Return to me
Based off:
the screen play by
Bonnie Hunt and Donald Lake
Disclaimer:
I don not own bleach Tite Kubo does
I do not own any rights to Return to me.
Rights to Return to me reserved by MGM studios.
Authors Note:
If you have not yet seen the movie Return to me
I think you should read this FanFic first or it will ruin the ending.
If you have seen the movie
I Hope you enjoy and I hope I did both the movie
and Bleach characters justice.
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Renji Abarai stopped mere feet away from his business partner. His yellow hard hat covered his red hair. A shadow of the mans tall, lean, frame covered the reclining body of his best friend. Ichigo immediately noticed the loss of the suns warmth on his skin. He never looked up to meet his partners eyes. His gaze was fixed on the cloudy sky, painted with the intoxicating colors of the Japanese sunset.
"It's a shame we have to put roofs on them." The orange haired man sighed out.
He sat up abruptly and slapped the dirt off the knees of his worn out khakis. Again Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes met the dipping sunset. From his position, on top of an unfinished office building in downtown Karakura Japan, he could see the whole city, even the Zoo. His heart warmed at the thought that he could see where she spent her days, even from so far away.
Ichigo had done a lot for a man of his age. At 23 he had taken over his fathers design business with only an associates in structural engineering. Since then, he had designed and helped build most of the Karakura skyline. Each building was a symbol of his experience and strength, but to Ichigo, the greatest symbol of his lives success was resting on the ring finger of his left hand.
He met Rukia Kuchiki the same day he met his business partner Renji, when he was only fifteen. Renji and Ichigo started a rivalry for the girls affections right away, even though she was two years older than them both. In the end Ichigo won. He started dating her at sixteen, and by the time he was nineteen, they were both wedded.
"Well," Ichigo grumbled standing up with a helping hand from Renji and slapped his hard hat on to cover his unruly orange hair. "Looks good for today, Renji. I'm outta here."
Renji smiled and pulled Ichigo in and patted his back in a one armed "man hug."
"Alright, Ichigo, you have fun tonight."
"As always." Ichigo replied with a sly smile before he made his way down the latter.
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She was a young and vibrant woman who hid her age better than most. She still got looks whenever she did presentations for visiting schools and was always asked a million times a day how old she was. She looked like a high school student, and with enough prodding from her husband she could end up acting like one on her off time as well.
She had silky raven black hair that held the same style it has always had, shoulder length that was curled out at the ends. Her kind face was always split in half by a strand of hair that refused to stay in it's place. Her large purple eyes met with a pair of dark brown, almost black, eyes. The fur that surrounded these eyes was the only thing keeping her from believing the gorilla in front of her was a person like her.
She regretted the size of his cage from the very first day. She made it her personal goal to raise enough money for not only the gorilla that stole her heart but the other younger gorillas they kept in a different cage.
We would go crazy in a place that small…
She signed her farewell to the great beast who signed a plead for her to stay. She smiled and shook her head no. In the time since Rukia joined the team at the Karakura Zoo, her heart belonged to the ape in front of her. She taught it sign language, and with her affection and attention it started to almost act human.
"I have to go and get you rich tonight, so you can afford a new home. One fit for a king, instead of this prison cell you live in now. I have picked out a gorgeous dress to wear, and Ichigo is going to wear a tuxedo even." The ape reacted to the news, "My thoughts exactly. He wouldn't wear a tux to our wedding, so don't you feel special?" She laced her fingers through the wholes in the back of his cage, hairy hands covered hers.
She turned her small frame and met eyes with her good friend, Hanataro Yamada. The shy intern at the zoo quickly became a quick friend when he joined the team a year before. Rukia took a liking to the shy, nervous, and sweet boy, and put a good word in for him. He gained a world more experience than the other interns, and was offered a job after he finishes his degree in the fall.
"R-Rukia-san. I thought I'd find you here." The boy shuffled his way to the chain link fence and bowed to the animal behind it. "Hello, Zabimaru." Hanataro handed Rukia a clip board and asked her to sign it to confirm changes he had made. She smiled and did as he asked after taking a brief skim of the pages.
"Rukia-san, It's already five, you should go home and get ready for tonight."
She handed the clipboard back and let out a long sigh. She started walking for the door, the intern on her heals She took off her white coat and hung it at the door. Before she closed the door for the last time today she kissed goodbye to the gorilla who caught the kiss, just like he was trained to do.
