Chapter 7

Before Ulquiorra stepped through the Garganta he felt something familiar in the distance, he turned his head and eyed the town around him. One moment it was there, the next it disappeared. For just a split second, he could've sworn he felt Orihime's riatsu not too far away.

Impossible.

The woman couldn't have been in the human world because nobody but him could open the dimensional gate. Since he returned, all of these new things he's been feeling kept interfering with his senses. And his mind has been playing tricks on him again. Ulquiorra brushed the uncomfortable sensation away. This wasn't possible. Orihime was in Hueco Mundo, and in just a few moments he will see her again.

**

"What the hell did you do?" Nnoitra asked, grinning at Szayel.

"Nothing out of the ordinary. Someone like you shouldn't concern yourself with it."

"Cocky bastard, aren't ya? Ever thought of what would happen if Ulquiorra found out?"

Szayel ran a hand through his hair before answering. He knew very well he will have to give an explanation to why he helped Inoue Orihime. The only question was why Ulquiorra would care. He never cared about anything, and this girl left voluntarily. So, why bother?

"What does it have to do with me? She left because she wanted to. I don't see a reason why Ulquiorra should worry about that."

"Sitting in this hole every day must've really fried your brain. The whole fucking palace noticed her always tagging behind him." Nnoitra's grin got wider. "And this morning, someone saw that chick coming out of his…"

He suddenly stopped, sensing another presence in the lab.

"Where is Inoue Orihime?" Ulquiorra's voice rang through the room.

Szayel and Nnoitra exchanged glances before turning to him. Neither of them spoke.

"What's the matter? I am asking you: Where is Inoue Orihime?" Ulquiorra said again, his face remained perfectly expressionless.

Szayel cleared his throat. "I don't know where she is."

"I cannot sense her presence anywhere, only a trace of her riatsu remains here."

Ulquiorra's stare unnerved him. Despite pretending to be calm, Szayel was more nervous than he was anticipating. He finally turned his gaze away.

"That woman was under my care only. I did not give any instructions otherwise."

Nnoitra chuckled. "Your care, eh? So, how far have you gotten in your caring after her?"

Ulquiorra ignored him not taking his eyes off of Szayel. Szayel was hiding something and he will not let anyone leave here until he got to the bottom of this.

He finally took his hand out of his pocket. "I will not ask the question again." Green light started to illuminate the room.

"Wait!" Szayel yelled, "She came here this morning, asking me to open a Garganta to the human world."

"Ridiculous. I am the only one who can do it."

"I found a way to do." he said nervously, "And she insisted."

Ulquiorra felt something sink inside. That woman… He extinguished his cero and put his hand back into his pocket. "So, she left."

"She did."

For a split second Ulquiorra was speechless. He never expected her to actually defy him like that. She promised to wait here and he trusted her. He was the one who would make the sacrifice. Not her. Never her. Damn everything that was clouding his senses. He couldn't read her anymore the way he used to.

"If something happens to her, I will hold you responsible." He finally said leaving the room.

Orihime stepped through the portal and found herself in the middle of Seireitei. She didn't expect her journey to end so soon considering her past trials while coming here. She mentally thanked Urahara for sparing her this time and started walking. It was nighttime, everything was quiet, not a soul in sight. She took a few steps and heard distant chatter. There was a couple of unfamiliar Shinigami patrolling around. Orihime hid herself in the shadows.

What am I doing? I didn't come here to hide.

The Shinigami passed and she exhaled in relief. Even though Orihime knew what she came here for, she was scared. Scared for herself, scared for Ulquiorra, scared for her friends. She did not want to die, but she couldn't risk Ulquiorra getting hurt either. The memory of that night made her smile and blush, then she felt a pang in her chest. He probably already found out what she's done. And he must've been furious. Ulquiorra rarely showed any emotion, but she saw it in his eyes. The eyes that could kill.

"Do not resist. If necessary, I have orders to bring you back by force."

Orihime spun around. "Kuchiki Byakuya!"

