Something seemed different, Ulquiorra could tell. It was something in the atmosphere… how it seemed eerily quiet. Orihime sighed, still sleeping. Ulquiorra adjusted his hold on her. One hand was supporting her upper back, and his other hand was under knees, holding her legs up. He was thankful that she weighed close to nothing, but then again it was ironic how she could eat her weight in food and not gain a pound.

Ulquiorra shook the train of thought from his mind, and focussed on the irregularity of the atmosphere. It was as if someone was trying really hard to conceal their reiatsu. Was it one of the intruders? Ulquiorra knew it had to be. It couldn't be a hollow, they give off a more evil reiatsu— and it was certainly not another arrancar, they wouldn't hide from an ally.

His eyes narrowed, and he cleared his throat. "Human," He started flatly, "If you were planning on surprising me, you have failed." Ulquiorra's voice rang out.

"…I suggest you show yourself, there's no point in hiding." He said. "If not, I will come after you with the full intent to kill."

Not a moment after the words left his mouth a figure stepped away from the wall they were previously hiding behind. He figure was wearing a kind of white rode with a cape. He had dark hair and he was wearing glasses.

"I'm not human," The figure growled. Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"I'm a Quincy."

Ulquiorra blinked slowly. "Quincy?" He said tonelessly. "The humans that recklessly pretended to be Shinigami, then got whipped out by the Shinigami themselves?"

He narrowed his eyes as a snarl formed over his face. "My name Ishida Uryū— I will defeat you and take Orihime back home."

"Defeat me? If I didn't find you so pitiful, I might have laughed." Ulquiorra said coldly.

Ishida's eyes were trained on Orihime determinedly. He didn't know why she was wearing arrancar attire, but it was making him angry. He also wanted to know why she was unconscious, but other than that she didn't look like she was injured in anyway. Thank god.

"It looks like Inoue's been treated like dirt, as expected." Ishida snarled.

"Hm. Please specify what you consider 'dirt', Quincy."

"She's unconscious, you bastard. And you made her wear that crap." Ishida indicted the uniform she was wearing.

Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow challengingly. "I think the attire suits her quite well." Then Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed. "Unconscious? You think she's unconscious?" He's voice was dangerously low. "What if I told she fell asleep on her own, out of her sheer comfort and trust in me."

"You're lying." Ishida bit out.

Ulquiorra looked at him provokingly, then gently shook Orihime, "Miss Inoue, please wake up." Orihime hummed in annoyance. "We have company."

Orihime felt so warm and comfortable. She was dreaming about floating above the earth with the clouds. It was one of the most relaxing dreams she's ever had. Orihime was drifting above a beach, she could smell the sea salt and hear the ocean lapping in her ears— and the sun that she longed for, showered her in its welcoming heat. Dozens of seagulls squawked and flew past her, one even waved to her. She sighed and decided that she never wanted to leave. That's when she heard someone call out to her.

'Miss Inoue.'

To her annoyance the dream melted away before her eyes. All she could see was black, so she slowly opened her eyelids. She tried to blink the grogginess from her eyes, as a yawn left her lips.

"Ulquiorra-san?" She said still half asleep. "What's going on?" Her clouded eyes scanned the perimeter. When she caught sight of Ishida, her eyes widened to saucers and her grogginess automatically washed away.

"Ishida-kun!" She called with excitement, a wide smile etching across her face. Then she started struggling to get out of Ulquiorra's arms. "Ulquiorra! Put me down!" Her voice was frustrated. Ulquiorra only held on tighter.

"Miss Inoue, if you don't stop struggling, I will kill him."

Orihime instantly stilled, fully believing Ulquiorra's words.

"Don't you worry Orihime! I'll get you out of here!" Ishida called out. "Don't listen to him."

"Ishida-kun, you don't understand—!"

"I do Orihime, he's filth! His nothing but a hollow in Shinigami form! I can fight him!" Ishida's voice was determined and deadly.

