Authors Note: Dear readers. Yes I am back, I haven't forgotten this story, although it looks like I will be rushing to the finish line till vacations. One of the reasons why I dislike being a grad student. But I look forward to writing this story as I have some new ideas playing in my mind and I want to get this done before I start on those! Anyways, here is the next instalment of All Kinds Of Love. The song playing through my head while writing this: "Illuminated" by The Hurts. As always, please do drop me a line if you like what you read. Your reviews help me make this story better.

Disclaimer: TK wrote these characters. Otherwise Ulquiorra would be ALIVE! Btw, do check out his twitter. Man did Ulquiorra get tons of love on his birthday! TK even posted a status (in Japanese sigh) about it! :)

Chapter 11: The Turns we take

"Byakuya looked at the calendar. According to Rukia, Orihime should be back by now. He decided he would send her a message tomorrow.

Orihime's sudden departure had surprised Byakuya. He even wondered if he had gotten ahead of himself and scared her with that kiss. But he welcomed the opportunity to sort through his feelings. For even though he wasn't always guarded, Kuchiki Byakuya did not like not being in control of himself.

The kiss had been a slip, but the aftermath had been even worse. Several nights after that, Byakuya had felt a deep desire to kiss Orihime again, and to even take things further. He had vivid images of him caressing her alabaster skin in the most intimate of manners, as she mewled his name again and again.

He had initially signed it off as his physical needs finally finding an outlet. It had been five years since Hisana had died. And even during their marriage she hadn't been around a whole lot. She would often travel to far off places that were without any internet or even phone connections. Such was her dedication to saving lives.

Initially it had been hard on him. After all Byakuya had always been very hot blooded. Yet so deep was his love for Hisana that he had adjusted. He had quelled his physical needs lest she be uncomfortable, and their reunions after her long missions were loving and sensuous, like Hisana. Several of Byakuya's friends had written them off initially, those closer saying that they were too different. While he was fiery and intense, she was calm and considerate.

Yet Byakuya also felt similar to Hisana in many fundamental ways. Both of them were independent and passionate about their professions. Both had a strong sense of responsibility and firm moral compass. In Hisana, Byakuya had a soul mate who understood him implicitly.

Things like passion could be found with many. His ex girlfriend Yoruichi Shihouin was an apt example. They had been extremely passionate, yet when it came down to it, they were completely different and always at loggerheads. Ultimately she had left Byakuya for another man. And he was thankful for that, as he would never have met Hisana if it were not for that betrayal.

Yet, years of partial and then forced celibacy might have taken its toll. Or so Byakuya thought, when one day, to his horror he had a wet dream about Orihime.

However he would be lying if he said he hadn't missed their weekly meetings the past few weeks. And he often found himself wondering what she was up to.

He was happy that she had been given the opportunity to travel; being a firm believer of the tenet that traveling is an essential part of gaining more life experiences. However he also felt more impatient not hearing from her. Why had they not texted each other before this? He decided he would have to amend that. Starting tomorrow when Orihime was well rested from her long flight.

Yes, he would text Orihime tomorrow. For Byakuya had never been the impatient one.

Ulquiorra looked at his phone. The woman hadn't called or texted. He felt his throat clench painfully again. It had been doing that the whole night. He briefly wondered what Orihime was doing and whether the orange haired man was with her.

An image of them in bed, limbs entangled, flashed in Ulquiorra's head and he felt anger like one he had never known grip him. In that moment he felt that if he ever saw that man again, he might plunge his hand into the man's chest and pull out his heart so that the woman couldn't keep it.

Ulquiorra spent the rest of the night staring outside at the Tokyo night sky.

Orihime had wanted to seek Rukia's counsel on her dilemma. But she did not even know where to start. Also, one of the parties involved happened to be Rukia's brother. And Orihime knew that no matter how unbiased Rukia tried to be, when it came to Byakuya she was a starry eyed child. According to Rukia, Byakuya could do no wrong.

She dearly wished that she could speak with someone who wasn't connected with one of the three men. However all three of her female friends, Rukia, Tatsuki and even Nel were connected to the three objects of her turmoil in some way or another.

Why are you so silly Orihime! Finally your wish of more than a decade is coming true. And here you are, confused and feeling conflicted. Why can't you just say yes?! Its not much, but Ichigo and I can always do long distance if he goes to the US. Heck I liked it there! I could even move with him!

