Later that evening after Ulquiorra and Orihime left Urahara's shop, Rukia had a conversation with Kisuke Urahara about this very odd predicament. She had a hunch that the ex-captain was playing a role in this. After denying it she brought up how Urahara hid the hougyokou in her gigai many months before and that was just one of the many examples of Urahara's tendency to have a hand in most situations.
Kisuke laughed off the accusations. After providing Rukia with the items she was requesting for the ball, he sent the young shinigami on her way.
Jinta and Ururu was running errands for the shop-keeper and Tessai had some business to take care of with one of their vendors across town, leaving Urahara alone for the first time he found in a while.
He was half tempted to call Yoruichi but he was aware she was busy what with cleaning up the remnants of Aizen's mess after-all. A lot was on the shop-keeper's mind but he reminisced in this wake of peace that he never thought would be achievable.
Hundreds of years was leading up to this battle and it was finally over. But this brought his thoughts back to the arrancar along with Ulquiorra and Grimmjow's situation.
When first developing the hougyokou he found it was extremely unstable in the creation disrupting the barrier between hollow and shinigami. He never had control in size, shape, or form. It was entirely unpredictable. Before Urahara abandoned this project due to the ethical complications behind it, he discovered that a great deal of stress applied would further disrupt their physical state, at times even causing them to shrink.
So when Ulquiorra had came by that day with additional information that Aizen must have discovered about this phenomenon, he was intrigued.
Aizen must have found a way to not only bring stability to their physical state, but was aware of this weakness they held. The stress of death was already much, but not enough to cause this phenomenon to occur. It wasn't until an extra special something was added to the mix would it cause their physical forms to shift due to the instability of their being.
True, he did not have a way to reverse Ulquiorra and Grimmjow's current situation, but learning these few additional details left something in Urahara he couldn't explain.
He had seen the way this ex-espada spoke in regards to that Orihime girl as well as the way she had greeted him. It honestly surprised the shop-keeper and a part of him was generally curious on what could have happened between them in Hueco Mundo.
Despite the short time they have known each other, and the short time they have lived together, it was just very interesting to Urahara. Which made him not regret pulling the strings to allow Ulquiorra to stay with the human.
If Urahara was being honest with himself, he was also curious on the outcome, as well as hopeful.
By now, the ex-captain was pouring himself a cup of tea. A lot was on his mind but he also wanted to enjoy the little bit of the free time he had to himself. He took his warm drink and made his way to the back entrance of his shop. Pulling the sliding door he took in the last of the sun's rays as it set and the quiet chill in oncoming winter air.
It was finally starting to get cold. Enough for Urahara to even see his breath against his tea. It must have been a cold-front as it was not like this earlier that day.
But something pulled Urahara away from his thoughts. A door began to materialize itself before him and it harbored a bright light with it. This was something he was all too familiar with, he knew it was soul society.
He watched as the doors pulled apart in anticipation of who was on the other side.
"Well I was not expecting this." He spoke aloud, as he realized his unexpected visitor was none other than Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Current 12th Squad captain, as well as his previous vice-president for the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
Mayuri stepped gracefully past the paper doors, his captain uniform flowing behind him. He approached Urahara Kisuke with that oh-so familiar smile gracing his lips.
"Well it has been quite some time my old friend." Kisuke greeted Kurotsuchi, still standing at the entrance of his shop.
"Kisuke.." Kurotsuchi started, "I'm sure you're surprised why I am here."
Urahara nodded. "I am. Usually when you needed something you would send Nemu. This is the first time I believe you've ever personally paid me a visit. Has the holiday season touched you to make you want to see your old captain?"
"Hardly." Mayuri replied curtly. "We saw each other a few days ago after Aizen's defeat and I expect I will see you again in 4 days at Soul Society."
"Yes I will be there." Urahara responded. He gestured the scientist into his home. "It is cold, please come in."
Mayuri followed behind Urahara as he lead him into his raggedy old shop. He meticulously analyzed the items on the shelf that appeared to not have been touched for months, as they were covered in dust.
As Urahara turned around, Mayuri used a single finger to slide against the top of a table. The scientist analyzed the heavy amount of dust he had picked up.
"So how may I be of service?" The shop-keeper asked as Mayuri dusted his fingers off, who paid no mind to hide his disgust from the filth.
"I came personally instead of sending Nemu because the information I am seeking is confidential, as I am sure Soul Society is unaware of your hands playing a part in those arrancar's current situation."
