AN: Merry belated Christmas :p. I'm sorry it took so long, I wanted to get something lengthy and of quality ready for you guys. And admittedly I'm still salty over the ending. Not just because of the ships, but everyone seems to be in positions they hate. The only one I'm happy for in that regard is Rukia, because dammit, she deserves to be captain! Ichigo should've been her fukutaichou, but hey, wasted potential. Just all in all, it's a shit end. No matter how you slice it. At least now I'm officially back into my shipping groove and have been loving on my babies lol.

Also going back and rereading the first chapters of this... God this needs rewritten...again o_O.

Orihime could only stand transfixed after witnessing her caretaker's demise, only subconsciously healing Ishida-kun. He seemed so strong... She knew it was wrong, she knew she should be on Kurosaki's side... Yet something within her had wished Ulquiorra would win. She felt as though something was missing inside of her chest, as though a part of her heart had dissolved into ash along with the Espada. He looked so sad as he looked at her, regret so concentrated she could feel it reaching deep into her own soul. And so... She had secretly wished he would take her with him, had wished she herself could disappear. Why? Why did she care so much about him? He had only been the one to bring her her meals and take care of her. And protect her. And seek her out if she went disappearing... He even used the last of his energy to save her. There had to be more to it... That couldn't be it, there had to be a reason he cared for her when he was otherwise completely devoid of any emotion or feelings.

"Inoue, you okay?" She turned to Ichigo who had been glancing her way. The concern was evident in his features.

"H-hai... I just..." The redhead redirected her gaze to where the Espada had stood. "He seemed... Different..."

"Different?"

Was there a way for her to bring Ulquiorra back? Was her Shun Shun Rikka powerful enough to return him from the dust?...

"Inoue?"

"Ah- gomennasai! I... If you don't mind, could I... Have some time to think?"

"Sure... Ishida, let's go help the others. Inoue, do you need us to come back or can you get down by yourself?"

"I'll be fine, Kurosaki-kun. Don't worry." She forced a small smile. She was certain that if she could make it to the top of the dome, she could get down... Especially if her plan worked. And if it didn't, someone would notice she was gone, or so she hoped.

Once the boys were gone, Orihime let out a hefty sigh. She prayed this worked; there was so much she wanted to talk to him about, so much she wanted to learn, so much she wanted to teach him. And she didn't even realize it until now... When it may be too late.

The radiant orange glow reflected in her eyes and highlighted the contours of her face. She stared intently at the small cluster of ash swirling within the light. Come on... Come oooonnn...

For what felt like forever, nothing happened. The same particles floated around, almost tauntingly as though mocking her for believing she could do this. As she watched them dance their haughty pirouette, doubt and reconsideration cast it's shadow over her heart. It probably wouldn't work. He was too far gone and she waited too long. He would forever float in the winds of Hueco Mundo as nothing but lifeless ash. And even if she did miraculously revive him... What then? He'd probably hate her for bringing him back, and if not it wouldn't matter anyway. It's not like they were friends or even could bond. Once this war was over she would return to the world of the living and he'd remain here, and all contact would forever be lost.

Yet... She couldn't NOT try. Being alive and apart from each other was better than him scattering over this desolate landscape.

But... Releasing a sigh, she realized this was indeed hopeless. The specks of dirt hadn't faltered, no growth of any kind. She should just...give it up already and accept he was no longer with her-

Just as she pulled her hands back, the ash clumped together to form a single black blob of matter, shifting in shape and size. It throbbed, as though a life force was trying to make its way into it, before finally it began to swell and expand. Orihime's eyes widened, her arms beginning to shake. She...she had done it! Was he really coming back? Had she saved him?!

Her heart, her breathing stopped. She could only stare as the Espada's familiar silhouette formed before her very eyes. A faint wind blew in, but she hardly felt it. What mattered right now was that she had brought him back...

The Fourth came back unconscious, slumping forward as soon as her Shun Shun Rikka faded and falling into her arms. Interestingly... His mask fragment was missing, yet his teal markings and paper white skin tone remained. His dead weight got to be too heavy to support, so she lowered herself to sit back on her heels, maneuvering his unmoving body so he was lying with his head in her lap. Despite the absolutely lifeless appearance of the Espada, she just knew he was alive. Peering down at his serene yet eerily still face intensified her feeling of awe. She had really done it... She brought him back from almost nothing. Her powers alone had defied death. Certainly not the first time, but it was the most impressive feat she had ever accomplished, and she highly doubted she would ever surpass it. His eyelids twitched, and not a moment later, deep emerald green was slowly revealed. His usually stone-cold, distant eyes were far away and foggy with confusion. "Onna? What... Did you do?" The deep baritone of his voice solidified this was real, that she really had bested his fate, and overwhelming joy made itself known in shimmering tears spreading along her lower lid. Alarm flitted across the Espada's features as he raised a hand to catch a tear with his index finger. "Orihime, you are shedding tears. Why?"

