Okay...I have wanted to write this one for awhile...

so here it is.

Touch of a Demon

Chapter Seven:

Reunited

After returning from training with Gin, Orihime stripped and slipped into tub without reeling; Orihime began to wash her hair as she sat stiff in the tub. Ulquiorra cold feel her fear in the room and see it's affect on her body. She had grown paler in just the one day and her eyes were droopy from the lack of sleep. In just one hour, she would be brought together with him again, the man who filled her waking thoughts and tormented her dreams; Aizen Sosuke.

She dunked her head under the water and stayed there for an abnormal length of time. Ulquiorra took a step forward and knelt by the edge until she rose. When she did, her eyes were glinting with worry. He turned her around gently by her shoulders. Avoiding looking anywhere but her eyes, he pulled his knowledge of human interaction forth and leaned in and kissed her softly on the cheek. She hadn't been able to blink and when she did he was standing in his usual place. She fretted with the conditioner for a few moments before she felt some of her fear alleviate. She dunked under the water again and finished washing her hair.

Ulquiorra waited for her to stand before getting her towel. With a strange movement of free will she bared herself to him and looked down.

" Will he take my new body as well?" She asked. Referring to the workouts she had been doing with Gin for the past three days. It must have been due to her intake of sweets and fast metabolism but all the soft and fair skin she had, now appeared very firm and fit. He couldn't help the invitation. He was a male after all. He walked towards her with the towel and placed it first around the ends of her hair and massaged the water out of it. Then he drew the towel around her stomach and slid it over the drops of water until she appeared dry. Handing her the towel he let her finish the private areas he hadn't dried. He watched her blush slightly.

" I don't know." He said. Orihime looked up suddenly. Her eye brows arched.

" Doesn't he tell you everything?" She asked quietly. He turned his impassive face.

" No. If you'd like to know what Aizen wishes, I suggest you woo Ichimaru." He stated stoically. Orihime finished drying and wrapped the towel around herself. He doubted she already knew that she had half succeeded in winning over Gin. Ulquiorra also doubted that Gin would betray Aizen...at least until the very end.

Aizen waited patiently at the round dinner table. He forced his body to cool as he felt her reiatsu become closer. It had been so long...too long. Gin watched, grin upon his face as he tentatively waited for Orihime to open the door. When she did Ulquiorra stood slightly infront of her his head politely bowed.

"Aizen-Sama." He addressed. Aizen waved him off with a swift flick of his wrist. Ulquiorra turned and left, he dared not a word or caress of comfort to Orihime as she shivered in the doorway; he closed the door.

Wanting nothing more than to drink her in, Aizen forced himself to engage.

" Orihime, it is good to see you." He started carefully. She nodded her head but stayed perched where she was. As Aizen had instructed, Gin stepped forward and pulled the chair next to Aizens out.

" Sit, we promise not to bite." He said playfully, opening and winking his right eye where Aizen wouldn't see. Orihime felt her lips twitch as she took those fateful steps forward. Sitting in the chair, Gin pushed her in and sat across from her.

" Cook." Aizen called. A short, plump arrancar came through the door quickly carrying a large tray of various fruits. Despite her fear, Orihimes mouth watered. She immediately began loading the small plate in front of her with it. Aizen smiled and Gin did the same. The scene was set; Orihime in a chaperoned lunch with Aizen.

" So Orihime, how has the training with Gin been thus far? He says you have progressed tremendously." He bit back the words that threatened to spill forth when he cheeks lit aflame.

" Well, I don't know. I guess I'm getting better. We've only been training for three days..." She stuttered. Gin smiled reassuringly.

" Don't sell yourself short Hime-chan. You've already become quite efficient in shun-po! That's a feat to be proud of. Ne?" She smiled and plopped a grape in her mouth. Whether she was aware or not, Aizen hadn't heard a word. He stared at her possessively and he began to burn with desire. Maybe it was too early? No, that isn't possible. Seeing his stare in her peripheral vision she turned very slowly to stare back at him. He pulled himself together quickly and smiled.

" So there lies a fighter in you after all." He complimented. She heard it and felt immediate regret when she got hopeful butterflies in her stomach. Aizen thought she could be a fighter? She pulled the words into her memory space for later when she could analyze them.

Lunch progressed with polite small talk and not a single physical interaction between Aizen and Orihime. Once the meal had been devoured Aizen stood and invited Orihime to the balcony. Gin followed behind them, placing his hand on her shoulder in silent words as her fear had not at all ceased.

Unexpectedly and out of rehearsal, Aizen dismissed Gin.

" Your lady awaits you I'm sure." he said. Gin grunted and stepped back.

" I doubt it." He said softly as he headed for the door, he paused only briefly after the door was closed.

" Damn." He whispered and headed towards his quarters. He wasn't surprised to see Ulquiorra hovering at his door. They exchanged quick glances and the message was clear; neither had a clue what was going to happen.

Aizen kept his distance from her as they stared at the land.

" What do you see?" He asked her quietly. She shuddered involuntarily at the chill of being in his close proximity.

" Empty lands." She said a little too quickly. But Aizen approved.

" Yes. Empty, baron, desolate lands. Filled with nothing." He stated, purposefully setting disdain in his tone to catch her attention.

"If you don't like it, why do you stay?" She said, trying to keep the conversation on the land.

" Because....my hopes of creating a higher race of soul reaper labeled me as a villian, and I was cast." He said, watching her expression for an affirmation of the regret in his voice.

" Where was I to go? The real world? They would locate and squash me. So I came here, and furthered my plans to a direction where my dreams could be ignited. Where I could continue my studies."

" By killing thousands of people?!" She attacked suddenly and he bit back a smile.

" No, Karakura Towns high level of spirit energy will ultimately destroy the inhabitants. Tell me, if you hadn't known Kurosaki, would you have accepted your powers?" The question pulled her from herself as her mind tumbled down in whirlwind.

" I-- I don't know." She said, turning her head away from his penetrating gaze.

" You might have. But the others, they would not. Would you still consider it a sin if I recreated them in the world that I will one day rule and educate them in their powers?" He ventured, lying into the wind.

"..." He let her keep he silence, and continued.

" Soul Society is afraid of change. In this world, these baron lands are filled with creatures yearning for a change, a difference. They are all the castaways, dead with regret and fear, they become Hollows and called the enemy. Do you agree with this justice?" He asked her, gently pulling her face towards him by her chin.

" Do you agree?" He repeated. She stared at him with wide eyes. She shook her head.

" I don't know." She whispered. He dropped his hand from her chin and looked out over the white land.

" I am here to help them, govern them, teach them how to be civilized," he turned back to her and stared deeply into her eyes, she had no choice but to stare back, " I need you to teach them how to feel."

Her jaw dropped and she shook her head.

" That's impossible. I can't-" She choked. He smiled.

" Do you deny that Ulquiorra has become less hollow and more human because of his interactions with you? What about Grimmjow? Who came to your rescue in ways to clear his debt?" He queried. She stepped back, too shocked to reply.

" I apologize," He said, stepping and taking her hand in his, " I did not mean to frighten you." She closed her eyes.

" I don't know..." She said once more.

1520 words, that's good I think. Besides, my birthday party is in two hours (02-07-08) I hoped you liked it, all of what Aizen said is a big fat lie, he just wants to be king, but a King needs his Queen right? The plot thickens. Have a good day and review please.

( I switched the pairing to Ulquiorra and Orihime, because I guess that's the most affectionate one. But it's really AiHime, it has a lot of pairings in it...)