A resounding knock disrupted the tranquility of the Kurosaki household. Amidst the ensuing chaos of bickering over who should answer, Ichigo let out an exasperated sigh, realizing he had no choice but to face the intruder. With Grimmjow perched atop his shoulder, adding to his annoyance, he descended the stairs with heavy steps, hoping to convey his irritation to his father, Isshin.
Opening the door, Ichigo was met with the unexpected sight of Uryu, accompanied by Chad's nonchalant wave. He blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by their presence. While their recent shared journey to rescue Orihime had forged a bond, it was unusual for them to gather at his home, particularly Uryu.
"Hey...guys," Ichigo greeted, tilting his head inquisitively. "What brings you here?"
Uryu could see the confused look on Ichigo's face, but on top of that he could also see the reason he came here in the first place.
"We heard about Grimmjow and wanted to see it for ourselves," Uryu replied, crossing his arms.
Ichigo sighed, "Yeah well everyone—" he paused, lifting the little pantera off his shoulder and presenting it to the group, "—this is Grimmjow. The same guy that stabbed Rukia and helped bring me back from the dead just to fight me."
Grimmjow was seated nonchalantly with his feet hanging over Ichigo's hands, swishing them back and forth. A few strands of his long blue locks cascaded over his shoulder, which he dramatically tossed behind him.
"Yo."
Uryu's hand made impact with his forehead. "Leave it to Soul Society to make some reckless decisions. The fact they're okay with these hollows living amongst us is absurd."
"I don't know…" Chad interjected, reaching his hand out to pet Grimmjow. "...it's kind of funny."
"Hmm," Uryu tightened his eyebrows slightly and crossed his arms.
Ichigo's eyebrow twitched irritably as he observed Grimmjow nuzzling against Chad's finger, apparently relishing the scratches. Uryu's eyebrows mirrored Ichigo's annoyance.
Chad reluctantly withdrew his hand, much to Grimmjow's disappointment, and Ichigo roughly placed the tiny pantera back on his shoulders.
"Any word from Urahara?" Uryu inquired.
"Not a damn thing" Ichigo grumbled, his frustration palpable. "He just dropped off this nuisance... wait, who spilled the beans about Grimmjow?"
"Rukia," Chad's deep voice rumbled from behind Uryu, who nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, she shared the details about Soul Society's shindig and your little joke," Uryu explained. "But I find it amusing that they had the gall to invite me. Whatever."
Ichigo let out a scoff. "Yeah, a real knee-slapper. This whole situation is a joke. How the hell is the same espada who stabbed me and kidnapped Orihime now crashing at her place? It pisses me off."
He sighed, running his hand through his hair in frustration.
Grimmjow, comfortably perched next to Ichigo's neck, chimed in with an unexpected remark. "Ulquiorra staying with the princess makes sense to me."
All eyes turned towards the tiny espada, perplexed by his statement. Ichigo gave Grimmjow a skeptical side-eye. "And pray tell, how the hell did you come to that conclusion?"
"It was that bastard's idea to kidnap the girl in the first place," Grimmjow explained.
"What?!" Ichigo and Uryu erupted in anger, their faces contorted with fury.
Chad raised an eyebrow in surprise, though his expression remained obscured by his flowing hair.
"I already knew he was the one who forced her to come to Hueco Mundo, but I didn't know it was also his idea!" Ichigo roared, his face fuming a deep shade of red.
"That just makes the situation worse—" Uryu began, but Ichigo cut him off.
"That makes even less sense!"
Grimmjow narrowed his eyes. "Don't you get it? Ulquiorra likes that girl. Even a blind fool could see it."
Ichigo let out a scoff of disbelief, snatching Grimmjow off his shoulder and gripping him tightly, his fingers closing around the tiny espada's abdomen.
The sudden movement left Grimmjow disoriented as Ichigo brought him closer to his face.
"How the hell does doing all of that to her mean he likes her?" Ichigo demanded, his voice seething with anger.
