Chapter 10

Mayuri was furious. After being so close to finally getting his hands on that girl, she escaped from his grasp once again. All of his hard work was wasted, but facing an investigation was even worse. All because of that little bitch. He cursed himself for underestimating her. That power was stronger than he has ever imagined and it never occurred to him that he will have so much trouble with handling one woman. That impressive barrier was her last defense and nothing that he did could break through that blasted shield. Unforgivable!

"Mayuri-sama…" he heard Nemu's faint voice behind him.

"Shut up!" he yelled throwing a table into the wall.

"Don't punish Nemu for your own mistakes."

Mayuri turned around glaring at Ukitake standing in the doorway.

"What is it, Captain Ukitake?" he asked irritably.

"What were you planning to accomplish by torturing that girl?" Ukitake asked calmly. "Did you even consider that Yamamoto will not take lightly you going against his orders?"

"I did it for the good of Soul Society! Mark my words, Ukitake, that girl has no ordinary powers. It is in our best interests to use them to our advantage."

"Our advantage or yours?" Mayuri frowned at his words but Ukitake remained unperturbed. "We were always aware of Inoue Orihime's powers, but studying them using torture was never our intention. You did not just ignore the rules of the Commander but also committed an act of violence again a human."

"I always used harsh methods to accomplish what was needed. This is no different."

"But it is different. The girl is not an enemy. She is one of Kurosaki Ichigo's friends whose crime was still in question."

"Nonsense! Friend or no friend, she is a traitor who sided with the enemy. Why else would those hollow come here to rescue her?"

"Indeed." Ukitake said thoughtfully. "And it's not about Kurosaki Ichigo anymore either. Have you seen the look on that Arrancar's face when he brought her back?"

Mayuri snickered. "What of it? I haven't become a captain to be afraid of some mere hollow's tricks."

"These are not just some mere tricks. And these are no longer ordinary hollows. He is immensely powerful, much more than an average Arrancar. But not only that, he is also very smart and cunning."

"I haven't become the head of Research and Development for nothing, Captain Ukitake. Outsmarting the smart is my job."

Ukitake studied him carefully before speaking again. Even though Mayuri didn't show it, he was nervous. Nobody has ever been able to beat him at his own game. That Arrancar was no joke and he had an agenda that might shake the very foundation of Soul Society.

"You better be careful." was all he said.

"Well, shit, look who is here? They managed to catch you too!" Grimmjow sneered.

Ulquiorra remained silent turning his head away and staring at the crescent moon outside the window. Now all he could do was wait. The Shinigami in charge will eventually summon and interrogate him, and that is when he will put his plan into motion. All of the Arrancar were caught and put into one single cell. Apparently Soul Society did not think that their captive hollows might regroup and attack again. Arrogant bastards.

But at least she was safe for now. The execution was put off and Soul Society concentrated their efforts elsewhere, the murderer who tortured her. Ulquiorra closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. The image of diminished and bruised Orihime never left his mind. She was an incredibly strong woman for enduring all of those hardships. Despite her powers being at their weakest, she was still able to defy someone as strong as a Shinigami captain. And he felt a sense of pride that she managed to hold her ground until the help got there. When she first came to Hueco Mundo on Aizen's orders, he already knew that she was not ordinary. He was not wrong.

Her human frailty and a strong mind never failed to surprise him the more he got to know her. Back then Ulquiorra already knew that she must be protected, always. And then he thought about what she said to him after he rescued her from Mayuri. She loved him. How could she? That was the problem he couldn't find a solution to. Orihime was a human who lived in the sun, and he was a demon meant to linger in the shadows of the world where she did not belong. Even if this mission was successful, where would they go from here? Where would she follow him?

"Hey! I am talking to you!" Grimmjow's annoyed voice interrupted his thoughts.

Ulquiorra unwilling opened his eyes. "What do you want?" He asked without looking at him.

"How the hell did you let them catch you?"

"My priority was to rescue Inoue Orihime. She is safe now."

"Well, shit, that's nice. But what about us?"

"I am going to bargain with Soul Society to release us and the woman."

"In exchange for what?"

"In exchange for them continuing to exist as they are."

"You sneaky bastard," Nnoitra cut in "What are you planning?"

"Because of Soul Society's relaxed antics, a human was nearly killed."

"So? She was on a death sentence anyway."

"Irrelevant. Her case was not officially closed. She was not to be harmed until the final decision was made. Soul Society is obligated to follow the rules to protect humans. If they fail, the whole system must be purged and rebuilt from scratch."