Orihime bit her lip, not knowing what to say. She felt slightly offended at Ishida's words. Ulquiorra was not a certainly not a hollow. He was way more human than hollow. Sure— he was an arrancar, but that didn't mean he was a monster. Kurosaki-kun was a Vizard, but that didn't make him any less human. She looked down, at loss of words.

"Miss Inoue is right," Ulquiorra's voice broke the silence. Orihime looked up at him. "You don't understand, Quincy. How could one expect you to? Have you ever been in battle with a real Espada?"

Ishida's eyes hardened. "Well I'm about to."

Ulquiorra sighed. "No choice then. I'm Ulquiorra, Espada numero—"

"No! Ulquiorra-san don't!" Orihime pleaded, "Please don't hurt him!" Her struggles renewed.

Ulquiorra looked down at her, his calm viridian eyes unreadable. Orihime gazed back up at him, stubbornly not backing down. Ishida watched stunned as Ulquiorra sighed and looked away. He took a step back. Orihime eyes closed with a smile.

"So what? You're backing down?" Ishida's eyes flashed angrily. "Coward." He spat.

"Think what you wish," Ulquiorra dismissed. "But the fact stands that I can't endanger Miss Inoue's life with our battle."

"I can take care of myself!" Orihime piped in obviously offended. Ulquiorra just rolled his eyes at her.

Suddenly, several Hollow roars erupted from just down the halls. Orihime jumped, and both Ulquiorra and Ishida looked to the direction of the sounds.

"It looks like you have company, Quincy." Ulquiorra said tonelessly. "But the next time I come across you in this castle, I will kill you. It's a promise."

Before Ishida could comment back, Ulquiorra disappeared with Orihime in his arms. He didn't know what level of flash steps Ulquiorra used but he knew he could never catch up to him. He cursed and took out his Quincy bow.

"I'll save you Orihime, if it's the last think I do!" Ishida called out after them hoping, somehow she heard him.

Orihime watched with her eyes half-lidded, as the world blurred into one collage of colors. It was making her dizzy. Things passed by so fast that you couldn't even identify what they were. Orihime clasped onto Ulquiorra's shirt for dear life.

"Ulquiorra-san, slow down… I think I'm going to throw up."

Ulquiorra halted his steps suddenly—too suddenly for Orihime, and put her down. Orihime grasped her head, trying to get it to stop spinning. It felt weird to be standing on two feet again. Orihime felt Ulquiorra's hands steady her shoulders, then let go.

"Are you alright now?" He asked tonelessly— sounding more bored than concerned.

"Aha." Orihime shook her head. "I'll be fine… just— at least warn me next time."

Ulquiorra grunted, and put his hands in his pockets. "Aizen-sama is calling for a meeting." Ulquiorra said straight to the point.

Orihime sighed. "Wonderful, so I'm going to have to sit in my cell for the next five hours, right?" Her shoulders slumped.

"No." Ulquiorra mumbled. Orihime looked at him questionably. "You will attend this meeting as well."

Her eyebrows furrowed, confusion coming over her. "But why? That doesn't make any sense."

Ulquiorra shifted his weight onto his other foot. "You're dressed like an arrancar, Miss Inoue, you might as well be treated like one. That's what Aizen-sama believes."

Orihime felt both relieved and worried. She felt relieved that she didn't have to go sit in her room and rot, but worried about something else.

…She's dressed like an arrancar— and she's going to be treated like one too. But she's not physically an arrancar, and she's not one at heart. Was Aizen going to change that too?

She started to wring her hands.

Ulquiorra noticed her distress instantly. She was so easy to read. Her face gave away her emotions just as much as Grimmjow.

"Stop worrying about nonsense, and let's go." Ulquiorra said suddenly, giving her a restless look. "Follow me."

Orihime sighed, then nodded. How did he always know what she was thinking? She clasped her hands behind her back and padded after him. He was probably just good at reading people, she concluded.

When they reached the large white doors, Ulquiorra turned his head to look at her. Orihime was currently marveling the overall hugeness of the doors. She knew that they had to be big if arrancar like Yami were going to be walking in and out of them.

