IMPORTANT NOTE ATEND AFTER READING!

Chapter Fourteen; Life Isn't Fair

"Jeez, he literally does look lifeless." Ichigo muttered as he looked at the abandoned gigai on the bed. "Are you sure he's breathing?"

Orihime let out a nervous laugh, "He's just a really really peaceful sleeper!" she said as she looked at the gigai.

Suddenly, a big thump sounded itself downstairs, and both Orihime and Tatsuki stiffened.

"What the hell was that?" Ichigo asked, turning towards the door. Tatsuki sprung up and cleared her throat. "I'll go check."

Tatsuki shut the door and bolted downstairs, and looked at the now wide open closet, and a clothes covered demon. "Ulquiorra! You're making a mess!" she quipped at the bat, as she began to pick up the shirts quickly.

"It is not my fault the closet cannot contain my weight." he said as he stood up and shook the clothes off. Tatsuki scoffed, "Ichigo and Orihime are talking upstairs. Luckily your gigai is still there, so he thinks that's you. Bad news is that the gigai ain't breathing, so if he notices, we're fucked."

"Kurosaki is alone with her?" he asked, shooting his jade gaze up to her. She shrugged, "Yeah, they need to talk a ton of things out. They'll be fine."

Ulquiorra stood up and shut the closet, and let out an inaudible growl. "I do not care about Kurosaki, but what he might do to her."

"What do you mean?"

Ulquiorra looked at the oblivious purple haired teen. "He might give into his hollow again if she does not choose her words carefully. His shinigami powers might be gone, but his hollow still lives in him. It is not that easy to rid of that hollow."

~ ~ ~
Ichigo let out a sigh, inflating his cheeks as he did so. Orihime was fidgeting with her fingers as she hovered above Ulquiorra's gigai, and tried to sort her rushing thoughts out. "Hey, Orihime?"

She shot her gaze up to Ichigo and smiled, "Yes?"

He let out a sigh, he knew he needed to ask it sooner or later. "howdoyoufeelaboutUlquiorra." he quickly sputtered out under his breath.

"What?"

He took in another sharp inhale. "How do you feel about Ulquiorra?" He had dreaded asking this question, but it was eating him up from the inside.

Orihime bit her lip. She knew he had every right to ask this question, and she knew he had every right to know the truth.

Yet, she wasn't able to give him the truth.

"I… don't know. T- This past month, he's really been an impact on my life…" she mumbled, now turned towards him but still looking down and fidgeting nervously.

"A positive or negative impact?" he asked as he looked at the top of her hair, and she bit the inside of her cheek.

"Both I guess…" she mumbled, dreading his response.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Orihime had expected many things, even possibly being yelled at by Ichigo, but she didn't expect this. She finally looked up at him, meeting those deep brown eyes.

She really did love Ichigo, but maybe not in the way she had always thought she did. After Hueco Mundo, it became apparent that he did indeed return the feelings, but neither of them had the guts to admit it. But now that Ulquiorra's entered her life… she knows that she doesn't like her previous captor romantically, but it has made her question her feelings for Ichigo. "Really?"

He let out a sigh, and bent down in front of her and she did the same. "Listen. I've seen the way he looks at you, and how you look at him. I- I know I'm not the best at reading someone's emotions or face, and how they look at someone, but I can tell. Something might develop there. Don't get me wrong, I don't trust that bastard, but if you really believe he deserves a second chance, then have at it. I want to be a supportive friend, not the friend who thinks you're weak and always in need of saving. I know now that's not true and it's never been true. You made it through Las Noches mostly by yourself, despite all the mental strain. You defended yourself against the torments of that place and helped in the war big time. We wouldn't have been able to defeat Aizen or anyone else if you weren't there to help us, Orihime. I thank you for that."

Orihime was left speechless. She couldn't even open her mouth, and her bottom lip began to quiver. She threw herself into Ichigo's arms and almost tackled him down as she hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Ichigo!"

