Beside You In Time Ch.3

Chapter Three
Torn



A little over a week ago, back in the World of the Living…


Kurosaki Ichigo woke up abruptly when Kon was thrown at him by Kuchiki Rukia, who had let herself in by means of his second story window.
"What the…" Kurosaki was furious.
Rukia seemed to ignore his rude greeting, partly because she was not expecting anything else since she had thrown the Artificial Soul at him and mostly because of the panicked look in her eyes.
"Where is Inoue?"
"What!?" Ichigo's and Kon's voices chimed together. Ichigo grabbed Kon and stuffed his face into his pillow. Only muffled complains were heard. Ichigo focused back on Rukia.
"Inoue's reiatsu was gone when I woke up this morning. I ran all over town, following the slight trail of spiritual energy she left behind, and it's the strongest here, in your room," Rukia hastily explained, glancing around his room as if she would see Orihime hiding behind Ichigo's dresser.
Ichigo focused on sensing Orihime's reiatsu, and sure enough, he could sense it here in his room.
Why would Inoue have been in my room while I was asleep? And why can't Rukia or I detect her reiatsu anywhere? What the hell is going on?
"The strangest thing besides her reiatsu disappearing entirely is the fact that her reiatsu trail ends abruptly. It's as if she just evaporated into thin air…" Rukia's face was troubled and trying to think of where on earth Orihime Inoue possibly could have gone.

Little did either of the two know that Orihime was in Las Noches, the captive of Aizen Sosuke and the Cuatro Espada, Ulquiorra Cifer.







Back in Hueco Mundo…


Ulquiorra Cifer hastily made his way to Lord Aizen's throne room, thoughts racing through his head of the woman back in the room she was locked up in. Unlike the first few days after Orihime Inoue's arrival, Ulquiorra no longer pushed the thoughts from his conscious or internally cursed himself for such thoughts.
Just a week ago, I despised that human woman. Now I have grown closer to her, breaking my habits and becoming even dependant on her…
As the green-eyed Espada reached the throne room of his master, Lord Aizen, he swiftly cleared his mind and intensified the blank, emotionless expression on his face. He knocked on the door and entered.


Orihime Inoue had no clue what had taken over her mind to make her act like she had.
I don't regret kissing him… but I feel like I've betrayed everyone, especially Kurosaki-kun… a sudden guilt filled her heart, and a lonely tear escaped from her eyes, slowly rolling down her cheek.
As she stared up at the moon through the only window in her room, she wished that Kurosaki Ichigo would just forget she had ever existed. She wished that he would not try to save her, and get killed in the process. She wished upon the lonely Hueco Mundo moon that she could erase her friends' memories of her.
She realized how depressing her thoughts had become over the past week, and wondered what she could do about it. Orihime knew she would go insane if left alone in her white chamber too long. She already began to feel slightly insane, as she began to talk to nobody in particular.
"I wonder if there are seasons here in Hueco Mundo… Does it ever rain? What about winds? Do…"
Orihime's thoughts were caught short as the door opened without warning. She didn't have to look to know it was not Ulquiorra. He always knocked. She also didn't have to look to know who it was. The familiar reiatsu terrified her. Had she had somewhere to run to, she would have taken off running faster than she ever thought she could have run. Before her body could completely react to her thoughts, and before she could process what was happening, two strong arms spun her around and pinned her against the closest wall.
"Who are you talking to, girl?" a smirk spread across the blue-haired Espada. Orihime flinched. He was way to close for her to ever feel comfortable with.
Grimmjow Jeagerjaques removed one of his hands pinning one of Orihime's arms to the wall and used it to grip her chin too tightly. Orihime began to resist and struggle to get free. In response the Espada just tighten his grip on her face and arm until she cried out in pain.
"What are you going to do now that your precious Ulquiorra," he sneered the named, "isn't here to save you?"
Why? Why why why why why? was all Orihime's mind could ask. She couldn't comprehend the cruel and sadistic thoughts that were running through Grimmjow's head.
Ulquiorra… where are you? Orihime whimpered as Grimmjow removed his hand from her face to remove her clothes.
Before he could even open the first button or unzip the first zipper, Ulquiorra Cifer stormed in.
"Aw, shit," Grimmjow growled, letting go of Orihime and heading towards the door.
"Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, Aizen-sama has commanded me to tell you that if you lay your finger on that woman one more time, he will be forced to eliminate you. Also, if you disobey his orders again, he said he will remove your title of Espada and throw you out of Las Noches once and for all," Ulquiorra's voice was even more threatening then usual.
Is that even possible? Orihime thought humorously, relieved and glad he had saved her yet again. Though the tone of his voice bothered her slightly, she did not mind as much as she would have a week ago.
Grimmjow hissed something inaudible at Ulquiorra as he headed out the door.