Byakuya raised his hand and Orihime felt an invisible force binding her arms behind her. Fifteen minutes later she was at the Captains' meeting hall in the First Division's Headquarters facing that intimidating old man again. He was frowning down at her as usual. Orihime felt her insides twist. But, she will not be scared. They couldn't do any worse to her than they already did.

"Finding you was troublesome. Then you suddenly came back. Explain yourself."

Orihime raised her eyes to his. "I've decided to take full responsibility for my actions."

Yamamoto studied her skeptically. The girl was obviously hiding something.

"Who rescued you?"

"I..I don't know. It was too bright for me to see. I only remember…."

"Silence! I will not hear any more of that. Do not make me repeat myself, girl."

"I don't know who rescued me."

"We know that it wasn't any of your friends. The riatsu was not Shinigami's. It belonged to a hollow."

Orihime remained silent.

"If you are allied with the Arrancar, there will be consequences. It is for your own good to tell us everything."

"Captain-General, we don't know for sure that it was an Arrancar…" Captain Ukitake interfered.

"It was no regular Menos. Its power level was higher than of an Adjuchas, matching a Vasto Lorde in strength."

Orihime gasped. Vasto Lorde?

"This girl does not know what kind of trouble she got herself into. If Aizen is building another army, we have to prepare ourselves."

"It's not true!" Orihime protested. "Nobody is plotting anything against you!"

"I will give you one day to think this over." Yamamoto said with absolute finality, "You better make up your mind by then. Now, take her away."

"Captain Yamamoto, please permit me to escort the girl to her cell." Ukitake spoke again.

Yamamoto nodded without saying anything.

Orihime saw two guards coming on both sides and leading her out of the Main Headquarters. As soon as they neared the prison gate, Orihime turned to Ukitake.

"Captain Ukitake, you have to believe…."

"An escort will not be necessary any longer." He smiled at the guards. "I am more than capable of taking care of one human prisoner."

The guards hesitated at first, but complied. As soon as they left, Ukitake turned to Orihime, his smile disappearing.

"Do you know what kind of trouble you got yourself into?" he demanded.

"But…I…"

"This is not a joking matter! Do you want to be executed again? Why don't you tell the truth?"

Orihime shook her head.

"Don't you understand?! You can die if you do not speak up!"

"I can't!" Orihime cried.

He stared at her in bewilderment. "You can't? Why not?"

"You don't understand! Nobody is plotting anything against Soul Society. We don't even know where Aizen is! And even if he is plotting something, Hueco Mundo has nothing to do with it!"

Ukitake raised a brow in skepticism. "How do you know all of that?"

"Because…" she stopped, shaking her head again.

Ukitake grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to face him. "This is serious! I only want what is best for you. You obviously know something that can help everybody!"

"It won't help everybody!" Orihime had tears running down her cheeks, "I can't…" she broke down in sobs, "If something happens to him…"

"Him? I can assure you that Kurosaki-san…"

"This has nothing to do with him!"

Ukitake looked at her for a moment. The girl was practically hysterical. What in the world happened to her?

"Whoever you are trying to protect can cost you your life. Remember that. So, he better be worth it."

"I called you here because Inoue Orihime has returned to Soul Society." Urahara said looking at his guests.

A moment of silence passed between the friends before Ichigo finally spoke.

"How did she manage to get there?"

"She came to me and asked to open the gate."

"And you let her go?" Rukia asked.

"Yes."

"How could you?!" she yelled in disbelief.

"Inoue-san is not a child. She knew what she was getting herself into. And it seems like she was trying to protect someone."

"Who?" Ichigo asked.

"The same person who saved her before."

"Ulquiorra…." the group said in unison.

"I've had enough of that bastard." Ichigo said angrily, "First he pretends to save her, manipulates her, and then sends her to her death."

"Kurosaki-san, I don't think it's quite that way." Urahara protested.

"Then, how is it??!! After everything that he's done, there is no way Inoue can believe him just like that!"

"And here I thought you were all brawn and no brain. But apparently, you have some decent senses intact."