"Hey, it's no problem." he said as he patted her back, and let out a sigh. "Now if I find out that bastard's been awake the entire time listening, I'm going to kill him!" he said as they pulled away from the hug.

"Ichigo, I think there's something I should tell you… regarding Ulquiorra…" she mumbled, as she put her hands on her lap guiltily.

"Ay, it's no problem Orihime. Everyone's got their type of guy. Even if it's the goth emo type." he said teasingly, as Orihime went cherry red.

"No no! It's not that! I don't even know how I feel about him yet!" she squealed defensively as Ichigo let out a chuckle.

"Well? Spit it out!" he said, bumping her shoulder playfully.

She bit her lip and put her hand up to the higher part of her arm and rubbed. "Well… It's hard to describe. But that isn't Ulquiorra…" she mumbled, pointing over at the gigai. Ichigo looked over at it then nodded slowly, waiting for her to continue. "He… broke out of his gigai…"

Ichigo sprung up. "What?! Do you know where he is?!" he snipped, as he frantically ran over to the window and looked out. He retracted back realizing he wouldn't even be able to see his soul flying away if he were out there. "Ichigo, it's O.K. He didn't run, it was an accident. He didn't even know it happened because he was unconscious." she explained as Ichigo sat on the bed next to the gigai.

"Well?" he said, leaning forward. She let out a sigh and bit her bottom lip again. "Well… he's… kind of…-"

Before she could finish, the door slammed open with a very frazzled looking Tatsuki "Where is she?!" Tatsuki lunged towards Orihime and grabbed her shoulders.

"Are you O.K?!" she snipped, but before Orihime or Ichigo could speak, she turned to Ichigo. "Stay away from her!" she quipped, as she cradled Orihime in a defensive position.

"Woah, Tatsuki, what's going on?!" Ichigo asked, standing up, as Orihime still looked shocked. Tatsuki shot him a venomous glare, "Don't even pull that bullshit! Ulquiorra told me about your inner hollow and what it did!" she snapped at him, as Ichigo stared at her shocked.

"Where is he?!" he snapped back, then all the gazes turned to the door, as Ulquiorra strutted in, hands at his sides, bored expression and half lidded eyes as always.

"Wh- What?!" Ichigo yelled, as he gained into a defensive position.

"Ichigo, Tatsuki, stop!" Orihime yelled, as she scrambled out of the cradle position Tatsuki had her in. She walked over to Ulquiorra, as Ichigo stiffened up.

"Let's start this over again. Ichigo, Ulquiorra bursted out of his gigai while I was healing him from his supposed 'heart failure', and when he did, he came out in this form and was unconscious. After the initial shock, Tatsuki came over before Ulquiorra woke up, and I hid him… and well.." she let out a nervous laugh looking over at Tatsuki. "...the plan didn't work, and we quickly found out Ulquiorra can be seen by anyone. After sorting that out, we went to Kisuke."

She paused, letting Ichigo process the information that she was giving him. She let out a breath, "Kisuke explained that his theory was that Ulquiorra was healing from a heartbreak thing, because that was the reason he turned into a hollow. He turned into this more 'natural' version of this form, and he needs to 'overcome' his demons or something to go back to normal…"

She took in a deep breath, "He doesn't have his spiritual pressure, a hollow hole, nor his spiritual powers. Just flight, weak pesquisa and flight." she said and turned to Ichigo. He looked like he had just been smacked across the face with each word. He finally put his hand on his forehead and looked at Orihime, "Why didn't you call someone?"

She let out a nervous laugh and put her hand behind her head. "I… didn't want to cause panic… but mostly I forgot…" she mumbled nervously, as Ichigo shook his head in disbelief.

Orihime turned to Ulquiorra, who looked like he was showing no interest whatsoever in this situation. "Ulquiorra, what did you tell Tatsuki?"

He looked down at the auburn haired girl. "I explained to her why I did not approve of you being alone with Kurosaki."

"And what was that?"