The easygoing smile on Urahara's face seemed to melt away almost instantly. He was now leaning against the counter-top with the cash register as Mayuri stood a few feet away from him.
"I am actually not involved in this." Kisuke responded simply.
Mayuri cocked an eyebrow. "Really? This actually has you written all over it. And weren't you the one who designated whom the arrancar would be residing with?" He countered.
Urahara sighed.
"I will admit I am curious on the outcome of this but that is the most of my involvement. So yes, I did make sure I could keep them where I could see them for the most part and Yoruichi ensured they would not be destroyed by soul society. That is the extent of it I can assure you."
Kisuke blinked as he considered the situation. "Wait a second." He started once more before Mayuri could respond.
"How exactly did you come across this information on the arrancar's status?"
Mayuri began to intertwine his fingers as he excitedly spoke. "During my time in Hueco Mundo I crossed paths with that human girl and quincy. They had with them that miniature bat arrancar. As far as the 6th espada goes, it's really not that hard for me to find out news Soul Society receives."
He pointed his finger with his longest finger nail, that was just as long as his very own finger towards the blonde shop-keeper. "You should know that better than anyone Kisuke, and I find it very hard to believe that's all you're involved in. After gaining access to that 8th espada's laboratory and all the studies that have been collected in Las Noches, I found some very interesting information."
The scientist waited from a response from Urahara. When he did not provide one, Mayuri continued.
"I have come to learn that the reason this odd phenomenon occurs is by the result of some form of awakening of an emotion that coincides with what these arrancar's are related to. Some type of information or experience they must have undergone that shakes their very being to their core on whatever it is they believed was crucial to their existence. And the interesting part is it must happen at the very moment they are about to die. Through this experience their physical beings contract."
"Aizen played more of a hand in the actual creation of the arrancar so all that information you gathered could have come straight from him. That doesn't mean I know anything else." Urahara interjected.
The shop-keeper was recognizing that tone in Mayuri's voice as he spoke. That cheeky grin, with the light in his eyes as he explained the information he had come across. It was leaving an unsettling feeling in Urahara's stomach. After working with Mayuri 100 years ago at the research center, he was painfully aware of the obsessive-ness his assistant at the time would undergo everytime something caught his fancy. He was still painfully aware of the experience with the quincies.
"Yes I considered that, but really Urahara, the concept of adding a timer to the creatures seemed so much of a cruel joke you would pull."
Mayuri gave off a laugh that shook Kisuke to his core, as if Mayuri himself relished in this cruel fact. Something like this timer sounded more like what Aizen himself would pull off, or even that 8th espada.
"There is no reason to share anymore of this situation with you." Urahara finally spoke. His tea was getting cold.
Mayuri took a step closer to the shop-keeper. "So you do know more than what you're letting on."
Urahara looked down slightly, allowing his striped hat to shield his eyes.
"The information is unimportant." He replied simply,
Something in the scientist snapped upon hearing this. How could the man he once worked under ever say something like this.
"The information IS important!" Mayuri's voice was now rising. "And the fact that you would think otherwise just shows how inferior you really are to me and why you were once deemed a traitor to soul society. We could use this information to see how curses, diseases, and illnesses construed in our DNA work and how to fix them. This situation with these arrancars are a dream come true. They are a perfect leadway into methods we can use to reverse them. What if we altered their memories of whatever it was that they experienced? Would playing with their mind be the answer to how to solve problems like these?"
The passion and anger in Mayuri's voice was now overbearing and Urahara internally sighed as he recognized the obsessive gleam in his eye as the scientist spoke.
"I do not see how information involving the arrancar's memories would be of any use to you, Mayuri."
Mayuri was now directly in front of Urahara. The anger in his voice was easily shown.
"That is what is wrong with you, Kisuke. All information is important. I have dedicated my whole life to information that would benefit Soul Society. If someone has an issue with the ethics behind how I gain such information, then they are just in my way, and as such a traitor."
Urahara just stared at the scientist.
After Mayuri caught his breath and managed to lower his voice he continued.
"The memories are the most important thing. If there was a way to manipulate memories, and as a result, manipulate an arrancar's physical state, the possibilities are endless. This would open the door on a whole new level of research. Anything that interests me is subjected to my experiments."
Urahara was getting annoyed at this point. "I have no other information for you unfortunately. So what else do you want?"
"All I hoped to seek by coming all the way out to your putrid shop, was if you had any past knowledge on how the hougyokou was configured in a way in allowing this shift in form to occur by the presence of a foreign emotion."
