Orihime had always been afraid of the dark. When she was younger the dark frightened her because of what might be lurking in it. But once she entered junior high, her fear shifted from what was in the dark to the dark itself. There was something about it, in the uncertainty it possessed, that terrified her as much, if not more, than the Arrancar she had faced at Las Noches.
That's why she despised the situation she and the three ex-Espada currently found themselves. Orihime wished Szayel had warned her about what they would be dealing with. At least she could've prepared herself. Although maybe he didn't know the conditions of this strange nowhere that was the caja negacion.
That seemed unlikely. Szayel would know more about this dimension than anymore, if he was the one to discover it. No doubt he figured she wouldn't be willing to go through with his plan if she had known what was in store for them.
He was probably right.
But even she could've suffered with the darkness, if only she didn't also have to deal with the something pressing down on her. Orihime couldn't describe what it was, but the something was tangible, a heavy weight on her chest that increased the longer they remained. Perhaps strangest of all, it was almost as if this unnamed something was forcing her to remember things she didn't want to:
Her parents leaving her brother and her to fend for themselves. Her brother's death. The way Ichigo would look at Rukia, when he thought no one was watching.
And the whole of her relationship with Szayel.
Orihime tried forcing the memories from her mind, but the more she tried the more they lingered. To torment her.
No wonder Szayel thought this would be the best place to punish Fraccion. To relive the worst of one's memories for all eternity, surrounded in complete darkness. Orihime could think of no worse torment.
Her grip on Szayel's waist tightened. Beneath her arms she could feel his muscles, taunt, almost ready for battle—or trying to hold off the pain. Considering their situation, she was willing to bet on the latter.
Was he suffering too? Orihime rubbed his back, in what she hoped was a reassuring manner.
The action wasn't enough to comfort the former Octava Espada. As the one with the negacion cube inside him, Szayel suffered the most from the dimension's effects. He felt as if he were being crushed. Time seemed nonexistent, and with each passing second—or was it millisecond?—he found himself wishing for death.
Szayel hadn't felt pain of this magnitude since before he was turned into an Arrancar. No, this was worse. Not only did he suffer the regret of events long since passed, most of which he couldn't even remember, he also suffered with the what ifs:
What if, instead of going to Orihime, he decided to go back, to finish the fight between the Quincy and the red-haired Shinigami? Would he have won, or would he have died a fool's death? And if he died, would Orihime ever know what happened to him? Would she even care, considering the things that had passed between them hours before?
Then further back.
What if he'd gone through with his plan to erase Orihime's memories? Would he have regretted it after the fact? Or would he have been pleased with himself for lifting an unnecessary weight off his mind?
And still further back.
What if he had declined Ulquiorra's offer to be her guard? What if he said the Cuatro Espada should find someone else or, better yet, that Aizen should assign the mission to another?
What if he and Orihime had never met?
If. If. If. Szayel never realized how one simple word could cause so much pain.
Briefly he wondered if perhaps even this was too cruel a fate for disobedient Fraccion.
There was no time to linger on these musings. If they stayed there much longer, he, Orihime, and his fellow ex-Espada would continue to sink further into their own despair. And personally, Szayel didn't wish to stay in this hellhole of a dimension for all eternity.
With some effort, he called out, "Grimmjow, Ulquiorra!" Then Szayel took a deep breath and looked down. "Orihime, are you all right?"
"I've been better," Orihime said. "The pain…it's…"
"Damn you, Szayel!" said Grimmjow. "You couldn't have told us what—?"
"That doesn't matter right now," Szayel said. "Are you still with us, Cuatro Espada? You can't nod in response this time. I won't be able to see it."
"Hmm."
"Good. Now all of you, like I said before, we need to focus on this Karakura—"
"That's a little hard to do when it feels like you're about to be ripped in half," Grimmjow ground out.
"I'm aware of that," Szayel said through gritted teeth. A part of him wanted to point out that at least Grimmjow didn't have to deal with the worst of the pain, but this was not the time to bicker. "Try anyway."
"Then what?" asked Orihime.
"If we do this right, if all of us are concentrating like we're supposed to"—Szayel turned to his right and shot Grimmjow a pointed look, even though he knew the Grimmjow couldn't see it—"then the darkness around us will start to fade away, and we'll be in Karakura."
"You'd better be right, Szayel," said Ulquiorra, the most he'd spoken since they left Hueco Mundo. "If not…"
Szayel knew it was an empty promise. He had no doubt Ulquiorra knew what would happen to them if they couldn't—
No, he couldn't think like that. They would escape.
Szayel kept thinking of this Karakura Town Orihime told him about, but he eventually found himself agreeing with Grimmjow—though for very different reasons. Concentrating on a place one had never been before, trying to keep it in one's mind, was easier said than done. Szayel could only hope Orihime's thoughts of the place would make up for the rest of them.
