It had been over a month since Ulquiorra had become Komori Kuroda of Karakura High. His arm had finally healed, and he was free of the annoying sling. Ulquiorra was becoming used to his routine of feigning humanity: attending school, learning new things from Orihime, and working at Urahara's shop. Tessai had returned from his vacation, but he was so pleased with Ulquiorra's (and a lesser extent, Grimmjow's) efficiency, he had the two arrancar continue to work if they so chose. Grimmjow initially refused, but was "convinced" by a scary conversation with Urahara.

"Everyone! I've done it!" Said Urahara one morning as he arrived at the breakfast table.

"Done what?" Grumbled a sleepy Jinta.

Grimmjow was sitting at the table, impatiently holding his spoon and waiting for breakfast to be served. "Spit it out, old man. I don't got all day."

Ulquiorra took his seat calmly, dressed in his perfectly clean school uniform, ready for the school day. He said nothing, but hoped Urahara's impending speech would not hinder him. If he was late to class, then his time with Orihime would be cut shorter than necessary.

"Well now no need to applause," Urahara said sarcastically. "I only fixed Nel that's all."

"She's awake?" Grimmjow's attention was in full towards Urahara.

Urahara chuckled. "Come on out, Nel."

An arrancar woman with long green hair, a cracked hollow mask on the top of her head, a curvaceous figure, and dressed in one of Kisuke's apparently plentiful green jinbei entered the room. She grinned immediately upon seeing everyone, and waved her hand. "Hey guys!"

Grimmjow's eyes widened, his mouth open to speak but he was stunned into silence.

Ulquiorra blinked and glanced over at Grimmjow. "Were you unaware of Nelliel's true state?"

Grimmjow's face went pink. "I was…I just didn't remember her being so…" He said the rest under his breath.

Nel took a seat next to Grimmjow, propping her head up with her arm which she had rested on the table. "Nice to see you, Grimmjow. You haven't been misbehaving have you?"

Grimmjow made a noise that sounded strangely like that of an angry cat.

As they ate breakfast, Nel plastered everyone with a seemingly unending amount of questions. Grimmjow pretty much refused to answer, avoiding her gaze and shovelling as much rice porridge into his mouth as possible. Most of her questions then turned to Ulquiorra, who had stirred jam and soy sauce into his porridge (despite the disgusted looks from those present at the table).

"So you wear that gigai so you can go to school?" Nel asked. "Wait…does Ichigo go to that school!?"

Ulquiorra nodded. "Ichigo Kurosaki is my classmate. However he does not-"

"Oh Mr. Urahara can I go see him?" Nel asked.

Urahara's face looked apologetic. "I'm sorry Nel but…its too dangerous for Ichigo to see you right now given his current condition."

Nel's face fell. "Oh…" she sulked.

"Now now don't worry! I'm sure you'll be able to see Ichigo eventually!" Urahara tried to cheer her up.

"Yeah I hope so!" Nel smiled.

Ulquiorra's wristwatch (borrowed indefinately from Urahara) went off, indicating it was time for him to go to school.


"You've been spending a lot of time with that Komori guy," Tatsuki remarked.

Orihime smiled. "Well he's just so easy to get along with I guess!"

"Really? All I get is this weird dark aura from him," Tatsuki said. "He's…kinda weird, Orihime. And I'm not just saying that cuz half the girls are in love with him."

"They are? Oh yeah that's right," Orihime said. I wonder what he would think about having a girlfriend… She giggled to herself. "He would just make a face like this!" She said the last part out loud, furrowing her brow and trying to mimic Ulquiorra's annoyed expression.

"What…are you talking about?" Tatsuki said, shaking her head with a smile.

Orihime blushed. "Oh! Sorry. Daydreaming out loud again haha!"

Ichigo arrived to class and approached the two girls. "Hey guys. What's got Orihime all flustered?"

Tatsuki grinned. "Hey Ichigo! Oh nothing…she just has been hanging out with a booooooy!"

Ichigo raised his eyebrows.

"Oh nonono it's not what you think I-" How can I explain it to them? I can't! Oh it looks so awkward…and especially in front of Ichigo!

"That new kid Komori. He seems to have taken a liking to Orihime and they've been hanging out every day after school!" Tatsuki continued. "I've been busy with practice so I haven't been able to tag along but they sure do seem to like each other."

"Wh-what!?" Orihime waved her hands. "Nononono-"

"That Komori guy?" Ichigo asked, his brow furrowed.

"What about him?"

