Author Note: Wow here's another one. I'll admit I had mixed feelings about the present section of this chapter at first but I love how it eventually turned out.

I'd like to thank Krystalana for the beautiful review. Thank you, I could really feel the love.

Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters belong to Tite Kubo

Chapter 8: Whirlwind

Past:

I don't know where the sudden urge to visit the human world came from but I found myself giving into it despite Aizen's wishes that we remain undetected by the soul society.

An opportunity to travel there presented itself when Ulquiorra was summoned to a meeting with Aizen. I wasted no time and quickly made a garganta. Exiting it, I took my first real step into the human world as an arrancar.

I slowly walked down the busy streets, staring into shop windows and just observing everything around me. All the hustle and bustle of the town was a sharp contrast to the quiet stillness of Hueco Mundo but I rather liked it; it was a shame I couldn't stay longer.

I paused when something in a store window caught my eye. It was a beautiful piece of wood carved into what I recognized to be an instrument. The curves were elegant and the wood itself was a beautiful, reddish brown. It looked old yet well tended to. There were many other beautiful instruments in the store window but this one held my full attention. The sight and even the weight and feel of it seemed so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. Either way I knew I had to have it.

I'll admit that that was the only time in my life that I ever stole something. I had no real choice honestly. I needed to have that instrument but not only did I not have any money but the person behind the counter couldn't even see me. I slipped out of the store with it, pausing only long enough to glance at the small sign to see what the instrument was called. I held the "violin" close to my chest as I quickly made my way back before Ulquiorra could start getting suspicious about where I was.

I managed to hide the violin in my room right as Ulquiorra was done with meeting Aizen. I spent the rest of the day like any other, though my mind was on my new trinket.

I wanted to keep my journey to the human world a secret for as long as possible since I would be punished for it by Aizen, which meant I had to also keep the violin a secret. I didn't risk playing it inside my room or the lounge. I waited till most, if not everyone, was asleep and made my way out into the desert beneath the dome.

I cradled the violin and just stared at it for a while before making any move to play it. I tried several ways of holding it before finding a comfortable position, which I found out later was the proper way. I won't deny that the sound I made the first time I ran the bow across the strings was one of the worst things I had ever heard. I had no idea how to really play and no one to teach me so I really just had to experiment and see what sounds I could create.

It took decades for me to "master" the violin and even then I could only play by ear, as I couldn't read music. Honestly, I was surprised how long it took for someone to discover my nightly activity. I'll never forget the expression on Ulquiorra's face the first time he came across me playing.

I hadn't noticed he was there at first, as I was too absorbed in my music but I froze the moment I sensed him. I stared at him with the violin still tucked under my chin and the bow still positioned on the strings, taking in the foreign expression that I almost couldn't recognize. The best way I can describe it is a subdued look of wonder and surprise. I slowly lowered the bow after several seconds of staring but stopped when he spoke.

"No."

He took a small step forward and raised his hand slightly as if he was about to reach out to me. His voice had sounded so different to me, almost vulnerable and even he seemed startled by his reaction as he tensed and quickly composed himself. The look in his eyes faded and his voice returned to its normal monotone but his next words revealed more than enough.

"Don't stop."

I was silent and still as his words slowly registered in my mind. When they did, my face broke out into a huge smile and I gladly brought the bow back up.

I don't know how long we stood there as I continued to string notes together to create a happy but peaceful tune. I do know though that that night will forever be one of my fondest memories.

Present:

Orihime and I were able to sense the moment Ichigo actually entered Las Noches and could sense his fights. I was forced to watch Orihime's roller coaster of emotions, which went from worry, regret, relief, and adoration and cycled again and again. It was rather annoying actually but I didn't mention it, as it was natural that she would worry about him. I also monitored the battle of the others since I was worried about how they were doing, more for Orihime's sake than any actual concern for them on my part.

The battles went the same way they did in my timeline; Ichigo's friends won their battles against the privaron espada but not without their struggles. However, I knew that that would change when they were faced with the current espada.

Chad had the misfortune of running into Nnoitra, who wasted no time in cutting him down. Orihime was nearly in tears when she felt his depleting spiritual pressure but hadn't given up hope that he'd make it quite yet.

It was admirable how strong she was being and I told her as such. She blushed at the comment but didn't refute it like I had expected her to; it seemed her self-esteem was improving. Ulquiorra's sudden visit put me on guard because of last time and turns out I had every right to be worried.

"Yasutora Sado is dead." He informed with no concern for how such words would hurt Orihime, or maybe he said them with that intention in mind.

My pride in Orihime grew when she turned to him and simply said that Chad wasn't dead yet. This annoyed Ulquiorra though, which, as I've come to see with this Ulquiorra, tended to make him say rather cruel things. He proved me right.

"Why do you care so much whether or not he's alive? Before long, all of your friends will be dead anyway. What does it matter if one was killed a bit sooner than planned? They should have realized this would happen from the start. And if they didn't, they were fools. I would be angry at their stupidity of entering Hueco Mundo without first considering the limits of their strength."

It was the most I had heard him speak but I barely noticed that due to the horror and shock I felt at just how cruel his words were. I reminded myself that this Ulquiorra had never been exposed to any sort of compassion but that still didn't excuse what he had just said.

It wasn't long before anger set in; anger at the cruelty towards Orihime but also a bit towards the unintended cruelty my way. He didn't realize it but I had done the exact same thing Ichigo and the others were doing but for Ulquiorra's sake. I found myself reacting before Orihime could. I ran forward and punched him, barely remembering to hold back my strength. I ignored Orihime's gasp and proceeded to yell at him.

"SHUT UP! You have no right to say such things when you have no idea what it's like to watch those you care about fight and die for your sake. You have no idea what Orihime is going through so don't tell her how she should feel towards her friends. Don't belittle their friendship and her love towards them."

I expected him to be furious with me for my words and my punching him but he seemed to have been struck speechless. His head remained turned to the side from my punch and he looked a bit dazed, which made me think that my words had gotten through to him but I guess I was hoping for too much for he glanced my way then simply turned and left without apologizing.

I sensed him pause outside the door but I was too absorbed in my whirlwind of emotions to care.

"Are you okay?" Orihime asked worriedly when she saw the couple of tears that fell down my face.

I laughed, no doubt looking a little demented with the tears in my eyes and the crooked smile on my face.

"It's strange. I should still be furious with him but…instead I feel sorry for him. He doesn't know what it is like to have someone care for him."

My tears fell harder as the thought of what his time alone in Hueco Mundo must have been like tore at my heart.

"That's not right...he shouldn't have to be so alone."

Composure and secrecy were completely forgotten at that point and I fell to my knees, crying at the injustice Ulquiorra had suffered alone.

Author Note: Akira's words and actions towards Ulquiorra are slowly changing him, even more so after that breakdown he unintentionally heard while on the other side of the door. We'll soon see some of those changes in his actions towards her.

I've had the violin part written for so long and couldn't wait to upload it. Her playing the violin captivated Ulquiorra and really drew him towards her even further.

In case you were wondering the chapter title refers to the whirlwind of emotions Akira went through at the end of the chapter.

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