Undeniable

icy-chan

SUMMARY: Ulquiorra swore to protect her. He didn't understand why until that moment…

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from BLEACH. If that happened, I would not make BLEACH as boring as it is… (I still like BLEACH, though)

NOTE: This is to pack things up. I hope I will give justice to this.

REMINDER: Please enjoy this epilogue… then REVIEW afterwards.

EPILOGUE

Orihime Inoue slowly opened her eyes. Suddenly, she felt pang on her head.

"Ow, must be the hangover."

Then, she froze. She remembered all too well that yesterday, Ichigo dumped him. She went to a bar after that and drank too much alcohol. Many men tried making advances to her, but surprisingly, no one succeeded.

She was also supposed to be in a dark and mysterious place, where the moonlight could hardly enter. Yes, she thought, she was supposed to be there…

The orange head looked at the place she was in. Every thing resembled her room… Oh, wait, she is in her room!

How the hell did that happen? She couldn't remember.

Oh, wait. There was a man, she could barely see him, but this man received a slap from her…

Before she could grasp the whole scene, her head began to hurt again. Hangovers are really not good. She fell back to the pillow, thumping her head desperately.

She remained motionless for a few minutes when she heard the door opened. Rukia's head popped.

"Inoue?" The petite girl called.

Orihime weakly looked at the shinigami. Rukia was in her gigai. Her hair was grown longer. She became very beautiful when her hair became shoulder length. It seems natural for someone like Ichigo to fall for her…

Rukia walked in and sat on Orihime's bed.

"About yesterday…"

Orihime closed her eyes for a moment. Yes, Rukia was there when Ichigo told her he loved someone else. It was supposed to be still painful, but why doesn't Orihime even feel pain?

"It's okay, Rukia. I don't know what happened, but it's not a big deal for me anymore." Orihime explained. "I guess you deserve him more than I do."

The shinigami looked at her friend. Her eyes were wide with shock. "But, Ichigo was so stupid! You ran away and we were so worried. He just told us to give you a little space…"

"It's okay now. I felt like someone saved me from that loneliness…"

In reality, she hadn't accepted the situation yet, but she… she seemed unaffected that much by it anymore. She couldn't understand it. What's wrong? Shouldn't she be angry with Rukia?

"Orihime."

A very soft voice called out her name. It was sweet and sincere, that it somehow lifted her confusion.

Who called her name?

Vaguely, Orihime remembered a black haired man touching her face. His hand was soft and very warm…

While Orihime was trying to recall, a pang came. She twitched.

Rukia, alarmed, held Orihime's shoulders. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said.

"I'll get something for you to drink. Tea, probably?" Rukia stood up and headed for the door.

"Uh, wait, Rukia. Can you tell me who brought me to my house?"

Rukia turned a quarter around, and paused for few seconds before replying. "It was Urahara-san who told us you were here. Maybe it was him."

"Okay, thanks." Rukia went out of the room and slowly closed the door.

Orihime was a little disappointed. She was expecting for someone else to have brought her there, to her home, to her safety…

It was weird she wanted Ulquiorra Cifer to be that person.

She stood up from her bed and tried balancing herself. She went to her study table, and saw a piece of paper. Confused, she picked it up and opened it.

I promise – 4

There were only three characters, but Orihime felt comforted and overjoyed. Yes, it was him. Yes, he saved her.

She smiled. She could only think of only one reason why she felt unaffected of being dumped. It was him. How he did it, she didn't know.

But it felt like she realized something yesterday.

She still couldn't remember the promise, but it doesn't matter. She knew someone would always be there for her.

She looked outside the window and took a deep breath.

-x-

Ulquiorra looked at Orihime as she walked towards the window. He smirked.

"Well, Espada-kun, don't you have plans to approach her?"

Ulquiorra looked at the man who was talking. It was Kisuke Urahara.

He then returned his gaze at the woman. "I still don't have the courage to face Orihime."

"Well, that's alright. I'm just wondering, do you feel comfortable in that gigai?"

"It suppressed my powers greatly, but it's fine. It was my choice anyway." The Espada answered.

Urahara smiled. "It seems you wanted to become human. Tired of Aizen, I suppose?"

Ulquiorra did not answer this. Urahara didn't actually expect for him to answer. He just sighed and patted Ulquiorra. "Well, the heart can justify anything. If you need something, just pass by my house." Then he disappeared.

Ulquiorra stood there, in front of Orihime's house for a few moments, before walking away. He wanted to stay there for a little longer, but he was afraid Orihime would see him.

It was his decision, but he was still afraid.

This was the first time he created a decision by his own. Despite being Aizen's most loyal subordinate, he still cut their connection, and went to this woman.

That was a very rash decision for someone of his intellect, but he would never regret it. Never.

Yesterday's incident proved him that.

It was just like a dream when Ulquiorra touched her face. He didn't realize what he was doing at that moment, but he never regretted it.

He was about to pull his hand away from her, when she grabbed it tightly. It almost seemed like she didn't want to let go of it.

"I…I'm afraid."

Orihime lost her balance and fell right into Ulquiorra's arms. That was the first time something like that happened to the Esapada so he didn't know what to do.

But, probably coming from his past life as a human, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her, and held her firmly.

"Orihime…"

The girl lifted her head. She locked her eyes onto the emerald ones. She smiled. "I guess… it feels really good to be loved."

Silence.

"Ulquiorra… I never knew how it is to be loved. I have been selfish all along…"

"I am not sure if this is really… love." There was apparent disgust when he said the word love.

Orihime adjusted her position a little. "Have you ever thought of what is a heart?"

"No."

"The heart is something you should always protect. That is your heart. Funny, I cannot really understand what I'm saying." The girl is feeling dizzy already, and even dizzier the moment. "If you really love me, then I probably am your heart… Then you must protect me. Can you do that?"

Ulquiorra closed his eyes.

"Promise…?"

Before Ulquiorra could answer, Orihime had already fallen asleep.

"I had been doing that… Orihime."

Orihime would never realize that.

That's why he decided to hide and oversee her from far away. He had let go of Aizen, even if it's deadly, just to make sure Orihime is safe.

Maybe, he thought, love is not as selfish as she said.

He walked away from the house, thinking of the possibilities. He couldn't tell what will exactly happen in the future. But one thing's for sure: he would be willing to do everything to fulfill his promise.

He looked at his right palm, and closed his eyes.

Yet it still hurt. Are humans vulnerable because of the heart?

"Ulquiorra-kun! Wait!"

The man turned around and saw the girl running towards him.

Yes, it makes them weak and vulnerable… but it also gives them the power. I guess I'll just learn from this woman…

Ulquiorra smiled for the first time in his life. He was now free to do whatever he wanted. His only concern now is this woman.

Now, everything made sense. He wouldn't deny any of his feelings anymore.

He is now Ulquiorra Cifer, an Espada in a gigai, bound to a promise he made with this woman, Orihime Inoue. This... was something he would never regret.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Yeah, call this chapter a crap again. I tried my best to give this fic a good ending. I love happy endings :]. I hope you enjoyed this. What happens next? I'll leave it to your imagination.

I found this cheesy again. My mind is full of cheese, I think.

Anyway, thank you for reading. Please review:)