Soul Butterfly Daycare: Sick Day
Sick Day: Orihime, Grimmjow and Uryu go visit Ulquiorra in the hospital after his tonsils are removed.
Orihime sat in a stiff, plastic blue chair and swung her legs back and forward. Waiting rooms at the hospital were no different than the ones at the doctor's office. They made the four year old very nervous.
Beside her sat Grimmjow and Uryu, both bickering over who would give Ulquiorra his get well cards from their classmates; and who would give him all the homework that he had missed. The latter pile was filled with paper puzzles, shapes, animal cut outs and paper money coins. It made it very hard to carry as all the material. Grimmjow was getting angry.
In her own lap sat a white shoe box filled to the brim with Valentines for her sick classmate. Orihime sniffed. Ulquiorra had missed a lot of school. She didn't know what tonsils were, but she was sorry that her friend had lost them.
“Be quiet, children! If I have to come over their...” Hissed an elderly receptionist from across the room. Orihime's brother, Sora, had asked the lady to keep an eye on them when he had to suddenly step out to make a very important phone call.
Grimmjow, who had dropped the pile of homework and had been standing on his chair with the scruff of Uryu's collar in his hand, quickly sat back down.
“Blue crayons are way better than purple anyway.” He muttered under his breath, then as if for emphasis reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue crayon. Orihime giggled when he took a big bite out of it. Uryu made gagging noises.
Just then, they heard a scuffle from inside Ulquiorra's room. Since the walls were paper thin and their set of chairs sat against Ulquiorra's room, they heard everything. Their was the sound of scraping chairs followed by a shattering crash and what sounded like Ulquiorra's father shouting. Then the familiar murmur of Ulquiorra's voice followed through. A moment later Mr Aizen and Dr. Ishida came out of the door.
“Hi Dad,” Uryu greeted meekly but was ignored over Mr. Aizen's loud voice.
“For the last time Ulquiorra, I'm your father - not your master!” He shouted in exasperation before shutting the door. Mr. Ishida quickly scribbled some notes onto his clipboard.
“I've never seen such a peculiar reaction. Usually the side effects include bouts of dizziness and fainting.”
“Can we go in now?” Orihime interrupted excitedly. Mr. Aizen looked at Dr. Ishida worriedly.
“He's very confused and disoriented. It's clear that he's exhausted. I'd keep any visits to a bare minimum.”
Mr. Aizen sighed and looked at the three children.
“Alright, but make it a short visit. Ulquiorra needs his rest.” Orihime squealed. Uryu salulted. Grimmjow scoffed. Al three preschoolers quickly shuffled into the room. It was surprisingly dark inside, with all the windows shut and just a tiny, dim lamp light on.
“Close the door.” Ulquiorra ordered in a cold, flat voice. Orihime shivered. He sounded so different. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. Ulquiorra stared at her eerily from the hospital bed and made no difference to get up and greet them. An awkward silence engulfed the room.
Uryu - who had only come at the instance of his father because of his involvement with Ulquiorra's bandaged arm - was clearly uncomfortable. The poor boy shifted uneasily from foot to foot.
“I'm just gonna set these here.” He the pil of Get Well cards that he had been carrying and placed them at the foot of the bed. Orihime watched as he bowed apologetically to Ulquiorra.
“I'm sorry I stabbed you with my needle. I was just trying to be a good doctor like my dad.” Grimmjow snickered at Uryu's apology.
“It was a plastic arrow.” He corrected. Uryu flushed in embarrassment and ran from the room. Ulquiorra's eyes never left Orihime's face.
“Are you alright 'Quiorra?”
“...why have you regressed Woman? You have become miniature.” Ulquiorra demanded suddenly. Orihime frowned, not understanding his vocabulary.
“What does 'minisure' mean?” Grimmjow jeered.
“It means you act like a baby-”
“-be silent, Trash.” Ulquiorra interrupted. He looked around his hospital room as if noticing it for the first time.
“I assume we are no longer in Hueco Mundo. So exactly where are we?” He demanded. Grimmjow and Orihime stared at him as if he had grown a second head.
“Dude, you are whacked!” Grimmjow scoffed, but it just made Orihime more worried.
“Why are you being like this, 'Quiorra?” She asked softly, clutching her white shoe box closer to her chest. Ulquiorra cocked his head to the side.
“Does it matter? You are clearly afraid of me, now.” He stated. His voice was monotone, but their was an underline note of dissatisfaction. It was almost as if he was disappointed, or maybe even offended. It made Orihime huff.
“I'm not afraid. I just want to know why you're being mean! Is it because they took out your tonsils?”
Ulquiorra stared at her, baffled.
“We need to get your tonsils back!” She exclaimed excitedly.
“I don't need tonsils. I need a heart.” Ulquiorra pounded on his chest and nearly fell over when he felt the solid flesh beneath it. Orihime brightened.
“Oh, that reminds me...” She came over to the hospital bed and emptied the shoe box full of Valentines onto it. Ulquiorra lifted up his hospital scrubs to examine his shirt, ignoring her.
“Happy Valentines Day!” She screeched. Grimmjow covered his ears. Ulquiorra dropped his shirt, confused.
“What is Valentines Day?” Orihime giggled.
“It's a day that's all about love and the heart.” Ulquiorra placed a hand over his chest. His voice was thick.
“I do not understand... I have a heart?” Orihime rolled her eyes at his question and held up her own Valentine to him.
“Of course, I gave you one. See?” Grimmjow sighed loudly as Ulquiorra carefully took it from her and studied it intently.
“Valentines Day was last Friday! It's over!”
Ulquiorra gently laid the Valentine on the shelf next to his bed and hopped down from his perch. Then he wrapped an arm around Orihime, who liked hugs.
“Trash isn't welcome here. Cero.” Grimjow watched as Ulquiorra pointed a finger at him, and then promptly fell over unconscious, taking Orihime with him.
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