"I explained Kurosaki's issue with his inner hollow, and how he succumbed to it during our battle atop the canopy of Las Noches." Ichigo face palmed, as Orihime let out a nervous laugh and turned to Tatsuki.

"He's gotten that under control since, and his hollow hasn't shown since. It's O.K Tatsuki…" she mumbled as she put her hand on her friend's shoulder reassuringly.

"How do you know that it won't take over again?"

"I don't…" she mumbled, and turned to Ichigo. She let a warm smile spread across her face despite herself, and sighed. "But if it were to show itself again, I trust that he'll be able to overcome it with all my heart."

Ulquiorra's eyes widened somewhat as he looked at her. 'With all my heart.'

'My heart, my heart is with them.'

"The heart…" Ulquiorra quietly said, as the talking began to get muffled out to him. 'Her heart belongs to Kurosaki…'

A burning in his stomach and chest suddenly began to intensify, and he didn't even realize his fists clenching.

"Well! That went way smoother than I was preparing myself for!" Orihime beamed as she clasped her hands together and smiled brightly. She turned to Ulquiorra, "Now Ulqui-" she stopped, noticing his fists tightening and him staring at her intensely.

"Ulquiorra? Are you O.K?" she asked slowly, as he continued to clench his fists.

"I am fine." he snipped, much more aggressively and anger showing than he intended. Orihime walked over to him, and slowly put her hand on his arm. "Are you sure?"

Ulquiorra felt that burning feeling in his core flow over as she touched him, and he grimaced. "Yes." and with that, he quickly turned around and walked out of the room.

Too many thoughts, too many emotions. He couldn't take standing in that room anymore. He couldn't stand looking at Kurosaki anymore. He couldn't stand boring into that auburn hair, knowing those beautiful stormy grey eyes were focusing on another pair of eyes than his own. He couldn't take it anymore. He felt overwhelmed and an intense urge to kill someone.

He closed the door and looked up. The skies that were once dusted with stars hours ago, now contained many dark clouds. The spots that were still clear, giving a view of the night sky were slowly being covered over with foreboding dark clouds.

He hated this. He couldn't understand what was happening, and he always had control of the situation. He always had control over what he was feeling; nothing. Now he had a gut wrenching feeling, a constant beating in his ear, and couldn't soften from his glare. He didn't care that people could see him, it wasn't day. He slowly stepped down the steps, and looked up to the top of the house. He spread out his wings and flew up to the top of the roof, and settled down, letting his tail droop over the edge of the roof.

Slowly, rain began to fall, damping the fur that covered parts of his body. He slowly put his clawed hand in front of his face, and stared at the palm. Why him?

He watched intently as a raindrop gained enough weight to slowly slide down his palm, and droop under to the bottom part of his hand. It gained more weight and fell to the roof, joining into it, damping that area.

He looked up as the rain got harder, and let out a frustrated sigh. He needed to get his thoughts together before heading back inside. He needed to address the situation in his head, and get a hold of it.

He trailed back when this started; the crater. While he was in the previous smaller gigai, after he had taken a moment to reflect in the crater, that's where these intense burning feelings began. They weren't around anyone though, only the woman.

After that, every passing moment caused them to get more intense. Until earlier that evening, when he had let his guard down and let his new instincts take over, until that purple haired teen had interrupted.

Now, moments ago, he realized that the feeling he was having before wasn't negative; it just felt like it at first. It was unfamiliar. Now, he felt the negative version he could guess, when Orihime spoke to Kurosaki in that way.

He led all the situation and evidence into one thing; Orihime Inoue.

All of it connected to her. She was the reason for all of this.

But why?

He didn't know.

"Hey."

Ulquiorra turned his attention to the owner of the voice, as a hooded person stepped out of the window next to him. He scrunched his face up once he saw the orange hair and stern expression.

"What do you need, Kurosaki."

"I saw your tail drooping over when I came out here with Orihime to look for ya'. I convinced her to sleep and Tatsuki left to go home." he said as he slowly shut the window and walked over next to him.

