got to actually see what would happen when two very different beings came together to make a child. It was nothing like he had hoped for, and Orihime couldn't have been more relieved. During the early stages of her pregnancy, a few individuals from Soul Society, Rukia Kuchiki and Rangiku Matsumoto in particular, tried to discourage the young high schooler from going through with childbirth. No one had ever seen anything like this before, and the consequences of having a hybrid child could be fatal, they had warned her. Having a child with blood descending from a Hollow could only mean disaster, and they all feared Orihime wouldn't survive childbirth. What if it tried to claw its way out of her womb? What if it was born with ungodly strength with a desire to not only kill its mother but to also wreak havoc on the world around it? It could turn out to be a hideous monster, or maybe it wouldn't even survive being born at all. Her friends tried over and over to encourage the girl to reconsider carrying this unnatural child, but Orihime just wouldn't listen to anyone but the gentle voice inside of her telling her that everything was going to be okay. She was grateful that her friends were so concerned about her well-being, but her mind was made up. She was going to keep the baby even at the cost of her own life.
Keeping the baby was her way of holding onto the last remnant of Ulquiorra's existence. He had faded away into oblivion, the image of his body turning to dust forever embedded in the darkest crevices of her mind, and Orihime had no idea what would become of his spirit. Would his soul eventually be reborn into Soul Society, or did he just cease to exist, gone forever from this life? No one had been able to give her any answers. Having his child was her way of keeping his legacy alive, of keeping him alive, and discovering she was pregnant had brought some light back into her life that she had been sure would never return after his death. She had to go through with this; there was nothing more she wanted in life than to be the mother of Ulquiorra's child, even if the risks were great. It was quite a gamble and the danger was very real, but Orihime couldn't shake the feeling that everything would somehow be all right in the end if she remained strong. She was still so distraught over losing the one person that had filled her heart with so much love and hope, and losing all of her powers hadn't been easy either. So many pieces of her were now missing from her life. Giving birth to his child was her only chance of holding onto the happiness Ulquiorra had brought her during their brief time together.
Many healers from Soul Society had offered their assistance to Orihime during her pregnancy, and she was extremely grateful for their help. Going to a normal doctor would have only caused more complications than necessary since they were not equipped to handle a pregnancy of such an unusual entity, so relying on healers like Unohana Retsu and Hanataro Yamada had been what ultimately saved Orihime's life during her pregnancy.
Her child had grown inside of her at twice the normal rate of an ordinary human. Instead of giving birth at nine months, she gave birth at five. Even with Unohana and Hanataro constantly using their powers to keep the young woman from succumbing to the blood loss she sustained when it was time for the child to come, the pain and agony of the whole ordeal had left her weak and ill. Orihime miraculously survived the whole ordeal, her strength and determination allowing her to push through the pain so she could successfully bring sweet little Kiori Schiffer into the world.
Unlike Aizen's expectations, the small child seemed to be more human than anything. Kiori had no strange physical attributes—no horns, no claws, no tails-nor did she possess any bizarre abilities. She was just…normal. Normal in every way. It was a bit anti-climatic, to say the least, but Orihime was grateful over this turn of events. If Aizen had been still around, he would have been beyond disappointed to learn that his plans of having a human-Arrancar hybrid were not as chaotic as he had hoped for. Besides giving birth at an earlier rate than a normal child, everything about Kiori was far from abnormal which suited Orihime, and everyone else around her, just fine.
The real trials and tribulations came when Orihime suddenly found her hands full with trying to finish high school while also caring for an infant at the same time. Her dear friends offered their help when they could. Rangiku turned out to be one of the best babysitters out there. She was so excited to have a little girl to play dress-up with while Orihime's other close friend, Tatsuki, helped out with the chores whenever she could. School wasn't the only thing the new mother had to focus on besides raising a child; money was a huge issue, too. She slaved away at two part-time jobs, trying her best to make enough money to support herself and Kiori while also making sure her grades didn't drop in the process.
When she finally got her diploma, it was like she could finally breathe. With school out of the way, she was able to dedicate more time to Kiori's needs and even work towards saving up money so she could move into a bigger home where her daughter would have more room to grow and play in. Two years after graduating high school, Orihime was able to land her dream job of being the owner of a local bakery near her home. Many people would have shaken their heads over such a dream, but there was nothing Orihime enjoyed more than baking and eating delicious food, so being able to make breads and pastries every morning brought her so much joy. Her bakery was a hot spot for families and couples, and even her weird creations like Mustard Wasabi Donuts and Peanut Butter and Spaghetti Sandwiches were a huge hit with the locals. Maybe her tastebuds weren't so broken after all! Either that or maybe it was a fun and unusual experience for people to try weird and bizarre flavor combos at a very low price.
It wasn't easy being a single mom and owning her own small business at the young age of nineteen, but she never let her busy and hectic life get her down. Kiori depended on her mother to be strong and independent, and in a way Orihime hoped that maybe Ulquiorra's spirit was looking down on her from somewhere, beaming with pride over the woman she had become. Losing Ulquiorra had been so devastating, but it was Kiori that helped her to keep going even when all she wanted to do was curl up on the floor, close her eyes, and cry.
Before she knew it, time had passed in the blink of an eye and Kiori was growing up to be such a bright and clever little girl with a bubbly, peppy personality that almost mirrored her mother's. She was now in the first grade and had already made so many friends thanks to the kindness and generosity she had learned from her mom. There were still no signs of any special powers or abilities; it was like she hadn't inherited anything from her father except for his hair and eyes. Orihime had made sure to talk about Ulquiorra often, though.
While she had only known Ulquiorra for a few months during her imprisonment, it felt like she had spent an eternity with him behind the walls of Las Noches. Talking about Ulquiorra helped Orihime keep his memory alive, and the curious little girl was always asking questions about him in hopes of knowing the father she never got to meet. Kiori didn't understand everything about Shinigami, Hollows, or even Arrancar, but Orihime had tried to explain it all the best she could. Considering the fact she still surrounded herself with many residents of Soul Society even after losing the ability to wield the Shun Shun Rikka, Orihime knew completely hiding the existence of other worlds and supernatural beings would only cause more complications down the road. She didn't want any secrets between her and her daughter; it was better for her to know the truth, even if it was hard for a six-year-old to comprehend everything she was told. One thing was for sure, though—Kiori was going to grow up having huge respect for her father and the sacrifices he made to keep Orihime safe.
