~Limerence~
The bell rang through the classrooms of Karakura High, signaling the students the beginning of lunch and immediately the classroom rumbled into animated chatter, the sound of the chairs grating against the floors awaking those who had at some point dozed off during lessons. Ichigo being one of them sluggishly looked around and groaned as the chatter intensified and annoyedly slung his head back down earning a few bumps from his classmates as they swept by tumbling his books onto the ground.
"Hey!" Ichigo barked out slamming his fist onto his desk his orange hair rumpled and messy like his temper, still the laughter trailed off at his juvenile reaction, cursing under his breath he snagged his lunch and stood up making his way to the roof where his friends would be waiting,
rubbing the drowsiness from his eyes he passed by Tatsuki who was busy chattering away about Dojo and among other things with her friends and he noticed it. Orihime's empty desk. It had been the second day Orihime hadn't shown up to school. Was she sick?
"Yo Tasuki," Ichigo called pausing where she and her friends were having lunch.
"Yeah?" she asked quizzically unsure as to why Ichigo was talking to her.
"Is Inoue alright? I haven't seen her around." Ichigo asked indicating Orihime's desk.
Tatsuki scrunched her face in confusion, "Inoue...who the hell is that?"
"Very funny," he droned not amused at her antics but the unnerved look in her eyes said something entirely different.
"Orihime?" He pressed in disbelief sensing something terribly wrong sinking into the pit of his stomach, but the longer he waited for her response the more skeptical he grew and quickly turned away.
"You ok Ichigo?" Tatsuki asked frowning, Ichigo ignored her and strode off as Tatsuki called out to him.
What the hell?...how in the hell is she not going to know who Inoue is? They are best friends...wait now that I think about it, I haven't heard anyone talk about Inoue or even mention her. What is going on? Ichigo thought tensely before halting and kneeling down in the middle of the empty hallway rubbing his eyebrows worriedly, growing increasingly suspicious, Ichigo grabbed his lunch tightly and stood up briskly walking out of school while his pace gradually increased and escalated like his frantic mind until all he could do was run.
~Orihime~
My body jolted violently and I flung upwards gasping for air greedily, filling my burning lungs, my heart wildly pommeled and wallopped inside my chest as I awaken, my mind blindly racing with thoughts, but before I could even come to coherent thought, venomous eyes bore into my mind and I stiffened. Yes, I remember, I remember Ulquiorra's angry eyes before I passed out, and his cold fingers that clutched me rigidly tight just after. I remember his fury and my desperation to cling as close to home as possible, but what good was that? Now I'm very far from home, oblivious. My eyes stung and spilled and I swiped at my cheeks, imagining blood running from my eyes from constantly crying, could it be possible to die from a broken heart? Like children who are forced to separate from their loving mothers forever waiting and hoping for their return? No, because even those children acquired an immeasurable amount of strength.
Forcing the thoughts away I gently rose from the bed, my bare feet padding onto the cold marble floors and steadily I examined the massive room towering above me like a colossal, how could this possibly be a room? Just above the bed an oversize cherry wooden window expanded and amplified to the ceiling. The bed I had been laying on seconds ago now scared me as it enormously sat in the middle of the room showered in vast colors of light cream furniture and ivory walls, a fireplace sat in all its marbleized glory and just to the right of the bedpost were two white patterned chairs sitting in front of two beige love seats overflowed with blue throw pillows. Awestruck I wandered around the room taking in every possible detail, coming to the obvious conclusion that I was looking into the lives of the ridiculously rich.
Frowning, my eyes moved to the large doors and I crept towards them, suddenly aware that there might be a slight possibility that I was alone. Carefully I placed my ear against the door trying to hear anything outside, becoming impatient I pushed the heavy doors and peek out. No heart leaped to my throat as the adrenaline seared hotly into my veins. A bad Idea mixed with no plan pushed at my core and once I mustered the courage, I determinedly slipped from the room into the dark hallways, my heart pounding vigorously in my chest aware that at this rate I could drop dead at any moment from a heart attack, still I pushed on into the darkness, regarding with great relief the padded carpets in the hallways as I easily slipped away. Eventually a crushing emptiness filled my entire being and quickly realized that a hollow was nearby, my stomach dropped as voices began to approach the same direction I was heading to and hastily I began to run the other way noticing for the first time that I was still wearing the dress I wore the previous night, now swaying behind me as I scurried away.