Ichigo froze at the voice. What the hell is that bastard doing here?!

Ulquiorra looked at Urahara.

But before he spoke, Urahara interrupted him. "She was here, if that is what you were going to ask. She is in Soul Society now."

Ulquiorra's expression changed only for a second. "Our deal still stands."

"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Ichigo yelled at him. "What deal?! If it wasn't for you, Inoue wouldn't have been in danger now!"

Urahara sighed. "This is enough. Schiffer-san wants to save her just as much as you do."

"Even if he did, how does he plan to go against Soul Society on his own?"

"Most of the Espada have been revived for the sole purpose of protecting Hueco Mundo from Soul Society." Ulquiorra answered, "Rescuing Inoue Orihime is no exception."

Despite his cool demeanor, Ulquiorra felt his insides boil. It wasn't an unfamiliar sensation, as he felt something similar before when he was in her company, but it still took some time getting used to. The woman always made him feel different when he was around her, but this was the last straw. Ulquiorra still wasn't sure what he planned to do with her when they met again. Worry, anger, love all mixed up in one single emotion and he felt himself getting restless.

Right before he left Hueco Mundo, he instructed Grimmjow to gather all of the Espada and meet him here. Despite Grimmjow's violent objections, curses, and usual defiance, he was finally convinced by Ulquiorra's quiet rage. Only a small outburst of riatsu was enough. And now, it was only a matter of time until Szayel opened another portal.

"Soul Society is very stubborn and traditional." Urahara noted. "Changing their minds will probably be the biggest challenge yet. They still view the hollows as enemies and them knowing that Inoue was with one of them makes it even more difficult."

Everybody eyed Ulquiorra wearily. The expression of indifference never left his face. Despite what Urahara said, he continued standing to the side, calmly listening to everything he had to say.

Urahara turned to Rukia. "If you go against them, they might label you as a traitor again. Are you prepared to defy your brother?"

Rukia looked down in silence. She wanted to save Orihime, but would her brother really understand? Despite all of the changes in their relationship, he was still loyal to Soul Society. But, that was a chance she had to take.

"Inoue is my friend." She finally said, "And I will not abandon her."

Urahara nodded. "I will open the gate whenever you are all ready."

Twenty minutes later they were standing in the space below the shop. The party from Hueco Mundo finally arrived. Ulquiorra paid little attention to the glares and harsh words exchanged between the Arrancar and the Shinigami. He did not expect much from Nnoitra, Grimmjow, and Yammy in regards to rescuing Orihime. Yammy was a big brute who liked to smash things, the other two were not far behind. But they were good fighters and he anticipated them to create enough ruckus to divert the attention of Soul Society. Fighting was in their blood, so that was their motivation. Luppi had a sadistic smile on his face, which Ulquiorra simply ignored. And Szayel was nowhere to be found. The only ones who remotely caught his attention were Harribel and Starrk. They were smarter and more level headed, and Ulquiorra anticipated for them to be more discrete. But the one he could really rely on was only himself. The Substitute Shinigami might've been her friend, but that friendship did not save her from execution before.

"It will take you directly to Seireitei. Be on your guard." Urahara said opening the portal.

Ulquiorra stepped through it and everyone else followed leaving Urahara behind.

Orihime sat by the window looking down. She was transferred to the tower. They wanted her to repent. Repent what? She did not regret anything. She looked at Soukyoku and wondered if she will ever have to walk that path again. But there was no turning back. Her only regret was that she didn't have more time with him.

Captain Ukitake visited before trying to reason with her. But Orihime's mind was set. She will not give them Ulquiorra.

The door opened and he came to see her again.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I am fine."

Ukitake came up to her in silence and looked down at the ground.

"Kurosaki Ichigo has returned, along with Kuchiki Rukia and the rest of your friends."

Orihime looked at him sharply. But before she could say anything, he interrupted her.

"There is also a rumor that a group of Arrancar has invaded as well, and with a very powerful hollow in their midst."