Chapter 7

La Resolución que Paga el Oro ("The Resolve that Pays Gold" or "The Decision to Pay the Gold")

When Sado saved him from his fall, everyone hurried back to her apartment—and away from any watchful eyes of neighbors—picking up her hair pins and quickly summoning Shun'ou and Ayame to heal Ulquiorra. In the midst of healing him, which took so much of her energy and concentration, Orihime could feel the others shift uneasily during their conversation.

"What is he?" Tatsuki asked hesitantly, staring at Ulquiorra with amazed eyes. Orihime could tell by the wavering in her voice that Tatsuki was afraid of him.

"I don't know," Sado responded, taking on the responsibility of answering Tatsuki's shaken questions.

"What do we do about him?"

"I don't know."

"Ulquiorra…" Orihime looked up to see Kurosaki peering down at the unconscious Ulquiorra, an intense yet troubled expression on his face. She looked away, unable to see Kurosaki in such an anxious state. To her surprise, she heard him whisper, "C'mon, Ulquiorra."

Orihime was taken aback by Kurosaki's simple words. Now that Ulquiorra had saved them, had Kurosaki changed his mind about the former Espada?

As Ulquiorra's chest visibly healed, Kurosaki climbed to his feet. Orihime lifted her head to look at him, uncertain of his next move. He gave her a knowing nod. "Take care of him, Inoue," Kurosaki said.

Orihime understood Kurosaki's shift in perspective. They were in trouble and Ulquiorra protected them until he was cut down. Ulquiorra's intervention forced everyone to accept him less grudgingly. Still, she knew it would take some time before they completely accepted him. For now, Ulquiorra wouldn't need to deal with any leftover resentment that Kurosaki and her friends would feel towards a former Espada.

"Where are you going?" Tatsuki asked of Kurosaki as he headed to the door in his human body.

"Home." With his hand on the doorknob, Kurosaki opened the door and paused—only to have him slam the door and stand against it with a terrified look on his face. Everyone looked at Kurosaki in alarm.

"Ichigo, what're you doing?"

A wild look in Kurosaki's eyes appeared, and Orihime almost broke the barrier around Ulquiorra to figure out what was happening. He didn't normally hide unless—

The door was yanked open, causing Kurosaki to fall ungracefully into the apartment landing. Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai stood in their human bodies over Kurosaki's disheveled body, both Soul Reapers wearing an agitated expression.

"Yo, Ichigo," Abarai greeted in his harsh accent, making a point to stomp onto Kurosaki's back before entering Orihime's apartment. He stopped to survey the room, his eyes landing on Orihime's healing barrier. "Missed the action, huh? Guess we'll have to get the next one." He approached Orihime, amused eyes on Ulquiorra's body. Orihime felt dread enter her stomach. Abarai was so similar to Kurosaki, his response to realizing it was Ulquiorra in the barrier would make him as explosive as Kurosaki.

And she was right.

The moment Abarai recognized Ulquiorra, his eyes became large and his fists began to swing. "Ulquiorra? I'll get him—" Luckily, Sado, Tatsuki, and Kurosaki intervened, holding on to his arms and dragging him away from Orihime and Ulquiorra. He continued to spatter curses at his former foe, kicking and struggling to break free from her friends.

"Guys, be gentle—" Orihime warned, trying to keep her concentration on healing the inside of Ulquiorra. The bickering was sure to raise suspicion with her nosy neighbors, but she couldn't do anything about it. She knew they would continue to argue until some reason was installed into Abarai's head.

Thankfully, Kuchiki plopped down—right on Abarai's stomach, causing him to release a loud gagging sound followed by an embarrassing fart. Everyone blinked for a second before Sado, Tatsuki, and Kurosaki gave Abarai and Kuchiki some space, holding their noses.

"Renji, don't you ever use your head?" Kuchiki replied with a touch of annoyance. She glared at him before approaching Orihime.

"Kuchiki…" Orihime watched as Kuchiki crouched next to the healing barrier and regarded Ulquiorra calmly. Unlike her friend, Kuchiki was composed and cautious.

"Inoue," Kuchiki announced. "Why're you healing Ulquiorra Schiffer?"

"He was hurt protecting us from the Hollows," Orihime replied sadly. "I don't know how he got to the Living World," she added before meeting Kuchiki's intense eyes, "but he saved my life." She felt a resolve well up inside her chest, one that helped her in feeling strength rather than fear, hope instead of despair. It was this feeling that she knew things would be all right for as long as she believed in it.

The two girls held each other's gaze for a moment, both eyes steady with strength. After a moment, Kuchiki broke their stare, nodding as to show she understood Orihime. She sighed, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "Well, we'll still have to report this," Kuchiki announced seriously, standing to her feet. "This kind of thing cannot go unnoticed by Soul Society."

"So…" Tatsuki seemed to be the voice of reason today. "What'll you do with that guy for now?"

Kuchiki thought for a moment. "Looks like Inoue has to heal him, so we shouldn't move him until then. Once we get word back from Soul Society, I'll let you know."

Kurosaki stood to his feet, his eyes narrowed. "Is he supposed to stay here in the mean time?" he asked, getting hot-headed all over again. "What about Inoue?"

Tatsuki punched Kurosaki in the side of his head, producing a painful groan from him. He held his head and faced her, but she turned her hot temper on him. "You were about to leave him here with her! Now you want someone to do something about him?"

"Tatsuki!" And Kurosaki and Tatsuki went on to argue, using barbs that they've always used to wear the other's argument down. Orihime was used to this kind of scene by now, so she turned her attention to the situation. Personally, she didn't want to leave Ulquiorra in the care of someone else. Although he had saved all of them from the Hollows, he had done it to protect her and her heart. She knew this was the case, otherwise, he wouldn't have hesitated in his attacks. The person who owed him the most was Orihime Inoue, and she was set on returning it.

Looking up, Orihime found Tatsuki and Kurosaki trying to kick each other while Sado held them up with each arm. Even Abarai and Kuchiki were going through their own verbal battle, trying to decide who was going to call their captain and deliver the news. Orhime wondered how she ever got these friends to be friends with each other.

"He can stay here," Orihime declared boldly. Everyone's movements and arguments halted, eyes turning to look at Orihime in disbelief. She turned a hardened gaze on them. "I'll take responsibility for Ulquiorra Schiffer."

Next chapter: El Principe Despierta

Ulquiorra learns more about the Living World, much to the embarrassment of Orihime.

A/N: Please review!