Just as my heart was about to jump out of my chest I found another hallway and clumsily pressed myself behind the wall waiting as they passed, my stomach churned acidly from the lack of food letting out a shaky breath as they moved further away from my hiding spot wondering if I might have just imagined the voices, the mere thought alone made me want to throw up and I broke into a sprint my fingers fumbling and nudging at the door nobs. Becoming desperate and frustrated with the extensive mansion and endless doors, my heart soared as one of the doors opened and cautiously I pushed inside, there a window! I flung my body weight towards the window propping it open, my fingers shook in anticipation my breathing becoming shallow as I eagerly slid the window up. I smiled, overjoyed as the wind brushed against my flushed face gingerly and welcoming. I climbed over the window seal pleased to find that I was only a few feet from the ground and without a second thought I jumped.
~Ichigo~
Ichigo scratched the back of his head as he stood in front of Orihime's home, noting the trash overflowing from the bins, not a single plastic sorted into its appropriate bin, this confused Ichigo as Orihime had always felt strongly about recycling and talked about the importance of being eco-friendly which almost always annoyed Tatsuki to no end. Ichigo smiled and just as he was preparing to knock, the door suddenly flung open and out came Sora in a haste as he had yet to notice Ichigo, his back was facing him trying to jerkily lock up. Ichigo regarded him with raised brows and tapped his shoulder hesitantly.
"Uh-
Sora yelped skittishly and dropped his keys on the floor. Ichigo immediately apologized picking up the keys from the floor and handing them to Sora, startled Sora placed a hand on his chest,
"You scared me, kid," Sora whined throwing his head back.
"Kurosaki...what brings you here?" Sora asked looking at him incredulously.
"I haven't seen Inoue at school and I was wondering if she was ok?" Ichigo asked.
Sora stiffened and nervously began fumbling through his keys trying to find the correct one.
"She is fine," he swallowed his voice shaking as he anxiously missed the keyhole, Ichigo narrowed his eyes at his odd behavior.
"I need to speak to her." Ichigo persisted sidetracking Sora firmly as he tried to make a quick escape. Sora signed heavily and his shoulders dropped running a hand through his hair and looked at Ichigo cautiously, "That won't be possible." Sora admitted regretfully. Ichigo's eyes narrowed and stepped closer, "What happened to Inoue?" Ichigo growled trying to suppress his temper. Sora rubbed his face and looked at Ichigo for a moment before opening the door.
~Orihime~
I shrieked as someone unexpectedly clasped my arm and pulled me back in effortlessly, my hands reached out fumbling and grappling wretchedly through the air as my freedom was once again being robbed and denied. I cried out in anguish as the window was slammed shut, I had come so achingly close and that fact alone only seemed to torment me even more.
"You could have just taken the door pet-sama," A voice teased next to my ear licking my neck, sending a blood-curling shiver down my spine. An altered fear consumed me as I faced him and Instantly he grabbed my arm and squeezed it dangerously close to crushing it and I screamed.
"Shhhh or else they will find us, I just want to have a little fun." He chanted cynically as he slammed his hand onto my mouth with such severe force that I felt my brain fly to the back of my skull, successfully suppressing my cries. My eyes widened as I felt his fingers forcefully push inside my mouth and I thrashed against him with all my force, crushing my windpipe as he held me tightly, colors invading my eyesight his eyes taking a sinister turn as he began tugging at my dress and I shook my head, tears streamed down my face as I kicked against him and growled becoming annoyed.
