Gunfire & Paper Hearts

Chapter 5: Dancing Underneath the Skies of Lust

A/N: This new chapter takes places about 1 week after chapter 4 – at the party which Aldo mentioned to Ulquiorra. This chapter is longer than my normal chapters, so feel blessed xD

I'm also terribly in the need of a muse – If I just knew someone who could give me that surge of inspiration every time I were together with them, my life would be complete . (And I would be able to do new chapters more frequently)

I guess you can't have everything x)

Enjoy the new chapter and the title comes from the song; "Carnival of Rust" by 'Poets of the Fall' ^^


The ballroom floor was filled to the brim with men in tuxedos and women in scandalous dresses. Several couples were rocking softly to the soft tune played in the background, while the majority of the men had gathered just across the floor in order to exchange names and bad jokes. The women, on the other hand, were either together with their 'partner' or glaring at each other – comparing curves, dresses and make-up to conclude if anyone was worth being envious of. And in that sense, a particular young woman received more envious eyes than any other female in the whole ballroom.

She was a princess; that's what the males always said when she didn't listen. She was the maiden, a damsel in distress waiting for her savior and before anything else, the untouched flower that every guy in the damn ballroom wanted to put their claw in. Ulquiorra felt sick by their superficial flattering; The way her long auburn hair cascaded along her shoulders like a waterfall, the way her deep brown eyes were filled to the brim with innocent longing and curiosity, the way her pink full lips curved beautifully every time she smiled and the way her soft cheeks made her look sinfully young despite the fact that she was soon becoming a real woman in terms of age.

Ulquiorra knew that their talk was simply meant as flattering; a weak defense-mechanism to make them sound and look better in case the young girl in question was listening.

'Nothing hurts like the truth'. He knew that all they wanted was the lower part of her body; her full breasts, her narrow waist, her soft curvy hips and her slim legs. No matter how presentable they looked in their tuxedos it didn't change the fact that they were wolves in sheep's clothing - Every single one of them.

Ulquiorra diverted his eyes from the crowd of disgusting men, and allowed his eyes to drift onto the young woman who stood next to him – just barely a couple of centimeters from brushing against his shoulder. He could smell her perfume. It resembled a soft and mild scent of a flower Ulquiorra couldn't put a name.

"I didn't expect such a crowd…" She muttered softly.

Ulquiorra's green eyes that probably seemed cold and indifferent to the world were actually soft as he tilted his head slightly, to fully admire her appearance.

She was wearing a long dress with a V cut which stopped just above her knees - revealing the first inches of her smooth thighs. The dress was painted a beautiful white color, pretty simple, and even though the V cut wasn't that deep, her full bosom was terribly emphasized because of the ridiculously small straps that kept the dress at her shoulders.

If it wasn't because of the length, and the very high-quality fabric, Ulquiorra would have thought that the dress was a night gown… it simply showed too much skin at once. And apparently, he wasn't the first one to notice this. They had only been there for a few minutes, and the men in the ballroom were already drooling as if she was a feast worthy of a king.

In that sense, Ulquiorra wasn't as innocent as he claimed to be. She was beautiful, terribly beautiful, and no matter how much he wanted to deny it, he lusted for her… all of her. He just thought higher of himself, since he didn't show it openly like the other men in the room. He had more dignity.

Ulquiorra sighed deeply, somehow defeated by his own thoughts, when Orihime called out to him; "Ulquiorra?" her voice managed to calm him somehow.

"Yes?"

"Mister Acosta is here..." He noticed how Orihime's voice dropped and her eyes fell to the floor. The green eyed male wanted to place his fingers at her chin, force her face up so she could look proud and confident, but he knew that it wouldn't help his current situation. He had to behave and accept that perhaps her fiancé preferred her small, delicate and weak…

He hated that man with a passion. Like a burning fire starting in the pit of his stomach before spreading throughout his body with a rapid pace, he hated that man.

"Good evening." Emilio, or 'mister Acosta' as he wanted to be called, nodded at Orihime and afterwards at Ulquiorra. His eyes immediately rested at Orihime; or more precisely her body. "How is the party so far?"