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Ichigo shook the rain off his coat kicked and his shoes off at the door. He left the door behind him open long enough to let the golden retriever-boxer-mix run into the house behind him. Before the orange haired man could grab the towel he set aside to dry off the dog, the animal in question shook, splashing water around the entry way to his upscale apartment.
"Kon…" he growled out trying to get the stubborn dog to stop shaking and trying to dry him off at the same time. Once he was fully satisfied, he pulled the collar and leash off the dog and patted his side. Normally, Ichigo would have waited for Rukia to arrive home before feeding the troublesome mutt, but today was special so he called to the dog, trying to get his to go into the kitchen to eat. Kon followed his master only halfway to his food dish before he turned back around and sat in front of the door waiting for Rukia to come home and feed him instead.
"She'll be home any minute and we have a lot to do tonight so get your ass in here and eat, Kon." Ichigo growled from the kitchen. When he didn't hear the sound of paws against the hard wood flooring he let our a sigh and pushed down on the electric can opener.
The sound of the machine stirred the dog, but he remained in his place. Seconds later Ichigo heard keys unlocking the door and the dogs strong tail hitting the wood as it wagged uncontrollably. Rukia was home. Ichigo tossed the now full food dish next to the dogs water and made his way upstairs. He could hear his wife happily greeting Kon as she followed him upstairs, Kon falling in behind her, inquiring about the dress she asked him to pick up from the dry cleaners.
"I did that and to make you fall even more in love with me I took Kon out, too." Ichigo was shocked when he saw his wife's face, and she didn't look pleased.
"You took Kon for a walk in the rain, in your tux?" She growled out almost. "Your pants are soaked."
Ichigo childishly took the blow dryer off the counter and aimed it at his ankles. Rukia restrained a laugh and kissed her husband on the cheek.
"Tell Kon to eat."
"Kon eat." The dog left her side and ran down the winding stairs to his food dish and dug in. She focused back on her husband who was still blow drying his pant legs. "You're cute." She turned away from him to make her way to the bedroom to change. She let out a surprised squeak when her husbands strong arms wrapped around her small frame. He turned off the hair dryer.
"You hang out with monkeys all day, what do you expect?" Her husband bent down and kissed the nape of her neck. His hand roaming up the skin under her shirt. The girl shivered and struggled not to sigh at Ichigo's erotic greeting.
"I-Ichigo, we have to go." She whined not nearly protesting enough.
"We have time. Plus you need help getting out of these smelly zoo clothes." He smiled using his unnoticed hand to undo the button and zipper of Rukia's shorts, the article falling to bathroom tile unnoticed, unneeded, unwanted.
"Smelly?"
"Get over it." He whispered, picking her up like she weighed nothing and carrying her into their bedroom. Rukia laughed at her husbands antics and glared at the dog that found it's way to her side again.
"Kon, stay."
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She had a strong heart even though it was weak. Her brother always told her that one day she would need a new heart - a bigger heart - so she could fit more people into to it. And that heart would be the perfect size. Until then Orihime Inoue laid in a hospital bed with a heart that was so full it was breaking.
Her long auburn hair was put in a knotty ponytail that made her pale skin only look paler. The hospital room had been her home for months and with all the get well soon cards and flowers that surrounded her, it showed. Her gray eyes had lost there sparkle a long time ago. The twenty one year old laid in bed, barely able to breath - let alone speak. - She had no delusions. She was not long for this earth.
She had been dieing since she was fourteen. Heart disease ran in her family, after all her mother died when she was 5 like her mother had done before her. Her father left when he decided the hospital bills would be to much of a burden. So Orihime lived her life just her brother Sora and her grandfather Ulquiorra. When Sora got married to her best friend Tatsuki she knew he life would be complete when she died. She was happy and willing to die.
So when she was nineteen she got too sick to be taken care of at home. She traveled from hospital to hospital until she found her home at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa - her grandfather was an American citizen and ex-sailor so he pulled some strings.- The hospital was far from her home in Karakura but no matter how much she complained about the distance her family still visited her daily.
She opened her heavy eyes and looked over at Tatsuki. Then beyond her to the clock. It was almost five-thirty.
"Good you're awake Orihime. You can help me do the quiz." Tatsuki pulled out her new Cosmo, already worn from reading it at the hospital, when there was nothing else to do. "Is it more important that a man is A: polite to your family? B: Can handle the finances well? Or C: will take care of you when you're sick?" Tatsuki looked up from the page at her pale friend then circled a letter on the page. "Well I'm gonna take a guess and say C…"
Orihime smiled weakly.
