(I need to update more quickly. I feel so bad about not writing this for a couple of months. I'll try harder to get it updated more quickly. I hope you enjoy this chapter.)

Chapter 9: Whereabouts

Midori awoke the day after the argument she had with her father. She could hardly believe she yelled at him. She had never done that before. Regardless, she still meant what she said.

Stretching, she mozied from her bed and walked to the door. She planned on giving Tesla a visit. She hadn't got to converse with him like she had planned the day before. She had just exited her room when she prematurely ran into the person she was looking for.

"Oh, hi Midori," he smiled slightly, setting a hand behind his head. "I was just coming over to visit you before work today."

She glanced at him awkwardly. "Really?" she asked. "I was planning on doing the same."

"Well since we're here, how did the talk with your dad go?" He inquired curiously.

She glanced at her feet solemnly. She was finally beginning to feel a little bad about what she did.

"He was mad at me…and I yelled at him," she sighed.

"Are you okay?" he asked, now concerned about her reaction. She seemed a little torn about it.

"Yeah. I'm just fine. It was his fault for yelling at me anyway," she smiled, fakely. Most of the time she really did hate yelling at people or being mad. Of course her dad was the exception.

Tesla wasn't sure whether or not he should believe her. She loved her dad regardless of the fact that she was upset with him. He also knew that Ulquiorra was only worried about her. He remembered his reaction the other night before. Midori was just being a typical teenager.

"Nnoitra has work for us today," he announced rather quietly. He had stopped looking at her and was now moving away toward where their espada wanted to meet with them.

"M'kay," she said following him quietly.

They found Nnoitra waiting for them in the halls. Midori gulped as they approached. She would never forget the last time she was near him. He had tried to kill her if it wasn't for Tesla. She still felt horrid about him getting hurt over it though.

"Hello Nnoitra," Tesla announced boldly. He stood out a little farther than Midori, giving her some realm of comfort. He really was a kind person to her. She still couldn't understand why though. Even from the first day they met he was concerned for her. He didn't even know her then. What were his motives?

Nnoitra told them their job for the day and they went and did it. The day went by so fast she could hardly believe that it was already time to go to sleep. She continued this same routine for three whole days, not hearing anything from her father or Grimmjow or anyone. Tesla was becoming very worried about her. Normally she would have went and apologized to her dad by now. There had to be something wrong.

Finally after work he stopped her in the hall. He slightly pinned her against the wall. She didn't squirm or anything. She must really trust him.

"What was that for?" she asked, a little startled that he would do such a thing to her.

"Please tell me what's wrong with you," he asked, concerned.

She smiled fakely and glanced at the floor. "What do you mean? I'm fine."

"But you haven't talked to your dad in days and you seemed down. What's wrong?" he asked more persistently this time.

Midori went slightly limp in his hold. She couldn't keep many secrets from Tesla. She started to cry.

"For the past couple of days I've been trying to go and apologize to my dad, but he's gone. I have no idea where he went," she cried, sadly. "I...I didn't mean what I said! He's the only family I have! My mom doesn't even remember me!"

Tesla sighed as he wrapped his arms solemnly around her. He felt bad for her. He had never seen her cry before. She was usually always in a better mood. He wished she wasn't so sad.

"Shh. It'll be alright. I'm sure Aizen-sama knows where he is," he cooed to her softly. He escorted her to her room and set her on her bed. He knew she couldn't do much now that she had broken down. "Here, rest." He told her and began to stand up.

"Please don't go!" she whined, quickly grabbing the back of his shirt. "Please don't leave me alone Tesla-kun."

He peered back at her tearstained face and couldn't help but to come and sit on her bed. He could not leave her alone. Not in the state she was in. Soon enough he found himself being pulled down onto the bed, lying directly in front of her. She clenched his shirt even tighter and sobbed into his back.

"Wha…what if Aizen doesn't know where he is and he never comes back?" she whimpered.

With another sigh he turned to her and embraced her again. He held her tightly to his chest.