"Hold on." Grimmjow interrupted, "Are you trying to tell me that we didn't come here to kill these Shinigami bastards?"

"I thought I made it clear that our mission was to rescue Inoue Orihime."

"That's fucking it? Why not blow the whole shit up?"

Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes at him feeling his annoyance rising. All brawn and no brain, he was growing tired of dealing with fools like these.

"So, you're saying we are here to rescue your pet." Nnoitra spoke again "That's too much of an effort for one little chick. You'll have to share the goods."

"She is under my care…."

"Cut the bullshit." Grimmjow yelled, "Aizen-sama is no longer here for you to use that excuse again!"

Nnoitra cocked a brow in amusement. The rest of the Arrancar remained unmoved watching Ulquiorra in silent anticipation.

"I agree with Grimmjow." Starrk finally interjected, "Just rescuing the girl and not doing anything about Soul Society doesn't seem right."

"Yes. I say we crush them while we can so they don't mess with us again." Yammy agreed.

Everyone else nodded.

"I never said that we won't do anything about them." Ulquiorra looked straight at Starrk. "There will be a deal that will secure the safety of Inoue Orihime and prevent the war with Hueco Mundo."

"How can you guarantee that?"

"Soul Society has been careless, so careless that they broke one of their biggest laws. And their superiors will not treat it lightly."

Starrk nodded and Ulquiorra relaxed a little. While Grimmjow and Nnoitra only cared about fighting, Starrk was more level headed and didn't seem to like settling matters with fists. Some of them probably wouldn't like the idea of the truce between Hueco Mundo and the Shinigami, and Ulquiorra suspected who. But that did not matter. He was now in control of his own destiny, and leading a life filled with nothing but war was out of the question.

Orihime looked at the dim light in the distance. The dawn was approaching but she couldn't sleep a wink. She was sitting by the window in the fourth squad's headquarters with most of her body covered in bandages, but thanks to Unohana's superb skills she was healing quickly. Under normal circumstances Orihime would've been able to heal herself. But after Mayuri's experiments her energy was drained and she could barely walk.

There were too many thoughts in her head, and her mind was filled with hope and apprehension. Strangely, she wasn't worried that Ulquiorra would fail to convince Soul Society to release her. He had a plan and she trusted him to see it through. But the uncertain future between the hollows and Shinigami concerned her the most. What if her release caused Ulquiorra more than he has bargained for? Will she ever see him after this? Will the relations between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo improve or will they continue killing each other?

Orihime brushed her fears aside. She couldn't afford sulking right now. He was there fighting for her and she will have to support him in this.

There was a light knock but Orihime didn't hear it. A figure came in and quietly closed the door. A few seconds later Orihime felt someone standing over her. She slightly turned her head coming face to face with a scowling Matsumoto.

"What are you still doing up? Don't you know a girl needs her beauty sleep?" she demanded.

Orihime smiled faintly, turning her head back to the window. "I was just thinking…"

"I'll listen to whatever is bothering you, so talk to me." Matsumoto said gently, drawing a chain to sit next to her.

Orihime stared out into the distance gathering her thoughts. Today will probably be the day that will decide hers and Ulquiorra's future. She felt strange, something she has never experienced before and she couldn't explain it. Her mind was racing and there was so much she wanted to say, yet nothing wanted to come out.

"I'll beat you up some more if you don't talk to me." Matsumoto warned in mock irritation.

Orihime sighed. If only Matsumoto could read minds and peek into her head. That would've made things so much easier.

"Isn't it amazing," she finally spoke, "when something starts to work out, something else comes crushing. I don't remember the last time anything was right in my life."

"Are you worried about the final judgment?"

Orihime shook her head. Fearing for her life was the last thing that concerned her now.

"Rangiku-san…" she asked reluctantly, "Have you ever cared for someone so much that the thought of losing them was worse than death?"

Matsumoto was a bit stunned. She remembered the conversation they had a while ago back at Orihime's apartment, but this time she had a feeling it was different.

"What makes you think you will lose them?"

"Because by all rules of logic and common sense we do not belong together. We are supposed to be enemies. One of us is supposed to be dead. Yet here I am fighting the very people whom I thought were my friends just to be with him."

Orihime trembled, but she refused to break down and cry. Convincing herself over and over that she was exaggerating was pointless. Something was going to happen and expecting a happy ending for everyone was naïve, and she was no longer that. What little time she spent with Ulquiorra brought in a new wave of emotions that was difficult to control, and Orihime often wished she was a little bit more like him. He was always so calm and collected never betraying anything, even if he was dying inside. And the last time she saw him she knew that Ulquiorra was fighting with himself to keep his emotions under control.

