Chapter 1

The door was knocked and before the editor of Karakura Post could answer, a tall man with flaming orange hair and troubled eyes stalked into the room.

'You called for me Urahara san?' said Ichigo Kurosaki roughly, thoroughly annoyed to have been removed from his desk for what he assumed was undoubtedly something useless.

'Yes! Yes I did call you, take a seat Kurosaki san' the tall man glared in suspicion but took his boss' advice nonetheless. 'You're probably wondering why I wanted to speak to you.' Ichigo made no reply but glared more intensely as though daring the older man to stall further. 'I have taken note of your vast progression since you joined the paper three years ago and think it's time for you to progress professionally.'

Ichigo was evidently surprised by the praise and recognition, and for the first time Urahara managed to see the young man without a face clouded with suspicion and heavy thought. 'Wow uh… thanks Urahara san, does this mean I'm getting a promotion.'

'Technically yes.'

Immediately orange eyebrows snapped together 'What do you mean?'

Sensing the danger Urahara wisely decided to answer succinctly, 'You'll get a raise, but I want to move you to a new location, the head company has branches all over Japan and I believe it will be good to get you exposed to different environments and intellectually stimulated.'

'So you want me to leave?'

'You have been scaring the staff more than usual lately, this might be a good opportunity to benefit all of us. And we will expect you to return... eventually.'

'For how long?'

Urahara swivelled around in his chair and stared out his large window before swivelling back to face an almost irate looking Ichigo. 'That depends on you, I would think six months a sufficient minimum but if you are happy in your new position then why not stay longer?'

Ichigo seemed to ponder this, 'I don't know Urahara san, I have other priorities…'

'Then take your time, I expect you answer by Friday.' Replied Urahara kindly, Ichigo nodded his head, and while doing so he noticed a Tokyo paper on the large wooden desk, he gestured towards it and Urahara nodded his head in acceptance. Ichigo took the paper and not bothering to leave the office opened it and started reading it then and there. 'You can leave now.' Said Urahara pleasantly, almost in a sing song voice.

'I scare the staff remember.' Replied Ichigo without looking away from the newspaper, there were stabbings near schools again, and stock market shares continued their wild fluctuations.

'That is correct Kurosaki san but I would like the privacy of my office back.'

'Everyone knows you call your wife every day and mumble sweet nothings to her like a fool.'

'All the more reason I should continue then. Now leave please.'

Ichigo just scoffed and turned the page, then his eyes widened in surprise as he read the black bold title of a modest three columns taking up the bottom let hand corner of the large page, The Queen butterfly it read. Suddenly a very vague memory of a little girl with floor length auburn hair telling a tale with fervent hand gestures and animated voices came to the forefront of his mind. He flicked his eyes to the bottom of the final column trying to discern the author's name, his heart sunk when he read only an alias name to respect the writer's anonymity. Hope sprung up his in his heart when he read the alias name a second time… who else in the world would name themselves Strawberry Gundam?

'Kurosaki-san? I asked you to leave.' Interrupted ichigo's thoughts.

'Tokyo.' Said Ichigo strongly.

'Eh?'

'Move me to Tokyo.' Replied Ichigo firmly, further increasing his boss' rare but confused expression.

Ichigo ran a hand through his hair, thinking himself stupid for chasing an unattainable dream. He thought over, for the thousandth time, on the day he had run away from a beautiful, unique and kind woman. Orihime Inoue was truly one of a kind, he would not reason his way out of the guilt that would squelch him whenever the memory would materialise. The only comfort he allowed himself was repeating that what was done was done and there was no way to undo the past. However, a burning need to apologise and plead for forgiveness had plundered his soul since the day he had returned to University at the start of the new academic year. He was so full of hope and illogical optimism at acquiring a pardon, only to find Orihime to have left, abandoned her studies and never to return.