Urahara humored this. "Maybe there isn't a grand scheme or reason behind it. Maybe the universe just has a way it allows things like this to play out."
If Urahara Kisuke had learned anything, it was that you didn't always have to understand how everything worked in this strange world. Sometimes things just happen and it's best to leave it that way. Which was why he had no intention of looking for any other way to return the arrancar back to normal, but he also knew there was no point.
"Then it looks like I not only wasted my time, but you also lost your touch Kisuke." He gave an exaggerated sigh. "Oh how you have become such a disappointment Kisuke. To think the once Captain of the 12th squad and President of the Research Center would utter such nonsense."
The current captain turned on his heel towards the door. He was done here and wasn't going to waste anymore of his precious time.
"What exactly do you plan on doing with those arrancar, Mayuri? They're living their own lives now and are causing no harm. You should just leave them be." Urahara called out to him.
Mayuri paused and glanced behind him to the disappointment that was speaking.
With that famous smile he shot to the shop-keeper, he said, "That is none of your business, not to the likes of someone who cares what happens to those hollows that served Aizen."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi left through the sliding doors that lead to Soul Society shortly afterwards, leaving a lot on Urahara Kisuke's mind.
The sense of peace he had was as cold and forgotten as his cup of tea on the table.
Rukia had collected everything she needed from the world of the living. It was evening now and the first winds of winter were making their way through Karukura.
She suddenly regretted her attire as she was dressed in shorts and a black tank. Earlier that day when she went shopping and met up with Orihime, the weather was perfect. But now she was absolutely freezing.
The shinigami had one last stop she planned on visiting before returning to Soul Society. She had to see this Grimmjow and Ichigo herself.
After the initial phone call from Ichigo earlier that week, Rukia thought it was some thoughtless prank. But after seeing Ulquiorra today, she realized that the nonsense Ichigo has been spewing wasn't nonsense afterall.
The Kurosaki family greeted Rukia Kuchiki with nothing but joy. Isshin had told her that Ichigo was in his bedroom and his little sister's offered the shinigami a cup of coco.
She politely accepted and went up the stairs with the cup in her hands. As she neared the familiar bedroom though, it shot open and Ichigo emerged. He had sensed her coming.
"Rukia!" Ichigo greeted, he was dressed in a brown turtleneck and jeans.
She smiled and made her way towards him. Although she had seen him a couple of days ago when they finally defeated Aizen, it was nice that their next greeting wasn't months in between like it had been on previous occasions.
Upon entering the substitute soulreaper's bedroom, her lavender eyes immediately made contact with the suspect of drama she had heard all about.
Grimmjow was relaxed comfortably on Ichigo's bed. Underneath the arrancar was a helpless Kon. As soon as Rukia entered the room, the stuffed bear managed to free himself from the weight of Grimmjow and flung himself towards the shinigami.
"Rukiaaaaa you came to save me!"
Ichigo grabbed Kon mid-air and threw him back on the bed.
"Can you ever keep your hands to yourself?!" The orange head vexed out as he made his way to his desk.
Rukia chuckled at the familiar scene. But Grimmjow on the other hand paid her no mind.
"So," Rukia started. "I guess you weren't joking."
Ichigo shot her a bit of a sarcastic expression as he met her eyes and turned them to Grimmjow, who still hadn't said anything.
"Yeeeeeep."
Rukia made her way towards Grimmjow who still hadn't acknowledged her presence. As soon as Kon made contact with the bed, the arrancar wrestled him back into their previous position.
Finally he turned to look at the girl who had entered the room and instantly recognized her as the one whom he stabbed with his bare hands on his killing spree when he first came to Karukura.
"Whats up." He finally said. No shame in his voice despite their past encounter.
Rukia knew it was Grimmjow even though his appearance was different. He had long hair and he wasn't wearing the familiar arrancar uniform she had seen him in previously. She suspected this was his release form.
Now, Grimmjow wasn't a bunny, but she couldn't help but find this form of him absolutely adorable. Almost as if she had long forgotten the pain he inflicted on her in the past, she spat out with wide eyes, "You're about the cutest thing I've ever seen!"
Rukia thrusted her cup of coco into Ichigo's hands and lunged towards Grimmjow. As she brought him close to her face she was getting teary eyed, her other hand was pressed against her cheek. No wonder Orihime wasn't afraid of Ulquiorra. These guys were absolutely adorable.
