Inoue sat on the couch, the hairpins in her hand, her finger tracing the delicate flower design. The window was dark, claiming night, but she knew it could lie. The moon outside meant little as it shone brightly into the room, competing with the artificial light from inside.

She was tempted to put the hairpins in her hair, had wanted to for several days -- or whatever was passing for days in Las Noches -- but didn't. She wasn't sure she was supposed to have them, and wasn't certain who had given them to her. She knew Gin had given her the scarf, but she didn't think Aizen had given her the hairpins.

Which led to more confusion when she considered how angry Aizen would be if he saw her wear them. She looked up as the door opened and Ulquiorra stepped into the room. She closed her hand tightly, putting it behind her back as she stood.

On his arm was the blue outfit. He crossed the room to her, frowning as he neared. "What are you hiding, Inoue?"

"Nothing."

"Show me."

She shook her head, taking a step back from him. "It's nothing."

"Then show me."

She hesitated for a moment, until he took a step toward her. She showed him the hairpins. He looked at them, then back to her.

"Why aren't you wearing them?"

"I don't think Aizen-sama knows I have them," she said slowly.

"Oh." He lifted an eyebrow slightly, nodding. "I see. Perhaps you shouldn't wear them. He's called for you."

She nodded, taking the blue outfit and matching slippers he handed her. "Four minutes?"

"Four minutes."

When he was gone, Inoue sat down on the couch and pulled off her bootlets. She begrudgingly put the hairpins in one of them, and stood to remove the white ensemble. She whisked the powder blue pantaloons up, settling the darker girdle at her waist, pausing to see the new set of crystal beading lining the sides of it, the tiny accents catching the light. She sighed, and then examined the vest to see a matching row of new beading at the sides of it also. She hurriedly pulled on the halter, settling it over herself, and then slipped on the vest.

Ulquiorra knocked once, and then opened the door as she sat at the couch to put on the slippers. He stood at the edge of the rug, watching her.

"Are you certain you would leave, if you had the opportunity to, Inoue?"

The question jolted her nerves. She stood, looking back at him, estimating the hesitancy in his green eyes. "Is this another game?"

"No game. Would you leave, if you could?"

"If I could leave without compromising my friends?"

He nodded.

"Of course I would leave." She frowned at him. "You think I'm not in enough torment knowing I can't leave? Is that why you ask?"

"I thought perhaps you didn't want to leave anymore," he said, watching her closely.

"Who wants to know?"

"I do."

She sighed and collected the scarf from the couch, taking a moment to arrange it over her shoulders. The sheer lilac-blue material did little to cover her with any modesty, but at least it was something, she decided.

"Very becoming," Ulquiorra said, nodding, his eyes on the scarf.

She returned his stare for a moment, a slight pink tinting her cheeks as a small smile hinted at his mouth.

"Thank you, Ulquiorra-san."

He nodded. "Let's go, Inoue."

Inoue looked to where Aizen stood at the steps of the dais, her back to the courtyard wall as the door closed beside her. The sun stretched warm across the grass and cobble walkways, as any other day, the soft, mild breeze stirring the scarf draped over her shoulders.

She took a deep breath and approached the dais, seeing Gin in his usual corner. She wondered suddenly how Aizen would react to her having the scarf.

Aizen frowned as she met him, looking to the scarf, and then to Gin on the dais. He twisted the tanto in his hand, his attention returning to her. "Quite fetching, Orihime. I suppose you beat Gin at the last game after I left?"

She took the hand he offered and ascended the steps to the platform. "No."

"No?"

She paused at the table, trying to determine Aizen's mood.

He frowned at her, and then sighed. "Have a seat, Orihime."

She nodded, and took her spot among the blue and purple cushions and pillows, pulling the scarf closer around her shoulders.

Aizen looked to Gin. "Can you explain this?"

Gin shrugged. "I thought she played better."

Aizen nodded. "She certainly had a promising line-up. Join us."

Inoue breathed a little easier, watching both men take their usual seats near the table. Aizen set the tanto beside the game board, his eyes on her. Gin leaned the odachi to the side of his cushion, the smirk deeper than usual on his face.