As time passed, Orihime found herself settled into a nice little routine that worked well for both her and Kiori. She would wake up around four o'clock in the morning to start prepping and baking the pastries and breads for her shop's breakfast menu before getting her daughter out of bed, dressed, and ready for school. She would then walk Kiori to her elementary school before heading to the bakery to open up for the day. Lunchtime was always her busiest hours since her usual customers would flock to her place right at noon to nab one of the delicious homemade sandwiches for a quick and easy meal, but Orihime was always grateful for the business. After the lunch hour rush settled down every day, she would close shop just before Kiori got out of school for the day and then the two of them would go home to spend the evening together. They would wrap up each night with a warm bath before Orihime would tuck Kiori in for bed and read her a story. On the weekends, Orihime would have Kiori help her out at the bakery so the two could have even more bonding time together. All in all, it was a great routine and the two were rather happy with the life Orihime had worked hard to build for them.
Orihime had spent the past few years believing that nothing would ever really change. She always thought it would just be her and Kiori living peacefully together until the small girl grew up, but nothing could have emotionally prepared her for a certain day that would end up changing everything.
On that particular day, Orihime had woken up at the crack of dawn as normal, expecting that day to be just another ordinary Tuesday for her. She had already woken up on schedule and had started to whisk together the icing for her cupcakes while placing the donuts in her oven for baking. While she busied herself with getting things ready for her bakery, an unexpected knock on her door made her nearly drop the tray of cupcakes, and before she had time to even take off her oven mitts, she heard the sound of her front door opening.
"Hime-chaaaaaan~!" Rang out a playful voice from her doorway. "Sorry to intrude! I'm coming in!"
As Orihime rounded the corner, she was surprised to see a friend from her past closing the door behind him as he let himself in her home.
"Ichimaru-san! What a pleasant surprise!" She gasped, both shocked and a little confused to see that Gin Ichimaru had decided to pay her a visit. Still, as unexpected as it was, it was hard to deny that she was happy to see him. He had become one of her favorite people from Soul Society, after all.
"It's been a while, Ichimaru-san. How have you been? Did Rangiku-chan send you over here to pick up some cakes for her?"
Gin was an unusual fellow with a complicated past, but he had been one of Orihime's most trusted comrades during her days trapped in Hueco Mundo. Although originally playing the role as Aizen's right-hand man, Gin had double-crossed the king of Las Noches and was a powerful asset in bringing him down once and for all. He had been pardoned for all of his crimes against Soul Society and had even been welcomed back in the 3rd Division of the Gotei 13. When Kiori was first born, Gin kept a close watch on the child, searching for any signs of Arrancar abilities, but eventually learned that Kiori took more after her mother than anything. She hadn't really seen him much since Kiori's younger days, probably due to him always being slammed with work in Soul Society, but she often talked with Rangiku whenever she came to visit. The two of them had romantically reconnected since his return to Soul Society, and Rangiku had never seemed happier now that she had her lover back by her side.
"I've been well, Hime-chan. And I hear you've been doing pretty great these days, too! How's that bakery of yours comin'?" The silver-haired man asked. He was dressed in his usual Shinigami robes, his Zanpakutou tucked securely at his side as he politely removed his shoes before following the young woman into the living room. His nose perked up at the delicious smell that wafted through the small apartment; Rangiku had told him how much of a great cook Orihime had become but he had yet to taste any of her cooking for himself. That would have to wait for another day, though. He wasn't there to simply chit-chat and eat, no matter how tempting the pastries smelled. He had important matters to discuss with her.
"Is something the matter, Ichimaru-san? Something tells me you didn't come all the way here just to have some snacks," Orihime said, taking note of the neutral expression he was wearing on his face instead of the signature fox-like grin he always displayed.
The young man stood there with his arms casually folded over his chest as he leaned his shoulder up against a nearby wall. "Are you busy today, Hime-chan? I need to take you to Soul Society as soon as possible. There's…something you need to see."
Orihime hadn't stepped foot in Soul Society since Kiori was born. She had no need to, for starters, and if she ever wanted to see her Shinigami friends like Rangiku or Rukia, they were normally the ones to visit her instead. Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia had recently gotten engaged after having confessed their affection for one another about four years ago. There was talk that the wedding would take place in Soul Society even though Ichigo was still technically a human, but the ceremony wasn't expected to take place until next year. Besides Ichigo and Rukia's wedding, what could possibly be in Soul Society that would need her attention? She could only guess that it had to be extremely important or else Gin Ichimaru wouldn't have been standing in her living room at that moment.
"What do I need to see?" Orihime asked, hoping to get straight to the point.
Gin wasn't the type to just give anyone direct answers about things. He often talked in riddles, kind of like the Cheshire Cat, and she should have known he wasn't going to just come right out and tell her what it was. "I'd rather just show you, Hime-chan. It'd be a lot more fun that way, don't you think?" His lips curved back into a cheeky grin, and she knew there was no point in pressing him for any more answers.
"I'll keep the shop closed for today. I'm sure my customers will understand that something important came up. But before I can leave, I have to take Kiori to school in a little bit. Would you mind waiting until I get her there safely? I can't just leave her unattended," the redhead told him.
Gin nodded his head, flashing his teeth with his wide grin. "Rangiku always says you're one of the best mom's out there. Always putting your kid's needs before your own. I get it, though. We can wait to go to Soul Society until after you take her to school, but I just want you to know that you're going to want to hurry. This is something you don't want to delay by piddling around a bit."
Orihime wasn't exactly sure what Gin meant by that, but she figured she'd find out why sooner or later. Deciding to keep the shop closed for the morning, Orihime cleaned up the mess she had made in the kitchen before rousing her daughter up from her sleep. Kiori, although incredibly intelligent for her age and the star student of her class, was always a bit slow in the morning. The sleepy child yawned loudly as her mother gently shook her awake, and getting her out of bed and dressed was always a struggle in the morning, today being no exception.
"Come on, sweetie. You need to be a little quick this morning, okay?" Orihime told the tired young girl. "One of my mommy's friends is here and has an important task for her today. Do you think you can hurry a little bit for me?"
Kiori nodded slowly before trudging into the bathroom to get her teeth brushed while Orihime stood behind her and started combing the tangles out of her thick, dark locks. She soon had Kiori fully dressed in her school uniform before she went downstairs to thank Gin for waiting patiently for her. To her surprise, the silver-haired Shinigami was no longer standing in her living room. She frowned, realizing that he must have grown bored waiting for her to get Kiori dressed for school. He would appear again to lead her to Soul Society sooner or later, she thought to herself, and continued on with their morning routine.
