Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach original Characters; they are all thanks to Kubo for my being able to write about them. Enjoy!


Ashes, ashes... A grey cloud swirling in the fading wind, slowing dissolving into the nothingness he had so claimed... Green eyes flickered into oblivion as his reaching hand burst into ash... In his final moments he had done something she had thought impossible. Ulquiorra had shown emotion.

Orihime cried out as she bolted upright, still half caught in her nightmare as she fell out of her bed. Slowly her vision cleared as she blinked the sleep and tears out of her eyes. It haunted her. Her mind refused to let her forget. But why? Usually when they defeated an enemy she would feel relieved, even happy. They couldn't come after her or her friends anymore. Even if it was only until someone else came after them, someone faster, stronger, crueler... But it still gave them a bit of peace. So why couldn't she forget that moment on the dome of Los Noches? Forget him? Orihime didn't feel anything for him, she could still picture Ichigo's deathly pale face after the Cuatro Espada had stabbed that awful hole in his chest... So why couldn't she forget his fear-stricken face? He was a Hollow... A monster. Sure, she had reached out towards him as he was dying, but that was only because she pitied him, he had protected her- duty or not- even with his claims of not having a heart. That was it. It was nothing more than her kindhearted nature... Wasn't it?

Darkness... Silence... Emptiness...

A realm without thought or feeling, blank as the soul kept within it. Shattered memories and thoughts flowed within the broken remains, carefully weaving together again as its strength grew. The emptiness within the being once more filling with darkness, a cold wave spreading over its awakening senses...

'...Cold?' His eyes fluttered open, a numb ache spreading through his body as it was once more illuminated by the crescent Moon of Hueco Mundo. For a moment, he just stared at the sky blankly, unable to register enough to feel shock or confusion. He couldn't remember who he was- why was he even here? What was his purpose? Carefully moving into a sitting position, he watched as the wind kicked up a flurry of sand, its appearance grayed by the stark moonlight. It kind of reminded him of ash dancing with the current of the wind; he faintly remembered seeing something similar to it before... A flare of pain made him grasp at his chest, only to find an empty hole where he would have expected more pale skin to be, beside it a black mark showing the number '4'. Though his expression remained blank, it hid the internal shock as his fractured memories became clearer; he was Ulquiorra Cifer, Cuatro Espada, andhe was still alive.

Orihime took a moment to look over her apartment after having not been able to do so while she was imprisoned in Los Noches- it was kind of pathetic really, everything in her home had just sat there while she was stuck having to worry about food getting shoved down her throat because of her own weakness... Well, that wasn't really fair to anyone. There wasn't anything that would've prevented it had her friends tried to help, and they had been facing a group that even Soul Society had trouble facing before the invasion. Besides, she had been treated pretty well considering the circumstances, only ever being truly harmed by Loly and Menoly's abuse during her captivity. In the end, everything had turned out ok. Everyone was fine, she was back in the World of The Living, Aizen's plans had been halted and his army destroyed. Life had returned to normal. Hadn't it?

Sighing, she walked outside and locked the door. Shutting away anymore thoughts of the past as she turned to smile up at the shining Sun, worries brushed away by its gentle warmth. Now with a bounce in her step, she headed towards Tsubakidai Park to meet Tatsuki before they headed off for a day of fun at a recently opened carnival. A gentle breeze blew through the growing tree line as she neared the meeting spot, though with a quick glance around her she could tell she was a bit early as her friend was nowhere in sight. Shrugging, she decided to just sit on the grass and wait, relaxing despite the slight chill. In front of her a patch of wild flowers swayed back and forth with the shadows of nearby trees, the shapes changing into similar things as she watched them, misshapen creatures swishing with their own steady beat. One on her right side reminded her of a person, its eyes gleaming quietly from where it lay with the other patches of darkness... Wait, eyes? Getting up to take a better look she felt a sudden hand on her shoulder. Surprised, she whirled around, ready to summon her fairies if need- then she noticed a familiar face "Tatsuki!" her best friend gave her a concerned look before meeting Orihime's bright smile, removing her friend's hand with a gentle pat to hide the fact that she was shaking slightly with the unexpected appearance "Hey, sorry to take so long. Had to help clean up in the dojo before I could leave... You alright?" waving her hands in front of her she nervously took a few steps back to leave some more space, secretly giving the shadow a backwards glance only to find that there wasn't anything there except for the gently swaying flowers and trees. Turning, she returned to her normal cheerful self- worries washed away once more "I'm fine, really! I was just spacing out, with how calming it is here and all" saying that, they moved back to the road leading out of the park. With no more eyes and now convinced that it was only her imagination, she smiled and they continued on their wayto the carnival.

"Hey! Let's go on the Ferris wheel!" Orihime had been watching the giant moving wheel with awe ever since they had gotten inside the fairgrounds hours earlier, meanwhile Tatsuki had decided to get some cotton candy for them while they wandered in and out of the various amusements- before being inevitably dragged towards the brightly lit structure. In her haste they nearly knocked over a couple as they were passing by, murmuring their apologies, they continued on. Finally getting past a crowd gathered around a juggler, they managed to get a closed cart on the wheel, as it slowly started moving Orihime finally relaxed, Tatsuki taking the chance to ask the question that had been bugging her since she found her friend staring anxiously at the scenery in the park, her concern showing openly on her face "Orihime, what's the deal? You've been acting strange ever since this morning, jumping at shadows, always glancing behind you while we were walking here. It like your being chased by something, is someone stalking you?" Orihime didn't answer for a moment, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sweater as she looked out the window nervously, all her former cheer melting away once they were alone. Slowly, she began to recount what had happened last night. Tatsuki's confusion only deepened as she mentioned her dream, her shoulders shaking slightly as she mentioned something about someone bursting into ash "... A-and then when I was waiting for you in the park... I felt as if someone was watching me... I had just brushed it off at first, but it keeps happening- I think I see something out of the corner of my eye and when I turn around nothing's there..." Orihime said quietly, concluding all that happened. Her coppery hair glowed in the setting sunlight, making her look like a fire that had began to flicker uncertainly. Reaching over, Tatsuki grabbed her shoulder reassuringly, putting enough confidence in her words to hide her growing anger at whatever creep was making her best friend suffer "Come on, I'm sure it's just some paranoia caused from that freaky nightmare. Want to stay at my place tonight just in case there really is someone?" she asked with a sympathetic smile, '... and if anyone really is there I promise to beat them 'till there black and blue...' silently adding her promise as the ride stopped. With a happy nod in reply, they headed towards the exit gate to head home.

...Behind them a shadow swiftly moved from one place to another, unnoticed by the passing Humans as it focused on the distant figures of two girls, its eyes glowing faintly before it disappeared...


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Posted: 1-1-12