"Ichigo! He's so CUTE." Rukia cried out as she shoved Grimmjow in his face. "Just look at him!"
Ichigo found Rukia's reaction amusing, but he wasn't surprised. She loved cute things and Grimmjow could match that description in his current state. Grimmjow on the other hand looked like he was about to blow up.
"Oh you have to be kidding me!" Kon cried out. "He's not CUTE! He's a disrespectful little twerp!"
Rukia paid him no mind though as she used her free hand that didn't hold Grimmjow's body in her grasp to pet his blue hair.
Grimmjow was having enough of this. He was about to voice his discomfort until Rukia began petting him. As hard as it was to admit, it was actually quite enjoyable.
Eventually the shinigami sat on the edge of the bed and released Grimmjow, but he found himself perfectly comfortable in her hands still. So while the two friends caught up, he sat in Rukia's hand as she continued to pet him.
"I still can't believe this." Rukia laughed out.
Ichigo sighed, "Ahh you're telling me. I told you what happened but you thought I was making it up. There's no way I can make this up!"
"I know I know!" Rukia replied. "I didn't believe you until I met up with Orihime today."
"Oh. you saw Inoue?" Ichigo asked. "How was she? Did you get to see-"
"Ulquiorra? Yep." She interrupted. Rukia recalled her interaction with Orihime that day as well as how she spoke about the espada whom she was living with.
"Don't you think it's funny, how she seems to care about him?" She questioned, meeting eyes with Ichigo.
He rolled his eyes in response. "I will never understand how she can stand the sight of him after everything."
"Well how do you stand the sight of me?" Grimmjow questioned, inserting himself into the conversation, pulling both Ichigo and Rukia's glances to him.
"I think you're a bit of a hypocrite." Grimmjow shot towards Ichigo.
Rukia stopped petting the arrancar in her hands as he lifted himself up and walked across the bed, closer to the carrot top.
"I can be the president of the anti-ulquiorra fan club" Grimmjow answered honestly as he climbed onto Ichigo's desk. "That guy always fucking pissed me off, but there's a reason that woman treats Ulquiorra the way she does."
Ichigo cocked an eyebrow curiously to Grimmjow's words. "What do you mean?"
"Well," Grimmjow started, "He was very protective of her in Las Noches. The whole reason he got upset with me when I brought her to heal you so we could fight was because I entered her room without his knowledge. Granted I did save her from those 2 arrancars, but he is just way obsessive over her and changed ever since she came to Las Noches."
Rukia was listening to this very curiously. She hadn't heard much on Orihime's stay in Las Noches. This was her first insight on it.
"Okay well isn't that a bad thing? I know he was the one to bring her to Hueco Mundo to begin with." Ichigo shot back.
Grimmjow bellowed a laugh that filled the room. "I don't know if it's a bad thing, but he was protective of her and kept her safe when he could. Plus the way that girl treated Ulquiorra during her stay there can be just as questionable. He would fall asleep in her room at times and she treated him as nicely as she did any of you guys."
"W-what?!" Ichigo yelled out. "He SLEPT in her room?"
Grimmjow chuckled as he responded. "Yep. They were quite adorable. No matter how much he pissed me off I had to atleast admit that."
Ichigo considered this. He hadn't really heard Orihime's side of things that happened in Hueco Mundo. After his fight with Ulquiorra, which was gruesome and quite horrifying, he did have to wonder why Orihime looked incredibly upset when Ulquiorra faded away. He would have to ask her about that when he saw her again.
After sharing a few more words with Ichigo and Grimmjow, Rukia set off back to Soul Society. It was getting late and she still had to drop off the things she came to collect. Ichigo offered her a jacket but she declined, saying as soon as she got rid of the gigai she'd be fine.
Once Rukia was gone, Ichigo and Grimmjow were alone in the room once more.
"So you never answered my question." Grimmjow brought up casually.
At this point Ichigo had settled himself on his bed and was going through his phone. He pulled it away and looked in the direction of the arrancar who was seated against a pillow on the opposite side.
"What question?"
"How you can stand the sight of me." Grimmjow responded curtly, his eyebrows furrowed.
Ichigo mouth went agape as he considered his words. "What do you mean?" He adjusted himself slightly in an attempt to sit up.
"Well considering how much shit I happened to put you through…" Grimmjow trailed off.
"Grimmjow first of all you're not a horrible guy alright." Ichigo interjected. "Granted you did have some problems and an obsession with violence but I think you mellowed down. I'm not sure how but you are slightly different from before."