"Since you're already up by a scarf, Orihime," Aizen said, nodding at her, "I suggest you wager it on the outcome today."

She nodded.

"Put it on the table."

She frowned. "Can't I wear it until I lose it?"

"No. You've already worn it before you've won it," he said, sparing Gin a glance. "On the table."

She sighed, and removed the scarf, folding it carefully, laying it beside the tanto.

"That's better, isn't it, Gin?"

"Yep. Better."

"Set your pieces on the board, Orihime."

She looked to the fruit in the red glass bowl and then to the green pitcher and goblets, deciding to repeat her strategy of the last game.

She placed Hisagi as her king piece, and set up her back row of Ishida, Nanao, Hanatarou, Kyouraku, Matsumoto, and Byakuya, along with her queen piece. She set Momo in front of her queen, with Renji and Ichigo on either side. She looked across the board as Aizen placed the alabaster figurines on his side, watching as Shinji was set before his queen piece.

"Why does Hirako-san mirror Momo-san?"

Aizen smiled a genuine smile of self-satisfaction. "He's the deposed captain of Fifth Division. Didn't you know?"

"Oh. No." She frowned at the toothy figure across the board. "I just thought he was some strange student at school."

"Oh, no. He's much more. At least, he used to be much more." He looked to the courtyard wall behind her, and then back down to the board. "Take the first move, Orihime."

Gin looked to her. "Aren't you wondering what he's wagering, Orihime-chan?"

"Oh?" She looked to Aizen as her hand hovered over Ikkaku in her front row. "What do you wager?"

"Good question. What do you want?" Aizen asked.

Her brown eyes fell to the scarf. "Well..."

Then her eyes opened wider in realization. If she asked for him to wager her hairpins -- and she won -- he would know they were gone, and she didn't think he knew she already had them. If she didn't ask for her hairpins, he'd be suspicious. If she asked for her hairpins, and she didn't win, he may --

"You've lost interest in your barrettes?" he asked, watching her consider the scarf, noting her face was devoid of color suddenly.

"No. No. Do you have them?" she asked carefully, not looking at Gin, but feeling his amused stare.

"Not here, but yes. Is that what you want?" Aizen asked, studying her hesitation.

"Well, yes. My hairpins. Please."

He nodded. "I wager your barrettes, Orihime. I'll have them brought out, if you win."

She sighed, nodding, hearing Gin chuckle at her discomfort. She didn't look at him, but moved Ikkaku two spaces forward.

"Why won't you let Momo-san move?"

Aizen gave her the bland smile that had brought him to the position of power he currently held. "Because she's weak." He moved Risa one space diagonally.

"You think Hirako-san is weak, too?"

"I know Hirako is weak."

She frowned, moving Hanatarou from black space to black space. Across from the table he looked up, his gaze going to the wall behind her, and then she heard it, too. Very faintly, from afar, but undeniably a low something, like the drone that she'd heard before.

Aizen looked back to her, and then moved Nell two spaces forward. "It looks like Gin will have to finish this game with you." He stood, looking to his lieutenant. "You'll do that?"

"Yep. That I will."

"Until next time, Orihime," Aizen said to her as a white robed attendant hastened to the dais step.

"Yes," she said as Aizen followed the smaller form out of sight. She looked to Gin, but he made no move to sit opposite her.

"You almost messed up there, Orihime-chan," he said, grinning at her uneasiness. "You weren't going to ask for your hairclips."

"I didn't know if he knew I had them," she said slowly.

"I know you didn't."

She frowned at him, then flinched as he reached across the table for the green glass pitcher. He poured two of the three goblets full of the liquid and set one before her.

"Drink up."

She looked at the mild yellow juice, smelling apricots and oranges. "It's his turn. Your turn."

"No. It's your turn to move."

"Oh." She looked at the board, and slid Hitsugaya two spaces.

He sat back in the cushions, then put one hand on the odachi hilt, setting the sword across his knees.

Inoue watched the movement, the blood running colder through her veins. "It's your turn to move."

