Chapter 25

El Puente Colapsa ("The Bridge Collapses")

Ulquiorra never intended to trample on Orihime's important thoughts. All he wanted to do was tease her for touching him in such a familiar manner, one that he didn't dislike. Actually, he rather liked her touch, but he started to feel strange sensations whenever their flesh touched.

But now, after learning of his rebirth in the Living World, Ulquiorra felt strange. He was Orihime's desire, and her powers made him real. It was by her and her alone that he was granted a second chance to live a life he didn't have before. With the truth about his human existence, something heavy had disappeared from his mind, releasing him from an invisible yet fortified wall.

Although his personality and rationale remained the same, Ulquiorra understood one thing about himself: he was different now. No matter how silly having a heart seemed when he was in Hueco Mundo, things that couldn't be reflected in his eyes were real.

The kiss was something that Ulquiorra especially enjoyed. He didn't know that kissing could make him feel energized. His heart beat so fast, he thought that it would collapse within his chest. Instead, it sped up, reminding him that, yes, this heart was strong.

Ulquiorra ended the kiss and pulled away, peering at Orihime intently. She smiled faintly at him with a deep blush on her cheeks, uncertain of what to do next. The kiss left him feeling winded and unsettled. Was he dreaming again? Did they really just share a kiss?

She brought a hand to his pale cheek, and with slight effort, took the flesh between the tips of her index finger and thumb. Surprised by the sudden attack on his skin, Ulquiorra's eyes widened and his mouth opened in protest.

Orihime smiled weakly, blushing profusely. "So you are real…" she whispered, realizing her mistake.

"Woman," Ulquiorra stated sternly, causing her to raise her hands to her face.

"I'm sorry!" Orihime put her hands over her eyes, trying to cover her embarrassment. "I thought this was a dream, so I just needed to find out!"

Ulquiorra took her wrists in his hands and uncovered her face. "Do you wish this was a dream?"

Orihime looked away. "I…I don't know…"

He leaned closer to her, and her eyes widened. "Since this is no dream, you should be more decisive."

"But…you kissed me…and…and what am I supposed to do?" Again, her hands went to cover her face. She shook her head. "I'm just shocked, that's all. I can't believe you're my first kiss." Her voice became softer. "And I thought I would feel different. I don't feel any different, just a bit…confused."

Reaching a hand out to her face, he touched her cheek gingerly. "What is there to be confused about?"

Orihime lowered her hands and gazed into his eyes, emotion in her grey eyes. "Different things. We live together and all. Isn't it strange for friends to kiss?"

"If we are not friends, what are we?"

The silence that followed did not permit Ulquiorra to intrude on it. Though the silence was far from empty and awkward, it seemed to possess both of them for a few moments as they thought about the question. Ulquiorra had no intention of voicing it in the first place, but like his smile, certain things couldn't be hidden for long.

It was Orihime who finally broke the silence. She looked into his eyes without any reserve. "Well, if what the other me said was true, then I don't want to be friends with you." For a moment, her skin darkened with a blush before she continued. "I want to be more than friends with you."

Ulquiorra tried to follow her train of thought. What was "more than friends"? He didn't understand what that meant. The only thing he knew was that this Orihime—the real Orihime—was basing her logic on a power inside of her, not her own consciousness. Even if that new power could speak on her behalf, that power wasn't Orihime. As the Soul Reaper explained, the other Orihime was merely a projection of herself.

Somehow, he predicted that she would come to a conclusion that she didn't wholeheartedly believe in.

"Orihime," he began solemnly, pinning her with a piercing stare. She looked at him, fear glistening in her eyes as he leaned closer to her. "I will repeat this question: if we are not friends, what are we?"

"But…I answered that question…"

Ulquiorra neared her again, putting himself close to Orihime. He could feel her shaky breath on his skin as they gazed at each other within the strange stillness. The urge to kiss her again entered his mind, but he didn't want to force himself on her. As nervous as she was about these kinds of interactions, Ulquiorra was just as reluctant to scare her.

"Tell me your answer," Ulquiorra stated in a low voice, setting a hand on the side of her face gently. "I will not judge you. I will only listen."

Silence engulfed them again, only their breathing giving the room life. Ulquiorra could feel her shake underneath his hands as time passed slowly. He knew he was pressing her, but he couldn't resist; he needed to comprehend her thoughts, and the most important question between them was still unanswered.