And so, when Rukia came, instead of telling her about Ichigo's offer, she told Rukia about the fun she had in New York and meeting Ulquiorra's friends. She found that she also left out that tiny detail about her and Ulquiorra's almost daily activities. It wasn't that Rukia would judge her. No, her friend was rarely judgemental. She simply didn't know what to call what had happened between her and Ulquiorra. Truth be told, she hadn't even considered the possibility of it ending when they had landed in Tokyo. Again she felt that uncomfortable sensation in her stomach.

She wished for once that her body would stop using sign languages and just speak to her already! Who do you love Orihime? Who do you want to be with?

"Hmmm, These Nel and Grimmjow sound like pretty cool people. You got pics?"Rukia excitedly.

Orihime laughed and showed her the picture they had taken on her last day in New York.

"Whoa! This Grimmjow dude sure is hot!"

"Haha they are models Rukia chan. I guess it's a part of the requirement?"

"Yeah. Is that batman? Damn even though he looks like a shorty in the front of those two, he looks like a model himself! What a hot group of people."

Rukia laughed, and then as if noticing something she stopped and grabbed the picture from Orihime, looking at it carefully. After a while she handed it back.

"Yeah batman is definitely hotter but Grimmjow is more my type." She winked at Orihime.

"Haha, given that Renji is your boyfriend, can't say I am really surprised Rukia chan."

"So... What else is up? I don't need donuts to look at pictures of hot men you know." Rukia said knowingly.

Uh oh. Orihime hadn't expected Ichigo' s proposal when she had asked Rukia to meet up. And even though Orihime usually told Rukia everything she hesitated in telling her about the proposal. Mostly because she knew what Rukia would say. 'Don't do it. It's much too little too late. You should move on.'

Rukia had told this to Orihime right from the beginning. She had never thought the two of them to be very compatible. In high school it had actually led to a bit of a feud (to the extent Orihime could have feuds) between them as Orihime had thought this as Rukia's way of getting rid of competition. Ichigo and Rukia had always got along like a house on fire and many of their high school friends had suspected that something might be going on between them. This coupled with Rukia telling her that Ichigo was not the type of person she should pine for for so long had made her both jealous and upset. She had avoided Rukia after that for almost a year.

They had made up eventually, with Rukia approaching her and clarifying that she did not like Ichigo that way, never had. In fact she had someone she liked back in Tokyo and they were sorta dating and writing to each other the whole time. That she had only said Orihime shouldn't pine because Ichigo wasn't in a place where he could look after anyone but himself.

But that was years ago. Maybe she had changed her mind? Orihime debated if it would be a good idea to try asking Rukia without giving out too much about Ichigo's confession. However Rukia chose that very moment to quiz her about him.

"So wanna tell me why Ichigo has turned stalker on you?"

"Ano...err.. We had a fight before I left."

Rukia' eyes widened. Orihime had fought with Ichigo?! That was almost unheard of. No that had literally never happened. No wonder her friend had been haggard and almost stalker-ish in trying to find Orihime.

"Hmmm I am shocked Hime. You never fight with him. Actually I have only ever seen you loose your patience with him when he is being especially dense and you are especially stressed. I was worried about his sudden interest. Also coincidentally he broke up with Senna around the same time. Not that that's a surprise but we all thought he might actually stick with her longer you know. She didn't seem his usual flaky type..."

"Ano... Is it bad if he shows interest in me Rukia chan?"

Rukia became guarded instantly. She had almost lost Orihime the last time she had stated her opinion about her crush.

"Well, I don't know if it's good or bad Orihime. And ultimately you are the best judge in what you want. But I stand by what I said all those years ago. Actually I think now I understand my intuition then better. Also I know you know, but as good a friend as Ichigo is to me, I wouldn't leave Renji even if that model Grimmjow walked in half naked. And no matter what, despite my friendship with Ichigo I am always on your side."

Orihime's eyes softened

"I know Rukia chan. But thanks for telling me anyways. And I am sorry I jumped to conclusions that time."

"No! That's not why I said this Orihime. I can see how it looks. You have liked Ichigo for so long that I want to believe in you guys and support your love. Also if he does show interest, I think ultimately you should do what you want to do. A life full of regrets about things you didn't do is much worse than a life full of regrets about things you did."

"Ruki.."

"Let me finish Hime. I said I understand my intuition then better now. And that's true. Ichigo is very protective of his loved ones and friends so it isn't easy to tell, however I have always felt that Ichigo is not in a place where he can look after anyone but himself."

"But I can look after myself Rukia chan!"

"I know Hime. But the question is whether Ichigo thinks the same or not."