"Mellowed down?!" Kon yelled from the opposite side of the room. "He is nothing but a violent mess!"
Ichigo threw a pillow in the bear's direction and continued. "Actually, I'm surprised I never asked you, but how exactly did you shrink to begin with? The last I saw you in Hueco Mundo was after Nnoitra knocked you down."
Grimmjow remembered this. In fact he remembered exactly what had happened. Ichigo had questioned him how could he ever be king if he knocked everyone down. Even though in the moment, Grimmjow's response might have said otherwise, the human's words had touched him.
In fact, as soon as Nnoitra attacked him and Grimmjow laid bleeding to death, Ichigo's words were the only thing he could think of. He felt his life fading away and by miracle he had woken up in this miniature state.
Grimmjow explained this to Ichigo, but failed to mention the information he learned from the Las Noches library about the actual cause of his current state. Ichigo was the cause of this and he was the reason Grimmjow had a second chance. His words had touched the arrancar and made him reconsider his destructive will to be at the top. Living with him had further encouraged this as he realized there was more to life than being the King.
But what more could Grimmjow do with his life when his time was running out?
As if Ichigo could read his mind, he asked, "So if you ever manage to get back to normal, what do you think you'd do?"
"Dunno." The arrancar replied simply, his tail wagged back and forth.
"Would you consider going back to Hueco Mundo?" Ichigo tried.
Grimmjow frowned in response, his ears went flat as if further portraying his disappointment. "There's nothing I'd do back there."
"Would you stay here?" Ichigo countered.
The arrancar shrugged. "Maybe. But as soon as I get back to normal you owe me a fight."
Ichigo gawked in response to this. "Uh, what about not being the king anymore and violence?"
"Wow wow." Grimmjow said, "They're no longer the essence of my being sure, but they're still apart of me. Besides, you promised you'd fight me anytime and I plan to hold you up on that offer."
Ichigo chuckled in response. "Well if you ever get back to normal, we'll see."
The very busy day finally ended. It was now 3 days until the ball. 3 days until their time was up.
The auburn haired girl slowly opened her eyes. It was now morning and she blinked as she took in her surroundings. The sun's rays were pouring through the window. Despite the sunlight and the comforter covering her body, it was still unbearably cold around her.
The young girl glanced to her right as she rubbed the rest of the sleep out of her eyes. A smile graced her lips as she saw Ulquiorra asleep as well. He was turned away from her and his tiny head rested on the pillow next to her. The comforter even covered part of his body as well.
He looked so peaceful and quite adorable.
Stealthily, Orihime brought her finger to the espada's head and pet him a single time before pulling away immediately. She felt like she was doing something he wouldn't like so when he didn't respond the first time, she figured he really was asleep and did it again.
She got away with it a couple more times. But by the 12th pet, she was met with a "What are you doing woman?"
Orihime made a surprised noise as she quickly retracted her hand from Ulquiorra. She brought her hand to her startled face and covered her mouth. Ulquiorra turned his head slowly and glared at her.
"Sorry." Orihime whispered. "Your hair just looked so soft."
Ulquiorra found the woman's desire to touch him with that as a reason odd, but something about it made him feel warm on the inside.
"Did you sleep well?" She asked curiously.
The eyebags must not have been evident on Ulquiorra's face because in actuality he was exhausted. After his encounter with Urahara the previous day, the confrontation with Orihime where he managed to make her cry, and his thoughts that were eating away at him, Ulquiorra found it near impossible to fall asleep. When she had began petting him he was already awake as well. It felt soothing though so he didn't say anything at first.
"I did not." He answered simply as he turned his head slightly in order to face the ceiling.
Ulquiorra's entire way of life was ensuring control at all times. He had control of his emotions, of his situations, of practically anything he came in contact with. But ever since he met Orihime all of that changed. Despite what he might have thought in the beginning, he had no control over her. He was aware when he demanded her to pledge her allegiance to Aizen, that she did not mean a single word. He knew he couldn't control her thoughts when he tried to convince her that her friends were fools. She smacked that thought right out of him. And no matter how much he tried to show her what he believed was the truth in regards to the human's belief in the heart, he was torn down time and time again. She infuriated him as much as he was obsessed with her.
Why look at him now. He had fallen in love with that very person. And he was now in a situation where he found himself not being in control of her feelings for him as well as his future. It was all out of his hands. And this drove Ulquiorra insane. How could he sleep with those thoughts running through his mind?
