Return to me
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Based off:
the screen play by
Bonnie Hunt and Donald Lake
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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.
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Authors Note:
So Chapter 2 is now up.
I told myself i wouldn't update
unless i got 5 reviews and i have so yay!
I hope you all like.
It kind of bounces around at the end between days,
but i hope it's still easy to follow
*bead of sweet*
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::: O N E Y E A R L A T E R :::
It had been a year. A year ago his granddaughter was sharing the same fate as his young daughter. Since that day the Gods blessed Inoue Orihime with a healthy heart all her own, she had grown. She learned to ride a bike, since she was always to sick to do physical activates such as this. She started painting again, she spent her nights diving through cook books and writing down her own recipes.
Her eyes gleamed again for the first time in eight years.
Her hair was smooth and had life in it again.
Again Ulquiorra could see this granddaughters heart warming smile.
The exact subject of the pale, green eyed, man's thoughts came running down the stairs and into their family owned restaurant. Hueco Mundo, an Irish-American themed Mexican food restaurant. She smiled, like always, and ran to the coat rack to grab her light purple hoody sweater. She stopped at the mirror in front of the kitchen doors and adjusted the color on her blue flower printed sun dress.
"You look fine." His monotone voice chimed from behind Orihime Inoue, making her jump, almost dropping the compact she had taken out.
"Grandpa!" She laughed nervously.
"It's been a year Orihime. The scar is barely even visible. You should stop fussing, foolish woman."
"I just feel better if I do this. That way I know they can't see it."
"You are a lovely young woman Orihime. Nobody is going to be looking at your chest."
"GRANDPA!?"
A gruff, teal haired man popped his head out of the kitchen.
"Orihime." It was Grimmjow, Ulquiorra's "friend" and war buddy. Seeing her dab concealer on her scar he raised a brow. "You goin' somewhere?"
"Yosh! I am going to the Zoo today with Tatsuki and the kids!" She pumped her fists in the air with excitement.
"Then you will need a ride." Her grandfather said coolly again, reaching for his own coat.
"No, you don't have to do that grandpa! We were all going to ride our bikes!"
"The zoo is a long way…"
"Leave her alone, you're too protective. One day she'll just run away trying to get away from your possessive behavior!" Grimmjow barked.
"I would never do that!"
"I was not being over protective. I was clearly stating a fact that the Zoo is a long distance to travel by bicycle."
"Oh, please don't fight!"
"Let her ride her damn bike to the fucking moon if she wants to. She's a grown woman she can ride her damn bike wherever she wants."
Orihime sighed in defeat. They had already forgotten she was there, being to engrossed in there argument. How two polar opposites like them stayed friends as long as they had was beyond her. But she was thankful. Grimmjow was Tatsuki's father. If it wasn't for them being friends she would have never have met her. Sora would have never met his wife, and she would never have a group of nieces and nephews to love.
She let the two continue with their fight and kissed them both on their cheeks. Still they failed to notice her. She decided to write a note so they wouldn't worry and hopped on her bike to ride to her brother's house. On the way she raced a neighborhood girl. Orihime won, proud that she didn't have rules that made her stop a few doors from her house like Yuichi did.
A new heart
A new life
She would be "one years old" soon, and already it seemed like she had always been this way. Like she was never sick. She took her hand off the handle bars and felt the envelope in her pocket. Like the ten inch scar down her chest, it was still there.
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It was a year, everyone knew. It had been a year since they saw him smile. It had been a year since they enjoyed working for Kurosaki Ichigo. He had a permanent frown on his face. He looked older than his 24 years. Rumor had it, it had been a year since he slept.
A year since Rukia died.
"Keigo…" Ichigo grumbled, a vain popping out of his forehead. "Why aren't those beams in place?"
"I told you, I had to wait on the cement guys."
"And why aren't they done?"
"…" Keigo was afraid of how his boss would react to the news. "I… don't know."