"Because..." She practically choked on her words, too overcome with emotion. "Because I brought you back, silly! You're back... I thought you were gone..."

The woman never ceased to baffle him. She didn't remember him or anything they had done together, but she still saved him from utter demise. She even shed tears on his behalf- unless... These were tears of despair. Some unknown cold feeling gripped his chest like a vice and he pulled his hand away as though he had been burned. "You are afraid." Why bother rescuing him if she was scared of him? She made no sense. An enigma, plain and through. Rather than back away from him, her eyes widened almost in an offended manner.

"Eh?... No, no I'm not! I'm happy, Ulquiorra..."

"Happy? You don't look happy."

"They're tears of joy!" Tears fell from her chocolate eyes as she curled her body to press her forehead to his. Wasn't that an uncomfortable position? "Ulqui-kun...Ulqui-kun is alive..."

A sharp pang shot him in the chest as though he had been struck with an arrow. 'Ulqui-kun'... He hadn't heard that name in a long time. He swallowed against the melting sensation spreading across his sternum, caressing her cheek tenderly to rid her flesh of the water. "There is no reason to shed tears on my behalf."

"I-I'm sorry... I just can't help it. I was so worried."

Ulquiorra sighed and pulled himself from her. Mimicking her kneeling position facing her, he grabbed her chin and forced her eyes to meet his as her spine restraightened itself. "Tears do not suit you. A smile would much better accent your features than the liquid of sorrow."

He remembered mentioning this to her once before, or something of similar nature. He couldn't allow himself to sort through the files in his brain to find the exact memory, but what he could allow was some form of comforting technique... Though he was lamentably inexperienced in that field.

Was...was Ulquiorra himself trying to comfort her? There was a certain warmth in his eyes she had never imagined him capable, a masked tenderness no one had ever pointed in her direction. Though the rest of his angular features remained stoic in their statue hardness, his eyes practically swam with emotion.

"A...Arigatou gozaimasu." She wished there was more she could say. Thank you very much. Was that all her brain could come up with? But of course, she reminded herself, she was still in such a shock-induced stupor she couldn't expect her cognitive capabilities to be at their full capacity.

The slightest of curves graced his mouth before he stood and held his hand out towards her in a clear offer.

"You shouldn't stay here. Where are the others? I will take you to them." Ulquiorra was very careful not to mention the Shinigami by name. He knew of Orihime's...disconcerting feelings for him, and he wasn't sure in his weakened state he'd have the mental strength not to act out on his own absurd jealousy he knew was unjust and unbecoming. Death had offered him a way out of witnessing her run to his arms, and while he had been pleasantly surprised she held him in high enough regard to revive him... He now had to watch every step closely.

"Ah, they... They left to help the others fight..."

Her brown eyes turned away, her head tilting enough so that her auburn hair would fall over her eyes. Why?...

"What is upsetting you?" His response was mechanic, not a single thought floating through his mind beforehand.

"I...I wish there was a way... Neither side had to lose. I don't want anyone else to be hurt- oh but you probably think I'm crazy-"

"Don't say such things." His tone came off harsher than he intended, the girl flinching from his accidental sternness. To remedy this, he brought his hand to her cheek. "Do not assume I would think such a thing. As perplexing as your heart may be, I can comprehend the well nature of your wishes."

"Really?"

"Hai."

A beat of silence followed before her chocolate eyes met his as a small smile returned to her face. "Thank you."

Ulquiorra opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off by continuing. "Does Ulquiorra-kun have any friends?"

You. He pondered making this statement before deciding it's best for her safety not to. Aizen would be ruthless. "I have a single companion, though he may not be a friend in the same sense you use the term."

"Oh?"

"Do you know of Octava, Szayelaporro Granz?"

"Uhhh... I think so! He has pink hair, right?"

"Hai."

"Aizen-sama had him test my blood for any illnesses when I first came here, but that's... About all I know."

"Hn." The Espada turned away. "He was the closest to a comrade I have here. I feel the exact situation doesn't require explanation, however he did assist me in a personal task that would've been much more difficult without him."

"He sounds nice! I would've liked to get to know him more."

The Arrancar nearly huffed in amusement. Nice. She seemed to like describing him in such a way. "He is not nice, Onna. You will do well to keep your distance. He may harm you in his attempts at research."

"...oh."

