It took a full month for Urahara to make a new body for Ulquiorra. Since they didn't want Soul Society to know what they were doing, they had to sneak around to get the supplies. Orihime kept thanking her friends again and again. They were going through so much trouble for her. They were truly the best friends she could ever wish for. Once this was over, she would throw them a party to show her appreciation. She'd been planning it all month. There would be food and balloons and movies. It would be amazing. She had to bite her tongue to keep her friends from finding out. It had to be a surprise. She'd already planned how she would invite each one. She was refining these plans when Urahara gave her the call. She could barely breathe as she walked up to the little shop. Jinta and Ururu were waiting for her in the back.

"The boss said we'll need your hairpins for this since they contain what's left of his heart." Shinta held out his hand. She handed them over reluctantly. Sora's gift had become even more important to her. Now they were giving her one final gift. Ulquiorra had been quiet the past few weeks, sometimes he wouldn't even appear when she called him, but he was probably just nervous. Once Jinta and Ururu left, Orihime sat and waited.

Ulquiorra couldn't say his heart was racing. He could say he felt apprehensive. He still did not trust these people. While he had promised to be the woman's caretaker, he did not fully believe they would leave him alone. The old man set many large machines to work, replicating his reiatsu so he could control a full sized body. While his heart, and thus his soul, had made the jump to Orihime's hairpins, the rest of his power had not. He doubted he could do much for the woman in a battle without his full strength. But he had made a promise, and he intended to keep it.

"Are you ready Mr. Arrancar?" Ulquiorra nodded. He lay next to the body that had been made for him, nothing more than a gigai, really. Everyone had been surprised when they discovered his heart had made the leap to Orihime's. Even now they didn't fully believe it, even the old man about to give his heart a "place to live" as the woman put it. Ulquiorra was not surprised. He had finally found her heart, and his own, in those final moments. The old man flipped a few switches and his tiny body started to burn. It did not literally burst into flames, but it burned inside. Had he been anyone else, he would no doubt have screamed. But he was Ulquiorra Cifer. He would not bow to such feelings.

"This next part will hurt." The old man said. Ulquiorra said nothing. The old man had not been wrong. He felt himself being pulled apart, bit by bit. When he had turned to dust, it had been painless, numbing, but this was exactly the opposite. This was what it truly felt like to turn to dust. For a moment his vision went black from the pain. Then it was over. He had a slight tingling sensation all over his body, but other than that, he felt normal. He sat up, the cloth covering his body falling to the ground. The old man held up a mirror.

"Not bad, if I do say so myself." He looked like his old self, without the hole just below his throat. He still had tear streaks down his face, and the number 4 was still tattooed on his chest. So they were not going to let him forget where he came from. That was fine by him. He did not need to change his face to forget, or to remember.

"It will do." He said, and slid off the table. He was handed some clothes and instructed to dress. He had to admit the garments were rather difficult to put on. Instead of simply wrapping and tying knots, he now had to use "buttons" and "zippers" which were annoying to handle. When he was finally done, he walked out to where the woman was waiting. She stood up and stared at him. She did not say anything for a surprisingly long time. Usually she would not shut up. He did not know whether to be happy or disappointed. He didn't say anything either. They just watched each other until the old man finally broke the silence and helped the woman's brain function normally.

"Well, don't you look nice in Western clothes."

"Yes, I agree. You look nice Ulquiorra-kun."

"These are annoying. I wish to have my old garments returned to me."

"Sorry. They are too conspicuous here in the World of the Living. You will simply have to adjust. Ta-ta now. And don't do anything rash, you hear?" The woman turned red in the face, and started stammering and babbling like she usually did under pressure.

"I will be fine. I have been in far more difficult situations. Come woman, we must leave." She thanked them all profusely, even forcing Ulquiorra to bow and thank them. He had grudgingly done as she asked. They left the shop and started walking through the city streets.

"So, how does it feel to be normal sized again?" The woman asked.

"Normal."

"Oh. Well, did Urahara give you any more clothes?"

"No."

"We'll just have to get you some. Come on!" She grabbed his hand and started dragging him along. She was surprisingly strong. Why had she not used this strength while she was captive in Hueco Mundo? But the woman would not listen to his protests, and insisted they get him more clothes along with supplies for the party she was planning. Initially he had refused to help her, but he found it hard to say no to this woman for long. Her hand felt warm, so he let her drag him from shop to shop. He carried what they purchased, until he could hardly see above the packages.

"I think this is enough." She finally said, looking triumphant. "Let's get some ice-cream." The woman refused to explain what this ice-cream was, but she said he would love it.

The vendor stared at Ulquiorra while Orihime bought the cones. She laughed when she handed Ulquiorra's his and he just stared at it.

"Here, let me show you." She opened her ice-cream and started licking it. "Now you try." He opened it without a problem, but once he licked it, he nearly dropped the entire thing.

"It's cold. Colder than Hueco Mundo's desert." Orihime laughed and kept on laughing. It was so good to have him back. Yes he could be pushy at times, but at heart he was a good person, and she liked him for it.

"That's the point. On hot days it cools you down. Go on, eat it. It gets better the more you have." He did, and they spent half an hour sitting on a bench eating ice-cream. She told him all about the wonders of the World of the Living. When she told him about airplanes, he seemed unimpressed.

"Flying is easier, or using Sonido."

"Humans can't do those things. I can't, even though Ichigo and Rukia can. We make do."

"You must make do a lot."

"Yeah, but we don't mind. It's the journey, not the destination that matters, or so they say."

"That is stupid. If you spend the entire time traveling, you will never reach your destination. Whoever 'they' are, they are idiots." The woman started giggling again, and he felt something in his chest tighten and warm. What an odd sensation. This new body must be malfunctioning. Idiotic old man.

"What's wrong Ulquiorra-kun? Are you alright?"

"I am fine woman. It is my job to take care of you, not the other way around." He stood. "We must return to your home." He started walking when she stopped him.

"It's the other way." He stopped, turned, and continued walking, allowing the woman to take the lead.


Hi everybody! Thanks for the lovely reviews. Some thought I jumped to Ulqiorra's body a little fast. Do you think I should add a chapter with him still tiny? Have more of an argument? Or is this fine? Let me know.

Also, I'd like to say thank you to my guest reviewers, especially Crazyforgrimmy. Even though I can't contact you, I still appreciate your support!