Orihime swallowed as Ulquiorra entered the classroom. A cold energy radiated from Ulquiorra and Ichigo's staredown, as the former made a slow paced approach.

"I don't know what it is about you, but you're kinda weird," Ichigo said, clenching his right fist.

Ulquiorra raised his eyebrows. "Was that supposed to provoke me?" He walked past Ichigo and greeted Orihime before taking his seat.

Uryu had watched this encounter from his seat, sending a worried glance in Orihime's direction. Orihime blushed and looked away from Uryu and out the window. She didn't like keeping this secret from Ichigo, but she knew it was for his own good.


"Hey I'm not finished with you!" Ichigo called out to Ulquiorra after school.

Ulquiorra had been walking alongside Orihime, as was customary at this point. His hands were in his pockets, his pose confident, as he spun around to face Ichigo. "I have no business with you, Kurosaki," Ulquiorra said icily.

I can't let them fight… Orihime's brow furrowed. Ulquiorra could seriously hurt Ichigo without his powers! He wouldn't hurt him…would he?

"Like hell you don't," Ichigo growled. "Tell me what you want with Orihime so badly, huh? I heard you were stalking her!"

"It was a misunderstanding," Ulquiorra explained. "Now leave us alone."

"That's a load of crap," said Ichigo. "Orihime is just too damn nice to say anything to you, even though you probably creep the hell out of her!"

Ulquiorra's entire body immediately tensed. Orihime sensed a complete shift in his emotional state, and she instinctively put a hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him. Ulquiorra's muscles relaxed and he glanced towards Orihime, his eyes wide with surprise.

Orihime walked in front of Ulquiorra to face Ichigo. "You worry too much Ichigo! Komori is my friend! He's just not that great at making friends, that's all! You should try to get to know him, he's not as scary as he seems, I promise!"

Ichigo's seemingly permanent furrowed brow loosened slightly. "Well…whatever. Forget about it. Just…be careful." He said as his mood returned to being the normal gloomy. He stuck his hands in his pockets and walked down the street towards his home.

Orihime watched Ichigo walk away with a heavy heart. Why couldn't he see that he was important to his friends even without his power? Why couldn't he see that-

A sound escaped Orihime's throat in surprise as she felt cold fingers wrap around her own. Ulquiorra, his expression a rare and unusual one of vulnerability, had taken the hand she had idly at her side in his.

Orihime blushed, and silently began walking down the street, his hand in hers. There was silence between them, only their footsteps making any noise. Orihime focused on the sounds of the rustling tree branches or cars going by to distract her mind, but it was to no avail. She kept thinking of Ichigo, the duel he and Ulquiorra had, and the monster he had turned into because of…

"Kurosaki will never appreciate it," Ulquiorra finally said.

Orihime's heart jumped. "W-what?" He cant read minds can he? Nono calm down he isn't reading your mind…

"The strange order of things," Ulquiorra replied cryptically. Orihime blinked in confusion, but Ulquiorra did not offer her any explanation.

There was some more silence, until Ulquiorra once again spoke. "Does Kurosaki trouble you this much?"

Orihime gripped a bit tighter to Ulquiorra's hand instinctively. "Can I…tell you something?" She said quietly. She had to tell someone. She couldn't keep it bottled up inside her any longer…and she needed to say this to Ulquiorra especially.

"You may tell me anything," Ulquiorra replied. "What I do with that information is another matter."

Orihime winced. His voice was always so cold. She took a deep breath. "It…it's my fault you died. If I wasn't so weak…I wouldn't have forced Ichigo to become that monster and hate himself so much! He only became that way to protect me! I just feel so guilty…and your death I never felt the same afterwards…I…"

"If it is that thing you are referring to," Ulquiorra said with disgust. "You had no part in it. Hollows are hard to kill, and will survive clinging to whatever instinct their host has. Kurosaki's instinct is to protect his friends, and his hollow latched onto it. I was reluctant to admit it was a hollow, but I finally accepted it once Urahara told me how he was made."

Orihime opened her mouth to respond, but Ulquiorra continued.

"As for my death, if I had not been stopped, I would have killed Kurosaki and most likely the Quincy if he had kept attacking me pointlessly," Ulquiorra said. "My death was inevitable." He looked at Orihime, his eyes like an emerald pool of sadness. "I had no intention to harming you…" He added softly.

"I…" Orihime tried to process what Ulquiorra had told her. It wasn't her fault? Ulquiorra didn't blame her for his death at all. She decided to deflect her feelings and ask Ulquiorra another question. "What is your instinct? Aren't you a hollow?"