Quiet swallowed the air around them once more before he turned to face her. "Where shall I take you?"

"Eh?!" In the brief pause her mind had somehow drifted to...inappropriate places, though there was nothing defined about them. She had simply gotten a mental image of a medical table before straps and whips somehow made their way into the picture. Had Ulquiorra read her mind?!

"Do you wish to return to your friends, or accompany me as I seek Szayelaporro?"

"Oh- right!" God, she was stupid for misinterpreting so badly! "I'll stay with you! U-unless I'll be in the way! Then I can go help the others because I don't want to cause problems-"

"Orihime, calm yourself. I wouldn't offer it as an option had you been an inconvenience." He began walking in the direction of the hidden door. He needed time to think, and there was no way she could get down from the canopy otherwise. "Come. There is no time to waste."

"R-right! But... Ulquiorra, your.. Your Hollow mask!"

"Hm?" He froze and glanced upwards, moving his hand to the side of his head. His hand surprisingly came in contact with the soft follicles of hair instead of the hard bone of his mask. That was strange... Thinking about it, there was indeed a noticeable loss of weight upon his head. "I will have to ask Szayelaporro about this."

The walk down the tower was mostly silent and awkward as Ulquiorra lost himself in a vortex of deep contemplation. What was he to do now that he was revived? Should he finish his fight with that Shinigami, or accept his defeat? Aizen would punish him either way for failing him as soon as he found out. On top of that, there was the vanishing of his mask- and after a quick pat on his chest, he found his hole was gone too. Not to mention... There was the fact the woman was so eager to stay at his side, with the excuse that she wanted to make sure he was alright, though something inside him told him there was another reason. He permitted himself a sideways glance at the girl's neck beside him, a ripple of satisfaction fluttering through him at the outline of her necklace bulging through the fabric of her shredded top. So she kept it on afterall.

The Hollow stopped mid stride upon finding Szayelaporro. The eighth was in his release form, yet absolutely.. Lifeless despite standing. A sword blade was thrust through his hand and chest, blood trickling down his chin and impaled body parts. Beside Ulquiorra, Orihime gasped. "He's..."

Why hadn't he noticed his drop in spiritual pressure before? Why hadn't he noticed the presence he has fracked felt weak? Why-

Suddenly a wave of red filled his vision as the girl keeping his company ran out towards the deceased Espada. "Onna, don't-"

"I have to save him! He's your friend! And... Ulquiorra-kun needs a friend..."

Emerald eyes widened as lips parted in protest closed. He could only stand and watch as she healed the inferior Arrancar. Why did she care so much about him? He couldn't understand. He knew she had well intentions, but she shouldn't be this concerned over him. Her memories were supposed to be erased.

The offending sword slowly vanished to nothing, the deep cuts on Szayel's body closing. This was nothing compared to saving Ulquiorra, and it took no time for the scientist to gasp and stumble a little in the sudden return of life. Orihime reached out to steady him, her actions resulting in a shocked glance from golden orbs. "Orihime-san? Why are you here?"

"I wanted to help you, Szayel-kun! And Ulquiorra-kun said you're the only companion you have and you've been very helpful to him in a past assignment. I had to..." Szayelaporro turned his stare to Ulquiorra, the silent question screaming in his wary eyes. The superior shook his head. The stunned expression softened into an apologetic before the eighth turned to Orihime.

"Ah, yes! And quite the mission it was! Aizen-sama knows Ulquiorra and I construct an invincible partnership-" A halting warning in the form of a 'tch' of the tongue. "But more importantly, I thank you for restoring my life and health, Inoue-san! I, Szayelaporro Granz," the pink haired Espada bowed before her. "Am truly indebted to your kindness." Unseen to the poor human girl, a disgruntled scheming smirk curved his mouth. That damn Shinigami...When I get my hands on him...

"Ah! No! I-it was nothing!"

Golden eyes met hers before the man lifted himself. He directed his attention to the dominant Arrancar as confusion furrowed his brows. "Ulquiorra, are you aware your Hollow mask is gone?"

"Yes, although I have yet to place the cause. The hole is missing, as well."

Szayelaporro brought his hand to his chin as the other arm wrapped around his torso. "Hmm...The only possible explanation I can think of..." A remorseful glance turned to Ulquiorra's stare. "Loss of riatsu. Did anything...happen?"

"...hai. There was an incident with-"

The eighth cut him off, grabbing Ulquiorra's arm and dragging him along as he walked.

"Come. I need to take tests and see if I can find a way to reverse this. Now did..."

