Author's Note: Trying my best to keep the characters IN character, but I struggle sometimes! Let me know if you think I should change some of my writing on certain characters!

Without further ado, let's read!

Orihime slowly began to make her way back to her house after Uryu had departed. She had the hollow mask still held to her chest, as she walked up to her house.

"At least… you're closer…" she said to the mask, as she walked in and sat down on the couch. She inspected it, noting it was rougher than it looked. It was rather light weight, and rough and had smoothed over marks all around on the outside. The inside though was like the inside to a seashell; smooth, shiny and untouched. She slowly dragged her fingers on the inside of it, appreciating it.

Suddenly, the memory of him holding up Ichigo with his tail and killing him came through her mind. She quickly retracted her hand that was feeling the inside, and placed the mask on the table, propping it on its side with the horn.

"But… is that what I want?" she asked herself aloud, leaning against the armrest of the couch, looking at the mask. The terrible memories of what he said about Chad, her friends, and the fights with Ichigo came flashing through her mind, and she looked away. "No… maybe it's not." she said sadly to herself, as she sighed.

Then, she began to take everything into consideration. He had killed Ichigo twice, yes. He helped attack the shinigami captains, yes. He threatened her and kidnapped her, yes. He kept her confined, yes. He helped Aizen attempt to destroy Karakura, along with the Soul Society, yes. He served Lord Aizen, yes.

But that's it, he served Aizen. These were all orders from Aizen, not his doing.

But he could've said something against Aizen.

Wait no he'd get killed.

Aizen gave him the purpose he longed for, so he went with it.

She shook her head and grabbed her forehead. "Maybe some bean-paste and cheerios would help my mind settle down…" she grumbled as she stood up. She grabbed a box of honey-nut cheerios and a can of bean paste and popped it open. She poured it into a bowl and walked back into the living room and sat down. She began to eat it, and then looked over at his hollow mask.

"His hollow mask could even be used as a bowl…" she giggled to herself at the thought of Ulquiorra eating out of it when he did eat at Las Noches. Would he use it as an average bowl or only on special occasions? Maybe he used it only in the presence of Aizen and thought of it as a professional gesture. She giggled to herself at the little scenarios she began to make in her mind.

She stood up and grabbed the hollow mask after she finished her meal and rubbed the inside of it. "It's so smooth… maybe it's because his hair was probably so soft…" she mumbled to herself, as she rubbed the inside. She let out a sad sigh but was instantly startled mid exhale as a loud knock sounded itself at the door.

"C- Coming!" she yelled and put the hollow mask down on the couch.

She ran over to the door and opened it and was instantly met with the beautiful sight (to her) of Ichigo smiling. "Hey, Orihime." he said, as she smiled.

"Hey Ichigo!"

She let him in, as he walked in. "Came over to check if you were alright. I heard from Uryu you were back." he said, as she realized.

"H- He didn't tell you anything else?"

"Nope."

She quickly ran over and scrambled onto the couch and hid the hollow mask under a ton of pillows. "T- that's n- nice of h- him!" she beamed, as she threw a blanket over her.

"Wow it's so cold in here!" she said nervously.

Ichigo stared at her, and blinked a few times. "I guess?"

Orihime plastered a nervous smile over her face as she stood up.

"Well, would you mind if I stayed over for a bit? Yuzu and Karin are out for the night on a school trip, and won't be back till morning. It's pretty lonely." he said as he walked over.

Orihime gulped.

"Yeah sure!" she beamed, as he walked over to her.

"Are you alright? You look flustered." he asked.

"Uh… yeah! I'm A-O-K, just uh… uhhh… the bean paste and cheerios I had is upsetting my tummy!" she beamed nervously, as Ichigo looked at her.

"Maybe you should consider… changing your diet a tad bit…" he mumbled.

Orihime chuckled nervously. "H- How does a movie sound?" she asked nervously.

"Sure," he said, and turned to the couch. She quickly realized her mistake, and basically tackled Ichigo to get that spot.

Ichigo and her tumbled onto the couch, as her face went a deep shade of crimson. "I- I'm sorry!" she screeched.

She jumped off him, as he slowly rose up. He adjusted himself and sat conveniently right next to the pile of pillows.

He let out a yelp of pain and sprung up and turned around. "What the hell?! Is there a knife in there?!" he yelled and saw a boney spike poking out of the pillows.

Orihime was about to stop him, but he lifted the pillows up and gasped.

"Orihime. What is this." he said strictly, as he pulled up Ulquiorra's hollow mask. His face changed to one of concern and anger.

"Er- Well- It was- I did- I might've-" she stuttered, before sighing out in defeat.

"Uryu and I found it in the sands of Hueco Mundo when I went there to do a mourning ceremony for Ulquiorra."