"Nothing," Ulquiorra replied. He placed his right hand over his chest where his hollow hole should have been. "Complete nothingness. My instinct is to not exist. But then I am forced to exist, and I find comfort in following orders." He glanced at Orihime again. "Aizen's orders were my instinct. But now I have nothing, so I-"

"What? I don't believe you!" Orihime smiled. "You're way too curious for your own good! You're like a cat! Your instinct has got to be curiosity or something. Why else would you be so interested in me?"

Ulquiorra had yet again another stunned expression. "You are a strange girl," he said. They had just arrived at Orihime's apartment, having held hands the entire walk there. Orihime didn't want to let go of his hand, but she knew she would have to.

"Will you…" Ulquiorra started to say.

Orihime blinked. "Will I what?" She asked. What could he possibly want to ask her? Her heart began beating as she thought of a bunch of embarrassing possibilities.

Suddenly, there was a spike in reiatsu, and a strange cracking sound could be heard. Orihime turned her head to see a garganta opening in the sky. She gasped, and Ulquiorra let go of her hand. He took a defensive stance in front of her, his arm out to have her stand back.

Three arrancar that Orihime had never seen before emerged from the garganta. They were all female, dressed in the typical white clothing, all with zanpakto at their hips. The girl who was presumably their leader, approached Ulquiorra with a smirk on her face.

"Well well well, been a pain in the ass to locate you, Espada number four," she said. "Now we know why. You're stuck looking like a human of all things!"

Ulquiorra's expression hardly changed. "What do you want?" He asked. "Did Grimmjow report to Halibel of my revival? If she is trying to recruit me I-"

"Oh no, we aint on our dear Halibel's orders," the arrancar sneered. "We're here on…let's just say, actual arrancar business. We're here to rendezvous with you just like Lord Aizen said."

"Aizen said what?" Ulquiorra's voice quivered for a second.

"Yeah you're supposed to come back with us and further the plan to help Lord Aizen!" The arrancar said.

"I do not have the slightest clue as to what you are talking about," Ulquiorra sighed. "Now leave. I have no interest in Aizen. The strongest of the espada were easily defeated by the very captains who keep Aizen sealed. Any attempt to release him from prison is futile."

The arrancar looked behind Ulquiorra to see Orihime. "Oh, if it isnt the Princess! So, guess you missed your little plaything huh? Well maybe if we removed her as a distraction you'll come to your senses!"

Orihime was about to react to the arrancar's attack with her shield, but Ulquiorra had somehow evacuated his gigai and stopped the arrancar's blade with his bare right hand.

The arrancar's face went from one of bloodlust to that of sheer terror. Orihime could understand why. The moment Ulquiorra had left the gigai behind, his terrible and immense arrancar reiatsu was detectable. This poor arrancar was suddenly rudely awakened to the fact she was provoking arguably the most terrifying Espada in Aizen's ranks.

"D-damn…" the arrancar muttered, attempting to pull back.

Ulquiorra crushed the arrancar's sword with one hand, breaking the sword into tiny pieces.

The arrancar stumbled backwards, but Ulquiorra grabbed her by the collar and lifted her off the ground. Her two companions rushed in to assist her, but Ulquiorra threw the first arrancar at them, deterring them.

Orihime had a hard time keeping up with the battle from the first section. Ulquiorra, as she remembered, had unworldly speed. The arrancar assailants were skilled as well, able to somewhat keep up with Ulquiorra's attacks.

Blood splattered onto the pavement. Orihime shrieked in surprise as the arrancar leader plummeted to the ground, covered in blood.

Ulquiorra casually blocked the sword of one of the two arrancar still uninjured with one of his forearms. His left hand was still tucked away in his pocket. "Incredible that you could dodge that. That attack should have killed you."

"Damn you!" She cried, using her broken sword to help her stand. There was a large, gaping wound through her left shoulder. Orihime assumed this was a miss on Ulquiorra's part, because he usually aimed for the middle of the chest.

"Your attempts are useless," Ulquiorra said, finally taking his left hand out of his pocket. He grabbed the remaining two arrancar by their faces and slammed them into the ground. "It is time for you to die."

"Ulquiorra, stop!"

Ulquiorra froze. He had a hand positioned above one of the arrancar's chests, ready to tear it apart. He turned his head to Orihime, who had called out to him, wordlessly expecting her to explain herself.

Orihime looked at the beaten arrancar lying on the ground, bleeding and injured. "Just let them go! You've already beaten them!"