"Let her go Nnoitra!" Someone yelled from the end of the hallway and immediately I recognized her voice her friendly and welcoming voice, Nel. Relief washed over me and in seconds Ulquiorra appeared right behind her, this seemed to trigger something in Nnoitra and he let me go but not before I bit down angrily on his fingers and he hissed lowly before throwing me down to the floor banefully and knocking the breath out of me. Nel ran to me with a worried gaze and helped me up quickly leading me away.
~Ulquiorra~
Nnoitra sneered and leaned against the wall.
"How is it going taming your wife?" He chuckled as Ulquiorra passed him.
"Never put your disgusting hands on her again because there won't be a next time." Ulquiorra threatened lowly.
Nnoitra shrugged "I was just trying to help."
Ulquiorra took one of his hands out of his pockets and Nnoitra flinched hissing under his breath and disappeared. Ulquiorra clenched his jaw and sharply turned to the direction Nel took Orihime loosening his tie away from his neck and instantly vanished and reappeared in front of Orihime's bedroom plunging the door open to her bedroom before slamming it close. Orihime flinched and turned to him trying to appear unfazed and held her head high defiantly, searching for Nel's fingers and she squeezed tightly, hoping Ulquiorra would not see through her fear but he could, he could smell it and almost savor it.
"You are proving to be very difficult women." Ulquiorra snapped grabbing Orihime's elbow and pulling her close.
"You can't keep me here forcefully!" Orihime yelled prying his hand away, Ulquiorra seeing this shook her.
"You are my wife," he sneered pushing her towards the bed. Nel hurriedly got in between as Ulquiorra advanced on her.
"Ulquiorra calm down." Nel spouted placing her palms up to get him to calm down.
As if he hadn't seen her before he glared menacingly at Nel.
"Get out!" he snarled baring his teeth.
Startled Nel decided not to push him any further and nodded sending an apologetic glance at Orihime as she turned to leave. Orihime shook and stared after Nel before glaring at Ulquiorra hatefully, tears streaking hotly from her ire.
"Where did you think you were going to go? Back home?" Ulquiorra taunted, his anger transforming animalistic by the second. Orihime sobbed and stood up circling her bed to add more space between them.
"Your home is here." Ulquiorra seethed, Orihime shook her head ferociously.
"I will not marry you!" Orihime shrieked noting as he slowly advanced and she rushing past him. Ulquiorra grabbed her and she immediately fought against his hold accidentally snagging and tearing the dress from her shoulder.
"You Don't Have a choice in this matter," Ulquiorra growled clenching his hold Orihime winced and in a flash, Ulquiorra noticed the prominent fear that crossed her delicate features, "Santen Kesshun!" Orihime shouted and instantly her brilliant transparent shield flashed in front of him protecting her as she sobbed on the floor. Ulquiorra's eyes widened enthralled by her powers and reached for it meticulously, knowing since the beginning how important she is. Just as his fingers landed on the smooth surface of her shield, it shattered into a million shards diverging into the ground before vanishing leaving a distressed Orihime on the ground. Ulquiorra turned away before throwing a glance at her over his shoulder.
"The wedding is in two days and I expect you to behave appropriately," he said monotonously. Orihime ran towards the door and as soon as it closed she block it to keep him from coming back in and slid down wiping her tears on her green dress, never realizing Ulquiorra standing outside listening as she continued to deteriorate and submerge in her despair.
~Sora~
Sora poured himself another glass of Sake, drowning in his liquored up misery, he told Kurosaki everything, about the money he took from the company and his reason for doing it along with the forced agreement that doomed Orihime's fate. Kurosaki had been very quiet but suddenly he furiously slammed his fist on the table before getting up and aggressively walking off.
"Ichigo! Ichigo come back!" Sora shouting after him worriedly, but Kurosaki didn't stop he didn't even bother turning back, he simply glared piercingly into the night disappearing from sight. Sora groaned as he fretted the consequences of telling Kurosaki and quickly shut his door.
