I know I'm a slow updater but with Youtube ruling my life at the moment (and my new Sony Vegas) I've been a little...how shall I say, preoccupied. Plus, for my middle school graduation present, I got a BlackBerry! I did like over 100 messages in a day so that was a distraction... I have (checks document) a few chapters of this done already (I'm on chapter 4-ish). But if I can get up to 16-20 reviews, I'll update if not, I will but it will be awhile...

Disclaimer: If I owned this anime (or any of its characters) I wouldn't be writing this now would I?

Chapter 02: Goodbye

::Orihime x Ulquiorra::

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 – 7:09pm – Hitsugaya Residence – Orihime's Bedroom

"Still hasn't talked to you, eh?" Rangiku stated more than asked, painting her last remaining toe a vibrant shade of red.

"No," Orihime sighed, pulling her bed sheets to her nose, glancing at her slumbering cell phone. Ulquiorra hadn't even called or texted her, thought he wasn't much of an avid phone user. He hadn't so much as glanced at her when he passed her in the hallways and when she went looking for him at lunch, he was nowhere to be found. Ichigo told her not to worry, that the guy was a coward for not being able to face her. That didn't make her feel any better.

"I've never seen you two really fight but seriously, I've never seen you this down before," Rangiku whistled from her own bed.

We never have fought. Suddenly, Orihime's ring tone ( "Fearless" by Falling Up) sounded. Immediately, Orihime dove for her phone.

"Hello…oh, hi, Kurosaki-kun…" Sighing, Rangiku lounged back on her pillow. "No, I'm fine." Another sigh. "He still hasn't talked to me, no, really, I'm okay... Oh, you have to go… Well, thanks for calling and checking up on me… Yeah…goodnight…" Hanging up the phone, Orihime sank back into her bed.

"Ichigo again?"

"Yeah."

"He's the problem you know."

"Why is Ulquiorra so mad thought…?"

Because he is undoubtedly in love with you. "Jealous that Ichigo's gonna steal you away maybe?" Rangiku teased. Orihime didn't chuckle, her frown still maiming her flowering features. Her own smile disappearing, Matsumoto solemnly suggested, "Maybe you should call him."

"He'll just hang up on me," Orihime sulked, covering her head with the sheets.

"It can't go on like this. Orihime, you're destroying yourself. Look, I'm sorry, but you're a mess. Just call him and try to sort things out."

"…Maybe tomorrow…"

Sighing, frustrated, Rangiku sternly refused to accept that answer, getting up to grab not Orihime's cell phone but her own. "No, call him NOW." She yanked the covers off of Orihime, shoving the phone in her grip. Placing her hands on her hips, a brow raised, Rangiku said, "Well, I'm waiting."

"Oh, fine," Orihime moaned. Dialing his number, she put the phone to her ear, her heart sinking as the first ring passed by, then the second, then the…

"Hello," a stone cold voice said. Orihime's heart soared. He picked up!

"Ulquiorra, please, why are you mad? I…I can't take this anymore, please…" Orihime blubbered, her legs curling close to her body, trying to stop the tears.

"…I have to go_"

Panic rose as Orihime bellowed, "No! Remember our promise! Y-You told me that you'd never leave me! You promised!" This was her only chance and all she could do was pray to god that he wouldn't hang up on her.

"…I'm sorry." The line went dead.

The phone fell from her numb fingers as she started sobbing, holding herself tightly, her entire body trembling. Rangiku enveloped her younger cousin in a warm embrace, stroking her trembling back as she mumbled, "It's gonna be alright," repeatedly until the words were etched onto her tongue.

"Everything will be fine."

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 – 11:40 – Karakura Center Junior High – Willow Tree

"Hey! That was my onigirl! Give it back Rukia!" Renji shouted as the petite girl engulfed the rice delight in a matter of moments. After swallowing, she pulled down the skin below her eye, sticking out her tongue immaturely.

"Make me," she challenged.

"Rukia!" he howled, grabbing her head, jerking her forward violently.

Sitting up, Rukia snapped, "Idiot! What was that for!?"

"For taking my onigirl."

Tatsuki and Hanatarou watched the two battle it out like children, somewhat embarrassed to even know these two at this point.

"Isn't this a bit extreme…?" Hanatarou asked fretfully.

"All of this for a piece of food," Tatsuki said, shaking her head in disappointment. She thought that primary school was good and gone now that they were in the eighth grade but her assumption appeared to be wrong. "Hey, Orihime, something wrong? You've been staring into space since we got here."

