This story is by request for Rojyk. Disclaimer: this story borrows somewhat from the J-Drama, "We Married as a Job" (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu), so if you've seen it and notice the similarities, it's not all in your head. Also the characters belong to Tite Kubo and this is all for fun and no money.
Cultural note: Miai or omiai (お見合い) is a Japanese traditional custom in which a woman and a man are introduced to each other, usually through an agent (professional matchmaker) in contemporary society, to consider the possibility of marriage. It's not exactly what a lot of people think of when they imagine an arranged marriage, as both parties must consent, but it's not uncommon for one or both participants feel a lot of pressure to accept a less than ideal partner for any number of reasons, common ones being family members wanting a particular match or pushing for grandchildren, or participants themselves desperate for children and feeling their biological clocks running out.
By Mutual Agreement
Chapter 1
Ulquiorra Cifer. 30 years old. Salaryman. Black hair, startling green eyes. Average height, lean athletic build. Attractive to women but perpetually single. He has never had more than a one night stand. This is by choice – he values his privacy and has little need for companionship. Everything in his life is going according to plan, except for at work: he is always passed over for promotion. In fact, this year marks his ten year anniversary working as a systems engineer/data specialist for EspaCorp, a mid-sized corporation with a decades-long history and stable outlook. When he took the job, he looked forward to moving up the ladder quickly, and based on his unsurpassed skills and work ethic, he should be in management by now.
However, as he congratulated the good-for-nothing Yamada-san on his promotion, the 13th promotion that should have been Ulquiorra's, the dark-haired man was inwardly at a loss. He went to the office break room and lit a cigarette. He no longer smoked regularly, but he always had one on days like this.
Ulquiorra took a long drag, inhaled, and closed his eyes as the smoke made its way to his lungs, simultaneously exciting and soothing him. He held the smoke in for several seconds before releasing it slowly, watching with a forlorn expression as it snaked its way in a twisty whorl into the overhead smoke-eating fan. It was that peaceful moment that his coworkers, Keigo Asano and Yumichika Ayasegawa, decided to come and destroy with their condolences.
While not exactly close friends, Asano and Ayasegawa – Kawa-san for short - were the coworkers with whom Ulquiorra was most friendly, meaning they would often eat lunch in the same room and would occasionally go out after work for drinks. Asano was in the same department as Ulquiorra, but that was about all they had in common. Asano was a couple of years older than Ulquiorra, married with three children, and persistently smiling. Ayasegawa, on the other hand, was the company's IT Architect, and a semi-closeted homosexual; he didn't try to hide it but didn't bring it up much either. Ayasegawa had a sneaking suspicion that Ulquiorra might be hiding a secret of his own in terms of sexuality, but had never been able to find any evidence to support his hypothesis. And if there was any evidence to be found, Ayasegawa would certainly find it; never was there a more determined snoop.
Ulquiorra groaned silently and crushed out his cigarette in the smoke-eating ashtray, waiting for the inevitable.
"Oh, Cifer-san, we just cannot stand that you've been passed over again! It isn't fair!" Ayasegawa said dramatically. At this point it was predictable that Ulquiorra wouldn't be promoted.
"He's right, it isn't fair!" Asano agreed, sidling up on the bench beside Ulquiorra and draping an unwelcome arm over his shoulder. "You know, I overheard people talking. Everyone knows you are the best and yet you keep getting passed over for less-qualified workers. Do you know what they all have in common that you don't?"
Ulquiorra struggled to not snap at his well-meaning co-workers. They were only trying to cheer him up. Instead, he carefully ground out a measured, "What?"
"They are married." Asano said, giving Ulquiorra a look like that information should carry heavy significance; significance which was lost on Ulquiorra.
"And?" Ulquiorra asked after Asano refused to stop giving him the aforementioned 'look'.
Ayasegawa sighed and pushed Asano aside carelessly, wedging himself between the seated males. "What Asano-san is trying to tell you is that management is not basing their promotion decisions on merit, but on perceived employee need."
