Thanks for your input everyone :) I will continue the story in full, and not just skip and write the last chapter. Sorry, I guess when I put up the last chapter I was just really excited to write the end. I forgot I could not just write the beginning and end, I need to have the middle too… We all have our weak moments… but must press on! :)

I do not own bleach…

Chapter 7

Orihime

Standing at the window, Orihime stared out at the endless sand dunes. The ever-present moon made a soft glow on her face, and she yet again remembered the soft brush of Ulquiorra's lips on her own. Her lips still tingled from it, and she wished he would come back to the room. She did not think of him as a coward for running off afterwards; she understood that being close to another person was scary. She had never had the courage to kiss the one she loved before she left. Feelings for Kurosaki still lingered in her heart, making it feel heavy and confused. She could not keep calling Kurosaki the one she loved, yet she could not say that she did not love him. Orihime was unsure if she even wanted her feelings for Kurosaki gone. Right and wrong had blurred in her mind, and confusion mixed with despair. Was Ulquiorra good or evil? She grew angry with herself; how could she even think of Ulquiorra as evil when she was having these feelings for him? Her heart would never allow her to fall for an evil, she decided. What would she do though, if Kurosaki came for her? Burying her head in her hands, she felt wetness. Tears? She had not even realized she was crying. Her brain must be some sort of hypocrite, she decided. It was telling her to act on her heart's desires, and then later deeming those actions wrong.

She had chosen this path, Orihime reminded herself. She had even begun to run farther down the path with Ulquiorra's kiss. Regret meant looking back, and if she did that, her heart would be confused with past love. Shaking slightly at the memory of spikey orange hair and smiles, she decided she could not let that happen. She needed to stand behind her decisions, she determined. The memory of orange faded, replaced instead with a graceful mix of white and black with sad green eyes.

So that was it, she decided. As long as her friends did not try to do anything as reckless as try and rescue her, then she would continue down her current path lined with beautiful green.

Grimmjow

He hated meetings, especially the part where he had to sit and listen to Aizen and his narcissistic ramblings. Which was all the meetings were about anyway, just some bullshit. They had to obey the summons to the meeting no matter what, though. Grimmjow sneered, he bet that perfect pet of Aizen's, Ulquiorra, just lived for this shit. He would always sit there so perfect and still, listening to his precious Aizen-sama. He kept scowling as all of the Espada entered into the large room. Surpisingly everyone, even Starrk, had made it on time. The message had sounded slightly urgent, and curiosity made him a bit more obedient as he moved to sit down. Plopping down in his seat ungracefully, he again angrily thought about why he had to sit to Aizen's immediate right. He guessed it was because he one of the most rebellious ones of the group. Still, this had to be the worst seat, he thought. He even had to sit across from that emo bastard Ulquiorra, who was sitting down gracefully and ignoring him. Grimmjow tried to shoot a glare at him, but was ignored. Giving up, he focused on what everyone else was saying. Apparently the intruders had entered in the 22nd passageway. Boring, he thought irritably, it would be forever until he was able to go and fight them. They would probably die on the way here, though.

"Quiet down, I'm tired as hell," Starrk grumbled at everyone, and they obeyed. Lazy bastard, Grimmjow thought, one day I'm gonna beat him. Then everyone would have to obey me. The thought made a feral grin appear on Grimmjow's face. Before he got too wrapped up in his thoughts of destruction, though, Aizen finally made his appearance with Gin and Tousen close behind.

"Good morning my dear Espada," Aizen smiled. Grimmjow hated that smile- it was so slick and deceiving. Everyone looked up at their leader. "We're under attack," he continued, "but let us have some tea first."

Ulquiorra

"There are three intruders: Ishida Uryuu, Sade Yasutora, and Kurosaki Ichigo."Aizen explained to the group. Ulquiorra lost focus on what was going on around him as he focused on the hologram of that Kurosaki boy. That man was here to take his princess back. He cursed his emotions silently. They had not stopped; whatever Szayel had given him had created this mess inside his head. He was feeling a weird mix of something right now. So this was jealousy. Looking away from the hologram, he realized he must have deeper emotions for the woman than he had originally thought. Jealousy, as he understood it, was typically what one would feel when an important relationship was threatened or when another had something you wanted. Such a petty emotion, he thought. Dragging himself away from his thoughts, he focused back on what Aizen was saying.

"You are not allowed to underestimate them. They were once labeled ryoka. Just the four of them broke into soul society and fought on par with the 13 protection squads." The others questioned who the 4th of the group was, but Ulquiorra already knew. Inoue Orihime was stronger than she appeared. His instincts told him this invasion would have a horrible end. He was shocked that he had to fight down the urge to kill Nnoitora as he suggested they just let the group have Orihime. Clearly Nnoitora had misunderstood the importance of having the woman on their side. Yes, that was the rationality for his anger, he thought.

A sudden bang pulled Ulquiorra out of his thoughts. Grimmjow had stood up and was making his way out of the room. Idiot trash, he was going to get himself killed. Not that he was particularly concerned about it, Ulquiorra cleared with himself.

Tousen spoke to Grimmjow, but Ulquiorra did not pay attention. For the first time in a long time, Murcielago had actually spoken to him, and Ulquiorra had clearly heard the sentence in his head. With an undertone of malice, Murcielago quietly said, 'I despise these pathetic emotions of yours, rid yourself of them immediately.' Ulquiorra had agreed. He would have to lower his pride and ask Szayel to help him get rid of this pathetic weakness. After Aizen had put Grimmjow back in his place using his spiritual pressure, he had gone on about his own strength, then had allowed them to leave. Ulquiorra began walking towards Szayel, but an image flickered through his mind and made him pause- long orange hair and wide gray eyes. Murcielago growled at him.