A/N:

Please note that I updated with two chapters at once... this is the second.

A few things you should be acquainted with (these are things you would learn from the missing chapters at the beginning of this story):

Yuzu has a husband, a man older than herself, who's a scientist, and he's away a lot on abroad research journeys, so Yuzu and her two daughters, Shizuka (4) and Aimi (2) still live with Isshin in the Clinic. I must say Isshin is happy with the arrangement...

Karin moved out, she's a TV's sport reporter... :-) She has no family yet.

Tatsuki and Uryu are married, their only daughter is Saki (8).

About Chad I'm not sure, you can imagine what you like.

Chapter ?

Inseparable

Orihime wanted to leave early in the morning, but there were complications. The Senkaimon was not yet ready, and they had a couple of last minute visitors too. Captain Ukitake and Kyoraku came, having heard of her desire to leave. Rangiku also showed up. Everybody was now acquainted with the real nature of things, and they were not at all surprised by the parents' choice... but they all grieved for the whole family.

'My Dear... are you gonna be all right?' Rangiku asked, holding her steady by the shoulders, and attempting to look into her eyes. Orihime however kept her gaze firmly on the ground as she answered.

'Sure... we'll be just fine...'

Rangiku pouted. 'I can ask for a few days off from Taicho, you, know...'

'No! I think it's better if we... um... deal with it on our own... But thank you, I really appreciate it...'

'Are you sure? I think returning home will be the most difficult... where everything will remind you of him...'

Sora came to stand next to his mother.

'Don't worry, Rangiku-san... we'll be there to help!'

Orihime smiled at her son warmly. In the last two weeks, Sora had somehow grown up. He smiled and laughed less, and a serious scowl would often claim his features. He wasn't so prone to snap at Renji's teasing any more and he didn't pick fights with his brother. Instead, he could often be seen using one of the private Kuchiki training grounds alone. He had been the one to go to the Captain's council in Orihime's place, and not even a single insult or angry remark had left his lips as he had talked with the Head Captain. He had procured acquittance for everyone helping Yuzuki's escape in any way. He had arranged free journey for Chad and Uryu back to the World of the Living. He had held his head high as he firmly told Yamamoto, that after his own return, he would take on his father's duties of protecting Karakura town, with or without Soul Society's consent.

Since Sora had been occupied, Michi filled in for him in the duty of looking after Yuzuki, as the protective older brother, and their bound strengthened. Yuzuki still felt closest to Sora of course (that bound would never break) but with Michi, she could discuss things she couldn't tell Sora. Michi just dealt better with dark and painful emotions... He had been able to comfort her, and ease some of her self-blame. During the days, when she was occupied, and had Mai and Ryuu entertain her, Yuzuki was all right. But she cried a lot at nights, sometimes waking from nightmares, screaming for her father... Those were the times when Orihime would have lost it without the help of her two sons.

'Mom...' Sora addressed her. 'The senkaimon will be ready any minute. We should get prepared. I already told the others. Rukia and Renji will come with us, but you'll have to say your goodbyes to Captain Kuchiki and the kids now. Yoruichi-san will wait us by the gate.'

'All right. Thank you, Sora!' she answered with a sigh.

oOoOoOoOo

The journey through the senkaimon was thankfully uneventful, even the cleaner didn't show up to chase them this time. The Kurosaki family plus Yoruichi stepped out of the gate, arriving into Urahara's room. Sora put Yuzuki down. He had insisted on carrying her through the dangai, prepared for any possibilities. Yoruichi greeted Kisuke, and they immersed themselves into heated conversations right away, changing news. Tessai, Jinta and Ururu were also part of the welcoming comity, but there was also a surprise...

'Isshin-san...' Orihime's strength wavered. A treacherous teardrop appeared in her eyes. She never expected to see her father-in-law this soon after her return... she had absolutely no idea what to say to him... But judging from the look in Isshin's eyes, Urahara had already speared her the painful duty of informing him about the facts...

'My dear daughter...' he greeted her, his eyes glowing with so much emotion, that Orihime just threw herself forward, and embraced the old man without thinking. Isshin hugged her back, taken aback, but sincerely. Then he went and thumped the boys backs affectionately, and took Yuzuki up into his arms. 'Come with me... I'll take you all to the Kurosaki Clinic now... Everyone's been waiting for you... and there's something you've got to see...'

'I'm sorry, Isshin-san, but I think I'd rather go home first...' Orihime tried.

Isshin only flashed a confident smile at her, supporting Yuzuki more firmly in his arms.

'I won't take no for an answer...' he declared sternly. Then added more softly, with an intense look. 'Trust me... you won't be sorry to come...' There was something in this look, like a promise...

Sora and Michi looked at each other, confused.

OooOoOo

Half an hour later they arrived at the familiar building. Isshin led the way inside.