All eyes went to the orange-haired girl, some worried, others apprehensive. Snapping out of her reverie, Orihime chuckled, "Oh, I'm fine. It's nothing." No one looked convinced, especially Ichigo.

"Orihime, we know you're lying. It's about Ulquiorra, huh?" Tatsuki finally said.

"How did_?"

"I told them," Ichigo admitted sheepishly.

Rukia piped up, "We're going to find this guy and tie him down until he finally talks, okay Orihime?"

Tie him…down…? Good going Rukia, now we sound like criminals. Ichigo dropped his head, leaning back against the tree.

"It's alright, I can sort this out on my own," Orihime said, her eyes falling onto the green blades of grass.

Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, Tatsuki asked, "Are you sure you can handle this on your own?"

Looking into her friend's eyes, Orihime nodded, a smile gracing her once gloomy features. "Leave it to me!"

Everyone chuckled at her antics, Ichigo bopping her lightly on the head, earning a small squeak from his girlfriend. Rukia resolved to going back to arguing with Renji while Hanatarou merely munched on his lunch. Tatsuki remained quiet for the rest of the period. For some reason, she feared the worst for Orihime. Sure, she didn't know Ulquiorra personally but he seemed distant, detached from the world. Those kind were hard to get-to-know…it was even harder to gain their trust back…

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 – 8:00pm – Hitsugaya Residence – Orihime's Bedroom

"We'll see you later, Orihime," Tatsuki said as she gathered her books littered across the floor. Rukia followed suit, stuffing her bag full of crumpled papers. Rukia and Tatsuki had met for their weekly homework club, electing to visit Orihime's home this time, even having dinner with the Hitsugaya family.

"Night," Rukia added as they departed out the door, leaving the two orange-haired girls to their thoughts.

After shuffling through some junk on the floor, tossing most into the trash can, Rangiku remarked, "You have weird friends."

Giggling, Orihime said, "But that's what I like about them," as she tossed a candy wrapper into the plastic mini garbage can.

"Yeah, I like them too," Rangiku agreed. The two settled on their beds, Rangiku flipping through a magazine while Orihime answered some of the texts Ichigo had sent her. She knew that they were trying to distract her but the pain wouldn't numb and reality, as cruel as it was, would never change.

"Are you gonna call him?"

"No."

Sitting up, shutting her fashion magazine, Rangiku moaned, "Orihime, this is your problem. You're not trying to patch things up."

"I am," Orihime insisted squarely.

"No. You're not. You're running away, not facing it head-on like the Orihime I know would. Snap out of it."

Before Orihime could respond, her cell rang again but, knowing how circumstances worked, it was probably Ichigo again and honestly, Orihime didn't feel like talking to him…or anyone for that matter. She just wanted to be left alone so she could think things through. Maybe this was why Ulquiorra didn't want friends…because they clouded your judgment…

"Aren't you going to answer that."

Wordlessly, Orihime picked up her phone just to see the caller ID since it the ringing persisted for so long. Did Ichigo want to talk to her that bad? Flipping the top open, she almost choked on her own breath. The number…it wasn't Ichigo's…it was…Ulquiorra's!

Snapping the phone open, Orihime said, "Hello…?"

At first, all she could hear was the labored breathing of the person on the other end. " I…I don't know how much blood I lost but I can't walk…" the deep voice coughed violently.

"Wha…Where are you? Ulquiorra, do you know where you are?" Orihime rushed, grabbing the attention of Matsumoto who came to eavesdrop on the conversation, concern hinted in her azure eyes.

"T-The park," the voice sputtered, "Central P-Park." Where we first met.

"Hold on! Don't move! I'll be there right away!" With that, Orihime stuffed her phone in her pocket after shutting the lid, jumping off her bed. She met the apprehensive gaze of Rangiku and the alarm in Orihime's eyes was evidence enough that something was amidst that only Orihime could take care of. Nodding in realization, as it dawned on her who the caller was, Rangiku could only watch Orihime shoot out of the room, out of the house, and into the darkened streets of Karakura.

"Be careful, Orihime…"

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 – 8:22pm – Central Park

The cold air was brutal, demanding, numbing the fresh wounds mangled across Ulquiorra's lean frame, puncturing and tearing his ivory flesh. He couldn't help the nostalgia washing over him. This seemed so familiar yet so foreign to him. His onyx cell was hanging limply in his grip as he compacted his body into a tight ball, hoping that warmth would somehow grace his presence. Unfortunately, it didn't.

