I can't believe this is it. Here we are at the final chapter. I want to thank all the people who've read this story, and particularly to the people who took the time to review. I apologize that you had to wait so long, but hopefully it was worth the wait.

And so, without further ado, I present for your reading pleasure the final chapter of Moonlight Shadow. Enjoy, and please remember to review!

They had waited a day before heading back to First District, getting some much needed sleep in the process. Ulquiorra seemed less-than-pleased that he had to be in such tight quarters with the former Octava Espada, which unfortunately seemed to amuse Szayel all the more. But even Orihime could tell he was anxious to be home, where he could sleep in his own futon.

Then, before she knew it, the day had come.

"While this little trip has been...enjoyable," Szayel said, hoping to break the awkward silence that had settled, "I think it's time for all of us to be heading back to where we belong." He turned to Orihime. "Isn't that right?"

She blushed. "Yes."

"You'd better make sure she returns to the world of the living, Szayel," Ulquiorra said firmly. His eyes narrowed. "If something happens to her, know that I will be paying you a visit."

"I wouldn't dare let anything happen to her," Szayel said, with a mock-gasp. "Besides, it would be a shame if something were to happen before I got to see the last of her God-like powers."

Orihime's eyes widened. She had completely forgotten about their deal. Or maybe, in the back of her mind, she had hoped he would also forget.

She should have known better.

"Ulquiorra," she said uncertainly. Her hand reached out to him. "I..."

She had spent the night before thinking of what she wanted to say to him. Anything but goodbye, she'd decided. The words left a bitter taste in her mouth. But now that she was in front of him, the realization hit her with full force: she wouldn't see him again until it was her time to be in Soul Society.

The words wouldn't come out.

She had a feeling this would happen; but she was prepared.

"I want to thank you for everything." She placed a small scrap of paper into his hands and squeezed them. What she really wanted was to hug him, feel his body beneath her arms, but she didn't trust herself. She knew she wouldn't be able to let go. Ulquiorra looked at her curiously, as if to inquire about the paper she had given him. "I am forever in your debt."

He nodded politely. "I wish you the best in your travels."

Orihime sighed. Even if she had accepted her fate--their fate--that didn't mean she had to like it. Her gaze remained fixed on him for a couple of minutes, until Szayel cleared his throat.

"Let's go," he said. His voice snapped her out of the slight daze she felt. "We want to make the most use out of the daylight, in case you've forgotten."

She shook her head. "Of course."

Walking away from Ulquiorra was probably the hardest task she ever had to endure. Her feet seemed to drag for the first couple of steps, as if they had a will of their own. But soon her steps became lighter, her stride longer. She was about to look back when a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"You don't want to look back," Szayel said firmly.

She frowned, but kept her gaze on the path in front of them. "Yes, I do. That's why--"

"No. I mean, you shouldn't look back," he clarified. "Don't make things harder than they have to be."

Again, like all the other times on this strange journey, he was right. If she looked back, she would want to run to Ulquiorra, to stay. Orihime smiled slightly. "I think you're more considerate than you let on, Szayel Aporro Granz."

He rolled his eyes, then started walking faster. "Don't be ridiculous. I just refuse to drag you all the way to First District."

The trip back felt shorter than she had expected. Perhaps this was because they weren't stopping every few districts in search of Ulquiorra or any of the other ex-Espada. Orihime was surprised she and Szayel didn't bump into any of them, though she couldn't say she was displeased either. Seeing someone like Nnoitra or Yami once was good enough for her.

Or maybe the trip felt shorter because she had something else to do other than worry. True to her word, she showed Szayel the other two forms of her powers. He seemed just as intrigued as before, even going so far as to offer her a position as a specimen. He had, of course, been joking.

At least, she hoped he'd been joking.

But more than anything, she realized, the trip felt shorter simply because she wasn't filled with anticipation. At least, not the same type of anticipation. Halfway back to First District, she felt the first true pains of homesickness settle in.

She must have missed her friends, her home, more than she had originally thought.

Finally, they reached a familiar sight, both to her and her pink-haired companion--his home.

"I think you know your way from here," Szayel said. He looked past his house, to the tall wall surrounding Seireitei. "Do you really think they'll let you in?"

"I know the guard from the last time I was here. He should remember me, since I healed his wounds," Orihime said, though she could hear the doubt in her voice. He wasn't exactly the brightest bulb in the pack. If he didn't remember her, well--she didn't want to dwell on that. "I'm sure he'll let me in."

"If you say so," he said skeptically.