That woman really was infuriating. All of this led back to her. To this point he did not understand her, but that's what made Ulquiorra become more drawn to her with each passing day.
"How come?" She tried to pry out of him.
Ulquiorra was still glaring at the ceiling, avoiding what he knew was her curious gaze. He almost wanted to tell her the cause of all of this.
You.
But he wasn't delusional enough to really convince himself that. No, she wasn't even aware of what she was doing to him.
"I am having trouble coping with this situation." He answered as honestly as he could. He hated admitting his weakness but it was eating away at him.
"I do not know what will happen to me after the Winter Ball in Soul Society and if I will ever return to my previous form."
Orihime recalled Ulquiorra's odd behavior yesterday. Ever since he came back from Urahara's he had been acting a bit differently. Almost as if he was hopeless. She wasn't used to seeing the Ulquiorra she had come to know, act this way.
"Well," She started, pressing her finger to her chin, "I believe you'll probably come back home with me?" Was there a reason he wouldn't?
Ulquiorra internally rolled his eyes at her words.
"Would you be okay with being small forever?" She asked.
In all honesty Ulquiorra would not. How could he when he couldn't hold that infuriating woman by his side in this form. How could he take care of her, protect her, touch her, kiss her? It was impossible. But it was besides the point as that scenario itself was impossible.
Ulquiorra would not stay this size forever. For he knew in three days time he would most surely disappear.
"I doubt that would happen so I wouldn't waste my time thinking about it." Was his response.
Orihime nodded. That was hopeful, right? If he didn't think he would stay small forever, then a part of him was still hopeful, and that itself left Orihime feeling a little bit hopeful too.
"So what do you think might happen if you ever did return back to normal?" She was genuinely curious on what he had to say.
Would he stay with her? Like this?
At that, Ulquiorra did turn back to face the woman. "Would you treat me differently if I did?"
Orihime blinked in response to this. She wasn't expecting that. "Of course not! I'd still treat you like my friend."
Ulquiorra could feel his anger seething. This woman was insufferable. He sat up, as to no longer be resting against the pillow and continued to glare at her.
"I think you will."
"No." She was quick to respond.
"Really?" He countered. "Would you allow me to live with you? Sleep with you? The way I have been now? Or do you think this is okay because of my size?"
Orihime was frozen. Ulquiorra could see the realization washing over her beautiful face.
"Would you allow your friends to do such things? Is that also how you would treat them?"
"Of course not!" She managed to blurt out. "Except maybe Tatsuki because whenever we have sleepovers we share the same bed."
Ulquiorra saw an opening. "What about your friend Ichigo? Or that quincy, Ishida? Are they not your friends?" He crossed his arms, waiting for her answer.
Orihime considered this and realized Ulquiorra had a point. Would they actually sleep in the same bed as they had been? Maybe she was acting naively because of how small he was. She tried to imagine if it would be weird if he was his normal height. As soon as the thought of an Ulquiorra half awake with bed hair waking up next to her crossed her mind, her face fell to a deep shade of red.
She determined it would be different. But why? It was still the same person.
Orihime raised her eyebrows and poked Ulquiorra lightly in the stomach. Using her natural born ability to deflect Ulquiorra's questions the way he wanted them answered, she said, "You've been really talkative ever since you came back from Urahara's. Are you sure nothing else happened?"
Ulquiorra blinked slowly in annoyance to her accusation. She never did anything he wanted her to do.
"I suppose finding out from Urahara himself there is no progress on my situation is just making me restless."
The blaring sound of the phone ringing startled both of them.
Orihime jumped out of her bed and dashed towards her dresser where her cell-phone was. She was dressed in pink sleeping gown and white socks.
"Oh it's Urahara." She said as she picked up the phone and recognized the contact. She turned to Ulquiorra with a hopeful smile. "Maybe he has some news?"
Ulquiorra had no response to this as he knew that wasn't the case.
"Hello!" Orihime greeted the familiar shop-keeper.
"Orihime! How are you?" Urahara exclaimed over the other line.
"I'm okay! What about you? Do you have any news on Ulquiorra?" She asked
"No unfortunately I do not. As soon as I do I will let you know though. But the reason I am calling is I wanted to invite you and Ulquiorra to my shop tomorrow as a quick get-together before the ball. I'm inviting everyone in Karukua who played a role in ending the war when it wasn't your responsibility first of all. I just wanted to give my own personal thank you to all of you."
"Oh of course! What time will everyone be coming?"