"Miss Inoue." Ulquiorra said. Orihime's eyes shifted off the door and to the pale Espada's eyes. "Try to be cautions with what you say in front of Aizen-sama— it'd be a good idea to not talk at all if possible."

Orihime's doe eyes widened with worry. "Why?"

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed. "Things tend to backfire. You'll do well to remember that." He mumbled, while swinging the doors open.

"Welcome, Ulquiorra, Orihime." Aizen's level voice called out as they entered the room. All the eyes of the Espada were on them. Some were angry, some were bored, and some were fascinated. Orihime became uncomfortable when she spotted Gin grinning at her from across his seat at the table.

"I presume you didn't have any trouble getting here?" Aizen asked with his cheek resting in the palm of his hand.

Ulquiorra and Orihime both took a seat at the table. Orihime felt herself starting to turn red— it seems as if the most of the arrancar didn't have any problem with openly staring at her. Noitora was giving her guilty looks, Grimmjow was giving her an amused one, Yami was giving her a look that told her he wanted rip her limbs off and watch her squirm— and Gin was just creepily grinning at her.

Does he ever stop with that face? She briefly wondered if he sleeps with his grin and slanted eyes. Shivers ran up her spine. She just wanted to close her eyes and pretend they weren't there.

Ulquiorra cleared his throat, causing everyone to turn their attention to him. "We didn't have much trouble, Aizen-sama. Just one of the intruders, and few hollows."

Aizen rose an eyebrow. "Oh? Do explain, Ulquiorra."

"Ishida Uryū, survivor of the Quincy." Ulquiorra reported. "We ran into him— unfortunately, I wasn't able to dispose of him because it would have been completely irrational for myself to put Miss Inoue in danger. He seemed rather weak from my observations."

Aizen nodded and leaned back in his chair, "Just remember not to underestimate them, Ulquiorra. Earlier we had a problem with that."

"Problem?" Ulquiorra asked.

"Yes. It seems as though our Novena Espada, Arroniro Arurueri, has been killed by one of the Intruders."

Grimmjow jumped up from his seat. "That idiot!" He roared, slamming his fist on the table. Orihime jumped, startled.

Aizen gave Grimmjow a disapproving look. "Please take your seat, Grimmjow."

Grimmjow sat down slowly; his face still contorted in anger and confusion. All of the other Espada looked shocked.

"When did this happen?" Zaera-Polo, a pink haired scientist asked. He looked more interested than concerned.

"About an hour ago— and the intruder was not found."

Grimmjow looked like he wanted to pop out of his seat again, but he remained still— gritting his teeth and clenching his fists.

When Aizen looked at Orihime she tensed immediately. "Inoue Orihime," He started, smiling. "How would you like to take his place?"

"Excuse me?" She squeaked, not liking being in the spotlight at all.

Aizen regarded her with a cool gaze. "How would you, Inoue Orihime, like to take the place of Novena Espada?" He repeated patiently.

Her eyes widened, and she felt panic grip at her heart. She didn't want to be an Espada; she wasn't even an arrancar! She wasn't on their side. Up until now she was placed in a cell— a cell, andshe had been kidnapped. Aizen knew that she was still human, and that she couldn't fight to save her own life. Why would he ask her something so senseless and irrational? Orihime was speechless as Aizen looked at her expectantly.

"Aizen-sama, you do realize that she's only a human?" Ulquiorra piped in.

Aizen grinned wolfishly. "What a pity that is." His eyes narrowed predatorily. Orihime could hear her pulse pounding in her ears.

The madness in Aizen's eyes was dancing under a shield of tranquil. He always seemed calm, polite, and patient— but Orihime could see it, she could see the insanity. It was there, tucked deep inside his halcyon hazel eyes. It was always there, waiting to be fed like a flame— feed it, and it would grow larger.

Orihime couldn't shake the feeling that this was all a game to him.