Much to Szayel's relief, it seemed to be working. The blackness melted away, albeit slowly, as Karakura started fading in. The sky was tinted pink and orange, mixed with some red and even a bit of purple. All around them were buildings. Some were tall, nearly touching the sky, while others were shorter and not nearly as modern.
Szayel knew the transition between the two dimensions was complete once he could feel his body again, free of pain. But something felt off about this place. He couldn't quite put his finger on why. Then he looked down.
"Oh—"
They all crashed to the ground in a tumble, limbs tangled with limbs. Orihime fared the best of the four, with most of her weight resting on Szayel. He, Ulquiorra, and Grimmjow weren't as lucky. While a little fall was nothing an Arrancar couldn't handle, the additional pain was not welcome, considering the circumstances.
"I'm sorry, Szayel," Orihime said, unwrapping her arms from his torso. She scrambled to her feet. "Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, are you all right?"
Ulquiorra released Szayel's right arm quickly—very quickly. "As you said earlier, I've been better."
"Better here than that damn dimension!" said Grimmjow, also letting go of Szayel's arm faster than necessary. "What the hell were you thinking, Szayel? Dragging us into a place like that."
Szayel shook out his arms, to get the feeling back into them, and then pushed himself off the ground. He looked at Ulquiorra, then Grimmjow. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I guess it doesn't matter now," Orihime added, and looked around. The street lamps turned on overhead as the sun disappeared below the horizon. "We got here, and that's all that matters."
"Quite right you are, Inoue-san," said a voice directly behind the group.
They all turned, eyes wide as they took in the man with hat and sandals. His grin widened as he looked over the ex-Espada.
"U-Urahara-san?"
"I'm so sorry!" Orihime said, for what felt like the millionth time. "I didn't realize we were in front of your store. I wasn't even thinking of it at the time."
Urahara shook his head and placed a cup of tea in front of her and the three Arrancar. "Not at all, Inoue-san." A flicker of confusion flashed across Urahara's face at her words, particularly the last part, but he didn't ask for clarification. He opened his fan, hiding his smile. "Though I must say, I'm surprised at the 'guests' you've decided to bring with you."
"More tea," Grimmjow muttered, pushing the cup away.
Ulquiorra seemed to agree, but unlike Grimmjow he took the smallest of sips.
Urahara's eyes widened as he focused on Ulquiorra. "I remember you," he said, shutting his fan.
"And I remember you."
Orihime blinked, confused. She looked between Ulquiorra and Urahara. "You know Urahara-san? How?"
"Oh, you don't know?" Urahara asked, though he didn't sound surprised. "Then again, I doubt they would've told you. Didn't you wonder why it took so long for your friends to come to Hueco Mundo?"
"I…" Orihime hesitated a moment. Truth be told, at times she hadn't wanted them to come. She had gone to Las Noches for their sakes, to save them from getting hurt. "I thought they were training. You know, preparing themselves for what was in store."
Urahara laughed. "In a sense you're right—though that wasn't because they wanted to. They would've come for you earlier if the device I use to create a Garganta hadn't been destroyed the night before by certain…individuals sitting before us."
"Ulquiorra?" Orihime said, her eyes wide. "You were—How—?"
Everyone looked at him expectantly. Even as Espada, Szayel and Grimmjow hadn't been privy to this information. Ulquiorra didn't answer immediately. He took another sip of tea, watching the leaves settle to the bottom, before he started his explanation.
"Inoue, you remember why Szayel became your guard, right?"
Orihime nodded. "Because Aizen had you out on missions." A proverbial light bulb lit up in her head. "You mean to tell me, one of these missions was to—"
"That's correct. Starrk, Harribel, Barragan, and I were all sent this shop to destroy this Garganta-creating device. By doing so, Aizen hoped to prevent your friends from entering Hueco Mundo."
"I don't understand how Sousuke could know about this place," Urahara said thoughtfully. "Or why he would care. I suppose the reason doesn't matter. I simply couldn't allow you to destroy the device I worked so hard on—not without a fight."
"It appears our efforts merely delayed your friends' arrival, rather than halt it completely," Ulquiorra said. He didn't sound upset by this realization, but rather resigned.
"Well, now that that explanation is out of the way," Urahara said, "perhaps we should become more properly acquainted with each other. Shall we? I'll even go first." He stood and bowed, his hand holding his hat in place. "I'm Urahara Kisuke, the humble owner of this shop. And you three are?"
The ex-Espada looked Urahara over with critical eyes. All of them, particularly Ulquiorra and Szayel, had a feeling there was more to this man than simple shopkeeper.
"Ulquiorra Cifer, former Cuatro Espada in Aizen-sama's—Aizen's army."
Grimmjow pointed to himself and smirked. "Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, former Sexta Espada."
"And I am Szayel Aporro Granz, former Octava Espada…and scientist of Las Noches."
Urahara's eyebrow twitched. "Scientist, you say?"
