Alternative world mix up. Yes. You will be confused. Poor Orihime is.

Orihime stared at the boy in front of her as he sobbed and tried her best not to gape.

Because, the crying boy was Ulquiorra.

And he was begging… Begging an evil her not to hurt… Aizen. God, she could hardly watch it was so strange.

"Stop it, Orihime-san! Stop it!" She found tears collecting in her own eyes as he threw himself at this arrancar version of her and her face… It was scary, blank, unlike her. As Ulquiorra's hands tightened around the neck and tears fell on her clothing, all the other her did was look at him out of the corner of her hauntingly empty eyes.

Quietly, in a chilling voice, she asked, "You aren't going to use your fairies, boy? You aren't going to heal him or protect him or kill me? Your hands don't have enough—"

"Shut up! Please! Aizen-kun, get away." Begging. A sobbing, hysterical Ulquiorra without mask remnants nor any arrancar traits was begging.

She tried to look away from the scene but failed miserably.

Wait.

Why were her hairpins in his hair? What kind of screwed up world was this?

"I will protect Kurosaki-sama." The monotone didn't help. Really. It was so… dead sounding. "And my… home. My brothers and sisters. That is what you… humans try, is it not?"

Ulquiorra let out a small sound Orihime would rather not think about. "But… But can't you see? I have to protect Aizen-kun, too!" Oh God, if he.. If he… I will never be able to look at Ulquiorra the same ever again. Ever. "I… Please, Orihime-san, you… you have to understand. I—"

"Quiet, boy." Nonchalantly her other self threw him away and turned to tower over him, "I will not allow this… this boy to take you. My mission is to keep you here. You will stay here. Return to your room or his death will be unavoidable if only to make you obey."

Ulquiorra with tears in his too expressive green eyes shook his head, "I won't! Not until I know you won't hurt him!"

Rage finally managed to slip past her other self's mask. "I said go!"

Something told her that the growl wasn't a good sign. The crying Ulquiorra seemed to realize this as well. That didn't stop him from throwing himself in between a bewildered Aizen and a glowering evil her. "I'll go when you promise to leave Aizen-kun alone!"

"Ulquiorra?"

She watched the human Ulquiorra flinch. Evil her noticed as well and the mask was back. "Are you going to protect something that weakens you? Something that causes you to hesitate?"

A very unhappy looking Rukia jumped out of nowhere, "I said he was mine, dang it! Back off, Orihime! Go play fetch with the little human boy or something."

She thought she had been scarred before.

She fainted.

"Woman, get up." The familiar cold voice was surprisingly comforting and she stretched, "Eat."

She turned to thank him and froze.

Those tear marks running down his face reminded her far too much of the dream. He narrowed his eyes and, for a moment, she relaxed. Still cold, not begging. Or crying. Or… She didn't want to think about it. She looked down at her food and stiffened when her hairpin fell into the rice.

He pulled it out and offered it to her silently.

She stared at it blankly. He… Was touching… "No! No, no, no, no, no! That wasn't real!"

He pulled his hand pack a bit and used his other hand to grab her wrist. "What are you squealing about, girl?" She blushed and, not looking at him, accepted her hairpins. He didn't ask, instead just left.

She collapsed onto the bed and tried to suppress the memories.

But she could still see the human Ulquiorra.

She bit her lip and thought aloud, "Why did he have to be… So cute?"

How did you know it's midnight and I'm bored? You didn't? Well, now you do.