"Mommy! Where's my lunch?" Kiori's high-pitched voice rang out from the kitchen.
"It's by your backpack on the counter, Kiori. Please hurry and get on your shoes so we can get you to school!" Orihime called back out from her own bedroom. She had slipped into a long-sleeve pink sweater and a long white skirt that reached to her ankles. Although it was springtime, the weather was still pretty cold outside in Japan. She wasn't sure if it would be cold or not in Soul Society, but she still wanted to dress warmly nonetheless and draped a matching pink scarf around her neck.
When Orihime came back down the stairs, she saw that Kiori had already slipped into her shoes and was waiting by the door for her mother to join her.
"Are we ready to go, mommy? Something tells me today is going to be a really big day for the both of us!" The tiny girl piped out with a huge smile on her round face. It was impossible not to smile back at Kiori whenever she grinned like that, and Orihime's heart flushed with warmth as she helped her daughter put on her jacket.
"You think so?" Orihime asked before opening the door. "I guess we will see!"
Orihime finished dropping Kiori off at school only to find Gin Ichimaru waiting for her outside of the school gates. He must have followed her in secret as she took her daughter to school, waiting for her to finish up before he revealed his presence to her.
He was leaning against the gate, grinning wildly as the redhead walked up to him. "Y'know, she really does look an awful lot like Ulquiorra. You sure she hasn't inherited anything else from him besides his good looks?"
Orihime shook her head. "No, she's almost as normal as the other kids in her class. She can see Shinigami and other spirits, but I guess time will tell if she develops any unusual powers. If she does one day get abilities, I'm sure we'll find a way to keep it under wraps so she can still live a normal life. I don't want her getting involved in any fighting with Hollows if I can help it…"
"Don't blame 'ya there," he replied. "So…Are you ready? Soul Society is waiting for us."
Being back in Soul Society was strange, but the place looked exactly the same as it did back when she and her friends first went there on a rescue mission for Rukia Kuchiki all those years ago. It was quiet and serene as traditional Japanese buildings lined the streets with their wooden panels and bamboo roofs. This place was supposed to be a small paradise for the souls of the deceased before a person could be reincarnated back in the realm of the living once again, but Orihime had seen both the good and bad aspects of Soul Society from her time there. She knew firsthand it wasn't as perfect as it pretended to be, but even the afterlife was expected to have its problems, she supposed.
Still, she wasn't sure why Gin would request her of all people to return to Soul Society. With out her powers, did she really have any business being there? She wanted to ask him to just go ahead and tell her what it was that she needed to see, but she had a feeling he wasn't going to give her a direct answer. If he planned on just telling her what was here, he would have done so already.
"So, what do you think about that Kurosaki kid getting hitched to Kuchiki-san?" Gin asked out of the blue. "Didn't you used to be in love with that boy or somethin'? I'm sure it's gotta' be kinda' weird for you."
That was an unusual conversation topic, Orihime thought to herself, but she shrugged her shoulders lightly before answering him. "I'm actually very happy for them. I knew Kurosaki-kun was never going to reciprocate my feelings back when I had a schoolgirl crush on him, and I actually think he and Rukia-chan make an amazing couple. The two of them really understand each other, and even though they fight and argue a lot, I think they're a match made in heaven. I'm so excited he finally proposed to her!"
Gin paused for a moment before replying to her, his attention focused on the street ahead of them. When he did finally respond, his voice had lost that chipper, songlike playfulness it always held. "Y'know, it's very unusual for a human and a Shinigami to be in a relationship together. For starters, Shinigami age a lot slower than humans. While Ichigo is no ordinary guy, he'll still turn old and gray in the next fifty years while Kuchiki-san will remain young and beautiful. I'm sure that's going to pose some problems later! Not to mention the fact Kuchiki will be busy performing her duties and won't be able to devote much time to her husband. It's also forbidden for Shinigami to make extensive trips to the human realm, and I don't think even someone with Kuchiki's status will be able to bypass that law for long."
Gin made a lot of good points, but Orihime was confident that Ichigo and Rukia were prepared for the hardships that were bound to get in their way. Even so, they believed it would be worth enduring it all for the sake of their relationship. They had a bond stronger than most couples, and if anyone could make it, it would be Ichigo and Rukia.
"One day Ichigo will grow old and eventually die…and I believe that Rukia will be there to guide him to Soul Society so the two can be at each other's sides for many centuries to come. I think their love isn't something that can be easily broken by human and Shinigami boundaries. It will be tough, but I'm sure Ichigo and Kurosaki can push past the obstacles that come their way and be happy forever. I believe in their love!" Orihime smiled, much to Gin's amusement, and it was plain to see she offered her two friends her unyielding support for their relationship.
He let out a low chuckle under his breath. "You're quite the optimistic one, aren't you? I'm surprised the events that happened to you almost seven years ago hadn't turned you bitter towards the idea of love. Do you think you'll ever try dating anyone again?"
She shook her head a little too quickly. "Oh, heavens no! I'm still a strong believer in true love, but I've already had mine and have no desire to seek out another. Even though my time with Ulquiorra was short, I'm glad I got to experience true love at least once in my life, and that's good enough for me."
As much as she often talked about Ulquiorra to Kiori and her other friends, there was still a scar on her heart that she was certain would never heal. She had found her soul mate only to lose him shortly after; a pain that like would never go away no matter how much time had passed. She would be lying if she had said that while she was ecstatic for Rukia and Ichigo, a part of her was jealous that the two of them would have each other until the end of their days. In life and in death, the two of them would be together until their souls would eventually be reincarnated as humans many centuries down the road. She only wished she could have had an unbreakable bond like that with Ulquiorra, but alas her lover's fate had been more tragic. There was no happily ever after waiting for them. Their souls would never be reunited. She didn't like thinking about it and instead tried to only think of the happy memories they had together, even if there weren't that many thanks to Aizen's horrible abuse.
Orihime quietly followed behind Gin down a long narrow street until they came upon a small house in the corner of the district. Gin didn't try and open the door yet and instead paused dramatically right in front of it, keeping his arms by his side.
"Orihime…I want you to remember that conversation we just had before you go inside," Gin told her, his expression suddenly serious.