He was still reeling from his recent visit to Orihime's place, and now Grimmjow's revelation only added fuel to the fire. After all, Ichigo had risked his life to save her from the very man now living with her, and it seemed like everyone was okay with it.
Grimmjow narrowed his eyes as he regained his composure. "You've met the guy, haven't you? Nothing fazes him, he couldn't care less about anything. But when it comes to her, he's obsessed. Always lurking in her room, and he went batshit crazy when I took his precious little princess away."
Ichigo's eyes bulged with disbelief. "She's NOT his little princess!"
Chad stifled a chuckle behind his hand, while Uryu bit his cheek to hold back amusement.
"That's it. I need to check on her. I don't trust that guy," Ichigo declared, his face turning red with anger.
How dare that bastard try to kidnap her just because he supposedly formed an obsession with her, and now he gets to live with her? It's not liking her. He's messed up. A creep, that's what he is.
With a determined resolve, Ichigo slammed the front door behind him and pushed past Uryu and Chad, ready to confront the unsettling situation head-on.
"Where are you going?" Uryu called out, trailing after Ichigo with Chad close behind.
"I'm going to Orihi—OW, FUCK! Will you stop biting me?"
Grimmjow had just chomped down on Ichigo's fingers due to the rough handling, and defiantly made his way up Ichigo's arm back to his usual perch on his shoulders.
"Stop man-handling me then." Grimmjow retorted, settling into his spot.
Ichigo seethed, shaking his hand to ease the stinging pain. He was fed up with this. Turning to Uryu and Chad, who were keeping pace behind him, he spoke with determination.
"I'm going to Orihime's. I need to check on her."
"We just saw her a few days ago. What do you think Ulquiorra is going to do? I told you he has a thing for her. He's not going to hurt her. He's 6 inches." Grimmjow interjected, a peculiar undertone in his voice that Ichigo couldn't quite place.
"Well, so are you, and you keep sinking your teeth into me. Who knows what that emo-freak is up to with her," Ichigo shot back.
Grimmjow mulled over Ichigo's words for a moment. "Okay... valid point."
Chad and Uryu continued to follow along, understanding the need to ensure Orihime's well-being in the presence of Ulquiorra, as well as the lingering effects of their tumultuous journey through Hueco Mundo.
Getting back to normal wouldn't be easy, not for any of them.
"I'm sorry, Orihime, but I don't have an answer yet..." Urahara leaned against the counter in the back of his shop, his arms crossed and shoulders slouched in an apologetic manner.
From under the shade of his striped hat, he observed the tiny arrancar standing in Orihime's hands. She held him close to her, just below her chest. If Ulquiorra tilted his head back, he would lean against her bosom, but he resisted the temptation.
However, he reminded himself that he had a purpose here. He needed to unravel this mystery and not get distracted by the woman's ample chest behind him.
"These things take time, especially since I've never encountered anything like this before," Urahara explained.
Orihime's heart sank, and she pressed her lips together, her frown trembling with disappointment.
Ulquiorra possessed extensive knowledge of all the Shinigami he was destined to face, that included Urahara. He was well aware of the shopkeeper's history, his connection to Aizen, and the madness that lay behind his scientific pursuits.
While Urahara might present himself as an innocent shopkeeper, Ulquiorra saw through the facade.
Just as Ulquiorra was preparing to confront Urahara, a ringing suddenly filled the room, causing Orihime to jump.
In the commotion, Ulquiorra's tail tightened instinctively around Orihime's thumb for support. Balancing himself in, now, just one of her hands, Ulquiorra observed as Orihime reached for her flip phone with the other.
Uryu's name illuminated the screen.
She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Urahara and silently mouthing the words "one moment" before stepping outside. Urahara waved her off, signaling her to take her time.
As Orihime departed, Ulquiorra unfurled his wings, leaving the comfort of her hand, and made his way toward the shopkeeper. Orihime cast him a questioning look before answering the phone and stepping outside.