"I do not need your company." he stated sternly, as Ichigo sat down, putting one leg up. "Well too bad, because I need to talk to you about Orihime." Ulquiorra cringed.

Even after Ichigo stated his intentions, the two males sat in complete utter silence. The rain slowly soaking Ichigo's dark grey hoodie, as his blasting sunrise of hair was untouched under the hood that drooped over his head, held out by the spikes of sun-struck hair.

He put his hand to the back of his head and rubbed nervously, inflating his cheeks as he let out a sharp exhale. "Ahhh, listen pal. I know we don't have the best past, nor am I really good at these types of things…"

Ichigo looked over at Ulquiorra, who's flaxen-jade eyes bore into his own deep brown ones in what almost looked like boredom or disinterest. That is, to anyone who hadn't fought or interacted with the emotionless previous Cuatro. "...But, this is important enough for me to look over the bullcrap of our past and speak my mind."

He paused for a moment, taking another deep breath, as Ulquiorra stayed silent. "...Orihime, yeah, I've known her for a while now. I helped in saving her from Las Noches…-" he paused awkwardly, then continued. "-And I know I'm kind of her 'hero' in the eyes of many, and probably her lover as well to a lot of people…"

"...but with that said, I don't really harbor feelings for her." he admitted, closing his eyes and letting out a nervous chuckle as Ulquiorra raised his eyebrow at his confession. Ulquiorra turned his gaze forward and leaned against his knees that were now perched up. "I find it hard to believe that, Kurosaki."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I bet the others would say the same. But, my point is, I prefer her as a close friend or even sister. Despite me having two already…"

"...And I've seen the way you look at her. I know she has feelings for me, but I don't think they're as serious as she thinks they are. I'm sure she'll eventually realize this and they'll pass."

Ulquiorra looked back over at him, a bit curious at what the highlighter haired trash has to say now. "Is that so?"

Ichigo couldn't help but smirk a little at finally gaining the stoic bat's attention. "Yeah. As much as I hate you for well…" he let out an awkward cough, "...best not to get into that right now." he said dismissively, and got back onto topic. "...But with that said, I feel like after a few months here, maybe you and Orihime could work something out."

Ulquiorra raised his eyebrow, "Elaborate."

"Romantically, like a relationship, or dating."

Ulquiorra let out a scoff and stood up. "I do not have time for such foolish human affairs. I may be restricted as long as I'm here, but it does not mean I will begin to take part in such human activities."

"Oh, really?" he asked slowly, as he stood up on the roof as well, slipping slightly. He looked over at Ulquiorra and smirked, arms crossed. Ulquiorra looked at him, "What?"

At this point, the sun began to rise on the horizon, as the two males stared at each other for a moment.

"Well, then why haven't you left back to your apartment by now?"

"I was recovering."

"Well you seem alright, why don't you wander on back to your place?"

Ulquiorra let out a deep growl, almost inaudible, and glared at Ichigo, but said nothing. Ichigo smirked in victory, and leaned on one leg. "Face it, Ulquiorra; you enjoy her company. You might not openly admit it, and might not even realize it, but hell, in the end it ain't none of my business." he said, and finished it with unfolding his arms and stretching his back, letting out a moan of approval at the perfect stretch.

Ulquiorra remained glaring at him.

The two looked over at the quickly rising sun as the rain began to fully dissipate, and then they both shot their gazes down, as the sound of the front door opening sounded itself. "Ichigo!" Orihime yelled, as she called out from between her hands.

"Over here!" Ichigo yelled as he slid down the wet roof, then quickly forgot he didn't have his soul reaper powers. He began to frantically frail his arms as he slid off the roof into a thick bush. "Ichigo!" Orihime yelled in horror as she ran towards the pile of groaning limbs in the thick bush.