Blood seeped through his clothing, pooling below him. His vision had long blurred, eyes glassy with the horrendous pain that coursed through his entire body.

"Ulquiorra…" a soft voice gasped. An angelic figure bent down, terror in her quivering voice, her words and syllables blending together in incoherent cries and pleas. He felt her arms go around him as she desperately tried to lift him from the ground to no avail. Though there was probably only an inch difference, Orihime was far too weak to carry someone five pounds heavier than herself.

Focusing all of his strength into his legs, Ulquiorra aided Orihime as she got him to his feet. Together, they slowly progressed to her home, both exhausted and out of breath.

By the time Orihime got to the house, she collapsed at the doorstep, taking Ulquiorra with her. Rangiku rushed to her aid, taking the strength of both Rangiku and Toushirou to tow the severely wounded Ulquiorra into the house. Dashing for the First Aid kit, Rangiku quickly tended to Ulquiorra's wounds, leaving a slumbering Orihime on her bed.

Thursday, February 26, 2009 – 7:45am – Hitsugaya Residence – Orihime's Bedroom

"Ulquiorra!" Orihime Inoue shot up from her bed, panting as sweat rolled down her forehead. She vaguely realized that she wasn't in the dark depths of the park but rather in a blue schemed bedroom. She glanced around, trying to recollect her memories of what happened after she came home but they never came.

At about that time, she noticed the covered lump in Rangiku's bed shift a bit. Stepping out of her own bed, Orihime ambled over to Rangiku's, gently shaking her shoulder.

"Rangiku, wake up," Orihime whispered. Getting no reaction, Orihime's shaking persisted, becoming more and more violent.

"Um, Orihime, I'm right here, Orihime and stop shaking the poor lump. You'll give him another bruise, as if he needs anymore." The last part came out as a low mutter. Orihime spun around to see Rangiku, hands planted on her hips, standing at the doorway.

Speechless, all Orihime could come up with was, "Wha…then who is…?" Turning to the lump, she hesitated before tearing the blanket from the figure, gasping at her discovery. Ulquiorra, bandaged heavily, was fast asleep on her cousin's bed, bloody and bruised.

So last night wasn't a dream!

"You passed out when you got home," Toushirou explained, appearing from behind Matsumoto. "Mom bandaged him up to the best of her ability but as you know, she's not a doctor. We should take him to a hospital when he wakes up," he suggested ruefully.

A few moments of silence passed before Orihime smiled at last, a genuine smile of hope and happiness, one that went into hiding for the longest time. She raised a hand to fondly stroke his cool cheek, tracing over his thin eyelids, curving over the bridge of his nose, ghosting across the outline of his lips…engraving his peaceful expression into her memory, a rare but precious occurrence in time she wouldn't forget.

Suddenly, a pale hand covered the top of her own, grasping it weakly. Ulquiorra's eyes were half lidded but, without a doubt, open.

"Ulquiorra, how are you feeling? Does anything hurt?" Orihime inquired quickly. He shook his head, dropping his hand back onto the mattress. Orihime quickly pulled the covers back up, unable to bear staring at his damaged abdomen any longer. "I'm so happy you're alright," she sighed, plummeting her head onto the side of the bed.

He lifted the covers a bit, edging back a bit, allowing Orihime a spot on the bed if she desired it.

Amazing, he forgave her so easily. Then again, she did save his life. Matsumoto smiled with satisfaction, tugging a temperamental Toushirou out the door.

"What are you doing, Rangiku!?" he bellowed, freeing himself from her grip, straightening out his wrinkled attire.

"Isn't it obvious, giving them time to reconcile. Come on, let's go get some breakfast, I'm starving," she exaggerated, heading off to the kitchen, humming a gleeful tune. Groaning, Toushirou reluctantly followed. Oddly, breakfast sounded good at the moment.

-x-

Curled up into his side, Orihime couldn't help but smile as his scent, one that she was so familiar with, filled her mind with delight and overwhelming relief. He kept his back to her, hoping she wouldn't notice the heavy blush marring his ivory skin but under the bandages, it wasn't likely she'd notice. After all, he could dismiss it as another bruise…

"Your dad hurt you again…?"