He had been horrified to realise that Orihime Inoue no longer studied at the university. Guiltily, he remembered shouting denials at the frightened looking bespectacled admissions clerk when she explained that Orihime had decided to leave her studies suddenly, with no explanation whatsoever.

Confronted her friends and course mates came next for any shred of information which would lead to Orihime's whereabouts. That has been a truly stupid thing to do. Hana and even Yuki were very stony towards him and shared barely two words with him, though Yuki looked like she wanted to administer grievous bodily injury to him, a far cry from when she attempted to seduce him. Orihime's former course mates were equally inhospitable towards him but were truly honest in their denials of information, Orihime had surprised them just as she did to everyone else in her sudden silent departure.

It was times like these where Ichigo wondered on the inevitably torturous questions of what if. What if he hadn't run away from her on their wedding day? What if they had gotten married and lived together? Where would their lives had led to six years later?

He had tried through tooth and nail to find her, he had tried tracking any relatives and found none, only a brother who had passed away around the time he had broken their tender friendship and affection. Ichigo wondered how Orihime had managed, he knew he probably wouldn't have been able to handle such a mix of negative emotions, but she… she must have been strong enough. When Ichigo had come home a week after running at his maximum capacity and ending on a train to some nameless place, his father had made him a cup of tea and told him Orihime hadn't stuck around but just made her own way to a distant city to become nameless and traceless, asking not to be followed or consoled.

Ichigo glanced down at the newspaper still clutched tightly in his fist as he made his way home to pack and inform his family of his impending move. His eyes flicked over the title of the short story The Queen Butterfly. The lead was unusual, but what else could one expect from her? He knew the chance of success was infinitesimal, but it was a lead nonetheless and he would take any chance thrown at him.

His friends, Hikaru in particular, held a keen motivation for throwing girls at his face in the hopes of tempting him out of his desperation for forgiveness and to move on with his life… and his celibacy. He had considered finding another partner, especially when he felt the loneliness in his life acutely, but he considered his crimes too severe to allow himself respite. There was also the small flickering hope he nursed that he may somehow, in some twisted surreal situation, win Orihime back. Naturally he had only realised that he lost a precious jewel when he threw it away and later realised it did not stay with him. As naïve as he knew he was being in thinking that there could not possibly be another woman in existence for him in the world as perfect as Orihime was, that was how he honestly felt towards her and he knew another girl couldn't compare.

He also knew that wherever Orihime Inoue be now, she would no longer be the same person she once was, time and a traumatic heart break had done that, no doubt, to her. He gripped the Tokyo newspaper tighter, but he would still try.

Ichigo scowled as he stepped out of the train station, Tokyo was very noisy. Crowds of people walking in every direction prohibited him from walking freely on the streets, tall imposing buildings blocked the sunshine and the lifestyle was so fast he could hardly have time to just stop and think for a moment.

His flickering optimism almost went out, how was he supposed to find Orihime in this city? He frowned in though as he stood at the entrance of the train station, unknowingly attracting attention to himself.

Ichigo shook his head slightly and made his way to his new accommodation.

After Ichigo had disposed of his light luggage at his lodgings, he took his time getting to the Tokyo branch of Karakura Post, which went under the grander name of Tokyo Times. The newspaper headquarters was positioned in yet another tall imposing building and welcomed its visitors with forbidding revolving glass doors.

His new editor was just as eccentric as his former one and it took every ounce of energy Ichigo had not to frown constantly. His new colleagues were conveniently nonchalant towards his presence and paid him no mind, most likely because they were too busy in their workload to notice him. When the lunch hour finally arrived Ichigo headed directly towards the Human Resources department.

'Can I help you sir?' said a bored voice towards Ichigo's left. He glanced towards the direction and found a slightly rotund man in his mid-thirties.

'I'm err, looking for payroll.' Asked Ichigo quickly.

'That would be me.'

'Great. I'd like it if you could get me the name and address of a creative writer that had a few columns in last week's edition.'

