A/N: Hey guys, so here it is, another chapter in this story.

Las Noches

She was staring at the wall, lying down on her bed. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, her hair a mess. It had been two days. Two days since she had moved from the spot on the bed. Two days since she had slapped Ulquiorra and Grimmjow had lost his arm. She hated it all, hated how Ulquiorra even. He was a monster, a scary demonic thing that was terrorising the earth.

Shivering she pulled her quilt up closer. She had been restless, sleep deprived even. Her health was deteriorating both physically and emotionally. She was becoming feverish from lack of sleeping, emotionally terrified. Hurt and betrayed, unsure even. She just didn't know anymore. It was exactly in times like this she wished Sora was still around. He always had advice for her. He even found the strangest ways to make her laugh or feel better when she was down or upset.

Sora always had her back. No matter what the problem was, he was always there. As someone who loved you should. That's what made him so unique and special to her. Thinking about him brought tears to her eyes, just when she thought she had no more tears to cry they came leaking out. She hated being so weak and vulnerable. Hated being so pathetic. Yet this was who she was, she couldn't really change now could she?

You're stronger than you think. Sora used to say to her. She supposed it was a quote from something, Sora loved quotes that held meaning. Rolling over she closes her eyes awaiting the darkness of sleep to claim her and take her away from this hellish nightmare. If for only a few hours...

The Past

She had been invited by the king to his palace. She knew not why, only he had requested her presence. She hoped he hadn't caught sight of her and decided he wanted her, not now. She was currently being courted and had grown fond of the man who called himself Ulquiorra. After that day in the festival and the kindness he had shown she just…she felt as if there was a connection there. Something pushing her towards him.

When he requested to her family that he wished to court her, well they had been delighted and so had she. Secretly, she had taken interest in him too. Every time he would visit or take her for long walks, going around in circles, she felt alive. Like the missing piece of the jigsaw that is her was found and completing her whole. Of course, he had his odd traits. Little quirks which she found she actually loved.

The king had sent a carriage to escort her over to the palace. The fancy ones she never thought she would see in her lifetime. In fact she never thought she would ever ride in one. That was a privilege in itself. Rolling up the palace she braced herself for what was to come. Outside a woman with the brightest teal hair she ever thought possible. A large smile was present on the woman's face.

The woman practically bounces over to the carriage and opens the door.

"Miss Hime. Welcome." She says embracing Hime in a hug. Her eyes widened in alarm at this sudden embrace. As if realising her mistake the teal haired woman pulled back and began apologizing profusely. Hime just nods on alert now and as confused as ever. "I'm really sorry, just the master said that we had a very special guest and when he told me of you I could hardly believe it. Now you're here and it's all so real. Oh I'm Nelliel by the way but you can call me Nel."

Hime smiles politely as she is led down the many corridors that made up the palace. It was like a maze, an intricate circuit of routes and passages with doors connected to various rooms. Now Hime couldn't say she was not intrigues for that would be a lie. A palace after all was so varyingly different to a small thatched roof cottage in a small town. Everything was new and different.

The woman called Nel led her to a room where two chairs rested, separated by a table. Other than that it was a rather bland and plain room. No real décor or colours. Nothing.

"Take a seat miss." Nel says, before closing the door on Hime. Not seeing any other choice she goes and takes a seat in the chair closet to her. As she awaits she notices a single box sits on the table. When she was younger her mother always told her that one day her curiosity would get her into trouble. She was always curious. Right now was no exception. She took a quick look around before picking up the box and opening it.

Gasping she felt her eyes widen at the sight of what lay in the box. Two small pins, not very big glittered at her. They were of hibiscus flowers, shining blue with some metal or jewel she did not recognise. They lay on a bed of satin and as she carefully took one in her hand she felt how fine and delicate the clips were. Clearly easily broken and therefore very expensive.

"Do you like them?" a voice asks. She jumps, managing only just to hold the clip still and not drop it. Turning she feels her eyes widen.

"Ulquiorra?" she asks. "W…what….you're the...the king?"

"I am." He replies. "I would have told you but I did not want you to change your behaviour because of my title. Many people put up this…false façade when they learn of who I am and therefore I do not see their true personality. Forgive me Hime."

"Even so." She says standing up, carefully placing the clip back into its box. "We have been courting for several months now. You should have told me."

"I am telling you now." He says calmly. "I never meant to upset you Hime. I apologize if I have, but I am serious about courting you. I am enamoured by you completely." She smiles, her eyes shining back with admiration and something akin to love. "However, there is more than one reason why I have brought you here."

"And that would be?"

"To tell you the truth about…a lot of things. I don't want to overwhelm you though, but I figure before I propose to you then I should let you know what you are getting into Hime."