"I-It's good… Ulquiorra has been keeping me company." She stepped forward towards her fiancé, and away from Ulquiorra's side. Even though it probably didn't mean a thing, Ulquiorra felt oddly betrayed by this action. Had she not listened when he had told her that she couldn't find happiness with such a man? That she was simply a bird in a cage to them?

Ulquiorra watched with painfully evident disgust in his eyes, when Emilio took Orihime's hand and bend down to kiss it.

"I'm sure you must have been bored, with all these men being nowhere near your standard." He chuckled at his own comment. "I hope you didn't have the change to dance yet, I've been looking forward to seeing you on the dance floor ever since I heard that you were gonna attend this party."

Orihime shook her head lightly. "I-I didn't dance yet…" She looked away. "… W-we just arrived a few minutes ago."

"Aaah, I see." Emilio seemed pleased by this fact, as he casted a quick glance at Ulquiorra. "And by 'we' I assume you mean you and this man? I honestly thought he would drop out during the first couple of days in your service."

Before Ulquiorra had the opportunity to protest to the untrue statement, Emilio laughed loudly and patted his back like old friends would do. "I'm just joking; I hope you'll stay in her service until the very end."

Orihime smiled by this action, the first genuine smile ever since Emilio had joined them, and Ulquiorra forgot about being annoyed for just a second. He would allow 'Mister Acosta' treating him like some kind of fool, just for a moment, if it meant having her smile like that.

"So, Orihime Inoue, the future 'Orihime Acosta' – May I have this dance?"

It sent chills down Ulquiorra's spine by those words, and he could only watch in a mix of envy and hatred when Emilio once again held Orihime's small hand and lead her to the dance floor.

Ulquiorra had never been very interested in women, but right now it felt like she had been stolen from him. She laughed, she smiled, and she seemed genuine when she was with him; so why did this man, this 'Mister Acosta', have more right to be with her than he did?

Ulquiorra tried to calm down, so he placed himself at the nearest empty table, just a few meters from the dance floor, where he could still watch them behind slightly annoyed green eyes. Jealousy didn't suit him. It made him irrational, it made him do and feel irrational feelings. Oh how he just wanted to look at them with indifference, and tolerance, but he simply couldn't do it.

When Emilio placed his hand at her waist and the other held her hand, he felt hurt. When Emilio bend down to place his head at her shoulder, he felt hatred. And when Emilio made her rock against him softly, in accordance to the music, he just wanted to pull his gun, that gun that was supposed to protect the young woman in question, and shoot her fiancé.

He had always been composed. Always calm and collected no matter what he had to witness; be it blood, torture or women for that matter. But this particular scenario, made his blood boil like never before.

If it wasn't because a woman, around Orihime's height but a bit older and with a terribly slim form approached him, he would probably have kept raging until the dance ended.

"Hello, are you here alone?" Ulquiorra slowly but steadily turned his eyes to the woman in question. He only had to look at her for a few seconds, at her way too small dress that emphasized all the slim parts of her body as if it was something to be proud of, before gazing back at Emilio and Orihime – not even bothering to answer the unneeded question.

Ulquiorra's indifference did nothing to discourage the woman and she simply sat down next to him before talking again; "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, but you just seemed kind of lonely – would you care to talk to me for a while? I'm here with my husband, but he's kind of hung up at the moment."

Ulquiorra didn't bother to turn his head to look at the woman again. Instead, he simply stated, hoping that it would make the woman go away; "I'm not here as a guest."

"You're not?" The woman giggled. "Aaaah, I see, so you're one of the 'bad boys'? I heard that some people just can't feel safe when they're out on their own, so they hire people like you, am I right?"

Ulquiorra sighed in annoyance, but the woman just kept talking; "Who are you supposed to look after?" The woman followed Ulquiorra's line of sight to the 'couple' rocking to the music in the center of the dance floor, and smiled brightly upon realizing just who he was 'looking after' "The young Orihime from the Porello family I suppose?" She laughed softly. "I can see you got lucky there – most men would kill Just to kiss her hand, but I guess you get a bigger bite of the pie with your job."

Ulquiorra didn't even listen to the woman's constant talking anymore. He simply gazed at Orihime; analyzed her features as good as he could while trying to suppress his feelings. First when he felt the invading feeling of the woman's hand at his thigh, and she leaned in closer, he snapped his eyes towards her.