The payroll man looked Ichigo up and down briefly, his eyes lingered on the shocking orange hair. 'And who are you exactly?' answered the man with no less intonation of boredom.

'I'm primary editor and reporter Ichigo Kurosaki.' Replied Ichigo tersely.

The man's eyes narrowed slightly, 'I wish I could help you Kurosaki san, but names and addresses of external writers are strictly confidential.'

'But-'

'It is strictly confidential Kurosaki san.'

Ichigo sighed audibly and fought, not for the first time that morning, for calm. He would not give up when he had the first tangible lead in years.

'Listen, it's for something really important. I'm an employee of this newspaper and think it well within my rights to chase a potentially prosperous external writer.'

The payroll man gave a half eye roll, 'The answer is still…' Ichigo frowned at the incomplete answer, only to realise the payroll man's eyes had glazed over slightly while they followed the movement of a pretty, dark haired woman at the other end of the large open plan network of desks.

Instantly Ichigo thought of a plan, 'She's quite pretty.' commented Ichigo with forced nonchalance.

'You're blind; she's nothing less than an angel.' Said the man, his voice still harsh but his eyes remained glazed.

Wow he really had it bad, thought Ichigo, 'I'm guessing you like her.'

'More than she'll ever know.'

'Then tell her.'

The man shifted his gaze and returned to his stiff demeanour, 'No point.'

'Why? She taken?'

'No…'

'Then why?'

'She's too good for me, no use confessing when you know you'll be crushed.'

'What if I could prove you wrong?' challenged Ichigo, his tone confident, his mind buckling with the gamble he was about to take.

The payroll man jerked and a look of pure hope splashed across his face.

'Really?!'

'Yeah… you give me the name and address I need, and I'll get you and her talking.' The suspicion lingered in the man's face, but the abundant hope won out.

'Deal.'

'Good, so what's your name?'

The woman was more difficult to manoeuvre than Ichigo thought. She had an initially annoying, high pitched voice and his eyes got blinded by the amount of shocking pink decorating her computer and desk. However, after taking pains to converse with her Ichigo found that Sakura Inuzaki was an honest and kind if not rather naïve woman. Ichigo had noticed her furtive glances towards the Payroll man, whose name turned out to be Azuma. While Azuma was too busy having hearts for eyes to notice that she reciprocated shyly in kind.

'Do you know Azuma san?' asked Ichigo nonchalantly.

'Only a little, he's always very careful with his work.' She responded shyly.

'Yeah… I know. What do you think of him?'

'Oh he's a really great guy!' her enthusiasm mellowed as she stopped speaking. 'We used to talk, but then he suddenly stopped.'

'Any idea why?'

She shook her head, 'No, but I guess he must have gotten annoyed with me somehow.'

Ichigo couldn't contain his snort, 'Trust me Inuzaki san, he really doesn't find you annoying.' Her look of hope was identical to Azuma's.

'Really?'

'Yeah, he even called you an angel.'

Sakura's face turned as bright as her pink photo frames, 'R-really? He really said that about me? But then why did he stop talking to me?'

'He's just shy, why don't you say hello to him and find out for yourself.'

She pondered for a moment then shook her head, 'Uh-uh, he should come to me first.'

'Fine, I'll bring him to you.'

'She wants you to go to her.' Said Ichigo to a frantically perspiring Azuma.

Azuma's eyes dilated in fear 'What?! Now?'

'No time like the presence.'

Azuma stood up from his desk obediently, 'Now?'

'Yes. Now.' Said Ichigo, his eyes closing in irritation. Azuma looked hesitant and started pacing around the narrow floor space he had, 'Just go already!' and he pushed Azuma out into the main pathway towards Sakura.

Ichigo watched from afar in amusement and mild envy as the two spoke nervously to one another, after a few minutes Sakura gave Azuma a bright smile and nodded her head vehemently. Azuma then made his way back to Ichigo in a flurry.