Asano cut him off to continue, "Yes, Cifer-san! You see? They're promoting married men under the presumption that because they have wives and potentially children to support, they need the higher salary that comes with a promotion more than you do."
Ulquiorra frowned more deeply than usual, finding his colleagues' ideas difficult to believe. "Then how do you explain your rise to the top of your department, Ayasegawa-san?"
"I was headhunted! And what are you trying to imply, Cifer-san? Do you think our circumstances are similar?"
Ulquiorra rolled his eyes and rested his head on his fist, ignoring Ayasegawa and thinking about the marriage thing. He recalled every lost promotion over the past ten years, and to his surprise, he realized that Asano was right. Each of the men promoted over him had been married. The frown on his face transformed into an expression of a man having an epiphany.
"You're right, Asano-san," Ulquiorra finally said, looking and sounding like it was the last thing he ever expected to say in his life. Ayasegawa covered his mouth with his hand and turned around in a poor attempt to conceal his laughter.
Ulquiorra was a serious man. A serious, analytical, rational man. He took this new information, and saw an opportunity. He raised from his seat and began to pace the room and muttered to himself, with no regard to his audience, "If only I had realized sooner. I'm such a fool. All I need is a wife…" As he spoke, his eyes filled with light, and there was a spring to his step that was not something his colleagues had seen in years. They were slightly taken aback by the abrupt change in Ulquiorra's aura.
"You say 'All I need is a wife' like it's the easiest thing in the world to procure," Asano said, clearly worried for Ulquiorra's sanity.
"Er, Cifer-san, when was the last time you even had a girlfriend?" Ayasegawa asked.
"Never," Ulquiorra answered dismissively. His mind was somewhere else.
"Never?" Asano and Ayasegawa asked in shocked unison. Ayasegawa continued, "Never? How old are you, Cifer-san?"
"Thirty." Ulquiorra still didn't care about their assessment of the situation.
Ayasegawa worried his fingertips, aware his next question broached being impolite, "You're not a, er, uh a virgin, are you, Cifer-san?"
"Of course not, don't be ridiculous."
Asano and Ayasegawa sighed in relief. Asano continued, "So you have dated."
"No, I haven't."
Asano and Ayasegawa's brows raised in shock, and Asano leaned in to whisper to Ulquiorra, "You don't mean to tell us you hire-"
Ulquiorra finally refocused on the conversation and cut him off with a very offended, "No! I meet women when I go out. When I went out," he self-corrected. "It's been awhile… Anyway, they liked me, we'd have drinks, go to a hotel, and that was it."
Ayasegawa and Asano looked at one another, both impressed and shocked to hear Ulquiorra talk about picking up women so casually. Both were at a loss for words.
After about a minute more of Ulquiorra pacing the breakroom, he stopped suddenly, let his hands slip into his pockets, and looked over his shoulder at his companions. His face was completely serious, but utterly indifferent, as he asked, "Can either of you refer me to an omiai agency?"
xXxXxXxXx
Orihime Inoue. 27 years old. Virgin. She was rejected by her first love and has had no interest in marriage since. She works as a waitress at her aging Uncle Jushiro's noodle place. His wife, her aunt, Retsu, wants him to retire. Orihime doesn't know that her uncle refuses to retire until Orihime is married and taken care of.
Orihime has another, younger, aunt and roommate named Rangiku, who acts more like a sister than an aunt. Rangiku has just turned 40 and is also perpetually single after having her heart broken in her youth, but unlike Orihime, she has jumped from one man's bed to the next. Rangiku often tries to get Orihime to come out to bars with her to meet someone, but Orihime always politely refuses, content to stay home and watch her favorite television programs while trying out new recipes or working on her sewing hobby.
It was a warm spring day, sunny with cherry blossoms merrily dancing across blue skies, when Retsu offered to take Orihime to a newly opened all-you-can-eat buffet at an expensive hotel in town. As they walked from the train station to the hotel, Orihime was too busy imagining all the delicious foods she might be able to try to make conversation with her aunt, who was lecturing her on how to keep from spilling food on her clothes. For a reason Orihime did not understand, her aunt had insisted on them dressing rather more fancy than an all-you-can-eat buffet should deserve. Retsu wore her light gray kimono, and Orihime wore the only 'fancy' clothes she had, which was a conservative pale pink skirt suit. She really wasn't bothered by the idea of spilling on the suit; it was not particularly flattering, hanging on her body like a tent, and she would be happy to be rid of it.