Ulquiorra straightened his posture and stood to his full height (not very tall, but still menacing in its own way). His white hand dripped with blood, and the setting sun cast an eerie reddish light on him. "Foolish girl!" He cried out in distress. Orihime's eyes widened. Ulquiorra's face was twisted in an expression of concern, his voice raised loudly. "They will just come back to kill you!"

He did this to protect me… Orihime clenched her fists and dropped to her knees. "Please Ulquiorra! I don't want anyone else to die because of me!"

Ulquiorra hesitated for a moment, then kicked the arrancar he was previously going to slaughter. "Go," he said in the darkest voice Orihime had ever heard. "Before I change my mind."

The arrancar did their best to crawl towards a garganta and go through it. The leader looked back towards Orihime and said "you think you're so perfect! Who the hell do you think you are?! We'll make you regret making your stupid decisions!" The garganta closed before Ulquiorra could land a blow against the arrancar.

Orihime was shaking. Tears began flowing uncontrollably. She thought she had recovered from the horrors of the war and her imprisonment, but it all began flooding back to her the moment Ulquiorra went into battle.

Ulquiorra approached her and knelt beside her. Orihime didn't look at him. She couldn't. She didn't understand why Ulquiorra would try to protect her despite not having orders to do so. She knew he was interested in humans, but-

She felt a cold hand slide into hers. She gulped and finally looked up at Ulquiorra. He had taken her hand with his left one, which was clean, unlike his right which was covered in now drying blood. She was confused for a moment, until she realized that this was the only expression of connection he understood. He protected me…because of his heart…

She wiped her tears away with her sweater's sleeve. "S-sorry. I guess I was too overwhelmed."

"Are you hurt?" Ulquiorra asked.

Orihime was surprised by the question. "Oh. Uhm. No." Ulquiorra stood and helped her to do so as well. He still was holding her right hand in his left, and Orihime didn't want to let go.

He looked less intimidating than when he was her captor in Las Noches. He was wearing a plain white yukata, which Orihime had seen before as the undergarment of a Soul Reaper (however his had pockets sewn into it). He had no sword, and his hollow hole was visible due to the loose fitting collar of the clothing. The bloodstains, despite not belonging to him, made him appear injured. He looked vulnerable, like he needed some sort of protection.

"I need to inform Urahara," Ulquiorra said.

Orihime let go of his hand. "Okay I'll stay here and-"

She felt herself being lifted off her feet as Ulquiorra had picked her up bridal style. Air escaped her lungs as he lunged forwards and began running at an insane speed.

"What are you doing?" She cried.

"There is a chance more arrancar or even hollows would come to attack you," Ulquiorra explained calmly. "So you must stay with me for now."

Orihime covered her face in embarrassment. "I-I'm not too heavy am I?" She asked without thinking.

"Ridiculous. A mere human's weight is nothing to me," Ulquiorra scoffed. "I could carry ten of you and not tire."

Somehow this did not make Orihime feel better at all.


Ulquiorra arrived at Urahara's shop in what was probably under a minute. He finally set Orihime down on the ground, her hair flying everywhere from the shock of the speed at which they were flying. She had been gripping onto his neck, and still didn't let go when her legs first touched the ground, locking them in an awkward embrace.

She feels so warm and soft… Ulquiorra had never felt something quite like this before. It was somewhat familiar to when he was stuck under the heart of the crystal trees. Intriguing. He would have to look more into this.

Orihime let go of him with a small cry of embarrassment and started smoothing down her school uniform.

Ulquiorra stormed into the shop. Urahara was slumped over his desk, his wild blonde hair even more wild than usual. He appeared as if he had just woken up from a long nap, and he was eating out of a large bag of snacks. He blinked when he saw the arrancar. "Oh, you're back. How was school? Don't tell me you forgot your gigai at school."

"Orihime is in danger," Ulquiorra stated.

Urahara raised his eyebrows.

"Arrancar have come looking for me, stating it has something to do with the return of Aizen," Ulquiorra said. "They are targeting Orihime in an attempt to persuade me to join them."

"That's not good," Urahara said, shoving another snack into his mouth. "But that brings up an interesting point."

"Aizen has something to do with my revival," Ulquiorra concluded.

"I hope this doesn't make you want to return to him," Urahara said darkly.

"Aizen throws away subordinates that fail to be useful to him any longer," Ulquiorra said. "No matter how loyal they are to him. Regardless of what purpose he would offer me, he lacks my interest. Those with hearts do not throw their companions away so easily."

Urahara chuckled. "I see. What an interesting reply, Mr. Arrancar. It's almost like you're trying to say that you have people you care about and wouldn't dream of betraying them."