~Orihime~
The moonlight filtered faintly through the large barred window dispersing gently onto the marble floors kindling the room transcendent and unearthly, looming with it the specs of dust forever flowing through the air carelessly. Spaced very far away I layed daydreaming that I was floating somewhere in space on my bed traveling through the unknown of the stars and gases in the galaxy the soothing waves of oblivion washed through my body imagining that I could travel as fast as the speed of light and I was as light as a feather, it was perfect, and just as easily as I slipped into my daydreams I was jolted from my illusory imagination as someone knocked on my door. Hurriedly my bare feet padded towards the door and I leaned in,
"Who is it?" I asked quietly, afraid Nnoitra had come back for more or Ulquiorra who would come in barging into the door any second.
"It's me Nel, open up," she whispered, alleviation filled me and I opened the door quickly pulling her inside noting she was carrying a tray of food and for the first time in days I realized how starved I am and just to prove a point my stomach grumbled. Nel smiled and we climbed onto the ridiculously large bed.
"I brought you something to eat, I heard you been refusing all your meals." She fussed pushing the tray towards me. Nodding I dug in, relishing in the warm broth of the soup, had I realized I was eating so fast I wouldn't have caught the hiccups. Nel giggled at my odd behavior, "you were hungry." I looked up at her warm eyes and smiled, grateful to have someone like Nel with me through this whole mess if she hadn't been here with me I would have surely gone mad. Once I devoured my soup I picked up the piece of bread that came along with it and nibbled on it as Nel pushed the tray away and her smile hid away behind a serious face.
"Did Ulquiorra hurt you?" She asked searching my face for answers. I leaned away and looked at the rather large window that went as high as the ceiling.
"Not yet," I muttered unconsciously rubbing my forearm where Nnoitra had crushed until the skin purpled and during the earlier argument with Ulquiorra he had gripped the same spot worsening the bruise. Was this going to be the norm? Would I be displaying bruises if I didn't agree to all of his commands? I shuddered at the thought and Nel squeezed my fingers as if sensing my train of thought.
"Why do you serve him?" I asked intrusively searching her features for any sign that I offended her but Nel just smiled brilliantly and shook her head. " He saved me when I didn't have anyone and didn't expect anything in return." She answered a faraway look crossed her features as she remembered. I listened quietly, I couldn't imagine her being tossed away like trash and shunned away by people, Nel was beautiful, like those curvaceous women that men fantasize about and drew in their sketchbooks.
"Ulquiorra is my friend," Nel replied nudging me to turn around so she could play with my wet hair. "I thought Hollows couldn't feel anything?" I asked.
Nel scoffed "That's bull." she replied "look at me." she added proving her point, I smiled warmly at Nel "That's different...your special." I replied, Nel finished my braid and lay down and I followed suit, facing her wanting nothing more but to cling to her all night under the metaphysical feel of the moon, she was my peace.
"Your special yet somehow your the only one that doesn't know that." she praised. I closed my eyes from her intense stare wanting to keep my doubt and despair privately.
"I can't marry him Nel." I shuddered my voice breaking through the silence. Nels fingers found mine and held on tightly no longer saying anything.
"Ulquiorra isn't exactly a hollow," Nel whispered hesitantly and my eyes flew open.
"What do you mean?" I asked bewildered and I leaning in closer.
"Ulquiorra is a Visored," Nel revealed. My mind raced for a logical answer as the new information settled in.
" What? Why does he feel like one?" I asked recalling the emptiness I felt when he was around and his monotonous way and aggressive nature.
"The closer you are to the nature of your inner hollow, the more you feel and act like one," Nel revealed unconsciously squeezing my fingers expressing her worries, I must have looked surprised because at that moment Nel looked like she regretted revealing this to me, I hurriedly composed myself.
"Thank you for telling me," I whispered realizing that this piece of information gave me insight to a much deeper understanding of Ulquiorra and as I sunk deeper into sleep my mind drifted to him, and once I was out of reach I could have sworn I felt his presence in close proximity, my eyes fluttered open for a brief second there he stood.
Littlebird021: I wanted to thank you for your wonderful comments and helpful feedback. It did take a little bit of time for me to update as things always come up unexpectedly but I will be updating again soon. Thank you again, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. :}