"Oh…Um…" The confused girl answered before biting her lower lip. "Can I ask…why?"
"Inside of here is a new Shinigami. Somebody found his soul wandering around town a few weeks ago and he immediately caught the attention of some of the other Shinigami. He possessed extraordinary spiritual energy but was very calm and composed, and when offered the chance to join the academy to become a Shinigami, he was eager to accept. Some members of the Gotei 13 have been working on getting him into their ranks, believing that someone with his immense energy could be useful. He is extremely skilled with a sword and possesses some unique abilities. Everyone is already really impressed with him," Gin started. "But he is not like most souls. He was once a human and still has some of his memories from his past life. I'm not sure if you knew this or not, but it is incredibly rare for a soul to retain its human memories once it arrives in Soul Society."
"I don't understand. Who is he and what does he have to do with me? I don't know any humans that have recently died that could have passed on to Soul Society." Orihime tried to peer her head over Gin's shoulder to sneak a peek inside the house, but Gin continued to deny her entry.
"I just happened to see him for myself a few days ago while he was being trained by a few other Shinigami, and I immediately sensed something was different about him. His memories are slowly returning to him. They're not all there yet, but I think in time he will remember everything about himself. I called you here because I thought your presence would help with that. And…Well…I'm sure you'll be happy to see him, too."
Confused, Orihime wasn't exactly sure what Gin was getting at. He hadn't answered her question about who he was. Her heart started to pound wildly inside of her chest for some reason, but she elected to ignore it as she opened her mouth to ask him another question, but Gin held up a hand to shush her before she could even speak.
"There's no need for questions yet. You'll soon find the answers for yourself." Gin reached out and slid the wooden door open before stepping to the side to let the young woman go inside. "I'll be waiting out here. I figured you'll want some privacy."
There were so many questions buzzing inside of her head as she hesitantly stepped inside the small house. She wasn't sure who would be waiting for her inside, but her heart was already reacting to their presence as butterflies soared and danced inside her stomach. Could her brother, Sora, have become a Shinigami after all this time? She had always assumed he had been reincarnated again by now and was now longer dwelling in Soul Society, but she had never found any proof of that. Soul Society was so big and it was nearly impossible for families to find each other unless they died together, but that was the only logical guess she could come up with as to why Gin would call her here.
It was dark inside the house and it didn't look like anybody was home at first. With gentle footsteps, she walked further into the building and found a small hallway with only one door leading to another room at the end. Her shaky legs carried her down the hallway until she opened the door, the anticipation nearly causing her heart to explode inside of her chest.
"Hello? Is someone in here?" Orihime timidly called out before she slowly opened the door. "My name is Orihime Inoue. I'm friends with Gin Ichimaru and he told me to stop by and…"
The girl didn't get to finish her sentence as she saw the silhouette of a young man sitting upright in his futon lying on the floor, the blankets draped over his lap. His back was facing her as he stared out the window of his bedroom but Orihime could see that he had hair as black and soft as velvet that reached just past his shoulders. He quickly turned to look at her, surprised to see that he had a guest, and as soon as their eyes met Orihime was completely frozen in place.
It couldn't be…There's no way…
"Ichimaru-san told you to come by? That's strange. He didn't inform me that I would be receiving any guests today," the young man said to the busty redhead standing in his doorway. He spoke in a voice that was not only calm and smooth, but also more than familiar to Orihime. "If I had known I was going to have a guest today, I would have made sure to be more presentable. Are you here to talk to me about joining the Gotei 13, or perhaps you're here to help me train?"
The young man removed the blanket that was covering his lap so he could neatly fold it over on his futon before standing up. Sunlight was drifting in from his bedroom window, illuminating the pale skin of his cheeks. Traditional black Shinigami robes hung loosely on his lean body, but the dark fabric blended well with his jet-black hair. He cast his gaze in her direction, wondering why she was so silent as she stood there in his doorway, completely paralyzed with shock. He wasn't sure who this strange woman was, but he had a feeling there was an important reason for her intrusion into his home.
"Don't just stand there gawking at me, woman. Can you not speak?" He asked as thin, black eyebrows curled forward while he slid his hands into his pockets.
Orihime was too stunned to move as she stared at the man she had been in love with for almost seven years. Her lower lip quivered as she tried to make words appear, but her throat had gone dry and her mouth refused to move.
She was dreaming. She had to be dreaming. Standing in front of her was none other than Ulquiorra Schiffer, the Espada she had given her heart completely to all those years ago. He didn't look like an Arrancar anymore, his features more human than before. His lips were no longer black, and while his skin was pale, it was nothing compared to the stark white flesh he had before. There was a bit more color to him now. His eyes, however, were the exact same as before—as deep and green as a mystical forest.
"It…It couldn't be…Is it…Is it really you, Ulquiorra?" The redhead finally managed to make herself talk, her legs suddenly growing weak as her head started to spin. She couldn't bring herself to directly walk over to him. She feared that any sudden movement would cause her to jolt up awake from this glorious dream she was having, and she wasn't ready for it to end just yet. This dream was more real than all the others she had about him, and for a moment she really did believe she was actually standing in front of her past lover.
"Ulquiorra?" The man inquired before shaking his head. "No, you must have me mistaken for someone else. My name is Raikuro." His expression remained neutral for a moment as his gaze wandered over the strange girl's stiff and rigid body. She looked like she had seen a ghost, but seeing as how this was Soul Society, that assumption wouldn't be too far off. She looked like she was about to either scream or burst out into tears at any moment, and he didn't have the faintest clue as to why she was behaving in such a manner.
He finally spoke again, this time with a softened gaze as he took the initiative to make the first movement. He walked towards her with slow, careful steps, not wanting to frighten her any more than necessary. She looked like she was on the brink of collapsing from shock. "Although…I have to admit that you're not the first to call me by that name. Ichimaru-san called me that name when we first met, but I'm not sure if it's an accurate name for me or not. I keep having flashbacks of a young woman reaching out to me and calling me Raikuro so I can only assume that is from a distant memory from when I was a human. Until I get more of a precise understanding of who or what I was in the past, I am choosing to be called Raikuro over Ulquiorra."
The young man was standing only a foot in front of her, closely examining his mysterious guest with a curious eye. He could tell right away that she wasn't a Shinigami or another wandering soul; the aura she gave off was completely human. There was something familiar about her, too, something he couldn't quite put his finger on, but a bizarre yearning to touch her crept its way into his mind, and before he could rationally think and stop himself, Raikuro reached out to run a gentle hand through her fiery orange hair. Touching her just felt natural for some reason, and the softness of her hair was immediately calming to him in a way he couldn't exactly explain.