"Hilarious," Ulquiorra said with a grimace. "That you assume I could form human attachments."

Urahara was about to reply, when Orihime entered the room. She touched Ulquiorra's arm as she did so. Ulquiorra tried to not make a sound from her surprise touch, and clenched his teeth to prevent it.

Urahara's expression changed to one of mischief. "Oh hello Orihime! We were just discussing you."

Ulquiorra snapped a glare in Urahara's direction, who merely gave a smirk in reply.

"Me?" Orihime asked.

"About the attacks that will be directed towards you," Ulquiorra clarified. Before this girl gets the wrong idea…damn you Urahara.

"You're no fun," Urahara sighed.

"Attacks against me? Why? What did I do?" Orihime asked in distress. "I thought Aizen was defeated! What do the arrancar want with me? I thought Aizen didn't need me anymore because-"

"It is not you they want," Ulquiorra interrupted. "It's me. They now will target you in an attempt to convince me to go back with them. A meaningless effort. Your death is inconsequential to my decision."

"You…you don't care about me?"

Ulquiorra's eyes shot wide open at Orihime's quiet comment. Urahara raised his eyebrows and covered his mouth with his hand, hiding a smirk.

Ulquiorra's cheeks turned an odd pinkish color. Had Ulquiorra known his face could blush, he would have been more mortified than he already was. Damn it damn it damn it damn it! Say something! What do I say?

"It's fine, I figured it was this way," Orihime said as she looked into her hands. She smiled, but Ulquiorra knew that this was a forced one. It lacked her usual warmth. "What should I do?" She asked Urahara. "I don't want Uryu to-"

"I will protect her," Ulquiorra managed to say.

Orihime didn't reply. Her eyes began to glass over, as if she was staring far away.

Urahara pushed himself away from his desk and gestured for Ulquiorra to follow him. Orihime stayed put, suddenly very gloomy, but Ulquiorra followed into the shop's large storage room.

"You gotta learn how to express yourself," Urahara said.

"This has nothing to do with-" Ulquiorra began to say.

"This has everything to do with it," Urahara said as he began to rifle through boxes. "You gotta tell her how you feel about her."

Feel? About her? What does he mean by this? How do I tell the girl something I don't know what it is? "I don't understand," Ulquiorra said.

Urahara tossed aside the box he was looking through and started rifling through another. "You talk a lot about your eyes seeing things and all that exists is reflected in them. Since you can't apply it to the human heart, why don't you tell her what you see about her, and why it's important to you."

"She is not imp-"

Urahara slammed a box closed and glared at Ulquiorra. "Cut the crap, Mr. Arrancar. It boggles my mind how you can function normally when she's all that goes on in that head of yours." He started laughing. "I think you'd stop breathing if you stopped thinking about her. I don't think you understand how much you speak of her. Grimmjow is going completely out of his mind."

Ulquiorra clenched the fists he had jammed into his pockets. "Just help me protect her. It's all that matters."

Urahara grinned as he finally seemed to find what he was looking for. He pulled out an extremely average looking katana and presented it to Ulquiorra. "Tada!"

"What is this?" Ulquiorra asked.

"An Asauchi…sort of," Urahara replied. "They're blank Zanpakto usually given to new recruits in order to eventually imprint their Zanpakto spirit upon it."

"Aizen gave us these," Ulquiorra replied, taking the sword from Urahara.

"Yes this may or may not be an extra one I snagged from one of Aizen's labs," Urahara said mischievously. "I analyzed it and it has a slightly different composition than normal. It probably has to do with the fact that it's supposed to also absorb your hollow forms."

"You are aware of what would happen if I released my sword in this town?" Ulquiorra inquired. "Or even, used a cero?"

"Let's just say that I'm putting my faith in your judgement," Urahara said. "And curious as to if you'll get your sword back. You did die in your released state."

Ulquiorra reunited with Orihime, who was restlessly walking around Urahara's workroom. She still seemed gloomy, but she did feign a smile at them. "What's that?" She asked, pointing at Ulquiorra's new sword.

"A weapon. So I can protect you," Ulquiorra replied. "I will have to stay with you at all times."

"I agree. I am not sure how Orihime feels about a male roommate in her home," Urahara stated.

Orihime blushed. "It's fine! Really! I have room. I'm used to him watching over me anyways. He does a good job at it, he's so attentive! And this time he's doing it for your sake Urahara! I think it will be okay!" She put her hands on her hips to seem more optimistic.

Ulquiorra was not convinced.