"You know… my husband isn't home very often." The heavy scent of the woman's perfume invaded his nose before he could do anything to stop it, and his green eyed narrowed with annoyance. "I often feel… 'Lonely'… and I've got enough money to pay you, if you're interested in 'keeping me company'. It just needs to be between the two of us."


The music stopped, and Orihime felt terribly relieved when she could finally move away from Emilio's iron grip around her waist. It had been uncomfortable to say the least. Several times, she had been forced to move Emilio's hands up from her waist when they had moved too low, and she had masterfully avoided any kisses except the inevitable kiss at her hand after they finally ended the dance.

She just wanted to get back to Ulquiorra; sit beside him and talk to him the whole night until she could finally get home again. She wouldn't openly admit to him that he was right about Emilio. She didn't feel any attraction to him at all… He wasn't an ugly man, not at all, but she always felt uncomfortable around him. It just… didn't feel right.

Orihime forced a smile upon her lips and curtsied like the respectable young woman she was supposed to be in front of her fiancé.

However, everything seemed to stand still when her eyes returned to her 'protector'. He was not looking at her, but the woman next to him, and even though Orihime was oblivious to most things in life, she knew exactly what the woman's intentions were. With her hand resting at his thigh, her body turned against him, and a sly smile adorning her lips, there could be no doubt about it.

Orihime felt her heart sink.

She couldn't see Ulquiorra's expression, or if he approved of the unknown woman's actions, but even so Orihime felt hurt. So terribly hurt.

"You dance beautifully." Orihime was forced to look away from Ulquiorra and the unknown woman, and instead met Emilio's insisting gaze. "I hope you've been told that before."

Orihime did the only thing she could do in that situation. She tried to laugh it off. "Y-you're too nice." A small nervous chuckle rolled across her lips and she stepped fully away from Emilio and the hand that still rested at her waist. "B-but I think I'm gonna get some fresh air – you should also meet some of the other people here, and then I'll be back in a minute."

She didn't even bother to wait in order to hear his reply, but simply rushed across the dance floor. She needed to leave - To where no one would be able to hear her heart breaking with every beat.


The woman shrieked when Ulquiorra's hand closed harshly around her wrist, and he removed her hand at his thigh with pure force. "If what you want is a sexual partner, your money won't get you anywhere with me." He felt utterly disgusted by the woman, and didn't try to hide it when he spoke again; "One thing is to buy another person to please your own desires, but let me make one thing clear; I wouldn't even fulfill my own sexual needs if you were the last woman alive, is that understood?"

Ulquiorra, enveloped by utter annoyance and disgust, first managed to turn his head away from the shameless woman, when he saw Orihime move away from the dance floor, with hurried steps.

Suddenly, his top priority wasn't to make the unknown woman regret her actions, and he rose from his seat in a matter of seconds.

The unknown woman was speechless; her mouth left open, and her eyes wide with shock. She didn't manage to utter a single word before the green eyed male left her, and followed the same path as the girl named 'Orihime Inoue' had taken.


Orihime inhaled the cool evening air. She hyperventilated slightly, and even though she had meant to stay strong, to not be affected by the sight presented to her, tears rolled down her cheeks.

She felt relieved to finally cry. Too much was against her at once; the man she was supposed to love made her feel uncomfortable, the man she… cared for… was flirting with other women, and she felt so utterly alone. If she would lose Ulquiorra, the only man who seemed to genuinely care about her, in his own subtle way, she didn't know what she would do. She just couldn't be alone again… it would be too much.

The door that lead to the balcony was opened, a soft 'click' sounding, and Orihime turned around in order to prevent anyone from seeing her vulnerable state of mind.

"S-sorry, I'll get right back to the party, just give me…" Orihime grew silent when her deep brown eyes met piercing green, and the man responsible for the tears in her eyes, stepped onto the balcony with her.

She tried to remove the tears by desperately rubbing her eyes, but they just multiplied with every second. She was crying. And now she couldn't stop again. She felt weak and pitiful; why couldn't she stop?

"I-I'm sorry that you have to see me like this. It'll stop soon… I'm sure of it." The desperateness was thick in her voice, and despite her promise, the sobs only seemed to intensify by every passing second.