'Yuzu? We're here!' Isshin shouted.

The brown haired girl came to greet them from the direction of the kitchen. She smiled at them warmly and happily.

'Good. They're upstairs... go ahead, I'll call when dinner is ready...'

Someone appeared on top of the stairs.

'Orihime!'

She looked up.

'Tatsuki?'

It was indeed her childhood friend, her chosen sister. She looked the same as ever, with the boyish hair-cut, and even her greeting grin felt the same... Orihime was glad to meet her, but she was starting to get a little confused by everyone acting like everything was all right...

'Well what are you all waiting for? Come on!' Tatsuki said, and she gestured for them to come upstairs, impatiently. When they arrived to the top, she put a finger to her mouth, hushing them. 'Quietly... you don't want to interrupt the story...'

Everyone looked at her confused, only Isshin chuckled. Tatsuki approached the door of Shizuka's room, the same one that had once belonged to Ichigo. She opened the door a little, with a huge, mysterious smile, so they could peer inside through the narrow gap. There were a lot of people inside. They immediately spotted Uryu, who stood, leaning against the wall. Chad was sitting cross-legged on the ground, with little Aimi in his lap. The girl looked half asleep. On the other side of the room there was a bed, where Shizuka, and Saki were sitting, surrounding...

'… the green eyed dragon said: "Let me show you true despair!" and he started breathing fire, and sprouted an other three heads... but then the brave Soul Reaper raised his sword, and with one final thrust, he pierced the monster, right through the heart, freeing the princess from the evil king's castle.'

The kids's eyes were shining with excitement, as they listened to the story.

Uryu chuckled.

'You forgot the part where the "brave Soul Reaper's" ass was saved by his skillful Quincy friend!'

'Oi! Trust you Ishida to ruin the moment! This is just a fairy-tail, you thick-head! Don't take it that seriously...'

'Sure it is...'

'Do you think this "fairy-tail" is even appropriate for their age?' Chad asked.

'I like it...' Saki said seriously, adjusting her glasses exactly the way her father usually did. 'Especially how he vowed to protect her... But what happened to the evil king?'

'There was a big fight, and the king's forces clashed with the Soul Reapers and their friends... so the brave Soul Reaper had to go back, to protect his homeland...'

'And the princess?' Shizuka inquired impatiently. 'What about the happily ever after?'

'Oh, they had that all right... after all it didn't matter what stood between them... Heaven or Hell...' Ichigo raised his head to look directly at his flabbergasted family, standing in the doorway. His familiar brown eyes bored into Orihime's. '… she just had to know he would always come back to her...'

The kids could take it no longer. Sora, Michi and Yuzuki all burst into the room at the same time, with loud voices of joy...

Orihime just stood in the door, frozen. Isshin leaned close to her ear, and whispered.

'He turned up almost a week ago... we don't know how, or from where... he was pretty disoriented, with a serious case of amnesia... couldn't even remember his own name first... lucky he even found the place... That's why we didn't notify you earlier. We were not sure about his predicament... But as you see, his memories came back gradually... It was only yesterday he first remembered the kids at all... he still doesn't remember anything that happened THERE... in the Royal Realm I mean... and I doubt he ever will...'

Ichigo finished hugging all his children, and looked at Orihime once more. Everyone fell silent, as they watched the two just looking into each others eyes... Sora understood to some measure in that instant how his parents' bound was really something else...

Isshin cleared his throat, and cried in a raised voice.

'All right kids! I want everyone down to the kitchen, now! Yuzu should be ready with dinner...'

They all understood his underlying motive, and rushed to the door quickly, smiling warm, happy smiles.

Orihime remained in the doorway, and Ichigo inside. They just looked at each other for a long time, wordlessly, even after they were left alone. Orihime's eyes slowly brimmed with tears.

'Ichigo... No... It's just not possible... Is this really you?'

Ichigo's eyes widened a little, but then he narrowed then, folding his arms, and scowling.

'This is pretty! I go away for a mere week, and my lovely wife no longer recognizes me! And they've been telling me, that I'm the one recovering from amnesia!'

Orihime's mouth trembled, and the tears she had been holding back for so long finally rolled down her cheeks, as she smiled.

'Oh! Ichigo!' she cried, and she rushed forward into his welcoming arms... 'Never ever leave me again...'

'I don't intend to.' he murmured, kissing the top of her head. She just cried, vehemently, as though the flow of her tears would never stop. Her whole body trembled with sobs, and she held on to Ichigo tightly, gripping the front of his robes, which slowly became damp with her tears.

'I just know I can't live without you...'

Ichigo tightened his arms around her, and he leaned down to kiss away all her worries and fears...

…...

A/N: Somehow imagining this return of Ichigo always warms my heart... Hope you liked it too! Please review, a writer lives on feedback you know :-)! Maybe I'll need a few days more for the Epilogue.