Urahara adjusted his stance, standing tall and confident, as he uncrossed his arms and slid his hands comfortably into his green overcoat.
"I assume you have some questions for me?" Urahara inquired, tilting his head slightly upward.
Ulquiorra landed gracefully on one of the shelves lined with various products, directly across from the cunning shopkeeper.
"Yes. A few actually." Ulquiorra started.
"Why am I staying with Orihime Inoue instead of with you if your intention is to return me to my original size? With that in mind, how can you claim to be working on it without our physical bodies present?" Ulquiorra's voice remained stern and unwavering.
Urahara's lips curled into a mischievous smirk, his eyes gleaming
"Well, Ulquiorra, wouldn't you rather be with her anyway? My shop can be quite boring, and I'm sure you'd find more enjoyment in her company. Orihime and Ichigo have also shared their accounts of the events in Hueco Mundo with me, and it was truly fascinating to hear their different perspectives."
Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed, a hint of peculiarity mingling with his agitation. He would have to ask Orihime later about what she had divulged.
"That doesn't answer the question."
"Well, you didn't answer mine about Orihime," Urahara retorted, shrugging nonchalantly.
"One cannot answer a question with another question," Ulquiorra stated plainly, pressing his lips together in annoyance.
Urahara fell silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful.
"I see," Ulquiorra began, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Am I to presume that I am correct about your intentions?"
Urahara chuckled lightly, his amusement evident. "And what do you think my intentions would be?"
Ulquiorra's voice remained cool and collected, his words resonating with unwavering certainty. "It is clear that you lack any intentions or plans to rectify the situation for either myself or Grimmjow. This raises doubts as to why you would permit us to reside among humans, fully aware of our past. It leaves me questioning the motives behind Soul Society's approval as well. I can only assume that you presented them with a distorted narrative, claiming to be working on a treatment capable of manipulating an arrancar's size at your behest, enticing them with the potential benefits it could offer in the future."
As Ulquiorra took a step forward, his green eyes pierced through the shadows of Urahara's hat. He longed for his true form, the power to force the truth out of this dribbling shopkeeper. He had no qualms about resorting to torture for information; it had served him well in the past, and this situation wouldn't be an exception.
Urahara nodded, his expression revealing a hint of intrigue. "Interesting. Do you have any other theories?"
Ulquiorra's eyebrows narrowed as he maintained his piercing gaze on the shopkeeper. He contemplated his next words carefully. "I am quite certain that you possess the knowledge of how we ended up in this predicament and the means to restore us to our original forms."
Urahara's lips curled into a subtle smile, his fan twirling playfully in his hand as he pulled it out from his pocket. "Impressive observation skills, I must say. The information I have, combined with the stories shared by Ichigo and Orihime, have painted a rather intriguing picture of you."
Ulquiorra clenched his fists, his frustration becoming evident. He wasn't receiving any concrete answers from this man.
"Let me be blunt then, yes? You know precisely why I'm here, and your insatiable scientific curiosity drives you to revel in the downfall you foresee."
Ulquiorra's words hung in the air, heavy with accusation and frustration.
Urahara's sudden laughter echoed through the room, rifting through the charged tension. His head tilted back, almost causing his hat to topple off.
"Well, well, well," Urahara drawled, elongating the last word in a playful manner. "What exactly do you want from me?"
Ulquiorra blinked in surprise. "I want you to answer my questions—" he paused, a moment of realization dawning upon him.
In that instant, he knew what he had to do.
"—or return me to Hueco Mundo."
Urahara's widened eyes replaced his laughter, the room growing quiet and tense.
"You're giving up so easily?" the blonde man retorted, his tone accusatory.
Ulquiorra raised an intrigued eyebrow. "As I suspected, you know more than you're letting on."
"Well, will you?" Urahara pressed, his arms returning to their crossed position over his chest.
"Did you plan to discuss all of this in front of Orihime when you came here? I assume you planned to keep it to yourself. Why would you share? They all claimed you knew nothing when they were here just a few days ago."