Orihime flinched as she looked up at him with wide, misty eyes.
This wasn't a dream. This was real life!
She could actually feel his warm hand stroking her hair tenderly, and it took all of her willpower to not throw her arms around him and cry into his chest.
She wiped a few stray tears from her eyes as a smile formed on her glossy lips, remembering the words Gin had just told her outside. This was definitely Ulquiorra but he didn't know who he was just yet. He had some of his human memories, but his memories as an Arrancar had yet to fully arise. Whether he remembered who he was or even her wasn't that important, though. What mattered was that his soul was still in one piece; he still existed. Ulquiorra was still here and he was standing right in front of her!
"Yes…You were once called Raikuro many centuries ago, but when I knew you, your name was already Ulquiorra. But…I'll call you Raikuro if you prefer it that way."
He raised one eyebrow at her comment before returning his hand to his side. "So you knew me from my past life, then. It makes sense as to why Ichimaru-san called you here then. Unlike a lot of spirits here, my memories are all twisted into knots, and I've been struggling to unravel them piece by piece. I want to remember who I am and where I came from, even if it doesn't matter anymore since I'm already dead…"
"I knew you very well several years ago. You and I were close…but then you…you…" She couldn't even bring herself to say the word "died" even though that was exactly what happened. "But then you had to leave. I just never thought I'd see you again, yet here you are, suddenly a Shinigami…I just…I don't understand. There's no way you could have turned into a Shinigami…I saw you disappear…I saw you fade away…"
He could tell she was overwhelmed with emotion, conflicted by the truth she had known about his disappearance and then the sudden realization that he was still in existence. She was both happy and sad, confused and shocked, overjoyed and in disbelief. This was the first human Raikuro had come in contact with since he woke up in Soul Society a few weeks ago, and it was clear she was incredibly different from everyone else he had met.
If the two of them had once been close while he was still alive, it was apparent she had missed him dearly. The nature of their relationship was still a mystery to him, but he was intrigued to find out what tied them together.
"It's strange," Raikuro spoke in a hushed voice. "While I don't specifically remember meeting you or the bond that we shared, you feel incredibly familiar to me. Your voice…Your hair…Your scent…I know I know you, woman. Everything about you is sending my senses into overdrive, but I can't explain it or even understand it. I can't recall any specific memories of you, but I have this sudden urge to touch and hold you. Does that make any sense?"
"Yes. It makes perfect sense. Even though you don't remember me, I'm still somewhere in your heart." Tears were flowing freely down her face by now, and yet she couldn't stop smiling. Raikuro reached up and cupped her face gently, using his thumb to wipe away her tears. It just felt like the right thing to do at that moment.
"I don't like seeing you cry. Would you let me hold you, woman?" He asked before a pink blush splashed across his cheeks. "My apologies. It was rude of me to call you 'woman' when you already informed me of your name. It just kind of came out…"
Orihime giggled softly. He was still Ulquiorra, all right. Even if the man standing before her was a lot more expressive and talkative than his former self, she knew with out a doubt that this was, in fact, the spirit of her former lover reincarnated as a Shinigami.
She was about to give him permission to wrap his arms around her and hold her, but a sudden knock on the wall behind her caused her own soul to nearly jump right out of her skin.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you two, but you're needed at the training hall, Raikuro-san. Sui Feng herself requested your presence. She wants to put your abilities to the test and have you face off against her in a training session. Who knows? Maybe she'll even let you in the 2nd division if you impress her!"
Gin Ichimaru had let himself in the house after eavesdropping on the two from the start. He felt a little guilty about breaking up their reunion so quickly, but he needed to speak to Orihime in private and fill in some blanks. He was ready to be up front and direct with her about everything.
Raikuro had withdrawn himself from the girl as soon as Gin showed himself, and he bowed his head politely. "All right. I will be head over there immediately." He shifted his attention from the other Shinigami back to Orihime who was still trying to wipe her tears on the sleeve of her sweater.
"Will you wait for me to return? I would like to talk to you more about who I was in the past, and I'm very intrigued to learn exactly who you are as well," Raikuro said to the redhead.
Orihime nodded happily. "Yes! I'll wait here all night if I have to! Oh, but I'll need to ask someone else to pick up Kiori after school and watch her until I get home…"
"Kiori?" Raikuro asked, wondering if that individual was a person he had once known, too.
"She's…Um… My daughter," she answered, her cheeks rosy from the elation that welled up in her chest. "You've never met her, but I think you would enjoy talking with her at some point, too."
"Why don't I take you back to the human world, Hime-chan, and then bring Raikuro by later tonight? That way you don't have to worry about finding someone to pick Kiori up from school and the two of you can play catch up," Gin suggested, his voice light and cheery.
"I would be permitted to go to the human realm so soon? But I haven't officially become a Shinigami yet…I'm still in training," Raikuro reminded Gin who quickly waived a dismissive hand in the air.
"Don't worry so much, my friend. I'll be accompanying you so you don't have to worry about getting into any trouble. Just do your best in training today an I'll swing by your house later and take you to Hime-chan's place!" Gin was being extremely helpful at the moment, and Orihime was relieved to have him offering to help them have more time together to talk. Everything felt so surreal, so unbelievable, but having Gin there only helped reassure her that this was all, in fact, real in every way.
Raikuro nodded his head in acknowledgement before politely taking his leave, leaving Orihime and Gin completely alone in the house. Every soul in Soul Society was given a home to stay in before they were either reincarnated or given the chance to join the Shinigami ranks, and this one was the one Raikuro had been living in since he first awoke in Soul Society. Although he knew he couldn't leave Soi-Feng waiting, a part of him wished he didn't have to leave Orihime's side just yet. At least the two of them would rejoin together later that evening.
"Sit down, Hime-chan," Gin instructed the girl as soon as the two of them were alone. He took a seat on a cushion in the living room, encouraging her to take the seat across from him. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions."