Had I been a second later… Ulquiorra didn't want to think about what might have happened. Just a minute ago he had been walking back to the woman's room, neither taking his time nor racing to get there. He was thinking about the odd meeting her had had with Aizen-sama.
Aizen Sosuke pulled something out of his pocket. Ulquiorra was surprised at
what it was. The Hogyoku! Why would Lord Aizen show him this…?
Then he had spoken, "Ulquiorra, you are my most trusted Espada. I am showing
you this as this is the reason the woman is here. She is to reactivate it using her
unique abilities."
Ulquiorra had sad nothing, instead he had nodded slightly.
"Now back to the matter at hand… you said that Grimmjow was causing
problems and harming Orihime Inoue? Tell him he will be eliminated by me
personally if he lays his fingers on her and will be thrown out of Las Noches and
loose his rank as an Espada if he disobeys me ever again."
"Hai," was Ulquiorra's simple reply. He was wondering why Aizen-sama had
shown him the Hogyoku.
"Also, tell Orihime Inoue that I wish to meet with her tomorrow sometime after
you bring her breakfast to her," Aizen paused for a moment, thinking if there was
anything else that he wished to tell his most trusted Espada. As could think of
nothing more, he simply said, "You are dismissed."
Ulquiorra stood up, bowed, and walked out the door.
He had been walking several minutes when he suddenly felt Grimmjow's reiatsu. And sure enough, it was coming from the woman's chambers. He had hurriedly Sonidoed to Orihime's room, rushed in, only to find he had made it just in time: Grimmjow's hand had been set on undoing the woman's shirt.

Ulquiorra watched Grimmjow leave the room. The green-eyed man Sonidoed, to the door, closed it, and then turned around to face Orihime.
Orihime was looking at him with tears in her eyes, thankful that he had come at the time he had.
"I am sorry I did not make it back earlier, woman."
So he is back to woman? Orihime sighed internally.
Before she knew what happened, she found herself sitting on the couch in Ulquiorra's arms. He quickly and quietly set her down next to him.
"I will go get us something to eat. I am sure you are hungry. Rest assured that no one will disturb or harm you while I am gone."
Us? We're eating together today? Orihime decided she would enjoy the company. Orihime nodded and smiled slightly at him before he disappeared.
While she waited for him to return, she lay down on the couch and dozed off and began to dream…
She was locked up in a cell somewhere in Las Noches. All of the Espada, except Ulquiorra, were standing outside of the bars, pointing and laughing at her as if she were a while animal at a circus. She was crying and covered in dirt.
Why wasn't anyone stopping them? Why didn't Kurosaki-kun or Ulquiorra-san come to save her?
Suddenly there was a flash and she saw Ulquiorra Sonido into her cell, pick her up, and disappear with her. They reappeared in another room. Instinctively she knew it was Ulquiorra's room.
"This is the only place we are safe for now," Ulquiorra said, setting Orihime down and going to close the door. Orihime was relieved that she had been saved. Once her savior had closed the door, she slowly got up and walked over to him.
"Umm… Ulquiorra-sama?" That was the first time she had addressed him this way. He turned around, his eyes slightly surprised for a split second.
"Thank you," Orihime closed the distance between them and hugged him. Ulquiorra was unsure of himself, but slowly copied her movements and wrapped his arms around her.
Orihime realized that his reluctance had come from the fact that he had never been given a hug before. This made her slightly sad.