"Around 5pm, do you think you can make it?" He asked.
"Yes, that shouldn't be a problem!" Orihime responded eagerly.
Thank you Orihime I'll see you tomorrow! Goodbyeee!"
"Goodbye Kisuke!"
She ended the call and her hand fell to her side as she met eyes with Ulquiorra. By the look she gave him he could tell Urahara told her what he already suspected, he didn't find anything.
"So no good news," Orihime started, she held up both her hands with her index fingers sticking out, "But we were invited to Urahara's place tomorrow. He wants all of us to come so he can say thank you after everything."
"All of us?" Ulquiorra questioned.
By now he was standing at the edge of the bed and used his wings to lift off and hover, following after Orihime as she walked towards the kitchen.
She turned slightly to answer him as she continued walking, "Yep! You, me, and all my friends."
Orihime had opened a cabinet and pulled out a packet of microwavable oatmeal as Ulquiorra landed on the edge of the kitchen counter.
"I doubt your friends would be too comfortable with me there."
In truth Ulquiorra did not care about the comfort of her friends. He was more-so concerned with causing her any discomfort. But apart of him also wanted to see what she had to say.
"No it should be fine." Orihime tried to convince him.
She poured the contents of the package into a bowl. As she brought the bowl towards the sink to fill with tap water she said, "Besides Urahara invited both of us."
Grabbing a spoon she mixed the contents before placing it in the microwave. She rested herself against the counter and looked towards him as she crossed her arms.
"And I want you to go with me!"
There it was. That burning desire inside Ulquiorra swelled up as he heard her speak those words. They really didn't harbor much. But anything that woman had to say that spoke of her wanting something from Ulquiorra, let-alone his company, filled the miniature arrancar with this foreign feeling of hope he prayed would never leave.
Orihime washed some blueberries and placed them in a container. She grabbed both her berries and oatmeal and walked towards the table. Ulquiorra followed suit.
Their morning routine usually consisted of this. Ulquiorra had found a liking to fruit so she had started washing some for him every morning. She even stole some of it to use in her own oatmeal. It was probably one of the most normal meals he had ever seen her eat. But then again it couldn't be too normal when she poured in hot sauce, claiming it adds an extra kick she needs in the morning.
She was now sitting at the table and began mixing in a handful of blueberries into her bowl. Ulquiorra sat on the table a couple of inches away from her, with some of the berries by his side.
As she took her first bite, a thought popped into her mind. "You know…" She started, as she tried to finish chewing. "I wonder how things would be like if both you and Grimmjow were back to normal if we ever all hung out, my friends included."
She pondered over this. Everyone's relationship in Hueco Mundo was quite stressful. But since then things started to feel a lot more light. She even compared Grimmjow and Ichigo's friendship to how it was like with Renji. At first they hated each other but now they were great friends and whenever they did butt heads it was fairly comical.
"As amusing as that seems I find that scenario unlikely." He was sitting with his leg's crossed and his wings were draped over him. He was still very tired.
"Why not?" Orihime asked curiously as she took another spoonful. "Would you not want to be friend's with everyone?"
She could understand the reason why if that was the case, but she was hopeful.
"I doubt they would want to be my friend after everything. But that's not what I mean. I still doubt myself and Grimmjow ever returning to normal." Ulquiorra paused and sighed. "This form is quite demeaning."
A frown made it's way to Orihime's lips. Ulquiorra was getting more upset over his situation as time progressed. Despite how cute she thought he looked, what with being tiny and all, she wished she could help him so he didn't have to feel this way anymore. And if she was being honest with herself she really wouldn't mind a normal-sized Ulquiorra back in her life.
"I know you're doubtful but please don't lose hope! I'm sure we can find a way."
Her encouragement was contagious and for a moment Ulquiorra wished he could tell her the way. Not to save his own skin, but to find out how she really felt about him. Just so he could hear it with his own ears.
"Besides, Urahara always has a plan when it comes to any problem we have. He's helped Ichigo tons of times." She voiced merrily.
"I see."
"On second thought…." Orihime veered off, as she pressed a finger to her cheek and looked to the ceiling, trying to figure out how to word her question. "Why did it only happen to you and Grimmjow? There were other arrancar too but this only happened to you guys."
Her eyes met Ulquiorra's as she waited for him to answer. He was honestly surprised she waited this long to ask.
"From my understanding, this occurs in an arrancar's final moments. If they experience some type of new emotion during that time, our physical beings are modified to this size."
