Ulquiorra stood frozen in place. His hollow wasn't ready to attack. It simply stood there, its green eyes gazing at its companion.

"What do you want from me?" Ulquiorra said.

The hollow did not answer. Ulquiorra knew that it was futile to expect one; his hollow was incapable of speech.

The hollow took a step closer. Ulquiorra stepped back to keep the distance between them, but this caused the hollow to stop and slouch down, as if… disappointed.

Ulquiorra's memories of being a hollow flooded into his mind, and he turned his head to look away from the creature in front of him. He hated looking at that thing. He hated being that thing. He could not speak, eat, or communicate with anyone. All he could do was stand on the outside, alone, watching others and being completely incapable of joining them.

There was a pain in Ulquiorra's chest. "What do you want from me?!" He repeated, this time his voice cracking with agony. It was unlike him to scream like this, but the emotions welled up inside him drove him to it.

The Hollow gave no response.

"I'm sick of looking at you!" Ulquiorra cried, lunging for the hollow.

The hollow responded only by snaking its tail around Ulquiorra's neck and lifting him off the ground. Ulquiorra could barely breath as the tail tightened. He clawed at it to try and escape, but it was to no avail. His breath was slowly being taken from him, as he slipped from consciousness…

"Ulquiorra!"

Urahara was crouched over Ulquiorra, shaking the arrancar fervently. Ulquiorra sat up, his body in a cold sweat. He felt pain everywhere.

"You aren't ready," Urahara sighed.

Ulquiorra had collapsed on the floor during his meditation session, apparently. "That's…lovely," he muttered.

"Lie down," Urahara ordered. "And if you attempt to enter your inner world again before you're better I'll take the sword from you, got it?"

Ulquiorra grumbled and crawled towards his bed.


"Oh I've been so worried!"

The moment Ulquiorra had returned to school after an agonizing week, Orihime threw herself on him and began crying. She didn't care who was watching them, or what rumors it would start.

"C-calm down," Ulquiorra said, but he made no effort to push her off of him.

Orihime sniffed and looked up at him. Her eyes were puffed red with tears. "How can I calm down when you almost died?!"

Orihime was too upset to notice the subtle change in Ulquiorra's expression at her words. She pulled away from him eventually and tried to compose herself. "I…I'm so glad you're okay," she said quietly, now embarrassed by some student onlookers who were entering class.

Ulquiorra slid his hand up Orihime's arm and pulled her close to him. His lips brushed her ear as he whispered "I won't die on you again…Orihime."

Orihime's heart leaped, and warmth spread from where he had nearly kissed her ear. Mumbling could be heard from the other side of the class. Orihime pulled her sweater over her head in shame. She always insisted she and Komori were just friends, but the lie was getting harder and harder to keep up.

Ulquiorra seemed more distant than usual at lunchtime. Orihime sat with her friends, feeling awkward around Ulquiorra's strangely sulky attitude. He still walked with her towards home, but even then on their walk back it was unusually quiet and sullen.

Rangiku and Toshiro weren't home yet (they often returned very late at night), so Orihime's apartment was awfully quiet and still. She turned on the lights to help bring some sort of life, but Ulquiorra's sulking presence dampened the mood.

"Are you okay?" Orihime finally asked after Ulquiorra had sat down in the living room and stared at the wall after evacuating the gigai.

"Yes," Ulquiorra replied, his eyes still focused on the wall.

"No you're not!" Orihime snapped, falling to her knees and grabbing Ulquiorra by the shoulders. She didn't lose her temper often but Ulquiorra was someone who could drive her absolutely nuts. "I know something's bothering you…and…when you hid away at Urahara's. That was to prevent me from healing you, right?"

"That much is obvious," Ulquiorra grumbled.

Orihime shrank back from him, her heart crashing. "I want to…help you."

"You…" Ulquiorra began to say, but he looked away from her.