After what seemed an eternity, Orihime brought her hands to his. She stared straight into his eyes, her grey eyes filled with remorse. "I'm sorry, Ulquiorra," she murmured, tightening her grip on Ulquiorra's hands. Slowly, she removed them from her skin and held them between their bodies. Ulquiorra could only watch their joined hands, uncertain of how to react. Her soft voice filled his senses though he didn't look at her face.

"I don't really know, Ulquiorra. This question…I need more time to answer." Ulquiorra opened his mouth to supply a response.

The sound of the door opening sent their attention to the intruder, who filled the doorway with their shadow. Ulquiorra put himself on guard, immediately aware of the change in the air, as the intruder stepped into the room. Whoever this person was, Ulquiorra was sure that they wouldn't be a match for him.

"Inoue!"

The voice shattered Ulquiorra's battle-ready mind. Someone turned on the light, and Kurosaki stood at the entrance of the room, his brown eyes glaring at Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra relaxed, somewhat irritated that the orange-haired boy had the audacity to make such an annoying entrance. It only reaffirmed Kurosaki's lack of tact.

"Ichigo, don't be so rude," another person's voice called out from behind Kurosaki. The Soul Reaper with a black-haired bob peered out from behind him, her eyes watching them curiously. A look of surprise came over her small face as she walked over to Kurosaki's side. "What if they were in the middle of something important?"

Someone snorted from behind them, and the red-haired Soul Reaper joined them with a smirk. "I doubt that!"

Already, Ulquiorra was feeling crowded. Their presences were the equivalent of five more humans in the room.

"I'm with Renji on this one!" Kurosaki agreed, looking from Ulquiorra to Orihime. Anger flashed through his eyes. "Ulquiorra! Did you make Orihime cry?"

At this accusation, Ulquiorra turned to look at Orihime. She was no longer beside him but partially behind him, hiding behind his shoulder. To his surprise, tears rolled down Orihime's pretty face, her eyes wide with emotion. Instantly, Ulquiorra forgot about the nuisances. He despised how easily Orihime cried. Almost as if her reservoir of tears never dried up, a river was ready to flow out of her eyes. He wondered how he could take away her need to sob.

Slowly, he moved his shoulder to allow Orihime to sit up without his support. He brought a hand to her shoulder, hoping to calm her somehow. "Don't touch her!" Ulquiorra and Orihime both looked at the origin of the voice. Kurosaki stood at the edge of their futon, his face red with anger. "You've done enough already. Now get away from her."

The sound of something hard striking another hard object filled the room. Kurosaki's furrowed eyebrows suddenly lifted in surprise and his hands went to the back of his head. He whirled around, clutching his head, as he peered down at the black-haired woman behind him. "Rukia! What was that for?"

Rukia ignored him, her eyes on Ulquiorra and Orihime. "Ichigo, you're really dense," she remarked flatly, allowing him to fume next to her. Despite hitting Kurosaki, this woman maintained her dignified aura. "You probably just scared Inoue by barging into the room like this. We only came here to talk to them, not scare them."

The red-haired Soul Reaper snorted again, earning a murderous glare from Rukia. He immediately stifled his snorts and leaned against the wall.

"What did you want to talk about?" Orihime offered quietly.

Rukia's eyes softened as she looked at her friend. "We talked to the Captain Commander, and a decision was handed down about Ulquiorra Schiffer," she announced. Ulquiorra frowned. He disliked where the news was heading. For a moment, Rukia's eyes flickered over to Ulquiorra, concern mixed in with her amethyst orbs. Ulquiorra didn't know what to think of her momentary worry even as her eyes returned to Orihime. "Because Ulquiorra has a spiritual energy, he can be viewed as a potential threat to Soul Society. Unless his powers are removed, Ulquiorra Schiffer must cease to exist."

"'Cease to exist'?" Ulquiorra turned to look at Orihime again. This time, she stared at the black-haired woman in shock. New tears began to flow down her cheeks. "You mean…kill him?"

The other woman nodded. "Yes."

Orihime's head lowered in a sad show of defeat. "Oh."

