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Author's Notes: This is a quick fanfic for UlquiHime.

This is pretty shoddy considering I'm just sitting down and typing it out right now. Normally I'd put much more time and details into it but, heh.

This is my vision of the ultimate UlquiHime moment that could appear in the series. I don't plan on adding any more. This fic is the "One Condition" if Kubo kills off Ulquiorra.

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Aizen has returned to Las Noches from the battle in Karakura town. He, Tousen, Gin and the other Espada that survived the fight teleported to the throne room during the middle of Ichigo's and Ulquiorra's fight.

Aizen walked smoothly over to his throne and sat down, calmly ignoring Ichigo's presence. The ex-shinigami captains moved out of his line of sight followed closely by the remaining espada.

Ulquiorra bowed and also moved to one side of the room, knowing that his leader was not interested in him.

Moving his hand to his cheek, Aizen ordered, "Stark. Hold down Kurosaki Ichigo."

Stark withheld a sigh and using sonido, rapidly appeared behind Ichigo. He grasped both of the shinigami's hands with an iron grip. Ichigo yelled and tried to release himself but to no avail.

"...." Aizen briefly glanced at the doorway. "Grimmjow."

A Grimmjow, rather worse for wear, appeared. He had reverted back to his human figure and a majority of his wounds had sealed themselves. He strode towards the middle of the room although most of his previous swagger was gone.

Aizen met the sixth espada's bitter gaze but didn't comment. Instead, he spoke to Ichigo, "This is where your 'rescue plan' ends. I've let you live long enough but you will have to wait just a few moments longer for death. First, Grimmjow!"Grimmjow looked up sharply. "Kill Inoue Orihime and I'll forgive you for disobeying my orders."

Grimmjow turned his eyes towards Orihime. He hesitated drawing his sword- more or less because he didn't like following orders. In the end, he raised the sword against the red haired woman.

Her eyes widened and she looked over to Ichigo who was struggling to break free and calling her name. Fear gripped her heart. This was the end. She was going to die here and she couldn't save anyone. Her eyes flickered past Ulquiorra but returned to catch his stare. Suddenly everything was alright. She could accept death. She would no longer be a burden to everyone. She wouldn't be around to get in the way of Rukia and Ichigo. They wouldn't be forced to protect her all the time. Death was the solution. She exhaled and looked up at Grimmjow as he moved foward to cut her down.

Orihime watched as his blade swung up into the air. This was it. His blade came down.

"....Oh?" Aizen watched with an odd look in his eye. "What's the meaning of this... ...Ulquiorra?"

The fourth Espada stood between Grimmjow's sword and Orihime. He saved her life. Grimmjow and the other espada looked surprised. Even Ichigo shut up and stopped struggling.

Ulquiorra didn't reply. Whether he was unsure of what to say or he knew that whatever he said now didn't matter was unknown.

Orihime stood behind him, utterly shocked. "Ul.. Ulquiorra.." she whispered.

"My, I am disappointed in you Ulquiorra." Aizen didn't look disappointed as he said it. "Ichimaru..."

Gin smirked and unsheathed his zanpakuto. Ulquiorra prepared for the attack but having never seen Gin's abilities, miscalculated. Blood spewed from the new hole in Ulquiorra's chest. His eyes widened as he fell. Orihime didn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Time slowed as she watched him collapse. Many different thoughts and feelings competed inside Orihime. Why did he save her? He was killed because of that! He shouldn't have cared if she died. Didn't he say that she was going to die someday anyway? But he didn't care! Yes he did! Why else would he save her then? Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY?!!

He hit the ground and she fell to her knees. Aizen lost interest in them and turned to Ichigo but Orihime didn't pay attention. Her mind was focused on Ulquiorra. She didn't touch him but clasped her hands together. The human girl whispered, "Why did you save me?"

His eyes opened slightly and he answered, "...I don't know. I acted on.. instinct, tch..." He closed his eyes as if a little disgusted with himself and probably because of the pain. "I.. don't know what I.. was thinking.... It didn't.. help either of us... "

"...Thank you. Ulquiorra." A sincere smile appeared upon Orihime's face.

His green eyes widened and he stared at her as he started to fade away. "...Inoue... Or..i.....hime...."

She stopped smiling. "Ulquiorra..? Ulquiorra?!" But he had breathed his last.

"NO!!!!" she screamed and fell on his chest, sobbing. "Why?... Why? Because of me..."

In the midst of their last conversation, her friends and the other shinigami had arrived. But they fell into another one of Aizen's traps. He lured them there under the pretense that they were going to fight him or try to rescue their friends. But he and his arrancar followers spirited away, bringing down the building in their wake.

"Inoue!" Ichigo ran over to her and tried to pull her up. "We've got to go, the building is collapsing!"

"I'm not leaving him," she held his eyes as she stated this. Pieces of the ceiling were dropping all around them.

"What?!"

"I'm not leaving him!" she insisted.

"Let's go," Byakuya ordered calmly before pushing Rukia along.

Ichigo threw Orihime over his shoulder, "Well we're not leaving you!"

She struggled and looked him in the eye, "I'm not going to leave him here!"

"And I'm not gonna carry THAT GUY!!!"

Chad intervened and threw Ulquiorra's body over his shoulder. Ichigo gave him an "Ew" face but left it at that. They ran after the others.

Outside, they stood among the ruins of Hueco Mundo. Orihime squirmed out of Ichigo's hold and ran up to Chad, "Sado-kun, thank you. But could you put him down now please?"

Chad replied, "Sure" and laid him on the ground.

Orihime summoned her Shun Shun Rika and whispered over him, "I reject."

"Oi, Inoue! Why do you want to heal that guy after all he's done? He's the one who kidnapped you!" Ichigo pointed at Ulquiorra's body.

The captains and their underlings left them to survey the damage. Byakuya specifically went to find out where the heck was Mayuri. Rukia, Chad and Ishida stayed behind.

After a few moments Orihime responded. "He was someone very lonely. He didn't know what friends were for or what joy they could bring. I was once lonely too. But I gained friends and they encouraged me to live and love. He never had that. So... why can't he start now? Why can't he have that chance?"

Ishida sighed and entered the conversation, "You care too much sometimes... but that's why we care about you."

Then Ulquiorra opened his eyes under the yellow healing shield.

"Welcome back," Orihime smiled.

I love it!