First off: Mayuri. Not Miyu or whatever I had on here. Got it! Thank you to everyone who pointed it out- when I finish the story I will go back and fix it.
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Everyone met up in the meeting hall once more, tongues flying as everyone argued. Orihime looked back and forth, confused, as they had just flashed into the room on a wave of sonido. Ichigo and Rukia were running their mouths at Grimmjow, who was roaring right back at the two. Toshiro was arguing with Soi Fon, his eyes narrowed in anger as his voice raised. Momo stood behind him, opening her mouth every now and then looking like she wanted to break up the fight, but too polite to interrupt. Tia and Stark were arguing rather quietly, Halibel's voice snappish- quick and deadly- and Stark'd drawn out and rumbling. Lillinette was running around the pair with her sword held high in the air, making loud growling and howling noises.
"What is this?" Ulquiorra loudly demanded, though his voice never rose from its usual tone. "You are all arguing at a time like this?"
Everyone went to explain at once- with the exception of Stark and Tia- but he held up a hand to stop them.
"There is no time for this. Where is Nelieil?"
Everyone seemed to realize at the same time that she was missing. You could almost see everyone throw out their awareness of the area, trying to probe the air for her spiritual pressure.
It was Halibel that spoke first. "She is still fighting Nnoitora. She seems uninjured and-" She suddenly stopped talking, her eyes going wide, just like everyone else in the room.
"Wait. What happen to Nel?" Lillinette said. "I can't sense her!"
"Nnoitora has been vanquished." Ulquiorra informed the room. Looking over at Orihime he could see the tears welling up in her eyes, her quiet trembling. "And we will have a moment of grievances in due time."
Orihime choked back a sob, nodding. She had to tell everyone what was happening. "You… you all have a choice." She managed. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to clam down. She didn't have time to cry for Nel now, or even question how on earth she could have been defeated. "You see… you've all been invited to join Soul Society."
The arrancar in the room all looked surprise- almost glad in a way.
Orihime went on before anyone could say anything, her voice wavering slightly. "B-But there's a catch." She bit her bottom lip, looking away as she wrapped her arms around herself. "You see… Los Noches will be gone in a couple of minutes. For good."
The room fell into chaos all at once- people all yelling and asking questions, arguing again, as everyone tried to make sense of her words. Gone? There great palace? Impossible. There was no way it could simply be taken out of existence in a matter of minutes.
"Silence!" Halibel yelled.
Everyone went quiet.
The tresse espada turned to Orihime. "Go on."
"You… you must all go to Soul Society. Because they're pulling Los Noches into that space between worlds… and then sealing it there for good. We have ten minutes to get out of the building, maybe less." She broke down all at once, sobbing, looking back to her new friends. "Please! You all have to get out of here! Come to Soul Society, please! I couldn't… I couldn't stand to see any of you hurt."
There was a thin moment of silence. The palace lurched again, crumbles of dust and rock falling from the ceiling. Then, the last person she had expected to say anything spoke.
"Well," Grimmjow mused, pushing a hair back through his electric blue hair. "Looks like we don't have any choice but to come with you shinigami bastards." He shot a grin at Soi Fon- like the insult had been for her specifically.
"Sounds cool!" Lillinette chirped. "Let's go!"
Halibel nodded. "It's the only course of action we seem to have… I will not be homeless again." She looked up at Stark, awaiting his answer.
"Guess so." He agreed.
"We don't have much time." Tia turned back to everyone, as if addressing a large audience. "Gather your fracoin and anyone else you can find. Get them all out of here!"
Orihime choked back another cry, because she was so happy, but at the same time so sad. She wasn't sure the invitation for coming to the serietie had been extended to those below Espada level.
Momo suddenly stepped forward. "I can help with that." She knelt on the floor, drawing out something, chanting. There was a bright light on the floor, suddenly, a product of Momo's kido.
She looked up at Halibel and nodded, giving her the signal to speak.
She did. "This is Tia Halibel. I am ordering everyone to get out of Los Noches, now. We have less than-" She glanced over at Ulquiora, who mouthed 'six', "-six minutes. Evacuate immediately!"
Momo ended the transition.
Tia turned, walking towards the door. "Come. We must help to get everyone out of here before it is too late."
Everyone seemed ready to go with that idea, as they all followed her to the door, talking amongst themselves.
Orihime took a step forward to go after everyone, but was stopped by a hand on her wrist.
She looked back at Ulquiorra with a titled head, confused.
"There is something I must tell you now." He murmured, holding her hands in his as she turned to face him completely.
"What is it?" She asked, in a hurry. "We have to help get everyone out of here."
"Orihime," She felt her heart clench upon hearing her name. It must be really serous if he was using her name. "I am not going to leave with you and the others."
She felt as if her whole entire world had suddenly been shot from its axis, flying down, tumbling into the blackness of space. Certainly her stomach had dropped out. "Wh… What!?"
"I cannot go." He said, looking away. "I will not."
She felt her eyes welling up with tears all over again. "What… what are you talking about? Of course you can! Please, we have to go, now!"
"No." His resolve was firm. "I will not."
She finally brought her eyes up to lock with his. "Why?"
"Because," He let one of her hands go, bringing it up to run it through her hair, studying the color in the light curiously. "You are very beautiful." He dropped his hand. "And I am very dangerous."
"That… that…" For the second time in her life she felt like slapping him. "That doesn't make any sense!"
"I will not be made a fool of." He said, drawing a little closer to her so he could breath the words to her quietly. "I cannot force myself to become some sort of specimen to be studied… and also…" He finally met her eyes again. "I cannot be with you and not hold you back."
He remembered Tatsuki- her best friend, waiting at Orihime's home for the girl to come back. How many other people were waiting? "You have a life-"
She was shaking her head, whispering little "No."s under her breath. He ignored them.
"You have a life and a home, and many friends waiting for you. I will not take them away from you, Orihime, not again." He kissed her, gently, once upon the lips and much too quickly. "You must go home, and I must stay."
Tears streaming down her face she leaned into him, her fists clenching around him. "Will you help us get everyone else?" She whispered through her tears. "At least?"
He nodded once. "I will be with until the very end."
She felt her heart jump.
"Until we must part, and I must say goodbye."
She nodded once, holding his hand a little tighter. If they were going to be separated, she would hold on until the bitter end.
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So, it's been a while huh? Between my personal problems and having my computer returned to my school, it feels like I haven't updated in years! Ah, so is life. Anywho, I hop everyone enjoys this. I think I have one, maybe two, more chapters to write. Thanks for reading!