They stood there awkwardly for a moment, his hand on the handle of the door, her hands behind her back. She wasn't sure what to say to the man who had dragged her around almost all of Soul Society--and that she'd dragged around in return. But she knew that she couldn't just leave without some measure of closure. So she did the one thing she never thought she would ever do in her right mind.

She hugged him.

The former Octava's face blanched. "What--?"

"Thank you, Szayel," she said sincerely. "You were there from the very beginning. And even if you didn't mean to, you kept my hopes up when I thought I had none left. I don't think I could have found Ulquiorra without you."

"Yes, yes, you're welcome," he said, his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away. "Now if you wouldn't mind--"

Orihime let go, looking up at him sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Just...go," he sighed.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Okay."

She didn't have any qualms walking away this time. If anything, her pace had quickened. She would be home soon. The thought was more comforting than she expected.

Szayel didn't go into the house immediately. He watched as the strange girl with the even stranger powers walk away, the destination clear in her mind. Once she was out of sight, he shook his head.

"I never thought I'd be thankful to Aizen for denying my request to be her guard." He smiled wryly. "But perhaps I should be."

"It's good to have you back, Inoue-san."

Orihime turned around. Her hands still rested on her bag. She had been putting her textbooks away, keeping the ones she would need to complete her makeup work. As it turned out, she had overstayed her visit to Soul Society, staying two weeks instead of one.

"Huh?"

Ishida's smiling face greeted her, as well as Ichigo's and Sado's. Tatsuki was a little behind them. "We're glad you're back."

"I'm glad to be back," she said, returning their smiles.

"Tatsuki," Ichigo said, suddenly serious. "We'll catch up with you later. There's something we need to ask Inoue."

Tatsuki raised an eyebrow, but didn't question Ichigo's request. "All right. But remember, be there at 4:45." She turned to Orihime. "I'll see you at karaoke tonight, right?"

Orihime nodded. "I can only stay for a little bit." She sighed at the thought of all the work in her bag. "But yes."

They waited until they were certain she was gone.

"Inoue," Ichigo said, "we read your note. The one you gave Urahara."

"Are you mad at me?" she asked. "For doing something so selfish?"

Ishida shook his head. "We know you had your reasons. We only wish you had come to us for help instead of going off on your own, but we know it was something you had to do by yourself."

"We were worried, though. We didn't know how you would get back," Sado added.

"Well," she started, embarrassed, "I didn't even think about that until I got to Soul Society. But I knew if I could get into Seireitei, I could get back. That's when I remembered Jidanbou-san, the gate keeper. He could let me in!"

"He remembered you?"

She frowned. "No. I was arguing with him and arguing with him, trying to get him to remember who I was, but he didn't. Thankfully Kuchiki-san was passing by. She must have heard me arguing with him through the wall--we were being pretty loud, I guess--and she told him that it was okay, that I was an ally of the Shinigami, and that he could raise the gate--"

"Rukia was there?" Ichigo asked. He turned to Ishida. "Do you think Urahara told her Inoue was going to be there?"

Orihime looked up thoughtfully. "Kuchiki-san's brother was there, too."

"Byakuya?!"

She nodded. "Yep! He didn't seem too happy to see me there, but he was nice enough. After I explained the whole situation to them, they had me sent back. That is, after I promised I would never go into Soul Society unauthorized ever again."

Sado, Ichigo, and Ishida turned to each other, not sure what to say. Orihime glanced out the window, streams of orange light pouring into the room, then at her watch, her fingers brushing against a silver bracelet in the process.

"It's nearly 5:00!" she exclaimed, and she grabbed her bag. "We said we would meet Tatsuki fifteen minutes ago!"

After some mild curses, reprimands for said curses, and light laughter, they were ready to go. Ichigo lead the way, as always, with Sado trailing close behind him. She and Ishida brought up the rear.

"By the way, Inoue-san," Ishida said, as they shut the classroom door behind them. "Were did you get that bracelet? I don't think you've ever worn it before."

Orihime smiled warmly. "It's a gift...from someone I'll never forget."

"Ulquiorra? Ulquiorra!"

Ulquiorra turned, his eyebrow twitching. "What is it, Yami? And why is that dog in my home?"

The dog whimpered, giving him what he'd learned was dubbed "puppy dog eyes." Unfortunately for the dog, Ulquiorra was immune to such tactics.

"You never cared about Hitsuji being inside before," Yami muttered. "I see you're back to normal."

Ulquiorra repressed a sigh. Not an easy task, especially when it came to Yami. He ignored his "friend's" grumbling and pulled a slip of paper out from the sleeve of his kimono. Unfolding it, he read the hastily written words. Her words.

His lips turned up ever-so-slightly.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.