'She said yes!'

'To what?'

'To lunch of course!'

'Oh, congratulations.'

'This is brilliant! Oh I could kiss you!'

'Please. Don't. Ever. Can I have the name and address now then?'

'Of course, a deal is a deal, but don't tell anyone, I'm not really meant to do this.'

A few minutes later a crisp piece of paper was firmly locked in an envelope inside Ichigo's coat pocket. Not wanting to fall to pieces in possible disappointment in front of everybody he had rushed towards his office in nervous agitation and an unnoticeably empty stomach. His finger shakily opened the envelope and with a deep breath Ichigo flipped the paper open from its fold. His eyes widened in astonished relief to read Orihime Inoue's name and address. It was a suburban address, which appeared to be a flat in a complex of some sort. He allowed himself to sink into his chair and let the realisation to hit him… he had finally found her.

Standing in front of a shabby looking door, Ichigo's eyes jotted from the clean door mat to the quaint welcoming basket of daisies and finally to the brass numbers above the key hole. His eyes wandered to the neighbouring flats and he scowled in worry as he took note of the broken window panes, the chipped door frames and the bitter-sweet scent of Marijuana in the air.

He looked at the address in his hands and the door number again. He started to perspire as he came to the conclusion that this must be where Orihime now lived. That is of course if he found the right Orihime Inoue… He dreaded to think how many women went by that name in Tokyo, but he doubted anyone else would have written about the Queen Butterfly, or called themselves Strawberry Gundam, that alone must belong to the Orihime Inoue.

Ichigo grinned at that thought but his eyes saw the door number again and he lost his smile. After years of searching, he had almost found her and yet he was hesitating. Many times he had imagined what he would do if he found her, almost all the scenarios involved bursting through doors or windows and clutching her in his arms while he forced her to listen to his pleading apology. He scowled, now none of his bravado came to him, his blood carried only fear of her disgusted face.

He started to pace in front of her door, the smell of marijuana sourcing from the neighbour's flat became more prominent as the air around him shifted. What if she refused to speak to him? She had every right not to allow him within a five mile radius of her… and it has been six years, he could not suppose her to be the same person he had cowardly run away from. Ichigo stopped pacing. He had run away from her once and he'd be damned if he did again. Without further thought he viciously rang the bell, retracting his hand as though burnt and cursing himself for most likely startling Orihime when she already lived in a questionable neighbourhood.

He did not have to ponder long on his inability to ring a door bell properly as the front door swung partially open, but he could not see anybody until he felt a sharp poke at his leg. Refraining from cursing out from the mild pain Ichigo looked down in quickly building anger and anxiety, what he saw made his heart stop.

A little girl, not tall enough to reach his knee, with beautiful auburn hair that nostalgically reached her mid thighs, stared up to him with a deadpan expression and no emotion, not even fear behind her brilliant green eyes. She was almost an identical memory of Orihime when he had first met her, and the fact that this new little miniature Orihime did not smile or even betray a flicker of any kind of expression deeply unnerved Ichigo, despite his full blown shock at discovering what must logically be Orihime's daughter.

Orihime's daughter!

He wanted to swear, cry and yell altogether. But strangely he felt a huge desire to greet the strange girl first, crying and swearing could come afterwards in the privacy of his apartment.

'Hinata!' Came a worried feminine voice laced with anger, Ichigo's heart flipped. 'How many times have I told you never to open the door!' the door swung open fully to accommodate an auburn haired woman.

And there she was.

Dessa's Note: Sorry about the cliff hanger. It's a tactic I hope will work in keeping readers interested :P Happy new year everybody! Isn't this a remarkably quick update? I'm trying to be a better fanfic writer… as I get annoyed when my favourite stories never get updated too. I'm very excited at posting for this story (the final in the My New neighbour trilogy) It is the plot line that I have been leading and preparing everything for! I hope you enjoyed it :D