It was a warm afternoon as the sun's rays engulfed the city. A sound of ringing erupted through the whole building as the students of Karukura high school slowly began to emerge from the classrooms.

Orihime found herself waiting at the entrance of the school gate as many students passed her. She held her bag with both hands in front of her as she leaned against the fence. She waved merrily to a few familiar faces as her friends departed.

She found herself lost in her thoughts as she reminisced all that occured the following months between herself and her friends after the war. A smile graced her lips as she took in the warm sun that fell down on her. A breeze of wind travelled through the courtyard, causing some of the leaves to rustle, as the remaining students exited the building.

"Are you ready?"

The voice caused the auburn haired girl to be pulled from her thoughts. She blinked and turned in the direction of it and she met eyes with intense luscious green. The remnants of the wind had caused his inky black hair to sway gracefully.

Ulquiorra was dressed in a school uniform that consisted of grey slacks and a white collared shirt that was tucked neatly into his pants. The clothes held a fit over his body which showcased just how slim he was. In one hand he held his school bag to his side, and the other he had extended towards the girl, waiting for her to take it.

Orihime greeted him with a smile and nodded her head. She took hold of his hand and laced her fingers through his. The striking color difference between his deathly white skin and hers never failed to intrigue her.

Despite the cold and lifeless appearance it held, Orihime knew better than anyone that they brought nothing but warmth.

They began walking home together. Their home. They lived together, which came as no surprise to her nakama and Orihime wouldn't have had it any other way.

"How was your last class?" She sparked up a conversation as they made their way down the sidewalk, hand in hand.

"Fine." Ulquiorra answered simply. He was never a man strong on words.

"How was your test?" She tried to pry.

It was Ulquiorra's first semester living in the human world and attending school with her. Two months had already passed so midterm season was starting to rise. In other words it meant that Orihime and Ulquiorra had to have a long talk about the purpose of school and that the idea itself wasn't just "trash."

The girl already excelled in the academic arena and seeing her pass with flying colors caused a whole other level of appreciation in Ulquiorra's eyes for the human girl. It wasn't so much that he couldn't understand the material though, but more-so an inner conflict of finding it a waste of time. In Hueco Mundo he was in control. When he wanted something he took it. So he was still adjusting to life with Orihime.

One of the first things the ex-espada had learned was that to survive in this world, one must have money. To acquire money you needed to get a job. To get a good job you needed to finish school. So once Orihime explained the way things worked here, Ulquiorra realized that in order to take care of his woman he needed to put up with this human way of life and determined that excelling in school was crucial in order to make a life for himself with the girl.

"I believe I passed with high marks." Ulquiorra answered.

Orihime beemed. "Did they already pass out the scores?" She asked.

"No." He replied simply. "But the exam was a fairly easy task."

"That's great! I knew with all that studying you did there was nothing to worry about."

Orihime was so happy Ulquiorra was adjusting to the human world with her. She squeezed his hand slightly as she took in where her life was right now.

"Oh by the way…" she started, causing Ulquiorra eyes to gaze over in her direction as she spoke.

"My friends invited me to the city today. The new ice-cream museum just opened and we were all gonna go. So I actually have to head over there now." She explained.

"I see. Would you like to separate now or would you prefer if I walked with you there?"

A frown made it's a way to her lips that Ulquiorra didn't fail to notice.

"No…" She began to pout. "I wanted you to go with me."

They had just reached the first intersection. Traffic was still on-coming so they paused. As Ulquiorra used his hand that was still carrying his school bag to press the crosswalk button, he said, "I doubt your friends would be comfortable with me there."

In truth Ulquiorra did not care about the comfort of her friends. He was more-so concerned with causing her any discomfort. But apart of him also wanted to see what she had to say.

"No!" She responded eagerly. "It should be fine." She tried to convince him.

Orihime's eyes met his and with all the determination she could muster up, she said again, "I want you to go with me, Ulquiorra."

A smirk could almost be seen on his face as he heard those words. He relished every time she requested his presence. This girl really did have so much control over him and she wasn't even the wiser.

The crosswalk sign has just started flashing. He held eye contact with her for a few more moments before breaking away as he lead her across the street.

"If you request it then I shall accompany you."

"Yes!" She cried out, overjoyed.

Ulquiorra could feel her swing their arms back and forth as they crossed. He found her happiness to be contagious.

"Of course I want you to come with me and my friends."

They had just reached the other side as Ulquiorra considered this. He considered their living arrangements as well as her small hand in his. It just didn't make sense. He had yet to witness her respond the way she did around him, around any of her so called friends. To this day he did not know how she really felt towards him.

But the constant physical affection she showered him with, the lack of fear she harbored when ever he tried touch or approach her, or the natural gravitation her hand seemed to have towards his.

Everyone around them could see it. But they were both unaware. Or should I say, they had still yet to approach the meaning behind their strange bond.

With one last step, he stopped walking, and with his grip on her hand, the girl stopped in return. She glanced back to look at him with confusion plastered on her face as the wind tossed her fiery tresses around her angelically.

He simply adored her.

"Do you consider me as one of your friends?" Ulquiorra asked with all honesty.

Orihime blinked in response to this and rose her eyebrows. "Of course!"

Ulquiorra sighed. "That's disappointing to hear."

They both seemed unaware as Ulquiorra's hands slowly began to pull the girl towards him.

"Why?" She asked.

