Characters: Orihime, Ulquiorra
Summary: I wonder why.
Pairings: UlquiHime
Warnings/Spoilers: spoilers for Hueco Mundo arc
Timeline: post-Hueco Mundo arc
Author's Note: I think that a lot of people have already identified Orihime's relationship with Ulquiorra as, at some point, especially at the end being reminiscent of Stockholm Syndrome. While I don't really see it myself, I thought it would be interesting to try to right it like that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

The blackness yawns up before her and Orihime isn't sure if she's diseased or if she's just too nice for her own good. She doesn't feel like she's sick, doesn't feel feverish or weak, but if she does have something it's a malaise of the mind and the soul, not a malady of the flesh.

Stiff is the heart that wouldn't bend before Ulquiorra's cold detachment and dull, piercing eyes, and Orihime doesn't have a stiff heart, but one that's soft and squishes in her hand when she draws it out to squeeze. Of course, it's not like he can reach her heart, because he doesn't even know what a heart is.

But, somehow, Orihime thinks, maybe he did.

It's a straight shot to oblivion and an even shorter one to emptiness. This Ulquiorra knew and this he taught her, so that Orihime knows emptiness and oblivion like the back of her hand and she can replicate it and embody it and live like him and still feel him, even after he's gone.

And still, pity exists. Orihime alternates between pitying the memory she has of Ulquiorra more than she ever has anyone else in her life, and between thinking that there was never anyone less deserving of pity.

Blackness yawns and she feels her heart grow still, shiver, and wonders why she feels as though her flow of blood is coming to a halt.

He's still with her, even now. All she has to do is close her eyes to remember green ones. And even now, Orihime wonders if he shouldn't be pitied, for all the emptiness and unknowing sadness she saw within him.

And, once the remembrance of everything else returns, Orihime wonders why she pities Ulquiorra, why she ever did, at all.