"That's bullshit Kaigo! You're not pushing your guys hard enough!"
"Ichigo! We worked eighteen hours yesterday."
"Yeah at time and a half I'm really crying for you."
"Ichigo really my hands are tied man!"
Ichigo's hard hat flew through the air hitting Keigo's. The younger man's helmet blasted off his head, both yellow covers fell to the floor.
"I told you I wanted those in yesterday! I don't care what you have to do. Tell those cement fuckers to do their jobs!" Ichigo stomped over to Keigo. On reflex, not wanting to see the punch before it landed, Keigo flinched. When nothing happened he opened his eyes to see Ichigo bending down to grab his Helmet.
Keigo sighed with relief.
"Keigo?"
"Y-Yeah?"
Ichigo slammed Keigo's helmet onto his thick head, causing the boys eyes to blur. "Do it now."
Keigo ran away faster then a Olympic gold medalist.
"You know Ichigo…" Renji sighed, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "They really hate you."
"I don't pay them to like me." Ichigo turned out of his friends hand and walked into their trailer. He slammed the door open, Renji had to catch it before is slammed back into his face from bouncing off the wall.
"Good news is, I have something to cheer you up partner."
"Two tons of hardened cement?" Ichigo asked not looking up at his red haired companion, just studied the layout in front of him.
"Ichigo, we'll get the Gorilla habitat done on time, you have to relax. Which is exactly how I'm gonna cheer you up." If Ichigo had been looking he would have seen his friends characteristic smile.
"No." Ichigo simply replied as he ruffled his hair and scribbled on the layout.
"Come on Ichigo! She's really hot! Great body, she's smart. Great body…" Renji paused not knowing what else to add. "Great body!"
"Do you even know her name, or is Great Body it?"
"Her name is Neilel."
"Neilel…?"
"… I only know her first name."
"NO!" Ichigo shouted, his face almost reminding Renji of the old him. "I'm not going on some blind date with some strange woman you don't even know!"
"Come on Ichigo, it's been a year! You're hollow inside and nobody can stand you anymore. Not even Kon likes you anymore. You need to put yourself out there again, man."
"I'm just not ready to fall in love again."
"Love? I'm just trying to get you laid." Renji laughed, Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed.
"No. That's finale." Ichigo got up making sure he had his cell phone.
"Where are you going?"
"To think."
"Remember you have to be at the Ishida Building tonight. New beams are going in."
"Yeah yeah…" Ichigo waved off, not turning to face Renji.
Ichigo's feet were leading him now. He usually always wanted to avoid the area around the primate house. It was the area he knew best because of Rukia and the place that reminded him of her the most. Today his feet were doing the thinking. He tired to avoid it, making a turn in the opposite direction… but the second he turned his back to it he stopped, being tugged on by some strong force and turned around.
He took a deep breath, and opened the door. He made his way straight to Zabimaru. He was sitting there with his back to everyone watching the keepers sweep behind his cage. His frown softened slightly but remained in place enough for the other visitors to avoid his section of the glass.
He looked down at the dirty display in front of him explaining about gorillas with pictures of them in the wild. A bio read at the bottom next to a picture of Zabimaru when he was first brought to the zoo. Zabimaru fifteen years old. Taught Sign Language by Kurosaki Rukia. You can say hello to Zabimaru by making these hand motions… It continued on to show the signs for H and I. He knew from experience that the display next to him showed the rest of the alphabet.
Ichigo licked his thumb and rubbed whatever was stuck to the surface of the display off of his wife's name. Once he was satisfied that he had done what the gods had lead him there to do he turned and left.
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"That can't be everybody." Tatsuki sighed looking around at her hoard of children again.
The twins Karin and Yuzu. Check
The oldest son Jinta. Check
The youngest Ururu. Check…
The oldest child of them all Chizuru was attached to Orihime yet again so… Check
Someone was missing…
"Umm Tatsuki? Where is Rin-chan?"