Urahara let out a dismissive sigh. "I suppose it's perfectly fine for you to withhold information, but you believe it's an issue when you think I'm doing the same. Do I have that part right?"
Taking a calm step closer to the little bat, Urahara continued, "Perhaps you should try being honest with yourself and those around you. See what happens then."
Ulquiorra had always been stubborn, and this situation was no exception. His initial plan had been to claim the woman for himself, but as time passed, he grew uncomfortable with the idea of controlling and molding her feelings. How could he expect her to reciprocate his affection in such a short time? He had come to realize that those things couldn't be forced. She would likely continue treating him with kindness, perhaps as a friend like those humans or even as a pet for companionship.
None of these options sat well with him.
If there was any potential for her to reciprocate anything for him, given all they had been through, he would have already returned to his original size. A few meager days at his disposal during the timeline wouldn't be enough to make a difference.
The thought of spending his remaining days in her presence, feeling the weight of his despair bearing down on him, was unbearable. It would be better to quietly fade away in the sands of Hueco Mundo as he was initially supposed to.
This entire ordeal seemed futile. If it was meant as a lesson for him, it only served to confirm his belief that the human heart brings nothing but suffering. He found himself trapped in a pitiful situation.
He hadn't initially considered disappearing back to Hueco Mundo upon his arrival at the shop, but the lingering thoughts about his predicament plagued his mind.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place with this realization.
The answer became painfully clear.
He shouldn't be here.
"How do you think she'll feel?" Urahara's voice broke the silence as Ulquiorra pondered over his thoughts.
"She will be devastated, you know..." Urahara continued in a pitiful tone, leaving Ulquiorra to question the sincerity behind his words.
"I highly doubt that would be the case." Ulquiorra responded without hesitation, his gaze fixed upon the shopkeeper as he approached, their eyes locked in an unwavering stare.
"Really?" Urahara taunted, leaning closer to Ulquiorra. "How about we find out?"
In an instant, Urahara's attention shifted to Orihime, who lifted the makeshift curtain door to re-enter the room. Urahara raised his arm, waving enthusiastically to catch her attention. "Oh Orihime! I have a question for you!" he cheerfully exclaimed.
Before Ulquiorra could react, he found himself suspended in the air, firmly grasped within Urahara's hand. His wings and hands were pressed tightly against his abdomen, his vision blurred as Urahara skipped merrily towards Orihime.
Urahara extended his hand to her, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Startled by the sudden approach, Orihime took a step back, and her lips pressed together in anticipation.
"Oh, uh, what is it?" she asked hesitantly.
Her gaze met with Ulquiorra's, his disheveled hair obscuring most of his face. He struggled to free his arms, attempting to brush aside the dark locks that hindered his vision.
"Oriiihiiimeeee..." Urahara drawled out, elongating the syllables, "How would you feel if Ulquiorra wanted to go back to Hueco Mundo?"
Orihime's eyes shot open wider, her surprise growing even more apparent. She glanced at Urahara, then turned her gaze back to Ulquiorra, her expression a mix of confusion, sadness, and concern.
"Ulquiorra, is that true? You want to leave?" She asked in a hushed manner.
Orihime's quivering lips and hesitant hands betrayed her inner turmoil as she processed this. Tears welled up in her eyes, her hands rising to her face, seeking solace in the gentle touch of her fingertips.
"Yes," Urahara confirmed, taking it upon himself to answer in Ulquiorra's place, always one to stir the pot. "He expressed his desire to return. What are your thoughts on the matter, Orihime?"
Ulquiorra was taken aback, his mouth slightly ajar as he witnessed the sadness etched upon Orihime's face. It mirrored the sorrow he had seen in her expression just a few days prior, a sorrow that puzzled him as to why she would feel it in relation to him.
In that moment, words failed him. He had never expected this turn of events, never anticipated the impact it would have on her.
"Ulquiorra..." Orihime's voice quivered, her hands now covering the lower half of her face, her tears threatening to spill.