"What do you expect most from a relationship? A: companionship? B: sex? C respect? I'd have to go with sex but I want a better score so…"
Orihime stirred trying to position herself better. Tatsuki jumped from her seat and went straight to her side, frantically trying to figure out what to do. Her vitals looked good… I think? She leaned over so she could hear what Orihime's weak voice was trying to say.
"What is it Orihime? Move your pillow? Are you uncomfortable? What?"
"Rosebud." Orihime's voice quietly breathed out. She smiled wide at her friends angry expression.
"Not funny!"
"Well with Tatsuki-chan's usual comedic tension, it wasn't funny at all…"
"Orihime." Tatsuki said in a scolding manner.
"I just want some water, please."
Tatsuki grabbed Orihime's cup and held the straw to her friend's lips and watched as the dieing star tried her hardest to drink. Such a small task became so hard for her…
"Thank you." Orihime's eyes watched the cup as Tatsuki placed it back on the side table. "You can go home, ya' know."
"To what? You have cable, I don't." Tatsuki joked, tucking her friend in.
"To Sora and the kids."
"It's about time Sora played parent anyway. Now he gets to see what happens when he pumps those kids of his full of sugar and leaves them with me."
"Tatsuki." Orihime whispered out, a tear falling down her cheek. "Promise me you'll take care of my grandpa."
"What? What kind of talk is that? You are gonna get a heart soon then you're gonna drink your first beer and your go back to painting and cooking and every man in Karakura is gonna turn and leave whoever they were with just to ask you out."
"Tatsuki I don't want to break people up."
"You know what I mean Orihime. You are gonna be able to do things you were never able to do cause you've been sick for so long. You can ride your mom's bike!"
"I'm too old Tat-"
"twenty-one is not to old you weirdo. I'm twenty eight… nine… thirty one-never mind. Do you think I'm old?" She asked striking a youthful pose.
"Yes." Tatsuki's pose died.
"Anyway, you need to sleep and rest, you heard the doctor earlier."
"I don't want to sleep."
"Orihime." She said in a motherly voice once again.
"Fine, I'll rest but not sleep. I'm afraid to sleep."
"Okay then," Tatsuki bent down and kissed her sister-in-laws sweaty brow, "We'll stay up." By the time she sat up all the way, Orihime was already in deep sleep. Tatsuki turned on the TV making sure it was muted so she didn't wake her friend. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a string of prayer beads she purchased at a temple near her house and started to pray quietly.
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Ichigo was a very unhappy man. His frown warned people away from him and that was what he wanted. His wife, slid her hand around his back and stood on the tips of her toes to give her husband a peck on the chin. His frown, despite his best efforts, melted away at her touch.
"How are you holding up Ichigo."
"How do you think?" He asked, his frown taking shape again. "How much longer do we need to stay here?"
"I just have to thank a few more people and then I suppose we can fade into the mist."
"Alright, lets do this then." Ichigo jumped into action looking around for anyone who looked "un-thanked"
Rukia's laugh reverberated into his soul and he couldn't stop his body from dipping down and taking her lips into his. She pulled back her face red from the clear display of affection.
"I-Ichigo. We are in public."
"Right, sorry. I couldn't help it, you know what your smile does to me." He replied, with a smile of his own.
A shiver went down Ichigo's spine when a familiar presence laid it's hand on his shoulder. It was Byakuya. Rukia's older brother and head contributor to the Gorilla Fund. Ichigo never liked the man, with is mightier-than-thou composure and attitude. He had fought him to many times to count. They called a truce only out of mutual love for Rukia.
"Kurosaki, Rukia, why don't you two leave for the night before the traffic gets to bad. I can say the finale words of thanks for you." The man's eyes grew dark when they left his sister and fell upon her groom. "Just get her home safely Kurosaki."
"Of course, I will. She's my wife isn't she? I'll keep her safe, always."
"Very well then." He turned his scarf flowing in the almost non existent breeze as he walked.
"I really hate that guy." Ichigo let out a grunt when Rukia's elbow connected with his rib.
"Lets go Ichigo." She turned, her arms crossed, and walked to the exit.
Great, she's mad at me now.
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The silence of the car ride was unbearable. Rukia had her hands crossed over her chest still and a blank look on her face. Ichigo knew what he had to do, but hated having to do it.
"I don't hate Byakuya, I'm sorry."