Tears came to Orihime's eyes, but she swallowed the welling emotions. Why must he hurt himself so much? Was she really that much of a burden to him that he couldn't rely on her? The only thing she was really good at was healing, after all, but Ulquiorra had flat out rejected her help.

"If…if you don't want me to help you then…" Orihime took a deep breath. "You can forget about protecting me!"

"Absurd," Ulquiorra replied. He sighed and leaned towards Orihime, his voice lowered. "By staying safe you help me."

"But I don't…it doesn't matter if you're not," Orihime whimpered.

Ulquiorra grabbed both of Orihime's hands with his. Her heart beat faster as his touch, despite them having held hands countless times before. "If I die protecting you, then I would not have protected you at all. Do not dare compare me to that fool Kurosaki. There are things I am willing to do that he would never dream of for the sake of your protection. The physical suffering I endure is nothing in comparison to the despair I would feel if harm came to you. You are…" he hand his head, his breaths shaking. "...you are my world, Orihime. I cannot face existence any longer if you are not with me." His hands gripped tighter to Orihime's, and they began to shake. "This week apart from you was agony. I…"

Orihime let go of Ulquiorra's hands, then embraced him. He flinched under her touch, but then seemed to melt into her. His arms wrapped around her back as he held onto her, his chin resting on her shoulder. His cold, hard hollow mask pressed onto Orihime's cheek. She nearly poked her eye on his horn, but she didn't mind. Watching out for the little horn on his head just was an occupational hazard as Ulquiorra's…whatever it was.

"I won't go anywhere I promise," Orihime assured the distressed Ulquiorra.

Ulquiorra's green eyes searched Orihime's face for a few moments before he pecked her lips with his own. She was surprised for sure, to receive a kiss from him, and on her lips no less. Of course, this only served to remind her of the one time they had begun making out, to which the memory she turned a bright shade of crimson.

Ulquiorra did not attempt anything more, and instead stood up and headed for the kitchen. "I'm hungry," he said.

"Oh!" Orihime snapped herself from her trance. "I'll make us some dinner!" She said, scurrying towards the kitchen as well.


Ulquiorra had a sea of emotions tangled in his chest he had no idea how to even begin to process. Normally his logical solution to this was to just shove them aside, but ever since his unsettling encounter with his hollow or whatever it was, he had to forcibly allow emotions to run their course. His strongest, of course, were his feelings towards Orihime. But what exactly were they? He could at least figure out he was fond of her, or attached to her in some fashion. Enough to rile up jealousy when she spent her precious, beautiful time with anyone else. He wanted to shield her, like he was guarding the most precious treasure in the world.

He had to force himself back out into the living room to sleep. He had snuck into Orihime's bedroom to watch her sleep. The anxiety always loomed over him that something terrible was going to happen to her while he wasn't there. She had gone an entire week without his protection (what good was that now that he was weaker than their foes?!), and the agony had gnawed at his chest. His wounds had healed once Urahara had removed the poison, but the pain left behind from his humiliating defeat was still there.

Orihime was cheerful, as per usual, in the morning. Ulquiorra had gone into her room to gently wake her. Her eyes fluttered open and she gave him a happy smile, touching his cheek with her hand. This warm, fuzzy moment lingered with Ulquiorra all the way to school. He could hardly hear what Orihime was updating him about, he was in a place of pure bliss. He could let nothing take this feeling away from him…

"Kuroda!"

Ulquiorra's mood was immediately soured. "Kurosaki," he grumbled.

School had flown by for Ulquiorra, and he didn't even seem to mind the constant pestering by his fellow classmates asking him where he had been. He had grown incredibly patient in his time in the world of the living. But, Kurosaki was enough to end that patience for good.

"I wanna talk to you," Kurosaki demanded. He had his arm in a sling, which Ulquiorra assumed was and injury from his fight with Grimmjow.

"Fine, but make it quick," Ulquiorra sighed. "I want to go home. I'm weary of this place."

Orihime grabbed Ulquiorra's hand, to which he was grateful for.

