Once Ulquiorra found himself able to breathe, he propped himself up, swiping imaginary dust off the fur of his legs.

"I'm sorry…" Orihime mumbled. A sympathetic smile graced her face as she stared at the little bat in her lap. She took a slow blink and shifted her gaze in the distance. She found herself lost in thought at the idea that her former captor was going to be living with her.

It was so funny and ridiculous. She had to stifle a chuckle.

The same all powerful espada that practically killed Ichigo, tore off Uryu's arm, was now here in the human world, in her home, standing on her lap.

He was practically helpless.

"Woman."

Her eyes snapped back to eye her former captor, her lips formed an 'o' and her eyebrows raised. "Oh um - yes ulquiorra?"

Ulquiorra crossed his arms against his pale chest and stared back at her, her silver pools growing like saucers expectantly as the silent seconds passed between them. He was just about to say something important, but now he found himself speechless.

He had to pull away and turn his back to her just to get the words out. After having a moment to collect himself he finally had the courage to speak.

"Woman, I will be taking my leave now"

Orihime raised her eyebrows, confused. Ulquiorra failed to notice the tint of pain flash across her eyes. "What do you mean you're leaving?" Although Ulquiorra couldn't see it, he could hear it in her voice, and it pulled him back to look at her. He shifted his head and glanced at her over his shoulder, his black locks barely allowing his eyes to pierce through.

"I am leaving." He repeated himself.

Although he was originally on board with the idea of living with her, after some rest and being in the right mind, he determined this was not a good idea. Not with these thoughts...He wasn't sure where he would go but he had already previously determined he would figure it out.

Orihime shook her head slightly and then tilted it completely to the side. Her eyes darted from Ulquiorra and up to the ceiling where her pupils seemed to quickly move from side to side as she tried to make sense of what she was hearing.

As if a lightbulb had just sprung from the top of her head, she jumped slightly and blinked her eyes quickly. Ulquiorra found himself losing his balance at the movement. Then very swiftly she raised a single finger in Ulquiorra's direction. "That's right!" she exclaimed.

Ulquiorra took a step back as her finger neared him and he lost his footing as he was still trying to regain his balance. He fell back onto the mattress, his fur covered arms being the only thing that supported him. His hair became disheveled and he had to blow a huff of air to remove it from his path of vision.

With her finger still in front of his tiny form, Orihime continued. "You were asleep when we went to Urahara's, and he suggested you stay with me since you're the most familiar with me here until he figures out why…" She paused briefly, trying to find the right word. "...you're so…um… different now. Oh and, good news, Soul Society is okay with it!" She cheeared.

Ulquiorra furrowed his eyebrows at this. This confirmed a few things he already knew. Aizen lost, Soul Society won. He could understand why Urahara had an interest in this new form of an espada, but he could not comprehend why Soul Society would approve.

Just then, Ulquiorra remembered something.

It was the conversation he had with Aizen when the cuatro originally brought up the notion of kidnapping Orihime Inoue.

Aizen sat in his throne that was a few steps above the main floor of the hall he resided in. His soldier at the end of the stair, standing attentively with his hands placed restfully against his back.

After ruminating over the proposition Ulquiorra brought up, Aizen knew this was a viable path, but there was one problem…

"Ulquiorra there's only one real weakness you arrancar posses that most will unfortunately never overcome." Aizen raised his hand to his face and curled his index finger against his lips as a smile graced them. "If we proceed, I will put her under your supervision."

Ulquiorra remained motionless, not a hint of emotion or reaction. Though internally he was attempting to piece together why Aizen would consider him and not a more feasible option like Halibel.

As if sensing the questioning from his underling, Aizen continued.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I'm putting this duty onto you when you must think you have more important duties than to look after a human girl, but I can't just let anyone near her. You're the only one who I believe can overcome this weakness."

The ex-captan allowed a moment of silence to weigh between them. After a moment, Ulquiorra broke it. "Sir, what weakness are you speaking of that is connected to Orihime Inoue?"

"There isn't one connected directly to her," Aizen explained, "I'm just planning ahead. Let's just say I could trust no one else to be weighed by the innocence and charm of a teenage human girl. I can't have her compromising the state of my Espada, which in hand affects our favor in the upcoming battle. For that reason you will be the one to attend to her needs."

