***Quick note: I wrote this in a rush (in two hours!) and with extreme sleep deprivation because of final term papers (college, yay!) but it's now been edited. Sorry for the previous errors! As always, notify me if anyone is ooc.

Happy reading(:

Chapter 4

Ulquiorra was badly hurt, though he hated admitting it. At this point, even though his limbs would grow back, he was still pretty much dead. The reaper had destroyed several internal organs, things that the espada could not regenerate. He looked to the girl, the woman who'd been on his mind for longer than any other soul he'd come across. He'd never get an answer, never solve her mystery. The realization came over him that he would never be able to find out what it was about her that intrigued him so. Letting out a breath, his eyes met the soul reaper's, his gaze unwavering as he prepared to answer the question he'd been asked.

"If you insist," he looked at the strange man before him, who'd only just moments ago been fully hollowfied and, he thought, insanely powerful. Ulquiorra prepared his attack, but in seconds he was stopped. What had stopped him? The answer didn't surprise him so much as it disappointed him. His legs had begun to fade, signaling that death was on its way and not sparing him any time. The green eyes, those which he'd acquired after becoming an espada, looked from face to face before landing on the one who meant the most.

"Are you afraid?" He asked, his voice fading as his strength also deteriorated. He held out his hand to her, his eyes sad, maybe even lonely, as he realized that what they had between them was what he'd been intrigued about all along. Between them…was a heart.

"No," Orihime whispered back, reaching for him. Ulquiorra's chest was now fading, and it was spreading fast. Her heart was in a panic, thrashing in her chest like a wild animal in a cage. Her hand shook as she held it out to him. No, she didn't want him to die. He couldn't, not now. He may have kidnapped her, and hurt her friends, but she could see something in him… a change that was coming. His eyes had an expression, emotion, something they'd never held before. "He can't die!"She internally screamed, "What should I do!"

Quickly, almost like a reflex, she reached for her hairpins, throwing them out whilst yelling "Sōten Kisshun! I reject!" The healing field encircled the Arrancar, the gold glow already stopping the deterioration and beginning to turn back time.

"O-Orihime?," Ichigo, standing beside her, gasped, his eyes widening as he saw the events unfold. He didn't mind that she was saving him, but her sad expression made him question her reasoning. However, he was too oblivious to really know what was happening. He wouldn't stop her, but he was worried about her safety.

The girl didn't utter a sound, instead stepping forward to close the distance between her and a shocked Ulquiorra. Raising her hands, she concentrated on using her power to heal him, trying to keep her mind clear as she focused.

"Why are you saving him?" Uryu's voice came from behind her, and she could tell it was something Ichigo wanted to know as well, by the fact that he didn't say a word.

"Because… He's shown me…kindness," she didn't know if the word suited him well, but it was the best she could do at explaining in a moment's notice, "And I don't want anyone else to die here…" At her words, Ichigo nodded, understanding.

"Human…" Ulquiorra's eyes hadn't left her since he was in his final thoughts. She was…saving him? It was an odd turn of events. She may not have feared him, but surely she did not feel anything for him, especially not compassion? His confusion was obvious in his eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything else. Her face was incredibly close to his, the field of her power the only thing separating them.

At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to grab her and run away. He didn't know where they'd go, or what they'd do, but he didn't want to be here anymore. He didn't want to fight this battle, a battle that wasn't really his to fight to begin with. Sure, he started the fight, but it was all for Aizen. The powerful Lord Aizen, the person who made him who he was in that moment, but also a man he could never be completely trust… But no, this girl was different. She was human but her power and uniqueness struck Ulquiorra in ways he didn't yet understand. He wanted to have a lifetime to study her, to understand her and how she worked. What was she, really? Was she really just a human?

Orihime's eyes watered a bit as she grew frustrated with how long the healing was taking. She'd waited too long, but she knew if she'd healed him sooner he would have fought Ichigo again, and she couldn't risk that either. Still, the process was growing to be incredibly sluggish. Only his chest had healed so far, his espada number about halfway visible. It reminded her too much of when she'd healed Ichigo from Ulquiorra's blow. She turned her head over her shoulder to look at her two friends, her eyes focused, strong, but extremely tired.

"Promise me you won't fight him once I'm done," she watched Uryu and Ichigo, waiting for an answer. She'd ask the same of Ulquiorra in a moment, but she had a feeling she almost didn't need to ask. It was like she could feel his unspoken agreement just by being near him.

"What if he tries to hurt you?" Ichigo asked, stepping closer to Orihime.

"He won't. He had me in captivity for a long time and never hurt me," she informed him, "I'll be okay. He won't hurt you either," she peeked at Ulquiorra, trying to make sure she wasn't dishing out lies. The espada gave a slow, solitary nod before looking down at his reappearing body, his clothes joining his skin as his wings had already disappeared. He was in no place to fight anyone. The process of her power returning him to normal would take time, since his internal organs needed to be repaired as well. Her power astounded him, and he wanted nothing more than to know how she'd acquired it, his need for knowing things ever present in his mind.

"Orihime… Do you know what you're doing?" Uryu asked, his eyes full of concern while Ichigo's were full of understanding.

"Yes." The girl was not going to give up on this, no matter what they said. She would heal her captor, and then she'd go heal the others. She trained to help everyone so as to not be a bother, and that was precisely what she planned to do.

"Okay. Then, I'll leave this to you," Ichigo stated, his tone serious and cautious, "But don't die. Call my name if anything happens," his eyes rose to meet Ulquiorra's, "I'll feel your spiritual pressure if you try anything. If you hurt her, I will kill you."

Ichigo and a confused/bewildered Uryu leaned back on their heels, forward, and jumped up into the sky, aiming for the hole Ulquiorra had made between Hueco Mundo and Las Noches.

Orihime was now alone with him, but her heart was much calmer now that she knew he was safe. It comforted her to know that her friends would be nearby should she need them. Ulquiorra watched as her eyes stayed focus on the healing field between them, her hands steady and strong as they poured her energy into it. How could she do something like this for someone like him? He was a smart hollow, but he was cold and emotionless. All he had ever felt had happened in these last few minutes between them. He wanted to reach out for her, but he fought that urge, reminding himself that he was never to feel something for a human.

"Human, why are you doing this?" He let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, watching her fixated gaze. He wanted the truth this time, not whatever she'd told the others. A certain gut-feeling told him that what she'd said to the them was a lie in some way, because her fingers wavered slightly when she'd replied. He wanted an honest answer.

Orihime's face did not move, her eyes never moving away from his now-forming torso.

"I'm only repaying you what I owe," my life, she thought the last two words, but she knew it wasn't the right time to say it. Yes, he hadn't come to save her from the two crazy Arrancar girls, that was Grimmjow, but even so, she knew he was thinking about her. Hopefully it was about as much a she'd been thinking about him.

He couldn't resist the urge anymore, and as he moved he wondered if this was something humans ever felt, he had no words for it. Reaching his hand forward, he created a small hole in her field, something he'd never seen before – judging by her face, neither had she – and touched the tips of his fingers to her cheek. He quickly pulled away, not wanting to give her a reason to refuse to heal him. His fingertips tingled.

What is she? Is she really human?

**If you have not yet read the character chapter for Ulquiorra that Tite Kubo (Bleach author) published, please do so now, as it will help you understand some of this:
ebony- o art/Ulquiorra-UNMASKED-Pg-2-ENG-211709345
(if the link doesn't work, please message me)