"Propose…as in…we will become engaged?"

"Yes Hime. I…I wish for you to be my wife and I your husband. First, please listen to the truth, to what I have to say before you decide. It is important to me my love." She nods unable to stop the tears shining in her eyes or the small smile adorning her lips.

The Present

Orihime wakes up with a start. Her eyes darting around the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She was terrified to say the least. Unable to comprehend the weird and vividness of the dream she had just had. Yet something about it was so real and familiar. Somehow she knew she had to find Nel. Before that however, she realised breathing in. she needed a shower. Fresh clothes too.

Rushing out of bed she begins to get ready, eager to talk to Nel about this so called dream she had. Maybe she was over reacting but she had to be sure. If she wasn't then she would surely go mad with not knowing. It had to mean something, her dream could not have been a coincidence, not when Nel and Ulquiorra had been there. Not when the very details of her hibiscus clips were present too.

After showering and ensuring she was dirt free and clean smelling she got up the courage to leave her room. She had no idea where Nel would be but she figures she would just wander until she came across her and hope to god that she did not bump into him. As she wanders she thinks back to the dream and takes a clip out and looks at it.

One of the petals were chipped, when her brother had given her them one of the petals had been missing. He had apologised over and over insisting to take them back and get them fixed. She refused saying she loved them no matter what. It was true too, they were everything to her.

"Miss Inoue?" a voice calls. Turning she notices a man with a startling pink for the colour of his hair and some of the strangest coloured eyes possible. Frowning she tries to remember his name. Yet no matter how much she tries to remember she cannot put a name to the face before her. As is sensing her struggle the man speaks. "It's Szayel Miss Inoue. My name is Szayel."

"Right sorry." She says feeling slightly stupid and embarrassed. "Um…you don't happen to know where Nel by any chance?"

"Follow me. I'll take you to her." He says walking off. She nods following. "Currently I believe she is attending to her mate. I heard he was in an awful accident."

"Hm." Orihime replies, a small tug of worry gripping her heart and adding to the guilt. It was all her fault Grimmjow had lost his arm. Following Szayel Orihime once again wondered why the walls were so bare. Finally Szayel stopped at a door and knocked. A rather tired looking Nel answered. With no words Szayel leaves.

"Hi." Orihime says quietly. "Can…I need to ask you some things."

"Come in." Nel replies. Once inside Orihime notices the rooms colour. It is the first room she has seen that holds any life in it. Blue and green covers the walls in splotches and there are photos all around. On a bed with a turquoise bed spread lies an injured Grimmjow. He looks healthier, calm even and smiles when he sees Orihime. His lost arm is bandaged up. The wound healing but no arm will ever grow back.

"What did you want to ask me?" Nel says as Orihime's eyes scan the room again. Her eyes settle on a single photo. Walking over she picks it up. In the silver frame lies a wedding photo. One where four people are present. She immediately recognises Ulquiorra, Grimmjow and Nelliel. Ulquiorra obviously the groom. Yet her eyes settle, linger even on the bride. A woman with auburn hair, tied in an intricate bun. Her grey eyes shining with happiness.

A simple white dress adorns her body. Nothing flashy or showy. No indecent exposure. A lace material covers her arms. In her hair…the hibiscus clips. The same ones that were in her dreams and matched the ones she was wearing. She turned to Nel holding the picture, a wave of confusion washing over her.

"What is this?" she asks, her voice surprisingly quiet. Scared even.

"That…um…well that was Ulquiorra's….former wife. She passed away many years ago now." Orihime couldn't believe it. She felt as if everything was crashing around her. As if a hurricane had swept her up and now she was trapped, spinning in the never ending cycle that was its path. Being hit repeatedly by various objects all causing shock and hurt to her system. Without saying anything else she rushes from the room wanting to get away from them all.

They knew…they knew this whole time and not once did they think to tell her. The nerve of them. She hears Nel yelling she can explain but Orihime doesn't care. She just wants to get away from everything. Leave it all behind. She suddenly wants nothing more to do with them. Somehow she manages to get outside. Not stopping to stare at the barren wasteland and instead just running.

She felt an anger unlike anything she has ever known before to grow in her system. The sand beneath her feet makes it difficult to run quickly and eventually she trips. Falling onto the sand she sheds yet more tears. She had been purposely chosen. He wanted her for a reason. She knew that much, he told her. He wanted a wife and someone to bear his children. Yet never would she have guessed there was an ulterior motive to his selection.

She was the exact replica of his former dead wife. He chose her because she looked like his ex.

A/N: So this chapter is a little short but I am going on holiday Monday so thought I best get something wrote before then and published. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if there are any questions please PM me. I will be happy to answer anything J
~TheBat