Orihime helped Ichigo out of the shrubbery, as Ulquiorra landed down next to Orihime. The auburn haired woman hadn't even noticed him at first, until he had landed next to her. She gasped and then suddenly threw her arms around him, as he stiffened up and remained completely still. He looked over at Ichigo as if silently asking for guidance, as he crossed his arms and smirked.

"Ulquiorra! Oh by Kami I was so worried you ran away!" she said as she quickly pulled away, then blushed.

"I was simply putting my thoughts together, woman." he stated as he brushed one of his arms off from the invisible dust, as Orihime turned her gaze more neutral between the two. "What were you guys doing on the roof?"

"We were discussing the current situation about y-" Ulquiorra was quickly cut off by Ichigo, "-the current situation about the sunrise!" he said, then shot a glare towards Ulquiorra, then mouthed 'Don't'

Orihime nodded. "Well, I was probably going to go shopping to refill the fridge! Ichigo, want to come along?" Orihime asked as she looked over at her sun haired friend and smiled. Ichigo looked at Ulquiorra, who gave no reaction as usual. With that, he turned around and nodded. "Sure."

Orihime suddenly gave Ulquiorra another hug, "We'll be back! Help yourself to the pantry. The fridge is kind of empty- well obviously, that's why I'm going!" she said giggling as she embraced him. Ulquiorra gave two awkward pats on the head as he looked at his claws entangled in her soft auburn hair.

She pulled away and waved. "Bye!"

Ulquiorra let out a mental sigh, and watched the two depart. Suddenly, he quickly became aware of his appearance again as a couple stopped in their tracks and stared at him, as he looked at the couple.

Perhaps he should go back inside.

He turned and walked back into the house, shutting the door, ignoring the petrified couple. He walked into the kitchen and opened the pantry the woman had mentioned. He was for once a tinge delighted to see a large selection of tea in there.

He walked over and filled an electric kettle on, and flipped the twitch on before making his way back over to the pantry.

He scanned the boxes, from Apple Spice to Sobacha tea. Eventually he spotted the tea bags he preferred over all of them; Konacha. He grabbed the box and took out a small bag from the container between his claws and walked over to the counter.

He scanned the mugs, until one with a cat in a litter box which he could only be assuming was a scooper for it caught his eye, with the words "Getting my shit together" plastered on it.

Why not? He grabbed the mug as the electric kettle switched off and put the mug on the counter. He poured some of the boiling water in the mug, then used his claws to easily rip the bag open, and pulled out the tea bag and popped it in the mug, slipping the string over it. He used his claw to try to stir it, then quickly retracted it hissing in pain. He forgot; no hierro.

He grabbed a spoon from the silverware drawer and stirred the tea as he walked into the dining room, and grabbed the closest book; "Down with the Sun; A Medieval Time Tale." Interesting. He grabbed the book and sat down at the table, and began to read.

"''For a heartbeat the fear overwhelmed Maskle, but then his focus was called back to the chamber's door by the fast approaching rattle of chains. Summing all of his courage the former Sixth Knight stepped closer.

"I swear by the Goddess of the Sea that you will never pass by me alive," Maskle called out and lifted the Fourth's sword, ready to kill anything leaving the chamber, like he had promised-"'"

Ulquiorra's reading was rudely interrupted by the sudden zip of what sounded exactly like a Garganta rip through the air right outside of Orihime's house, and he sprung up. Without hesitation, he bolted towards the door and practically threw it open as for sure; he saw a large garganta just close, as a barely visible blur fell out of it.

'Shit' was his only thought as he flew around the house.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The part where Ulquiorra is reading the medieval time book was a direct reference to the amazing fanfiction on Achieve Of Our Own 'Down with the Sun' by lilarin! I just finally finished reading it, and I've never enjoyed a fanfiction so much! It was truely a work of art!

Author's Note: Wow I didn't expect this to get so much attention! Sorry for the clliffhanger eheheh.

As always, positive/negative reviews are appreciated! If you feel like it, feel free to guess who the mysterious blur is who fell out of the garganta!