Ichigo had been serious when he said he was going to convince Orihime to give him a chance. Surprisingly, the wooing Ichigo was like normal Ichigo but a lot of him. Literally, he was everywhere. He was kind and considerate, checking on Orihime, offering help and either taking her out or making her dinner. While she appreciated the gesture; as she hadn't given him a reply, she always insisted that she pay her share. And he had grudgingly relented.

It didn't help Orihime's cause much though, as it only reminded her of all the reasons she had fallen in love with Ichigo in the first place. His gentleness, his kindness, the way he looked after her, the warmth in his eyes. Orihime had always felt her heart lurch painfully in his company; but now he was keeping her company quite often and paying attention only to her. However, this did not surprise Orihime. For all his thick headedness and his below average ability to read the situation or emotions, Ichigo was extremely determined. And once he made up his mind, he would do everything in his power to get it.

Ichigo's attentions themselves would probably not have caused problems. However Orihime realised just how complicated her love life had suddenly become when the next day she got a text from Byakuya, asking to meet. Truth be told, she felt unsure. Not about meeting Byakuya, but about what she would tell him. Should she mention that her heart had already started betraying her mind when it came to Ichigo's proposal? That she would turn down the possibility of them moving towards marriage for a possible relationship that may or may not survive long distance with the man she had considered was the love of her life?

Did she still consider him the love of her life when her heart had now strayed towards not one but two men?!

And if Byakuya was hard, facing Ulquiorra was worse. It was at work the next day that Orihime realised that in her shocked state the previous day, she had never bothered to call back Ulquiorra. And Ulquiorra knew. She could tell the moment she met him, because why else would he call her Inoue San when it was just the two of them? Why would he act as nothing more than an indifferent superior, not even questioning her callous behaviour?

Orihime knew Ulquiorra was stoic. He had always been stoic and in control, even in some of the most embarrassing situations. What was she expecting? That he would cry? Get angry at her? Fight Ichigo over her?

That would be very un-Ulquiorra like. Ulquiorra didn't show weakness, or any emotions for that matter. He simply shut down. And Orihime was finding that if his snarkiness propelled her to anger and taking action, his shutting down had the exact opposite effect. It drove out every bit of energy out of her body, rendering her in a pseudo vegetative state.

After a week of this though she decided that she would confront Ulquiorra. She had to! She wouldn't be able to even think about Ichigo's proposal with the way things were between her and Ulquiorra. However as she stood facing his blank visage she was finding that this was easier said than done.

"Is there something of importance you would like to share Inoue San?" He said in that unaffected tone of his.

"Why are you being like this Ulquiorra?"

"I am sorry I don't quite understand."

"Don't test my patience! If this is about ichi..Kurosaki kun, then just say so!"

Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow. So the woman and that delinquent were on first name basis now.

"There is nothing to say Inoue San. Your personal life is your business."

"Stop it! Yes what happens between Kurosaki kun and I is my business. But if that's the case why is it making you treat me this way?! What's with calling me Inoue San?! You speak as if those three weeks never happened between us!"

"I don't believe it is I that has forgotten.. Inoue San."

Orihime blanched at this statement. Ulquiorra was right. She was the one that had treated him callously. Seduced him, grown closer to him and then discarded him the moment she landed in Tokyo and saw Ichigo. Orihime felt her throat clench painfully, realising that if she did not get her bearings she might burst into tears from sheer guilt. Sure, Ulquiorra hadn't stopped her when she had called them a fling. He hadn't even brought up their relationship after that initial conversation. And sure, Orihime had been shocked out of her mind to even remember brushing her teeth before falling in a fitful sleep the night Ichigo confessed. However she had wronged Ulquiorra by not even calling and explaining herself and then waiting for a week to broach the topic.

"I am sorry Ulquiorra! I didn't call you that day. There was too much going on. Frankly my mind has been a mess. And most of it is because of you!" she ploughed on but stopped when she saw the expression on Ulquiorra's face.

For the first time she saw an angry look grace his features. It wasn't his usual annoyance. It was cold anger.

"I? I am the cause of your turmoil?! Let me see. I imagine this turmoil has something to do with this Kurosaki kun, who you claim isn't your boyfriend. My guess is that he wants to be now? For why else would he wait for your arrival looking like a lost puppy? And yet, I am the cause of this turmoil that made you forget basic decency?!"

