I truly cannot express just how sorry I am for taking quite a long time to update. I had summer school, and painfully learned firsthand that summer school during college is one of the worst ideas in the world.

Anyway, now that my nightmare is over with, I can now update on Let the Night Rise and Fall.

Feel free to tell me if you have any ideas for the upcoming chapters.

-O-

Chapter 13:

Escape to Paradise

The trees looked happy - completely ignorant of the trials human beings have to face. The small rays of sunlight that managed to penetrate the thick canopy of the evergreen leaves played in childish patterns over the light skin of the lily girl.

Childhood was the halcyon times. It was the period in life where one was free to be naive, happy, innocent, and irresponsible. However, with the onset of adulthood, such freedom gradually diminished as the former children experience heartbreak, job stress, school work, and the confusion of adolescence.

"If only there was a guidebook..." Sayuri muttered sarcastically to herself.

The only good thing that has happened so far was that her doctor finally confirmed her leg to be practically healed. Her doctor did comment on how odd it was for her crushed ankle to mend so rapidly. He had called it a medical miracle. At least, she could walk normally now.

It had been several days since Hiro's confession, and she still could not find a suitable answer to give him. Yes, they had been dating for months, but she felt this hesitancy towards him that she had never felt in all the years she has known him.

To add to the issue, she noticed that Ulquiorra only returned to her room late at night after, what she believed, was a rather long hunt for...food. It truly felt like the frail connection she had with the ashen man was beginning to unravel and deteriorate.

'W-what am I even doing thinking about him?' she scolded herself mentally, 'I went out here in the middle of nowhere to clear my head, so I can give Hiro a suitable answer...Yet, I always find myself wondering to the enigma that is Ulquiorra.'

She let out a pitiful sigh.

She looked around her. She was surrounded by nothing more than majestic trees, bushy shrubs, and the shy heads of small white flowers. Sayuri had always adored this forest because of the plants that persisted in winter even when all other plants have surrendered to the cold.

The wilderness made her feel lonely, but she always thought more clearly when she was surrounded by nothingness.

Rounding a corner, she finally reached her destination. It was an oval shaped meadow covered with a diverse assortment of wild lilies whose flowers had already come and gone for the year. Her parents had told her that they had discovered this place when they were younger. It was sort of like a haven for her and her family whenever they needed an escape from civilization.

This place was their paradise.

Sayuri sat down by the trunk of the sakura tree that was placed directly at the center of the mini heaven. Her parents did not know who had grown the pink tree, but it was obvious that it had been purposely placed at the center of the clearing as the masterpiece. The vibrant soft, colorful petals of the blossoms began to dance in a graceful manner as a nearby wind loosened their hold on the branches. Winter had already arrived, and so the large tree was only decorated with the few courageous remaining blossoms that have managed to survive the onslaught of frigid air and wind.

With a smile, she felt her mind and body relax. She needed to think, and she hoped that by the time she leaves the paradise, the decision she sought would have arrived to her.

'Maybe...,' she bit her lip and stared at the patches of sky visible through the cover of the large tree, 'Just maybe, I have lost my feelings for Hiro. I no longer feel that excitement and overwhelming happiness that I used get when I was about to see his face.'

Her lips pursed as though she had a sour taste in her mouth. She was not making much sense to herself, but at least it was a start.

'I do not know.' How she loathed that sentence. However, she could not help but repeat it. She truly had no clue.

"I wonder how Ulquiorra is doing?" she suddenly found herself asking, again straying from her task of decision making.

The young woman with ebony locks shook her head, and in frustration, set her head against her raised knees.

'Still, I cannot help, but wonder about him...'

-O-

"Hey," a rather masculine voice spoke before she felt warm hands shake her shoulder slightly, "You alright?"

Groggily, Sayuri slowly brought herself to a sitting position after apparently having dozed off at the base of the tree.

"Y-Yeah," she began weakly, "I'm fine. I feel asleep is all."

"This is a strange place to sleep," she heard him say as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.

She giggled tiredly, "I suppose so."

Slowly, her blurry vision cleared and she was met with the a shocking shade of orange. Blinking quickly to rid of the blurriness sooner, she realized that she has seen this face before.

"The name's Ichigo," the boy introduced himself, extending his right arm out in greeting.

'He's that boy,' she noted with nearly uncontrolled alarm.

"Hurry and finish it off already. There's a human here," a feminine but strong voice stated. She sounded as though she was right above them.

"All right. I am," another person said in a rather irritated voice -only this time, it was the sound of a male. His voice sounded from the direction of where the beast had stood towering above her helpless form.

From these comforting voices of people, Sayuri peeled her lids open just in time to witness a male in a black traditional male's kimono swing a massive sword straight down the dark monstrosity's body.

As the thing shattered into nothing, Sayuri inspected her savior's face. He had a clean cut face with striking orange hair.