Ulquiorra believed he understood what his leader was speaking of. Grimmjow and Nnoitra alike could easily be swayed from following orders if they became infatuated. The alike applied to Halibel as well if she came to care for the girl. Szayel would be obsessed with analyzing and studying every part of her. Although one would think Starrk would not take the situation seriously, if he found comfort and companionship from her he might very well be compromised as well. Although there was a slim chance since Barragon would be too disinterested in her, he also would do a horrid job at taking care of her. Out of all of Aizen's army, he was the only one that followed orders down to the T with no hint of emotion or mercy crossing his path.

If anyone could handle the plight of the effects of Orihime Inoue, it was him.

Unfortunately, at the time Ulquiorra did not realize the longterm effects that Aizen was referring to. He had never actually explained what the nature of this weakness was.

But now it all made sense.

Aizen knew of this disruption in an Espada's form, which would surely affect the strength of his army. In order to prevent such a thing, an infactuation with a human girl was the furthest thing he needed to befall upon his soldiers.

Yet here Ulquiorra was.

If Aizen knew of such a weakness, he was sure Urahara knew as well. Soul Society would definitely take an interest in this unfounded discovery of arrancar, but for what reason would Ulquiorra be allowed to reside here if Urahara was supposedly looking into this? If that was the case, he should be in the possession of said shop-keeper, not with this woman.

None of it was adding up. Ulquiorra was almost positive Urahara knew the reality of his predicament, so why would he suggest such a thing.

All the while as Ulquiorra recalled this memory with Aizen and came to this conclusion, Orihime was rambling about the details of events that led to him being here.

He drowned out most of the useless nonsense such as how Ichigo and Uryu were arguing after Urahara sent Orihime on her way with the little bat. But her last sentence is what rung in his ears the most clearly.

"Soooo, from now you're going to be staying with me, atleast until Urahara comes up with a cure I think."

Ulquiorra's lips tightened upon hearing this, as he was fully aware of what the real cure was.

So much for Aizen's choice in the matter when it came to Orihime Inoue.

Before he could react, Orihime wrapped her hand around his small torso. Despite how many times she had held him like this it never failed to send a bolt of electricity through his core. She carefully stood up and made her away across the opposite side of her room.

Ulquiorra stared warily as he realized where she was taking him…

"Bathroom. You need a bath Ulquiorra, after all that fighting you stink!" She cheered. She entered the tight room that accompanied a small bathtub barely big enough to fit someone next to a sink and toilet. Instead of turning the water on for that bath Orihime turned the sink on.

The small bat stared anxiously at the steam that escaped the water as it filled. He heard Orihime humming and glanced up at her to see her smirking but she didn't notice him.

As soon as the sink was about half full she brought her hand still carrying Ulquiorra near it. He winced, expecting to be dropped carelessly as he had experienced up to now. To his surprise, he was submerged very delicately which allowed his body to slowly adjust to the temperature of the water.

Once he made contact with the bottom of the sink Orihime deliberately released her grap. Ulquiorra sat comfortably with his legs extended, the heat of the water that rested halfway up his chest relaxed his muscles instantly. He took a deep breath and lidded his eyes heavily. Every bit of tension built up inside of him seemed to melt away as rested his back against the sink.

The humidity in the room caused the parts of his wings that were unable to submerge in water to stick against the cheap porcelain and his hair against his cheeks and neck.

His eyes were now fully closed so he failed to notice the woman taking a few steps back away from him and twiddled her fingers within one another.

Orihime was contemplating whether or not she should leave. A man was taking a bath in front of her, yes it was Ulquiorra and yes he wasn't indecent, but seeing that look on his face as he relaxed made the moment feel much more intimate. She considered that maybe it was innappropiate and he wouldn't want her there peeking at him as she was.

Ulquiorra realized the sudden silence between them and leisurely opened single eye to look at her. He could not understand her expression or why she seemed hesitant as she was looking away.

"Woman," Ulquiorra started, causing Orihime's eyes to snap back at him expectantly.

"Yes?"

"How do you feel about this whole situation?" He inquired. The small bat was generally curious about her thoughts on this.

"Well…I do feel a little uncomfortable." She replied hesitantly.

Something in Ulquiorra sank.

"I mean, you are technically naked and taking a bath and I, shouldn't be here." She began to shy away towards the door reaching for the handle.

Ulquiorra was baffled by her answer until he realized she was referring to this situation in the bathroom and not they're situation as a whole. He had to shake his head at her lack of awareness.

"Not that." He managed to say before she turned the door handle.