"Oh, I know." But he didn't take his turn.

She waited, returning his attention, unsure about the line of a grin on his face. He looked to the perimeter wall as another low alarm sounded from a different direction.

She looked to the wall, then back to the game.

"You were smart enough not to wear the clips. I'm surprised."

She frowned at him. "Why did you give them to me if I'm not supposed to have them?"

He smiled slowly. "Why not?"

Her eyes went back to the game. "It's still your turn, Ichimaru-sama."

"You remember how all the pieces move?"

"Yes."

"You remember how the third seateds move?"

She looked to the figurines of Isshin and Hitsugaya. "Yes."

"How?"

"Forward two and one to the side, or forward one and two to the side."

"Forward two and one to the side."

She shook her head, pointing to the obsidian Hitsugaya. "But also --"

"Forward two and one to the side; that's all you need to remember, Orihime-chan. Okay?" He leaned forward, resting his elbows across the odachi on his knees.

"Okay." She looked at him with confusion.

"Do you know how Zaraki can move?"

"Yes. Two forward and two to the side, which is also two diagonally."

"And yourself?"

"Me?" She frowned.

He sighed. "The queens. Do you know how the queens move?"

"Yes. Oh, no." She thought for a moment. "Yes. In a straight line forward, all the way."

"Yep. Remember that, Orihime-chan," he said, the humor absent from his tone, the smile set grimly. "It's Hitsugaya, Zaraki, and queen. Say it."

She wrinkled her face at him. "Say what?"

"Weren't you listening?" He looked to the courtyard wall as the low tone increased in volume, but still barely audible in the grassy yard.

"What is that noise?"

He looked back to her. "Say it."

"Zaraki, queen, and --"

"No. Hitsugaya, Zaraki, and queen. It's important to remember the order. Now say it."

She nodded slowly. "Hitsugaya, Zaraki, and queen."

"Good."

She looked to the game. "It's your turn still."

He shook his head.

"You're not going to play?"

"Not my game."

Her fingers closed into a ball. "You told Aizen-sama you'd play."

He shrugged. "I tell him a lot of things." He nodded to her goblet. "Drink up. It's almost time."

Her hand was halfway to the glass. It paused as she looked to him. "Time for what?"

"Drink up."

She nodded and drank half the fruity juice, the sweet taste seeming too thick in her mouth. She set the goblet down, yelping a little when Gin stood up suddenly.

He sighed, shaking his head. "Let's get you going."

Inoue rose, then stooped to pick a peach from the red glass bowl. "Can I take this?"

"He prefers apples."

"Oh." She traded the peach for an apple. She looked at the scarf, and then took it, too.

She walked ahead of him down the steps, noting that he hadn't put the odachi in its scabbard yet, the hilt in his hand, his eyes on the perimeter walls. She kept waiting for the sword point to etch into her back, but it didn't. She found herself holding her breath by the time they got to the door, and remembered to breathe again.

"Why was I moved, Ichimaru-sama?" she asked as he reached for the door latch.

He didn't open the door yet. "Are you sure you were?"

"Yes."

He nodded, the grin returning as he opened the door. "You want them to find you, don't you?"

The words caught her by surprise, shaking her composure. "What did you say?"

"You heard me, Orihime-chan." He looked into the hall at Ulquiorra standing there. "Take her back, Number Four."

The door shut behind Inoue and she walked beside Ulquiorra down the twisting corridors back to her room, Gin's words replaying on her mind. She must have heard wrong, she told herself. He couldn't have meant what I think, she thought. It's another game. It has to be.

Ulquiorra paused as they turned the corner, seeing Aizen, Grimmjow and two other Espada at the end of the hall they turned down. The group looked to them, but didn't break off their conversation.

A chill went up Inoue's spine at the sight of Aizen in his altered robes, his hair slicked back, minus the glasses now. She hurried on beside Ulquiorra as he quickened their pace, moving them out of the hall.

It took five minutes to get back to her room, and once there Ulquiorra shut the door quietly, his face more concerned than she'd ever seen him.

"Did you have your game today?"

She nodded, frowning at him. "Sort of."