The rest of the conversation became muddled and incoherent to Orihime as she trailed behind, although her ears temporarily pricked when she heard a mention of whether Ulquiorra would continue for Aizen or the other side, though her attention quickly dissipated. Her feet refused to carry her very quickly, each step sapping her of considerable energy. Her stomach was seeking vengeance for earlier when an intense feeling of nausea had overwhelmed her. Her mouth was warm and her saliva was building. Did she pick up a Hollow stomach bug while in Hueco Mundo?... Would she even live?

Ulquiorra willed his eyes to open, a pounding ache in his head blurring his vision and making movement excruciating. Where was he?... He didn't recognize this room, the feminine furniture much too dainty for his tastes and too human to be from Hueco Mundo. How on earth did he get here?

"Ah! Ulquiorra-kun! You're awake!"

The Espada huffed in rebellion before finally rolling over to face the source of the sound who was seated in a nearby chair.

"Onna...what is this place?"

"You're in my room... In the World of the Living."

The effect was instant, the former Arrancar sitting up straight in a panicked state despite his injuries. "What am I doing here? What happened?"

Orihime reached out apprehensively to calm him. "Ul-Ulqui-kun! You have to relax! You're hurt!" He fixed his emerald gaze on here, his lips parting but she continued. "You and Szayel-kun helped Kurosaki-kun defeat Aizen..." Her brown eyes fell in sadness and lament. "Szayel-kun brought you to me afterwards... You had been badly hurt, Ulquiorra-kun. Aizen said... You and Szayelaporro were merely ploys. He knew you'd both betray him so he set everything up so he wouldn't have to kill you himself... And when that failed, he..." Tears fell from her chocolate orbs as she squeezed her lids shut. "You were hurt so bad... I thought... I thought I'd lose you again..."

A heavy darkness pulled on Ulquiorra's chest cavity, his breathing becoming shallow as he reached to wipe her tears. "Onna, d-

"My powers were too drained to fully heal you... I didn't think I could do it... I thought you would really be gone this time..." Her speaking between gasps was ragged and breathy.

"Onna. No more tears. I am here. It's over. I thank you for what you have done already. Do not fret over such small things." A pale hand caressed a cream cheek, ridding it of all leaked moisture. The memories of the final battle - the accusations from Aizen, the alliance he and Szayelaporro forged with Kurosaki, his decision to protect Orihime at all costs - came flooding back, but they were irrelevant when there were much more important things to take care of. The girl he cared for peered at him with glistening moist eyes, the tiniest of curls of her lips finally softening her features.

"You're right...I'm sorry."

"Apologies aren't necessary. I am only relieved you are unharmed, and thankful for your care. Now... Rest. You look worn." Not giving her a moment to refuse, he grabbed her and pulled her onto the bed. Orihime must've been more than exhausted, for she offered no reply, only nodding weakly and curling against his body.

"You are lucky to have someone like her, Ulquiorra." Green eyes glanced up to their guest who leaned against the wall.

"Am I? Or is it a liability?"

"No. It is a strength very few are blessed enough to obtain, especially from our world. I tried to achieve...perfection, but I was quickly proven wrong about what the definition of such a thing is." Golden eyes returned the stare. "But what I see before me now is indeed perfect. You yourselves are not what is perfect; it is the bond. Despite everything, you two are still drawn together. You two keep finding your way to each other, even without her memories of the mission. I find myself jealous, but that is wrong, and I apologize." Ulquiorra had no response for his colleague, instead only looking down at the girl beside him. Indeed, it was a rather miraculous thing. He had figured she'd run away, but rather... She found it in her heart to care for him and stay by him. "But you know... While we waited for your awakening, Orihime informed me of her symptoms of nausea and lightedness, along with fatigue. So... I ran bloodwork and other tests- now now, I promise, I remained professional and there was no removal of clothing!" He cleared his throat and pressed on. "What I found may be alarming for you, Ulquiorra."

"And what is that?" Though he had a foreboding feeling he knew exactly what the stand-in medic would say.

"A parasite."

An exchanged glance between emerald and topaz spoke volumes in the otherwise silent night air, and both former Espada knew... This was no parasite.

AN: Interpret the end how you will until next time! I will make no promises about when the final chapter will be up, but I'm hoping that since I'm on a Bleach kick, it won't take even half as long as this chapter.

I apologize if there were any autocorrect changes I didn't catch. I will remedy them when I have time (should I find any), and I may change the last part a little as well.

I'm considering writing the Aizen vs Ichigo, Ulquiorra, and Szayelaporro fight at some point, but if I do that won't be for awhile since I want you guys to have the freedom to imagine it how you want to.

Thank you so much to everyone sticking with this story for so long. I really appreciate your support!