Kurosaki led the group to a quieter place at the school grounds, away from listening ears and prying eyes. Ulquiorra immediately guessed what this confrontation was about, and reflexively squeezed Orihime's hand to brace himself.

"…your name isn't really Kuroda, is it?" Kurosaki said.

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed.

"I get it now why you're so attached to her," Kurosaki said. "What was it? Orders? To spy on her or something? I'm not even gonna ask how the hell you're alive."

"Why should I-" a squeeze from Orihime's hand reminded Ulquiorra that it pained her to keep the truth from Kurosaki. He exhaled, and against his better judgement he decided to speak the truth. "I am here due to Kisuke Urahara, who I am loyal to."

"I thought you went nuts over protecting Lord Aizen or whatever," Kurosaki scoffed. "Listen I don't care how you're back or even why by stay the hell away from Orihime! I've said it before, it's really creepy! And now that I know you're an espada I-"

Orihime stepped in front of Ulquiorra.

"Stop it! Leave him alone. He's on our side now and he doesn't deserve you bullying him!"

Ulquiorra and Kurosaki were both speechless at this sudden display. Orihime generally refrained from being assertive unless she genuinely meant it.

"Orihime, it's not safe!" Kurosaki persisted. "You're always doing stupid stuff that gets you hurt! And this is probably the worst thing you could do!"

"Oh, be quiet Ichigo!" Orihime cried, her voice raising. "You…you always treat me like I'm made of glass or something! I know I'll never be as strong as you were or as strong as our friends but…I can take care of myself!"

Orihime began crying and ran away.

"Orihime…" Kurosaki said quietly, watching her go.

"You're lucky she deems you have some form of value or I would kill you," Ulquiorra snapped at Kurosaki before rushing after the crying girl.

Ulquiorra caught up to her quickly. She had begun walking towards home, tears falling in large droplets down her face. "Orihime…Orihime…" Ulquiorra chanted softly as he placed his arm around her shoulder.

Orihime said nothing. She was gripping onto her bookbag and staring off into space. Ulquiorra had to guide her to make sure she didn't run into anything on their walk back home. He wanted desperately to say something, but knew anything he said would just make the situation worse.

I've never seen her fight with Kurosaki, Ulquiorra thought. What were her feelings towards that boy? She seemed awfully attached to him. He even went as far as to fight an Espada for Orihime's safety. Of course, Ulquiorra never really intended to bring harm to Orihime, even when under Aizen's command. He had kept up this appearance to aggravate Kurosaki into a fight…but never once took into consideration Orihime's feelings. Now he would never dream of doing something like that. No matter how much he loathed Kurosaki, bringing harm to Orihime's friends would just make her cry.

"Your…your keys, Orihime," Ulquiorra said in a soft voice as they reached her door. The girl fumbled with her bag and retrieved her key ring, trying to place the key in its lock with a shaking hand. Ulquiorra steadied her hand with his and slowly opened the door.

Orihime kicked off her shoes and immediately headed for her bedroom, collapsing in her bed, her bag dropped to the livingroom floor. She then began sobbing uncontrollably into one of her many pillows.

Ulquiorra quietly picked up her things and put them in their proper place. He didn't know what to do exactly, other than silently do some chores while she cried. While he was washing their lunch dishes, he saw a note on the fridge written in Orihime's handwriting. "New shift starts tomorrow after school!"

Ah…that's right… Orihime had to apply for a job at the bakery they frequented. Ulquiorra had thought it would be a good idea for him to work alongside her, but his training and the arrancar threat was in the way of this. Perhaps one day he could do something to provide money for her.

Orihime finally stopped crying and made her way into the kitchen where Ulquiorra had just finished sweeping the floor and finishing up his quick cleaning.

"Who ever thought that an espada would be cleaning my kitchen," Orihime said with a sniff, her voice still shaking from her sobs.

"Who ever thought that an espada would be honored to clean your kitchen," Ulquiorra said with a smile. The smile he gave was small, but genuine. His feelings for Orihime to feel happy were so overwhelming, his body seemed to react without him having to think about it!