Orihime had eaten a very small breakfast in preparation for the buffet. Her stomach rumbled softly as they entered the hotel lobby, and her mouth started to water as they were led to the specified room. The doors were opened, and Orihime grinned in anticipation until she looked around and took in her surroundings. Her face dropped.
"Um, Aunt Retsu? Are you sure we are in the right place?"
"Oh yes, dear. This is the right place. Do you really think a little old lady like me would be able to afford to pay for a meal at a place like this?" Retsu covered her mouth and laughed daintily. "Oh course I couldn't. We have to earn our meal."
"Earn it? What do we have to do?" Orihime asked, wishing she had eaten another bowl of rice that morning.
"Just talk to the people that you are introduced to. Sit up straight and have a nice chat. That's all. When you've met everyone, then we can all eat," Retsu answered, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Orihime furrowed her brows. "What are you up to, Auntie?" she whispered to Retsu as they were approached by a heavy-set woman in her early fifties, wearing a much more ruffled version of Orihime's pink skirt suit, a string of fake pearls, and her hair done up into a bouffant.
"Welcome, Welcome! I'm Kumiko Sato of Lucky Stars. You must be Inoue-san, we've been waiting for you. I must say you are quite a beauty," the pinch-faced woman said as if she had used the same words hundreds of times.
Orihime looked at Retsu in confusion before responding, "Er, nice to meet you."
Kumiko was no longer listening as she led Orihime and Retsu to one of several doors lining the back wall of a larger conference room. She opened it to reveal a modestly-sized room with a rectangular table surrounded by four chairs, two on each side. There was a tea set in the center of the table and a another small side table with another chair off to the right, but other than these the room held no furnishings or decorations. What it lacked in décor it made up for with views; this being a corner room, it offered a 90 degree view of a beautifully manicured garden beyond the wrap-around glass windows. Unfortunately, Kumiko directed Orihime and Retsu to the two seats facing the door, with their backs to most of the view.
"There, that's perfect. This way the candidates will see your beauty highlighted by the beautiful garden view!" Kumiko said, giddy. "The first will be arriving shortly. I'll make the introductions and then sit at the side table until each appointment is concluded. However, if you have any questions or need guidance I'm at your service!" she added before she trotted out of the room.
"Candidates? What is this, Aunt Retsu?" Orihime asked with apprehension painted over her unmade face.
Retsu offered an apologetic smile and shrank away from Orihime slightly, "Don't be upset with me, dear. It's, er, it's kind of like an omiai."
"Omiai!?" Orihime said as her eyes widened in shock. "But Aunt Retsu, I don't want to get married!"
"I know, Hime-chan, it's just, er, this is," Restsu paused, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and squared her shoulders, nodding once. "This is the only way we can enjoy the buffet. I didn't want to tell you because I knew you'd refuse, but just keep your mind on the food, dear. The meetings shouldn't take long. And who knows? Maybe you'll meet someone nice?" she added hopefully, and just enthusiastically enough to raise Orihime's suspicions.
However, Orihime was much too accommodating and aware that she had too long been on the receiving end of her aunt and uncle's generosity to go against Retsu. She sighed and replied, "I just wish you had told me first, I would have had a snack before we left the house," offering Retsu a defeated smile as Kumiko led in the first 'candidate'.
The man was an older gentleman who came in alone and chatted kindly with Retsu and Orihime but obviously had no interest in someone as young as Orihime. At the end of the appointment, they exchange pleasantries but made no indication that either desired a second meeting. The next candidate came in with his mother and had unpleasant hygiene, breathing through his mouth in excitement at speaking to Orihime, who was glad when their time was up. The third candidate was much too serious for her, and he seemed to dismiss her, speaking only to Retsu, Kumiko, and his relative after Orihime had tried to lighten the mood early in the conversation. The fourth candidate came in alone. He was elderly and lecherous, and Retsu did well to redirect his inappropriate line of questioning away from Orihime until their time was up. The final candidate was not much older than Orihime, handsome, had a nice job, and got along with Orihime quite well. However, it was clear to all those present except his mother that the man was homosexual and only going along with the omiai to appease her.