She felt him slipping away once more. Just as she had reached out to bridge the gap between them, to forge a connection, he was now choosing to distance himself. Why couldn't she reach him? Her efforts, their progress, seemed futile if he wanted to leave her.
The air grew heavy with silence, broken only by the muffled sniffs of Orihime trying to hold back her tears. She hated feeling this way, she probably looked like an idiot to Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra, struggling to gather his scattered thoughts, found his voice taking on an uncharacteristic tone of hesitation. "Tell me, woman... What is it you would have me do?"
His eyes, typically cold and distant, now scrutinized her gaze with an intensity, as if searching for something elusive, something he couldn't quite grasp.
"I don't... What do you mean?" Orihime whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ulquiorra swiftly propelled himself into the air, landing on a nearby shelf closer to the entrance, positioning himself nearer to her.
Urahara observed the scene behind his fan, his curiosity piqued, a hidden smirk playing on his lips.
This was indeed quite amusing.
Ulquiorra repeated his question, his eyes narrowing. "If I were to return to my normal height, would you still allow me to stay with you? I am not a human, nor a man, but I am male. Will I continue to reside with you? And if I remain as I am, do you plan to keep me as a pet to keep you company?
Orihime tilted her head, a curious and solemn expression on her face as she listened.
"Well," she began, searching for the right words, "...I think if you were your normal size again, we could help you build a life here. I want to show you all the wonderful aspects of being human."
"I am not human." Ulquiorra interjected firmly.
"I know, but..." Orihime trailed off, struggling to articulate her thoughts.
"I am a hollow. Hollows exist in the human realm solely to consume souls. Otherwise, they reside in Hueco Mundo. The same applies to shinigami. The shinigami, Rukia, also has a connection to all of you, does she not? But she is not here. She belongs in Soul Society." Ulquiorra asserted, maintaining his defiant stance as he challenged her words.
This situation was not unfamiliar to Ulquiorra. The sight of her teary eyes, on the other hand, stirred an unexpected discomfort within him. He couldn't quite comprehend why.
"But Ulquiorra, I've already told you that we're not so different. And you mentioned that we also have a connection with Rukia, right? That means you're acknowledging the connection you have with us as well," Orihime pleaded.
A profound shift occurred within Ulquiorra, an unfamiliar sensation that stirred a deep pit within him.
Taking a moment to compose himself, he averted his gaze and stared at the dusty wall of the shop. "I have made my interest in you clear, and whether you believe in them or not, it holds no significance. The shinigami is not here, and neither Grimmjow nor I, should be either."
Furrowing her eyebrows, Orihime refused to let him dismiss her so easily, even if he thought she was being stupid. She didn't care back then when taking a stance against him, and she didn't care now.
She knew she was right.
Her hands swiftly moved from shielding her face and clenched into fists by her sides.
Fixating her gaze on the floor, her hair casting a shadow over her eyes, she uttered in a barely audible whisper, "...you're not leaving."
Ulquiorra's head snapped towards her. "What was that?"
Her gaze remained fixed on the floor, her focus on a crooked nail protruding from a worn-out floorboard.
As she mustered her determination, she couldn't help but wonder if her attempt to keep Ulquiorra by her side was as feeble as that fragile nail, barely holding the wooden floor together. Perhaps it was, but she had to try. The reason why she desperately wanted him to stay was not the current concern at hand.
She wasn't going to let him do this. Not after everything they had been through.
Orihime lifted her head, her face transforming into a portrait of anger and frustration.
"You're not leaving." she repeated.
Ulquiorra's eyes widened, a reaction not easily discernible to most, but significant enough for someone like Orihime to notice. She seemed to understand him in a way that challenged his views without dismissing them, acknowledging his complexities along the way.
"Are you ordering me to stay here?" Ulquiorra questioned, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes." She responded firmly, her expression now brimming with unwavering resolve. She refused to let his stubbornness make her back down.
"Then why isn't the shinigami, Rukia, here?" He retorted. "Would you not give her the same command?"