As she inspected him, she saw that he wore modern clothes rather than the strange black hakama that she recalled on the day she was attacked.

'Maybe I've simply mistaken him for that otherworldly male who had sav-'

"Are you going to tell me your name?" the male's voice broke her out of her reverie.

She blushed at her daydreaming; she probably looked odd staring at him the way she had been.

"Sayuri," she said, finally meeting his offered hand with her own. "My name is Sayuri."

He gave off a friendly smile as he returned his raised hand down to his sides. "Nice to meet you."

She merely nodded in return, still lost in her own thoughts. 'He does not seem to recognize me.'

"How did you manage to end up all the way here?"

"I could say the same about you," she coolly replied back.

The young male, whom she deduced was around her age, scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. "That is true. I...got lost you see."

Sayuri smiled at the rather odd male. "I live in Hitamura, the city nearby, if you have heard of it. I come here to relax and to just experience a little bit of freedom if you know what I mean," she explained, seeing that he offered no threat.

"I'm from Karakura. I was actually heading off to Hitamura to run some errands."

"I can help you if you would like," she offered.

Whenever she met someone or an animal in need, she always had this feeling that she ought to help them. Besides, it was how she had met Ulquiorra after all. She had willingly helped him that day, and as such, she was graced with a new friend in her life.

"That would be a great help. Thank you."

Ichigo held out his hand again, which Sayuri gratefully accepted, to help the young girl to her feet. Sayuri led him to the same path she had taken. She was not sure if this was truly the same boy she had seen that one fateful day, but he needed help, and she would kindly be the one to help him. Besides, it was always how she had been with others.

"You do know it is quite dangerous to be out in the middle of nowhere by yourself, especially since you are quite young and dozing off."

She lifted one of her eyebrows at his statement. "You could have been hurt too. I am grateful for your concern, but you see...that little place back there has been sort of my family's unofficial sanctuary."

"So you were escaping from something?"

"You can call it that," she smiled at him.

"Things get better you know. You just have to ride the storm."

"That is a rather odd saying," she noted. "But I agree."

"What are you having problems with?" he asked. "I'm not trying to be sound nosy or anything, so you do not have to explain anything to me."

"No, I do not mind. My problem is...something that all girls go through."

"Your...uh...time of the month?" Ichigo concluded hesitantly.

At his words, Sayuri could not help but give a rather small laugh. "A girl's time of the month is not our only problem you know. It's the other thing that girls have trouble with."

Getting the hint, Ichigo rightfully said, "Boys huh?"

With a small bounce of her head, Sayuri explained her little dilemma with Hiro. She did not bother trying to bring forth the topic of Ulquiorra. It would probably just confuse her newfound friend.

The orange headed boy looked up at the bright sky for a brief moment in thought.

"Think of it this way. If you no longer feel happiest when he is around, then he probably is not the guy for you."

Sayuri blinked at his wise words.

"W-What?" Ichigo asked about her incredulous look.

Her lips curled into a small smile. "Nothing. I just find it rare for a guy to be so sagacious about female issues."

"Well, I have two younger sisters," he explained himself, "I have watched them grown up, and understanding female problems comes with the territory of being an older brother."

"I think my younger brother would like you," she stated.

"How so?"

"You seem...cool," Sayuri tried to find the word that Shin would use to describe the orange headed teen.

A masculine laugh escaped his lips. His laugh sounded nice, Sayuri realized, but his voice did not really compare to Ulquiorra's baritone sound.

"By the way, there is a train that takes you to Hitamura, so you will not have to get lost next time," she informed him.

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

"No problem."

Once they reached the edge of the forest, the sight of tall buildings and bustling streets met their view.

"I present to you Hitamura," Sayuri swept her hands in front of her in a grand flourish as though presenting the city to Ichigo. "Would you like me to take you to wherever you are going or can you manage from here?"

"I think I can find my way now. Thanks for the offer Sayuri."

"Anytime," Sayuri stated, "Just avoid getting lost again."

The two laughed before parting ways. Sayuri gave a small wave goodbye, and then headed back towards her home, her problem forgotten for the moment.

-O-

"Next time, you go chase that hollow."

A rattling voice shook in mild laughter. "Did you get lost Ichigo?"

"N-No," the orange-haired boy had a patch of red that vibrantly expressed his embarrassment.

The shorter girl gave him a look that plainly told him that she did not believe what he was saying.

Ichigo opened his mouth as if to say something, but stopped himself half way through.

"What is it?"

Sighing, he admitted, "Rukia, do you remember that girl we saved at the park here at Hitamura?"

"What of her?" came the feminine voice.

"I ran into her in the forest after I killed that hollow. I don't know if it is a coincidence that the hollow had gone to that forest where she was or if it was actually drawn to her," he explained, "And when she first saw me, it seemed as though she recognized who I was or that she had seen me before."