When the final candidate had been shown out, Kumiko came to the table and sat, presenting a print-out of each candidate's photo and profile. "So, is there any candidate you'd like to meet again?" she asked. She was serious, much to Orihime's dismay.
"Er, I'm sorry, Sato-san, but I don't think I'd be a very good match for any of these candidates…"
"Absurd! Any of these candidates would be lucky to marry you, Inoue-san!" Kumiko contradicted.
"I think what Orihime-chan is trying to say is that none of the candidates are suitable for her. She's right," Retsu interrupted firmly but politely. Orihime's shoulders dropped in relief and she sent a grateful look Retsu's way.
"I see," Kumiko said, disappointed. "I'm sorry to hear that. Well, please take your time and enjoy the refreshments in the next room."
Orihime stood and stretched, smiling as her stomach growled. She and Retsu made it to the door before Kumiko added, "I'll be in touch soon if I can find any more suitable candidates for you, Orihime-san!"
Retsu pushed Orihime out the door before she could respond that it wouldn't be necessary. "What was that about, Auntie?" she asked as she made her way to the buffet and started loading a plate.
"Oh, nothing. Nevermind her," Retsu replied with a weariness that made Orihime worry. "Let's eat!"
xXxXxXx
The following Monday, Ulquiorra found himself being pulled into a quiet corner of the breakroom at work by Asano and Ayasegawa and forced to sit down.
"So, how was the Omiai?" Asano started?
"A waste of time." Ulquiorra answered with resentment in his voice as he snapped his chopsticks open and lifted the lid to his convenience store bento.
"Was it awful? Were all of the candidates ugly?" Ayasegawa asked with much more excitement than Ulquiorra found appropriate.
Asano spoke before Ulquiorra could answer. "You know, Cifer-san, there are lots of benefits of having an ugly wife. A beautiful wife will become troublesome and her beauty will fade. An ugly wife who is a good cook and housekeeper will always be useful."
Ulquiorra raised his eyebrows slightly while widening his eyes in disbelief at what he was hearing, bringing his attention back to his bento and ignoring him. Asano and Ayasegawa seemed perfectly capable of carrying on the conversation without him anyway.
Ayasegawa proved him right when he jumped in to say, "Are you telling us that your wife is ugly, Asano-san? You always seem perfectly happy with a nice, delicious home-made bento."
Asano countered, "Well, her figure isn't what it once was after the kids, but Midori is as lovely as ever, thank you very much, Ayasegawa-san. I just happened to win the love roulette. Midori is an angel," he seemed like he would have continued on forever had Ayasegawa not hip-bumped him into a nearby table, causing him to double over and clutch his side with a pained expression.
"How fortunate for you, Asano-san," Ulquiorra said with disinterest, before adding, "my problem with the candidates had nothing to do with their age, education, or appearance. It was that they were all so desperate for my attention. It was so unattractive that I dismissed each of them prematurely. And I am not aprticularly interested in attraction; I am doing this merely to further my position in the company. I need to find someone who understands this."
"Wow, what a romantic." Asano said sarcastically, miraculously cured from his injury.
"And so charming, too," Ayasegawa added.
"What would you have me do? Woo a woman only to disappoint her later? Is it not more honorable to be honest with my intentions?" Ulquiorra asked them pointedly.
Ayasegawa answered, "We wouldn't advise you to mislead anyone, Cifer-san, but we worry you will turn off many nice women with your attitude."
"All the better. I won't have someone who expects to be coddled."
Ayasegawa shook his head in defeat and turned his attention to his sandwich. Asano tried once more, getting close to Ulquiorra and asking him, "I understand, but don't you think it would be ideal to find someone you can love?"