Orihime shrank at these words. She had never seen Ulquiorra look so absolutely livid. For the first time she realised that those who thought Ulquiorra to be emotionless were dead wrong about him. Ulquiorra wasn't prone to showing or thinking about his feelings. However the raw intensity of his anger was proof enough that beneath that still surface ran a myriad of deep emotions. It had excited Orihime and made her feel alive in the last three weeks. Yet now, they were almost choking her, her throat now clenching painfully. However, Ulquiorra wasn't done yet.

"And what are you trying to do here, woman? Ask me permission to date that man? Don't joke with me. What I say or do does not matter. It has never mattered to you. And that's fine by me. You made it plenty clear what those three weeks were and I happen to agree. It was a fling. And by the looks of it, it's over. I don't have any hard feelings towards you if that's what's bothering you."

"Really? Because you look downright mad Ulquiorra." Orihime's eyes narrowed. Of course Ulquiorra knew. He was incredibly perceptive and even she hadn't missed the way Ichigo had acted around them upon her arrival in Tokyo.

Orihime didn't know why she had wanted to talk to Ulquiorra about the instance. Ulquiorra was not going to turn around, take her in his arms, kiss her deeply and promise eternal love. He wasn't going to stop her from dating Ichigo. Actually, she knew that Ulquiorra wasn't the type to do that no matter what. She hadn't come to seek permission. She had come because Ulquiorra deserved to know.

And now that she was standing in front of him she knew. Although she didn't know whether dating Ichigo was the right decision, she definitely knew that she would always regret refusing him. She knew now that with the albatross of her feelings around her neck, she simply would not be able to process anything else. For that was what she had wanted for as long as she knew.

" I didn't come here to seek permission or out of some sense of guilt Ulquiorra. Although what happens between Ichigo and I is very much our business, I needed to sort things out with you. I am sorry for going MIA like that. Last few weeks of my life have completely shaken everything I knew to be true about me and I haven't gotten around to figuring myself out. So I simply couldn't find the words to say to anyone. That is till I met you today."

Ulquiorra raised his eyebrows. He hadn't been expecting the emotional woman to take such a passive stance and now he was curious. How had meeting him offered her insight into her own mind?

"You know Ulquiorra, I hate telling people what I feel and burdening them with my feelings and emotions. I have been like that for so long that I stopped burdening myself with my own feelings. Yet somehow around you, I feel like that long suppressed part of me comes out, and I speak my mind. For if you hadn't challenged me the way you did, I would have never known that I do care about urban planning. I have been looking into urban planning for marginalised groups like children and older people. It's not something corporates are interested in, as there is no profit to be earned. However the government here does have a division that works on it. I was planning to quit Aizen corp after this project if I got an in there."

Ulquiorra's eyes widened, as much from the sudden change in subject as from what he was hearing. Truth be told, it didn't surprise him. It made sense actually. Orihime wasn't suited for the money minded cutthroat corporate environment. But she was obviously suited for urban planning. He wondered when in those long days and nights in New York had Orihime found the time to figure out the purpose of her life and find conviction in her choice of profession.

"I wanted to tell you, after we settled down in our routine in Tokyo.." her voice quivered. "But as luck would have it, before I could fully figure out one aspect of my life, another aspect was thrown into chaos."

"By another aspect you mean…"

"I have loved Ichigo since I was 12 years old." Orihime continued. Ulquiorra felt his heart sink.

" And the day he picked me up, he asked me to go out with him. Frankly, I was shocked. I had imagined this moment my whole life and yet my reaction wasn't what I thought it would be."

Ulquiorra looked like he wanted to speak but Orihime continued, afraid that he might dismiss her. Somehow the idea that Ulquiorra might not care made her heart heavy.

"Let me finish Ulquiorra. I thought about this a lot. And I have decided to take him up on his offer. I don't know if this is the right choice. But Ichigo is all I know of love. And if I don't give that a chance, I don't know how else I am to move forward."

Ulquiorra wanted to scream. He wanted to hurt someone. He wanted to jump down a dark abyss and never return. Rejection should not have been hard for Ulquiorra. He had always waited while he was passed over for more pleasant and younger children, till the orphanage gave up on the idea that he would ever have a family. However with the woman he hadn't even tried. They were a fling. And yet his head was pounding while a strange lightness took over his being.

"I have never considered you a fling Ulquiorra. But I suppose you are right. Our physical relationship was a fling. And its time to end it. I wanted to stay friends, but I have treated you way too unfairly to ask that. And for that, and that itself, I am truly sorry." With that Orihime turned to leave.