"Why, Ulqui?"

This question gave Ulquiorra pause. "What?"

"Why are you…taking care of me? And…protecting me."

"Because I want to," came Ulquiorra's honest reply. He felt the palms of his hands sweat for some reason. Was it because he had neglected to evacuate the gigai when they came home? No…this was from his unstable emotions.

"Yes but…why do you want to?" Orihime asked him. Her eyes were still red from tears.

"I…" Ulquiorra could not form words to express his feelings. He wished there was a way to express these complicated feelings without speaking.

"Is it because of Urahara?" Orihime continued. "Is it…is it because you feel bad for what Aizen did to me? Is it because I'm just a burden on other people? That you feel sorry for me that I am so stupid I can't take care of myself?" Her voice began to raise towards the end of her questioning.

"No!" Ulquiorra replied immediately.

"Then why?" Orihime cried.

"Because I love you!"

Orihime gasped and stared, her mouth slightly ajar. Ulquiorra immediately clamped a hand over his mouth.

Why did I say that? Why? It just…slipped out!? Ulquiorra felt like time had stopped, and the room had fallen eerily quiet.

Orihime had a few silent tears fall down her face, to which she then sniffed and wiped her eyes with her sweater sleeve. "Oh…" she said as she visibly fought back a smile.

Ulquiorra relaxed, took a deep breath, and walked into the livingroom, guiding the emotional Orihime with him. He sat across from her and mustered up the courage to speak. "I…am new to this…" He hung his head in shame, unable to bring himself to look at Orihime. "I am not sure that Arrancar are capable of feeling love. But…I've done some semblance of research and…I believe that is how I feel about you." He felt his face burn in embarrassment.

Orihime was clearly blushing. "Oh…you…I…"

"I did not wish to burden you with such knowledge of my feelings," Ulquiorra said. "But it slipped out on accident."

Orihime clasped her fingers together and looked down at the floor. Her long orange hair fell in strands over her face. Ulquiorra couldn't help but brush aside her hair with the most gentle touch he could manage.

Orihime caught his hand in hers and held it against her cheek. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I have been so confused during this time being with you…you know…there was a lot for me to sort out. But I think…I think I know the answer now."

Ulquiorra gulped. Would he be able to handle her rejection? What would he do when she rejected his feelings? Would he be able to continue being her friend? Would he-

"I love you, Ulquiorra. I think…I think I always have."


"Hopefully you do not wake up from this."

This was the second time Kisuke had ventured into Ichigo's inner world. It was an empty, topsy turvy world, somewhat filling Kisuke with a sense of existential dread.

"Man…I'd hate to be you," Kisuke remarked as he perched on the side of one of the many floating buildings of this strange city.

Kisuke shifted his weight from one foot to the other. It had been a long while since he had worn the typical Soul Reaper uniform, complete with his zanpakto at his side. Benihime usually was in Kisuke's cane, so having her at his waist was an unusual feeling.

"Hello? Anybody home?" Kisuke called out into what felt like the void. "Come out or I'll start cutting stuff!"

Kisuke saw a flash of white. His heart leaped in terror as he spun around to see what it was. Upon seeing nothing, he sighed. "Man, do I hate being my own guinea pig…" he sighed.

"What's up, old timer?"

Kisuke snapped his head in the direction of the voice. This time, he really did see a figure standing before him. He looked just like Ichigo, yet was dressed in pure white. Everything about him was white, even his skin and hair, save for the black scalera of his eyes.

"Hey I know you, you're the one who freed me," said the figure.

"So…you're…" Kisuke's question trailed off. How interesting! For the hollow to have taken this form…

"I assume you're here because of Ichigo, huh?" the hollow asked.

Kisuke nodded. "I'm looking for Ichigo's source of power...for Zangestu."

The hollow looked Kisuke over for a second, crossed his arms, and bore his teeth in a wicked smile.