"Yeah…"

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," he replied languidly, his voice suggesting irrefutable exhaustion was finally setting in.

"If I hadn't made you angry, maybe this wouldn't have happened."

Twisting himself around, grunting in mild pain, he faced the girl he had managed to avoid so long out of indignity…and jealousy. "Orihime, this isn't your fault. You couldn't have done anything_"

"It's because I made you mad!" she cried, clutching the front of his shirt tightly.

"I was jealous!" he snapped heatedly. "You didn't do anything wrong." Piercing emerald optics widened when the words escaped his lips, his body going rigid. Orihime stared in absolute shock. She never would have thought that Ulquiorra would become covetous so easily. No one would replace him, not even Ichigo.

"Ulquiorra-kun, no one can replace you," she told him softly, placing his hand between hers, sending his pulse skyrocketing. He knew she meant it but not in the way he had hoped for. She loved him as a friend, a brother even. He desired her as a lover.

He slipped his hand from her grip, shifting back onto his side, facing away from her. She would never love him and he could never stop loving her.

"I don't understand," she whispered, "why do you keep your back to me?"

"You aren't at fault," he repeated mechanically, "I am just a fool."

Sitting up, she forced Ulquiorra onto his back, that same fire she always had boiling in her chest as she straddled him, keeping his face within view. "Ulquiorra, please, look at me," she pleaded when he averted his eyes to the right, "am I that revolting?" That made his eyes open. He sat up, pain scorching his back as he did so. Orihime didn't put up a fight, allowing him to rise up. She felt his eyes on her but this time, she couldn't look at him, deathly afraid she'd be met with a look of disgust.

Taking a strand of orange hair between his fingers, Ulquiorra fiddled with the strands, allowing Inoue time to collect herself. "Don't you…hate me?" she asked, baffled as he played with her hair.

"No."

"Then_"

Bringing his eyes to hers, he finally said, "Can we just pretend none of this happened?"

Her face literally lit up, the color reappearing back into her skin in seconds. Nodding enthusiastically, she chirped, "Yeah!"

He couldn't help but lift his lips just a fraction when he saw that smile he had craved for…desired for… Shutting his eyes, he had to admit that the outcome was pleasing. Maybe in time, he had thought, she will feel the same…

Tuesday, June 25, 2002 – 3:32pm – Inoue Residence – Dining Room

"Happy eighth birthday, Ulqui-kun!" An orange-haired girl dressed in a blue floral sundress pounced on her melancholic appearing friend, swinging them around until they both fell to the floor. Above them, Sora was laughing, holding a functioning video camera to capture the unique pair in action. Putting it down briefly on the table, he exchanged it temporarily for a camera.

"Say cheese," he grinned, taking a picture of the two sprawled on the floor. "I guess it's time for cake then," he said, reclaiming his neglected video recorder.

Jumping back to her feet, the hyperactive seven-year-old repeated, "Cake!?"

Nodding, Sora pointed to the table. "Come on you two, time to blow out the candles." Orihime grabbed Ulquiorra's hand and drug him to the table where the layered ice cream cake resided. For once, Ulquiorra blew out every candle on his first try and according to Sora, he had one wish.

Glancing at a bubbly Orihime, he wished: I wish to be with Orihime forever.

And then, it was time for presents and as usual, his only friend gave him something outlandish: some sort of unidentifiable game. He couldn't read the letters…or the directions for that matter. It was in English.

That was the only birthday party he had and it was one of the most memorable days of his life…even if the cake was undeniably bland. He still had the game, though he never really opened it. He planned on taking an English class in high school. Maybe then he could decipher what Orihime gave him. He doubted she even knew what it was really.

Sora had taken them to the theme park for the remainder of the day, supervising them as they rode all sorts of rides. Considering that they were too short for most, that wasn't many. Sora drove them home that evening, smiling as he stared into the mirror hanging above his head, reflecting the peaceful expressions of the slumbering children. He knew Ulquiorra would protect her.

He would be there even when he wasn't…

End 02: Goodbye

How was it...good? Bad? Terrible? Horrendous?

Little Ulquiorra, aw~ That would be a sight to see. Heck, I'd pay big bucks for that. Anyway, that was chapter 2 and like I said above, 16-20 reviews TOTAL (not for this chapter just altogether) would be fantastic. I'll still continue this story but it'll make me go faster and type rather than hang out with my friends at a concert or live and breathe on Youtube.