We reached a hidden cave underground. Ulquiorra went out and got some supplies for us and he had just come back. 

He was being silent, this would be normal if we hadn't just ran away from Aizen.

"Why?" I asked him. He didn't look up at me. He got the campfire lit and it illuminated his face. 

"I couldn't kill you. I couldn't let you get hurt," he told me. He didn't look at me, he kept his head down.

"But, you always told me to live for myself. Why did you go against your own belief?"

"You idiot! Because I care about you! Even I know that, are you that ignorant?" He angrily said.

"But-"

"No. Listen to me. You have made my life hell since you showed up. I hate dealing with all these emotions. Ever since you showed up they won't leave. What makes it even worse is I can't get you out of my head.

"If it was a few days ago, I would have killed you on the spot. But how am I supposed to kill the person that makes me feel like I have a heart?" 

Ulquiorra got up and came over and sat next to me. 

"There's no going back for anything. I can't get rid of the emotions and I can never go back to working under Aizen again. And I did it for a human. I'm just as confused as you, but what's done is done."

"You say I'm the idiot, but you're the idiot," I mumbled. I didn't know how to respond to him, I was not expecting that.

"I care about you too," I whispered. If the situation was reversed, I wouldn't hurt him either. 

We sat in silence. I wasn't even sure if he heard me. 

"Teach me about the other emotions," Ulquiorra broke the silence. 

I sat there, not answering for a moment. 

"What emotion what do you want me to go over?"

I stared into the bright flames that lit up the darkness. As I started to think of all of the things that were outside of this cave I started to tremble.

Fear. How often have I felt that since I was taken here? Way too much. 

"What other emotions are there?" He asked me. He was still looking into the fire. 

"There's a lot. I don't really think that's what we should talk about right now. What are we going to do?" I asked him. His shoulders slumped. 

"Stay hidden. Aizen might sent people out to kill us, Grimmjow would be more than willing to kill us."

"But what about the things outside of this cave?" I asked him. 

"Those are like little toys for me. They aren't a threat." Ulquiorra said. His voice was cold. 

"You were them at one point," I stated.

"I was one of you," he threw back. I blinked.

"You remember that?" I asked him.

"No." 

I waited for him to say something more, but nothing came. So god damn confusing. 

Orihime flashed through my mind. How could I leave her? What if she isn't okay? I won't be able to live. 

"Stop." 

I froze, opening my eyes slowly. 

"That face you are making. You're thinking of Orihime, you're worrying. Relax. I already said Aizen isn't going to hurt her, he needs her. He could afford to have one of you dead and the other at his control. But now that you are not there, he can't afford to play that game." 

He handed me some food he had been making. 

"Eat. If by chance the others come you need to be ready." 

I looked curiously at it. I scrunched up my nose. It smelled horrible and I didn't even really know what it was. 

"Your face is really unattractive like that," Ulquiorra said. 

"That's rude!" I yelled at him. 

"You're being the rude one. I cook for you and you won't eat it." He stared at his hands, not looking at me. 

I made another face. I stared at the food again, not moving.

"Ahh!" 

My head snapped up and my eyes were directed to the opening of the cave. The scream. It sounded like a girl.

I ran to the opening but felt slender arms wrap around me. 

"I won't let you go. You're not getting hurt," Ulquiorra whispered in my ear. 

"What if she is hurt?" I asked. I couldn't turn to look at him. 

"So naive," he chided me. My hands turned into fists. 

His grip on me tightened and I gulped. I didn't struggle against him. 

I could hear someone fighting.

"You really think the espadas would conserve themselves with whatever is out there?" I growled at him. The girl that screamed out there, she needed help.

I wrenched out of his grip and I ran out of the cave. 

"Maaya!" Ulquiorra yelled at me. He was behind me in a flash and grabbed me again.

A black haired girl was fighting a horde of hollows. Rukia. 

She was there with Kisuke sometimes when I lived there. Whenever she had a mission she would stop by there, then go and stay with Ichigo.

"I know her! Stop!" I yelled and wrenched one of my arms free and put a barrier around Rukia. 

"What the hell are you doing?" He yelled at me.

"Rukia!" I screamed. Her head whipped around. Her eyes widened as she saw me. 

I let out a breath and ripped my other arm out of Ulquiorra's grip. 

I would save someone. I wasn't going to let her get hurt.

I flicked my wrist. Swords appeared around the barrier of Rukia. They flew out, killing the hollows that surrounded her. 

They were incredibly low level. When Kisuke taught me this trick it took me forever to kill a normal hollow. There were just so many of them.

Rukia flew up to where we were. She took me into her arms.

"You're okay," she cried. Ulquiorra was touching my back. 

"Rukia," I whispered. Tears streamed down my face in seeing her. They really came. 

She pulled away from me. Tears were streaming down her eyes, but her eyes locked onto Ulquiorra. 

She drew her sword and had it against his neck.

"Stop!" I yelled at her and got in between her sword and Ulquiorra. 

"He's the monster that took you," Rukia growled out.

"He's not a monster," I said instantly. I didn't even take any time to think about it. He really wasn't a monster. He was the person who saved me and protected me while I was here. He may have brought me here, but I would still have ended up here. If it wasn't him, it would have been someone else. 

"How can you say that?" She glared at Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra was still and quiet behind me. 

"He took me away from Aizen. Aizen was going to kill me, but Ulquiorra saved me. We ran, that's why we are hiding out here," I explained to her. 

"What about Orihime?" Rukia asked. I burst into tears. I couldn't save her.

"We didn't have time to grab her. I know Aizen. He won't hurt her, she is an important part of his plan to him. He was willing to give one of them up because there powers are so similar, but now that one of them is gone, he is going to heavily guard Orihime," Ulquiorra said. 

I could have grabbed her. I could have done something. Why could I never protect the people I love?

"We're going to save her," Rukia told me. She lowered her sword and I let out a breath I had been holding.

"You, I don't know what your motive is, but you better understand this. If you betray us, or hurt Maaya any further, I'll kill you," Rukia growled. 

"I can't hurt her," Ulquiorra whispered. 

Rukia nodded.

"Where is Ichigo?" I asked. 

"I'm not sure." 

"Even if Ichigo reached them, he isn't going to be able to just grab her and go. They are watching, and Grimmjow can't wait to fight him." Ulquiorra put his hand on my shoulder. I relaxed slightly at the cool touch. 

"I don't want Maaya going back there. She will get hurt. I will go with you to get Orihime," Ulquiorra said.

"Like hell you are. I'm going with, whether you like it or not. She's my best friend. I can take care of myself," I turned around to yell at him.

"Aizen wants you dead. I won't let you go anywhere near him," Ulquiorra said calmly. 

"You can't stop me," I growled. 

"Just let her go. Wouldn't you want her where you can see her?" Rukia said, I could tell she was agitated at our bickering. 

Uluquiorra stared at Rukia.

"Fine. We will go after the two of you rest. I'm not babysitting you when we go back there," Ulquiorra said, the agitation in his voice was prevalent.

Rukia rolled her eyes and came over to me. She hugged me close, and I couldn't help but wish that none of this ever happened.