Orihime looked back at him, confused, until the realization dawned on her face.

"Ohhh you mean THIS situation." She gestured with her hands outwardly, as if to signify the grandiose predicament they found themselves in. She pressed her index finger into her cheek as her gaze fixated itself on the ceiling.

How did she feel about it? She hadn't really considered it. As soon as she left Urahara's place she seemed to bound in excitement despite Uryu and Ichigo's protests.

She considered that even with the tension in their relationship, she was curious to address whatever underlying feeling she always felt when it came to Ulquiorra, and if he felt that same ambiguous feeling.

Maybe this was her chance.

"I guess I'm curious to get to know you Ulquiorra, we didn't really get that chance before…"

"I can't imagine why." He deadpanned flatly. Even in this relaxed state, Orihime didn't fail to notice the hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Well, don't you feel the same way?" Orihime gave him in return. "You seemed to ask me a lot of questions about my views. Why was that? Weren't you trying to understand me?"

"You misunderstand my intentions." Ulquiorra explained, "I was merely trying to prove to you the idiocy of your views, I had no interest in understanding you humans."

Orihime had to smirk, "I don't think so! You literally said yesterday you were just starting to take an interest in us."

She was right. Ulquiorra couldn't lie to himself, he DID have an interest in her, a borderline obsession in fact.

"I suppose part of that did hold some significance, but it was a general curiosity in the end, nothing more."

The humidity in the room began to cause some strands of her hair to stick to her cheeks as Orihime's grin only seemed to widen. "See? You can't deny it then, you did want to get to know us."

Ulquiorra considered Orihime was the only one to challenge him when it came to matters such as this, unafraid of debating with him despite their clashing senses of self. But she had one thing wrong here.

"I misworded myself before, I had no interest in all of you and your friends. It was just you that piqued my curiosity in the end."

Something about gaining the attention of the supposed emotionless cuartro espada seemed to send a shiver down Orihime's spine. The fact that his interest wasn't generalized and instead excluded her friends, even without the influence of Aizen, seemed to deepen whatever underlying confusion she felt around Ulquiorra.

Orihime wasn't sure if it was the heat in the bathroom or something else, but she couldn't stop whatever heat had flushed into her cheeks.

She leaned against the door with her hands behind her, still gripping the handle. She turned away shyly and tightened her lips.

"You can say you just want to get to know me you know….the same way I would like with you."

Ulquiorra sighed. "Fine. I am interested in you."'

The heat in Orihime's cheeks flushed well across her body. She was not expecting him to say that. She looked up to meet Ulquiorra's gaze. His expression was unfazed despite the significance of his words.

A long stretch of silence passed between them.

"Okay, good." She finally replied. "If t-thats the case I think we'll get along just fine until Urahara gets you back to normal."

At that, Orihime quickly escaped the bathroom. She shut the door and rested against the other side, allowing the quick beating of her heart to relax.

How did he manage to still stir some form of anxiety with merely just his words, even still at a measly 6 inches tall?

Ulquiorra stared at the door hardly, confused as to the sudden shift of mood once he had finally agreed to her statements.

Ichigo's concentration on his homework was abruptly interrupted by a knock at his door. Startled, he made his way downstairs and swung the door open to find Urahara standing there, his trademark smile beaming.

"Ichigo! How delightful to see you once again," Urahara greeted cheerfully, extending a box towards him. "This is a little something for you."

Ichigo eyed Urahara cautiously, his gaze fixed on the box. He hesitated, unsure of what awaited him within. Urahara, undeterred by Ichigo's hesitancy, pressed the box into his chest and turned to depart.

"Enjoy your time with him."

Ichigo watched Urahara's retreating figure, his confusion evident. Then, with a sigh, he directed his attention towards the cage in his hands. A sense of unease gnawed at him, as every time Urahara involved him in something, trouble seemed to follow.

"Purrrrr."

The sound emanating from the cage only deepened Ichigo's bewilderment. He made his way to the kitchen and gently set the box down on the counter, his curiosity piqued.

"Nu nu nu nu."

More faint noises emerged from within the cage, intensifying Ichigo's curiosity. With hesitance swirling in his heart, he cautiously opened the box, extending his hand towards its contents.

Half-expecting a feline companion or even a mod soul, Ichigo couldn't believe his eyes when he saw what lay before him.

"Holy shit!"

In the palm of his hand slumbered a miniature version of Grimmjow, donned in his release form.

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