Ulquiorra wanted to hate the raven-haired woman, but he knew it was futile. It would only cause Orihime to feel more disheartened. The decision from the top commander in Soul Society already determined his fate, and though he knew he could fight it, something told him that this battle was one that even he couldn't face. Ulquiorra comprehended his current situation: he wasn't as strong as his former self. His spiritual energy was rich, but to pit himself against a collective power wasn't within his reach.

"But…" Orihime lifted her head, her eyes becoming big with anticipation. "If Ulquiorra doesn't have any more spiritual energy, he'll be able to live, right? He won't need to disappear?"

Again, Rukia's eyes revealed a saddened emotion. "Yes, but the Captain Commander is only giving Ulquiorra one week to get rid of his spiritual energy. If he doesn't, then…"

Ulquiorra felt Orihime shift on the futon before her hands were on his arms. She peered up at him, a pleading look in her eyes. "Ulquiorra, if we can separate you from your spiritual energy, maybe you'll get to stay here! Maybe we can stay together! Maybe we can—"

"'Stay together'?" Kurosaki stood over them angrily, his fists balled at his side. "What exactly have you two been doing? And here I thought that guy wasn't a pervert."

"He isn't," Orihime stated plainly.

"Look, I'm not trying to interfere or anything," Kurosaki began before turning his eyes onto Ulquiorra, "but it looks like you're going to hurt Inoue anyways."

Though the words were uttered without any ill-intentions, Ulquiorra still felt the sting of its meaning. He was interfering with Orihime's emotions, and they were all aware of it. Slowly, over time, he and Orihime had grown closer to the point where their lives seemed to revolve around one another. But he couldn't bring himself to say such things. It wasn't in his nature.

All of it wasn't in his nature, when he thought about it.

The thought of hurting Orihime never entered his mind since their lives intersected again in the Living World. However, he wasn't accustomed to the emotional aspect of causing pain. His disappearance would make her heart hurt. She would miss him. Yet, she couldn't answer a simple question for him.

What do I mean to her?

And now, Kurosaki was putting the truth in front of them. It was plain to see it now. Ulquiorra would be the cause of her heartache. He would become her worst enemy if he left her. Even if his existence was wiped away, the memories would live on inside of her and again, Orihime would experience loss.

He leveled his eyes with Kurosaki's brown eyes. "You are correct," Ulquiorra found himself saying solemnly. "Do not interfere."

The statement caused Kurosaki's face to change into an expression of rage. "You're going to hurt Inoue, and all you're going to say is, 'Do not interfere'?" His voice rose as he grabbed Ulquiorra by the front of his shirt and lifted him into a standing position. Ulquiorra didn't flinch. This was child's play compared to the real battles they fought. Each word that followed came out through gritted teeth. "If you leave, you'll hurt her, just like her parents, just like her brother. She doesn't need that. She doesn't need you."

Kurosaki's words struck him like a blow to the chest. He would not allow such a remark to go unpunished. Ulquiorra grasped Kurosaki's wrists with his hands and forced them to relinquish their hold on him. He pinned the surprised boy with an icy glare. "She needs someone to support her unconditionally. She needs someone to understand her unconditionally. She needs someone to listen to her without judgment. That is what I provide." He pushed Kurosaki back roughly, putting some distance between them. "That is something that you cannot provide."

Kurosaki faced him with a perplexed look in his eyes, his arms sagging at his sides. There was nothing that he could say, Ulquiorra surmised.

"My, how things change in the blink of an eye." Everyone turned their eyes onto Urahara, who stood in the doorway watching them with an amused smile. "Gentlemen, there's no need for you two to fight like dogs and monkeys*. A wise person once said, 'When there's a will, there's a way'." The smile faded, and Urahara's intense eyes settled on Ulquiorra. "The only question is whether you have the will."

Next chapter: Armadura

Everything becomes too much for Orihime, and Ulquiorra sees a side of her he's never seen before.

*"Getting along like a dog and a monkey" is a Japanese idiom that's equivalent to the Western idiom, "They get along like cats and dogs".

A/N: Man, this was a difficult chapter to write! Then again, I took a week off to write it, so I feel rusty all over again. I almost forgot about the whole Soul Society bits and pieces, so I had to include them here. Of course, I just thought of the Japanese bureaucracy to write what good ol' Captain Commander would say in this situation. "Down with the strange humans!" I mean, look at the Fullbring Arc. Anyways, please review!