Orihime nodded as she considered this. She recalled the last few moments with Ulquiorra that day, before he faded away. He looked very sad as he had reached out to her and his eyes harbored an emotion she had never seen reflected in them before.
"Emotion….so you finally understood what a heart was?"
"I suppose."
She couldn't help but smile at those words. His previous conversations with her about this topic were so intense and it just made the girl feel sorry for this creature that he could not understand human bonds.
"So...what emotion did you learn?" Orihime was genuinely curious.
Holding a blueberry in his hands, which was much like the size of a basketball in comparison, Ulquiorra considered how to answer this. He didn't dare share the extent of his feelings for the woman.
"I believe I came to understand what you meant by the bond you shared with your friends."
"How so?" She wanted more of an answer and Ulquiorra could see the eagerness in her eyes.
"After my time spent with you, and also knowing my time was running out, I became aware that I wished not to part from you just yet."
Orihime bit down on her bottom lip as she tried to hold herself back from crying. Hearing the arrancar speak of her in such a way after everything they experienced together in Hueco Mundo left her feeling very light. The lifeless hollow had come to form an attachment to her after all. And the evidence was right there in front of her.
"So because of that, it's what caused you to shrink?" She finally managed to ask.
Ulquiorra nodded. "I guess you can say that."
Just then he noticed her eyes seemed to glisten as if she was about to cry. Had he really made her sad enough to let tears out again? He was about to ask what was wrong, but she began to speak.
"I know you're really upset about your current size Ulquiorra, but I am happy about it."
Ulquiorra couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in response to this.
"You were going to die. I thought you died, you faded away right in front of me. I cannot begin to describe the sadness I felt when I thought you were gone, I couldn't explain it. But knowing you had a second chance because of the bond I know we formed together makes me so happy, no matter what size you are I'm just grateful you're here and had a chance to experience everything I tried to share with you in Las Noches."
Ulquiorra sighed and stared adoringly at the woman before him. He was still very bothered by his circumstances, but hearing her put their whole situation in such a light made him appreciate their limited time together, more. And hearing that she felt the same left him feeling light-headed.
In that moment Ulquiorra thanked the universe for allowing him a second chance and internally pleading that his time with this woman would never end. This woman that did things he could never expect and who always surprised him with the words she had to say. She had this ability and power over him since the first day he met her.
No matter what happens to him, he didn't regret any of it.
AN:
Merry Christmas!
So I am completely aware of the situation. First I take a 3-4 year hiatus and only update one chapter then 3 years later I finally update another So the past 6-7 years I only updated 2 chapters. I am completely aware. And still I get people messaging me asking when it will be finished and if it even will?
I am quite surprised how much this story has grown in popularity that it even inspired other stories when people felt I was never going to finish it. Last time I updated I informed you guys I was recovering from all the personal problems I had and things were finally calming down and I started college.
Now almost 3 years later I finally update, and am also almost done with school. I cannot emphasize how crazy these past few years have been. I got my own apartment, moved in with my boyfriend. Kept working, and kept going to school. I don't get summer breaks. I worked year-round nontstop. I have a 4.0 gpa and different art and design awards on my belt as well as job offers. I had to work my ASS off to make a life for myself even if it meant putting everything on hold. But I had to do it. I haven't seen my best friends in months/years because of how busy I have been. But things are kinda calming down?
I will be leaving to NYC for 5 months to do an internship where I will be working 2 jobs at the same time so I know my time will be limited. Thats why with this little break in between I am trying to finish the chapters I have started for both miniature murcielago and pain and pleasure. But I will admit I personally like my story, Pain and Pleasure, a lot more than this one. So thats why I was putting more of my time in that one o.o"
I started this story when I was in 8TH GRADE! I'm almost a college graduate now! My writing was HORRIBLE. I cringe reading the old chapters everytime I need to go back to remember what happens. Despite knowing how much this story is lacking, people still like it, and are still waiting for it? I am surprised and also very honored by that.
Thank you to everyone who, despite my very long hiatuses, are still waiting for the chapters. I promise these stories will come to a completion. But I am also sorry for the long waits in between. I doubt anyone is still following in the fandom anymore and it breaks my heart because the ulquihime fandom kind of gave me a little light of happiness during a very hard time period of my life.
So thank you again and sorry for the wait. I have outlines on every chapter from here on out on what happens in the end of this story and in every chapter. I will finish this story, so sorry again for how long it takes but know I will not give up on it!