"Love? Ridiculous," Ulquiorra said, pulling out his phone to see he had a message from his matchmaker, which read:
Dear Cifer-san:
I believe I have found you a suitable candidate. I know you had instructed me to look no further, but I have great faith in this one. If you agree to meet this candidate and find her unsuitable, I will promise to refund your retainer fees. Please contact me as soon as possible to arrange a meeting.
Thank you.
Ulquiorra sighed and went back to his lunch.
xXxXxXx
Retsu came into the noodle shop right as the dinner rush slowed down and approached Orihime, who was busy clearing off tables, and called out, "Can I borrow Hime-chan for a bit, Jushiro-dear?"
Jushiro raised his white head from behind the counter and smiled his assent.
Retsu pulled Orihime gently by the elbow away from the few customers who were busily slurping their cold udon and motioned to her to bring her ear close before she began speaking. "Hime-chan, I have a favor to ask you. Please consider this a request from your old auntie," she said in hushed tones, putting emphasis on the word 'old' as if she had plans on dying soon.
"What is it?" Orihime asked, feeling both worried and cynical. She had heard this kind of talk from Retsu before.
"Sato-san called me. She said she knew you weren't really interested but she found the most wonderful man for you to meet. He's not much older than you and very handsome. He works for—"
Orihime interrupted her in a practiced manner, both kind and firm, "Sato-san is right, I'm not interested."
Retsu sighed and shook her head. "Fine, I was hoping I could sway you to come because he sounds like a good one," she paused before taking a deep breath and continuing in a much more excited manner, "But the real incentive is that she said if you don't like this one, she'll refund my money!"
Orihime's mouth fell open. "All of it?!" she questioned, loud enough to disturb the customers, who looked up from their bowls momentarily in confusion. Orihime blushed and bowed for the disturbance. "All of it?" she whispered to Retsu. "Wait a minute, how much did you pay her?"
"No need to worry about that, Hime-chan. However, it is in my best interest to recover as much of it as I can. Will you come? The meeting is set for tomorrow at 6:00 p.m."
"I can't! I have to help Uncle Ju!"
"No need to worry about that, dear. I'll cover tomorrow's dinner service. Unfortunately, that means you'll have to take the meeting alone, but you've already met Sato-san so it should be alright, right?"
Orihime sighed and smiled kindly. "Of course. I really hope it wasn't that much money though, Auntie. The all-you-can-eat buffet wasn't that good."
Retsu rolled her eyes as she turned away, somewhat disturbed by her niece's naïveté in still believing that the buffet had been what she had paid for.
xXxXxXx
The next evening Orihime arrived five minutes early to the designated location, which was a much more moderately priced inn with private dining rooms. She had dressed accordingly, in a pair of black slacks, white blouse, and khaki blazer and half of her hair tied up in a tidy chignon pinned in place with a pair of aquamarine hibiscus hairpins. She met Kumiko in the lobby and was led to a small tatami room with a small banquet table, one cushion on either side. There were another two cushions on the far end of the table, presumably for the matchmakers to sit. Once again, Orihime was directed to sit at the cushion in the spot facing the door. Again there was a tea set on the table along with some snacks, which Orihime was cultured enough to understand were not to be touched, much to her disappointment.
She sat at her side of the table for about five more minutes watching Kumiko fidget by the door until they were both startled by a sharp knock. Kumiko opened the door to reveal a tall, salt-and-pepper-haired woman wearing a navy blue pantsuit and thick black-rimmed glasses. She was very thin and severe-looking, with a square jaw and long, prominent nose. She introduced herself as Junko Katayama of Katayama Miai Co. and exchanged client portfolios with Kumiko, before stepping aside to introduce her client.
"Sato-san, allow me to introduce my client, Ulquiorra Cifer. Cifer-san, this is Kumiko Sato and…"
"…my client, Orihime Inoue. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Cifer-san," Kumiko bowed politely as Ulquiorra stepped into the room, with perfect posture, hands in his pockets, and looking around as if measuring the specifications of the room and its occupants. When his eyes finally reached Orihime, he paused. Almost imperceptively, his eyebrows raised and his pupils dilated. He was not expecting her to be so attractive. He stood there like a statue, until Orihime cleared her throat and bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cifer-san. Please sit down," her years as a waitress compelled her to try to make him feel as comfortable as possible.