Ulquiorra hurried back to Orihime's room, worried that another one of his fellow Espada would decide to drop in to see the woman. It didn't take him more than a minute to Sonido across the palace to her room. He knocked once, and then entered quietly, just like always.
He was about to announce his arrival, when he realized that Orihime was napping peacefully on the white couch in the middle of the room. He silently set the tray down on the table next to the couch and watched her sleep for a minute.
He was about to turn around and leave, when he heard her quietly sigh, "Ulquiorra-sama…"
He turned to look at her, eyes widened a fraction of a centimeter. The way she had said his name made him shiver, even though he wasn't cold. His mind began to try and analyze his feelings, but could not put a name to any of them. Ulquiorra knew Orihime was asleep and dreaming, but of what he did not know. Suddenly he felt an urge to know what she was seeing behind her closed eyes. He knew she was seeing him, and guessing from the sound of her voice, which was neither seductive nor sad but rather tender, she was probably imagining some form of human affection.
Ulquiorra, who had given up pushing such thoughts from his mind yesterday, sat down on the floor in front of the couch and watched her sleep. Without thinking, his hand reached out to grab hers. He examined her hand in his, it's contours and shape, the light color of her skin, the way her fingers curled slightly inward as she slept…
He didn't realize she had woken up until she spoke.

Orihime slowly fluttered her eyes open, feeling something touching her hands. She moved her eyes to see, and was surprised that Ulquiorra was sitting in front of the couch with her hand in his. She smiled slightly, peacefully.
"What are you doing?" she finally asked, curiously.
He glanced up as soon as she said these words and let go of her hand.
"I… I brought our meal. Also, I did not want to wake you. But I became so intrigued by how peacefully you were sleeping; I could not bring myself to wake you up."
Even though Ulquiorra's voice was still emotionless, and his tone very official and matter-of-fact, Orihime could sense his slight embarrassment at being caught.
She smiled at him.

What are these feelings? Embarrassment and...? What's the second feeling? My hollow hole feels strange… it feels as if there was something inside of it, warming me. And all because of that woman's innocent smile…







Meanwhile, in the World of the Living…

Everyone was training to prepare for the battle that was soon to come.
After having searched in every possibly corner of Karukura Town, Rukia and Ichigo were told by the Captain Commander, Genryuusai Yamamoto, that Orihime Inoue had become a traitor and was now in Las Noches as one of the enemies.
Rukia and the rest of the Shinigami from Soul Society were ordered to return at once. This left Ichigo even more determined to find a way to get to Hueco Mundo…








And back in Hueco Mundo…

Ulquiorra Cifer and Orihime Inoue were eating their meal. Neither said a word. When their eyes locked for even just a split second, Orihime's cheeks would burn bright red and she would look down at her food.
Who would have thought that I would grow attached to an Espada… Orihime wondered, astonished. She still felt slightly guilty, though for what exactly she did not know.
Suddenly, Ulquiorra broke the silence, "Aizen-sama requested that tomorrow you meet with him. He wishes to speak to you."
"Hai!" Orihime replied, trying to sound cheerful enough through her mouth full of food so that Ulquiorra wouldn't notice her fear of meeting Lord Aizen for the first time.
Orihime thought that she had hidden her fear until they had finished eating and were sitting on the couch.
"Why do you fear Aizen-sama?" Ulquiorra broke the silence once more.
"I… I don't know. He's… well, my enemy," Orihime said, realizing only afterwards that this made Ulquiorra her enemy too.
She looked up to check his expression, wanting to know if she had offended or angered him. Orihime should have known that his face would be just a stoic as ever. He looked up when he felt her eyes on him locking eyes with her. Again, Orihime was the first to look away, turning slightly red just like before except this time it was more from embarrassment and guilt…

She is correct. I am her enemy, and it seems that we have forgotten this, Ulquiorra continued eating in silence. She knows I am her enemy, yet she treats me as if I were one of her beloved humans.
Ulquiorra was slightly repulsed by his thoughts. He had stooped down to the woman's level, to the human's level.
He knew full well that the woman was awakening feelings and instincts he had never before felt in his entire existence as a hollow. Yet he had no way of comprehending what consequences these feelings and instincts would bring with them. He could not grasp the fact that these simple and innocent feelings could, and would, progress into something far beyond anything he could have ever imagined.

