Here's the next part, continuing from the prompt, Why?, titled Asking Myself Why.

This has not been beta read so please excuse any mistakes you may find.

Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Kubo Tite and a good thing too since he's such a damn genius.

Table: 6:01. Tears

Forgiveness

It had been a week since Ichigo's funeral. The atmosphere was intense with mourn and sorrow that Orihime couldn't help the tears fall once more for her friend. The one she loved too.

Not letting the death of Ichigo get to her too much, she had went to school. Her friends tried to cheer her up, which was a great help, but it soon became worse during lessons where her head turned to look at the now empty seat of where Ichigo sat. She was even starting to get tired of herself looking at it since it still caused pain in her chest.

When the time for school to end, she walked home alone. It wasn't because she was feeling anti-social but wished to think of what to do to make her forget. Despite how bad that was, if this kept up it would surely make her too frustrated to focus on her own life rather than thinking of a now dead Ichigo.

Who was she kidding? That would never happen.

---

The Garganta closed behind Ulquiorra while he walked into Hueco Mundo, seeing a now wrecked Las Noches in front of him. Broken stone and rumble were here and there while his gaze moved from one place to another upon the massive structure.

"I never would have thought that you would go up against Aizen," said a voice behind him.

Ulquiorra didn't need to turn nor think on who it was since he knew. That voice belonged to the one who thought that he, Ulquiorra, was afraid to fight against him.

"I see," they said while Ulquiorra knew they were smirking when he heard them walk closer. "Tch, this building takes way too much space," they said while bringing out their zanpakutou and drew blood from their fingers with the tip of the blade. Ulquiorra didn't need to look to see what Grimmjow was up to since that was how the Gran Rey Cero was preformed.

The bright blue became almost blinding before it launched forward. The sound echoed while it did so while the damage it made upon the building was great. The building moaned and groaned while it fell. Those inside still were crushed if they didn't get out somehow.

The wind caused by the destruction blew outward, making the two Espada's clothing flap, while they watched Las Noches fall like the Roman Empire.

Well, something remotely close to it.

"Much better," grinned Grimmjow while sheathing his zankpakutou. Ulquiorra just looked on in silence.

Yes, this rubble would teach them what happens when they would side ever again with trash. Foolish people who thought they could manipulate them to do their bidding and so called rule of the universe.

The only ones who ruled the universe was everyone.

Grimmjow looked at Ulquiorra, noticing he was being quiet - which wasn't a surprise - but since he didn't react by destroying Las Noches, he was curious to what the 4th Espada was thinking. Despite that thought being completely out of character for him, Ulquiorra had gone up in his book. By far. The bastard finally realized that he and the others were idiots to follow Aizen.

Seemed like Grimmjow was the real genius.

"Shit!"

Grimmjow and Ulquiorra looked to the voice spouting cuss word after word while their huge zanpakutou clanged in the ground. "Grimmjow, you fuck! Don't go shooting that anywhere you want!" Nnoitra glared at Grimmjow who only smirked back in amusement.

"Weren't quick enough?" Grimmjow's smirk now became insane - a trademark of his.

Nnoitra glared at Grimmjow. The air seemed to sizzle between them while Ulquiorra chose that moment to walk away since he didn't wish to see the two idiots fight for something so meaningless.

"Oi," called Grimmjow.

Ulquiorra just kept on walking away. "Tch. That silent bastard," said Grimmjow. Nnoitra took out his zanpakutou out of the ground easily with his twig-like arms. "Oi, Ulquiorra! Aren't you gonna go to that pet of yours?"

That didn't even stop the fourth Espada since he had ignored them already.

"Tch, how boring," said Nnoitra before swinging his zanpakutou and pointed it at Grimmjow. "You better watch it, Grimmjow, or I'll cut you into pieces!"

Grimmjow just smirked like the Chesire cat, "Blow me."

"What did you say?!"

Ulquiorra had used sonido to get away from the rowdy fools and appeared at the west side of what used to be Las Noches.

What should he do now? When he was serving for Aizen, he was assigned tasks that kept him busy and now he was free to do anything.

Anything...

---

Orihime was making dinner for herself. She stirred the spoon in the huge pot filled with foods that shouldn't be mixed together. Setting the knob for the stove at medium, she took out the spoon and put it upon the holder before cutting up some foods to accompany her main meal.

She was about to put the food on a plate before the telephone rang in the living room. Setting down the knife, she half ran to the living room and picked up the receiver from the phone set upon the side-table near the lamp.

"Hello?"

"Hey Orihime, it's me."

"Oh, hello Tatsuki. Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Nothing's wrong. Just wanted to call you to see how you were doing."

Orihime smiled. After Ichigo was buried, Tatsuki had comforted her. She was so lucky to have friends. "I'm doing good."

"You sure? Want me to come over?"

"Ah, well, I only made food for myself." Orihime looked towards the kitchen.

"Haha, that's no problem. I ate already."

Orihime started to think about it. It would be great to have someone to chat with while eating and not just stare off into space in this empty house. "If it's no trouble, Tatsuki. That would be great for you to come."

