When we reached an entrance to Las Noches, Ulquiorra was waiting there. I hopped down off of Bawabawa to greet him. The three siblings followed me down, hiding behind me.
"Hey Ulquiorra," I greeted, "did Aizen send you?"
"Yes," he said, "it is imperative that we get inside quickly."
I tilted my head, "How come?"
"There are intruders in Hueco Mundo," he informed me.
"I guess they're here for Orihime," I turned around to see the giant sand figure in the distance, "Is that what that's for?"
Just then the giant figure of sand was encased in ice. Wondering who could have done that I felt Nel tug at my pants leg.
I picked her up, "Do you want to come with me?"
She nodded. I placed her on my shoulders, with her holding onto my hair.
I noticed Ulquiorra staring at her, "Is there a problem?"
"No," he turned around, "follow me."
Just as I was about to follow, I felt my hair being pulled.
"Let me go!" Nel demanded.
"No!" Pesshe said, "We can't follow them in there!"
"But I want to keep following Ichigo!" she cried.
"I don't care what you do just stop pulling on me!" I pleaded. I almost fell forward when the pulling stopped. I followed Ulquiorra into the building.
Suddenly Nel pulled on my hair, "Hey Ichigo!"
"What?" I asked a little annoyed.
"Donchakka and Peshe are gone!" she exclaimed.
"Maybe they got lost?" I guessed.
That did not help, she started crying.
"We could look for them later," I suggested.
"Why can't we look for them now?" she pulled at my hair again.
"Because I have something to do first!" I told her. When she finally stopped pulling my hair I sighed, "Ulquiorra, could you take care of her for a bit?" I managed to pry her off of me and hand her over to Ulquiorra. "I'll be right back," I told both of them. I ran off before either of them could say anything.
I quickly found my way to Orihime's room. I silently pushed open the door, hoping to not scare her. She was looking down at her feet.
"Orihime?" I spoke.
She looked up at me, "Ichigo?"
I avoided her gaze, "Sorry."
"What are you sorry for?" she asked.
I rubbed my neck, "For everything I did."
"It's okay," she smiled, "you didn't do anything wrong."
"No I did, I lashed out at you because I was scared. I was scared of what my past was. To me you represented my past, and I lashed out at you because of that. I'm sorry Orihime, for everything I did," I walked over to her, "I remember everything."
Her eyes widened as tears started forming in her eyes, "I'm so glad you're back Ichigo," she hugged me.
"I'm going to see if Aizen will let you go back," I told her.
"What about you?" she asked pulling away.
"What about me?" I asked.
"Aren't you going to escape?"
I was confused for a moment. Then I realized what she meant, "I'm choosing to be here."
"Whatever he's using to keep you here isn't worth it," her expression was serious. She stood up.
"Why do you care so much whether or not I stay here?"
"Because I came here for you!"
"But why?"
"Because I'm in love with you!"
I stared at her, for a moment neither of us said anything.
"I'm sorry, but I can't love you back. And I can't come back with you either."
"Why?" she looks like she's about to cry.
"Because," I told her, "I'm in love with Aizen."
The light in her eyes seemed to disappear as tears pooled in her eyes.
I left her alone in her room, hoping that she would be able to move on.
I noticed Ulquiorra was standing near the door with Nel in tow. He held her out to me, "I am not adequately prepared to oversee this child."
He handed me Nel and walked into Orihime's room.
I started walking towards my room. "So I'm going to bring you to my room," I told her.
When she didn't immediately respond, I looked down to see her sleeping. When we reached my room, I placed her on my bed.
"Now to talk to Aizen," I said.
