SPOILERS: Chapter 342 onwards. This is a continuation of Fade To Black when Ulquiorra sweeps Orihime off her feet and away from Ichigo.

“I am asking you…” He was serious, the way he always was with her, “Why did you choose that single moment to protect him? Why did you not do it sooner?”

She looked to the ground staring at her own feet. She did not know the answer, she did not know why. She was flushed by his question simply perplexed by it. She thought protecting Ichigo was the right thing to do yet she could not figure out why she hadn’t done it any sooner.

“Was it not you who once told me you loved him? Hmph.”

“I do…” she mumbled lightly. did. she thought.

What had stopped her from saving him before? Maybe she was too scared to react. Maybe she did not believe she was strong enough.

Maybe I don’t want to be saved by him anymore.

She shook the thought out of her head. She did not want her friends to die or for Aizen to destroy Karakura town. She was not one of them. She was Inoue Orihime a simple high school student who wanted to grow up with a normal life.

How did things become so complicated? How did she get swept away by this awful espada who threatened the lives of the people she cared for? Why did it have to be him, anyone else would have been better…even Grimmjow would suffice.

“If you continue to sulk in your pathetic guilt I will not be here to comfort you.”

“Why did you bring me here then? Why didn‘t you just kill me after I got in the way, you had that option!” A tear fell from her eyes as she retaliated with her emotions.

The Cuarto stared at the women, simply appalled by her sudden reaction to his words. He blinked once before coming to a conclusion.

“My orders are not to kill you…yet. It is up to Aize--”

“Aizen?!” Orihime shouted louder, “It’s always Aizen, yet here we are without his orders.” Her eyes were upset and Ulquiorra could not read them. He could hear her heavy panting.

She was frustrated with him. She did not know what he wanted from her or what she wanted in him.

The Cuarto returned his hands in his pockets.

“Return to him.”

Orihime’s eyes were wide, “W…what?”

“I take no more responsibility in you.” Ulquiorra turned away from her and walked on.

Orihime stood there stunned. It would be the right thing to run back to Ichigo and safely be taken home. But this option she did not see anymore. Orihime rubbed her eyes to stop her tears and ran after him.

Ulquiorra could hear the woman’s small footsteps following behind him, slowing his pace he allowed her to catch up.

“Wait!” She reached out and grabbed his arm, tugging gently on his uniform, “Please.” she begged.

“What is it that you want?” He coldly asked her.

Orihime let her hand slide away from him. She pressed it against her chest and closed her eyes. It would be tormenting for her to answer, a sin.

Her entire life was based on the happiness of others around her and that would be enough. Now that did not seem enough, that sort of happiness seemed empty.

Orihime wanted something and she could not bare to let it go, no matter how hurtful or evil it might be. She just could not let it slide away from her.

“You.” She answered.