AN:/ Sorry for the late update again guys. Exams and projects kept me busy for a while. I've also been reading the chapters to see to get a refresher and to see where I can edit when I get to a certain amount of episodes. I also read through the reviews, and I'm happy to know that guys still are interested in the story. I hope you enjoy this update and consideration.
Chapter 28: Accepting and I rather eat fast-food than this trash
"Is everyone ready to see Ulquiorra complete another assignment?" Aizen asked his children. Grunts of approval and cheers of joy echoed around the room.
Ulquiorra was sitting on the edge of his bed and stared at his phone screen, waiting for Anthony to send him some pictures from Orihime's photo shoot. It has been almost a half of the month since the competition started and he hasn't gotten any photos or videos from Anthony. Mentally sighing and cursing, Ulquiorra put his phone away and went downstairs for dinner with his teammates. Part of Ulquiorra didn't want to eat the food at the hotel, and the other part of him wanted not to see because he wanted to kill him for his ignorance towards Orihime.
"What's taking him so long to send me these graphical photos?" Ulquiorra wondered.
He was almost to the hotel restaurant until his phone dinged. Taking his phone out of his pocket and saw a text from the person he was waiting for to hear from Anthony. He opened the message and saw his woman in different outfits. Going through, the photos with peek interest. Without knowing, he was already seated down at the table with his team. Eric glanced over to see what his silent counterpart was gazing. To his surprise, it was Orihime at one of her photoshoots.
Eric smiled, "Finally, he's taking my advice and supporting her."
Ulquiorra kept going over the photos that he didn't notice that everyone at the table was staring at him. Ulquiorra gazed up to see all eyes on him, some with curiosity, one with or happy knowingly sly leer and one with contentment.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ulquiorra asked.
"Having fun over there? Did the 'important' message finally came?" Eric playfully asked.
The rest of the gang was looking at him with now wondering curiosity. Gathering all of his guts Mark asked his scary co-worker, "What important message? Did they send something that's fun for all of us to play?"
"No, he finally got some pictures from his wife's manager," Eric answered with a knowing smile. Mark oh'd and left it alone; well except for Mr. Thomas who was drooling over images that he thinks Ulquiorra has gotten from his wife's manager. Ulquiorra glared at Mr. Thomas for having a 'Nnoitra' moment as he calls it.
"Can that man ever think of anything else besides of sex?" Ulquiorra thought.
Eric sighed with happiness over the fact of his partner was finally getting it slowly, but getting none the less. Taking a sip of his drink forgetting that he didn't order anything, but he didn't notice. Ulquiorra sighed and placed his phone back into his pocket and gazed at the menu to see what he wanted to eat. Ulquiorra scoffed mentally at the food choice on the menu.
"I rather go eat food from the gas station then here," he thought. Placing the menu down, Ulquiorra decided to wait for his team to finish with their breakfast. His stomach is still a little churning from the cold he has. Eric groaned from gazing at the menu and dreamed about Orihime's food instead of the food there.
"Can you call your wife so we can have food?" Eric whispered to Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra agreed, but he knew that she wouldn't be able to because of her being in Italy.
"I… do not know if that will be possible since she's in Milan," Ulquiorra whispered back.
Eric nodded sadly and ordered another drink. It took some of them a couple of minutes to finish up their breakfast before getting ready for their next assignment. Mark stared at Mr. Thomas so they could have the envelope. Mr. Thomas felt suffocated by the stares zeroed on him with so much intensity.
"What do you want from me?"
"The envelope with information for our next assignment," Nick said.
Mr. Thomas gazed at them with a bit of confusion, but a few minutes later he understood. He turned around in his seat and rummaging through his bag and grabbed a white envelope. Giving it to Mick, Mr. Thomas went back to drinking his coffee. Mick and Nick opened the letter and began reading the contents. Everyone waited for them to finish reading so they would know what's going on.
"We're starting on the building made out of recycling material, so we need to begin planning on how we're going to construct this with bio-energy material," Nick said hoping that someone had a brilliant idea, but no one spoke up, and the motivation was dwindling. Eric went back to gaze at the menu while thinking about what to do next with this project, but nothing came to mind. Ulquiorra's eyes were closed; considering different varieties of materials they could use. He decided to go to Orihime's apartment and see if she or the shinigami's that were staying there had some old world friendly matter. Going into the left pocket fingertips touched the edges of the keys and took them out.
"I'm assuming that we need a starting point. I can go to my wife's home and get some of the products we need for our building mission," Ulquiorra offered.
"Will she be okay with us going into her old home?" Nate asked.
"Wait, aren't you two married? Why does she still have her house? Is it for when you guys get into arguments or for you to stay in a while in town?"
"Do you even sleep in the hotel?"
Ulquiorra was giving off ' you're annoying right now' look at them for asking too many questions. Eric sighed at his comrades for not understanding Ulquiorra, but he had to admit that Ulquiorra is a reserved person, which is understandable. The guys need to get to know him a little more, and Ulquiorra needs to open up to them. Ulquiorra nodded to answer in one of the questions and went to calling Orihime to get the okay, so he left the room.