"Great! I'll see you then!" There was a click before Orihime put the receiver back down and went back to the kitchen. She immediately checked the pot and saw that her meal wasn't ruined.

She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't notice a certain shadow outside.

---

Nnoitra had become bored in Hueco Mundo and Grimmjow didn't wish to fight him. "Scared little shit he is. So, here he was in the real world and had come to search for some...entertainment.

When he felt a familiar reiatsu, he smirked oddly. "Ah, the hot babe that used to be Ulquiorra's pet. Such a shame that he hadn't had fun with her yet." Nnoitra licked his teeth in a creepy way before thinking up of a way to surprise the human woman.

Just when he had a plan formed, he noticed another female came into the house through the window. Oh, just his luck! Two at once? He couldn't pass that up!

Not caring for the house, he let his zanpakutou fly through the window, causing it to shatter before it whizzed passed them and broke the other wall just a tad since he had thrown it lazily.

Tatsuki and Orihime were looking at the weird shaped object before looking at the now broken glass.

"What's going on?" Tatsuki started to walk toward it but she was stopped by Orihime's hand on her shoulder. She could feel reiatsu outside and it was quite close to Ulquiorra's but lower.

"Go home, Tatsuki," said Orihime in a lower tone that usual.

"What? No way! We have to find out who-"

"Go home or you'll die!"

"What about you?! You can't...you..." Tatsuki's words died when Nnoitra stepped in, his loopy boots stepping upon the glass shards underneath the window.

"Two hot babes in the same room." The redhead had more of a stack though.

Tatsuki was the one to glare at him while Orihime just stared since she had no idea who this was. Both of them watched Nnoitra walk over to his zanpakutou and pulled it out with ease. "So...which one of you will be first?"

"Who are you?!"

"Who cares who I am." Walking toward them, Tatsuki got into ready stance while Orihime got ready to summon her shield. "What you should be worrying is what you'll be doing in a few minutes," he said with a sick smirk.

"Tch," muttered Tatsuki while Orihime just stood there. She wouldn't risk Tsubaki again like she did when she fought Yammy - or at least tried to.

"Well? You two gonna start or am I gonna have to make you two do it?"

Tatsuki was confused, "Start what?"

"Stripping of course."

Orihime and Tatsuki were surprised and shocked. "What?!"

"No? Then I'll do the honors," Nnoitra said while jabbing his zanpakutou in the ground. The floor cracked and gave way to make a hole while Nnoitra headed towards them. Tatsuki would bring up her right leg to land a kick to his stomach but only felt pain.

It didn't even harm Nnoitra at all.

When Tatsuki looked on in horror, Nnoitra smirked sickeningly even more before using sonido and reached for their clothing. A shield immediately sprang forth to push his hands back. It was enough for Orihime and Tatsuki to flee, as stupid at that was.

They both started to run out of the house and head toward the park nearby. The air was a bit chilly but that didn't bug them since they would get warmed up from the run quick. Orihime and Tatsuki panted while they continued to run without looking back - which was good since Nnoitra was catching up to them quick using sonido.

"A game of chase, eh? My favorite!"

"Get away you freak," shouted Tatsuki before she grabbed hold of Orihime and dragged her friend with a quick right and then a left at the next block.

"Hahahahaha! That won't stop me you idiots!"

Orihime soon got an idea. Her shield acted solid, right? It could also move...

Summoning it, she told the fairies what to do and soon enough, she and Tatsuki were standing on a floating shield that zipped quickly through the air.

"Wow, I didn't know you could do this, Orihime," said Tatsuki in amazement. "Hopefully we'll gain some distance with this."

Orihime nodded but since Nnoitra could use sonido, it could be a problem. Even worse if he threw that huge object at them.

"Enough with the games," said Nnoitra before appearing before them. Orihime and Tatsuki jumped off, thankful for the short height, before running.

"It's useless to get away," purred Nnoitra while he appeared in front of them again. "Now, let's start getting rid of those clothes-" He guided his zanpakutou over their clothing quickly, which caused parts of their clothing to hung or tear off. The both of them covered themselves up while Tatsuki glared daggers at Nnoitra.

"You pervert!"

That part was clearly obvious. "Shall we begin? No, why should I ask? You two will be mine tonight," he said while licking his teeth and went toward them. Right when he got closer, his zanpakutou was blocked by another.

Orihime was shocked as well as Nnoitra - if not more.

Cat-like green eyes with matching tear-streaks down below on his cheeks looked at Nnoitra with a calm yet emotionless stare. His arm didn't even fidget or flinch while holding the weight with his zanpakutou.

"Ulquiorra," started an annoyed Nnoitra. "What are you doing in my way, huh?"

When Ulquiorra said nothing and just stared, it just pissed off Nnoitra even more. "Listen when someone speaks-"

"You are not to harm this woman nor her friends, Nnoitra." Orihime looked at Ulquiorra while Tatsuki was wondering just who these two were. Nnoitra clenched his teeth before pulling his zanpakutou back while he saw the threat in Ulquiorra's reiatsu as well as eyes.