Ulquiorra walked closer to her; calm and composed, despite her misery. But he knew how much she suffered; he could feel it like a tide through his body – a tide that urged him to comfort her... to hold her… to possess her.

"I-I don't even know why I'm crying." She placed her arms round her stomach. It hurt so terribly to speak; to make up such lies in order to reassure herself. "B-but I'm okay… I just need some time to…"

But she didn't manage to utter another word before he was there with her. His arms around her felt like a barrier against the world, his scent calmed her like no words could have done, and his voice resonated in her mind;

"Relax."

His voice was intoxicating. Like a soft caring whisper from a loved one. It was odd to hear him like that, but Orihime only welcomed it. She welcomed all of him. A bit unsurely, she wrapped her arms around his waist, and her fingers automatically dug into the soft fabric at his back to keep him close, and to make sure that he wouldn't leave. For god's sake he wasn't allowed to leave…

She kept crying; her face buried deeply in his white shirt. Somehow, it felt okay for her to be vulnerable, bewildered and weak if it meant that he would comfort her and ultimately make her stronger. It felt okay to be sad.

When she felt his hand against the back of her head, and his fingers buried themselves into her soft auburn hair, she wondered if he knew why she was crying; if he knew that he was part of the tears that streamed down her face.

"I-I'm sorry…" She sniffed and pulled back even though it meant that the hand in her hair left. "Your shirt is all wet now…" She used her hands to clean her face, though the narrow space she was allowed between his arms and chest wasn't much. "I'm such a cry baby sometimes…"

Orihime smiled weakly when Ulquiorra used his thumb to remove the remnants of tears from her cheeks. She found it odd that he, with those peculiar tear mark tattoos, should be the one to erase her sorrow like that.

"A lot is just… happening at once." She diverted her eyes from that terrible green, and she felt her breath grow heavy again. "A lot of things which are beyond my control..."

She remembered Emilio. The day she met him for the first time, the day she was told that he had said yes to marry her, and the day he had put that awful ring on her finger. It felt like a cage. As if, the small silver engagement ring with the beautiful diamond was nothing more than a chain waiting to strangle her. There were simply too many promises linked to the ring that she didn't want to keep.

Ulquiorra kept silent despite her words. He simply listened behind piercing green eyes while he felt the soft curves at her waist… felt it against his palm and fingertips. He knew that he shouldn't see her confession as her trusting in him, but he couldn't help but feel slightly satisfied anyway.

"You do know… That I'm adopted, right?"

Ulquiorra nodded briefly while he gazed down at her with patience.

"I also had a brother at one point." A nervous chuckle rolled across her lips. "His name was Sora."

Even though Orihime wasn't crying anymore, Ulquiorra could feel that the current subject was taking a toll on her. But he allowed her speak; allowed her to spill her thoughts, mind and heart for him.

"We lived in a small family, and even though we weren't connected to the mafia at all, we were good friends with the Porello family… mainly because my father often bought weapons from them. You could say that it was a genuine friendship we shared." Tears rolled slowly down Orihime's cheeks again, but this time she didn't sob. She just kept speaking in a calm tone; "My father was never at home… so Aldo quickly became a second father to me and because I had Sora with me, everything was okay… I felt happy."

Orihime inhaled deeply, and the calmness in her voice left; "B-but, Sora, h-he didn't come home one night… I-I was up looking for him, but he never came home." She forced a smile on her face, but it was weak and pitiful. No matter how many times she had to mention his name, remember those times, and the incidents that followed, Orihime would never feel comfortable. "The next day the newspapers told that he had been shot; the perpetrators probably thought he was my father who had been borrowing money from the wrong places..."

Ulquiorra's eyes were unchanged though he wasn't familiar with the particular incident she was talking about. Instead, he simply allowed his palms to brush along the young girl's waist and the curvy spot at her back – to soothe her in his own way.

"After that, my father went into hiding… leaving me behind. If it wasn't because Aldo chose to adopt me, I would probably have ended up at a children's home."

She hated herself terribly for sounding so pitiful. She knew that her life had been bumpier than the average girl her age, but she made herself sound like someone who wanted to be pitied… which wasn't the case at all. She just wanted to give the man, that special man that had shown genuine interest in her, some insight into why she was standing on the balcony… during a party… crying her heart out.