"He could've stayed," Nick said feeling a bit miffed. The guys nodded except for Eric who understood more.
"He left because our perverted disrespectful boss is here and Orihime doesn't care for him," Eric defended. The room became silent in forgetful agreement. All their eyes went towards to Mr. Thomas with disgust showing. Ulquiorra was in the waiting area, pressed 'Onna' on his phone and put it near his ear.
Ring, ring
"Hello," Orihime answered.
"Onna, it's me. I'm calling to ask about your apartment and to see how you're faring."
"Ulquiorra? Oh, hi. I'm doing fine in Italy, and I got some cool stuff from all the shopping that Murcielago and I did. Work is almost finish, and I might be home in 2-3 days. What about my apartment?" Orihime responded.
"I want to know if there is anything in your apartment that is recyclable we can use for our assignment. I don't want to barge into your home without telling you first," Ulquiorra explained. He could hear the wind through the speaker. Orihime was silent for a couple of seconds til she answered.
"T-they won't take anything, will they? I don't know these men very well Ulquiorra to just say 'okay it's fine with me,' but if you need to go right ahead then."
Ulquiorra agreed with her worry and hesitancy for letting other people in her old house that she didn't know. It was understandable, and he didn't want her to feel that he was going to let people take something from her house, so he had to think of a way to assure Orihime that will never happen under his all-seeing eye.
"I give you my word that nothing will be taken out of the building unless you adhere to it."
"That is good to hear, Ulquiorra. Oh um, there is something that you can take out for me. It's my pictures of my friends and my big brother. I know you might not want me to remember my comrades, but I would appreciate it if you would bring those home to me," Orihime begged with a passion.
Ulquiorra wasn't too pleased with her asking to bring photos or her Nakama, but he didn't want to disappoint her, so he agreed. They talked a little more before it was time for Orihime to go back to work. Right at the point of them hanging up Ulquiorra wanted to tell her one more thing before he wouldn't hear from her until tomorrow.
"Onna, before you hang up I have something important to say."
"Okay, what is it?" Orihime asked.
"Anthony has sent me photos of you modeling, and I'm very impressed with your work. Great job and you have my acceptance and support."
"Thank you for finally telling me. I'm happy that you're finally accepting my jobs. Just for that I'm getting you something from here and go to Nobu Tokyo or Sense to eat if you don't like the food at the hotel."
"Will do and thank you for the recommendation. Stay safe and don't go anywhere without Anthony or Murcielago. Have a pleasant day or night."
"You too. Bye."
"Bye."
After the call with Orihime, Ulquiorra went back to the table and motioned his team that it was time to go.
"How's your wife doing? Did she sound fantastically sexy on the phone? Ooooh, tell me about it, dang it," Mr. Thomas whined.
Ulquiorra ignored him and led the crew to Orihime's house in Karakura Town in the cars. Ulquiorra parked the car in front of Orihime's apartment. Getting out of the vehicle, he locked the door and started treading up the steps to the door. Eric stood behind him and watched the others looking around like they were about to get in trouble for breaking in entering. He rolled his eyes at them, and he heard the sound of the door opening. Ulquiorra was already inside the apartment heading towards the kitchen. Eric and the crew stayed outside to wait for Ulquiorra to come out with what they needed.
Ulquiorra was gazing around the apartment to locate what Orihime wanted him to get for her. Ulquiorra noticed that Soul Society didn't have the audacity to try to hide their presence in the place.
'Pathetic urchins,' he thought.
He found it on the table and the mantle. After finishing one mission, the second one had to be complete. Ulquiorra went to the kitchen and went into the cabinets to find a garbage bag. Finding one under the sink, Ulquiorra motioned to Eric to come in with the team so they can hurry and get to work. He handed them a bag and started grabbing recycle materials wherever he could find them. A half hour later, they had all the equipment needed and headed t out. Ulquiorra did catch the album and photos of a young looking fellow on it before locking the door.
"We need to move the pop bottle pillar to the right so the left side can be more stable," Ulquiorra instructed. Mark move tested the bottle to get the right angle of balance. They just finished the last remaining part of the building's left side. It was going on 7 when they began on the right side, which in Ulquiorra's opinion it was going to be the easiest because it was all going to be created out of paper and plastic mache. Mick, Nate, and Eric was carrying it to the right side. John and Adam started rubbing the mache on the lining before connecting it. Joe and Tom came back with some food for everybody to enjoy. It was complete, and they were tired.
"Look at this men. It seems like we have some sleepers this year," said a guy with a strong French accent. With him, was his team that was chuckling behind him. Ulquiorra glared at his new opponent and disliked him immediately.
Ping, Ping.
Ding, Ding.
Mark and Ulquiorra gazed at each other phones to see a message from the judges and Aizen. Ulquiorra sighed at his father, already knowing that he wanted him to have children, but instead it was about a meeting that he had to go to later tomorrow night and Mark smiled.
"I think you need a spoon because you are going to shove those words back into your mouth. We just won this round so have a nice losing day."
AN:/ I hope you guys like this chapter. Ulquiorra found an opponent that he doesn't like and he accepted Orihime's two careers. I will try to update more. See you next time.