Although she was comfortably seated now, her head was still spinning, and she was overcome with dizziness. It was so hard to process that Ulquiorra still alive. Well, sort of alive, considering he was a soul now that as on his way to becoming a full-fledged Shinigami. She had watched him die, watched him turn into dust, and she had been told by the other Shinigami that his soul would probably not reincarnate or ever pass on to Soul Society. A few other Espada like Szayel had their souls sent to Hell, she later found out, but Ulquiorra was different from them. He had gained a heart and had sacrificed himself to save everyone. There was no way his soul would have descended to Hell after that, but that didn't mean his soul had been purified by a Shinigami's Zanpakutou and sent to Soul Society, either. Everyone believed he just ceased to exist, a fate worse than drifting to Hell, but there was no doubt in Orihime's mind that the spirit she had spoken to just now was in fact Ulquiorra Schiffer.
"I don't understand…How is he here? It just…It just doesn't add up…He's been gone for almost seven years, so why is his soul just now being transferred to Soul Society?" Orihime asked.
"I've been wondering the same thing," Gin answered as he blew a sigh from his lips. "He wasn't slain by a Zanpakutou. That's the only way a Hollow, or even Arrancar, could be purified."
"But he remembers his past from being a human…He remembered the name Raikuro. I know he used to be called that a long time ago because I was once given visions from a woman who's soul was eventually reincarnated over time into me. I know that sounds kind of weird, but I swear it's the truth!"
Gin grinned at her, as if he already knew what she was going to say. "Oh, I believe you. Don't worry. Souls are mysterious things. Sometimes our former selves can give us visions from our previous lives, although it is uncommon. I'm glad you at least know what happened to Ulquiorra when he was a human, although I doubt his past was a pleasant one or else Aizen would have never tried to use his memories against him."
"But…That still doesn't explain why he's here now…" Her eyes fell to her lap as she felt tears creeping their way back to existence. She was both happy and scared, confused and uncertain. Nothing was making any sense, but she also didn't want to question it. Ulquiorra was here, his soul was still thriving, and maybe it was best to just accept it for what it was and not try to find out why.
"Hey, Hime-chan?" Gin reached over and took her hand in his as a kind, caring gesture. He could tell she was struggling to comprehend everything, and he wanted to help her through this as best as he could so she could just get past the little details and just be happy that Ulquiorra was back in her life. "Do you remember when Aizen restored you to life using the Hogyoku? Do you remember the truth about the Hogyoku's powers? About how its true purpose is to grant the deepest wishes of a person's heart that it comes into contact with?"
Orihime's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Yes…Yes, yes I do…You don't think that…?"
He nodded. "I think the Hogyoku responded to your wishes to be with Ulquiorra forever. It took it some time to grant your wish, probably due to Aizen practically shattering it into his own body, but it knew what you wanted more than anything and made it happen in a mysterious way. It granted your wish—it brought Ulquiorra back to you."
Everything Gin had said made sense. The Hogyoku knew that Aizen's greatest wish wasn't to be the strongest being in the entire universe, but that deep down he longed to be an ordinary Shinigami and return to his former life with his friends. Not even the great Aizen Sousuke could fool the Hogyoku, and it ultimately granted his wish, returning him to a weaker state so that they could finally defeat him once and for all.
"So…So what now?" Orihime asked with a hint of hopefulness in her voice. "I mean, he's different from before but he's slowly gaining his memories back. Maybe I can help him remember everything! When he becomes his old self, he can come back to Karakura Town with me and we can finally be a family! Me, Kiori, and Ulquiorra…We can be together!"
Gin always hated to be the bearer of bad news, especially when he was the one who decided it would be best for Raikuro and Orihime to be reunited. Things were never as simple as everyone hoped. "Not exactly, Hime-chan. The Hogyoku materialized your deepest desire to bring Ulquiorra back, but things aren't that easy. His soul is here in Soul Society. He's not a human, and if he didn't try and become a Shinigami, he would just eventually be reincarnated into a new vessel. He would have started over as a baby, growing up with no memories of his life as either Raikuro or especially Ulquiorra. You would have two separate lives, never to join together again as a couple."
Orihime swallowed down a dry lump in her throat. Of course this was too good to be true. "But he is going to become a Shinigami now, correct? So he won't be reincarnated. He'll be like Rukia and live as a Shinigami for hundreds of years!"
"Precisely," he replied. "But since he's a Shinigami, he can't live in the Human World and play house with you. Even if we gave him a Gigai, he still wouldn't be able to live like a normal human. Shinigami exist to fight Hollows and ensure the safe passage of Pluses to Soul Society. If he doesn't perform his duties and tries to live life like an ordinary human, something catastrophic could happen…He could get in serious trouble with the high-ups, and even be exiled or punished. I know you wouldn't want to see his soul suffer after everything…"
"Then…Then I'll become a Shinigami, too! And he and I can live together forever in Soul Society!" Orihime squeaked out, trying her best to come up with a solution to their problem.
Gin wanted to laugh at such a ridiculous solution but forced himself to keep his snarky laughs from surfacing. "You'd have to be dead to be a Shinigami, Hime-chan. And even if you tried being a Substitute Shinigami, the process is very iffy, and it may not be successful. Ichigo Kurosaki was a special case. Plus…Don't you have a daughter to think about? She needs her mother—her human mother—to take care of her. You can't just throw your life away just to be by Ulquiorra's side."
Orihime knew he was right, but there had to be some way they could be together. It just wouldn't be fair if his soul had been miraculously sent to Soul Society just for the two of them to be separated again by the barriers between life and death.
"You don't have your Fullbringer powers anymore, Hime-chan. You're an ordinary human now with an ordinary daughter. Kiori can still see Shinigami because she inherited your spiritual awareness, but it would be best to not get her tied up in the world of Hollows and Shinigami, wouldn't you think?. If you tangled yourself up in Ulquiorra's new affairs—in a Shinigami's affairs—yours and Kiori's ordinary life would be affected. Are you willing to give up your ordinary, peaceful life to try and make a relationship work with a dead guy?"
Gin had made several valid points, but that didn't sway her at all. She was confident she could keep Kiori out of all the dangerous affairs, and she knew Ulquiorra would be willing to do whatever it took to protect their daughter, too. When it came to having a bizarre relationship, though, Ichigo and Rukia were in the same boat—Ichigo was still a living, breathing human, and Rukia was a Shinigami. Just moments ago Orihime was chatting away about how she believed that the two of them could make it through all obstacles in their path and live happy lives together, both in life and in death. It wouldn't be easy by any means, but she believed in Rukia and Ichigo, so of course she believed in her love with Ulquiorra, too.