"Yes, that's right," said Szayel, and grinned. He was pleased to know his suspicions about Urahara had been more or less confirmed. Szayel could see it his eyes—the curiosity, the intrigue. It screamed scientist. "I feel there's much we have to discuss—Urahara, was it?"
Urahara nodded. "I agree." He turned to Ulquiorra, Orihime, and Grimmjow. The latter two had confused looks as they glanced between him and Szayel. "I hope you'll excuse us for a moment. We shouldn't take long."
"All right," Orihime said, as Szayel stood beside her.
"Oh, and please don't think of leaving," said Urahara, the comment mostly directed at Grimmjow. "I still want to talk with all three of you."
"And if we try to?" Grimmjow demanded.
Urahara smiled. The sight unnerved Orihime more than she cared to admit. His smile carried a heavy threat behind it, though she couldn't be sure what that threat was. Even Grimmjow seemed to back down, if only slightly.
"It's just better if you stay here," Urahara said after a beat.
He and Szayel left the room. Orihime decided they must've gone further into the shop. She couldn't hear any chatter between them.
Grimmjow grabbed the cup and started pouring the tea back into the kettle. "Who the hell is this guy? And where does he come off, trying to threaten us? Can't even do that properly."
"Grimmjow," Orihime said, eyebrows furrowed. "I don't think that's polite of you to—"
"Do you think I care?" shouted Grimmjow, slamming the cup on the table. Orihime shook her head, leaning away. "Damn it! I knew I was going to get trapped in whatever plot Szayel has. But did I listen to my instincts? No!"
Orihime looked to the shoji door behind them. "I wonder what Szayel and Urahara-san are talking about. Whatever it is must be important."
"Who cares? Obviously it wasn't important enough for us to know." Grimmjow stood quickly. "I need to get out of this room. It's starting to drive me crazy!"
"But you just got here," Orihime pointed out, as Grimmjow made his way to the other shoji door, the one closest to the shop's entrance. "And Urahara said that you couldn't—"
Grimmjow apparently didn't care because he continued to the door. Orihime looked to Ulquiorra, half-expecting him to stop the former Sexta Espada, but there was nothing. Ulquiorra sat with his eyes closed, as if weary of all the foolishness going on around him.
The door slammed behind Grimmjow as he left. Orihime could still hear the stomping of his feet for a few moments, and then there was silence.
A silence that was slowly but surely becoming more uncomfortable as time passed.
"So," Orihime said. Ulquiorra turned to her. "We haven't spoken all that much. Well, not a real conversation, since…"
"I had a month off from missions," Ulquiorra added. "When I brought you to meet the other Espada."
"Yes. That was so long ago," said Orihime. "I'm surprised you remember. I thought you'd want to block it from your mind, considering all the silly questions I asked." She giggled. "Including the one about the makeup."
Ulquiorra shook his head. "I don't think I could ever forget that one."
"You really didn't have fun during that time, did you?"
Ulquiorra hesitated. "It was…an experience."
That was probably the closest to a 'yes' as he would allow, so Orihime decided to take it as such. Her smile lessened as she thought back to the last few hours.
"Say, Ulquiorra?"
"Hm."
"What did Szayel mean when he said that your loyalties to Aizen had been usurped recently?" Ulquiorra's eyes widened slightly. "Who did they change to?"
Ulquiorra didn't say anything for a while. He looked at her, then back at the door Szayel and Urahara had gone through. "You honestly have no idea, do you?"
Orihime blinked.
"That would be a no," he said, with the softest of sighs. "Perhaps if I had gone about it the way Szayel had, you would understand."
Orihime's hand shot to her mouth, in hopes of quelling her gasp, but it was still painfully loud to her ears. A bit of warmth rose to her cheeks.
Oh. So that's what Szayel had meant.
"I…I had no idea…"
"That much is apparent," said Ulquiorra, without any bitterness to his voice. Then, as if sensing what Orihime would say next, he added, "Apologies are not necessary. You've done nothing wrong."
"Ulquiorra." Orihime placed her hand over his.
Ulquiorra glanced at her. "I don't want your pity."
"It's not pity," Orihime said. She smiled. "Do you remember when you asked if I preferred Szayel as my guard over you?"
"You said you couldn't choose."
"Yes, because I like you for you and Szayel for Szayel. I can't compare those feelings. They're completely different." Orihime's face turned a deep shade of red. "And no matter what, both you and Szayel hold a special place in my heart."
"Your…heart." Ulquiorra's eyebrows furrowed as he let the words linger between them. If Orihime didn't know any better, she would've sworn he was confused by her words. "Do you think—?"
He stopped, as if unsure of himself.
"What?"
"If Szayel had never become your guard, what do you think would've happened?"
Orihime could hear Ulquiorra's unspoken words, the ones he really wanted to ask but couldn't bring himself to utter:
"Do you think you could have ever had the same feelings for me that you have for Szayel?"
Orihime's eyes softened. "I do. In another time, in another place. Maybe in one of those unknown worlds Szayel was talking about. Yes, I think it's definitely possible."