Chapter 7::::: The Bargain :::::

Depression and loss consumed Ulquiorra's thoughts. It was all he could do to focus on the task at hand. It was Orihime's mealtime and he still had his obligations to Aizen, despite all that had happened. Ulquiorra reached the servant's wing just as the attendant had gathered up the last of the plates and meticulously arranged them on the serving cart.

Lower hollows knew better than to give anything less than perfection in the presence of the Fourth Espada. However, the attendant seemed to be working especially slow today for some reason. Ulquiorra didn't notice all that much. He was preoccupied with the battles ensuing throughout the palace. He knew it was only a matter of time before one of the pursuer's lives would wink out of existence forever. And then where would the girl's loyalties lie?

He rarely worried about anything. These feelings of anxiety were as persistent as they were annoying. And speaking of annoying…a figure approached him cautiously from the shadows. Now he understood the sluggish response of the lowly hollows…they felt trepidation, knowing any mistake would earn them a night of torment from the sadistic ex-soul reaper who would eagerly revel in their pain.

"So, you're at her beck and call, yet again. How attentive she must find you. Most women find that to be a key element in a prospective partner…or so I've read," said the ever-smiling Gin as he clasped his hands behind his back and continued his stride toward Ulquiorra.

"You-"

"-Yes me. And before you decide to go and further exacerbate the decline of that disease-riddled body, you might want to consider why I've come and what I have to offer you."

"You want me to listen to you? After all you have done, all you have cost me, you risk much coming to me by yourself. I do not find you to be much of an advisor, and even less of a threat…" Ulquiorra stated, though curiosity was nagging at the back of his thoughts.

Suddenly, for just a moment, the energy in the air expanded. And within the next moment it lessened slightly. It was barely noticeable, but it was evident to everyone in the palace. The lesser hollows stopped momentarily and expectantly watched their two leaders.

"Did you feel that, just now?" Gin said with glee, "I felt it earlier as well, but now, I think one of them is truly dead. Our intruders are at the cusp of their annihilation. You must sense their impending doom as well. I've paired them up with Arrancar opponents who can easily dispatch them, though a few may pay a high price for it. Ah well, even so, the victory is easily ours. ...So, tell me, do you still wish to spare the girl's life? …I can see by your expression, …or lack of, that you do. You still wish her well-being even though you know she is torn between her soul reaper and whatever feelings she has for you? (laughs)...Oh Ulquiorra, it's all so dramatic, I simply can't stand the suspense!"

"Why do you continue to play the fool? You must be aware that your intrigues do nothing for me and only seem to amuse yourself. Whatever your offer, you lack credibility with me. *sigh* So, get to the point and tell me what your true intentions are, or leave."

"Remind me, next time, to infect you with a sense of humor. …Fine, I'll come clean with you, though I doubt you'll like what I have to say. You see, unlike you, I do not serve Aizen with impunity. I've known of his true intentions since I was a child, so I know better than to trust him. Who knows? Maybe this war could provide opportunities to some of us should he fall, after all, Aizen isn't the only visionary among us."

"I have sensed nothing but malice from you, despite your pretense, since the first time we met. So, you seek to overthrow Aizen?"

"Of course I do," Gin whispered as his ever smiling face frowned slightly. "And one day, I will become ruler over everything Aizen covets and holds dear. My plans are simple and I've never bothered to hide them from him. The last adversary he'll face, no doubt, will be me…but until that day, I'll continue to help him lay the necessary ground work. Soon, I'll reap the benefit of it all…just think of me as the heir to his throne. I have all the time in the world and already I hold almost all the keys to his kingdom. I am indispensable to him and equal him in skill, not to mention I serve as his personal confidante. None but me have known the real Aizen, *snorts* not even Tousen. Mine is a coveted role that I will hold until the moment of his fall...I'll not forfeit it lightly," he stated as he eyed the Fourth Espada warily.

"So, you too, saw me as a threat."