She handed him the apple. He sighed, smiling slightly, and took it.

"Thank you very much, Inoue."

He remained at her side as she looked to her clothes folded neatly on the couch. His attention went to the window high above them, her eyes following. The moon hung in a delicate thin arch outside, bright in the dark skies, without a star to dilute its glow.

For a long moment they stared at the calm skies, the alarm still a hushed drone in the distance. She looked down at his fingers as they slid down her arm, hooking behind her wrist, pressing into her palm. She looked to him with surprise.

"You smell like sunflowers. Did you know that, Orihime?"

She shook her head slowly, eyes locked on his.

He nodded, his attention falling to her lips. "You do." He looked to the door. "Remember how the pieces move."

"Oh, yes..."

He nodded and crossed the room. She watched him leave out the door, confused. She looked back to her clothes on the couch as the door shut. She sighed, deciding it was the standard four minutes.

But there wasn't time to start changing. She'd barely retrieved the hairpins from the bootlet when she heard a commotion in the hall outside, followed by shouts, and then the door flung open.

She recoiled as the door hit the wall, and then smiled as Ichigo stood in the doorway, looking back at her in surprise.

No words left her mouth, only a small gasp.

For a moment he just stared at her, his eyes traveling over the varying shades of blue from her halter to her feet.

"Holy cow ..." he said, remembering to grip his katana tighter as he looked her over again. More shouts came from outside in the hall, and he turned, but didn't take his eyes from her. "She's in here!"

"Kurosaki-kun!"

He wasn't ready for the impact of blue that flung into him, wrapping arms around his black robes, bringing more than a grunt from him. He hugged her back, crushing her soft form close, her hair fragrant, that wickedly hard forehead embedded under his chin.

For a moment he didn't let her go, until he heard footsteps behind him, and then he held her at arms length, smiling back at her beaming face.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes!"

He dodged the quick bow she made.

Ishida and Renji crowded into the doorway behind him, both staring back at Inoue.

"Whoa! What the hell is all this?" Renji asked, gawking at several spots on her.

"Be nice," Ishida said, his own eyes glued to her. A livid shade of red flushed over his face. "Where are your hairpins, Orihime?"

"Oh." She opened her hand to reveal the hairpins. She quickly clipped them into her hair, smiling.

Ishida nodded. "That's better."

"Come on," Ichigo said, prodding the other two men when they stood there gaping. His hand closed over Inoue's as he moved to the door. "Let's get out of here."

They stepped into the hall, the alarms in the distance now growing louder. Ichigo looked to each end of the hall, spotting Ulquiorra standing at the intersection at one side.

"I'll take care of him," Renji said, his hand on his sword hilt when the Espada looked to them.

But Ulquiorra didn't move. He stood his ground, watching the four of them, his hand on the hilt of his sword still at his waist.

"What? He doesn't want to fight?" Renji frowned at the unmoving Espada that merely watched them.

Ichigo scowled, then looked the opposite way. "That's the way we came in, but I don't know if we can get back out --"

"I know the way out," Inoue said.

They all looked to her. She nodded. "I know the moves."

Ishida glanced to the Espada. "Why is he just standing there?"

Inoue looked to Ulquiorra, his somber expression clear to her, even at the distance. "He's waiting for us to leave."

Ichigo shook his head. "He's what?"

"Let's go," Renji said, moving off down the opposite hall.

Ichigo pulled Inoue with him as they followed after, with Ishida falling into step behind them.

She glanced back as they left, seeing Ulquiorra still standing at the intersection of halls.

He raised a hand in farewell, and she made a quick wave in return, as they made the first turn around the corner.

A/N: That's it! Finished! I also write under the penname Renji's Girll on this site. Thank you so much for reading (and reviewing!) Thank you especially to morningmusumefangirl, sonia, jazzpha, Arrancar-Baka, blueyeInali, Vi, Artificial Life Creator, Maziana, jayemmpee, Meng-4-2, wingybing, Samebito Ryu, redseraph, HK-Revan, Saritenite, Pentatonikk, ilovethefray, and all the rest of you!