I should have never said a word… I should have just agreed to see Aizen and let it go. When he asked why I was scared, I should have lied, the guilt  that was eating Orihime Inoue alive wouldn't subside, no matter how many more minutes their shared meal would drag out.
She sighed, ignoring the glance Ulquiorra gave her.
Suddenly her thoughts wandered back to the World of the Living. A new wave of guilt washed over her as she thought of Kurosaki-kun.
I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun… a tear escaped from her guilty heart as she turned to gaze out the window.
"Woman, I forbid you to cry," Ulquiorra interrupted Orihime's guilty conscious.
At this she looked at him, rather surprised. Before she knew what was happening, Ulquiorra was next to her chair, wiping the single tear from her cheek. The next second he was once again sitting on the opposite side of the table, as if he had not done anything.
Was she beginning to hallucinate in her current state? Was she so lonely, even with the company of Ulquiorra Cifer, that she was going insane?
She imagined herself in a padded white room…
</i>Not so much different from where I am now,</i> Orihime looked around her room.
"Maybe I really have gone insane," she didn't realize she had thought out loud.
"Why would you think such a thought, woman?" an unexpected reply rang in her ears. She blushed at her foolishness and did not reply.  
She got up to walk over to her usual spot were she would stare out the window at the sky, but just as she was going to sit down and was just about to get comfortable, she found herself with her back on the floor staring up into Ulquiorra's eyes. His hair was hanging down and almost touching her skin. She shivered slightly.
At this Ulquiorra picked her up, set her on one end of the couch, and positioned himself on the other end.

He wanted to ask if she was feeling ill. He wanted to know what was wrong. He was worried.
He nearly lost the composed expression on his face when he realized this.
I'm an Espada, I have no heart, and therefore no feelings, no expressions…
He knew he was only lying to himself. Ulquiorra glanced over at Orihime to see her staring at him with a confused and concerned expression on her face. She opened her mouth to say something, but Ulquiorra was faster, know what she was going to ask him.
"I'm fine."
"Ulquiorra-san…"
He looked at her, surprised. She was really worried about him. And she had addressed him as Ulquiorra-san
How was she able to tell I was not "fine"? She gazed through my outward appearance… How? What about the way she addressed me? Aren't we enemies?
Ulquiorra did not move when he saw Orihime scoot over right beside him and take one of his hands in both of hers, doing exactly what he had done earlier that day.
"It is time for me to leave," as soon as the words were spoken, Ulquiorra regretted them, though he had not the slightest clue why. He saw he had hurt Orihime's feelings. Before his mind could process what he was doing, his instincts took over and he moved one hand to Orihime's chin, pushing it slightly up and looking into her eyes.
He was about to apologize, but Orihime wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. Ulquiorra felt her heart beating. She placed her chin on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "You don't have to apologize."
Ulquiorra's eyes widened slightly, and decided to ignore what his better judgment was telling him and copy Orihime, placing his arms around her.

Orihime's heart was already fluttering when she took Ulquiorra's hand in hers. Now that she had her arms around him, and he has his arms around her, her heart was pounding loudly in her chest and her cheeks were red. She had no doubt that Ulquiorra could feel her heart beating. This only made her blush more.
She remembered her dream and smiled slightly.
A hug…

What are you doing you imbecile? Ulquiorra's common sense was shouting at him. Despite his being angry at himself, he did not pull away from the woman's embrace.
To his surprise, Orihime was the first to release her arms from the embrace. But before he knew what hit him, she had moved her hands to his face and kissed him. His instincts were telling him to kiss her back, and his mind was telling him to push her away and leave. His instincts decided for him, and before he knew it he was kissing her back.

No no no no no no no! Orihime's mind was shouting at her for her behavior. She ignored them, pushing them away. But why was she doing this? She had only just met the man she was kissing… and he wasn't even a human, much less an ally! Orihime Inoue had never thought of anything like this a couple of days ago.

Before either Ulquiorra or Orihime knew it, Orihime was lying on her back on the couch, and Ulquiorra was lying on top of her, supporting most of his weight on his arms. Minutes had gone by, yet their kiss hadn't come to an end.
Finally, Ulquiorra's senses came back. He opened his eyes and quickly got up off of the couch. Orihime seemed to realize what had happened, blushed and looked down at her feet.
Without saying a word, Ulquiorra used one finger to bring her chin up slightly and kiss her one more time before turning around, going to get the tray of empty dishes, and heading towards the door.
"I will return shortly," was all Ulquiorra said before exiting.

Orihime was exhausted. She went to go sit in her usual spot and stared out at the Hueco Mundo sky. Before she knew it, her eyes closed by themselves and she fell asleep on the floor. She began to dream of Ulquiorra, adventures with him in a far off kingdom with her as the princess and him as the demon knight…

Ulquiorra had cleaned up the tray and decided to take a nap before bringing the woman her dinner. It did not take long for him to doze off after he had laid down on his bed…

Nnoitra Gilga took his time making his way to Orihime Inoue's chambers…