"I don't care," Orihime said to the Shinigami sitting across from her. "Ulquiorra is my soul mate and he's the only person I could ever love. I don't care if he's a ghost, a reaper, an Arrancar, or even a Hollow—he's always just Ulquiorra to me. I'll love him no matter what he is…I'm just…I'm just so happy he's still here."
Tears began to well up in her eyes again, but this time she didn't bother wiping them away. She just let them fall down her cheeks, allowing herself to feel all the emotions that burned in her chest. "If Raikuro gets all his memories and wants to be with me again, I'll go through any lengths I have to in order to make it work. I know I won't be able to see him every day. I know that it will be hard for Kiori to have a dad that's not exactly a living, breathing human. I know we won't be able to have family dinners, or go on family vacations, or even have a normal wedding. But I don't care about any of that! I just want Ulquiorra in any capacity that I'm allowed to have. I want to support him in his Shinigami work and be there for him when he needs me. I want to tell him all about Kiori's funny stories, like the time she tried to bring home a stray puppy that ended up being a spirit, or the time she accidentally ate one of my spicy chocolate pizza rolls I made that made her nearly choke. I want to be able to hold him at night againand listen to the sound of his breathing while he sleeps. I want him to watch Kiori grow up and eventually be there on her wedding day to walk her down the aisle…I just want…I just want…I just want him! I don't care if it's going to be a tough relationship! I'll endure anything if it means I can have him back!"
No one knew just how hard Ulquiorra's death had been on Orihime, not even Kiori. No one knew about the countless nights she spent crying herself to sleep alone in her room, or the times she thought she saw him in a crowded street, only to painfully discover her mind was playing tricks on her. Ulquiorra had never left her mind or her heart, and she had vowed to never love anyone again after him. She had long since accepted that her heart was never going to fully heal, but now she was suddenly given the chance to have him at her side again. Her scars could finally fade, and the pain could finally ease. The Hogyoku had given the two of them a second chance, and even if their relationship would be far from easy, Orihime was just overjoyed that he was back in her life in some capacity. She would take whatever she could get. It would all be worth it just to hear his voice and feel his touch again.
Gin sensed the girl's resolve and finally removed his hand from hers, satisfied with her answer. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear, Hime-chan~! You never cease to impress me."
Shocked by his sudden change in demeanor, Orihime finally brushed her hand at her tear-stained cheeks to dry them. "Huh?"
Gin broke out into another smirk as he looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eye. "So many years have passed since Ulquiorra's death so I wasn't sure if you still felt the same way about him. At first, I wasn't even sure if I should introduce to the two of you. After all, Soul Society is so big and there'd be a very small chance he would be assigned as a Shinigami to your specific district in Karakura Town. If I never arranged for you two to meet, you'd likely never cross paths. I wasn't sure if you had moved on from him and just wanted to live life as a normal mom with your adorable yet normal daughter, or if you would be willing to undergo the challenges of being in a relationship with a Shinigami just to be by his side again. I won't sugarcoat it—human and Shinigami relationships are probably the hardest relationships to maintain. You'll likely end up miserable from it, if you want my honest opinion."
"I…I don't know what to say…" The redhead mumbled, her eyes all red and puffy from crying. "But…Thank you. Thank you for looking out for me, but I'm even more grateful that you took the initiative to introduce us. As long as Ulquiorra is willing, I will undergo any hardship just to be with him. I'm sure it sounds stupid to you, but I love him so much. I'd do anything to be with him…"
"I can see that," he replied. "I really do think he'll gain all of his human memories eventually and probably even his Arrancar memories, but it will take time. There's always a chance he might completely change as a person even with all of his memories intact. Who knows…He could turn out to not even want you anymore and become a playboy! I mean, there are a lot of foxy women here in Soul Society that would be less of a hassle to be with than a human girl. Everything about him could be different and the Ulquiorra you love may be a thing of the past. You have to prepare yourself for that. But I guess that outcome is probably better than you spending your whole life thinking he's dead and vanished from all existence, I suppose!"
Orihime couldn't help but smile even though there was a chance Gin's grim prediction could come true. "Yes…You're right. I mean, I really hope he wants to be with me, too, but I'll leave the decision up to him. I know what I want more than anything else in this universe, but I will accept it if he doesn't feel the same. I just really am so happy he's okay and has a second chance!"
As much as Gin wanted to keep chatting with Orihime about everything, he figured that was enough for now and that it was time he escorted her back to the human world. He had done his part—he had told Orihime about him and delivered her to him, but now the rest would be up to them. They might decide later on down the road that trying to have a relationship was too strenuous on them, or maybe Orihime would end up dying in the distant future and would become a Shinigami herself. That would certainly make it easier for them to have a relationship! There were just so many possibilities, and he couldn't wait to see what would happen to the two lovebirds now that Ulquiorra was back.
"Awwww, mom! I don't want to go to bed yet! I want to stay up and play with you!"
Hours had rolled by and it was already after ten o'clock at night. Gin had escorted Orihime back home earlier in the day and she had picked up Kiori from school, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her guest that was scheduled to be stopping by later. She wasn't sure when he was coming by, but she figured he would have shown up by now. It was getting late and she needed to tuck Kiori into bed so the little one wouldn't be such a pain to wake up in the morning. It was hard enough getting her out of bed when she went to sleep on time; if she stayed up too late, Orihime could just forget about her making it to school on time.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but you know what time it is. You don't want to make mommy late for work in the morning, do you? You know how hard it is for me to wake you up for school in the mornings…" Orihime laughed gently as she carried her little angel to bed so she could pull the blankets over her.
"But…But…Something big was supposed to happen to us today! And it hasn't yet!" Kiori whined. She was clutching onto a small teddy bear in her arms as she puffed her cheeks out in a pouty manner. "I don't want to go to sleep until the big thing happens!"
Orihime hadn't told her daughter about meeting Ulquiorra in Soul Society earlier that day. She wanted to wait until she and Raikuro had a proper conversation about everything. She wanted to tell him more about what their life had been like together in Las Noches and hopefully fill in the gaps of his memories. She wanted to wait to tell Kiori about him until he remembered more of his past. While Orihime was certain she wanted to build a life with him, he needed to want the same thing, too, or else they could never have happiness together. Raikuro was definitely Ulquiorra, but Gin was right—he could be a totally different person now who wanted different things. He might not want to be in a relationship with a human or even be a father. He might just want to focus on becoming a member of the Gotei 13, or maybe he'd find a Shinigami girl he fancied more than her. His personality, thoughts, preferences, and even ambitions could be completely different now, and the only thing he might have in common with his past self would be his memories. If he chose to not want to pursue anything with her, she'd have no choice but to accept it. Something like that, however, would be hard to convey to a six-year-old who had spent her whole life daydreaming about how cool her dad must have been. She might have difficulty coming to terms that the man who existed now might technically be her father but was still a completely different person, too.