"Woman…" Orihime froze, not daring to look at Ulquiorra. His voice was dense and flat, and yet this could only mean that it was containing the endless abyss of his emotions underneath it.

"Yes?"

Ulquiorra didn't speak for a while. Orihime couldn't see or hear it but she could sense that he was thinking and processing a million things. After a while she wondered if he had fainted or dropped dead and considered facing him..

"I understand." He said in a tone she had never heard before. To someone who didn't know Ulquiorra, it would seem unaffected and light. It was barely a whisper. But to Orihime he might as well have dictated a complex cryptograph; one that you know is laced with meaning but feel you could never decode.

"Thank you, Ulquiorra."

As a lone tear slid down Orihime's eyes as she walked out of Ulquiorra's office, leaving the absolutely stunned man alone. The last thought on Ulquiorra's mind was how all the warmth left the room as Orihime disappeared from his sight; as if the sun had set to lead to a cold dark night.

Orihime didn't know what the right move was. But she knew that if she let Ichigo go the one time he wanted to be with her, she would regret it for the rest of her life. Yet, walking out of Ulquiorra's office, she felt her feet turn to lead with each step. If she was walking in the right direction, why were her heart so torn and her step so unsure? She had told herself that loosing Ulquiorra was a consequence that could not be avoided. But the dull ache in her heart told her that maybe it affected her more than she had initially thought. Orihime firmed her resolve. Things were far from over. She still had to set things straight with Byakuya.

She didn't know when and how she had decided to take Ichigo up on his offer. She had seen movies where after a tumultuous tryst with many men the heroine would end up with the love of her life.

He would come, much like Ichigo had, and profess that he had never seen what was in front of his eyes and that he loved her. And she would jump into his arms, all her worries, all the trysts, everything in the past forgotten.

Orihime now knew that this only happened in movies. When Ichigo came, she didn't forget Ulquiorra and Byakuya and jump into his arms without a care. Conversely, her mind had been clouded with emotions she didn't understand, fears she didn't know existed within her, and a bitterness she did not think she was capable of. But life wasn't lead with confusion and bitterness.

So here she was, waiting for Byakuya, feeling jittery about rejecting his marriage proposal to give the man who had not noticed her for a decade, a chance.

"Its been a while, Orihime."

Instantly Orihime's heart skipped a beat.

She hadn't seen Byakuya since the kiss. Yet there he was, his usual self assured self, looking as noble as one could. Briefly it crossed her mind that he had used her first name. Yet it wasn't crossing the line or being too familiar. Just like everything Byakuya did, it was thoughtful and confident. She was beginning to understand why it had seemed almost lucrative to sign up for a loveless marriage with this man. He was like a rock, rarely shaken by anything.

"B.b..Byakuya san? Thank you for meeting me.."

"It's my pleasure Orihime. I have wanted to speak with you for a while too."

"Yes! I am sorry for being so.. " So what Orihime? So, unresponsive? So MIA? Now that she thought about it, Byakuya had been quite consistent in messaging her, yet he had given her space when she wanted. Initially she had chalked it up to him not caring. Yet the man had agreed to meet her the moment she had sent her reply to his message. He had even messaged the day after she had arrived. If he wasn't simply disinterested in Orihime, then he had to be the most patient man she knew.

"Its all right Orihime. I understand you were busy with work."

Now Orihime felt her face heat up. Yes she had been busy, but not just with work. Another image of Ulquiorra flashed in her mind and Orihime sighed.

"I wanted to speak with you, Byakuya san." She said finally. She hadn't been able to express her feelings to Ulquiorra properly, but she at least knew what she would tell Byakuya. But exactly how do I say, Sorry Byakuya, the guy I have always loved, asked me out. And even though there is no guarantee we might make it, I would regret not taking up something I have desired for most of my life now. So I would like to politely refuse your offer of a loveless marriage, despite the fact that the memory of my first kiss with you still sends shivers down my spine.

Orihime decided the truth didn't sound all that bad after all. And Byakuya deserved the truth for being patient and nothing but generous with her.

She pointed towards the café she had chosen for them to meet. It was usually not very noisy and offered enough privacy to talk. Byakuya nodded, curious as to what Orihime wanted to talk about and made a move towards the café when his eyes landed on someone. The person had noticed him too.

"Kuchiki senpai?"

"Ulquiorra?"

Orihime's eyes widened in shock. Walking towards them, giving Byakuya one of his rare smiles, was Ulquiorra Cifer. To her surprise, Byakuya was smiling back.

"Its been a while."