She could feel how he continued to brush his palms against her back; slow, soft and unhurried movements that made her sigh femininely. "Aldo is a good man… despite his connection to the mafia… He didn't have to take me in, but even so he did." She lowered her eyes to her feet. "And… he even managed to find me a future husband… someone who can take care of me once he passes away."

Ulquiorra could taste the bitterness in her words, and even though he felt like protesting, he kept silent.

"I knew he just wants the best for me, but I would really have preferred to choose a husband for myself…" She sighed softly. "I've always dreamed of finding 'the one', but I guess life is not that simple."

Ulquiorra opened his mouth, but was interrupted when he felt Orihime move between his arms. He wanted to hold onto her, show her that 'the one' wasn't a thing you could find, but something you defined throughout your life, but he ultimately allowed her to go.

"I'm sorry that I acted like I did." He watched her step away, smiling powerfully at him as if nothing had just happened, before she turned around – leaving him with nothing else to look at than the back of her dress and the smooth curves that defined her body. "I should probably get back… otherwise Mister Acosta will just get worried."

Ulquiorra felt torn in two directions as she moved towards the door that would lead her into the ball room again. On one side, the side that was connected to his current job as her bodyguard, he wanted her to go; back to her fiancé and the man she was supposed to be with. And on the other side, he wanted to snatch her away and never give her back. Claim her, feel her, and make her forget about regulations and unneeded promises that were linked to the engagement ring on her finger.

"Stay."

Orihime stopped by the sudden word, but she didn't even manage to turn around before she felt his body, Ulquiorra's body, draw closer to her from behind.

She tried to tilt her head backwards, to look at him, to find out what he was doing, but was instead left with surprise when his hand reached the door placed in front of her. With a soft 'click' it was locked.

"Ulquiorra?" She breathed his name softly, meant as a question, despite the fact that she never got an answer. His chest moved slightly against her back from his regular breathing, and the cold feeling she had grown accustomed to, the cold that the green eyed male always seemed to emit, enveloped her whole body.

She lost the courage to look back at him. Instead, her deep brown eyes found hold in the locked glass door that would lead her to the ball room. People were dancing now.

She felt the two cold hands from earlier at her waist, and she had a hard time not sighing softly by the mere feeling of his touch. "What is it you want to gain?" She tried to sound defiant, but in fact she just sounded like a longing young woman who had missed his touch but wouldn't admit it to herself. "W-what is it you want from me?"

If he took this too far he would just get in trouble; Orihime knew that much – so why couldn't she fight against it? Why did she find herself wanting more of those delicate and simple touches?

This time, she couldn't hold back a soft almost non existing moan when his body pressed against hers further, and she was forced closer against the glass door. He removed the hair from her shoulders with care, and it sent chills down her spine when lips, dangerously cold lips, were introduced to her nape.

"All of you." he spoke against her skin.

It was simple words; simple words full of promise and dark longing, and Orihime felt like a small mouse being seduced by the big bad cat. She was ready to give in and give up herself to him even though she knew that it was wrong. That he would get in trouble. She would get in trouble. It would result in too many consequences for both of them.

"You know I can't…" She whispered softly. Her resolve was already starting to break with every hungry kiss he placed at her nape. "They'll see it…"

Her eyes were still focused on the dance on the other side of the glass door. The thick dark glass was somewhat hard to see through, but even so it wasn't hard to define silhouettes on the other side – and that was enough for Orihime to feel watched.

"And what if they do see you?"

Such a cruel question... Orihime wanted to answer immediately, but was instead silenced when both of his hands moved against her waist and onto her stomach – her dress creating sinful friction against his palm and onto her skin.

His voice was taunting and against her ear in the next instance; "You're afraid that they'll see you like this?"

Orihime's legs gradually felt weaker and weaker and by the time he kissed the side of her neck, and she could feel his chest firmly pressing against her back, she needed some kind of support.

So, to support herself, she placed her right hand at the door – her palm felt warm and sticky against the cold glass.

Just seconds after she had left herself vulnerable by supporting herself to the door, she felt Ulquiorra's hands ascend. They ascended… ascended… ascended until she could feel his palms, his fingers and his fingertips against her full breasts.