Perhaps deep down, Ulquiorra yearned for an answer, a fragment of resemblance that would signify something more that would set him apart from her friends. He didn't want to be on the same level as those he considered trash.
For some inexplicable reason, he found himself yearning for her attention to be solely directed at him.
Orihime's frustration was evident as she clenched her lip, her brows furrowing. "Rukia has her own responsibilities and obligations in Soul Society. She can't simply abandon them. Besides, she has her family there too. It wouldn't be fair to force her to make such a sacrifice. If she ever decides to stay here permanently, we would gladly embrace her with open arms."
A sigh escaped Orihime's lips as she turned to face Urahara, her expression a mix of concern and impatience.
"How long do you think it will take?"
"To turn him back to normal?" Urahara clarified, his face still partially concealed behind his fan. "I can't give you an exact timeframe. It could be as soon as tomorrow, or it might take much longer."
Orihime's frustration was evident as she quirked her lips to the side. The uncertainty was difficult to bear, especially when it concerned Ulquiorra's well-being.
"But..." Urahara began, lowering his fan slightly to reveal a calm, composed expression. "Regardless of how long it takes, I will not send him back to Hueco Mundo."
"What?" Both Ulquiorra and Orihime exclaimed simultaneously.
Urahara shrugged, his eyes locked with Orihime's. "It's not entirely up to me. You know how Soul Society operates. Until I find a solution or an agreement with them, neither of the espada will be allowed to leave."
Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed slightly at Urahara's blatant lie.
Orihime shifted her attention to Ulquiorra, noticing the flare of anger in his usually stoic face. She didn't let it deter her though.
"Okay Ulquiorra, what do you want? Do you want to stay here? Or come with me? You don't have many options..but if you want to stay with Urahara, I won't stop you."
"I never expressed my interest to stay with him." Ulquiorra replied, his voice calm but firm.. "I only asked him how he claims to be attempting to fix us if we were not present."
"Okay but, what do you want, Ulquiorra? You told me a few days ago you wanted to stay with me. But now you want to go back to Hueco Mundo, so…what changed? Is it something I did? If so, then I'm sorry," she expressed, her voice rising with emotion.
He stared at her with the intensity of a rumbling storm, torn by conflicting thoughts. "You did nothing." he finally answered, his voice steady but his eyes revealing a turmoil within.
"So why do you want to leave?" Orihime pressed, her voice trembling.
Something within him snapped, and he hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words to convey the chaos inside him.
What did he want?
The question echoed in his mind as he searched for an answer. His stoic façade wavered, revealing a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts within.
He wanted her, always had. In every conceivable way, he desired her—body, soul, and heart. It was the root of all his inner turmoil.
To return to Hueco Mundo was to escape the overwhelming chaos within, to deny the depth of his attachment to her. But even as he clenched his hollowed core, trying to suppress the intensity, it surged through him with an undeniable force.
The weight of his own yearning bore down on him, the ache pulsing within his hollow chest. He had attempted to dismiss these desires, to bury them beneath his stoicism, but now they loomed larger than ever.
How could he dare to wish for her to reciprocate the intensity of his attachment and possessiveness towards her? The very idea seemed absurd, and yet, it was the desire that lingered deep within him.
An inner turmoil raged within his mind, a silent battle waging as he locked his gaze onto those eyes filled with passion and life, blazing fiercely at him. He had always been drawn to them. No matter what emotion she held in those eyes, they always shone brightly back at him, almost mockingly. Since the beginning, he found himself intrigued by them, and now, perhaps "bewitched" would be a more fitting description.
He was right. Orihime didn't do anything. If he was still here like this, it was evident that she didn't reciprocate whatever it was he had for her.
The room felt charged with the resonance of Orihime's question, her fists clenched at her sides.
"Woman," Ulquiorra spoke with a touch of frustration, "I have expressed what I want. I've told you that I find you fascinating, but it seems to bother you. You dismiss my words whenever they pertain to you."