"Still protecting her after Aizen's demise? You two probably had fun," he said while ending the last sentence with a smirk. Before anyone could respond, he disappeared. Ulquiorra sheathed his zanpakutou before turning his head to look at the two women. "He will not bother you two again."

"Uh, thanks. I guess," said Tatsuki. She was still weird-ed out with all of what happened just now.

Orihime couldn't help but smile a little at Ulquiorra. Thanks to him making the other Espada realizing how much of fools they were to work along with him, Aizen, Gin, and Tousen were now gone. However, the fact that Ichigo was dead because of Ulquiorra still gnawed at her nerves.

"I've been meaning to ask you something Ulquiorra."

Tatsuki looked at her friend with question while Ulquiorra just simply stared.

"Why....why did you kill Ichigo?"

The first one to react was Tatsuki by bringing up her fist and shoving it toward Ulquiorra. It was no surprise that Ulquiorra blocked the attack easily with his hand wrapped around her wrist. "You! You killed him?!"

"Yes," he said simply.

Tatsuki became even more pissed off at his answer but the way he acted was like he didn't care. "You bastard! Do you know how many people miss him?! How many people loved him?!" Tatsuki swung another fist at him but a shield blocked her. Tatsuki and Ulquiorra's eyes widened at the sight.

"Tatsuki. I was asking him why, you didn't have to-"

"Are you listening to yourself?! He killed Ichigo!"

"Tatsuki! Please! I just want to know the reason why he killed him!"

"It's so obvious Orihime! He's...he's..."

A monster!

"No," said Orihime quietly. "...he's not."

Ulquiorra stared at her but if one could look closely, there was shock and surprise. The woman never failed to surprise him even more.

"Woman," he started. "The reason why I killed him is that I stated that I would do so if he becomes a threat to Aizen. Nothing more."

"That's even worse than before!" Tatsuki brought back the fist that was blocked by the shield from before to try and punch him again. However, another shield met her fist once more. "Why are you protecting him, Orihime?! He killed Ichigo - he killed him!"

"I know he did," Orihime said softly.

"Then why are you protecting him?! He killed the one you lo-"

A hand had covered her mouth to interrupt her words. Tatsuki could feel how different the hand's temperature from her own body temperature. It felt so cold like ice. However, that didn't match the ice-like stare that Ulquiorra was giving her.

"Silence," he said coldly. "One shouldn't speak when they don't know the whole story." Tatsuki could feel her head throbbing from a headache coming on while she heard that voice while the stare froze her expression in shock.

"She is not stupid," he added.

Tatsuki glared at him, "I've never called her that that-"

"Oh?" His voice was mocking her now. "Then why don't you understand that she won't react the way you have done?"

"Uhhh," Tatsuki said while thinking. It led to nothing though since she really didn't know what had happened.

Ulquiorra had seen this and had let out a "hm" before his hand fell back to his pockets. Tatsuki looked at Orihime, her eyes clearly showing that she was sorry. "I'm...so sorry Orihime." She started walking toward Orihime like a battered dog. Cautiously and tired, she reached Orihime and gave her a huge hug. "I'm so sorry..."

Orihime wrapped her arms around her friend tightly while the both of them cried on each other's shoulders. "I forgive you Tatsuki.... I forgive you."

Tatsuki's eyes widened in realization while something clicked in Ulquiorra.

I forgive you.

Forgiveness... So, she had forgiven him from what he had done? After killing Ichigo she had forgiven him just because he was manipulated by Aizen?

It made him wonder how she managed to survive since many people could take advantage of that. It only proved that humans were, indeed, foolish.

Ulquiorra continued to watch them before they pulled away. Just what were they doing anyway? He'd never seen a reaction like that before.

Orihime then sent a smile at him, "I forgive you too, Ulquiorra."

"How foolish," is what escaped from his mouth but Orihime just kept on smiling. She knew how he was and since her personality rubbed on him, like his did to her, the both of them acted like twins now.

Or... were they something more than twins?

"We should go back, Orihime. If anyone sees this sight of him and us two, with torn up clothing, then they'll no doubt get the wrong picture."

Orihime looked down and noticed what her friend was hinting at. Covering herself immediately with a yelp, she hid behind Tatsuki, who only sweatdropped. Tatsuki stared at Ulquiorra who only stared back before Tatsuki started heading the way they came.

"Let's go Orihime."

"Mm!" Orihime nodded before following Tatsuki before waving quite oddly at Ulquiorra in a goodbye gesture. Ulquiorra closed his eyes to block the image of her and not because of her state of attire but because he was starting to think about her even more.

The way she acted was weird to him. Opening his eyes slowly, he saw the two female's forms become like a blur.

"That foolish woman..."

A snap sounded in the air while a Garganta opened up and swallowed him slowly while he continued to stare at the same spot they had disappeared.

"Yet..., I'm also foolish."

There you have it. A bit short but at least it was meaningful? Hopefully?

Anyway, hope you enjoyed it and be sure to leave your opinion please!