**PLEASE let me know if you think they are ooc. Next chapter to come in a bit, I will be re-watching all the Ulquihime episodes in order to organize my outline.**

Chapter 2

Orihime crossed her legs on her bed-bench, leaning back against the wall as she closed her eyes. She was bored, though she hated to admit it. She could admit to her loneliness, sure, but not her boredom. There just wasn't anything to do! And she'd already driven herself mad with worry. Were her friends okay? Were they here to rescue her? She'd hoped that by coming here, everyone would have time to train and become stronger for the upcoming fight. It made her heart restless with worry as she felt their energies rise and fall. A part of her, though, screamed that she was happy they had come to save her. She did her best to quiet it.

The environment here made her uneasy and she didn't really know how to handle all of the situations. Winging it seemed to be working for her until now, since she was just following her heart anyways. It wasn't odd for her, but this type of situation was definitely a first. She could sense the fluctuations in power, even though she couldn't really sense spiritual pressure. It was just something she could feel. Maybe it was her worry getting to her, but she felt incredibly unsafe when she went days without seeing anyone like this.

Someone with a hollow mask came to deliver her meals now and then, meals she promptly refused to eat, but otherwise she'd gone two whole days without a visit from anyone…not even Ulquiorra. She shook her head, ridding herself of that feeling. How could she hope he'd come see her? He was the reason she had to be here, the reason she'd left everyone at home to keep them safe from his clutches. How could she want him to keep her company? Had her loneliness stooped this low? She'd only been in her cell for what she gauged was a week, but it felt like months to her.

Letting out a breath, the confused orangette stood, stretching out her arms and legs. Once the feeling returned to her muscles, she started to sing softly, something she'd begun to do as she waited for the days to pass. The song was an upbeat one, and even though the lyrics were sad, she couldn't help dancing a bit. Just as she started swaying to the beat in her head, the door behind her opened, the white light behind it spilling into the dark, cement-gray room. She turned abruptly, her face pink but growing redder.

"Was that a human ritual of some sort?" Ulquiorra asked, clearly confused but face still expressionless.

"N-No!" she waved her hands in front of her, "I-I was just…" she mumbled, not wanting to say she was dancing. Would he think her crazy? An embarrassed smile played on her lips.

"No? Then what was that?" he asked, taking a step away from the door and towards her, the door closing behind him slowly. She watched the light disappear before responding, taking a moment to calm herself.

"I was dancing," she admitted, fidgeting with her hands, "It's something we do when we listen to music." It was odd explaining this, and she wondered if he'd understand.

"Dance? I know the meaning of the word, but I've never seen it done this way," he pointed out, leaning against the wall directly beside her, hands in his pockets. His proximity, as always, made her feel nervous.

"W-Well, I don't have any music, so I'm just going along to what's in my head," she explained, her cheeks flushing pink again.

"Music?" he asked aloud, but the word seemed more of an inquisition to himself. Did he know what music was?

"Have you ever heard music before?" she asked cautiously, afraid to offend him. Though she felt she knew him in a way, but definitely knew better than to make him angry with her.

"Of course," he eyed her, "but not the same kind you've heard, I assume. I've only heard what Lord Aizen has played, which seems to be a variation of instruments…" His eyelids drooped and he peered up at the ceiling, remembering the melody.

Orihime giggled, "You're humming," she informed him, her head tilting as she tried to figure out what song it was.

Ulquiorra raised a brow, "Humming? Was I?"

"Yes," she nodded. Words seemed to escape her. Ulquiorra, someone everyone in her group was afraid of, someone with immense power and cruelty, was humming a symphony. Her smile grew.

"Have you decided to attempt to escape yet?" his eyes rolled to her, watching her expression fall slightly as he spoke.

"No, I told you already. I have no intention of breaking my promise. I am here until I am told otherwise," she reminded him, knowing he was trying to strike a nerve. She refused to endanger her friends.

"Is this about the heart again?" he asked, the piercing gaze of his emerald eyes examining the area where her heart should be.

"Of course. I always follow my heart," she met his rising gaze with steadiness, not wavering in her words. She meant what she said, there was no turning back now.

"Heart. What foolishness. What is a heart? I see everything, nothing exists that I cannot see. Tell me, human," he said, casually pointing at her chest, "is it here? Is it real? Or is it an illusion you create? If I tore a hole in your chest, would I find it there? If I split open your skull, would it be there?" He finished speaking with his hand pointing to her head, before dropping his hands all together. As always, he watched her face, observing her expression, trying to understand her emotions and reactions.

What was it about humans that intrigued him? He couldn't tell. He wasn't used to this much emotion, especially since those around him were usually just one set mood, a feeling or metaphor, not this variation that humans seemed to possess. Ulquiorra knew he had been human once too, but he didn't pay much regard to that. He wasn't human or hollow anymore, he was something different altogether. He was strong, and he knew who he was now. He was nothingness. That was all that mattered to him at this point. Orihime took a deep breath before meeting his eyes, this time her gaze was not as strong. The espada stood up straight, paying more attention now as she raised her hand to his chest.

"This is where decisions are made," she told him, her palm against where his heart should be - where his hollow hole was, "This is where we choose who and what matters to us, who we cherish most of all. This…" she emphasized, "is where we choose who is more important to us than even ourselves."

The Arrancar's eyes widened, shock clear in his expression. He took a step away from her, trying hard to relax his expression before turning quickly towards the door. Before opening it, he spoke over his shoulder in his usual apathetic way, "A heart like that would be useless to someone like me."

Before he left through the doorway, he caught a glimpse of her confused, fallen expression. Orihime held her hands clasped over her heart tightly, her shoulders clenched. What was that? She thought. Her heart was racing. She had felt something…something odd, when she had touched him. Their gaze had met and her heart had instantly started beating rapidly. What was that!? She repeated, afraid of her own actions. What had possessed her to be so bold? She was relieved that he hadn't gotten angry with her, but his reaction confused her heart. Why did he turn away so quickly? If he were human, she'd have said he was flustered, but he wasn't human. He was different from her. So what was that?

"What was that…" she kept repeating to herself, as she lay down, her arms crossed over her eyes.