Ulquiorra's tail swung angrily behind him, nearly knocking down a can of soup.
"You should speak your mind." He suggested, his tone tinged with resignation. "If you want me to stay, fine. But do you desire my presence? Do you wish to have me by your side, not just now, but in the future?"
Ulquiorra's gaze remained fixed on her, revealing a hint of self-irony. He knew there was no future for him here.
"I have no interest in the humans you surround yourself with," he stated matter-of-factly. "Their lives hold no significance to me. I've already made my intentions clear about the only matter that concerns me."
Seconds dragged on, each moment feeling like an eternity.
Urahara's keen eyes darted between the two in this tense standoff, wondering who would emerge victorious in this silent battle. Perhaps he should intervene…. or maybe not.
In the end, it was Orihime who broke the silence, closing her eyes with a defeated sigh. "I don't want you to leave," she murmured, her anger dissipating as she succumbed to the weight of Ulquiorra's confession.
Her own stubbornness had prevented her from considering how her reactions might affect him. His heartfelt words had not been without consequences, and she could no longer dismiss them so easily.
This was Ulquiorra she was talking about. She yearned to form a connection with him, to explore the uncharted depths hidden behind his blank exterior. Maybe, in his own mysterious way, he was also trying to express something profound to her.
Yet, what had she done? Instead of embracing the opportunity, she found herself evading it.
Orihime couldn't help but release a self-deprecating sigh, overlaid with a wistful laugh. She had become a hypocrite, advocating the significance of bonds and emotions while overlooking Ulquiorra's attempts to reach out to her.
No wonder he wanted to leave.
If that was the case, and she truly wanted to mend this situation, she had to acknowledge the profound impact she had on his life and the undeniable interest he held in her, even if it was a little intimidating. If he were to stay here, it seemed inevitable that he would be close to her in some way, and she had already made up her mind that this was what she wanted.
"I don't know the specifics or how it would work, but I do want you near me, Ulquiorra. That applies to now and, yes, in the future."
Orihime's fingers clenched the fabric of her skirt as she nervously looked away, coming to terms with her own confession. However, in her anxiousness, she completely missed the wide-eyed expression of the arrancar in response.
"And you're right... I didn't realize it, but I've been unfair to you. I was excited about teaching you the human ways of bonds but I completely disregarded yours about me and found myself avoiding them for some reason..."
The red-haired girl nervously bit her lip and let out a sigh, her gaze returning to the little bat. "I'm sorry for that. Rejection is tough for anyone, and I can only imagine how confusing it must be for you. So, let me try to explain my perspective."
Orihime mustered a hesitant smile and scratched her cheek before starting to explain.
In that moment, Ulquiorra found himself completely engrossed in every word that escaped her lips.
"We can both acknowledge that something happened between us in Las Noches, right? Something perplexing," Orihime asked.
Ulquiorra's gaze was fixed on her, intense and unwavering. "Yes."
"Good, so we agree on that," Orihime continued. "As for me, I'm still trying to make sense of it all, so it's somewhat reassuring to know that you also had a similar experience on your end."
Ulquiorra felt a slight tightness in his chest, his breathing momentarily labored by the weight of her words.
"That's also why I want you near me, to help figure things out, you know? But I'm also... hesitant, not of you! I mean, our relationship—it's still a puzzle for me, and hearing you express your thoughts without filters did make me feel uneasy. But that's more of a testament to me being a hypocrite while you were also trying to figure it out on your end, I'm sure. I won't lie; a part of me is uncertain, but another part of me is also happy—"
"Woman," Ulquiorra suddenly interrupted, his deep voice cutting through the tension.
"-Oh! Y-yes?" Orihime blinked inquisitively, surprised by the interruption, and took a step back, realizing she might have been too eager. Her eyes remained locked with the little bat, waiting for his next words.
The gleaming smile that lay hidden behind the fan of the shopkeeper, Urahara, seemed to be growing by the minute. He was thoroughly enjoying this unexpected turn of events.