Their closer proximity allowed a blush to spread itself across her cheeks. Ulquiorra still had his grip on her hand and he pulled his arm behind him, causing the orange-haired girl to be pulled almost flushed against his chest.

As soon as he had her where he wanted her, he released his grip on the girl's hand and wrapped his strong arm around her waist. He pulled her into him, successfully removing the last empty space between them.

"When the only person I desire puts me on the same level as their friends, I can't help but feel bothered."

His eyes were boring into hers intensely as he took in all the emotions that played about her expressions.

Orihime's breath was hitched in her voice as she found it incredibly hard to speak. She was absolutely burning up as Ulquiorra's grip on her tightened.

She shyly looked away and quietly spoke, "I do view you as my friend, but I also...um..." She began stuttering.

Ulquiorra found her reaction adorable. But he also wanted to know. He pulled her even closer towards him, if that was possible, so close his breath could be felt against her lips.

"What else?" He questioned.

Her eyes finally met his once more.

"Tell me woman, what do you feel towards me?"

Orihime could feel his lips inching closer towards her own. She couldn't even form words in response as her head felt dizzy still taking in the fact that Ulquiorra had just confessed that he desired her. She shut her eyes in anticipation of the feeling of his lips pressed against hers….but…

...but they never came.

For when she opened her eyes, she realized she was no longer pressed against Ulquiorra with his lips near her own.

No, she didn't even have school that day either as they were in the middle of winter break.

She blinked once more as she took her in her surroundings and it dawned on her none of it was real. Ulquiorra wasn't going to school with her, he wasn't about to kiss her, and most importantly he wasn't his normal size.

It was a dream…

Orihime looked around and found herself sitting on the couch with her head buried in her arms. She was resting against the arm-rest with a blanket covering her legs and the TV was playing something on in the background. She was still wearing her pink nightgown when she had fallen asleep.

She slowly sat up as and recalled the events that had transpired earlier that day. After breakfast she spent most of the morning and early afternoon watching cartoons with Ulquiorra.

Orihime looked down to see the tiny arrancar that had been living with her for the past couple of days, asleep and curled up in her lap. He was in a fetal-like position with his knees pulled in close. Those inky jet black locks framed his face perfectly and his wings covered part of him as if it were a blanket. His tail was even curled up as well.

The auburn haired girl rested her cheek in her palm as she stared down at the creature. His breathing was soft and smooth, he looked peaceful.

With her other hand, she tenderly began to rub his head. It was just as soft as the many previous times she had a chance to do it. She considered Ulquiorra's words from earlier that day and wondered if she'd ever be able to do this again once he was back to normal.

The thought alone caused the auburn haired girl to frown slightly. Just how had she become so attached to her former guard?

Orihime sighed as the thoughts waved through her mind. She wasn't naive, she was aware of the situation between them. He had kidnapped her, worked for Aizen, and tried to kill Ichigo multiple times in order to prove his point.

Even so she could not hate him. The trauma she experienced was still as present and as fresh in her mind, but she knew Ulquiorra wasn't human. He was a hollow who did not understand the human heart or emotions. The few days she spent with him in Las Noches spoke enough for itself. If she really tried to think back on it, she believed the feeling she held when he reached out to her despite all that had happened, was hope. For the first time she could see emotion in his eyes and it absolutely shook the girl to her core. She could see and feel the sadness and apart of her heart went out to him, thinking that just maybe her words had reached him.

The fact that Ulquiorra was here proved that to be the case. But still how could the girl find her thoughts consumed by her previous captor in the way it had been, especially considering their current predicament. Her thoughts were torn between adoration of the super cute tiny Ulquiorra living with her and fear of her own emerging feelings for him and what would happen once he was his correct size.

Very delicately, Orihime picked up the small arrancar in her hands as she cupped his sleeping form. He stirred and made a little noise. She stared at him intensely.

She placed her thumbs under his chin and lifted his head slightly, allowing herself to get a better look at his features. She wondered just how much she could get away with while he slept. It was so odd to feel his limp body in her hands.

Orihime's thumbs brushed against his wings before making their way to his chest. Her eyes pierced through his hollow hole, a reminder on who and what he was, and she began circling her thumbs around it. She wondered if it ever hurt him.

Her eyes traced the markings on his relaxed face as he continued to sleep and something began to stir inside of eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Hesitantly, she slowly brought Ulquiorra closer. She didn't really know what she was doing, but the overwhelming emotions she felt in regards to the arrancar in her hands caused her emotions to stir. She closed her eyes.

A little closer until finally her lips met his cheek with a tender kiss. She cautiously pulled him away and tilted her head to the side as she took in his sleeping appearance.

These feelings in her heart were foreign and new, and she felt like they were a little bit wrong due to their history, but they were still there. She had grown close to him these past few days and she felt eternally grateful that he was there with her now. In that moment, Orihime determined that the feelings in her heart would not change, even if his size did.


AN:

Hope you all had a happy holidays! I'm really happy I was able to knock out two chapters. I still feel so bad for how long I left this story on hiatus...

Sorry for the shorter chapter but I hoped you liked it. I think it was important to get Orihime's take on things. A couple of moments of peace for now but expect some drama to come... ." If you enjoyed please let me know! I'm not sure when I will be able to update again because of the trip I will be taking that I mentioned last chapter but I will be working on it - I will work to make sure I do not take years like before.

If you enjoyed, please let me know or let me know what you think!