Ulquiorra bowed his head slightly and took his seat. Junko opened Orihime's portfolio and said, "It says here that Inoue-san is a waitress," and if Orihime wasn't mistaken, she sounded disappointed.
"Yes, that's true. I work for my uncle," she started, somewhat defensively.
"Oh, so you're doing it out of familial duty. I see. That makes more sense," Junko said as if to placate Ulquiorra, as if Orihime waiting tables was a negative thing, but that her noble sense of duty absolved her from the lowly nature of her employment.
"It also says here that you were accepted to study at Waseda University but declined enrollment, why was that?" Junko asked as if conducting an interrogation.
Orihime's defensive mood was intensifying. "I had a scholarship fall through. I could not ask my aunt and uncle to co-sign a loan for me. I had hoped I would find another scholarship, but then my uncle hurt his shoulder and needed assistance, so I began working for him."
"And you never made any further efforts to that end?"
Orihime hardened her expression somewhat, leveling an indignant look toward Junko. "No. I am indebted to my aunt and uncle for caring for me after my parents and brother died. I am happy to help them."
"Quite accommodating, aren't we? Moving on then, you are twenty-seven years old. Have you ever been close to being married?"
Orihime's fire was dampened a bit by that remark, as memories she preferred to not remember attempted to resurface. Her posture slumped a bit and she looked down to her lap before replying in a much quieter voice, "No."
"Have you ever been in a serious relationship? Surely a pretty girl such as yourself has had many suitors," Junko pressed.
"I was in love once. It was not reciprocated," Orihime said flatly, unable to make eye contact with Junko, but accidentally making eye contact with Ulquiorra. She quickly looked away, unsettled by the intense way he appeared to be studying her.
"I'm sure it was his loss, dear," Junko replied dismissively. "No other boyfriends?"
"No," Orihime answered more strongly, her inner fire being reignited by Junko's rudeness.
"I see, so you've chosen a matchmaker because you'll soon be thirty and wish for children?"
"No!" Orihime replied, obviously offended now. "I am honestly not even interested in marriage. I am here as a favor to my aunt!"
Junko shot her a disbelieving glance. "Alright. Sato-san, if you please?" Junko said, settling back to her seat and giving Kumiko the floor.
"Er, right," Kumiko started, nearly as unsettled by Junko's behavior as Orihime had been. "So, it says here, Mr. Cifer, that you are a systems engineer and data specialist. How long have you been doing that?"
"Ten years," Ulquiorra said flatly, still not looking away from Orihime. She chanced a peek back at him, curious to see him speak. She was surprised by the deep richness of his voice. She was even more surprised by how much she wished to hear it again.
"And is it a well-paying position?" Kumiko asked meekly, aware it was insensitive to ask but eager to get the important questions out of the way.
"Indeed," Ulquiorra replied. "I earn a comfortable salary. I expect to be promoted in the near future. My position within my company is secure and the company's financial outlook is strong. Any other questions relative to my financial stability?"
"No, thank you, Cifer-san. I hope you understand that it is important to clarify these things."
"I do." He answered, flicking his eyes to her and back to Orihime.
"Alright. Well, since Inoue-san's past has been brought to light, I think it's only fair to ask, have you ever been married or close to married before?"
"No, and I shall save you time by informing you that I have never had a girlfriend nor dated. I have met many women but never formed a long-term attachment. I am only seeking a marriage partner now in order to be perceived as more attractive to my employer for promotion."
"I see," Kumiko replied, her eyes searching the table while her mind tried desperately to come up with a way to salvage the meeting. She came up empty. "Well, I think Katayama-san and I will step to the side for a moment and allow the two of you a few moments to get to know each other."
The matchmakers stepped out of the room, taking a seat behind a sliding paper screen door. They could still hear everything their clients talked about, but it gave them the illusion of privacy.