"I'd rather we have this conversationin private." Ulquiorra continued, his normally composed demeanor showing signs of agitation. His hand unconsciously resting on his chest, as if to steady something within him that threatened to break.
Orihime furrowed her eyebrows and shifted her gaze to the side, suddenly painfully aware of how much she had revealed. Perhaps she had said too much.
Ulquiorra's eyes bore into her with unwavering clarity, his agitation gone, replaced by a silent understanding. He didn't want her to think he had taken issue with her words; in fact, he found himself captivated by her candidness.
"I would rather keep our personal matters private," Ulquiorra explained, sparing a quick glance at the shopkeeper.
Urahara waved his fan in the air and let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh come now," he said, a playful glint in his eyes. "We were just getting to the good part. I don't see any harm in two close individuals sharing their feelings with each other, do you?"
Ulquiorra continued to stare daggers into the shop-keeper. His theory on Urahara just finding amusement in his situation was at the forthright of his mind. He saw no reason to stay any longer in this place.
"Wait, Ulquiorra..." Orihime began, nervously twiddling her thumbs, "So you're okay with coming home with me, right?"
"Yes." He replied, his stoic expression unwavering.
A small smile graced Orihime's face, "Oki! Just double checking."
Approaching the arrancar, Orihime extended her hand for him to step onto. Just as she was about to lift him, her phone, which she had placed in her bag, started ringing.
In a swift motion, she pulled out the phone and glanced at the lit screen to see Uryu's name once again.
"Why does the quincy keep calling you?" Ulquiorra inquired after stepping onto her palm and grabbing hold of her extended thumb for support.
Instead of answering, Orihime quickly turned back to Urahara, offering a light wave and an awkward smile, before stepping outside.
Urahara kindly shooed her out the door and assured her he would reach out when he had more information.
Once she was past the curtain, she flipped open her phone and held it up to her ear.
"Yes-yes, I'm fine. Sorry, Uryu, I just left!" Orihime replied hurriedly into her phone. She placed Ulquiorra on her shoulder, unintentionally giving him full access to the conversation, and rubbed her forehead in annoyance.
In the background, Ulquiorra could make out the voice of the quincy and the shouting of the orange-haired Shinigami.
"Yes, I am on my way back now, I promise... Okay, I'll see you all in a bit. Wait! How many of you are there? Four? No?"
She squinted her eyes in confusion as she walked along the sidewalk, almost apprehensively, while Ichigo's voice rang louder on the other end.
"Three and a quarter? That doesn't make any sense, Ichi... Ohhh, you mean Grimmjow."
Orihime continued rubbing her temple. "Yes I'll be there soon. Ten minutes tops."
She sighed as she quickly shut her trusty old flip phone she's had since freshman year. A smart phone was too expensive for her.
"Please tell me why they keep calling and why it sounds like your friend Ichigo is throwing a tantrum." Ulquiorra seethed, his voice laced with a burning underfire of jealousy that Orihime failed to notice.
"He wanted to check on me… Chad, Uryu, and Grimmjow are there too. They've been there since Uryu first called me to see where I was since no one was answering the door."
Orihime turned the corner and quickened her pace down the road, as if she could hear Ichigo's distressed voice in her head, urging her to hurry up.
Ulquiorra could sense something was amiss, and he couldn't help but wonder why.
He felt a twinge of annoyance, the muscles in his eyebrows almost snapping at the thought. He had hoped to continue this conversation about Orihime's supposed deeper feelings in private, but now he'd have to deal with trash.
Authors Notes:
I've had this chapter 90% written in my documents for the past 2-3 months but couldn't bring myself to finish. I'm currently bedridden because of a surgery and tried spending the past week finishing the last 10% but don't know why it was do difficult for me to do. I think I'm just hitting a creative block because it's been happening to other things for me outside of writing too ...hopefully it passes soon
anyways. You know how it goes, if you enjoyed the chapter I'd super appreciate letting me know!
Until next time bye bye