"But her power 'violates the realm of gods,' right Aizen-sama?" Noitora reasoned frankly, seemingly thinking the idea over himself.

"Correct, Noitora." He folded his hands as he kept his eyes trained on Orihime's. "We can't have a woman of such power against us."

Orihime couldn't seem to take her eyes off Aizen's, as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

"So how about it Orihime? Would you like to become one of us?" Aizen questioned with amusement. Orihime wondered if he enjoyed making her uncomfortable.

From the corner of her eye she saw Ulquiorra's haunting green orbs staring into hers, waiting for her answer.

She swallowed, "I— I won't." Defiance was hardening in her eyes.

Ulquiorra's eyes closed.

Aizen rose an eyebrow, "How misfortunate for us, Miss Inoue,"

Orihime's eyes narrowed but she remained silent. "Perhaps you'll reconsider one day." Aizen grinned sadistically, and got out of his chair. He abruptly left the room with Gin and Tousen in tow.

Orihime sighed; feeling a weight lift from her shoulders as both Aizen a Gin left the room. Soon enough, most of the Espada shuffled out as well.

Ulquiorra stood up. "I'm returning you to your room, Miss Inoue." He said frankly. "Come."

Orihime obeyed without protest, and without a word— consumed in her thoughts.

When the white door of her cell opened with a long creak, Orihime padded in, and collapsed onto her bed with an exasperated sigh. The bed was cool and was soft against her skin.

"I can't believe Aizen would ask me something like that." Orihime said, muffled by her pillow.

"Regardless, you should realize that this is nothing more than a game to him." Ulquiorra muttered indifferently, as he closed the door.

"I noticed." She sighed as she rolled over to her side and looked at Ulquiorra lazily. "Novena Espada…huh?"

Ulquiorra looked at her blankly.

"Do you think I'd fit well for the position, Ulquiorra-san?" She looked amused.

Ulquiorra put his hands in his pockets out of sheer habit. "Are you rethinking the matter over, Miss Inoue?"

"No I just want to know what you think."

Ulquiorra stilled. He wanted to know why she cared what he thought. "…Well— if you were to harness your power, and become stronger on the offensive side… perhaps. But the problem stands not on how you fight, but on what you are. You're human Miss Inoue."

"I know— I know." Orihime laughed half-heartily. "I'd like to stay one too."

Ulquiorra furrowed his brow slightly, and leaned lazily against the door. "Why is that?"

Orihime smiled, "Because I like going to school, and I love my friends. …I love the beauty of the human world, and all the different people I have yet to meet. I guess you could say it's kind of like heaven there compared to here. Practically all the people are ignorant to the Shinigami and the hollows."

"And that's a good thing?" Ulquiorra asked, closing his eyes.

"I guess you could say, 'Ignorance is Bliss'." She laughed.

"Do you miss it? Your world?" His calm voice was devoid of emotion.

"Of coarse I do! Who wouldn't?" She put her hands behind her head. "If I did ever get back to the human world, I'd want you to come too, Ulquiorra-san."

Ulquiorra opened his eyes and gave her a quizzical look.

"Don't give me that look, Ulquiorra-san." She rolled her eyes. "I'm serious."

"And what reasons could you possibly have?"

"Well for one, I'd want to cook for you— tons and tons of dishes all for you!" She paused, seemingly thinking something over. "Actually, I might have a little too."

Ulquiorra was about to open his mouth, but Orihime cut in again.

"—And I'd take you to meet Tatsuki-chan, she'd like you, I know she would." She smiled, picturing everything in her mind. "Then, later I'd take you on top of my roof— and we'd star gaze all night…"

Ulquiorra watched as her eyes widened with excitement. "We could even make up our own stories, Ulquiorra-san, just for us." She sighed and closed her eyes. "Wouldn't that be wonderful, Ulquiorra-san?"

Her words still echoed clearly in his head as he exited her room. The lonely, lifeless halls welcomed him, as her soft voice taunted him with the same question.

…Wouldn't that be wonderful, Ulquiorra-san?