Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters. Blah blah blah.

Hey… Well This is gonna be awkward, cause this is now an adult trying to update a child's story. More or less. I was a teen when i started this story, still wrapped up in high school delusions and fantasies. Now, I've experiences college, a job, a boyfriend, i moved to a different state. And i've matured, but there are still some things that are still childish about me. You will inevitably notice changes in this story, and i can't help that. It would be like asking an artist (which i am) to draw like they did when they were a child. Its not that easy. But I'm giving this an honest effort.

Summary for those who don't remember: Orihime develops a case of enjoyable insanity while being Ulqiorra's ward. And the two begin to grow feeling for each other, amidst the meddling antics of Gin, Szayel, and Grimmjow. Meanwhile Arturo, an ancient Arrancar that had been kept under metaphorical lock and key in central 46 has appeared in Hueco Mundo and is decimating Las Noches with the help of Rukia Kuchiki, in order to re-claim his throne from the treacherous soul reaper Aizen. Rukia, having her own agenda for working with the ancient arrancar, is unaware of the closeness they are forming due to their ever growing respect for each other.

And Grimmjow, is still obsessed with pure elation at the anticipation of locking sword and claw with Ichigo.

A silence enveloped the room weighing heavy on its occupants. In the distance there were pulses of spiritual pressure that almost knocked the breath from thy throat as it spread like blood from a beating heart, throughout Las Noches.

Ulquiorra couldn't ignore the presence anymore. His passionate act with his ward had been a selfish want. An adulterated sin, he committed in his growing trepidation that he might never have a chance to bask in her presence again. Not after the metaphorical night, that was upon them. His senses warned him, that there was a great battle bearing down upon them, he had but a scarce hour before he would have to clash against opposition threatening the confines of the fortress.

"Be safe.." he whispered, the vibration of his voice kissing her ear. Pale, ivory fingers threaded themselves through her fiery autumn burnt hair. With one last longing look, Ulquiorra left. using Sonido to warp away from her sleeping body and re-appearing at the threshold of his doorway.

A spell, a long look, and a selfish want made from a heartless man, and he vanished. The door sealed shut with the equivalent to a hollow's kido spell. His one vain hope that it would keep her his.

-Within the confines of Las Noches-

Rukia, had trouble keeping herself upright. Immense spirit pressure weighed upon her shoulders and arms, it felt like a mass of dead bodies tethered to all her muscles. Her foot falls were labored and uneven. She felt suffocated, as if the hands of death were strangling her, wringing the life from her lungs. She lifted her eyes to look at him, And it felt like a thousand needling knives dug into her eyes, piercing her vision, making tears well in the corners and stream mercilessly down her pale cheeks.

Her vision blacked for a moment as she fell to one knee.

She had been following Arturo for quite awhile now, Aiding him with her healing kido, and providing cover for him from the weaker arrancars, while her decimated the stronger ones. Several times she could almost swear she'd seen a hint of gratitude or an impressed grin betray his serious mask. But it vanished just as quickly as it appeared, causing Rukia to ponder whether or not her mind was just fabricating it all.

But now, the battles were getting serious. And Arturo had taken things up a notch, releasing his restraints and letting his power flow. His entrancing green wings made of streaming fiery spirit energy morphed into bruised colors of purple and black. His nature became vicious and unrelenting. And she was barely able to watch in awe as he sent one of Aizen's Espada into the ground, and pulverized its face with a spirit blade as black as sin. Claw like fingers proceeded to tear apart the flesh of the Espada, and the young Kuchiki noble had to avert her eyes, when Arturo began to devour the other hollow without a shred of remorse.

Rukia didn't know how long she sat there. Her knee felt numb against the cold stone. And she tried to focus her mind on that, and not the massacre littering the floor around her being.

"Lift your head, soul reaper." His command was sharp, like a scythe shearing the very air around her ears. Apparently he had finished feasting, and she could even feel as his spirit pressure seemed to quake and spike after having absorbed the other soul.

Rukia made a token effort to lift her gaze, her vision hazy and her head swimming as she looked at the blur that was his face. She felt the pained tears that had formed paths down her cheeks, finally drip like sweat from her chin and spatter on the stone floor. Even this effort was strained.

"Are you so pathetic that you can't stand in my presence?" He watched as she forced her body back onto its feet, Her breathing labored, and sound escaping her throat in pained gasps. Against all sanity and odds, she was actually determined to follow him to the bloody end. She was an unrelenting soul hell bent on performing the task ahead of her. And to the Arrancar befor her, that may have been, just the tiniest bit… admirable.

Like an icy breath sweeping across burnt blistering skin, the spiritual pressure ebbed. Arturo dulled his power enough to take the stress from his companions body, but not to the point where he would be defenseless against an unexpected attack. And with compassion so foreign and as bitter as the word tasted in his mouth, he lifted Rukia onto his back, coaxing her to thread her arms around his neck.

Rukia realized that he must have been exhibiting a nominal amount of restraint to keep his wings from burning her. Right now they felt uncomfortably warm, a mixture of fire and ice, but not enough to cause her pain. Just enough to make her aware of their ever present pulsing.

Arturo tested her grip with a flexing of his shoulders, "Don't fall off." he ordered, and felt her arms tighten in response. I could get used to this. His mind entertained the thought as he pressed forward even deeper into the dark foreboding halls. His pet soul reaper clinging to him desperately~

Orihime woke after feeling a sudden spike in pressure. "Ulquiorra…" Her voice seemed to echo in the empty room, and the realization of complete loneliness swept over her. She sat up and clutched shredded clothing to her bosom in a vain attempt to hide her naked body. He had left while she was asleep, the evidence of their sinful act nested around her, at the base of his closet. Traces of sweat, cum, strands of hair, and even blood, marked the wrinkled uniforms under her body.

With a bit of pain and dizziness she climbed to her feet and surveyed the surroundings of Ulquiorra's bedroom, it was almost a surprise to find herself still there. After a slow scan her eyes settled on a uniform, unwrinkled and mathematically laid out on the bed. I was to replace the one that he had ruined in their passion earlier. She fingered the material, and her mind raced with thoughts of where he must be now.

protecting Las Noches

protecting her…

She needed to find a way out. Something deep down whispered in her heart, that he would fight to protect her, to keep her till the bloody end.

WOOOSH!

She felt a rush of energy speed through the halls nearby. It was Grimmjow, his impatience getting the better of him. He had left, left to go face Ichigo, to have the fight he lusted for, that plagued his dreams at night. Orihime shuddered as the images of many bloody battles filled her head. Violence was upon Las Noches now, staining the walls with a rich rust colored liquid.

And somehow, against the odds, she had to help. Even though her heart was torn between both sides. Would it be her beloved friends? Or her tormented hollow lover? Black or White.

Her hand reached for the latch on the door. but an unseen forced barred her from leaving. Compelling her to draw her hand away. A spell, to keep her in? A panicked look flashed on her features. She felt him out there, her dark lover… She felt his spiking spiritual pressure as he released his power and engaged in battle against someone. Suddenly her choice seemed easier to make, she would go to him.

There you have it, the 3 years long awaited chapter 17. Which should have been chapter 16. But I'm a wretch who can't seem to finish any story she starts. Thank you to the fans who have actually stuck wit me over all this time. I don't expect you to review, and don't even expect a thank you. This is my thank you, to you. We'll see if i can update more, but this is all i have for now. Battles are to come in the future, so be prepared.

This is Saij Spellhart. Come find me on DeviantArt. I'm a humble artist.