As soon as they left the room, Orihime spoke. "I'm sorry, Cifer-san. I was telling the truth, I have no interest in getting married. I'm quite happy with my life the way it is now," she said, smiling wistfully.
Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes slightly in a look that seemed coldly curious. "And which way is that?" he asked.
"Well, I live with my aunt, Rangiku, but she's only 40 and she's more like a sister than an aunt. She likes to go out and party all the time, but I like to stay home and cook or sew and watch TV. I work until nine or ten at night so I'm tired by the time I get home. I enjoy Rangiku's stories though. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not especially introverted; I have a lot of social interaction with the regulars at my job. My uncle Jushiro has the best udon shop in Karakura! If you are free sometime, please come and try it!" she smiled widely as she went on.
Ulquiorra's lips tipped up slightly at one corner in response. He was surprised at himself. What was it about this working-class girl that he found so charming? He supposed it was her lack of desperation that was a breath of fresh air compared to the other candidates he had met. Unfortunately, she had also expressed no indication of wanting to enter into a marriage either. He decided to cut to the chase.
"So, Inoue-san, would you entertain the idea of a marriage for mutual socioeconomic benefit? Certainly there would be many contingencies, but is the general idea of such an arrangement of any interest to you?"
Orihime was quiet for a long moment, giving his question some honest consideration. Then she looked him in the eye and said, "Wouldn't it be fair to say that many successful marriages have a component of that kind of arrangement? And besides, I mean, I'm not in love, so if I were to get married, it would have to be because I had something to gain from it, right? So if I stood to benefit, and if the guy was easy to live with and kind and a number of other 'ifs' were satisfied, I think it would be a possibility. I don't think I can live with Rangiku forever, and Uncle Ju has to retire someday. But luckily, I don't have to worry about that yet. Anyway, to make a long story short, I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with an arranged marriage by mutual agreement."
Ulquiorra's miniscule smile widened into something resembling a well-intentioned smirk. "You are quite rational, Inoue-san."
She smiled back at him, "Thank you, Cifer-san."
Ulquiorra stood and collected the packet in front of him. Orihime followed his lead and did the same, walking behind him as he stopped by the sliding door to inform Junko he was leaving, before bowing politely to Orihime, saying, "Although these were unusual circumstances, it was nice making your acquaintance, Inoue-san. I may visit your uncle's noodle shop one day. Good evening."
Orihime bowed back to him and they parted ways.
As Orihime walked home, she found her thoughts wandering back to Ulquiorra Cifer. She had found him strangely charming. He was very handsome, but not it a showy way. The way he had been dressed was understated; he had probably come directly from work wearing tan slacks, a subdued green and white plaid shirt, and a navy cardigan and tie. He seemed almost a bookish type. His voice was what really attracted her to him more than anything though. It was so deep and resonant, even though he spoke so softly. She felt her heart skip a beat as she realized she was becoming attracted to a man for the first time in a very long time. She smiled to herself as she turned the key in her lock, until she opened the door to find Rangiku crying.
"Oh no! What happened, Ran-chan?" she asked her aunt using her preferred nickname.
"Hime! Rangiku sobbed, throwing herself into Orihime's arms. "It's Jushiro, he collapsed at work. They are taking him to the hospital now. Are you ready to go or do you need to change?" she asked, sniffling.
Orhime's heart stopped and time slowed down as she listened to Rangiku. Finally Rangiku cupped Orihime's face between her hands, "Hime, are you with me? We have to go to the hospital."
Finally Orihime's senses returned, and tears started to leak down her cheeks. "Is he going to be alright, Rangiku?" she asked fearfully.
"I don't know anything yet, but we'd better go now, and be prepared for anything. Damn it, Ju! He never listens to his doctors."
"What?" Orihime asked, surprised. This was the first she had heard of Jushiro being under doctor's orders.
"I'm sorry, Retsu-san made me promise not to tell you. Jushiro has a heart condition. He had a heart attack tonight."
Orihime's tears started to flow unfettered as she took Rangiku's hand, pulling and saying breathlessly, "We have to go, now."
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think! Xoxo -JKRob