Tatsuki let out a shocked scream and tried to find her youngest son. She found him a few minutes later buried in pile of candy wrappers. She was afraid he had taken them from a stranger and was poisoned until she noticed it was all candy he had stolen from the house. She was furious and as punishment forced him to ride in the stroller with Ururu for the rest of the visit.
"Next up is the Gorilla house." Karin read off the map she collected at the front. For big outings like this she liked to take the front position and lead the way, so her mother could concentrate on the other kids. It was like her twin and Ururu were the only ones that didn't ever act up, granted Ururu didn't know how to walk yet…
"Look Karin! They are building a new home for him!" Yuzu chimed happily.
"Yeah I bit it's because he was able to get out a kill annoying little brown haired girls to easily in this cage." Jinta replied, still angry that his sisters wouldn't let him see the snake exhibit.
"JINTA INOUE!" Tatsuki scolded and whacked her son on the head with her open palm. "There is room next to your brother if you don't behave."
"Don't worry Yuzu-chan. I am sure the Gorilla is very nice!" Orihime smiled.
"Thank you Aunt Orihime!" Yuzu ran on ahead , pulling her twin along with her.
"Hey you two…" Tatsuki sighed, her hair getting frazzled from the stress.
"Don't worry Tatsuki, I'll get them. Lets go Chizuru."
Orhime threw the door open and made a bridge with her body so Chizuru could walk under her.
Ichigo's eyes hurt from the sudden rays of light that burst from the open door. He quickly stopped and put on his sun glasses. He let the woman and her child through the door before he walked past her to leave, accidentally brushing his shoulder against her in the process. He needed to leave so badly he didn't stop and apologize.
Orihime stopped her heart feeling something it had never felt before. The door closed behind her and the feeling stopped.
"Auntie Orihime, are you okay?" Chizuru asked, truly worried.
"I'm fine Chizuru-cahn. Whatever it was, it didn't hurt."
"Are you sure?" Kairn asked, fist on her hip… just like her mother.
"Yosh! Lets go see some monkeys!" She smiled noticing Tatsuki fighting through the door behind them.
That's when Ururu started to cry. Jinta investigated and noticed Ururu's stuffed dolphin was missing.
Hearing a squeak under his shoe Ichigo jumped, and moved his shoe foot aside. He bent up and picked up the dumb toy, his frown growing thicker. He looked around him trying to find the owner. If they weren't near by, he would just throw the damned thing away.
"Excuse me." Tatsuki sighed tapping Ichigo on his shoulder. He turned, brow raised at the frazzled woman. "Unless that's yours, I know who it belongs to." She smiled and he handed it back to her.
The orange haired stranger said nothing when he walked away.
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Tatsuki handed the dolphin to Ururu who's tears dried instantly. She smiled at Karin reading the display out loud for her brothers and sisters and watched as Orihime tried to show them how to sign HI.
"This is lame the stupid Ape isn't even looking our way." Jinta grumbled.
"Maybe…Za-be-maru… has had a busy day of people saying hello." Orihime said trying to defend the animal.
Just as she finished talking the animal in question turned to face the glass and ran to his tire swing. He looked like he was happy to see them.
"They should really have more space…" Orihime sighed before signing hi as she greeted him verbally.
Zabimaru wandered closer to the glass and flopped down in front of Orihime, and signed back.
"WOW!" Chizuru shouted "He must really like us!"
"Doesn't he kind of remind of you daddy?" Tatsuki asked with a smile, making her kids laugh too.
Zabimaru held out his palm and placed it on the glass, staring into Orihime's eyes. Orihime leaned over the bar so she could reach the glass and put her hand over his.
"He's so sweet!" She smiled.
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"No Orihime, you're not going to chicken out on me again." Tatsuki glared daggers at her friend who's shaky hand was holding a pink envelope over the entrance of a mail box. "You chickened out when we were at the zoo yesterday and you are not going to do it today."