"Then why did you say it, Ichigo!?" Suddenly Ichigo was wishing for silence. "He has been nothing but good to us and he thinks the world of you."
My ass.
"You're right I am sorry I really am."
They made it to a red light, and they both looked at each other. Ichigo smiled his best "forgive me smile" and Rukia replied with a "I forgive you" one of her own. Ichigo reached across the arm rest and grabbed his wife's hand.
"I love you, Rukia."
"I love you, too, Ichigo."
The siren of a police car cut through their peaceful moment and they bother looked down the road towards the noise. Three Cop cars were speeding down the road, proceeded by an old beat up and sparking SUV. Rukia's hand tightened onto her husbands and she looked back at him, with a sweet smile.
Today, looking back, Ichigo found a slight bit of thanks for the fact that Rukia never saw the SUV spin out and hit the light poll. The light poll deflected the vehicle and launched it in their direction. It made contact with her side of the car before he could react.
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A phone sat on the wall in the kitchen of a family owned restaurant. A phone that has never before rang. The scribbles and doodles by little children littered the wall around the red dial-less devise. They all held the same theme, Heart.
A pale old man walked to the phone, hesitating only a second before picking it up and holding it to his ear. A few seconds of silence on his end brought an end to the call. He didn't other hanging it up, he just dropped it and let it bounce off the cord. Ulquiorra turned to the group of his peers, all as old and worn as he was, all of them waiting to here the news.
"Orihime has a heart." He announced before an uncharacteristic smile formed on his lips.
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The door to the Kurosaki home opened to let the darkness and the rain fall down on the entry way. Ichigo walked in, Renji followed behind him, his eyes red from the tears he shed in private. He would be strong for Ichigo. Ichigo didn't take any notice to Renji's presence, running on autopilot.
Pet the dog.
Take off shoes.
Check phone messages.
Try to feed the dog.
Wait until Rukia gets home…
"You sure you don't want me to stay?" Renji asked, watching his friend brokenly walking around his house.
"I have to take Kon out."
"He's been out. I left the hospital a few hours ago and came by, took him to the park…"
"Oh, yeah…"
Ichigo, still going through the motions, reached for the frig handle, but stopped. A sticky note caught his eye, The neon pink bunny shape contrasting from the silver of the door. Ichi- Please pick up my dress from the cleaners. THANK YOU! Love you, love you, love you, Rukia. He pulled the note off and ran his fingers over the familiar writing. He placed it back down, trying to put in it the same spot as before.
Renji leaned against the wall, just watching his friend react to this life changing event. He was lost as to what to do. Should he stay? Should he go?
"I'm staying." Renji stated taking off his heavy rain jacket.
"No, Renji, I really need to be alone right now." Ichigo leaned against the frig, his hand in a tight fist, slammed into the stainless steel.
A painful silence followed. Renji was at a loss for words. He decided to just do what they both did best and ignore the situation as best he could.
"I'll see you around then, right Ichigo?"
"Yeah, sure, Renji."
Renji petted Kon at the door and pushed the dog out of his way. Renji looked back at his orange haired friend who just sat at in the middle of the couch.
He's never sat in the middle before.
"Look you need me, call, I'll be here in two minutes." Ichigo waved in reply and let Renji close the door behind him.
Ichigo let the first tear drop. Could he really do this? The sound of a dog's whimper broke him from his trace for a second. Kon was at the door, waiting. Waiting for his favorite person in the world to come home and greet him. Ichigo went to the door and flipped the lock. His back hit the door and he slid down the hard wood.
Kon sniffed his owners blood stained shirt and nuzzled into his bandaged arm. Again the dog let out a whimper.
"I'm okay Kon, the blood's not mine." His voice betrayed him and cracked. He had not cried since his mom died fourteen years ago. Today it seems he would cry again. Kon looked past Ichigo to the door and wagged his tail once then stopped. It wasn't Rukia, the footsteps just walked past his door.
"Kon." Ichigo held the sides of the dog's face and forced it to look into his teary eyes. "Kon, she's not coming home." Kon whimpered and let out a sad howl. Ichigo's arms hugged his dogs neck and he buried his eyes into Kon's fur.
Together they cried.
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A heart beats once and two worlds collide.
One beat and color floods to the skin of a dieing girl.
One beat and a man crying for the loss of his wife, is filled with a sense of peace and falls asleep.
One beat saves a life.
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R&R
:::MrsMoshae:::