As Orihime kissed her little girl goodnight, doubt started to creep its way into her mind. Raikuro could have already changed his mind about things. What if Gin gave him the same talk he had given her earlier but his resolve ended up being different? What if Gin told him about the hardships they would face as a couple, and he already decided he didn't want anything to do with her? He may not even show up tonight. In fact, he may not ever show up. If that was the case, Orihime would have to learn not to be bitter about it and accept it for what it is. He was a new person now…It wouldn't be his fault if he chose to turn away from his past and ignore the feelings for a human girl he had felt years ago.
Another hour passed. Then another. And another. Before Orihime knew it, it was already two o'clock in the morning. She had been sitting on her couch staring at the door, waiting to hear a knock, while Kiori slept peacefully in her bed upstairs. As tired as she was feeling, the redhead refused to go to bed. She would stay up all night and wait for Raikuro if she needed to. Although there was a possibility he'd decide to turn away from her, she still held hope that he would at least come see her that night. He had seemed eager to talk to her, so intrigued to learn more about his past, that it was just hard to believe he'd do a complete turnaround and decide not to bother showing up after all that. A part of Uqluiorra was still in there. She knew that much from the way he had touched her without any provocation. He could feel their connection even though he didn't know what it was. That had to mean something, right?
She kept clinging to the hope that he would come see her until finally a gentle knock on her door made her leap up from the couch at half past three.
Orihime nearly tripped over her feet as she scrambled to the door, swinging it open to find a handsome young man with jet black hair and emerald green eyes staring back at her.
"U-Ulquiorra! You came!" She squealed with delight, ready to leap into his arms before she forced herself to settle down, not wanting to scare him away. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry! You want to be called Raikuro now. Forgive me. I'm just so excited to see you. I wasn't sure if you still wanted to come after everything and—"
Orihime never got to finish her sentence as a pair of warm lips crashed against hers without warning. Raikuro stepped into the doorway, snatching the busty girl up in his arms as he stole an impatient kiss.
Unlike the time when he was an Arrancar, his lips were now warm and inviting, his embrace tight and loving. He held the astonished girl captive in his arms, lips hungrily tasting hers as he finally got to hold the one person that mattered most to him. Orihime nearly lost balance as they stumbled into her doorway, not even bothering to shut the door as he backed her up against a nearby wall.
"Orihime…My woman…My love…My heart," he breathed after forcing himself to part the kiss. His sudden display of affection had caught her off guard, but she had already returned the embrace by wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him tighter.
"Ulquiorra! I was so scared you would decide you didn't want me…I'm so happy you're here!" She buried her face in the crook of his neck, reveling in his calming warmth as she tried her best not to cry again.
"I'm sorry…I'm here now. I remember…I remember everything," he whispered against her ear, enjoying the sound of her gentle gasp at his words.
Before she had time to speak, his lips were searching for hers again. The two were clinging to each other, afraid to let go. Ulquiorra had regained a huge chunk of his memories during his training session, and he had nearly collapsed from the shock of it all. Each memory had come crashing back into his mind like a tidal wave, overwhelming him and bringing him to his knees. He briefly lost consciousness, worrying the other Shinigami trainers nearby, and had been brought to an infirmary to recover. Gin Ichimaru was standing by his bedside when he awoke, that stupid grin stretching across his face, as he realized what he had happened. Thankfully, Gin had been there to help the young man fill in the gaps of his memories and further explain what all had happened, from his rebirth as an Arrancar to the moment he died as an Espada.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get here…I needed time to process it all. But I remember everything…Your voice, your smile, your kindness…I remember kidnapping you…Hurting you…Lusting for you…Holding you…Loving you…I put you through so much, Orihime, and I know I hurt you even more by leaving you. I'm so sorry, my love. I'll never leave your side again. I'm here, Orihime. I'm here and I'm all yours."
Orihime was shaking in his arms as she leaned her forehead against his. "I'm so glad you're back, Ulquiorra! You have no idea how much I missed you!"
There was so much she wanted to tell him but now just didn't feel like the right time to exchange words. All she wanted to do was hold him and kiss him, to show him just how much she missed him. The two shared another long, passionate kiss, until the sound of gentle footsteps came padding up from behind them.
"Mommy? What's going on? Who's this?"
Little Kiori was wiping her eyes sleepily with one hand while her other hand was holding on tightly to the teddybear she slept with every night. Orihime had been so caught up in the moment with Ulquiorra, so overwhelmed by having her lover in her embrace once again, that she hadn't realized how loud the two of them were being. They must have woken Kiori up with all the noise they were making.
Ulquiorra's gaze shifted from the beautiful woman in his arms to the small child standing in the hallway. His eyes opened wide at the sight of her, remembering that Orihime had mentioned she had a daughter earlier. That hair…Those eyes… There was no mistaking it. She had to be his child, too.
Orihime smiled sweetly as she pulled away from her lover's embrace so she could step back and formally introduce her daughter to the man she had talked nonstop about for years.
"Kiori, honey, I want you to meet someone very special to mommy. Kiori, this is Ulquiorra…Your daddy."
Author's Note:
And there you have it-the ending to this fanfic! I hope you all enjoyed it. I know it's taken me over ten years to complete this fanfic and it means a lot to me that you read it in its entirety, even when it took me forever to update.
I apologize for all grammar mistakes and inconsistencies with Bleach lore and stuff. It's probably been five years since I even watched any of the anime and I kinda lost my passion for it... Eventually I will go back and edit this fanfic and try to fill in some of the plot holes, but for the time being, I'm just ready to be done with this fic once and for all. I won't be writing any more UlquiHime fanfics in the forseeable future but I do plan on finishing my other Bleach fanfic, My Sweet Sacrifice.
Again, thank you for reading this and for all the reviews. If it wasn't for this fanfic, I'd have never developed a passion for writing. I am currently working on a novel as well as other fanfic commissions, so my love of writing really flourished because of My Master's Voice. It's been a fun time and I hope that you enjoyed the ending.
Take care!