Rukia felt her small black brows furrow in thought and confusion. "Ichigo are you saying that hollows are purposely searching for that girl, and that she may have a strong enough spiritual energy to have seen us that day we had saved her?"

"I can't really conclude anything. All I know is that there is something different about that girl. When she lead me through that forest, I felt something dark that mingled with her own spiritual pressure. It felt strong, but it was...faded to the point that it almost felt like it wasn't even there."

Mimicking his partner, orange eyebrows settled into a deep frown at his contradictory words. He screamed in frustration and held his head.

"We will figure it out," Rukia consoled him. "Besides, I think we will be making continuously trips here at Hitamura because of all the recent hollow activity. The hollow population is slightly dwindling, but the sudden rise in their population is so strange. We will figure it out though. I know we will."

-O-

Sayuri surveyed her surroundings without even registering any details. No, her mind was too preoccupied to notice much of anything.

'Meeting Ichigo distracted me somewhat from my problems, but now that there are no more distractions, I'm back where I first began: indecisive and confused.'

Sayuri looked at the noon sky with the sun beating down on her from directly above. She had not realized that it was still early, but she did not feel like walking back to the meadow now that she was already in the city.

She sighed. She has felt out of sync with everything because of, well, everything.

"What did you tell that boy?" She suddenly saw a white form materialize before her as she made sense of the words, and in her surprise, she let out a childish yelp.

With her hands placed on her chest to calm her rapidly beating heart, she cried out, "You scared me Ulquiorra!"

Ignoring her words, Ulquiorra boomed, "What did you tell him woman?"

"I-Ichigo?"

The ashen mad resisted the immature urge to roll her eyes at her lack of eloquence.

"Who else would I be talking about woman?" he retorted rather testily.

Recently, he noted that his naturally calm self was not as prevalent as it normally was. In fact, he seems to be losing his temper in the past couple of days, and it was more than obvious that his temper flared towards the troublesome woman.

"R-Right. How silly of me to ask such a ridiculous question," she said, ignoring the fact that Ulquiorra had most likely spied on her and rather focused in her mind that Ulquiorra was angry with her yet again.

To answer his first question, she quickly added, "I did not say anything. Why are you concerned with him? Is he a threat or something?"

"That is none of your business," came his cold baritone voice.

She did not bother arguing with him about his statement and simply said that Ichigo had seemed like a kind person.

He froze her with his gaze. Sayuri felt stuck; he seemed so cold to her at that moment.

"Anyone would seem kind to those who are naive enough to believe it," the strong hollow blandly commented.

Ulquiorra noticed the flash of hurt that shown on her face before she dismissed it. However, her expressive eyes still openly communicated her feelings.

Watching her muster a smile, he listened as she said, "I suppose you are right. I probably am naive. Silly me..."

She knocked her head lightly with her knuckles and stuck her tongue out at her mistake, attempting to conceal her hurt feelings behind a happy exterior.

"I really am quite dumb," she laughed.

"Stop that," he felt his mouth move.

"Mm?" she managed to ask.

"You are not dumb," he heard his voice say, "Just naive."

Finally, Ulquiorra watched as a genuine smile graced her pink lips.

"Hey Ulquiorra," she curiously felt the need to ask, "How long til you leave Hitamura?"

He could not help but raise one of his dark eyebrows at her blunt and random inquiry.

"Are you trying to rid of me now woman?" his baritone voice asked, almost jokingly.

She blushed at his accusation. Flustered, she stuttered, "W-What? No, t-that is not it. You just do not seem like the type of person, er hollow, that likes to stay in one place for too long."

"This place has no meaning to me. I have no need to stay here much longer," he stated.

At his answer, he watched as her genuine smile faded as quickly as it had came. Her face became decorated with nothing but her apparent sadness.

"I understand," she sounded weakly.

Summoning all of her courage, the dark haired female took one of his hands in hers and tugged at him to follow.

"What are you doing woman?" he let out an irritated growl.

She looked at him with a forced toothy grin. "Going home of course."

With that, Sayuri faced forward again and continued to lead Ulquiorra to their desired location.

The ashen man, at first, resisted her attempts to lead him to the white abode, but his hesitance loosened as he found himself staring at their entwining hands. As a result, he just found himself willingly following the troublesome girl through the streets that he had passed countless times over the past couple of weeks since he was first "dropped" on the small town.

'His hands feel cold, and yet refreshing. Nice even,' she mentally said with a blush, 'But I need to get used to the idea that this happiness -this happiness that I feel with this man -will not last. He will leave soon, and take this happiness away. For now, I can enjoy this, but what will I do when I am finally woken up from this fading happiness? I-I need to re-accustom myself to a life without Ulquiorra. I need to relearn what life without this man is like: ordinary and inevitable.'

She smiled bitterly.

'I am going to lose him.'

-O-

I hope you are liking these new developments.

I promise that more will come!