"Yes, and despite current events, you still are. You see, it came as no surprise to me that you had hidden abilities. I see much of myself in you...and that, dear Ulquiorra, is the problem. And although you are in no position to usurp me, you can still do much damage to what we've built here. I do not wish to see Aizen's efforts go up in smoke should you choose to abandon us at an inopportune moment. I've observed much that I find…unsettling within the last few days. I'm here to offer you a trade. It would be beneficial to both of us."

"What could you possibly have to offer?"

"The girl's life in exchange for Ichigo Kurosaki's."

"What makes you think I wouldn't kill him anyway?"

"Aizen seems to agree with your assessment, however, you are going to be left in charge of Hueco Mundo while the rest of our forces are elsewhere. This battle is pinnacle and I'm concerned your current state of mind could jeopardize us, should you choose to allow Kurosaki to live. I can guarantee the girl's survival so that you needn't be distracted when you face and defeat him."

"I have given Lord Aizen my word that I will remain loyal to him. I do not need your help in this matter. I will see the girl safely to her world before I fade away. Your bribe is unnecessary. I will continue to serve Lord Aizen under his rule, not yours…never yours."

Gin's smile faltered and an angry gleam shone from his eyes.

"Tell me, have you ever questioned how Aizen got the 'sensitive' information regarding you and the girl?"

"Many times, and all signs point to you."

"Oh, I'm an exceptionally talented spy, I'll grant you, but I didn't provide the specifics on you two. Though, I must admit, I took some pleasure in watching all of it. You still haven't connected the dots, have you, Ulquiorra? Just think back on it, I know I often do."

"..."

"To tell the truth, watching the two of you, together like that, was just fascinating. I even recorded it so I could watch it again and again."

Ulquiorra slammed Gin into the nearest wall aligning the corridor. Gin's smile was back and unfailing as the plaster cracked and crumbled in multiple places around his body.

"There are others within the palace who wish her real harm. And you cannot protect her forever. With the increased responsibilities and the added strain of your sickness, you are bound to fail. She's a liability, you really should allow me to handle it."

"Gin, do you intend to take her life? I would advise you to carefully consider your answer," he said as he removed his sword from his belt and pressed it against Gin's throat.

Gin's smile widened further as he stated, "Heavens no. In fact, I wish her to be safe from harm as well. You know, after watching your activities night after night, she rather reminds me of someone who was once quite close to me...she even had a similar physic. In any case, Ulquiorra, you are not long for this world. Why should this innocent girl suffer because of your choices? I promise I can see her off safely," …(The double meaning of Gin's phrasing was not lost on the 4th Espada.)

"No. I want nothing from you. Now leave me."

"It's your choice. Just remember what I said and heed my warning…if you cannot kill Kurosaki, the girl will die. And you needn't concern yourself with my involvement, I won't even be here." Gin stated as he sighed and continued walking down the hallway, whistling, as if nothing happened.

The fourth espada took a moment to regain control of himself. He then saw to the finishing touches on Orihime's meal and considered the new information. So, Aizen had no informant, the girl's room was obviously being monitored. Everything that had taken place within had been witnessed by others. What would this mean for him? For her? …The walk was long enough to contemplate the severity of his indiscretion from all sides. Now it was known that the girl was his weakness and the danger he would, inadvertently, draw to her would only increase. Aizen had a weapon now that one could wield as long as it was believed Ulquiorra held her dear. He must, somehow, convince his audience that circumstances can change.

::::::A few hours later::::::

Nnoitra had just defeated Chad (Sado).

Orihime was staring at the moon and felt the sudden drop in Chad's spiritual pressure. She had felt it drop before, but now it had all but ceased.

"I'm coming in," she heard Ulquiorra say through the door of her locked cell.

She said nothing. Her thoughts were racing with guilt and worry over her suffering friends. As Ulquiorra entered her room, she turned to look back at him, anger and anxiety etched on her face.

"So I see you've noticed," he said as he walked towards her, "...That fool Nnoitra got impatient. He had been ordered to stay put in his chambers-"

"-Chad isn't dead. He's not!" she stated succinctly.