"What…? A mourning ceremony… for Ulquiorra?"

She clenched her fists and shut her eyes tightly. She stayed like that for a moment before she opened her eyes, tears slightly threatening to break loose.

"Yes! I mourned for him! And I still will! He didn't deserve to die, Ichigo!" she snapped at him, and quickly turned her gaze to the floor.

"He… didn't deserve it at all…" she mumbled, closing her eyes tightly.

The two stood in silence for a moment, as Ichigo watched her crying friend.

"So… you miss him."

Orihime shot her gaze up to him, as Ichigo tightened his grip on the hollow mask. "I don't understand… How could you miss him? He kidnapped you…-"

"I know! I do!" she snapped at him shakily.

"I just… wish he got a chance. He should've been able to experience life… to experience emotions… to experience love. Yet he was just a misunderstood teen! Just like me!" she barked at him, Ichigo stared at her, wide-eyed and shocked.

"Maybe it'd be best if you leave…" she hissed under her breath, as Ichigo dropped the hollow mask on the couch.

"If it… makes you feel better, Orihime." he mumbled. He walked towards the door, gave one last glance at Orihime, who had a rough sad glare on her face, and left.

Right as he left, she collapsed on the floor and began to sob. "Why…?" she mumbled, tightening her grip on her legs.

Eventually, her sobbing turned more into occasional small sobs and her golden locks falling over her knees. Eventually, she looked up at the hollow mask that laid on the couch.

She stood up and grabbed it, rubbing the base of the horn. "What would Ulquiorra say to me right now?" she asked herself, staring at the hollow mask.

A smile plastered across her face.

"What am I thinking? He wouldn't comfort me!" she giggled to herself, flicking her head with her index finger.

"Woman! Stop your useless crying! You cry because of this thing called the heart! It is a weakness!" she said in a deep voice, pointing her free hand's index finger up to the roof, trying to impersonate Ulquiorra.

She giggled to herself as she turned back over to the hollow mask.

"Even when you aren't with me… you manage to make me smile." she muttered to herself, rubbing the top of the hollow mask.

She smiled, a genuine smile.

"I miss you, Ulquiorra."

Her face quickly changed to one of determination, as she turned towards the door. "And I'm not just going to stand around and let a little fight bring me down! This was a sign, so I best understand the sign!" she beamed confidently, and rushed over and grabbed her jacket. She struggled to fit the hollow mask in her purse, and eventually held it up.

"I wonder…"

She walked over in the living room towards a standup mirror, and slowly lowered the hollow mask onto her head. It was a bit tight.

"Huh, he really was the smallest Espada."

She adjusted it slightly before fitting it fully on and looked at herself in the mirror.

She had to admit, she looked goofy with it on.

She held her finger up like she had earlier, "Ulquiorra Cifer! Cuatro Espada of Lord Aizen's Arrancar army!" she beamed in a deep tone, puffing her chest out.

"Somethings missing…"

She quickly ran upstairs, still with the hollow mask on. She came rushing back down, instead of her skirt, she now had grey sweatpants on and a white t-shirt. She walked in front of the mirror, and slid her hands in her pockets, and puffed her chest out.

She grinned to herself.

Suddenly, someone knocked at her door. She bolted over to the door, "Coming!" she beamed, and opened the door. There stood Chad with a box of what she could guess donuts, looking at her weirdly.

"What… are you wearing?"

She quickly scrambled and took the hollow mask off and chucked it behind her onto the couch. "U- Uh nothing!"

"Uh, I saw Ichigo coming from your house and he told me you had some stuff going on… I brought some donuts while I was on my way over to my place. Here you go." The shy male handed a box of 6 donuts to Orihime, as her face lit up.

She put the donuts to the side and gave Chad a big hug, as she barely wrapped her arms around his frame. "Thanks Chad! I've been craving something sweet!" she beamed with a big smile.

Chad left not long after she offered him a donut, and she shut the door. She flicked her head with her finger, "How could've I forgotten I was wearing Ulquiorra's hollow mask so quickly? Man, I'm such a goofball!" she said aloud to herself, giggling. She hopped over with the box of donuts and sat down on the couch next to the hollow mask. "I guess the thing from earlier can wait. Chad must've been sooo confused!"

By the time Orihime was done eating her donuts, it was already 9pm. She cringed when she looked at the clock. "Maybe I should wait for tomorrow…" she mumbled, but then she remembered she had to go to school tomorrow, and skipping again would cause her a ton of issues.

She cringed.

"Whelp, that settles it then." she said. She quickly grabbed the hollow mask and put it on again, before grabbing her purse and jacket, and departed her house.

Author'sNote: I know... short chapter :( Had to cut it short so the real stuff is impactful. Reviews and favorites are DEARLY appreciated and encourage me to write more!