The touch sent chills down her whole spine and she arched her back towards him on impulse; urging, begging and longing for his touch and attention.

"You're not fighting anymore." He taunted close to her ear.

Orihime moaned softly; small feminine longing sounds that she didn't even knew her body could create. She was on fire when his fingertips dug down into her breasts, and by the time he started to knead the 2 lumps, possessively, her mind and body were in the gutters.

Everything became insignificant; even the people who were still partying happily in the ball room became insignificant. It was all about him; his voice in her ear, his hands at her breasts and the hard contours of his body against her back.

"Orihime Inoue." His kneading became harder and more insistent. Orihime's body ached, burned and longed under his touch. It was unbearable. "I will give you an appetizer of what you're missing out on."

Ulquiorra had no intention of doing anything against her will. She had resisted him slightly at first, yes, but he could feel every time she arched her back against him, and with every heavy breath, that despite her words, those foolish words, that she wanted his touch much more than she could probably admit to herself.

He would make her addicted; make sure that his face would wake her at night, that she would feel alone in her bed when she went to sleep and that she would return to him and not the man known as 'Emilio' when it became necessary.

He wouldn't share her… not anymore.

"U-Ulquiorra please…" Her voice had become hoarse, and even though she spoke his name so beautifully and begged him like that, he didn't stop. "If Mister Acosta finds out about this he'll…"

"He'll do what?" Ulquiorra's voice was low and sensual and he felt her shiver and let out a sudden breath when he forced himself closer – so close, that he could feel her bum against his lower body. Even the emotionless Ulquiorra had to let out a low groan to keep being in control. "He's probably not missing you right now… "

Orihime couldn't deny those words. She knew that she was no more than a pretty face to him; they barely spoke about personal things, they never really shared their emotions with each other, and she knew that if her body wasn't so sinfully proportioned, he would never have said yes to marry her. It was the harsh truth she didn't want to face.

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed when suddenly, out of nowhere, the door handle was pressed down, and a silhouette could be seen on the other side of the glass door.

Ulquiorra froze on the spot, and so did Orihime.

"Orihime? Are you out there?"

Orihime stared at the glass door; at the silhouette on the other side, while she felt the green eyed male draw away from her immediately. Like a ghost, his presence disappeared. His rough and cold hands left her breasts, the feeling of his body against hers slowly melted away, and even though he still stood behind her, she felt like something was missing…

As if she wanted to pull him back against her to fill out that unbearable emptiness.

Ulquiorra reached the door and unlocked it with a soft 'click'. She caught a glimpse of his eyes as he did so, but they were indifferent and calm... nothing had changed.

"Orihime, what are you doing out here, you'll catch a cold!" Emilio stepped onto the balcony. "I was looking for you, why did you lock the door?"

The suspicion was evident in his voice, so before Orihime managed to make up a poor excuse, Ulquiorra calmly stated; "She had too much wine – I suggested that she got some fresh air away from the party."

Emilio's eyes turned to Ulquiorra. The earlier suspicion was suddenly gone, and the young man smiled. Ulquiorra felt amused by his ignorance. "Aaaah, I see – I didn't think that you were too fond of wine Orihime?" He turned towards Orihime who was already moving inside – away from Ulquiorra, away from the odd sensation that still made her body ache, and away from the lingering of his touch which still made her head spin.

She was secretly disappointed with herself, and therefore she did everything to avoid Ulquiorra's eyes when she went inside. She couldn't do such a thing… She was engaged… and he wasn't supposed to do such things to her no matter what the reason could have been.

He was not supposed to make her heart flutter.

When she was fully inside, Emilio followed with slow steady steps.

Ulquiorra, on the other hand, found himself lingering on the balcony. He watched her; watched her with care, with longing, but still with restraints on himself.

As the evening came to an end, the green eyed male wondered if he had taken it too far; if he had been too bold and too consumed in his obsession with her to think clearly.

He quickly concluded that there was no need regretting it… And for god's sake, he would never regret claiming her.


A/N: Okay, this is a huge! Chapter for me, so don't expect this much in the next chapter o.o However, I hope you guys enjoyed reading it, and bear with my slow updates.

If you feel like pleasing me, leave a review ^^ *Bows*