Ulquiorra looked away and feigned exasperation. He turned back to look at her just before telling the servant with her meal to "enter."

"Here's your meal. Eat."

"I don't want it," she stated defiantly.

"Until Aizen says otherwise, staying alive is one of your duties. Eat," the fourth demanded firmly and more forcefully than before. Orihime Gasped in shock at his coldness.

"Shall I force it down your throat? Or would you rather be strapped down and given IV's?"

"Chad isn't dead."

"You're annoying me. It doesn't matter one way or the other. What do you want me to say? 'Don't worry I'm sure he's still alive?' …Pathetic. I'm not here to pamper you. …I don't understand you. Why do you care so much about whether or not he's alive?"

Orihime gasped once more in shock at the casual cruelty of his words. Before she can form a response, he continued...

"Before long all your friends will be dead anyway. What does it matter if one was killed a bit sooner than planned? They should have realized this would happen from the start."

"Stop it," she cried… ("Why was he tormenting her ? ," she thought. "…Was it because this is all her fault? …Yes, it was, wasn't it? All of this." ...If only she were outside this room. If she were closer to Chad, she could heal him. She had the power. …which she can now only use to benefit Aizen and his evil Espada. The hopelessness and frustration within her began to build.)

"And if your friends didn't realize the futility of their efforts, they were fools. You should be able to laugh all this off if you think of them as such. Why can't you do that? …Were I you, I would be angry at their entering Hueco Mundo without first considering the limits of their strength."

Within moments after having made that last comment Orihime lost her composure and crossed the distance between them. The *SLAP* could be heard throughout the palace, as Orihime's hand struck the left side of Ulquiorra's face. She breathed heavily, regarding him with a mixture of unprecendented rage, fear, and contempt.

His shark-like eyes slowly took in her expression, measuring the result of his efforts to rebuke her. Satisfied, he robotically turned on his heel to leave her. As he moved toward the door, he left with certainty, knowing he had hurt her, knowing he had little choice, ...as they were clearly being watched. And, just for good measure, he stated…

"I will return in one hour. If you haven't eaten by then, I will tie you down and force the food down your throat. Keep that in mind."

Orihime clasped her hands together as she began crying uncontrollably. Not only were her friend's lives being snuffed out one by one, but now her lover had just forsaken her as well. She surmised that Ulquiorra had seen her attachment to her friends as a mortal weakness. He was not human, after all, and must see her behavior and emotional state as "pathetic." Their differences were vast, unreachable. He was a powerfully cold, unfeeling hollow. ...Why had she let things go so far with him? Shouldn't she should have known? All along, the signs were always there, despite her needing so badly to believe that he was different. ...Perhaps all those declarations he made and tender touches he gave her, were all in her mind. ...This, too, was her fault. She'd projected her insecurities onto him and expected more from him than he was ever capable of giving her. She'd lost herself in the moment and forgotten her purpose. She came here to save her friends, and instead, she'd given in to her own despair and fallen prey to an unfeeling monster. Her friends were dying on her behalf…could they ever forgive her?

Orihime reflected and vowed that if she ever got another chance, she would prove herself to Chad, Ichigo, and the others…she would somehow make amends.

...Ulquiorra remained outside her door. He could hear her crying. …She was distraught, as he knew she would be. At least her current state of distress was believable…because it was real. He could leave her now, knowing that she would do what she needed to in order to survive, as he'd meant her to. He did not need Gin and his lop-sided bargain. Ulquiorra was certain some of her companions would survive the onslaught and that Orihime would be saved.

…Ulquiorra was disconcerted to think that she would look back on her time with him only as her captor who used and then abandoned her. And should Ichigo survive, it will be him who would reap the rewards of Ulquiorra's effort to ensure her survival. ...It had cost him everything to protect her …yet, she will be forever ignorant of his sacrifice. ...Unfathomable anger began building deep within him. For the first time that he can remember, he craves battle and retribution...and Ichigo Kurosaki will pay dearly.

He walked away from her door and proceeded slowly and intently down the corridor to pursue his new prey...

continue to chapt. 8 -