"So, you are worried that at the end your freedom will be at his expense."

Orihime nodded in silence. "And there is nothing I can do about it. If I try to stop him, he won't let me." She turned her head, looking at Matsumoto. "I know I have to be strong for his sake, and I am trying not to think about these things. But it is so hard."

Matsumoto frowned a little. So that person is one of them. Who would've thought the cute little Orihime had it in her?

"You silly girl," she smiled lightly. "It's perfectly fine. You can't help the way you feel. Even though things might not look good right now, there is always a chance that you're wrong. You are surrounded by the people who care about you. Surely there is enough support to avoid unnecessary sacrifices?"

Orihime nodded. "I know, you're right…"

"But I have to ask, "Matsumoto interrupted, remembering Orihime's tortured love for Ichigo, "Are you sure about it this time?"

Even though Orihime was unhappy, she didn't look like that miserable creature who cried in her arms all those months ago because the boy she loved liked someone else.

"I asked myself that question many times before." Orihime replied, "This seems impossible, doesn't it? And it would've been easier to stop, to let go, to forget and start over. But I couldn't, and I knew I did not want to. It feels like the puzzle has been finally solved. So, the answer is always yes."

Her mouth curved in a tiny smile then she turned her head to the window again. The sun has finally risen consuming everything in its light. The Vice Captain followed her gaze without saying anything. Matsumoto didn't know what to say to something she had no solution to. Both women sat in silence lost in their own thoughts. Orihime had a long and tenuous journey ahead of her. And Matsumoto's only hope was that she had enough strength to endure any loss that came her way.

They finally came for him at noon, just like he'd expected. The security was higher than usual and he was escorted out by five guards, but that wasn't surprising. Despite being able to capture him, Soul Society still saw a potential danger in his powers. Ulquiorra was slightly amused by their efforts. He obviously made them nervous. But today he will settle everything once and for all, even if it meant saying goodbye to Orihime.

They passed not too far from the forth squad's headquarters and Ulquiorra could feel her riatsu. Orihime was recovering quickly. But he did not dare look, not anymore. After the months that they spent together, he finally understood what she meant by hearts beating as one. He saw it in himself. Every emotion that she felt, happiness and pain, went through him as well and he felt it too. But these feelings weren't alien to him. Ulquiorra already had traces of them when Ichigo blasted into the tower to fight. He knew back then that he couldn't let her go, but it was before he had a chance to understand why.

The group finally entered the first squad's headquarters. Everyone was already gathered waiting for him to arrive. As soon as Ulquiorra came in, the captains and vice-captains turned their heads into his direction. He eyed the room, his gaze stopping on Mayuri looking at him with disgust. The Captain sneered in return. But Ulquiorra did not flinch. You will receive your punishment soon enough.

Finally, they reached the middle, then the guards quietly retreated. Yamamoto studied Ulquiorra for a few seconds before finally speaking.

"You invaded Seireitei and endangered the balance between Soul Society and the human world just to rescue one prisoner who was about to be tried for her crimes. Are you aware of the consequences?"

Ulquiorra remained unmoved by his words. Yamamoto was trying to pressure him but he will not let him.

"Inoue Orihime undergone severe physical and emotional trauma in Hueco Mundo." He answered tonelessly. "Soul Society did not even attempt to investigate it. Instead you decided to dispose of her because she possesses the power you cannot control. Executing her wasn't done for the greater good of anyone, but a malicious attempt to get rid of a potential threat."

Yamamoto frowned. "Nonsense! How dare you challenge the authority of Seireitei? Inoue Orihime committed an act of treason by trying to revive an enemy that was defeated. She neither expressed regret nor took any responsibility for it."

Ulquiorra did not bulge. "And she did not succeed. Yet, you were still eager to expose of her after destroying the source of her power. This was in direct violation of your law to preserve the humans. You also overlooked the fact that she was brutally tortured by one of your own and neither did you carry out any punishment for it."

Loud chatter broke out all around him, but Ulquiorra ignored it never taking his eyes off Yamamoto. "Seireitei failed to uphold its own law and to protect the humans. And as you know, if that happens it must be rebuilt from scratch."

"Preposterous." Yamamoto said shaking his head. "You are way over your head, Arrancar, if you think a mere hollow like you can break us."

Ulquiorra was about to answer, but he heard noise behind him. He turned his head sideways observing the commotion.

Three figures entered, Ulquiorra recognized all but one.

"He probably can't. But I can." said one of them.