"Dont think like that," he said. "Aizen will know where your dad is. I promise." He was doing his best to comfort the crying girl in his arms. The best he could do was talk soothing words to her and lightly stroke her hair. He couldn't think of anything else to do. He was really hoping that Aizen knew where Ulquiorra was. Otherwise he would have unintentionally lied to Midori. She was already stressed enough as it was.

It had been hours since Midori had started crying on him in her room. She had fallen asleep at sometime. He squirmed out of her grasp and decided to go see if Aizen knew where her father was.

Slowly he slunk through the door, being as quiet as a mouse. He didn't want to wake her.

"What were you doing Tesla?" Nnoitra's unwelcome voice echoed to him only about two feet away.

Startled, he jumped. Casually he peered back at his espada.

"Hello Nnoitra," he voiced cautiously.

"Don't beat around the bush. I know you were with that stupid girl," the man announced seriously.

"Why does it matter?" he asked his superior quietly.

"I don't want you getting close to her. If you do, I wont hesitate to kill her. Aizens orders or not," the spoon informed. "You got that?"

His head sagged but he nodded. "Yes sir," he sighed disheartened.

The arrancars parted after that brief conversation. Tesla went to Aizen's room like he intended.

"Its quite rude to come in without knocking," the harsh man informed from his seat.

"I am sorry Aizen-sama, but I came in hopes you would know about Ulquiorra's whereabouts," he said, bowing.

Aizen smirked, "Ulquiorra's been in the soul society for the past three days. I'm not sure what he's doing there. It was unauthorized."

"Thank you Aizen-sama," the blonde arrancar said, bowing once more, then taking his leave. At least he could tell the girl where her father was located. ~

Ulquiorra was sitting all alone up in a tree. He had felt really bad about when his daughter yelled at him three days ago. He had taken most of what she had said to heart. She wanted him out of her life, so he left Hueco Mundo.

For the past three days he'd been watching the people of the Rukongai. So far he hadn't been noticed. There was one person in particular he had been following. She was quite a busy body. He hadn't let her out of his sights since he arrived. So far it seemed that the woman was still single, much to his delight. If only she could remember him. He sighed a little too audibly.

Hearing the rustling up above Orihime called up a tree nearby. "Who's there?"

Ulquiorra went silent. He couldn't let her find him. She would be scared. He didn't want to scare her. He remembered when she lived in Hueco mundo for that short time. She had said she wasn't afraid of him. Apparently that was a lie.

Orihime knew someone was there in that tree so she came up to it and looked closer. When she saw what was in it she opened her mouth.

He had to be quick in order to catch her before she screamed. He leapt down right as the sound was coming out. He muffled it with his hand.

"Please be silent woman," he said in an emotionless tone. "I will not harm you."

At first Orihime struggled, but she found out he was being truthful. She was set free after that. She watched as the somehow familiar arrancar paced away from her. His head was down as he walked. He looked rather melancholy.

"Wait!" she called and ran at him.

He stopped, unable to resist her voice. Oh how he wished she were his once more.

"Why are you here?" She asked, confused.

"It's nothing to worry or ask about," Ulquiorra sighed bitterly before disappearing. He went into a totally new tree, waiting for her to leave. He couldn't believe she talked to him. It was better than her being how she was that other time. At least she was calmer now.

"Come back!" she called. She had already found him, much to his chagrin. She was climbing up the tree with some trouble. She was about halfway up when she slipped on the tree and fell. Fortunately for her he had come down and saved her.

For some reason the arrancar's arm felt so familiar encased around her body. It was as if she'd known him before. But that couldn't be true. She made an oomph noise as he set her down.

"Do you have a place to stay?" she asked him straightforwardly.

"No. But I dont need one," he muttered shyly. He wasn't sure what to do in a situation like this.

"Will you at least stay near my home? I would like to repay the favor of you saving me," she informed, taking him extremely pallid skin.

At that point Ulquiorra had lost all will to argue with her. He couldn't. Not when he was so close to her. Obediently he followed, curious as to what she had in mind for him.

(Well there's chapter 9. Once again, most of this was filler. Thnx for reading. I'll update when I can. ^.^)