"But Tat-"
"No Orihime. You have had that letter for a year now and you are gonna mail the damned thing off. I mean you always have it with you."
"But don't you think it's kind of weird? Thanking somebody for a heart? I mean, I am thanking them for having their loved one die…"
"Orihime, it's been a year. I'm sure they have moved on and it's your turn."
Orihime took on more look at the envelope addressed to DONOR LIAISON and sighed. As quickly as she could she pulled the slot opened and threw the letter in before she could try to stop her self.
'Well… there's no stopping it now.' She thought to herself.
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A silver haired teenager, wearing roller blades was trying navigate the steps as Ichigo pulled up in his truck.
"Hey Toshiro! You got 'em." Ichigo said coming up behind the boy with a gym bag and a model of the new habitat.
"Yeah, and I just took Kon out."
"Thanks, who's you math coming?" Ichigo asked as the boy tried his best to make it up the steps next door.
"I got a 'C' on my last test."
"Alright College Algebra, is pretty hard, especially when you're in Jr. high. If you get a 'B', I'll give you a raise."
"'C plus'?" Toshiro asked. "I need the money so I can take Momo on date."
"Nice. It's a deal." Ichigo opened the door and had to us all his strength the push the dog aside. He sighed and threw his coat on the couch. The apartment hadn't looked the same since Rukia left. It was messy and unorganized.
"So Kon, any calls?" He asked shuffling through the mail. Not really looking at it, before he threw it next to the phone and maked his way into the kitchen. Kon followed his every step but stopped halfway into the kitchen and returned to his place at the door. Ichigo peaked his head out and sighed.
"Are you hungry?" He asked the dog again, wishing he would reply so he'd have someone to talk to. He opened the door to the frig but quickly closed it again when the doorbell rang. "Guess that answers that question."
A bright pink haired girl stood at his door step smiling widely, and holding out a bag of Chinese food.
"Hey, Yachiru."
"Hi Ichi-chan!" She said happily "It's Friday so Ken-chan made your usual!" Ichigo fished through is wallet somewhat embarrassed that he would have a "Friday usual."
"Thanks, see you tomorrow." He tried to look upset, but sighed and agreed. He would see her tomorrow…
He swooped Kon's bowl out of the door way and took it into the kitchen with him. Again Kon started to follow but went back to his waiting place. Waiting for Rukia. Ichigo opened the drawer that once held important papers, but now held a cup and Kon's hard dog food. He picked up the cup but put it back in the end, pouring rice into Kon's bowl instead.
"Kon, C'mon."
Nothing.
"Kon let's go. I gotcha some rice… Kon!"
Still Kon didn't come into the kitchen. Growling Ichigo walked into the living area, carrying the food bowl in his hand.
"God Damnit Kon!" Kon turned to Ichigo and took a hesitant step forward, but stopped and walked back to the door and wagged his tail. "C'mon Kon, stop it. She's gone!"
He knelt down to the dog's level.
"You can't sit here night after night. C'mon get up… Don't you think that's what she would have wanted? For you to eat food in the kitchen?" Ichigo whined. He hung his head. Lord he sounded pathetic. He raised his head an angry and determined look in his eyes. "Get UP! Damn it look at you Kon!" Ichigo pointed at the mirror by the door for the dog to look at, but caught a glimpse of himself.
"… look at you…" He sighed. He put the food dish down by the door and petted Kon's head as the dog dug in. Slowly he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. Still uncertain he dialed.
"Renji... So… where was it that you were meeting tonight?… You heard me, where?" Ichigo walked to the home phone where he had a cup full of assorted pins. He picked up the first thing he saw to write on. A pink envelope he got in the mail. "Hueco Mundo?… uh-huh. Yeah me too…" He hung up the phone and rushed upstairs.
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Sorry for Errors
T_T
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R&R
::: MrsMoshae :::